Doncaster North is a constituency in South Yorkshire that was created in 1983. The seat has been represented in the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom since 2005 by Ed Miliband of the Labour Party. Miliband currently serves as Foreign Secretary under the government of Andy Burnham, having previously served as the Energy Secretary under the governments of Gordon Brown (when the office was known as the Department of Energy and Climate Change) and Keir Starmer (when the office was known as the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero). From 2010 until 2015, he was Leader of the Opposition.
Constituency profile The Doncaster North constituency is located in South Yorkshire within the City of Doncaster borough. It contains the suburbs of the city of Doncaster which lie north of the River Don (Cusworth and Bentley) and the rural areas to their north and west, including the towns of Mexborough, Askern and Stainforth, the village of Sprotbrough and the connected villages of Woodlands, Adwick le Street and Carcroft. The towns and villages in the area were traditionally reliant on coal mining. High levels of deprivation are present in the constituency, particularly in Stainforth, Bentley and Mexborough which fall within the 10% most-deprived areas in England, although Cusworth and Sprotbrough are generally affluent. The average house price in the constituency is less than half the national average.
Compared to the rest of the country, residents of Doncaster North have low incomes, are less likely to work in professional occupations and have very low levels of education. At the 2021 census, 97% of the population were White. At the city council, almost all councillors elected from wards in this constituency are from Reform UK. Voters in Doncaster North overwhelmingly supported leaving the European Union in the 2016 referendum; an estimated 70% voted in favour of Brexit, one of the top 25 highest rates out of 650 constituencies nationwide.
History Doncaster North has returned Labour MPs since 1983, when the constituency was created from parts of the former constituencies of Don Valley, Doncaster, Goole.
Part of the red wall, it was formerly a Labour stronghold until the 2019 general election, when Labour held the seat with a significantly reduced majority. At the following election in 2024, it once again became a fairly safe Labour seat.
Ed Miliband has served as the MP for the constituency since 2005, and he also served as Leader of the Labour Party and Leader of the Opposition from 2010 until stepping down after the 2015 general election.
At the EU referendum held on 23 June 2016, Doncaster voted to leave the European Union. This was a contrast to the views of Miliband, who advocated a "Remain" vote. Miliband was re-elected at the 2019 general election with a significantly reduced majority of 2,370 votes (5.8%), which is attributed to Brexit Party candidate Andy Stewart picking up 8,294 votes and finishing in third place with 20.4% of the vote. At the 2024 election, Reform UK (the successor to the Brexit Party) did not stand, which helped Labour increase its majority back up to 29.5%.
Boundaries
1983–1997: The Metropolitan Borough of Doncaster wards of Adwick, Askern, Bentley Central, Bentley North Road, Hatfield, Stainforth, and Thorne.
1997–2010: The Metropolitan Borough of Doncaster wards of Adwick, Askern, Bentley Central, Bentley North Road, Stainforth, and Thorne.
2010–2024: The Metropolitan Borough of Doncaster wards of Adwick, Askern Spa, Bentley, Great North Road, Mexborough, Sprotbrough, Stainforth and Moorends.
2024–present: The City of Doncaster wards of Adwick le Street & Carcroft, Bentley, Mexborough, Norton & Askern, Roman Ridge, Sprotbrough, and Stainforth & Barnby Dun. Minor changes to reflect modifications to ward boundaries and names.
Members of Parliament
Don Valley and Goole prior to 1983
ElectionMemberParty 1983 Michael Welsh Labour 1992 Kevin Hughes 2005 Ed Miliband
Elections
Elections in the 2020s
Elections in the 2010s
2019 notional result Party Vote % Labour 15,356 38.3 Conservative 13,286 33.2 Brexit Party 8,151 20.3 Liberal Democrats 1,446 3.6 Others 859 2.2 Green 18 <0.0Turnout40,07055.9Electorate71,739
Elections in the 2000s
Elections in the 1990s
Elections in the 1980s
See also Parliamentary constituencies in South Yorkshire Parliamentary constituencies in Yorkshire and the Humber
Notes
References
Sources Ed Miliband, MP for Doncaster North The website of Ed Miliband
External links Doncaster North UK Parliament constituency (boundaries April 1997 – April 2010) at MapIt UK Doncaster North UK Parliament constituency (boundaries April 2010 – May 2024) at MapIt UK Doncaster North UK Parliament constituency (boundaries from June 2024) at MapIt UK