Bridgwater (UK Parliament constituency)
Bridgwater | |
---|---|
Former County constituency for the House of Commons | |
County | Somerset |
1885–2010 | |
Number of members | One |
Replaced by | Bridgwater & West Somerset |
Created from | West Somerset |
1295–1870 | |
Number of members | Two |
Type of constituency | Borough constituency |
Replaced by | West Somerset |
Bridgwater was a parliamentary constituency represented in the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom, until 2010 when it was replaced by the Bridgwater and West Somerset constituency. It elected one Member of Parliament (MP) by the first past the post system of election.
History[]
Bridgwater 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[]
1885–1918: 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 Urban District 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.
Members of Parliament[]
- Constituency created (1295)
Bridgwater borough, 1295–1870[]
MPs 1295–1640[]
This list is incomplete; you can help by . (August 2008) |
Parliament | First member | Second member |
---|---|---|
1377 | [1] | John Sydenham[2] |
1380 (Jan) | [1] | |
1383 (Oct) | [1] | |
1385 | [1] | |
1386 | John Sydenham | [2] |
1388 (Feb) | John Sydenham | [2] |
1388 (Sep) | John Palmer | [2] |
1390 (Jan) | John Palmer[2] | |
1390 (Nov) | ||
1391 | John Sydenham[2] | |
1393 | [2] | |
1394 | John Palmer[2] | |
1395 | [2] | |
1397 (Jan) | [2] | |
1397 (Sep) | John Sydenham [2] | |
1399 | [2] | |
1401 | ||
1402 | [2] | |
1404 (Jan) | ||
1404 (Oct) | ||
1406 | [2] | |
1407 | [2] | |
1410 | [2] | |
1411 | ||
1413 (Feb) | ||
1413 (May) | [2] | |
1414 (Apr) | [2] | |
1414 (Nov) | [2] | |
1415 | ||
1416 (Mar) | ||
1416 (Oct) | ||
1417 | [2] | |
1419 | [2] | |
1420 | [2] | |
1421 (May) | [2] | |
1421 (Dec) | [2] | |
1442 | ||
1449 | ||
1453 | ||
1467 | ||
1467 | (4 terms) | |
1472 | ||
1483 | William Hody[3] | |
1510–1523 | No names known [4] | |
1529 | [4] | |
1536 | ? | |
1539 | ? | |
1542 | ? | |
1545 | [4] | |
1547 | [4] | |
1553 (Mar) | [4] | |
1553 (Oct) | ||
1554 (Apr) | John Newport | (or Mullens) [5] |
1554 (Nov) | John Newport | |
1555 | ||
1558 | John Newport | (or Mullens) |
1559 | (or Mullens) | |
1563–1567 | ||
1571 | Edward Popham | |
1572–1581 | ||
1584–1585 | ||
Parliament of 1586–1587 | John Court | |
Parliament of 1588–1589 | ||
1593 | ||
1597–1598 | ||
1601 | Sir Francis Hastings | |
1604–1611 | ||
Addled Parliament (1614) | ||
1621–1622 | Edward Popham | |
Happy Parliament (1624–1625) | ||
Useless Parliament (1625) | Sir Arthur Lake | |
1625–1626 | ||
1628 | Thomas Smith | Sir Thomas Wroth |
1629–1640 | No Parliament summoned |
1640–1868[]
Bridgwater county constituency, 1885–2010[]
- County division created (1885)
Year | Member[6] | Party | |
---|---|---|---|
1885 | Edward Stanley | Conservative | |
1906 | Henry Montgomery | Liberal | |
1910 | Sir Robert Sanders | Unionist | |
1923 | William Morse | Liberal | |
1924 | Brooks Wood | Unionist | |
1929 | Reginald Croom-Johnson | Conservative | |
1938 | Vernon Bartlett | Independent Progressive | |
1942 | Common Wealth | ||
1945 | Independent Progressive | ||
1950 | Sir Gerald Wills | Conservative | |
1970 | Tom King | Conservative | |
2001 | Ian Liddell-Grainger | Conservative | |
2010 | constituency abolished |
Elections[]
Elections in the 1830s[]
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Tory | William Astell | Unopposed | |||
Whig | Charles Kemeys-Tynte | Unopposed | |||
Tory hold | |||||
Whig hold |
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 | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
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 | 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[23] | 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 at Westminster, causing a by-election.
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Conservative | Henry Broadwood | 279 | 55.8 | +11.5 | |
Whig | Richard Brinsley Sheridan[24] | 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 | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Conservative | Henry Broadwood | 279 | 49.6 | +25.7 | |
Conservative | Philip Courtenay (died 1841) | 277 | 49.2 | +28.8 | |
Whig | Thomas Lethbridge | 5 | 0.9 | −13.9 | |
Whig | Richard Brinsley Sheridan[25] | 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 |
Elections in the 1840s[]
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Conservative | Henry Broadwood | 280 | 26.8 | −22.8 | |
Conservative | Thomas Seaton Forman | 276 | 26.4 | −22.8 | |
Whig | Edward Simcoe Drewe[27] | 247 | 23.6 | +22.7 | |
Whig | Augustin Robinson[28] | 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 |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Whig | Charles Kemeys-Tynte | 395 | 46.1 | −0.7 | |
Conservative | Henry Broadwood | 265 | 31.0 | −22.2 | |
Radical | Stephen Gaselee[29] | 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 |
Elections in the 1850s[]
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Whig | Charles Kemeys-Tynte | 271 | 28.8 | −17.3 | |
Conservative | Brent Follett | 244 | 25.9 | +10.4 | |
Conservative | John Clavell Mansel[31][32] | 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 |
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 | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Liberal | Charles Kemeys-Tynte | 290 | 28.8 | −10.8 | |
Liberal | Alexander William Kinglake | 279 | 27.7 | −8.4 | |
Conservative | Henry Padwick[33] | 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 |
Elections in the 1860s[]
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.
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Conservative | George Patton | 301 | 50.7 | +10.8 | |
Liberal | Walter Bagehot[34] | 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 | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
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 | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
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[35] | 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.
Elections in the 1880s[]
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) |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Conservative | Edward Stanley | Unopposed | |||
Conservative hold |
Elections in the 1890s[]
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 |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Conservative | Edward Stanley | Unopposed | |||
Conservative hold |
Elections in the 1900s[]
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Conservative | Edward Stanley | Unopposed | |||
Conservative hold |
Party | 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 |
Elections in the 1910s[]
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 |
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 |
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 | Unopposed | |||
Conservative hold |
Party | 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. |
Elections in the 1920s[]
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 |
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 | 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 | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
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 |
Elections in the 1930s[]
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 |
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 | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Independent Progressive | Vernon Bartlett | 19,540 | 53.2 | +53.2 | |
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 |
Elections in the 1940s[]
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[40]
Party | 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 |
Elections in the 1950s[]
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Conservative | Gerald Wills | 21,732 | 48.84 | ||
Labour | 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 |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Conservative | Gerald Wills | 25,365 | 56.34 | ||
Labour | 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 | 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 | 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 |
Elections in the 1960s[]
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 |
Party | 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 |
Elections in the 1970s[]
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 |
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 | 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 | 23,850 | 44.3 | +0.7 | |
Labour | A Mitchell | 17,663 | 32.78 | +4.4 | |
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 | 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 |
Elections in the 1980s[]
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Conservative | Tom King | 25,107 | 52.26 | ||
SDP | R Farley | 14,410 | 30.00 | New | |
Labour | AJ May | 8,524 | 17.74 | ||
Majority | 10,697 | 22.26 | |||
Turnout | 48,041 | 74.80 | |||
Conservative hold | Swing |
Party | 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 |
Elections in the 1990s[]
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 |
Party | 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 |
Elections in the 2000s[]
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 |
Party | 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 |
See also[]
Notes and references[]
- ^ 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.
- ^ 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.
- ^ Gapper, Anthony. "List of the Electors at the Bridgwater Election" (PDF). Bridgwater Museum. Retrieved 9 September 2019.
- ^ "Close of the Election". Belfast Commercial Chronicle. 20 May 1837. p. 2. Retrieved 9 September 2019 – 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.
- ^ "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.
- ^ "Bridgwater". Exeter and Plymouth Gazette. 31 July 1847. p. 4. Retrieved 28 October 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 Mercury". 20 April 1859. p. 5. Retrieved 18 April 2018 – via British Newspaper Archive.
- ^ "Election Intelligence". London Daily News. 11 July 1866. p. 2. Retrieved 29 January 2018 – via British Newspaper Archive.
- ^ "Bridgwater Election". Western Daily Press. 10 October 1868. p. 3. Retrieved 29 January 2018 – via British Newspaper Archive.
- ^ a b c d e The Liberal Year Book, 1907
- ^ a b c d e Craig, FWS, ed. (1974). British Parliamentary Election Results: 1885-1918. London: Macmillan Press. ISBN 9781349022984.
- ^ British parliamentary election results, 1885–1918 (Craig)
- ^ a b Debrett's House of Commons & Judicial Bench, 1916
- ^ Western Daily Press, 13 Jan 1939
- ^ The Times' Guide to the House of Commons. 1950.
- ^ The Times' Guide to the House of Commons. 1951.
- ^ "Election Data 1983". 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 1992". 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 2001". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
- ^ "Election Data 2005". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
Sources[]
- 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)
- Parliamentary constituencies in Somerset (historic)
- Constituencies of the Parliament of the United Kingdom established in 1295
- Constituencies of the Parliament of the United Kingdom disestablished in 1870
- Constituencies of the Parliament of the United Kingdom established in 1885
- Constituencies of the Parliament of the United Kingdom disestablished in 2010
- Parliamentary constituencies disenfranchised for corruption
- Bridgwater