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Canterbury (constituency)

Parliamentary constituency in the United Kingdom, 1295 onwards From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Canterbury is a constituency[n 1] in Kent, represented in the House of Commons of the UK Parliament since 2017 by Rosie Duffield, formerly of the Labour Party, and since September 2024, an Independent.[n 2]

Local government in South East EnglandKent
Population109,280 (2011 census)[1]
Electorate71,171 (2024)
Major settlementsCanterbury, Whitstable, Swalecliffe, Chestfield
Quick facts Local government in South East England, Population ...
Canterbury
County constituency
for the House of Commons
Interactive map of boundaries from 2024
Map of constituency
Boundary of Canterbury in South East England
Local government in South East EnglandKent
Population109,280 (2011 census)[1]
Electorate71,171 (2024)
Major settlementsCanterbury, Whitstable, Swalecliffe, Chestfield
Current constituency
Created1918
Member of ParliamentRosie Duffield (Independent)
SeatsOne
Created fromSt Augustine's, Canterbury (Borough)
During its existence contributed to new seat(s) ofFolkestone and Hythe (1950), North Thanet (1983)
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Local government in South East EnglandKent
Major settlementsCanterbury
Seats
  • 1295–1885: Two
  • 1885–present: One
Replaced byCanterbury (County)
Quick facts Local government in South East England, Major settlements ...
Canterbury
Former borough constituency
for the House of Commons
Local government in South East EnglandKent
Major settlementsCanterbury
1295–1918
Seats
  • 1295–1885: Two
  • 1885–present: One
Replaced byCanterbury (County)
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The seat dates to the earliest century of regular parliaments, in 1295; it elected two MPs until 1885, electing one thereafter, before being altered by the Representation of the People Act 1918 (the later-termed "Fourth Reform Act", the first being in 1832).

Constituency profile

The Canterbury constituency is located in Kent and covers most of the City of Canterbury local government district. It includes the historic cathedral city of Canterbury, with a population of around 55,000, and a large rural area surrounding the city and meeting the coast at the town of Whitstable. Canterbury is an important religious centre; the city is the seat of the Archbishop of Canterbury, the ceremonial head of the worldwide Anglican Communion, and the city's main religious sites together hold UNESCO World Heritage status. Canterbury also hosts three universities (the University of Kent, University for the Creative Arts and Canterbury Christ Church University) and has the highest student-to-permanent-resident ratio in the country.[2]

Compared to national averages, residents of the constituency are younger and have high levels of education and professional employment.[3] Most of the constituency is affluent, however there are high levels of deprivation in parts of Canterbury, particularly in the north-east of the city.[4] White people make up 86% of the population.[3] At the local city and county council levels, the city of Canterbury is mostly represented by Labour Party councillors whilst the rural areas of the constituency have predominantly elected Liberal Democrats. Voters in the constituency mostly supported remaining in the European Union in the 2016 referendum; an estimated 54% supported remaining compared to 48% nationwide.[3]

History

Constitutional status of seat

The current Canterbury seat is constituted as a county constituency and was formed in 1918 from an expansion of the narrow parliamentary borough (or simply borough) of the same name that existed from 1295 to 1918. This had elected two MPs from 1295 (the Model Parliament) until 1885, and then one until 1918.

Political history

Before the seat was reformed the politics of the town were greatly influenced by Canterbury Cathedral and the Archbishop of Canterbury.[5]

MP representation in the constituency was suspended between 1880 and 1885, following a corruption scandal in which bribery was found to have been extensively used in the re-election of the two sitting Conservative MPs, and the result was overturned. Following the Corrupt and Illegal Practices Prevention Act 1883 and the Redistribution of Seats Act 1885, representation was resumed at the 1885 general election, when the number of MPs returned was reduced from two to one.[6]

From 1835 (where a Conservative was elected on petition) until 2017, the local electorate elected mostly candidates of the Conservative Party (with the exceptions of the elections of Independent Unionist Francis Bennett-Goldney, MP from 1910 to 1918, and of a few Whigs or Liberals when Canterbury had two seats); the seat was recognised in the Guinness Book of World Records as the longest uninterrupted period of one party holding a Parliamentary seat. The election of Labour's Rosie Duffield, who won the seat by just 187 votes in the 2017 election, marked the end of a 185-year period of Canterbury almost always electing Conservative-allied MPs, the longest recorded unbroken record of party representation in British political history. Her victory in this election was largely credited to the strategies of electoral strategist Jack Wilson, who at the time was the youngest senior political adviser in British history.

Duffield kept the seat at the 2019 election, increasing her majority – one of only a handful of seats to swing to Labour. At the 2024 election, her majority increased substantially following the collapse of the Conservative vote.

Boundaries

Map of boundaries 2010–2024

1918–1950: The County Borough of Canterbury, the Urban Districts of Herne Bay and Whitstable, the Rural Districts of Bridge and Elham, and the Rural District of Blean with the detached parts of the parishes of Dunkirk and Hernhill which were wholly surrounded by the rural district.

1950–1983: The County Borough of Canterbury, the Urban Districts of Herne Bay and Whitstable, and the Rural District of Bridge Blean.

1983–1997: The City of Canterbury wards of Barham Downs, Barton, Blean Forest, Chartham, Chestfield, Gorrell, Harbledown, Harbour, Little Stour, Marshside, Northgate, North Nailbourne, St Stephen's, Seasalter, Stone Street, Sturry North, Sturry South, Swalecliffe, Tankerton, Westgate, and Wincheap, and the Borough of Swale wards of Boughton and Courtenay.

1997–2010: as 1983 less the two Borough of Swale wards.

2010–2024: The City of Canterbury wards of Barham Downs, Barton, Blean Forest, Chartham and Stone Street, Chestfield and Swalecliffe, Gorrell, Harbledown, Harbour, Little Stour, North Nailbourne, Northgate, St Stephen's, Seasalter, Sturry North, Sturry South, Tankerton, Westgate, and Wincheap.

2024–present: The City of Canterbury wards of Barton; Blean Forest; Chartham & Stone Street; Chestfield; Gorrell; Little Stour & Adisham; Nailbourne; Northgate; St. Stephens; Seasalter; Swalecliffe; Tankerton; Westgate; and Wincheap.[7]

Electorate reduced to bring it within the permitted range by transferring Sturry to the new seat of Herne Bay and Sandwich.

Members of Parliament

MPs 1295–1660 — MPs 1660–1880 — MPs 1885–1918 — MPs 1918–present — Elections — See also — Notes and references

Parliamentary borough of Canterbury

MPs 1295–1660

More information Parliament, First member ...
ParliamentFirst memberSecond member
1386Thomas HoltJohn Symme[8]
1388 (February)John MendhamWilliam Ellis[8]
1388 (September)John CrekingJohn Wimpole[8]
1390 (January)Thomas LincolnThomas Ickham[8]
1390 (November)
1391Edmund HorneJohn Proude[8]
1393John SextonRichard Gervays[8]
1394John ProudeRobert Farthing[8]
1395William EllisThomas Ickham[8]
1397 (January)Richard GervaysJohn Sexton[8]
1397 (September)Edmund HorneRobert Farthing[8]
1399John Sheldwich IThomas Lane[8]
1401Thomas IckhamJohn Pirie[8]
1402John Sheldwich IRobert Cooper[8]
1404 (January)Thomas ChiccheJohn Sexton[8]
1404 (October)John UmfrayJohn Haute[8]
1406Edmund HorneRichard Water[8]
1407John SextonRichard Water[8]
1410Thomas LaneHenry Lynde[8]
1411William IckhamWilliam Rose[8]
1413 (February)William LaneJohn Sheldwich II[8]
1413 (May)Thomas LaneWilliam Emery[8]
1414 (April)Richard WaterJohn Sheldwich II[8]
1414 (November)Thomas LaneJohn Sheldwich II[8]
1415John Sheldwich II[8]
1416 (March)Henry LyndeJohn Sheldwich II[8]
1416 (October)William IckhamWilliam Benet[8]
1417John Sheldwich IIHenry Lynde[8]
1419John MonynJohn Sheldwich II[8]
1420William BenetWilliam Ickham[8]
1421 (May)John Sheldwich IIWilliam Lane[8]
1421 (December)Thomas LangdonThomas Norman[8]
1425William Benet[9]
1435William Benet[9]
1450William Benet[9]
1483Sir George Browne (died 1483)
1489John Crysp[10]
1504Thomas Atwode
1510William CrumpThomas Atwode[11]
1512Thomas WainfleetJohn Hales I[11]
1515Thomas AtwodeJohn Hales I[11]
1523Christopher HalesJohn Bridges[11]
1529Thomas Atwode, died
and replaced February 1535 by Robert Darknall		John Bridges[11]
1536Robert DarknallJohn Bridges[11]
1539John StarkeyRobert Lewis[11]
1542Robert DarknallWalter Hendley[11]
1545Robert Lewis?[11]
1547Robert DarknallThomas Hales[11]
1553 (March)Robert DarknallGeorge Webbe[11]
1553 (October)John TwyneWilliam Coppyn[11]
1554 (April)John TwyneWilliam Coppyn[11]
1554 (November)Nicholas FishRichard Railton[11]
1558Sir Henry CrispeWilliam Roper[11]
1558/59Sir Thomas FinchGeorge Maye[12]
1562/63William LovelaceRobert Alcock[12]
1571William Lovelace}Robert Alcock[12]
1572Anthony Webbe, died
and replaced 1582 by Sir George Carey		William Lovelace, died
and replaced 1578 by ?[12]
1584Simon BromeJohn Rose[12][13]
1586Simon BromeJohn Rose[12]
1588Simon BromeBartholomew Brome[12]
1593Richard LeeSir Henry Finch[12]
1597John BoysSir Henry Finch[12]
1601John BoysJohn Rogers II[12]
1604John BoysMatthew Hadde
1614George NewmanSir William Lovelace
1621–1622John FinchSir Robert Newington
1624Thomas ScottThomas Denn
1625John FisherSir Thomas Wilsford
1626Sir John FinchJames Palmer
1628–1629Sir John FinchThomas Scott
1629–1640No Parliaments summoned
1640 (April)Edward MastersJohn Nutt
1640 (November)Sir Edward MastersJohn Nutt
1645Sir Edward MastersJohn Nutt
1648Sir Edward MastersJohn Nutt
1653Canterbury not represented in Barebones Parliament
1654Thomas ScotFrancis Butcher
1656Thomas St NicholasVincent Denne
1659Thomas St NicholasRobert Gibbon
1659Sir Edward MastersJohn Nutt
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MPs 1660–1880

More information Election, First member ...
Election First member[14] Party Second member[14] Party
1660 Sir Anthony Aucher Heneage Finch
1661 Francis Lovelace Sir Edward Master
1664 Thomas Hardres
February 1679 Edward Hales William Jacob
August 1679 Sir Thomas Hardres
1681 Lewis Watson Vincent Denne
1685 Sir William Honywood, Bt Henry Lee
1695 George Sayer
1698 Henry Lee
1705 John Hardres
1708 Edward Watson Thomas D'Aeth
1710 John Hardres Henry Lee
1715 Sir Thomas Hales, Bt
1722 Samuel Milles
1727 Sir William Hardres, Bt[15]
1734[15] Thomas May
1735[15] Sir Thomas Hales, Bt
1741 Thomas Watson Thomas Best
1746 by-election Sir Thomas Hales, Bt
1747 Matthew Robinson
1754 Sir James Creed
1761 Richard Milles Thomas Best
1768 William Lynch
1774 Sir William Mayne
1780 George Gipps Charles Robinson
1790 Sir John Honywood, Bt
1796 John Baker Whig[16] Samuel Elias Sawbridge Whig[16]
Election declared void 2 March 1797
March 1797 by-election John Baker Whig[16] Samuel Elias Sawbridge Whig[16]
May 1797 Sir John Honywood, Bt Tory[16] George Gipps Tory[16]
1800 by-election George Watson
1802 John Baker Whig[16]
1806 James Simmons
February 1807 by-election Samuel Elias Sawbridge Whig[16]
May 1807 Edward Taylor Whig[16]
1812 Stephen Rumbold Lushington Tory[16]
1818 Edward Bligh Whig[16]
1830 Richard Watson Whig[16] George Cowper Whig[16]
Jan 1835 Albert Denison Whig[16][17][18][19][20] Frederick Villiers Whig[16]
March 1835 Stephen Rumbold Lushington Conservative[16]
1837[21] James Bradshaw Conservative[16]
1841 by-election[22] George Smythe Conservative[16]
1847 by-election Albert Denison Whig[16][17][18][19][20]
1850 by-election Frederick Romilly Radical[23][24][25]
1852 Henry Plumptre Gipps Conservative Henry Butler-Johnstone Conservative
1853 Constituency representation suspended
1854 by-election Charles Manners Lushington Peelite[26][27][28] Sir William Somerville, Bt[29] Whig[26][28][30]
1857 Henry Butler-Johnstone Conservative
1859 Liberal
1862 by-election Henry Munro-Butler-Johnstone Conservative
1865[31] John Walter Huddleston Conservative
1868 Independent Conservative Theodore Brinckman Liberal
1874 Conservative Lewis Majendie Conservative
1878 by-election Hon. Alfred Gathorne-Hardy Conservative
1879 by-election Robert Peter Laurie Conservative
1880 Constituency representation suspended
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MPs 1885–1918

  • Constituency representation restored and reduced to one (1885)
More information Election, Member ...
ElectionMember[14][32]PartyNotes
1885 John Henniker Heaton Conservative
December 1910 Francis Bennett-Goldney Independent Unionist Died July 1918
1918 by-election George Knox Anderson Conservative
1918 Parliamentary borough abolished, name transferred to a new county division
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Canterbury county constituency

MPs 1918–present

More information Election, Member ...
ElectionMember[14][32]PartyNotes
1918 Ronald McNeill Conservative Member for St Augustine's (1911–1918)
Raised to the peerage as Baron Cushendun
1927 by-election Sir William Wayland Conservative
1945 John White Conservative
1953 by-election Leslie Thomas Conservative
1966 David Crouch Conservative
1987 Julian Brazier Conservative
2017 Rosie Duffield Labour
2024 Independent
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Elections

Canterbury election results, 1950-2024

Elections in the 2020s

More information Party, Candidate ...
General election 2024: Canterbury[33]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Rosie Duffield 19,531 41.4 −7.2
Conservative Louise Harvey-Quirke 10,878 23.0 −21.8
Reform Bridget Porter 6,805 14.4 N/A
Green Henry Stanton 5,920 12.5 N/A
Liberal Democrats Russ Timpson 3,812 8.1 +2.4
SDP Luke Buchanan-Hodgman 285 0.6 N/A
Majority 8,653 18.4 +9.1
Turnout 47,426 66.7 −9.3
Registered electors 71,171
Labour hold Swing +7.3
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Elections in the 2010s

More information Party, Vote ...
2019 notional result[34]
Party Vote %
Labour27,78248.6
Conservative25,62244.8
Liberal Democrats3,2575.7
Others5050.9
Turnout 57,166 75.7
Electorate 75,499
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More information Party, Candidate ...
General election 2019: Canterbury[35]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Rosie Duffield 29,018 48.3 +3.3
Conservative Anna Firth 27,182 45.2 +0.5
Liberal Democrats Claire Malcomson 3,408 5.7 −2.3
Independent Michael Gould 505 0.8 N/A
Majority 1,836 3.1 +2.8
Turnout 60,113 75.0 +2.3
Labour hold Swing +1.4
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More information Party, Candidate ...
General election 2017: Canterbury[36]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Rosie Duffield 25,572 45.0 +20.5
Conservative Julian Brazier 25,385 44.7 +1.8
Liberal Democrats James Flanagan 4,561 8.0 −3.6
Green Henry Stanton 1,282 2.3 −4.7
Majority 187 0.3 N/A
Turnout 56,800 72.7 +8.7
Labour gain from Conservative Swing +9.3
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More information Party, Candidate ...
General election 2015: Canterbury[37]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Julian Brazier[38] 22,918 42.9 −1.9
Labour Hugh Lanning[38] 13,120 24.5 +8.4
UKIP Jim Gascoyne[38] 7,289 13.6 +9.7
Liberal Democrats James Flanagan[38] 6,227 11.6 −20.9
Green Stuart Jeffery[39] 3,746 7.0 +4.7
Socialist (GB) Robert Cox[40] 165 0.3 N/A
Majority 9,798 18.4 +6.1
Turnout 53,465 64.0 −0.1
Conservative hold Swing −5.2
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More information Party, Candidate ...
General election 2010: Canterbury[41]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Julian Brazier 22,050 44.8 +0.3
Liberal Democrats Guy Voizey 16,002 32.5 +11.1
Labour Jean Samuel 7,940 16.1 −12.0
UKIP Howard Farmer[42] 1,907 3.9 +1.9
Green Geoff Meaden 1,137 2.3 −1.0
Money Reform Anne Belsey 173 0.4 N/A
Majority 6,048 12.3 −3.5
Turnout 49,209 64.1 −2.3
Conservative hold Swing −5.4
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Elections in the 2000s

More information Party, Candidate ...
General election 2005: Canterbury
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Julian Brazier 21,113 44.4 +2.9
Labour Alex Hilton 13,642 28.7 −8.2
Liberal Democrats Jenny Barnard-Langston 10,059 21.1 +3.3
Green Geoffrey Meaden 1,521 3.2 +1.2
UKIP John Moore 926 1.9 +0.1
Legalise Cannabis Rocky van de Benderskum 326 0.7 N/A
Majority 7,471 15.7 +11.1
Turnout 47,587 66.1 +5.2
Conservative hold Swing +5.5
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More information Party, Candidate ...
General election 2001: Canterbury
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Julian Brazier 18,711 41.5 +2.9
Labour Emily Thornberry 16,642 36.9 +5.6
Liberal Democrats Peter Wales 8,056 17.8 −6.0
Green Hazel Dawe 920 2.0 +0.9
UKIP Lisa Moore 803 1.8 +1.3
Majority 2,069 4.6 −2.7
Turnout 45,132 60.9 −11.5
Conservative hold Swing −1.4
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Elections in the 1990s

More information Party, Candidate ...
General election 1997: Canterbury[43]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Julian Brazier 20,913 38.6 −11.8
Labour Cheryl Hall 16,949 31.3 +15.9
Liberal Democrats Martin Vye 12,854 23.8 −8.8
Referendum James Osborne 2,460 4.5 N/A
Green Geoffrey Meaden 588 1.1 N/A
UKIP John Moore 281 0.5 N/A
Natural Law Andrew Pringle 64 0.1 N/A
Majority 3,964 7.3 −11.1
Turnout 54,109 72.4 −5.7
Conservative hold Swing −13.9
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More information Party, Candidate ...
General election 1992: Canterbury[44]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Julian Brazier 29,827 50.8 −3.0
Liberal Democrats Martin J. Vye 19,022 32.4 +5.1
Labour Co-op Fred Whitemore 8,936 15.2 −1.7
Green Ms. Wendy J. Arnall 747 1.3 −0.4
Natural Law Ms. Sally E. Curphey 203 0.3 N/A
Majority 10,805 18.4 −8.1
Turnout 58,735 78.1 +4.1
Conservative hold Swing −4.0
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Elections in the 1980s

More information Party, Candidate ...
General election 1987: Canterbury[45]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Julian Brazier 30,273 53.8 −2.7
Liberal John Purchese 15,382 27.3 +1.4
Labour Linda A. Keen 9,494 16.9 +1.5
Green Steve Dawe 947 1.68 −0.2
Independent Canterbury Nationalist Joan White 157 0.3 N/A
Majority 14,891 26.5 −4.1
Turnout 56,255 74.0 +4.0
Conservative hold Swing −2.1
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More information Party, Candidate ...
General election 1983: Canterbury[46]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative David Crouch 29,029 56.5 −1.8
Liberal John Purchese 13,287 25.9 +9.9
Labour Jeannette Gould 7,906 15.4 −8.9
Ecology David Conder 962 1.9 N/A
Independent Nationalist Joan White 226 0.4 N/A
Majority 15,742 30.6 −3.4
Turnout 51,410 70.0 −4.7
Conservative hold Swing −5.8
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Elections in the 1970s

More information Party, Candidate ...
General election 1979: Canterbury[47]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative David Crouch 38,805 58.28 +8.47
Labour RP Spencer 16,168 24.28 −1.82
Liberal John Purchese 10,665 16.02 −6.31
National Front Joan White 941 1.41 −0.35
Majority 22,637 34.00 +11.29
Turnout 66,578 74.72 +2.11
Conservative hold Swing +5.15
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More information Party, Candidate ...
General election October 1974: Canterbury[48]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative David Crouch 31,002 49.81 −0.53
Labour MF Fuller 16,247 26.10 +3.01
Liberal SE Goulden 13,898 22.33 −3.13
National Front Kenneth McKilliam 1,096 1.76 +0.54
Majority 14,755 23.71 −1.27
Turnout 62,239 72.61 −7.63
Conservative hold Swing −1.77
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More information Party, Candidate ...
General election February 1974: Canterbury[49]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative David Crouch 34,341 50.34 −5.08
Liberal S Goulden 17,300 25.36 +6.09
Labour MF Fuller 15,751 23.09 −2.22
National Front Kenneth McKilliam 831 1.22 N/A
Majority 17,041 24.98 −5.13
Turnout 68,220 80.24 +5.67
Conservative hold Swing −5.59
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More information Party, Candidate ...
General election 1970: Canterbury[50]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative David Crouch 33,222 55.42 +5.58
Labour Henry Gordon N Clother 15,172 25.31 −2.90
Liberal David C P Gracie 11,553 19.27 −2.68
Majority 18,050 30.11 +8.48
Turnout 59,950 74.57 −1.53
Conservative hold Swing +4.24
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Elections in the 1960s

More information Party, Candidate ...
General election 1966: Canterbury
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative David Crouch 27,160 49.84 −2.13
Labour B Sawbridge 15,372 28.21 −1.26
Liberal Edwin W Moss 11,962 21.95 +3.39
Majority 11,788 21.63 −0.87
Turnout 54,494 76.10 −0.22
Conservative hold Swing −1.70
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More information Party, Candidate ...
General election 1964: Canterbury
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Leslie Thomas 26,827 51.97 −14.23
Labour George Selous Cobbett 15,211 29.47 −4.33
Liberal Edwin W Moss 9,582 18.56 N/A
Majority 11,616 22.50 −9.90
Turnout 51,620 76.32 +1.18
Conservative hold Swing −9.28
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Elections in the 1950s

More information Party, Candidate ...
General election 1959: Canterbury
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Leslie Thomas 30,846 66.20 −0.35
Labour George E Peters 15,746 33.80 +0.35
Majority 15,100 32.40 −0.70
Turnout 46,592 75.14 +2.48
Conservative hold Swing −0.35
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General election 1955: Canterbury
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Leslie Thomas 28,739 66.55 +5.46
Labour Reginald George Ward 14,444 33.45 +2.42
Majority 14,295 33.10 +3.04
Turnout 43,183 72.66 −7.40
Conservative hold Swing +3.94
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More information Party, Candidate ...
1953 Canterbury by-election
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Leslie Thomas 19,400 66.99 +5.90
Labour John A E Jones 9,560 33.01 +1.98
Majority 9,840 33.98 +3.92
Turnout 28,960
Conservative hold Swing +3.94
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General election 1951: Canterbury
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative John Baker White 28,632 61.09 +5.14
Labour John A E Jones 14,543 31.03 +0.27
Liberal Thomas H Payne 3,695 7.88 −5.42
Majority 14,089 30.06 +4.87
Turnout 46,870 80.06 −2.42
Conservative hold Swing +2.71
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General election 1950: Canterbury
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative John Baker White 26,491 55.95 −6.66
Labour Jackson Newman 14,563 30.76 −5.05
Liberal Kenneth Graham Jupp 6,296 13.30 N/A
Majority 11,928 25.19 −3.61
Turnout 47,350 82.48 +13.70
Conservative hold Swing −5.86
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Elections in the 1940s

More information Party, Candidate ...
General election 1945: Canterbury
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative John Baker White 24,282 61.61 −11.73
Labour Joseph Denis Milburn Bell 14,115 35.81 +10.15
Common Wealth Catherine Williamson 1,017 2.58 N/A
Majority 10,167 25.80 −22.88
Turnout 39,414 68.78 +4.33
Conservative hold Swing
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Elections in the 1930s

More information Party, Candidate ...
General election 1935: Canterbury
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative William Wayland 26,552 74.34 −9.33
Labour Richard Adams 9,164 25.66 +9.33
Majority 17,388 48.68 −18.66
Turnout 35,716 64.45 −1.77
Conservative hold Swing −9.33
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General election 1931: Canterbury
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative William Wayland 30,328 83.67 +27.0
Labour Paul Winterton 5,921 16.33 +2.4
Majority 24,407 67.34 +40.0
Turnout 36,249 66.22 −2.1
Conservative hold Swing
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Elections in the 1920s

More information Party, Candidate ...
General election 1929: Canterbury[51]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Unionist William Wayland 19,181 56.7 −13.6
Liberal David Carnegie 9,937 29.4 −0.3
Labour Philip Sidney Eastman 4,706 13.9 N/A
Majority 9,244 27.3 −13.3
Turnout 33,825 68.3 +2.4
Registered electors 49,499
Unionist hold Swing −6.7
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1927 Canterbury by-election[51]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Unionist William Wayland 13,657 57.3 −13.0
Liberal David Carnegie 10,175 42.7 +13.0
Majority 3,482 14.6 −26.0
Turnout 23,832 60.8 −5.1
Registered electors 39,229
Unionist hold Swing −13.0
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General election 1924: Canterbury[51]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Unionist Ronald McNeill 16,693 70.3 +11.9
Liberal David Carnegie 7,061 29.7 −11.9
Majority 9,632 40.6 +23.8
Turnout 23,754 65.9 +9.4
Registered electors 36,045
Unionist hold Swing +11.9
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General election 1923: Canterbury[51]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Unionist Ronald McNeill 12,017 58.4 −12.8
Liberal William Robertson Heatley 8,561 41.6 N/A
Majority 3,456 16.8 −25.6
Turnout 20,578 59.3 +2.5
Registered electors 34,715
Unionist hold Swing N/A
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General election 1922: Canterbury[51]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Unionist Ronald McNeill 13,954 71.2 −9.6
Labour J.H.L. Sims 5,639 28.8 +9.6
Majority 8,315 42.4 −19.2
Turnout 19,593 56.8 +11.9
Registered electors 34,488
Unionist hold Swing −9.6
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Elections in the 1910s

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General Election 1918: Canterbury[51]
Party Candidate Votes %
C Unionist Ronald McNeill 11,408 80.8
Labour Edward Timothy Palmer 2,719 19.2
Majority 8,689 61.6
Turnout 14,127 44.9
Registered electors 31,453
Unionist win (new boundaries)
C indicates candidate endorsed by the coalition government.
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Election results 1885–1918

Elections in the 1910s

More information Party, Candidate ...
1918 Canterbury by-election[51]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Unionist George Knox Anderson Unopposed
Registered electors
Unionist gain from Ind. Unionist
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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;

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Bennett-Goldney
More information Party, Candidate ...
General election December 1910: Canterbury[51][53]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Ind. Conservative Francis Bennett-Goldney 1,635 47.8 +9.6
Conservative John Howard 1,163 34.0 −4.8
Liberal William James Fisher 623 18.2 −4.8
Majority 472 13.8 N/A
Turnout 3,421 89.2 −3.0
Registered electors 3,836
Ind. Conservative gain from Conservative Swing +7.2
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Woodcock
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General election January 1910: Canterbury[51][53]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative John Henniker Heaton 1,371 38.8 −24.9
Ind. Conservative Francis Bennett-Goldney 1,350 38.2 N/A
Liberal H. B. D. Woodcock 815 23.0 −13.3
Majority 21 0.6 −26.8
Turnout 3,536 92.2 +2.4
Registered electors 3,836
Conservative hold Swing −5.8
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Elections in the 1900s

More information Party, Candidate ...
General election 1906: Canterbury[51][54]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative John Henniker Heaton 2,210 63.7 N/A
Liberal William James Fisher 1,262 36.3 N/A
Majority 948 27.4 N/A
Turnout 3,472 89.8 N/A
Registered electors 3,868
Conservative hold Swing N/A
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More information Party, Candidate ...
General election 1900: Canterbury[51][54][55]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative John Henniker Heaton Unopposed
Conservative hold
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Elections in the 1890s

More information Party, Candidate ...
General election 1895: Canterbury[51][54][55]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative John Henniker Heaton Unopposed
Conservative hold
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More information Party, Candidate ...
General election 1892: Canterbury[51][54]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative John Henniker Heaton Unopposed
Conservative hold
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Elections in the 1880s

Heaton
More information Party, Candidate ...
General election 1886: Canterbury[51][54]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative John Henniker Heaton Unopposed
Conservative hold
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More information Party, Candidate ...
General election 1885: Canterbury[54][56][57]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative John Henniker Heaton 1,804 68.6 +15.1
Liberal William Aubrey 825 31.4 −15.0
Majority 979 37.2 +34.7
Turnout 2,629 84.6 +11.0 (est)
Registered electors 3,107
Conservative hold Swing +15.1
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Election results 1832–1885

Elections in the 1880s

More information Party, Candidate ...
General election 1880: Canterbury (2 seats)[58]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Alfred Gathorne-Hardy 1,467 27.1 −4.6
Conservative Robert Peter Laurie 1,425 26.4 −3.5
Liberal Charles Edwards[59] 1,294 23.9 +4.0
Liberal Henry Butler-Johnstone 1,218 22.5 +3.9
Majority 131 2.5 −7.5
Turnout 2,702 (est) 73.6 (est) −2.1
Registered electors 3,671
Conservative hold Swing −4.3
Conservative hold Swing −3.7
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After findings of corruption, the writ for Canterbury was suspended and the election result voided. The constituency was reconstituted in 1885. Back to Elections

Elections in the 1870s

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By-election, 8 May 1879: Canterbury[58][60]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Robert Peter Laurie 1,159 51.2 −10.4
Liberal Charles Edwards[59] 1,103 48.8 +10.3
Majority 56 2.4 −7.6
Turnout 2,262 73.2 −2.5
Registered electors 3,089
Conservative hold Swing −10.4
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Majendie resigned, causing a by-election.

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By-election, 2 Mar 1878: Canterbury[58]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Alfred Gathorne-Hardy Unopposed
Conservative hold
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Butler-Johnstone resigned, causing a by-election.

More information Party, Candidate ...
General election 1874: Canterbury (2 seats)[58]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Henry Butler-Johnstone 1,488 31.7 −0.2
Conservative Lewis Majendie 1,406 29.9 +4.5
Liberal Theodore Brinckman 934 19.9 +6.3
Liberal Robert John Biron[61] 873 18.6 +5.0
Majority 472 10.0 N/A
Turnout 2,351 (est) 75.7 (est) −20.8
Registered electors 3,103
Conservative gain from Ind. Conservative Swing N/A
Conservative gain from Liberal Swing −0.9
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Elections in the 1860s

More information Party, Candidate ...
General election 1868: Canterbury (2 seats)[58]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Ind. Conservative Henry Butler-Johnstone[62] 1,453 31.9 +4.1
Liberal Theodore Brinckman 1,236 27.1 +3.8
Conservative John Walter Huddleston 1,157 25.4 −1.3
Conservative Henry James Lee Warner[63] 709 15.6 −22.2
Turnout 2,896 (est) 96.5 (est) +10.4
Registered electors 3,001
Majority 744 16.3 N/A
Ind. Conservative gain from Conservative Swing N/A
Majority 79 1.7 N/A
Liberal gain from Conservative Swing +2.6
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More information Party, Candidate ...
General election 1865: Canterbury (2 seats)[58]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Henry Butler-Johnstone 767 27.8 N/A
Conservative John Walter Huddleston 737 26.7 N/A
Liberal William Lyon[64] 643 23.3 N/A
Liberal Robert Adair 614 22.2 N/A
Majority 94 3.4 N/A
Turnout 1,381 (est) 86.1 (est) N/A
Registered electors 1,603
Conservative hold Swing N/A
Conservative gain from Liberal Swing N/A
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More information Party, Candidate ...
By-election, 6 Mar 1862: Canterbury (1 seat)[58]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Henry Butler-Johnstone 694 50.1 N/A
Liberal William Lyon[64] 691 49.9 N/A
Majority 3 0.2 N/A
Turnout 1,385 74.9 N/A
Registered electors 1,850
Conservative hold Swing N/A
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Johnstone resigned, causing a by-election.

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Elections in the 1850s

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General election 1859: Canterbury (2 seats)[58]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Henry Butler-Johnstone Unopposed
Liberal William Somerville Unopposed
Registered electors 1,831
Conservative hold
Liberal hold
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More information Party, Candidate ...
General election 1857: Canterbury (2 seats)[58]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Henry Butler-Johnstone 815 39.7 −28.5
Whig William Somerville 759 37.0 +26.2
Whig Charles Purton Cooper[65][66] 477 23.3 +12.5
Majority 56 2.7 −4.5
Turnout 1,026 (est) 54.7 (est) −15.6
Registered electors 1,876
Conservative hold Swing −23.9
Whig gain from Conservative Swing +20.2
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More information Party, Candidate ...
By-election, 18 August 1854: Canterbury (2 seats)[58]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Peelite Charles Manners Lushington 727 28.6 −0.5
Whig William Somerville 699 27.5 +5.9
Conservative Charles Lennox Butler[67] 671 26.4 −2.4
Whig Charles Purton Cooper[65][66] 406 16.0 N/A
Radical Edward Glover[68][69] 41 1.6 −18.6
Turnout 1,272 (est) 64.5 (est) −5.8
Registered electors 1,973
Majority 56 2.2 N/A
Peelite gain from Conservative Swing −3.2
Majority 28 1.1 N/A
Whig gain from Conservative Swing +3.7
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More information Party, Candidate ...
General election 1852: Canterbury (2 seats)[58]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Henry Plumptre Gipps 766 29.1 N/A
Conservative Henry Butler-Johnstone 758 28.8 N/A
Whig William Somerville 570 21.6 −6.5
Radical Frederick Romilly 533 20.2 N/A
Conservative George Smythe 7 0.3 −26.9
Majority 188 7.2 N/A
Turnout 1,317 (est) 70.3 (est) −1.2
Registered electors 1,874
Conservative hold Swing N/A
Conservative gain from Whig Swing N/A
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  • Smythe retired before polling.[70] The election was declared void on petition, due to bribery, and the writ suspended on 21 February 1853.[71] A by-election was called to replace both MPs in August 1854.
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By-election, 4 March 1850: Canterbury[58]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Radical Frederick Romilly Unopposed
Radical gain from Whig
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Denison was elevated to the peerage, becoming 1st Baron Londesborough, and causing a by-election.

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Elections in the 1840s

More information Party, Candidate ...
General election 1847: Canterbury (2 seats)[58]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Whig Albert Denison 808 28.1 −3.6
Conservative George Smythe 782 27.2 −9.0
Conservative John Vance 643 22.4 N/A
Conservative Thomas Charles Pelham-Clinton 641 22.3 N/A
Majority 165 5.7 N/A
Turnout 1,437 (est) 71.5 (est) −4.2
Registered electors 2,010
Whig gain from Conservative Swing +0.5
Conservative hold Swing −0.5
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More information Party, Candidate ...
By-election, 15 March 1847: Canterbury (1 seat)[58]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Whig Albert Denison Unopposed
Whig gain from Conservative
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  • Caused by Bradshaw's death
More information Party, Candidate ...
General election 1841: Canterbury (2 seats)[16][58]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative George Smythe 823 36.2 +10.5
Conservative James Bradshaw 729 32.1 +6.8
Whig Thomas Twisden Hodges 720 31.7 −17.3
Majority 103 4.5 N/A
Turnout 1,451 75.7 −6.4
Registered electors 1,918
Conservative hold Swing +9.6
Conservative gain from Whig Swing +7.7
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More information Party, Candidate ...
By-election, 3 February 1841: Canterbury[16][58]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative George Smythe 772 54.5 +3.5
Whig John Wright Henniker Wilson[72] 628 44.3 −4.7
Whig Thomas Twisden Hodges 17 1.2 N/A
Majority 144 10.2 N/A
Turnout 1,417 73.9 −8.2
Registered electors 1,918
Conservative gain from Whig Swing +4.1
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  • Caused by Denison's resignation

Elections in the 1830s

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General election 1837: Canterbury (2 seats)[16][58]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative James Bradshaw 761 25.7 +9.9
Whig Albert Conyngham 755 25.5 −10.9
Conservative Henry Plumptre Gipps 751 25.3 +9.5
Whig Frederick Villiers 698 23.5 −8.3
Turnout 1,507 82.1 −7.0
Registered electors 1,835
Majority 63 2.2 N/A
Conservative gain from Whig Swing +9.8
Majority 4 0.2 +0.1
Whig hold Swing −10.3
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More information Party, Candidate ...
General election 1835: Canterbury (2 seats)[16][58]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Whig Albert Conyngham 755 36.4 −5.1
Whig Frederick Villiers 660 31.8 −8.1
Conservative Stephen Rumbold Lushington 658 31.7 N/A
Majority 2 0.1 −21.1
Turnout 1,307 89.1 +9.5
Registered electors 1,467
Whig hold Swing N/A
Whig hold Swing N/A
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  • On petition, Villiers was declared unduly elected and Lushington declared elected.
More information Party, Candidate ...
General election 1832: Canterbury (2 seats)[16][58]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Whig Richard Watson 834 41.5 N/A
Whig George Cowper 802 39.9 N/A
No label William Percy Honeywood Courtenay 375 18.6 N/A
Majority 427 21.2 N/A
Turnout 1,203 79.6 N/A
Registered electors 1,467
Whig hold Swing N/A
Whig hold Swing N/A
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Elections before 1832

Elections in the 1830s

More information Party, Candidate ...
General election 1831: Canterbury (2 seats)[16]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Whig Richard Watson Unopposed
Whig George Cowper Unopposed
Whig hold
Whig hold
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More information Party, Candidate ...
General election 1830: Canterbury (2 seats)[16][73]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Whig Richard Watson 1,334 41.9
Whig George Cowper 1,101 34.6
Tory Henry Bingham Baring 731 23.0
No label Samuel Elias Sawbridge 8 0.3
No label George Milles 8 0.3
Majority 370 11.6 N/A
Turnout 1,988
Registered electors
Whig hold Swing
Whig gain from Tory Swing
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See also

Notes

  1. [1]
    A county constituency (for the purposes of election expenses and type of returning officer)
  2. [2]
    As with all constituencies, the constituency elects one Member of Parliament (MP) by the first past the post system of election at least once every five years.

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