Amber Valley (UK Parliament constituency)

Amber Valley
County constituency
for the House of Commons
Boundaries since 2024
Boundary of Amber Valley in the East Midlands
CountyDerbyshire
Population87,883 (2011 census)[1]
Electorate70,625 (2023)[2]
Major settlementsRipley, Alfreton, Heanor
Current constituency
Created1983
Member of ParliamentLinsey Farnsworth (Labour)
SeatsOne
Created fromBelper, Derbyshire South East and Ilkeston[3]

Amber Valley is a constituency[n 1] in Derbyshire, represented in the House of Commons of the UK Parliament.[n 2] It has been represented in Parliament by Linsey Farnsworth, a Labour politician, since the 2024 general election.[4]

Constituency profile

The Amber Valley constituency is located in the east of Derbyshire, covering the eastern half of the Amber Valley local government district. The constituency includes the market and manufacturing towns of Alfreton, Heanor and Ripley, as well as a number of nearby villages.

The area has a history of coal mining, ironworking and manufacturing.[5][6] On average, residents of the constituency are older, have a lower household income and are less likely to be degree-educated than the country as a whole. The constituency has few ethnic-minority residents, with 98% of the population being white.[7]

The local borough council has historically often switched between Labour and Conservative control. The constituency's three towns elected Labour councillors at most recent borough council election in 2023, but elected Conservative councillors at the most recent county council election in 2021. Voters in the constituency strongly supported leaving the European Union in the 2016 referendum.[7]

History

The constituency was created in 1983, and was held by Phillip Oppenheim of the Conservative Party from its creation until Judy Mallaber of the Labour Party won the seat in 1997. She was narrowly defeated in 2010 by Nigel Mills, a Conservative, who increased his majority in 2015 and 2017.[8] Amber Valley has been a bellwether seat in having been won by the winning party at each general election, since its creation.

Boundaries

Historic

1983–1997: The District of Amber Valley wards of Aldercar, Alfreton East, Alfreton West, Codnor, Denby and Horsley Woodhouse, Heage and Ambergate, Heanor and Loscoe, Heanor East, Heanor West, Holbrook and Horsley, Kilburn, Riddings, Ripley, Ripley and Marehay, Shipley Park, Somercotes, Swanwick, and Wingfield, and the Borough of Erewash wards of Breadsall and Morley, Little Eaton, and Stanley.

1997–2010: The Borough of Amber Valley wards of Aldercar, Alfreton East, Alfreton West, Codnor, Crich, Denby and Horsley Woodhouse, Heage and Ambergate, Heanor and Loscoe, Heanor East, Heanor West, Holbrook and Horsley, Kilburn, Riddings, Ripley, Ripley and Marehay, Shipley Park, Somercotes, Swanwick, and Wingfield, and the Borough of Erewash wards of Breadsall and Morley, Little Eaton, and Stanley.

2010–2023: The Borough of Amber Valley wards of Alfreton, Codnor and Waingroves, Heage and Ambergate, Heanor and Loscoe, Heanor East, Heanor West, Ironville and Riddings, Kilburn, Denby and Holbrook, Langley Mill and Aldercar, Ripley, Ripley and Marehay, Shipley Park, Horsley and Horsley Woodhouse, Somercotes, Swanwick, and Wingfield.

Current

Further to a local government boundary review which came into effect in May 2023,[9][10] the constituency now comprises the following wards of the Borough of Amber Valley:

  • Alfreton; Codnor, Langley Mill & Aldercar; South Wingfield from Crich & South Wingfield ward; Heage & Ambergate; Heanor East; Heanor West & Loscoe; Ironville & Riddings; Kilburn, Denby, Holbrook & Horsley; Ripley; Ripley & Marehay; Smalley, Shipley & Horsley Woodhouse; Somercotes; Swanwick.[11]

The 2023 Periodic Review of Westminster constituencies, which was based on the ward structure in place at 1 December 2020, left the boundaries unchanged.[12]

Members of Parliament

Belper, Derbyshire South East and Ilkeston prior to 1983

Election Member[13] Party
1983 Phillip Oppenheim Conservative
1997 Judy Mallaber Labour
2010 Nigel Mills Conservative
2024 Linsey Farnsworth Labour

Elections

Elections in the 2020s

General election 2024: Amber Valley[14][15]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Linsey Farnsworth 15,746 37.0 10.2
Reform Alex Stevenson 12,192 28.7 new
Conservative Nigel Mills 10,725 25.2 38.6
Green Matt McGuinness 2,278 5.4 2.4
Liberal Democrats Kate Smith 1,590 3.7 2.6
Majority 3,554 8.3
Turnout 42,531 59.4 5.6
Registered electors 71,546
Labour gain from Conservative Swing 24.4

Elections in the 2010s

2019 notional result[16]
Party Vote %
Conservative 29,118 63.8
Labour 12,227 26.8
Liberal Democrats 2,875 6.3
Green Party 1,389 3.0
Majority 16,891 37.0
Turnout 45,609 64.6
Electorate 70,625
General election 2019: Amber Valley[17]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Nigel Mills 29,096 63.8 7.3
Labour Adam Thompson 12,210 26.8 11.6
Liberal Democrats Kate Smith 2,873 6.3 3.9
Green Lian Pizzey 1,388 3.0 1.6
Majority 16,886 37.0 18.9
Turnout 45,567 65.1 2.2
Registered electors 69,976
Conservative hold Swing 9.5
General election 2017: Amber Valley[18]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Nigel Mills 25,905 56.5 12.5
Labour James Dawson 17,605 38.4 3.6
Liberal Democrats Kate Smith 1,100 2.4 0.6
Green Matt McGuinness 650 1.4 1.0
Independent Daniel Bamford 551 1.2 New
Majority 8,300 18.1 8.9
Turnout 45,811 67.3 1.5
Registered electors 68,065
Conservative hold Swing 4.5
General election 2015: Amber Valley[19]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Nigel Mills[20] 20,106 44.0 5.4
Labour Kevin Gillott[21] 15,901 34.8 2.6
UKIP Stuart Bent 7,263 15.9 13.9
Liberal Democrats Kate Smith 1,360 3.0 11.4
Green John Devine[22] 1,087 2.4 New
Majority 4,205 9.2 8.0
Turnout 45,717 65.8 0.3
Registered electors 69,510
Conservative hold Swing 4.0

Going into the 2015 general election, this was the 24th most marginal constituency in Great Britain, Labour requiring a swing from the Conservatives of 0.6% to take the seat (based on the result of the 2010 general election).[23]

General election 2010: Amber Valley[24]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Nigel Mills 17,746 38.6 4.7
Labour Judy Mallaber 17,210 37.4 9.0
Liberal Democrats Tom Snowdon 6,636 14.4 2.1
BNP Michael Clarke 3,195 7.0 4.4
UKIP Sue Ransome 906 2.0 0.3
Monster Raving Loony Sam Thing 265 0.6 New
Majority 536 1.2 10.0
Turnout 45,958 65.5 1.5
Registered electors 70,171
Conservative gain from Labour Swing 6.9

Elections in the 2000s

General election 2005: Amber Valley[25]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Judy Mallaber 21,593 45.6 6.3
Conservative Gillian Shaw 16,318 34.4 1.3
Liberal Democrats Kate Smith 6,225 13.1 0.7
BNP Paul Snell 1,243 2.6 New
Veritas Alex Stevenson 1,224 2.6 New
UKIP Hugh Price 788 1.7 New
Majority 5,275 11.2 5.0
Turnout 47,391 62.9 2.6
Registered electors 75,269
Labour hold Swing 3.8
General election 2001: Amber Valley[26]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Judy Mallaber 23,101 51.9 2.8
Conservative Gillian Shaw 15,874 35.7 2.3
Liberal Democrats Kate Smith 5,538 12.4 4.7
Majority 7,227 16.2 5.1
Turnout 44,513 60.3 15.7
Registered electors 73,798
Labour hold Swing 2.5

Elections in the 1990s

General election 1997: Amber Valley[27][28][29][30]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Judy Mallaber 29,943 54.7 10.3
Conservative Phillip Oppenheim 18,330 33.4 13.0
Liberal Democrats Roger Shelley 4,219 7.7 1.4
Referendum Irene McGibbon 2,283 4.2 New
Majority 11,613 21.3 N/A
Turnout 54,775 76.0 8.7
Registered electors 72,116
Labour gain from Conservative Swing 11.7
General election 1992: Amber Valley[31][32]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Phillip Oppenheim 27,418 46.1 5.3
Labour John Cooper 26,706 44.9 10.5
Liberal Democrats Graham Brocklebank 5,294 8.9 5.3
Majority 712 1.2 15.8
Turnout 59,418 84.7 3.5
Registered electors 70,155
Conservative hold Swing 7.9

Elections in the 1980s

General election 1987: Amber Valley[33][34]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Phillip Oppenheim 28,603 51.4 9.7
Labour David Bookbinder 19,103 34.4 0.9
Liberal Stewart Reynolds 7,904 14.2 7.1
Majority 9,500 17.0 10.6
Turnout 55,610 81.2 4.0
Registered electors 68,478
Conservative hold Swing 5.3
General election 1983: Amber Valley[35][36]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Phillip Oppenheim 21,502 41.7
Labour David Bookbinder 18,184 35.3
Liberal Brian Johnson 10,989 21.3
Independent Peter Griffiths 856 1.7
Majority 3,318 6.4
Turnout 51,531 77.2
Registered electors 66,720
Conservative win (new seat)


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. ^ "Usual Resident Population, 2011". Neighbourhood Statistics. Office for National Statistics. Archived from the original on 3 March 2016. Retrieved 25 January 2015.
  2. ^ "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.
  3. ^ "'Amber Valley', June 1983 up to May 1997". ElectionWeb Project. Cognitive Computing Limited. Retrieved 10 March 2016.
  4. ^ "Amber Valley results in full as Labour beats Tories after 14 years". Derbyshire Live. 5 July 2024. ISSN 0307-1235. Retrieved 6 July 2024.
  5. ^ Bell, David (2006). Memories of the Derbyshire Coalfields. Newbury, Berkshire: Countryside Books. ISBN 1846740037.
  6. ^ "Local Industry in Somercotes". somercoteshistory.co.uk. Retrieved 18 November 2025.
  7. ^ a b "Seat Details - Amber Valley". electoralcalculus.co.uk. Retrieved 18 November 2025.
  8. ^ "Majority Sorted Seats". electoralcalculus.co.uk.
  9. ^ LGBCE. "Amber Valley | LGBCE". www.lgbce.org.uk. Retrieved 24 May 2024.
  10. ^ "The Amber Valley (Electoral Changes) Order 2022".
  11. ^ "New Seat Details - Amber Valley". www.electoralcalculus.co.uk. Retrieved 13 April 2024.
  12. ^ "The Parliamentary Constituencies Order 2023". Schedule 1 Part 1 East Midlands.
  13. ^ Leigh Rayment's Historical List of MPs – Constituencies beginning with "A" (part 1)
  14. ^ "Statement of Persons Nominated and Notice of Poll" (PDF). 7 June 2024.
  15. ^ "Amber Valley - General election results 2024". BBC News. Retrieved 5 July 2024.
  16. ^ "Notional results for a UK general election on 12 December 2019". Rallings & Thrasher, Professor David Denver (Scotland), Nicholas Whyte (NI) for Sky News, PA, BBC News and ITV News. UK Parliament. Retrieved 26 February 2025.
  17. ^ "Amber Valley Parliamentary constituency". BBC News. BBC. Retrieved 20 November 2019.
  18. ^ Bloom, Dan (7 June 2017). "Here is every single 2017 general election candidate in a plain text list". Daily Mirror. Trinity Mirror. Retrieved 7 June 2017.
  19. ^ "Election Data 2015". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 17 October 2015. Retrieved 17 October 2015.
  20. ^ "Political parties pick candidates in Amber Valley". Derby Telegraph. Archived from the original on 14 July 2014. Retrieved 18 June 2014.
  21. ^ "The Labour Party". labour.org.uk. Archived from the original on 5 August 2013. Retrieved 9 November 2013.
  22. ^ "General Election". Derbyshire Green Party. Archived from the original on 4 February 2015. Retrieved 26 January 2015.
  23. ^ Ransome Mpini; Charlotte Thornton; John Walton; Marcelo Zanni (24 February 2014). "Election 2015: The political battleground". BBC News. Retrieved 29 January 2015.
  24. ^ "Election Data 2010". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 26 July 2013. Retrieved 17 October 2015.
  25. ^ "Election Data 2005". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
  26. ^ "Election Data 2001". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
  27. ^ "Election Data 1997". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
  28. ^ "Politics Resources". Election 1997. Politics Resources. 1 May 1997. Archived from the original on 12 August 2014. Retrieved 7 January 2011.
  29. ^ C. Rallings & M. Thrasher, The Media Guide to the New Parliamentary Constituencies, p.142 (Plymouth: LGC Elections Centre, 1995)
  30. ^ The 1997 election result is calculated relative to the notional, not the actual, 1992 result.
  31. ^ "Election Data 1992". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
  32. ^ "Politics Resources". Election 1992. Politics Resources. 9 April 1992. Archived from the original on 24 July 2011. Retrieved 6 December 2010.
  33. ^ "Election Data 1987". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
  34. ^ "Politics Resources". Election 1987. Politics Resources. 11 June 1987. Archived from the original on 22 May 2011. Retrieved 8 January 2011.
  35. ^ "Election Data 1983". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
  36. ^ "Politics Resources". Election 1983. Politics Resources. 9 June 1983. Archived from the original on 3 June 2016. Retrieved 8 January 2011.

53°02′N 1°24′W / 53.03°N 1.40°W / 53.03; -1.40