1885–1918: The existing parliamentary borough, and so much of the municipal borough of Blackburn as was not already included in the parliamentary borough.[4]
Following the review of parliamentary representation in Lancashire, including the unitary authority of Blackburn with Darwen in the run up to the 2010 United Kingdom general election the Boundary Commission for England made minor boundary changes to the existing constituency.
The electoral wards in the Blackburn seat fought at the UK general election in 2010 were entirely within the district of Blackburn with Darwen.
Audley, Bastwell, Beardwood and Lammack, Corporation Park, Ewood, Higher Croft, Little Harwood, Livesey with Pleasington, Meadowhead, Mill Hill, Queen's Park, Roe Lee, Shadsworth with Whitebirk, Shear Brow and Wensley Fold.
History
For more details, see the Politics section of the Blackburn article.
Blackburn was first enfranchised by the Reform Act 1832, as a two-member constituency, and was first used at the 1832 general election. It was abolished for the 1950 general election, replaced by two single member constituencies, Blackburn East and Blackburn West.
Blackburn was re-established as a single-member constituency for the 1955 general election, partially replacing Blackburn East and Blackburn West. After its re-establishment, the constituency was initially a marginal, but Blackburn is now considered to be a Labour Party stronghold.
Blackburn's then MP, Straw, was primarily challenged in the 2005 general election by the Conservative Party, but the former British ambassador to Uzbekistan, Craig Murray, also stood for election in the seat as an Independent. Murray said: "I've been approached by several people in the Asian community who are under huge pressure from Labour activists [talking up the BNP's chances] to apply for a postal vote rather than a ballot vote and then hand their postal vote over to the Labour party." Over 50% more people used postal votes in the 2005 general election in Blackburn than in 2001.[5] The BNP had not stood in the previous two elections, but this time had a candidate, who polled 5.4% of the vote, and beat Murray to come fourth. Both were outperformed by the Liberal Democrats in third place, and the Conservatives, who remained second. Straw held on comfortably, albeit with a reduced majority; his winning share of 42% is the smallest since the seat became a single-member constituency.
2015 general election
In August 2011, Straw announced he had no plans to retire, despite hitting 65 earlier that month.[6]
On 25 October 2013, Straw announced that he would stand down as Blackburn's MP at the next election.[7] In March 2014, Kate Hollern was selected, via an all women shortlist, as the candidate for Labour for the 2015 general election, and held the seat.
General Election 1939/40: Another General Election was required to take place before the end of 1940. The political parties had been making preparations for an election to take place from 1939 and by the end of this year, the following candidates had been selected;
^A borough constituency (for the purposes of election expenses and type of returning officer)
^As with all constituencies, the constituency elects one Member of Parliament (MP) by the first past the post system of election at least every five years.
^Craig, FWS (1989) [1977]. British parliamentary election results 1832–1885 (2nd ed.). Chichester: Parliamentary Research Services. pp. 49–50. ISBN 0-900178-26-4.
^Craig, FWS (1989) [1974]. British parliamentary election results 1885–1918 (2nd ed.). Chichester: Parliamentary Research Services. p. 76. ISBN 0-900178-27-2.
^Craig, FWS (1983) [1969]. British parliamentary election results 1918–1949 (3rd ed.). Chichester: Parliamentary Research Services. p. 92. ISBN 0-900178-06-X.
^Debrett's House of Commons & Judicial Bench, 1886
^"Blackburn". Preston Herald. 2 January 1886. p. 3. Retrieved 24 November 2017.
^ abcdefghijklmnoCraig, F. W. S., ed. (1977). British Parliamentary Election Results 1832-1885 (e-book) (1st ed.). London: Macmillan Press. ISBN 978-1-349-02349-3.
^"Blackburn Election". Jersey Independent and Daily Telegraph. 2 October 1875 – via British Newspaper Archive.
^"Election of Blackburn". Preston Herald. 25 September 1875. p. 3. Retrieved 27 December 2017 – via British Newspaper Archive.
^"The General Election". Western Daily Mercury. 28 January 1874. p. 3. Retrieved 27 December 2017 – via British Newspaper Archive.
^"Election Intelligence. Blackburn". The Times. London. 31 March 1869. p. 4, col F.
^"Blackburn Election Petition". Preston Chronicle. 20 March 1869. p. 2. Retrieved 28 January 2018 – via British Newspaper Archive.
^"Representation of Blackburn". Preston Chronicle. 23 April 1859. p. 5. Retrieved 14 April 2018 – via British Newspaper Archive.
^"Blackburn Election". Manchester Courier and Lancashire General Advertiser. 26 March 1853. p. 5. Retrieved 14 April 2018 – via British Newspaper Archive.
^"Durham Chronicle". 6 August 1847. p. 6. Retrieved 27 October 2018 – via British Newspaper Archive.
^"Blackburn Election". Preston Chronicle. 24 July 1847. pp. 6–7. Retrieved 27 October 2018 – via British Newspaper Archive.
^"Blackburn". Bell's Weekly Messenger. 31 July 1847. p. 2. Retrieved 27 October 2018 – via British Newspaper Archive.
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