South Leicestershire (UK Parliament constituency)

South Leicestershire is a constituency represented in the House of Commons of the UK Parliament since 2015 by Alberto Costa, a member of the Conservative Party.

South Leicestershire
County constituency for the House of Commons
Boundary of South Leicestershire in Leicestershire
Location of Leicestershire within England
County	Leicestershire
Electorate	77,412 (December 2010)^[1]
Major settlements	Lutterworth, Whetstone, Braunstone Town, Narborough and Blaby
Current constituency
Created	2010
Member of Parliament	Alberto Costa (Conservative)
Seats	One
Created from	Blaby, Harborough
1832–1885
Seats	Two
Created from	Leicestershire
Replaced by	Bosworth, Harborough

The current constituency has similar boundaries to the previous Blaby constituency. Historically the "Southern Division of Leicestershire", was a county constituency, less formally known as South Leicestershire. From 1832 to 1885 it elected two Members of Parliament (MPs) by the bloc vote system of election.

Boundaries

 

Map of current boundaries

Historic

1832–1885: The Hundreds of Gartree (excluding the parishes of Baggrave, Burrough, Knossington, Marefield, Pickwell-cum-Leesthorpe, Ouston, and Newbold-Saucey), Sparkenhoe and Guthlaxton, and the Borough of Leicester and the Liberties thereof.^[2]

Boundaries from the 2010 general election

Following its review of parliamentary representation in Leicestershire, the Boundary Commission for England recommended replacing the Blaby constituency with a new South Leicestershire seat, with some boundary changes. This change occurred for the 2010 general election.

The electoral wards used to create the new constituency are;

• Broughton Astley-Astley, Broughton Astley-Broughton, Broughton Astley-Primethorpe, Broughton Astley-Sutton, Dunton, Lutterworth Brookfield, Lutterworth Orchard, Lutterworth Springs, Lutterworth Swift, Misterton, Peatling, and Ullesthorpe in the Harborough District
• Blaby South, Cosby with South Whetstone, Countesthorpe, Croft Hill, Enderby and St John's, Millfield, Narborough and Littlethorpe, Normanton, North Whetstone, Pastures, Ravenhurst and Fosse, Saxondale, Stanton and Flamville, and Winstanley in the Blaby District^[3]

Proposed

Further to the 2023 Periodic Review of Westminster constituencies, enacted by the Parliamentary Constituencies Order 2023, the composition of the constituency from the next general election, due by January 2025, will be (as they existed on 1 December 2020):

• The District of Blaby wards of: Blaby South; Cosby with South Whetstone; Countesthorpe; Croft Hill; Enderby and St. John’s; Narborough and Littlethorpe; Normanton; North Whetstone; Pastures; Saxondale; Stanton and Flamville.

• The District of Harborough wards of: Bosworth; Broughton Astley-Primethorpe & Sutton; Broughton Astley South & Leire; Dunton; Fleckney; Lutterworth East; Lutterworth West; Misterton; Ullesthorpe.^[4]

The Blaby District wards of Millfield, Ravenhurst and Fosse, and Winstanley (comprising the community of Braunstone Town) will be transferred to the new constituency of Mid Leicestershire. The Harborough District wards of Bosworth and Fleckney will be transferred from Harborough.

Following a local government boundary review in Blaby which came into effect in May 2023^[5][6], the constituency will now comprise the following from the next general election:

• The District of Blaby wards of: Blaby; Cosby & South Whetstone; Countesthorpe; Enderby; Fosse Highcross; Fosse Normanton; Fosse Stoney Cove; Glen Parva; Narborough & Littlethorpe; North Whetstone; and a small part of Leicester Forest & Lubbesthorpe.

• The District of Harborough wards of: Bosworth; Broughton Astley-Primethorpe & Sutton; Broughton Astley South & Leire; Dunton; Fleckney; Lutterworth East; Lutterworth West; Misterton; Ullesthorpe.^[7]

Constituency profile

The current South Leicestershire is a slice of Leicestershire to the south west of Leicester, with most of the population in commuter towns and villages clustered close to Leicester itself, both in the suburb of Braunstone Town, including the large modern development of Thorpe Astley, and commuter villages like Whetstone, Blaby and Narborough. Further south it is more rural, with the largest settlement the old market town of Lutterworth. Nearby is the former site of RAF Bitteswell, since redeveloped as Magna Park, one of the largest distribution centres in Europe.^[8]

The constituency name of South Leicestershire was new for 2010, but the seat was not massively changed from the old seat of Blaby. Both this and its predecessor are safe Tory seats held by the party since Blaby's creation in 1974. The best known MP to represent the area is the former Chancellor Nigel Lawson.

History

1832-1885

The constituency was created by the Reform Act 1832 for the 1832 general election, when the two-seat Leicestershire constituency was replaced by the Northern and Southern divisions, each of which elected two MPs.

Both divisions of the county were abolished by the Redistribution of Seats Act 1885 for the 1885 general election, when they were replaced by four new single-seat constituencies: Bosworth, Harborough, Loughborough and Melton.

Prominent members in this period included Thomas Paget (Jnr) (1807–1892) who followed the footsteps of his father in this role (his father having represented Leicestershire) and as partner in Leicester Bank, and Albert Pell, a member of a group of MPs, which included Henry Chaplin, Sir Massey Lopes and Clare Sewell Read, who supported farming interests. He was also a member of the Council of the Royal Agricultural Society of England.

Members of Parliament

MPs 1832–1885

Election	1st Member^[9]		1st Party	2nd Member^[9]		2nd Party
1832		Edward Dawson	Whig^[10]		Sir Henry Halford, Bt	Tory^[10]
1834						Conservative^[10]
1835		Thomas Frewen Turner	Conservative^[10]
1836 by-election		Charles Packe	Conservative^[10]
1857					Viscount Curzon	Conservative
1867 by-election		Thomas Paget	Liberal Party
1868		Albert Pell	Conservative Party
1870 by-election					William Unwin Heygate	Conservative
1880					Thomas Paget	Liberal Party
1885		Redistribution of Seats Act: constituency abolished

MPs since 2010

Election		Member^[9]	Party
	2010	Andrew Robathan	Conservative
	2015	Alberto Costa	Conservative

Elections

Elections in the 2020s

Next general election: South Leicestershire

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Conservative	Alberto Costa^[11]
	Liberal Democrats	Paul Hartshorn^[12]
	Green	Mike Jelfs^[13]
Majority
Turnout

Elections in the 2010s

General election 2019: South Leicestershire^[14]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Conservative	Alberto Costa	36,791	64.0	+2.6
	Labour	Tristan Koriya	12,787	22.3	-6.2
	Liberal Democrats	Phil Knowles	5,452	9.5	+5.3
	Green	Nick Cox	2,439	4.2	+2.3
Majority			24,004	41.7	+8.8
Turnout			57,469	71.4	-0.4
	Conservative hold		Swing	+4.5

General election 2017: South Leicestershire^[15]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Conservative	Alberto Costa	34,795	61.4	+8.2
	Labour	Shabbir Aslam	16,164	28.5	+6.5
	Liberal Democrats	Greg Webb	2,403	4.2	−3.2
	UKIP	Roger Helmer	2,235	3.9	−13.5
	Green	Mary Morgan	1,092	1.9	New
Majority			18,631	32.9	+1.7
Turnout			56,801	71.8	+1.6
	Conservative hold		Swing	+0.8

General election 2015: South Leicestershire^[16]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Conservative	Alberto Costa	28,700	53.2	+3.7
	Labour	Amanda Hack	11,876	22.0	+1.1
	UKIP	Barry Mahoney^[8]	9,363	17.4	+13.8
	Liberal Democrats	Geoffrey Welsh	3,987	7.4	−13.6
Majority			16,824	31.2	+2.7
Turnout			53,926	70.2	-1.0
	Conservative hold		Swing

General election 2010: South Leicestershire^[17][18]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Conservative	Andrew Robathan*	27,000	49.5	+4.1
	Liberal Democrats	Aladdin Ayesh	11,476	21.0	+2.0
	Labour	Sally Gimson	11,392	20.9	-8.8
	BNP	Peter Preston	2,721	5.0	+1.5
	UKIP	John Williams	1,988	3.6	+1.2
Majority			15,524	28.5
Turnout			54,577	71.2	+6.0
	Conservative win (new seat)

* Served as an MP in the 2005–2010 Parliament

Elections in the 1880s

General election 1880: South Leicestershire (2 seats)^[19]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Liberal	Thomas Paget	3,685	35.7	+6.1
	Conservative	Albert Pell	3,453	33.5	−3.3
	Conservative	William Unwin Heygate	3,175	30.8	−2.8
Majority			510	4.9	N/A
Turnout			6,860 (est)	76.0 (est)	+1.7
Registered electors			9,022
	Liberal gain from Conservative		Swing	+2.9
	Conservative hold		Swing	−3.2

Elections in the 1870s

General election 1874: South Leicestershire (2 seats)^[19]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Conservative	Albert Pell	3,583	36.8	+2.9
	Conservative	William Unwin Heygate	3,269	33.6	−1.3
	Liberal	Thomas Paget	2,883	29.6	−1.6
Majority			386	4.0	+1.3
Turnout			6,309 (est)	74.3 (est)	+1.9
Registered electors			8,489
	Conservative hold		Swing	+1.9
	Conservative hold		Swing	−0.3

By-election, 13 June 1870: South Leicestershire (1 seats)^[19]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Conservative	William Unwin Heygate	3,292	56.0	−12.8
	Liberal	Thomas Paget	2,585	44.0	+12.8
Majority			707	12.0	+9.3
Turnout			5,877	70.7	−1.7
Registered electors			8,308
	Conservative hold		Swing	−12.8

• Caused by Curzon-Howe succeeding to the peerage, becoming Earl Howe.

Elections in the 1860s

General election 1868: South Leicestershire (2 seats)^[19]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Conservative	George Curzon-Howe	3,196	34.9	N/A
	Conservative	Albert Pell	3,111	33.9	N/A
	Liberal	Thomas Paget	2,861	31.2	N/A
Majority			250	2.7	N/A
Turnout			6,015 (est)	72.4 (est)	N/A
Registered electors			8,308
	Conservative hold		Swing	N/A
	Conservative hold		Swing	N/A

By-election, 30 November 1867: South Leicestershire (1 seat)^[19]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Liberal	Thomas Paget	2,302	50.4	New
	Conservative	Albert Pell	2,263	49.6	N/A
Majority			39	0.8	N/A
Turnout			4,565	72.7	N/A
Registered electors			6,283
	Liberal gain from Conservative		Swing	N/A

• Caused by Packe's death.

General election 1865: South Leicestershire (2 seats)^[19]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Conservative	George Curzon-Howe	Unopposed
	Conservative	Charles Packe	Unopposed
Registered electors			6,283
	Conservative hold
	Conservative hold

Elections in the 1850s

General election 1859: South Leicestershire (2 seats)^[19]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Conservative	George Curzon-Howe	Unopposed
	Conservative	Charles Packe	Unopposed
Registered electors			5,259
	Conservative hold
	Conservative hold

General election 1857: South Leicestershire (2 seats)^[19]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Conservative	George Curzon-Howe	Unopposed
	Conservative	Charles Packe	Unopposed
Registered electors			5,205
	Conservative hold
	Conservative hold

General election 1852: South Leicestershire (2 seats)^[19]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Conservative	Henry Halford	Unopposed
	Conservative	Charles Packe	Unopposed
Registered electors			5,131
	Conservative hold
	Conservative hold

Elections in the 1840s

General election 1847: South Leicestershire (2 seats)^[19]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Conservative	Henry Halford	Unopposed
	Conservative	Charles Packe	Unopposed
Registered electors			5,448
	Conservative hold
	Conservative hold

General election 1841: South Leicestershire (2 seats)^[19][10][20]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Conservative	Henry Halford	2,638	34.4	N/A
	Conservative	Charles Packe	2,622	34.2	N/A
	Whig	Thomas Gisborne	1,213	15.8	New
	Whig	Edward Hawkins Cheney^[21]	1,196	15.6	New
Majority			1,409	18.4	N/A
Turnout			3,835 (est)	78.2 (est)	N/A
Registered electors			4,903
	Conservative hold		Swing	N/A
	Conservative hold		Swing	N/A

Elections in the 1830s

General election 1837: South Leicestershire (2 seats)^[19][10]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Conservative	Henry Halford	Unopposed
	Conservative	Charles Packe	Unopposed
Registered electors			4,603
	Conservative hold
	Conservative hold

By-election, 18 February 1836: South Leicestershire^[19][10]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Conservative	Charles Packe	Unopposed
	Conservative hold

• Caused by Turner's resignation

General election 1835: South Leicestershire (2 seats)^[19][10]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Conservative	Henry Halford	Unopposed
	Conservative	Thomas Frewen Turner	Unopposed
Registered electors			4,244
	Conservative hold
	Conservative gain from Whig

General election 1832: South Leicestershire (2 seats)^[19][10]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Tory	Henry Halford	Unopposed
	Whig	Edward Dawson	Unopposed
Registered electors			4,125
	Tory win (new seat)
	Whig win (new seat)

See also

• List of parliamentary constituencies in Leicestershire and Rutland

References

1. . 2011 Electorate Figures. Boundary Commission for England. 4 March 2011. Archived from the original on 6 November 2010. Retrieved 13 March 2011.
2. "The statutes of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland. 2 & 3 William IV. Cap. XLV: An Act to amend the Representation of the People in England and Wales". London: His Majesty's statute and law printers. 1832. pp. 154–206. Retrieved 27 July 2017.
3. 2010 post-revision map non-metropolitan areas and unitary authorities of England
4. "The Parliamentary Constituencies Order 2023". Schedule I Part I.
5. LGBCE. "Blaby | LGBCE". www.lgbce.org.uk. Retrieved 9 April 2024.
6. "The Blaby (Electoral Changes) Order 2022".
7. "New Seat Details - Leicestershire South". www.electoralcalculus.co.uk. Retrieved 9 April 2024.
8. "UK Polling Report".
10. Stooks Smith, Henry. (1973) [1844-1850]. Craig, F. W. S. (ed.). The Parliaments of England (2nd ed.). Chichester: Parliamentary Research Services. p. 192. ISBN 0-900178-13-2.
11. Alberto Costa MP [@AlbertoCostaMP] (17 March 2023). "This evening I was delighted to be reselected as the @Conservatives candidate for South Leicestershire. Hugely grateful to all at the @SLConservatives for their faith and support and I look forward to continue doing all I can for the great people of South Leicestershire" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
12. "South Leicestershire Liberal Democrats are delighted to announce that they have selected local campaigner, Paul Hartshorn, to be the Prospective Parliamentary candidate for South Leicestershire". South Leicestershire Lib Dems. Retrieved 22 December 2023.
13. "Full list of all Green Party candidates at the next general election". Bright Green. Retrieved 22 December 2023.
14. "Leicestershire South Parliamentary constituency". BBC News. BBC. Retrieved 22 November 2019.
15. "General Election 2017: South Leicestershire". The Daily Express. 9 June 2017. Retrieved 14 June 2017.
16. . Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 17 October 2015. Retrieved 17 October 2015.
17. . Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 26 July 2013. Retrieved 17 October 2015.
18. Election 2010: South Leicestershire, BBC News
19. Craig, F. W. S., ed. (1977). British Parliamentary Election Results 1832-1885 (e-book) (1st ed.). London: Macmillan Press. pp. 417–418. ISBN 978-1-349-02349-3.
20. "South Leicestershire Election". Leicester Journal. 16 July 1841. pp. 2–3. Retrieved 16 May 2019 – via British Newspaper Archive.
21. "Leicester Chronicle". 17 July 1841. pp. 1–3. Retrieved 16 May 2019 – via British Newspaper Archive.

52°30′N 1°12′W / 52.50°N 1.20°W / 52.50; -1.20