North West · England · 72,303Boundary · 2023

Blackley & Middleton South

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Created in the 2023 boundary review, replacing Blackley and Broughton.

Dispatch
Apr 2026

A new constituency created in the 2023 boundary review. Won by Lab in its first election in 2024. Covers Manchester, Middleton (Rochdale) and Rhodes. Population 121,935, notably young (median age 35 vs 41 nationally). Recorded crime is 100% below the national average. Median income £25K (below average).

One of Labour's more independent-minded MPs, Graham Stringer has broken with his party five times in recent months on two significant issues. In January 2026 he voted three times against the government's position on the Diego Garcia Military Base Bill, siding with Lords amendments the government wanted to strike down -- likely reflecting concerns about oversight or sovereignty. More significantly, he voted against the welfare reforms to Universal Credit and Personal Independence Payment at both Second and Third Reading in summer 2025, aligning himself with Labour rebels who opposed cuts to disability and sickness benefits. He has also attracted attention for platforming a senior doctor's contested claims about a possible cancer link to Covid boosters at a parliamentary event, a move that drew scrutiny given the lack of scientific consensus.

Despite the rebel votes, Stringer remains broadly loyal -- voting with Labour 94% of the time -- though his 58% participation rate sits notably below the Commons average. His voting record shows consistent support for progressive taxation and government fiscal plans, while deviating from his party most sharply on assisted dying restrictions (100% versus Labour's 38% average) and criminal justice reform. He speaks most frequently on the economy and jobs, alongside health, transport, and local government -- topics directly relevant to his Blackley and Middleton South constituency in Greater Manchester.

269
Commons votes
This parliament
£25k
Median income
HMRC · 2024
72.3k
Electorate
2024 GE

Recorded crime is 100% below the national average.

Current Member of Parliament

Graham Stringer

Graham Stringer

Labour Party

Graham Stringer is the Labour MP for Blackley and Middleton South, and has been an MP continually since 1 May 1997.

Notable Votes

MPs voted on whether to reject a Lords amendment that would have required the government to publish the full inflation-adjusted costs of payments to Mauritius under the Diego Garcia treaty, including the methodology used to calculate them. The government argued the financial details were already publicly available; the opposition said the government had never been transparent about the true costs to British taxpayers.

MP voted NoAgainst party majorityLikely whipped

MPs voted on whether to reject a Lords amendment to the Diego Garcia/British Indian Ocean Territory Bill. Lords Amendment 1 would have added conditions around notifying Mauritius about military activities on the base, which critics argued would compromise operational security and undermine British sovereignty over the territory.

MP voted NoAgainst party majorityLikely whipped

MPs voted on whether to reject a change made by the House of Lords to the Diego Garcia Military Base Bill. The Lords had added Amendment 6 to place additional conditions or constraints on the deal; the government asked the Commons to overturn it in order to proceed with the agreement as negotiated.

MP voted NoAgainst party majorityLikely whipped

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Voting at a Glance

A new constituency created in the 2023 boundary review. Won by Lab in its first election in 2024. Covers Manchester, Middleton (Rochdale) and Rhodes. Population 121,935, notably young (median age 35 vs 41 nationally). Recorded crime is 100% below the national average. Median income £25K (below average).

2024 General Election

§ 06This week in Westminster.Live · today’s sittingOrder Paper · refreshed daily

Stringer’s scheduled Commons activity this week — whipped divisions, oral questions, debates — drawn from the House of Commons Order Paper.

§ 07The record, at a glance.283 divisions voted

Two readings of the same data. Issue volume shows where Stringer has cast the most ballots — a proxy for engagement, not direction. Notable votes are the moments where the whip was free or where they broke ranks.

Issue volume
Top issues by total divisions voted · cumulative this Parliament
Taxation
72
Economy
50
Crime & Policing
36
Housing
22
Education
19
Transport
17
Notable votes
Free votes and rebellions — moments the MP’s own judgment matters more than the whip
Diego Garcia Military Base and British Indian Ocean Territory Bill: motion to disagree with Lords Amendment 520 Jan 2026
No
Diego Garcia Military Base and British Indian Ocean Territory Bill: motion to disagree with Lords Amendment 120 Jan 2026
No
Diego Garcia Military Base and British Indian Ocean Territory Bill: motion to disagree with Lords Amendment 620 Jan 2026
No
§ 08The local picture.5 wards

Constituencies are not uniform. Below — the local council make-up, key facts worth knowing, and the neighbouring seats on either side.

WardCouncillorVotesParty
CharlestownUzma Jafri1,602Labour P
CrumpsallNasrin Ali1,467Labour P
HarpurheyJoanne Mary Green1,879Labour P
Higher BlackleyJulie Connolly1,392Labour P
MostonSherita Mandongwe1,982Labour P
Population (2021 Census)
121,935
Electorate 72,303 · 2024 register
Median income
£25,200
HMRC SPI 2024
Households renting privately
23.2%
England average 20.0%
Schools
53
37 primary · 7 secondary
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More constituency data is being added, including local issue analysis and historical trends. Learn about our methodology. View data sources & attribution.