Morpeth — UK General Election Results
Morpeth was won by Labour at the 1979 general election, with a majority of 11,831 votes over Conservative. This page covers every general election in Morpeth from 1832 to 1979.
Full Election History, 1832–1979
| Election | Elected | Votes | Vote Share | Runner-up | Majority | Turnout |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1832 | Frederick George Howard (Whig) | Elected unopposed — no other candidate stood, no vote count on record | 0.0% | |||
| 1835 | Edward Granville George Howard (Whig) | Elected unopposed — no other candidate stood, no vote count on record | 0.0% | |||
| 1837 | Granville George Leveson-Gower (Whig) | Elected unopposed — no other candidate stood, no vote count on record | 0.0% | |||
| 1841 | Edward Granville George Howard (Whig) | Elected unopposed — no other candidate stood, no vote count on record | 0.0% | |||
| 1847 | Edward Granville George Howard (Whig) | Elected unopposed — no other candidate stood, no vote count on record | 0.0% | |||
| 1852 | Edward Granville George Howard (Whig) | Elected unopposed — no other candidate stood, no vote count on record | 0.0% | |||
| 1857 | George Grey (Whig) | Elected unopposed — no other candidate stood, no vote count on record | 0.0% | |||
| 1859 | George Grey (Liberal) | Elected unopposed — no other candidate stood, no vote count on record | 0.0% | |||
| 1865 | George Grey (Liberal) | Elected unopposed — no other candidate stood, no vote count on record | 0.0% | |||
| 1868 | George Grey (Liberal) | Elected unopposed — no other candidate stood, no vote count on record | 0.0% | |||
| 1874 | Thomas Burt (Liberal-Labour) | 3,332 | 85.1% | Francis Duncan (Conservative) | 2,747 (70.1 pts) | 79.7% |
| 1880 | Thomas Burt (Liberal-Labour) | Elected unopposed — no other candidate stood, no vote count on record | 0.0% | |||
| 1885 | Thomas Burt (Liberal-Labour) | Elected unopposed — no other candidate stood, no vote count on record | 0.0% | |||
| 1886 | Thomas Burt (Liberal-Labour) | Elected unopposed — no other candidate stood, no vote count on record | 0.0% | |||
| 1892 | Thomas Burt (Liberal-Labour) | Elected unopposed — no other candidate stood, no vote count on record | 0.0% | |||
| 1895 | Thomas Burt (Liberal-Labour) | 3,404 | 73.4% | Michael Maltman Barry (Conservative) | 2,169 (46.8 pts) | 60.8% |
| 1900 | Thomas Burt (Liberal-Labour) | 3,117 | 53.5% | Michael Maltman Barry (Conservative) | 410 (7.0 pts) | 68.6% |
| 1906 | Thomas Burt (Liberal-Labour) | 5,518 | 74.2% | Stuart Auchincloss Coats (Liberal Unionist) | 3,599 (48.4 pts) | 78.9% |
| Jan 1910 | Thomas Burt (Liberal-Labour) | 5,874 | 66.1% | Jasper Nicholas Ridley (Conservative) | 2,865 (32.2 pts) | 88.7% |
| Dec 1910 | Thomas Burt (Liberal-Labour) | Elected unopposed — no other candidate stood, no vote count on record | 0.0% | |||
| 1918 | John Cairns (Labour) | 7,677 | 34.3% | Frank Crane Thornborough (Liberal) | 537 (2.4 pts) | 56.3% |
| 1922 | John Cairns (Labour) | 15,026 | 48.3% | Frank Crane Thornborough (Liberal) | 5,019 (16.2 pts) | 72.1% |
| 1923 | Robert Smillie (Labour) | 16,902 | 64.2% | John Dodd (Liberal) | 7,491 (28.5 pts) | 59.4% |
| 1924 | Robert Smillie (Labour) | 19,248 | 56.8% | Irene Mary Bewick Ward (Unionist) | 8,420 (24.9 pts) | 75.0% |
| 1929 | Ebenezer Edwards (Labour) | 25,508 | 61.3% | Irene Mary Bewick Ward (Unionist) | 16,302 (39.2 pts) | 75.5% |
| 1931 | Godfrey Nicholson (Conservative) | 20,806 | 52.6% | Ebenezer Edwards (Labour) | 2,092 (5.3 pts) | 68.5% |
| 1935 | Robert John Taylor (Labour) | 28,900 | 59.2% | Godfrey Nicholson (Conservative) | 8,956 (18.3 pts) | 78.7% |
| 1945 | Robert John Taylor (Labour) | 38,521 | 73.2% | Gilbert James Morley Longden (Conservative) | 24,442 (46.5 pts) | 79.4% |
| 1950 | Robert John Taylor (Labour) | 27,548 | 71.5% | Thomas Turnbull (Conservative) | 16,575 (43.0 pts) | 86.6% |
| 1951 | Robert John Taylor (Labour) | 27,718 | 71.9% | Peter Mollison Colvin-Smith (Conservative) | 16,875 (43.8 pts) | 85.5% |
| 1955 | William James Owen (Labour) | 25,452 | 70.6% | Sir Robert William Elliott (Conservative) | 14,833 (41.1 pts) | 80.4% |
| 1959 | William James Owen (Labour) | 27,435 | 71.9% | Derek Bloom (Conservative) | 16,719 (43.8 pts) | 84.1% |
| 1964 | William James Owen (Labour) | 26,114 | 72.7% | Derek Bloom (Conservative) | 16,309 (45.4 pts) | 80.8% |
| 1966 | Will Owen (Labour) | 25,223 | 74.4% | Nigel Porter (Conservative) | 16,525 (48.7 pts) | 76.9% |
| 1970 | George Grant (Labour) | 21,826 | 60.3% | Kenneth Ian Tunnicliffe (Conservative) | 12,311 (34.0 pts) | 76.0% |
| Feb 1974 | George Grant (Labour) | 22,026 | 56.4% | David Curry (Conservative) | 13,034 (33.4 pts) | 81.2% |
| Oct 1974 | George Grant (Labour) | 22,696 | 63.8% | David Curry (Conservative) | 14,687 (41.3 pts) | 73.3% |
| 1979 | George Grant (Labour) | 21,744 | 56.3% | Stephen James Edwards (Conservative) | 11,831 (30.6 pts) | 77.4% |
Full Result Breakdown by Election
1832
| Candidate | Party | Votes | Share | Elected |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Frederick George Howard | Whig | Unopposed | Yes | |
1835
| Candidate | Party | Votes | Share | Elected |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Edward Granville George Howard | Whig | Unopposed | Yes | |
1837
| Candidate | Party | Votes | Share | Elected |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Granville George Leveson-Gower | Whig | Unopposed | Yes | |
1841
| Candidate | Party | Votes | Share | Elected |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Edward Granville George Howard | Whig | Unopposed | Yes | |
1847
| Candidate | Party | Votes | Share | Elected |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Edward Granville George Howard | Whig | Unopposed | Yes | |
1852
| Candidate | Party | Votes | Share | Elected |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Edward Granville George Howard | Whig | Unopposed | Yes | |
1857
| Candidate | Party | Votes | Share | Elected |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| George Grey | Whig | Unopposed | Yes | |
1859
| Candidate | Party | Votes | Share | Elected |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| George Grey | Liberal | Unopposed | Yes | |
1865
| Candidate | Party | Votes | Share | Elected |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| George Grey | Liberal | Unopposed | Yes | |
1868
| Candidate | Party | Votes | Share | Elected |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| George Grey | Liberal | Unopposed | Yes | |
1874
| Candidate | Party | Votes | Share | Elected |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Thomas Burt | Liberal-Labour | 3,332 | 85.1% | Yes |
| Francis Duncan | Conservative | 585 | 14.9% | No |
1880
| Candidate | Party | Votes | Share | Elected |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Thomas Burt | Liberal-Labour | Unopposed | Yes | |
1885
| Candidate | Party | Votes | Share | Elected |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Thomas Burt | Liberal-Labour | Unopposed | Yes | |
1886
| Candidate | Party | Votes | Share | Elected |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Thomas Burt | Liberal-Labour | Unopposed | Yes | |
1892
| Candidate | Party | Votes | Share | Elected |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Thomas Burt | Liberal-Labour | Unopposed | Yes | |
1895
| Candidate | Party | Votes | Share | Elected |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Thomas Burt | Liberal-Labour | 3,404 | 73.4% | Yes |
| Michael Maltman Barry | Conservative | 1,235 | 26.6% | No |
1900
| Candidate | Party | Votes | Share | Elected |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Thomas Burt | Liberal-Labour | 3,117 | 53.5% | Yes |
| Michael Maltman Barry | Conservative | 2,707 | 46.5% | No |
1906
| Candidate | Party | Votes | Share | Elected |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Thomas Burt | Liberal-Labour | 5,518 | 74.2% | Yes |
| Stuart Auchincloss Coats | Liberal Unionist | 1,919 | 25.8% | No |
Jan 1910
| Candidate | Party | Votes | Share | Elected |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Thomas Burt | Liberal-Labour | 5,874 | 66.1% | Yes |
| Jasper Nicholas Ridley | Conservative | 3,009 | 33.9% | No |
Dec 1910
| Candidate | Party | Votes | Share | Elected |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Thomas Burt | Liberal-Labour | Unopposed | Yes | |
1918
| Candidate | Party | Votes | Share | Elected |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| John Cairns | Labour | 7,677 | 34.3% | Yes |
| Frank Crane Thornborough | Liberal | 7,140 | 31.9% | No |
| Claud Henry Meares | Unionist | 4,320 | 19.3% | No |
| Gerald Douglas Newton | Independent | 2,729 | 12.2% | No |
| Thomas Moffatt Allison | National Democratic and Labour | 511 | 2.3% | No |
1922
| Candidate | Party | Votes | Share | Elected |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| John Cairns | Labour | 15,026 | 48.3% | Yes |
| Frank Crane Thornborough | Liberal | 10,007 | 32.2% | No |
| Charles Septimus Shortt | Unionist | 6,045 | 19.5% | No |
1923
| Candidate | Party | Votes | Share | Elected |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Robert Smillie | Labour | 16,902 | 64.2% | Yes |
| John Dodd | Liberal | 9,411 | 35.8% | No |
1924
| Candidate | Party | Votes | Share | Elected |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Robert Smillie | Labour | 19,248 | 56.8% | Yes |
| Irene Mary Bewick Ward | Unionist | 10,828 | 32.0% | No |
| John Dodd | Liberal | 3,805 | 11.2% | No |
1929
| Candidate | Party | Votes | Share | Elected |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ebenezer Edwards | Labour | 25,508 | 61.3% | Yes |
| Irene Mary Bewick Ward | Unionist | 9,206 | 22.1% | No |
| John Ritson | Liberal | 6,888 | 16.6% | No |
1931
| Candidate | Party | Votes | Share | Elected |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Godfrey Nicholson | Conservative | 20,806 | 52.6% | Yes |
| Ebenezer Edwards | Labour | 18,714 | 47.4% | No |
1935
| Candidate | Party | Votes | Share | Elected |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Robert John Taylor | Labour | 28,900 | 59.2% | Yes |
| Godfrey Nicholson | Conservative | 19,944 | 40.8% | No |
1945
| Candidate | Party | Votes | Share | Elected |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Robert John Taylor | Labour | 38,521 | 73.2% | Yes |
| Gilbert James Morley Longden | Conservative | 14,079 | 26.8% | No |
1950
| Candidate | Party | Votes | Share | Elected |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Robert John Taylor | Labour | 27,548 | 71.5% | Yes |
| Thomas Turnbull | Conservative | 10,973 | 28.5% | No |
1951
| Candidate | Party | Votes | Share | Elected |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Robert John Taylor | Labour | 27,718 | 71.9% | Yes |
| Peter Mollison Colvin-Smith | Conservative | 10,843 | 28.1% | No |
1955
| Candidate | Party | Votes | Share | Elected |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| William James Owen | Labour | 25,452 | 70.6% | Yes |
| Sir Robert William Elliott | Conservative | 10,619 | 29.4% | No |
1959
| Candidate | Party | Votes | Share | Elected |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| William James Owen | Labour | 27,435 | 71.9% | Yes |
| Derek Bloom | Conservative | 10,716 | 28.1% | No |
1964
| Candidate | Party | Votes | Share | Elected |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| William James Owen | Labour | 26,114 | 72.7% | Yes |
| Derek Bloom | Conservative | 9,805 | 27.3% | No |
1966
| Candidate | Party | Votes | Share | Elected |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Will Owen | Labour | 25,223 | 74.4% | Yes |
| Nigel Porter | Conservative | 8,698 | 25.6% | No |
1970
| Candidate | Party | Votes | Share | Elected |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| George Grant | Labour | 21,826 | 60.3% | Yes |
| Kenneth Ian Tunnicliffe | Conservative | 9,515 | 26.3% | No |
| Raymond McClure | Liberal | 4,825 | 13.3% | No |
Feb 1974
| Candidate | Party | Votes | Share | Elected |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| George Grant | Labour | 22,026 | 56.4% | Yes |
| David Curry | Conservative | 8,992 | 23.0% | No |
| Robert Humphrey Bourchier Devereux | Liberal | 8,035 | 20.6% | No |
Oct 1974
| Candidate | Party | Votes | Share | Elected |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| George Grant | Labour | 22,696 | 63.8% | Yes |
| David Curry | Conservative | 8,009 | 22.5% | No |
| Barrie Rodgers | Liberal | 4,866 | 13.7% | No |
1979
| Candidate | Party | Votes | Share | Elected |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| George Grant | Labour | 21,744 | 56.3% | Yes |
| Stephen James Edwards | Conservative | 9,913 | 25.7% | No |
| James Alan Thompson | Liberal | 6,972 | 18.0% | No |
Margin Over Time
Winning margin (percentage points) at each election, coloured by the winning party.
Trend
Morpeth has been contested at 38 general elections on record since 1832. Parties that have won a seat here over that span: Whig, Liberal, Liberal-Labour, Labour, Conservative.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who won Morpeth in the 1979 general election?
Labour won Morpeth in 1979 with 21,744 votes (56.3%), a majority of 11,831 votes over Conservative in second place.
Which parties have won Morpeth since 1832?
Since 1832, Morpeth has been won by: Conservative, Labour, Liberal, Liberal-Labour, Whig.
What was the closest result in Morpeth?
The closest result on record for Morpeth was 1918, when Labour beat Liberal by just 537 votes (2.4 percentage points).