Stafford (constituency)
UK Parliament constituency (since 1983)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Stafford is a constituency[n 1] represented in the House of Commons of the UK Parliament since 2024 by Leigh Ingham from the Labour Party.[n 2]
| Stafford | |
|---|---|
| County constituency for the House of Commons | |
![]() Boundaries since 2024 | |
Boundary of Stafford in West Midlands region | |
| County | Staffordshire |
| Electorate | 69,832 (December 2010)[1] |
| Major settlements | Stafford, Eccleshall |
| Current constituency | |
| Created | 1983 |
| Member of Parliament | Leigh Ingham (Labour) |
| Seats | One |
| Created from | Stafford & Stone and Newcastle-under-Lyme[2] |
| 1918–1950 | |
| Seats | One |
| Type of constituency | County constituency |
| Replaced by | Stafford & Stone |
| 1295–1918 | |
| Seats | 1290–1885: Two 1885–1918: One |
| Type of constituency | Borough constituency |
The seat since its resurrection in 1983 has been of a bellwether being held always by the incumbent government.
Boundaries
1885–1918: The existing parliamentary borough, and so much of the municipal borough of Stafford as was not already included in the parliamentary borough.[3]
1918–1950: The Municipal Borough of Stafford, the Rural District of Gnosall, the Rural District consisting of the civil parishes of Blymhill and Weston-under-Lizard, the Rural District of Stafford except the detached part of the civil parish of Colwich, and part of the Rural District of Cannock.
1983–1997: The Borough of Stafford wards of Baswich, Beaconside, Castletown, Church Eaton, Common, Coton, Doxey, Eccleshall, Forebridge, Gnosall, Highfields, Holmcroft, Littleworth, Manor, Milford, Parkside, Rowley, Seighford, Swynnerton, Tillington, Weeping Cross, and Woodseaves, and the Borough of Newcastle-under-Lyme wards of Loggerheads, Madeley, and Whitmore.
1997–2010: The Borough of Stafford wards of Baswich, Beaconside, Castletown, Common, Coton, Doxey, Forebridge, Haywood, Highfields, Holmcroft, Littleworth, Manor, Milford, Parkside, Rowley, Seighford, Tillington, and Weeping Cross, and the District of South Staffordshire wards of Acton Trussell, Bishopswood and Lapley, Penkridge North East, Penkridge South East, and Penkridge West.
2010–2024: The Borough of Stafford wards of Baswich, Castletown, Common, Coton, Doxey, Haywood and Hixon, Highfields and Western Downs, Holmcroft, Littleworth, Manor, Milford, Parkside, Rowley, Seighford, Tillington, and Weeping Cross, and the District of South Staffordshire wards of Penkridge North East and Acton Trussell, Penkridge South East, Penkridge West, and Wheaton Aston, Bishopswood and Lapley.
From 1997 to 2024, the constituency formed the southerly part of the Borough of Stafford, including the eponymous town itself plus the Penkridge area. in the District of South Staffordshire.
2024–present: Further to the 2023 Periodic Review of Westminster constituencies which came into effect for the 2024 general election, the constituency is composed of the following (as they existed on 1 December 2020):
- The Borough of Newcastle-under-Lyme wards of: Loggerheads; Maer & Whitmore.
- The Borough of Stafford wards of: Baswich; Common; Coton; Doxey & Castletown; Eccleshall; Forebridge; Gnosall & Woodseaves; Highfields & Western Downs; Holmcroft; Littleworth; Manor; Penkside; Rowley; Seighford & Church Eaton; Weeping Cross & Wildwood.[4]
The constituency was subject to significant changes due to the re-organisation of seats within Staffordshire. The parts in the South Staffordshire District, including Penkridge, together with areas to the east of Stafford, were included in the newly created constituency of Stone, Great Wyrley and Penkridge. To compensate, the boundaries were extended to the north and west, to include Eccleshall, Gnosall and the two Newcastle-under-Lyme wards, previously part of the abolished Stone constituency. The boundaries now resemble those in place from 1983 to 1997.
Constituency profile
The town has historical significance, featuring the Elizabethan Ancient High House, a museum with changing exhibitions and Stafford Castle. In terms of industry and commerce, the physics and engineering niche of large power station transformers are produced in the seat whereas the area to the north is famous for fine china, the Staffordshire Potteries from the companies Aynsley, Burleigh, Doulton, Dudson, Heron Cross, Minton, Moorcroft, Twyford, and Wedgwood. The area is also well known for the Staffordshire Hoard, Alton Towers and has a Building Society based in the town.
Workless claimants, registered jobseekers, were in November 2012 significantly lower than the national average of 3.8%, at 2.7% of the population based on a statistical compilation by The Guardian.[5]
History
Stafford, as a parliamentary borough, first existed between the Model Parliament in 1295 and 1950.
The current constituency was recreated for the 1983 general election.
- Prominent members
The town was represented in Parliament by leading playwright Richard Brinsley Sheridan at the end of the 18th century.
- Political history
Taken together with the Stafford and Stone seat which existed during the 33-year gap mentioned above, since 1910 when the last Liberal served the seat, the Conservative party has had five members and the Labour party three (this total includes the present member). In summary:
- Labour saw a bellwether result in their 1945 landslide victory, but Conservative Hugh Fraser regained the seat at the next election in 1950 in the successor seat which he held until his death in 1984.
- Effects from the creation of the Stone constituency in 1997 made Stafford somewhat more marginal: sitting Stafford MP Bill Cash followed some of his electors into the Stone constituency, which he won, and after a 47-year lack of a member, Labour's David Kidney gained the constituency in his party's landslide victory in 1997. The defeated Conservative candidate in 1997 was David Cameron, who in the next election was elected as the MP for the safe seat of Witney, and became the Conservative Party leader in 2005, and Prime Minister in 2010.
Members of Parliament
Stafford parliamentary borough
MPs 1295–1640
- Constituency created (1295)[6]
| Parliament | First member | Second member |
|---|---|---|
| 1295 | William Reynor | John Beyton |
| 1337 | Hugh Snel[7] | |
| 1353 | Hugh Snel[7] | |
| 1360 | Hugh Snel[7] | |
| 1362 | Hugh Snel[7] | |
| 1363 | Hugh Snel[7] | |
| 1365 | Hugh Snel[7] | |
| 1366 | Hugh Snel[7] | |
| 1368 | Hugh Snel[7] | |
| 1369 | Hugh Snel[7] | |
| 1371 | Hugh Snel[7] | |
| 1373 | Hugh Snel[7] | |
| 1376 | Hugh Snel[7] | |
| 1377 | Hugh Snel (murdered 1380)[7] | |
| 1386 | Thomas Jockery | Richard Stanford[8] |
| 1388 (Feb) | John Newton | Nicholas Snell[8] |
| 1388 (Sep) | John Newton | Richard Stanford[8] |
| 1390 (Jan) | John Newton | John Snell[8] |
| 1390 (Nov) | ||
| 1391 | John Newton | Richard Stanford[8] |
| 1393 | Henry Warrilewe | John Baxter[8] |
| 1394 | ||
| 1395 | John Wylaston | John Baxter[8] |
| 1397 (Jan) | John Wylaston | John Clifton[8] |
| 1397 (Sep) | ||
| 1399 | John Wylaston | Richard Stanford[8] |
| 1401 | ||
| 1402 | Richard Stanford | Thomas Barber[8] |
| 1404 (Jan) | Roger Coton | Adam Hewster[8] |
| 1404 (Oct) | ||
| 1406 | Thomas Jockery | John Huntingdon[8] |
| 1407 | Thomas Jockery | John Huntingdon[8] |
| 1410 | ||
| 1411 | Thomas Barber | Robert Whitgreve[8] |
| 1413 (Feb) | ||
| 1413 (May) | Thomas Barber | Adam Edgeley[8] |
| 1414 (Apr) | ||
| 1414 (Nov) | Sampson Erdeswyk | Robert Whitgreve[8] |
| 1415 | ||
| 1416 (Mar) | Henry Fenton | Robert Whitgreve[8] |
| 1416 (Oct) | ||
| 1417 | ||
| 1419 | John Harper | John Parker[8] |
| 1420 | John Harper | Robert Whitgreve[8] |
| 1421 (May) | John Harper | Robert Whitgreve[8] |
| 1421 (Dec) | Adam Edgeley | Robert Whitgreve[8] |
| 1495 | Humphrey Barber[9] | |
| 1510–1523 | No names known[10] | |
| 1529 | Thomas Stanford, died and replaced by 1553 by Sampson Erdeswick | John Bickley[10] |
| 1536 | ? | |
| 1539 | ? | |
| 1542 | Walter Blount | William Stamford[10] |
| 1545 | Henry Stafford[11] | William Stamford[10] |
| 1547 | Henry Stafford | Richard Forsett[10] |
| 1553 (Mar) | Edward Colbarne | Francis Smith[10] |
| 1553 (Oct) | Henry Stafford | ?Sir Anthony Browne/Simon Lowe alias Fyfield[10] |
| 1554 (Apr) | John Giffard | Humphrey Swynnerton[10] |
| 1554 (Nov) | James Fowler | Matthew Cradock[10] |
| 1555 | Henry Stafford | Thomas Harcourt[10] |
| 1558 | Edward Stafford | James Fowler[10] |
| 1559 (Jan) | Edward Stafford | William Bowyer[12] |
| 1562–3 | William Twyneho | Henry Goodere[12] |
| 1571 | Walter Stafford | William Knollys[12] |
| 1572 (Apr) | Richard Broughton | Thomas Purslow[12] |
| 1584 (Nov) | John Stafford | Francis Cradock[12] |
| 1586 | John Stafford | Francis Cradock[12] |
| 1588 (Oct) | Francis Cradock | Henry Bourchier[12] |
| 1593 | Henry Bourchier | Francis Cradock[12] |
| 1597 (Oct) | Sir Edward Stafford | Henry Bourchier[12] |
| 1601 (Oct) | Sir Edward Stafford | William Essex[12] |
| 1604–1611 | Hugh Beeston replaced 1609 by Arthur Ingram[13] | George Cradock[13] |
| 1614 | Sir Walter Devereux[14] | Thomas Gibbs[14] |
| 1621 | Matthew Cradock[13] | Richard Dyott[13] |
| 1624 | Matthew Cradock | Richard Dyott |
| 1625 | Matthew Cradock | Sir Robert Hatton Sat for Sandwich replaced by Sir John Offley |
| 1626 | Sir John Offley | Bulstrode Whitlock |
| 1628 | Matthew Cradock | William Wingfield |
| 1629–1640 | No Parliaments convened | |
MPs 1640–1885
MPs 1885–1918
| Election | Member[15] | Party | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1885 | Charles McLaren | Liberal | |
| 1886 | Thomas Salt | Conservative | |
| 1892 | Charles Shaw | Liberal | |
| 1910 | Sir Walter Essex | Liberal | |
| 1918 | Parliamentary borough abolished. Name transferred to a county division | ||
Stafford division of Staffordshire
MPs 1918–1950
Stafford county constituency
MPs since 1983
Elections
Elections in the 2020s
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Labour | Leigh Ingham | 18,531 | 40.3 | +9.1 | |
| Conservative | Theo Clarke | 13,936 | 30.3 | −27.6 | |
| Reform | Michael Riley | 8,612 | 18.7 | New | |
| Green | Scott Spencer | 2,856 | 6.2 | +1.7 | |
| Liberal Democrats | Peter Andras | 1,676 | 3.6 | −2.8 | |
| Monster Raving Loony | Titus Anything | 307 | 0.7 | New | |
| Heritage | Craig Morton | 91 | 0.2 | New | |
| Majority | 4,595 | 10.0 | |||
| Turnout | 46,009 | 65.2 | −7.5 | ||
| Labour gain from Conservative | Swing | +19.0 | |||
Elections in the 2010s
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Conservative | Theo Clarke | 29,992 | 58.6 | +3.9 | |
| Labour | Joyce Still | 15,615 | 30.5 | −9.4 | |
| Liberal Democrats | Alex Wagner | 3,175 | 6.2 | +3.2 | |
| Green | Emma Carter | 2,367 | 4.6 | +2.2 | |
| Majority | 14,377 | 28.1 | +13.3 | ||
| Turnout | 51,149 | 70.5 | −5.4 | ||
| Conservative hold | Swing | +6.6 | |||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Conservative | Jeremy Lefroy | 28,424 | 54.7 | +6.3 | |
| Labour | David Williams | 20,695 | 39.9 | +10.3 | |
| Liberal Democrats | Christine Tinker | 1,540 | 3.0 | +0.2 | |
| Green | Tony Pearce | 1,265 | 2.4 | −0.5 | |
| Majority | 7,729 | 14.8 | −4.0 | ||
| Turnout | 51,924 | 75.9 | +4.9 | ||
| Conservative hold | Swing | −2.0 | |||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Conservative | Jeremy Lefroy | 23,606 | 48.4 | +4.5 | |
| Labour | Kate Godfrey | 14,429 | 29.6 | −3.4 | |
| UKIP | Edward Whitfield | 6,293 | 12.9 | +9.5 | |
| NHA | Karen Howell | 1,701 | 3.5 | New | |
| Green | Mike Shone | 1,390 | 2.9 | +1.8 | |
| Liberal Democrats | Keith Miller | 1,348 | 2.8 | −13.5 | |
| Majority | 9,177 | 18.8 | +8.9 | ||
| Turnout | 48,767 | 71.0 | −0.2 | ||
| Conservative hold | Swing | +3.9 | |||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Conservative | Jeremy Lefroy | 22,047 | 43.9 | +4.7 | |
| Labour | David Kidney | 16,587 | 33.0 | −10.2 | |
| Liberal Democrats | Barry Stamp | 8,211 | 16.3 | +2.0 | |
| UKIP | Roy Goode | 1,727 | 3.4 | +0.1 | |
| BNP | Roland Hynd | 1,103 | 2.2 | New | |
| Green | Mike Shone | 564 | 1.1 | New | |
| Majority | 5,460 | 10.9 | |||
| Turnout | 50,239 | 71.2 | +4.2 | ||
| Conservative gain from Labour | Swing | +7.4 | |||
Elections in the 2000s
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Labour | David Kidney | 19,889 | 43.7 | −4.3 | |
| Conservative | David Chambers | 17,768 | 39.0 | +2.4 | |
| Liberal Democrats | Barry Stamp | 6,390 | 14.0 | +4.5 | |
| UKIP | Frederick Goode | 1,507 | 3.3 | −1.9 | |
| Majority | 2,121 | 4.7 | −6.7 | ||
| Turnout | 45,554 | 64.7 | −0.6 | ||
| Labour hold | Swing | −3.3 | |||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Labour | David Kidney | 21,285 | 48.0 | +0.5 | |
| Conservative | Philip A. Cochrane | 16,253 | 36.6 | −2.6 | |
| Liberal Democrats | Jeanne Pinkerton | 4,205 | 9.5 | −1.1 | |
| UKIP | Richard Bridgeman | 2,315 | 5.2 | New | |
| Rock 'n' Roll Loony | Michael D. Hames | 308 | 0.7 | New | |
| Majority | 5,032 | 11.4 | +3.1 | ||
| Turnout | 44,366 | 65.3 | −12.3 | ||
| Labour hold | Swing | ||||
Elections in the 1990s
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Labour | David Kidney | 24,606 | 47.5 | +12.6 | |
| Conservative | David Cameron | 20,292 | 39.2 | −8.9 | |
| Liberal Democrats | Pam A. Hornby | 5,480 | 10.6 | −5.9 | |
| Referendum | Stephen R. Culley | 1,146 | 2.2 | New | |
| Monster Raving Loony | Ashton A.N. May | 248 | 0.5 | New | |
| Majority | 4,314 | 8.3 | |||
| Turnout | 51,772 | 76.6 | −6.3 | ||
| Labour gain from Conservative | Swing | +10.7 | |||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Conservative | Bill Cash | 30,876 | 49.9 | −1.4 | |
| Labour | David Kidney | 19,976 | 32.3 | +11.1 | |
| Liberal Democrats | Jamie G. Calder | 10,702 | 17.3 | −10.2 | |
| Independent | Christopher Peat | 178 | 0.3 | New | |
| Natural Law | Philip Lines | 176 | 0.3 | New | |
| Majority | 10,900 | 17.6 | −6.2 | ||
| Turnout | 61,908 | 82.9 | +3.4 | ||
| Conservative hold | Swing | −6.3 | |||
Elections in the 1980s
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Conservative | Bill Cash | 29,541 | 51.3 | +0.1 | |
| SDP | Colin Phipps | 15,834 | 27.5 | +2.7 | |
| Labour | Najma Hafeez | 12,177 | 21.2 | −2.5 | |
| Majority | 13,707 | 23.8 | −2.6 | ||
| Turnout | 57,552 | 79.5 | +3.0 | ||
| Conservative hold | Swing | ||||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Conservative | Bill Cash | 18,713 | 40.4 | −10.8 | |
| SDP | David Dunn | 14,733 | 31.8 | +7.0 | |
| Labour | Michael JD Poulter | 12,677 | 27.4 | +3.7 | |
| Independent | Christopher Teasdale | 210 | 0.4 | New | |
| Majority | 3,980 | 8.6 | −17.8 | ||
| Turnout | 46,333 | 65.6 | −10.9 | ||
| Registered electors | 70,635 | ||||
| Conservative hold | Swing | ||||
- Death of Sir Hugh Fraser 6 March 1984
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Conservative | Hugh Fraser | 27,639 | 51.2 | ||
| SDP | David Dunn | 13,362 | 24.8 | ||
| Labour | Michael JD Poulter | 12,789 | 23.7 | ||
| Gizza Job | J Caruso | 212 | 0.4 | ||
| Majority | 14,277 | 26.4 | |||
| Turnout | 54,002 | 76.5 | |||
| Conservative win (new seat) | |||||
Election in the 1940s
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Labour | Stephen Swingler | 17,923 | 52.1 | +8.5 | |
| Conservative | Peter Thorneycroft | 16,500 | 47.9 | −8.5 | |
| Majority | 1,423 | 4.2 | |||
| Turnout | 33,793 | 78.0 | −1.0 | ||
| Labour gain from Conservative | Swing | ||||
Elections in the 1930s
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Conservative | Peter Thorneycroft | 16,754 | 57.6 | +1.2 | |
| Labour | Frank G Lloyd | 12,346 | 42.4 | −1.2 | |
| Majority | 4,408 | 15.2 | +2.4 | ||
| Turnout | 29,100 | 77.2 | −1.8 | ||
| Conservative hold | Swing | +1.2 | |||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Conservative | William Ormsby-Gore | 16,175 | 56.4 | −11.7 | |
| Labour | Frank G Lloyd | 12,514 | 43.6 | +11.7 | |
| Majority | 3,661 | 12.8 | −23.4 | ||
| Turnout | 28,689 | 79.0 | +0.5 | ||
| Conservative hold | Swing | ||||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Conservative | William Ormsby-Gore | 18,467 | 68.1 | +23.0 | |
| Labour | Len Smith | 8,640 | 31.9 | −4.7 | |
| Majority | 9,827 | 36.2 | +27.7 | ||
| Turnout | 27,107 | 78.5 | −3.3 | ||
| Conservative hold | Swing | ||||
Elections in the 1920s
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Unionist | William Ormsby-Gore | 12,324 | 45.1 | −17.0 | |
| Labour | Leonard Smith | 10,011 | 36.6 | −1.3 | |
| Liberal | Arthur Stanley Leyland | 5,000 | 18.3 | New | |
| Majority | 2,313 | 8.5 | −15.7 | ||
| Turnout | 27,335 | 81.8 | +2.7 | ||
| Registered electors | 33,420 | ||||
| Unionist hold | Swing | −7.9 | |||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Unionist | William Ormsby-Gore | 12,404 | 62.1 | +8.2 | |
| Labour | William Thomas Scott | 7,571 | 37.9 | −8.2 | |
| Majority | 4,833 | 24.2 | +16.4 | ||
| Turnout | 19,975 | 79.1 | +6.2 | ||
| Registered electors | 25,260 | ||||
| Unionist hold | Swing | +8.2 | |||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Unionist | William Ormsby-Gore | 9,823 | 53.9 | −5.0 | |
| Labour | William Thomas Scott | 8,412 | 46.1 | +5.0 | |
| Majority | 1,411 | 7.8 | −10.0 | ||
| Turnout | 18,235 | 72.9 | −3.8 | ||
| Registered electors | 25,024 | ||||
| Unionist hold | Swing | −5.0 | |||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Unionist | William Ormsby-Gore | 10,990 | 58.9 | −7.5 | |
| Labour | Bill Holmes | 7,672 | 41.1 | New | |
| Majority | 3,318 | 17.8 | −15.0 | ||
| Turnout | 18,662 | 76.7 | +22.7 | ||
| Registered electors | 24,317 | ||||
| Unionist hold | Swing | −7.5 | |||
Elections in the 1910s
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| C | Unionist | William Ormsby-Gore | 8,304 | 66.4 | +18.4 |
| Liberal | Walter Meakin | 4,203 | 33.6 | −18.4 | |
| Majority | 4,101 | 32.8 | |||
| Turnout | 12,507 | 54.0 | −38.6 | ||
| Registered electors | 23,140 | ||||
| Unionist gain from Liberal | Swing | +18.4 | |||
| C indicates candidate endorsed by the coalition government. | |||||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Liberal | Walter Essex | 1,992 | 52.0 | +0.9 | |
| Conservative | John Nicholson | 1,837 | 48.0 | −0.9 | |
| Majority | 155 | 4.0 | +1.8 | ||
| Turnout | 3,829 | 92.6 | −4.1 | ||
| Liberal hold | Swing | +0.9 | |||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Liberal | Charles Shaw | 2,042 | 51.1 | −3.2 | |
| Conservative | Reginald Higgs Jones Mortimer | 1,957 | 48.9 | +3.2 | |
| Majority | 85 | 2.2 | −6.4 | ||
| Turnout | 3,999 | 96.7 | +4.5 | ||
| Liberal hold | Swing | −3.2 | |||
Elections in the 1900s
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Liberal | Charles Shaw | 1,947 | 54.3 | +2.6 | |
| Conservative | Ronald Courthope Bosanquet[43] | 1,636 | 45.7 | −2.6 | |
| Majority | 311 | 8.6 | +5.2 | ||
| Turnout | 3,583 | 92.2 | +2.8 | ||
| Registered electors | 3,885 | ||||
| Liberal hold | Swing | +2.6 | |||

| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Liberal | Charles Shaw | 1,633 | 51.7 | +1.5 | |
| Conservative | George Cawston | 1,528 | 48.3 | −1.5 | |
| Majority | 105 | 3.4 | +3.0 | ||
| Turnout | 3,161 | 89.4 | −3.5 | ||
| Registered electors | 3,534 | ||||
| Liberal hold | Swing | +1.5 | |||
Elections in the 1890s
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Liberal | Charles Shaw | 1,568 | 50.2 | −5.8 | |
| Conservative | Thomas Salt | 1,556 | 49.8 | +5.8 | |
| Majority | 12 | 0.4 | −11.6 | ||
| Turnout | 3,124 | 92.9 | +4.7 | ||
| Registered electors | 3,361 | ||||
| Liberal hold | Swing | −5.8 | |||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Liberal | Charles Shaw | 1,684 | 56.0 | +7.6 | |
| Conservative | Douglas Straight[44] | 1,322 | 44.0 | −7.6 | |
| Majority | 362 | 12.0 | |||
| Turnout | 3,006 | 88.2 | −2.6 | ||
| Registered electors | 3,409 | ||||
| Liberal gain from Conservative | Swing | +7.6 | |||
Elections in the 1880s
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Conservative | Thomas Salt | 1,528 | 51.6 | +2.4 | |
| Liberal | Charles McLaren | 1,435 | 48.4 | −2.4 | |
| Majority | 93 | 3.2 | |||
| Turnout | 2,963 | 90.8 | −1.6 | ||
| Registered electors | 3,264 | ||||
| Conservative gain from Liberal | Swing | +2.4 | |||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Liberal | Charles McLaren | 1,532 | 50.8 | −3.7 | |
| Conservative | Thomas Salt | 1,485 | 49.2 | +3.6 | |
| Majority | 47 | 1.6 | −0.6 | ||
| Turnout | 3,017 | 92.4 | +21.8 (est) | ||
| Registered electors | 3,264 | ||||
| Liberal hold | Swing | −3.7 | |||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Conservative | Thomas Salt | 1,482 | 55.6 | +10.0 | |
| Lib-Lab | George Howell | 1,185 | 44.4 | −10.1 | |
| Majority | 297 | 11.2 | |||
| Turnout | 2,667 | 79.8 | +9.2 (est) | ||
| Registered electors | 3,344 | ||||
| Conservative gain from Lib-Lab | Swing | +10.1 | |||
- Caused by Macdonald's death.
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Liberal | Charles McLaren | 1,498 | 28.7 | +7.6 | |
| Lib-Lab | Alexander Macdonald | 1,345 | 25.8 | −1.9 | |
| Conservative | Thomas Salt | 1,230 | 23.6 | −5.4 | |
| Conservative | Gerald Francis Talbot[46] | 1,149 | 22.0 | −0.2 | |
| Majority | 115 | 2.2 | −3.3 | ||
| Turnout | 2,611 (est) | 70.6 (est) | +8.5 | ||
| Registered electors | 3,699 | ||||
| Liberal gain from Conservative | Swing | +6.5 | |||
| Lib-Lab hold | Swing | −0.9 | |||
Elections in the 1870s
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Conservative | Thomas Salt | 1,238 | 29.0 | +12.5 | |
| Lib-Lab | Alexander Macdonald | 1,183 | 27.7 | −4.7 | |
| Conservative | Francis Bridgeman | 947 | 22.2 | +5.7 | |
| Liberal | Henry Pochin | 903 | 21.1 | −13.7 | |
| Turnout | 2,136 (est) | 62.1 (est) | −10.0 | ||
| Registered electors | 3,699 | ||||
| Majority | 55 | 1.3 | +0.8 | ||
| Conservative hold | Swing | +10.9 | |||
| Majority | 236 | 5.5 | +3.6 | ||
| Lib-Lab hold | Swing | −6.9 | |||
Elections in the 1860s
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Conservative | Thomas Salt | 1,206 | 28.5 | +12.0 | |
| Conservative | Reginald Talbot | 1,130 | 26.7 | +10.2 | |
| Liberal | William Evans[47] | 954 | 22.5 | −12.3 | |
| Liberal | Benjamin Whitworth[48] | 943 | 22.3 | −10.1 | |
| Majority | 176 | 4.2 | +3.7 | ||
| Turnout | 2,117 (est) | 67.1 (est) | −5.0 | ||
| Registered electors | 3,152 | ||||
| Conservative hold | Swing | +11.6 | |||
| Conservative gain from Liberal | Swing | +10.7 | |||
- The 1868 election was declared void on petition "on account of corrupt practices",[49] causing a by-election.
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Liberal | Henry Pochin | 1,189 | 34.8 | +9.3 | |
| Conservative | Walter Meller | 1,124 | 32.9 | +4.9 | |
| Liberal | Richard Croft Chawner[50] | 1,107 | 32.4 | −14.1 | |
| Turnout | 2,272 (est) | 72.1 (est) | −4.1 | ||
| Registered electors | 3,152 | ||||
| Majority | 65 | 1.9 | −16.6 | ||
| Liberal hold | Swing | +3.2 | |||
| Majority | 17 | 0.5 | −2.0 | ||
| Conservative hold | Swing | +3.7 | |||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Liberal | Michael Bass | 1,091 | 46.5 | +2.7 | |
| Conservative | Walter Meller | 658 | 28.0 | −2.0 | |
| Liberal | Henry Pochin | 598 | 25.5 | −0.8 | |
| Turnout | 1,174 (est) | 76.2 (est) | −0.1 | ||
| Registered electors | 1,540 | ||||
| Majority | 433 | 18.5 | +4.7 | ||
| Liberal hold | Swing | +1.9 | |||
| Majority | 60 | 2.5 | −9.9 | ||
| Conservative hold | Swing | −2.0 | |||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Liberal | Thomas Sidney | 716 | 68.7 | −1.4 | |
| Conservative | Dudley Ryder | 326 | 31.3 | +1.3 | |
| Majority | 390 | 37.4 | +23.6 | ||
| Turnout | 1,042 | 75.0 | −1.3 | ||
| Registered electors | 1,390 | ||||
| Liberal hold | Swing | −1.4 | |||
- Caused by Wise's resignation.
Elections in the 1850s
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Liberal | John Ayshford Wise | 911 | 43.8 | −5.3 | |
| Conservative | Thomas Salt | 624 | 30.0 | −6.8 | |
| Liberal | Thomas Sidney | 366 | 17.6 | New | |
| Liberal | Henry Robert Addison[51] | 181 | 8.7 | New | |
| Turnout | 1,041 (est) | 76.3 (est) | −4.5 | ||
| Registered electors | 1,364 | ||||
| Majority | 287 | 13.8 | +1.5 | ||
| Liberal hold | Swing | +0.8 | |||
| Majority | 258 | 12.4 | −10.3 | ||
| Conservative hold | Swing | −0.8 | |||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Whig | John Ayshford Wise | 993 | 49.1 | +4.6 | |
| Conservative | Charles Chetwynd-Talbot | 745 | 36.8 | +11.3 | |
| Whig | Frederick William Cadogan | 286 | 14.1 | −15.9 | |
| Turnout | 1,012 (est) | 80.8 (est) | +8.5 | ||
| Registered electors | 1,252 | ||||
| Majority | 248 | 12.3 | +9.9 | ||
| Whig hold | Swing | +5.1 | |||
| Majority | 459 | 22.7 | |||
| Conservative gain from Whig | Swing | +11.3 | |||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Whig | John Ayshford Wise | 801 | 44.5 | +44.1 | |
| Whig | Arthur Otway | 501 | 27.8 | +27.7 | |
| Conservative | John Bourne[53] | 458 | 25.4 | −23.3 | |
| Whig | James Cook Evans | 39 | 2.2 | New | |
| Conservative | Edmund Hopkinson | 1 | 0.1 | −33.2 | |
| Majority | 43 | 2.4 | |||
| Turnout | 901 (est) | 72.3 (est) | +11.5 | ||
| Registered electors | 1,246 | ||||
| Whig gain from | Swing | +36.2 | |||
| Whig gain from Conservative | Swing | +28.0 | |||
Elections in the 1840s
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Conservative | David Urquhart | 754 | 48.7 | New | |
| Conservative | Thomas Sidney | 516 | 33.3 | New | |
| Conservative | Swynfen Carnegie | 271 | 17.5 | −26.9 | |
| Whig | John Lea[54] | 6 | 0.4 | −17.9 | |
| Whig | James Adam Gordon[55] | 1 | 0.1 | −18.2 | |
| Majority | 510 | 32.9 | +27.0 | ||
| Turnout | 774 (est) | 60.8 (est) | −8.8 | ||
| Registered electors | 1,272 | ||||
| Conservative hold | Swing | ||||
| Conservative gain from Whig | Swing | ||||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Conservative | Swynfen Carnegie | 733 | 96.7 | +33.2 | |
| Whig | William Willcocks Sleigh[56] | 25 | 3.3 | −33.2 | |
| Majority | 708 | 93.4 | +87.5 | ||
| Turnout | 758 | 60.3 | −9.3 | ||
| Registered electors | 1,257 | ||||
| Conservative hold | Swing | +33.2 | |||
- Caused by Carnegie's appointment as a Lord Commissioner of the Treasury
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Conservative | Swynfen Carnegie | 681 | 42.4 | +15.6 | |
| Whig | Edward Buller-Yarde-Buller | 587 | 36.5 | −12.0 | |
| Conservative | William Holmes | 339 | 21.1 | −3.6 | |
| Turnout | 804 (est) | 69.6 (est) | −9.1 | ||
| Registered electors | 1,154 | ||||
| Majority | 94 | 5.9 | +3.8 | ||
| Conservative hold | Swing | +10.8 | |||
| Majority | 248 | 15.4 | +12.2 | ||
| Whig hold | Swing | −12.0 | |||
Elections in the 1830s
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Whig | William Fawkener Chetwynd | 565 | 30.0 | +2.3 | |
| Conservative | Robert Farrand | 504 | 26.8 | +7.9 | |
| Conservative | Bingham Baring | 464 | 24.7 | −12.0 | |
| Whig | William Blount | 348 | 18.5 | +3.6 | |
| Turnout | 980 | 78.7 | −5.5 | ||
| Registered electors | 1,246 | ||||
| Majority | 61 | 3.2 | −5.6 | ||
| Whig hold | Swing | +2.2 | |||
| Majority | 40 | 2.1 | −19.7 | ||
| Conservative hold | Swing | +2.5 | |||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Conservative | Robert Farrand | Unopposed | |||
| Conservative hold | |||||
- Caused by Goodricke's resignation, in 1835, to contest a by-election at Staffordshire. A writ for a by-election was denied for nearly two years.
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Conservative | Francis Holyoake Goodricke | 605 | 36.7 | +36.7 | |
| Whig | William Fawkener Chetwynd | 456 | 27.7 | −14.7 | |
| Conservative | Robert Farrand | 312 | 18.9 | +18.9 | |
| Whig | Rees Howell Gronow | 246 | 14.9 | −15.3 | |
| Radical | Charles Wolseley | 29 | 1.8 | New | |
| Turnout | 941 | 84.2 | −5.0 | ||
| Registered electors | 1,117 | ||||
| Majority | 359 | 21.8 | |||
| Conservative gain from Whig | Swing | +25.9 | |||
| Majority | 144 | 8.8 | +5.9 | ||
| Whig hold | Swing | −21.3 | |||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Whig | William Fawkener Chetwynd | 739 | 42.4 | New | |
| Whig | Rees Howell Gronow | 526 | 30.2 | New | |
| Whig | William Blount | 476 | 27.3 | New | |
| Tory | Robert Farrand | 0 | 0.0 | −27.8 | |
| Majority | 50 | 2.9 | −4.2 | ||
| Turnout | 1,049 | 89.2 | +4.3 | ||
| Registered electors | 1,176 | ||||
| Whig hold | Swing | ||||
| Whig hold | Swing | ||||
- Farrand retired before the poll. The election was later declared void and no writ was issued before the 1835 general election.
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Whig | John Campbell | 556 | 37.2 | −4.9 | |
| Whig | Thomas Gisborne | 522 | 34.9 | −3.7 | |
| Tory | Thomas Hawkes | 416 | 27.8 | +8.5 | |
| Majority | 106 | 7.1 | −12.2 | ||
| Turnout | 849 | c. 84.9 | −1.5 | ||
| Registered electors | c. 1,000 | ||||
| Whig hold | Swing | −4.6 | |||
| Whig hold | Swing | −4.0 | |||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Whig | Thomas Gisborne | 666 | 42.1 | ||
| Whig | John Campbell | 610 | 38.6 | ||
| Tory | Thomas Hawkes | 305 | 19.3 | ||
| Majority | 305 | 19.3 | |||
| Turnout | 864 | c. 86.4 | |||
| Registered electors | c. 1,000 | ||||
| Whig gain from Nonpartisan | |||||
| Whig gain from Nonpartisan | |||||
See also
Notes
- A county constituency (for the purposes of election expenses and type of returning officer)
- As with all constituencies, the constituency elects one Member of Parliament (MP) by the first past the post system of election at least every five years.

