Lancaster and Wyre is a parliamentary constituency represented in the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom since its recreation in 2024 by Cat Smith of the Labour Party. The seat was originally established in 1997 but was replaced by Lancaster and Fleetwood from 2010 to 2024, with Smith being the MP from 2015.
Constituency profile Lancaster and Wyre is a constituency located in Lancashire. It covers the city of Lancaster and most of the rural Borough of Wyre to its south, which is named after the river that forms its western boundary. Other settlements in the constituency include the ancient market town of Garstang and the villages of Knott End-on-Sea, Catterall and Hambleton. Lancaster is a city with a population of around 54,000 people and has a long history dating back to the Roman era. The city was a centre for slave trading in the 18th century and has a history of maritime industry, including shipbuilding. The eastern part of the constituency lies within the Forest of Bowland, an upland area of fells and moors. The constituency contains Lancaster University, which has around 19,000 students. Lancaster has average levels of wealth and deprivation whilst the Wyre towns and villages are generally affluent. House prices are similar to the rest of North West England but lower than the national average.
Compared to the rest of the country, residents of Lancaster and Wyre are well-educated and have average rates of income and homeownership. A high proportion work in the education and healthcare sectors. White people made up 91% of the population at the 2021 census. At local council level, Lancaster is mostly represented by Green Party councillors with some Labour Party representation, whilst the Wyre district elected Conservative and Reform UK councillors. An estimated 51% of voters in Lancaster and Wyre supported leaving the European Union in the 2016 referendum, similar to the nationwide figure of 52%.
History This seat was originally created for the 1997 general election and was abolished at the 2010 general election. It was a marginal seat between the Labour and Conservative parties throughout its existence, and was the only seat gained by the Conservatives in the North West in the 2005 general election.
In the 2023 review of Westminster constituencies, the seat was re-established for the 2024 general election. Its boundaries are similar to those of the 1997–2010 version. The seat was won in 2024 for Labour by Cat Smith, who had been MP for Lancaster and Fleetwood from 2015 to 2024.
Boundaries 1997–2010
The City of Lancaster wards of Bulk, Castle, Caton, Ellel, John O'Gaunt, Scotforth East, and Scotforth West, and the Borough of Wyre wards of Breck, Brock, Calder, Carleton, Catterall, Duchy, Garstang, Hambleton, Hardhorn, High Cross, Norcross, Pilling, Preesall, Staina, Tithebarn, and Wyresdale.
The Boundary Commission for England's proposals for parliamentary constituencies in Lancashire were completed in 2006. They proposed to split this seat into two. As a result, Lancaster was attached to another part of Wyre borough, over the River Wyre to the fishing port of Fleetwood. The new seat of Lancaster and Fleetwood represents the first time the two places have been linked for parliamentary reasons for many years.
The other seat was the new Wyre and Preston North. This seat was newly created, and the bringing together of Garstang, Thornton, Poulton-le-Fylde and the Fulwood and northern rural areas of Preston was unprecedented.
Current Following the 2023 review of Westminster constituencies (based on the local authority ward structures in place on 1 December 2020), and taking into account the local government boundary review in the City of Lancaster which came into effect in May 2023, the re-established constituency is composed of the following electoral wards:
The City of Lancaster wards of Bowerham, Bulk, Castle, Ellel, John O'Gaunt, Marsh, Scale Hall, Scotforth East, Scotforth West, Skerton (most), and University. The Borough of Wyre wards of Brock with Catterall, Calder, Garstang, Great Eccleston, Hambleton & Stalmine, Pilling, Preesall, and Wyresdale. The constituency replaces Lancaster and Fleetwood – excluding the town of Fleetwood. It has been expanded to include the community of Skerton, transferred from Morecambe and Lunesdale, together with Garstang and surrounding rural areas, previously part of the Wyre and Preston North constituency (now abolished).
Members of Parliament ElectionMemberParty 1997 Hilton Dawson Labour 2005 Ben Wallace Conservative2010 constituency abolished: see Lancaster and Fleetwood and Wyre and Preston North 2024 Cat Smith Labour Ben Wallace was selected to represent the Conservatives at the 2010 election in the successor seat of Wyre and Preston North.
Elections
Elections in the 2020s
Elections in the 2000s
Elections in the 1990s
See also Parliamentary constituencies in Lancashire
Notes and references
External links Lancaster and Wyre UK Parliament constituency (boundaries April 1997 – April 2010) at MapIt UK Lancaster and Wyre UK Parliament constituency (boundaries from June 2024) at MapIt UK