South Swindon (UK Parliament constituency)

South Swindon is a constituency[n 1] in the Borough of Swindon, Wiltshire, represented in the House of Commons of the UK Parliament since 2010 by Sir Robert Buckland, a Conservative[n 2], who previously served as Justice Secretary and Welsh Secretary.

South Swindon
County constituency
for the House of Commons
Outline map
Boundary of South Swindon in Wiltshire
Outline map
Location of Wiltshire within England
CountyWiltshire
Electorate73,449 (December 2010)[1]
Current constituency
Created1997
Member of ParliamentRobert Buckland (Conservative)
SeatsOne
Created fromSwindon and Devizes

Further to the completion of the 2023 Periodic Review of Westminster constituencies, the seat will be formally renamed Swindon South, to be first contested at the next general election.[2]

Boundaries

1997–2010: The Borough of Thamesdown wards of Central, Chiseldon, Dorcan, Eastcott, Freshbrook, Lawns, Park, Ridgeway, Toothill, Walcot, and Wroughton.

2010–present: The Borough of Swindon wards of Central, Dorcan, Eastcott, Freshbrook and Grange Park, Old Town and Lawn, Parks, Ridgeway, Shaw and Nine Elms, Toothill and Westlea, Walcot, and Wroughton and Chiseldon.

The constituency was created in 1997 from parts of the seats of Swindon that was abolished, and Devizes that remains. This seat with a population of around 93,000 incorporates the southern half of the town as well as farms and villages with hamlets to the immediate south and east of Swindon.

It used slightly amended boundaries for the 2010 election, which saw it lose South Marston to North Swindon. The border now runs from Dorcan across to Bishopstone and then down to Russley Park before running west to Barbury Castle. From there it runs north to the Roughmoor area and loops back down to incorporate West Swindon, before following the railway line east through the town and back to Dorcan. In addition to the south of Swindon, main settlements include Wroughton, Chiseldon, Wanborough and Liddington.[3]

History

Historically Swindon is a railway town and until the latter part of the 20th century the related works were the primary employer.[4] Today Swindon is the home of a number of large companies, examples specific to South Swindon include Intel's European headquarters,[5] Nationwide's headquarters[6] and Zurich Financial Services' UK headquarters.

Members

Created in 1997, the Swindon South constituency, swinging in line with the national average in the New Labour landslide, produced a fairly safe majority for the Labour winner. Julia Drown had a lead of more than 5,000 which was extended in 2001 to more than 7,000 but then dropped dramatically on a new candidate's selection, to just 1,353 in 2005. In 2010 Robert Buckland, a Conservative, gained South Swindon at the general election with a majority of just over 3500. In 2015, the Conservative majority increased to 5785; in 2017, the Conservative majority fell to 2,464 on a 3.5% swing to Labour. In 2019, Buckland's majority rose to 6625 (13%) and 52% of the vote with a swing of 4.1% to Conservative. These patterns suggest a seat that is more marginal than its neighbour North Swindon, and one which has acted as a bellwether of the national result. Incumbent MP Buckland was the Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State for Justice between July 2019 and September 2021, and Secretary of State for Wales from July 2022.

Members of Parliament
ElectionMember[7] Party
1997 Julia Drown Labour
2005 Anne Snelgrove Labour
2010 Robert Buckland Conservative

Elections

Elections in the 2010s
General election 2019: South Swindon[8][9]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Robert Buckland 26,536 52.3 Increase3.9
Labour Co-op Sarah Church 19,911 39.2 Decrease4.3
Liberal Democrats Stan Pajak 4,299 8.5 Increase4.4
Majority 6,625 13.1 Increase8.2
Turnout 50,746 69.4 Decrease1.6
Conservative hold Swing Increase4.1
General election 2017: South Swindon[10]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Robert Buckland 24,809 48.4 Increase2.2
Labour Co-op Sarah Church 22,345 43.5 Increase9.0
Liberal Democrats Stan Pajak 2,079 4.1 Increase0.4
UKIP Martin Costello 1,291 2.5 Decrease9.5
Green Talis Kimberley-Fairbourn 747 1.5 Decrease2.1
Majority 2,464 4.9 Decrease6.8
Turnout 51,358 71.0 Increase3.4
Conservative hold Swing Decrease3.5
See also: Opinion polling in United Kingdom constituencies, 2010–15 § South Swindon
General election 2015: South Swindon[11]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Robert Buckland 22,777 46.2 Increase4.4
Labour Anne Snelgrove 16,992 34.5 Increase0.2
UKIP John Short[12] 5,920 12.0 Increase7.7
Liberal Democrats Damon Hooton[13] 1,817 3.7 Decrease13.9
Green Talis Kimberley-Fairbourn[14] 1,757 3.6 Increase2.3
Majority 5,785 11.7 Increase4.2
Turnout 49,263 66.6 Increase1.7
Conservative hold Swing Increase2.1
General election 2010: South Swindon[15][16]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Robert Buckland 19,687 41.8 Increase4.9
Labour Anne Snelgrove 16,143 34.3 Decrease6.2
Liberal Democrats Damon Hooton 8,305 17.6 Increase0.6
UKIP Robert Tingley 2,029 4.3 Increase2.1
Green Jenni Miles 619 1.3 Decrease1.6
Christian Alistair Kirk 176 0.4 New
Independent Karsten Evans 160 0.3 New
Majority 3,544 7.5 N/A
Turnout 47,119 64.9 Increase5.9
Conservative gain from Labour Swing Increase5.51

Elections in the 2000s
General election 2005: South Swindon[17]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Anne Snelgrove 17,534 40.3 Decrease11.0
Conservative Robert Buckland 16,181 37.2 Increase2.8
Liberal Democrats Sue Stebbing 7,322 16.8 Increase4.9
Green Bill Hughes 1,234 2.8 New
UKIP Stephen Halden 955 2.2 Increase0.6
Independent Alan Hayward 193 0.4 New
Independent John Williams 53 0.1 New
Majority 1,353 3.1 Decrease13.8
Turnout 43,472 60.2 Decrease0.8
Labour hold Swing Decrease6.9
General election 2001: South Swindon[18]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Julia Drown 22,260 51.3 Increase4.5
Conservative Simon Coombs 14,919 34.4 Decrease1.4
Liberal Democrats Geoff Brewer 5,165 11.9 Decrease2.5
UKIP Vicki Sharp 713 1.6 New
Rock 'n' Roll Loony Roly Gillard 327 0.8 New
Majority 7,341 16.9 Increase5.9
Turnout 43,384 61.0 Decrease11.9
Labour hold Swing

Elections in the 1990s
General election 1997: South Swindon[19]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Julia Drown 23,943 46.8
Conservative Simon Coombs 18,298 35.8
Liberal Democrats Stanley Pajak 7,371 14.4
Referendum David McIntosh 1,273 2.5
Independent Richard Charman 181 0.2
Natural Law Keith Buscombe 96 0.2
Majority 5,645 11.0
Turnout 51,162 72.9
Labour win (new seat)

Neighbouring constituencies

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. "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.
  3. "2010 post-revision map non-metropolitan areas and unitary authorities of England" (PDF).
  4. "Swindon History - the GWR Works - SwindonWeb". www.swindonweb.com.
  5. "!company_name! - Company Profile from Hoover's".
  6. "About Nationwide - Accessibility - Admin centres". Archived from the original on 14 May 2006.
  7. Leigh Rayment's Historical List of MPs – Constituencies beginning with "S" (part 6)
  8. Council, Swindon Borough. "Statement of Persons Nominated, Notice of Poll and Situation of Polling Stations South Swindon | Swindon Borough Council". www.swindon.gov.uk. Retrieved 16 November 2019.
  9. "Swindon South parliamentary constituency - Election 2019 - BBC News".
  10. "Labour announce candidate to contest General Election in South Swindon". Swindon Advertiser.
  11. "Election Data 2015". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 17 October 2015. Retrieved 17 October 2015.
  12. "UKIP names general election candidates". Swindon Advertiser.
  13. "General Election 2015 Candidates - Liberal Democrats". Archived from the original on 13 April 2014.
  14. "General Election 2015". southwest.greenparty.org.uk.
  15. "Election Data 2010". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 26 July 2013. Retrieved 17 October 2015.
  16. Taylor, Stephen P (20 April 2010). "Statement of Persons Nominated and Notice of Poll" (PDF). Returning Officer. Swindone Borough Council. Retrieved 21 April 2010.
  17. "Election Data 2005". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
  18. "Election Data 2001". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
  19. "Election Data 1997". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.

51.559°N 1.782°W / 51.559; -1.782

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