Holborn and St Pancras (UK Parliament constituency)

Holborn and St Pancras
Borough constituency
for the House of Commons
Map
Interactive map of boundaries from 2024
Location within Greater London
CountyGreater London
Electorate75,475 (2023)[1]
Current constituency
Created1983
Member of ParliamentKeir Starmer (Labour)
SeatsOne
Created fromSt Pancras North and Holborn & St Pancras South

Holborn and St Pancras (/ˈhoʊbən ən sənt ˈpæŋkrəs/) is a parliamentary constituency[n 1] in Greater London that was created in 1983. It has been represented in the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom since 2015 by Sir Keir Starmer, the Prime Minister since 2024 and Leader of the Labour Party since 2020.[2][n 2]

Constituency profile

The seat of Holborn and St Pancras as drawn in 2010 is composed of all but a small western portion of the London Borough of Camden and extends from most of Covent Garden and Bloomsbury in the heart of the West End of London through other areas of the NW1 postal district, north, and in elevation terms upwards through fashionable and economically diverse Camden Town to the affluent suburb of Highgate in a long strip. Gospel Oak, particularly towards Kentish Town, has high deprivation levels, but the neighbouring Highgate ward has low deprivation levels.

The southern part of the seat includes the University of London and several teaching hospitals, so the constituency has a large student population.

King's Cross, St Pancras International, and Euston railway termini are in the seat.[3]

During the 20th century, the Bloomsbury, Holborn, Covent Garden, and Highgate wards overwhelmingly elected Conservative councillors. Since 2000, the wards forming the seat in its three revised forms have all swung against the Conservative Party. The 2014 local government elections (for a standard four-year term) produced one Green Party councillor for the Highgate ward; the remaining 32 councillors whose wards fall within the seat (as redrawn in 2010) are members of the Labour Party.[4]

Political history

Labour Party MPs have served this constituency since its creation in 1983. The majorities achieved have been varied, from a relatively marginal 13.9% in 2005 (making it within the lowest 150 seats for the party in that year by percentage of majority) to a landslide 51.7% in 2017. The 2015 result ranked the seat as the 77th safest of the party's 232 seats (by percentage majority).[5] Its predecessor seats have been in Labour hands for all but one term since 1945, and without interruption since 1964.

Boundaries

Historic

The seat was created in 1983 as a primary successor to Holborn and St Pancras South, which was created in 1950. The seat covers the southern half of the London Borough of Camden, including all or most of Camden Town, King's Cross, Gospel Oak, Kentish Town and Bloomsbury.

The constituency has contained the following wards of the London Borough of Camden:

1983–1997

Bloomsbury, Brunswick, Camden, Castlehaven, Caversham, Chalk Farm, Gospel Oak, Grafton, Holborn, King's Cross, Regent's Park, St John's, St Pancras, and Somers Town.

1997–2010

As above, less Gospel Oak

Map
Map of boundaries 2010–2024.
2010–2024

Bloomsbury, Camden Town with Primrose Hill, Cantelowes, Gospel Oak, Haverstock, Highgate, Holborn and Covent Garden, Kentish Town, King's Cross, Regent's Park, and St Pancras and Somers Town. (Wards renamed and redrawn before 2010 election.)

The Fifth periodic review of Westminster constituencies by the Boundary Commission for England was implemented nationally in 2010.[6] Parts of Highgate, Gospel Oak, Haverstock, and Camden Town with Primrose Hill wards were transferred from the former constituency of Hampstead and Highgate. The electorate of the new seat would have been 85,188 if it had existed in that form at the 2005 general election. The electorate has since risen further, and at the 2010 general election it had among the five largest electorates in London.

Current

Further to the 2023 periodic review of Westminster constituencies, which came into effect for the 2024 general election, the constituency is composed of the following London Borough of Camden wards:

The contents reflect the local government boundary review for Camden which came into effect in May 2022. In order to bring the electorate within the permitted electoral range, the Highgate and Gospel Oak wards were transferred to the re-established constituency of Hampstead and Highgate.

Members of Parliament

Keir Starmer has represented the constituency since 2015.

The seat was held from 1983 to 2015 by Frank Dobson of the Labour Party, who had been elected in 1979 to the predecessor seat of Holborn & St Pancras South. Dobson was the longest-serving Labour MP in London until he stood down in 2015. The constituency has been represented by Keir Starmer since the 2015 general election. Starmer has served as Leader of the Labour Party (consequently Leader of the Opposition until his 2024 election victory) since April 2020 and the Prime Minister since July 2024.

Election Member[8] Party Notes
1983 Frank Dobson Labour Secretary of State for Health (1997–1999)
2015 Keir Starmer Labour Leader of the Labour Party (2020–present)
Prime Minister of the United Kingdom (2024–present)

Election results

Elections in the 2020s

General election 2024: Holborn and St Pancras[9]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Keir Starmer 18,884 48.9 −17.4
Independent Andrew Feinstein 7,312 18.9 N/A
Green David Stansell 4,030 10.4 +6.4
Conservative Mehreen Malik 2,776 7.2 −8.0
Reform UK David Roberts 2,371 6.1 +4.2
Liberal Democrats Charlie Clinton 2,236 5.8 −6.5
Independent Wais Islam 636 1.6 N/A
Monster Raving Loony Nick the Incredible Flying Brick 162 0.4 N/A
UKIP John Poynton 75 0.2 −0.1
Socialist Equality Tom Scripps 61 0.2 +0.1
Independent Senthil Kumar 40 0.1 N/A
Give Me Back Elmo Bobby Smith 19 0.0 N/A
Majority 11,572 30.0 –21.1
Turnout 38,602 54.1 –5.0
Registered electors 71,300
Labour hold

Elections in the 2010s

2019 notional result[10]
Party Vote %
Labour 29,537 66.3
Conservative 6,771 15.2
Liberal Democrats 5,473 12.3
Green 1,790 4.0
Brexit Party 836 1.9
Others 175 0.4
Turnout 44,582 59.1
Electorate 75,475
General election 2019: Holborn and St Pancras[11][12]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Keir Starmer 36,641 64.5 −5.6
Conservative Alexandra Hayward 8,878 15.6 −2.8
Liberal Democrats Matthew Kirk 7,314 12.9 +6.1
Green Kirsten De Keyser 2,746 4.8 +1.4
Brexit Party Hector Birchwood 1,032 1.8 N/A
UKIP Mohammad Bhatti 138 0.2 −1.0
Socialist Equality Thomas Scripps 37 0.1 N/A
Majority 27,763 48.9 −2.8
Turnout 56,786 65.1 −1.9
Registered electors 87,236
Labour hold Swing -1.4
General election 2017: Holborn and St Pancras[13][14]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Keir Starmer 41,343 70.1 +17.2
Conservative Timothy Barnes 10,834 18.4 −3.5
Liberal Democrats Stephen Crosher 4,020 6.8 +0.3
Green Siân Berry 1,980 3.4 −9.4
UKIP Giles Game 727 1.2 −3.8
English Democrat Janus Polenceus 93 0.2 N/A
Majority 30,509 51.7 +20.7
Turnout 58,997 67.0 +3.7
Registered electors 88,088
Labour hold Swing +10.3
General election 2015: Holborn and St Pancras[15][16]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Keir Starmer 29,062 52.9 +6.8
Conservative Will Blair 12,014 21.9 +1.5
Green Natalie Bennett 7,013 12.8 +10.1
Liberal Democrats Jill Fraser 3,555 6.5 −21.4
UKIP Maxine Spencer 2,740 5.0 +3.9
CISTA Shane O'Donnell 252 0.5 N/A
Animal Welfare Vanessa Hudson 173 0.3 N/A
Socialist Equality David O'Sullivan 108 0.2 N/A
Majority 17,048 31.0 +13.2
Turnout 54,917 63.3 +0.4
Registered electors 86,764
Labour hold Swing +2.6
General election 2010: Holborn and St Pancras[17][18]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Frank Dobson 25,198 46.1
Liberal Democrats Jo Shaw 15,256 27.9
Conservative George Lee 11,134 20.4
Green Natalie Bennett 1,480 2.7
BNP Robert Carlyle 779 1.4
UKIP Max Spencer 587 1.1
Independent John Chapman 96 0.2
English Democrat Mikel Susperregi 75 0.1
Independent Iain Meek 44 0.1
Majority 9,942 17.8
Turnout 54,649 62.9
Registered electors 86,563
Labour hold Swing

Elections in the 2000s

General election 2005: Holborn and St Pancras
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Frank Dobson 14,857 43.2 ―10.7
Liberal Democrats Jill Fraser 10,070 29.3 +11.3
Conservative Margot James 6,482 18.9 +2.0
Green Adrian J. Oliver 2,798 8.1 +2.1
Rainbow Dream Ticket Rainbow George Weiss 152 0.4 N/A
Majority 4,787 13.9 −22.0
Turnout 34,359 50.4 +0.8
Registered electors 68,327
Labour hold Swing -11.0
General election 2001: Holborn and St Pancras
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Frank Dobson 16,770 53.9 −11.1
Liberal Democrats Nathaniel Green 5,595 18.0 +5.5
Conservative Roseanne Serrelli 5,258 16.9 −1.0
Green Robert Whitley 1,875 6.0 N/A
Socialist Alliance Candy Udwin 971 3.1 N/A
Socialist Labour Novjot (Joti) Brar 359 1.2 N/A
UKIP Magnus Nielsen 301 1.0 N/A
Majority 11,175 35.9 −11.2
Turnout 31,129 49.6 −10.7
Registered electors 62,722
Labour hold Swing -8.3

Elections in the 1990s

General election 1997: Holborn and St Pancras
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Frank Dobson 24,707 65.0 +10.8
Conservative Julian L. Smith 6,804 17.9 −10.3
Liberal Democrats Justine McGuiness 4,758 12.5 −1.4
Referendum Julia T.G. Carr 790 2.1 N/A
Natural Law Timothy P.J. Bedding 191 0.5 0.0
Independent Stephen Smith 173 0.5 N/A
Workers Revolutionary Brigid Conway 171 0.4 N/A
Rainbow Dream Ticket Martin Rosenthal 157 0.4 N/A
Independent Peter Rice-Evans 140 0.4 N/A
ProLife Alliance Bruno F. Quintavalle 114 0.3 N/A
Majority 17,903 47.1 +20.4
Turnout 38,005 60.3 −2.4
Registered electors 63,037
Labour hold Swing +10.5
General election 1992: Holborn and St Pancras[19]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Frank Dobson 22,243 54.8 +4.2
Conservative Andrew J. McHallam 11,419 28.1 −3.0
Liberal Democrats Jennifer Horne-Roberts 5,476 13.5 −4.1
Green Paul A. Wolf-Light 959 2.4 N/A
Natural Law Mark K. Hersey 212 0.5 N/A
Socialist (GB) Richard Headicar 175 0.4 N/A
Independent Nigel Lewis 133 0.3 N/A
Majority 10,824 26.7 +7.2
Turnout 40,617 62.7 −1.6
Registered electors 64,480
Labour hold Swing +3.6

Elections in the 1980s

General election 1987: Holborn and St Pancras
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Frank Dobson 22,966 50.6 +3.1
Conservative Peter Luff 14,113 31.1 +0.4
Liberal Simon McGrath 7,994 17.6 −3.8
Red Front Michael Gavan 300 0.7 N/A
Majority 8,853 19.5 +2.7
Turnout 45,373 64.3 +4.1
Registered electors 70,589
Labour hold Swing
General election 1983: Holborn and St Pancras[20]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Frank Dobson 20,486 47.5
Conservative Tony Kerpel 13,227 30.7
Liberal William Jones 9,242 21.4
Workers Revolutionary R. Price 155 0.4
Majority 7,259 16.8
Turnout 43,110 60.2
Registered electors 71,604
Labour win (new seat)

See also

Notes

  1. ^ A borough constituency (for the purposes of election expenses and type of returning officer)
  2. ^ As with all constituencies, the constituency elects one Member of Parliament (MP) by the first past the post system of election at most every five years.

References

  1. ^ "The 2023 Review of Parliamentary Constituency Boundaries in England – Volume two: Constituency names, designations and composition – London". Boundary Commission for England. Retrieved 21 June 2024.
  2. ^ "Keir Starmer: Labour leader becomes UK prime minister". www.bbc.com. Retrieved 5 July 2024.
  3. ^ "OS Maps – online and App mapping system – Ordnance Survey Shop". getamap.ordnancesurvey.co.uk. Archived from the original on 29 October 2013. Retrieved 15 December 2012.
  4. ^ directory Londoncouncils.gov.uk. Retrieved 31-01-2017
  5. ^ "Labour Members of Parliament 2015". UK Political.info. Archived from the original on 29 September 2018.
  6. ^ Fifth Periodical Report (PDF). Boundary Commission for England. 26 February 2007. ISBN 978-0-10-170322-2.. Contains list of boundary changes in England.
  7. ^ "The Parliamentary Constituencies Order 2023". Schedule 1 Part 3 London region.
  8. ^ Leigh Rayment's Historical List of MPs – Constituencies beginning with "H" (part 3)
  9. ^ "General election results". London Borough of Camden. 5 July 2024. Retrieved 5 July 2024.
  10. ^ "Notional results for a UK general election on 12 December 2019". Rallings & Thrasher, Professor David Denver (Scotland), Nicholas Whyte (NI) for Sky News, PA, BBC News and ITV News. UK Parliament. Retrieved 11 July 2024.
  11. ^ "Election of a Member of Parliament for the Holborn and St Pancras Parliamentary Constituency: Statement of Persons Nominated and Notice of Poll". London Borough of Camden. Retrieved 15 November 2019.
  12. ^ "Commons Briefing Paper 8749. General Election 2019: results and analysis" (PDF). London: House of Commons Library. 28 January 2020. Archived (PDF) from the original on 18 November 2021. Retrieved 19 January 2022.
  13. ^ "Holborn & St Pancras parliamentary constituency". BBC News.
  14. ^ "Commons Briefing Paper 7979. General Election 2017: results and analysis" (PDF) (Second ed.). House of Commons Library. 29 January 2019 [7 April 2018]. Archived (PDF) from the original on 12 November 2019.
  15. ^ "Election Data 2015". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 17 October 2015. Retrieved 17 October 2015.
  16. ^ "Parliamentary Election 2015 Results". camden.gov.uk. Archived from the original on 10 May 2015. Retrieved 21 August 2015.
  17. ^ http://www.camden.gov.uk/ccm/content/council-and-democracy/news/2010/april/twocolumn/holborn-and-st-pancras-constituency---statement-of-persons-nominated.en [dead link‍]
  18. ^ "Election 2010 – Constituency – Holborn & St Pancras". BBC News.
  19. ^ "Politics Resources". Election 1992. Politics Resources. 9 April 1992. Archived from the original on 24 July 2011. Retrieved 6 December 2010.
  20. ^ "The Times guide to the House of Commons, June 1983". The Times (Revised ed.). 1984. p. 137. ISBN 0-7230-0257-6.
Parliament of the United Kingdom
Preceded by Constituency represented by the prime minister
2024–present 		Succeeded by
Incumbent
Preceded by Constituency represented by the leader of the opposition
2020–2024 		Succeeded by

51°32′06″N 0°08′06″W / 51.535°N 0.135°W / 51.535; -0.135