# Blackpool South (UK Parliament constituency)

Blackpool South is a constituency in Lancashire, England, which has been represented by Chris Webb of the Labour Party since a 2024 by-election.

## Constituency profile

The seat encompasses the central and southern parts of Blackpool, including the famous Blackpool Tower, the three piers and the Pleasure Beach. Also included is the Bloomfield area, home to Blackpool F.C. In the southern end of the seat, near to the Fylde border, Squires Gate is the site of Blackpool Airport.
Tourism is a major industry in the area, and while Blackpool has been less affected by the decline in domestic holidaymaking than some resorts, there are nonetheless some run-down areas which were once rather more glamorous. Traditionally seaside seats were very safe for the Conservative Party, but for some time it seemed unlikely that the party would win it back. However, they were able to do so in 2019 when they finally achieved a sizeable majority with many gains in northern England.

## History

This seat was created for the 1945 general election. This marginal constituency has been represented by both the Conservative and Labour Party parties since the Second World War. It was held by the Conservatives until 1997, when Gordon Marsden gained it for Labour. He represented the seat for the next 22 years but was defeated in 2019 by the Conservative Scott Benton. Benton resigned from Parliament on 25 March 2024, and the by-election to replace him was won by Labour's Chris Webb.

## Boundaries

1945–1950: The County Borough of Blackpool wards of Marton, Stanley, Victoria, and Waterloo, and the Borough of Lytham St Annes.
1950–1983: The County Borough of Blackpool wards of Alexandra, Marton, Stanley, Tyldesley, Victoria, and Waterloo.
1983–1997: The Borough of Blackpool wards of Alexandra, Clifton, Foxhall, Hawes Side, Highfield, Marton, Squires Gate, Stanley, Tyldesley, Victoria, and Waterloo.
1997–2010: The Borough of Blackpool wards of Alexandra, Brunswick, Clifton, Foxhall, Hawes Side, Highfield, Layton, Marton, Park, Squires Gate, Stanley, Talbot, Tyldesley, Victoria, and Waterloo.
2010–2024: The Borough of Blackpool wards of Bloomfield, Brunswick, Clifton, Hawes Side, Highfield, Marton, Squires Gate, Stanley, Talbot, Tyldesley, Victoria, and Waterloo.
2024–present: The Borough of Blackpool wards of Bloomfield; Brunswick; Claremont; Clifton; Hawes Side; Highfield; Layton; Marton; Park; Squires Gate; Stanley; Talbot; Tyldesley; Victoria; Warbreck; Waterloo.
    The constituency was expanded to bring the electorate within the permitted range by transferring the wards of Claremount, Layton, Park and Warbreck from the abolished constituency of Blackpool North and Cleveleys.

## Members of Parliament

| Election | Member | Party |
| 1945 | Roland Robinson | Conservative |
| 1964 | Sir Peter Blaker | Conservative |
| 1992 | Nick Hawkins | Conservative |
| 1997 | Gordon Marsden | Labour |
| 2019 | Scott Benton | Conservative |
| 2023 | Scott Benton | Independent |
| 2024 by-election | Chris Webb | Labour |

## Elections
### Elections in the 2020s

General election 2024: Blackpool South :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Chris Webb | 16,916 | 48.1 | +8.0 |
| | Reform UK | Mark Butcher | 10,068 | 28.6 | +23.9 |
| | Conservative | Zak Khan | 5,504 | 15.6 | −33.2 |
| | Green | Ben Thomas | 1,207 | 3.4 | +1.5 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Andy Cregan | 1,041 | 3.0 | −0.5 |
| | Independent | Stephen Black | 261 | 0.7 | N/A |
| | ADF | Kim Knight | 183 | 0.5 | N/A |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 6,868 | 19.5 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 35,180 | 45.4 | −11.4 |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | | |
2024 Blackpool South by-election :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Chris Webb | 10,825 | 58.9 | +20.6 |
| | Conservative | David Jones | 3,218 | 17.5 | –32.1 |
| | Reform UK | Mark Butcher | 3,101 | 16.9 | +10.8 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Andrew Cregan | 387 | 2.1 | –1.0 |
| | Green | Ben Thomas | 368 | 2.0 | +0.3 |
| | Independent | Stephen Black | 163 | 0.9 | N/A |
| | Alliance for Democracy and Freedom | Kim Knight | 147 | 0.8 | N/A |
| | Monster Raving Loony | Howling Laud Hope | 121 | 0.7 | N/A |
| | New Open Non-Political Organised Leadership | Damon Sharp | 45 | 0.2 | N/A |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 7,607 | 41.4 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 18,375 | 32.5 | −24.3 |
| | Labour gain from Conservative | Labour gain from Conservative | Swing | +26.3 | |

### Elections in the 2010s

General election 2019: Blackpool South :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Scott Benton | 16,247 | 49.6 | +6.5 |
| | Labour | Gordon Marsden | 12,557 | 38.3 | –12.0 |
| | Brexit Party | David Brown | 2,009 | 6.1 | N/A |
| | Liberal Democrats | Bill Greene | 1,008 | 3.1 | +1.3 |
| | Green | Becky Daniels | 563 | 1.7 | +0.7 |
| | Independent | Gary Coleman | 368 | 1.1 | N/A |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 3,690 | 11.3 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 32,752 | 56.8 | –3.0 |
| | Conservative gain from Labour | Conservative gain from Labour | Swing | +9.3 | |
General election 2017: Blackpool South :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Gordon Marsden | 17,581 | 50.3 | +8.5 |
| | Conservative | Peter Anthony | 15,058 | 43.1 | +9.3 |
| | UKIP | Noel Matthews | 1,339 | 3.8 | –13.5 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Bill Greene | 634 | 1.8 | –0.5 |
| | Green | John Warnock | 341 | 1.0 | –1.6 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 2,523 | 7.2 | –0.8 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 34,953 | 59.8 | +3.3 |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | –0.4 | |
General election 2015: Blackpool South :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Gordon Marsden | 13,548 | 41.8 | +0.7 |
| | Conservative | Peter Anthony | 10,963 | 33.8 | –2.0 |
| | UKIP | Peter Wood | 5,613 | 17.3 | +13.5 |
| | Green | Duncan Royle | 841 | 2.6 | N/A |
| | Liberal Democrats | Bill Greene | 743 | 2.3 | –12.1 |
| | Independent | Andy Higgins | 655 | 2.0 | N/A |
| | Independent | Lawrence Chard | 73 | 0.2 | N/A |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 2,585 | 8.0 | +2.7 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 32,436 | 56.5 | +0.7 |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | +1.3 | |
General election 2010: Blackpool South :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Gordon Marsden | 14,449 | 41.1 | –7.5 |
| | Conservative | Ron Bell | 12,597 | 35.8 | +4.9 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Doreen Holt | 5,082 | 14.4 | –0.7 |
| | BNP | Roy Goodwin | 1,482 | 4.2 | +0.9 |
| | UKIP | Hugh Howitt | 1,352 | 3.8 | +1.7 |
| | Integrity UK | Si Thu Tun | 230 | 0.7 | N/A |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,852 | 5.3 | −15.4 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 35,192 | 55.8 | +3.5 |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | –6.2 | |

### Elections in the 2000s

General election 2005: Blackpool South :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Gordon Marsden | 19,375 | 50.5 | –3.8 |
| | Conservative | Michael Winstanley | 11,453 | 29.9 | –3.1 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Doreen Holt | 5,552 | 14.5 | +3.9 |
| | BNP | Roy Goodwin | 1,113 | 2.9 | New |
| | UKIP | John Porter | 849 | 2.2 | +0.1 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 7,922 | 20.6 | –0.7 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 38,342 | 52.1 | –0.1 |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | –0.3 | |
General election 2001: Blackpool South :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Gordon Marsden | 21,060 | 54.3 | –2.7 |
| | Conservative | David Morris | 12,798 | 33.0 | –1.4 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Doreen Holt | 4,115 | 10.6 | +2.0 |
| | UKIP | Valerie Cowell | 819 | 2.1 | New |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 8,262 | 21.3 | –1.3 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 38,792 | 52.2 | –15.6 |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | –0.7 | |

### Elections in the 1990s

General election 1997: Blackpool South :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Gordon Marsden | 29,282 | 57.0 | +12.9 |
| | Conservative | Richard Booth | 17,666 | 34.4 | –9.0 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Doreen Holt | 4,392 | 8.6 | –3.5 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 11,616 | 22.6 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 51,340 | 67.8 | –6.5 |
| | Labour gain from Conservative | Labour gain from Conservative | Swing | –11.0 | |
General election 1992: Blackpool South :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Nick Hawkins | 19,880 | 45.2 | –2.8 |
| | Labour | Gordon Marsden | 18,213 | 41.5 | +9.4 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Robert E. Wynne | 5,673 | 12.9 | –7.0 |
| | Natural Law | Doug Henning | 173 | 0.4 | New |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,667 | 3.7 | –12.2 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 43,939 | 77.3 | +3.8 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | –6.1 | |

### Elections in the 1980s

General election 1987: Blackpool South :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Peter Blaker | 20,312 | 48.0 | –2.6 |
| | Labour | Sheilagh Baugh | 13,568 | 32.1 | +7.4 |
| | SDP | Julian Allitt | 8,405 | 19.9 | –4.1 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 6,744 | 15.9 | –10.0 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 42,285 | 73.5 | +3.7 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | –5.0 | |
General election 1983: Blackpool South :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Peter Blaker | 19,852 | 50.6 | –0.9 |
| | Labour | Fred J. Jackson | 9,714 | 24.7 | –5.9 |
| | SDP | Alex G. Cox | 9,417 | 24.0 | New |
| | National Front | Wilf Smith | 263 | 0.7 | –0.5 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 10,138 | 25.9 | +5.0 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 39,246 | 69.8 | –2.3 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | | |

### Elections in the 1970s

General election 1979: Blackpool South :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Peter Blaker | 21,762 | 51.5 | +6.6 |
| | Labour | Pat Carrington | 12,914 | 30.6 | –1.4 |
| | Liberal | Edmund E. Wynne | 7,057 | 16.7 | –6.4 |
| | National Front | Alan Machin | 524 | 1.2 | New |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 8,848 | 20.9 | +8.0 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 42,257 | 72.1 | +2.2 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | +4.0 | |
General election October 1974: Blackpool South :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Peter Blaker | 18,188 | 44.9 | –0.7 |
| | Labour | Michael Atkins | 12,967 | 32.0 | +5.4 |
| | Liberal | Edmund E. Wynne | 9,327 | 23.1 | –4.2 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 5,221 | 12.9 | –5.4 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 40,482 | 69.9 | –6.7 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | –3.0 | |
General election February 1974: Blackpool South :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Peter Blaker | 20,107 | 45.6 | –7.2 |
| | Liberal | Edmund E. Wynne | 12,016 | 27.3 | +13.1 |
| | Labour | Michael Atkins | 11,739 | 26.6 | –6.4 |
| | National Independence | Eric Mills | 229 | 0.5 | New |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 8,091 | 18.3 | –1.5 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 44,091 | 76.6 | +8.3 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | | |
General election 1970: Blackpool South :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Peter Blaker | 21,273 | 52.8 | –1.5 |
| | Labour | Percy P Hall | 13,267 | 33.0 | –12.7 |
| | Liberal | David Chadwick | 5,730 | 14.2 | New |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 8,006 | 19.8 | +11.2 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 40,270 | 68.3 | –1.8 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | | |

### Elections in the 1960s

General election 1966: Blackpool South :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Peter Blaker | 21,564 | 54.3 | –4.0 |
| | Labour | Edward Pearce | 18,166 | 45.7 | +4.0 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 3,398 | 8.6 | –8.0 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 39,730 | 70.5 | –0.6 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | –4.0 | |
General election 1964: Blackpool South :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Peter Blaker | 23,769 | 58.3 | –7.5 |
| | Labour | Percy P Hall | 16,986 | 41.7 | +7.5 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 6,783 | 16.6 | –15.0 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 40,755 | 71.1 | –2.8 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | –7.6 | |

### Elections in the 1950s

General election 1959: Blackpool South :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Roland Robinson | 25,767 | 65.8 | –0.6 |
| | Labour | Percy P Hall | 13,337 | 34.2 | +0.6 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 12,430 | 31.6 | –1.2 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 39,140 | 73.9 | +7.2 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | –0.6 | |
General election 1955: Blackpool South :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Roland Robinson | 24,773 | 66.4 | –0.8 |
| | Labour | Arthur Davidson | 12,548 | 33.6 | +0.8 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 12,225 | 32.8 | –1.6 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 37,321 | 67.7 | –7.3 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | –0.8 | |
General election 1951: Blackpool South :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Roland Robinson | 28,171 | 67.2 | +9.3 |
| | Labour | Kenneth Lomas | 13,750 | 32.8 | +2.1 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 14,421 | 34.4 | +7.2 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 41,921 | 75.0 | –7.1 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | +3.6 | |
General election 1950: Blackpool South :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Roland Robinson | 26,800 | 57.9 | +1.1 |
| | Labour | Ernest Alfred Machin | 14,190 | 30.7 | +6.5 |
| | Liberal | Michael Henry Woodward | 5,295 | 11.4 | –7.6 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 12,610 | 27.2 | –5.4 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 46,285 | 82.1 | –9.8 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | − | |

### Elections in the 1940s

General election 1945: Blackpool South :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Roland Robinson | 27,957 | 56.8 | |
| | Labour | Charles Stanley Hilditch | 11,914 | 24.2 | |
| | Liberal | Adrian Liddell Hart | 9,359 | 19.0 | |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 16,043 | 32.6 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 49,230 | 72.3 | |
| | Conservative win (new seat) | Conservative win (new seat) | Conservative win (new seat) | Conservative win (new seat) | Conservative win (new seat) |