Bridgwater is a parliamentary constituency represented in the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. It elects one Member of Parliament (MP) by the first past the post system of election.
Bridgwater | |
---|---|
County constituency for the House of Commons | |
![]() Boundary of Bridgwater in South West England | |
County | Somerset |
Electorate | 71,418 (2023)[1] |
Major settlements | Bridgwater, Burnham-on-Sea, Highbridge, North Petherton |
Current constituency | |
Created | 2024 |
Member of Parliament | Ashley Fox (Conservative) |
Created from | Bridgwater & West Somerset |
1885–2010 | |
Seats | One |
Type of constituency | County constituency |
Created from | West Somerset |
Replaced by | Bridgwater & West Somerset |
1295–1870 | |
Seats | Two |
Type of constituency | Borough constituency |
Replaced by | West Somerset |
In 2010 it was replaced by the Bridgwater and West Somerset constituency. Further to the completion of the 2023 Periodic Review of Westminster constituencies, the seat has been re-established for the 2024 general election, primarily formed from the (to be abolished) constituency of Bridgwater and West Somerset - excluding the area comprising the former District of West Somerset.[2]
History
editBridgwater was one of the original Parliamentary Constituencies in the House of Commons, having elected Members of Parliament since 1295, the Model Parliament.
The original borough constituency was disenfranchised for corruption in 1870. From 4 July 1870 the town was incorporated within the county constituency of West Somerset.
From Parliament's enactment of the major Redistribution of Seats Act 1885 which took effect at the 1885 general election, a new county division of Bridgwater was created, which lasted with modifications until 2010. The constituency expanded considerably beyond Bridgwater town itself from 1885.
Bridgwater frequently compared to other seats had a radical or game-changing representative, though since 1950 this became less noticeable in its candidates elected.
The seat received particular fame in late 1938 when a by-election took place in the aftermath of the signing of the Munich Agreement. Opponents of the agreement persuaded the local Labour and Liberal parties to not field candidates of their own against the Conservative candidate, but to instead jointly back an independent standing on a platform of opposition to the Government's foreign policy, in the hope that this would be the precursor to the formation of a more general Popular Front of opposition to the government of Neville Chamberlain in anticipation of the General Election due in either 1939 or 1940. The noted journalist Vernon Bartlett stood as the independent Popular Front candidate and achieved a sensational victory in what was hitherto a Conservative seat. He represented the constituency for the next twelve years.
In 1970 another by-election in the constituency achieved fame as it was the first occasion when 18-, 19- and 20-year-olds were able to vote in a UK Parliamentary election. The first teenager to cast a vote was Trudy Sellick, 18 on the day of the poll. The by-election was won by the future Conservative Cabinet Minister Tom King who held the seat for the next thirty-one years, followed by another Conservative until its abolition in 2010.
Boundaries
edit1885–1918: The Municipal Borough of Bridgwater, the Sessional Division of Bridgwater, and parts of the Sessional Divisions of Taunton and Ilminster.
1918–1950: The Municipal Borough of Bridgwater, the Urban Districts of Burnham-on-Sea, Highbridge, Minehead, and Watchet, and the Rural Districts of Bridgwater and Williton.
1950–1983: The Municipal Borough of Bridgwater, the Urban Districts of Burnham-on-Sea, Minehead, and Watchet, and the Rural Districts of Bridgwater and Williton. Highbridge Urban District had been absorbed by Burnham-on-Sea UD in 1933, but the constituency boundaries remained unchanged.
1983–2010: The District of Sedgemoor wards of Cannington and Combwich, Central, Dowsborough, Eastern Quantocks, Eastover, East Poldens, Hamp, Huntspill, Newton Green, North Petherton, Parchey, Pawlett and Puriton, Quantock, Sandford, Sowey, Sydenham, Victoria, Westonzoyland, West Poldens, and Woolavington, and the District of West Somerset wards of Alcombe, Aville Vale, Carhampton and Withycombe, Crowcombe and Stogumber, Dunster, East Brendon, Holnicote, Minehead North, Minehead South, Old Cleeve, Porlock and Oare, Quantock Vale, Watchet, West Quantock, and Williton.
2024–present:
The re-established constituency is composed of the following electoral divisions of Somerset from the 2024 general election:
- Brent (part); Bridgwater East and Bawdrip; Bridgwater North and Central; Bridgwater South; Bridgwater West; Burnham on Sea North; Cannington; Highbridge and Burnham South; Huntspill (majority); King Alfred (small part); North Petherton.[3][4]
It comprises:
- The bulk of the parts of the District of Sedgemoor in current Bridgwater and West Somerset constituency (74% of the electorate), mainly consisting of the town of Bridgwater itself.[5]
- Burnham-on-Sea and Highbridge, previously in the now-abolished constituency of Wells.[3]
Members of Parliament
edit- Constituency created (1295)
Bridgwater borough, 1295–1870
editMPs 1295–1640
edit1640–1868
editBridgwater county constituency, 1885–2010; 2024–present
edit- County division created (1885)
- County division re-created (2024)
Election | Member | Party | |
---|---|---|---|
2024 | Ashley Fox | Conservative |
Elections
editElections in the 2020s
editParty | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Conservative | Ashley Fox | 12,281 | 30.6 | –27.3 | |
Labour | Leigh Redman | 10,932 | 27.2 | +6.5 | |
Reform UK | William Fagg | 8,913 | 22.2 | N/A | |
Liberal Democrats | Claire Sully | 5,781 | 14.4 | –3.2 | |
Green | Charlie Graham | 1,720 | 4.3 | +2.2 | |
Independent | Pelé Barnes | 334 | 0.8 | N/A | |
Workers Party | Gregory Tanner | 168 | 0.4 | N/A | |
Majority | 1,349 | 3.4 | –33.8 | ||
Turnout | 40,129 | 56.1 | –6.9 | ||
Registered electors | 71,571 | ||||
Conservative hold | Swing | –16.9 |
Elections in the 2010s
edit2019 notional result[28] | |||
---|---|---|---|
Party | Vote | % | |
Conservative | 26,058 | 57.9 | |
Labour | 9,334 | 20.7 | |
Liberal Democrats | 7,932 | 17.6 | |
Green | 925 | 2.1 | |
Others | 755 | 1.7 | |
Turnout | 45,004 | 63.0 | |
Electorate | 71,418 |
Elections in the 2000s
editParty | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Conservative | Ian Liddell-Grainger | 21,240 | 44.10 | +3.70 | |
Labour | Matthew Burchell | 12,771 | 26.50 | −0.30 | |
Liberal Democrats | James Main | 10,940 | 22.70 | −3.50 | |
UKIP | Raymond Weinstein | 1,767 | 3.70 | +0.90 | |
Green | Charlie Graham | 1,391 | 2.90 | New | |
Majority | 8,469 | 17.60 | +7.20 | ||
Turnout | 48,109 | 63.50 | −0.90 | ||
Conservative hold | Swing |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Conservative | Ian Liddell-Grainger | 19,354 | 40.40 | +3.47 | |
Liberal Democrats | Ian Thorn | 14,367 | 30.00 | −3.65 | |
Labour | Bill Monteith | 12,803 | 26.80 | +2.05 | |
UKIP | Vicky Gardner | 1,323 | 2.80 | New | |
Majority | 4,987 | 10.40 | +7.12 | ||
Turnout | 47,847 | 64.40 | −10.01 | ||
Conservative hold | Swing |
Elections in the 1990s
editParty | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Conservative | Tom King | 20,174 | 36.93 | −9.83 | |
Liberal Democrats | Michael Hoban | 18,378 | 33.65 | +3.96 | |
Labour | Roger Lavers | 13,519 | 24.75 | +3.02 | |
Referendum | Fran Evens | 2,551 | 4.67 | New | |
Majority | 1,796 | 3.28 | −13.79 | ||
Turnout | 54,622 | 74.41 | −5.11 | ||
Conservative hold | Swing |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Conservative | Tom King | 26,610 | 46.76 | −4.76 | |
Liberal Democrats | WJ Revans | 16,894 | 29.69 | −0.61 | |
Labour | PE James | 12,365 | 21.73 | +3.54 | |
Green | G Dummett | 746 | 1.31 | New | |
Independent | A Body | 183 | 0.32 | New | |
Natural Law | G Sanson | 112 | 0.20 | New | |
Majority | 9,716 | 17.07 | −4.15 | ||
Turnout | 56,910 | 79.52 | +1.34 | ||
Conservative hold | Swing |
Elections in the 1980s
editParty | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Conservative | Tom King | 27,177 | 51.52 | −0.74 | |
SDP | Christopher Clarke | 15,982 | 30.30 | +0.30 | |
Labour | John Turner | 9,594 | 18.19 | +0.45 | |
Majority | 11,195 | 21.22 | −1.05 | ||
Turnout | 52,753 | 78.18 | +3.38 | ||
Conservative hold | Swing |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Conservative | Tom King | 25,107 | 52.26 | ||
SDP | Rosemary Farley | 14,410 | 30.00 | ||
Labour | Andrew May | 8,524 | 17.74 | ||
Majority | 10,697 | 22.26 | |||
Turnout | 48,041 | 74.80 | |||
Conservative hold | Swing |
Elections in the 1970s
editParty | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Conservative | Tom King | 31,259 | 54.0 | +9.7 | |
Labour | J Beasant | 16,809 | 29.05 | −3.8 | |
Liberal | Christina Baron | 9,793 | 16.9 | −5.5 | |
Majority | 14,450 | 25.0 | +13.5 | ||
Turnout | 57,861 | 79.2 | +2.0 | ||
Conservative hold | Swing |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Conservative | Tom King | 23,850 | 44.3 | +0.7 | |
Labour | A Mitchell | 17,663 | 32.78 | +4.3 | |
Liberal | JHG Wyatt | 12,077 | 22.4 | −4.4 | |
United Democratic | SR Harrad | 288 | 0.5 | New | |
Majority | 6,187 | 11.5 | −2.6 | ||
Turnout | 53,878 | 77.2 | −5.0 | ||
Conservative hold | Swing |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Conservative | Tom King | 24,830 | 43.65 | −8.7 | |
Labour | R Undy | 16,786 | 29.5 | −6.3 | |
Liberal | JHG Wyatt | 15,269 | 26.8 | +14.9 | |
Majority | 8,044 | 14.1 | −2.4 | ||
Turnout | 56,885 | 82.25 | +5.2 | ||
Conservative hold | Swing |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Conservative | Tom King | 26,685 | 52.3 | +7.9 | |
Labour | Raymond J Billington | 18,224 | 35.8 | −2.3 | |
Liberal | Patrick M O'Loughlin | 6,066 | 11.9 | −5.6 | |
Majority | 8,461 | 16.5 | +10.2 | ||
Turnout | 50,975 | 77.0 | −3.2 | ||
Conservative hold | Swing | +5.3 |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Conservative | Tom King | 25,687 | 55.5 | +11.1 | |
Labour | Richard Mayer | 14,772 | 31.9 | −6.2 | |
Liberal | Patrick M O'Loughlin | 5,832 | 12.6 | −4.9 | |
Majority | 10,915 | 23.6 | +17.3 | ||
Turnout | 46,291 | 70.3 | −9.9 | ||
Conservative hold | Swing | +8.6 |
Elections in the 1960s
editParty | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Conservative | Gerald Wills | 20,850 | 44.4 | −0.4 | |
Labour | Richard Mayer | 17,864 | 38.1 | +6.6 | |
Liberal | Philip Watkins | 8,205 | 17.5 | −1.9 | |
Majority | 2,986 | 6.3 | −7.0 | ||
Turnout | 46,919 | 80.2 | −0.1 | ||
Conservative hold | Swing | +3.5 |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Conservative | Gerald Wills | 20,822 | 44.8 | −5.6 | |
Labour | Norman J Hart | 14,645 | 31.5 | −0.7 | |
Liberal | Philip Watkins | 9,009 | 19.4 | +2.1 | |
Independent | Michael L de V Hart | 2,038 | 4.4 | New | |
Majority | 6,177 | 13.3 | −4.9 | ||
Turnout | 46,514 | 80.3 | −1.5 | ||
Conservative hold | Swing |
Elections in the 1950s
editParty | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Conservative | Gerald Wills | 23,002 | 50.44 | ||
Labour | James Finnigan | 14,706 | 32.25 | ||
Liberal | Philip Watkins | 7,893 | 17.31 | New | |
Majority | 8,296 | 18.19 | |||
Turnout | 45,601 | 81.77 | |||
Conservative hold | Swing |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Conservative | Gerald Wills | 24,887 | 59.17 | ||
Labour | Albert E Sumbler | 17,170 | 40.83 | ||
Majority | 7,717 | 18.34 | |||
Turnout | 42,057 | 78.00 | |||
Conservative hold | Swing |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Conservative | Gerald Wills | 25,365 | 56.34 | ||
Labour Co-op | Norman E Carr | 19,656 | 43.66 | ||
Majority | 5,709 | 12.68 | |||
Turnout | 45,021 | 84.63 | |||
Conservative hold | Swing |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Conservative | Gerald Wills | 21,732 | 48.84 | ||
Labour Co-op | Norman E Carr | 16,053 | 36.08 | ||
Independent | Stephen King-Hall | 6,708 | 15.08 | New | |
Majority | 5,679 | 12.76 | N/A | ||
Turnout | 44,493 | 85.75 | |||
Conservative gain from Independent Progressive | Swing |
Elections in the 1940s
editParty | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Independent Progressive | Vernon Bartlett | 17,937 | 45.79 | N/A | |
Conservative | Gerald Wills | 15,625 | 39.89 | ||
Labour | Norman Corkhill | 5,613 | 14.33 | ||
Majority | 2,312 | 5.90 | |||
Turnout | 39,175 | 72.69 | |||
Independent Progressive hold | Swing |
General Election 1939–40:
Another General Election was required to take place before the end of 1940. The political parties had been making preparations for an election to take place and by the Autumn of 1939, the following candidates had been selected;
- Independent Progressive: Vernon Bartlett
- Conservative: Patrick Heathcoat Amery[37]
Elections in the 1930s
editParty | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Independent Progressive | Vernon Bartlett | 19,540 | 53.2 | New | |
Conservative | Patrick Gerald Heathcoat-Amory | 17,208 | 46.8 | −10.1 | |
Majority | 2,332 | 6.4 | N/A | ||
Turnout | 36,748 | 82.3 | +9.6 | ||
Independent Progressive gain from Conservative | Swing |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Conservative | Reginald Croom-Johnson | 17,939 | 56.9 | −18.6 | |
Liberal | Norman David Blake | 7,370 | 23.4 | New | |
Labour | Arthur W Loveys | 6,240 | 19.8 | −2.7 | |
Majority | 10,569 | 33.5 | −21.5 | ||
Turnout | 31,549 | 72.7 | −1.1 | ||
Conservative hold | Swing |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Conservative | Reginald Croom-Johnson | 24,041 | 77.5 | +30.7 | |
Labour | James Musgrave Boltz | 6,974 | 22.5 | +3.1 | |
Majority | 17,067 | 55.03 | +42.0 | ||
Turnout | 31,015 | 73.8 | −6.6 | ||
Conservative hold | Swing |
Elections in the 1920s
editParty | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Unionist | Reginald Croom-Johnson | 15,440 | 46.8 | −5.9 | |
Liberal | Joseph William Molden | 11,161 | 33.8 | −6.2 | |
Labour | James Musgrave Boltz | 6,423 | 19.4 | +12.1 | |
Majority | 4,279 | 13.0 | +0.3 | ||
Turnout | 33,024 | 80.4 | −4.0 | ||
Registered electors | 41,068 | ||||
Unionist hold | Swing | +0.1 |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Unionist | Brooks Wood | 14,283 | 52.7 | +5.4 | |
Liberal | William Morse | 10,842 | 40.0 | −12.7 | |
Labour | James Musgrave Boltz | 1,966 | 7.3 | New | |
Majority | 3,441 | 12.7 | N/A | ||
Turnout | 27,091 | 84.4 | +1.0 | ||
Registered electors | 32,111 | ||||
Unionist gain from Liberal | Swing | +9.1 |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Liberal | William Morse | 13,778 | 52.7 | +6.3 | |
Unionist | Robert Sanders | 12,347 | 47.3 | +0.4 | |
Majority | 1,431 | 5.4 | N/A | ||
Turnout | 26,125 | 83.4 | +5.2 | ||
Registered electors | 31,317 | ||||
Liberal gain from Unionist | Swing | +3.0 |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Unionist | Robert Sanders | 11,240 | 46.9 | −21.7 | |
Liberal | William Morse | 11,121 | 46.4 | New | |
Labour | Thomas Williams | 1,598 | 6.7 | −24.7 | |
Majority | 119 | 0.5 | −36.7 | ||
Turnout | 23,959 | 78.2 | +15.8 | ||
Registered electors | 30,657 | ||||
Unionist hold | Swing | −34.1 |
Elections in the 1910s
editParty | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
C | Unionist | Robert Sanders | 12,587 | 68.6 | +10.9 |
Labour | Sid Plummer | 5,771 | 31.4 | New | |
Majority | 6,816 | 37.2 | +21.8 | ||
Turnout | 18,358 | 62.4 | |||
Registered electors | 29,411 | ||||
Unionist hold | Swing | N/A | |||
C indicates candidate endorsed by the coalition government. |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Conservative | Robert Sanders | Unopposed | |||
Conservative hold |
General Election 1914–15:
Another General Election was required to take place before the end of 1915. The political parties had been making preparations for an election to take place from 1914 and by the end of this year, the following candidates had been selected;
- Unionist: Robert Sanders
- Liberal: Philip Foale Rowsell
Sanders is appointed Treasurer of the Household, requiring him to seek re-election.
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Conservative | Robert Sanders | 5,160 | 57.7 | −1.2 | |
Liberal | Harold C. Hicks | 3,779 | 42.3 | +1.2 | |
Majority | 1,381 | 15.4 | −2.4 | ||
Turnout | 8,939 | ||||
Conservative hold | Swing | −1.2 |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Conservative | Robert Sanders | 5,575 | 58.9 | +9.0 | |
Liberal | Harold C. Hicks | 3,896 | 41.1 | −9.0 | |
Majority | 1,679 | 17.8 | 18.0 | ||
Turnout | 9,471 | ||||
Conservative gain from Liberal | Swing | +9.0 |
Elections in the 1900s
editParty | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Liberal | Henry Montgomery | 4,422 | 50.1 | New | |
Conservative | Robert Sanders | 4,405 | 49.9 | N/A | |
Majority | 17 | 0.2 | N/A | ||
Turnout | 8,827 | 86.7 | N/A | ||
Registered electors | 10,180 | ||||
Liberal gain from Conservative | Swing | N/A |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Conservative | Edward Stanley | Unopposed | |||
Conservative hold |
Elections in the 1890s
editParty | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Conservative | Edward Stanley | Unopposed | |||
Conservative hold |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Conservative | Edward Stanley | 4,555 | 57.5 | N/A | |
Liberal | James Douglas Walker | 3,362 | 42.5 | New | |
Majority | 1,193 | 15.0 | N/A | ||
Turnout | 7,917 | 77.5 | N/A | ||
Registered electors | 10,220 | ||||
Conservative hold | Swing | N/A |
Elections in the 1880s
editParty | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Conservative | Edward Stanley | Unopposed | |||
Conservative hold |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Conservative | Edward Stanley | 3,935 | 50.6 | ||
Liberal | Edwin Brook Cely Trevilian | 3,835 | 49.4 | ||
Majority | 100 | 1.2 | |||
Turnout | 7,770 | 78.8 | |||
Registered electors | 9,861 | ||||
Conservative win (new seat) |
Elections in the 1860s
editParty | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Liberal | Alexander William Kinglake | 731 | 26.2 | −5.1 | |
Liberal | Philip Vanderbyl | 725 | 26.0 | −2.8 | |
Conservative | Henry Westropp | 681 | 24.4 | +4.4 | |
Conservative | Charles William Gray[43] | 650 | 23.3 | +3.3 | |
Majority | 44 | 1.6 | N/A | ||
Turnout | 1,394 (est) | 93.0 (est) | +3.7 | ||
Registered electors | 1,499 | ||||
Liberal hold | Swing | −4.2 | |||
Liberal gain from Conservative | Swing | −3.6 |
A Royal Commission found extensive bribery in the seat and, from 4 July 1870, the writ was suspended, both MPs were unseated, and the electorate was absorbed into West Somerset.
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Liberal | Philip Vanderbyl | 312 | 53.2 | −6.9 | |
Conservative | George Patton | 275 | 46.8 | +6.9 | |
Majority | 37 | 6.4 | N/A | ||
Turnout | 587 | 91.1 | +1.8 | ||
Registered electors | 644 | ||||
Liberal gain from Conservative | Swing | −6.9 |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Conservative | George Patton | 301 | 50.7 | +10.8 | |
Liberal | Walter Bagehot[44] | 293 | 49.3 | −10.8 | |
Majority | 8 | 1.4 | −7.2 | ||
Turnout | 594 | 92.2 | +2.9 | ||
Registered electors | 644 | ||||
Conservative hold | Swing | +10.8 |
Patton was appointed Lord Advocate, requiring a by-election.
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Conservative | Henry Westropp | 328 | 39.9 | −3.6 | |
Liberal | Alexander William Kinglake | 257 | 31.3 | +3.6 | |
Liberal | John Shelley | 237 | 28.8 | 0.0 | |
Majority | 71 | 8.6 | N/A | ||
Turnout | 575 (est) | 89.3 (est) | +7.3 | ||
Registered electors | 644 | ||||
Conservative gain from Liberal | Swing | −3.6 | |||
Liberal hold | Swing | +2.7 |
Westropp's election was declared void on petition on 25 April 1866, causing a by-election.
Elections in the 1850s
editParty | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Liberal | Charles Kemeys-Tynte | 290 | 28.8 | −10.8 | |
Liberal | Alexander William Kinglake | 279 | 27.7 | −8.4 | |
Conservative | Henry Padwick[45] | 230 | 22.8 | +10.6 | |
Conservative | Henry Westropp | 208 | 20.7 | +8.5 | |
Majority | 49 | 4.9 | −6.9 | ||
Turnout | 504 (est) | 82.0 (est) | −6.0 | ||
Registered electors | 614 | ||||
Liberal hold | Swing | −10.2 | |||
Liberal hold | Swing | −9.0 |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Whig | Charles Kemeys-Tynte | 330 | 39.6 | +10.8 | |
Whig | Alexander William Kinglake | 301 | 36.1 | +25.4 | |
Conservative | Brent Follett | 203 | 24.3 | −20.4 | |
Majority | 98 | 11.8 | +8.9 | ||
Turnout | 519 (est) | 88.0 (est) | +11.5 | ||
Registered electors | 589 | ||||
Whig hold | Swing | +10.5 | |||
Whig gain from Conservative | Swing | +17.8 |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Whig | Charles Kemeys-Tynte | 271 | 28.8 | −17.3 | |
Conservative | Brent Follett | 244 | 25.9 | +10.4 | |
Conservative | John Clavell Mansel[47][48] | 177 | 18.8 | +3.3 | |
Whig | Anthony Henley | 149 | 15.8 | N/A | |
Whig | Alexander William Kinglake | 101 | 10.7 | N/A | |
Turnout | 471 (est) | 68.5 (est) | −12.4 | ||
Registered electors | 688 | ||||
Majority | 27 | 2.9 | −12.2 | ||
Whig hold | Swing | −15.5 | |||
Majority | 95 | 10.0 | +1.9 | ||
Conservative hold | Swing | +9.5 |
Elections in the 1840s
editParty | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Whig | Charles Kemeys-Tynte | 395 | 46.1 | −0.7 | |
Conservative | Henry Broadwood | 265 | 31.0 | −22.2 | |
Radical | Stephen Gaselee[49] | 196 | 22.9 | N/A | |
Turnout | 428 (est) | 80.9 (est) | −7.3 | ||
Registered electors | 529 | ||||
Majority | 130 | 15.1 | N/A | ||
Whig gain from Conservative | Swing | +5.2 | |||
Majority | 69 | 8.1 | +5.3 | ||
Conservative hold | Swing | −10.9 |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Conservative | Henry Broadwood | 280 | 26.8 | −22.8 | |
Conservative | Thomas Seaton Forman | 276 | 26.4 | −22.8 | |
Whig | Edward Simcoe Drewe[51] | 247 | 23.6 | +22.7 | |
Whig | Augustin Robinson[52] | 242 | 23.2 | +22.8 | |
Majority | 29 | 2.8 | −45.5 | ||
Turnout | 525 | 88.2 | +37.3 | ||
Registered electors | 595 | ||||
Conservative hold | Swing | −22.8 | |||
Conservative hold | Swing | −22.8 |
Elections in the 1830s
editParty | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Conservative | Henry Broadwood | 279 | 49.6 | +25.7 | |
Conservative | Philip Courtenay | 277 | 49.2 | +28.8 | |
Whig | Thomas Lethbridge | 5 | 0.9 | −13.9 | |
Whig | Richard Brinsley Sheridan[53] | 2 | 0.4 | −14.4 | |
Majority | 272 | 48.3 | N/A | ||
Turnout | 284 | 50.9 | −21.0 | ||
Registered electors | 558 | ||||
Conservative gain from Whig | Swing | +19.9 | |||
Conservative gain from Radical | Swing | +21.5 |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Conservative | Henry Broadwood | 279 | 55.8 | +11.5 | |
Whig | Richard Brinsley Sheridan[54] | 221 | 44.2 | +14.7 | |
Majority | 58 | 11.6 | N/A | ||
Turnout | 500 | 89.6 | +17.7 | ||
Registered electors | 558 | ||||
Conservative gain from Radical | Swing | −1.6 |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Whig | Charles Kemeys-Tynte | 234 | 29.5 | N/A | |
Radical | John Temple Leader | 208 | 26.2 | N/A | |
Conservative | Henry Broadwood | 190 | 23.9 | New | |
Conservative | Francis Mountjoy Martyn[55] | 162 | 20.4 | New | |
Turnout | 309 | 71.9 | N/A | ||
Registered electors | 430 | ||||
Majority | 26 | 3.3 | N/A | ||
Whig hold | Swing | N/A | |||
Majority | 18 | 2.3 | N/A | ||
Radical gain from Whig | Swing | N/A |
Leader resigned, by accepting the office of Steward of the Chiltern Hundreds, in order to contest a by-election at Westminster, causing a by-election.
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Whig | Charles Kemeys-Tynte | Unopposed | |||
Whig | William Tayleur | Unopposed | |||
Registered electors | 484 | ||||
Whig hold | |||||
Whig gain from Tory |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Whig | Charles Kemeys-Tynte | 337 | 44.8 | N/A | |
Tory | William Astell | 213 | 28.3 | N/A | |
Radical | Henry Shirley | 202 | 26.9 | N/A | |
Turnout | 430 | N/A | |||
Majority | 124 | 16.5 | N/A | ||
Whig hold | Swing | N/A | |||
Majority | 11 | 1.4 | N/A | ||
Whig hold | Swing | N/A |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Tory | William Astell | Unopposed | |||
Whig | Charles Kemeys-Tynte | Unopposed | |||
Tory hold | |||||
Whig hold |
See also
editNotes and references
edit- ^ "The 2023 Review of Parliamentary Constituency Boundaries in England – Volume two: Constituency names, designations and composition – South West". Boundary Commission for England. Retrieved 27 June 2024.
- ^ 2023 review South West Boundary Commission for England
- ^ a b "New Seat Details - Bridgwater". www.electoralcalculus.co.uk. Retrieved 23 February 2024.
- ^ "The Parliamentary Constituencies Order 2023". Schedule 1 Part 7 South West region.
- ^ "Boundary review 2023: Which seats will change in the UK?".
- ^ a b c d "THOMER (TOMERE), William, of Bridgwater, Som". History of Parliament Online. Retrieved 28 October 2012.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x "History of Parliament". History of Parliament Trust. Retrieved 2 November 2011.
- ^ Baker, J. H. "Hody, Sir William". Oxford Dictionary of National Biography (online ed.). Oxford University Press. doi:10.1093/ref:odnb/13456. (Subscription or UK public library membership required.)
- ^ a b c d e "History of Parliament". History of Parliament Trust. Retrieved 2 November 2011.
- ^ Browne Willis gives Molyns' name only tentatively for 1555
- ^ a b c "Bridgwater". The History of Parliament. The History of Parliament Trust. Retrieved 24 September 2012.
- ^ Expelled as a monopolist, January 1641
- ^ Cobbett lists the second MP elected in 1645 as John Palmer, MD, and gives Blake as MP for Taunton. Brunton & Pennington agree with the Dictionary of National Biography in naming Blake as MP for Bridgwater and Palmer for Taunton.
- ^ Perceval was initially declared re-elected in 1768, but on petition he was judged not to have been duly elected and his opponent, Poulett, was seated in his place.
- ^ Allen was initially declared re-elected in 1780, but on petition he was judged not to have been duly elected and his opponent, Acland, was seated in his place.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z Stooks Smith, Henry (1845). The Parliaments of England, from 1st George I., to the Present Time. Vol II: Oxfordshire to Wales Inclusive. London: Simpkin, Marshall, & Co. pp. 28–31. Retrieved 28 October 2018 – via Google Books.
- ^ Vice-Admiral from 1787
- ^ Lieutenant-Colonel from 1793, Colonel from 1796
- ^ Jenkins, Terry (2009). "KEMEYS TYNTE, Charles Kemeys (1778–1860), of Halswell House, Goathurst, Som.; Cefn Mably, Glam.; Burhill, nr. Cobham, Surr. and 16 Hill Street, Hanover Square, Mdx". The History of Parliament. Retrieved 9 September 2019.
- ^ "John Bull". 30 July 1837. pp. 7–9. Retrieved 24 October 2018 – via British Newspaper Archive.
- ^ "County Chronicle, Surrey Herald and Weekly Advertiser for Kent". 1 August 1837. pp. 3–4. Retrieved 24 October 2018 – via British Newspaper Archive.
- ^ "The Elections". Morning Post. 30 July 1847. p. 4. Retrieved 18 April 2018 – via British Newspaper Archive.
- ^ "Bridgwater". Exeter and Plymouth Gazette. 31 July 1847. p. 4. Retrieved 18 April 2018 – via British Newspaper Archive.
- ^ Porter, Mary (1898). "The Lions of London". Annals of a Publishing House: John Blackwood (PDF). Edinburgh: William Blackwood and Sons. p. 127.
- ^ The election of Westropp was declared void and a by-election was held
- ^ The election of Kinglake and Vanderbyl in 1868 declared void. The writ (of election) was suspended and a Royal Commission was appointed, which reported that it had found proof of extensive bribery.
- ^ "Election of a Member of Parliament to the Bridgwater Constituency - Notice of Poll and Persons Nominated". Somerset Council. 7 June 2024. Retrieved 8 June 2024.
- ^ "Notional results for a UK general election on 12 December 2019". Rallings & Thrasher, Professor David Denver (Scotland), Nicholas Whyte (NI) for Sky News, PA, BBC News and ITV News. UK Parliament. Retrieved 11 July 2024.
- ^ "Election Data 2005". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
- ^ "Election Data 2001". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
- ^ "Election Data 1997". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
- ^ "Election Data 1992". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
- ^ "Election Data 1987". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
- ^ "Election Data 1983". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
- ^ The Times' Guide to the House of Commons. 1951.
- ^ The Times' Guide to the House of Commons. 1950.
- ^ Western Daily Press, 13 Jan 1939
- ^ a b c d e Craig, FWS, ed. (1974). British Parliamentary Election Results: 1885-1918. London: Macmillan Press. ISBN 9781349022984.
- ^ a b Debrett's House of Commons & Judicial Bench, 1916
- ^ British parliamentary election results, 1885–1918 (Craig)
- ^ a b c d e The Liberal Year Book, 1907
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m Craig, F. W. S., ed. (1977). British Parliamentary Election Results 1832-1885 (1st ed.). London: Macmillan Press. pp. 61–62. ISBN 978-1-349-02349-3.
- ^ "Bridgwater Election". Western Daily Press. 10 October 1868. p. 3. Retrieved 29 January 2018 – via British Newspaper Archive.
- ^ "Election Intelligence". London Daily News. 11 July 1866. p. 2. Retrieved 29 January 2018 – via British Newspaper Archive.
- ^ "Bridgwater Mercury". 20 April 1859. p. 5. Retrieved 18 April 2018 – via British Newspaper Archive.
- ^ "Election Talk". The Spectator. 6 March 1852. p. 6. Retrieved 18 April 2018.
- ^ "The General Election". Bristol Times and Mirror. 10 July 1852. p. 2. Retrieved 18 April 2018 – via British Newspaper Archive.
- ^ "Election Intelligence". Exeter and Plymouth Gazette. 10 July 1852. pp. 6–7. Retrieved 18 April 2018 – via British Newspaper Archive.
- ^ "Bridgwater". Exeter and Plymouth Gazette. 31 July 1847. p. 4. Retrieved 28 October 2018 – via British Newspaper Archive.
- ^ "General Election". Western Times. 3 July 1841. p. 3. Retrieved 28 October 2018 – via British Newspaper Archive.
- ^ "Local Elections". Exeter and Plymouth Gazette. 3 July 1841. p. 3. Retrieved 28 October 2018 – via British Newspaper Archive.
- ^ "The Elections". Dorset County Chronicle. 1 July 1841. p. 4. Retrieved 28 October 2018 – via British Newspaper Archive.
- ^ "The Close of the Elections". Bell's Weekly Messenger. 14 August 1837. pp. 2–3. Retrieved 9 September 2019 – via British Newspaper Archive.
- ^ "Close of the Election". Belfast Commercial Chronicle. 20 May 1837. p. 2. Retrieved 9 September 2019 – via British Newspaper Archive.
- ^ Gapper, Anthony. "List of the Electors at the Bridgwater Election" (PDF). Bridgwater Museum. Retrieved 9 September 2019.
Sources
edit- Boundaries of Parliamentary Constituencies 1885–1972, compiled and edited by F.W.S. Craig (Parliamentary Reference Publications 1972)
- British Parliamentary Election Results 1832–1885, compiled and edited by F.W.S. Craig (Macmillan Press 1977)
- British Parliamentary Election Results 1885–1918, compiled and edited by F.W.S. Craig (Macmillan Press 1974)
- British Parliamentary Election Results 1918–1949, compiled and edited by F.W.S. Craig (Macmillan Press, revised edition 1977)
- British Parliamentary Election Results 1950–1973, compiled and edited by F.W.S. Craig (Parliamentary Research Services 1983)
- Who's Who of British Members of Parliament: Volume I 1832–1885, edited by M. Stenton (The Harvester Press 1976)
- Who's Who of British Members of Parliament, Volume II 1886–1918, edited by M. Stenton and S. Lees (Harvester Press 1978)
- Who's Who of British Members of Parliament, Volume III 1919–1945, edited by M. Stenton and S. Lees (Harvester Press 1979)
- Who's Who of British Members of Parliament, Volume IV 1945–1979, edited by M. Stenton and S. Lees (Harvester Press 1981)
- Robert Beatson, A Chronological Register of Both Houses of Parliament (London: Longman, Hurst, Res & Orme, 1807) [1]
- D Brunton & D H Pennington, Members of the Long Parliament (London: George Allen & Unwin, 1954)
- Cobbett's Parliamentary history of England, from the Norman Conquest in 1066 to the year 1803 (London: Thomas Hansard, 1808) [2]
- Esther S Cope and Willson H Coates (eds), Camden Fourth Series, Volume 19: Proceedings of the Short Parliament of 1640 (London: Royal Historical Society, 1977)
- Maija Jansson (ed.), Proceedings in Parliament, 1614 (House of Commons) (Philadelphia: American Philosophical Society, 1988) [3]
- J E Neale, The Elizabethan House of Commons (London: Jonathan Cape, 1949)
- 'Bridgwater: Parliamentary representation' in Victoria County History of Somerset: Volume 6 (1992)
External links
edit- Bridgwater UK Parliament constituency (boundaries from June 2024) at MapIt UK