East Midlands · England · 75,836Boundary · 2023

Gainsborough

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Dispatch
Apr 2026

Represented by Con since 2024. Covers Gainsborough, Saxilby and Welton (West Lindsey). Population 95,132, notably older (median age 48 vs 41 nationally).

One of the longest-serving MPs in the Commons -- he has sat for Gainsborough since 1983 -- Edward Leigh has been consistently backing House of Lords amendments against the Labour government, voting to retain Lords changes to both the Children's Wellbeing and Schools Bill and the Pension Schemes Bill in April 2026. His 100% alignment on pro-lords-scrutiny votes makes this a defining characteristic of his current parliamentary posture: opposing what critics call a government "power grab" over pension fund investments, and supporting Lords-inserted transparency requirements on public sector pension costs. He made headlines in early 2025 when he pleaded guilty and was fined for opening a car door onto a police officer, and in 2022 drew significant backlash -- including from fellow local Conservatives -- after suggesting Lincolnshire had "done its bit" on migration during the Ukrainian refugee crisis.

Leigh participates in 66% of votes, below the Commons average, but votes with his party 100% of the time -- a perfect party-line record with zero rebel votes. His stance profile reflects a consistent conservative outlook: strongly pro-business (96%), anti-tax-increases (92%), and tough-on-crime (81%), while scoring near-zero on workers' rights and progressive taxation. He deviates from his Conservative colleagues by voting noticeably less in support of armed forces welfare (-44 percentage points below party average) and child welfare (-30pp), while voting somewhat more in favour of NHS funding (+31pp) and tenant rights (+21pp).

320
Commons votes
This parliament
£28k
Median income
HMRC · 2024
75.8k
Electorate
2024 GE

Con held for 5 consecutive elections.

Current Member of Parliament

Edward Leigh

Edward Leigh

Conservative and Unionist Party

The Rt Hon Sir Edward Leigh is the Conservative MP for Gainsborough, and has been an MP continually since 9 June 1983. He is Father of the House of Commons.

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Voting at a Glance

Represented by Con since 2024. Covers Gainsborough, Saxilby and Welton (West Lindsey). Population 95,132, notably older (median age 48 vs 41 nationally).

2024 General Election

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

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

§ 07The record, at a glance.320 divisions voted

Two readings of the same data. Issue volume shows where Leigh 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
82
Economy
66
Crime & Policing
40
Employment
34
Education
23
Constitution and Democracy
22
Notable votes
Free votes and rebellions — moments the MP’s own judgment matters more than the whip

No rebellions or free votes recorded yet.

§ 08The local picture.20 wards

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

WardCouncillorVotesParty
BardneyIan Gordon Fleetwood439Conserva
Caistor YarboroughAngela Lawrence699Conserva
Caistor YarboroughOwen Bierley726Conserva
Cherry WillinghamChris Darcel918Lincolns
Cherry WillinghamMaureen Palmer740Conserva
Cherry WillinghamTrevor John Bridgwood741Conserva
Dunholme WeltonDi Rodgers906Independ
Dunholme WeltonPaul Swift1,038Liberal
Dunholme WeltonSabastian Hussamah Hague909Liberal
Gainsborough EastDavid Dobbie397Liberal
Gainsborough EastJacob William Flear382Liberal
Gainsborough EastMatt Boles534Liberal
Population (2021 Census)
95,132
Electorate 75,836 · 2024 register
Median income
£27,500
HMRC SPI 2024
Households renting privately
17.9%
England average 20.0%
Schools
59
45 primary · 7 secondary
Next · dig deeperEvery division, question, speech and committee record

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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.