BBC Profile:
Sir William Beveridge, creator of the Welfare State, held this seat briefly after winning an uncontested wartime by-election. But he lost in 1945 to the Conservatives, who held Berwick-upon-Tweed for the next 28 years. The MP for most of that time was Lord Lambton, who resigned in 1973 after being caught up in a sex scandal.

The resulting by-election was closely contested, with the Liberals' Alan Beith winning by just 57 votes. Mr Beith has held the seat ever since, and is now the Liberal Democrats' longest-serving MP. His majority at the last election was 8,632.

Boundary changes have been minimal, with Hartburn ward moving entirely within the constituency, having previously been shared with Hexham. To find out what might have happened had this boundary change been in force at the last election, see a notional - or estimated - result below.

The constituency stretches south of the border down the Northumbrian coast, encompassing the town of Alnwick, as well as seaports, and former mining communities. It is predominantly agricultural, with some forestry, fishing and quarrying.

Most of the population lives on or near the coast, from Berwick itself to Alnwick, seat of the Dukes of Northumberland, and its seaport Alnmouth, down to the fishing town of Amble and part of the old Northumberland coalfield near Morpeth.

The area is now heavily promoted as the "Secret Kingdom" of Northumbria. Attractions include the castles of Warkworth, Dunstanburgh, Alnwick

[More...]

BBC Profile:
Sir William Beveridge, creator of the Welfare State, held this seat briefly after winning an uncontested wartime by-election. But he lost in 1945 to the Conservatives, who held Berwick-upon-Tweed for the next 28 years. The MP for most of that time was Lord Lambton, who resigned in 1973 after being caught up in a sex scandal.

The resulting by-election was closely contested, with the Liberals' Alan Beith winning by just 57 votes. Mr Beith has held the seat ever since, and is now the Liberal Democrats' longest-serving MP. His majority at the last election was 8,632.

Boundary changes have been minimal, with Hartburn ward moving entirely within the constituency, having previously been shared with Hexham. To find out what might have happened had this boundary change been in force at the last election, see a notional - or estimated - result below.

The constituency stretches south of the border down the Northumbrian coast, encompassing the town of Alnwick, as well as seaports, and former mining communities. It is predominantly agricultural, with some forestry, fishing and quarrying.

Most of the population lives on or near the coast, from Berwick itself to Alnwick, seat of the Dukes of Northumberland, and its seaport Alnmouth, down to the fishing town of Amble and part of the old Northumberland coalfield near Morpeth.

The area is now heavily promoted as the "Secret Kingdom" of Northumbria. Attractions include the castles of Warkworth, Dunstanburgh, Alnwick and Bamburgh, Lord Armstrong's stately home at Rothbury, the Holy Island of Lindisfarne, and the Farne Islands.

Rallings & Thrasher Notional:
LD 19,147 (52.59%)
C 10,562 (29.01%)
Lab 6,697 (18.40%)

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