Compiled by EveryElectionResult.com's data team · Last updated 2026-08-30
Runcorn was won by Conservative at the 1979 general election, with a majority of 10,681 votes over Labour. This page covers every general election in Runcorn from 1950 to 1979.
Full Election History, 1950–1979
Election
Elected
Votes
Vote Share
Runner-up
Majority
Turnout
1950
Dennis Forwood Vosper (Conservative)
22,145
54.0%
Horace Lionel Wharrad (Labour)
8,082 (19.7 pts)
88.6%
1951
Dennis Forwood Vosper (Conservative)
24,821
62.4%
John Hindle (Labour)
9,841 (24.7 pts)
85.2%
1955
Dennis Forwood Vosper (Conservative)
24,682
64.1%
David Barker (Labour)
10,830 (28.1 pts)
81.1%
1959
Dennis Forwood Vosper (Conservative)
26,615
65.8%
Joel Barnett (Labour)
12,778 (31.6 pts)
81.6%
1964
Mark Carlisle (Conservative)
21,586
49.0%
Paul Lyall Jackson (Labour)
7,459 (16.9 pts)
83.7%
1966
Mark Carlisle (Conservative)
21,472
48.4%
Michael Taylor (Labour)
5,182 (11.7 pts)
82.1%
1970
Mark Carlisle (Conservative)
25,272
53.5%
Michael Taylor (Labour)
9,068 (19.2 pts)
77.0%
Oct 1974
Mark Carlisle (Conservative)
25,047
46.1%
Anthony John Eccles (Labour)
5,468 (10.1 pts)
77.6%
Feb 1974
Mark Carlisle (Conservative)
26,374
45.9%
Michael Taylor (Labour)
7,268 (12.6 pts)
82.9%
1979
Mark Carlisle (Conservative)
32,907
51.5%
George Joseph Maudsley (Labour)
10,681 (16.7 pts)
77.8%
Full Result Breakdown by Election
1950
Candidate
Party
Votes
Share
Elected
Dennis Forwood Vosper
Conservative
22,145
54.0%
Yes
Horace Lionel Wharrad
Labour
14,063
34.3%
No
Harold Griffiths
Liberal
4,768
11.6%
No
1951
Candidate
Party
Votes
Share
Elected
Dennis Forwood Vosper
Conservative
24,821
62.4%
Yes
John Hindle
Labour
14,980
37.6%
No
1955
Candidate
Party
Votes
Share
Elected
Dennis Forwood Vosper
Conservative
24,682
64.1%
Yes
David Barker
Labour
13,852
35.9%
No
1959
Candidate
Party
Votes
Share
Elected
Dennis Forwood Vosper
Conservative
26,615
65.8%
Yes
Joel Barnett
Labour
13,837
34.2%
No
1964
Candidate
Party
Votes
Share
Elected
Mark Carlisle
Conservative
21,586
49.0%
Yes
Paul Lyall Jackson
Labour
14,127
32.1%
No
Robert Walter Jordan
Liberal
8,343
18.9%
No
1966
Candidate
Party
Votes
Share
Elected
Mark Carlisle
Conservative
21,472
48.4%
Yes
Michael Taylor
Labour
16,290
36.7%
No
Terence Maher
Liberal
6,606
14.9%
No
1970
Candidate
Party
Votes
Share
Elected
Mark Carlisle
Conservative
25,272
53.5%
Yes
Michael Taylor
Labour
16,204
34.3%
No
Christopher Sumner
Liberal
5,741
12.2%
No
Oct 1974
Candidate
Party
Votes
Share
Elected
Mark Carlisle
Conservative
25,047
46.1%
Yes
Anthony John Eccles
Labour
19,579
36.1%
No
Arthur David Saunders
Liberal
9,188
16.9%
No
Noel Dobson
Independent
464
0.9%
No
Feb 1974
Candidate
Party
Votes
Share
Elected
Mark Carlisle
Conservative
26,374
45.9%
Yes
Michael Taylor
Labour
19,106
33.2%
No
Peter Michael Brenton
Liberal
12,020
20.9%
No
1979
Candidate
Party
Votes
Share
Elected
Mark Carlisle
Conservative
32,907
51.5%
Yes
George Joseph Maudsley
Labour
22,226
34.8%
No
Richard Charles Kemp
Liberal
8,783
13.7%
No
Margin Over Time
Winning margin (percentage points) at each election, coloured by the winning party.
Trend
Runcorn has been contested at 10 general elections on record since 1950. Parties that have won a seat here over that span: Conservative.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who won Runcorn in the 1979 general election?
Conservative won Runcorn in 1979 with 32,907 votes (51.5%), a majority of 10,681 votes over Labour in second place.
Which parties have won Runcorn since 1950?
Since 1950, Runcorn has been won by: Conservative.
What was the closest result in Runcorn?
The closest result on record for Runcorn was Oct 1974, when Conservative beat Labour by just 5,468 votes (10.1 percentage points).