Exeter (UK Parliament constituency)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Exeter | |
|---|---|
| Borough constituency for the House of Commons | |
![]() Interactive map of boundaries from 2024 | |
Boundary of Exeter in South West England | |
| County | Devon |
| Electorate | 71,713 (2023)[1] |
| Major settlements | Exeter |
| Current constituency | |
| Created | 1295 |
| Member of Parliament | Steve Race (Labour) |
| Seats | 1295–1885: Two 1885–present: One |
Exeter (/ˈɛksɪtər/ EK-sit-ər) is a constituency[n 1] composed of the cathedral city and county town of Devon represented in the House of Commons of the UK Parliament since 2024 by Steve Race of the Labour Party.[n 2]
The Exeter constituency is located in Devon and covers most of the city of Exeter excluding some of its eastern suburbs. Exeter is a historic cathedral city with origins in the Roman period. It is home to the University of Exeter, which has around 30,000 students.[2] The city is an important centre of employment with many commuters from nearby towns.[3] The constituency has average levels of deprivation; the suburb of Pennsylvania near the university is affluent whilst the area around Wonford is more deprived.[4] House prices are slightly below the national average.[5]
In general, residents of the constituency are young and well-educated. Levels of professional employment and household income are similar to national averages. White people made up 89% of the population at the 2021 census.[5] At the city council, most of Exeter's suburbs are represented by the Labour Party with Green Party councillors elected in the city centre. At the county council, the suburbs are instead mostly represented by Reform UK. An estimated 57% of voters in the constituency supported remaining in the European Union in the 2016 referendum compared to 48% nationwide.[5]
History
The constituency existed continuously as a parliamentary borough/borough constituency, electing two MPs from 1295 (the Model Parliament) until 1885, when its representation was reduced to one MP by the Redistribution of Seats Act 1885.
The constituency has had a history of representatives from 1900 of Conservative, Liberal Party, Independent and Labour representation. Since 1997, it has been held by the Labour Party, which currently has a majority of over 10,000, suggesting this is a safe seat for the party.
Boundaries
1918–1950: The County Borough of Exeter.
1950–1974: As prior but with redrawn boundaries.
1974–1983: As prior but with redrawn boundaries.
1983–2010: The City of Exeter.
2010–2024: The City of Exeter wards of Alphington, Cowick, Duryard, Exwick, Heavitree, Mincinglake, Newtown, Pennsylvania, Pinhoe, Polsloe, Priory, St David's, St James, St Leonard's, St Thomas, and Whipton and Barton.
2024–present: The following wards of the City of Exeter (as they existed on 1 December 2020):
- Alphington, Duryard & St James, Exwick, Heavitree, Mincinglake & Whipton, Newtown & St Leonard's, Pennsylvania, Priory, St David's, and St Thomas.[6]
The constituency currently covers most of the city of Exeter in Devon. It covered the entire city until 2010, when, under the Fifth Periodic Review of Westminster constituencies, which increased the number of seats in the county from 11 to 12, two wards of the City of Exeter (St Loyes and Topsham) were transferred to the neighbouring East Devon constituency.[7]
The 2023 Periodic Review of Westminster constituencies concluded that the electoral wards of Pinhoe, St Loyes and Topsham (which incorporates part of the Countess Wear area) would be included in the new constituency of Exmouth and Exeter East.[8]
Members of Parliament
MPs 1295–1660
MPs 1660–1885
Two members
MPs since 1885
Elections

Elections in the 2020s
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Labour | Steve Race | 18,225 | 45.3 | −9.5 | |
| Conservative | Tessa Tucker | 6,288 | 15.6 | −16.5 | |
| Green | Andrew Bell | 5,907 | 14.7 | +5.4 | |
| Reform UK | Lee Bunker | 4,914 | 12.2 | +9.6 | |
| Liberal Democrats | Will Aczel | 4,201 | 10.5 | N/A | |
| Independent | William Poulter | 466 | 1.2 | N/A | |
| Independent | Robert Spain | 194 | 0.5 | N/A | |
| Majority | 11,937 | 29.7 | +11.2 | ||
| Turnout | 40,195 | 59.2 | −8.2 | ||
| Registered electors | 67,840 | ||||
| Labour hold | Swing | ||||
Elections in the 2010s
| 2019 notional result[20] | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Vote | % | |
| Labour | 26,500 | 54.8 | |
| Conservative | 15,512 | 32.1 | |
| Green | 4,516 | 9.3 | |
| Brexit Party | 1,257 | 2.6 | |
| Others | 565 | 1.1 | |
| Liberal Democrats | 8 | <0.1 | |
| Turnout | 48,358 | 67.4 | |
| Electorate | 71,713 | ||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Labour | Ben Bradshaw | 29,882 | 53.2 | −8.8 | |
| Conservative | John Gray | 19,479 | 34.7 | +1.8 | |
| Green | Joe Levy | 4,838 | 8.6 | +6.7 | |
| Brexit Party | Leslie Willis | 1,428 | 2.5 | New | |
| Independent | Daniel Page | 306 | 0.5 | New | |
| UKIP | Duncan Odgers | 259 | 0.5 | New | |
| Majority | 10,403 | 18.5 | −10.6 | ||
| Turnout | 56,192 | 68.5 | −3.2 | ||
| Labour hold | Swing | −5.8 | |||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Labour | Ben Bradshaw | 34,336 | 62.0 | +15.6 | |
| Conservative | James Taghdissian | 18,219 | 32.9 | −0.2 | |
| Liberal Democrats | Vanessa Newcombe | 1,562 | 2.8 | −1.5 | |
| Green | Joe Levy | 1,027 | 1.9 | −4.6 | |
| Independent | Jonathan West | 212 | 0.4 | New | |
| Independent | Jonathan Bishop | 67 | 0.1 | New | |
| Majority | 16,117 | 29.1 | +15.8 | ||
| Turnout | 55,423 | 71.7 | +1.5 | ||
| Labour hold | Swing | +7.9 | |||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Labour | Ben Bradshaw | 25,062 | 46.4 | +8.2 | |
| Conservative | Dom Morris | 17,879 | 33.1 | +0.1 | |
| UKIP | Keith Crawford | 5,075 | 9.4 | +5.7 | |
| Green | Diana Moore | 3,491 | 6.5 | +5.0 | |
| Liberal Democrats | Joel Mason | 2,321 | 4.3 | −16.0 | |
| TUSC | Ed Potts | 190 | 0.4 | New | |
| Majority | 7,183 | 13.3 | +8.1 | ||
| Turnout | 54,018 | 70.2 | +2.5 | ||
| Labour hold | Swing | +4.0 | |||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Labour | Ben Bradshaw | 19,942 | 38.2 | −4.0 | |
| Conservative | Hannah Foster | 17,221 | 33.0 | +8.1 | |
| Liberal Democrats | Graham Oakes | 10,581 | 20.3 | −0.7 | |
| UKIP | Keith Crawford | 1,930 | 3.7 | +0.3 | |
| Liberal | Chris Gale | 1,108 | 2.1 | −2.3 | |
| Green | Paula Black | 792 | 1.5 | −2.3 | |
| BNP | Robert Farmer | 673 | 1.3 | New | |
| Majority | 2,721 | 5.2 | −12.1 | ||
| Turnout | 52,247 | 67.7 | +3.4 | ||
| Labour hold | Swing | −6.0 | |||
Elections in the 2000s
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Labour | Ben Bradshaw | 22,619 | 41.1 | −8.7 | |
| Conservative | Peter Cox | 14,954 | 27.2 | −0.2 | |
| Liberal Democrats | Jon Underwood | 11,340 | 20.6 | +8.2 | |
| Liberal | Margaret Danks | 2,214 | 4.0 | −0.9 | |
| Green | Tim Brenan | 1,896 | 3.4 | +1.0 | |
| UKIP | Mark Fitzgeorge-Parker | 1,854 | 3.4 | +1.3 | |
| Independent | John Stuart | 191 | 0.3 | −1.8 | |
| Majority | 7,665 | 13.9 | −8.5 | ||
| Turnout | 55,068 | 64.8 | +0.6 | ||
| Labour hold | Swing | −4.2 | |||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Labour | Ben Bradshaw | 26,194 | 49.8 | +2.3 | |
| Conservative | Anne Jobson | 14,435 | 27.4 | −1.2 | |
| Liberal Democrats | Richard Copus | 6,512 | 12.4 | −5.6 | |
| Liberal | David Morrish | 2,596 | 4.9 | +1.6 | |
| Green | Paul Edwards | 1,240 | 2.4 | +1.4 | |
| UKIP | John Stuart | 1,109 | 2.1 | New | |
| Socialist Alliance | Francis Choules | 530 | 1.0 | New | |
| Majority | 11,759 | 22.4 | +3.5 | ||
| Turnout | 52,616 | 64.2 | −14.0 | ||
| Labour hold | Swing | +1.7 | |||
Elections in the 1990s
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Labour | Ben Bradshaw | 29,398 | 47.5 | +11.3 | |
| Conservative | Adrian Rogers | 17,693 | 28.6 | −13.5 | |
| Liberal Democrats | Dennis Brewer | 11,148 | 18.0 | −1.4 | |
| Liberal | David Morrish | 2,062 | 3.3 | +1.5 | |
| Green | Paul Edwards | 643 | 1.0 | −0.2 | |
| UKIP | Corrine Haynes | 638 | 1.0 | New | |
| Pensioners | James Meakin | 282 | 0.5 | New | |
| Majority | 11,705 | 18.9 | N/A | ||
| Turnout | 61,864 | 78.2 | −2.3 | ||
| Labour gain from Conservative | Swing | +12.5 | |||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Conservative | John Hannam | 25,543 | 41.1 | −3.3 | |
| Labour | John N. Lloyd | 22,498 | 36.2 | +13.7 | |
| Liberal Democrats | Graham J. Oakes | 12,059 | 19.4 | −12.4 | |
| Liberal | Alison C. Micklem | 1,119 | 1.8 | New | |
| Green | Tim J.R. Brenan | 764 | 1.2 | +0.2 | |
| Natural Law | Michael J. Turnbull | 98 | 0.2 | New | |
| Majority | 3,045 | 4.9 | −7.7 | ||
| Turnout | 62,081 | 80.5 | −0.1 | ||
| Conservative hold | Swing | −8.5 | |||
Elections in the 1980s
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Conservative | John Hannam | 26,922 | 44.4 | −2.1 | |
| SDP | Mike Thomas | 19,266 | 31.8 | +2.5 | |
| Labour | John Vincent | 13,643 | 22.5 | −0.3 | |
| Green | Raymond Vail | 597 | 1.0 | −0.4 | |
| L.A.P.P | Nigel Byles | 209 | 0.3 | New | |
| Majority | 7,656 | 12.6 | −4.6 | ||
| Turnout | 60,637 | 80.6 | +2.6 | ||
| Conservative hold | Swing | −2.3 | |||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Conservative | John Hannam | 26,660 | 46.5 | −1.9 | |
| SDP | Stephen Mennell | 16,780 | 29.3 | +13.7 | |
| Labour | Richard Evans | 13,088 | 22.8 | −11.3 | |
| Ecology | Peter Frings | 779 | 1.4 | −0.5 | |
| Majority | 9,880 | 17.2 | +2.9 | ||
| Turnout | 57,307 | 78.0 | −3.6 | ||
| Conservative hold | Swing | -7.8 | |||
Elections in the 1970s
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Conservative | John Hannam | 27,173 | 48.4 | +7.7 | |
| Labour | G.W. Hobbs | 19,146 | 34.1 | −2.3 | |
| Liberal | H. Marsh | 8,756 | 15.6 | −7.3 | |
| Ecology | Peter Frings | 1,053 | 1.9 | New | |
| Majority | 8,027 | 14.3 | +10.0 | ||
| Turnout | 56,128 | 81.6 | +1.3 | ||
| Conservative hold | Swing | +5.0 | |||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Conservative | John Hannam | 21,970 | 40.7 | +0.6 | |
| Labour | F Keith Taylor | 19,622 | 36.4 | +5.2 | |
| Liberal | David John Morrish | 12,342 | 22.9 | −5.9 | |
| Majority | 2,348 | 4.3 | −4.6 | ||
| Turnout | 53,934 | 80.3 | −5.0 | ||
| Conservative hold | Swing | -2.9 | |||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Conservative | John Hannam | 22,762 | 40.1 | −5.7 | |
| Labour | G. Powell | 17,686 | 31.2 | −9.6 | |
| Liberal | David John Morrish | 16,322 | 28.8 | +15.2 | |
| Majority | 5,076 | 8.9 | +6.3 | ||
| Turnout | 56,770 | 85.3 | +4.2 | ||
| Conservative hold | Swing | +7.7 | |||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Conservative | John Hannam | 21,680 | 45.0 | +4.2 | |
| Labour | Gwyneth Dunwoody | 20,409 | 42.4 | −6.2 | |
| Liberal | David John Morrish | 6,672 | 13.6 | +2.9 | |
| Majority | 1,271 | 2.6 | N/A | ||
| Turnout | 48,761 | 81.1 | −2.5 | ||
| Conservative gain from Labour | Swing | +5.2 | |||
Elections in the 1960s
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Labour | Gwyneth Dunwoody | 22,199[36] | 48.6 | +10.3 | |
| Conservative | Rolf Dudley-Williams | 18,613 | 40.8 | −0.6 | |
| Liberal | Ronald Cuthbert Thompson | 4,869 | 10.7 | −9.6 | |
| Majority | 3,586 | 7.85 | N/A | ||
| Turnout | 45,681 | 83.63 | +3.3 | ||
| Labour gain from Conservative | Swing | +5.49 | |||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Conservative | Rolf Dudley-Williams | 18,035 | 41.4 | −7.3 | |
| Labour | Gwyneth Dunwoody | 16,673 | 38.3 | +2.4 | |
| Liberal | Ronald Cuthbert Thompson | 8,815 | 20.3 | +4.8 | |
| Majority | 1,362 | 3.1 | −9.7 | ||
| Turnout | 43,523 | 80.3 | −1.7 | ||
| Conservative hold | Swing | −4.8 | |||
Elections in the 1950s
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Conservative | Rolf Dudley-Williams | 21,579 | 48.7 | −7.6 | |
| Labour | Albert John Rogers | 15,918 | 35.9 | −7.8 | |
| Liberal | Gordon Taylor | 6,852 | 15.5 | New | |
| Majority | 5,661 | 12.8 | +0.2 | ||
| Turnout | 44,349 | 82.0 | +2.7 | ||
| Conservative hold | Swing | +0.1 | |||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Conservative | Rolf Dudley-Williams | 24,147 | 56.28 | +5.48 | |
| Labour | Leslie Merrion | 18,759 | 43.72 | +3.08 | |
| Majority | 5,388 | 12.56 | +2.41 | ||
| Turnout | 42,906 | 79.31 | |||
| Conservative hold | Swing | +1.20 | |||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Conservative | Rolf Dudley-Williams | 23,218 | 50.80 | −2.72 | |
| Labour | Edward Bishop | 18,576 | 40.65 | −5.83 | |
| Liberal | Ellen E Tinkham | 3,908 | 8.55 | New | |
| Majority | 4,642 | 10.15 | +3.11 | ||
| Turnout | 45,702 | 84.13 | |||
| Conservative hold | Swing | +1.56 | |||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Conservative | John Maude | 24,339 | 53.52 | ||
| Labour | Tom Horabin | 21,135 | 46.48 | ||
| Majority | 3,204 | 7.04 | |||
| Turnout | 45,474 | 86.00 | |||
| Conservative hold | Swing | ||||
Election in the 1940s
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Conservative | John Maude | 16,420 | 43.34 | −17.44 | |
| Labour | Reginald J Travess | 15,245 | 40.24 | +1.02 | |
| Liberal | Freda Evelyn Griffith Morgan | 6,220 | 16.42 | New | |
| Majority | 1,175 | 3.10 | |||
| Turnout | 37,885 | 74.46 | |||
| Conservative hold | Swing | ||||
Elections in the 1930s
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;
- Conservative: Arthur Reed
- Labour: William Robert Robins[37]
- Liberal: Henry Gebhardt
- British Union: Rafe Temple Cotton
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Conservative | Arthur Reed | 21,192 | 60.78 | +5.59 | |
| Labour | John Stafford Cripps | 13,674 | 39.22 | +17.65 | |
| Majority | 7,518 | 21.56 | |||
| Turnout | 34,866 | 75.86 | |||
| Conservative hold | Swing | ||||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Conservative | Arthur Reed | 20,360 | 55.19 | +32.49 | |
| Liberal | Eleanor Acland | 8,571 | 23.23 | New | |
| Labour | James Viner Delahaye | 7,958 | 21.57 | −6.23 | |
| Majority | 11,789 | 31.96 | |||
| Turnout | 36,889 | 84.77 | |||
| Conservative hold | Swing | ||||
Elections in the 1920s
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ind. Unionist | Robert Newman | 16,642 | 49.5 | −8.0 | |
| Labour | J. Lloyd Jones | 9,361 | 27.8 | +2.6 | |
| Unionist | Geoffrey Dorling Roberts | 7,622 | 22.7 | −34.8 | |
| Majority | 7,281 | 21.7 | N/A | ||
| Turnout | 33,625 | 81.9 | −0.2 | ||
| Ind. Unionist gain from Unionist | Swing | N/A | |||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Unionist | Robert Newman | 14,522 | 57.5 | −10.2 | |
| Labour | A J Penny | 6,359 | 25.2 | −7.1 | |
| Liberal | Thomas Fairchild Day | 4,359 | 17.3 | New | |
| Majority | 8,163 | 32.3 | −3.1 | ||
| Turnout | 25,240 | 82.1 | +9.5 | ||
| Unionist hold | Swing | −1.5 | |||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Unionist | Robert Newman | 14,908 | 67.7 | +11.0 | |
| Labour | Lothian Small | 7,123 | 32.3 | New | |
| Majority | 7,785 | 35.4 | +22.0 | ||
| Turnout | 22,031 | 72.6 | −13.0 | ||
| Unionist hold | Swing | N/A | |||

| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Unionist | Robert Newman | 14,326 | 56.7 | −2.0 | |
| Liberal | Leonard Costello | 10,920 | 43.3 | +2.0 | |
| Majority | 3,406 | 13.4 | −4.0 | ||
| Turnout | 25,246 | 85.6 | +17.4 | ||
| Unionist hold | Swing | −2.0 | |||
Election results 1885–1918
Elections in the 1880s
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Conservative | Henry Northcote | 3,315 | 51.9 | −10.9 | |
| Liberal | Edward Johnson | 3,074 | 48.1 | +10.9 | |
| Majority | 241 | 3.8 | N/A | ||
| Turnout | 6,389 | 91.8 | +15.3 (est) | ||
| Registered electors | 6,963 | ||||
| Conservative win (new seat) | |||||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Conservative | Henry Northcote | 3,222 | 52.8 | +0.9 | |
| Liberal | Edward Johnson | 2,879 | 47.2 | −0.9 | |
| Majority | 343 | 5.6 | +1.8 | ||
| Turnout | 6,101 | 87.6 | −4.2 | ||
| Registered electors | 6,963 | ||||
| Conservative hold | Swing | +0.9 | |||
Elections in the 1890s

| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Conservative | Henry Northcote | 3,884 | 53.8 | +1.0 | |
| Liberal | Albert Dunn | 3,329 | 46.2 | −1.0 | |
| Majority | 555 | 7.6 | +2.0 | ||
| Turnout | 7,213 | 90.5 | +2.9 | ||
| Registered electors | 7,972 | ||||
| Conservative hold | Swing | +1.0 | |||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Conservative | Henry Northcote | 3,857 | 53.4 | −0.4 | |
| Liberal | Adam Spencer Hogg | 3,363 | 46.6 | +0.4 | |
| Majority | 494 | 6.8 | −0.8 | ||
| Turnout | 7,220 | 88.1 | −2.4 | ||
| Registered electors | 8,198 | ||||
| Conservative hold | Swing | −0.4 | |||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Conservative | Edgar Vincent | 4,030 | 54.5 | +1.1 | |
| Liberal | Allan Bright | 3,371 | 45.5 | −1.1 | |
| Majority | 659 | 9.0 | +2.2 | ||
| Turnout | 7,401 | 86.1 | +2.0 | ||
| Registered electors | 8,595 | ||||
| Conservative hold | Swing | +0.7 | |||
Elections in the 1900s
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Conservative | Edgar Vincent | 4,001 | 54.1 | +0.7 | |
| Liberal | Allan Bright | 3,388 | 45.9 | −0.7 | |
| Majority | 613 | 8.2 | +1.4 | ||
| Turnout | 7,389 | 84.9 | −3.2 | ||
| Registered electors | 8,708 | ||||
| Conservative hold | Swing | +0.7 | |||

| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Liberal | George Kekewich | 4,469 | 50.5 | +4.6 | |
| Conservative | Edgar Vincent | 4,384 | 49.5 | −4.6 | |
| Majority | 85 | 1.0 | N/A | ||
| Turnout | 8,853 | 92.5 | +7.6 | ||
| Registered electors | 9,567 | ||||
| Liberal gain from Conservative | Swing | +4.6 | |||
Elections in the 1910s
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Conservative | Henry Duke | 4,902 | 50.1 | +0.6 | |
| Liberal | Harold St. Maur | 4,876 | 49.9 | −0.6 | |
| Majority | 26 | 0.2 | N/A | ||
| Turnout | 9,778 | 94.2 | +1.7 | ||
| Registered electors | 10,383 | ||||
| Conservative gain from Liberal | Swing | +0.6 | |||

| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Conservative | Henry Duke | 4,777 | 50.0 | −0.1 | |
| Liberal | Harold St. Maur | 4,776 | 50.0 | +0.1 | |
| Majority | 1 | 0.0 | −0.2 | ||
| Turnout | 9,553 | 92.0 | −2.2 | ||
| Registered electors | 10,383 | ||||
| Conservative hold | Swing | −0.1 | |||
Upon petition, this election was subject to a recount due to the closeness of the results. On the first count, St. Maur led with 4,786 votes to Duke's 4,782. On a second count, St. Maur again led with 4,782 votes to Duke's 4,778. Closer scrutiny led to the above count, allowing Duke to retain the seat.
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 and by July 1914, the following candidates had been selected;
- Unionist: Henry Duke
- Liberal:
Duke is appointed Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, prompting a by-election.
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Unionist | Henry Duke | Unopposed | |||
| Unionist hold | |||||
Duke is appointed Lord Justice of Appeal and resigns, prompting a by-election.
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Unionist | Robert Newman | Unopposed | |||
| Unionist hold | |||||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| C | Unionist | Robert Newman | 12,524 | 58.7 | +8.7 |
| Liberal | Leonard Costello | 8,806 | 41.3 | −8.7 | |
| Majority | 3,718 | 17.4 | +17.4 | ||
| Turnout | 21,330 | 68.2 | −23.8 | ||
| Unionist hold | Swing | +8.7 | |||
| C indicates candidate endorsed by the coalition government. | |||||
Election results 1868–1880
Elections in the 1860s
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Conservative | Edward Courtenay | Unopposed | |||
| Liberal | John Coleridge | Unopposed | |||
| Registered electors | 3,088 | ||||
| Conservative hold | |||||
| Liberal hold | |||||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Liberal | John Coleridge | 2,317 | 25.8 | N/A | |
| Liberal | Edgar Alfred Bowring | 2,247 | 25.0 | N/A | |
| Conservative | John Burgess Karslake | 2,218 | 24.7 | N/A | |
| Conservative | Arthur Mills | 2,206 | 24.5 | N/A | |
| Majority | 29 | 0.3 | N/A | ||
| Turnout | 4,494 (est) | 73.0 (est) | N/A | ||
| Registered electors | 6,156 | ||||
| Liberal hold | Swing | ||||
| Liberal gain from Conservative | Swing | ||||
Coleridge was appointed Solicitor General for England and Wales, requiring a by-election.
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Liberal | John Coleridge | Unopposed | |||
| Liberal hold | |||||
Elections in the 1870s
Coleridge resigned after being appointed Chief Justice of the Court of Common Pleas
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Conservative | Arthur Mills | 2,346 | 53.7 | +4.5 | |
| Liberal | Edward Watkin[45] | 2,025 | 46.3 | −4.5 | |
| Majority | 321 | 7.4 | N/A | ||
| Turnout | 4,371 | 70.4 | −2.6 | ||
| Registered electors | 6,206 | ||||
| Conservative gain from Liberal | Swing | +4.5 | |||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Conservative | Arthur Mills | 2,523 | 27.5 | +3.0 | |
| Conservative | John George Johnson | 2,330 | 25.4 | +0.7 | |
| Liberal | Edgar Alfred Bowring | 2,264 | 24.7 | −0.3 | |
| Liberal | Edward Johnson | 2,053 | 22.4 | −3.4 | |
| Majority | 66 | 0.7 | N/A | ||
| Turnout | 4,585 (est) | 72.4 (est) | −0.6 | ||
| Registered electors | 6,337 | ||||
| Conservative gain from Liberal | Swing | +1.7 | |||
| Conservative gain from Liberal | Swing | +2.1 | |||
Elections in the 1880s
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Liberal | Edward Johnson | 3,038 | 37.2 | −9.9 | |
| Conservative | Henry Northcote | 2,590 | 31.7 | +6.3 | |
| Conservative | Arthur Mills | 2,545 | 31.1 | +3.6 | |
| Majority | 493 | 6.1 | N/A | ||
| Turnout | 5,628 (est) | 76.5 (est) | +4.1 | ||
| Registered electors | 7,361 | ||||
| Liberal gain from Conservative | Swing | +5.6 | |||
| Conservative hold | Swing | +4.0 | |||
Election results 1832–1868
Elections in the 1830s
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Whig | James Wentworth Buller | 1,615 | 43.4 | −1.4 | |
| Radical | Edward Divett | 1,121 | 30.1 | +7.5 | |
| Tory | William Webb Follett | 985 | 26.5 | −6.1 | |
| Turnout | 2,055 | 69.6 | c. −0.4 | ||
| Registered electors | 2,952 | ||||
| Majority | 494 | 13.3 | +1.1 | ||
| Whig hold | Swing | +2.2 | |||
| Majority | 136 | 3.6 | N/A | ||
| Radical gain from Tory | Swing | +5.3 | |||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Conservative | William Webb Follett | 1,425 | 39.3 | +12.8 | |
| Radical | Edward Divett | 1,176 | 32.4 | +2.3 | |
| Whig | James Wentworth Buller | 1,029 | 28.3 | −15.1 | |
| Turnout | 2,242 | 69.2 | −0.4 | ||
| Registered electors | 3,239 | ||||
| Majority | 249 | 6.9 | N/A | ||
| Conservative gain from Whig | Swing | +10.2 | |||
| Majority | 147 | 4.1 | +0.5 | ||
| Radical hold | Swing | +4.9 | |||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Conservative | William Webb Follett | Unopposed | |||
| Radical | Edward Divett | Unopposed | |||
| Registered electors | 3,488 | ||||
| Conservative hold | |||||
| Radical hold | |||||
Elections in the 1840s
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Conservative | William Webb Follett | 1,302 | 36.0 | N/A | |
| Radical | Edward Divett | 1,192 | 33.0 | N/A | |
| Conservative | Algernon Percy | 1,119 | 31.0 | N/A | |
| Turnout | 2,302 | 62.2 | N/A | ||
| Registered electors | 3,698 | ||||
| Majority | 110 | 3.0 | N/A | ||
| Conservative hold | Swing | N/A | |||
| Majority | 73 | 2.0 | N/A | ||
| Radical hold | Swing | N/A | |||
Follett was appointed Solicitor General for England and Wales, requiring a by-election.
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Conservative | William Webb Follett | Unopposed | |||
| Conservative hold | |||||
Follett was appointed Attorney General for England and Wales, requiring a by-election.
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Conservative | William Webb Follett | 1,293 | 71.0 | +4.0 | |
| Whig | John Briggs[46] | 529 | 29.0 | −4.0 | |
| Majority | 764 | 42.0 | +39.0 | ||
| Turnout | 1,822 | 48.9 | −13.3 | ||
| Registered electors | 3,728 | ||||
| Conservative hold | Swing | +4.0 | |||
Follett's death caused a by-election.
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Conservative | John Duckworth | 1,258 | 68.1 | +1.1 | |
| Whig | John Briggs | 588 | 31.9 | −1.1 | |
| Majority | 670 | 36.2 | +33.2 | ||
| Turnout | 1,846 | 49.5 | −12.7 | ||
| Registered electors | 3,728 | ||||
| Conservative hold | Swing | +1.1 | |||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Conservative | John Duckworth | Unopposed | |||
| Radical | Edward Divett | Unopposed | |||
| Registered electors | 3,798 | ||||
| Conservative hold | |||||
| Radical hold | |||||
Elections in the 1850s
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Conservative | John Duckworth | 1,210 | 34.5 | N/A | |
| Radical | Edward Divett | 1,191 | 33.9 | N/A | |
| Conservative | George Buck[47] | 1,111 | 31.6 | N/A | |
| Turnout | 2,352 (est) | 94.0 (est) | N/A | ||
| Registered electors | 2,501 | ||||
| Majority | 19 | 0.6 | N/A | ||
| Conservative hold | Swing | N/A | |||
| Majority | 80 | 2.3 | N/A | ||
| Radical hold | Swing | N/A | |||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Conservative | Richard Gard | Unopposed | |||
| Radical | Edward Divett | Unopposed | |||
| Registered electors | 3,162 | ||||
| Conservative hold | |||||
| Radical hold | |||||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Conservative | Richard Gard | Unopposed | |||
| Liberal | Edward Divett | Unopposed | |||
| Registered electors | 3,216 | ||||
| Conservative hold | |||||
| Liberal hold | |||||
Elections in the 1860s
Divett's death caused a by-election.
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Conservative | Edward Courtenay | 1,096 | 50.6 | N/A | |
| Liberal | John Coleridge | 1,070 | 49.4 | N/A | |
| Majority | 26 | 1.2 | N/A | ||
| Turnout | 2,166 | 84.5 | N/A | ||
| Registered electors | 2,564 | ||||
| Conservative gain from Liberal | Swing | N/A | |||
Elections before 1832
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Whig | James Wentworth Buller | 753 | 44.8 | ||
| Tory | Lewis William Buck | 548 | 32.6 | ||
| Radical | Edward Divett | 379 | 22.6 | ||
| Turnout | 910 | c. 70.0 | |||
| Registered electors | c. 1,300 | ||||
| Majority | 205 | 12.2 | |||
| Whig hold | |||||
| Majority | 169 | 10.0 | |||
| Tory hold | |||||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tory | Lewis William Buck | Unopposed | |||
| Whig | James Wentworth Buller | Unopposed | |||
| Tory hold | |||||
| Whig gain from Tory | |||||

