The constituency was first used at theFebruary 1974 general election, having previously formed part of theCheadle constituency. It covers the south-eastern edge of theGreater Manchester conurbation and an area of countryside to the east bordering thePeak District. Residents are wealthier than average for theNorth West and the UK as a whole.[2]
1983–2010: The Metropolitan Borough of Stockport wards of Bredbury, Great Moor, Hazel Grove, Marple North, Marple South and Romiley.[4][5]
Bramhall was transferred back to Cheadle. The Great Moor ward, incorporating the community ofOfferton, was transferred from the abolishedStockport South constituency.
2010–2024: The Metropolitan Borough of Stockport wards of Bredbury and Woodley, Bredbury Green and Romiley, Hazel Grove, Marple North, Marple South and High Lane, and Offerton.[6]
Boundaries adjusted to take account of revision of local authority wards.
2024–present: The Metropolitan Borough of Stockport wards of Bredbury and Woodley, Bredbury Green and Romiley, Hazel Grove, Manor, Marple North, Marple South and High Lane, and Offerton.[7]
To bring the electorate within the permitted range, the Manor ward was transferred from the constituency ofStockport.
At its first election in February 1974, the seat was won byMichael Winstanley of theLiberal Party, who had been the MP for Cheadle between 1966 and 1970. Winstanley only held it for a few months because, at the general election inOctober 1974, he lost to theConservatives'Tom Arnold.
The Conservative share of the vote fell in Hazel Grove in both the 2001 and 2005 general elections, from a (winning) peak under Tom Arnold of 44.8% in 1992 to a low of 29.7% in 2005. Following three failed attempts to increase the share of the vote (1997, 2001 and 2005), this decline was reversed in the 2010 election by Annesley Abercorn, who achieved a 33.6% share of the vote (+3.9%) and a 2.4%swing from the Liberal Democrats to the Conservatives.
In 2015, ConservativeWilliam Wragg captured the seat with a majority of 15.8% on a swing of 15.2%. He retained the seat at the 2017 and 2019 elections, albeit with slightly reduced majorities. Wragg stood down for the 2024 election, having resigned the Conservative Partywhip earlier in the year. Subsequently the seat was taken for the Liberal Democrats byLisa Smart at her fourth attempt, with Labour moving into second place in the seat for the first time, the Conservatives dropping into third.
Changes are from the notional 2019 results on the 2024 boundaries.[10] Swing shown is Con to LD as the Con were previous incumbents, despite falling to third place.
^Craig, Fred W. S. (1972).Boundaries of parliamentary constituencies 1885–1972. Chichester: Political Reference Publications.ISBN0-900178-09-4.OCLC539011.
