# Redcar (UK Parliament constituency)

Redcar is a constituency represented in the House of Commons of the UK Parliament since 2024 by Anna Turley, of the Labour and Co-operative parties. She previously represented the constituency between 2015 and 2019, when she was defeated by Conservative Jacob Young.

## History

The constituency was created in 1974 and was held by the Labour Party from then until 2019, except during a period between 2010 and 2015 when it was held by the Liberal Democrats. In the 2019 General Election, Redcar was the largest Labour majority overturned by the Conservatives, being represented since by a Conservative MP.

## Boundaries
### Historic

1974–1983: The County Borough of Teesside wards of Coatham, Eston Grange, Kirkleatham, Ormesby, Redcar, and South Bank.
1983–1997: The Borough of Langbaurgh wards of Bankside, Church Lane, Coatham, Dormanstown, Eston, Grangetown, Kirkleatham, Newcomen, Normanby, Ormesby, Overfields, Redcar, South Bank, Teesville, and West Dyke.
1997–2010: The Borough of Langbaurgh-on-Tees wards of Coatham, Dormanstown, Eston, Grangetown, Kirkleatham, Longbeck, Newcomen, Normanby, Ormesby, Redcar, St Germain's, South Bank, Teesville, and West Dyke.
2010–2024: The Borough of Redcar and Cleveland wards of Coatham, Dormanstown, Eston, Grangetown, Kirkleatham, Longbeck, Newcomen, Normanby, Ormesby, St Germain's, South Bank, Teesville, West Dyke, and Zetland.

### Current

Further to the 2023 Periodic Review of Westminster constituencies, which came into effect for the 2024 general election, the composition of the constituency is as follows (as they existed on 1 December 2020):
* The Borough of Redcar and Cleveland wards of: Coatham; Dormanstown; Eston; Grangetown; Kirkleatham; Longbeck; Newcomen; Normanby; Ormesby; St. Germain’s; Saltburn; South Bank; Teesville; West Dyke; Wheatlands; Zetland.
The constituency was expanded slightly to bring the electorate within the permitted range, by adding the town of Saltburn-by-the-Sea from Middlesbrough South and East Cleveland.
The Redcar constituency on the Cleveland coast is formed from parts of the Redcar and Cleveland district. It takes its name from the coastal resort of Redcar although much of the population lives in the traditionally solid Labour areas between Redcar and Middlesbrough (such as Grangetown, Eston, Normanby, Ormesby and South Bank). It also includes Dormanstown, Kirkleatham, Marske-by-the-Sea and Saltburn-by-the-Sea.

## History

Once held by the former Secretary of State for Northern Ireland Mo Mowlam, the seat was gained by the Liberal Democrats in the 2010 general election on a massive 21.8% swing from Labour, the largest swing at the time in England since the Second World War outside of by-elections. In 2015, however, the sitting MP Ian Swales did not seek re-election, and Labour regained the seat on another huge swing of 18.9% away from the Liberal Democrats, who polled just ahead of UKIP with the Conservatives in fourth.
In 2019, the seat was one of a number of long standing Labour seats in the north of England which fell to the Conservatives, but at the 2024 election it was regained for Labour by the previous MP, Anna Turley.

## Constituency profile

The constituency had a slightly higher unemployment at the end of 2012 than the North-East average. However, it had a significantly lower claimant count, owing to its exports and manufacturing industry, than nearby Middlesbrough. Average incomes based on the latest income (2001 census figures) available, are not markedly lower than the national average.

## Members of Parliament

| Election | Member | Party |
| Feb 1974 | James Tinn | Labour |
| 1987 | Mo Mowlam | Labour |
| 2001 | Vera Baird | Labour |
| 2010 | Ian Swales | Liberal Democrats |
| 2015 | Anna Turley | Labour Co-op |
| 2019 | Jacob Young | Conservative |
| 2024 | Anna Turley | Labour Co-op |

## Elections
### Elections in the 2020s

General election 2024: Redcar :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour Co-op | Anna Turley | 15,663 | 41.0 | +4.4 |
| | Conservative | Jacob Young | 12,340 | 32.3 | −15.2 |
| | Reform UK | John Davies | 7,216 | 18.9 | +12.4 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Chris Jones | 1,542 | 4.0 | −0.8 |
| | Green | Ruth Hatton | 1,270 | 3.3 | +1.7 |
| | SDP | Gary Conlin | 169 | 0.4 | N/A |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 3,323 | 8.7 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 38,200 | 54.4 | −7.6 |
| | Labour gain from Conservative | Labour gain from Conservative | Swing | +9.8 | |

### Elections in the 2010s

General election 2019: Redcar :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Jacob Young | 18,811 | 46.1 | 12.9 |
| | Labour Co-op | Anna Turley | 15,284 | 37.4 | 18.1 |
| | Brexit Party | Jacqui Cummins | 2,915 | 7.1 | New |
| | Liberal Democrats | Karen King | 2,018 | 4.9 | 1.8 |
| | Independent | Frankie Wales | 1,323 | 3.2 | New |
| | Green | Rowan Mclaughlin | 491 | 1.2 | New |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 3,527 | 8.7 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 40,842 | 62.0 | 1.8 |
| | Conservative gain from Labour Co-op | Conservative gain from Labour Co-op | Swing | 15.4 | |
General election 2017: Redcar :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour Co-op | Anna Turley | 23,623 | 55.5 | 11.6 |
| | Conservative | Peter Gibson | 14,138 | 33.2 | 17.0 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Josh Mason | 2,849 | 6.7 | 11.8 |
| | UKIP | Chris Gallacher | 1,950 | 4.6 | 13.8 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 9,485 | 22.3 | 3.1 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 42,626 | 63.8 | 0.7 |
| | Labour Co-op hold | Labour Co-op hold | Swing | 2.7 | |
General election 2015: Redcar :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour Co-op | Anna Turley | 17,946 | 43.9 | 11.2 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Josh Mason | 7,558 | 18.5 | 26.7 |
| | UKIP | Christopher Gallacher | 7,516 | 18.4 | 13.9 |
| | Conservative | Jacob Young | 6,630 | 16.2 | 2.4 |
| | Green | Peter Pinkney | 880 | 2.2 | New |
| | North East | Philip Lockey | 389 | 1.0 | New |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 10,388 | 25.4 | 13.0 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 40,919 | 63.1 | 0.6 |
| | Labour Co-op gain from Liberal Democrats | Labour Co-op gain from Liberal Democrats | Swing | 18.9 | |
General election 2010: Redcar :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal Democrats | Ian Swales | 18,955 | 45.2 | 25.0 |
| | Labour | Vera Baird | 13,741 | 32.7 | 18.6 |
| | Conservative | Steve Mastin | 5,790 | 13.8 | 4.1 |
| | UKIP | Martin Bulmer | 1,875 | 4.5 | 3.0 |
| | BNP | Kevin Broughton | 1,475 | 3.5 | 1.0 |
| | TUSC | Hannah Walter | 127 | 0.3 | New |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 5,214 | 12.4 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 41,963 | 62.5 | 4.5 |
| | Liberal Democrats gain from Labour | Liberal Democrats gain from Labour | Swing | 21.8 | |

### Elections in the 2000s

General election 2005: Redcar :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Vera Baird | 19,968 | 51.4 | 8.9 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Ian Swales | 7,852 | 20.2 | 7.6 |
| | Conservative | Jonathan Lehrle | 6,954 | 17.9 | 7.2 |
| | Independent | Christopher McGlade | 2,379 | 6.1 | New |
| | BNP | Andrew Harris | 985 | 2.5 | New |
| | UKIP | Edward Walker | 564 | 1.5 | New |
| | Socialist Labour | John Taylor | 159 | 0.4 | 1.6 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 12,116 | 31.2 | 4.0 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 38,861 | 58.0 | 1.7 |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | 8.3 | |
General election 2001: Redcar :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Vera Baird | 23,026 | 60.3 | 7.0 |
| | Conservative | Chris Main | 9,583 | 25.1 | 2.0 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Stan Wilson | 4,817 | 12.6 | 3.0 |
| | Socialist Labour | John Taylor | 772 | 2.0 | New |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 13,443 | 35.2 | 9.0 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 38,198 | 56.3 | 14.7 |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | 4.6 | |

### Elections in the 1990s

General election 1997: Redcar :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Mo Mowlam | 32,972 | 67.3 | 11.3 |
| | Conservative | Andrew Isaacs | 11,308 | 23.1 | 9.0 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Joyce Benbow | 4,679 | 9.6 | 2.3 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 21,664 | 44.2 | 20.3 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 48,859 | 71.0 | 6.7 |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | 10.2 | |
General election 1992: Redcar :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Mo Mowlam | 27,184 | 56.0 | 8.7 |
| | Conservative | Robert Goodwill | 15,607 | 32.1 | 0.8 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Chris Abbott | 5,789 | 11.9 | −9.5 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 11,577 | 23.9 | 7.9 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 48,580 | 77.7 | 1.7 |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | 3.9 | |

### Elections in the 1980s

General election 1987: Redcar :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Mo Mowlam | 22,824 | 47.3 | 6.7 |
| | Conservative | Peter Bassett | 15,089 | 31.3 | 2.4 |
| | SDP | Glyn Nightingale | 10,298 | 21.4 | 1.3 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 7,735 | 16.0 | 9.1 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 48,211 | 76.1 | 2.8 |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | 4.5 | |
General election 1983: Redcar :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | James Tinn | 18,348 | 40.6 | |
| | Conservative | Peter Bassett | 15,244 | 33.7 | |
| | SDP | Glyn Nightingale | 11,614 | 25.7 | New |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 3,104 | 6.9 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 45,206 | 71.3 | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | | |

### Elections in the 1970s

General election 1979: Teesside, Redcar :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | James Tinn | 25,470 | 53.68 | |
| | Conservative | Elizabeth Cottrell | 17,417 | 36.71 | |
| | Liberal | A. Elliott | 4,225 | 8.91 | |
| | Independent | E. Lloyd | 333 | 0.70 | New |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 8,053 | 16.97 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 47,445 | 75.90 | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | | |
General election October 1974: Teesside, Redcar :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | James Tinn | 23,204 | 53.86 | |
| | Conservative | R. Hall | 12,774 | 29.65 | |
| | Liberal | N. Clark | 7,101 | 16.48 | New |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 10,430 | 24.21 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 43,079 | 69.08 | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | | |
General election February 1974: Teesside, Redcar :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | James Tinn | 28,252 | 59.79 | |
| | Conservative | R. Hall | 18,998 | 40.21 | |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 9,254 | 19.58 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 47,250 | 76.66 | |
| | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) |