 At the 1983 general election, boundary changes merged most of his seat with Brigg and Scunthorpe to form a new Brigg and Cleethorpes; this pitched Brotherton into a contest with Michael Brown for the nomination, which Brown won in March 1983.The remainder of the area became part of the East Lindsey constituency, which adopted sitting Horncastle MP Sir Peter Tapsell.Brotherton then tried to find another constituency, but was unsuccessful.