# City of Chester (UK Parliament constituency)

The City of Chester was a constituency represented in the House of Commons of the UK Parliament since 2 December 2022 by Samantha Dixon of the Labour Party. She was elected in the by-election held following the resignation of Chris Matheson MP on 21 October 2022.
The constituency has been split in two by the 2023 Periodic Review of Westminster constituencies with the majority, comprising areas to the north of the River Dee, including the city centre, being combined with the town of Neston to form Chester North and Neston, to be first contested at the 2024 general election. Areas to the south of the river have been added to Eddisbury, to be renamed Chester South and Eddisbury.

## Profile

The constituency covers the English city of Chester on the border of Wales and parts of the surrounding Cheshire West and Chester unitary authority, including the villages of Aldford, Capenhurst, Christleton, Guilden Sutton, Mollington, Newtown, Pulford and Saughall.
Much of the city of Chester itself is residential of varying characteristics, with more middle-class areas such as Upton and the large rural former council estate of Blacon which is, except where purchased under the right to buy, owned and managed by the local housing association, Chester And District Housing Trust.

## History

As part of a county palatine with a parliament of its own until the early-sixteenth century, Chester was not enfranchised (sent no MPs) until the Chester and Cheshire (Constituencies) Act 1542 (34 & 35 Hen. 8. c. 13), since when it returned two MPs to Parliament as a parliamentary borough. It continued to elect two MPs until the Redistribution of Seats Act 1885 which reduced its representation to one MP.
Under the Representation of the People Act 1918, the parliamentary borough was abolished and replaced by a county division, gaining rural areas from the neighbouring constituencies of Eddisbury and Wirral. Since then, the boundaries of the constituency have remained relatively consistent, primarily reflecting changes in local authority and ward boundaries.

## Boundaries

1918–1950: The County Borough of Chester, the Urban District of Hoole, and the Rural District of Chester.
1950–1974: As prior but with minor boundary changes to align with the revised boundaries of the Rural District of Chester.
1974–1983: The County Borough of Chester, and the Rural District of Chester.
Hoole Urban District had been absorbed by the County Borough of Chester in 1954, but the constituency boundaries remained unchanged.
1983–1997: The City of Chester wards of Blacon Hall, Boughton, Boughton Heath, Christleton, College, Curzon, Dee Point, Dodleston, Grosvenor, Hoole, Newton, Plas Newton, Sealand, Upton Grange, Upton Heath, Vicars Cross, and Westminster.
Rural areas to the north of Chester, comprising the wards of Elton, Mollington and Saughall, transferred to the new constituency of Ellesmere Port and Neston.
1997–2010: The City of Chester wards of Blacon Hall, Boughton, Boughton Heath, Christledon, College, Curzon, Dee Point, Dodleston, Grosvenor, Hoole, Mollington, Newton, Plas Newton, Saughall, Sealand, Upton Grange, Upton Heath, Vicars Cross, and Westminster.
The wards of Mollington and Saughall transferred back from Ellesmere Port and Neston.
2010–2019: The Parliamentary Constituencies (England) Order 2007 defined the boundaries as:
The City of Chester wards of Blacon Hall, Blacon Lodge, Boughton, Boughton Heath, Christleton, City and St Anne's, College, Curzon and Westminster, Dodleston, Handbridge and St Mary's, Hoole All Saints, Hoole Groves, Huntington, Lache Park, Mollington, Newton Brook, Newton St Michael's, Saughall, Upton Grange, Upton Westlea, and Vicars Cross.
Minor changes to reflect revised 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 Blacon, Boughton, Chester City, Chester Villages (part), Dodleston and Huntington, Farndon (part), Garden Quarter, Great Boughton, Handbridge Park, Hoole, Lache, Little Neston and Burton, Newton, Saughall and Mollington, and Upton.
2019–2024: Following a further local government ward boundary review in 2019, the boundaries were:
The Cheshire West and Chester wards of Central and Blacon, Chester City & the Garden Quarter, Christleton & Huntington (part), Farndon (part), Gowy Rural (part), Great Boughton, Handbridge Park, Lache, Newton & Hoole, Saughall and Mollington, and Upton.

## Political history
### Two-member seat (to 1885)

From 1715 to 1869, at least one of the two seats was held by a member of the Grosvenor family. For most of the nineteenth century, both MPs represented the Whigs and (later) the Liberals. The Conservatives held one of the two seats from 1859 to 1865 and 1868–1880.

### Single-member seat (from 1885)

The Liberals won the single-member seat in 1885 but, apart from the landslide year of 1906 (won by the Liberals with a majority of just 47 votes), Chester returned Conservative Party MPs continuously from 1886 to 1997. At most elections, majorities were in relative terms medium but the party's MPs won marginal majorities at the 1929 general election over the Liberal candidate (when the Labour Party formed a minority government) and at the 1992 general election over the Labour candidate, when the Conservatives had a small parliamentary majority.
Christine Russell of the Labour Party gained the seat easily from Gyles Brandreth at the 1997 general election after 87 years of Conservative control, and retained it until 2010. Her majority over the Conservatives had been reduced to under 1,000 votes at the 2005 general election.
Stephen Mosley of the Conservatives gained the seat from Labour at the 2010 general election. However, Mosley narrowly lost his seat five years later to Chris Matheson of the Labour Party in 2015 by 93 votes. The 2015 general election result gave the constituency the most marginal majority (0.2%) of Labour's 232 seats won that year.
Matheson was re-elected at the 2017 general election with a significantly increased majority of 9,176 votes, one of the largest swings to Labour in the election. At 56.8%, it was the highest share of the vote that Labour has ever had in the constituency and it is no longer considered a marginal seat. At the 2019 election, Matheson was elected once again, with a reduced but still comfortable majority of 11.3%. On 21 October 2022, he resigned after allegations of sexual impropriety led him to be suspended from the House of Commons for four weeks, occasioning a by-election held on 1 December, which was won by Samantha Dixon with an increased majority for Labour.

## Members of Parliament
### MPs 1545 to 1660

| Year | First member | Second member |
| 1545 | Sir Lawrence Smith | |
| 1547 | Richard Sneyd | William Aldersey |
| 1553 (Mar) | Richard Sneyd | Randall Mainwaring |
| 1553 (Oct) | Richard Sneyd | Thomas Massey |
| 1554 (Apr) | Richard Sneyd | William Aldersey |
| 1554 (Nov) | Richard Sneyd | Thomas Massey |
| 1555 | William Gerard | William Aldersey |
| 1558 | Sir Lawrence Smith | William Gerard |
| 1559 (Jan) | Sir Lawrence Smith | William Gerard |
| 1562–1563 | William Gerard | John Yerworth |
| 1571 | William Gerard | William Glasier |
| 1572 (Apr) | William Gerard | William Glasier |
| 1584 (Nov) | Richard Birkheved | Richard Bavand |
| 1586 (Sep) | Richard Birkheved | Peter Warburton |
| 1588–1589 | Richard Birkheved | Peter Warburton |
| 1593 | Richard Birkheved | Gilbert Gerard |
| 1597 (Sep) | Peter Warburton | William Brock |
| 1601 | Hugh Glasier | Thomas Gamull |
| 1604 | Thomas Lawton | Hugh Glasier |
| 1606 | Thomas Gamull | Hugh Glasier |
| 1610 | Thomas Gamull | Sir John Bingley |
| 1614 | Edward Whitby | Sir John Bingley |
| 1621–1622 | Edward Whitby | John Ratcliffe |
| 1624 | Edward Whitby | John Savage |
| 1625 | Edward Whitby | Sir John Savage |
| 1626 | Edward Whitby | William Gamull |
| 1628–1629 | Edward Whitby | John Ratcliffe |
| 1629–1640 | No Parliaments summoned | No Parliaments summoned |
| Apr 1640 | Sir Thomas Smith | Robert Brerewood |
| Nov 1640 | Sir Thomas Smith† | Francis Gamull† |
| 1645 | William Edwards | John Ratcliffe |
| 1653 | Chester not represented in Barebones Parliament | Chester not represented in Barebones Parliament |
| 1654 | Charles Walley | One seat only |
| 1656 | Edward Bradshaw | One seat only |
| 1659 | Jonathan Ridge | John Griffith |
    † Smith and Gamull were both disabled from serving in 1644.

### MPs 1660–1880

| Year | First member | First party | Second member | Second party |
| 1660 | John Ratcliffe | | William Ince | |
| 1661 | John Ratcliffe | | Sir Thomas Smith, Bt | |
| 1673 | Robert Werden | Tory | Sir Thomas Smith, Bt | |
| 1675 | Robert Werden | Tory | William Williams | |
| 1679 | Sir Thomas Grosvenor, Bt | Tory | William Williams | |
| 1681 | Roger Whitley | Whig | William Williams | |
| 1685 | Sir Thomas Grosvenor, Bt | Tory | Robert Werden | Tory |
| 1689 | Roger Whitley | Whig | George Mainwaring | Whig |
| 1690 | Sir Thomas Grosvenor, Bt | Tory | Sir Richard Levinge, Bt | Tory |
| 1695 | Sir Thomas Grosvenor, Bt | Tory | Roger Whitley | Whig |
| January 1698 | Sir Thomas Grosvenor, Bt | Tory | Thomas Cowper | |
| July 1698 | Sir Thomas Grosvenor, Bt | Tory | Peter Shakerley | Tory |
| 1701 | Sir Henry Bunbury, Bt | Tory | Peter Shakerley | Tory |
| 1715 | Sir Henry Bunbury, Bt | Tory | Sir Richard Grosvenor, Bt | Tory |
| 1727 | Sir Thomas Grosvenor, Bt | | Sir Richard Grosvenor, Bt | Tory |
| January 1733 | Sir Thomas Grosvenor, Bt | | Sir Robert Grosvenor, Bt | |
| March 1733 | Sir Charles Bunbury, Bt | | Sir Robert Grosvenor, Bt | |
| 1742 | Philip Henry Warburton | | Sir Robert Grosvenor, Bt | |
| 1754 | Sir Richard Grosvenor, Bt | | Sir Robert Grosvenor, Bt | |
| 1755 | Sir Richard Grosvenor, Bt | | Thomas Grosvenor | |
| 1761 | Richard Wilbraham-Bootle | | Thomas Grosvenor | |
| 1790 | Viscount Belgrave | | Thomas Grosvenor | |
| 1795 | Viscount Belgrave | | Thomas Grosvenor | Whig |
| 1802 | Richard Erle-Drax-Grosvenor | | Thomas Grosvenor | Whig |
| 1807 | John Grey Egerton | | Thomas Grosvenor | Whig |
| 1818 | Viscount Belgrave | Whig | Thomas Grosvenor | Whig |
| 1826 | Viscount Belgrave | Whig | Lord Robert Grosvenor | Whig |
| 1830 | Sir Philip Grey Egerton, Bt | Tory | Lord Robert Grosvenor | Whig |
| 1831 | Foster Cunliffe-Offley | Whig | Lord Robert Grosvenor | Whig |
| May 1832 | John Finchett Maddock | Whig | Lord Robert Grosvenor | Whig |
| December 1832 | Sir John Jervis | Radical | Lord Robert Grosvenor | Whig |
| 1847 | Sir John Jervis | Radical | Earl Grosvenor | Whig |
| 1850 | William Owen Stanley | Whig | Earl Grosvenor | Whig |
| 1857 | Enoch Salisbury | Radical | Earl Grosvenor | Whig |
| 1859 | Philip Stapleton Humberston | Conservative | Earl Grosvenor | Liberal |
| 1865 | William Henry Gladstone | Liberal | Earl Grosvenor | Liberal |
| 1868 | Henry Cecil Raikes | Conservative | Earl Grosvenor | Liberal |
| 1869 | Henry Cecil Raikes | Conservative | Hon. Norman Grosvenor | Liberal |
| 1874 | Henry Cecil Raikes | Conservative | John George Dodson | Liberal |
| 1880 | Beilby Lawley | Liberal | John George Dodson | Liberal |
| 1880 | Writ suspended | Writ suspended | Writ suspended | Writ suspended |

### MPs since 1885

| Election | Member | Party |
| 1885 | Walter Foster | Liberal |
| 1886 | Robert Yerburgh | Conservative |
| 1906 | Alfred Mond | Liberal |
| 1910 | Robert Yerburgh | Conservative |
| 1916 by-election | Sir Owen Philipps | Unionist |
| 1922 | Sir Charles Cayzer | Unionist |
| 1940 by-election | Sir Basil Nield | Conservative |
| 1956 by-election | John Temple | Conservative |
| 1974 | Peter Morrison | Conservative |
| 1992 | Gyles Brandreth | Conservative |
| 1997 | Christine Russell | Labour |
| 2010 | Stephen Mosley | Conservative |
| 2015 | Chris Matheson | Labour |
| 2022 by-election | Samantha Dixon | Labour |

## Elections
### Elections in the 2020s

By-election 2022: City of Chester :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Samantha Dixon | 17,309 | 60.8 | +11.2 |
| | Conservative | Liz Wardlaw | 6,335 | 22.2 | ―16.1 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Rob Herd | 2,368 | 8.3 | +1.5 |
| | Green | Paul Bowers | 987 | 3.5 | +0.9 |
| | Reform UK | Jeanie Barton | 773 | 2.7 | +0.2 |
| | Rejoin EU | Richard Hewison | 277 | 1.0 | New |
| | UKIP | Cain Griffiths | 179 | 0.6 | New |
| | Monster Raving Loony | Howling Laud Hope | 156 | 0.5 | New |
| | Freedom Alliance | Chris Quartermaine | 91 | 0.3 | New |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 10,974 | 38.6 | +27.3 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 28,475 | 41.2 | ―30.5 |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | +13.7 | |

### Elections in the 2010s

General election 2019: City of Chester :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Chris Matheson | 27,082 | 49.6 | ―7.2 |
| | Conservative | Samantha George | 20,918 | 38.3 | ―2.2 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Bob Thompson | 3,734 | 6.8 | +4.1 |
| | Green | Nicholas Brown | 1,438 | 2.6 | New |
| | Brexit Party | Andy Argyle | 1,388 | 2.5 | New |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 6,164 | 11.3 | ―5.0 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 54,560 | 71.7 | ―5.7 |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | ―2.5 | |
General election 2017: City of Chester :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Chris Matheson | 32,023 | 56.8 | +13.6 |
| | Conservative | Will Gallagher | 22,847 | 40.5 | ―2.6 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Lizzie Jewkes | 1,551 | 2.7 | ―2.9 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 9,176 | 16.3 | +16.2 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 56,421 | 77.4 | +9.7 |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | +8.1 | |
General election 2015: City of Chester :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Chris Matheson | 22,118 | 43.2 | +8.1 |
| | Conservative | Stephen Mosley | 22,025 | 43.1 | +2.5 |
| | UKIP | Steve Ingram | 4,148 | 8.1 | +5.5 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Bob Thompson | 2,870 | 5.6 | ―13.5 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 93 | 0.1 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 51,161 | 67.7 | +1.0 |
| | Labour gain from Conservative | Labour gain from Conservative | Swing | +2.9 | |
General election 2010: City of Chester :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Stephen Mosley | 18,995 | 40.6 | +3.8 |
| | Labour | Christine Russell | 16,412 | 35.1 | −3.8 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Lizzie Jewkes | 8,930 | 19.1 | −2.8 |
| | UKIP | Allan Weddell | 1,225 | 2.6 | +0.9 |
| | English Democrat | Ed Abrams | 594 | 1.3 | +0.6 |
| | Green | Malcolm Barker | 535 | 1.1 | New |
| | Independent | John Whittingham | 99 | 0.2 | New |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 2,583 | 5.5 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 46,853 | 66.7 | +2.4 |
| | Conservative gain from Labour | Conservative gain from Labour | Swing | +3.9 | |

### Elections in the 2000s

General election 2005: City of Chester :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Christine Russell | 17,458 | 38.9 | −9.6 |
| | Conservative | Paul Offer | 16,543 | 36.8 | +3.7 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Mia Jones | 9,818 | 21.9 | +7.2 |
| | UKIP | Allan Weddell | 776 | 1.7 | –0.3 |
| | English Democrat | Ed Abrams | 308 | 0.7 | New |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 917 | 2.1 | –13.3 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 44,903 | 64.3 | +0.5 |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | –6.7 | |
General election 2001: City of Chester :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Christine Russell | 21,760 | 48.5 | −4.5 |
| | Conservative | David Jones | 14,866 | 33.1 | −1.1 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Tony Dawson | 6,589 | 14.7 | +5.2 |
| | UKIP | Allan Weddell | 899 | 2.0 | New |
| | Independent | George Rogers | 763 | 1.7 | New |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 6,894 | 15.4 | –2.8 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 44,877 | 63.8 | −14.6 |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | −1.7 | |

### Elections in the 1990s

General election 1997: City of Chester :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Christine Russell | 29,806 | 53.0 | +12.4 |
| | Conservative | Gyles Brandreth | 19,253 | 34.2 | −10.5 |
| | Liberal Democrats | David Simpson | 5,353 | 9.5 | −4.1 |
| | Referendum | Richard Mullen | 1,487 | 2.6 | New |
| | Monster Raving Loony | Ian Sanderson | 204 | 0.4 | New |
| | West Cheshire College In Crisis | William Johnson | 154 | 0.3 | New |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 10,553 | 18.2 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 56,257 | 78.4 | −5.5 |
| | Labour gain from Conservative | Labour gain from Conservative | Swing | +11.5 | |
General election 1992: City of Chester :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Gyles Brandreth | 23,411 | 44.1 | −0.8 |
| | Labour | David Robinson | 22,310 | 42.0 | +6.4 |
| | Liberal Democrats | John Smith | 6,867 | 12.9 | −6.6 |
| | Green | Malcolm Barker | 448 | 0.8 | New |
| | Natural Law | Stephen Cross | 98 | 0.2 | New |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,101 | 2.1 | −7.1 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 53,134 | 83.9 | +4.1 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | −3.6 | |

### Elections in the 1980s

General election 1987: City of Chester :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Peter Morrison | 23,582 | 44.9 | −2.2 |
| | Labour | David Robinson | 18,727 | 35.6 | +7.4 |
| | Liberal | Andrew Stunell | 10,262 | 19.5 | −5.2 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 4,855 | 9.3 | −9.6 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 52,571 | 79.8 | +5.3 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | -4.8 | |
General election 1983: City of Chester :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Peter Morrison | 22,645 | 47.1 | −4.3 |
| | Labour | David Robertson | 13,546 | 28.2 | −6.6 |
| | Liberal | Andrew Stunell | 11,874 | 24.7 | +10.9 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 9,099 | 18.9 | +2.3 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 48,065 | 74.5 | −3.1 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | +1.1 | |

### Elections in the 1970s

General election 1979: City of Chester :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Conservative | Peter Morrison | 28,764 | 51.43 |
| | Labour | R.D. Blair | 19,450 | 34.78 |
| | Liberal | Andrew Stunell | 7,711 | 13.79 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 9,314 | 16.65 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 55,925 | 77.64 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | |
General election October 1974: City of Chester :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Conservative | Peter Morrison | 23,095 | 44.01 |
| | Labour | John Crawford | 18,477 | 35.21 |
| | Liberal | R.M. Green | 10,907 | 20.78 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 4,618 | 8.80 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 52,479 | 75.40 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | |
General election February 1974: City of Chester :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Conservative | Peter Morrison | 24,527 | 44.29 |
| | Labour | John Crawford | 17,759 | 32.07 |
| | Liberal | R. Green | 13,098 | 23.65 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 6,768 | 12.22 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 55,384 | 80.31 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | |
General election 1970: City of Chester :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Conservative | John Temple | 25,877 | 52.04 |
| | Labour | John Crawford | 18,872 | 37.95 |
| | Liberal | Michael J. G. Tompkins | 4,978 | 10.01 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 7,005 | 14.09 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 49,727 | 73.15 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | |

### Elections in the 1960s

General election 1966: City of Chester :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Conservative | John Temple | 21,673 | 46.05 |
| | Labour | John Crawford | 18,870 | 40.10 |
| | Liberal | Peter James Samuel | 6,516 | 13.85 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 2,803 | 5.95 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 47,059 | 78.05 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | |
General election 1964: City of Chester :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | John Temple | 23,172 | 48.82 | |
| | Labour | Anthony Blond | 16,708 | 35.20 | |
| | Liberal | Peter James Samuel | 7,583 | 15.98 | New |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 6,464 | 13.62 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 47,463 | 79.56 | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | | |

### Elections in the 1950s

General election 1959: City of Chester :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Conservative | John Temple | 27,847 | 61.42 |
| | Labour | Lewis Carter-Jones | 17,492 | 38.58 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 10,355 | 22.84 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 45,339 | 78.69 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | |
1956 City of Chester by-election :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | John Temple | 21,137 | 51.72 | −4.94 |
| | Labour | Lewis Carter-Jones | 14,789 | 36.19 | +4.56 |
| | Liberal | John Seys-Llewellyn | 4,942 | 12.09 | +0.38 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 6,348 | 15.53 | −9.50 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 40,868 | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | | |
General election 1955: City of Chester :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Conservative | Basil Nield | 24,905 | 56.66 |
| | Labour | John Forrester | 13,903 | 31.63 |
| | Liberal | John Seys-Llewellyn | 5,145 | 11.71 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 11,002 | 25.03 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 43,953 | |
General election 1951: City of Chester :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Conservative | Basil Nield | 26,743 | 58.52 |
| | Labour | John G. Hughes | 18,958 | 41.48 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 7,785 | 17.04 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 45,701 | 82.57 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | |
General election 1950: City of Chester :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Conservative | Basil Nield | 23,660 | 51.41 |
| | Labour | Campbell McKinnon | 16,021 | 34.81 |
| | Liberal | Arthur Harvey Willitt | 6,342 | 13.78 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 7,639 | 16.60 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 46,023 | 83.88 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | |

### Elections in the 1940s

General election 1945: City of Chester :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Conservative | Basil Nield | 19,064 | 50.33 |
| | Labour | David Martin Hopkinson | 13,585 | 35.87 |
| | Liberal | Albert Edward Everett Jones | 5,229 | 13.80 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 5,479 | 14.46 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 37,878 | 72.14 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | |
1940 City of Chester by-election :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Basil Nield | Unopposed | N/A | N/A |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold |

### Elections in the 1930s

General election 1935: City of Chester :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Conservative | Charles Cayzer | 16,882 | 50.37 |
| | Liberal | Garner Evans | 10,183 | 30.38 |
| | Labour | Lois Bulley | 6,450 | 19.25 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 6,699 | 19.99 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 33,515 | 77.86 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | |
General election 1931: City of Chester :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Conservative | Charles Cayzer | 18,174 | 51.73 |
| | Liberal | Aubrey Herbert | 11,770 | 33.50 |
| | Labour | Joseph Lewis | 5,186 | 14.76 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 6,404 | 18.23 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 35,130 | 85.77 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | |

### Elections in the 1920s

General election 1929: Chester :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Unionist | Charles Cayzer | 13,454 | 41.3 | −11.9 |
| | Liberal | Aubrey Herbert | 13,292 | 40.8 | +17.2 |
| | Labour | W. Herron | 5,846 | 17.9 | −5.3 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 162 | 0.5 | −29.1 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 32,592 | 82.3 | +0.4 |
| | Unionist hold | Unionist hold | Swing | -14.5 | |
General election 1924: Chester :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Unionist | Charles Cayzer | 12,491 | 53.2 | +7.8 |
| | Liberal | William Craven Llewelyn | 5,538 | 23.6 | −4.7 |
| | Labour | George Beardsworth | 5,451 | 23.2 | −3.1 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 6,953 | 29.6 | +12.5 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 23,480 | 81.9 | +3.3 |
| | Unionist hold | Unionist hold | Swing | | |
General election 1923: Chester :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Unionist | Charles Cayzer | 9,985 | 45.4 | −8.7 |
| | Liberal | William Craven Llewelyn | 6,212 | 28.3 | +7.0 |
| | Labour | George Muff | 5,773 | 26.3 | +1.7 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 3,773 | 17.1 | −15.6 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 21,790 | 78.6 | −2.6 |
| | Unionist hold | Unionist hold | Swing | -7.9 | |
General election 1922: Chester :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Unionist | Charles Cayzer | 11,938 | 54.1 | −2.2 |
| | Labour | George Muff | 5,414 | 24.6 | +8.9 |
| | Liberal | Joseph Banks | 4,688 | 21.3 | −6.7 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 6,524 | 29.5 | +1.2 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 22.040 | 81.2 | +16.0 |
| | Unionist hold | Unionist hold | Swing | | |

### Elections in the 1910s

General election 1918: Chester :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| C | Unionist | Owen Philipps | 10,043 | 56.3 | +5.6 |
| | Liberal | Edward Paul | 4,993 | 28.0 | −21.3 |
| | Labour | Arthur Mason | 2,799 | 15.7 | New |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 5,050 | 28.3 | +26.9 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 17,835 | 65.2 | −27.0 |
| | Unionist hold | Unionist hold | Swing | | |
| C indicates candidate endorsed by the coalition government. ||||||
By-election 1916: Chester :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Unionist | Owen Philipps | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| | Unionist hold | Unionist hold | Unionist hold | Unionist hold | Unionist hold |
General election December 1910: Chester :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Robert Yerburgh | 3,787 | 50.7 | −0.6 |
| | Liberal | Edward Paul | 3,681 | 49.3 | +0.6 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 106 | 1.4 | −1.2 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 7,468 | 92.2 | −3.5 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 8,102 | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | −0.6 | |
General election January 1910: Chester :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Robert Yerburgh | 3,978 | 51.3 | +1.6 |
| | Liberal | Edward Paul | 3,776 | 48.7 | −1.6 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 202 | 2.6 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 7,754 | 95.7 | +7.3 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 8,102 | | |
| | Conservative gain from Liberal | Conservative gain from Liberal | Swing | +1.6 | |

### Elections in the 1900s

General election 1906: Chester :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | Alfred Mond | 3,524 | 50.3 | +6.5 |
| | Conservative | Robert Yerburgh | 3,477 | 49.7 | −6.5 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 47 | 0.6 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 7,001 | 88.4 | +7.4 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 7,918 | | |
| | Liberal gain from Conservative | Liberal gain from Conservative | Swing | +6.5 | |

### Elections 1832–1900

General election 1900: City of Chester (1 seat) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Robert Yerburgh | 3,303 | 56.2 | N/A |
| | Liberal | Howell Idris | 2,574 | 43.8 | New |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 729 | 12.4 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 5,877 | 81.0 | N/A |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 7,257 | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | N/A | |
General election 1895: City of Chester :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Robert Yerburgh | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold |
General election 1892: City of Chester :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Robert Yerburgh | 3,148 | 55.5 | +4.8 |
| | Liberal | Hugh Halkett | 2,528 | 44.5 | −4.8 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 620 | 11.0 | +9.6 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 5,676 | 84.1 | +4.2 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 6,747 | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | +4.8 | |
General election 1886: City of Chester :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Robert Yerburgh | 2,549 | 50.7 | +3.6 |
| | Liberal | Walter Foster | 2,483 | 49.3 | −3.6 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 66 | 1.4 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 5,032 | 79.9 | −2.4 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 6,296 | | |
| | Conservative gain from Liberal | Conservative gain from Liberal | Swing | +3.6 | |
General election 1885: City of Chester :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | Walter Foster | 2,740 | 52.9 | −8.3 |
| | Conservative | Robert Yerburgh | 2,440 | 47.1 | +8.4 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 300 | 5.8 | +4.7 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 5,180 | 82.3 | +14.1 (est) |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 6,296 | | |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Swing | −8.4 | |
By-Election 8 May 1880: City of Chester :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | John Dodson | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Liberal hold |
* Caused by Dodson's appointment as President of the Local Government Board. The result was rendered moot when the previous general election result was voided upon petition. Dodson quickly stood in Scarborough instead.
General election 1880: City of Chester (2 seats) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | John Dodson | 3,204 | 30.9 | −1.4 |
| | Liberal | Beilby Lawley | 3,147 | 30.3 | −1.8 |
| | Conservative | Henry Raikes | 2,056 | 19.8 | +2.0 |
| | Conservative | Thomas Sandys | 1,961 | 18.9 | +1.1 |
| | Independent | Frederick Lewis Malgarini | 16 | 0.2 | New |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,091 | 10.5 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 5,192 (est) | 68.2 (est) | −3.4 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 7,611 | | |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Swing | −1.7 | |
| | Liberal gain from Conservative | Liberal gain from Conservative | Swing | −1.5 | |
* The election was declared void for bribery and the writ suspended. Chester was left unreprented until the next general election. Lawley succeeded to the peerage later that year.
General election 1874: City of Chester :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Henry Cecil Raikes | 2,356 | 35.6 | +3.4 |
| | Liberal | John George Dodson | 2,134 | 32.3 | −1.0 |
| | Liberal | Thomas Gibbons Frost | 2,125 | 32.1 | −2.4 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 222 | 3.3 | −10.1 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 4,486 (est) | 71.6 (est) | −2.8 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 6,268 | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | +2.1 | |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Swing | −1.4 | |
By-election, 4 December 1869: City of Chester :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | Norman Grosvenor | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Liberal hold |
Succession of Earl Grosvenor to the peerage as Marquess of Westminster.
General election 1868: City of Chester (2 seats) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | Hugh Grosvenor | 2,270 | 33.3 | −6.3 |
| | Conservative | Henry Cecil Raikes | 2,198 | 32.2 | −1.6 |
| | Liberal | Enoch Salisbury | 1,283 | 18.8 | N/A |
| | Liberal | Richard Hoare | 1,071 | 15.7 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 4,510 (est) | 74.4 (est) | +3.1 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 6,062 | | |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 72 | 1.1 | −8.0 |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Swing | −2.8 | |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 915 | 13.4 | N/A |
| | Conservative gain from Liberal | Conservative gain from Liberal | Swing | N/A | |
General election 1865: City of Chester :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | Hugh Grosvenor | 1,284 | 39.6 | −5.0 |
| | Liberal | William Henry Gladstone | 860 | 26.5 | +4.9 |
| | Conservative | William Fenton | 565 | 17.4 | +0.5 |
| | Conservative | Henry Cecil Raikes | 533 | 16.4 | −0.5 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 295 | 9.1 | −1.7 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,621 (est) | 71.3 (est) | +5.7 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 2,274 | | |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Swing | −2.5 | |
| | Liberal gain from Conservative | Liberal gain from Conservative | Swing | +2.5 | |
General election 1859: City of Chester (2 seats) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | Hugh Grosvenor | 1,464 | 44.6 | +2.5 |
| | Conservative | Philip Stapleton Humberston | 1,110 | 33.8 | New |
| | Liberal | Enoch Salisbury | 708 | 21.6 | −5.0 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,641 (est) | 65.6 (est) | +4.8 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 2,502 | | |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 354 | 10.8 | 0.0 |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Swing | N/A | |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 402 | 12.2 | N/A |
| | Conservative gain from Liberal | Conservative gain from Liberal | Swing | N/A | |
General election 1857: City of Chester :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Whig | Hugh Grosvenor | 1,244 | 42.1 | N/A |
| | Radical | Enoch Salisbury | 924 | 31.3 | N/A |
| | Whig | Henry Grenfell | 786 | 26.6 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,477 (est) | 60.8 (est) | N/A |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 2,428 | | |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 320 | 10.8 | N/A |
| | Whig hold | Whig hold | Swing | N/A | |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 138 | 4.7 | N/A |
| | Radical gain from Whig | Radical gain from Whig | Radical gain from Whig | Radical gain from Whig | Radical gain from Whig |
General election 1852: City of Chester :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Whig | Hugh Grosvenor | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| | Whig | William Owen Stanley | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 2,524 | | |
| | Whig hold | Whig hold | Whig hold | Whig hold | Whig hold |
| | Whig gain from Radical | Whig gain from Radical | Whig gain from Radical | Whig gain from Radical | Whig gain from Radical |
By-election, 22 July 1850: City of Chester :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Whig | William Owen Stanley | 986 | 60.5 | N/A |
| | Conservative | Edward Egerton | 645 | 39.5 | New |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 341 | 21.0 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,631 | 64.5 | N/A |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 2,529 | | |
| | Whig gain from Radical | Whig gain from Radical | Swing | N/A | |
* Caused by Jervis' resignation after his appointment as Chief Justice of the Court of Common Pleas.
General election 1847: City of Chester (2 seats) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Whig | Hugh Grosvenor | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| | Radical | John Jervis | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 2,450 | | |
| | Whig hold | Whig hold | Whig hold | Whig hold | Whig hold |
| | Radical hold | Radical hold | Radical hold | Radical hold | Radical hold |
By-election, 30 January 1847: City of Chester :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Whig | Hugh Grosvenor | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| | Whig hold | Whig hold | Whig hold | Whig hold | Whig hold |
* Caused by Grosvenor's resignation, by accepting the office of Steward of the Chiltern Hundreds, in order to contest a by-election at Middlesex
By-election, 8 August 1846: City of Chester :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Whig | Robert Grosvenor | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| | Whig hold | Whig hold | Whig hold | Whig hold | Whig hold |
* Caused by Grosvenor's appointment as Treasurer of the Household
By-election, 11 July 1846: City of Chester :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Radical | John Jervis | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| | Radical hold | Radical hold | Radical hold | Radical hold | Radical hold |
* Caused by Jervis' appointment as Solicitor-General for England and Wales
General election 1841: City of Chester (2 seats) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Whig | Robert Grosvenor | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| | Radical | John Jervis | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 2,444 | | |
| | Whig hold | Whig hold | Whig hold | Whig hold | Whig hold |
| | Radical hold | Radical hold | Radical hold | Radical hold | Radical hold |
General election 1837: City of Chester (2 seats) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Whig | Robert Grosvenor | 1,282 | 46.7 | N/A |
| | Radical | John Jervis | 1,109 | 40.4 | N/A |
| | Conservative | Frederick Dudley Ryder | 352 | 12.8 | New |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,427 | 62.1 | N/A |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 2,298 | | |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 173 | 6.3 | N/A |
| | Whig hold | Whig hold | Swing | N/A | |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 757 | 27.6 | N/A |
| | Radical hold | Radical hold | Swing | N/A | |
General election 1835: City of Chester (2 seats) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Whig | Robert Grosvenor | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| | Radical | John Jervis | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 2,053 | | |
| | Whig hold | Whig hold | Whig hold | Whig hold | Whig hold |
| | Radical hold | Radical hold | Radical hold | Radical hold | Radical hold |
General election 1832: City of Chester (2 seats) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Whig | Robert Grosvenor | 1,166 | 42.9 | N/A |
| | Radical | John Jervis | 1,053 | 38.7 | N/A |
| | Whig | John Finchett Maddock | 499 | 18.4 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,574 | 77.6 | N/A |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 2,028 | | |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 113 | 4.2 | N/A |
| | Whig hold | Whig hold | Swing | N/A | |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 554 | 20.3 | N/A |
| | Radical gain from Whig | Radical gain from Whig | Swing | N/A | |

### Elections before 1832

By-election, 18 May 1832: City of Chester :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Whig | John Finchett Maddock | 577 | 56.1 | N/A |
| | Radical | Edward Davies Davenport | 452 | 43.9 | N/A |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 125 | 12.2 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,029 | c. 79.2 | N/A |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | c. 1,300 | | |
| | Whig hold | Whig hold | Swing | N/A | |
* Caused by Cunliffe-Offley's death
General election 1831: City of Chester (2 seats) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Whig | Robert Grosvenor | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| | Whig | Foster Cunliffe-Offley | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | c. 1,300 | | |
| | Whig hold | Whig hold | Whig hold | Whig hold | Whig hold |
| | Whig gain from Tory | Whig gain from Tory | Whig gain from Tory | Whig gain from Tory | Whig gain from Tory |
By-election, 15 March 1831: City of Chester :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Whig | Robert Grosvenor | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | c. 1,300 | | |
| | Whig hold | Whig hold | Whig hold | Whig hold | Whig hold |
* Caused by Grosvenor vacating his seat
By-election, 11 December 1830: City of Chester :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Whig | Robert Grosvenor | 246 | 61.5 | N/A |
| | Whig | Foster Cunliffe-Offley | 154 | 38.5 | N/A |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 92 | 23.0 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 400 | | N/A |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | | | |
| | Whig hold | Whig hold | Swing | N/A | |
* Caused by Grosvenor's appointment as Comptroller of the Household
General election 1830: City of Chester (2 seats) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Whig | Robert Grosvenor | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| | Tory | Philip Grey Egerton | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | | | |
| | Whig hold | Whig hold | Whig hold | Whig hold | Whig hold |
| | Tory gain from Whig | Tory gain from Whig | Tory gain from Whig | Tory gain from Whig | Tory gain from Whig |