High Peak gain from Conservative Charles Hendry 0 ( 0.0%) 20,261 (35.5%) 29,052 (50.8%) 6,420 (11.2%) 0 ( 0.0%) 1,420 ( 2.5%) 72,315 57,153 (79.0%) Charles Hendry High Peak 4,818 ( 8.0%) 27,535 (46.0%) 22,717 (37.9%) 8,860 (14.8%) 0 ( 0.0%) 794 ( 1.3%) Conservative 71,205 59,906 (84.1%) -10.5% +12.9% -3.6% +0.0% +1.2% +1.6% -5.1% Although the Derbyshire peak District was designated in 1946 as Britain's first National Park, and contains some of England's finest scenery, the High Peak constituency has long been considered only a marginal Conservative seat. However Labour has only ever held it once, from 1966 to 1970, although the MP then was probably the most consistent rebel against Harold Wilson's government, the belligerent left-winger Peter Jackson. Now, though, Labour might well have a second chance. The reason why the beautiful High Peak is not safely Tory is that over 80 per cent of its population live in five small towns: the spa of Buxton, the formerly mill towns of Glossop and New Mills, and Whaley Bridge and Chapel en le Frith, which now house commuters to Manchester. All of these harbour areas of Labour support, particularly in Buxton's east end (Fairfield) and the windy overspill council estate of Gamesley above Glossop. The Conservatives have traditionally pulled ahead in the villages in the more rural part of the seat - but in the council elections in 1995 Labour even managed to win the Ladybower ward, around the village of Bamford and the famous dam and reservoir that gave the ward its name. High Peak might just be ready to give Labour another chance, 31 years after its last victory here. 3,804 9.51 9.03 105 3,795 9.49 11.17 85 4,839 12.10 11.25 108 7,056 17.64 14.70 120 141 0.35 10.45 3 437 1.09 2.81 39 3,176 7.94 8.01 99 11,167 27.92 15.25 183 3,385 8.46 7.13 119 1,740 4.35 10.17 43