Newcastle upon Tyne East


Newcastle upon Tyne East was a constituency of the House of Commons of the UK Parliament. It was held by Nick Brown, an independent formerly of the Labour Party, from its recreation in 2010 until its abolition for the 2024 general election.
Under the 2023 Periodic Review of Westminster constituencies, Jesmond was transferred to Newcastle upon Tyne North, with the rest of the seat being absorbed once again into the re-established constituency of Newcastle upon Tyne East and Wallsend.

History

Parliament created this constituency in the Representation of the People Act 1918 as one of four divisions of the parliamentary borough of Newcastle-upon-Tyne, which had previously been represented by one two-member seat. Its first creation was eventually absorbed in 1997 by the new Newcastle upon Tyne East and Wallsend seat. Parliament accepted the Boundary Commission's Fifth Periodic Review of Westminster constituencies which recommended the re-creation of the seat for the 2010 general election.
Apart from a period in 1981-1983 following the defection of local member Mike Thomas to the SDP, successive members of the Labour Party have represented this constituency in Westminster since 1964. Since 1966, the double-digit majorities won in all three previous forms of the constituency and today's constituency suggest they have been safe seats.
Ahead of the 2010 election the seat was considered at risk for the Labour Party, after the Liberal Democrat, achieved victories in local elections in areas covered by the constituency. In the event, Labour's Nick Brown held the seat with the smallest majority in 44 years, and in the simultaneous local elections Labour benefitted from the associated increased turnout to take the Walkergate council ward from the Liberal Democrats.
In 2015, the Liberal Democrat vote collapsed in line with the rest of the country and in 2017, Brown achieved a record margin of 46.3%. In 2019 the constituency was one of only a handful of Labour-held seats not contested by the Brexit Party.

Boundaries

1918–1950

''Included the former Urban District of Walker which had been absorbed into the County Borough in 1904 and had previously been part of the abolished Tyneside constituency.''

1950–1983

  • The County Borough of Newcastle upon Tyne wards of Dene, Heaton, St Lawrence, Walker, and Walkergate.
''Boundaries redrawn to take account of expansion of the County Borough and redistribution of wards. Expanded northwards, gaining Dene and Heaton from Newcastle upon Tyne North. Byker and St Anthony's transferred to Newcastle upon Tyne Central.''

1983–1997

Regained Byker and St Anthony's with the addition of the Battle Field area from Newcastle-upon-Tyne Centre. Sandyford transferred from Newcastle-upon-Tyne North.
On abolition, the Sandyford ward was transferred to Newcastle upon Tyne Central; the remainder of the constituency comprised the bulk of the new seat of Newcastle upon Tyne East and Wallsend.

2010–2024

Following their review of parliamentary representation in Tyne and Wear in 2007, the Boundary Commission for England re-created the constituency of Newcastle upon Tyne East, which took effect at the 2010 general election. The new seat largely replaced the former Newcastle upon Tyne East and Wallsend seat, with the Wallsend element being transferred to the adjacent North Tyneside constituency. The boundaries were similar to those in place before 1997, with the addition of Jesmond from Newcastle upon Tyne Central.

Elections

Elections in the 1930s

Elections in the 1920s

Elections in the 1910s

Thompson was initially supported by the local branch of the National Federation of Discharged and Demobilized Sailors and Soldiers but this was later revoked.