Scunthorpe is a constituency represented in the House of Commons of the UK Parliament since 2024 by Nic Dakin, a member of the Labour Party, when he regained his seat from Conservative Party politician Holly Mumby-Croft in the 2024 general election.
Contents
Constituency profile
Scunthorpe is a constituency in Lincolnshire in England, within the North Lincolnshire borough. Its main settlement is the town of Scunthorpe, which has a population of around 83,000. The constituency also covers rural areas outside the town, including the small market towns of Kirton in Lindsey and Winterton and the village of Messingham.
Scunthorpe is a large industrial town. It was a small, rural settlement until the late 19th century when ironstone was discovered in the local area and the town became an important centre for iron and steel production. Whilst this industry has largely declined since the 1970s, Scunthorpe Steelworks remains in operation as the only factory in the UK capable of producing virgin as opposed to recycled steel. Large parts of the Scunthorpe are highly-deprived, although the rural areas and some of the town's suburbs are wealthier. Most residents live in semi-detached housing estates and the average house price is less than half the UK average.
Scunthorpe has an above-average population of retirees and a below-average proportion of young adults. Residents have low rates of income and average levels of homeownership. The child poverty rate is high. Residents generally have low levels of education and a high proportion work in the manufacturing sector. The percentage claiming unemployment benefits is in line with the UK-wide rate. White people made up 92% of the population at the 2021 census.
At the local council, the town of Scunthorpe is represented by the Labour Party whilst the rural towns and villages elected Conservative councillors. Voters in this constituency strongly supported leaving the European Union in the 2016 referendum; an estimated 68% voted in favour of Brexit compared to the UK-wide rate of 52%.
Boundaries
Historical
1997–2010: The Borough of Scunthorpe, and the Borough of Glanford wards of Bottesford Central, Bottesford East, Bottesford West, Kirton, Messingham, and South Ancholme.
2010–2024: The Borough of North Lincolnshire wards of Ashby, Bottesford, Brumby, Crosby and Park, Frodingham, Kingsway with Lincoln Gardens, Ridge, and Town.
Current
The 2023 periodic review of Westminster constituencies defined the constituency as being composed of the following wards of the District of North Lincolnshire as they existed on 1 December 2020:
Ashby; Bottesford; Brumby; Burringham and Gunness; Burton upon Stather and Winterton; Crosby and Park; Frodingham; Kingsway with Lincoln Gardens; Ridge; and Town.
Seat expanded to bring its electorate within the permitted range by adding the Burringham and Gunness, and Burton upon Stather and Winterton wards (as they existed in 2020) from Brigg and Goole (abolished).
Following a local government boundary review which came into effect in May 2023, the constituency now comprises the following wards of the District of North Lincolnshire from the 2024 general election:
Ashby Central ; Ashby Lakeside; Bottesford; Brigg & Wolds (parish of Cadney); Broughton & Scawby (parish of Scawby); Brumby; Burringham & Gunness; Burton upon Stather & Winterton (except parishes of Appleby and Roxby cum Risby); Crosby & Park; Frodingham; Kingsway with Lincoln Gardens; Messingham; Ridge; Town.
The constituency comprises the town of Scunthorpe itself, together with the communities of Bottesford, Yaddlethorpe, Messingham, Kirton-in-Lindsey, Redbourne, Hibaldstow, Cadney, Burton upon Stather, Winterton and surrounding hamlets and rural areas.
History
Although there was talk in a local newspaper in the 1930s that the town of Scunthorpe should have a parliamentary constituency named after it, it was only after the boundary reviews implemented in 1997 that a constituency of this name was created. Previous incarnations of a constituency containing the steel town and small towns and villages around it had been called (going backwards in time) Glanford and Scunthorpe, Brigg and Scunthorpe, and Brigg.
Members of Parliament
Nic Dakin was elected in the 2010 general election with a lower share of the vote than achieved under the Blair Ministry by his predecessor, with 39.5% of the votes.
Glanford & Scunthorpe prior to 1997