Tamworth is a constituency represented in the House of Commons of the UK Parliament, based on the town of Tamworth in Staffordshire, England. The seat is currently represented by Sarah Edwards of the Labour Party, re-elected in the UK 2024 general election.

Boundaries

1885–1918: The Municipal Borough of Birmingham, the Sessional Divisions of Birmingham and Solihull, part of the Sessional Divisions of Atherstone and Coleshill, and part of the Municipal Borough of Tamworth. 1918–1945: The Municipal Borough of Sutton Coldfield, the Rural Districts of Meriden and Solihull, and part of the Rural District of Tamworth. 1997–2010: The Borough of Tamworth, and the District of Lichfield wards of Bourne Vale, Fazeley, Little Aston, Mease Valley, Shenstone, Stonnall, and Tame. 2010–2024: The Borough of Tamworth, and the District of Lichfield wards of Bourne Vale, Fazeley, Little Aston, Mease and Tame, Shenstone, and Stonnall. 2024-present: By the decision of the 2023 Periodic Review of Westminster constituencies, the constituency composition is: Minor adjustments to the boundary with Lichfield.

History

The present Tamworth Constituency, a county constituency, replaced the old South East Staffordshire constituency for the 1997 general election. A previous Tamworth constituency existed from 1563 until it was abolished for the 1945 general election. It was a borough constituency that elected two MPs until the 1885 general election, when it was reincarnated as a single-MP constituency in the county of Warwickshire by the Redistribution of Seats Act 1885.

Political history

Since its 1997 recreation the seat has been a bellwether, reflecting the largest party in terms of seats in the House of Commons with the largest share of the vote for the candidate locally. However, the seat has heavily trended towards the Conservatives in the most recent general elections, with majorities in excess of 10,000 in both 2015 and 2017 and almost 20,000 in 2019. In the October 2023 by-election caused by the resignation of Chris Pincher Conservative, Sarah Edwards Labour was elected. The results were videoed. Whilst it was a 24% swing to Labour, the turnout was a comparatively low 35%. The 2024 general election was much closer.

Prominent members

The Prime Minister and leader of the breakaway Tory group, the Peelites, Sir Robert Peel, represented the area for a long period 1830–1850, as did his father, brother and son at different periods. His father and son, also named Robert, also shared the baronetcy gained by his father, which gave them the automatic right to the style "Sir".

Constituency profile

Income and wealth are around average for the UK. The area voted strongly for Brexit in 2016. The constituency is convenient for all of the West Midlands conurbation and has considerable local employment. Workless claimants, registered jobseekers, were in November 2012 lower than the national average of 3.8%, at 2.9% of the population based on a statistical compilation by The Guardian.

Members of Parliament

MPs before 1660

MPs 1660–1885

MPs 1885–1945

Tamworth was reduced to having one member in 1885. The seat was abolished in 1945.

MPs since 1997

South East Staffordshire prior to 1997

Elections

Elections in the 2020s

Elections in the 2010s

Elections in the 2000s

Elections in the 1990s

Elections 1918–1945

Elections in the 1930s

Another general election was required to take place before the end of 1940. The political parties had been making preparations for an election to take place from 1939 and by the end of this year, the following candidates had been selected:

Elections in the 1920s

Elections in the 1910s

Elections 1885–1918

Elections in the 1910s

General Election 1914–15: Another General Election was required to take place before the end of 1915. The political parties had been making preparations for an election to take place and by July 1914, the following candidates had been selected:

Elections in the 1900s

Elections in the 1890s

Elections in the 1880s

Elections 1868–1885

Elections in the 1880s

Elections in the 1870s

Elections in the 1860s

Elections 1832–1868

Elections in the 1860s

Caused by Townshend's succession to the peerage, becoming 5th Marquess Townshend.

Elections in the 1850s

Elections in the 1840s

Elections in the 1830s