It has been represented in the House of Commons of the UK Parliament by Angela Rayner of the Labour Party since 2015.

Like much of Greater Manchester, Ashton was a significant hub for textile production and retains some manufacturing.

In the 1886 election, voting resulted in a tie between incumbent John Edmund Wentworth Addison and the Liberal candidate.

Under the legislation of the time, the Returning officer had a casting vote, and Addison was reelected.

[20] UKIP originally selected Angela McManus as candidate,[25] but she changed to the Stalybridge and Hyde constituency.