Somerton and Frome (UK Parliament constituency)

Somerton and Frome is a constituency[n 1] in Somerset represented in the House of Commons of the UK Parliament since 2023 by Sarah Dyke.

Somerton and Frome
County constituency
for the House of Commons
Outline map
Boundary of Somerton and Frome in Somerset
Outline map
Location of Somerset within England
CountySomerset
Electorate82,150 (December 2010)[1]
Major settlementsFrome, Somerton, Wincanton and Martock
Current constituency
Created1983
Member of ParliamentSarah Dyke (Liberal Democrat)
SeatsOne
Created fromWells and Yeovil[2]

It was formerly represented by David Warburton, who was elected as a Conservative, but latterly sat as an Independent after losing the Conservative whip in April 2022 following allegations of misconduct.[n 2] Warburton resigned as an MP on 17 June 2023, thus triggering the first by-election in this constituency since its creation at the 1983 general election.

Further to the completion of the 2023 Periodic Review of Westminster constituencies, the seat will be subject to major boundary changes, with the town of Frome and surrounding rural areas in the (former) District of Mendip being incorporated into the newly created constituency of Frome and East Somerset. To partly compensate, the towns of Glastonbury and Street will be transferred in from the constituency of Wells (to be renamed Wells and Mendip Hills). As a consequence, the constituency will be renamed Glastonbury and Somerton, to be first contested at the next general election.[3]

Boundaries

1983–1997: The District of Yeovil wards of Blackmoor Vale, Brue, Burrow Hill, Camelot, Cary, Curry Rivel, Islemoor, Ivelchester, Langport and Huish, Martock, Milborne Port, Northstone, Turn Hill, Wessex, and Wincanton, and the District of Mendip wards of Beacon, Beckington and Rode, Coleford, Creech, Frome Badcox, Frome Fromefield, Frome Keyford, Mells, Nordinton, Postlebury, Selwood and Berkley, Stratton, and Vale.

1997–2010: The District of South Somerset wards of Blackmoor Vale, Brue, Burrow Hill, Camelot, Cary, Curry Rivel, Islemoor, Ivelchester, Langport and Huish, Martock, Milborne Port, Northstone, Turn Hill, Wessex, and Wincanton, and the District of Mendip wards of Beacon, Beckington and Rode, Coleford, Creech, Frome Badcox, Frome Fromefield, Frome Keyford, Frome Welshmill, Mells, Nordinton, Postlebury, Stratton, and Vale.

2010–present: The District of South Somerset wards of Blackmoor Vale, Bruton, Burrow Hill, Camelot, Cary, Curry Rivel, Islemoor, Langport and Huish, Martock, Milborne Port, Northstone, Tower, Turn Hill, Wessex, and Wincanton, and the District of Mendip wards of Beacon, Beckington and Rode, Coleford, Creech, Frome Berkley Down, Frome Fromefield, Frome Keyford, Frome Park, Frome Welshmill, Mells, Nordinton, Postlebury, Stratton, and Vale.

The constituency was created in 1983 from parts of the seat of Wells. It covers the east of the district of Mendip and the north of the district of South Somerset.

Constituency profile

This area has a mixed economy, including agriculture and high-tech defence related industries.[4] In November 2012, it had below the national average proportion of jobseekers (3.8%) at 1.6% of the population.[5]

Members of Parliament
ElectionMember[6] Party
1983 Robert Boscawen Conservative
1992 Mark Robinson Conservative
1997 David Heath Liberal Democrat
2015 David Warburton Conservative
April 2022 Independent
2023 by-election Sarah Dyke Liberal Democrat

Elections

Elections in the 2020s
2023 Somerton and Frome by-election[7]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Democrats Sarah Dyke 21,187 54.6 +28.4
Conservative Faye Purbrick 10,179 26.2 -29.6
Green Martin Dimery 3,944 10.2 +5.1
Reform UK Bruce Evans 1,303 3.4 New
Labour Neil Guild 1,009 2.6 -10.3
Independent Rosie Mitchell 635 1.6 New
UKIP Peter Richardson 275 0.7 New
CPA Lorna Corke 256 0.7 New
Majority 11,008 28.4 N/A
Turnout 38,788 44.2 -31.4
Liberal Democrats gain from Conservative Swing +29.0

Elections in the 2010s
General election 2019: Somerton and Frome[8]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative David Warburton 36,230 55.8 –0.9
Liberal Democrats Adam Boyden 17,017 26.2 +5.3
Labour Sean Dromgoole 8,354 12.9 –4.3
Green Andrea Dexter 3,295 5.1 +1.4
Majority 19,213 29.6 –6.2
Turnout 64,896 75.6 –0.2
Conservative hold Swing –3.1
General election 2017: Somerton and Frome[9]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative David Warburton 36,231 56.7 +3.7
Liberal Democrats Mark Blackburn 13,325 20.9 +1.5
Labour Sean Dromgoole 10,998 17.2 +9.9
Green Theo Simon 2,347 3.7 –5.3
Independent Richard Hadwin 991 1.6 New
Majority 22,906 35.8 +2.2
Turnout 63,892 75.8 +3.6
Conservative hold Swing +2.4
General election 2015: Somerton and Frome[10][11][12]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative David Warburton 31,960 53.0 +8.5
Liberal Democrats David Rendel 11,692 19.4 −28.1
UKIP Alan Dimmick 6,439 10.7 +7.5
Green Theo Simon 5,434 9.0 New
Labour David Oakensen 4,419 7.3 +2.9
Independent Ian Angell 365 0.6 New
Majority 20,268 33.6 N/A
Turnout 60,309 72.2 −2.1
Conservative gain from Liberal Democrats Swing +18.3
General election 2010: Somerton and Frome[13]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Democrats David Heath 28,793 47.5 +3.8
Conservative Annunziata Rees-Mogg 26,976 44.5 +1.9
Labour David Oakensen 2,675 4.4 −6.4
UKIP Barry Harding 1,932 3.2 +1.3
Independent Niall Warry 236 0.4 New
Majority 1,817 3.0 +1.9
Turnout 60,612 74.3 +5.1
Liberal Democrats hold Swing +0.9

Elections in the 2000s
General election 2005: Somerton and Frome
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Democrats David Heath 23,759 43.9 +0.3
Conservative Clive Allen 22,947 42.4 0.0
Labour Joseph Pestell 5,865 10.8 −0.8
UKIP Bill Lukins 1,047 1.9 +0.2
Veritas Carl Beaman 484 0.9 New
Majority 812 1.5 +0.3
Turnout 54,102 70.7 +1.4
Liberal Democrats hold Swing +0.2
General election 2001: Somerton and Frome
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Democrats David Heath 22,983 43.6 +4.1
Conservative Jonathan Marland 22,315 42.4 +3.1
Labour Andy Perkins 6,113 11.6 −4.7
UKIP Peter Bridgwood 919 1.7 +1.1
Liberal Jean Pollock 354 0.7 New
Majority 668 1.2 +1.0
Turnout 52,684 69.3 −8.0
Liberal Democrats hold Swing

Elections in the 1990s
General election 1997: Somerton and Frome
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Democrats David Heath 22,684 39.5 −0.7
Conservative Mark Robinson 22,554 39.3 −8.2
Labour Robert Ashford 9,385 16.3 +5.9
Referendum Robert Rodwell 2,449 4.3 New
UKIP R.P. Gadd 331 0.6 New
Majority 130 0.2 N/A
Turnout 57,403 77.3 −5.4
Liberal Democrats gain from Conservative Swing
General election 1992: Somerton and Frome[14]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Mark Robinson 28,052 47.5 −6.2
Liberal Democrats David Heath 23,711 40.2 +3.9
Labour Robert Ashford 6,154 10.4 +0.4
Green Ms. LA Graham 742 1.3 New
Liberal Ms. J Pollock 388 0.7 New
Majority 4,341 7.3 −10.1
Turnout 59,047 82.7 +3.3
Conservative hold Swing −5.1

Elections in the 1980s
General election 1987: Somerton and Frome
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Robert Boscawen 29,351 53.7 -0.7
Liberal R.G. Morgan 19,813 36.3 +0.5
Labour I.S. Kelly 5,461 10.0 +0.2
Majority 9,538 17.4 -1.2
Turnout 54,625 79.4 +2.7
Conservative hold Swing -0.6
General election 1983: Somerton and Frome
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Robert Boscawen 26,988 54.4
SDP N Hinton 17,761 35.8
Labour JB Osborn 4,867 9.8
Majority 9,227 18.6
Turnout 49,616 76.7
Conservative win (new seat)

See also

Notes
  1. A county constituency (for the purposes of election expenses and type of returning officer)
  2. As with all constituencies, the constituency elects one Member of Parliament (MP) by the first past the post system of election at least every five years.

References
  1. "Electorate Figures - Boundary Commission for England". 2011 Electorate Figures. Boundary Commission for England. 4 March 2011. Archived from the original on 6 November 2010. Retrieved 13 March 2011.
  2. "'Somerton and Frome', June 1983 up to May 1997". ElectionWeb Project. Cognitive Computing Limited. Retrieved 14 March 2016.
  3. "The 2023 Review of Parliamentary Constituency Boundaries in England – Volume one: Report – South West | Boundary Commission for England". boundarycommissionforengland.independent.gov.uk. Retrieved 2 August 2023.
  4. "BBC NEWS | VOTE 2001 | RESULTS & CONSTITUENCIES | Somerton & Frome". news.bbc.co.uk. Retrieved 17 June 2023.
  5. Unemployment claimants by constituency The Guardian
  6. "Somerton and Frome". Guardian. Retrieved 17 September 2012.
  7. "Somerton and Frome by-election candidates named".
  8. "Statement of Persons Nominated" (PDF).
  9. "Parliamentary Constituencies Election Results-Thursday, 8 June 2017" (PDF). South Somerset District Council. 9 June 2017. Retrieved 12 February 2019.
  10. "Election Data 2015". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 17 October 2015. Retrieved 17 October 2015.
  11. "Somerton & Frome". Election 2015. BBC. Retrieved 8 June 2015.
  12. "UK Polling Report".
  13. "Somerton & Frome". Election 2010. BBC. Retrieved 1 October 2010.
  14. "Politics Resources". Election 1992. Politics Resources. 9 April 1992. Retrieved 6 December 2010.

51.1000°N 2.5100°W / 51.1000; -2.5100

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