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Grantham and Stamford was a constituency[n 1] in Lincolnshire represented in the House of Commons of the UK Parliament from 1997 to 2024.[n 2]
Under the 2023 review of Westminster constituencies, the constituency was abolished for the 2024 general election, with the majority of the electorate being included in the new seat of Grantham and Bourne. Stamford was included in the re-established Rutland and Stamford constituency.[2]
1997–2010: The District of South Kesteven wards of All Saints, Aveland, Barrowby, Belmont, Bourne East, Bourne West, Casewick, Devon, Earlesfield, Forest, Glen Eden, Grantham St John's, Greyfriars, Harrowby, Hillsides, Isaac Newton, Lincrest, Morkery, Peascliffe, Ringstone, St Anne's, St George's, St Mary's, St Wulfram's, Stamford St John's, and Toller.
2010–2024: The District of South Kesteven wards of All Saints, Aveland, Belmont, Bourne East, Bourne West, Earlesfield, Forest, Glen Eden, Grantham St John's, Green Hill, Greyfriars, Harrowby, Hillsides, Isaac Newton, Lincrest, Morkery, Ringstone, St Anne's, St George's, St Mary's, St Wulfram's, Stamford St John's, Thurlby, Toller, and Truesdale.
Following a Boundary Commission review for the 2010 election, the constituency's boundary with the Sleaford and North Hykeham constituency saw more wards ceded to the latter seat and all of Truesdale was united into this seat, which before was shared with South Holland and The Deepings. The recommendation saw an estimated electorate size of 73,336. The new boundary did not include Barrowby, Sedgebrook, Great Gonerby or Belton but did include Baston and Langtoft.
The constituency contained the towns of Grantham[3] and Stamford in Lincolnshire, along with surrounding villages. Most of the area was formerly in the Stamford and Spalding constituency. It was a large rural seat in southern Lincolnshire. Grantham and Stamford are at the extreme north and south of the seat, with a large swathe of agricultural countryside between them, dotted with small villages. The only other large settlement in the seat is the rapidly growing town of Bourne, situated at the west of the Lincolnshire Fens. Food processing and agriculture are the major industries.[4]
Politically, Grantham is associated with former ConservativePrime MinisterMargaret Thatcher, who was born and raised in the town. However, the town of Grantham itself probably has the biggest Labour Party support of the constituency. The rural part of the seat and the historical town of Stamford outweigh any Labour votes in Grantham, and it is normally a safe Conservative seat. The history of Conservative representation was briefly interrupted between 2007 and 2010 when the sitting Conservative MP, Quentin Davies,[4][5] defected to Labour, as well as in 2019 when the then MP, Nick Boles, left the Conservative Party.
Workless claimants were in November 2012 significantly lower than the national average of 3.8%, at 2.8% of the population based on a statistical compilation by The Guardian.[6]
The whole constituency lies within the area served by Lincolnshire County Council and South Kesteven District Council.
52°48′N0°30′W / 52.80°N 0.50°W / 52.80; -0.50