Newbury (UK Parliament constituency)

Newbury
County constituency
for the House of Commons
Outline map
Boundary of Newbury in Berkshire.
Outline map
Location of Berkshire within England.
County Berkshire
Electorate 77,898 (December 2010)[1]
Major settlements Newbury, Thatcham, Hungerford
Current constituency
Created 1885
Member of parliament Richard Benyon (Conservative)
Number of members One
Created from Berkshire
Overlaps
European Parliament constituency South East England

Newbury is a constituency[n 1] represented in the House of Commons of the UK Parliament since 2005 by Richard Benyon, a Conservative.[n 2]

Profile

The constituency consists of most of West Berkshire and includes Newbury, Thatcham and Hungerford. To the east, the rest of West Berkshire is incorporated into the Wokingham and Reading West constituencies.[n 3]

Since its creation it has been a Conservative or Liberal/Liberal Democrat seat, sometimes seemingly marginal and sometimes seen as a safe seat, with a tendency towards being Conservative.[n 4] West Berkshire which is similar to its neighbours has a rather thriving economy with the headquarters of the communications company Vodafone that has created a cluster of around 80 mobile phone related businesses in Newbury,[2] while the Lambourn area is the second most important centre for the racehorse industry in Great Britain, employing over 800 people directly, and producing an annual income of £20 million.[3]

West Berkshire is also home to Atomic Weapons Establishment, near Aldermaston, Wolseley plc, Bayer and Pepsico. There are high proportions of detached and semi-detached housing, and lower than average dependency on social housing.[4][5] The seat includes the former family home of Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge, wife of Prince William, Duke of Cambridge in Bucklebury.

Neighbouring constituencies

The constituencies bordering Newbury (clockwise from north) are: Wantage, Henley, Reading West, Wokingham, Basingstoke, North West Hampshire and Devizes.

Boundaries

A graph plotting the election results for Newbury.
(larger version and key)

1885-1918: The Boroughs of Newbury and Reading, the Sessional Divisions of Ilsley, Lambourn, Newbury (including Hungerford), and Reading (except the parishes of East Swallowfield and West Swallowfield), and part of the Sessional Division of Wokingham.

1918-1950: The Boroughs of Newbury and Wokingham, the Rural Districts of Hungerford and Newbury, and parts of the Rural Districts of Bradfield and Wokingham.

1950-1955: The Borough of Newbury, and the Rural Districts of Bradfield, Hungerford, and Newbury.

1955-1974: The Borough of Newbury, the Rural Districts of Bradfield, Hungerford, and Newbury, and the County Borough of Reading wards of Norcot and Tilehurst.

1974-1983: As 1950 but with redrawn boundaries.

1983-1997: The District of Newbury wards of Aldermaston, Basildon, Beenham, Bradfield, Bucklebury, Burghfield, Chieveley, Cold Ash, Compton, Craven, Downlands, Falkland, Greenham, Hungerford, Kintbury, Lambourn Valley, Mortimer, Northcroft, St John's, Shaw-cum-Donnington, Speen, Thatcham North, Thatcham South, Thatcham West, Turnpike, and Winchcombe.

1997-2010: The District of Newbury wards of Aldermaston, Basildon, Beenham, Bradfield, Bucklebury, Chieveley, Cold Ash, Compton, Craven, Downlands, Falkland, Greenham, Hungerford, Kintbury, Lambourn Valley, Northcroft, St John's, Shaw-cum-Donnington, Speen, Thatcham North, Thatcham South, Thatcham West, Turnpike, and Winchcombe.

2010–present: The District of West Berkshire wards of Aldermaston, Basildon, Bucklebury, Chieveley, Clay Hill, Cold Ash, Compton, Downlands, Falkland, Greenham, Hungerford, Kintbury, Lambourn Valley, Northcroft, St John's, Speen, Thatcham Central, Thatcham North, Thatcham South and Crookham, Thatcham West, and Victoria.

History

The Newbury constituency in 1954

Originally, Newbury was part of a larger constituency of Berkshire, which returned two Members of Parliament (MPs), increased to three in the Reform Act of 1832. In the Redistribution of Seats Act of 1885 Berkshire was divided into three county constituencies, Northern (Abingdon), Southern (Newbury), and Eastern (Wokingham), returning one member each and one borough constituency, Reading and two members per constituency ceased, as with most of the country.

The Conservatives have held the constituency for all but seventeen years since the creation of the seat - only three spells of Liberal Party, or Liberal Democrat, majorities have intersected their control. In 2015, the party held the largest majority in the seat since 1935 at 46%, before being reduced to 40.1% in 2017.

Since the February 1974 election, the Liberal Democrats have been one of the two largest parties in the constituency. They most recently gained the seat at the 1993 by-election, holding it until 2005 where it was regained by the Conservatives.

The constituency in 2010 produced the third lowest share of the vote for Labour (4.3%), one of five lost deposits for Labour nationally, below the 5% of the vote deposit threshold.[6][n 5] In 2017, Labour earned its highest share of the vote in Newbury since the October 1974 election with 14.1% of the vote.

It was estimated that the constituency voted 51% in favour of remaining in the European Union during the 2016 referendum on EU membership, with 49% voting to leave.[7]

Members of Parliament

An incumbent MP has been defeated just four times, in the elections of 1906, 1923, 1924, and 2005.

ElectionMember[8]Party
1885William George MountConservative
1900William MountConservative
1906Frederick Coleridge MackarnessLiberal
1910William MountConservative
1922Howard Clifton BrownConservative
1923Innes Harold StrangerLiberal
1924Howard Clifton BrownConservative
1945Anthony HurdConservative
1964John AstorConservative
Feb 1974Sir Michael McNair-WilsonConservative
1992Judith ChaplinConservative
1993 by-electionDavid RendelLiberal Democrat
2005Richard BenyonConservative

Elections

Elections in the 2010s

General Election 2017: Newbury[9]
Party Candidate Votes % ±
Conservative Richard Benyon 37,399 61.5 +0.4
Liberal Democrat Judith Bunting 13,019 21.4 +6.4
Labour Alex Skirvin 8,596 14.1 +5.7
Green Paul Field 1,531 2.5 -1.5
Apolitical Democrats Dave Yates 304 0.5 +0.1
Majority 24,380 40.1 -6.0
Turnout 60,849 73.4 +1.3
Conservative hold Swing -3.0
General Election 2015: Newbury[10][11][12]
Party Candidate Votes % ±
Conservative Richard Benyon 34,973 61.0 +4.6
Liberal Democrat Judith Bunting 8,605 15.0 -20.5
UKIP Catherine Anderson 6,195 10.8 +8.3
Labour Jonny Roberts 4,837 8.4 +4.2
Green Paul Field 2,324 4.1 +3.2
Apolitical Democrats Peter Norman 228 0.4 +0.2
Independent Barrie Singleton 85 0.1 N/A
Patriotic Socialist Party Andrew Stott 53 0.1 N/A
Majority 26,368 46.0 +25.1
Turnout 57,300 72.1 +1.9
Conservative hold Swing +12.6
General Election 2010: Newbury[13]
Party Candidate Votes % ±
Conservative Richard Benyon 33,057 56.4 +7.4
Liberal Democrat David Rendel 20,809 35.5 −7.1
Labour Hannah Cooper 2,505 4.3 −1.7
UKIP David Black 1,475 2.5 +0.9
Green Adrian Hollister 490 0.8 +0.8
Independent Brian Burgess 158 0.3 +0.3
Apolitical Democrat David Yates 95 0.2 +0.2
Majority 12,248 20.9 +14.6
Turnout 58,589 70.2 −2.4
Conservative hold Swing 7.3

Elections in the 2000s

General Election 2005: Newbury[14]
Party Candidate Votes % ±
Conservative Richard Benyon 26,771 49.0 +5.5
Liberal Democrat David Rendel 23,311 42.6 −5.6
Labour Oscar Van Nooijen 3,239 5.9 −1.0
UKIP David McMahon 857 1.6 +0.3
Independent Nick Cornish 409 0.7 N/A
Independent Barrie Singleton 86 0.2 N/A
Majority 3,460 6.3 N/A
Turnout 54,673 72.0 +4.7
Conservative gain from Liberal Democrat Swing
General Election 2001: Newbury[15]
Party Candidate Votes % ±
Liberal Democrat David Rendel 24,507 48.2 −4.7
Conservative Richard Benyon 22,092 43.5 +5.7
Labour Steve Billcliffe 3,523 6.9 +1.4
UKIP Delphine Gray-Fisk 685 1.4 +0.9
Majority 2,415 4.8 −10.3
Turnout 50,807 67.3 −9.0
Liberal Democrat hold Swing

Elections in the 1990s

General Election 1997: Newbury[16]
Party Candidate Votes % ±
Liberal Democrat David Rendel 29,887 52.9 +15.8
Conservative Richard Benyon 21,370 37.8 −18.1
Labour Paul Hannon 3,107 5.5 −0.6
Referendum Ted Snook 992 1.8 N/A
Green Rachel Stark 644 1.1 N/A
UKIP R Tubb 302 0.5 N/A
Socialist Labour Katrina Howse 174 0.3 N/A
Majority 8,517 15.1 N/A
Turnout 56,476 76.3 +5.0
Liberal Democrat gain from Conservative Swing
By-election 1993: Newbury
Party Candidate Votes % ±
Liberal Democrat David Rendel 37,590 65.1 +27.8
Conservative Julian Davidson 15,535 26.9 −29.0
Labour Steve Billcliffe 1,151 2.0 −4.0
Anti-Federalist League Alan Sked 601 1.0 N/A
Conservative Candidate Andrew Bannon 561 1.0 N/A
Commoners' Party Stephen Martin 435 0.8 N/A
Monster Raving Loony Screaming Lord Sutch 432 0.7 N/A
Green Jim Wallis 341 0.6 −0.2
Referendum Party Robin Marlar 338 0.6 N/A
Conservative Rebel John Browne 267 0.5 N/A
Corrective Party Lindi St Clair 170 0.3 N/A
Maastricht Referendum for Britain Bill Board 84 0.1 N/A
Natural Law Michael Grenville 60 0.1 N/A
People & Pensioners Party Johnathon Day 49 0.1 N/A
21st Century Independent Foresters Colin Palmer 40 0.1 N/A
Defence of Children's Humanity Bosnia Mladen Grbin 33 0.1 N/A
SDP Alan Page 33 0.1 N/A
Communist (PCC) Anne Murphy 32 0.1 N/A
Give The Royal Billions To Schools Michael Stone 21 0.1 N/A
Majority 22,055 38.2 N/A
Turnout 57,399 71.3 −11.46
Liberal Democrat gain from Conservative Swing 28.4
General Election 1992: Newbury[17][18]
Party Candidate Votes % ±
Conservative Judith Chaplin 37,135 55.9 −4.2
Liberal Democrat David Rendel 24 778 37.3 +5.6
Labour Richard J E Hall 3,962 6.0 −2.1
Green Jim Wallis 539 0.8 N/A
Majority 12,357 18.6 −9.8
Turnout 66,414 82.8 +4.8
Conservative hold Swing −4.9

Elections in the 1980s

General Election 1987: Newbury[19]
Party Candidate Votes % ±
Conservative Michael McNair-Wilson 35,266 60.1 +0.8
SDP–Liberal Alliance (Liberal) David Rendel 18,608 31.7 −3.3
Labour Robert Stapley 4,765 8.1 +2.5
Majority 16,658 28.4 +4.1
Turnout 58,639 78.0 +2.8
Conservative hold Swing
General Election 1983: Newbury[20]
Party Candidate Votes % ±
Conservative Michael McNair-Wilson 31,836 59.3 +6.2
SDP–Liberal Alliance (Liberal) Anthony Richards 18,798 35.0 −1.0
Labour Richard Knight 3,027 5.6 −5.2
Majority 13,038 24.3 +7.2
Turnout 53,661 75.2 -4.1
Conservative hold Swing

Elections in the 1970s

General Election 1979: Newbury
Party Candidate Votes % ±
Conservative Michael McNair-Wilson 33,677 52.8 +10.4
Liberal Anthony Richards 23,388 36.7 −3.9
Labour Joan Ruddock 6,676 10.5 −6.2
Majority 10,289 16.1 +14.3
Turnout 63,741 79.3 +3.0
Conservative hold Swing
General Election October 1974: Newbury
Party Candidate Votes % ±
Conservative Michael McNair-Wilson 23,499 42.4 +0.1
Liberal Dane Clouston 22,477 40.6 +0.3
Labour Celia Fletcher 9,390 16.7 −0.6
Majority 1,022 1.8 −0.2
Turnout 55,366 76.3 −4.6
Conservative hold Swing
General Election February 1974: Newbury
Party Candidate Votes % ±
Conservative Michael McNair-Wilson 24,620 42.4 -6.4
Liberal Dane Clouston 23,419 40.3 +19.0
Labour Celia Fletcher 10,935 17.3 -4.0
Majority 1,201 2.1 -16.7
Turnout 58,974 80.8 +8.2
Conservative hold Swing

After the 1970 general election, Newbury's boundaries were altered to reduce the size of the electorate which had grown to over 85,000. After the boundary changes, the electorate numbered around 72,000 people. This came into effect for the first general election in February 1974.

General Election 1970: Newbury
Party Candidate Votes % ±
Conservative John Astor 30,380 48.8 +3.5
Labour Timothy Sims 18,647 29.9 −8.1
Liberal Dane Clouston 13,279 21.3 +4.6
Majority 11,733 18.8 +11.6
Turnout 55,392 72.6 −6.5
Conservative hold Swing

Elections in the 1960s

General Election 1966: Newbury
Party Candidate Votes % ±
Conservative John Astor 25,908 45.3 −0.1
Labour Ronald Spiller 21,762 38.0 +3.6
Liberal Stanley Clement Davies 9,571 16.7 −3.5
Majority 4,146 7.2 −3.7
Turnout 57,241 79.1 −0.2
Conservative hold Swing
General Election 1964: Newbury
Party Candidate Votes % ±
Conservative John Astor 24,936 45.3 −14.6
Labour David Stoddart 18,943 34.4 +5.5
Liberal Denis Egginton 11,124 20.2 N/A
Majority 5,993 10.9 −9.1
Turnout 55,003 79.3 +0.6
Conservative hold Swing

Elections in the 1950s

General Election 1959: Newbury
Party Candidate Votes % ±
Conservative Anthony Hurd 29,703 60.0 +2.0
Labour David Stoddart 19,787 40.0 −2.0
Majority 9,916 20.0 +4.0
Turnout 49,490 78.7 +0.4
Conservative hold Swing
General Election 1955: Newbury
Party Candidate Votes % ±
Conservative Anthony Hurd 29,703 58.1 −1.7
Labour Jon Evans 18,843 41.9 +1.7
Majority 7,237 16.0 −3.6
Turnout 48,546 78.3 −0.4
Conservative hold Swing
General Election 1951: Newbury
Party Candidate Votes % ±
Conservative Anthony Hurd 20,102 59.8 +7.0
Labour Colin Jackson 13,507 40.2 +5.5
Majority 6,595 19.6 +1.5
Turnout 33,609 78.7 −2.4
Conservative hold Swing
General Election 1950: Newbury
Party Candidate Votes % ±
Conservative Anthony Hurd 18,150 52.8 +0.4
Labour Colin Jackson 11,914 34.7 +1.0
Liberal Edwin Burrows 4,284 12.5 -0.5
Majority 6,236 18.1 -0.6
Turnout 34,348 81.1 +15.7
Conservative hold Swing

Elections in the 1940s

General Election 1945: Newbury
Party Candidate Votes % ±
Conservative Anthony Hurd 24,463 52.4 −20.6
Labour Iris Brook 15,754 33.7 +6.7
Liberal Eric Digby Tempest Vane 6,052 13.0 N/A
Common Wealth George Booth Suggett 424 0.9 N/A
Majority 8,709 18.7 −27.3
Turnout 46,693 65.4 −0.4
Conservative hold Swing

Elections in the 1930s

General Election 1935: Newbury
Party Candidate Votes % ±
Conservative Howard Clifton Brown 24,642 73.0 N/A
Labour Richard Russell 9,125 27.0 N/A
Majority 15,517 46.0 N/A
Turnout 33,767 65.5 N/A
Conservative hold Swing N/A

In the 1931 general election, Howard Clifton Brown of the Conservative Party was re-elected unopposed.

Elections in the 1920s

General Election 1929: Newbury
Party Candidate Votes % ±
Unionist Howard Clifton Brown 17,800 51.0 −4.9
Liberal Edward Harold Brooks 13,604 39.0 −0.5
Labour Frank Mortimer Jacques 3,471 10.0 +5.4
Majority 4,196 12.0 −4.4
Turnout 34,875 78.3 −2.6
Unionist hold Swing -2.2
General Election 1924: Newbury
Party Candidate Votes % ±
Unionist Howard Clifton Brown 14,759 55.9 +6.0
Liberal Innes Harold Stranger 10,444 39.5 −10.6
Labour Frank Mortimer Jacques 1,219 4.6 N/A
Majority 4,315 16.4 N/A
Turnout 26,422 80.9 +9.6
Unionist gain from Liberal Swing
General Election 1923: Newbury
Party Candidate Votes % ±
Liberal Innes Harold Stranger 11,226 50.1 +7.5
Unionist Howard Clifton Brown 11,185 49.9 −7.5
Majority 41 0.2 N/A
Turnout 22,411 71.3 +1.6
Liberal gain from Unionist Swing +7.5
General Election 1922: Newbury [21]
Party Candidate Votes % ±
Unionist Howard Clifton Brown 12,322 57.4 N/A
Liberal Innes Harold Stranger 9,144 42.6 N/A
Majority 3,178 14.8 N/A
Turnout 21,466 69.7 N/A
Unionist hold Swing N/A
By-election, 1922: Newbury
Party Candidate Votes % ±
C Unionist Howard Clifton Brown Unopposed
Unionist hold
C indicates candidate endorsed by the coalition government.

Elections in the 1910s

General Election 1918: Newbury
Party Candidate Votes % ±
C Unionist William Mount Unopposed
Unionist hold
C indicates candidate endorsed by the coalition government.
General Election December 1910: Newbury
Party Candidate Votes % ±
Conservative William Mount 6,485 60.3 +0.3
Liberal Lisle March-Phillipps 4,278 39.7 −0.3
Majority 2,207 20.5 +0.5
Turnout 10,763 82.4 -8.0
Conservative hold Swing
General Election January 1910: Newbury
Party Candidate Votes % ±
Conservative William Mount 7,081 60.0 +14.9
Liberal Thomas Hedderwick 4,723 40.0 −14.9
Majority 2,358 20.0 N/A
Turnout 11,804 90.4 +2.9
Conservative gain from Liberal Swing

Elections in the 1900s

Mackarness
General Election 1906: Newbury[22]
Party Candidate Votes % ±
Liberal Frederick Mackarness 5,338 52.0 N/A
Conservative William Mount 4,936 48.0 N/A
Majority 402 3.9 N/A
Turnout 10,274 87.5 N/A
Registered electors 11,746
Liberal gain from Conservative Swing N/A
General Election 1900: Newbury[22]
Party Candidate Votes % ±
Conservative William Mount Unopposed
Conservative hold

Elections in the 1890s

General Election 1895: Newbury[22]
Party Candidate Votes % ±
Conservative William Mount 4,895 56.5 +2.7
Liberal John Swinburne 3,766 43.5 −2.7
Majority 1,129 13.0 +5.4
Turnout 8,661 81.5 −1.0
Registered electors 10,621
Conservative hold Swing +2.7
General Election 1892: Newbury[22]
Party Candidate Votes % ±
Conservative William Mount 4,588 53.8 N/A
Liberal Thomas Stevens[23] 3,938 46.2 N/A
Majority 650 7.6 N/A
Turnout 8,526 82.5 N/A
Registered electors 10,338
Conservative hold Swing N/A

Elections in the 1880s

General Election 1886: Newbury[22]
Party Candidate Votes % ±
Conservative William Mount Unopposed
Conservative hold
General Election 1885: Newbury[22]
Party Candidate Votes % ±
Conservative William Mount 4,631 51.1 N/A
Liberal George Palmer 4,429 48.9 N/A
Majority 202 2.2 N/A
Turnout 9,060 86.7 N/A
Registered electors 10,453
Conservative win (new seat)

Neighbouring constituencies

See also

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.
  3. ↑ Burghfield, Mortimer and Sulhamstead; and, respectively Burch Copse, Calcot, Pangbourne, Purley on Thames, Theale and Westwood
  4. ↑ The total period served by either a Liberal or Liberal Democrat MP is 17 years, Conservative MPs have served for the remaining 110 years (to the end of 2012)
  5. ↑ Other lost Labour deposits took place in Eastbourne, Somerton & Frome, Cornwall North and Westmorland & Lonsdale
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. ↑ http://www.westberks.gov.uk/CHttpHandler.ashx?id=26989&p=0
  3. ↑ Archived 17 July 2012 at the Wayback Machine.
  4. ↑ 2001 Census
  5. ↑ 2011 census interactive maps Archived 29 January 2016 at the Wayback Machine.
  6. ↑ General Election Results from the Electoral Commission
  7. ↑ "Newbury". Electoral Calculus. Retrieved 5 June 2018.
  8. ↑ Leigh Rayment's Historical List of MPs – Constituencies beginning with "N" (part 1)
  9. ↑ "West Berkshire Council". West Berkshire. Retrieved 12 May 2017.
  10. ↑ "Election Data 2015". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 17 October 2015. Retrieved 17 October 2015.
  11. ↑ http://geo.digiminster.com/election/2015-05-07/results/Location/Constituency/Newbury 8July2015
  12. ↑ https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/politics/constituencies/E14000830
  13. ↑ "Election Data 2010". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 26 July 2013. Retrieved 17 October 2015.
  14. ↑ "Election Data 2005". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
  15. ↑ "Election Data 2001". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
  16. ↑ "Election Data 1997". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
  17. ↑ "Election Data 1992". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
  18. ↑ "Politics Resources". Election 1992. Politics Resources. 9 April 1992. Retrieved 2010-12-06.
  19. ↑ "Election Data 1987". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
  20. ↑ "Election Data 1983". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
  21. ↑ British Parliamentary Election Results 1918-1949, FWS Craig
  22. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Craig, FWS, ed. (1974). British Parliamentary Election Results: 1885-1918. London: Macmillan Press. ISBN 9781349022984.
  23. ↑ "Mr Stevens at Newbury". Reading Mercury. 9 Jul 1892. p. 4. Retrieved 22 November 2017.

Sources

  • "Newbury election history". Newbury. Retrieved 12 April 2005.
  • "Parliament.uk: 1992 elections" (PDF). Highest and lowest shares of the vote by party. Archived from the original (PDF) on 8 December 2005. Retrieved 12 April 2005.
  • "Newbury 1993". Candidate names. Archived from the original on 27 October 2009. Retrieved 17 April 2005.
  • "Election data from 1832". Newbury constituency 1959 onwards. Retrieved 23 April 2005.
  • "Boundary Commission for England". Boundary changes. Archived from the original on 12 March 2005. Retrieved 23 April 2005.
  • David Boothroyd. "Smallest majorities at elections since 1918". 1923 Majority. Retrieved 3 June 2005.
  • BBC: Newbury constituency (2001)
  • McCalmont, Frederick Haynes, Stenton Michael, Vincent, John Russell. McCalmont's parliamentary poll book: British election results. ( ISBN 0-85527-000-4)
  • F. W. S. Craig. British Parliamentary Election Results 1950–1973. ( ISBN 0-900178-07-8)
  • F. W. S. Craig. British Parliamentary Election Results 1918–1949. ( ISBN 0-900178-01-9)
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