# Rochdale (UK Parliament constituency)

Rochdale is a constituency, which is currently represented in the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom by Paul Waugh of Labour Co-op since 2024. Rochdale has elected one Member of Parliament (MP) in every general election since its creation in 1832.

## Boundaries
### Historic

As there were no township boundaries in 1832, the original constituency was defined as a circular area in a radius of three-quarters of a mile from the old market place in Rochdale. In 1868 the boundary was extended to include Wardleworth, Spotland, Wuerdle, Belfield, Newbold, Buersill, and Marland.
1918–1950: The County Borough of Rochdale
1950–1983: As prior but with redrawn boundaries
1983–1997: The Borough of Rochdale wards of Balderstone, Brimrod and Deeplish, Castleton, Central and Falinge, Healey, Newbold, Norden and Bamford, Smallbridge and Wardleworth, and Spotland
1997–2010: The Borough of Rochdale wards of Balderstone, Brimrod and Deeplish, Central and Falinge, Healey, Littleborough, Newbold, Smallbridge and Wardleworth, Spotland, and Wardle
2010–2024: The Borough of Rochdale wards of Balderstone and Kirkholt, Central Rochdale, Healey, Kingsway, Littleborough Lakeside, Milkstone and Deeplish, Milnrow and Newhey, Smallbridge and Firgrove, Spotland and Falinge, and Wardle and West Littleborough

### Current

Further to the 2023 Periodic Review of Westminster constituencies which came into effect for the 2024 general election, the constituency was reduced in size to bring the electorate within the permitted range by transferring the Spotland and Falinge ward (as it existed on 1 December 2020) to the new constituency of Heywood and Middleton North.

## History

Rochdale was one of the constituencies created by the Reform Act 1832, and was a Labour Party/Liberal Democrat marginal for many years, although it was held by the Conservatives for part of the 1950s, until a 1958 by-election.
It was held for two decades by Cyril Smith, first of the Liberal Party and then of the Liberal Democrats. He won a by-election in 1972, taking the seat from Labour, and held it until his retirement in 1992. After Smith's death it emerged that he had been a serial child abuser.
Since Smith's retirement, contests have been tighter. The Liberal Democrats held the seat with Liz Lynne at the 1992 general election, but lost to Labour's Lorna Fitzsimons at the 1997 election. However, the Liberal Democrats regained the seat at the 2005 election, with Paul Rowen.
In 2010, the town was brought to national attention when the then Prime Minister Gordon Brown was caught on a tape recording describing a local woman, Gillian Duffy, as a "bigot" after having a conversation with her while campaigning (later described as Bigotgate by the UK media). Despite this unfavourable publicity, Labour still managed to narrowly win the seat from the Liberal Democrats; and in 2015 achieved their highest majority in the seat's history, with the Liberal Democrats falling to fourth place.

## Constituency profile

The constituency is one of two covering the Metropolitan Borough of Rochdale. It contains most of the town of Rochdale itself as well as Littleborough, Wardle and some of the surrounding rural area.
For the 2010 UK general election, the seat gained the villages of Milnrow and Newhey from Oldham East and Saddleworth and lost the areas of Sudden, Marland, and part of Norden to Heywood and Middleton, a 19.16% boundary change. Those changes made the seat a notional Labour victory in the Rallings and Thrasher figures which were used by the Press Association for determining gains, losses and swings. However, other predictions by political commentator Martin Baxter showed the seat maintaining a narrow Lib Dem majority. The Times Guide to the House of Commons 2010 estimated that had the seat been fought on these boundaries in 2005, Labour would have won the seat with approximately 40.9% of the vote to the Liberal Democrats' 40.7%.

### Demographics

The population was recorded as 114,386 in 2021. The ethnic composition was 62.7% White, 29.6% Asian, Asian British or Asian Welsh, and 3.1% Black, Black British, Black Welsh, Caribbean or African. The religious composition was 38.1% Christian, 30.5% Muslim, and 0.9% other. 26.0% claimed no religious affiliation.

## Members of Parliament

| Election | Member (†=died in office) | Party |
| 1832 | John Fenton | Whig |
| 1835 | John Entwistle | Conservative |
| 1837 | John Fenton | Whig |
| 1841 | William Sharman Crawford | Radical |
| 1852 | Edward Miall | Radical |
| 1857 | Alexander Ramsay | Conservative |
| 1859 | Richard Cobden | Liberal |
| 1865 | Thomas Potter | Liberal |
| 1895 | Clement Royds | Conservative |
| 1906 | Gordon Harvey | Liberal |
| 1918 | Alfred Law | Unionist |
| 1922 | Stanley Burgess | Labour |
| 1923 | Ramsay Muir | Liberal |
| 1924 | William Kelly | Labour |
| 1931 | Thomas Jesson | Conservative |
| 1935 | William Kelly | Labour |
| 1940 by-election | Hyacinth Morgan | Labour |
| 1950 | Joseph Hale | Labour |
| 1951 | Wentworth Schofield † | Conservative |
| 1958 by-election | Jack McCann † | Labour |
| 1972 by-election | Cyril Smith | Liberal |
| 1987 | Cyril Smith | Liberal Democrats |
| 1992 | Liz Lynne | Liberal Democrats |
| 1997 | Lorna Fitzsimons | Labour |
| 2005 | Paul Rowen | Liberal Democrats |
| 2010 | Simon Danczuk | Labour |
| 2015 | Simon Danczuk | Independent |
| 2017 | Tony Lloyd † | Labour |
| 2024 by-election | George Galloway | Workers Party |
| 2024 | Paul Waugh | Labour Co-op |

## Results
### Elections in the 2020s

General election 2024: Rochdale :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour Co-op | Paul Waugh | 13,027 | 32.8 | −18.0 |
| | Workers Party | George Galloway | 11,587 | 29.2 | N/A |
| | Reform UK | Michael Howard | 6,773 | 17.1 | +8.9 |
| | Conservative | Paul Ellison | 4,273 | 10.8 | −20.8 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Andy Kelly | 2,816 | 7.1 | −0.4 |
| | Green | Martyn Savin | 1,212 | 3.1 | +1.2 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,440 | 3.6 | –15.7 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 39,688 | 55.7 | –3.0 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 71,264 | | |
| | Labour Co-op hold | Labour Co-op hold | Swing | | |
2024 Rochdale by-election :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Workers Party | George Galloway | 12,335 | 39.7 | N/A |
| | Independent | David Tully | 6,638 | 21.3 | N/A |
| | Conservative | Paul Ellison | 3,731 | 12.0 | −19.2 |
| | Labour | Azhar Ali | 2,402 | 7.7 | −43.9 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Iain Donaldson | 2,164 | 7.0 | ±0.0 |
| | Reform UK | Simon Danczuk | 1,968 | 6.3 | −1.9 |
| | Independent | William Howarth | 523 | 1.7 | N/A |
| | Independent | Mark Coleman | 455 | 1.5 | N/A |
| | Green | Guy Otten | 436 | 1.4 | −0.7 |
| | Independent | Michael Howarth | 246 | 0.8 | N/A |
| | Monster Raving Loony | Ravin Rodent Subortna | 209 | 0.7 | N/A |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 5,697 | 18.4 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 31,107 | 39.7 | −20.4 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | | | |
| | Workers Party gain from Labour | Workers Party gain from Labour | Swing | | |

### Elections in the 2010s

2019 notional result :
| Party | Party | Vote | % |
| | Labour | 21,379 | 50.8 |
| | Conservative | 13,270 | 31.6 |
| | Brexit Party | 3,451 | 8.2 |
| | Liberal Democrats | 3,168 | 7.5 |
| | Green | 790 | 1.9 |
| Turnout | Turnout | 42,058 | 58.7 |
| Electorate | Electorate | 71,697 |
General election 2019: Rochdale :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Tony Lloyd | 24,475 | 51.6 | –6.4 |
| | Conservative | Atifa Shah | 14,807 | 31.2 | +2.8 |
| | Brexit Party | Chris Green | 3,867 | 8.2 | N/A |
| | Liberal Democrats | Andy Kelly | 3,312 | 7.0 | –1.0 |
| | Green | Sarah Croke | 986 | 2.1 | N/A |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 9,668 | 20.4 | –9.2 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 47,447 | 60.1 | –4.0 |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | –4.6 | |
General election 2017: Rochdale :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Tony Lloyd | 29,035 | 58.0 | +11.9 |
| | Conservative | Jane Howard | 14,216 | 28.4 | +11.4 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Andy Kelly | 4,027 | 8.0 | –2.3 |
| | UKIP | Christopher Baksa | 1,641 | 3.3 | –15.5 |
| | Independent | Simon Danczuk | 883 | 1.8 | N/A |
| | Greater Manchester Homeless Voice | Andy Littlewood | 242 | 0.5 | N/A |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 14,819 | 29.6 | +2.3 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 50,044 | 64.1 | +6.7 |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | | |
General election 2015: Rochdale :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Simon Danczuk | 20,961 | 46.1 | +9.7 |
| | UKIP | Mohammed Masud | 8,519 | 18.8 | +14.4 |
| | Conservative | Azi Ahmed | 7,742 | 17.0 | –1.1 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Andy Kelly | 4,667 | 10.3 | –24.1 |
| | Rochdale First | Farooq Ahmed | 1,535 | 3.4 | N/A |
| | Green | Mark Hollinrake | 1,382 | 3.0 | N/A |
| | National Front | Kevin Bryan | 433 | 1.0 | –3.9 |
| | Islam Zinda Baad Platform | Mohammed Salim | 191 | 0.4 | –0.8 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 12,442 | 27.3 | +25.3 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 45,430 | 57.4 | –0.7 |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | –2.3 | |
General election 2010: Rochdale :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Labour | Simon Danczuk | 16,699 | 36.4 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Paul Rowen | 15,810 | 34.4 |
| | Conservative | Mudasir Dean | 8,305 | 18.1 |
| | National Front | Chris Jackson | 2,236 | 4.9 |
| | UKIP | Colin Denby | 1,999 | 4.4 |
| | Islam Zinda Baad Platform | Mohammed Salim | 545 | 1.2 |
| | Independent | John Whitehead | 313 | 0.7 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 889 | 2.0 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 45,907 | 58.1 |
| | Labour win (new boundaries) | Labour win (new boundaries) | Labour win (new boundaries) | Labour win (new boundaries) |
The Times Guide to the House of Commons 2010 reported that based on the notional 2005 result on the new boundaries the Labour vote had fallen by 4.5% and the Liberal Democrat vote had fallen by 6.1%, while the Conservative voteshare increased by 7.6%.

### Elections in the 2000s

General election 2005: Rochdale :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal Democrats | Paul Rowen | 16,787 | 41.1 | +6.2 |
| | Labour | Lorna Fitzsimons | 16,345 | 40.0 | –9.2 |
| | Conservative | Khalid Hussain | 4,270 | 10.5 | –2.9 |
| | BNP | Derek Adams | 1,773 | 4.3 | N/A |
| | UKIP | John Whittaker | 499 | 1.2 | N/A |
| | Green | Samir Chatterjee | 448 | 1.1 | –0.7 |
| | Islam Zinda Baad Platform | Mohammed Salim | 361 | 0.9 | N/A |
| | Veritas | Carl Faulkner | 353 | 0.9 | N/A |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 444 | 1.1 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 40,834 | 58.4 | +1.7 |
| | Liberal Democrats gain from Labour | Liberal Democrats gain from Labour | Swing | +7.7 | |
General election 2001: Rochdale :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Lorna Fitzsimons | 19,406 | 49.2 | –0.2 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Paul Rowen | 13,751 | 34.9 | –5.1 |
| | Conservative | Elaina Cohen | 5,274 | 13.4 | +4.6 |
| | Green | Nick Harvey | 728 | 1.8 | N/A |
| | Independent | Mohammed Salim | 253 | 0.6 | +0.2 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 5,655 | 14.3 | +4.9 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 39,412 | 56.7 | –13.3 |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | | |

### Elections in the 1990s

General election 1997: Rochdale :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Lorna Fitzsimons | 23,758 | 49.4 | |
| | Liberal Democrats | Liz Lynne | 19,213 | 40.0 | |
| | Conservative | Mervyn Turnberg | 4,237 | 8.8 | |
| | BNP | Gary Bergin | 653 | 1.4 | |
| | Islam Zinda Baad Platform | Mohammed Salim | 221 | 0.5 | |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 4,545 | 9.4 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 48,082 | 70.0 | |
| | Labour win (new boundaries) | Labour win (new boundaries) | Labour win (new boundaries) | Labour win (new boundaries) | Labour win (new boundaries) |
General election 1992: Rochdale :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal Democrats | Liz Lynne | 22,776 | 42.8 | –0.6 |
| | Labour | David Williams | 20,937 | 39.4 | +1.4 |
| | Conservative | Duncan Goldie-Scott | 8,626 | 16.2 | –2.4 |
| | BNP | Ken Henderson | 620 | 1.2 | N/A |
| | Natural Law | Vincent J. Lucker | 221 | 0.4 | N/A |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,839 | 3.4 | –2.0 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 53,180 | 76.5 | +1.9 |
| | Liberal Democrats hold | Liberal Democrats hold | Swing | –1.0 | |

### Elections in the 1980s

General election 1987: Rochdale :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | Cyril Smith | 22,245 | 43.4 | –2.7 |
| | Labour | David Williams | 19,466 | 38.0 | +7.9 |
| | Conservative | Clive Condie | 9,561 | 18.6 | –3.8 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 2,779 | 5.4 | –10.6 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 51,272 | 74.6 | +3.8 |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Swing | –5.3 | |
General election 1983: Rochdale :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Liberal | Cyril Smith | 21,858 | 46.1 |
| | Labour | Valerie Broom | 14,271 | 30.1 |
| | Conservative | Alan Fearn | 10,616 | 22.4 |
| | National Front | Peter Barker | 463 | 1.0 |
| | Unemployed Party | Peter Courtney | 204 | 0.4 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 7,587 | 16.0 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 47,412 | 70.8 |
| | Liberal win (new boundaries) | Liberal win (new boundaries) | Liberal win (new boundaries) | Liberal win (new boundaries) |

### Elections in the 1970s

General election 1979: Rochdale :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | Cyril Smith | 22,172 | 45.03 | +2.37 |
| | Labour | J Connell | 16,878 | 34.28 | −2.53 |
| | Conservative | I S Picton | 9,494 | 19.28 | +2.85 |
| | National Front | S Merrick | 690 | 1.40 | 2.69 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 5,295 | 10.75 | +4.90 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 49,234 | 73.66 | +3.38 |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Swing | | |
General election October 1974: Rochdale :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | Cyril Smith | 20,092 | 42.66 | −6.45 |
| | Labour | J Connell | 17,339 | 36.81 | +5 |
| | Conservative | R J de B Young | 7,740 | 16.43 | +2.85 |
| | National Front | M W Sellors | 1,927 | 4.09 | +0.43 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 2,753 | 5.85 | −11.45 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 47,098 | 70.28 | −7.07 |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Swing | | |
General election February 1974: Rochdale :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | Cyril Smith | 25,266 | 49.11 | +6.82 |
| | Labour | L F Cunliffe | 16,367 | 31.81 | +0.69 |
| | Conservative | L Green | 7,933 | 15.42 | −2.24 |
| | National Front | M W Sellors | 1,885 | 3.66 | "N/A" |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 8,899 | 17.3 | +6.13 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 49,234 | 73.66 | +3.38 |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Swing | | |
1972 Rochdale by-election :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | Cyril Smith | 19,296 | 42.29 | +11.89 |
| | Labour | L F Cunliffe | 14,203 | 31.12 | −10.45 |
| | Conservative | D A Tripper | 8,060 | 17.66 | −10.37 |
| | Independent | J Merrick | 4,074 | 8.93 | "N/A" |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 5,093 | 11.17 | 0 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 45,633 | 69.06 | −3.71 |
| | Liberal gain from Labour | Liberal gain from Labour | Swing | +11.17 | |
General election 1970: Rochdale :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Jack McCann | 19,247 | 41.57 | −10.82 |
| | Liberal | Cyril Smith | 14,076 | 30.40 | +11.13 |
| | Conservative | M Andrew | 12,978 | 28.03 | −0.30 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 5,171 | 11.17 | −12.89 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 46,301 | 72.77 | −6.19 |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | | |

### Elections in the 1960s

General election 1966: Rochdale :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Jack McCann | 24,481 | 52.39 | +5.7 |
| | Conservative | Edward G.L. Collins | 13,239 | 28.33 | +3.96 |
| | Liberal | Nancy Seear | 9,004 | 19.27 | –9.67 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 11,242 | 24.06 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 46,724 | 78.96 | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | | |
General election 1964: Rochdale :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Jack McCann | 22,927 | 46.69 | +5.22 |
| | Liberal | Thomas Lyrian Hobday | 14,212 | 28.94 | –7.29 |
| | Conservative | Tom Normanton | 11,968 | 24.37 | +2.07 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 8,715 | 17.75 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 49,107 | 82.26 | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | | |

### Elections in the 1950s

General election 1959: Rochdale :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Jack McCann | 21,689 | 41.47 | –6.98 |
| | Liberal | Ludovic Kennedy | 18,949 | 36.23 | N/A |
| | Conservative | Tom Normanton | 11,665 | 22.30 | –29.25 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 2,740 | 5.24 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 52,303 | 85.47 | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | | |
1958 Rochdale by-election :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Jack McCann | 22,133 | 44.66 | −3.79 |
| | Liberal | Ludovic Kennedy | 17,603 | 35.52 | N/A |
| | Conservative | John E. Parkinson | 9,827 | 19.83 | −31.72 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 4,530 | 9.14 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 49,563 | | |
| | Labour gain from Conservative | Labour gain from Conservative | Swing | +14.0 | |
General election 1955: Rochdale :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Wentworth Schofield | 26,518 | 51.55 | +1.14 |
| | Labour | Jack McCann | 24,928 | 48.45 | −1.14 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,590 | 3.10 | +2.28 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 51,446 | 82.8 | −2.9 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | +1.1 | |
General election 1951: Rochdale :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Wentworth Schofield | 27,797 | 50.41 | |
| | Labour | Joseph Hale | 27,343 | 49.59 | |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 454 | 0.82 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 55,140 | 85.66 | |
| | Conservative gain from Labour | Conservative gain from Labour | Swing | | |
General election 1950: Rochdale :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Labour | Joseph Hale | 25,484 | 44.9 |
| | Conservative | Wentworth Schofield | 21,208 | 37.4 |
| | Liberal | Roger Fulford | 10,042 | 17.7 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 4,276 | 7.5 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 56,734 | 87.90 |
| | Labour win (new boundaries) | Labour win (new boundaries) | Labour win (new boundaries) | Labour win (new boundaries) |

### Elections in the 1940s

General election 1945: Rochdale :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Labour | Hyacinth Morgan | 22,047 | 44.89 |
| | Conservative | Edward May Nicol | 16,852 | 34.31 |
| | Liberal | Charles Gordon Cummins Harvey | 10,211 | 20.79 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 5,195 | 10.58 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 49,110 | 80.68 |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | |
1940 Rochdale by-election :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Hyacinth Morgan | Unopposed | N/A | N/A |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Labour hold | Labour hold | Labour hold |

### Elections in the 1930s

General election 1935: Rochdale :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | William Kelly | 22,281 | 41.20 | +8.61 |
| | Conservative | W. Gordon Murray | 20,486 | 37.88 | –7.18 |
| | Liberal | Elliott Dodds | 11,311 | 20.92 | –1.43 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,795 | 3.32 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 54,078 | 84.69 | |
| | Labour gain from Conservative | Labour gain from Conservative | Swing | | |
General election 1931: Rochdale :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Thomas Jesson | 25,346 | 45.06 | |
| | Labour | William Kelly | 18,329 | 32.59 | |
| | Liberal | Elliott Dodds | 12,572 | 22.35 | |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 7,017 | 12.48 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 56,247 | 88.79 | |
| | Conservative gain from Labour | Conservative gain from Labour | Swing | | |

### Elections in the 1920s

General election 1929: Rochdale :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | William Kelly | 22,060 | 40.2 | +6.4 |
| | Liberal | Ramsay Muir | 16,957 | 30.8 | –2.7 |
| | Unionist | John Haslam | 15,962 | 29.0 | –3.7 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 5,103 | 9.4 | +9.1 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 54,979 | 87.6 | –2.7 |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | +4.5 | |
General election 1924: Rochdale :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | William Kelly | 14,609 | 33.8 | +1.2 |
| | Liberal | Ramsay Muir | 14,492 | 33.5 | –2.9 |
| | Unionist | Thomas Jesson | 14,112 | 32.7 | +1.7 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 117 | 0.3 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 43,213 | 90.3 | +2.5 |
| | Labour gain from Liberal | Labour gain from Liberal | Swing | | |
General election 1923: Rochdale :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | Ramsay Muir | 15,087 | 36.4 | +7.2 |
| | Labour | Stanley Burgess | 13,525 | 32.6 | –6.2 |
| | Unionist | Nicholas Cockshutt | 12,845 | 31.0 | –1.0 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,562 | 3.8 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 41,457 | 87.8 | +0.7 |
| | Liberal gain from Labour | Liberal gain from Labour | Swing | | |
General election 1922: Rochdale :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Stanley Burgess | 15,774 | 38.8 | +22.3 |
| | Unionist | Alfred Law | 13,006 | 32.0 | –15.6 |
| | Liberal | Ramsay Muir | 11,894 | 29.2 | +7.7 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 2,768 | 6.8 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 40,674 | 87.1 | +22.6 |
| | Labour gain from Unionist | Labour gain from Unionist | Swing | | |

### Elections in the 1910s

General election 1918: Rochdale :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| C | Unionist | Alfred Law | 14,299 | 47.6 | +6.7 |
| | Liberal | Vivian Phillipps | 6,452 | 21.5 | –23.1 |
| | Labour | R. H. Tawney | 4,956 | 16.5 | N/A |
| | National Democratic | John Joseph Terrett | 2,358 | 7.8 | N/A |
| | National | John Fitzgerald Jones | 1,992 | 6.6 | N/A |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 7,847 | 26.1 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 30,057 | 64.5 | –23.5 |
| | Unionist gain from Liberal | Unionist gain from Liberal | Swing | | |
| C indicates candidate endorsed by the coalition government. ||||||
A General Election was due to take place by the end of 1915. By the summer of 1914, the following candidates had been adopted to contest that election. Due to the outbreak of war, the election never took place.
* British Socialist Party: Tom Kennedy
General election December 1910: Rochdale :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | Gordon Harvey | 5,850 | 44.6 | –4.2 |
| | Conservative | Nicholas Cockshutt | 5,373 | 40.9 | +2.3 |
| | Social Democratic Federation | Dan Irving | 1,901 | 14.5 | +1.9 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 477 | 3.7 | –6.5 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 11,124 | 88.0 | –5.5 |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Swing | | |
General election January 1910: Rochdale :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | Gordon Harvey | 6,809 | 48.8 | +2.9 |
| | Conservative | William Boyd Boyd-Carpenter | 5,381 | 38.6 | +2.0 |
| | Social Democratic Federation | Dan Irving | 1,755 | 12.6 | N/A |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,428 | 10.2 | –1.1 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 13,945 | 93.5 | +0.5 |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Swing | | |

### Elections in the 1900s

General election 1906: Rochdale :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | Gordon Harvey | 5,912 | 45.9 | 0.0 |
| | Conservative | Clement Royds | 4,449 | 34.6 | −11.5 |
| | Independent Labour | S. G. Hobson | 2,506 | 19.5 | N/A |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,463 | 11.3 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 12,867 | 93.0 | +5.9 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 13,831 | | |
| | Liberal gain from Conservative | Liberal gain from Conservative | Swing | +5.8 | |
General election 1900: Rochdale :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Clement Royds | 5,204 | 46.1 | 0.0 |
| | Liberal | Gordon Harvey | 5,185 | 45.9 | +4.0 |
| | Labour Repr. Cmte. | C. Allen Clarke | 901 | 8.0 | –4.0 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 19 | 0.2 | –4.0 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 11,290 | 87.1 | –1.1 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 12,968 | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | −2.0 | |

### Elections in the 1890s

General election 1895: Rochdale :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Clement Royds | 4,781 | 46.1 | +1.0 |
| | Liberal | William Leatham Bright | 4,359 | 41.9 | –13.0 |
| | Ind. Labour Party | George Barnes | 1,251 | 12.0 | N/A |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 422 | 4.2 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 10,391 | 88.2 | +2.4 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 11,782 | | |
| | Conservative gain from Liberal | Conservative gain from Liberal | Swing | +7.0 | |
General election 1892: Rochdale :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | Thomas Potter | 5,460 | 54.9 | –2.7 |
| | Conservative | Clement Royds | 4,480 | 45.1 | +2.7 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 980 | 9.8 | –5.4 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 9,940 | 85.8 | +9.8 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 11,584 | | |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Swing | −2.7 | |

### Elections in the 1880s

General election 1886: Rochdale :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | Thomas Potter | 4,738 | 57.6 | +1.9 |
| | Conservative | John Marriott | 3,481 | 42.4 | –1.9 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,257 | 15.2 | +3.8 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 9,969 | 76.0 | –16.2 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 10,808 | | |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Swing | +1.9 | |
General election 1885: Rochdale :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | Thomas Potter | 5,552 | 55.7 | −4.5 |
| | Conservative | Elliot Lees | 4,417 | 44.3 | +4.5 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,135 | 11.4 | −9.0 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 9,969 | 92.2 | +8.7 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 10,808 | | |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Swing | −4.5 | |
General election 1880: Rochdale :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | Thomas Potter | 5,614 | 60.2 | +7.3 |
| | Conservative | Richard Wilson Gamble | 3,716 | 39.8 | −7.3 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,898 | 20.4 | +14.6 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 9,330 | 83.5 | +1.4 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 11,172 | | |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Swing | +7.3 | |

### Elections in the 1870s

General election 1874: Rochdale :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | Thomas Potter | 4,498 | 52.9 | −4.8 |
| | Conservative | Richard Wilson Gamble | 3,998 | 47.1 | +4.8 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 500 | 5.8 | −9.6 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 8,496 | 82.1 | −1.2 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 10,352 | | |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Swing | −4.8 | |

### Elections in the 1860s

General election 1868: Rochdale :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | Thomas Potter | 4,455 | 57.7 | N/A |
| | Conservative | William Whitworth Schofield | 3,270 | 42.3 | N/A |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,185 | 15.4 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 7,725 | 83.2 | N/A |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 9,280 | | |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Swing | N/A | |
General election 1865: Rochdale :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | Thomas Potter | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 1,358 | | |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Liberal hold |
By-election, 15 April 1865: Rochdale :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | Thomas Potter | 646 | 56.6 | N/A |
| | Conservative | William Brett | 496 | 43.4 | N/A |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 150 | 13.2 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,142 | 84.1 | N/A |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 1,358 | | |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Swing | N/A | |
* Caused by Cobden's death.

### Elections in the 1850s

General election 1859: Rochdale :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | Richard Cobden | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 1,340 | | |
| | Liberal gain from Conservative | Liberal gain from Conservative | Liberal gain from Conservative | Liberal gain from Conservative | Liberal gain from Conservative |
General election 1857: Rochdale :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Alexander Ramsay | 532 | 52.2 | +10.7 |
| | Radical | Edward Miall | 488 | 47.8 | −10.7 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 44 | 4.4 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,020 | 81.3 | +3.4 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 1,255 | | |
| | Conservative gain from Radical | Conservative gain from Radical | Swing | +10.7 | |
General election 1852: Rochdale :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Radical | Edward Miall | 529 | 58.5 | N/A |
| | Conservative | Alexander Ramsay | 375 | 41.5 | N/A |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 154 | 17.0 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 904 | 77.9 | N/A |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 1,160 | | |
| | Radical hold | Radical hold | Swing | N/A | |

### Elections in the 1840s

General election 1847: Rochdale :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Radical | William Sharman Crawford | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 1,026 | | |
| | Radical hold | Radical hold | Radical hold | Radical hold | Radical hold |
General election 1841: Rochdale :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Radical | William Sharman Crawford | 399 | 54.4 | N/A |
| | Conservative | James Fenton | 335 | 45.6 | −2.7 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 64 | 8.8 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 734 | 72.2 | −12.2 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 1,016 | | |
| | Radical gain from Whig | Radical gain from Whig | Swing | | |

### Elections in the 1830s

General election 1837: Rochdale :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Whig | John Fenton (MP for Rochdale) | 374 | 51.7 | +4.8 |
| | Conservative | Alexander Ramsay | 349 | 48.3 | −4.8 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 25 | 3.4 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 723 | 84.4 | −8.8 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 857 | | |
| | Whig gain from Conservative | Whig gain from Conservative | Swing | +4.8 | |
By-election, 19 April 1837: Rochdale :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Whig | John Fenton (MP for Rochdale) | 383 | 53.0 | +6.1 |
| | Conservative | Clement Royds | 339 | 47.0 | −6.1 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 44 | 6.0 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 722 | 84.2 | −9.0 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 857 | | |
| | Whig gain from Conservative | Whig gain from Conservative | Swing | +6.1 | |
* Caused by Entwistle's death
General election 1835: Rochdale :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | John Entwistle (politician) | 369 | 53.1 | +14.2 |
| | Whig | John Fenton (MP for Rochdale) | 326 | 46.9 | +3.1 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 43 | 6.2 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 695 | 93.2 | +1.2 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 746 | | |
| | Conservative gain from Whig | Conservative gain from Whig | Swing | +5.6 | |
General election 1832: Rochdale :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Whig | John Fenton (MP for Rochdale) | 277 | 43.8 |
| | Tory | John Entwistle (politician) | 246 | 38.9 |
| | Radical | James Taylor | 109 | 17.2 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 31 | 4.9 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 632 | 92.0 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 687 | |
| | Whig win (new seat) | Whig win (new seat) | Whig win (new seat) | Whig win (new seat) |