North West Durham parliamentary constituency is located within County Durham in the northeast of England. The constituency covers a large geographical area which is predominately rural with a population of around 85,000.
North West Durham includes areas of outstanding natural beauty such as the moorlands of the North Pennines, the Dales of the Rivers Wear and Derwent Valley.
Its borders stretch from Tyne and Wear and South Northumberland in the north to the banks of the Wear in the South. It borders Cumbria to the west and stretches to the outskirts of Durham in the east.
It was founded on the traditional industries of coal mining and steel manufacture. These industries have disappeared in recent decades and the area has had to adapt to a new economy.
The largest town in the constituency is Consett, once famous for the massive steel works which dominated the town and provided employment for most of the town’s people. The area also has a proud coal mining past – many of the villages in the constituency owe their existence to the local pit.
Consett is notable as being home to the world's first Salvation Army band. Originally consisting of just four players it was formed in 1879 and would play on the streets at Christmas, much like the numerous bands of today do.
Thanks largely to the region's history of mining and steel production, much of the population still live in industrial towns and villages despite the decline of the industry in the middle of the 20th century.
This large traditionally industrial population means this seat has been a fairly solid Labour hold since it was first fought in 1950.
Something of a dynastic seat it has been represented for the past 45 years by members of the same family. From 1964-87 it was represented by Ernest Armstrong who, upon his retirement was replaced by his daughter Hilary.
She has announced she will be standing down at the next election, ending almost half a century of family representation. Although her replacement will face the inevitable difficulties which come with replacing a long-term incumbent, such is the strength of Labour support here they will not have much trouble holding the seat.
With similar majorities to its neighbour Durham North the Labour vote here was almost three times that of its nearest competitor. The result may not be so clear cut next time around and with a new candidate they may find their majority reduced, but Labour should have little trouble holding the seat with a fairly healthy majority.
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