Fylde (UK Parliament constituency)

Fylde
County constituency
for the House of Commons
Interactive map of boundaries from 2024
Boundary of Fylde in North West England
CountyLancashire
Electorate75,114 (2023)[1]
Major settlementsKirkham, Wesham, Lytham St Annes, Freckleton, Poulton-le-Fylde
Current constituency
Created1983
Member of ParliamentAndrew Snowden (Conservative)
SeatsOne
Created fromFylde North and Fylde South
1918–1950
Type of constituencyCounty constituency
Created fromBlackpool and Darwen
Replaced byFylde North and Fylde South

Fylde (/faɪld/) is a constituency[n 1] in Lancashire which since 2024 has been represented in the House of Commons of the UK Parliament[n 2] by Andrew Snowden, a Conservative. It is the only Conservative seat in Lancashire after the 2024 General Election, and one of three seats held by the party in North West England overall.

Constituency profile

The Fylde constituency is located in Lancashire and covers the towns and villages between Blackpool and Preston. It is named after the Fylde, the peninsula and coastal plain on which it lies. Its largest town is Lytham St Annes, which has a population of around 43,000.[2] Lytham St Annes was previously two separate towns, with Lytham being the older of the two and St Annes being a planned seaside resort town developed during the 1870s. Lytham is generally affluent whilst there is some deprivation in St Annes.[3] Other settlements in the constituency include the town of Poulton-le-Fylde, the connected towns of Kirkham and Wesham and the connected villages of Freckleton and Warton. Poulton-le-Fylde is a historic market town, and Warton is the site of Warton Aerodrome and the headquarters of BAE Systems Military Air & Information, where the Eurofighter Typhoon is manufactured. House prices in the constituency are higher than the rest of North West England but lower than the national average.[4]

In general, residents of the constituency are older, more religious and more likely to work in professional occupations compared to the rest of the country. Levels of education and household income are similar to national averages. White people made up 96% of the population at the 2021 census.[4] At the district council level, most of the constituency is represented by Conservatives, with more independents elected in the rural areas in the east. At the county council, the rural east is instead represented by Reform UK. An estimated 57% of voters in Fylde supported leaving the European Union in the 2016 referendum, higher than the nationwide figure of 52%.[4]

History

The Fylde constituency was originally formed for the 1918 general election, but was abolished for the 1950 general election, when it was split into Fylde North and Fylde South. For the 1983 general election those two constituencies were merged to form a new Fylde constituency.

The seat has been won by Conservative Party members during the entirety of its two creations, though Labour came very close to winning the seat for the first time in 2024 on a swing of nearly 18%, but the Conservatives managed to hold on with a narrow three-figure majority.

Boundaries

The constituency has four main population centres, namely Kirkham/Wesham, Lytham St Annes, Freckleton and Poulton-le-Fylde. Kirkham, Wesham and Freckleton are small towns with some light industrial development and have a considerable Labour vote, but Lytham and St Annes are comfortable seaside resorts, favoured by families and retired couples, and along with the more rural parts of the seat, are safely Conservative, as is the market town of Poulton-le-Fylde.

1918–1945: The Urban Districts of Fleetwood, Kirkham, Longridge, Poulton-le-Fylde, Thornton, and Walton-le-Dale, the Rural District of Preston, and part of the Rural District of Fylde.

1945–1950: Part of the County Borough of Preston; the Municipal Borough of Fleetwood; the Urban Districts of Kirkham, Longridge, Poulton-le-Fylde, Thornton Cleveleys, Walton-le-Dale, and part of Fulwood; and, the Rural District of Fylde, and parts of Blackburn, and Preston.[5]

1983–1997: The Borough of Fylde, and the Borough of Preston ward of Preston Rural West.

1997–2010: The Borough of Fylde, the Borough of Preston wards of Ingol and Preston Rural West, and the Borough of Wyre ward of Great Eccleston.

2010–2024: The Borough of Fylde, and the City of Preston ward of Lea.

The seat was reduced in the boundary review leading to the 2010 United Kingdom general election, losing most of its elements from the Borough of Wyre and the City of Preston to the new seat of Wyre and Preston North.

2024–present: The Borough of Fylde; the Borough of Wyre wards of Breck, Hardhorn with High Cross, and Tithebarn.[6]

Constituency expanded to bring the electorate within the permitted range by transferring in the three Borough of Wyre wards which constitute the town of Poulton-le-Fylde, transferred from the abolished constituency of Wyre and Preston North. The small part formerly in the City of Preston was transferred to a revised Preston constituency.

Members of Parliament

MPs 1918–1950

Election Member[7] Party
1918 Wilfrid Ashley Conservative
1922 Edward Stanley Conservative
1938 by-election Claude Lancaster Conservative
1950 constituency split into Fylde North and Fylde South

MPs since 1983

Election Member[7] Party
1983 Sir Edward Gardner Conservative
1987 Michael Jack
2010 Mark Menzies
2024 Independent
2024 Andrew Snowden Conservative

Election results

Elections in the 2020s

General election 2024: Fylde[8]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Andrew Snowden 15,917 33.2 −29.0
Labour Tom Calver 15,356 32.0 +6.8
Reform UK Brook Wimbury 8,295 17.3 N/A
Independent Anne Aitken 4,513 9.4 N/A
Liberal Democrats Mark Jewell 2,120 4.4 −2.9
Green Brenden Wilkinson 1,560 3.3 −0.2
ADF Cheryl Morrison 199 0.4 N/A
Majority 561 1.2
Turnout 48,105 62.4
Conservative hold Swing −17.9

Elections in the 2010s

General election 2019: Fylde[9]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Mark Menzies 28,432 60.9 +2.2
Labour Martin Mitchell 11,821 25.3 −8.0
Liberal Democrats Mark Jewell 3,748 8.0 +3.0
Green Gina Dowding 1,731 3.7 +1.0
Independent Andy Higgins 927 2.0 N/A
Majority 16,611 35.6 +10.2
Turnout 46,659 69.8 −0.9
Conservative hold Swing +5.1
General election 2017: Fylde[10]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Mark Menzies 27,334 58.7 +9.5
Labour Jed Sullivan 15,529 33.3 +14.5
Liberal Democrats Freddie Van Mierlo 2,341 5.0 +1.3
Green Tina Rothery 1,263 2.7 −0.5
Majority 11,805 25.4 −5.0
Turnout 46,594 70.7 +4.4
Conservative hold Swing −2.5
General election 2015: Fylde[11][12]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Mark Menzies 21,406 49.1 −3.1
Labour Jed Sullivan 8,182 18.8 −0.9
UKIP Paul White 5,569 12.8 +8.3
Independent Mike Hill 5,166 11.9 N/A
Liberal Democrats Freddie van Mierlo 1,623 3.7 −18.4
Green Bob Dennett 1,381 3.2 +1.7
Northern Elizabeth Clarkson 230 0.5 N/A
Majority 13,224 30.3 +0.2
Turnout 43,557 66.3 ±0.0
Conservative hold Swing
General election 2010: Fylde[13]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Mark Menzies 22,826 52.2
Liberal Democrats Bill Winlow 9,641 22.1
Labour Liam Robinson 8,624 19.7
UKIP Martin Bleeker 1,945 4.5
Green Phillip Mitchell 654 1.5
Majority 13,185 30.1
Turnout 43,690 66.3
Conservative hold Swing

Elections in the 2000s

General election 2005: Fylde[14]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Michael Jack 24,287 53.4 +1.1
Labour William Parbury 11,828 26.0 −4.8
Liberal Democrats Bill Winlow 7,748 17.0 +2.2
Liberal Tim Akeroyd 1,647 3.6 New
Majority 12,459 27.4 +5.9
Turnout 45,510 60.1 −0.8
Conservative hold Swing +2.9
General election 2001: Fylde[15]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Michael Jack 23,383 52.3 +3.4
Labour John Stockton 13,773 30.8 −0.8
Liberal Democrats John Begg 6,599 14.8 +0.2
UKIP Lesley Brown 982 2.2 New
Majority 9,610 21.5 +4.2
Turnout 44,737 60.9 −12.0
Conservative hold Swing

Elections in the 1990s

General election 1997: Fylde[16]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Michael Jack 25,443 48.9
Labour John Garrett 16,480 31.7
Liberal Democrats William L. Greene 7,609 14.6
Referendum David J. Britton 2,372 4.6
Natural Law Terry B. Kerwin 163 0.3
Majority 8,963 17.3
Turnout 52,067 72.9
Conservative hold Swing
General election 1992: Fylde[17][18]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Michael Jack 30,639 61.4 +0.7
Liberal Democrats Nigel Cryer 9,648 19.3 −4.9
Labour Carol Hughes 9,382 18.8 +4.5
Natural Law Peter Leadbetter 239 0.5 New
Majority 20,991 42.1 +5.6
Turnout 49,908 78.5 +1.5
Conservative hold Swing +2.8

Elections in the 1980s

General election 1987: Fylde[19]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Michael Jack 29,559 60.7 −2.2
Liberal Elizabeth Smith 11,787 24.2 −0.1
Labour Geoffrey Smith 6,955 14.3 +3.4
Restore Capital Punishment Harold Fowler 405 0.8 −1.2
Majority 17,772 36.5 −1.9
Turnout 48,706 77.0 +5.8
Conservative hold Swing
General election 1983: Fylde[20]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Edward Gardner 27,879 62.9
Liberal Elizabeth Smith 10,777 24.3
Labour David King 4,821 10.9
Independent Harold Fowler 863 2.0
Majority 17,102 38.6
Turnout 44,340 71.2
Conservative hold Swing

Elections 1918–1945

Elections in the 1940s

General election 1945: Fylde
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Claude Lancaster 37,930 61.4
Labour Edgar Hewitt 22,102 35.8
Common Wealth Karl Edwin Heath 1,784 2.9
Majority 15,828 25.6
Turnout 61,816 70.6
Conservative hold Swing

Elections in the 1930s

1938 Fylde by-election
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Claude Lancaster 38,263 68.4 −2.4
Labour Mabel Tylecote 17,648 31.6 +2.4
Majority 20,615 36.8 −4.8
Turnout 55,911
Conservative hold Swing
General election 1935: Fylde
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Edward Stanley 39,731 70.8
Labour Thomas McNamee 16,379 29.2
Majority 23,352 41.6
Turnout 56,110 72.0
Conservative hold Swing
General election 1931: Fylde
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Edward Stanley Unopposed
Conservative hold

Elections in the 1920s

General election 1929: Fylde [21]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Unionist Edward Stanley 29,894 64.7
Labour Joseph Williamson 16,318 35.3
Majority 13,576 29.4
Turnout 46,212 74.9
Registered electors 61,702
Unionist hold Swing
General election 1924: Fylde
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Unionist Edward Stanley Unopposed
Unionist hold
General election 1923: Fylde [21]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Unionist Edward Stanley 16,510 55.5
Liberal R. Parkinson Tomlinson 13,230 44.5
Majority 3,280 11.0
Turnout 29,740 76.1
Registered electors 39,090
Unionist hold Swing
General election 1922: Fylde
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Unionist Edward Stanley Unopposed
Unionist hold

Elections in the 1910s

General election 1918: Fylde
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
C Unionist Wilfrid Ashley 13,670 64.9
Labour William John Tout 7,400 35.1
Majority 6,270 29.8
Turnout 21,070 59.0
Unionist win (new seat)
C indicates candidate endorsed by the coalition government.

See also

Notes

  1. ^ A county constituency (for the purposes of election expenses and type of returning officer)
  2. ^ As with all constituencies, the constituency elects one Member of Parliament (MP) by the first past the post system of election at least every five years.

References

  1. ^ "The 2023 Review of Parliamentary Constituency Boundaries in England – Volume two: Constituency names, designations and composition – North West". Boundary Commission for England. Retrieved 6 July 2024.
  2. ^ "Towns and cities, characteristics of built-up areas, England and Wales: Census 2021". Census 2021. Office for National Statistics. Archived from the original on 21 November 2023. Retrieved 8 August 2023.
  3. ^ "Constituency data: Deprivation in England". commonslibrary.parliament.uk. Retrieved 4 December 2025.
  4. ^ a b c "Seat Details - Fylde". electoralcalculus.co.uk. Retrieved 3 February 2026.
  5. ^ Craig, F.W.S., ed. (1972). Boundaries of parliamentary constituencies 1985-1972. Chichester, Sussex: Political Reference Publications. ISBN 0-900178-09-4.
  6. ^ "The Parliamentary Constituencies Order 2023". Schedule 1 Part 5 North West region.
  7. ^ a b Leigh Rayment's Historical List of MPs – Constituencies beginning with "F"
  8. ^ "Declaration of Results of Poll" (PDF). Fylde Council. Retrieved 6 July 2024.
  9. ^ "Statement of persons nominated" (PDF).
  10. ^ Parliamentary Election 2017 Fylde Borough Council
  11. ^ "Election Data 2015". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 17 October 2015. Retrieved 17 October 2015.
  12. ^ "Fylde". BBC News Online. Retrieved 8 May 2015.
  13. ^ "Election Data 2010". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 26 July 2013. Retrieved 17 October 2015.
  14. ^ "Election Data 2005". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
  15. ^ "Election Data 2001". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
  16. ^ "Election Data 1997". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
  17. ^ "Election Data 1992". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
  18. ^ "UK General Election results April 1992". Richard Kimber's Political Science Resources. Politics Resources. 9 April 1992. Archived from the original on 16 January 2017. Retrieved 6 December 2010.
  19. ^ "Election Data 1987". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
  20. ^ "Election Data 1983". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
  21. ^ a b The Liberal Year Book, 1930
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