# Coventry South (UK Parliament constituency)

Coventry South is a constituency represented in the House of Commons of the UK Parliament since 2019 by Zarah Sultana, representing the Labour Party until her suspension and whip withdrawal on 23 July 2024 for voting against the two child benefit cap. She now sits as an independent MP.

## Constituency profile

Coventry city centre is in the north of the constituency, with its cathedral, expanses of concrete offices and the university, which leads to a significant student vote in the seat. The residential tower blocks in St Michael's ward lie amid one of the most deprived areas in the country but south of the city centre it is more mixed, with the more middle-class areas of Cheylesmore, Earlsdon and Whoberley, Cannon Park, Gibbet Hill (aka Wainbody) and Westwood Heath among areas with large numbers of professionals, comfortably self-employed and academics.

## History

The constituency was created for the 1950 general election, abolished for the February 1974 general election and recreated for the 1997 general election by the merger of the former seats of Coventry South East and Coventry South West. Since 1964 the various forms of the seat, excluding the gap period, have elected the Labour candidate. The Conservative candidates, since a win in 1959, have consistently taken second place. In 2019, following the retirement of Jim Cunningham, Labour narrowly held onto the seat by 401 votes; the Conservatives made their best performance since the seat's recreation,
In 2015, the local UKIP party originally selected Mark Taylor as candidate, but he stood aside when instructed to by "party bosses." UKIP wanted to replace Taylor with "anti-gay Christian preacher" George Hargreaves. The following week, Taylor was reinstated as candidate.

## Boundaries

1950–1974: The County Borough of Coventry wards of Cheylesmore, Earlsdon, Godiva, St Michael's, Westwood, and Whoberley.
From 1974 to 1997, the city centre was part of the now-abolished Coventry South East constituency.
1997–2024: The City of Coventry wards of Binley and Willenhall, Cheylesmore, Earlsdon, St Michael's, Wainbody, and Westwood.
2024–present: The City of Coventry wards of Cheylesmore, Earlsdon, Lower Stoke, St. Michael’s, Wainbody, and Westwood.
    The Binley and Willenhall ward was transferred to the re-established seat of Coventry East in exchange for the Lower Stoke ward from the abolished Coventry North East constituency.

## Members of Parliament
### MPs 1950–1974

| Election | Member | Party |
| 1950 | Elaine Burton | Labour |
| 1959 | Philip Hocking | Conservative |
| 1964 | Bill Wilson | Labour |
| Feb 1974 | constituency abolished | constituency abolished |

### MPs 1997–present

| Election | Member | Party |
| 1997 | Jim Cunningham | Labour |
| 2019 | Zarah Sultana | Labour |
| 2024 | Zarah Sultana | Independent |

## Elections
### Elections in the 2020s

General election 2024: Coventry South :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Zarah Sultana | 20,361 | 47.6 | +3.3 |
| | Conservative | Mattie Heaven | 10,160 | 23.8 | −18.7 |
| | Reform UK | Chris Baddon | 5,711 | 13.4 | +10.5 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Stephen Richmond | 2,531 | 5.9 | −0.8 |
| | Green | Anne Patterson | 2,363 | 5.5 | +2.9 |
| | Workers Party | Mohammed Syed | 777 | 1.8 | N/A |
| | SDP | Alastair Mellon | 334 | 0.8 | N/A |
| | Independent | Niko Omilana | 263 | 0.6 | N/A |
| | Independent | Joshua Morland | 231 | 0.5 | N/A |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 10,201 | 23.8 | +22.9 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 76,262 | | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 42,731 | 56.0 | −7.5 |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | +11.0 | |

### Elections in the 2010s

General election 2019: Coventry South :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Zarah Sultana | 19,544 | 43.4 | −11.6 |
| | Conservative | Mattie Heaven | 19,143 | 42.5 | +4.4 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Stephen Richmond | 3,398 | 7.5 | +4.6 |
| | Brexit Party | James Crocker | 1,432 | 3.2 | New |
| | Green | Becky Finlayson | 1,092 | 2.4 | +1.1 |
| | Independent | Ed Manning | 435 | 1.0 | New |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 401 | 0.9 | −16.0 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 45,044 | 63.5 | −2.9 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 70,970 | | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | -8.0 | |
General election 2017: Coventry South :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Jim Cunningham | 25,874 | 55.0 | +12.7 |
| | Conservative | Michelle Lowe | 17,927 | 38.1 | +3.1 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Greg Judge | 1,343 | 2.9 | −1.2 |
| | UKIP | Ian Rogers | 1,037 | 2.2 | −10.9 |
| | Green | Aimee Challenor | 604 | 1.3 | −2.6 |
| | Independent | Sandra Findlay | 224 | 0.5 | New |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 7,947 | 16.9 | +9.6 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 47,009 | 66.4 | +5.2 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 70,754 | | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | +4.8 | |
General election 2015: Coventry South :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Jim Cunningham | 18,472 | 42.3 | +0.5 |
| | Conservative | Gary Ridley | 15,284 | 35.0 | +1.6 |
| | UKIP | Mark Taylor | 5,709 | 13.1 | +9.3 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Greg Judge | 1,779 | 4.1 | −13.9 |
| | Green | Benjamin Gallaher | 1,719 | 3.9 | +2.5 |
| | TUSC | Judy Griffiths | 650 | 1.5 | New |
| | Mainstream | Christopher Rooney | 86 | 0.2 | New |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 3,188 | 7.3 | −1.1 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 43,699 | 61.2 | −1.2 |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | -0.5 | |
General election 2010: Coventry South :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Jim Cunningham | 19,197 | 41.8 | −4.0 |
| | Conservative | Kevin Foster | 15,352 | 33.4 | +2.9 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Brian Patton | 8,278 | 18.0 | +0.4 |
| | UKIP | Mark Taylor | 1,767 | 3.8 | +1.8 |
| | Socialist Alternative | Judy Griffiths | 691 | 1.5 | −1.3 |
| | Green | Stephen Gray | 639 | 1.4 | New |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 3,845 | 8.4 | −6.9 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 45,924 | 62.4 | +3.3 |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | -3.4 | |

### Elections in the 2000s

General election 2005: Coventry South :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Jim Cunningham | 18,649 | 45.8 | −4.4 |
| | Conservative | Heather Wheeler | 12,394 | 30.5 | +1.0 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Vincent McKee | 7,228 | 17.8 | +3.7 |
| | Socialist Alternative | Robert Windsor | 1,097 | 2.7 | New |
| | UKIP | William Brown | 829 | 2.0 | New |
| | Independent | Irene Rogers | 344 | 0.8 | −0.6 |
| | Families First | James Rooney | 144 | 0.4 | New |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 6,255 | 15.3 | −5.4 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 40,685 | 59.1 | +3.8 |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | -2.7 | |
General election 2001: Coventry South :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Jim Cunningham | 20,125 | 50.2 | −0.7 |
| | Conservative | Heather Wheeler | 11,846 | 29.5 | +0.5 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Vincent McKee | 5,672 | 14.1 | +4.9 |
| | Socialist Alliance | Robert Windsor | 1,475 | 3.7 | New |
| | Independent | Irene Rogers | 564 | 1.4 | New |
| | Socialist Labour | Timothy Logan | 414 | 1.0 | New |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 8,279 | 20.7 | −1.2 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 40,096 | 55.3 | −13.4 |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | -0.6 | |

### Election in the 1990s

General election 1997: Coventry South :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Jim Cunningham | 25,511 | 50.9 | |
| | Conservative | Paul Ivey | 14,558 | 29.0 | |
| | Liberal Democrats | Gordon MacDonald | 4,617 | 9.2 | |
| | Socialist Alternative | Dave Nellist | 3,262 | 6.5 | |
| | Referendum | Paul Garratt | 943 | 1.9 | |
| | Liberal | Roger Jenking | 725 | 1.4 | |
| | BNP | Jeffrey Ashberry | 328 | 0.7 | |
| | Rainbow Dream Ticket | Anne−Marie Bradshaw | 180 | 0.4 | |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 10,953 | 21.9 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 50,124 | 68.7 | |
| | Labour win (seat recreated) | Labour win (seat recreated) | Labour win (seat recreated) | Labour win (seat recreated) | Labour win (seat recreated) |

### Election in the 1970s

General election 1970: Coventry South :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Labour | Bill Wilson | 30,010 | 51.90 |
| | Conservative | George Gardiner | 27,816 | 48.10 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 2,194 | 3.80 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 57,826 | 74.42 |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | |

### Elections in the 1960s

General election 1966: Coventry South :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Labour | Bill Wilson | 31,237 | 54.87 |
| | Conservative | Philip Hocking | 25,697 | 45.13 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 5,540 | 9.74 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 56,934 | 80.21 |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | |
General election 1964: Coventry South :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Bill Wilson | 29,240 | 51.62 | |
| | Conservative | Philip Hocking | 27,407 | 48.38 | |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,833 | 3.24 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 56,647 | 79.79 | |
| | Labour gain from Conservative | Labour gain from Conservative | Swing | | |

### Elections in the 1950s

General election 1959: Coventry South :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Philip Hocking | 28,584 | 51.65 | +3.24 |
| | Labour | Elaine Burton | 26,754 | 48.35 | −3.24 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,830 | 3.30 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 55,338 | 82.11 | |
| | Conservative gain from Labour | Conservative gain from Labour | Swing | +3.24 | |
General election 1955: Coventry South :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Elaine Burton | 27,449 | 51.59 | −3.56 |
| | Conservative | Muriel Williamson | 25,761 | 48.41 | +3.56 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,688 | 3.18 | −7.12 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 53,210 | 81.36 | −4.81 |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | -3.56 | |
General election 1951: Coventry South :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Elaine Burton | 29,271 | 55.15 | +2.46 |
| | Conservative | John Biggs-Davison | 23,803 | 44.85 | +3.64 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 5,468 | 10.30 | −1.18 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 53,074 | 86.17 | −1.08 |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | | |
General election 1950: Coventry South :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Elaine Burton | 27,977 | 52.69 | |
| | Conservative | Leslie Hore-Belisha | 21,885 | 41.21 | |
| | Liberal | Richard Soper | 3,239 | 6.10 | |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 6,092 | 11.48 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 53,101 | 87.25 | |
| | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) |