Frequently Asked Questions — Gateshead Constituency

Who won the Gateshead constituency election in 2010?

Labour held Gateshead constituency at the 6 May 2010 General Election. Labour won with a majority of 12,549 votes (32.8%). Turnout was 57.5%.

What does swing mean in UK elections?

Swing measures how much support has shifted between two parties compared to a previous election. The Butler swing formula — used in British election reporting since the 1950s — takes the average of the gain in the winner's vote share and the loss in the runner-up's. A 5% swing is considered large at ward level; anything above 10% is exceptional. The swing figure for Gateshead in 2010 is shown in the statistics above.