Forest of Dean (UK Parliament constituency)

Forest of Dean
County constituency
for the House of Commons
Outline map
Boundary of Forest of Dean in Gloucestershire for the 2010 general election.
Outline map
Location of Gloucestershire within England.
County Gloucestershire
Electorate 68,703 (December 2010)[1]
Current constituency
Created 1997
Member of parliament Mark Harper (Conservative)
Number of members One
Created from West Gloucestershire
1885–1950
Number of members One
Replaced by West Gloucestershire
Overlaps
European Parliament constituency South West England

Forest of Dean is a parliamentary constituency[n 1] represented in the House of Commons of the UK Parliament since 2005 by Mark Harper, a Conservative.[n 2]

Boundaries

1885-1918: The Sessional Divisions of Coleford, Lydney, Newent, and Newnham.

1918-1950: The Urban Districts of Awre, Coleford, Newnham, and Westbury-on-Severn, the Rural Districts of East Dean and United Parishes, Lydney, Newent, and West Dean, and part of the Rural District of Gloucester.

1997-2010: The District of Forest of Dean, and the Borough of Tewkesbury wards of Haw Bridge and Highnam.

2010-present: The District of Forest of Dean, and the Borough of Tewkesbury ward of Highnam with Haw Bridge. The constituency boundaries remained unchanged.

History

This seat was created for the 1885 general election (replacing the two-seat constituency of West Gloucestershire under the Redistribution of Seats Act 1885), was redrawn for the 1918 general election, and abolished for the 1950 general election. It was re-created, with different boundaries, for the 1997 general election, and has thus far not undergone any boundary changes.

Constituency profile

The Forest of Dean constituency covers Gloucestershire west of the river Severn, and lies in the south west of England, near the Welsh border.

The core of the constituency consists of the Royal Forest of Dean itself, which was established by William the Conqueror nearly a thousand years ago and is one of the last surviving Royal Forests in England. The seat has a rich industrial and mining history, evidenced by the market towns of Coleford and Cinderford, and the old port of Lydney from where coal mined in the Forest of Dean Coalfield would start its journey to all parts of the world. The Dean's rich industrial heritage and spectacular natural beauty unsurprisingly means tourism is an increasingly important aspect of Forest life.

The Wye Valley forms the western border of the Forest and is an area of outstanding natural beauty, whilst the Leadon Valley forms the northern portion of the constituency. The Vale consists of quintessentially unspoilt English countryside with rolling farmland centred on the picturesque Tudor town of Newent, and also produces fine English wine.

The constituency also includes parishes from Tewkesbury district, including Forthampton, Chaceley Hole, Hasfield, Ashleworth and Highnam.

Members of Parliament

MPs 1885–1950

ElectionMember[2]Party
1885 Thomas Blake Liberal
1887 Godfrey Samuelson Liberal
1892 Sir Charles Dilke Liberal
1911 Sir Henry Webb Liberal
1918 James Wignall Labour
1925 A. A. Purcell Labour
1929 David Vaughan Labour
1931 John Worthington National Labour
1935 M. Philips Price Labour
1950 constituency abolished

MPs since 1997

ElectionMember[2]Party
1997 Diana Organ Labour
2005 Mark Harper Conservative

Elections

Elections in the 2010s

General Election 2017: Forest of Dean[3]
Party Candidate Votes % ±
Conservative Mark Harper 28,096 54.3 +7.4
Labour Shaun Stammers 18,594 35.9 +11.3
Liberal Democrat Janet Ellard 2,029 3.9 −1.4
Green James Greenwood 1,241 2.4 −3.1
UKIP Ernie Warrender 1,237 2.4 −15.4
Independent Julian Burrett 570 1.1 N/A
Majority 9,502 18.4 −3.8
Turnout 51,767 73.0 +2.1
Registered electors 70,898
Conservative hold Swing −1.9
General Election 2015: Forest of Dean[4][5]
Party Candidate Votes % ±
Conservative Mark Harper[6] 23,191 46.8 0.0
Labour Steve Parry-Hearn[6] 12,204 24.6 +0.5
UKIP Steve Stanbury 8,792 17.8 +12.6
Green James Greenwood 2,703 5.5 +3.6
Liberal Democrat Christopher Coleman 2,630 5.3 −16.6
Majority 10,987 22.2 −0.5
Turnout 49,520 70.9 −0.4
Registered electors 69,865
Conservative hold Swing −0.3
General Election 2010: Forest of Dean[7]
Party Candidate Votes % ±
Conservative Mark Harper 22,853 46.9 +6.0
Labour Bruce Hogan 11,789 24.2 −12.4
Liberal Democrat Christopher Coleman 10,676 21.9 +4.7
UKIP Tim Congdon 2,522 5.2 +2.8
Green James Greenwood 923 1.9 −0.2
Majority 11,064 22.7 +18.4
Turnout 48,763 71.3 +0.4
Registered electors 68,419
Conservative hold Swing +9.2

Elections in the 2000s

General Election 2005: Forest of Dean[8]
Party Candidate Votes % ±
Conservative Mark Harper 19,474 40.9 +2.1
Labour Isabel Owen 17,425 36.6 −6.8
Liberal Democrat Christopher Coleman 8,185 17.2 +4.3
UKIP Patricia Hill 1,140 2.4 +0.9
Green Stephen Tweedie 991 2.1 −0.7
Independent Anthony Reeve 300 0.6 -
English Democrat Gerald Morgan 125 0.3 −0.4
Majority 2,049 4.3 −0.3
Turnout 47,640 70.8 +3.5
Registered electors 67,241
Conservative gain from Labour Swing +4.4
General Election 2001: Forest of Dean[9]
Party Candidate Votes % ±
Labour Diana Organ 19,350 43.4 −4.8
Conservative Mark Harper 17,301 38.8 +3.2
Liberal Democrat David Gayler 5,762 12.9 +0.6
Green Simon Pickering 1,254 2.8 -
UKIP Allen Prout 661 1.5 -
Independent Gerald Morgan 279 0.6 +0.2
Majority 2,049 4.6 +4.4
Turnout 44,607 67.3 −11.7
Registered electors 66,240
Labour hold Swing −4.0

Election in the 1990s

General Election 1997: Forest of Dean[10][11]
Party Candidate Votes % ±
Labour Diana Organ 24,203 48.2 +5.8
Conservative Paul Marland 17,860 35.6 −5.5
Liberal Democrat Anthony Lynch 6,165 12.3 −3.8
Referendum Dominic Hopkins 1,624 3.2 -
Independent Gerald Morgan 218 0.4 -
Independent Colin Palmer 80 0.2 -
Independent Stephen Porter 34 0.1 -
Majority 6,343 12.6 +11.2
Turnout 50,184 79.1 −4.0
Registered electors 63,465
Labour win (new seat)

Election in the 1940s

General Election 1945: Forest of Dean
Party Candidate Votes % ±
Labour M. Philips Price 19,721 65.2 +7.6
Independent John Brown 10,529 34.8 -
Majority 9,192 30.4 +15.2
Turnout 30,250 70.9 −6.4
Registered electors 42,667
Labour hold

Elections in the 1930s

General Election 1935: Forest of Dean
Party Candidate Votes % ±
Labour M. Philips Price 16,768 57.6 +10.3
National Labour John Worthington 12,337 42.4 −10.3
Majority 4,431 15.2 +9.8
Turnout 29,105 77.3 +0.4
Registered electors 37,643
Labour gain from National Labour Swing +10.3
General Election 1931: Forest of Dean
Party Candidate Votes % ±
National Labour John Worthington 14,815 52.7 -
Labour David Vaughan 13,291 47.3 −4.8
Majority 1,524 5.4 −20.3
Turnout 28,106 76.9 +3.6
Registered electors 36,547
National Labour gain from Labour

Elections in the 1920s

General Election 1929: Forest of Dean [12]
Party Candidate Votes % ±
Labour David Vaughan 13,976 52.1 +3.7
Unionist William Mitchell-Cotts 7,092 26.5 −9.4
Liberal Joseph W Westwood 5,738 21.4 +5.7
Majority 6,884 25.7 +13.1
Turnout 26,806 73.3 −7.5
Registered electors 36,563
Labour hold Swing +6.5
Purcell
Forest of Dean by-election, 1925[13][12]
Party Candidate Votes % ±
Labour A. A. Purcell 11,629 48.4 −4.7
Unionist Michael Beaumont 8,607 35.8 −11.0
Liberal W.H. West 3,774 15.7 -
Majority 3,022 12.6 +6.3
Turnout 24,010 80.9 +10.9
Registered electors 29,696
Labour hold Swing +3.1
1924 General Election: Forest of Dean[12]
Party Candidate Votes % ±
Labour James Wignall 11,048 53.1 −7.7
Unionist Michael Beaumont 9,739 46.9 +7.7
Majority 1,309 6.3 −15.4
Turnout 20,787 70.0 +5.3
Registered electors 29,696
Labour hold Swing −7.7
1923 General Election: Forest of Dean[12]
Party Candidate Votes % ±
Labour James Wignall 11,486 60.9 +8.5
Unionist Augustus George Cuthbert Dinnick 7,383 39.1 +10.2
Majority 4,103 21.7 −1.8
Turnout 18,869 64.7 −7.3
Registered electors 29,174
Labour hold Swing −0.9
Tennant
1922 General Election: Forest of Dean[12]
Party Candidate Votes % ±
Labour James Wignall 10,820 52.4 −10.4
Ind. Conservative Augustus George Cuthbert Dinnick 5,976 28.9 -
National Liberal Winifred Coombe Tennant 3,861 18.7 -
Majority 4,854 23.5 −2.1
Turnout 20,647 72.0 +15.9
Registered electors 28,686
Labour hold

Election results 1885-1918

Elections in the 1910s

General Election 1918: Forest of Dean [12]
Party Candidate Votes % ±
Labour James Wignall 9,731 62.8 N/A
C Liberal Henry Webb 5,765 37.2 N/A
Majority 3,966 25.6 N/A
Turnout 15,496 56.1 N/A
Registered electors 27,624
Labour gain from Liberal
C indicates candidate endorsed by the coalition government.

General Election 1914/15

A general election was due to take place by the end of 1915. By the autumn of 1914, the following candidates had been selected to contest that election. Due to the outbreak of war, the election never took place;

Forest of Dean by-election, 1912
Party Candidate Votes % ±
Liberal Henry Webb Unopposed
Liberal hold
Webb
Forest of Dean by-election, 1911
Party Candidate Votes % ±
Liberal Henry Webb 6,174 66.5 +0.2
Conservative David Hope Kyd 3,106 33.5 −0.2
Majority 3,068 33.1 +0.5
Turnout 9,280 82.8 +5.9
Registered electors 11,214
Liberal hold Swing +0.2
General Election December 1910: Forest of Dean [14][15]
Party Candidate Votes % ±
Liberal Charles Dilke 5,544 66.3 +1.1
Conservative David Hope Kyd 2,820 33.7 −1.1
Majority 2,724 32.6 +2.2
Turnout 8,364 76.9 −9.7
Registered electors 10,881
Liberal hold Swing +1.1
General Election January 1910: Forest of Dean [14][15]
Party Candidate Votes % ±
Liberal Charles Dilke 6,141 65.2 N/A
Conservative John Henry Renton 3,279 34.8 N/A
Majority 2,862 30.4 N/A
Turnout 9,420 86.6 N/A
Registered electors 10,881
Liberal hold

Elections in the 1900s

General Election 1906: Forest of Dean [14][16]
Party Candidate Votes % ±
Liberal Charles Dilke Unopposed
Liberal hold
General Election 1900: Forest of Dean [14][16][17]
Party Candidate Votes % ±
Liberal Charles Dilke 4,972 66.4 n/a
Conservative H Terrell 2,520 33.6 n/a
Majority 2,452 32.7 n/a
Turnout 7,492 75.0 n/a
Registered electors 9,993
Liberal hold

Elections in the 1890s

General Election 1895: Forest of Dean [14][16][17]
Party Candidate Votes % ±
Liberal Charles Dilke unopposed n/a n/a
Liberal hold
Dilke
General Election 1892: Forest of Dean [14][16]
Party Candidate Votes % ±
Liberal Charles Dilke 5,360 64.6 +3.5
Conservative Maynard Wemyss[18] 2,942 35.4 −3.5
Majority 2,418 29.2 +7.1
Turnout 8,302 77.0 +7.0
Registered electors 10,782
Liberal hold Swing +3.5

Elections in the 1880s

By-election, 29 Jul 1887: Forest of Dean [14][19]
Party Candidate Votes % ±
Liberal Godfrey Samuelson 4,286 61.0 −7.0
Conservative Edward Wyndham 2,736 39.0 +7.0
Majority 1,550 22.1 −14.0
Turnout 7,022 70.0 −10.0
Registered electors 10,032
Liberal hold Swing −7.0
  • Caused by Blake's resignation.
General Election 1886: Forest of Dean [14][16]
Party Candidate Votes % ±
Liberal Thomas Blake 3,822 61.3 −6.7
Liberal Unionist Frederick Louis Lucas[20] 2,415 38.7 +6.7
Majority 1,407 22.6 −13.4
Turnout 6,237 65.9 −14.1
Registered electors 9,458
Liberal hold Swing +6.7
General Election 1885: Forest of Dean [14][16][21]
Party Candidate Votes % ±
Liberal Thomas Blake 5,143 68.0 N/A
Conservative John Plunkett 2,421 32.0 N/A
Majority 2,722 36.0 N/A
Turnout 7,564 80.0 N/A
Registered electors 9,458
Liberal win (new seat)

Notes and references

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. 1 2 Leigh Rayment's Historical List of MPs – Constituencies beginning with "F"
  3. ↑ "Forest of Dean parliamentary constituency". BBC News.
  4. ↑ "Election Data 2015". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 17 October 2015. Retrieved 17 October 2015.
  5. ↑ "Forest of Dean District Council – Page unavailable". www.fdean.gov.uk.
  6. 1 2 "FOREST OF DEAN 2015". electionresults.blogspot.co.uk.
  7. ↑ "Election Data 2010". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 26 July 2013. Retrieved 17 October 2015.
  8. ↑ "Election Data 2005". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
  9. ↑ "Election Data 2001". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
  10. ↑ "Election Data 1997". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
  11. ↑ Percentage change and swing for 1997 is calculated relative to the Rallings and Thrasher 1992 notional constituency result, not actual 1992 result. See C. Rallings & M. Thrasher, The Media Guide to the New Parliamentary Constituencies (Plymouth: LGC Elections Centre, 1995)
  12. 1 2 3 4 5 6 FWS Craig, British Parliamentary Election Results 1918–1949; Political Reference Publications, Glasgow 1949
  13. ↑ "Forest of Dean Election". North Devon Journal. 16 July 1925. Retrieved 13 October 2016 – via British Newspaper Archive. (Subscription required (help)).
  14. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 British Parliamentary Election Results 1885-1918, FWS Craig
  15. 1 2 Debrett's House of Commons & Judicial Bench, 1916
  16. 1 2 3 4 5 6 The Liberal Year Book, 1907
  17. 1 2 Debrett's House of Commons & Judicial Bench, 1901
  18. ↑ ‘COLCHESTER WEMYSS, Maynard Willoughby’, Who Was Who, A & C Black, an imprint of Bloomsbury Publishing plc, 1920–2016; online edn, Oxford University Press, 2015 ; online edn, Feb 2015 accessed 19 Oct 2017
  19. ↑ The Constitutional Year Book, 1904, published by Conservative Central Office, page 144 (168 in web page), Gloucestershire
  20. ↑ "The Contest in Dean Forest". Western Daily Press. 3 Jul 1886. p. 4. Retrieved 26 November 2017 – via British Newspaper Archive. (Subscription required (help)).
  21. ↑ Debrett's House of Commons & Judicial Bench, 1886

See also

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