Tiverton and Minehead (UK Parliament constituency)

Tiverton and Minehead is a constituency of the House of Commons in the UK Parliament.[2] Further to the completion of the 2023 Periodic Review of Westminster constituencies, it was first contested at the 2024 general election.[3] Its first MP is Liberal Democrat Rachel Gilmour, who defeated Ian Liddell-Grainger, the Conservative MP for Bridgwater then Bridgwater and West Somerset from 2001 to 2024.

Tiverton and Minehead
County constituency
for the House of Commons
Boundary of Tiverton and Minehead in Somerset
CountySomerset (majority)
Devon (minority)
Electorate70,829 (2023)[1]
Current constituency
Created2024
Member of ParliamentRachel Gilmour (Liberal Democrats)
SeatsOne
Created fromBridgwater and West Somerset, Taunton Deane & Tiverton and Honiton

The constituency is named after the Devon town of Tiverton and the Somerset town of Minehead.[4]

Boundaries

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The constituency, which crosses the boundary between the counties of Devon and Somerset, is defined as composing the following as they existed on 1 December 2020:

  • The District of Mid Devon wards of: Canonsleigh; Castle; Clare and Shuttern; Cranmore; Halberton; Lower Culm; Lowman; Upper Culm; Westexe.
  • The District of Somerset West and Taunton wards of: Alcombe; Cotford St. Luke & Oake; Dulverton & District; Exmoor; Milverton & District; Minehead Central; Minehead North; Old Cleeve & District; Periton & Woodcombe; Porlock & District; Quantock Vale; South Quantock; Watchet & Williton; Wiveliscombe & District.[5]

With effect from 1 April 2023, the District of Somerset West and Taunton was abolished and absorbed into the new unitary authority of Somerset.[6] In addition, a local government boundary review was carried out in Mid Devon which came into effect in May 2023.[7][8] The constituency therefore now comprises the following from the 2024 general election:

  • The District of Mid Devon wards of: Canonsleigh; Clare and Shuttern; Halberton (nearly all); Lower Culm (majority); Tiverton Castle; Tiverton Cranmore; Tiverton Lowman; Tiverton Westexe; Upper Culm.
  • The Somerset electoral divisions of: Dulverton and Exmoor; Dunster; Lydeard (majority); Minehead; Upper Tone (most); Watchet and Stogursey.[9]

The seat covers the following areas:[9]

Members of Parliament

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Election Member Party
2024 Rachel Gilmour Liberal Democrat

Elections

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Elections in the 2020s

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General election 2024: Tiverton and Minehead[10]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Democrats Rachel Gilmour[11] 18,326 38.6 +19.1
Conservative Ian Liddell-Grainger[12] 14,819 31.2 –30.1
Reform UK Frederick Keen[13] 7,787 16.4 N/A
Labour Jonathan Barter[14] 4,325 9.1 –5.2
Green Laura Buchanan[15] 2,234 4.7 +0.4
Majority 3,507 7.4 N/A
Turnout 47,491 66.1 –3.7
Registered electors 71,843
Liberal Democrats gain from Conservative Swing  24.6

Elections in the 2010s

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2019 notional result[16]
Party Vote %
Conservative 30,297 61.3
Liberal Democrats 9,632 19.5
Labour 7,070 14.3
Green 2,103 4.3
Independent 309 0.6
Turnout 49,411 69.8
Electorate 70,829

References

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  1. ^ "The 2023 Review of Parliamentary Constituency Boundaries in England – Volume two: Constituency names, designations and composition – South West". Boundary Commission for England. Retrieved 29 June 2024.
  2. ^ "Shake-up revealed for Somerset MPs' boundaries". BBC News. 2022-11-08. Retrieved 2024-02-23.
  3. ^ "The 2023 Review of Parliamentary Constituency Boundaries in England – Volume one: Report – South West | Boundary Commission for England". boundarycommissionforengland.independent.gov.uk. Retrieved 2023-07-17.
  4. ^ Mumby, Daniel; Wimperis, John (2024-05-23). "Situation in every Somerset seat as General Election called". Somerset Live. Retrieved 2024-06-03.
  5. ^ "The Parliamentary Constituencies Order 2023". Schedule 1 Part 7 South West region.
  6. ^ "The Somerset (Structural Changes) Order 2022".
  7. ^ LGBCE. "Mid Devon | LGBCE". www.lgbce.org.uk. Retrieved 2024-04-04.
  8. ^ "The Mid Devon (Electoral Changes) Order 2021".
  9. ^ a b "New Seat Details - Tiverton and Minehead". www.electoralcalculus.co.uk. Retrieved 2024-02-23.
  10. ^ "Statement of Persons Nominated and Notice of Poll". Somerset Council. 7 June 2024. Retrieved 8 June 2024.
  11. ^ "Liberal Democrat Prospective Parliamentary Candidates". Mark Pack. Retrieved 23 February 2024.
  12. ^ "Ian Liddell-Grainger adopted for new Tiverton and Minehead Parliamentary constituency". West Somerset Free Press. Retrieved 23 February 2024.
  13. ^ "Tiverton and Minehead Constituency". Reform UK. Retrieved 23 February 2024.
  14. ^ "Labour PPC for Tiverton and Minehead". PolicyMogul. Retrieved 2024-03-21.
  15. ^ "Stand at the next general election". South West Green Party. Retrieved 23 February 2024.
  16. ^ "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.
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