BBC Profile:
Macclesfield has been Conservative since the decline of the old Liberal party in the early 20th Century. The seat has been represented by only two MPs since the Second World War. Nicholas Winterton replaced Sir Arthur Harvey by winning the 1971 by-election.

In 2005, he retained the seat with a majority of 9,401, after a 2.4% swing to the Conservatives.

At the election, the seat gains the part-ward of Henbury from Tatton. To find out what might have happened had this boundary change been in force at the last election, see a notional - or estimated - result below.

Previously a centre for silk manufacturing, Macclesfield has always been one of the more prosperous former textile towns in the North West, including Tytherington and Bollington in the north, more rural areas and the commuter belt of Disley, Poynton and Prestbury.

The silk trade has long given way to predominantly service sector employment, particularly financial and business services. However, manufacturing underpins the local economy, represented by the seat's largest employer, pharmaceutical giant AstraZeneca, situated just outside Macclesfield.

Attracted by the seat's excellent motorway and rail links, other large companies including Barclays Bank IT Centre, Royal London and Ciba Specialty Chemicals have established operations here. There is also a thriving small business sector, in growth areas such as business and financial services, design/printing and information technology. Maccle

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BBC Profile:
Macclesfield has been Conservative since the decline of the old Liberal party in the early 20th Century. The seat has been represented by only two MPs since the Second World War. Nicholas Winterton replaced Sir Arthur Harvey by winning the 1971 by-election.

In 2005, he retained the seat with a majority of 9,401, after a 2.4% swing to the Conservatives.

At the election, the seat gains the part-ward of Henbury from Tatton. To find out what might have happened had this boundary change been in force at the last election, see a notional - or estimated - result below.

Previously a centre for silk manufacturing, Macclesfield has always been one of the more prosperous former textile towns in the North West, including Tytherington and Bollington in the north, more rural areas and the commuter belt of Disley, Poynton and Prestbury.

The silk trade has long given way to predominantly service sector employment, particularly financial and business services. However, manufacturing underpins the local economy, represented by the seat's largest employer, pharmaceutical giant AstraZeneca, situated just outside Macclesfield.

Attracted by the seat's excellent motorway and rail links, other large companies including Barclays Bank IT Centre, Royal London and Ciba Specialty Chemicals have established operations here. There is also a thriving small business sector, in growth areas such as business and financial services, design/printing and information technology. Macclesfield's hinterland continues to be an important farming area, with dairy, beef and sheep predominating.

Rallings & Thrasher Notional:
C 22,735 (49.64%)
Lab 13,271 (28.98%)
LD 8,945 (19.53%)
Others 848 (1.85%)

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