Newcastle upon Tyne East and Wallsend is a constituency represented in the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. It elects one Member of Parliament (MP) by the first past the post system of election.
This constituency was created in 1997, abolished in 2010, then re-established under the 2023 review of Westminster constituencies for the 2024 general election. It is currently held by Mary Glindon of the Labour Party, who previously held the abolished constituency of North Tyneside from 2010 to 2024.
Constituency profile Newcastle upon Tyne East and Wallsend is a constituency in Tyne and Wear, covering the eastern neighbourhoods of Newcastle upon Tyne (Shieldfield, Byker, Heaton, Walker and Walkergate) and the neighbouring town of Wallsend in the borough of North Tyneside.
Newcastle upon Tyne has Roman-era origins as a fortress city and was urbanised during the Industrial Revolution as a leading centre for shipbuilding and heavy industry. The city's eastern suburbs have a history of coal mining and consist largely of dense terraced housing built to house industrial workers. Most of this area falls within the top 10% most-deprived areas in England, although the north of Heaton is generally affluent with large, semi-detached properties. Wallsend also has a history of shipbuilding and coal mining, and like the neighbouring areas, also has high levels of deprivation. The constituency's average house price is lower than the North East England average and less than half the national average.
Residents of the constituency are younger than average; there is a large student population in the neighbourhoods near the city centre, which are close to Newcastle University and Northumbria University. In general, residents have average levels of education and are likely to live in private rented housing. Household income is low and the child poverty rate is high. A high proportion of residents work in the retail, accommodation and food sectors, and the percentage claiming unemployment benefits is in line with the UK-wide figure. White people made up 88% of the population at the 2021 census.
At the local council level, the neighbourhoods close to the city centre are represented by Green Party councillors, the affluent north of Heaton elected Liberal Democrats and the more deprived areas of Walker, Walkergate and Wallsend elected Reform UK and Labour Party representatives. An estimated 56% of voters in Newcastle upon Tyne East and Wallsend supported leaving the European Union in the 2016 referendum, higher than the nationwide figure of 52%.
History The constituency was created in 1997 by the merger of the bulk of the former seat of Newcastle upon Tyne East and parts of the former seat of Wallsend.
It was represented throughout its first existence by Nick Brown of the Labour Party, who served as Government Chief Whip from 1997 to 1998 and again from 2008 to 2010.
Abolition and restoration Under the Fifth Periodic Review of Westminster constituencies which reduced the number of seats in Tyne and Wear from 13 to 12, the constituency was abolished and the Boundary Commission for England revived the constituency of Newcastle upon Tyne East for the 2010 general election. The Wallsend area was transferred to the adjacent North Tyneside constituency.
After more than a decade the constituency was re-established as a result of the 2023 review of Westminster constituencies. The re-created constituency was formed from Newcastle upon Tyne East and North Tyneside (both abolished).
Boundaries 1997–2010 the City of Newcastle upon Tyne wards of Byker, Dene, Heaton, Monkchester, Walker, and Walkergate; and the Borough of North Tyneside wards of Northumberland and Wallsend.
As can be inferred from the name, the constituency consisted of the eastern parts of the City of Newcastle upon Tyne plus Wallsend and the surrounding area.
Current The re-established constituency was defined as comprising the follows (as they existed on 1 December 2020):
The City of Newcastle upon Tyne wards of: Byker; Heaton; Manor Park; Ouseburn; Walker; Walkergate. The Metropolitan Borough of North Tyneside wards of: Battle Hill; Howdon; Northumberland; Riverside (polling districts FA and FB); Wallsend.
The Newcastle wards were previously in Newcastle upon Tyne East, and the North Tyneside wards in the constituency of that name - both of which were abolished.
Further to local government boundary reviews in both authorities, the constituency now comprises:
The City of Newcastle upon Tyne wards or part wards of: Byker; Heaton; Manor Park (nearly all); Ouseburn (majority); Walker; Walkergate. The Metropolitan Borough of North Tyneside wards or part wards of: Battle Hill (nearly all); Howdon; Wallsend Central; Wallsend North.
Members of Parliament MPs 1997-2010 Newcastle upon Tyne East and Wallsend prior to 1997
ElectionMemberParty 1997 Nick Brown Labour 2010 Constituency abolished
MPs since 2024 Newcastle upon Tyne East and North Tyneside prior to 2024
ElectionMemberParty 2024 Mary Glindon Labour
Elections Elections in the 2020s
Elections in the 2010s
2019 notional resulthttps://electionresults.parliament.uk/elections/2369 Party Vote % Labour 29,610 59.3 Conservative 11,817 23.7 Liberal Democrats 4,161 8.3 Brexit 2,452 4.9 Green 1,923 3.8Turnout49,96365.0Electorate76,875
Elections in the 2000s
Elections in the 1990s
See also List of parliamentary constituencies in Tyne and Wear List of parliamentary constituencies in North East England (region)
Notes and references
External links Newcastle upon Tyne East and Wallsend UK Parliament constituency (boundaries April 1997 – April 2010) at MapIt UK Newcastle upon Tyne East and Wallsend UK Parliament constituency (boundaries from June 2024) at MapIt UK