Salford and Eccles (UK Parliament constituency)

Salford and Eccles was a constituency^{[n 1]} in the House of Commons of the UK Parliament. For its entire creation since 2010, it was represented by members of the Labour Party.^{[n 2]}

Salford and Eccles
Former borough constituency for the House of Commons
Boundary of Salford and Eccles in Greater Manchester
Location of Greater Manchester within England
County	Greater Manchester
Electorate	76,863 (December 2010)[1]
Major settlements	Swinton, Eccles, Salford
2010–2024
Seats	One
Created from	Salford Eccles
Replaced by	Salford, Worsley and Eccles

Further to the completion of the 2023 Periodic Review of Westminster constituencies, the seat was abolished. Subject to boundary changes, involving the loss of Eccles, it was reformed as Salford, which was contested at the 2024 general election.^[2]

History

The constituency was created following the Boundary Commission's Fifth Periodic Review of Westminster constituencies (ended 2008), and was first contested at the 2010 general election. The review led to the loss of one seat in Greater Manchester, and the 2010 Salford and Eccles seat covered parts of the previous Salford and Eccles constituencies.

The last MP for Salford was Hazel Blears, whereas the last MP for Eccles was Ian Stewart. Hazel Blears was chosen as the Labour Party candidate to represent the new constituency at the 2010 general election. Following Blears's retirement, Labour member Rebecca Long-Bailey was elected to replace her in 2015.

Constituency profile

This constituency has undergone significant regeneration since the decline of the textile industry. Salford Quays became Britain's Media City as the home of the BBC and ITV in the North of England, and the University of Salford commenced a £150 million redevelopment in 2008. Aside from the flagship MediaCityUK complex whose housing consists of exclusive apartments, the nearby deprived areas such as Weaste and Seedley are also undergoing regeneration. Also in the seat were Swinton, a residential suburb and the administrative headquarters of Salford City Council, and Eccles, though its outskirts are in Worsley and Eccles South.

The constituency and the overall City of Salford^{[n 3]} voted to Leave the European Union although the Ordsall (Salford Quays) and Eccles wards voted Remain.^{[citation needed]}

In statistics

The constituency consisted of a working population whose income is below the national average and higher than average reliance upon social housing.^[3] At the end of 2012 the unemployment rate in the constituency stood as 5.0% of the population claiming jobseekers allowance, compared to the regional average of 4.2%.^[4] The borough contributing to the bulk of the seat has a high 44.5% of its population without a car, a close-to-average 23.1% of the population without qualifications and a high 28.9% with level 4 qualifications or above. In terms of tenure only 37.8% of homes are owned outright or on a mortgage as at the 2011 census across the city.^[5] In 2017, has risen to over 60% for the first time since 1992 for this area, taking into account previous seats. In 2001 the turnout for the previous Salford seat was just 41%, though the national election turnout was also lower than average that year.

Boundaries

Map of boundaries 2010–2024

The electoral wards included in the Salford and Eccles constituency in the City of Salford are:^[6]

• Claremont
• Eccles
• Irwell Riverside
• Langworthy
• Ordsall
• Pendlebury
• Swinton North
• Swinton South
• Weaste and Seedley

Eccles was approximately bisected following the recommendations of the review; for its southern areas see Worsley and Eccles South.

Members of Parliament

Election		Member[7]	Party
	2010	Hazel Blears	Labour
	2015	Rebecca Long-Bailey	Labour

Elections

Elections in the 2010s

General election 2019: Salford and Eccles^[8]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Labour	Rebecca Long-Bailey	28,755	56.8	−8.8
	Conservative	Attika Choudhary	12,428	24.5	−0.8
	Brexit Party	Matt Mickler	4,290	8.5	New
	Liberal Democrats	Jake Overend	3,099	6.1	+3.4
	Green	Bryan Blears	2,060	4.1	+2.4
Majority			16,327	32.3	−8.0
Turnout			50,632	61.6	+0.8
	Labour hold		Swing	−4.0

General election 2017: Salford and Eccles

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Labour	Rebecca Long-Bailey	31,168	65.6	+16.2
	Conservative	Jason Sugarman	12,036	25.3	+4.9
	UKIP	Christopher Barnes	2,320	4.9	−13.1
	Liberal Democrats	John Reid	1,286	2.7	−1.0
	Green	Wendy Olsen	809	1.7	−3.5
Majority			19,132	40.3	+11.3
Turnout			47,619	60.8	+2.6
	Labour hold		Swing	+5.6

General election 2015: Salford and Eccles^[9][10]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Labour	Rebecca Long-Bailey	21,364	49.4	+9.3
	Conservative	Greg Downes	8,823	20.4	−0.1
	UKIP	Paul Doyle	7,806	18.0	+15.4
	Green	Emma Van Dyke	2,251	5.2	+5.2
	Liberal Democrats	Charlie Briggs	1,614	3.7	−22.6
	We are the Reality Party	Mark "Bez" Berry	703	1.6	New
	TUSC	Noreen Bailey	517	1.2	−0.6
	Pirate	Sam Clark	183	0.4	New
Majority			12,541	29.0	+15.2
Turnout			43,261	58.2	+3.2
	Labour hold		Swing	+4.7

General election 2010: Salford and Eccles^[11][12]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Labour	Hazel Blears*	16,655	40.1	−15.3
	Liberal Democrats	Norman Owen	10,930	26.3	+3.5
	Conservative	Matthew Sephton	8,497	20.5	+3.6
	BNP	Tina Wingfield	2,632	6.3	New
	UKIP	Duran O'Dwyer	1,084	2.6	−2.3
	TUSC	David Henry	730	1.8	New
	English Democrat	Stephen Morris	621	1.5	New
	Independent	Richard Carvath	384	0.9	New
Majority			5,725	13.8	−18.9
Turnout			41,533	55.0	+9.5
	Labour hold		Swing	−9.4

* Served as an MP in the 2005–2010 Parliament

See also

• List of parliamentary constituencies in Greater Manchester

Notes

1. A borough constituency (for the purposes of election expenses and type of returning officer)
2. As with all constituencies, the constituency elects one Member of Parliament (MP) by the first past the post system of election at least every five years.
3. which achieved that status in 1926