Redcar - Governance

Governance

Historically a part of the North Riding of Yorkshire, in 1968 the town became part of the County Borough of Teesside, absorbed by the non-metropolitan County of Cleveland in 1974. Redcar is now situated in the unitary authority of Redcar & Cleveland and in the ceremonial county of North Yorkshire, and within the region of North East England.

Politically, Redcar has leant towards the Labour Party in parliamentary elections, allowing the town to fall under the category of a safe seat. From 1987 to 2001, the local MP was the late Mo Mowlam, from 2001 to 2010 the MP was Vera Baird. In the 2010 general election there was a large swing to the Liberal Democrats with Ian Swales being elected. This was probably partly due to local anger at seeming government inaction over the moth-balling of the Corus Steelworks in Redcar.