Northampton North is a constituency represented in the House of Commons of the UK Parliament since 2024 by Lucy Rigby, a member of the Labour Party. The constituency is a considered a bellwether, as it has reflected the national result at every general election since it was created in February 1974.
Constituency profile Northampton North is a constituency in Northamptonshire in the East Midlands of England. It covers the centre and north of the town of Northampton, including the neighbourhoods of Dallington, Kingsthorpe, Abington and Spinney Hill.
Northampton is one of the UK's largest towns without city status. It is a historic town and was traditionally a major centre for shoemaking. Northampton underwent significant development and expansion during the 1970s after its designation as a new town, the intention of which was to accommodate overspill from Birmingham and London. This constituency has below-average levels of wealth; high rates of deprivation are present in the town centre and in Dallington, whilst the northern, outer suburbs are more affluent. House prices across the constituency are generally similar to the rest of the East Midlands but lower than the UK average.
This constituency has a large young adult population and a low proportion of retirees. Residents have below-average household income, low rates of homeownership, and the child poverty rate is high. They have low levels of education and a high proportion work in the retail and manufacturing sectors. The percentage of residents claiming unemployment benefits is high. White people made up 77% of the population in the 2021 census; around a quarter of the White population are of non-British origin, including large Polish and Romanian communities. Black people and Asians each made up 9% of residents.
At the local council, the town centre neighbourhoods are represented by Labour Party councillors whilst the outer suburbs elected Reform UK representatives. An estimated 59% of voters in Northampton North supported leaving the European Union in the 2016 referendum, higher than the UK-wide figure of 52%.
History This constituency was created for the election of February 1974 when the old constituency of Northampton was split into Northampton North and Northampton South.
Since creation it has been a bellwether, electing an MP from the winning (or largest governing) party in every general election.
Boundaries
Historic 1974–1983: The County Borough of Northampton wards of Abington, Dallington, Kingsthorpe, Park, St David, and St George.
1983–2010: The Borough of Northampton wards of Abington, Boughton Green, Dallington and Kings Heath, Headlands, Kingsthorpe, Lings, Lumbertubs, Park, St Alban, St George, Thorplands, and Welford.
2010–2024: The Borough of Northampton wards of Abington, Boughton Green, Eastfield, Headlands, Kingsley, Kingsthorpe, Lumbertubs, Parklands, St David, and Thorplands.
NB: with effect from 1 April 2021, the Borough of Northampton was abolished and absorbed into the new unitary authority of West Northamptonshire.
Current Further to the 2023 review of Westminster constituencies, which came into effect for the 2024 general election, the constituency was defined as being composed of the following wards of the District of West Northamptonshire (as they existed on 1 April 2021):
Abington and Phippsville; Boothville and Parklands; Castle; Dallington Spencer; Headlands; Kingsthorpe North; Kingsthorpe South; St. George; Talavera.
The constituency was expanded considerably with the addition of Northampton town centre from Northampton South.
Further to a local government boundary review which came into effect in May 2025, the constituency now comprises the following wards of West Northamptonshire:
Abington and Phippsville; Blackthorn and Rectory Farm (small part); Castle (most); Dallington Spencer (most); Headlands; Kingsley and Semilong; Kingsthorpe North; Kingsthorpe South (nearly all); Moulton (small part); Parklands; Talavera.
Members of Parliament
Northampton prior to 1974
ElectionMemberParty Feb 1974 Maureen Colquhoun Labour 1979 Tony Marlow Conservative 1997 Sally Keeble Labour 2010 Michael Ellis Conservative 2024 Lucy Rigby Labour
Elections
Elections in the 2020s
Elections in the 2010s 2019 notional result Party Vote % Conservative 25,427 49.8 Labour 21,495 42.1 Liberal Democrats 2,906 5.7 Green 1,415 2.5Turnout51,08467.5Electorate75,713
Elections in the 2000s
Elections in the 1990s
Elections in the 1980s
Elections in the 1970s
See also Parliamentary constituencies in Northamptonshire
Notes
References
Sources Election Demon 1997–2005. English Boroughs Leicester East to Wythenshawe and Sale East
External links Northampton North UK Parliament constituency (boundaries April 1997 – April 2010) at MapIt UK Northampton North UK Parliament constituency (boundaries April 2010 – May 2024) at MapIt UK Northampton North UK Parliament constituency (boundaries from June 2024) at MapIt UK