Macclesfield (UK Parliament constituency)


Macclesfield is a constituency represented in the House of Commons of the UK Parliament since 2010 by David Rutley, a Conservative.

Boundaries

1885–1918: The Municipal Boroughs of Congleton and Macclesfield, and parts of the Sessional Divisions of Northwich and Prestbury.
1918–1950: The Municipal Boroughs of Congleton and Macclesfield, the Urban Districts of Bredbury and Romiley, Buglawton, Compstall, Marple, and Yeardsley-cum-Whaley, the Rural District of Disley, in the Rural District of Congleton the civil parishes of Hulmo Walfield and Newbold Astbury, and part of the Rural District of Macclesfield.
1950–1974: The Municipal Boroughs of Congleton and Macclesfield, the Urban District of Bollington, and the Rural Districts of Disley and Macclesfield.
1974–1983: The Municipal Boroughs of Congleton and Macclesfield, the Urban Districts of Alderley Edge and Bollington, and the Rural Districts of Disley and Macclesfield.
1983–1997: The Borough of Macclesfield wards of Alderley Edge, Bollington Central, Bollington East, Bollington West, Disley, Gawsworth, Henbury, Macclesfield Central, Macclesfield East, Macclesfield North East, Macclesfield North West, Macclesfield South, Macclesfield West, Nether Alderley, Poynton Central, Poynton East, Poynton West, Prestbury, Rainow, and Sutton.
1997–2010: The Borough of Macclesfield wards of Bollington Central, Bollington East, Bollington West, Disley, Gawsworth, Henbury, Macclesfield Central, Macclesfield East, Macclesfield North East, Macclesfield North West, Macclesfield South, Macclesfield West, Poynton Central, Poynton East, Poynton West, Prestbury, Rainow, and Sutton.
2010–present: The Borough of Macclesfield wards of Bollington Central, Bollington East, Bollington West, Disley and Lyme Handley, Gawsworth, Henbury, Macclesfield Bollinbrook, Macclesfield Broken Cross, Macclesfield Central, Macclesfield East, Macclesfield Hurdsfield, Macclesfield Ivy, Macclesfield Ryles, Macclesfield South, Macclesfield Tytherington, Macclesfield West, Poynton Central, Poynton East, Poynton West, Prestbury, Rainow, and Sutton.
NB: The Borough of Macclesfield and its constituent wards were abolished on 1 April 2009, when they became part of the new unitary authority of Cheshire East.
The constituency covers the north-eastern part of the Cheshire East unitary authority, including the town of Macclesfield itself and the area surrounding it, such as Bollington and Prestbury, as well as Disley and Poynton. Much of the constituency is commuter territory for Manchester.

History

Macclesfield was first represented in Parliament after the Reform Act of 1832, from when it had two members of Parliament. This situation lasted until 1880, when after problems at the general election that year it was decided to declare the election void and suspend the writ of election.
In September 1880 a Royal Commission was appointed to investigate further. A report of March 1881 confirmed the allegations of corruption. As a result, the borough constituency was disenfranchised for corruption. The disenfranchisement took effect on 25 June 1885, when the town was transferred to the East Cheshire constituency.
However under the Redistribution of Seats Act 1885 the Macclesfield constituency was recreated with extended boundaries, as a county division, later in 1885. From the 1885 general election it has elected one MP.
Macclesfield had long been considered to be a safe seat for the Conservative Party, having been held by them since the 1918 general election. Macclesfield itself is evenly split in terms of councillors between the Conservatives and Labour, but the smaller towns and rural villages like Prestbury, Gawsworth and Poynton that make up the bulk of the seat vote primarily for the Conservative Party. After the 2017 general election, however, the constituency is now a target seat for Labour, after they achieved a 7% swing in that election.
In the 2019 local elections, the Conservatives lost every councillor they had in the town of Macclesfield, with Labour making significant gains in areas they had never won before. The Conservatives largely maintained their vote in the villages outside Macclesfield, with the possible exceptions of Bollington and Disley, in which they came third behind Labour and Independent candidates.
During the 2016 EU membership referendum, the constituency voted narrowly to remain in the EU, despite the UK overall voting to leave. Around 7,000 Maxonians subsequently signed a petition calling for a second referendum although it is estimated that 47% of the Macclesfield electorate voted to leave.
;Long-serving member
Sir Nicholas Winterton who had been the Conservative MP, was first elected at a by-election in 1971 and held the seat until his retirement as an MP on the dissolution of the House of Commons in April 2010. Both Sir Nicholas and his wife Ann, Conservative MP for Congleton from 1983 to 2010, announced that they would not be candidates at the general election. On 17 October 2009 David Rutley was selected as the Conservative candidate by way of an open primary organised by the party and on 6 May 2010 was elected MP with an increased majority.

Members of Parliament

MPs 1832–1885: Macclesfield Parliamentary Borough

From 1832 until 1880, Macclesfield was represented by two members of parliament.

MPs since 1885: Macclesfield county constituency

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

Election in the 1940s

Elections in the 1930s

General Election 1939/40:
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 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 the July 1914, the following candidates had been selected;

Elections 1832-1895

The writ was suspended after an investigation found extensive bribery and the 1880 election was void. Macclesfield was incorporated into Cheshire East from 25 June 1885, before being re-established for the 1885 election.