Contested for the first time in 1997, this newly-created seat was formed from the old safe Labour seat of Manchester Wythenshawe and three wards from two Tory seats. Labour's Paul Goggins, contesting the seat for the first time following the retirement of Alf Morris who had held Manchester Wythenshawe since 1964, cruised to Westminster on a 15,019 majority.
This seat on the south side of Greater Manchester is home to many post-war housing estates and 45.6% of all households are rented from the council. There is some light industry found here and women employees form an above average proportion of the workforce.
A large area in the south of the seat is covered by Manchesterís Ringway airport, which employs 14,000 people and has created many more jobs both directly and indirectly.
The western and southern parts of the constituency are predominantly working class but with a significant student population. The eastern section of the seat includes Sale, a comfortable middle class part of Cheshire from which many commute into Manchester.