# Nottingham North (UK Parliament constituency)

Nottingham North was a constituency represented in the House of Commons of the UK Parliament.
Under the 2023 Periodic Review of Westminster constituencies, the constituency was abolished. Subject to major boundary changes – including gaining the communities of Kimberley and Nuthall in the Borough of Broxtowe, the Nottingham City ward of Leen Valley ward from Nottingham South, and losing Bilborough ward in exchange – it was reformed as Nottingham North and Kimberley, which was first contested in the 2024 general election.

## Constituency profile

The constituency consisted mostly of residential areas, a majority of neighbourhoods of which were council housing. Of these a slight majority, rather than being social housing, is now private under the Right to Buy, such as Bulwell. Overall, its census Super Output Areas have the lowest income of the three Nottingham constituencies, and was the city's safest seat for the Labour Party, though 2017 and 2019 saw considerable increases in the Conservative vote, in line with other Leave and heavily working-class areas, making this seat Nottingham's most marginal for Labour. Male unemployment in 2010 was significantly higher than female unemployment in this constituency, which had the highest overall percentage of claimants in the county of Nottinghamshire, slightly more than Nottingham East.

### Causes of Unemployment

The decline of coal mining and the textile industry in the area in 1970–2000 brought the highest unemployment in the county to Nottingham North, with a peak of 12.8% of its residents being registered unemployed in 2009.

## Boundaries

1955–1974: The County Borough of Nottingham wards of Byron, Mapperley, Portland, and St Albans, and the Urban District of Hucknall.
1974–1983: The County Borough of Nottingham wards of Byron, Forest, Mapperley, Portland, Radford, and St Albans.
1983–2010: The City of Nottingham wards of Aspley, Beechdale, Bestwood Park, Bilborough, Bulwell East, Bulwell West, Byron, Portland, and Strelley.
2010–2024: The City of Nottingham wards of Aspley, Basford, Bestwood, Bilborough, Bulwell, and Bulwell Forest.

## History

The constituency was created in 1955 and elected Labour candidates as MPs until Richard Ottaway surprisingly gained it for the Conservative Party in their landslide victory of 1983, before narrowly losing in 1987 to Graham Allen, for Labour, who held it until 2017 when he stood down after 30 years of service. Alex Norris then won the seat for Labour in the 2017 general election.

## Members of Parliament

| Election | Member | Party |
| 1955 | James Harrison | Labour |
| 1959 | Bill Whitlock | Labour |
| 1983 | Richard Ottaway | Conservative |
| 1987 | Graham Allen | Labour |
| 2017 | Alex Norris | Labour Co-op |

## Elections
### Elections in the 2010s

General election 2019: Nottingham North :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour Co-op | Alex Norris | 17,337 | 49.1 | −11.1 |
| | Conservative | Stuart Bestwick | 12,847 | 36.4 | +5.3 |
| | Brexit Party | Julian Carter | 2,686 | 7.6 | New |
| | Liberal Democrats | Christina Morgan-Danvers | 1,582 | 4.5 | +2.7 |
| | Green | Andrew Jones | 868 | 2.5 | +1.1 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 4,490 | 12.7 | −16.4 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 35,320 | 53.1 | −4.2 |
| | Labour Co-op hold | Labour Co-op hold | Swing | -8.2 | |
General election 2017: Nottingham North :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour Co-op | Alex Norris | 23,067 | 60.2 | +5.6 |
| | Conservative | Jack Tinley | 11,907 | 31.1 | +10.1 |
| | UKIP | Stephen Crosby | 2,133 | 5.6 | −12.9 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Tadeusz Jones | 674 | 1.8 | −0.6 |
| | Green | Kirsty Jones | 538 | 1.4 | −1.7 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 11,160 | 29.1 | −4.5 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 38,319 | 57.3 | +3.7 |
| | Labour Co-op hold | Labour Co-op hold | Swing | -2.3 | |
General election 2015: Nottingham North :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Graham Allen | 19,283 | 54.6 | +6.0 |
| | Conservative | Louise Burfitt-Dons | 7,423 | 21.0 | −3.8 |
| | UKIP | Stephen Crosby | 6,542 | 18.5 | +14.6 |
| | Green | Katharina Boettge | 1,088 | 3.1 | New |
| | Liberal Democrats | Tony Sutton | 847 | 2.4 | −14.7 |
| | TUSC | Cathy Meadows | 160 | 0.5 | New |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 11,860 | 33.6 | +9.8 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 34,285 | 53.6 | −0.6 |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | +4.9 | |
Class War Party originally announced Ben Turff as candidate, but he failed to stand.
General election 2010: Nottingham North :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Graham Allen | 16,648 | 48.6 | −10.6 |
| | Conservative | Martin Curtis | 8,508 | 24.8 | +6.7 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Tim Ball | 5,849 | 17.1 | −0.3 |
| | BNP | Simon Brindley | 1,944 | 5.7 | New |
| | UKIP | Irenea Marriott | 1,338 | 3.9 | −1.5 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 8,138 | 23.8 | −17.3 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 34,285 | 54.2 | +5.8 |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | −8.7 | |

### Elections in the 2000s

General election 2005: Nottingham North :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Graham Allen | 17,842 | 58.7 | −5.8 |
| | Conservative | Priti Patel | 5,671 | 18.7 | −5.1 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Tim Ball | 5,190 | 17.1 | +6.5 |
| | UKIP | Irena Marriott | 1,680 | 5.5 | New |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 12,171 | 40.0 | −0.7 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 30,383 | 49.1 | +2.4 |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | −0.3 | |
General election 2001: Nottingham North :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Graham Allen | 19,392 | 64.5 | −1.2 |
| | Conservative | Martin Wright | 7,152 | 23.8 | +3.5 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Rob Lee | 3,177 | 10.6 | +2.6 |
| | Socialist Labour | Andrew Botham | 321 | 1.1 | New |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 12,240 | 40.7 | −4.7 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 30,042 | 46.7 | −16.3 |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | −2.3 | |

### Elections in the 1990s

General election 1997: Nottingham North :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Graham Allen | 27,203 | 65.7 | +10.0 |
| | Conservative | Gillian Shaw | 8,402 | 20.3 | −14.8 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Rachel Oliver | 3,301 | 8.0 | −0.6 |
| | Referendum | Joe Neal | 1,858 | 4.5 | New |
| | Socialist Alternative | Andy Belfield | 637 | 1.5 | New |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 18,801 | 45.4 | +24.8 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 41,401 | 63.0 | −12.0 |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | | |
General election 1992: Nottingham North :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Graham Allen | 29,052 | 55.7 | +10.8 |
| | Conservative | Ian G. Bridge | 18,309 | 35.1 | −6.5 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Anthony Skelton | 4,477 | 8.6 | −3.1 |
| | Natural Law | Alwyn C. Cadman | 274 | 0.5 | New |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 10,743 | 20.6 | +17.3 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 52,112 | 75.0 | +2.4 |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | +8.7 | |

### Elections in the 1980s

General election 1987: Nottingham North :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Graham Allen | 22,713 | 44.9 | +6.2 |
| | Conservative | Richard Ottaway | 21,048 | 41.6 | +2.2 |
| | Alliance | Sumal Fernando | 5,912 | 11.7 | −7.7 |
| | Communist | John Peck | 879 | 1.7 | −0.8 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,665 | 3.3 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 69,620 | 72.6 | +6.5 |
| | Labour gain from Conservative | Labour gain from Conservative | Swing | +2.0 | |
General election 1983: Nottingham North :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Richard Ottaway | 18,730 | 39.5 | −1.7 |
| | Labour | William Whitlock | 18,368 | 38.7 | −8.2 |
| | Alliance | Leighton Williams | 9,200 | 19.4 | +10.2 |
| | Communist | John Peck | 1,184 | 2.5 | +0.5 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 362 | 0.8 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 71,807 | 66.1 | −1.5 |
| | Conservative gain from Labour | Conservative gain from Labour | Swing | +3.3 | |

### Elections in the 1970s

General election 1979: Nottingham North :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | William Whitlock | 25,028 | 46.86 | −1.24 |
| | Conservative | P Waine | 21,956 | 41.11 | +6.33 |
| | Liberal | J Stockley | 4,900 | 9.17 | −5.38 |
| | Communist | John Peck | 1,071 | 2.01 | +0.99 |
| | National Front | R Pratt | 454 | 0.85 | −0.69 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 3,072 | 5.75 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 78,996 | 67.61 | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | -3.79 | |
General election October 1974: Nottingham North :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | William Whitlock | 24,694 | 48.10 | |
| | Conservative | M F Spungin | 17,853 | 34.78 | |
| | Liberal | M Crew-Gee | 7,470 | 14.55 | |
| | National Front | D Caine | 792 | 1.54 | New |
| | Communist | John Peck | 525 | 1.02 | |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 6,841 | 13.32 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 76,490 | 67.11 | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | | |
General election February 1974: Nottingham North (new boundaries) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | William Whitlock | 25,435 | 44.78 | |
| | Conservative | M F Spungin | 20,990 | 36.95 | |
| | Liberal | P Edwards | 9,623 | 16.94 | |
| | Communist | John Peck | 754 | 1.33 | |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 4,445 | 7.83 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 75,866 | 74.87 | |
| | Labour win (new boundaries) | Labour win (new boundaries) | Labour win (new boundaries) | Labour win (new boundaries) | Labour win (new boundaries) |
(Boundary changes for 1974)
General election 1970: Nottingham North :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | William Whitlock | 25,898 | 52.83 | |
| | Conservative | William Derbyshire | 18,616 | 37.98 | |
| | Liberal | Peggy Edwards | 3,763 | 7.68 | New |
| | Communist | John Peck | 741 | 1.51 | |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 7,282 | 14.85 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 70,672 | 69.36 | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | | |

### Elections in the 1960s

General election 1966: Nottingham North :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Labour | William Whitlock | 30,260 | 60.62 |
| | Conservative | Jeffery Nicholas Lewis Tillett | 18,590 | 37.24 |
| | Communist | John Peck | 1,070 | 2.14 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 11,670 | 23.38 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 67,321 | 74.15 |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | |
General election 1964: Nottingham North :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Labour | William Whitlock | 29,535 | 57.14 |
| | Conservative | Peter Fry | 20,578 | 39.81 |
| | Communist | John Peck | 1,579 | 3.05 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 8,957 | 17.33 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 66,477 | 77.76 |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | |

### Elections in the 1950s

General election 1959: Nottingham North :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | William Whitlock | 24,005 | 47.19 | |
| | Conservative | Alan G Blake | 18,952 | 37.26 | |
| | Liberal | Stanley Thomas | 6,581 | 12.94 | New |
| | Communist | John Peck | 1,331 | 2.62 | |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 5,053 | 9.93 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 59,638 | 85.30 | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | | |
General election 1955: Nottingham North :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | James Harrison | 26,552 | 55.40 | |
| | Conservative | Ian G Colvin | 20,462 | 42.69 | |
| | Communist | John Peck | 916 | 1.91 | |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 6,090 | 12.71 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 60,234 | 79.57 | |
| | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) |