Weaver Vale

{{Short description|UK Parliament constituency (1997–2024)}} {{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}} {{Infobox UK constituency main |name = Weaver Vale |parliament = uk |map1 = WeaverVale2007 |map2 = EnglandCheshire |map_entity = Cheshire |map_year = |year = 1997 |abolished = 2024 |type = County |previous = Eddisbury, Tatton, Halton, and Warrington South |next = Runcorn and Helsby, Mid Cheshire, Chester South and Eddisbury, and Tatton |electorate = 70,129 (2018)<ref>{{cite web |url=https://boundarycommissionforengland.independent.gov.uk/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/England-Parliamentary-electorates-for-2018.xlsx |title=England Parliamentary electorates 2010-2018 |publisher=Boundary Commission for England |access-date=23 March 2019 |df=dmy }}</ref> |mp = |party = |region = England |county = Cheshire |european = North West England |elects_howmany = One |towns = Northwich, Runcorn and Frodsham }} '''Weaver Vale''' was a constituency{{#tag:ref|A county constituency (for the purposes of election expenses and type of returning officer).|group= n}} in Cheshire represented in the House of Commons of the UK Parliament from 1997 to 2024.{{#tag:ref|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.|group= n}}

Further to the completion of the 2023 Periodic Review of Westminster constituencies, the seat was abolished at the 2024 general election. Just over half the seat became part of the new Runcorn and Helsby seat, with other areas moved to the new constituencies of Mid Cheshire and Chester South and Eddisbury, and a very small part joined the existing constituency of Tatton.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |title=The 2023 Review of Parliamentary Constituency Boundaries in England – Volume one: Report – North West {{!}} Boundary Commission for England |url=https://boundarycommissionforengland.independent.gov.uk/2023-review/2023-review-volume-one-report/the-2023-review-of-parliamentary-constituency-boundaries-in-england-volume-one-report-north-west/ |access-date=2023-07-31 |website=boundarycommissionforengland.independent.gov.uk}}</ref>

==Constituency profile== The constituency took its name from the River Weaver, which flows through the area, and much of the area was part of the former district of Vale Royal. The constituency covered the northern part of the Cheshire West and Chester unitary authority in Cheshire, including the towns of Northwich and Frodsham and the villages of Helsby and Weaverham. It also included part of the Borough of Halton, covering the eastern half of Runcorn.

The area has economic sectors as diverse as plastics and chemicals to construction. Other areas include telecommunications/bank communication centres, with in addition, a large national bakery and a supermarket distribution centre. Salt used to comprise a major mining industry of the area, much more of which is extracted today from large reserves in Northern Ireland. Workless claimants who were registered jobseekers were in November 2012 slightly higher than the national average of 3.8%, at 4.1% of the population based on a statistical compilation by ''The Guardian''. This was, however, lower than the regional average of 4.4%.<ref>[https://www.theguardian.com/news/datablog/2010/nov/17/unemployment-and-employment-statistics-economics Unemployment claimants by constituency] ''The Guardian''</ref> Northwich and the wards from Halton are inclined to vote Labour, whereas Frodsham, Helsby and the smaller rural villages are more Conservative.

== Creation == Weaver Vale was created for the 1997 general election from parts of Eddisbury, Tatton, Halton, and Warrington South, when the number of constituencies in Cheshire was increased from 10 to 11.

==Boundaries== {{maplink|raw={{Wikipedia:Map data/Weaver Vale (UK Parliament constituency)}}|frame=yes|frame-height=250|text=Map of boundaries 2019-2024}} '''1997–2010''': The District of Vale Royal wards of Castle, Church, Forest, Frodsham East, Frodsham North West, Frodsham South, Gorst Wood, Hartford, Helsby Central, Helsby North, Helsby South and Alvanley Ward, Kingsley, Milton, Northwich, Weaver, Winnington, Witton North, and Witton South, and the Borough of Halton wards of Brookfields, Castlefields, Clough, Daresbury, Murdishaw, and Norton.<ref>{{Cite web|last=|first=|date=|title=Parliamentary Constituencies (England) Order 1995|url=https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/1995/1626/made|access-date=|website=}}</ref>

''Norton and Daresbury were transferred from Warrington South, with other parts of Halton coming from the constituency thereof. Frodsham, Helsby and Weaverham were transferred from Eddisbury and Northwich had previously been part of Tatton.''

'''2010–2019''': The Parliamentary Constituencies (England) Order 2007 defined the boundaries as:

The Borough of Halton wards of Beechwood, Daresbury, Halton Lea, Norton North, Norton South, and Windmill Hill, and the Borough of Vale Royal wards of Forest, Frodsham North, Frodsham South, Hartford & Whitegate, Helsby, Kingsley, Leftwich & Kingsmead, Milton Weaver, Northwich Castle, Northwich Winnington, Northwich Witton, and Weaverham.<ref>{{Cite web|last=|first=|date=|title=Parliamentary Constituencies (England) Order 2007|url=http://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2007/1681/made|access-date=|website=}}</ref>

''Halton Borough ward of Castlefields transferred to Halton constituency. Other minor changes due to revision of ward boundaries.''

However, before the new boundaries came into force for the 2010 election, the districts making up the county of Cheshire were abolished on 1 April 2009, being replaced by four unitary authorities. Consequently, the constituency's boundaries became:

The Cheshire West and Chester wards of Davenham & Moulton (part), Frodsham, Gowy (part), Hartford & Greenbank, Helsby, Kingsley, Weaver & Cuddington (part), Winsford Over & Verdin (part), Winnington & Castle, and Witton & Rudheath (part), and the Borough of Halton wards of Beechwood, Daresbury, Halton Lea, Norton North, Norton South, and Windmill Hill.

'''2019–2024''': Following a further local government ward boundary review in 2019, the boundaries were:

The Cheshire West and Chester wards of Davenham, Moulton & Kingsmead (part), Frodsham, Hartford & Greenbank, Helsby, Marbury (part), Northwich Leftwich, Northwich Winnington & Castle, Northwich Witton, Rudheath (part), Sandstone (part), Weaver & Cuddington (part), and Winsford Over & Verdin (part), and the Borough of Halton wards of Beechwood, Daresbury, Halton Lea, Norton North, Norton South, and Windmill Hill.<ref>{{cite web|title=Ellesmere Port and Neston: Seat, Ward and Prediction Details|url=https://www.electoralcalculus.co.uk/fcgi-bin/seatdetails.py?seat=Ellesmere+Port+and+Neston|access-date=17 December 2019|publisher=Electoral Calculus}}</ref>

== Abolition == Further to the completion of the 2023 Periodic Review of Westminster constituencies, the seat was abolished prior to the 2024 general election, with its contents distributed to three new constituencies and one existing one:<ref name=":0" />

* Helsby, Frodsham and the parts in the Borough of Halton (just over half the electorate) to Runcorn and Helsby * Northwich to Mid Cheshire * Weaverham to Chester South and Eddisbury * The part in Cheshire West and Chester north of the River Weaver to Tatton

==Political history== From the 1997 general election, the new seat was held by the Labour Party's Mike Hall, who had first entered Parliament in 1992 for Warrington South. Labour held the seat relatively easily in the succeeding two general elections. In February 2010 Hall announced that he was standing down at the 2010 election for health reasons.<ref>{{cite news|title=BBC News – Weaver Vale MP Mike Hall steps down for health reasons|url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england/merseyside/8493259.stm|work=bbc.co.uk|date=2 February 2010 }}</ref> Graham Evans (Conservative) gained the seat at the 2010 election on a swing of 8.15% with minor boundary changes mentioned as likely affecting this swing.

Mike Amesbury regained the seat for Labour at the 2017 general election and was returned again, with a reduced majority, in 2019.

Weaver Vale was one of seven seats won (held or gained) by a Labour candidate in 2017 from a total of 11 covering its county. Amesbury's 2017 win was one of 30 net gains of the Labour Party, three of which came from the county of Cheshire.

The seat was considered a marginal seat from 2010 onwards, as its winner's majority did not exceed 7.8% of the vote in any of the four elections held from then onwards, and it changed hands twice in that time.

==Members of Parliament== {| class="wikitable" |- !colspan="2"|Election!!Member<ref name="rayment">{{Rayment-hc|w|2|date=March 2012}}</ref> !Party |- |style="color:inherit;background-color: {{party color|Labour Party (UK)}}" | | 1997 | Mike Hall | Labour |- |style="color:inherit;background-color: {{party color|Conservative Party (UK)}}" | | 2010 | Graham Evans | Conservative |- |style="color:inherit;background-color: {{party color|Labour Party (UK)}}" | | 2017 | Mike Amesbury | Labour |}

==Elections==

===Elections in the 2010s=== {{Election box begin|title=General election 2019: Weaver Vale<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.cheshirewestandchester.gov.uk/your-council/voting-and-elections/election-2019/documents/2019ge-nop.pdf|title=Statement of Persons Nominated 2019|access-date=15 November 2019|archive-date=15 November 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191115140216/https://www.cheshirewestandchester.gov.uk/your-council/voting-and-elections/election-2019/documents/2019ge-nop.pdf|url-status=dead}}</ref>}} {{Election box winning candidate with party link| |party = Labour Party (UK) |candidate = Mike Amesbury |votes = 22,772 |percentage = 44.9 |change = ―6.6 }} {{Election box candidate with party link| |party = Conservative Party (UK) |candidate = Adam Wordsworth |votes = 22,210 |percentage = 43.8 |change = +0.1 }} {{Election box candidate with party link| |party = Liberal Democrats (UK) |candidate = Daniela Parker |votes = 3,300 |percentage = 6.5 |change = +3.3 }} {{Election box candidate with party link| |party = Brexit Party |candidate = Nicholas Goulding |votes = 1,380 |percentage = 2.7 |change = ''New'' }} {{Election box candidate with party link| |party = Green Party of England and Wales |candidate = Paul Bowers |votes = 1,051 |percentage = 2.1 |change = +0.5 }} {{Election box majority| |votes = 562 |percentage = 1.1 |change = ―6.7 }} {{Election box turnout| |votes = 50,713 |percentage = 71.9 |change = ―1.4 }} {{Election box hold with party link| |winner = Labour Party (UK) |swing = }} {{Election box end}} {{Election box begin | title= General election 2017: Weaver Vale<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/politics/constituencies/E14001024 |title=Weaver Vale parliamentary constituency |work=BBC News}}</ref>}} {{Election box winning candidate with party link||party=Labour Party (UK)|candidate=Mike Amesbury|votes=26,066|percentage=51.5|change=+10.1}} {{Election box candidate with party link||party=Conservative Party (UK)|candidate=Graham Evans|votes=22,138|percentage=43.7|change=+0.5}} {{Election box candidate with party link||party=Liberal Democrats (UK)|candidate=Paul Roberts|votes=1,623|percentage=3.2|change=+0.2}} {{Election box candidate with party link||party=Green Party of England and Wales|candidate=Chris Copeman|votes=786|percentage=1.6|change= ―0.9}} {{Election box majority||votes=3,928|percentage=7.8|change=''N/A''}} {{Election box turnout||votes=50,613|percentage=73.3|change=+4.8}} {{Election box gain with party link| |winner = Labour Party (UK) |loser = Conservative Party (UK) |swing = +4.25 }} {{Election box end}} {{Election box begin | title= General election 2015: Weaver Vale<ref name=electoralcalculus2015>{{cite web|title=Election Data 2015|url=http://www.electoralcalculus.co.uk/electdata_2015.txt|publisher=Electoral Calculus|access-date=17 October 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151017112223/http://www.electoralcalculus.co.uk/electdata_2015.txt|archive-date=17 October 2015}}</ref>}} {{Election box winning candidate with party link| |party = Conservative Party (UK) |candidate = Graham Evans |votes = 20,227 |percentage = 43.2 |change = +4.7 }} {{Election box candidate with party link| |party = Labour Party (UK) |candidate = Julia Tickridge |votes = 19,421 |percentage = 41.4 |change = +5.1 }} {{Election box candidate with party link| |party = UK Independence Party |candidate = Amos Wright |votes = 4,547 |percentage = 9.7 |change = +7.4 }} {{Election box candidate with party link| |party = Liberal Democrats (UK) |candidate = Mary Di Mauro |votes = 1,395 |percentage = 3.0 |change = ―15.6 }} {{Election box candidate with party link| |party = Green Party of England and Wales |candidate = Chris Copeman |votes = 1,183 |percentage = 2.5 |change = +1.7 }} {{Election box candidate with party link| |party = Trade Unionist and Socialist Coalition |candidate = Joseph Whyte |votes = 94 |percentage = 0.2 |change = ''New'' }} {{Election box majority| |votes = 806 |percentage = 1.8 |change = ―0.4 }} {{Election box turnout| |votes = 46,867 |percentage = 68.5 |change = +2.4 }} {{Election box hold with party link| |winner = Conservative Party (UK) |swing = }} {{Election box end}} {{Election box begin | title= General election 2010: Weaver Vale<ref name=electoralcalculus2010>{{cite web|title=Election Data 2010|url=http://www.electoralcalculus.co.uk/electdata_2010.txt|publisher=Electoral Calculus|access-date=17 October 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130726162034/http://www.electoralcalculus.co.uk/electdata_2010.txt|archive-date=26 July 2013}}</ref>}} {{Election box winning candidate with party link| |party = Conservative Party (UK) |candidate = Graham Evans |votes = 16,953 |percentage = 38.5 |change = +6.9 }} {{Election box candidate with party link| |party = Labour Party (UK) |candidate = John Stockton |votes = 15,962 |percentage = 36.3 |change = ―9.4 }} {{Election box candidate with party link| |party = Liberal Democrats (UK) |candidate = Peter Hampson |votes = 8,196 |percentage = 18.6 |change = ―1.1 }} {{Election box candidate with party link| |party = British National Party |candidate = Colin Marsh |votes = 1,063 |percentage = 2.4 |change = ''New'' }} {{Election box candidate with party link| |party = UK Independence Party |candidate = Paul Remfry |votes = 1,018 |percentage = 2.3 |change = ―0.5 }} {{Election box candidate with party link| |party = Green Party of England and Wales |candidate = Howard Thorp |votes = 338 |percentage = 0.8 |change = ''New'' }} {{Election box candidate with party link| |party = Independent politician |candidate = Mike Cooksley |votes = 270 |percentage = 0.6 |change = ''New'' }} {{Election box candidate with party link| |party = Independent politician |candidate = Tom Reynolds |votes = 133 |percentage = 0.3 |change = ''New'' }} {{Election box candidate with party link| |party = Independent politician |candidate = Will Charlton |votes = 57 |percentage = 0.1 |change = ''New'' }} {{Election box majority| |votes = 991 |percentage = 2.2 |change = ''N/A'' }} {{Election box turnout| |votes = 43,990 |percentage = 66.1 |change = +10.5 }} {{Election box gain with party link| |winner = Conservative Party (UK) |loser = Labour Party (UK) |swing = +8.15 }} {{Election box end}} ===Elections in the 2000s=== {{Election box begin | |title=General election 2005: Weaver Vale<ref name=electoralcalculus2005>{{cite web|title=Election Data 2005|url=http://www.electoralcalculus.co.uk/electdata_2005ob.txt|publisher=Electoral Calculus|access-date=18 October 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111015054249/http://www.electoralcalculus.co.uk/electdata_2005ob.txt|archive-date=15 October 2011}}</ref>}} {{Election box winning candidate with party link| |party = Labour Party (UK) |candidate = Mike Hall |votes = 18,759 |percentage = 47.6 |change = ―4.9 }} {{Election box candidate with party link| |party = Conservative Party (UK) |candidate = Jonathan Mackie |votes = 11,904 |percentage = 30.2 |change = +2.3 }} {{Election box candidate with party link| |party = Liberal Democrats (UK) |candidate = Trevor Griffiths |votes = 7,723 |percentage = 19.6 |change = +5.2 }} {{Election box candidate with party link| |party = UK Independence Party |candidate = Brenda Swinscoe |votes = 1,034 |percentage = 2.6 |change = +1.2 }} {{Election box majority| |votes = 6,855 |percentage = 17.4 |change = ―7.2 }} {{Election box turnout| |votes = 39,420 |percentage = 57.1 |change = ―0.5 }} {{Election box hold with party link| |winner = Labour Party (UK) |swing = }} {{Election box end}} {{Election box begin | |title=General election 2001: Weaver Vale<ref name=electoralcalculus2001>{{cite web|title=Election Data 2001|url=http://www.electoralcalculus.co.uk/electdata_2001ob.txt|publisher=Electoral Calculus|access-date=18 October 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111015054450/http://www.electoralcalculus.co.uk/electdata_2001ob.txt|archive-date=15 October 2011}}</ref>}} {{Election box winning candidate with party link| |party = Labour Party (UK) |candidate = Mike Hall |votes = 20,611 |percentage = 52.5 |change = ―3.9 }} {{Election box candidate with party link| |party = Conservative Party (UK) |candidate = Carl Cross |votes = 10,974 |percentage = 27.9 |change = ―0.7 }} {{Election box candidate with party link| |party = Liberal Democrats (UK) |candidate = Trevor Griffiths |votes = 5,643 |percentage = 14.4 |change = +2.1 }} {{Election box candidate with party link| |party = Independent (politician) |candidate = Mike Cooksley |votes = 1,484 |percentage = 3.8 |change = ''New'' }} {{Election box candidate with party link| |party = UK Independence Party |candidate = Jim Bradshaw |votes = 559 |percentage = 1.4 |change = ''New'' }} {{Election box majority| |votes = 9,637 |percentage = 24.6 |change = ―3.2 }} {{Election box turnout| |votes = 39,271 |percentage = 57.6 |change = ―15.4 }} {{Election box hold with party link| |winner = Labour Party (UK) |swing = }} {{Election box end}} ===Elections in the 1990s=== {{Election box begin | |title=General election 1997: Weaver Vale<ref name=electoralcalculus1997>{{cite web|title=Election Data 1997|url=http://www.electoralcalculus.co.uk/electdata_1997.txt|publisher=Electoral Calculus|access-date=18 October 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111015054424/http://www.electoralcalculus.co.uk/electdata_1997.txt|archive-date=15 October 2011}}</ref>}} {{Election box winning candidate with party link| |party = Labour Party (UK) |candidate = Mike Hall |votes = 27,244 |percentage = 56.4 |change = }} {{Election box candidate with party link| |party = Conservative Party (UK) |candidate = James Byrne |votes = 13,796 |percentage = 28.6 |change = }} {{Election box candidate with party link| |party = Liberal Democrats (UK) |candidate = Trevor Griffiths |votes = 5,949 |percentage = 12.3 |change = }} {{Election box candidate with party link| |party = Referendum Party |candidate = Roger Cockfield |votes = 1,312 |percentage = 2.7 |change = }} {{Election box majority| |votes = 13,448 |percentage = 27.8 |change = }} {{Election box turnout| |votes = 48,301 |percentage = 73.0 |change = }} {{Election box new seat win| |winner = Labour Party (UK) |swing = }} {{Election box end}}

==Notes== {{Reflist|group=n}}

==References== {{Reflist}}

==External links== *[https://mapit.mysociety.org/area/13447.html Weaver Vale UK Parliament constituency] (boundaries April 1997 – April 2010) at ''MapIt UK'' *[https://mapit.mysociety.org/area/65769.html Weaver Vale UK Parliament constituency] (boundaries April 2010 – May 2024) at ''MapIt UK''

{{Constituencies in North West England}} {{Authority control}} {{coord|53.260|-2.531|display=title|region:GB_scale:50000}}

Category:Parliamentary constituencies in Cheshire (historic) Category:Constituencies of the Parliament of the United Kingdom established in 1997 Category:Constituencies of the Parliament of the United Kingdom disestablished in 2024