Bridgwater (UK Parliament constituency)







































Bridgwater
Former County constituency
for the House of Commons

Outline map
Boundary of Bridgwater in Somerset for the 2005 general election.


Outline map
Location of Somerset within England.

County Somerset

1885–2010
Number of members One
Replaced by Bridgwater & West Somerset
Created from West Somerset
1295–1870
Number of members Two
Type of constituency Borough constituency
Replaced by West Somerset

Bridgwater was a parliamentary constituency represented in the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom, until 2010 when it was replaced by the Bridgwater and West Somerset constituency. It elected one Member of Parliament (MP) by the first past the post system of election.




Contents






  • 1 History


  • 2 Boundaries


  • 3 Members of Parliament


    • 3.1 Bridgwater borough, 1295–1870


      • 3.1.1 MPs 1295–1640


      • 3.1.2 1640–1868




    • 3.2 Bridgwater county constituency, 1885–2010




  • 4 Elections


    • 4.1 Elections in the 1840s


    • 4.2 Elections in the 1850s


    • 4.3 Elections in the 1860s


    • 4.4 Elections in the 1880s


    • 4.5 Elections in the 1890s


    • 4.6 Elections in the 1900s


    • 4.7 Elections in the 1910s


    • 4.8 Elections in the 1920s


    • 4.9 Elections in the 1930s


    • 4.10 Elections in the 1940s


    • 4.11 Elections in the 1950s


    • 4.12 Elections in the 1960s


    • 4.13 Elections in the 1970s


    • 4.14 Elections in the 1980s


    • 4.15 Elections in the 1990s


    • 4.16 Elections in the 2000s




  • 5 See also


  • 6 Notes and references


  • 7 Sources





History


Bridgwater was one of the original Parliamentary Constituencies in the House of Commons, having elected Members of Parliament since 1295, the Model Parliament.


The original borough constituency was disenfranchised for corruption in 1870. From 4 July 1870 the town was incorporated within the county constituency of West Somerset.


From Parliament's enactment of the major Redistribution of Seats Act 1885 which took effect at the 1885 general election, a new county division of Bridgwater was created, which lasted with modifications until 2010. The constituency expanded considerably beyond Bridgwater town itself from 1885.


Bridgwater frequently compared to other seats had a radical or game-changing representative, though since 1950 this became less noticeable in its candidates elected.


The seat received particular fame in late 1938 when a by-election took place in the aftermath of the signing of the Munich Agreement. Opponents of the agreement persuaded the local Labour and Liberal parties to not field candidates of their own against the Conservative candidate, but to instead jointly back an independent standing on a platform of opposition to the Government's foreign policy, in the hope that this would be the precursor to the formation of a more general Popular Front of opposition to the government of Neville Chamberlain in anticipation of the General Election due in either 1939 or 1940. The noted journalist Vernon Bartlett stood as the independent Popular Front candidate and achieved a sensational victory in what was hitherto a Conservative seat. He represented the constituency for the next twelve years.


In 1970 another by-election in the constituency achieved fame as it was the first occasion when 18-, 19- and 20-year-olds were able to vote in the UK Parliamentary election. The first teenager to cast a vote was Trudy Sellick, 18 on the day of the poll. The by-election was won by the future Conservative Cabinet Minister Tom King who held the seat for the next thirty-one years, followed by another Conservative until its abolition in 2010.



Boundaries


1885-1918: The Municipal Borough of Bridgwater, the Sessional Division of Bridgwater, and parts of the Sessional Divisions of Taunton and Ilminster.


1918-1950: The Municipal Borough of Bridgwater, the Urban Districts of Burnham-on-Sea, Highbridge, Minehead, and Watchet, and the Rural Districts of Bridgwater and Williton.


1950-1983: The Municipal Borough of Bridgwater, the Urban Districts of Burnham-on-Sea, Minehead, and Watchet, and the Rural Districts of Bridgwater and Williton. Highbridge Urban District had been absorbed by Burnham-on-Sea Urban District in 1933, but the constituency boundaries remained unchanged.


1983-2010: The District of Sedgemoor wards of Cannington and Combwich, Central, Dowsborough, Eastern Quantocks, Eastover, East Poldens, Hamp, Huntspill, Newton Green, North Petherton, Parchey, Pawlett and Puriton, Quantock, Sandford, Sowey, Sydenham, Victoria, Westonzoyland, West Poldens, and Woolavington, and the District of West Somerset wards of Alcombe, Aville Vale, Carhampton and Withycombe, Crowcombe and Stogumber, Dunster, East Brendon, Holnicote, Minehead North, Minehead South, Old Cleeve, Porlock and Oare, Quantock Vale, Watchet, West Quantock, and Williton.



Members of Parliament



  • Constituency created (1295)


Bridgwater borough, 1295–1870



MPs 1295–1640























































































































































































































































































































































Parliament First member Second member
1377
William Tomer[1]

John Sydenham[2]
1380 (Jan)
William Tomer [1]

1383 (Oct)
William Tomer [1]

1385
William Tomer [1]

1386 John Sydenham
Richard Mayne [2]
1388 (Feb) John Sydenham
Richard Mayne [2]
1388 (Sep) John Palmer
John Wynd [2]
1390 (Jan) William Tomer
John Palmer [2]
1390 (Nov)
1391 William Tomer
John Sydenham [2]
1393 William Tomer
Robert Boson [2]
1394 John Cole
John Palmer [2]
1395 William Tomer
John Kedwelly [2]
1397 (Jan) William Tomer
John Kedwelly [2]
1397 (Sep) William Tomer
John Sydenham [2]
1399 William Tomer
John Kedwelly [2]
1401
1402 William Tomer
John Kedwelly [2]
1404 (Jan)
1404 (Oct)
1406 William Tomer
William Gascoigne [2]
1407 William Gascoigne
Richard Ward [2]
1410 William Gascoigne
John Kedwelly [2]
1411
1413 (Feb)
1413 (May) William Gascoigne
William Gosse [2]
1414 (Apr) William Gascoigne
Thomas Cave [2]
1414 (Nov) William Gascoigne
John Kedwelly [2]
1415
1416 (Mar)
1416 (Oct)
1417 William Gascoigne
John Kedwelly [2]
1419 William Gascoigne
Richard Mayne [2]
1420 William Gascoigne
Martin Jacob [2]
1421 (May) James FitzJames
William Gascoigne [2]
1421 (Dec) William Gascoigne
John Pitt [2]
1442 William Dodesham
William Gascoigne
1449 Thomas Driffield
John Maunsel
1453
John Maunsel
1467
James FitzJames
1467
John Kendall (4 terms)
1472
Sir Thomas Tremayle
1483 John Hymerford
William Hody[3]
1510–1523
No names known [4]
1529 Henry Thornton
Hugh Trotter [4]
1536 ?
1539 ?
1542 ?
1545 Thomas Dyer
Alexander Popham [4]
1547 Sir Thomas Dyer
Alexander Popham [4]
1553 (Mar) Sir Thomas Dyer
Richard Gubby [4]
1553 (Oct)

Sir Thomas Dyer

Nicholas Halswell
1554 (Apr)

John Newport

Robert Molyns (or Mullens) [5]
1554 (Nov)

John Newport

John Chapell
1555

Thomas Dyer

Edmund Lyte
1558

John Newport

Robert Molyns (or Mullens)
1559

Sir Thomas Dyer

Robert Molyns (or Mullens)
1563–1567

John Edwards

Nicholas Halswell
1571

Edward Popham
1572–1581
1584–1585

Robert Blake
Parliament of 1586–1587

John Court
Parliament of 1588–1589

Alexander Popham
1593

Robert Bocking

William Thomas
1597–1598

Alexander Jones

Alexander Popham
1601

Sir Francis Hastings
1604–1611

Sir Nicholas Halswell

John Povey

Addled Parliament (1614)

Robert Halswell

Thomas Warre
1621–1622

Roger Warre

Edward Popham

Happy Parliament (1624–1625)

Useless Parliament (1625)

Sir Arthur Lake
1625–1626
1628

Thomas Smith

Sir Thomas Wroth
1629–1640
No Parliament summoned


1640–1868





















































































































































































































































































































































































































































Year First member[6]
First party Second member[6]
Second party

April 1640

Robert Blake


Edmund Wyndham [7]

Royalist

November 1640

Sir Peter Wroth
Parliamentarian
February 1641

Thomas Smith
Royalist
August 1642

Smith disabled from sitting — seat vacant
May 1644

Wroth died — seat vacant
1645


Admiral Robert Blake [8]


Sir Thomas Wroth
1653

Bridgwater was unrepresented in the Barebones Parliament

1654

Admiral Robert Blake

Bridgwater had only one seat in the First and
Second Parliaments of the Protectorate


1656

Sir Thomas Wroth

January 1659

John Wroth

May 1659

One seat vacant
April 1660


Francis Rolle

1661


Edmund Wyndham



John Tynte

November 1669


Sir Francis Rolle

December 1669


Peregrine Palmer

February 1679


Sir Halswell Tynte



Sir Francis Rolle

September 1679


Ralph Stawell

1681


Sir John Malet

1685


Sir Francis Warre

Tory
1689


Henry Bull

Tory
1692


Robert Balch

1695


Nathaniel Palmer



Roger Hoar

1698


George Crane

1699


Sir Francis Warre

Tory
January 1701


John Gilbert



George Balch

Tory
November 1701


Sir Thomas Wroth

1708


George Dodington

Whig
1710


Nathaniel Palmer

Tory
1713


John Rolle

1715


George Dodington

Whig


Thomas Palmer

Tory
1720


William Pitt

1722


George Dodington

1727


Sir Halswell Tynte

Tory
1731


Thomas Palmer

Tory
1735


Charles Wyndham

Tory
1741


Vere Poulett

Tory
1747


Peregrine Poulett

Tory
1753


Robert Balch

Tory
1754


The Earl of Egmont

1761


Edward Southwell

1762


Viscount Perceval [9]

1763


The Lord Coleraine

1768


Benjamin Allen [10]

Whig[11]
1769


Hon. Anne Poulett

Tory[11]
1781


John Acland

Tory[11]
1784


Rear-Admiral Alexander Hood [12]

Tory[11]
1785


Robert Thornton

1790


Major the Hon. Vere Poulett [13]

Tory[11]


John Langston

Tory[11]
1796


George Pocock

Tory[11]


Jeffreys Allen

Tory[11]
1804


John Hudleston

Tory[11]
1806


Major-General the Hon. Vere Poulett

Whig[11]


John Langston

Whig[11]
1807


William Thornton

Tory[11]


George Pocock

Tory[11]
1820


Charles Kemeys-Tynte (1)

Whig[11]
1832

William Tayleur
Whig[11]
1835

John Temple Leader
Radical[11][14][15]
May 1837

Henry Broadwood
Conservative[11]
August 1837

Philip Courtenay
Conservative[11]
1841

Thomas Seaton Forman
Conservative[11]
1847

Charles Kemeys-Tynte (2)
Whig[16][17]
1852

Brent Follett
Conservative
1857

Alexander William Kinglake
Whig[18]
1859


Liberal


Liberal
1865


Henry Westropp [19]

Conservative
1866

George Patton
Conservative
1866

Philip Vanderbyl
Liberal
1869

Writ suspended — both seats vacant [20]
1870

Constituency abolished for corruption and incorporated into the West Somerset county division from 4 July 1870


Bridgwater county constituency, 1885–2010


  • County division created (1885)


















































































Year Member[6]
Party


1885

Edward Stanley

Conservative


1906

Henry Montgomery

Liberal


1910

Sir Robert Sanders

Unionist


1923

William Morse

Liberal


1924

Brooks Wood

Unionist


1929

Reginald Croom-Johnson

Conservative


1938

Vernon Bartlett

Independent Progressive

1942

Common Wealth


1945

Independent Progressive


1950

Sir Gerald Wills

Conservative


1970

Tom King

Conservative


2001

Ian Liddell-Grainger

Conservative


2010
constituency abolished


Elections



Elections in the 1840s














































































General Election 1841: Bridgwater (2 seats)[21][11][22]
Party
Candidate
Votes
%
±


Conservative

Henry Broadwood
280
26.8



Conservative

Thomas Seaton Forman
276
26.4



Whig

Edward Simcoe Drewe[23]
247
23.6



Whig
Augustin Robinson[24]
242
23.2

Majority
29
2.8


Turnout
525
88.2


Registered electors
595




Conservative hold

Swing




Conservative hold

Swing













































































General Election 1847: Bridgwater (2 seats)[21]
Party
Candidate
Votes
%
±


Whig

Charles Kemeys-Tynte
395
46.1
−0.7


Conservative

Henry Broadwood
265
31.0
−22.2


Radical

Stephen Gaselee[25]
196
22.9

N/A

Turnout
428 (est)
80.9 (est)
−7.3

Registered electors
529


Majority
130
15.2

N/A


Whig gain from Conservative

Swing
+5.2

Majority
69
8.1
+5.3


Conservative hold

Swing
−10.9



Elections in the 1850s




























































































General Election 1852: Bridgwater (2 seats)[21][26]
Party
Candidate
Votes
%
±


Whig

Charles Kemeys-Tynte
271
28.8
−17.3


Conservative

Brent Follett
244
25.9
+10.4


Conservative

John Clavell Mansel[27][28]
177
18.8
+3.3


Whig

Anthony Henley
149
15.8

N/A


Whig

Alexander William Kinglake
101
10.7

N/A

Turnout
471 (est)
68.5 (est)
−12.4

Registered electors
688


Majority
27
2.9
−12.3


Whig hold

Swing
−15.5

Majority
95
10.1
+2.0


Conservative hold

Swing
+9.5






































































General Election 1857: Bridgwater (2 seats)[21]
Party
Candidate
Votes
%
±


Whig

Charles Kemeys-Tynte
330
39.6
+10.8


Whig

Alexander William Kinglake
301
36.1
+25.4


Conservative

Brent Follett
203
24.3
−20.4
Majority
98
11.8
+8.9

Turnout
519 (est)
88.0 (est)
+11.5

Registered electors
589




Whig hold

Swing
+10.5



Whig gain from Conservative

Swing
+17.8














































































General Election 1859: Bridgwater (2 seats)[21]
Party
Candidate
Votes
%
±


Liberal

Charles Kemeys-Tynte
290
28.8
−10.8


Liberal

Alexander William Kinglake
279
27.7
−8.4


Conservative
Henry Padwick[29]
230
22.8
+10.6


Conservative

Henry Westropp
208
20.7
+8.5
Majority
49
4.9
−6.9

Turnout
504 (est)
82.0 (est)
−6.0

Registered electors
614




Liberal hold

Swing
−10.2



Liberal hold

Swing
−9.0



Elections in the 1860s






































































General Election 1865: Bridgwater (2 seats)[21]
Party
Candidate
Votes
%
±


Conservative

Henry Westropp
328
39.9
−3.6


Liberal

Alexander William Kinglake
257
31.3
+3.6


Liberal

John Shelley
237
28.8
+0.0
Majority
71
8.6

N/A

Turnout
575 (est)
89.3 (est)
+7.3

Registered electors
644




Conservative gain from Liberal

Swing
−3.6



Liberal hold

Swing
+2.7


Westropp's election was declared void on petition on 25 April 1866, causing a by-election.























































By-election, 7 Jun 1866: Bridgwater (1 seat)[21]
Party
Candidate
Votes
%
±


Conservative

George Patton
301
50.7
+10.8


Liberal

Walter Bagehot[30]
293
49.3
−10.8
Majority
8
1.3
−7.3

Turnout
594
92.2
+2.9

Registered electors
644




Conservative hold

Swing
+10.8


Patton was appointed Lord Advocate, requiring a by-election.























































By-election, 12 Jul 1866: Bridgwater (1 seat)[21]
Party
Candidate
Votes
%
±


Liberal

Philip Vanderbyl
312
53.2
−6.9


Conservative

George Patton
275
46.8
+6.9
Majority
37
6.3

N/A

Turnout
587
91.1
+1.8

Registered electors
644




Liberal gain from Conservative

Swing
−6.9














































































General Election 1868: Bridgwater (2 seats)[21]
Party
Candidate
Votes
%
±


Liberal

Alexander William Kinglake
731
26.2
−5.1


Liberal

Philip Vanderbyl
725
26.0
−2.8


Conservative

Henry Westropp
681
24.4
+4.4


Conservative
Charles William Gray[31]
650
23.3
+3.3
Majority
44
1.6

N/A

Turnout
1,394 (est)
93.0 (est)
+3.7

Registered electors
1,499




Liberal hold

Swing
−4.2



Liberal gain from Conservative

Swing
−3.6


A Royal Commission found extensive bribery in the seat and, from 4 July 1870, the writ was suspended, both MPs were unseated, and the electorate was absorbed into West Somerset.



Elections in the 1880s




Edward Stanley




















































General Election 1885: Bridgwater [32][33]
Party
Candidate
Votes
%
±


Conservative

Edward Stanley
3,935
50.6

N/A


Liberal
Edwin Brook Cely Trevilian
3,835
49.4

N/A
Majority
100
1.2

N/A

Turnout
7,770
78.8

N/A

Registered electors
9,861




Conservative win (new seat)























General Election 1886: Bridgwater [34][33]
Party
Candidate
Votes
%
±


Conservative

Edward Stanley

Unopposed


Conservative hold


Elections in the 1890s























































General Election 1892: Bridgwater [35][33]
Party
Candidate
Votes
%
±


Conservative

Edward Stanley
4,555
57.5

N/A


Liberal
James Douglas Walker
3,362
42.5

N/A
Majority
1,193
15.0

N/A

Turnout
7,917
77.5

N/A

Registered electors
10,220




Conservative hold

Swing

N/A
























General Election 1895: Bridgwater [36][33]
Party
Candidate
Votes
%
±


Conservative

Edward Stanley

Unopposed


Conservative hold


Elections in the 1900s
























General Election 1900: Bridgwater [37]
Party
Candidate
Votes
%
±


Conservative

Edward Stanley

Unopposed


Conservative hold



Montgomery























































General Election 1906: Bridgwater[38]
Party
Candidate
Votes
%
±


Liberal

Henry Montgomery
4,422
50.1

N/A


Conservative

Robert Sanders
4,405
49.9

N/A
Majority
17
0.2

N/A

Turnout
8,827
86.7

N/A

Registered electors
10,180




Liberal gain from Conservative

Swing

N/A



Elections in the 1910s

















































General Election January 1910: Bridgwater [39]
Party
Candidate
Votes
%
±


Conservative

Robert Sanders
5,575
58.9
+9.0


Liberal
Harold C. Hicks
3,896
41.1
-9.0
Majority
1,679
17.8
18.0

Turnout
9,471




Conservative gain from Liberal

Swing
+9.0

















































General Election December 1910: Bridgwater [40]
Party
Candidate
Votes
%
±


Conservative

Robert Sanders
5,160
57.7
-1.2


Liberal
Harold C. Hicks
3,779
42.3
+1.2
Majority
1,381
15.4
-2.4

Turnout
8,939




Conservative hold

Swing
-1.2


General Election 1914/15:


Another General Election was required to take place before the end of 1915. The political parties had been making preparations for an election to take place from 1914 and by the end of this year, the following candidates had been selected;




  • Unionist: Robert Sanders


  • Liberal: Philip Foale Rowsell


Sanders is appointed Treasurer of the Household, requiring him to seek re-election.
























By-election, 1918: Bridgwater [33]
Party
Candidate
Votes
%
±


Conservative

Robert Sanders

Unopposed


Conservative hold























































General Election 1918: Bridgwater
Party
Candidate
Votes
%
±

C

Unionist

Robert Sanders
12,587
68.6
+10.9


Labour
Sid Plummer
5,771
31.4

N/A
Majority
6,816
37.2
+21.8

Turnout
18,358
62.4


Registered electors
29,411




Unionist hold

Swing

N/A


C indicates candidate endorsed by the coalition government.


Elections in the 1920s































































General Election 1922: Bridgwater
Party
Candidate
Votes
%
±


Unionist

Robert Sanders
11,240
46.9
−21.7


Liberal

William Morse
11,121
46.4

N/A


Labour

Thomas Williams
1,598
6.7
−24.7
Majority
119
0.5
−36.7

Turnout
23,959
78.2
+15.8

Registered electors
30,657




Unionist hold

Swing
−34.1























































General Election 1923: Bridgwater
Party
Candidate
Votes
%
±


Liberal

William Morse
13,778
52.7
+6.3


Unionist

Robert Sanders
12,347
47.3
+0.4
Majority
1,431
5.4

N/A

Turnout
26,125
83.4
+5.2

Registered electors
31,317




Liberal gain from Unionist

Swing
+3.0































































General Election 1924: Bridgwater
Party
Candidate
Votes
%
±


Unionist

Brooks Wood
14,283
52.7
+5.4


Liberal

William Morse
10,842
40.0
−12.7


Labour
James Musgrave Boltz
1,966
7.3

N/A
Majority
3,441
12.7

N/A

Turnout
27,091
84.4
+1.0

Registered electors
32,111




Unionist gain from Liberal

Swing
+9.1































































General Election 1929: Bridgwater
Party
Candidate
Votes
%
±


Unionist

Reginald Croom-Johnson
15,440
46.8
−5.9


Liberal
Joseph William Molden
11,161
33.8
−6.2


Labour
James Musgrave Boltz
6,423
19.4
+12.1
Majority
4,279
13.0
+0.3

Turnout
33,024
80.4
−4.0

Registered electors
41,068




Unionist hold

Swing
+0.1



Elections in the 1930s

















































General Election 1931: Bridgwater
Party
Candidate
Votes
%
±


Conservative

Reginald Croom-Johnson
24,041
77.5



Labour
James Musgrave Boltz
6,974
22.5

Majority
17,067
55.03


Turnout

73.8



Conservative hold

Swing


























































General Election 1935: Bridgwater
Party
Candidate
Votes
%
±


Conservative

Reginald Croom-Johnson
17,939
56.9



Liberal
Norman David Blake
7,370
23.4



Labour
Arthur W Loveys
6,240
19.8

Majority
10,569
33.5


Turnout

72.7



Conservative hold

Swing


















































Bridgwater by-election, 1938
Party
Candidate
Votes
%
±


Independent Progressive

Vernon Bartlett
19,540
53.2
+53.2


Conservative
Patrick Gerald Heathcoat-Amory
17,208
46.8
-10.1
Majority
2,332
6.3


Turnout
36,748
82.3
+9.6


Independent Progressive gain from Conservative

Swing




Elections in the 1940s


General Election 1939/40:


Another General Election was required to take place before the end of 1940. The political parties had been making preparations for an election to take place and by the Autumn of 1939, the following candidates had been selected;




  • Independent Progressive: Vernon Bartlett


  • Conservative: Patrick Heathcoat Amery[41]

























































General Election 1945: Bridgwater
Party
Candidate
Votes
%
±


Independent Progressive

Vernon Bartlett
17,937
45.79



Conservative

Gerald Wills
15,625
39.89



Labour
Norman Corkhill
5,613
14.33

Majority
2,312
5.90


Turnout

72.69



Independent Progressive hold

Swing




Elections in the 1950s

























































General Election 1950: Bridgwater[42]
Party
Candidate
Votes
%
±


Conservative

Gerald Wills
21,732
48.84



Labour Co-op
Norman E Carr
16,053
36.08



Independent

Stephen King-Hall
6,708
15.08

Majority
5,679
12.76


Turnout

85.75



Conservative gain from Independent Progressive

Swing


















































General Election 1951: Bridgwater[43]
Party
Candidate
Votes
%
±


Conservative

Gerald Wills
25,365
56.34



Labour Co-op
Norman E Carr
19,656
43.66

Majority
5,709
12.68


Turnout

84.63



Conservative hold

Swing


















































General Election 1955: Bridgwater
Party
Candidate
Votes
%
±


Conservative

Gerald Wills
24,887
59.17



Labour
Albert E Sumbler
17,170
40.83

Majority
7,717
18.35


Turnout

78.00



Conservative hold

Swing


























































General Election 1959: Bridgwater
Party
Candidate
Votes
%
±


Conservative

Gerald Wills
23,002
50.44



Labour
James Finnigan
14,706
32.25



Liberal

Philip Watkins
7,893
17.31

Majority
8,296
18.19


Turnout

81.77



Conservative hold

Swing




Elections in the 1960s

































































General Election 1964: Bridgwater
Party
Candidate
Votes
%
±


Conservative

Gerald Wills
20,822
44.8



Labour
Norman J Hart
14,645
31.5



Liberal

Philip Watkins
9,009
19.4



Independent
Michael L de V Hart
2,038
4.4

Majority
6,177
13.3


Turnout

80.3



Conservative hold

Swing


























































General Election 1966: Bridgwater
Party
Candidate
Votes
%
±


Conservative

Gerald Wills
20,850
44.4



Labour
Richard Mayer
17,864
38.1



Liberal

Philip Watkins
8,205
17.5

Majority
2,986
6.3


Turnout
46,919
80.2
-0.1


Conservative hold

Swing
+3.5



Elections in the 1970s

























































Bridgwater by-election, 1970
Party
Candidate
Votes
%
±


Conservative

Tom King
25,687
55.5
+11.1


Labour
Richard Mayer
14,772
31.9
-6.2


Liberal
Patrick M O'Loughlin
5,832
12.6
-4.9
Majority
10,915
23.6
+17.3

Turnout
46,291
70.3
-9.9


Conservative hold

Swing
8.6

























































General Election 1970: Bridgwater
Party
Candidate
Votes
%
±


Conservative

Tom King
26,685
52.3
+7.9


Labour
Raymond J Billington
18,224
35.8
-2.3


Liberal
Patrick M O'Loughlin
6,066
11.9
-5.6
Majority
8,461
16.6
+10.3

Turnout
50,975
77.0
-3.2


Conservative hold

Swing
+5.3

























































General Election February 1974: Bridgwater
Party
Candidate
Votes
%
±


Conservative

Tom King
24,830
43.65



Labour
R Undy
16,786
29.5



Liberal
JHG Wyatt
15,269
26.8

Majority
8,044
14.1


Turnout

82.25



Conservative hold

Swing


































































General Election October 1974: Bridgwater
Party
Candidate
Votes
%
±


Conservative

Tom King
23,850
44.3



Labour
A Mitchell
17,663
32.78



Liberal
JHG Wyatt
12,077
22.4


United Democratic
SR Harrad
288
0.5

Majority
6,187
11.5


Turnout

77.2



Conservative hold

Swing


























































General Election 1979: Bridgwater
Party
Candidate
Votes
%
±


Conservative

Tom King
31,259
54.0



Labour
J Beasant
16,809
29.05



Liberal
Christina Baron
9,793
16.9

Majority
14,450
25.0


Turnout

79.2



Conservative hold

Swing




Elections in the 1980s

























































General Election 1983: Bridgwater[44]
Party
Candidate
Votes
%
±


Conservative

Tom King
25,107
52.26



Social Democratic
R Farley
14,410
30.00



Labour
AJ May
8,524
17.74

Majority
10,697
22.27


Turnout
48,041
74.80



Conservative hold

Swing


























































General Election 1987: Bridgwater[45]
Party
Candidate
Votes
%
±


Conservative

Tom King
27,177
51.52
-0.74


Social Democratic
Christopher Clarke
15,982
30.30
+0.30


Labour
John Turner
9,594
18.19
+0.45
Majority
11,195
21.22
-1.05

Turnout
52,753
78.18
+3.38


Conservative hold

Swing




Elections in the 1990s

















































































General Election 1992: Bridgwater[46]
Party
Candidate
Votes
%
±


Conservative

Tom King
26,610
46.76
-4.76


Liberal Democrat
WJ Revans
16,894
29.69
-0.61


Labour
PE James
12,365
21.73
+3.54


Green
G Dummett
746
1.31
N/A

Independent
A Body
183
0.32
N/A


Natural Law
G Sanson
112
0.20
N/A
Majority
9,716
17.07
-4.15

Turnout
56,910
79.52
+1.34


Conservative hold

Swing


































































General Election 1997: Bridgwater[47]
Party
Candidate
Votes
%
±


Conservative

Tom King
20,174
36.93
-9.83


Liberal Democrat
Michael Hoban
18,378
33.65
+3.96


Labour
Roger Lavers
13,519
24.75
+3.02


Referendum
Fran Evens
2,551
4.67
N/A
Majority
1,796
3.29
-13.78

Turnout
54,622
74.41
-5.11


Conservative hold

Swing




Elections in the 2000s

































































General Election 2001: Bridgwater[48]
Party
Candidate
Votes
%
±


Conservative

Ian Liddell-Grainger
19,354
40.40
+3.47


Liberal Democrat
Ian Thorn
14,367
30.00
-3.65


Labour
Bill Monteith
12,803
26.80
+2.05


UKIP
Vicky Gardner
1,323
2.80
N/A
Majority
4,987
10.40
+7.11

Turnout
47,847
64.40
-10.01


Conservative hold

Swing










































































General Election 2005: Bridgwater[49]
Party
Candidate
Votes
%
±


Conservative

Ian Liddell-Grainger
21,240
44.10
+3.70


Labour
Matthew Burchell
12,771
26.50
-0.30


Liberal Democrat
James Main
10,940
22.70
-3.50


UKIP
Raymond Weinstein
1,767
3.70
+0.90


Green
Charlie Graham
1,391
2.90
N/A
Majority
8,469
17.60
+7.20

Turnout
48,109
63.50
-0.90


Conservative hold

Swing




See also


  • List of Parliamentary constituencies in Somerset


Notes and references





  1. ^ abcd "THOMER (TOMERE), William, of Bridgwater, Som". History of Parliament Online. Retrieved 2012-10-28..mw-parser-output cite.citation{font-style:inherit}.mw-parser-output .citation q{quotes:"""""""'""'"}.mw-parser-output .citation .cs1-lock-free a{background:url("//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/65/Lock-green.svg/9px-Lock-green.svg.png")no-repeat;background-position:right .1em center}.mw-parser-output .citation .cs1-lock-limited a,.mw-parser-output .citation .cs1-lock-registration a{background:url("//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/d6/Lock-gray-alt-2.svg/9px-Lock-gray-alt-2.svg.png")no-repeat;background-position:right .1em center}.mw-parser-output .citation .cs1-lock-subscription a{background:url("//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/aa/Lock-red-alt-2.svg/9px-Lock-red-alt-2.svg.png")no-repeat;background-position:right .1em center}.mw-parser-output .cs1-subscription,.mw-parser-output .cs1-registration{color:#555}.mw-parser-output .cs1-subscription span,.mw-parser-output .cs1-registration span{border-bottom:1px dotted;cursor:help}.mw-parser-output .cs1-ws-icon a{background:url("//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/4c/Wikisource-logo.svg/12px-Wikisource-logo.svg.png")no-repeat;background-position:right .1em center}.mw-parser-output code.cs1-code{color:inherit;background:inherit;border:inherit;padding:inherit}.mw-parser-output .cs1-hidden-error{display:none;font-size:100%}.mw-parser-output .cs1-visible-error{font-size:100%}.mw-parser-output .cs1-maint{display:none;color:#33aa33;margin-left:0.3em}.mw-parser-output .cs1-subscription,.mw-parser-output .cs1-registration,.mw-parser-output .cs1-format{font-size:95%}.mw-parser-output .cs1-kern-left,.mw-parser-output .cs1-kern-wl-left{padding-left:0.2em}.mw-parser-output .cs1-kern-right,.mw-parser-output .cs1-kern-wl-right{padding-right:0.2em}


  2. ^ abcdefghijklmnopqrstuvwx "History of Parliament". History of Parliament Trust. Retrieved 2011-11-02.


  3. ^ Baker, J. H. "Hody, Sir William". Oxford Dictionary of National Biography (online ed.). Oxford University Press. doi:10.1093/ref:odnb/13456.
    (Subscription or UK public library membership required.)



  4. ^ abcde "History of Parliament". History of Parliament Trust. Retrieved 2011-11-02.


  5. ^ Browne Willis gives Molyns' name only tentatively for 1555


  6. ^ abc "Bridgwater". The History of Parliament. The History of Parliament Trust. Retrieved 24 September 2012.


  7. ^ Expelled as a monopolist, January 1641


  8. ^ Cobbett lists the second MP elected in 1645 as John Palmer, MD, and gives Blake as MP for Taunton. Brunton & Pennington agree with the Dictionary of National Biography in naming Blake as MP for Bridgwater and Palmer for Taunton.


  9. ^ Perceval was initially declared re-elected in 1768, but on petition he was judged not to have been duly elected and his opponent, Poulett, was seated in his place.


  10. ^ Allen was initially declared re-elected in 1780, but on petition he was judged not to have been duly elected and his opponent, Acland, was seated in his place.


  11. ^ abcdefghijklmnopqrst Stooks Smith, Henry (1845). The Parliaments of England, from 1st George I., to the Present Time. Vol II: Oxfordshire to Wales Inclusive. London: Simpkin, Marshall, & Co. pp. 28–31. Retrieved 28 October 2018 – via Google Books.


  12. ^ Vice-Admiral from 1787


  13. ^ Lieutenant-Colonel from 1793, Colonel from 1796


  14. ^ "John Bull". 30 July 1837. pp. 7–9. Retrieved 24 October 2018 – via British Newspaper Archive. (Subscription required (help)).


  15. ^ "County Chronicle, Surrey Herald and Weekly Advertiser for Kent". 1 August 1837. pp. 3–4. Retrieved 24 October 2018 – via British Newspaper Archive. (Subscription required (help)).


  16. ^ "The Elections". Morning Post. 30 July 1847. p. 4. Retrieved 18 April 2018 – via British Newspaper Archive. (Subscription required (help)).


  17. ^ "Bridgwater". Exeter and Plymouth Gazette. 31 July 1847. p. 4. Retrieved 18 April 2018 – via British Newspaper Archive. (Subscription required (help)).


  18. ^ Porter, Mary (1898). "The Lions of London". Annals of a Publishing House: John Blackwood (PDF). Edinburgh: William Blackwood and Sons. p. 127.


  19. ^ The election of Westropp was declared void and a by-election was held


  20. ^ The election of Kinglake and Vanderbyl in 1868 declared void. The writ (of election) was suspended and a Royal Commission was appointed, which reported that it had found proof of extensive bribery.


  21. ^ abcdefghi Craig, F. W. S., ed. (1977). British Parliamentary Election Results 1832-1885 (1st ed.). London: Macmillan Press. pp. 61–62. ISBN 978-1-349-02349-3.


  22. ^ "General Election". Western Times. 3 July 1841. p. 3. Retrieved 28 October 2018 – via British Newspaper Archive. (Subscription required (help)).


  23. ^ "Local Elections". Exeter and Plymouth Gazette. 3 July 1841. p. 3. Retrieved 28 October 2018 – via British Newspaper Archive. (Subscription required (help)).


  24. ^ "The Elections". Dorset County Chronicle. 1 July 1841. p. 4. Retrieved 28 October 2018 – via British Newspaper Archive. (Subscription required (help)).


  25. ^ "Bridgwater". Exeter and Plymouth Gazette. 31 July 1847. p. 4. Retrieved 28 October 2018 – via British Newspaper Archive. (Subscription required (help)).


  26. ^ "Election Talk". The Spectator. 6 March 1852. p. 6. Retrieved 18 April 2018.


  27. ^ "The General Election". Bristol Times and Mirror. 10 July 1852. p. 2. Retrieved 18 April 2018 – via British Newspaper Archive. (Subscription required (help)).


  28. ^ "Election Intelligence". Exeter and Plymouth Gazette. 10 July 1852. pp. 6–7. Retrieved 18 April 2018 – via British Newspaper Archive. (Subscription required (help)).


  29. ^ "Bridgwater Mercury". 20 April 1859. p. 5. Retrieved 18 April 2018 – via British Newspaper Archive. (Subscription required (help)).


  30. ^ "Election Intelligence". London Daily News. 11 July 1866. p. 2. Retrieved 29 January 2018 – via British Newspaper Archive. (Subscription required (help)).


  31. ^ "Bridgwater Election". Western Daily Press. 10 October 1868. p. 3. Retrieved 29 January 2018 – via British Newspaper Archive. (Subscription required (help)).


  32. ^ The Liberal Year Book, 1907


  33. ^ abcde Craig, FWS, ed. (1974). British Parliamentary Election Results: 1885-1918. London: Macmillan Press. ISBN 9781349022984.


  34. ^ The Liberal Year Book, 1907


  35. ^ The Liberal Year Book, 1907


  36. ^ The Liberal Year Book, 1907


  37. ^ The Liberal Year Book, 1907


  38. ^ British parliamentary election results, 1885–1918 (Craig)


  39. ^ Debrett's House of Commons & Judicial Bench, 1916


  40. ^ Debrett's House of Commons & Judicial Bench, 1916


  41. ^ Western Daily Press, 13 Jan 1939


  42. ^ The Times' Guide to the House of Commons. 1950.


  43. ^ The Times' Guide to the House of Commons. 1951.


  44. ^ "Election Data 1983". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.


  45. ^ "Election Data 1987". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.


  46. ^ "Election Data 1992". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.


  47. ^ "Election Data 1997". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.


  48. ^ "Election Data 2001". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.


  49. ^ "Election Data 2005". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.




Sources




  • Boundaries of Parliamentary Constituencies 1885–1972, compiled and edited by F.W.S. Craig (Parliamentary Reference Publications 1972)


  • British Parliamentary Election Results 1832–1885, compiled and edited by F.W.S. Craig (Macmillan Press 1977)


  • British Parliamentary Election Results 1885–1918, compiled and edited by F.W.S. Craig (Macmillan Press 1974)


  • British Parliamentary Election Results 1918–1949, compiled and edited by F.W.S. Craig (Macmillan Press, revised edition 1977)


  • British Parliamentary Election Results 1950–1973, compiled and edited by F.W.S. Craig (Parliamentary Research Services 1983)


  • Who's Who of British Members of Parliament: Volume I 1832–1885, edited by M. Stenton (The Harvester Press 1976)


  • Who's Who of British Members of Parliament, Volume II 1886–1918, edited by M. Stenton and S. Lees (Harvester Press 1978)


  • Who's Who of British Members of Parliament, Volume III 1919–1945, edited by M. Stenton and S. Lees (Harvester Press 1979)


  • Who's Who of British Members of Parliament, Volume IV 1945–1979, edited by M. Stenton and S. Lees (Harvester Press 1981)

  • Robert Beatson, A Chronological Register of Both Houses of Parliament (London: Longman, Hurst, Res & Orme, 1807) [1]

  • D Brunton & D H Pennington, Members of the Long Parliament (London: George Allen & Unwin, 1954)


  • Cobbett's Parliamentary history of England, from the Norman Conquest in 1066 to the year 1803 (London: Thomas Hansard, 1808) [2]

  • Esther S Cope and Willson H Coates (eds), Camden Fourth Series, Volume 19: Proceedings of the Short Parliament of 1640 (London: Royal Historical Society, 1977)

  • Maija Jansson (ed.), Proceedings in Parliament, 1614 (House of Commons) (Philadelphia: American Philosophical Society, 1988) [3]

  • J E Neale, The Elizabethan House of Commons (London: Jonathan Cape, 1949)

  • 'Bridgwater: Parliamentary representation' in Victoria County History of Somerset: Volume 6 (1992)









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