Gainsborough

Constituency profile

Gainsborough is a constituency located in Lincolnshire and is coterminous with the local government district of West Lindsey. It covers a large rural area north of the city of Lincoln. Its largest settlement is the market town of Gainsborough, which has a population of around 21,000. The town has a history of industry, particularly ironworking, and currently falls within the top 10% most-deprived areas in England. Other settlements in the constituency include the small towns of Market Rasen and Caistor and the villages of Saxilby, Nettleham, Welton and Scotter. The rural areas are agricultural and generally wealthier than Gainsborough. House prices in the constituency are lower than the rest of the East Midlands and considerably lower than the national average.

In general, residents of the constituency are older and more religious than the rest of the country. Levels of education, wealth and professional employment are similar to national averages. White people made up 97% of the population at the 2021 census. At the local council level, Gainsborough and Market Rasen are mostly represented by Liberal Democrats whilst the rest of the constituency elected predominantly Conservatives (to the district council) or Reform UK (to the county council). Voters strongly supported leaving the European Union in the 2016 referendum with an estimated 62% voting in favour of Brexit compared to 52% nationwide.

History

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. 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.

Boundaries

Historic

1885–1918: The Municipal Borough of Lincoln, the Sessional Divisions of Epworth, Gainsborough, Lincoln, and the parish of Bracebridge.

1918–1950: The Urban Districts of Crowle and Gainsborough, and the Rural Districts of Gainsborough, Isle of Axholme, and Welton.

1950–1983: The Urban Districts of Gainsborough and Market Rasen, and the Rural Districts of Caistor, Gainsborough, Isle of Axholme, and Welton.

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.

Current

Further to the 2023 review of Westminster constituencies, which came into effect for the 2024 general election, the constituency comprises the District of West Lindsey. The East Lindsey ward of Wragby was transferred to Louth and Horncastle.

Members of Parliament

MPs 1885–1983

North Lincolnshire prior to 1885

MPs since 1997

Gainsborough and Horncastle prior to 1997

Elections

Election results 1885–1979

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;

Liberal: George Jackson Bentham

Unionist: John Molson

Election in the 1930s

General Election 1939–40:

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;

Conservative: Harry Crookshank,

Liberal: Margaret Wintringham

Election results following boundary changes

For 1983 – 1992, see Gainsborough and Horncastle (UK Parliament constituency)