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Berwick-upon-Tweed (UK Parliament constituency)
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Berwick-upon-Tweed is a constituency represented in the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. It elects one Member of Parliament (MP) by the first past the post system of election.
Boundaries
The constituency of Berwick-upon-Tweed is located in the county of Northumberland. It includes at its northern-most point the town of Berwick-upon-Tweed itself and stretches south, to cover the towns of Alnwick and Amble. The Northumberland coast forms its eastern boundary. Its length is roughly 50 miles (80 km), with an area of 2,310 square kilometres.
Predominantly rural in character, this constituency is the most northerly in England, and the most sparsely populated, having only 57,000 electors.
Boundary review
Following their review of parliamentary representation in Northumberland, the Boundary Commission for England have made only minor changes to the existing Berwick constituency. A proposal to re-name the historic seat "Berwick-upon-Tweed and Mid Northumberland" was rejected for whilst being geographically accurate it was thought unwieldy.
The electoral wards used to form the slightly modified constituency are;
History
Rural in nature, sparse of population and with agriculture as a major employer, Berwick-upon-Tweed is at first sight a typical Conservative seat. However, it has been under the aegis of Liberal (later Liberal Democrat) Alan Beith since 1973, and previously the area has been notable for its liberal leanings - both Sir William Beveridge (influential in the formation of the National Health Service) and Edward Grey (Foreign Secretary at the start of World War I, best remembered for the "lamps are going out all over Europe...." remark) have served this constituency.
Beith was first elected in a by-election, required as a result of the resignation of the then holder Antony Lambton (Conservative), who had been caught up in a scandal involving call girls, marijuana and a tabloid newspaper.
In 1923, Mabel Philipson, a former music-hall actress, took over the seat as a Conservative, when her husband was forced to resign. In doing so she became only the third female member to take the oath since this had become legally possible five years previously.
Members of Parliament
The seat has sent members to Parliament since its enfranchisement by Henry VIII. It initially sent two members, this was reduced to one in 1885.
MPs 1660-1885
MPs 1885-present
Notes
- ^ Created The Viscount Barrington (in the Peerage of Ireland), 1720
- ^ Created The Lord Delaval (in the Peerage of Ireland), 1783
- ^ Succeeded as The 4th Viscount Lisburne (in the Peerage of Ireland), January 1766
- ^ Major-General 1776, Lieutenant-General 1782, knighted (KB) 1792
- ^ On petition, Fordyce and Hall were adjudged not to have been duly elected and the election result was reversed
- ^ Mark Todd, the grandson of Alfred John Kennett Todd, currently serves as MP for South Derbyshire
Elections
See also
References
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