The constituency was created under the Redistribution of Seats Act 1885 that year, which lasted until it was reformed as Gainsborough and Horncastle on a boundary change for the 1983 election. That seat lasted until 1997, as from the mid-1990s population changes led to removal of Horncastle from the seat and recreation of the old seat with largely similar boundaries.
Boundaries
The constituency is named for its largest town of Gainsborough, on the western edge of the constituency.
1885–1918: The Municipal Borough of Lincoln, the Sessional Divisions of Epworth, Gainsborough, Lincoln, and the parish of Bracebridge.
Constituency was abolished in 1983 and re-established in 1997
1997–2010: The District of West Lindsey, and the District of East Lindsey wards of Binbrook and Wragby.
2010–2024: The District of West Lindsey, and the District of East Lindsey ward of Wragby.
2010–2024: The District of West Lindsey.[3]
Constituency profile
This relatively vast rural seat north of Lincoln is named after the small market town at its western boundary. Regeneration projects are attempting to reduce pockets of severe deprivation in the constituency, but most of the area is affluent, albeit remote from many major cities; the closest conurbation is the city of Lincoln to the immediate south. Scunthorpe and Grimsby are both close enough to the northern edge of the constituency to be significant to residents. Though arable farming dominates the landscape and noteworthy pig farming industry (see Lincolnshire sausages), agriculture is in decline and the service/creative sector dominates.[4] The seat has elected Conservative MPs since 1924 and is a stronghold, as well as giving its MPs very long tenures, having been represented by only three people since 1924.
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;
Another general election was required to take place before the end of 1940. The political parties had been making preparations for an election to take place from 1939 and by the end of this year, the following candidates had been selected;
^"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.
^"'Gainsborough', Feb 1974 – May 1983". ElectionWeb Project. Cognitive Computing Limited. Archived from the original on 24 August 2019. Retrieved 22 March 2016.
^"The Parliamentary Constituencies Order 2023". Schedule I Part I.
^"Local statistics – Office for National Statistics". ons.gov.uk.
^"Gainsborough – General election results 2024". BBC News. Retrieved 25 July 2024.
^"Gainsborough Parliamentary constituency". BBC News. BBC. Retrieved 20 November 2019.
^"UK Parliamentary General Election – 8 June 2017". West Lindsey District Council. Archived from the original on 24 April 2017. Retrieved 13 May 2017.
^"Election Data 2015". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 17 October 2015. Retrieved 17 October 2015.
^"Gainsborough parliamentary constituency". BBC News. Retrieved 8 May 2015.
^"UKIP candidate John Saxon will challenge veteran Tory Sir Edward Leigh's seat in Gainsborough and Market Rasen". Lincolnshire Echo. 19 January 2015. Retrieved 14 February 2015.
^"Election Data 2010". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 26 July 2013. Retrieved 17 October 2015.
^"UK > England > East Midlands > Gainsborough". Election 2010. BBC. 7 May 2010. Retrieved 11 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.
^ a b c d e f g hBritish Parliamentary Election Results 1885–1918, FWS Craig
^ a b c d e fThe Liberal Year Book, 1907
^Debrett's House of Commons & Judicial Bench, 1886
^ a bDebrett's House of Commons & Judicial Bench, 1901
^ a bDebrett's House of Commons & Judicial Bench, 1916
^The Times' Guide to the House of Commons. 1951.
^The Times' Guide to the House of Commons. 1955.
Sources
Craig, F W S (1983) [1969]. British parliamentary election results 1918–1949 (3rd ed.). Chichester: Parliamentary Research Services. ISBN 0-900178-06-X.
Leigh Rayment's Historical List of MPs – Constituencies beginning with "G" (part 1)
External links
Gainsborough UK Parliament constituency (boundaries April 2010 – May 2024) at MapIt UK
Gainsborough UK Parliament constituency (boundaries from June 2024) at MapIt UK