# Gainsborough (UK Parliament constituency)

Gainsborough is a constituency in Lincolnshire represented in the House of Commons of the UK Parliament since 1983 by Sir Edward Leigh of the Conservative Party, who, since the 2024 general election, is the Father of the House.

## History

The constituency was created under the Redistribution of Seats Act 1885 that year, which lasted until it was reformed as Gainsborough and Horncastle on a boundary change for the 1983 election. That seat lasted until 1997, as from the mid-1990s population changes led to removal of Horncastle from the seat and recreation of the old seat with largely similar boundaries.

## Boundaries

The constituency is named for its largest town of Gainsborough, on the western edge of the constituency.
1885–1918: The Municipal Borough of Lincoln, the Sessional Divisions of Epworth, Gainsborough, Lincoln, and the parish of Bracebridge.
1918–1950: The Urban Districts of Crowle and Gainsborough, and the Rural Districts of Gainsborough, Isle of Axholme, and Welton.
1950–1983: The Urban Districts of Gainsborough and Market Rasen, and the Rural Districts of Caistor, Gainsborough, Isle of Axholme, and Welton.
Constituency was abolished in 1983 and re-established in 1997
1997–2010: The District of West Lindsey, and the District of East Lindsey wards of Binbrook and Wragby.
2010–2024: The District of West Lindsey, and the District of East Lindsey ward of Wragby.
2024–present: The District of West Lindsey.

## Constituency profile

This relatively vast rural seat north of Lincoln is named after the small market town at its western boundary. Regeneration projects are attempting to reduce pockets of severe deprivation in the constituency, but most of the area is affluent, albeit remote from many major cities; the closest conurbation is the city of Lincoln to the immediate south. Scunthorpe and Grimsby are both close enough to the northern edge of the constituency to be significant to residents. Though arable farming dominates the landscape and noteworthy pig farming industry (see Lincolnshire sausages), agriculture is in decline and the service/creative sector dominates. The seat has elected Conservative MPs since 1924 and is a stronghold, as well as giving its MPs very long tenures, having been represented by only three people since 1924.

## Members of Parliament
### MPs 1885–1983

North Lincolnshire prior to 1885
| Year | Member | Party |
| 1885 | Joseph Bennett | Liberal |
| 1886 | Henry Eyre | Conservative |
| 1892 | Joseph Bennett | Liberal |
| 1895 | Emerson Bainbridge | Liberal |
| 1900 | Seymour Fitzroy Ormsby-Gore | Conservative |
| 1906 | Leslie Renton | Liberal |
| 1907 | Leslie Renton | Liberal Unionist |
| 1910 | George Jackson Bentham | Liberal |
| 1918 | John Molson | Unionist |
| 1923 | Richard Winfrey | Liberal |
| 1924 | Harry Crookshank | Conservative |
| 1956 by-election | Marcus Kimball | Conservative |
| 1983 | constituency abolished | constituency abolished |

### MPs since 1997

Gainsborough and Horncastle prior to 1997
| Year | Year | Member | Party |
| | 1997 | Sir Edward Leigh | Conservative |

## Elections
### Elections in the 2020s

General election 2024: Gainsborough :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Edward Leigh | 16,636 | 35.6 | −30.7 |
| | Labour | Jess McGuire | 13,104 | 28.1 | +6.9 |
| | Reform UK | Pat O'Connor | 9,916 | 21.2 | N/A |
| | Liberal Democrats | Lesley Rollings | 5,001 | 10.7 | +0.3 |
| | Green | Vanessa Smith | 1,832 | 3.9 | N/A |
| | SDP | Tim Mellors | 196 | 0.4 | N/A |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 3,532 | 7.6 | −37.4 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 46,685 | 61.8 | −5.1 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 75,836 | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | −18.8 | |

### Elections in the 2010s

General election 2019: Gainsborough :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Edward Leigh | 33,893 | 66.4 | +4.6 |
| | Labour | Perry Smith | 10,926 | 21.4 | −7.3 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Lesley Rollings | 5,157 | 10.1 | +3.0 |
| | Independent | Mary Cavill | 1,070 | 2.1 | New |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 22,967 | 45.0 | +11.9 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 51,046 | 66.9 | −1.1 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | +5.95 | |
General election 2017: Gainsborough :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Edward Leigh | 31,790 | 61.8 | +9.1 |
| | Labour | Catherine Tite | 14,767 | 28.7 | +7.4 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Lesley Rollings | 3,630 | 7.1 | +0.4 |
| | Green | Victoria Pearson | 1,238 | 2.4 | −0.2 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 17,023 | 33.1 | +1.7 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 51,575 | 68.0 | +0.7 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | +0.85 | |
General election 2015: Gainsborough :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Edward Leigh | 25,949 | 52.7 | +3.4 |
| | Labour | David Prescott | 10,500 | 21.3 | +5.7 |
| | UKIP | John Saxon | 7,727 | 15.7 | +11.5 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Lesley Rollings | 3,290 | 6.7 | −21.1 |
| | Green | Geoff Barnes | 1,290 | 2.6 | New |
| | Lincolnshire Independent | Chris Darcel | 505 | 1.0 | New |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 15,449 | 31.4 | +9.9 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 48,261 | 67.3 | −1.0 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | −1.15 | |
General election 2010: Gainsborough :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Edward Leigh | 24,266 | 49.3 | +5.4 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Pat O'Connor | 13,707 | 27.8 | +1.8 |
| | Labour | Jamie McMahon | 7,701 | 15.6 | −10.5 |
| | UKIP | Steven Pearson | 2,065 | 4.2 | +0.1 |
| | BNP | Malcolm Porter | 1,512 | 3.1 | New |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 10,559 | 21.5 | +4.0 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 49,251 | 68.3 | +3.6 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | +1.8 | |

### Elections in the 2000s

General election 2005: Gainsborough :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Edward Leigh | 20,040 | 43.9 | −2.3 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Adrian Heath | 12,037 | 26.4 | −0.3 |
| | Labour | John Knight | 11,744 | 25.7 | −1.4 |
| | UKIP | Steven Pearson | 1,860 | 4.1 | New |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 8,003 | 17.5 | −1.6 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 45,681 | 64.6 | +0.4 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | −1.0 | |
General election 2001: Gainsborough :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Edward Leigh | 19,555 | 46.2 | +3.1 |
| | Labour | Alan Rhodes | 11,484 | 27.1 | −1.7 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Steve Taylor | 11,280 | 26.7 | −1.4 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 8,071 | 19.1 | +4.8 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 42,319 | 64.2 | −10.4 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | +2.4 | |

### Elections in the 1990s

General election 1997: Gainsborough :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Edward Leigh | 20,593 | 43.1 | |
| | Labour | Paul Taylor | 13,767 | 28.8 | |
| | Liberal Democrats | Neil Taylor | 13,436 | 28.1 | −1.5 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 6,826 | 14.3 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 47,796 | 74.6 | |
| | Conservative win (new seat) | Conservative win (new seat) | Conservative win (new seat) | Conservative win (new seat) | Conservative win (new seat) |

## Election results 1885–1979
### Elections in the 1880s

General election 1885: Gainsborough :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | Joseph Bennett | 4,955 | 56.3 | |
| | Conservative | Charles Alexander Sim | 3,850 | 43.7 | |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,105 | 12.6 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 8,805 | 79.3 | |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 11,107 | | |
| | Liberal win (new seat) | Liberal win (new seat) | Liberal win (new seat) | Liberal win (new seat) | Liberal win (new seat) |
General election 1886: Gainsborough :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Henry Eyre | 4,123 | 50.5 | +6.8 |
| | Liberal | Joseph Bennett | 4,038 | 49.5 | −6.8 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 85 | 1.0 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 8,161 | 73.5 | −5.8 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 11,107 | | |
| | Conservative gain from Liberal | Conservative gain from Liberal | Swing | +6.8 | |

### Elections in the 1890s

General election 1892: Gainsborough :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | Joseph Bennett | 4,945 | 55.1 | +5.6 |
| | Conservative | Henry Eyre | 4,037 | 44.9 | −5.6 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 908 | 10.2 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 8,982 | 77.8 | +4.3 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 11,546 | | |
| | Liberal gain from Conservative | Liberal gain from Conservative | Swing | +5.6 | |
General election 1895: Gainsborough :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | Emerson Bainbridge | 5,077 | 54.1 | −1.0 |
| | Conservative | Edward Pearson | 4,301 | 45.9 | +1.0 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 776 | 8.2 | −2.0 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 9,378 | 71.8 | −6.0 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 13,057 | | |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Swing | −1.0 | |

### Elections in the 1900s

General election 1900: Gainsborough :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Seymour Fitzroy Ormsby-Gore | 4,661 | 50.2 | +4.3 |
| | Liberal | Emerson Bainbridge | 4,624 | 49.8 | −4.3 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 37 | 0.4 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 9,285 | 75.3 | +3.5 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 12,328 | | |
| | Conservative gain from Liberal | Conservative gain from Liberal | Swing | +4.3 | |
General election 1906: Gainsborough :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | Leslie Renton | 5,922 | 53.9 | +4.1 |
| | Conservative | Charles Algernon Moreing | 5,071 | 46.1 | −4.1 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 851 | 7.8 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 10,993 | 88.9 | +13.6 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 12,370 | | |
| | Liberal gain from Conservative | Liberal gain from Conservative | Swing | +4.1 | |

### Elections in the 1910s

General election January 1910: Gainsborough :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | George Jackson Bentham | 6,178 | 52.2 | −1.7 |
| | Conservative | Robert Henderson | 5,663 | 47.8 | +1.7 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 515 | 4.4 | −3.4 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 11,841 | 89.9 | +1.0 |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Swing | −1.7 | |
General election December 1910: Gainsborough :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | George Jackson Bentham | 5,825 | 50.3 | −1.9 |
| | Conservative | Archibald Weigall | 5,745 | 49.7 | +1.9 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 80 | 0.6 | −3.8 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 11,570 | 87.9 | −2.0 |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Swing | −1.9 | |
General Election 1914–15:
Another General Election was required to take place before the end of 1915. The political parties had been making preparations for an election to take place and by July 1914, the following candidates had been selected;
* Liberal: George Jackson Bentham
* Unionist: John Molson
General election 1918: Gainsborough :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| C | Unionist | John Molson | 8,634 | 56.8 | +7.1 |
| | Liberal | George Jackson Bentham | 6,556 | 43.2 | −7.1 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 2,078 | 13.6 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 15,190 | 55.2 | −32.7 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 27,503 | | |
| | Unionist gain from Liberal | Unionist gain from Liberal | Swing | +7.1 | |
| C indicates candidate endorsed by the coalition government. ||||||

### Elections in the 1920s

General election 1922: Gainsborough :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Unionist | John Molson | 9,015 | 42.7 | −14.1 |
| | Liberal | Joel Seaverns | 7,216 | 34.2 | −9.0 |
| | Labour | James Read | 4,884 | 23.1 | New |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,799 | 8.5 | −5.1 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 21,115 | 77.6 | +22.4 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 27,219 | | |
| | Unionist hold | Unionist hold | Swing | −2.6 | |
General election 1923: Gainsborough :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | Richard Winfrey | 9,694 | 47.1 | +12.9 |
| | Unionist | John Molson | 7,841 | 38.1 | −4.6 |
| | Labour | James Read | 3,039 | 14.8 | −8.3 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,853 | 9.0 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 20,574 | 75.4 | −2.2 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 27,294 | | |
| | Liberal gain from Unionist | Liberal gain from Unionist | Swing | +8.8 | |
General election 1924: Gainsborough :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Unionist | Harry Crookshank | 10,281 | 47.1 | +9.0 |
| | Labour | F J Knowles | 5,958 | 27.3 | +12.5 |
| | Liberal | Richard Winfrey | 5,590 | 25.6 | −21.5 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 4,323 | 19.8 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 21,829 | 79.0 | +3.6 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 27,619 | | |
| | Unionist gain from Liberal | Unionist gain from Liberal | Swing | −1.8 | |
General election 1929: Gainsborough :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Unionist | Harry Crookshank | 10,058 | 37.1 | −10.0 |
| | Liberal | Arthur Neal | 9,991 | 36.9 | +11.3 |
| | Labour | George Deer | 7,032 | 26.0 | −1.3 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 67 | 0.2 | −19.6 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 27,081 | 79.7 | −0.7 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 33,977 | | |
| | Unionist hold | Unionist hold | Swing | −10.7 | |

### Election in the 1930s

General election 1931: Gainsborough :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Harry Crookshank | 14,839 | 51.7 | +14.6 |
| | Liberal | Henry Purchase | 8,009 | 27.9 | −9.0 |
| | Labour | George Deer | 5,856 | 20.4 | −5.6 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 6,830 | 23.8 | +23.6 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 28,704 | 83.2 | +3.5 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | | |
General election 1935: Gainsborough :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Harry Crookshank | 12,597 | 44.8 | −6.9 |
| | Liberal | John Johnson Till Ferens | 10,840 | 38.5 | +10.6 |
| | Labour | E Pittwood | 4,698 | 16.7 | −3.7 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,757 | 6.3 | −17.5 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 28,135 | 80.4 | −2.8 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | | |
General Election 1939–40:
Another general election was required to take place before the end of 1940. The political parties had been making preparations for an election to take place from 1939 and by the end of this year, the following candidates had been selected;
* Conservative: Harry Crookshank,
* Liberal: Margaret Wintringham

### Election in the 1940s

General election 1945: Gainsborough :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Harry Crookshank | 11,081 | 38.5 | −6.3 |
| | Labour | Gerald Samson Saville | 9,436 | 32.8 | +16.1 |
| | Liberal | Roy Desmond Robinson | 8,284 | 28.8 | −9.7 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,645 | 5.7 | −0.6 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 28,801 | 75.2 | −5.2 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | | |

### Elections in the 1950s

General election 1950: Gainsborough :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Conservative | Harry Crookshank | 17,066 | 41.4 |
| | Labour | Gerald Samson Saville | 14,890 | 36.1 |
| | Liberal | Henry Ivan Spence | 9,276 | 22.5 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 2,176 | 5.3 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 41,232 | 83.5 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | |
General election 1951: Gainsborough :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Harry Crookshank | 19,915 | 49.1 | +7.7 |
| | Labour | Gordon RS Hawkins | 16,074 | 39.6 | +3.5 |
| | Liberal | John Gregory | 4,580 | 11.3 | −11.2 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 3,841 | 9.5 | +4.2 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 40,569 | 80.1 | −3.4 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | | |
General election 1955: Gainsborough :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Harry Crookshank | 22,576 | 55.8 | +6.7 |
| | Labour | Gordon RS Hawkins | 17,107 | 44.2 | +4.6 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 4,469 | 11.6 | +2.1 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 39,683 | 76.8 | −3.3 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | | |
Gainsborough by-election, 1956 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Marcus Kimball | 12,836 | 40.8 | −15.0 |
| | Labour | Henry Walston | 11,830 | 37.6 | −6.6 |
| | Liberal | Henry Ivan Spence | 6,806 | 21.6 | New |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,006 | 3.2 | −8.4 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 31,472 | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | | |
General election 1959: Gainsborough :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Marcus Kimball | 20,056 | 49.6 | −6.2 |
| | Labour | Henry Walston | 13,247 | 32.8 | −11.4 |
| | Liberal | Roy Douglas | 7,147 | 17.7 | N/A |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 6,809 | 16.8 | +5.2 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 40,450 | 80.8 | +4.0 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | | |

### Elections in the 1960s

General election 1964: Gainsborough :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Marcus Kimball | 19,235 | 47.7 | −1.9 |
| | Labour | Douglas Poirier | 12,126 | 30.1 | −2.7 |
| | Liberal | Roy Douglas | 8,930 | 22.2 | +4.5 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 7,109 | 17.6 | +0.8 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 40,291 | 78.2 | −2.6 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | | |
General election 1966: Gainsborough :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Marcus Kimball | 18,770 | 47.2 | −0.5 |
| | Labour | Alan Day | 14,904 | 37.5 | +7.4 |
| | Liberal | Geoffrey R S Stevenson | 6,064 | 15.3 | −6.9 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 3,866 | 9.7 | −7.9 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 39,738 | 75.8 | −2.4 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | +3.95 | |

### Elections in the 1970s

General election 1970: Gainsborough :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Marcus Kimball | 22,163 | 50.2 | +3.0 |
| | Labour | Maurice P Tracy | 14,454 | 32.7 | −4.8 |
| | Liberal | Roger Blackmore | 7,543 | 17.1 | +1.8 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 7,709 | 17.5 | +7.8 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 44,163 | 74.6 | −1.2 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | | |
General election February 1974: Gainsborough :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Marcus Kimball | 22,177 | 44.2 | −6.0 |
| | Liberal | Roger Blackmore | 15,967 | 31.8 | +14.7 |
| | Labour | Terry J Lansbury | 12,011 | 24.0 | −8.7 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 6,210 | 12.4 | −5.1 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 50,155 | 82.0 | +7.4 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | | |
General election October 1974: Gainsborough :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Marcus Kimball | 19,163 | 41.5 | −2.7 |
| | Liberal | Roger Blackmore | 15,195 | 32.9 | +1.1 |
| | Labour | Terry J Lansbury | 11,797 | 25.6 | +1.6 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 3,968 | 8.6 | −3.8 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 46,155 | 74.8 | −7.2 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | | |
General election 1979: Gainsborough :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Marcus Kimball | 24,040 | 46.4 | +4.9 |
| | Liberal | Roger Blackmore | 16,885 | 32.6 | −0.3 |
| | Labour | Willy Bach | 10,335 | 20.0 | −5.6 |
| | Ind. Conservative | R E August | 570 | 1.1 | New |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 7,155 | 13.8 | +5.2 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 51,830 | 79.0 | +4.2 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | | |

### Election results following boundary changes

For 1983 – 1992, see Gainsborough and Horncastle (UK Parliament constituency)