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Rossendale and Darwen

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Rossendale and Darwen
Borough constituency
for the House of Commons
Map
Interactive map of boundaries since 2024
Map of constituency
Boundary of Rossendale and Darwen in North West England
CountyLancashire
Electorate74,593 (2023)[1]
Major settlementsDarwen, Rawtenstall and Bacup
Current constituency
Created1983
Member of ParliamentAndy MacNae (Labour)
SeatsOne
Created fromRossendale, Darwen and Heywood & Royton[2]

Rossendale and Darwen is a constituency[n 1] in Lancashire represented in the House of Commons of the UK Parliament since 2024 by Andy MacNae of the Labour Party.[n 2]

Constituency profile

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BERJAYA
Rawtenstall within Rossendale Valley

Rossendale and Darwen is a constituency in Lancashire in North West England, covering parts of the Rossendale and Blackburn with Darwen boroughs. It is named after Darwen, its largest town with a population of around 29,000,[3] and the Rossendale Valley which makes up the eastern half of the constituency. Other settlements include the towns of Rawtenstall, Bacup and Whitworth and the villages of Lower Darwen, Helmshore and Newchurch.

This constituency contains formerly-industrial towns and villages lying within valleys of the Pennines. Most of their growth came during the Victorian era when, like much of Lancashire, the area was a significant centre for textile manufacturing, especially cotton spinning. Other industries like shoemaking and coal mining were also present. This area was affected by the deindustrialisation of the late 20th century and today the towns of Darwen and Bacup are highly-deprived. Rawtenstall has average levels of wealth and the rural villages are generally affluent, giving the constituency an average level of wealth overall.[4] Most residents live in dense terraced housing built to accommodate industrial workers, or in semi-detached properties.[5] The average house price is lower than the rest of North West England and around half the UK average.[6]

Residents of Rossendale and Darwin have a similar age profile to the rest of the country with a slightly lower proportion of young adults.[7] They have average levels of income and above-average rates of homeownership.[6] The child poverty rate is in line with the rest of the country.[8] Residents have average levels of education and a high proportion work in the manufacturing and retail sectors.[6][9] The percentage claiming unemployment benefits is similar to the overall UK figure.[8] White people made up 94% of the population at the 2021 census.[10]

Most of the constituency is represented by the Labour Party at the local council level, with some Green Party councillors elected in Newchurch and some Reform UK councillors elected at more recent elections. Voters in Rossendale and Darwen strongly supported leaving the European Union in the 2016 referendum; an estimated 60% voted in favour of Brexit compared to the UK-wide figure of 52%.[6]

Boundaries

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Map
Map of boundaries from 2010 to 2024

1983–1997: The Borough of Rossendale, and the Borough of Blackburn wards of Earcroft, Marsh House, North Turton, Sudell, Sunnyhurst, and Whitehall.

1997–2010: All the wards of the Borough of Rossendale except the Greenfield and Worsley wards, and the Borough of Blackburn wards of Earcroft, Marsh House, North Turton, Sudell, Sunnyhurst, and Whitehall.

2010–2024: The Borough of Rossendale wards of Cribden, Eden, Facit and Shawforth, Goodshaw, Greensclough, Hareholme, Healey and Whitworth, Helmshore, Irwell, Longholme, Stacksteads, and Whitewell, and the Borough of Blackburn with Darwen wards of Earcroft, East Rural, Fernhurst, Marsh House, North Turton with Tockholes, Sudell, Sunnyhurst, and Whitehall.

Darwen Ward Changes At the 2018 local elections the Darwen electoral wards were changed and renamed. They are now known as Darwen West, Darwen East, Darwen South and West Pennine. The parliamentary boundaries also included parts of the new Blackburn South and Lower Darwen, and Ewood wards.

2024–present: Under the 2023 Periodic Review of Westminster constituencies which came into effect for the 2024 general election, the constituency was defined as being composed of the following as they existed on 1 December 2020:

  • The Borough of Blackburn with Darwen wards of: Blackburn South & Lower Darwen; Darwen East; Darwen South; Darwen West; West Pennine.
  • The Borough of Rossendale wards of: Cribden; Eden; Facit and Shawforth; Goodshaw; Greensclough; Hareholme; Healey and Whitworth; Helmshore; Irwell; Longholme; Stacksteads; Whitewell.[11]

Minor changes to align with the revised ward boundaries in Blackburn with Darwen.

Following a local government boundary review in Rossendale which came into effect in May 2024,[12] the constituency now comprises the following from the 2024 general election:

  • The Borough of Blackburn with Darwen wards of: Blackburn South & Lower Darwen; Darwen East; Darwen South; Darwen West; West Pennine.
  • The Borough of Rossendale wards or part wards of: Bacup; Britannia & Lee Mill; Goodshaw & Cribden; Greenfield & Eden (part); Hareholme & Waterfoot; Helmshore (most); Longholme; Whitewell & Stacksteads; Whitworth.[13]

History

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This constituency was created in 1983 and has alternated between the two largest parties' MPs during this time; since 1997 the constituency has been a bellwether of the national result.

Members of Parliament

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ElectionMember[14] Party
1983 David Trippier Conservative
1992 Janet Anderson Labour
2010 Jake Berry Conservative
2024 Andy MacNae Labour

Elections

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BERJAYA
Election results 1983-2024

Elections in the 2020s

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General election 2024: Rossendale and Darwen[15]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Andy MacNae 18,247 40.9 +4.3
Conservative Jake Berry 12,619 28.3 −28.0
Reform Daniel Matchett 9,695 21.7 +21.3
Green Bob Bauld 2,325 5.2 +2.7
Liberal Democrats Rowan Fitton 1,241 2.8 −1.4
Workers Party Tayub Ali 491 1.1 N/A
Majority 5,628 12.6 N/A
Turnout 44,618 59.8 −7.3
Labour gain from Conservative Swing +16.2

Elections in the 2010s

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General election 2019: Rossendale and Darwen[16]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Jake Berry 27,570 56.5 +5.7
Labour Alyson Barnes 18,048 37.0 ―7.4
Liberal Democrats Paul Valentine 2,011 4.1 +1.0
Green Sarah Hall 1,193 2.4 +0.8
Majority 9,522 19.5 +13.1
Turnout 48,822 67.1 ―2.1
Conservative hold Swing +6.5
General election 2017: Rossendale and Darwen[17]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Jake Berry 25,499 50.8 +4.2
Labour Alyson Barnes 22,283 44.4 +9.3
Liberal Democrats Sean Bonner 1,550 3.1 +1.5
Green John Payne 824 1.6 ―0.5
Majority 3,216 6.4 ―5.1
Turnout 50,156 69.2 +2.8
Conservative hold Swing ―2.6
General election 2015: Rossendale and Darwen[18][19]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Jake Berry 22,847 46.6 +4.8
Labour Will Straw 17,193 35.1 +2.9
UKIP Clive Balchin 6,862 14.0 +10.6
Green Karen Pollard-Rylance 1,046 2.1 New
Liberal Democrats Afzal Anwar 806 1.6 ―16.5
Independent Kevin Scranage 122 0.2 New
TUSC Simon Thomas 103 0.2 New
Northern Shaun Hargreaves 45 0.1 New
Majority 5,654 11.5 +2.0
Turnout 49,024 66.4 +1.8
Conservative hold Swing +1.0
General election 2010: Rossendale and Darwen[20]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Jake Berry 19,691 41.8 +7.1
Labour Janet Anderson 15,198 32.2 ―10.7
Liberal Democrats Robert Sheffield 8,541 18.1 +3.2
UKIP David Duthie 1,617 3.4 +1.8
National Front Kevin Bryan 1,062 2.3 New
English Democrat Michael Johnson 663 1.4 New
Impact Tony Melia 243 0.5 New
Independent Mike Siveri 113 0.2 New
Majority 4,493 9.5 N/A
Turnout 47,128 64.6 +3.0
Conservative gain from Labour Swing +8.9

Elections in the 2000s

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General election 2005: Rossendale and Darwen[21]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Janet Anderson 19,073 42.9 ―5.9
Conservative Nigel Adams 15,397 34.6 ―1.7
Liberal Democrats Mike Carr 6,670 15.0 +0.3
BNP Anthony Wentworth 1,736 3.9 New
Green Kenneth McIver 821 1.8 New
UKIP David Duthie 740 1.7 New
Majority 3,676 8.3 ―4.4
Turnout 44,437 61.5 +2.8
Labour hold Swing ―1.9
General election 2001: Rossendale and Darwen[22]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Janet Anderson 20,251 49.0 ―4.6
Conservative George Lee 15,281 36.7 +4.5
Liberal Democrats Brian Dunning 6,079 14.7 +4.1
Majority 4,970 12.7 ―8.6
Turnout 41,358 58.7 ―14.3
Labour hold Swing ―4.3

Elections in the 1990s

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General election 1997: Rossendale and Darwen[23]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Janet Anderson 27,470 53.6 +9.7
Conservative Patricia Buzzard 16,521 32.3 ―11.4
Liberal Democrats Brian Dunning 5,435 10.6 ―0.7
Referendum Roy Newstead 1,108 2.2 New
BNP Andrew Wearden 674 1.3 New
Majority 10,949 21.3 +21.1
Turnout 51,208 73.0 ―10.0
Labour hold Swing +10.6
General election 1992: Rossendale and Darwen[24][25]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Janet Anderson 28,028 43.9 +5.6
Conservative David Trippier 27,908 43.7 ―2.9
Liberal Democrats Kevin Connor 7,226 11.3 ―3.8
Green James Gaffney 596 0.9 New
Natural Law Peter Gorrod 125 0.2 New
Majority 120 0.2 N/A
Turnout 63,883 83.0 +2.7
Labour gain from Conservative Swing +4.2

Elections in the 1980s

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General election 1987: Rossendale and Darwen[26]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative David Trippier 28,056 46.6 ―0.4
Labour Janet Anderson 23,074 38.3 +6.5
Liberal Peter John Hulse 9,097 15.1 ―6.1
Majority 4,982 8.3 ―6.9
Turnout 60,227 80.3 +2.5
Conservative hold Swing ―3.5
General election 1983: Rossendale and Darwen[27]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative David Trippier 27,214 47.0
Labour Christopher Robinson 18,393 31.8
Liberal Michael Taylor 12,246 21.2
Majority 8,821 15.2
Turnout 57,853 77.8
Conservative win (new seat)

See also

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Notes

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  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

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  1. ↑ "The 2023 Review of Parliamentary Constituency Boundaries in England – Volume two: Constituency names, designations and composition – North West". Boundary Commission for England. Retrieved 21 July 2024.
  2. ↑ "'Rossendale and Darwen', June 1983 up to May 1997". ElectionWeb Project. Cognitive Computing Limited. Retrieved 13 March 2016.[permanent dead link]
  3. ↑ "Darwen". citypopulation.de. Retrieved 11 August 2026.
  4. ↑ "Constituency data: Deprivation in England". commonslibrary.parliament.uk. Retrieved 1 July 2026.
  5. ↑ "Accommodation type - Census Maps, ONS". ons.gov.uk. Retrieved 1 August 2026.
  6. 1 2 3 4 "Seat Details - Rossendale and Darwen". electoralcalculus.co.uk. Retrieved 1 July 2026.
  7. ↑ "Constituency data: Population, by age". commonslibrary.parliament.uk. Retrieved 1 July 2026.
  8. 1 2 "Constituency dashboard". House of Commons Library. Retrieved 1 July 2026.
  9. ↑ "Constituency data: businesses and industries". commonslibrary.parliament.uk. Retrieved 1 July 2026.
  10. ↑ "2021 census results: Ethnic groups in your constituency". commonslibrary.parliament.uk. 4 July 2024. Retrieved 1 July 2026.
  11. ↑ "The Parliamentary Constituencies Order 2023". Schedule 1 Part 5 North West region.
  12. ↑ LGBCE. "Rossendale | LGBCE". www.lgbce.org.uk. Retrieved 17 January 2025.
  13. ↑ "Seat Details - Rossendale and Darwen". www.electoralcalculus.co.uk. Retrieved 17 January 2025.
  14. ↑ Leigh Rayment's Historical List of MPs – Constituencies beginning with "R" (part 2)
  15. ↑ "Election result for Rossendale and Darwen (Constituency)". UK Parliament. Retrieved 18 March 2025.
  16. ↑ "Statement of Persons Nominated and Notice of Poll" (PDF).
  17. ↑ "Rossendale & Darwen parliamentary constituency". BBC News.
  18. ↑ "Election Data 2015". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 17 October 2015. Retrieved 17 October 2015.
  19. ↑ "Rossendale & Darwen". BBC News. Retrieved 7 May 2015.
  20. ↑ "Election Data 2010". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 26 July 2013. Retrieved 17 October 2015.
  21. ↑ "Election Data 2005". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
  22. ↑ "Election Data 2001". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
  23. ↑ "Election Data 1997". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
  24. ↑ "Election Data 1992". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
  25. ↑ "UK General Election results April 1992". Richard Kimber's Political Science Resources. Politics Resources. 9 April 1992. Retrieved 6 December 2010.
  26. ↑ "Election Data 1987". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
  27. ↑ "Election Data 1983". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
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53°42′29″N 2°14′24″W / 53.708°N 2.240°W / 53.708; -2.240

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