# Aldridge-Brownhills (UK Parliament constituency)

Aldridge-Brownhills (/ˈɔːldrɪdʒ ˈbraʊnhɪlz/ AWL-drij BROWN-hilz) is a constituency in the West Midlands, represented in the House of Commons of the UK Parliament. It has been represented since 2015 by Wendy Morton, a Conservative.

## Constituency profile

The constituency covers Aldridge and Brownhills as well as a patchwork of smaller towns and villages within Walsall, West Midlands. The seat is described as a safe seat for the Conservative party. Residents are around average in terms of wealth for the UK.

## Demographics
### Ethnicity 2021 Census

    White – 85.3%
    Asian – 8.6%
    Black – 2.0%
    Mixed – 2.4%
    Other – 1.6%

### Religion 2021 Census

    Christian – 53.6%
    Muslim – 2.2%
    Hindu – 1.3%
    Sikh – 5.2%
    Other or non-religious – 37.7%

## History

Aldridge-Brownhills constituency was created in 1974 from parts of the former seats of Walsall North and Walsall South. It is one of four constituencies covering the Metropolitan Borough of Walsall. It covers the north-east and east of the borough. It was initially held by the Labour Party at the two 1974 general elections, when the constituency included most of Pheasey, a ward of the same name, then a stronger area for Labour than much of the rest, which was moved into Walsall South in 1983 to account for population expansion in the seat. Pheasey was moved back into the constituency for the 2024 general election.
The constituency has had just three different MPs since its formation in February 1974. Geoff Edge of the Labour Party served the constituency from February 1974 until 1979, when it was gained by Richard Shepherd of the Conservative Party; who was to represent the constituency for thirty-six years, even withstanding the 1997 Labour landslide on a below average Conservative-to-Labour swing. In 2014 Sir Richard Shepherd announced he would not stand for re-election at the 2015 general election. Wendy Morton, was selected to replace him as the Conservative candidate, and secured the seat with a safe majority of 11,723 votes. This was increased over the next two elections and, in 2019, the majority was over 50%. Morton held onto the seat in the 2024 Labour landslide, but her majority was drastically reduced to 10.3%.

## Boundaries

1974–1983: The Urban District of Aldridge-Brownhills.
1983–2010: The Metropolitan Borough of Walsall wards of Aldridge Central and South, Aldridge North and Walsall Wood, Brownhills, Hatherton Rushall, Pelsall, and Streetly.
2010–2024: The Metropolitan Borough of Walsall wards of Aldridge Central and South, Aldridge North and Walsall Wood, Brownhills, Pelsall, Rushall-Shelfield, and Streetly.
2024–present: Further to the 2023 Periodic Review of Westminster constituencies which came into effect for the 2024 general election, the constituency is composed of the following (as they existed on 1 December 2020):
* The Borough of Walsall wards of: Aldridge Central and South; Aldridge North and Walsall Wood; Brownhills; Paddock (polling districts UE and UF); Pelsall; Pheasey Park Farm; Rushall-Shelfield; Streetly
To bring the electorate within the permitted range, the seat was expanded to the south by transferring in the Pheasey Park Farm ward and part of the Paddock ward from the former constituency of Walsall South which was abolished in 2024.

## Members of Parliament

| Election | Member | Party |
| Feb 1974 | Geoff Edge | Labour |
| 1979 | Richard Shepherd | Conservative |
| 2015 | Wendy Morton | Conservative |

## Elections
### Elections in the 2020s

General election 2024: Aldridge-Brownhills :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Wendy Morton | 15,901 | 38.8 | 30.7 |
| | Labour | Luke Davies | 11,670 | 28.5 | 6.9 |
| | Reform UK | Graham Eardley | 9,903 | 24.2 | 23.5 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Ian Garrett | 1,755 | 4.3 | 1.3 |
| | Green | Clare Nash | 1,746 | 4.3 | 2.5 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 4,231 | 10.3 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 40,975 | 57.8 | 7.0 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 70,867 | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | 18.9 | |

### Elections in the 2010s

2019 notional result :
| Party | Party | Vote | % |
| | Conservative | 32,941 | 69.6 |
| | Labour | 10,183 | 21.5 |
| | Liberal Democrats | 2,654 | 5.6 |
| | Green Party | 873 | 1.8 |
| | Official Monster Raving Loony Party | 336 | 0.7 |
| | Brexit Party | 334 | 0.7 |
| Turnout | Turnout | 47,321 | |
| Electorate | Electorate | 73,122 |
General election 2019: Aldridge-Brownhills :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Wendy Morton | 27,850 | 70.8 | 5.4 |
| | Labour | David Morgan | 8,014 | 20.4 | 9.4 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Ian Garrett | 2,371 | 6.0 | 2.7 |
| | Green | Bill McComish | 771 | 2.0 | New |
| | Monster Raving Loony | Mark Beech | 336 | 0.9 | 0.5 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 19,836 | 50.4 | 14.8 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 39,342 | 65.4 | 2.1 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 60,138 | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | 7.4 | |
General election 2017: Aldridge-Brownhills :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Wendy Morton | 26,317 | 65.4 | 13.4 |
| | Labour | John Fisher | 12,010 | 29.8 | 7.4 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Ian Garrett | 1,343 | 3.3 | 0.1 |
| | Monster Raving Loony | Mark Beech | 565 | 1.4 | 0.9 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 14,307 | 35.6 | 6.0 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 40,235 | 67.5 | 1.7 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 60,363 | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | 3.0 | |
General election 2015: Aldridge-Brownhills :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Wendy Morton | 20,558 | 52.0 | 7.3 |
| | Labour | John Fisher | 8,835 | 22.4 | 2.6 |
| | UKIP | Anthony Thompson | 7,751 | 19.6 | New |
| | Liberal Democrats | Ian Garrett | 1,330 | 3.4 | 14.3 |
| | Green | Martyn Curzey | 826 | 2.1 | 0.1 |
| | Monster Raving Loony | Mark Beech | 197 | 0.5 | New |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 11,723 | 29.6 | 9.9 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 39,497 | 65.8 | 0.7 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 60,215 | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | 4.9 | |
General election 2010: Aldridge-Brownhills :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Richard Shepherd | 22,913 | 59.3 | 11.1 |
| | Labour | Ashiq Hussain | 7,647 | 19.8 | 12.9 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Ian Jenkins | 6,833 | 17.7 | 5.8 |
| | Green | Karl Macnaughton | 847 | 2.2 | New |
| | Christian | Sue Gray | 394 | 1.0 | New |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 15,256 | 39.5 | 25.6 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 38,644 | 65.1 | 1.6 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 58,909 | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | 12.0 | |

### Elections in the 2000s

General election 2005: Aldridge-Brownhills :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Richard Shepherd | 18,744 | 47.4 | 2.8 |
| | Labour | John D. Phillips | 13,237 | 33.5 | 6.7 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Roy M. Sheward | 4,862 | 12.3 | 3.7 |
| | BNP | William R. Vaughan | 1,620 | 4.1 | New |
| | UKIP | Graham Eardley | 1,093 | 2.8 | New |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 5,507 | 13.9 | 3.9 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 39,556 | 64.0 | 3.4 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 61,289 | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | 2.0 | |
General election 2001: Aldridge-Brownhills :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Richard Shepherd | 18,974 | 50.2 | 3.1 |
| | Labour | Ian D. Geary | 15,206 | 40.2 | 1.5 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Monica Howes | 3,251 | 8.6 | 2.6 |
| | Socialist Alliance | John D. Rothery | 379 | 1.0 | New |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 3,768 | 10.0 | 4.6 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 37,810 | 60.6 | 13.7 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 62,361 | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | 2.3 | |

### Elections in the 1990s

General election 1997: Aldridge-Brownhills :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Richard Shepherd | 21,856 | 47.1 | 7.2 |
| | Labour | Janos Toth | 19,330 | 41.7 | 8.4 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Celia M. Downie | 5,184 | 11.2 | 1.2 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 2,526 | 5.4 | 15.6 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 46,370 | 74.3 | 8.3 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 62,441 | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | 7.8 | |
General election 1992: Aldridge-Brownhills :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Richard Shepherd | 28,431 | 54.3 | 0.9 |
| | Labour | Neil E. Fawcett | 17,407 | 33.3 | 5.0 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Stewart Reynolds | 6,503 | 12.4 | 5.9 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 11,024 | 21.0 | 3.9 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 52,341 | 82.6 | 2.8 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 63,404 | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | 2.0 | |

### Elections in the 1980s

General election 1987: Aldridge-Brownhills :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Richard Shepherd | 26,434 | 53.4 | 2.7 |
| | Labour | Clive Duncan | 14,038 | 28.3 | 3.4 |
| | SDP | Glynn Betteridge | 9,084 | 18.3 | 6.1 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 12,936 | 25.1 | 0.7 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 49,556 | 79.8 | 1.5 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 62,129 | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | 0.4 | |
General election 1983: Aldridge-Brownhills :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Richard Shepherd | 24,148 | 50.7 | 0.4 |
| | Labour | Ray Burford | 11,864 | 24.9 | 14.5 |
| | SDP | Peter Gunn | 11,599 | 24.4 | New |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 12,284 | 25.8 | 14.9 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 47,611 | 78.3 | 4.2 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 60,803 | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | 7.45 | |

### Elections in the 1970s

General election 1979: Aldridge-Brownhills :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Richard Shepherd | 26,289 | 50.3 | 11.9 |
| | Labour | Geoff Edge | 20,621 | 39.4 | 4.1 |
| | Liberal | John Aldridge | 5,398 | 10.3 | 7.4 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 5,668 | 10.9 | 5.8 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 52,308 | 82.5 | 2.8 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 63,377 | | |
| | Conservative gain from Labour | Conservative gain from Labour | Swing | 8.0 | |
General election October 1974: Aldridge-Brownhills :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Geoff Edge | 21,403 | 43.5 | 4.8 |
| | Conservative | A.J.M. Teacher | 18,884 | 38.4 | 0.5 |
| | Liberal | Dr John A. Crofton | 8,693 | 17.7 | 5.7 |
| | More Prosperous Britain | Tom Keen | 210 | 0.4 | New |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 2,519 | 5.1 | 4.3 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 49,190 | 79.7 | 3.5 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 61,731 | | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | 2.2 | |
General election February 1974: Aldridge-Brownhills :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Geoff Edge | 19,642 | 38.7 | N/A |
| | Conservative | Patricia Hornsby-Smith | 19,276 | 37.9 | N/A |
| | Liberal | Dr John A. Crofton | 11,883 | 23.4 | N/A |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 366 | 0.8 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 50,801 | 83.2 | N/A |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 61,028 | | |
| | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) |