This constituency was created by the Representation of the People Act 1918. Unusually in the light of the events of the Labour Party's early 20th-century years, the seat had been represented by a member of that party continuously since the seat was formed. The size of the majorities historically have not been particularly marginal in the elections, until the 2017 general election in which the majority was less than 4,000 votes. Nonetheless, this was still considered a safe seat for the party, until the 2019 general election in which the Conservatives won the seat for the first time. Labour regained the seat at the 2024 general election.
Boundaries
Map of 2010-2024 boundaries
1918–1950: The Urban Districts of Handsworth; and Swinton; and the Rural Districts of Kiveton Park; and part of Rotherham.
1950–1983: The Urban Districts of Maltby; and Rawmarsh; and the Rural Districts of Kiveton Park; and Rotherham.[2]
1983–2010: The Borough of Rotherham wards of: Anston and Woodsetts, Aston, Orgreave and Ulley, Brinsworth, Catcliffe and Treeton, Kiveton Park, Maltby, St. John’s and Thurcroft and Whiston.[3]
2010–2024: The Metropolitan Borough of Rotherham wards of: Anston and Woodsetts; Dinnington; Hellaby; Holderness; Maltby; Rother Vale; Sitwell; and Wales[4]
The Metropolitan Borough of Rotherham wards of: Anston & Woodsetts; Aston & Todwick; Aughton & Swallownest; Dinnington; Hellaby & Maltby West; Maltby East; Sitwell; Thurcroft & Wickersley South; Wales.[5]
As per description in the review: Minor changes to reflect modification of local authority ward boundaries.
Rother Valley constituency covers an area in the Metropolitan Borough of Rotherham south of Rotherham itself. It is bordered by the constituencies of Bassetlaw, Bolsover, Derbyshire North East, Don Valley, Rotherham, Sheffield South East, and Wentworth and Dearne.
Constituency profile
The constituency consists of Census Output Areas of one local government district: a working population whose income is on average slightly below the national average and close to average reliance upon social housing.[6] At the end of 2012 the unemployment rate in the constituency stood as 4.0% of the population claiming jobseekers allowance, compared to the regional average of 4.7%. This was considerably lower than the rate in the Rotherham constituency of 7% and 9.6% male unemployment.[7]
The borough contributing to the seat has a relatively high 26.6% of its population without a car compared to 20.1% in Bassetlaw and 30.3% in Sheffield. In terms of extremes of education 29.8% of the population in 2011 were without qualifications contrasted with 17.4% with level 4 qualifications or above.
In terms of tenure 65.2% of homes are owned outright or on a mortgage as at the 2011 census across the borough.[8] In the 10 years to the April 2011 Census the social rented sector saw a 4.9% reduction and the private rented sector a 5.3% increase; outright ownership saw a 3.8% increase.[8]
^A borough constituency (for the purposes of election expenses and type of returning officer)
^As with all constituencies, the constituency elects one Member of Parliament (MP) by the first past the post system of election at least every five years.
References
^"Constituency data: electorates – House of Commons Library". Parliament UK. 15 June 2020. Archived from the original on 28 July 2020. Retrieved 22 July 2020.
^Craig, F. W. S., ed. (1972). Boundaries of parliamentary constituencies 1985-1972. Chichester, Sussex: Political Reference Publications. ISBN 0-900178-09-4.
^"The Parliamentary Constituencies (England) Order 1995: Schedule", legislation.gov.uk, The National Archives, 28 June 1995, SI 1995/1626 (sch.), retrieved 22 June 2024
^"2010 post-revision map Greater London and metropolitan areas of England" (PDF). Archived (PDF) from the original on 3 December 2013. Retrieved 29 January 2013.
^"The Parliamentary Constituencies Order 2023". Schedule 1 Part 9 Yorkshire and the Humber region.
^Sillitoe, Neil (14 April 2008). "Detect browser settings". Neighbourhood Statistics. Archived from the original on 11 February 2003. Retrieved 13 February 2022.
^ ab2011 census interactive maps Archived 29 January 2016 at the Wayback Machine
^Leigh Rayment's Historical List of MPs – Constituencies beginning with "R" (part 2)
^"Rother Valley results". BBC News. Retrieved 8 July 2024.
^"RESULTS FOR THE PARLIAMENTARY GENERAL ELECTION: THURSDAY 4 JULY 2024". Rotherham Metropolitan Borough Council. Retrieved 8 July 2024.
^"Notional results for a UK general election on 12 December 2019". Rallings & Thrasher, Professor David Denver (Scotland), Nicholas Whyte (NI) for Sky News, PA, BBC News and ITV News. UK Parliament. Retrieved 11 July 2024.
^"Rother Valley parliamentary constituency – Election 2019". BBC News. Archived from the original on 13 April 2019. Retrieved 22 November 2019.
^"Rother Valley parliamentary constituency". BBC News. Archived from the original on 13 April 2019. Retrieved 21 June 2018.
^"Election Data 2015". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 17 October 2015. Retrieved 17 October 2015.
^"Rother Valley". BBC News. Archived from the original on 11 May 2015. Retrieved 14 May 2015.
^"Election Data 2010". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 26 July 2013. Retrieved 17 October 2015.
^"Statement of Persons Nominated". Archived from the original on 15 June 2011. Retrieved 21 April 2010.
^"Election 2010: Rother Valley Constituency Results". BBC News. Archived from the original on 5 September 2017. Retrieved 10 May 2010.
^"Wesley Paxton". Liberal Democrats. Archived from the original on 18 September 2012. Retrieved 22 April 2010.
^"Election Data 2005". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
^"Election Data 2001". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
^"Election Data 1997". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
^"Election Data 1992". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
^"Politics Resources". Election 1992. Politics Resources. 9 April 1992. Archived from the original on 15 December 2009. Retrieved 6 December 2010.
^"Election Data 1987". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
^"Election Data 1983". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
^Kimber, Richard. "UK General Election results 1966". Political Science Resources. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 17 April 2016.
^"Royal Navy (RN) Officers 1939–1945". World War II unit histories & officers. Archived from the original on 17 October 2020. Retrieved 10 October 2020.
Sources
BBC News, Election 2005
BBC News, Vote 2001
Guardian Unlimited Politics
Leigh Rayment's Historical List of MPs – Constituencies beginning with "R" (part 2)
Election results from 1951 to the present Archived 2 July 2009 at the Wayback Machine
F. W. S. Craig, British Parliamentary Election Results 1918 – 1949
F. W. S. Craig, British Parliamentary Election Results 1950 – 1970
External links
Rother Valley UK Parliament constituency (boundaries April 2010 – May 2024) at MapIt UK
Rother Valley UK Parliament constituency (boundaries from June 2024) at MapIt UK