Carlisle (UK Parliament constituency)


Carlisle is a constituency in Cumbria represented in the House of Commons of the UK Parliament since 2024 by Julie Minns of the Labour Party.

Constituency profile

The Carlisle constituency is located in Cumbria. It includes the city of Carlisle and the rural areas to its north and east stretching to the border with Scotland. Other settlements include the small market towns of Brampton and Longtown. Carlisle is a historic city with a population of around 78,000, and was an important military stronghold as a result of its position close to the Anglo-Scottish border. The city is a major railway hub and, during the Industrial Revolution, was a densely-populated mill town.
House prices in the constituency are generally low and residents have lower levels of income, education and professional employment compared to national averages. Carlisle has high levels of deprivation whilst the rural areas surrounding the city are more affluent. White people make up 97% of the population. At the local council level, Carlisle is mostly represented by Labour Party councillors whilst the rural parts of the constituency elected Conservative and Liberal Democrat representatives. Most voters favoured leaving the European Union in the 2016 referendum with an estimated 60% in favour of Brexit compared to 52% nationally.

History

Carlisle has existed as a seat since the Model Parliament in 1295, returning two MPs to the House of Commons until 1885, when its representation was reduced to one MP by the Redistribution of Seats Act 1885. Under the 2023 boundary review the seat was expanded considerably into the border regions of Cumbria and redesignated as a county constituency.
From 1885 to 1922 the constituency was represented by the Liberal Party, since when it has alternated between Labour and Conservative, changing hands nine times. It was represented by Labour Party MPs from 1964 to 2010, albeit with a slim 0.2% majority in 1983. It was gained by John Stevenson of the Conservative Party in 2010 who held it until 2024, when it was won back by Julie Minns for Labour.

Boundaries

Historic

1918–1955: The County Borough of Carlisle.
1955–1983: As 1918 but with redrawn boundaries.
1983–1997: The City of Carlisle wards of Belah, Belle Vue, Botcherby, Currock, Denton Holme, Harraby, Morton, St Aidan's, Stanwix Urban, Trinity, Upperby, and Yewdale.
1997–2010: The City of Carlisle wards of Belah, Belle Vue, Botcherby, Burgh, Currock, Dalston, Denton Holme, Harraby, Morton, St Aidan's, St Cuthbert Without, Stanwix Urban, Trinity, Upperby, and Yewdale.
2010–2024: The City of Carlisle wards of Belah, Belle Vue, Botcherby, Burgh, Castle, Currock, Dalston, Denton Holme, Harraby, Morton, St Aidan's, Stanwix Urban, Upperby, Wetheral, and Yewdale.

Current

The 2023 Periodic Review of Westminster constituencies was carried out using the local authority structure as it existed in Cumbria on 1 December 2020 and is officially defined as:
  • The City of Carlisle wards of: Belah & Kingmoor; Botcherby & Harraby North; Brampton & Fellside; Cathedral & Castle; Currock & Upperby; Denton Holme & Morton South; Harraby South & Parklands; Longtown & the Border; Newtown & Morton North; Sandsfield & Morton West; Stanwix & Houghton; Wetheral & Corby.
With effect from 1 April 2023, the City of Carlisle council was abolished and absorbed into the new unitary authority of Cumberland. Consequently, the constituency now comprises the following with effect from the 2024 general election:
''The constituency was expanded to bring the electorate within the permitted range by transferring the parts of the former City of Carlisle local authority previously in the abolished constituency of Penrith and The Border - comprising the towns of Brampton and Longtown and surrounding villages and rural areas. To partly offset this, Dalston was included in the new constituency of Penrith and Solway.''

Members of Parliament

MPs 1295–1640

ParliamentFirst memberSecond member
1381John de Blennerhassett-
1384John de Blennerhassett-
1386Adam DentonRobert Bristowe
1388 Robert CarlisleWilliam Aglionby
1388 John CorkebyNicholas Leveson
1390 John MonceauxAlan Kirkebridge
1390 Bobby CowingKieran Nobin
1391John MonceauxRobert Bristowe
1393John RedesdaleJohn Werk
1394Joseph Maughan
1395John MonceauxJohn Burgham
1397 John HeltonJohn Burgham
1397 Robert BristoweJohn Bristowe
1399John HeltonRobert Bristowe
1401Thomas BoltonRobert Bristowe
1402John SowerbyWilliam Boweson
1404 Mark CookeJoshusoia Kirkpatrick
1404
1406
1407-
1410Robert Carlisle | Carlisle
1411
1413 -
1413 Robert CarlisleRalph de Blenerhayset
1414 -
1414 Robert CarlisleWilliam Cardoile
1415-
1416 Robert LancasterWilliam Bell
1416 -
1417Robert CarlisleWilliam Cardoile
1419Robert CarlisleThomas Manningham
1420Thomas DerleyRichard Muncaster
1421 Robert CarlisleThomas Pety
1421 William ManchesterJohn Thompson
1441John Blenerhayset-
1510–1523No names known-
1529Edward AglionbyJohn Coldale
1536?
1539?
1542William Stapleton?
1545Hugh AglionbyRobert Smith
1547Edward AglionbyThomas Dalston,
died and replaced Jan 1552 by Edward Aglionby
1553 Edward AglionbyJohn Dudley
1553 John AglionbySimon Brisco
1554 Robert WheatleyRichard Mynsho
1554 Robert WheatleyRichard Mynsho
1555William MiddletonWilliam Ward
1558Richard AsshetonRobert Dalton
1558–9John or Edward AglionbyRichard Mulcaster
1563 Richard AsshetonWilliam Mulcaster
1571Robert BowesChristopher Musgrave
1572Thomas PattensonRobert Mulcaster,
died and repl. 1576 by Thomas Tallentyne,
who also died and was repl. Mar 1579 by Thomas Barne
1584Edward AglionbyThomas Blennerhassett
1586Henry Macwilliam,
died and repl. 1587 by William Bowyer		Thomas Blennerhassett
1588 Henry ScropeJohn Dalston
1593Henry ScropeEdward Aglionby
1597 Henry ScropeThomas Sandford
1601 Henry ScropeJohn Dudley
1604Thomas BlennerhassettWilliam Barwick
1614George ButlerNathaniel Tomkins
1621Sir Henry VaneGeorge Butler
1624Sir Henry VaneEdward Aglionby
1625Sir Henry VaneEdward Aglionby
1626Sir Henry VaneRichard Graham
1628Richard BarwisRichard Graham
1629–1640No Parliaments summoned-

Long Parliament
First Protectorate Parliament
  • 1654–1655: Colonel Thomas Fitch
Second Protectorate Parliament
Third Protectorate Parliament
Long Parliament

Election results

Elections in the 2010s

This was the largest UKIP vote share at the 2019 general election.

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 and by the Autumn of 1939, the following candidates had been selected;Conservative: Edward SpearsLabour: Percy BarstowLiberal: Leslie H. Storey

Elections in the 1910s

A General Election was due to take place by the end of 1915. By the summer of 1914, the following candidates had been adopted to contest that election. Due to the outbreak of war, the election never took place.

Elections in the 1860s

  • Caused by Graham's death.

Elections in the 1850s

Elections in the 1840s

  • Caused by the previous election being declared void on petition due to the "several acts of treating".

Elections in the 18th century

Election results taken from the History of Parliament Trust series.Death of HyltonNote: Stanwix was unseated on petition and replaced by Hylton, 26 January 1742