Stoke-on-Trent South is a constituency created in 1950, and represented in the House of Commons of the UK Parliament since 2024 by Allison Gardner, a Labour party representative.

Constituency profile

Stoke-on-Trent South is a constituency in Staffordshire in the West Midlands region of England. It covers the southern areas of the city of Stoke-on-Trent, including Meir, Weston Coyney, Trentham, Hem Heath and the southern half of Longton. It also covers a rural area south of the city, including the villages of Blythe Bridge, Forsbrook and Tean.

Stoke-on-Trent is a polycentric city that was formed in 1910 from the amalgamation of six towns. The Stoke-on-Trent area is commonly referred to as the Potteries, reflecting its traditional status as the country's foremost centre for the production of ceramics. Coal mining and steelmaking were also important industries in the city. Longton was an industrial town and the decline of the pottery sector has left it highly-deprived. Meir also has low levels of wealth with many residents living in socially-rented, semi-detached properties. In comparison, Trentham and Blythe Bridge are affluent and suburban in character. House prices across the constituency are generally lower than the regional and UK averages.

Stoke-on-Trent South has a large retired population and below-average proportions of young and middle-aged adults. Residents have average rates of income and high levels of homeownership, but the child poverty rate is above-average. They have low levels of education and a high proportion work in the retail, health and transport sectors. The percentage of residents claiming unemployment benefits is low. White people made up 90% of the population at the 2021 census.

Most of this constituency is represented by Conservatives at the local council level, with some Labour Party councillors elected in Longton. Voters in Stoke-on-Trent South strongly supported leaving the European Union in the 2016 referendum; an estimated 64% voted in favour of Brexit compared to the UK-wide figure of 52%.

Boundaries

Historic 1950–1955: The County Borough of Stoke-on-Trent wards numbers 19 to 26.

1955–1983: The County Borough of Stoke-on-Trent wards numbers 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, and 24.

1983–2010: The City of Stoke-on-Trent wards of Blurton, Fenton Green, Great Fenton, Longton South, Meir Park, Trentham Park, and Weston.

2010–2024: The City of Stoke-on-Trent wards of Blurton, Fenton, Longton North, Longton South, Meir Park and Sandon, Trentham and Hanford, and Weston and Meir North.

Current Under the 2023 Periodic Review of Westminster constituencies which came into effect for the 2024 general election, the constituency was defined as composing the following as they existed on 1 December 2020:

The Borough of Stafford wards of: Barlaston; Fulford; Swynnerton & Oulton. The District of Staffordshire Moorlands wards of: Checkley; Forsbrook. The City of Stoke-on-Trent wards of: Blurton East; Blurton West and Newstead; Broadway and Longton East; Dresden and Florence; Hanford and Trentham; Hollybush and Longton West; Lightwood North and Normacot; Meir North; Meir Park; Meir South; Weston Coyney.

Significant changes, with northern parts, including the town of Fenton, being transferred to Stoke-on-Trent Central. To compensate and bring the electorate within the permitted range, the parts in the Stafford and Staffordshire Moorlands local authorities were added from the abolished constituency of Stone.

Following a further local government boundary review in the City of Stoke-on-Trent which came into effect in May 2023, the constituency now comprises the following from the 2024 general election:

The Borough of Stafford wards of: Barlaston; Fulford; Swynnerton & Oulton. The District of Staffordshire Moorlands wards of: Checkley; Forsbrook. The City of Stoke-on-Trent wards of: Blurton; Dresden & Florence; Hanford, Newstead & Trentham; Hollybush; Lightwood North & Normacot; Longton & Meir Hay South (nearly all); Meir Hay North, Parkhall & Weston Coney (majority); Meir North; Meir Park; Meir South.

History

Political history The constituency was created for the 1950 general election as the successor to the Stoke Division of Stoke-on-Trent. It also included parts of the abolished Stone constituency which had been absorbed by the County Borough of Stoke-on-Trent.

The constituency and its predecessor were safe Labour seats from 1935 until the 2010s when it became marginal. It was won by the Conservative Party for the first time in 2017 when Jack Brereton became its MP. At the 2019 general election, the Conservatives increased their majority to over 11,000 votes; with a vote share of 62%. This was overturned in the 2024 election when, despite boundary changes favorable to the Conservatives, Labour's Allison Gardner won the seat, albeit with a small majority of 627 votes.

Prominent members Jack Ashley (later Lord Ashley) became deaf as a result of an operation, but his disability campaigns led to major enactments and public sector changes to improve ordinary life for deaf people, including the inclusion of sign language in television programmes and campaigns to help other disabled people.

Members of Parliament

Stoke-on-Trent/"Stoke" prior to 1950

ElectionMemberParty 1950 Ellis Smith 1966 Jack Ashley 1992 George Stevenson 2005 Rob Flello 2017 Jack Brereton 2024Allison Gardner

Elections

Elections in the 2020s

Elections in the 2010s

Elections in the 2000s

Elections in the 1990s

Elections of the 1980s

Elections of the 1970s

Elections of the 1960s

Elections of the 1950s

See also List of parliamentary constituencies in Staffordshire List of parliamentary constituencies in West Midlands (region)

Notes

References

External links Stoke-on-Trent South UK Parliament constituency (boundaries April 1997 – April 2010) at MapIt UK Stoke-on-Trent South UK Parliament constituency (boundaries April 2010 – May 2024) at MapIt UK Stoke-on-Trent South UK Parliament constituency (boundaries from June 2024) at MapIt UK