Solihull
Borough constituency
for the House of Commons
Outline map
Boundary of Solihull in West Midlands
Outline map
Location of West Midlands within England
CountyWest Midlands
Electorate77,354 (December 2010)[1]
Major settlementsSolihull
Current constituency
Created1945
Member of ParliamentJulian Knight (Independent)
SeatsOne
Created fromTamworth

Solihull is a constituency in West Midlands represented in the House of Commons of the UK Parliament since 2015 by Julian Knight. Although originally elected as a Conservative, Knight currently sits as an Independent, having had the whip suspended following allegations of serious sexual assault made to the Metropolitan Police in December 2022.[2]

Further to the completion of the 2023 Periodic Review of Westminster constituencies, the seat will be subject to boundary changes. As a consequence, it will be renamed Solihull West and Shirley, to be first contested at the next general election.[3]

Members of Parliament

ElectionMember[4] Party
1945 Sir Martin Lindsay Conservative
1964 Percy Grieve Conservative
1983 John Taylor Conservative
2005 Lorely Burt Liberal Democrats
2015 Julian Knight Conservative
2022 Independent[2]

Constituency profile

The Solihull area is home to some of the West Midlands's more affluent residents and includes a high proportion of Birmingham workers and the managerial classes in manufacturing, retail, industry and the public sector. There are smaller villages and undeveloped green belt areas in its peripheral countryside, though the seat is primarily suburban and middle-class, with low levels of deprivation throughout. Workless claimants stood at only 2% of the population in November 2012, below every regional average in the UK. In the study of that date, only three of the 59 West Midlands seats had a lower proportion of registered jobseekers.[5]

Following boundary changes, the northernmost tip of the seat now contains the point in England furthest from the coast in any direction.

Boundaries

The constituency is one of two covering the Metropolitan Borough of Solihull. It covers the town of Solihull itself, as well as Shirley and Olton. It is a largely well-off, residential area, in the south-east of the West Midlands conurbation.

1945–1950: The part of the county borough of Birmingham in the present Tamworth constituency, and the urban district of Solihull.[6]

1950–1974: The Urban District of Solihull.[7]

1974–1983: The County Borough of Solihull.

1983–present: The Metropolitan Borough of Solihull wards of Elmdon, Lyndon, Olton, St Alphege, Shirley East, Shirley South, Shirley West, and Silhill.

History

Conservative candidates won the seat from its outset in 1945 until a loss in 2005, the seat meanwhile seeing boundary changes covered above. In the 2005 general election Solihull was won by the Liberal Democrats, with Lorely Burt beating the incumbent John Taylor by a majority of 279 votes. Burt won the seat again at the 2010 general election, this time by just 175 votes following two recounts.

The seat has been represented by Julian Knight since 2015, who won the seat from Burt with a majority of 12,902. At the 2017 election, Knight increased his majority to just over 20,000, with a similar result in 2019, making Solihull a safe Conservative seat.

However, following allegations of serious sexual assault made to the Metropolitan Police against Knight in December 2022, Knight sits as an independent MP, having had the Conservative whip suspended.[2]

Elections

Elections in the 2010s

General election 2019: Solihull[8]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Julian Knight 32,309 58.4 Increase 0.3
Labour Co-op Nick Stephens 11,036 19.9 Decrease 2.0
Liberal Democrats Ade Adeyemo[9] 9,977 18.0 Increase 2.3
Green Rosi Sexton 2,022 3.7 Increase 1.7
Majority 21,273 38.5 Increase 2.3
Turnout 55,344 70.3 Decrease 3.1
Conservative hold Swing Increase 1.2
Results of UK House of Commons seat Solihull, created in 1945, since 2005.
General election 2017: Solihull[10]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Julian Knight 32,985 58.1 Increase 8.9
Labour Nigel Knowles 12,414 21.9 Increase 11.5
Liberal Democrats Ade Adeyemo[11] 8,901 15.7 Decrease 10.0
UKIP Andrew Garcarz 1,291 2.3 Decrease 9.3
Green Max McLoughlin 1,157 2.0 Decrease 1.0
Majority 20,571 36.2 Increase 12.7
Turnout 56,748 73.4 Increase 2.5
Conservative hold Swing Decrease 1.3
General election 2015: Solihull[12][13]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Julian Knight 26,956 49.2 Increase 6.6
Liberal Democrats Lorely Burt 14,054 25.7 Decrease 17.2
UKIP Phil Henrick[14] 6,361 11.6 Increase 9.4
Labour Nigel Knowles 5,693 10.4 Increase 1.5
Green Howard Allen 1,632 3.0 New
An Independence from Europe Mike Nattrass 50 0.1 New
Democratic Matthew J. Ward 33 0.1 New
Majority 12,902 23.5 N/A
Turnout 54,779 70.9 Decrease 1.0
Conservative gain from Liberal Democrats Swing Increase 11.9
General election 2010: Solihull[15][16]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Democrats Lorely Burt 23,635 42.9 Increase 3.5
Conservative Maggie Throup 23,460 42.6 Increase 2.9
Labour Sarah Merrill 4,891 8.9 Decrease 6.7
BNP Andrew Terry 1,624 2.9 Decrease 0.5
UKIP John Ison 1,200 2.2 Increase 0.3
Solihull and Meriden Residents' Association Neill Watts 319 0.6 New
Majority 175 0.3 Decrease0.2
Turnout 55,129 71.9 Increase 4.5
Liberal Democrats hold Swing Increase 0.3
  • Due to Boundary Changes this seat was notionally Conservative, even though it was previously held by the Liberal Democrats, making it a Liberal Democrat gain.

Elections in the 2000s

General election 2005: Solihull[17]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Democrats Lorely Burt 20,896 39.9 Increase 13.9
Conservative John Taylor 20,617 39.4 Decrease 6.0
Labour Rory Vaughan 8,058 15.4 Decrease 10.2
BNP Diane Carr 1,752 3.3 New
UKIP Andrew Moore 990 1.9 Decrease 0.3
Majority 279 0.5 N/A
Turnout 52,313 63.1 Decrease 0.2
Liberal Democrats gain from Conservative Swing Increase 10.0
General election 2001: Solihull[18]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative John Taylor 21,935 45.4 Increase 0.8
Liberal Democrats Jo Byron 12,528 26.0 Increase 0.7
Labour Brendan O’Brien 12,373 25.6 Increase 1.3
UKIP Andy Moore 1,061 2.2 New
ProLife Alliance Mary Pyne 374 0.8 Decrease 0.3
Majority 9,407 19.4 Increase 0.1
Turnout 48,271 63.3 Decrease 11.3
Conservative hold Swing

Elections in the 1990s

General election 1997: Solihull
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative John Taylor 26,299 44.6 Decrease 16.2
Liberal Democrats Michael J. Southcombe 14,902 25.3 Increase 4.3
Labour Rachel N. Harris 14,334 24.3 Increase 7.6
Referendum Mike Nattrass 2,748 4.7 New
ProLife Alliance Jim Caffery 623 1.1 New
Majority 11,397 19.3 Decrease 20.5
Turnout 58,906 74.6 Decrease 7.0
Conservative hold Swing Decrease 10.3
General election 1992: Solihull[19][20]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative John Taylor 38,385 60.8 Decrease 0.3
Liberal Democrats Michael J. Southcombe 13,239 21.0 Decrease 2.9
Labour Nicola Kutapan 10,544 16.7 Increase 1.7
Green Clifford G. Hards 925 1.5 New
Majority 25,146 39.8 Increase 2.7
Turnout 63,093 81.6 Increase 6.5
Conservative hold Swing Increase 1.4

Elections in the 1980s

General election 1987: Solihull[21]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative John Taylor 35,844 61.1 Increase 0.3
Liberal Geoff E. Gadie 14,058 24.0 Decrease 3.7
Labour Sue E. Knowles 8,791 15.0 Increase 3.4
Majority 21,786 37.1 Increase 4.0
Turnout 58,693 75.1 Increase 3.7
Conservative hold Swing Increase 2.0
General election 1983: Solihull[22]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative John Taylor 31,947 60.8 Decrease 5.4
Liberal Ian Gillett 14,553 27.7 Increase 12.0
Labour I. Jamieson 6,075 11.6 Decrease 5.0
Majority 17,394 33.1 Decrease 16.4
Turnout 52,575 71.4 Decrease 5.8
Conservative hold Swing

Elections in the 1970s

General election 1979: Solihull
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Percy Grieve 43,027 66.16
Labour David Hallam 10,820 16.64
Liberal I. Gillett 10,214 15.70
National Front D. Stevenson 978 1.50 New
Majority 32,207 49.52
Turnout 65,039 77.18
Conservative hold Swing
General election October 1974: Solihull
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Percy Grieve 31,707 52.67
Liberal J.A. Windmill 15,848 26.33
Labour Denis MacShane 12,640 21.00
Majority 15,859 26.34
Turnout 60,195 75.25
Conservative hold Swing
General election February 1974: Solihull
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Percy Grieve 35,049 54.47
Liberal J.A. Windmill 17,686 27.49
Labour D.A. Norman 11,608 18.04
Majority 17,363 26.98
Turnout 64,343 81.30
Conservative hold Swing
General election 1970: Solihull
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Percy Grieve 37,756 64.29
Labour Douglas Gray 13,181 22.44
Liberal R. A. Davis 7,795 13.27 New
Majority 24,575 41.85
Turnout 58,732 72.14
Conservative hold Swing

Elections in the 1960s

General election 1966: Solihull
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Percy Grieve 34,008 65.69
Labour D.A. Forwood 17,760 34.31
Majority 16,248 31.38
Turnout 51,768 74.80
Conservative hold Swing
General election 1964: Solihull
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Percy Grieve 32,355 59.45
Labour Thomas WK Scott 11,969 21.99
Liberal Lionel Farell 10,097 18.55 New
Majority 20,386 37.46
Turnout 54,421 80.46
Conservative hold Swing

Elections in the 1950s

General election 1959: Solihull
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Martin Lindsay 35,862 73.88
Labour Eric J Bowen 12,682 26.12
Majority 23,180 47.76
Turnout 48,544 80.60
Conservative hold Swing
General election 1955: Solihull
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Martin Lindsay 29,323 72.18
Labour Marion Large 11,300 27.82
Majority 18,023 44.36
Turnout 40,623 78.28
Conservative hold Swing
General election 1951: Solihull
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Martin Lindsay 27,871 70.35
Labour John Johnson 11,747 29.65
Majority 16,124 40.70
Turnout 39,618 83.18
Conservative hold Swing
General election 1950: Solihull
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Martin Lindsay 25,758 63.28
Labour W.N. Camp 11,741 28.84
Liberal Ada M Hayes 3,206 7.88 New
Majority 14,017 34.44
Turnout 40,705 86.92
Conservative hold Swing

Election in the 1940s

General election 1945: Solihull
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Sir Martin Lindsay 26,696 55.22
Labour Roy Jenkins 21,647 44.78
Majority 5,049 10.44
Turnout 48,343 71.79
Conservative win (new seat)

See also

Notes

    References

    1. ↑ "Electorate Figures - Boundary Commission for England". 2011 Electorate Figures. Boundary Commission for England. 4 March 2011. Archived from the original on 6 November 2010. Retrieved 13 March 2011.
    2. 1 2 3 "Tory MP Julian Knight suspended after sex assault allegation made to police". BBC News. 8 December 2022. Retrieved 8 December 2022.
    3. ↑ "West Midlands | Boundary Commission for England". Boundary Commission for England. Retrieved 20 June 2023.
    4. ↑ Leigh Rayment's Historical List of MPs – Constituencies beginning with "S" (part 3)
    5. ↑ Unemployment claimants by constituency The Guardian
    6. ↑ "The House of Commons (Redistribution of Seats) Order 1945. SI 1945/701". Statutory Rules and Orders 1945. Vol. I. London: His Majesty's Stationery Office. 1946. pp. 682–698.
    7. ↑ "Representation of the People Act 1948: Schedule 1", legislation.gov.uk, The National Archives, 1948 c. 65 (sch. 1), retrieved 23 July 2023
    8. ↑ "Solihull Parliamentary constituency". BBC News. BBC. Retrieved 30 November 2019.
    9. ↑ "Ade Adeyemo". Archived from the original on 15 February 2015.
    10. ↑ "Statement of persons nominated and notice of poll" (PDF). Solihull Metropolitan Borough Council. 11 May 2017. Retrieved 6 June 2017.
    11. ↑ "Ade Adeyemo". Archived from the original on 15 February 2015.
    12. ↑ "Election Data 2015". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 17 October 2015. Retrieved 17 October 2015.
    13. ↑ "Solihull Results". bbc.co.uk.
    14. ↑ "UK Polling Report".
    15. ↑ "Election Data 2010". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 26 July 2013. Retrieved 17 October 2015.
    16. ↑ "BBC Election 2010, Solihull".
    17. ↑ "Election Data 2005". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
    18. ↑ "Election Data 2001". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
    19. ↑ "Election Data 1992". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
    20. ↑ "UK General Election results April 1992". Richard Kimber's Political Science Resources. Politics Resources. 9 April 1992. Retrieved 6 December 2010.
    21. ↑ "Election Data 1987". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
    22. ↑ "Election Data 1983". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.

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