# Dudley East (UK Parliament constituency)

Dudley East was a parliamentary constituency, centred on the town of Dudley in the West Midlands. It returned one Member of Parliament (MP) to the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom by the first past the post system.
The constituency was created for the February 1974 general election, and abolished for the 1997 general election.

## History

Throughout its history, it was served by one member: John Gilbert of the Labour Party.

## Boundaries

1974–1983: The County Borough of Dudley wards of Castle, Coseley East, Coseley West, Netherton and Woodside, Priory, St Andrew's, St James's, and St Thomas's.
1983–1997: The Metropolitan Borough of Dudley wards of Castle and Priory, Coseley East, Coseley West, Netherton and Woodside, Quarry Bank and Cradley, St Andrew's, St James's, and St Thomas's.
Dudley East was one of three constituencies in the Metropolitan Borough of Dudley, covering as its name suggested the eastern part of the town of Dudley, including the town centre, along with Coseley and parts of Sedgley. At abolition in 1997, both Dudley East and Dudley West were replaced by two new constituencies: Dudley North and Dudley South, with some constituents being transferred to the re-created Stourbridge constituency.

## Members of Parliament

| Election | Election | Member | Party |
| | Feb 1974 | John Gilbert | Labour |
| | 1997 | constituency abolished: see Dudley North, Dudley South and Stourbridge | constituency abolished: see Dudley North, Dudley South and Stourbridge |

## Elections
### Elections in the 1990s

General election 1992: Dudley East :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | John Gilbert | 29,806 | 52.8 | +6.9 |
| | Conservative | CJ Holland | 20,606 | 36.5 | −3.0 |
| | Liberal Democrats | IC Jenkins | 5,400 | 9.6 | −5.0 |
| | National Front | GE Cartwright | 675 | 1.2 | New |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 9,200 | 16.3 | +9.9 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 56,487 | 75.0 | +2.7 |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | +4.9 | |

### Elections in the 1980s

General election 1987: Dudley East :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | John Gilbert | 24,942 | 45.87 | +0.05 |
| | Conservative | Elisabeth Jones | 21,469 | 39.48 | +4.56 |
| | SDP | Kevin Monks | 7,965 | 14.65 | −4.61 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 3,473 | 6.39 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 54,376 | 72.3 | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | | |
General election 1983: Dudley East :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | John Gilbert | 24,441 | 45.82 | −7.86 |
| | Conservative | Susan Gillies | 18,625 | 34.92 | −0.18 |
| | SDP | Dominic Simon | 10,272 | 19.26 | +9.8 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 5,816 | 10.90 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 53,338 | 71.34 | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | | |

### Elections in the 1970s

General election 1979: Dudley East :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | John Gilbert | 22,521 | 53.83 | −3.47 |
| | Conservative | Donald Williams | 14,834 | 35.46 | +7.73 |
| | Liberal | Gerald Patrick Thomas Lewis | 3,639 | 8.70 | −3.44 |
| | National Front | Albert James Baker | 844 | 2.02 | −0.82 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 7,687 | 18.37 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 41,838 | 70.13 | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | -5.60 | |
General election October 1974: Dudley East :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | John Gilbert | 23,621 | 57.30 | −6.15 |
| | Conservative | John Taylor | 11,430 | 27.73 | −8.83 |
| | Liberal | Owen Glyn Hopkins | 5,003 | 12.14 | New |
| | National Front | Charles Rex Knott | 1,171 | 2.84 | New |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 12,191 | 29.57 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 41,225 | 68.29 | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | +1.34 | |
General election February 1974: Dudley East :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | John Gilbert | 27,417 | 63.45 | |
| | Conservative | John Taylor | 15,795 | 36.55 | |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 11,622 | 26.90 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 43,212 | 72.12 | |
| | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) |