St Austell and Newquay (UK Parliament constituency)

St Austell and Newquay is a constituency^{[n 1]} in Cornwall represented in the House of Commons of the UK Parliament since 2015 by Steve Double, a Conservative.^{[n 2]} It is on the South West Peninsula of England, bordered by both the Celtic Sea to the northwest and English Channel to the southeast.

St Austell and Newquay
County constituency for the House of Commons
Boundary of St Austell and Newquay in Cornwall for the 2010 general election
Location of Cornwall within England
County	Cornwall
Electorate	77,338 (2018)^[1]
Major settlements	St Austell, Newquay
Current constituency
Created	2010
Member of Parliament	Steve Double (Conservative Party)
Seats	One
Created from	North Cornwall South East Cornwall Truro & St Austell

History

2010 election

On its creation in 2010, the constituency had, based on complex forecasts involving its three constitutive seats, which factored in to different degrees the recent local election results, a widely varying notional Liberal Democrat majority (see results below). In analysis, one forecast suggested that St Austell and Newquay would prove to be a safe seat, whereas another suggested an extremely marginal seat. The majority achieved was lower than an average of the two forecasts, but by no means the most slender of majorities achieved in that election.

In 2010, the Labour Party candidate polled in line with results of the recent decades in the forerunner seats, with 7.2% of the vote. Mebyon Kernow, the Cornish devolutionist party, achieved its highest share of the vote in any constituency, but narrowly lost its deposit by not reaching the 5% threshold.

2015 election

The seat was won by a Conservative on a majority of more than 15% which would rarely be termed marginal; however, approximately half the electorate of the seat fell within areas represented by a Liberal or Liberal Democrat MP between October 1974 and 2015 - Truro (later adopting a suffix- and St Austell). In terms of the important consideration of length of tenure the seat fails to be describable as in any analysis "safe".

2017 election

Theresa May announced a snap election would take place on 8 June 2017. In this constituency, Conservative incumbent Steve Double won with an increased majority of 11,142. The constituency also saw a gigantic 18.8% increase in the Labour vote, in common with many south-west seats, pushing the Liberal Democrats into third place.

2019 election

The Liberal Democrats further faded into a more distant third place, with their policy of cancelling Brexit failing to attract voters, in a constituency which voted 64% to Leave the European Union. Unlike many seats across the UK, the Labour vote held up pretty well, with only a 2.6% drop in their vote share.

Boundaries

 

Map of current boundaries

Current

The Borough of Restormel wards of Bethel, Crinnis, Edgcumbe North, Edgcumbe South, Fowey and Tywardreath, Gannel, Gover, Mevagissey, Mount Charles, Poltair, Rialton, Rock, St Blazey, St Columb, St Enoder, St Ewe, St Stephen, and Treverbyn.

The constituency was created for the 2010 general election, following a review of parliamentary representation by the Boundary Commission, which increased the number of seats in the county from five to six.^[2] It has the same boundaries as the former Borough of Restormel, with the exception of the ward of Lostwithiel, which remains in the South East Cornwall constituency. Previously, the historic area was divided between the North Cornwall, South East Cornwall and Truro and St Austell seats.^[3]

Proposed

Further to the 2023 Periodic Review of Westminster constituencies, enacted by the Parliamentary Constituencies Order 2023, from the next general election, due by January 2025, the constituency will be composed of the following electoral divisions of Cornwall (as they existed on 4^th May 2021):

• Fowey, Tywardreath & Par; Mevagissey & St Austell Bay; Newquay Central & Pentire; Newquay Porth & Tretherras; Newquay Trenance; Penwithick & Boscoppa; Roche & Bugle; St Austell Bethel & Holmbush; St Austell Central & Gover; St Austell Poltair & Mount Charles; St Blazey; St Columb Minor & Colan; St Dennis & St Enoder; St Mewan & Grampound; St Stephen-in-Brannel.^[4]

Minor changes to align with revised electoral division boundaries and bring the electorate within the permitted range.

Constituency profile

Workless claimants (registered jobseekers) were in November 2012 higher than the national average of 3.8%, at 4.2% of the population, based on a statistical compilation by The Guardian.^[5]

Members of Parliament

Election		Member^[6]	Party
	2010	Steve Gilbert	Liberal Democrats
	2015	Steve Double	Conservative

Elections

Elections in the 2020s

Next general election: St Austell and Newquay 2024

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Conservative	Steve Double^[7]
	Liberal Democrats	Joanna Kenny^[8]
	Labour	Noah Law^[9]
	Green	Amanda Pennington^[10]
	Independent	Angie Rayner^[11]
Majority
Turnout
Registered electors
			Swing

Elections in the 2010s

General election 2019: St Austell and Newquay^[12]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Conservative	Steve Double	31,273	56.1	6.6
	Labour	Felicity Owen	14,747	26.4	2.6
	Liberal Democrats	Tim Styles	5,861	10.5	11.0
	Mebyon Kernow	Dick Cole	1,660	3.0	New
	Green	Collin Harker	1,609	2.9	New
	Liberal	Richard Byrne	626	1.1	New
Majority			16,526	29.6	9.1
Turnout			55,776	69.8	0.8
	Conservative hold		Swing	4.5

General election 2017: St Austell and Newquay

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Conservative	Steve Double	26,856	49.5	9.3
	Labour	Kevin Neil	15,714	29.0	18.8
	Liberal Democrats	Steve Gilbert	11,642	21.5	2.5
Majority			11,142	20.5	4.3
Turnout			56,212	69.0	3.3
	Conservative hold		Swing	4.7

General election 2015: St Austell and Newquay^[13][14][15]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Conservative	Steve Double	20,250	40.2	0.2
	Liberal Democrats	Steve Gilbert	12,077	24.0	18.7
	UKIP	David Mathews	8,503	16.9	13.2
	Labour	Deborah Hopkins	5,150	10.2	3.0
	Green	Steve Slade	2,318	4.6	New
	Mebyon Kernow	Dick Cole	2,063	4.1	0.1
Majority			8,173	16.2	N/A
Turnout			50,361	65.7	3.8
	Conservative gain from Liberal Democrats		Swing	9.5

See also: Opinion polling in United Kingdom constituencies, 2010–15 § St Austell and Newquay

General election 2010: St Austell and Newquay^[16][17]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Liberal Democrats	Steve Gilbert	20,189	42.7	4.5
	Conservative	Caroline Righton	18,877	40.0	5.1
	Labour	Lee Jameson	3,386	7.2	6.6
	Mebyon Kernow	Dick Cole	2,007	4.2	New
	UKIP	Clive Medway	1,757	3.7	0.4
	BNP	James Fitton	1,022	2.2	New
Majority			1,312	2.7
Turnout			47,238	61.9
	Liberal Democrats win (new seat)

See also

• List of parliamentary constituencies in Cornwall

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. "England Parliamentary electorates 2010-2018". Boundary Commission for England. Retrieved 23 March 2019.
2. "Final recommendations for Parliamentary constituencies in the county of Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly". Boundary Commission for England. 9 January 2005. Archived from the original on 2 November 2009. Retrieved 26 April 2010.
3. Fifth periodical report - Volume 4 Mapping for the Non-Metropolitan Counties and the Unitary Authorities, The Stationery Office, 26 February 2007, ISBN 978-0-10-170322-2
4. "The Parliamentary Constituencies Order 2023". Schedule 1 Part 7 South West region.
5. Unemployment claimants by constituency The Guardian
7. "Conservative MPs in Cornwall to stand again at next General Election". Cornwall Live. Retrieved 19 February 2024.
8. "Liberal Democrat Prospective Parliamentary Candidates". Mark Pack. Retrieved 19 February 2024.
9. Penhaligon, Julia (11 March 2024). "Labour selects Noah Law to contest St Austell and Newquay". Cornwall Reports.
10. "Cornwall Green Party candidates for 2024/25 General Election". Cornwall Green Party. 16 April 2024. Retrieved 16 April 2024.
11. url|https://www.facebook.com/people/Ex-Cllr-Angie-Rayner-Newquay-Council/100066976292982/?locale=eu_ES}}
12. "Statement of Persons Nominated" (PDF).
13. . Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 17 October 2015. Retrieved 17 October 2015.
14. "St Austell & Newquay Parliamentary constituency". Election 2015. BBC News. Retrieved 16 May 2015.
15. "UK Polling Report".
16. . Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 26 July 2013. Retrieved 17 October 2015.
17. "2010 Election". BBC News. Retrieved 7 May 2010.

50°22′30″N 4°55′34″W / 50.375°N 4.926°W / 50.375; -4.926