Election 97

Lancashire West

Current MP Colin Pickthall
Conservative 97 15,903
Labour 97 33,022
LibDem 97 3,938
Nationalist 97 0
Other 97 841
Elected party
Lancashire West

Robert Waller wrote
Old constituency Lancashire West
Conservative 92 25,243
Labour 92 29,470
LibDem 92 4,147
Nationalist 92 0
Other 92 792
Elected party Labour

West Lancashire is a study in contrasts. On the one hand, it includes the rural and prosperous West Lancashire plain, centred on Ormskirk - some of the best Conservative territory in Britain. But then again, it contains the New Town of Skelmersdale, with one of the highest unemployment rates in Britain and a powerhouse of Labour support. The result is a highly marginal seat. After its formation in 1983 and again in 1987, West Lancashire fell to the Tories but, unsurprisingly, Skelmersdale swung the seat for Labour in 1992. Boundary changes this time have removed some Tory support, and Labour's Colin Pickthall will probably be returning to Westminster.


Super Profiles

4,886 13.03 9.03 144
3,415 9.11 11.17 82
7,206 19.22 11.25 171
5,985 15.96 14.70 109
0 0.00 10.45 0
889 2.37 2.81 84
2,107 5.62 8.01 70
3,457 9.22 15.25 60
3,893 10.38 7.13 146
5,292 14.11 10.17 139