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UK Parliament - Manchester Withington

RACE DETAILS

Parents

> United Kingdom > England > North West > North West > Manchester Withington

Office

Parliament

Honorific

Member of Parliament - Abbr: MP

Type

General Election

Filing Deadline

April 19, 2005 - 12:00pm Central

Polls Open

May 05, 2005 - 01:00am Central

Polls Close

May 05, 2005 - 05:00pm Central

Term Start

May 17, 2005 - 12:00pm

Term End

May 17, 2010 - 11:00am

Contributor

Wishful Thinking

Last Modified

Wishful Thinking June 16, 2005 11:41pm

Data Sources

[Link]

Description

The Conservatives held Manchester Withington from 1945 to 1987 until Keith Bradley took it for Labour for the first time in the party's history. At the same time the Conservatives lost their last seat in the city. He managed to increase his majority almost sixfold in a decade from 3,391 to 18,581. At the last general election it stood at 11,524 with the Liberal Democrats pushing the Tories into third place. The changes in political allegiance have mirrored gradual changes to the character of this mainly residential seat which is situated to the south of Manchester city centre. The wards of Didsbury, Withington, Barlow Moor and Chorlton, once considered highly desirable for the middle aged and middle class are now dominated by converted flats and multi-occupied homes for students and young professionals. As a result owner-occupation is less than 50% and the private rented sector accounts for almost 26%. Aside from flats and bedsits, council estates in the wards of Old Moat and Burnage help to make up the 20% local authority rented housing.