Weston-super-Mare (UK Parliament constituency)

Weston-super-Mare is a constituency[n 1] represented in the House of Commons of the UK Parliament since 2005 by John Penrose, a Conservative.[n 2]

Weston-super-Mare
County constituency
for the House of Commons
Outline map
Boundary of Weston-super-Mare in Somerset
Outline map
Location of Somerset within England
CountySomerset
Electorate79,819 (2018)[1]
Major settlementsWeston-super-Mare
Current constituency
Created1918
Member of ParliamentJohn Penrose (Conservative)
SeatsOne
Created frompart North Somerset, part Wells

History

The seat was created under the Representation of the People Act 1918. Its forerunner was the North Somerset division created in 1885.

The by-election of 1934 was triggered by the acceptance of the appointment of Lord Erskine to the position of Governor of Madras Presidency, that of 1958 by the death of Ian Orr-Ewing and that of 1969 by the death of David Webster.

Political history

The seat has alternated in representation between 1992 and 2005: in the election of 1997 the fresh Conservative candidate, Margaret Daly failed to hold the seat which led to Weston Super Mare's first marginal majority since 1923, obtained by Brian Cotter, a Liberal Democrat. Between 1997 and 2010, all the majorities in the constituency were lower than 3,000 votes, remaining strongly marginal and seeing in 2005 Cotter lose the seat to John Penrose. Following the 2015 election however, the seat moved strongly towards the Conservatives, who have increased their share of the vote in every subsequent election. At the 2019 election, Penrose gained a 17,121 over the now second place Labour candidate.

Frontbenchers

Boundaries

1918–1950: The Urban Districts of Clevedon, Portishead, and Weston-super-Mare, and the Rural Districts of Axbridge and Long Ashton.

1950–1983: The Borough of Weston-super-Mare, the Urban District of Clevedon, the Rural District of Axbridge, and in the Rural District of Long Ashton the parishes of Kenn, Kingston Seymour, and Yatton.

1983–1997: The District of Woodspring wards of Banwell, Blagdon, Churchill, Congresbury, Hutton, Locking, Weston-super-Mare Ashcombe, Weston-super-Mare East, Weston-super-Mare Ellenborough, Weston-super-Mare North, Weston-super-Mare South, Weston-super-Mare Uphill, Weston-super-Mare West, Winscombe, Wrington, and Yatton.

1997–2010: The District of Woodspring wards of Banwell, Blagdon, Churchill, Congresbury, Hutton, Locking, Weston-super-Mare Ashcombe, Weston-super-Mare East, Weston-super-Mare Ellenborough, Weston-super-Mare North, Weston-super-Mare South, Weston-super-Mare Uphill, Weston-super-Mare West, and Winscombe.

2010–present: The District of North Somerset wards of Banwell and Winscombe, Blagdon and Churchill, Congresbury, Hutton and Locking, Kewstoke, Weston-super-Mare Central, Weston-super-Mare Clarence and Uphill, Weston-super-Mare East, Weston-super-Mare Milton and Old Worle, Weston-super-Mare North Worle, Weston-super-Mare South, Weston-super-Mare South Worle, and Weston-super-Mare West.

The constituency covers the southern half of North Somerset Unitary Authority, including its only town, Weston-super-Mare on the Bristol Channel.

History of boundaries
Changes for 1950

Under the first periodic review the Weston constituency lost the Urban District of Portishead, and most of the Rural District of Long Ashton (excepting the parishes of Kenn, Kingston Seymour, and Yatton) to North Somerset constituency.

Changes for 1983

Under the third periodic review the Weston constituency lost Clevedon to Woodspring constituency, and the parishes now within the Sedgemoor district (under the Local Government Act 1972) to Wells constituency.

Changes for 1997

Under the fourth periodic review the Weston constituency lost Yatton and Wrington to Woodspring constituency.

Changes for 2010

Parliament accepted the Boundary Commission's Fifth Periodic Review of Westminster constituencies by making slight changes to this constituency for the 2010 general election, namely the loss of only 181 electors in Butcombe (in the ward of Wrington, no longer in the seat at all) to North Somerset.

Constituency profile

The town grew as a relatively late-Victorian affluent resort with many green spaces and gardens south of the headland, Sand Point which denotes the sandier beach of the town and of Burnham on Sea relative to northerly shores such as at Clevedon.

Work in tourism and visitor attractions is seasonal but other areas of the economy locally, such as customer services operations, freight, haulage and distribution, social, care, elderly and health services as well as retail, manufacturing and materials/foods processing provide employment. Workless claimants who were registered jobseekers were in November 2012 lower than the national average of 3.8%, at 3.5% of the population based on a statistical compilation by The Guardian.[2]

Members of Parliament
ElectionMember[3]Party
1918 Sir Gilbert Wills Conservative
1922 Lord Erskine[n 3] Conservative
1923 Frank Murrell Liberal
1924 Lord Erskine Conservative
1934 by-election Ian Orr-Ewing Conservative
1958 by-election David Webster Conservative
1969 by-election Jerry Wiggin Conservative
1997 Brian Cotter Liberal Democrat
2005 John Penrose Conservative

Elections

Elections in the 2010s
General election 2019: Weston-super-Mare[4]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative John Penrose 31,983 57.5 +4.4
Labour Tim Taylor 14,862 26.7 –6.0
Liberal Democrats Patrick Keating 6,935 12.5 +3.3
Green Suneil Basu 1,834 3.3 +1.7
Majority 17,121 30.8 +10.4
Turnout 55,614 67.4 –1.3
Conservative hold Swing +5.2
General election 2017: Weston-super-Mare[5][6]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative John Penrose 29,982 53.1 +5.1
Labour Tim Taylor 18,438 32.7 +14.4
Liberal Democrats Mike Bell 5,175 9.2 –1.2
UKIP Helen Hims 1,932 3.4 –14.4
Green Suneil Basu 888 1.6 –3.3
Majority 11,544 20.4 –9.3
Turnout 56,415 68.7 +2.7
Conservative hold Swing –4.6
General election 2015: Weston-super-Mare[7]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative John Penrose 25,203 48.0 +3.7
Labour Tim Taylor 9,594 18.3 +7.4
UKIP Ernie Warrender 9,366 17.8 +15.1
Liberal Democrats John Munro 5,486 10.4 –28.8
Green Richard Lawson 2,592 4.9 New
English Democrat Ronald Lavelle 311 0.6 +0.1
Majority 15,609 29.7 +24.6
Turnout 52,552 66.0 –1.2
Conservative hold Swing
General election 2010: Weston-super-Mare[8]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative John Penrose 23,356 44.3 +4.0
Liberal Democrats Mike Bell 20,665 39.2 +3.1
Labour David Bradley 5,772 10.9 –7.8
UKIP Paul Spencer 1,406 2.7 +0.2
BNP Peryn Parsons 1,098 2.1 +0.5
English Democrat John Peverelle 275 0.5 New
Independent Steve Satch 144 0.3 New
Majority 2,691 5.1 +0.9
Turnout 52,716 67.2 +1.7
Conservative hold Swing +0.4

Elections in the 2000s
General election 2005: Weston-super-Mare[9]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative John Penrose 19,804 40.3 +1.6
Liberal Democrats Brian Cotter 17,725 36.1 −3.4
Labour Damien Egan 9,169 18.7 −1.1
UKIP Paul Spencer 1,207 2.5 +1.1
BNP Clive Courtney 778 1.6 New
Independent William Human 225 0.5 New
Demanding Honesty in Politics and Whitehall Paul Hemingway-Arnold 187 0.4 New
Majority 2,079 4.2 N/A
Turnout 49,095 65.5 +2.7
Conservative gain from Liberal Democrats Swing +2.5
General election 2001: Weston-super-Mare[9]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Democrats Brian Cotter 18,424 39.5 –0.6
Conservative John Penrose 18,086 38.7 +1.0
Labour Derek Kraft 9,235 19.8 +1.9
UKIP Bill Lukins 650 1.4 New
Independent John Peverelle 206 0.4 New
Independent Richard Sibley 79 0.2 New
Majority 338 0.8 –1.6
Turnout 46,680 62.8 –10.9
Liberal Democrats hold Swing –0.8

Elections in the 1990s
General election 1997: Weston-super-Mare[9]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Democrats Brian Cotter 21,407 40.1 +0.8
Conservative Margaret Daly 20,133 37.7 -10.0
Labour Derek Kraft 9,557 17.9 +6.9
Referendum Tom Sewell 2,280 4.3 New
Majority 1,274 2.4 N/A
Turnout 53,377 73.7 -6.0
Liberal Democrats gain from Conservative Swing
General election 1992: Weston-super-Mare[9][10]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Jerry Wiggin 30,022 47.7 −1.7
Liberal Democrats Brian Cotter 24,680 39.3 +3.7
Labour David E. Murray 6,913 11.0 −0.4
Green Richard Lawson 1,262 2.0 −1.6
Majority 5,342 8.4 −5.4
Turnout 62,877 79.7 +4.0
Conservative hold Swing −2.7

Elections in the 1980s
General election 1987: Weston-super-Mare
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Jerry Wiggin 28,547 49.4 -4.2
SDP John Crockford-Hawley 20,549 35.6 +0.2
Labour Co-op Paul Loach 6,584 11.4 +0.3
Green Richard Lawson 2,067 3.6 New
Majority 7,998 13.8 -4.4
Turnout 57,747 75.7 +2.6
Conservative hold Swing
General election 1983: Weston-super-Mare
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Jerry Wiggin 27,948 53.6
SDP Jonathan Marks 18,457 35.4
Labour Roger Berry 5,781 11.1
Majority 9,491 18.2
Turnout 52,186 73.1
Conservative hold Swing

Elections in the 1970s
General election 1979: Weston-super-Mare
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Jerry Wiggin 40,618 56.9 +8.1
Liberal Rowland Morgan 16,305 22.9 -5.7
Labour Co-op Alan Taylor 14,420 20.2 -1.9
Majority 24,313 34.0 +13.8
Turnout 71,343 77.5 +2.7
Conservative hold Swing
General election October 1974: Weston-super-Mare
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Jerry Wiggin 31,028 48.8 -1.2
Liberal Roger Miller 18,169 28.6 -1.3
Labour Co-op Peter Owen 14,057 22.1 +2.1
United Democratic Eric Iszatt 296 0.5 New
Majority 12,859 20.2 +0.1
Turnout 63,550 74.8 -5.3
Conservative hold Swing
General election February 1974: Weston-super-Mare
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Jerry Wiggin 33,838 50.0 -7.9
Liberal Philip Golding 20,237 29.9 +12.6
Labour Co-op Roy Morris 13,542 20.0 -4.8
Majority 13,601 20.1 -13.0
Turnout 67,617 80.1 +6.4
Conservative hold Swing
General election 1970: Weston-super-Mare
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Jerry Wiggin 33,816 57.9 +5.8
Labour Sarah Palmer 14,473 24.8 -4.0
Liberal Edward Deal 10,120 17.3 -1.8
Majority 19,343 33.1 +9.8
Turnout 58,409 73.7 -4.8
Conservative hold Swing

Elections in the 1960s
1969 Weston-super-Mare by-election
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Jerry Wiggin 29,211 65.7 +13.6
Liberal Edward Deal 8,739 19.7 +0.6
Labour Nicholas Bosanquet 6,504 14.6 -14.2
Majority 20,472 46.0 +22.7
Turnout 44,454 60.8 -17.7
Conservative hold Swing
General election 1966: Weston-super-Mare
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative David Webster 27,733 52.1 -1.0
Labour Co-op Melvyn Butcher 15,340 28.8 +4.9
Liberal Ian McDonald 10,173 19.1 -3.9
Majority 12,393 23.3 -5.9
Turnout 53,246 78.5 -0.5
Conservative hold Swing
General election 1964: Weston-super-Mare[11]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative David Webster 27,143 53.1 -4.4
Labour Co-op Jessie Stephen 12,248 23.9 +1.2
Liberal Ian McDonald 11,771 23.0 +3.2
Majority 14,895 29.2 -5.6
Turnout 51,162 79.0 -0.7
Conservative hold Swing

Elections in the 1950s
General election 1959: Weston-super-Mare
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative David Webster 27,881 57.5 -5.2
Labour Edward Hampton 10,977 22.7 -14.6
Liberal Edward Taylor 9,609 19.8 N/A
Majority 16,904 34.8 +9.4
Turnout 48,467 79.7 +5.9
Conservative hold Swing
1958 Weston-super-Mare by-election
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative David Webster 21,271 49.3 -13.4
Labour Edward Hampton 11,295 26.2 -11.1
Liberal Edward Taylor 10,588 24.5 New
Majority 9,976 23.1 -2.3
Turnout 43,154 72.2 -1.6
Conservative hold Swing
General election 1955: Weston-super-Mare
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Ian Orr-Ewing 27,357 62.7 -3.0
Labour Robert Andrews 16,275 37.3 +3.0
Majority 11,082 25.4 -6.0
Turnout 43,632 73.8 -5.9
Conservative hold Swing
General election 1951: Weston-super-Mare
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Ian Orr-Ewing 30,485 65.7 +9.3
Labour Robert Andrews 15,942 34.3 +6.3
Majority 14,543 31.4 -22.2
Turnout 46,427 79.7 -3.4
Conservative hold Swing
General election 1950: Weston-super-Mare
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Ian Orr-Ewing 26,767 56.4
Labour Michael Hill 13,294 28.0
Liberal Frederick Archie Kew 7,394 15.6
Majority 13,473 53.6
Turnout 47,455 83.1
Conservative hold Swing

Elections in the 1940s
General election 1945: Weston-super-Mare
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Ian Orr-Ewing 30,730 49.5 -16.2
Labour Hugh Cardew 20,542 33.1 +15.4
Liberal Stanley Sanger 10,804 17.4 -1.3
Majority 10,188 16.4 -30.6
Turnout 62,076 73.7 +7.3
Conservative hold Swing

Elections in the 1930s
General election 1935: Weston-super-Mare
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Ian Orr-Ewing 27,735 65.7 -20.0
Liberal Henry Scott-Stokes 7,883 18.7 N/A
Labour George Elvin 6,625 15.7 +1.4
Majority 19,852 47.0 -24.4
Turnout 42,243 66.4 -5.4
Conservative hold Swing
1934 Weston-super-Mare by-election
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Ian Orr-Ewing 21,203 61.5 -24.2
Liberal Henry Scott-Stokes 7,551 21.9 New
Labour Albert Edward Millett 5,715 16.6 +2.3
Majority 13,652 39.6 -31.8
Turnout 34,469
Conservative hold Swing
General election 1931: Weston-super-Mare
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative John Erskine 35,255 85.7 +33.5
Labour Bernard Craig 5,905 14.3 +3.4
Majority 29,350 71.4 +55.2
Turnout 41,160 71.8 -8.2
Conservative hold Swing

Elections in the 1920s
General election 1929: Weston-super-Mare
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Unionist John Erskine 21,898 51.1 -4.7
Liberal William Morse 16,219 37.8 -2.2
Labour Constance Elizabeth Borrett 4,766 11.1 +6.9
Majority 5,679 13.3 -2.5
Turnout 42,883 77.8 -2.1
Unionist hold Swing -0.3
General election 1924: Weston-super-Mare
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Unionist John Erskine 17,987 55.8 +7.3
Liberal Frank Murrell 12,895 40.0 -11.5
Labour Raphael Neft 1,343 4.2 New
Majority 5,092 15.8 N/A
Turnout 32,225 81.7
Conservative gain from Liberal Swing
General election 1923: Weston-super-Mare
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Frank Murrell 15,223 51.5 +6.6
Unionist John Erskine 14,318 48.5 -6.6
Majority 905 3.0 N/A
Turnout 29,541
Liberal gain from Unionist Swing +6.6
General election 1922: Weston-super-Mare
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Unionist John Erskine 15,552 55.1 -10.4
Liberal Frank Murrell 12,674 44.9 +10.4
Majority 2,878 10.2 -20.8
Turnout 28,226
Unionist hold Swing

Elections in the 1910s
General election 1918: Weston-super-Mare
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
C Unionist Gilbert Wills 13,494 65.5
Liberal Edmund Thruston 7,104 34.5
Majority 6,390 31.0
Turnout 20,598
Unionist win (new seat)
C indicates candidate endorsed by the coalition government.

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.
  3. Heir to the Earl of Mar, however predeceased his father. This title has a subsidiary title gained by one of the clan's forebears, remaining as a courtesy title, Lord Erskine, which attaches to its current holder's eldest son.

References
  1. "England Parliamentary electorates 2010-2018". Boundary Commission for England. Retrieved 23 March 2019.
  2. Unemployment claimants by constituency The Guardian
  3. "Weston-super-Mare 1918–". Parliamentary Debates (Hansard). Retrieved 6 October 2012.
  4. "Statement of Persons Nominated" (PDF).
  5. Robinson, Sarah. "General Election 2017: Who is standing in the Weston-super-Mare constituency?". Weston Mercury.
  6. "Weston-Super-Mare". BBC. Retrieved 9 June 2017.
  7. "Election Data 2015". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 17 October 2015. Retrieved 17 October 2015.
  8. "Election Data 2010". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 26 July 2013. Retrieved 17 October 2015.
  9. "Weston-Super-Mare". The Guardian. Retrieved 27 December 2010.
  10. "Politics Resources". Election 1992. Politics Resources. 9 April 1992. Retrieved 6 December 2010.
  11. "Stephen, Miss Jessie 8SUF/B/157". The National Archives. 1 July 1977. Retrieved 7 December 2012.

Sources
  • The Constitutional Year Book for 1913 (London: National Union of Conservative and Unionist Associations, 1913)
  • F W S Craig, British Parliamentary Election Results 1832–1885 (2nd edition, Aldershot: Parliamentary Research Services, 1989)
  • Michael Kinnear, The British Voter (London: BH Batsford, Ltd, 1968)
  • Henry Pelling, Social Geography of British Elections 1885–1910 (London: Macmillan, 1967)
  • Frederic A Youngs, jr, Guide to the Local Administrative Units of England, Vol I (London: Royal Historical Society, 1979)
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