Enfield Southgate (UK Parliament constituency)

Enfield Southgate is a constituency represented in the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. It elects one Member of Parliament (MP) by the first past the post system of election.

History

Prior to the 1983 general election, this constituency was known as Southgate.

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Enfield Southgate gained especial attention in the 1997 general election when the Secretary of State for Defence Michael Portillo was unexpectedly defeated on a massive swing. Portillo had been widely expected to contest the Conservative leadership and his defeat was taken by many to epitomise the Labour party landslide victory. The victorious candidate, Stephen Twigg, increased his majority at the following election and many believed the seat was safe as he began a rise through the ministerial ranks.

Related Topics:
1997 general election - Secretary of State for Defence - Michael Portillo - Stephen Twigg - The following election

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However in the 2005 general election Twigg's majority was the largest overturned by the Conservatives. For many in the party it represented a sign of the party's recovery and slow overturning of the 1997 results.

Related Topics:
2005 general election - 1997

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