Manchester Withington
Notional 2005 Results:
Liberal Democrat: 16140 (42.2%)
Labour: 15632 (40.8%)
Conservative: 3989 (10.4%)
Other: 2519 (6.6%)
Majority: 508 (1.3%)
Actual 2005 result
Conservative: 3919 (10.5%)
Labour: 15205 (40.6%)
Liberal Democrat: 15872 (42.4%)
Green: 1595 (4.3%)
UKIP: 424 (1.1%)
Other: 443 (1.2%)
Majority: 667 (1.8%)
2001 Result
Conservative: 5349 (15.3%)
Labour: 19239 (54.9%)
Liberal Democrat: 7715 (22%)
Green: 1539 (4.4%)
Other: 1208 (3.4%)
Majority: 11524 (32.9%)
1997 Result
Conservative: 8522 (19.4%)
Labour: 27103 (61.6%)
Liberal Democrat: 6000 (13.6%)
Referendum: 1079 (2.5%)
Other: 1323 (3%)
Majority: 18581 (42.2%)
Boundary changes: Minimal – gains part of Chorlton from Manchester central.
Profile: A residential area in the southern part of Manchester, Withington was once a desirable middle class area area and a safe Conservative seat, but demographic changes have seen the area decline as much of the middle classes moved out into Cheshire and family homes were converted into rental flats for students. In 1987 Labour took the seat and by 2001 Keith Bradley had a five figure majority. The area still has a large student population but is also attracting increasing numbers of young professionals.
The Liberal Democrats have a strong base in local government here and the seat was a surprise Lib Dem gain in 2005, won from Labour with a 17% sw/p>
Current MP: John Leech(Lib Dem) born 1971 . Educated at Manchester Grammar and Brunel university. Former McDonald`s manager and call centre worker for the RAC. Manchester councillor since 1998 and former deputy leader of the Liberal Democrat group on Manchester council (more information at They work for you)
Candidates: Lucy Powell (Labour) Former advisor to Glenda Jackson and Beverley Hughes, Director of Britain in Europe from 2004-5
James Alden (Green)
Bob Gutfreund-Walmsley (UKIP) Bookseller and former university lecturer. Contested Manchester Withington 2005.
2001 Census Demographics
Total 2001 Population: 86666
Male: 48.6%
Female: 51.4%
Under 18: 19.5%
Over 60: 15.9%
Born outside UK: 13.8%
White: 84.3%
Black: 2.7%
Asian: 8.2%
Mixed: 3.3%
Other: 1.5%
Christian: 58.1%
Hindu: 1.1%
Jewish: 1.1%
Muslim: 7.5%
Full time students: 16.4%
Graduates 16-74: 37.7%
No Qualifications 16-74: 21.6%
Owner-Occupied: 48.6%
Social Housing: 25.7% (Council: 19.6%, Housing Ass.: 6.1%)
Privately Rented: 22.8%
Homes without central heating and/or private bathroom: 8.6%
Joe
Urban trendy
Younger voters, often close to university or large hospital, perhaps higher number of public sector or media workers, higher amount of privately rented housing, more 19th century housing but also new apartments, more interested in city lifestyle (drinking, restaurants etc), more ethnic
Solidly bourgeois
Larger homes, older voters, more family orientated, more private sector employees, very white, good schools, more modern housing, car oriented
In Leeds as you progress up the Otley Road through Headingley then Weetwood and then Adel wards it looks more Conservative and indeed does vote more Conservative.
Similarly in Sheffield as you go along the Fulwood/Ecclesall/Abbeydale roads from the city centre through Hallam to the Peak District the area changes and becomes more Conservative.
Having lived in Sheffield, I am aware that it is divided into very local communities by the hilly nature of the city. This gives it a human geography very different from places like Manchester and Liverpool that are built effectively on flat coastal plane.