The constituency contains a large minority of students, researchers and academics at the early 19th century founded University of Durham,[n 3] that has a claim towards being the third oldest in England and has elected Labour MPs since 1935, although there have been strong SDP–Liberal Alliance and Liberal Democrat challenges to Labour since the 1980s.
The constituency corresponds to the former City of Durham local government district and as such includes a number of surrounding villages and suburbs as well as Durham itself, the largest of these are Brandon, Coxhoe, Bowburn, Framwellgate Moor, Sherburn and Ushaw Moor. The seat extends as far west as Waterhouses and as far east as Ludworth. The seat has traditionally been dominated by Labour, with support particularly strong in those villages historically connected to County Durham's mining industry. Durham is famous as an educational centre, for Durham University and the feepaying preparatory school, Chorister School where Tony Blair was educated. The city centre is more inclined to the Liberal Democrats. Like many other university cities such as Cambridge and Oxford, in the 2005 election it swung strongly towards the Liberal Democrats, one possible reason being these cities' sizeable student population who were viewed as being hostile to Labour's policies on areas such as top-up fees and the Iraq War. The Liberal Democrats were able to reduce Labour's majority by over 10,000 votes, although they were still unable to gain the seat from Labour, as was the case in the 2010 election. As reflected in throughout the country, the Liberal Democrat vote collapsed in the 2015 election.
History
The parliamentary borough (1678–1918)
The City of Durham was first given the right to return Members to Parliament by an Act of Parliament in 1673, although the first election was not held until 1678 due to drafting errors.[3] It was the last new borough but one to be enfranchised before the Great Reform Act of 1832.[4] It was the only borough in County Durham, the county also having been unrepresented until the same Act of Parliament, which created two MPs for the county and two for the city. Both constituencies were frequently referred to simply as Durham, which can make for some confusion.
The constituency as constituted in 1678 consisted only of the city of Durham itself, though this included its suburbs which were within the municipal boundary. The right to vote was held by the corporation and the freemen of the city, many of whom were not resident within the boundaries. Unlike the situation in many small rotten boroughs, the corporation had no jurisdiction over the creation of freemen: freemen were generally created by connection with companies of trade, either by apprenticeship or by birth (by being the son of an existing freeman), though the common council of the city had a power to create honorary freemen.
The creation of honorary freemen with the specific intention of swaying elections was a common abuse in a number of boroughs in the 18th century, and at the Durham election of 1762 became sufficiently controversial to force a change in the law. The election was disputed because 215 new freemen, most of them not resident in the city, had been made after the writ for the election was issued. The existing freemen petitioned against this dilution of their voting rights, the candidate who had been declared elected was unseated by the Commons committee which heard the case, and the following year an Act of Parliament was passed to prevent any honorary freeman from voting in a borough election within twelve months of their being accorded that status.
Through having a freeman franchise the electorate was comparatively numerous for the period, though comprising only a small fraction of the city's population; at the time of the Reform Act there were between 1,100 and 1,200 freemen in total, of whom 427 were resident and 558 lived within seven miles, while the total population of the borough was 9,269. The Lambton and Tempest families were influential, and were generally able to secure election, but fell far short of the sort of control common in pocket boroughs.
The city retained both its MPs under the 1832 Reform Act, with its boundaries adjusted only very slightly, although as elsewhere the franchise was reformed. The Reform Act 1867 extended the boundaries to include part of Framwellgate parish which had previously been excluded.[5] Under the Redistribution of Seats Act 1885, the borough's representation was reduced from the 1885 general election to a single MP.[6] In the boundary changes of 1918, the borough was abolished, but a division of County Durham was named after the city.
County constituency (since 1918)
From 1918, Durham City was included in a county constituency officially called The Durham Division of (County) Durham, consisting of the central part of the county.[7] In the 1983 boundary changes, the constituency officially acquired the unambiguous City of Durham name for the first time and its boundaries were realigned to match the new City of Durham local government district.
Boundaries
1918–1950
the Borough of Durham
the Urban District of Hetton
the Rural District of Durham except the parish of Brancepeth
in the Rural District of Houghton-le-Spring, the parishes of East Rainton, Great Eppleton, Little Eppleton, Moor House, Moorsley, and West Rainton.[7]
As well as absorbing the abolished parliamentary borough, the reconstituted seat included Hetton-le-Hole and surrounding rural areas, transferred from Houghton-le-Spring, and northern areas of the abolished Mid Division of Durham.
1950–1974
the Borough of Durham
the Urban Districts of Hetton and Spennymoor
the Rural District of Durham.[8]
Spennymoor and the parish of Brancepeth transferred in from the abolished constituency of Spennymoor. Other minor changes (the Rural District of Houghton-le-Spring had been abolished and absorbed into neighbouring local authorities).
1974–1983
the Borough of Durham and Framwelgate
the Rural District of Sedgefield and the Rural District of Durham except the parish of Brancepeth.[9]
Hetton transferred back to Houghton-le-Spring, and Spennymoor and Brancepeth now included in Durham North West. Gained the Rural District of Sedgefield from the abolished constituency of Sedgefield.
1983–2024
Map of boundaries 1997–2024
The City of Durham.[10][11][12]
Sedgefield returned to the re-established constituency thereof. Gained the area comprising the former Urban District of Brandon and Byshottles which had been absorbed into the District of the City of Durham, previously part of North West Durham.
2024–present
The County of Durham electoral districts of: Belmont; Brandon; Deerness; Durham South; Elvet and Gilesgate; Esh and Witton Gilbert; Framwellgate and Newton Hall; Neville's Cross; Sherburn; and Willington and Hunwick.[13]
Durham, Durham/City of Durham (county constituency)
MPs since 1918
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
Election in the 1940s
Elections in the 1930s
Elections in the 1920s
Elections in the 1910s
Elections in the 1900s
Elections in the 1890s
Caused by Fowler's death.
These are the final 1895 results after a recount. The original result was Fowler with 1,111 votes, and Elliot with 1,110 votes, leaving a Liberal majority of just one vote.
^A county constituency (for the purposes of election expenses and type of returning officer)
^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.
^In the 2001 Census 14.5% of those aged 16–74 were further education students and 2.4% were students aged 16 or 17 such as at a sixth form or college.
^Supported by the local Liberal association
^Monck changed his surname to Middleton in 1876
References
^"City of Durham: Usual Resident Population, 2011". Neighbourhood Statistics. Office for National Statistics. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 2 March 2015.
^"The 2023 Review of Parliamentary Constituency Boundaries in England – Volume two: Constituency names, designations and composition – North East". Boundary Commission for England. Retrieved 3 July 2024.
^"Durham City | History of Parliament Online". www.histparl.ac.uk. Retrieved 27 September 2022.
^"Constituencies 1660–1690 | History of Parliament Online". www.histparl.ac.uk. Retrieved 27 September 2022.
^"Boundary Act 1868". p. 131.
^"Redistribution of Seats Act 1885". p. 126.
^ a b"Representation of the People Act 1918". p. 497.
^"Representation of the People Act 1948" (PDF). p. 93.
^"The Parliamentary Constituencies (England) Order 1970" (PDF). p. 43.
^"The Parliamentary Constituencies (England) Order 1983" (PDF). p. 22.
^"The Parliamentary Constituencies (England) Order 1995". In the County of Durham.
^"The Parliamentary Constituencies (England) Order 2007". In Durham and Darlington.
^"The Parliamentary Constituencies Order 2023". Schedule 1 Part 4 North East region.
^ a b c dLeigh Rayment's Historical List of MPs – Constituencies beginning with "D" (part 4)
^On petition, Gowland's election was declared void and his opponent, Lambton, was seated in his place
^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y zStooks Smith, Henry. (1973) [1844–1850]. Craig, F. W. S. (ed.). The Parliaments of England (2nd ed.). Chichester: Parliamentary Research Services. pp. 99–102. ISBN 0-900178-13-2.
^Wharton was unseated on petition for illegal practices during the election
^On petition, Gresley's election was declared void and a by-election was held
^Mosse, Richard Bartholomew (1837). The Parliamentary Guide: A Concise Biography of the Members of Both House of Parliament, Their Connexions, Etc. London: A. H. Baily & Co. p. 173. Archived from the original on 3 January 2022. Retrieved 22 September 2020.
^Richardson, Moses Aaron (1844). The Local Historian's Table Book of Remarkable Occurrences, Historical Facts, Traditions, Legendary and Descriptive Ballads, &c., &c., Connected With the Counties of Newcastle-upon-Tyne, Northumberland and Durham. Historical Division. Vol. IV. Newcastle-upon-Tyne: M. A. Richardson. p. 374. Archived from the original on 3 January 2022. Retrieved 22 September 2020.
^Froude, James Anthony; Tulloch, John, eds. (1838). Fraser's Magazine, Volume 17. J. Fraser. p. 71. Archived from the original on 3 January 2022. Retrieved 7 May 2018.
^Radice, Paula Kim Vandersluys (1992). "Identification, interests and influence : voting behaviour in four English constituencies in the decade after the Great Reform Act" (PDF). Durham E-Theses. Durham University. p. 318. Archived (PDF) from the original on 7 May 2018. Retrieved 7 May 2018.
^The Spectator, Volume 10. F.C. Westley. 1837. p. 628. Archived from the original on 3 January 2022. Retrieved 7 May 2018.
^"Electoral Movements". John O'Groat Journal. 18 June 1841. p. 2. Retrieved 7 May 2018 – via British Newspaper Archive.
^Dungannon's election at the by-election of April 1843 was declared void on petition and a new election held
^Dod, Charles Roger; Dod, Robert Phipps (1847). Dod's Parliamentary Companion, Volume 15. Dod's Parliamentary Companion. p. 238. Archived from the original on 4 April 2022. Retrieved 7 May 2018.
^Ollivier, John (1848). "Alphabetical List of the House of Commons". Ollivier's Parliamentary and Political Directory for the Session 1841, 1848, Volume 1. p. 30. Archived from the original on 3 January 2022. Retrieved 7 May 2018.
^"The Late Sir William Atherton, M.P." The Argus. 1 April 1864. p. 3. Archived from the original on 7 May 2018. Retrieved 7 May 2018.
^Vane's election at the by-election of December 1852 was declared void on petition and a new election held
^Henderson and Wharton were re-elected at the general election of 1874, but the election was declared void on petition, and neither stood in the ensuing by-election
^ a b"Durham (city) 1678-". Parliamentary Debates (Hansard). Archived from the original on 3 March 2016. Retrieved 2 March 2015.
^"Statement of Persons Nominated, Notice of Poll and Situation of Polling Stations" (PDF). Durham Council. Retrieved 10 June 2024.
^Collins, Terry. "DECLARATION OF RESULT OF POLL: Election of a Member of Parliament for City of Durham on Thursday 12 December 2019" (PDF). Durham County Council. Archived (PDF) from the original on 25 September 2020. Retrieved 8 December 2020.
^"Commons Briefing Paper 8749. General Election 2019: results and analysis" (PDF). London: House of Commons Library. 28 January 2020. Archived (PDF) from the original on 18 November 2021. Retrieved 19 January 2022.
^"Durham, City of parliamentary constituency – Election 2017". BBC News. Archived from the original on 25 December 2017. Retrieved 26 April 2018.
^"Commons Briefing Paper 7979. General Election 2017: results and analysis" (PDF) (Second ed.). House of Commons Library. 29 January 2019 [7 April 2018]. Archived (PDF) from the original on 12 November 2019.
^"Selections today in Redditch and Exeter – Conservative Home". conservativehome.com. Archived from the original on 27 April 2018. Retrieved 26 April 2018.
^"Election Data 2015". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 17 October 2015. Retrieved 17 October 2015.
^Longbottom, Colette (9 April 2015). "Statement of persons nominated, notice of poll and situation of polling stations. Election of a Member of Parliament for City of Durham Constituency" (PDF). Durham County Council. Archived from the original (PDF) on 18 April 2015. Retrieved 12 April 2015.
^"Rebecca Coulson, Candidate for City Of Durham". conservatives.com. Archived from the original on 11 August 2014. Retrieved 2 August 2014.
^"Craig Martin". Archived from the original on 12 August 2014. Retrieved 11 August 2014.
^"County Durham Green Party". durhamgreenparty.org.uk. Archived from the original on 22 December 2014. Retrieved 22 December 2014.
^"John Marshall, Durham Independent Candidate". durhamindependent.com. Archived from the original on 10 April 2015. Retrieved 4 April 2022.
^"Election Data 2010". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 26 July 2013. Retrieved 17 October 2015.
^http://www.durham.gov.uk/PDFApproved/ParliamentaryElection2010_SoPN_CoD.pdf[permanent dead link]
^"BBC NEWS – Election 2010 – Durham, City of". BBC News. Archived from the original on 6 September 2017. Retrieved 7 May 2010.
^"Election Data 2005". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
^"Election Data 2001". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
^"Election Data 1997". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
^"Election Data 1992". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
^"Politics Resources". Election 1992. Politics Resources. 9 April 1992. Archived from the original on 24 July 2011. Retrieved 6 December 2010.
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^"Election Data 1983". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
^ a b c d e f g h iCraig, FWS, ed. (1974). British Parliamentary Election Results: 1885–1918. London: Macmillan Press. ISBN 9781349022984.
^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x yCraig, F. W. S., ed. (1977). British Parliamentary Election Results 1832–1885 (1st ed.). London: Macmillan Press. ISBN 978-1-349-02349-3.
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^Warwick, William Atkinson (1841). The House of Commons, as Elected to the Fourteenth Parliament of the United Kingdom, Etc. London: Saunders and Otley. p. 109. Archived from the original on 4 April 2022. Retrieved 7 May 2018.
^"Political". Oxford University and City Herald. 11 June 1853. pp. 6–7. Retrieved 7 May 2018 – via British Newspaper Archive.
^"Leeds Intelligencer". 6 January 1855. p. 7. Retrieved 14 July 2018 – via British Newspaper Archive.
^"Sunderland Election". Leicester Chronicle. 6 January 1855. p. 2. Retrieved 14 July 2018 – via British Newspaper Archive.
^"Oxford Chronicle and Reading Gazette". 6 January 1855. p. 3. Retrieved 14 July 2018 – via British Newspaper Archive.
^"To the Electors of the City of Durham". Durham Chronicle. 9 July 1847. p. 5. Retrieved 5 November 2018 – via British Newspaper Archive.
^Vincent, J.; Stenton, M. (1971). McCalmont's parliamentary poll book. Harvester Press. p. 100.
^"Gloucester Journal". 15 July 1843. p. 3. Retrieved 5 November 2018 – via British Newspaper Archive.
^ a b cEscott, Margaret. "Durham City". The History of Parliament. Archived from the original on 26 October 2020. Retrieved 12 April 2020.
Sources
F W S Craig, "British Parliamentary Election Results 1832–1885" (2nd edition, Aldershot: Parliamentary Research Services, 1989)
J Holladay Philbin, "Parliamentary Representation 1832 – England and Wales" (New Haven: Yale University Press, 1965)
Michael Kinnear, "The British Voter" (London: Batsford, 1968)
E Porritt and AG Porritt, "The Unreformed House of Commons, Vol I: England and Wales" (Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1903)
Henry Stooks Smith, The Parliaments of England from 1715 to 1847 (2nd edition, edited by FWS Craig – Chichester: Parliamentary Reference Publications, 1973)
Robert Waller, "The Almanac of British Politics" (3rd edition, London: Croom Helm, 1987)
Frederic A Youngs, jr, "Guide to the Local Administrative Units of England, Vol II" (London: Royal Historical Society, 1991)
The Constitutional Yearbook, 1913" (London: National Unionist Association, 1913)
Leigh Rayment's Historical List of MPs – Constituencies beginning with "D" (part 4)
External links
nomis Constituency Profile for City of Durham — presenting data from the ONS annual population survey and other official statistics.
City of Durham UK Parliament constituency (boundaries April 2010 – May 2024) at MapIt UK
City of Durham UK Parliament constituency (boundaries from June 2024) at MapIt UK