Rotherham is a constituency represented in the House of Commons of the UK Parliament.

History

This constituency was created in the Redistribution of Seats Act 1885. Rotherham has consistently returned Labour MPs since a by-election in 1933, following the earlier period before 1923 dominated by the Liberal and Conservative parties. The numerical Labour majority in every general election from 1935 onwards has been in five figures, with the exceptions of 2015 and 2019.

Boundaries

1918–1950: The County Borough of Rotherham, and the Urban Districts of Greasbrough and Rawmarsh. 1950–1983: The County Borough of Rotherham. 1983–2010: The Borough of Rotherham wards of: Boston, Broom, Central, Greasbrough, Herringthorpe, Kimberworth, Park and Thorpe Hesley. 2010–2024: The Rotherham borough electoral wards of: Boston Castle, Brinsworth and Catcliffe, Keppel, Rotherham East, Rotherham West, Valley, and Wingfield.

Current

The current boundary configuration was confirmed in 2023 after 2023 Periodic Review of Westminster constituencies. It is formed with the Rotherham borough electoral wards: The 2023 Periodic Review of Westminster constituencies described changes to the constituency as following: Seat expanded to bring its electorate within the permitted range primarily by adding parts of the, to be abolished, constituency of Wentworth and Dearne, including northern parts of Wickersley and the village of Thrybergh. It borders Rother Valley, Sheffield South East, Sheffield Brightside and Hillsborough, Penistone and Stocksbridge, and Rawmarsh and Conisbrough.

Constituency profile

The constituency consists of Census Output Areas of one local government district: a working population whose income is on average slightly below the national average and close to average reliance upon social housing. At the end of 2012 the unemployment rate in the constituency stood at 7% and 9.6% male unemployment of the population claiming jobseekers allowance, compared to the regional average of 4.7%. This was considerably higher also than the constituencies that share the borough. The borough contributing to the seat has a relatively high 26.6% of its population without a car compared to 20.1% in Bassetlaw and 30.3% in Sheffield. In terms of extremes of education 29.8% of the population in 2011 were without qualifications, contrasted with 17.4% with level 4 qualifications or above. In terms of tenure 65.2% of homes are owned outright or on a mortgage as at the 2011 census across the borough. In the 10 years to the April 2011 Census the social rented sector saw a 4.9% reduction and the private rented sector a 5.3% increase; outright ownership saw a 3.8% increase.

Members of Parliament

Elections

Elections in the 2020s

Laila Cunningham was originally selected as the Conservative candidate for the seat, but withdrew shortly before the nominations deadline. As the party did not field a replacement, it is the only seat in Great Britain, aside from the Speaker's seat of Chorley, in which no Conservative candidate was nominated.

Elections in the 2010s

Elections in the 2000s

Elections in the 1990s

Elections in the 1980s

Elections in the 1970s

Elections in the 1960s

Elections in the 1950s

Elections in the 1940s

Elections in the 1930s

Elections in the 1920s

Elections in the 1910s

Elections in the 1900s

Elections in the 1890s

Elections in the 1880s

Sources