BBC Profile:
Formed in 1983, this was a seat dominated by coalmining and the National Union of Mineworkers. The Labour majority has never fallen below five figures.
Michael Welsh held the seat until his retirement in 1992, when he was succeeded by former miner Kevin Hughes. In 1997, Mr Hughes had a majority of nearly 22,000, but this fell by nearly 7,000 in 2001 following the Donnygate local government scandal.

Illness forced Mr Hughes to retire in 2005 and the new Labour candidate, Ed Miliband, won the seat with a majority of 12,656.

At the election, boundary changes see the constituency extended to the south-west to include the ward of Mexborough (from the old Barnsley East and Mexborough seat) and now the entire ward of Sprotbrough. To find out what might have happened had these changes been in force at the last election, see a notional - or estimated - result below.

This constituency is on the eastern edge of the old Yorkshire coalfield to the north of Doncaster itself. It includes a large number of villages and small towns, including Adwick le Street and Bentley.

This is traditionally one of the most working-class seats in the country, with a large proportion of manual workers. Manufacturing decline has led to high unemployment.

Rural areas of the constituency support a large number of small and medium-sized farms.

Owner-occupancy has increased substantially in the constituency, but a large number of households are classified as being in financial har

[More...]

BBC Profile:
Formed in 1983, this was a seat dominated by coalmining and the National Union of Mineworkers. The Labour majority has never fallen below five figures.
Michael Welsh held the seat until his retirement in 1992, when he was succeeded by former miner Kevin Hughes. In 1997, Mr Hughes had a majority of nearly 22,000, but this fell by nearly 7,000 in 2001 following the Donnygate local government scandal.

Illness forced Mr Hughes to retire in 2005 and the new Labour candidate, Ed Miliband, won the seat with a majority of 12,656.

At the election, boundary changes see the constituency extended to the south-west to include the ward of Mexborough (from the old Barnsley East and Mexborough seat) and now the entire ward of Sprotbrough. To find out what might have happened had these changes been in force at the last election, see a notional - or estimated - result below.

This constituency is on the eastern edge of the old Yorkshire coalfield to the north of Doncaster itself. It includes a large number of villages and small towns, including Adwick le Street and Bentley.

This is traditionally one of the most working-class seats in the country, with a large proportion of manual workers. Manufacturing decline has led to high unemployment.

Rural areas of the constituency support a large number of small and medium-sized farms.

Owner-occupancy has increased substantially in the constituency, but a large number of households are classified as being in financial hardship.

Rallings & Thrasher Notional:
Lab 19,300 (51.11%)
C 7,273 (19.26%)
LD 5,919 (15.67%)
Others 4,432 (11.74%)
UKIP 841 (2.23%)

[Less...]