Reading West (UK Parliament constituency)

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Reading West
Former county constituency
for the House of Commons
ReadingWest2007Constituency.svg
Boundary of Reading West in Berkshire
Berkshire in England 2023-04-01.svg
Location of Berkshire within England
County Berkshire
Electorate 73,006 (2018) [1]
Major settlements Reading, Theale and Tilehurst
1983–2024
SeatsOne
Created from Reading North, Newbury and Reading South [2]
Replaced by Earley and Woodley, Reading Central, Reading West and Mid Berkshire

Reading West was a constituency [n 1] represented in the House of Commons of the UK Parliament. [n 2]

Contents

Further to the completion of the 2023 Periodic Review of Westminster constituencies, the seat was abolished. Its area was transferred to the new constituencies of Earley and Woodley (Whitley ward), Reading Central (Battle, Minster and Southcote wards), and Reading West and Mid Berkshire (all other wards). These constituencies were first contested at the 2024 general election. [n 3] [3] [4] [5]

Constituency profile

Since its 1983 creation the constituency was a bellwether paradigm example of a marginal seat. Boundary changes for the 2010 election took in areas of population expansion to the east in new largely private sector housing estates. Unemployment is close to the regional average, which is lower than the national average [6] and the constituency has seen a marked increase in properties and property prices throughout the 2001 to 2011 period which saw town centre regeneration and investment by a Labour Party-controlled council enhanced by Reading railway station hub improvements and enterprise areas equally.

History

The Reading West parliamentary constituency was first contested in 1983, when it was won by a member of the Conservative Party, Tony Durant, the sitting MP for the abolished Reading North constituency. He held the seat through two subsequent general elections until he retired at the 1997 election.

The constituency was then won by Martin Salter for Labour, as part of the landslide that brought Labour back to power under Tony Blair. Salter held the seat through the 13 years of Labour government until Parliament was dissolved in April 2010, but did not stand in the 2010 general election, when Alok Sharma won the seat for the Conservatives.

Sharma held several posts within government, including serving in the Cabinet as the President for COP26 from January 2021 until October 2022.

Boundaries and boundary changes

Reading West (UK Parliament constituency)
Map of boundaries 2010-2024

1983–1997

Formed as a county constituency, largely from parts of the abolished constituency of Reading North. Extended westwards to include parts of Newbury.

1997–2010

The boundary with Reading East was realigned, gaining Whitley ward and losing Katesgrove ward.

2010–2024

Marginal changes due to revision of local authority wards.

The constituency was bordered by the seats of Newbury, Henley, Reading East, and Wokingham. [10]

Members of Parliament

ElectionMember [11] Party
1983 Tony Durant Conservative
1997 Martin Salter Labour
2010 Alok Sharma Conservative

Elections

Elections in the 2010s

General election 2019: Reading West [12]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Conservative Alok Sharma 24,393 48.4 –0.5
Labour Co-op Rachel Eden20,27640.2–3.1
Liberal Democrats Meri O'Connell4,4608.9+3.0
Green Jamie Whitham1,2632.5+0.6
Majority 4,1178.2+2.6
Turnout 50,39267.9−1.6
Registered electors 74,623
Conservative hold Swing +1.3
    General election 2017: Reading West [13] [14]
    PartyCandidateVotes%±%
    Conservative Alok Sharma 25,311 48.9 +1.2
    Labour Olivia Bailey 22,43543.3+9.3
    Liberal Democrats Meri O’Connell3,0415.9+1.0
    Green Jamie Whitham9791.9−1.0
    Majority 2,8765.6−8.1
    Turnout 51,76669.5+2.8
    Registered electors 74,518
    Conservative hold Swing –4.1
    General election 2015: Reading West [15] [16] [17]
    PartyCandidateVotes%±%
    Conservative Alok Sharma 23,082 47.7 +4.5
    Labour Victoria Groulef16,43234.0+3.5
    UKIP Malik Azam [18] 4,82610.0+6.8
    Liberal Democrats Meri O'Connell2,3554.9−15.2
    Green Miriam Kennet1,4062.9+1.7
    Independent Suzie Ferguson1560.3New
    TUSC Neil Adams830.2New
    Roman Philip West640.1New
    Majority 6,65013.7+1.0
    Turnout 48,40466.7+0.8
    Registered electors 72,302
    Conservative hold Swing +0.5
    General election 2010: Reading West [19] [20] [21]
    PartyCandidateVotes%±%
    Conservative Alok Sharma 20,523 43.2 +9.6
    Labour Naz Sarkar14,51930.5−14.5
    Liberal Democrats Daisy Benson9,54620.1+4.3
    UKIP Bruce Hay1,5083.2+0.4
    Common Sense Howard Thomas8521.8New
    Green Adrian Windisch5821.2−1.0
    Majority 6,00412.6N/A
    Turnout 47,53065.9+4.7
    Registered electors 72,118
    Conservative gain from Labour Swing +12.1

    Elections in the 2000s

    2005 notional result
    PartyVote %
    Labour 19,45145.1
    Conservative 14,49633.6
    Liberal Democrats 6,81415.8
    Others2,3855.5
    Turnout43,14661.2
    Electorate70,529
    General election 2005: Reading West [22]
    PartyCandidateVotes%±%
    Labour Martin Salter 18,940 44.9 −8.3
    Conservative Ewan Cameron14,25833.8+1.7
    Liberal Democrats Denise Gaines6,66315.8+3.0
    UKIP Peter Williams1,1802.8+0.8
    Green Adrian Windisch9212.2New
    Veritas Dave Boyle2670.6New
    Majority 4,67211.1−10.0
    Turnout 42,22961.2+2.1
    Registered electors 69,011
    Labour hold Swing −5.0
    General election 2001: Reading West [23] [24]
    PartyCandidateVotes%±%
    Labour Martin Salter 22,300 53.1 +8.0
    Conservative Stephen Reid13,45132.0−6.9
    Liberal Democrats Polly Martin5,38712.8+0.1
    UKIP David Black8482.0+1.4
    Majority 8,84921.1+14.9
    Turnout 41,98659.1−11.0
    Registered electors 71,089
    Labour hold Swing +7.4

    Elections in the 1990s

    General election 1997: Reading West [25] [24]
    PartyCandidateVotes%±%
    Labour Martin Salter 21,841 45.1 +16.5
    Conservative Nicholas Bennett 18,84438.9−13.4
    Liberal Democrats Dee Tomlin6,15312.7−5.1
    Referendum Steven G Brown9762.0New
    BNP Ian Dell3200.7New
    UKIP David M Black2550.5New
    Majority 2,9976.2N/A
    Turnout 48,38970.1−7.3
    Registered electors 69,073
    Labour gain from Conservative Swing +15.0
    1992 notional result
    PartyVote %
    Conservative 27,88852.4
    Labour 15,25628.7
    Liberal Democrats 9,46117.8
    Others6381.2
    Turnout53,24377.3
    Electorate68,848
    General election 1992: Reading West [26] [27]
    PartyCandidateVotes%±%
    Conservative Tony Durant 28,048 52.9 −2.4
    Labour PM Ruhemann14,75027.8+6.6
    Liberal Democrats KH Lock9,57218.1−4.3
    Green PJ Unsworth6131.2+0.1
    Majority 13,29825.1−7.8
    Turnout 52,98378.0+5.8
    Registered electors 67,937
    Conservative hold Swing −4.5

    Elections in the 1980s

    General election 1987: Reading West [28]
    PartyCandidateVotes%±%
    Conservative Tony Durant 28,122 55.3 +3.2
    Liberal Keith Lock11,36922.4−5.9
    Labour Michael Orton10,81921.3+2.0
    Green EP Wilson5421.1New
    Majority 16,75332.9+9.1
    Turnout 50,85272.2−0.2
    Registered electors 70,391
    Conservative hold Swing +4.7
    General election 1983: Reading West [29]
    PartyCandidateVotes%±%
    Conservative Tony Durant 24,948 52.1 +4.1
    Liberal James Day13,54928.3+8.7
    Labour Richard Evans9,22019.3–12.2
    IndependentE Lilley1610.3New
    Majority 11,39923.5+7.3
    Turnout 47,87872.5
    Registered electors 66,080
    Conservative hold Swing –2.3
    1979 notional result [30]
    PartyVote %
    Conservative 24,62848.0
    Labour 16,14431.5
    Liberal 10,05619.6
    Others4921.0
    Turnout51,320
    Electorate

    See also

    Notes

    1. ↑ A borough constituency (for the purposes of election expenses and type of returning officer)
    2. ↑ As with all constituencies, the constituency elects one Member of Parliament (MP) by the first past the post system of election at least every five years.
    3. ↑ For the purposes of this definition, the Electoral Commission appears to have used the borough ward names and definitions as existed prior to 2022 rather than the current names and definitions.

    References

    1. ↑ "England Parliamentary electorates 2010-2018". Boundary Commission for England. Retrieved 23 March 2019.
    2. ↑ "'Reading West', June 1983 up to May 1997". ElectionWeb Project. Cognitive Computing Limited. Retrieved 13 March 2016.[ permanent dead link ]
    3. ↑ "South East | Boundary Commission for England". Boundary Commission for England . Retrieved 20 June 2023.
    4. ↑ "The 2023 Review of Parliamentary Constituency Boundaries in England – Volume two: Constituency names, designations and composition – South East". Boundary Commission for England. Archived from the original on 13 November 2023. Retrieved 13 November 2023.
    5. ↑ "Initial proposals for new Parliamentary constituency boundaries in the South East region". Boundary Commission for England. Archived from the original on 13 November 2023. Retrieved 13 November 2023.
    6. ↑ Unemployment claimants by constituency The Guardian
    7. ↑ "The Parliamentary Constituencies (England) Order 1983". www.legislation.gov.uk. Retrieved 3 February 2019.
    8. ↑ "The Parliamentary Constituencies (England) Order 1995". www.legislation.gov.uk. Retrieved 3 February 2019.
    9. ↑ "The Parliamentary Constituencies (England) Order 2007". www.legislation.gov.uk. Retrieved 3 February 2019.
    10. ↑ "Election Maps". Ordnance Survey. Retrieved 7 May 2010.
    11. ↑ Leigh Rayment's Historical List of MPs – Constituencies beginning with "R" (part 1)
    12. ↑ "Reading West Parliamentary constituency". BBC News. BBC. Retrieved 26 November 2019.
    13. ↑ "Reading Borough Council statement of persons nominated 2017" (PDF).
    14. ↑ "Reading Borough Council". www.reading.gov.uk.
    15. ↑ "Election Data 2015". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 17 October 2015. Retrieved 17 October 2015.
    16. ↑ Fort, Linda (9 December 2014). "Reading West has new independent General Election candidate".
    17. ↑ "Parliamentary results 2015". Reading Borough Council. Archived from the original on 10 June 2015. Retrieved 8 May 2015.
    18. ↑ "UK Polling Report". ukpollingreport.co.uk.
    19. ↑ "Election Data 2010". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 26 July 2013. Retrieved 17 October 2015.
    20. ↑ "Statement of Persons Nominated – Notice of Poll – Reading West Constituency" (PDF). Reading Borough Council. Archived from the original (PDF) on 7 August 2011. Retrieved 7 May 2010.
    21. ↑ "Election 2010 – Reading West". BBC. 2010. Retrieved 7 May 2010.
    22. ↑ "Election Data 2005". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
    23. ↑ "Election Data 2001". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
    24. 1 2 "Ask Aristotle – Reading West". London: Guardian Unlimited. 2005. Archived from the original on 11 April 2005. Retrieved 4 May 2005.
    25. ↑ "Election Data 1997". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
    26. ↑ "Election Data 1992". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
    27. ↑ "Politics Resources". Election 1992. Politics Resources. 9 April 1992. Retrieved 6 December 2010.
    28. ↑ "Election Data 1987". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
    29. ↑ "Election Data 1983". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
    30. ↑ "BBC/ITN NOTIONAL ELECTION 1979". election.demon.co.uk. BBC/ITN. Archived from the original on 28 May 2004. Retrieved 7 March 2025.

    51°28′N0°59′W / 51.46°N 0.99°W / 51.46; -0.99

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