Westmorland and Lonsdale (UK Parliament constituency)

Westmorland and Lonsdale is a constituency^{[n 1]} in the south of Cumbria, represented in the House of Commons of the UK Parliament since 2005 by Tim Farron, the former leader of the Liberal Democrats (2015–2017).

Westmorland and Lonsdale
County constituency for the House of Commons
Boundary of Westmorland and Lonsdale in North West England
County	Cumbria
Electorate	72,322 (2023) [1]
Major settlements	Grange-over-Sands, Kendal, Windermere, Ambleside, Kirkby Lonsdale
Current constituency
Created	1983
Member of Parliament	Tim Farron (Liberal Democrats)
Seats	One
Created from	Morecambe and Lonsdale and Westmorland

Westmorland and Lonsdale is the Liberal Democrats' longest continuously held seat in England, as the only English seat they have won in every election since 2005.

Constituency profile

Map of boundaries before 2024 general election

Created in 1983, the seat is named after the historic county of Westmorland and the Lancashire Hundred of Lonsdale, both of which extend beyond the bounds of the constituency. Important towns by size in the constituency include Kendal, Windermere and Appleby-in-Westmorland. This is one of a minority of rural seats where residents voted to Remain in the European Union in 2016.

Boundaries

Historic

1983–1997: The District of Eden wards of Kirkby Stephen, Orton with Tebay, Ravenstonedale and Shap, and the District of South Lakeland wards of Arnside, Beetham, Broughton, Burneside, Burton and Holme, Cartmel, Cartmel Fell, Colton and Haverthwaite, Coniston, Crake Valley, Endmoor, Grange, Hawkshead, Holker, Hutton, Kendal Castle, Kendal Far Cross, Kendal Fell, Kendal Glebelands, Kendal Heron Hill, Kendal Highgate, Kendal Mintsfeet, Kendal Nether, Kendal Oxenholme, Kendal Stonecross, Kendal Strickland, Kendal Underley, Kirkby Lonsdale, Lakes Ambleside, Lakes Grasmere, Levens, Lyth Valley, Milnthorpe, Sedbergh, Staveley-in-Westmorland, Whinfell, Windermere Applethwaite, Windermere Bowness North, Windermere Bowness South and Windermere Town.^[2]

1997–2010: As above, excluding the District of Eden wards which were transferred to Penrith and The Border.^[3]

2010–2024: The District of South Lakeland wards of Arnside and Beetham, Burneside, Burton and Holme, Cartmel, Coniston, Crooklands, Grange, Hawkshead, Holker, Kendal Castle, Kendal Far Cross, Kendal Fell, Kendal Glebelands, Kendal Heron Hill, Kendal Highgate, Kendal Kirkland, Kendal Mintsfeet, Kendal Nether, Kendal Oxenholme, Kendal Parks, Kendal Stonecross, Kendal Strickland, Kendal Underley, Kirkby Lonsdale, Lakes Ambleside, Lakes Grasmere, Levens, Lyth Valley, Milnthorpe, Natland, Sedbergh, Staveley-in-Cartmel, Staveley-in-Westmorland, Whinfell, Windermere Applethwaite, Windermere Bowness North, Windermere Bowness South and Windermere Town^[4]

This boundary change transferred Broughton-in-Furness to Barrow and Furness.

Current

The 2023 Periodic Review of Westminster constituencies was carried out using the local authority structure as it existed in Cumbria on 1 December 2020 and is officially defined as:

• The District of Eden wards of: Appleby (Appleby); Appleby (Bongate); Askham; Brough; Crosby Ravensworth; Dacre; Eamont; Greystroke; Kirkby Stephen; Kirkby Thore; Long Marton; Morland; Orton and Tebay; Ravenstonedale; Shap; Ullswater; Warcop.

• The District of South Lakeland wards of: Ambleside & Grasmere; Bowness & Levens; Broughton & Coniston (polling districts AF, AO, AP, AQ, AS, AT, AU, BC, BDA, BDB, CX and DH); Cartmel; Grange; Kendal East; Kendal North; Kendal Rural; Kendal South & Natland; Kendal Town; Kendal West; Windermere.^[5]

With effect from 1 April 2023, the Districts of Eden and South Lakeland were abolished and absorbed into the new unitary authority of Westmorland and Furness.^[6] Consequently, the constituency now comprises the following wards of Westmorland and Furness from the 2024 general election:

• Appleby and Brough; Bowness and Lyth; Coniston and Hawkshead (nearly all); Eamont and Shap; Eden and Lyvennet Vale; Grange and Cartmel; Greystoke and Ullswater; Kendal Castle; Kendal Highgate; Kendal Nether; Kendal South (majority); Kendal Strickland and Fell; Kirkby Stephen and Tebay; Levens and Crooklands (majority); Sedbergh and Kirkby Lonsdale (part); Upper Kent; Windermere and Ambleside.^[7]

The constituency was expanded by adding parts of the former District of Eden, including the market towns of Appleby-in-Westmorland and Kirkby Stephen, previously in the abolished constituency of Penrith and The Border. To partly offset this, the former District of South Lakeland wards of Arnside & Milnthorpe, Burton & Crooklands, and Sedbergh & Kirkby Lonsdale were included in Morecambe and Lunesdale, thereby making the latter a cross-county boundary constituency.

The new constituency is made up of part of the previous constituency (41.7% by area and 72.3% by population of the new constituency) and part of the former Penrith and The Border constituency (58.3% by area and 27.7% by population of the new constituency).^[8]

History

Having been a Conservative-dominated seat since its creation in 1983, the 1997 general election saw the Conservatives' majority cut to fewer than 5,000 votes. This was further reduced at the 2001 general election. In 2005, the constituency featured among a list of seats held by high-profile Conservatives (in this case Shadow Education Secretary Tim Collins) targeted by the Liberal Democrats by deploying supporters from across each region in what was referred in the media as a "decapitation strategy".^[9] In the 2005 election, Tim Farron gained the seat by a marginal majority of 267 votes.

At the 2010 general election, the local electorate caused the largest Conservative-to-Lib Dem swing nationally, of 11.1% — equally the lowest share of the vote for Labour (2.2%, one of five lost deposits for Labour), nationally. With 96.2% of votes cast for either the Conservative or Liberal Democrat candidates, Westmorland and Lonsdale had the highest combined share of the vote cast for the Coalition parties.

Contrasting with its long-term Conservative support, the combined Conservative/UKIP vote narrowly failed to reach 40% in 2015. Equally, Farron, who would become Leader of the Liberal Democrats two months later; was the only member of his party to secure an absolute majority (over 50%) of votes cast, after what was a poor result for the party nationwide with their seat count reduced from 57 seats to 8.^[10][11] In 2017 (when Farron was Lib Dem leader), Farron's majority fell to just 777 votes. However, in 2019, he was re-elected with a majority increased to 1,934.

Following boundary changes, it was estimated that the reconfigured Westmorland and Lonsdale would have been won by the Conservatives in 2019 with a majority of over 5,000. Despite this, the 2024 general election saw a large increase in Farron's majority to 21,472, the 3rd largest majority of all UK constituencies in the election behind Bootle and Hornsey and Friern Barnet. By many measures — the total votes cast, the size of the majority, and the margin of victory — this was the Liberal Democrats' strongest result nationwide. It was also the only constituency where the Labour candidate lost their deposit by polling less than 5% of the vote.^[12]

Members of Parliament

Election	Member[13]	Party
1983	Michael Jopling		Conservative
1997	Tim Collins		Conservative
2005	Tim Farron		Liberal Democrats

Elections

Westmorland election results

Elections in the 2020s

General election 2024: Westmorland and Lonsdale

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Liberal Democrats	Tim Farron	31,061	62.7	+22.0
	Conservative	Matty Jackman	9,589	19.4	−30.8
	Reform UK	James Townley	4,842	9.8	+8.7
	Labour	Pippa Smith	2,306	4.7	−2.2
	Green	Phil Clayton	1,486	3.0	+2.5
	Independent	John Studholme	111	0.2	N/A
	Heritage	Izzy Solabarrieta	81	0.2	N/A
	SDP	Wendy Long	57	0.1	N/A
Majority			21,472	43.3
Turnout			49,533	68.8
	Liberal Democrats gain from Conservative		Swing	+26.4

The notional 2019 election result for the revised constituency was calculated to be a Conservative victory. Hence, the 2024 general election result was described as "Liberal Democrat gain from Conservative", although Liberal Democrat Tim Farron was re-elected in the seat he had served since 2005.^[14][15]

Elections in the 2010s

General election 2019: Westmorland and Lonsdale^[16][17]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Liberal Democrats	Tim Farron	25,795	48.9	+3.1
	Conservative	James Airey	23,861	45.3	+1.0
	Labour	Phillip Black	2,293	4.4	−4.9
	Brexit Party	Steven Bolton	763	1.5	N/A
Majority			1,934	3.6	+2.1
Turnout			52,712	77.8	−0.1
	Liberal Democrats hold		Swing	+1.1

In 2019, Westmorland and Lonsdale was one of five English constituencies, the others being Esher and Walton, East Devon, Cheltenham and Winchester, where Labour failed to obtain over 5% of the vote and lost their deposit.^[18]

General election 2017: Westmorland and Lonsdale^[19]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Liberal Democrats	Tim Farron	23,686	45.8	−5.7
	Conservative	James Airey	22,909	44.3	+11.1
	Labour	Eli Aldridge	4,783	9.3	+3.8
	Independent	Mr Fishfinger	309	0.6	N/A
Majority			777	1.5	−16.8
Turnout			51,687	77.9	+3.6
	Liberal Democrats hold		Swing	−8.4

General election 2015: Westmorland and Lonsdale^[20][21]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Liberal Democrats	Tim Farron	25,194	51.5	−8.5
	Conservative	Ann Myatt	16,245	33.2	−3.0
	UKIP	Alan Piper	3,031	6.2	+4.6
	Labour	John Bateson	2,661	5.4	+3.2
	Green	Chris Loynes	1,798	3.7	N/A
Majority			8,949	18.3	−5.5
Turnout			48,929	74.3	−1.5
	Liberal Democrats hold		Swing	−2.8

General election 2010: Westmorland and Lonsdale^[22][23]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Liberal Democrats	Tim Farron	30,896	60.0	+14.1
	Conservative	Gareth McKeever	18,632	36.2	−8.1
	Labour	Jonathan Todd	1,158	2.2	−5.6
	UKIP	John Mander	801	1.6	+0.2
Majority			12,264	23.8
Turnout			51,487	75.8	+5.1
	Liberal Democrats hold		Swing

Elections in the 2000s

General election 2005: Westmorland and Lonsdale^[24]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Liberal Democrats	Tim Farron	22,569	45.5	+5.1
	Conservative	Tim Collins	22,302	44.9	―2.0
	Labour	John Reardon	3,796	7.6	―3.3
	UKIP	Robert Gibson	660	1.3	+0.1
	Independent	Anthony Kemp	309	0.6	New
Majority			267	0.6	―5.9
Turnout			49,636	71.6	+3.8
	Liberal Democrats gain from Conservative		Swing	+3.5

General election 2001: Westmorland and Lonsdale^[25]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Conservative	Tim Collins	22,486	46.9	+4.6
	Liberal Democrats	Tim Farron	19,339	40.4	+7.0
	Labour	John Bateson	5,234	10.9	―9.7
	UKIP	Robert Gibson	552	1.2	New
	Independent	Timothy Bell	292	0.6	New
Majority			3,147	6.5	―2.6
Turnout			47,903	67.8	―6.3
	Conservative hold		Swing	―1.2

Elections in the 1990s

General election 1997: Westmorland and Lonsdale^[26]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Conservative	Tim Collins	21,463	42.3	―14.6
	Liberal Democrats	Stanley Collins	16,942	33.4	+5.9
	Labour	John Harding	10,452	20.6	+5.5
	Referendum	Michael Smith	1,924	3.8	New
Majority			4,521	8.9	―20.5
Turnout			50,781	74.1	―3.7
	Conservative hold		Swing	―10.3

General election 1992: Westmorland and Lonsdale^[27][28]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Conservative	Michael Jopling	31,798	56.9	―0.7
	Liberal Democrats	Stanley Collins	15,362	27.5	―1.7
	Labour	Dickon Abbott	8,436	15.1	+1.9
	Natural Law	Robert Johnstone	287	0.5	New
Majority			16,436	29.4	+1.0
Turnout			55,883	77.8	―3.0
	Conservative hold		Swing	+0.5

Elections in the 1980s

General election 1987: Westmorland and Lonsdale^[29]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Conservative	Michael Jopling	30,259	57.6	―3.7
	Liberal	Stanley Collins	15,339	29.2	+2.1
	Labour	Shaun Halfpenny	6,968	13.2	+3.3
Majority			14,920	28.4	―5.8
Turnout			52,566	74.8	+2.5
	Conservative hold		Swing	―2.9

General election 1983: Westmorland and Lonsdale^[30]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Conservative	Michael Jopling	29,775	61.3
	Liberal	Ken Hulls	13,188	27.1
	Labour	Chris Stott	4,798	9.9
	Ecology	Robert Gibson	805	1.7
Majority			16,587	34.2
Turnout			48,566	72.3
	Conservative win (new seat)

Note: The Robert Gibson who stood in this election and the similarly named candidate in 2001 and 2005 are not the same person.

See also

• Cumbria portal

• List of parliamentary constituencies in Cumbria

Notes

1. A county constituency (for the purposes of election expenses and type of returning officer).

References

1. "The 2023 Review of Parliamentary Constituency Boundaries in England – Volume two: Constituency names, designations and composition – North West". Boundary Commission for England. Retrieved 30 July 2024.
2. "The Parliamentary Constituencies (England) Order 1983" (PDF).
3. "The Parliamentary Constituencies (England) Order 1995".
4. "2010 post-revision map non-metropolitan areas and unitary authorities of England" (PDF). Retrieved 12 August 2016.
5. "The Parliamentary Constituencies Order 2023". Schedule 1 Part 5 North West region.
6. "The Cumbria (Structural Changes) Order 2022".
7. "New Seat Details - Westmorland and Lonsdale". www.electoralcalculus.co.uk. Retrieved 15 April 2024.
8. "Westmorland and Lonsdale (31 May 2024 - ) - overlaps". UK Parliament election results. Retrieved 8 July 2024.
9. Lyon, Sam (6 May 2005). "Senior Tories avoid Lib Dem "decaptitation"". Evening Standard.
10. Gosden, Emily (9 May 2015). "Liberal Democrat survivors round on Nick Clegg". The Daily Telegraph. ISSN 0307-1235. Retrieved 16 August 2019.
11. Harris, John (12 July 2015). "The strange death of the Liberal Democrats". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 16 August 2019.
12. Cracknell, Richard; Baker, Carl (18 July 2024). "General election 2024 results" (PDF). House of Commons Library. Retrieved 5 August 2024.
13. Leigh Rayment's Historical List of MPs – Constituencies beginning with "W" (part 3)
14. "Notional election for the constituency of Westmorland and Lonsdale on 12 December 2019". UK Parliament election results. Retrieved 7 July 2024.
15. "Westmorland and Lonsdale - General election results 2024". BBC News. Retrieved 7 July 2024.
16. "Statement of Persons Nominated and Notice of Poll" (PDF). southlakeland.gov.uk. South Lakeland Council. Retrieved 15 November 2019.
17. "Westmorland & Lonsdale parliamentary constituency - Election 2019". Retrieved 16 December 2019.
18. "Lord Buckethead among candidates to lose deposit". 13 December 2019 – via www.bbc.com.
19. "UK Parliamentary election: Westmorland & Lonsdale constituency - Statement of Persons Nominated and Notice of Poll" (PDF). South Lakeland District Council. 11 May 2017. Retrieved 8 June 2017.
20. "Election Data 2015". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 17 October 2015. Retrieved 17 October 2015.
21. "Westmorland & Lonsdale". BBC News. Retrieved 11 May 2015.
22. "Election Data 2010". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 26 July 2013. Retrieved 17 October 2015.
23. Westmorland and Lonsdale Conservatives, Westmorland and Lonsdale Conservatives
24. "Election Data 2005". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
25. "Election Data 2001". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
26. "Election Data 1997". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
27. "Election Data 1992". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
28. "UK General Election results April 1992". Richard Kimber's Political Science Resources. Politics Resources. 9 April 1992. Retrieved 6 December 2010.
29. "Election Data 1987". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
30. "Election Data 1983". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.

External links

• Westmorland and Lonsdale UK Parliament constituency (boundaries April 1997 – April 2010) at MapIt UK
• Westmorland and Lonsdale UK Parliament constituency (boundaries April 2010 – May 2024) at MapIt UK
• Westmorland and Lonsdale UK Parliament constituency (boundaries from June 2024) at MapIt UK
• Map of the constituency at MapIt

54.312°N 2.880°W / 54.312; -2.880