This is in some ways a typical West Midlands industrial seat, and until 1976 was held by John Stonehouse, when he was convicted of fraud. At the subsequent by-election, the Conservatives won the seat and held it until the 1979 General Election, when David Winnick regained it for Labour.
The seat contains Willenhall, traditionally the centre of the lock and key industry, while other main industries are engineering and metal working. There is a high level of public sector housing and the non-white population is relatively small. 43% of homes are council-rented, and unemployment is above the national average.
Significant new investment in the constituency has brought new jobs. The arrival of the European headquarters of Poundland, and the construction of a major warehouse and offices for delivery firm Citylink have each brought approximately 700 jobs, while a number of other firms have located in the area and brought jobs with them.