Reading (UK Parliament constituency)

Reading was a parliamentary borough, and later a borough constituency in England, represented in the House of Commons of the Parliament of England until 1707, then of the Parliament of Great Britain from 1707 to 1800 and of the Parliament of the United Kingdom from 1801 to 1885. It comprised the town of Reading in the county of Berkshire.

Reading
Former Borough constituency
for the House of Commons
CountyBerkshire
1295–1950
SeatsTwo until 1885, then one until 1950
Replaced byReading North and Reading South
1955–1974 (1974)
SeatsOne
Type of constituencyBorough constituency
Created fromReading North and Reading South
Replaced byReading North and Reading South

From 1295, as a parliamentary borough, Reading elected two members of parliament (MPs). Under the Redistribution of Seats Act 1885, this representation was reduced to a single MP. The constituency was abolished in 1950, re-created in 1955, and abolished again in 1974.

History

Reading was one of the boroughs summoned to send members to the Model Parliament. The boundaries (encompassing the whole of one parish and parts of two others) were effectively unchanged from 1295 to 1918. In 1831, the population of the borough was 15,935, and contained 3,307 houses.

The right to vote was exercised by all inhabitants paying scot and lot, a relatively wide franchise for the period, and almost 2,000 votes were cast at the general election of 1826. Despite this high electorate, the corporation of the town was generally considered in practice to control elections to a large extent. In the second half of the 18th century, Reading was notoriously one of the most corrupt constituencies in England, bribery being both routine and expensive: Namier quotes the accounts kept for Prime Minister Newcastle of the 1754 election, which note that John Dodd, the government's candidate there, had already received £1000 and was promised £500 or £600 more to help him win the seat.[1] (Dodd lost by one vote, but had the result overturned on petition by a partisan vote in the House of Commons, and Newcastle's accounts show a continuing trickle of funds to him to nurse the constituency over the next few years.) A few years later, the nomination to one of Reading's seats was advertised for sale in a London newspaper, though Reading was not mentioned by name and no price was specified; the newspaper's printers were charged by the Commons with a breach of privilege, but the sale of seats remained legal if frowned-upon until 1809.

The Great Reform Act left Reading's representation and boundaries unchanged, and the reformed franchise far from increasing its electorate seems to have reduced it: it was estimated that there were 1,250 voters in 1831, but only 1,001 were registered for the first post-Reform election, that of 1832.

Context of 1923. Larger as town had grown, one of Labour's 191 of 615 seats: a supply and confidence government lasted for 10 months with Liberal support. 1929 was similar but better for Labour.
Context of 1906. The Liberal Landslide victory.

The Redistribution of Seats Act 1885, coming into effect at the 1885 general election, reduced the representation of the parliamentary borough to a single MP. The single-member Reading constituency continued to exist until it was split in 1950 into the separate constituencies of Reading North and Reading South. These two constituencies were merged back into a single Reading constituency in 1955, but again split apart in 1974; despite its name, the 1955 constituency did not contain the whole of the County Borough of Reading, with one ward being included in both of the Newbury and Wokingham seats.

After 1885, the constituency was marginal, regularly changing hands between the Conservative Party and the Liberal Party up to 1918, then between the Conservatives and Labour.

Today the area formerly covered by the Reading constituency is within the constituencies of Reading East and Reading West.

Boundaries and boundary changes

1885–1918
  • The existing Parliamentary borough; and
  • The area between the boundary of the Parliamentary borough and a boundary line drawn from the point at which the Reading and Reigate Railway crossed the boundary of the Parliamentary borough at the River Kennet, eastward along the Railway until it crossed Culver Lane, then westward along the centre of Culver Lane as far as the centre of Wokingham Road, then southward along the centre of Wokingham Road as far as the centre of Crescent Road, then westward along the centre of Crescent Road as far as the centre of Eastern Avenue, then southward along the centre of Eastern Avenue as far as the centre of Upper Redlands Road, then westward along the centre of Upper Redlands Road as far as the centre of Alexandra Road, then south and west along the centre of Junction Road to the centre of Christchurch Road, then along the centre of Christchurch Road until the line reached the boundary of the existing Parliamentary borough.[2]

Minor expansion - see map on Vision of Britain website.[3]

1918–1950
  • The County Borough of Reading.[4]

Boundaries extended to the south and west (gained from the Newbury and Wokingham Divisions), and to the north of the River Thames with the annexation of the Urban District of Caversham (part of the Henley Division of Oxfordshire) by Reading County Borough.

For the 1950 general election, Reading was abolished as a single-member Parliamentary borough and split between the two new borough constituencies of Reading North and Reading South.

1955–1974

For the 1955 general election, Reading was re-established, replacing Reading North and Reading South and comprising:

  • The County Borough of Reading wards of Abbey, Battle, Castle, Caversham East, Caversham West, Church, Katesgrove, Minster, Redlands, Victoria, West.[4]

The East and Tilehurst wards were included in the Wokingham and Newbury constituencies respectively.

From the 1964 general election, a revision to the County Borough wards resulted in minor changes. The constituency now comprised:

  • The County Borough of Reading wards of Abbey, Battle, Castle, Caversham, Christchurch, Katesgrove, Minster, Redlands, Thames, and Whitley.[4]

The constituency was abolished once again for the 1974 general election. The Christchurch, Redlands and Whitley wards were included in the re-established constituency of Reading South, with remaining wards being included in Reading North.

Members of Parliament

1295–1660
  • Constituency created 1295
ParliamentFirst memberSecond member
1369William Catour[5]
1371William Catour[5]
1378David atte Hacche[6]
1385John Doublet[7]
1386William StapperRobert atte Lee[8]
1388 (Feb)David atte HaccheRichard Bedull[8]
1388 (Sep)John BaletNicholas Vachell[8]
1390 (Jan)John KentRobert Capellade[8]
1390 (Nov)
1391Henry BarbourJohn Doublet[8]
1393William CatourDavid atte Hacche[8]
1394William SavilleWilliam Tho...[8]
1395William ShortwadeJohn Ede[8]
1397 (Jan)John WhiteRichard Pernecote[8]
1397 (Sep)Thomas SelhamRobert Godewyn[8]
1399Roger HayJohn Hunt[8]
1401
1402
1404 (Jan)John KentWilliam Derby[8]
1404 (Oct)
1406John HuntPhilip Richard[8]
1407John MerehanWilliam Kenelme[8]
1410John WhiteAlexander Colshull[8]
1411
1413 (Feb)
1413 (May)William WiltonRichard Farle[8]
1414 (Apr)John HastyngJohn Clerk[8]
1414 (Nov)Stephen StapperJohn Pernecote[8]
1415
1416 (Mar)Walter MustardThomas Lavyngton 1[8]
1416 (Oct)
1417Alexander ColshullThomas Lavyngton[8]
1419Robert MorysRichard Cross[8]
1420Thomas LavyngtonJohn Veyr[8]
1421 (May)Thomas LavyngtonSimon Porter alias Kent[8]
1421 (Dec)John HuntWilliam Kyng[8]
1422Simon Porter alias Kent[9]
1425Simon Porter alias Kent[9]
1432Simon Porter alias Kent[9]
1433Simon Porter alias Kent[9]
1435Simon Porter alias Kent[9]
1437Simon Porter alias Kent[9]
1447Simon Porter alias Kent[9]
1449 (Feb)Simon Porter alias Kent[9]
1449 (Nov)Simon Porter alias Kent[9]
1510Richard ClecheWilliam Justice[10]
1512William GiffordRichard Smith[10]
1515Edmund KnightleyJohn Pownsar[10]
1523Nicholas HydeWilliam Edmonds[10]
1529Thomas Vachell IJohn Raymond[10]
1536Thomas Vachell IJohn Raymond[10]
1539?Thomas Vachell I?John Raymond[10]
1542Thomas Vachell IRichard Justice[10]
1545Thomas Vachell IRoger Amyce[10]
1547William Grey, died May 1551
repl. 1552 by Sir John Mason		John Marshe[10]
1553 (Mar)John BourneJohn Winchcombe[10]
1553 (Oct)Thomas Vachell IJohn Bell[10]
1554 (Apr)Robert Bowyer IIIJohn Lovelace[10]
1554 (Nov)John BourneEdmund Plowden[10]
1555Thomas Vachell IIJohn Bell[10]
1558Thomas AldworthJohn Bell[10]
1558–9Thomas AldworthThomas Turner[11]
1562–3Henry KnollysRobert Rowbotham[11]
1571Henry KnollysJohn Hastings[11]
1572Robert KnollysFrancis Alford[11]
1584Robert KnollysRobert Harris[11]
1586Robert KnollysRobert Harris[11]
1588Robert Knollys, sat for Breconshire,
repl. Feb 1589 by Thomas Egerton		Robert Harris[11]
1593Humphrey DonattCharles Wednester[11]
1597Sir Humphrey ForsterFrancis Moore[11]
1601Francis MooreAnthony Blagrave[11]
1604Francis MooreJerome Bowes
1614Francis MooreRobert Knollys
1621–1622Anthony BarkerJohn Saunders
1624Francis Knollys IIIJohn Saunders
1625Francis Knollys IIIJohn Saunders
1626Francis Knollys IIIJohn Saunders
1628Francis Knollys IIIJohn Saunders
1629–1640No Parliaments summoned

1640–1885
YearFirst memberFirst partySecond memberSecond party
April 1640 Francis Knollys III Adm. Francis Knollys[12]
November 1640 Francis Knollys III (died 1643) Adm. Francis Knollys (died 1648)
1645 Daniel Blagrave
1648 Tanfield Vachell
1653Not represented in Barebones Parliament
1654 Robert Hammond
1656 Daniel Blagrave
1659 Henry Neville Daniel Blagrave
1660 Thomas Rich John Blagrave
1661 Sir Thomas Dolman Richard Aldworth
1679 Nathan Knight John Blagrave
March 1685 Thomas Coates John Breedon
November 1685 William Aldworth
1689 Sir Henry Fane Whig Sir William Rich
1698 Sir Owen Buckingham John Dalby
January 1701 Francis Knollys
November 1701 Anthony Blagrave Tanfield Vachell
1702 Sir Owen Buckingham
1705 Sir William Rich
1708 Owen Buckingham Anthony Blagrave
1710 John Dalby
1713 Robert Clarges Felix Calvert
1716 Charles Cadogan Owen Buckingham
1720 Richard Thompson Whig
1722 Anthony Blagrave Clement Kent
1727 Richard Potenger Richard Thompson Whig
1734 Henry Grey Whig
1739 John Blagrave
1740 William Strode
February 1741 John Dodd Whig
May 1741 William Strode
1747 John Conyers Richard Neville Aldworth Neville
1754 William Strode Charles Fane Opposition Whig
1755 John Dodd Whig
1761 Sir Francis Knollys
1768 Henry Vansittart
1774 Francis Annesley Tory[13]
1782 Richard Aldworth-Neville Whig[13]
1797 John Simeon Tory[13]
1802 Charles Shaw-Lefevre Whig[13]
1806 John Simeon Tory[13]
1818 Charles Fyshe Palmer Whig[13][14][15]
1820 John Monck Whig[13]
1826 George Spence Tory[13]
1827 Charles Fyshe Palmer Whig[13][14][15]
1830 Charles Russell Tory[13]
1834 Conservative[13]
1835 Thomas Talfourd Radical[16][17][18]
1837 Charles Fyshe Palmer Whig[13][14][15]
1841 Charles Russell Conservative[13] Henry Cadogan Conservative[13]
1847 Francis Pigott Whig[19] Thomas Talfourd Radical[16][17][18]
1849 John Frederick Stanford Conservative
1852 Sir Henry Singer Keating Whig[19]
1859 Liberal Liberal
January 1860 Sir Francis Goldsmid Liberal
November 1860 Gillery Pigott Liberal
1863 George Shaw-Lefevre Liberal
1878 George Palmer Liberal
1885 Representation reduced to one member

1885–1950
ElectionMemberParty
1885 Charles Townshend Murdoch Conservative
1892 George William Palmer Liberal
1895 Charles Townshend Murdoch Conservative
1898 by-election George William Palmer Liberal
1904 by-election Rufus Isaacs Liberal
1913 by-election Leslie Orme Wilson Conservative
1922 Edward Cadogan Conservative
1923 Somerville Hastings Labour
1924 Herbert Williams Conservative
1929 Somerville Hastings Labour
1931 Alfred Howitt Conservative
1945 Ian Mikardo Labour
1950 Constituency divided into Reading North and Reading South

1955–1974
ElectionMemberParty
1955 Constituency recreated
1955 Ian Mikardo Labour
1959 Peter Emery Conservative
1966 John Lee Labour
1970 Gerard Vaughan Conservative
Feb 1974 Constituency redivided into Reading North and Reading South

Elections

Elections in the 1830s
General election 1830: Reading (2 seats)[13][20]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Whig Charles Fyshe Palmer 522 36.1
Tory Charles Russell 471 32.6
Whig Stephen Lushington 452 31.3
Turnout 907 c. 72.6
Registered electors c. 1,250
Majority 51 3.5
Whig hold Swing
Majority 19 1.3
Tory hold Swing
General election 1831: Reading (2 seats)[13][20]
Party Candidate Votes %
Whig Charles Fyshe Palmer Unopposed
Tory Charles Russell Unopposed
Registered electors c. 1,250
Whig hold
Tory hold
General election 1832: Reading (2 seats)[13][21]
Party Candidate Votes %
Whig Charles Fyshe Palmer Unopposed
Tory Charles Russell Unopposed
Registered electors 1,001
Whig hold
Tory hold
General election 1835: Reading (2 seats)[13][21]
Party Candidate Votes %
Radical Thomas Talfourd 643 43.8
Conservative Charles Russell 441 30.0
Whig Benjamin Oliveira 384 26.2
Turnout 960 95.8
Registered electors 1,002
Majority 202 13.8
Radical gain from Whig
Majority 57 3.8
Conservative hold
General election 1837: Reading (2 seats)[13][21]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Radical Thomas Talfourd 468 34.1 −9.7
Whig Charles Fyshe Palmer 457 33.3 +7.1
Conservative Charles Russell 448 32.6 +2.6
Turnout 875 84.5 −11.3
Registered electors 1,035
Majority 11 0.8 −13.0
Radical hold Swing −5.5
Majority 9 0.7 N/A
Whig gain from Conservative Swing +2.9

Elections in the 1840s
General election 1841: Reading (2 seats)[21][13]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Charles Russell 570 29.4 +13.1
Conservative Henry Cadogan 564 29.1 +12.8
Whig Thomas Mills 410 21.1 +4.5
Whig William Tooke 397 20.5 +3.9
Majority 154 8.0 N/A
Turnout 984 82.4 −2.1
Registered electors 1,194
Conservative gain from Whig Swing +4.5
Conservative gain from Radical Swing +4.3
General election 1847: Reading (2 seats)[21]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Whig Francis Pigott 614 29.1 +8.0
Radical Thomas Talfourd 596 28.3 +7.8
Conservative Charles Russell 521 24.7 −4.7
Conservative Henry Cadogan 376 17.8 −11.3
Turnout 1,054 (est) 84.2 (est) +1.8
Registered electors 1,251
Majority 18 0.8 N/A
Whig gain from Conservative Swing +8.0
Majority 75 3.6 N/A
Radical gain from Conservative Swing +7.9

Talfourd resigned after being appointed a judge of the Court of Common Pleas, causing a by-election.

By-election, 8 August 1849: Reading[21]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative John Frederick Stanford 507 51.8 +9.3
Whig George Bowyer[22] 364 37.2 +8.1
Radical Thomas Norton[23][24] 107 10.9 −17.4
Majority 143 14.6 N/A
Turnout 978 74.7 −9.5
Registered electors 1,309
Conservative gain from Radical Swing +13.4

Elections in the 1850s
General election 1852: Reading (2 seats)[21]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Whig Francis Pigott 753 39.6 +10.5
Whig Henry Singer Keating 631 33.2 +4.9
Conservative Samuel Auchmuty Dickson[25] 518 27.2 −15.3
Majority 113 6.0 +5.8
Turnout 951 (est) 68.0 (est) −16.2
Registered electors 1,399
Whig hold Swing +9.1
Whig gain from Radical Swing +6.3
General election 1857: Reading (2 seats)[21]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Whig Francis Pigott Unopposed
Whig Henry Singer Keating Unopposed
Registered electors 1431
Whig hold
Whig hold

Keating was appointed Solicitor General for England and Wales, requiring a by-election.

By-election, 2 June 1857: Reading[21]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Whig Henry Singer Keating Unopposed
Whig hold
General election 1859: Reading (2 seats)[21]
Party Candidate Votes %
Liberal Francis Pigott 761 38.6
Liberal Henry Singer Keating 666 33.8
Conservative Ralph Augustus Benson 544 27.6
Majority 122 6.2
Turnout 986 (est) 67.9 (est)
Registered electors 1,451
Liberal hold
Liberal hold

Keating was appointed Solicitor General for England and Wales, requiring a by-election.

By-election, 27 June 1859: Reading[21]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Henry Singer Keating Unopposed
Liberal hold

Elections in the 1860s

Keating resigned after being appointed a Judge of the Court of Common Pleas, causing a by-election.

By-election, 11 January 1860: Reading[21]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Francis Goldsmid 661 54.5 −17.9
Conservative Ralph Augustus Benson[26] 551 45.5 +17.9
Majority 110 9.0 +2.8
Turnout 1,212 80.5 +12.6
Registered electors 1,506
Liberal hold Swing −17.9

Pigott resigned after being appointed Lieutenant Governor of the Isle of Man, causing a by-election.

By-election, 21 November 1860: Reading[21]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Gillery Pigott 586 57.4 −15.0
Conservative Edward Walter[27] 435 42.6 +15.0
Majority 151 14.8 +8.6
Turnout 1,021 67.8 −0.1
Registered electors 1,506
Liberal hold Swing −15.0

Pigott resigned after being appointed a Judge of the Court of the Exchequer, causing a by-election.

By-election, 17 October 1863: Reading[21]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal George Shaw-Lefevre Unopposed
Liberal hold
General election 1865: Reading (2 seats)[21]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Francis Goldsmid 727 38.6 0.0
Liberal George Shaw-Lefevre 714 37.9 +4.1
Conservative Stephen Tucker[28] 444 23.6 −4.0
Majority 270 14.3 +8.1
Turnout 1,165 (est) 65.8 (est) −2.1
Registered electors 1,769
Liberal hold Swing +2.0
Liberal hold Swing +2.1

Shaw-Lefevre was appointed a Civil Lord of the Admiralty, requiring a by-election.

By-election, 5 May 1866: Reading[21]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal George Shaw-Lefevre Unopposed
Liberal hold
General election 1868: Reading (2 seats)[21]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Francis Goldsmid 1,629 38.5 −0.1
Liberal George Shaw-Lefevre 1,618 38.3 +0.4
Conservative Robert Carden 979 23.2 −0.4
Majority 639 15.1 +0.8
Turnout 2,603 (est) 80.6 (est) +14.8
Registered electors 3,228
Liberal hold Swing +0.1
Liberal hold Swing +0.3

Elections in the 1870s
General election 1874: Reading (2 seats)[21]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal George Shaw-Lefevre 1,794 26.1 −12.2
Liberal Francis Goldsmid 1,791 26.1 −12.4
Conservative Richard Attenborough[29] 1,652 24.1 +12.5
Conservative William Dalziel Mackenzie[30] 1,631 23.7 +12.1
Majority 139 2.0 −13.1
Turnout 3,434 (est) 83.4 (est) +2.8
Registered electors 4,118
Liberal hold Swing −12.3
Liberal hold Swing −12.4

Goldsmid's death caused a by-election.

By-election, 18 May 1878: Reading (1 seat)[21]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal George Palmer 2,223 58.7 +6.5
Conservative Richard Attenborough 1,565 41.3 −6.5
Majority 658 17.4 +15.4
Turnout 3,788 80.2 −3.2
Registered electors 4,721
Liberal hold Swing +6.5

Elections in the 1880s
General election 1880: Reading (2 seats)[21]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal George Palmer 2,513 36.6 +10.5
Liberal George Shaw-Lefevre 2,286 33.3 +7.2
Conservative Albert George Sandeman[31] 2,067 30.1 −17.7
Majority 219 3.2 +1.2
Turnout 4,580 (est) 89.7 (est) +6.3
Registered electors 5,107
Liberal hold Swing +9.7
Liberal hold Swing +8.1

Lefevre was appointed First Commissioner of Works and Public Buildings, requiring a by-election.

By-election, 15 Dec 1880: Reading (1 seat)[21]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal George Shaw-Lefevre Unopposed
Liberal hold
General election 1885: Reading[32]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Charles Townshend Murdoch 3,518 50.9 +20.8
Liberal George Shaw-Lefevre 3,389 49.1 −20.8
Majority 129 1.8 N/A
Turnout 6,907 91.9 +2.2 (est)
Registered electors 7,515
Conservative gain from Liberal Swing +20.8
General election 1886: Reading[32]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Charles Townshend Murdoch 3,378 50.9 0.0
Liberal William Berkeley Monck[33] 3,262 49.1 0.0
Majority 116 1.8 0.0
Turnout 6,640 88.4 −3.5
Registered electors 7,515
Conservative hold Swing 0.0

Elections in the 1890s
General election 1892: Reading[32]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal George Palmer 3,990 51.9 +2.8
Conservative Charles Townshend Murdoch 3,700 48.1 −2.8
Majority 290 3.8 N/A
Turnout 7,690 91.1 +2.7
Registered electors 8,438
Liberal gain from Conservative Swing +2.8
General election 1895: Reading[32]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Charles Townshend Murdoch 4,278 52.1 +4.0
Liberal George Palmer 3,927 47.9 −4.0
Majority 351 4.2 N/A
Turnout 8,205 90.1 −1.0
Registered electors 9,104
Conservative gain from Liberal Swing +4.0

Murdoch's death caused a by-election.

By-election, 25 Jul 1898: Reading[32]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal George Palmer 4,600 52.4 +4.5
Conservative Charles Edward Keyser 3,906 44.5 −7.6
Social Democratic Federation Harry Quelch 270 3.1 New
Majority 694 7.9 N/A
Turnout 8,776 91.7 +1.6
Registered electors 9,573
Liberal gain from Conservative Swing +6.1

Elections in the 1900s
Keyser
General election 1900: Reading[32]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal George Palmer 4,592 51.3 +3.4
Conservative Charles Edward Keyser 4,353 48.7 −3.4
Majority 239 2.6 N/A
Turnout 8,945 88.1 −2.0
Registered electors 10,152
Liberal gain from Conservative Swing +3.4
Isaacs
1904 Reading by-election[32]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Rufus Isaacs 4,770 51.2 -0.1
Conservative Charles Edward Keyser 4,540 48.8 +0.1
Majority 230 2.4 -0.2
Turnout 9,310 83.5 −4.6
Registered electors 11,151
Liberal hold Swing -0.1
General election 1906: Reading[32]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Rufus Isaacs 5,407 53.4 +2.1
Conservative George Horace Johnstone 4,710 46.6 -2.1
Majority 697 6.8 + +4.2
Turnout 10,117 91.6 +3.5
Registered electors 11,041
Liberal hold Swing +2.1

Elections in the 1910s
General election January 1910: Reading[32]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Rufus Isaacs 5,264 51.0 −2.4
Liberal Unionist Leslie Renton 5,057 49.0 +2.4
Majority 207 2.0 −4.8
Turnout 10,321 93.7 +2.1
Registered electors 11,016
Liberal hold Swing −2.4

Isaacs is appointed Solicitor General of England and Wales, requiring a by-election.

By-election, March 1910[32]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Rufus Isaacs Unopposed
Liberal hold
General election December 1910: Reading[32]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Rufus Isaacs 5,094 50.5 −0.5
Conservative Leslie Orme Wilson 4,995 49.5 +0.5
Majority 99 1.0 −1.0
Turnout 10,089 91.6 −2.1
Registered electors 11,016
Liberal hold Swing −0.5

Issacs is appointed Lord Chief Justice of England and is elevated to the peerage as Lord Reading, requiring a by-election.

1913 Reading by-election[32]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Unionist Leslie Orme Wilson 5,144 50.3 +0.8
Liberal George Peabody Gooch 4,013 39.3 −11.2
British Socialist Party Joseph George Butler 1,063 10.4 New
Majority 1,131 11.0 N/A
Turnout 10,220 92.2 +0.6
Registered electors 11,088
Unionist gain from Liberal Swing +6.0

A General Election was due to take place by the end of 1915. By the summer of 1914, the following candidates had been adopted to contest that election. Due to the outbreak of war, the election never took place.

General election 14 December 1918: Reading
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
C Unionist Leslie Orme Wilson 15,204 53.9 +4.4
Labour Thomas Charles Morris 8,410 29.8 New
Liberal Frederick Thoresby 3,143 11.1 −39.4
National Socialist Party Lorenzo Quelch 1,462 5.2 New
Majority 6,794 24.1 N/A
Turnout 28,219 62.2 −29.4
Unionist hold Swing +21.9
C indicates candidate endorsed by the coalition government.

Elections in the 1920s
H.D. Roome
General election 1922: Reading[36]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Unionist Edward Cadogan 16,082 42.7 -11.2
Labour Derwent Hall Caine 14,322 38.1 +8.3
Liberal Henry Delacombe Roome 7,212 19.2 +8.1
Majority 1,760 4.6 -19.5
Turnout 37,616
Unionist hold Swing
General election 1923: Reading[36]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Somerville Hastings 16,657 44.8 +6.7
Unionist Edward Cadogan 15,115 40.7 -2.0
Liberal Frederick Maddison 5,406 14.5 -4.7
Majority 1,542 4.1 N/A
Turnout 37,178 82.1 37,178
Labour gain from Unionist Swing +4.3
General election 1924: Reading[36]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Unionist Herbert Williams 21,338 53.8 +13.1
Labour Somerville Hastings 18,337 46.2 +1.4
Majority 3,001 7.6 N/A
Turnout 39,675 85.8 +3.7
Unionist gain from Labour Swing
General election 1929: Reading[36]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Somerville Hastings 23,281 43.5 -2.7
Unionist Herbert Williams 22,429 42.0 -11.8
Liberal Dugald Macfadyen 7,733 14.5 New
Majority 852 1.5 N/A
Turnout 53,443 85.0 -0.8
Labour gain from Unionist Swing +4.5

Elections in the 1930s
General election 1931: Reading[36] Electorate 65,009
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Alfred Howitt 34,439 63.1 +21.1
Labour Somerville Hastings 19,277 35.3 -8.2
New Party ER Troward 861 1.6 New
Majority 15,162 27.8 N/A
Turnout 54,577 83.9 -1.1
Conservative gain from Labour Swing
General election 1935: Reading[36] Electorate 67,181
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Alfred Howitt 27,540 51.8 -9.3
Labour Somerville Hastings 22,949 43.2 +7.9
Liberal John William Todd 2,685 5.0 New
Majority 4,591 8.6 -19.2
Turnout 53,174 79.1 -4.8
Conservative 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;

Elections in the 1940s
General election 1945: Reading[36]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Ian Mikardo 30,465 48.8 +5.6
Conservative William Ewart Clarke McIlroy 24,075 38.6 -13.2
Liberal Robert Nevill Tronchin James 7,834 12.6 +7.6
Majority 6,390 10.2 N/A
Turnout 62,374 73.5 -5.6
Labour gain from Conservative Swing

Elections in the 1950s
General election 1955: Reading[38]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Ian Mikardo 25,228 50.24
Conservative Frederic Bennett 24,990 49.76
Majority 238 0.48
Turnout 50,218 84.15
Registered electors 59,678
Labour win (new seat)
General election 1959: Reading[39]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Peter Emery 26,314 54.05 +4.29
Labour Ian Mikardo 22,372 45.95 -4.29
Majority 3,942 8.10 N/A
Turnout 48,686 82.84 -1.31
Registered electors 58,772
Conservative gain from Labour Swing +4.29

Elections in the 1960s
General election 1964: Reading[40]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Peter Emery 20,815 43.93 -10.12
Labour John Lee 20,805 43.91 -2.04
Liberal Michael F Burns 5,759 12.16 New
Majority 10 0.02 -8.08
Turnout 47,379 79.80 -3.04
Registered electors 59,371
Conservative hold Swing -4.04
General election 1966: Reading[41]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour John Lee 25,338 51.01 +7.10
Conservative Peter Emery 21,205 42.69 -1.24
Liberal Ernest H Palfrey 3,127 6.30 -5.86
Majority 4,133 8.32 N/A
Turnout 49,670 84.00 +4.20
Registered electors 59,132
Labour gain from Conservative Swing +4.17

Elections in the 1970s
General election 1970: Reading[42]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Gerard Vaughan 23,598 50.31 +7.62
Labour John Lee 22,444 47.85 -3.16
Democratic Party Alec Boothroyd 867 1.85 New
Majority 1,154 2.46 N/A
Turnout 46,909 74.04 -9.96
Registered electors 63,359
Conservative gain from Labour Swing +5.39

References

General

Specific
  1. Page 198, Lewis Namier, The Structure of Politics at the Accession of George III (2nd edition – London: St Martin's Press, 1957)
  2. "Chap. 23. Redistribution of Seats Act, 1885". The Public General Acts of the United Kingdom passed in the forty-eighth and forty-ninth years of the reign of Queen Victoria. London: Eyre and Spottiswoode. 1885. pp. 111–198.
  3. "HMSO Boundary Commission Report 1885, Reading".
  4. Craig, Frederick Walter Scott (1972). Boundaries of parliamentary constituencies 1885-1972. Chichester: Political Reference Publications. ISBN 0900178094. OCLC 539011.
  5. "CATOUR, William (d.1395), of Reading, Berks. | History of Parliament Online". www.historyofparliamentonline.org.
  6. "HACCHE, David atte, of Reading, Berks. | History of Parliament Online". www.historyofparliamentonline.org.
  7. "DOUBLET, John (d.c.1407), of Reading, Berks. | History of Parliament Online". www.historyofparliamentonline.org.
  8. "History of Parliament". History of Parliament Trust. Retrieved 8 November 2011.
  9. "PORTER, alias KENT, Simon, of Reading, Berks. | History of Parliament Online". www.historyofparliamentonline.org.
  10. "History of Parliament". History of Parliament Trust. Retrieved 8 November 2011.
  11. "History of Parliament". History of Parliament Trust. Retrieved 8 November 2011.
  12. In place of Edward Herbert and Sir John Berkeley, elected for Old Sarum and Heytesbury
  13. Stooks Smith, Henry. (1973) [1844-1850]. Craig, Frederick Walter Scott (ed.). The Parliaments of England (2nd ed.). Chichester: Parliamentary Research Services. pp. 8–9. ISBN 0-900178-13-2.
  14. Churton, Edward (1838). The Assembled Commons or Parliamentary Biographer: 1838. p. 174.
  15. Mosse, Richard Bartholomew (1838). The Parliamentary Guide: a concise history of the Members of both Houses, etc. p. 201.
  16. Hall, Edith (2015). "Making it Really New: Dickens versus the Classics". In Stead, Henry; Hall, Edith (eds.). Greek and Roman Classics in the British Struggle for Social Reform. Bloomsbury. p. 148. ISBN 9781472584274. Retrieved 30 June 2018.
  17. Richards, Jeffrey (2009). The Ancient World on the Victorian and Edwardian Stage (eBook). Basingstoke: Palgrave Macmillan. p. 36. doi:10.1057/9780230250895. ISBN 978-0-230-25089-5. Retrieved 30 June 2018.
  18. Gregory, James (2012). Victorians Against the Gallows: Capital Punishment and the Abolitionist Movement in Nineteenth Century Britain. London: I.B. Tauris. p. 200. ISBN 978-18488-56943. Retrieved 30 June 2018.
  19. "The Berkshire Chronicle". 10 July 1852. p. 4. Retrieved 30 June 2018 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  20. Fisher, David R. "Reading". The History of Parliament. Retrieved 21 April 2020.
  21. Craig, Frederick Walter Scott, ed. (1977). British Parliamentary Election Results 1832-1885 (1st ed.). London: Macmillan Press. ISBN 978-1-349-02349-3.
  22. "The Nomination". Windsor and Eton Express. 11 August 1849. p. 3. Retrieved 29 November 2018 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  23. "John Bull". 13 August 1849. p. 4. Retrieved 29 November 2018 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  24. "Country News, Reading Election". Illustrated London News. 11 August 1849. p. 30. Retrieved 29 November 2018 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  25. "Hull Election". Hull Advertiser and Exchange Gazette. 12 August 1854. p. 6. Retrieved 30 June 2018 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  26. "Reading Election". Berkshire Chronicle. 14 January 1860. p. 4. Retrieved 16 March 2018 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  27. "To the Conservative Electors of the Borough of Reading". Berkshire Chronicle. 17 November 1860. p. 1. Retrieved 16 March 2018 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  28. "Reading Borough Election". Berkshire Chronicle. 15 July 1865. p. 6. Retrieved 16 March 2018 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  29. "The General Election". London Evening Standard. 31 January 1874. pp. 2–3. Retrieved 18 January 2018 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  30. "To the Electors of the Borough of Reading". Berkshire Chronicle. 31 January 1874. p. 4. Retrieved 18 January 2018 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  31. "The Representation of Reading". Reading Mercury. 1 March 1884. p. 5. Retrieved 10 December 2017 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  32. Craig, Frederick Walter Scott, ed. (1974). British Parliamentary Election Results: 1885-1918. London: Macmillan Press. ISBN 9781349022984.
  33. "Election Notices". Reading Mercury. 26 June 1886. p. 6. Retrieved 10 December 2017 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  34. Who's Who
  35. "British Socialist Party". Manchester Guardian. 13 April 1914.
  36. Craig, Frederick Walter Scott (editor), British Parliamentary Election Results 1918-1949
  37. Report of the Annual Conference of the Labour Party, 1939
  38. Kimber, Richard. "UK General Election results May 1955". Political Science Resources. Retrieved 12 April 2016.
  39. Kimber, Richard. "UK General Election results 1959". Political Science Resources. Retrieved 12 April 2016.
  40. Kimber, Richard. "UK General Election results 1964". Political Science Resources. Retrieved 12 April 2016.
  41. Kimber, Richard. "UK General Election results 1966". Political Science Resources. Retrieved 12 April 2016.
  42. Kimber, Richard. "UK General Election results 1970". Political Science Resources. Retrieved 12 April 2016.

See also
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