Compiled by EveryElectionResult.com's data team · Last updated 2026-08-30
Dearne Valley was won by Labour at the 1979 general election, with a majority of 22,735 votes over Conservative. This page covers every general election in Dearne Valley from 1950 to 1979.
Full Election History, 1950–1979
Election
Elected
Votes
Vote Share
Runner-up
Majority
Turnout
1950
Wilfred Paling (Labour)
40,420
79.6%
Aymée Lavender Gandar Dower (Conservative)
30,055 (59.2 pts)
88.0%
1951
Wilfred Paling (Labour)
39,782
79.6%
Jack Sizer (Conservative)
29,585 (59.2 pts)
85.9%
1955
Wilfred Paling (Labour)
36,718
77.9%
Rowland Winn (Conservative)
26,316 (55.9 pts)
80.6%
1959
Edwin Wainwright (Labour)
39,088
77.7%
David SW Blacker (Conservative)
27,883 (55.4 pts)
84.6%
1964
Edwin Wainwright (Labour)
38,101
80.8%
Bernard Bligh (Conservative)
29,032 (61.6 pts)
79.1%
1966
Edwin Wainwright (Labour)
36,735
81.6%
John William Roberts (Conservative)
30,614 (68.0 pts)
76.7%
1970
Edwin Wainwright (Labour)
33,966
75.1%
Arthur Basil Cowl (Conservative)
27,118 (59.9 pts)
71.9%
Feb 1974
Edwin Wainwright (Labour)
34,727
68.8%
Peter Hargreaves (Liberal)
26,854 (53.2 pts)
80.4%
Oct 1974
Edwin Wainwright (Labour)
33,315
74.1%
Lord Irwin (Conservative)
27,269 (60.7 pts)
71.1%
1979
Edwin Wainwright (Labour)
31,783
68.8%
Jacqucline Roberta Pattman (Conservative)
22,735 (49.2 pts)
72.0%
Full Result Breakdown by Election
1950
Candidate
Party
Votes
Share
Elected
Wilfred Paling
Labour
40,420
79.6%
Yes
Aymée Lavender Gandar Dower
Conservative
10,365
20.4%
No
1951
Candidate
Party
Votes
Share
Elected
Wilfred Paling
Labour
39,782
79.6%
Yes
Jack Sizer
Conservative
10,197
20.4%
No
1955
Candidate
Party
Votes
Share
Elected
Wilfred Paling
Labour
36,718
77.9%
Yes
Rowland Winn
Conservative
10,402
22.1%
No
1959
Candidate
Party
Votes
Share
Elected
Edwin Wainwright
Labour
39,088
77.7%
Yes
David SW Blacker
Conservative
11,205
22.3%
No
1964
Candidate
Party
Votes
Share
Elected
Edwin Wainwright
Labour
38,101
80.8%
Yes
Bernard Bligh
Conservative
9,069
19.2%
No
1966
Candidate
Party
Votes
Share
Elected
Edwin Wainwright
Labour
36,735
81.6%
Yes
John William Roberts
Conservative
6,121
13.6%
No
Peter Hargreaves
Independent
2,170
4.8%
No
1970
Candidate
Party
Votes
Share
Elected
Edwin Wainwright
Labour
33,966
75.1%
Yes
Arthur Basil Cowl
Conservative
6,848
15.1%
No
Peter Hargreaves
Liberal
4,426
9.8%
No
Feb 1974
Candidate
Party
Votes
Share
Elected
Edwin Wainwright
Labour
34,727
68.8%
Yes
Peter Hargreaves
Liberal
7,873
15.6%
No
Lord Irwin
Conservative
6,950
13.8%
No
Arthur Ernest Wilson
Independent
906
1.8%
No
Oct 1974
Candidate
Party
Votes
Share
Elected
Edwin Wainwright
Labour
33,315
74.1%
Yes
Lord Irwin
Conservative
6,046
13.5%
No
Peter Hargreaves
Liberal
5,588
12.4%
No
1979
Candidate
Party
Votes
Share
Elected
Edwin Wainwright
Labour
31,783
68.8%
Yes
Jacqucline Roberta Pattman
Conservative
9,048
19.6%
No
Peter Hargreaves
Liberal
5,352
11.6%
No
Margin Over Time
Winning margin (percentage points) at each election, coloured by the winning party.
Trend
Dearne Valley has been contested at 10 general elections on record since 1950. Parties that have won a seat here over that span: Labour.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who won Dearne Valley in the 1979 general election?
Labour won Dearne Valley in 1979 with 31,783 votes (68.8%), a majority of 22,735 votes over Conservative in second place.
Which parties have won Dearne Valley since 1950?
Since 1950, Dearne Valley has been won by: Labour.
What was the closest result in Dearne Valley?
The closest result on record for Dearne Valley was 1979, when Labour beat Conservative by just 22,735 votes (49.2 percentage points).