Election 97

Burton


Result 97 gain
from Conservative
Current MP 97 Ivan Lawrence
Majority 0 ( 0.0%)
Conservative 97 21,480 (39.4%)
Labour 97 27,810 (51.0%)
LibDem 97 4,617 ( 8.5%)
Nationalist 97 0 ( 0.0%)
Other 97 604 ( 1.1%)
Elected party 97
Electorate 97 72,601
Turnout 97 54,511 (75.1%)



1992 MP Ivan Lawrence
Old constituency name Burton
Majority 92 4,127 ( 7.0%)
Conservative 92 28,454 (48.2%)
Labour 92 24,327 (41.2%)
LibDem 92 6,219 (10.5%)
Nationalist 92 0 ( 0.0%)
Other 92 0 ( 0.0%)
Elected party 92 Conservative
Electorate 92 72,244
Turnout 92 59,000 (81.7%)
Burton



Tory change -8.8%
Labour change +9.8%
Lib Dem change -2.1%
Nationalist change +0.0%
Other change +1.1%
Electorate change +0.5%
Turnout Change -6.6%
Robert Waller wrote

The Staffordshire town of Burton on Trent, known for its brewing industry, has only ever elected a Labour MP once, in their great year of 1945. This is a surprise to those who visit the town, which has working-class terraced streets at its heart and an Asian community. Most Burton wards strongly support Labour at local elections. But they did not win it in 1966, and the Conservative MP Sir Ivan Lawrence held on by 6,000 in 1992.

The reason for this disparity lies in the fact that the Burton constituency includes other voters than those resident in the town itself, in a swathe of rural East Staffordshire wards and the small market town of Uttoxeter. To Tory chagrin, however, a couple of rural wards have now been excluded by the Boundary Commissioners. These are very Tory (Bagots and Yoxall) and effectively reduce Sir Ivan's lead by about 2,000. These may well bring the seat within Labour's range - they now need a swing of less than 4 per cent, which many observers think is well within their capabilities.


Super Profiles

2,513 6.18 9.03 68
3,224 7.93 11.17 71
3,361 8.27 11.25 73
6,060 14.90 14.70 101
4,051 9.96 10.45 95
1,536 3.78 2.81 134
3,198 7.86 8.01 98
8,317 20.45 15.25 134
5,447 13.39 7.13 188
2,567 6.31 10.17 62