Lichfield is a constituency in Staffordshire represented in the House of Commons of the UK Parliament since 2024 by David Robertson of the Labour Party.
Constituency profile Lichfield is a mostly rural constituency in Staffordshire. Its largest settlement is the small city of Lichfield, which has a population of around 34,000. Other settlements include the town of Burntwood and the villages of Fradley, Alrewas, Barton-under-Needwood and Armitage. Lichfield is a historic city and traditionally an important ecclesiastical centre due to its cathedral. Burntwood is a former coal mining town. The constituency is affluent with low levels of deprivation, especially so in the rural areas. House prices are higher than the rest of the West Midlands region and similar to the national average.
In general, residents of the constituency are older, more religious and have average levels of education compared to the rest of the country. Rates of income, homeownership and professional employment are high. A high proportion of residents work in the manufacturing and transport sectors. Very few residents claim unemployment benefits and the rate of child poverty is low. White people made up 96% of the population at the 2021 census. At the local district council level, Lichfield is represented by a mixture of Liberal Democrat and Labour Party councillors, Burntwood elected Labour Party representatives and the rural areas elected Conservatives. At the county council, which held elections in 2025, there was support for Reform UK in Burntwood and the rural areas. An estimated 58% of voters in the constituency supported leaving the European Union in the 2016 referendum, higher than the nationwide figure of 52%.
Boundaries 1918–1950 The Boroughs of Lichfield and Tamworth, the Urban Districts of Perry Barr and Rugeley, the Rural District of Lichfield, and parts of the Rural Districts of Tamworth and Walsall.
1997–2010 The District of Lichfield wards of All Saints, Alrewas, Armitage with Handsacre, Boney Hay, Central, Chadsmead, Chase Terrace, Chasetown, Colton and Ridwares, Curborough, Hammerwich, Highfield, King's Bromley, Leomansley, Longdon, Redslade, St John's, Stowe, Summerfield, and Whittington, and the Borough of East Staffordshire wards of Bagots and Yoxall.
2010–2024 The District of Lichfield wards of All Saints, Alrewas and Fradley, Armitage with Handsacre, Boley Park, Boney Hay, Burntwood Central, Chadsmead, Chase Terrace, Chasetown, Colton and Mavesyn Ridware, Curborough, Hammerwich, Highfield, King's Bromley, Leomansley, Longdon, St John's, Stowe, Summerfield, and Whittington, and the Borough of East Staffordshire wards of Bagots, Needwood, and Yoxall.
2024–present 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 (as they existed on 1 December 2020):
The Borough of East Staffordshire wards of: Bagots; Needwood; Yoxall.1 The District of Lichfield wards of: Alrewas & Fradley; Armitage with Handsacre; Boley Park; Boney Hay & Central; Chadsmead; Chase Terrace; Chasetown; Colton & the Ridwares; Curborough; Hammerwich with Wall; Highfield; Leomansley; Longdon; St. John’s; Stowe; Summerfield & All Saints; Whittington & Streethay (polling district AD – comprising the parish of Streethay).
Minor changes to the boundary with Tamworth.
1 Following a local government boundary review in which came into effect in May 2023, the part in the Borough of East Staffordshire now comprises the following wards or part wards from the 2024 general election:
Bagots & Needwood; Blythe (Kingstone parish); Crown (Newborough parish).
History The city was represented at most parliaments between 1305 (10 years after the Model Parliament), in 1327 and again in 1353, but it then ceased to be represented until the mid 16th century, from when it sent two burgesses as members to Parliament until 1664, when representation was temporarily reduced to one member during The Protectorate (ended 1680), and again in 1868, when representation was permanently reduced to one. The constituency was abolished in 1950 but reconstituted, still as a single-member constituency, in 1997.
Members of Parliament
1305–1660 Parliament First member Second member1313 William of Lichfield1320 William the Taverner1326–7 Stephen le Blount1529 William Paget, 1st Baron Paget1547 William Layton, diedand replaced by Jan 1552 by Alexander Walker Edmund Twyneho1553 (Mar) Mark Wyrley William Fitzherbert1553 (Oct) Sir Philip Draycott John Giffard1554 (Apr) Henry Vernon John Taylor1554 (Nov) Mark Wyrley Thomas Edwards1555 Thomas Edwards Francis Bulstrode1558 Robert Weston Richard Cupper1559 (Jan) Sir Henry Paget Robert Weston1562–3 Sir Henry Paget Michael Pulteney1571 Edward Fitzgerald William Timperley1572 Edward Fitzgerald Arthur Bedell1584 (Nov) Richard Browne James Weston1586 (Sep) Richard Broughton John Goodman1588 (Oct) Richard Broughton Richard Huddleston1593 Sir John Wingfield Richard Broughton1597 (Oct) Joseph Oldsworth William Fowkes1601 Anthony Dyott Robert Browne1604 Anthony Dyott Thomas Crewe1614 Sir John Egerton, diedand replaced by Anthony Dyott William Wingfield1621 William Wingfield Richard Weston1624 Sir Simon Weston Sir John Suckling, sat for Middlesex and replaced by William Wingfield1625 Richard Dyott William Wingfield1626 Richard Dyott William Wingfield1628 Sir Richard Dyott Sir William Walter1629–1640 No Parliaments convened1640 (Apr) Sir Walter Devereux Sir Richard Dyott1640 (Nov) Sir Walter Devereux died 1641 and replaced by Sir Richard Cave, Royalist disabled 1642Cave was a royalist chosen by Prince Rupert and removed by resolution of the House of Commons Michael Noble1645 Michael Noble Michael Biddulph of Elmhurst1648 Michael Noble, died 1649 Only one member1653 Lichfield not represented in Barebones Parliament1654 Thomas Minors Only one member1656 Thomas Minors Only one member1659 Daniel Watson of Burton upon Trent Thomas Minors
1660–1868 ElectionFirst memberFirst partySecond memberSecond party 1660 AprMichael Biddulph Daniel Watson 1660 May Thomas Minors 1661 John Lane Sir Theophilus Biddulph, Bt 1667 Richard Dyott 1678 Sir Henry Lyttelton, Bt 1679 Feb Sir Michael Biddulph, Bt 1679 Aug Daniel Finchlater 2nd Earl of Nottingham 1685 Thomas Orme Richard Leveson 1689 Robert Burdett Sir Michael Biddulph, Bt 1690 Richard Dyott 1695 Sir Michael Biddulph, Bt 1698 Richard Dyott 1701 Jan William Walmisley 1701 Sir Michael Biddulph, Bt 1705 Sir Henry Gough Tory 1708 John Cotes Sir Michael Biddulph, Bt 1710 Richard Dyott 1715 Walter Chetwynd Samuel Hill 1718 Apr William Sneyd 1718 Dec Walter Chetwynd1722 Richard Plumer 1731 by-election The by-election in 1731 was caused by the appointment of Walter Chetwynd as Governor of Barbados George Venables-Vernonlater Baron Vernon 1734 Rowland Hill 1741 Sir Lister Holte, Bt 1747 Richard Leveson-Gower Thomas Anson 1753 Nov by-election The by-election in November 1753 was caused by the death of Richard Leveson-Gower Sir Thomas Gresley, BtSir Thomas Gresley's victory at the by-election in November 1753 was overturned on petition on 29 Jan 1754 in favour of Henry Vernon 1754 Jan Henry Vernon 1754 Apr Viscount Trenthamlater Marquess of Stafford 1755 by-election The by-election in 1755 was caused when Viscount Trentham succeeded to the peerage as Earl Gower Henry Vernon 1761 John LevettAt the general election in 1761, Thomas Anson (MP) and John Levett were declared elected. However, a petition was lodged, and Levett's election was overturned on 1 February 1762 in favour of Hugo Meynell Feb 1762 Hugo Meynell 1768 Thomas Gilbert Whig 1770 by-election The by-election in 1770 was caused by the resignation of Thomas Anson George Adams then Anson Whig 1789 by-election The by-election in 1789 was caused by the death of George Anson Thomas Ansonlater Viscount Anson Whig 1795 by-election The by-election in 1795 was caused by the resignation of Thomas Gilbert Lord Granville Leveson-Gowerlater Earl Granville Whig 1799 by-election Sir John Wrottesley, Bt Whig 1806 Feb by-election The by-election in February 1806 was caused by the elevation to the peerage of Thomas Anson. Source: Sir George Anson Whig1806 Nov George Granville Venables Vernon Whig1831 Sir Edward Scott, Bt Whig1837 Lord Alfred Paget Whig1841 by-election Lord Levesonlater Earl Granville Whig1846 by-election Edward Lloyd-Mostynlater Baron Mostyn Whig1847 Viscount Ansonlater 2nd Earl of Lichfield Whig1854 by-election The Lord Waterpark Whig1856 by-election Viscount Sandonlater Earl of Harrowby Independent Whig1859 Liberal Augustus Anson Liberal1865 Richard Dyott Conservative1868 Representation reduced to one member
1868–1950 Election Member Party 1868 Richard Dyott continuing Conservative 1880 by-election Theophilus John Levett Conservative 1885 Parliamentary borough abolished
1885–1950, as Lichfield division of Staffordshire ElectionMemberPartyNotes 1885 John Swinburne Liberal 1892 Leonard Darwin Liberal Unionist 1895 Henry Charles Fulford Liberal Election voided on petition 1896 by-election Courtenay Warner Liberal Member for North Somerset (1892–1895) 1916 Coalition Liberal Jan 1922 National Liberal Nov 1923 Liberal Dec 1923 Frank Hodges Labour 1924 Roy Wilson Conservative 1929 James Lovat-Fraser Labour 1931 National LabourDied March 1938 1938 by-election Cecil Poole Labour Contested Birmingham Perry Barr following redistribution 1950 Constituency abolished
Since 1997, as Lichfield county constituency ElectionMemberPartyNotes 1997 Michael Fabricant Conservative Member for Mid Staffordshire (1992–1997) 2024 Dave Robertson Labour
Elections Elections in the 2020s
Elections in the 2010s
Elections in the 2000s
Elections in the 1990s
1992 notional result Party Vote % Conservative 29,583 57.0 Labour 18,993 36.6 Liberal Democrats 2,970 5.7 Others 312 0.6Turnout51,85883.6Electorate61,995
Election results 1918–1950 Elections in the 1940s
Elections in the 1930s
Elections in the 1920s
Elections in the 1910s
Election results 1885–1918 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: Courtenay Warner Unionist: George CoatesWalsall Observer and South Staffordshire Chronicle, 18 Jul 1914
Elections in the 1900s
Elections in the 1890s
Fulford's election voided on petition
Elections in the 1880s
Election results 1868–1885 Elections in the 1880s
The 1880 election was declared void on petition.
Elections in the 1870s
Elections in the 1860s
Election results 1832–1868 Elections in the 1860s
Elections in the 1850s
Paget was appointed Chief Equerry and Clerk Marshal to Queen Victoria, requiring a by-election.
Cavendish resigned, causing a by-election.
Anson succeeded to the peerage, becoming 2nd Earl of Lichfield, causing a by-election.
Paget was appointed Chief Equerry and Clerk Marshal to Queen Victoria, requiring a by-election.
Elections in the 1840s
Paget was appointed Chief Equerry and Clerk Marshal to Queen Victoria, requiring a by-election.
Leveson-Gower succeeded to the peerage, becoming 2nd Earl Granville and causing a by-election.
Anson resigned by accepting the office of Steward of the Manor of Poynings, causing a by-election.
Elections in the 1830s
Elections before 1832
See also List of parliamentary constituencies in Staffordshire List of parliamentary constituencies in West Midlands (region)
Notes
Members of Parliament
References
Sources
External links Lichfield UK Parliament constituency (boundaries April 1997 – April 2010) at MapIt UK Lichfield UK Parliament constituency (boundaries April 2010 – May 2024) at MapIt UK Lichfield UK Parliament constituency (boundaries from June 2024) at MapIt UK