BBC Profile:
Mansfield has a similar political outlook to its neighbour Ashfield. Constituents have elected a Labour member since the 1920s.

At the 1987 election Labour's Alan Meale won the seat with a majority of just 56 votes, but he built that to over 20,000 in 1997.

In 2001 Labour's lead was almost halved to 11,038, although in 2005 Meale was one of the few Labour MPs to add to his majority, building to 11,365.

At the election, the constituency gains Birklands and Meden wards from Bassetlaw. 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.

Mansfield has diversified both economically and socially since the collapse of the mining industry in the area.

While still a largely working-class town, Mansfield has nonetheless experienced an influx of the middle classes in the last ten years, many of whom commute to South Yorkshire and Nottingham to work.

Following the closure of most pits in the area, Mansfield brewery became the areas biggest employer. However, following the company's takeover by Wolverhampton and Dudley Breweries, it was closed in 2001, with production moving elsewhere in the country. The former site of the brewery is now derelict.

The major employers in the area are now the local council and the large Sherwood Forest Hospital Trust, along with a number of smaller textile, distribution and light engineering companies.

Many constituents work in N

[More...]

BBC Profile:
Mansfield has a similar political outlook to its neighbour Ashfield. Constituents have elected a Labour member since the 1920s.

At the 1987 election Labour's Alan Meale won the seat with a majority of just 56 votes, but he built that to over 20,000 in 1997.

In 2001 Labour's lead was almost halved to 11,038, although in 2005 Meale was one of the few Labour MPs to add to his majority, building to 11,365.

At the election, the constituency gains Birklands and Meden wards from Bassetlaw. 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.

Mansfield has diversified both economically and socially since the collapse of the mining industry in the area.

While still a largely working-class town, Mansfield has nonetheless experienced an influx of the middle classes in the last ten years, many of whom commute to South Yorkshire and Nottingham to work.

Following the closure of most pits in the area, Mansfield brewery became the areas biggest employer. However, following the company's takeover by Wolverhampton and Dudley Breweries, it was closed in 2001, with production moving elsewhere in the country. The former site of the brewery is now derelict.

The major employers in the area are now the local council and the large Sherwood Forest Hospital Trust, along with a number of smaller textile, distribution and light engineering companies.

Many constituents work in Nottingham and South Yorkshire. Residents fear shopping in the large retail parks that have been developed on the outskirts of the city, threaten the market town character of Mansfield.

Rallings & Thrasher Notional:
Lab 21,988 (50.11%)
C 8,212 (18.71%)
Others 7,525 (17.15%)
LD 6,157 (14.03%)

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