High Peak is a parliamentary constituency[n 1] represented in the House of Commons of the UK Parliament since 2024 by Jon Pearce of the Labour Party.[n 2]
The constituency is in north west Derbyshire and based in the heart of the Peak District, including the towns of Buxton, Glossop and New Mills.
Since the 1966 general election, the seat has been somewhat of a bellwether, with only three exceptions: at the February and October 1974 general elections the seat was won by the Conservative Party when the Labour Party won the most seats nationally, and at the 2017 general election when the seat was won by Labour but the Conservatives won the most seats nationally.
Constituency profile
High Peak is a rural constituency in Derbyshire, covering a large part of the Peak District National Park, and is coterminous with the local government district of the same name. Its largest town is Buxton, which has a population of around 20,000.[2] Other towns in the constituency include Glossop, New Mills, Chapel-en-le-Frith, Whaley Bridge and Hadfield. Buxton is a historic spa town of Roman origins, and is popular with tourists.[3] Glossop and New Mills are traditionally industrial, particularly in coal mining and textile manufacturing. The area is generally upland and has closer transport connections to nearby Manchester and Sheffield than with Derby and the rest of the East Midlands. The constituency has average levels of wealth; there is some deprivation in Buxton and Hadfield whilst the rural areas are more affluent.[4] House prices across the constituency are below the national average but above the rest of the East Midlands.[5]
Residents of High Peak are generally older and well-educated compared to the rest of the country. Household income is higher than the regional average and a high proportion of residents work in the manufacturing and tourism sectors.[5][6] White people made up 97% of the population at the 2021 census.[5] At the local council level, most of the constituency is represented by the Labour Party, especially in the north around Glossop. Conservative councillors were elected in the areas surrounding Buxton. An estimated 51% of voters in High Peak supported leaving the European Union in the 2016 referendum, similar to the nationwide figure.[5]
Boundaries
1885–1918: The Borough of Glossop, and the Sessional Divisions of Buxton, Chapel-en-le-Frith, and Glossop.
1918–1950: The Boroughs of Buxton and Glossop, the Urban District of New Mills, the Rural Districts of Glossop Dale and Hayfield, and parts of the Rural Districts of Bakewell and Chapel-en-le-Frith.
1950–1983: The Boroughs of Buxton and Glossop, the Urban Districts of New Mills and Whaley Bridge, and the Rural District of Chapel-en-le-Frith.
1983–2010: The Borough of High Peak, and the District of West Derbyshire wards of Bradwell, Hathersage and Tideswell.
2010–present: The Borough of High Peak.
The boundaries were unchanged by the 2023 Periodic Review of Westminster constituencies.[7]
The constituency covers much of northern Derbyshire and represents most of the west of the Peak District which encircles Buxton and Glossop.[8] Crowden, Tintwistle and Woodhead (formerly within the boundaries of Cheshire and in the Stalybridge and Hyde constituency) were brought into the seat in the boundary changes for the 1983 general election. The constituency boundaries became co-terminous with the local government district at the 2010 general election.
History
The seat was created in the Redistribution of Seats Act 1885. Since 1910, the seat has returned mostly Conservative MPs apart from during three periods. A Labour MP was elected for the first time in 1966, but was unseated at the next general election. Labour gained the seat at the 1997 general election and retained it at the following two general elections during the Blair ministry, but it was regained by the Conservatives at the 2010 general election. It was regained by Labour at the 2017 general election when Ruth George gained the seat, the first time Labour had won the High Peak seat without winning the overall general election in its history.
Members of Parliament
North Derbyshire prior to 1885
Elections
Elections in the 2020s
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
Elections in the 1940s
Elections in the 1930s
At the 1939 High Peak by-election, Hugh Molson was elected unopposed.
Elections in the 1920s
Election results 1885–1918
Elections in the 1880s
Elections in the 1890s
Elections in the 1900s
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 July 1914, the following candidates had been selected;
See also
Notes
References
- Specific
- ^ "The 2023 Review of Parliamentary Constituency Boundaries in England – Volume two: Constituency names, designations and composition – East Midlands". Boundary Commission for England. Retrieved 2 July 2024.
- ^ Brinkhoff, Thomas. "Buxton (Derbyshire, East Midlands, United Kingdom) - Population Statistics, Charts, Map, Location, Weather and Web Information". www.citypopulation.de. Archived from the original on 10 September 2025. Retrieved 16 January 2026.
- ^ High Peak Profile Archived 26 September 2010 at the Wayback Machine, High Peak Borough Council, September 2010.
- ^ "Constituency data: Deprivation in England". commonslibrary.parliament.uk. Retrieved 4 December 2025.
- ^ a b c d "Seat Details - High Peak". electoralcalculus.co.uk. Retrieved 17 March 2026.
- ^ "Constituency data: businesses and industries". commonslibrary.parliament.uk. Retrieved 1 March 2026.
- ^ "The Parliamentary Constituencies Order 2023". Schedule 1 Part 1 East Midlands.
- ^ "Map of Peak District National Park". Archived from the original on 6 June 2017. Retrieved 27 October 2015.
- ^ Leigh Rayment's Historical List of MPs – Constituencies beginning with "H" (part 3)
- ^ "Mr William Sidebottom, former MP, High Peak". TheyWorkForYou. Retrieved 27 October 2015.
- ^ By-Elections in British Politics, 1832–1914. Boydell Press. 2013. p. 258.
- ^ Cooper, Glynis (2015). Glossop in the Great War. Pen and Sword. p. 29.
- ^ "The Announcement..." (PDF). The British Journal of Nursing. 085: 231. September 1937. Retrieved 27 October 2015.
- ^ Hazlehurst, Cameron; Whitehead, Sally; Woodland, Christine (1996). A Guide to the Papers of British Cabinet Ministers 1900–1964. Cambridge University Press. p. 269. ISBN 9780521587433.
- ^ "Mr David Walder". Parliamentary Debates (Hansard). Retrieved 27 October 2015.
- ^ "Mr Peter Jackson". Parliamentary Debates (Hansard). Retrieved 27 October 2015.
- ^ Skinner, Dennis (2014). Sailing Close to the Wind: Reminiscences. Hachette UK. p. 85. ISBN 978-1784291235.
- ^ "Mr Christopher Hawkins". Parliamentary Debates (Hansard). Retrieved 27 October 2015.
- ^ "Charles Hendry". politics.co.uk. Retrieved 27 October 2015.
- ^ Carr, Sue (18 November 2009). "MP Tom Levitt to step down". Retrieved 27 October 2015.
- ^ "Andrew Bingham MP, High Peak". TheyWorkForYou. Retrieved 27 October 2015.
- ^ "Statement as to Persons Nominated: High Peak" (PDF). High Peak Borough Council. 7 June 2024. Retrieved 7 June 2024.
- ^ "High Peak Parliamentary constituency". BBC News. BBC. Retrieved 22 November 2019.
- ^ Hayes, Dan (3 May 2017). "GENERAL ELECTION: High Peak Labour pick local union campaigner". Buxton Advertiser. Retrieved 9 May 2017.
- ^ Dodds, Jonathan (21 April 2017). "Conservative MP Andrew Bingham to defend High Peak seat in general election". Derbyshire Times. Retrieved 9 May 2017.
- ^ Ball, Lucy (6 May 2017). "Liberal Democrats announce High Peak candidate for general election". Buxton Advertiser. Retrieved 9 May 2017.
- ^ "Election Data 2015". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 17 October 2015. Retrieved 4 March 2017.
- ^ "High Peak Parliamentary Constituency – Election 2015". BBC News.
- ^ "Election Data 2010". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 17 November 2015. Retrieved 4 March 2017.
- ^ "High Peak Parliamentary Constituency – Election 2010". BBC News.
- ^ "Election Data 2005". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 4 March 2017.
- ^ "Election Data 2001". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 4 March 2017.
- ^ "Election Data 1997". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 4 March 2017.
- ^ "Election Data 1992". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 4 March 2017.
- ^ "Politics Resources". Election 1992. Politics Resources. 9 April 1992. Archived from the original on 24 July 2011. Retrieved 6 December 2010.
- ^ "Election Data 1987". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 4 March 2017.
- ^ "Election Data 1983". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 4 March 2017.
- ^ "Politics Resources". Election 1979. Politics Resources. Retrieved 27 October 2015.
- ^ "Politics Resources". Election October 1974. Politics Resources. Retrieved 27 October 2015.
- ^ "Politics Resources". Election February 1974. Politics Resources. Retrieved 27 October 2015.
- ^ "Politics Resources". Election 1970. Politics Resources. Archived from the original on 4 June 2012. Retrieved 27 October 2015.
- ^ "Politics Resources". Election 1966. Politics Resources. Retrieved 27 October 2015.
- ^ "Politics Resources". Election 1964. Politics Resources. Retrieved 27 October 2015.
- ^ "1961 By Elections". 21 August 2009. Archived from the original on 21 August 2009.
- ^ "Politics Resources". Election 1959. Politics Resources. Retrieved 27 October 2015.
- ^ "Politics Resources". Election 1955. Politics Resources. Archived from the original on 11 August 2011. Retrieved 27 October 2015.
- ^ The Times' Guide to the House of Commons. 1955.
- ^ "Politics Resources". Election 1951. Politics Resources. Retrieved 27 October 2015.
- ^ "Politics Resources". Election 1950. Politics Resources. Archived from the original on 11 August 2011. Retrieved 27 October 2015.
- ^ "Politics Resources". Election 1945. Politics Resources. Archived from the original on 11 August 2011. Retrieved 27 October 2015.
- ^ "Politics Resources". Election 1935. Politics Resources. Retrieved 27 October 2015.
- ^ a b c The Constitutional Year Book 1938, p.230
- ^ a b c d e f g h i British Parliamentary Election Results 1885–1918, FWS Craig
- ^ a b c d e f The Liberal Year Book, 1907
- ^ Debrett's House of Commons & Judicial Bench, 1886
- ^ "High Peak Liberals and Mr Herbert Rhodes". Sheffield Independent. 18 June 1887. p. 5. Retrieved 29 November 2017 – via British Newspaper Archive.
- ^ a b Debrett's House of Commons & Judicial Bench, 1901
- ^ a b Debrett's House of Commons & Judicial Bench, 1916
- ^ Derbyshire Courier, 4 Aug 1914
- General
- Craig, F. W. S. (1983). British parliamentary election results 1918–1949 (3 ed.). Chichester: Parliamentary Research Services.
- Guardian Unlimited Politics (Election results from 1992 to the present)
- Politics Resources (Election results from 1931 to the present)
External links
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53°21′N 1°51′W / 53.35°N 1.85°W / 53.35; -1.85