Hinckley and Bosworth (UK Parliament constituency)

The Hinckley and Bosworth constituency is located in Leicestershire and covers rural areas to the west of Leicester. Its largest town is Hinckley, which has a population of around 51,000 when taken together with the connected village of Burbage. Other settlements include the market town of Earl Shilton, the small town of Market Bosworth and the villages of Barwell, Desford and Newbold Verdon. Hinckley is traditionally an important centre for hosiery production, and textile manufacturing still takes place in the town. Hinckley is well-connected by road and rail to the nearby cities of Leicester and Coventry. Earl Shilton also has a history of clothes manufacturing, and Market Bosworth is a historic market town known for being close to the site of the 1485 Battle of Bosworth Field where King Richard III was killed. The constituency has above-average levels of wealth, with the outer suburban areas of Hinckley falling within the top 10% least-deprived areas in England. House prices across the constituency are lower than the national average but higher than the rest of the East Midlands. In general, residents of Hinckley and Bosworth are older and have high rates of homeownership compared to the rest of the country. Household income is higher than the regional average and a high proportion of residents work in the manufacturing and transport industries. White people made up 95% of the population at the 2021 census. At the local council level, Hinckley is represented by Liberal Democrats whilst Earl Shilton and the rural areas of the constituency mostly elected Conservative councillors. An estimated 60% of voters in the constituency supported leaving the European Union in the 2016 referendum, higher than the nationwide figure of 52%. ==Boundaries==

Historic (Bosworth) 1885–1918: The Sessional Divisions of Ashby-de-la-Zouch (except the parishes of Bardon, Breedon, Thringstone, Osgathorpe, and Whitwick) and Market Bosworth. 1918–1950: The Urban Districts of Coalville and Hinckley, the Rural Districts of Hinckley and Market Bosworth, and the parish of Bardon in the Rural District of Ashby-de-la-Zouch. 1950–1955: The Urban Districts of Coalville and Hinckley, and the Rural District of Market Bosworth. 1955–1974: The Urban District of Coalville as constituted by the County of Leicester (Coalville Urban District) Confirmation Order 1953, the Urban District of Hinckley, and the Rural District of Market Bosworth. 1974–1983: The Urban Districts of Coalville and Hinckley as altered by the West Midland Counties Order 1965 and the County of Leicester (Coalville Urban District) Confirmation Order 1969, and the Rural District of Market Bosworth. 1983–1997: The Borough of Hinckley and Bosworth, and the Borough of Charnwood ward of Bradgate. 1997–2010: The Borough of Hinckley and Bosworth wards of Ambien, Bagworth, Barleston, Nailstone and Osbaston, Barwell, Burbage, Cadeby, Carlton and Market Bosworth, Castle, Clarendon, De Montfort, Desford and Peckleton, Earl Shilton, Markfield, Newbold Verdon, Sheepy and Witherley, Trinity, and Twycross and Shackerstone. 2010–2024: The Borough of Hinckley and Bosworth wards of Ambien, Barlestone, Nailstone and Osbaston, Barwell, Burbage St Catherines and Lash Hill, Burbage Sketchley and Stretton, Cadeby, Carlton and Market Bosworth with Shackerstone, Earl Shilton, Hinckley Castle, Hinckley Clarendon, Hinckley De Montfort, Hinckley Trinity, Markfield, Stanton and Fieldhead, Newbold Verdon with Desford and Peckleton, Ratby, Bagworth and Thornton, and Twycross and Witherley with Sheepy. Current (Hinckley and Bosworth) Further to the 2023 Periodic Review of Westminster constituencies, which came into effect for the 2024 general election, the composition of the constituency is as follows (as they existed on 1 December 2020): • The Borough of Hinckley and Bosworth wards of Ambien; Barlestone, Nailstone and Osbaston; Barwell; Burbage St. Catherines and Lash Hill; Burbage Sketchley and Stretton; Cadeby, Carlton and Market Bosworth with Shackerstone; Earl Shilton; Hinckley Castle; Hinckley Clarendon; Hinckley De Montfort; Hinckley Trinity; Newbold Verdon with Desford and Peckleton; Twycross and Witherley with Sheepy. • The District of North West Leicestershire wards of Appleby; Oakthorpe & Donisthorpe. Two Borough of Hinckley and Bosworth wards were transferred to the new constituency of Mid Leicestershire, partly offset by the addition of two small wards from the District/constituency of North West Leicestershire. ==History==

The Western, or Bosworth, division was created in 1885, and included part of the Ashby de la Zouch and all of the Market Bosworth petty sessional divisions. It was redefined in 1918 to cover the urban districts of Coalville and Hinckley, the rural districts of Hinckley and Market Bosworth and the civil parish of Bardon from Ashby RD. Hinckley RD was abolished in the 1930s and in 1948 and 1970 the Bosworth constituency by which date it was shaped to eventually all of Coalville, Hinckley and Market Bosworth RD. Coalville has been part of North West Leicestershire since the 1983 election. The seat was held by Labour for 25 years until the Conservatives gained it in the 1970 general election and they have represented it since then. Hinckley expanded greatly after World War II and is the most economically significant town other than Leicester in Leicestershire however unlike the borough the constituency retains under the independent Boundary Commission the poetic name of Bosworth, alluding to the Battle of Bosworth of the medieval Wars of the Roses which is recreated annually on the battlefield. The seat had a coal mining tradition; however, other industry, such as defence, trade and retail supports the residential town of Hinckley and its rural hinterland. The area of strongest Labour support is the former mining village of Earl Shilton, which is now in local elections generally over-shadowed by surrounding areas with majority-Conservative support. The constituency was once held for Labour by Woodrow Wyatt, who later left the party and became one of its most voluble critics in the 1980s. During the 2015 count, a police car outside the Hinckley Leisure Centre, where the count was taking place, caught fire then exploded while being hosed down by firefighters. Five men were arrested. ==Members of Parliament==

South Leicestershire prior to 1885 == Elections ==

Elections in the 2020s Elections in the 2010s Going into the 2015 general election, this was the 180th most marginal constituency in Great Britain, the Liberal Democrats requiring a swing from the Conservatives of 4.6% to take the seat (based on the result of the 2010 general election). Elections in the 2000s Elections in the 1990s {{Election box begin | Elections in the 1980s Elections in the 1970s Elections in the 1960s Elections in the 1950s Elections in the 1940s Elections in the 1930s Election in the 1920s • % change and swing from 1924 Election in the 1910s ==Election results 1885–1918==

Elections in the 1880s Elections in the 1890s Elections in the 1900s Elections in the 1910s General Election 1914–15: Another General Election was required to take place before the end of 1915. The political parties had been making preparations for an election to take place and by July 1914, the following candidates had been selected; • Liberal: Henry McLaren • Unionist: ==See also==