# Widnes (UK Parliament constituency)

Widnes was a county constituency in England, based on the town of Widnes, in Lancashire. It returned one Member of Parliament (MP) to the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom, elected by the first past the post voting system.

## History

The constituency was formed as a Parliamentary division of Lancashire in 1885, including Allerton, Cronton, Ditton, Garston, Hale, Halewood, Huyton with Roby, Little Woolton, Much Woolton, Speke, Tarbock, Whiston and Widnes.
In 1918 it was redefined to cover the municipal borough of Widnes, along with the urban districts of Prescot and Huyton with Roby and the Whiston Rural District. The two urban districts and part of the rural district (the parishes of Eccleston, Kirkby, Knowsley, and Windle) became part of a new Huyton constituency in 1950, with Widnes retaining the borough and the remainder of the rural district. In 1971 Widnes featured the last by-election to date to have only a Labour and a Conservative candidate. Its boundaries remained unchanged in 1974. In 1983 Widnes constituency was abolished and replaced by the Halton constituency.

## Boundaries

1950–1983: The borough of Widnes, and the rural district of Whiston except the parishes of Eccleston, Kirkby, Knowsley, and Windle.

## Members of Parliament

| Election | Member | Party |
| 1885 | Tom Edwards-Moss | Conservative |
| 1892 | John Saunders Gilliat | Conservative |
| 1900 | William Walker | Coalition Conservative |
| 1919 by-election | Arthur Henderson | Labour |
| 1922 | Christopher Clayton | Conservative |
| 1929 | Alexander Gordon Cameron | Labour |
| 1931 | Roland Robinson | Conservative |
| 1935 | Richard Pilkington | Conservative |
| 1945 | Christopher Shawcross | Labour |
| 1950 | James MacColl | Labour |
| 1971 by-election | Gordon Oakes | Labour |
| 1983 | constituency abolished | constituency abolished |

## Election results
### Elections in the 1970s

General election 1979: Widnes :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Gordon Oakes | 32,033 | 55.2 | −4.0 |
| | Conservative | B.G. Holder | 21,752 | 37.5 | +10.0 |
| | Liberal | L.A. Self | 4,290 | 7.4 | −5.9 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 10,281 | 17.7 | −14.0 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 58,075 | 74.2 | +3.3 |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | −7.0 | |
General election October 1974: Widnes :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Gordon Oakes | 31,532 | 59.2 | −5.9 |
| | Conservative | A.H.K. Maynard | 14,661 | 27.5 | −7.5 |
| | Liberal | A. Turner | 7,067 | 13.3 | N/A |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 16,871 | 31.7 | +1.6 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 53,260 | 70.9 | −2.8 |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | +0.8 | |
General election February 1974: Widnes :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Gordon Oakes | 35,654 | 65.1 | +7.4 |
| | Conservative | A.H.K. Maynard | 19,155 | 35.0 | −7.3 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 16,499 | 30.1 | +14.8 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 54,809 | 73.7 | +5.0 |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | +7.4 | |
1971 Widnes by-election :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Gordon Oakes | 22,880 | 69.1 | +11.4 |
| | Conservative | David Stanley | 10,219 | 30.9 | −11.4 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 12,661 | 38.3 | +23.0 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 33,099 | | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | +11.4 | |
General election 1970: Widnes :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | James MacColl | 28,384 | 57.7 | −3.0 |
| | Conservative | Griffith H. Pierce | 20,841 | 42.3 | +3.0 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 7,543 | 15.3 | −6.1 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 49,225 | 68.7 | −4.1 |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | −3.0 | |

### Elections in the 1960s

General election 1966: Widnes :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | James MacColl | 26,613 | 60.7 | +3.9 |
| | Conservative | Alan Pickering | 17,235 | 39.3 | −3.9 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 9,378 | 21.4 | +7.7 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 43,848 | 72.8 | −5.1 |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | +3.9 | |
General election 1964: Widnes :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | James MacColl | 24,446 | 56.8 | +4.8 |
| | Conservative | Alan Pickering | 18,572 | 43.2 | −4.8 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 5,874 | 13.7 | +9.8 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 43,018 | 77.9 | −5.5 |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | +4.8 | |

### Elections in the 1950s

General election 1959: Widnes :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | James MacColl | 21,218 | 52.0 | +0.1 |
| | Conservative | Bruce L. Butcher | 19,620 | 48.0 | −0.1 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,598 | 3.9 | +0.1 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 40,838 | 83.4 | +7.0 |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | +0.1 | |
General election 1955: Widnes :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | James MacColl | 19,823 | 51.9 | −2.3 |
| | Conservative | Beata Brookes | 18,374 | 48.1 | +2.3 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,449 | 3.8 | −4.6 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 38,197 | 76.4 | −11.1 |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | −2.3 | |
General election 1951: Widnes :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | James MacColl | 21,688 | 54.2 | +0.1 |
| | Conservative | Francis H. Wilson | 18,315 | 45.8 | −0.1 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 3,373 | 8.4 | +0.2 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 40,003 | 87.4 | −0.8 |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | +0.1 | |
General election 1950: Widnes :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | James MacColl | 21,253 | 54.1 | −4.7 |
| | Conservative | Richard Pilkington | 18,033 | 45.9 | +4.7 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 3,220 | 8.2 | −9.5 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 39,286 | 88.2 | +12.2 |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | −4.7 | |

### Elections in the 1940s

General election 1945: Widnes :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Christopher Shawcross | 41,980 | 58.8 | +14.8 |
| | Conservative | Richard Pilkington | 29,382 | 41.2 | −14.8 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 12,598 | 17.7 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 71,362 | 76.0 | −3.7 |
| | Labour gain from Conservative | Labour gain from Conservative | Swing | +14.8 | |

### Elections in the 1930s

General election 1935: Widnes :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Richard Pilkington | 24,457 | 56.0 | −6.1 |
| | Labour | Alexander Gordon Cameron | 19,187 | 44.0 | +6.1 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 5,270 | 12.1 | −12.2 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 43,644 | 79.7 | −7.8 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | −6.1 | |
General election 1931: Widnes :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Roland Robinson | 25,123 | 62.1 | +13.1 |
| | Labour | Alexander Gordon Cameron | 15,309 | 37.9 | −13.1 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 9,814 | 24.3 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 40,432 | 87.5 | +2.7 |
| | Conservative gain from Labour | Conservative gain from Labour | Swing | +13.1 | |

### Elections in the 1920s

General election 1929: Widnes :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Alexander Gordon Cameron | 19,125 | 51.0 | +4.7 |
| | Unionist | Christopher Clayton | 18,376 | 49.0 | −4.7 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 749 | 2.0 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 37,501 | 84.8 | −1.0 |
| | Labour gain from Unionist | Labour gain from Unionist | Swing | +4.7 | |
General election 1924: Widnes :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Unionist | Christopher Clayton | 15,476 | 53.7 | +6.6 |
| | Labour | Joe Cotter | 13,326 | 46.3 | +2.1 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 2,150 | 7.4 | +4.5 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 28,802 | 85.8 | +2.8 |
| | Unionist hold | Unionist hold | Swing | | |
General election 1923: Widnes :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Unionist | Christopher Clayton | 12,808 | 47.1 | −6.1 |
| | Labour | Joe Cotter | 12,020 | 44.2 | −2.6 |
| | Liberal | Harry Trevor Ellis | 2,355 | 8.7 | N/A |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 788 | 2.9 | −3.5 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 27,183 | 83.0 | −3.8 |
| | Unionist hold | Unionist hold | Swing | −1.7 | |
General election 1922: Widnes :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Unionist | Christopher Clayton | 14,679 | 53.2 | −6.4 |
| | Labour | Arthur Henderson | 12,897 | 46.8 | +6.4 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,782 | 6.4 | −13.8 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 27,576 | 86.8 | +23.8 |
| | Unionist gain from Labour | Unionist gain from Labour | Swing | −6.4 | |

### Elections in the 1910s

1919 Widnes by-election :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Arthur Henderson | 11,404 | 52.3 | +11.9 |
| C | Unionist | Francis Fisher | 10,417 | 47.7 | −11.9 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 987 | 4.6 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 21,821 | 71.1 | +8.1 |
| | Labour gain from Unionist | Labour gain from Unionist | Swing | +11.9 | |
| C indicates candidate endorsed by the coalition government. ||||||
General election 1918: Widnes :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| C | Unionist | William Walker | 11,515 | 59.6 | N/A |
| | Labour | Tom Williamson | 7,821 | 40.4 | N/A |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 3,694 | 19.2 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 19,336 | 63.0 | N/A |
| | Unionist hold | Unionist hold | Swing | N/A | |
| C indicates candidate endorsed by the coalition government. ||||||
1916 Widnes by-election :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Unionist | William Walker | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| | Unionist hold | Unionist hold | Unionist hold | Unionist hold | Unionist hold |
General election December 1910: Widnes :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | William Walker | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold |
General election January 1910: Widnes :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | William Walker | 5,758 | 55.2 | +0.6 |
| | Liberal | Louis Bernacchi | 4,666 | 44.8 | −0.6 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,092 | 10.4 | +1.2 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 10,424 | 88.5 | +5.1 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 11,780 | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | −1.2 | |

### Elections in the 1900s

General election 1906: Widnes :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | William Walker | 5,017 | 54.6 | −15.0 |
| | Liberal | John Swinburne | 4,165 | 45.4 | +15.0 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 852 | 9.2 | −30.0 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 9,182 | 83.4 | +11.7 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 11,005 | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | −15.0 | |
General election 1900: Widnes :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | William Walker | 4,716 | 69.6 | +16.1 |
| | Liberal | M. C. Macinerney | 2,062 | 30.4 | −16.1 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 2,654 | 39.2 | +32.2 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 6,778 | 71.7 | −10.9 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 9,447 | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | +16.1 | |

### Elections in the 1890s

General election 1895: Widnes :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | John Saunders Gilliat | 3,973 | 53.5 | +2.1 |
| | Liberal | Henry Wade Deacon | 3,456 | 46.5 | −2.1 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 517 | 7.0 | +4.2 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 7,429 | 82.6 | −0.9 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 8,998 | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | +2.1 | |
General election 1892: Widnes :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | John Saunders Gilliat | 3,866 | 51.4 | −4.6 |
| | Liberal | Henry Wade Deacon | 3,661 | 48.6 | +4.6 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 205 | 2.8 | −9.2 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 7,527 | 83.5 | +2.7 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 9,014 | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | −4.6 | |

### Elections in the 1880s

General election 1886: Widnes :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Tom Edwards-Moss | 3,719 | 56.0 | −6.0 |
| | Liberal | Augustine Birrell | 2,927 | 44.0 | +6.0 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 792 | 12.0 | −12.0 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 6,646 | 80.8 | −4.0 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 8,223 | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | −12.0 | |
General election 1885: Widnes :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Tom Edwards-Moss | 4,327 | 62.0 | N/A |
| | Liberal | Edmund Knowles Muspratt | 2,650 | 38.0 | N/A |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,677 | 24.0 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 6,977 | 84.8 | N/A |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 8,223 | | |
| | Conservative win (new seat) | Conservative win (new seat) | Conservative win (new seat) | Conservative win (new seat) | Conservative win (new seat) |