# Morpeth (UK Parliament constituency)

Morpeth was a constituency centred on the town of Morpeth in Northumberland represented in the House of Commons of the Parliament of England from 1553 to 1707, the Parliament of Great Britain from 1707 to 1800, and then the Parliament of the United Kingdom from 1800 to 1983.
The Parliamentary Borough of Morpeth first sent Members (MPs) to Parliament in 1553. It elected two MPs under the bloc vote system until the 1832 general election, when the Great Reform Act reduced its representation to one MP, elected under the first past the post system. The seat was redesignated as a county constituency for the 1950 general election and abolished for the 1983 general election.

## Boundaries
### 1832–1868

The parliamentary borough, as defined by the Parliamentary Boundaries Act 1832, comprised the township of Morpeth and several surrounding townships, as well as the parish of Bedlington.

### 1868–1918

Under the Boundary Act 1868, the borough was expanded to include the townships of Cowpen and Newsham, which incorporated the town of Blyth.
No changes were made by the Redistribution of Seats Act 1885.

### 1918–1950

* the Municipal Borough of Morpeth
* the Urban Districts of Ashington, Bedlingtonshire, and Blyth
* part of the Rural District of Morpeth
The boundaries were largely unchanged, except for the addition of Ashington.

### 1950–1983

* the Municipal Borough of Morpeth
* the Urban Districts of Ashington and Newbiggin-by-the-Sea
* the Rural District of Morpeth.
Blyth and Bedlington formed the basis of the new constituency of Blyth. Newbiggin-by-the-Sea and the remainder (bulk) of the Rural District of Morpeth was transferred from Wansbeck, which was now abolished.

### Abolition

On abolition in 1983, 6 rural wards to the north of Morpeth were transferred to Berwick-upon-Tweed. The remainder of the seat formed the basis of the re-established constituency of Wansbeck.

## Members of Parliament
### 1553–1640

| Parliament | First member | Second member |
| 1553 (Oct) | John Watson | William Ward |
| 1554 (Apr) | Thomas Bates | William Ward |
| 1554 (Nov) | Sir Henry Percy | William Ward |
| 1555 | ?Cuthbert Horsley | ?Thomas Bates |
| 1558 | Robert Wheatley | Thomas Bates |
| 1558–9 | William Ward | Nicholas Purslow |
| 1562 (Dec) | William Ward | Arthur Welshe |
| 1571 | Francis Gawdy | Nicholas Mynn |
| 1572 (Apr) | Sir George Bowes died and replaced Dec 1580 by Richard Drake | Richard Wroth |
| 1584 | William Carey | George Gifford |
| 1586 | Robert Carey, 1st Earl of Monmouth | Anthony Felton |
| 1588–9 | Robert Carey, 1st Earl of Monmouth | Henry Noel |
| 1593 | Robert Carey, 1st Earl of Monmouth, sat for Callington, replaced by Edmund Bowyer | Francis Tyndale |
| 1597 (Sep) | Robert Printis | Thomas Carleton |
| 1601 (Oct) | George Savile | John Browne |
| 1604–1611 | Sir Christopher Perkins | John Hare |
| 1614 | William Button | Arnold Herbert |
| 1621–1622 | Robert Brandling | John Robson Robson declared ineligible, being a priest replaced by Ralph Fetherstonhaugh |
| 1624 | Sir Thomas Reynell | Sir William Carnaby |
| 1625 | Sir Thomas Reynell | Sir Anthony Herbert |
| 1626 | Sir Thomas Reynell | John Bankes |
| 1628 | Sir Thomas Reynell | John Bankes |
| 1629–1640 | No Parliaments convened | No Parliaments convened |

### 1640–1832

| Year | | First member | First party | | Second member | Second party |
| November 1640 | | Sir William Carnaby | Royalist | | John Fenwick | Royalist |
| August 1642 | Carnaby disabled from sitting – seat vacant | Carnaby disabled from sitting – seat vacant | Carnaby disabled from sitting – seat vacant | | | | John Fenwick | Royalist |
| January 1643 | Carnaby disabled from sitting – seat vacant | Carnaby disabled from sitting – seat vacant | Carnaby disabled from sitting – seat vacant | Fenwick disabled from sitting – seat vacant | Fenwick disabled from sitting – seat vacant | Fenwick disabled from sitting – seat vacant |
| 1645 | | Hon. John Fiennes | | | George Fenwick | |
| December 1648 | Fiennes excluded in Pride's Purge – seat vacant | Fiennes excluded in Pride's Purge – seat vacant | Fiennes excluded in Pride's Purge – seat vacant | | | | George Fenwick | |
| 1653 | Morpeth was unrepresented in the Barebones Parliament and the First and Second Parliaments of the Protectorate | Morpeth was unrepresented in the Barebones Parliament and the First and Second Parliaments of the Protectorate | Morpeth was unrepresented in the Barebones Parliament and the First and Second Parliaments of the Protectorate | Morpeth was unrepresented in the Barebones Parliament and the First and Second Parliaments of the Protectorate | Morpeth was unrepresented in the Barebones Parliament and the First and Second Parliaments of the Protectorate | Morpeth was unrepresented in the Barebones Parliament and the First and Second Parliaments of the Protectorate |
| January 1659 | | Robert Delaval | | | Robert Mitford | |
| May 1659 | Morpeth was unrepresented in the restored Rump | Morpeth was unrepresented in the restored Rump | Morpeth was unrepresented in the restored Rump | Morpeth was unrepresented in the restored Rump | Morpeth was unrepresented in the restored Rump | Morpeth was unrepresented in the restored Rump |
| April 1660 | | Thomas Widdrington jnr (died May 1660) | | | Ralph Knight | |
| June 1660 | | Sir George Downing | | | Ralph Knight | |
| 1661 | | Sir George Downing | | | Henry Widdrington | |
| 1666 | | Sir George Downing | | | Edward Howard | |
| 1679 | | Sir George Downing | | | Daniel Collingwood | |
| 1685 | | Sir Henry Pickering | | | Theophilus Oglethorpe | |
| 1689 | | Charles Howard | | | Roger Fenwick | |
| 1692 | | George Nicholas | | | Roger Fenwick | |
| 1695 | | George Nicholas | | | Sir Henry Belasyse | |
| 1698 | | Philip Howard | Whig | | Sir Henry Belasyse | |
| January 1701 | | William Howard | | | Sir Henry Belasyse | |
| May 1701 | | Sir Richard Sandford | | | Sir Henry Belasyse | |
| December 1701 | | Emanuel Howe | Whig | | Sir John Delaval | |
| 1705 | | Sir Richard Sandford | | | Edmund Maine | |
| 1708 | | Sir Richard Sandford | | | Sir John Bennett | |
| 1710 | | Sir Richard Sandford | | | Christopher Wandesford | |
| 1713 | | Sir John Germain | | | Oley Douglas | |
| 1715 | | Viscount Morpeth | | | The Viscount Castlecomer | |
| 1717 | | Viscount Morpeth | | | Hon. George Carpenter | |
| 1727 | | Viscount Morpeth | | | Thomas Robinson | |
| 1734 | | Viscount Morpeth | | | Sir Henry Liddell | |
| 1738 | | Henry Furnese | | | Sir Henry Liddell | |
| 1741 | | Robert Ord | | | Sir Henry Liddell | |
| 1747 | | Robert Ord | | | Viscount Limerick | |
| 1754 | | Robert Ord | | | Thomas Duncombe | Tory |
| 1755 | | Sir Matthew Fetherstonhaugh | | | Thomas Duncombe | Tory |
| 1761 | | Viscount Garlies | | | Thomas Duncombe | Whig |
| 1768 | | Peter Beckford | | | Sir Matthew White Ridley | |
| 1774 | | Francis Eyre | | | Peter Delmé | |
| 1775 | | Hon. William Byron | | | Peter Delmé | |
| 1776 | | Gilbert Elliot | | | Peter Delmé | |
| 1777 | | John Egerton | Tory | | Peter Delmé | |
| 1780 | | Anthony Morris Storer | | | Peter Delmé | |
| 1784 | | Major Sir James Erskine | Whig | | Peter Delmé | |
| 1790 | | Major Sir James Erskine | Whig | | Francis Gregg | |
| 1795 | | Major Sir James Erskine | Whig | | Viscount Morpeth | Whig |
| 1796 | | William Huskisson | Tory | | Viscount Morpeth | Whig |
| 1802 | | William Ord | Whig | | Viscount Morpeth | Whig |
| 1806 | | William Ord | Whig | | Hon. William Howard | Whig |
| 1826 | | William Ord | Whig | | Viscount Morpeth | Whig |
| 1830 | | William Ord | Whig | | Hon. William Howard | Whig |
| 1832 | representation reduced to one member | representation reduced to one member | representation reduced to one member | representation reduced to one member | representation reduced to one member | representation reduced to one member |

### 1832–1983

| Year | Year | Member | Party |
| | 1832 | Frederick George Howard | Whig |
| | 1834 | Edward Howard | Whig |
| | 1837 | Granville Leveson-Gower | Whig |
| | 1840 | Edward Howard | Whig |
| | 1853 | Sir George Grey | Whig |
| | 1874 | Thomas Burt | Lib-Lab |
| | 1918 | John Cairns | Labour |
| | 1923 | Robert Smillie | Labour |
| | 1929 | Ebby Edwards | Labour |
| | 1931 | Godfrey Nicholson | Conservative |
| | 1935 | Robert Taylor | Labour |
| | 1954 | Will Owen | Labour |
| | 1970 | George Grant | Labour |
| 1983 | 1983 | constituency abolished | constituency abolished |

## Election results
### Elections in the 1830s

General election 1830: Morpeth :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Whig | William Ord | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| | Whig | William Howard | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | c. 233 | | |
| | Whig hold | Whig hold | Whig hold | Whig hold | Whig hold |
| | Whig hold | Whig hold | Whig hold | Whig hold | Whig hold |
General election 1831: Morpeth :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Whig | William Ord | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| | Whig | William Howard | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | c. 233 | | |
| | Whig hold | Whig hold | Whig hold | Whig hold | Whig hold |
| | Whig hold | Whig hold | Whig hold | Whig hold | Whig hold |
General election 1832: Morpeth :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Whig | Frederick George Howard | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 321 | | |
| | Whig hold | Whig hold | Whig hold | Whig hold | Whig hold |
Howard's death caused a by-election.
By-election, 31 December 1833: Morpeth :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Whig | Edward Howard | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| | Whig hold | Whig hold | Whig hold | Whig hold | Whig hold |
General election 1835: Morpeth :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Whig | Edward Howard | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 336 | | |
| | Whig hold | Whig hold | Whig hold | Whig hold | Whig hold |
Howard resigned, causing a by-election.
By-election, 8 February 1837: Morpeth :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Whig | Granville Leveson-Gower | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| | Whig hold | Whig hold | Whig hold | Whig hold | Whig hold |
General election 1837: Morpeth :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Whig | Granville Leveson-Gower | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 360 | | |
| | Whig hold | Whig hold | Whig hold | Whig hold | Whig hold |

### Elections in the 1840s

Leveson-Gower resigned by accepting the office of Steward of the Chiltern Hundreds, causing a by-election.
By-election, 22 February 1840: Morpeth :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Whig | Edward Howard | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| | Whig hold | Whig hold | Whig hold | Whig hold | Whig hold |
General election 1841: Morpeth :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Whig | Edward Howard | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 392 | | |
| | Whig hold | Whig hold | Whig hold | Whig hold | Whig hold |
General election 1847: Morpeth :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Whig | Edward Howard | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 440 | | |
| | Whig hold | Whig hold | Whig hold | Whig hold | Whig hold |

### Elections in the 1850s

General election 1852: Morpeth :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Whig | Edward Howard | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 415 | | |
| | Whig hold | Whig hold | Whig hold | Whig hold | Whig hold |
Howard resigned, causing a by-election.
By-election, 1 January 1853: Morpeth :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Whig | George Grey | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| | Whig hold | Whig hold | Whig hold | Whig hold | Whig hold |
Grey was appointed Secretary of State for the Colonies, requiring a by-election.
By-election, 17 June 1854: Morpeth :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Whig | George Grey | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| | Whig hold | Whig hold | Whig hold | Whig hold | Whig hold |
General election 1857: Morpeth :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Whig | George Grey | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 391 | | |
| | Whig hold | Whig hold | Whig hold | Whig hold | Whig hold |
General election 1859: Morpeth :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | George Grey | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 408 | | |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Liberal hold |
Grey was appointed Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, requiring a by-election.
By-election, 27 June 1859: Morpeth :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | George Grey | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Liberal hold |

### Elections in the 1860s

Grey was appointed Home Secretary, requiring a by-election.
By-election, 31 July 1861: Morpeth :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | George Grey | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Liberal hold |
General election 1865: Morpeth :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | George Grey | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 448 | | |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Liberal hold |
General election 1868: Morpeth :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | George Grey | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 2,006 | | |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Liberal hold |

### Elections in the 1870s

General election 1874: Morpeth :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Lib-Lab | Thomas Burt | 3,332 | 85.1 | N/A |
| | Conservative | Francis Duncan | 585 | 14.9 | New |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 2,747 | 70.1 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 3,917 | 79.7 | N/A |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 4,912 | | |
| | Lib-Lab hold | Lib-Lab hold | Lib-Lab hold | Lib-Lab hold | Lib-Lab hold |

### Elections in the 1880s

General election 1880: Morpeth :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Lib-Lab | Thomas Burt | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| | Lib-Lab hold | Lib-Lab hold | Lib-Lab hold | Lib-Lab hold | Lib-Lab hold |
General election 1885: Morpeth :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Lib-Lab | Thomas Burt | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| | Lib-Lab hold | Lib-Lab hold | Lib-Lab hold | Lib-Lab hold | Lib-Lab hold |
General election 1886: Morpeth :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Lib-Lab | Thomas Burt | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| | Lib-Lab hold | Lib-Lab hold | Lib-Lab hold | Lib-Lab hold | Lib-Lab hold |

### Elections in the 1890s

General election 1892: Morpeth :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Lib-Lab | Thomas Burt | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| | Lib-Lab hold | Lib-Lab hold | Lib-Lab hold | Lib-Lab hold | Lib-Lab hold |
General election 1895: Morpeth :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Lib-Lab | Thomas Burt | 3,404 | 73.4 | N/A |
| | Conservative | Maltman Barry | 1,235 | 26.6 | New |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 2,169 | 46.8 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 4,639 | 60.8 | N/A |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 7,627 | | |
| | Lib-Lab hold | Lib-Lab hold | Swing | N/A | |

### Elections in the 1900s

General election 1900: Morpeth :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Lib-Lab | Thomas Burt | 3,117 | 53.5 | −19.9 |
| | Conservative | Maltman Barry | 2,707 | 46.5 | +19.9 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 410 | 7.0 | −39.8 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 5,824 | 68.6 | +7.8 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 8,490 | | |
| | Lib-Lab hold | Lib-Lab hold | Swing | -19.9 | |
General election 1906: Morpeth :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Lib-Lab | Thomas Burt | 5,518 | 74.2 | +20.7 |
| | Liberal Unionist | Stuart Coats | 1,919 | 25.8 | −20.7 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 3,599 | 48.4 | +41.4 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 7,437 | 78.9 | +10.3 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 9,425 | | |
| | Lib-Lab hold | Lib-Lab hold | Swing | +20.7 | |

### Elections in the 1910s

General election January 1910: Morpeth :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Lib-Lab | Thomas Burt | 5,874 | 66.1 | −8.1 |
| | Conservative | Jasper Ridley | 3,009 | 33.9 | +8.1 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 2,865 | 32.2 | −16.2 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 8,883 | 88.7 | +9.8 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 10,010 | | |
| | Lib-Lab hold | Lib-Lab hold | Swing | −8.1 | |
General election December 1910: Morpeth :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Lib-Lab | Thomas Burt | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| | Lib-Lab hold | Lib-Lab hold | Lib-Lab hold | Lib-Lab hold | Lib-Lab hold |
General election 1918: Morpeth :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | John Cairns | 7,677 | 34.3 | N/A |
| | Liberal | Frank Thornborough | 7,140 | 31.9 | N/A |
| | Unionist | Claud Henry Meares | 4,320 | 19.3 | New |
| | Independent | *Gerald Douglas Newton | 2,729 | 12.2 | New |
| | National Democratic | Thomas Moffatt Allison | 511 | 2.3 | New |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 537 | 2.4 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 22,377 | 56.3 | N/A |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 39,773 | | |
| | Labour gain from Liberal | Labour gain from Liberal | Swing | N/A | |
* Newton received support from the local branch of the National Federation of Discharged and Demobilized Sailors and Soldiers

### Elections in the 1920s

General election 1922: Morpeth :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | John Cairns | 15,026 | 48.3 | +14.0 |
| | Liberal | Frank Thornborough | 10,007 | 32.2 | +0.3 |
| | Unionist | Charles Septimus Shortt | 6,045 | 19.5 | +0.2 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 5,019 | 16.1 | +13.7 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 31,078 | 72.1 | +15.8 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 43,098 | | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | +6.9 | |
1923 Morpeth by-election :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Robert Smillie | 20,053 | 60.5 | +12.2 |
| | Liberal | Frank Thornborough | 13,087 | 39.5 | +7.3 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 6,966 | 21.0 | +4.9 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 33,140 | 76.9 | +4.8 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 43,098 | | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | +2.5 | |
General election 1923: Morpeth :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Robert Smillie | 16,902 | 64.2 | +15.9 |
| | Liberal | John Dodd | 9,411 | 35.8 | +3.6 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 7,491 | 28.4 | +12.3 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 26,313 | 59.4 | −12.7 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 44,323 | | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | +6.2 | |
General election 1924: Morpeth :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Robert Smillie | 19,248 | 56.8 | −7.4 |
| | Unionist | Irene Ward | 10,828 | 32.0 | New |
| | Liberal | John Dodd | 3,805 | 11.2 | −24.6 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 8,420 | 24.8 | −3.6 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 33,881 | 75.0 | +15.6 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 45,150 | | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | +8.6 | |
General election 1929: Morpeth :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Ebby Edwards | 25,508 | 61.3 | +4.5 |
| | Unionist | Irene Ward | 9,206 | 22.1 | −9.9 |
| | Liberal | John Ritson | 6,888 | 16.6 | +5.4 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 16,302 | 39.2 | +14.4 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 41,602 | 75.5 | +0.5 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 55,126 | | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | +7.2 | |

### Elections in the 1930s

General election 1931: Morpeth :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Godfrey Nicholson | 20,806 | 51.35 | |
| | Labour | Ebby Edwards | 19,714 | 48.65 | |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,092 | 2.70 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 39,520 | 70.28 | |
| | Conservative gain from Labour | Conservative gain from Labour | Swing | | |
General election 1935: Morpeth :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Robert Taylor | 28,900 | 59.17 | |
| | Conservative | Godfrey Nicholson | 19,944 | 40.83 | |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 8,956 | 18.34 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 48,844 | 78.68 | |
| | Labour gain from Conservative | Labour gain from Conservative | Swing | | |

### Elections in the 1940s

General election 1945: Morpeth :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Labour | Robert Taylor | 38,521 | 73.23 |
| | Conservative | Gilbert Longden | 14,079 | 26.77 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 24,442 | 46.46 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 52,600 | 79.50 |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | |

### Elections in the 1950s

General election 1950: Morpeth :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Labour | Robert Taylor | 27,548 | 71.51 |
| | Conservative | T. Turnbull | 10,973 | 28.49 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 16,575 | 43.02 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 38,521 | 86.55 |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | |
General election 1951: Morpeth :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Labour | Robert Taylor | 27,718 | 71.88 |
| | Conservative | Peter Molison Colvin-Smith | 10,843 | 28.12 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 16,875 | 43.76 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 38,561 | 85.47 |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | |
1954 Morpeth by-election :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour Co-op | Will Owen | 23,491 | 71.27 | −0.61 |
| | Conservative | William Elliott | 9,469 | 28.73 | +0.61 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 14,022 | 42.54 | −1.22 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 32,960 | | |
| | Labour Co-op hold | Labour Co-op hold | Swing | | |
General election 1955: Morpeth :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Labour Co-op | Will Owen | 25,452 | 70.56 |
| | Conservative | William Elliott | 10,619 | 29.44 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 14,833 | 41.12 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 36,071 | 80.40 |
| | Labour Co-op hold | Labour Co-op hold | Swing | |
General election 1959: Morpeth :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Labour Co-op | Will Owen | 27,435 | 71.91 |
| | Conservative | Derek Bloom | 10,716 | 28.09 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 16,719 | 43.82 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 38,151 | 84.11 |
| | Labour Co-op hold | Labour Co-op hold | Swing | |

### Elections in the 1960s

General election 1964: Morpeth :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Labour Co-op | Will Owen | 26,114 | 72.70 |
| | Conservative | Derek Bloom | 9,805 | 27.30 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 16,309 | 45.40 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 35,919 | 80.81 |
| | Labour Co-op hold | Labour Co-op hold | Swing | |
General election 1966: Morpeth :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Labour Co-op | Will Owen | 25,223 | 74.36 |
| | Conservative | Nigel Porter | 8,698 | 25.64 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 16,525 | 48.72 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 33,921 | 76.93 |
| | Labour Co-op hold | Labour Co-op hold | Swing | |

### Elections in the 1970s

General election 1970: Morpeth :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | George Grant | 21,826 | 60.35 | |
| | Conservative | K. Ian Tunnicliffe | 9,515 | 26.31 | |
| | Liberal | Raymond McClure | 4,825 | 13.34 | New |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 12,311 | 34.04 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 36,166 | 75.98 | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | | |
General election February 1974: Morpeth :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Labour | George Grant | 22,026 | 56.40 |
| | Conservative | David Curry | 8,992 | 23.03 |
| | Liberal | Humphrey Devereux | 8,035 | 20.57 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 13,034 | 33.37 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 39,053 | 81.18 |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | |
General election October 1974: Morpeth :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Labour | George Grant | 22,696 | 63.80 |
| | Conservative | David Curry | 8,009 | 22.52 |
| | Liberal | Barrie Rogers | 4,866 | 13.68 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 14,687 | 41.28 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 35,571 | 73.32 |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | |
General election 1979: Morpeth :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Labour | George Grant | 21,744 | 56.29 |
| | Conservative | Stephen Edwards | 9,913 | 25.66 |
| | Liberal | Alan Thompson | 6,972 | 18.05 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 11,831 | 30.63 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 38,629 | 77.44 |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | |