Reading West and Mid Berkshire (UK Parliament constituency)

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Reading West and Mid Berkshire
County constituency
for the House of Commons
Reading West and Mid Berkshire (UK Parliament constituency)
Boundaries since 2024
South East England - Reading West and Mid Berkshire constituency.svg
Boundary of Reading West and Mid Berkshire in South East England
County Berkshire
Electorate 69,999 (2023) [1]
Current constituency
Created 2024
Member of Parliament Olivia Bailey (Labour)
SeatsOne
Created from

Reading West and Mid Berkshire, originally known as simply Mid Berkshire, is a constituency [n 1] in the House of Commons of the UK Parliament. It was formed as a result of the 2023 Periodic Review of Westminster constituencies and subsumes parts of the Newbury, Wokingham, and the former Reading West constituencies. It was first contested at the 2024 general election. [2] [3] The current MP is Olivia Bailey.

Contents

Some 30% of the constituency's voters live in the Borough of Reading, with the remainder living in the West Berkshire local government area. [1]

History

At the time of the 2023 Periodic Review of Westminster constituencies, there were eight constituencies in the county of Berkshire. Of these constituencies, only three (Reading East, Reading West, and Windsor) were within the permitted electorate range of no fewer than 69,724 electors and no more than 77,062. All of the remaining constituencies were above the upper limit. The Boundary Commission for England therefore proposed the addition of a ninth constituency within the county. [3] [4]

Whilst both Reading constituencies could have remained unchanged, the boundary commission instead proposed a reconfiguration to account for the increased electorates of the surrounding constituencies, and to better reflect local ties in the surrounding communities. This involved the creation of two new constituencies (Earley and Woodley and Mid Berkshire), both with the bulk of their electorate outside the Borough of Reading but including outer wards of the borough, together with a new Reading Central constituency entirely within the borough. [3]

During the process of acceptance of these proposals, the name was changed from Mid Berkshire to West Reading and Mid Berkshire, despite the relative small proportion of the constituency that is within Reading. The new constituency includes three borough wards and twelve wards from West Berkshire, as opposed to seven and six respectively for the old Reading West constituency. [1] [3]

In mid-October 2023, the Liberal Democrats selected Helen Belcher OBE as their prospective parliamentary candidate for the seat in the 2024 general election. At the beginning of January 2024, two West Berkshire councillors joined the candidate list, with Carolyne Culver announced as the Green Party candidate and Adrian Abbs announcing his intention to run as an independent candidate. In February 2024, Olivia Bailey was announced as the Labour Party candidate and in April Ross Mackinnon was announced as the Conservative Party candidate. [5] [6] [7] [8] [9]

In December 2023, the national Labour party included the constituency in its list of 211 non-battleground seats, suggesting they did not see it as winnable. [10] In 23 March 2024, when announcing Bailey's candidature, the local party did describe the constituency as a 'battleground' seat. [8]

Constituency profile

The constituency has a mixed nature, including parts of the continuously built-up urban area of Reading (both within and without the boundaries of the borough) and an extensive rural area, which includes villages such as Aldermaston, Aldworth, Bradfield, Basildon, Bucklebury, Burghfield, Compton, East Ilsley, Hampstead Norreys, Mortimer, Pangbourne, Streatley, Theale, West Ilsley, Woolhampton and Yattendon. Some 30% of the constituency's voters live in the Borough of Reading, with the remainder living in the West Berkshire local government area. [1] [11]

The wards that make up the constituency are represented by 26 councillors. As of November 2023, these comprise 11 Liberal Democrats, 8 Conservatives, 6 Labour and 1 Green. [1] [12] [13]

Boundaries

The constituency composed of the following wards (as they existed on 1 December 2020):

The Reading wards. together with Pangbourne, Theale and the three Tilehurst wards in West Berkshire, comprising 67% of the electorate, are currently in the Reading West seat, with the remaining areas coming from Newbury and Wokingham in equal parts. [15]

The seat bordered by the seats of Newbury, Didcot and Wantage, Henley and Thame, Reading Central, Earley and Woodley, Wokingham, North East Hampshire, and North West Hampshire. [16]

Members of Parliament

Reading West prior to 2024

ElectionMemberParty
2024 Olivia Bailey Labour

Elections

Elections in the 2020s

General election 2024: Reading West and Mid Berkshire [17]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Labour Olivia Bailey [18] 16,273 35.0 +12.1
Conservative Ross Mackinnon [9] 14,91232.0–24.8
Reform UK Kate Bosley [19] 6,26013.4N/A
Liberal Democrats Helen Belcher [20] 5,10310.9–5.9
Green Carolyne Culver [21] 3,1696.8+3.4
Independent Adrian Abbs [22] 5621.2N/A
Independent Adie Peppiatt2720.6N/A
Majority1,3613.0N/A
Turnout 46,55167.7–2.9
Registered electors 68,786
Labour gain from Conservative Swing Increase2.svg18.5

Elections in the 2010s

2019 notional result [23]
PartyVote %
Conservative 28,07856.8
Labour 11,32022.9
Liberal Democrats 8,35616.9
Green 1,6903.4
Turnout49,44470.6
Electorate69,999

See also

Notes

  1. ↑ A county constituency (for the purposes of election expenses and type of returning officer)

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">West Berkshire</span> Unitary area in the county of Berkshire,England

West Berkshire is a unitary authority in the ceremonial county of Berkshire, England. It is administered from Newbury by West Berkshire Council.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Earley</span> Town in Berkshire, England

Earley is a town and civil parish in the Borough of Wokingham, Berkshire, England. Along with the neighbouring town of Woodley, the Office for National Statistics places Earley within the Reading/Wokingham Urban Area; for the purposes of local government it falls within the Borough of Wokingham, outside the area of Reading Borough Council. Its name is sometimes spelt Erleigh or Erlegh and consists of a number of smaller areas, including Maiden Erlegh and Lower Earley, and lies some 3 miles (5 km) south and east of the centre of Reading, and some 4 miles (6 km) northwest of Wokingham. It had a population of 32,036 at the 2011 Census.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tilehurst</span> Suburb of Reading, Berkshire, England

Tilehurst is a suburb of the town of Reading in the county of Berkshire, England. It lies to the west of the centre of Reading; it extends from the River Thames in the north to the A4 road in the south.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Reading East (UK Parliament constituency)</span> Former parliamentary constituency in the United Kingdom, from 1983 to 2024

Reading East was a constituency represented in the House of Commons of the UK Parliament. In the 2019-2024 Parliament, it was one of two Labour seats from a total of eight seats in Berkshire.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Reading West (UK Parliament constituency)</span> Former parliamentary constituency in the United Kingdom, from 1983 to 2024

Reading West was a constituency represented in the House of Commons of the UK Parliament.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Newbury (UK Parliament constituency)</span> Parliamentary constituency in the United Kingdom, 1885 onwards

Newbury is a constituency of the Parliament of the United Kingdom, located in the English county of Berkshire. It was created by the Redistribution of Seats Act 1885 and has been in continual existence since then. It has been represented by Lee Dillon of the Liberal Democrats since 2024.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Wokingham (UK Parliament constituency)</span> Parliamentary constituency in the United Kingdom 1885-1918 and from 1950 onwards

Wokingham is a constituency of the Parliament of the United Kingdom, located in the English county of Berkshire. From its creation in 1950 until 2024, it was represented solely by Conservatives. Most notably, John Redwood, who held his position from 1984 until 2024, where he stepped down after the dissolution of parliament.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Maidenhead (UK Parliament constituency)</span> Parliamentary constituency in the United Kingdom, 1997 onwards

Maidenhead is a constituency in Berkshire represented in the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom by Joshua Reynolds, a Liberal Democrat, since 2024. Following its creation at the 1997 general election, the seat was held for twenty-seven years by Conservative Member of Parliament Theresa May, who served as Home Secretary from 2010 to 2016 and as Prime Minister from 2016 to 2019.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Windsor (UK Parliament constituency)</span> Parliament constituency in the United Kingdom 1801–1974 and 1997 onwards

Windsor (/ˈwɪnzə/) is a constituency in Berkshire, currently represented by Jack Rankin of the Conservative Party. It was re-created for the 1997 general election after it was abolished following the 1970 general election and replaced by the Windsor and Maidenhead constituency.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bracknell (UK Parliament constituency)</span> Parliament constituency in the United Kingdom since 1997

Bracknell is a constituency in Berkshire represented in the House of Commons of the UK Parliament since 2024 by Peter Swallow, from the Labour Party. It was created for the 1997 general election, largely replacing the abolished county constituency of East Berkshire.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Reading South (UK Parliament constituency)</span> Parliamentary constituency in the United Kingdom 1950-1955 and 1974-1983

Reading South was a borough constituency represented in the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. It elected one Member of Parliament (MP) by the first past the post system of election. The constituency covered an area in and around the town of Reading in the county of Berkshire.

Reading was a parliamentary borough, and later a borough constituency in England, represented in the House of Commons of the Parliament of England until 1707, the Parliament of Great Britain from 1707 to 1800, and of the Parliament of the United Kingdom from 1801 to 1950 and 1955 to 1974. Until 1885, the constituency comprised the town of Reading in the county of Berkshire; after 1885, it was centred on the town but the exact boundaries differed.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Reading North (UK Parliament constituency)</span> Parliamentary constituency in the United Kingdom 1950–1955 and 1974-1983

Reading North was a borough constituency represented in the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. It elected one Member of Parliament (MP) by the first past the post system of election. The constituency covered an area in and around the town of Reading in the county of Berkshire.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tilehurst (Reading ward)</span> Human settlement in England

Tilehurst is an electoral ward of the Borough of Reading, in the English county of Berkshire. It forms part of the larger Reading suburb of Tilehurst, which also includes parts of the borough's Kentwood and Norcot wards, together with the civil parish of Tilehurst Without that is outside the borough boundary in the district of West Berkshire. The ward is bordered, in clockwise order, by Norcot ward, Tilehurst Without civil parish and Kentwood ward. It lies entirely within the Reading West parliamentary constituency.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tilehurst (civil parish)</span> Civil parish in England

Tilehurst or Tilehurst Without is a civil parish in the district of West Berkshire, in the county of Berkshire, England. It includes part of the Reading suburb of Tilehurst that lies outside the Reading Borough boundary, together with the northern part of the adjoining suburb of Calcot, and a small rural area west of the two suburbs.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Earley and Woodley (UK Parliament constituency)</span> Parliamentary constituency in the United Kingdom, 2024 onwards

Earley and Woodley is a constituency of the House of Commons in the UK Parliament. After the completion of the 2023 Periodic Review of Westminster constituencies, it was first contested at the 2024 general election. It is represented by Yuan Yang of the Labour Party.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Reading Central (UK Parliament constituency)</span> Parliamentary constituency in the United Kingdom, 2024 onwards

Reading Central is a constituency in the House of Commons of the UK Parliament. It was formed as a result of the 2023 Periodic Review of Westminster constituencies. It subsumes parts of the former Reading West and Reading East constituencies but, unlike them, the whole of the new constituency will be within the Borough of Reading. It will be first contested in the 2024 general election.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "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.
  2. ↑ "South East | Boundary Commission for England". Boundary Commission for England. Archived from the original on 13 November 2023. Retrieved 13 November 2023.
  3. 1 2 3 4 "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.
  4. ↑ "Background to the 2023 Review". Boundary Commission for England. Archived from the original on 13 November 2023. Retrieved 13 November 2023.
  5. ↑ Creighton, Phil (10 October 2023). "Lib Dems select Helen to be their general election candidate in Reading West and Mid Berkshire seat". rdg.today. Archived from the original on 18 December 2023. Retrieved 18 December 2023.
  6. ↑ Hinman, Niki (3 January 2024). "Abbs to run as an independent". rdg.today. Archived from the original on 3 January 2024. Retrieved 3 January 2024.
  7. ↑ Hinman, Niki (3 January 2024). "West Berks Green Party announces candidates for expected 2024 general election". Newbury Today. Archived from the original on 4 January 2024. Retrieved 21 January 2024.
  8. 1 2 Hinman, Niki (23 March 2024). "Reading-born Olivia aims for Reading West seat" . Retrieved 28 March 2024.
  9. 1 2 "VOTE 2024: Why Ross Mackinnon is standing for the Conservatives in Reading West and Mid Berkshire". Reading Today. Retrieved 23 May 2024.
  10. ↑ Belger, Tom (8 December 2023). "Labour selections: Full list of 211 'non-battleground' seats now open to applications". labourlist.org. Archived from the original on 9 December 2023. Retrieved 3 January 2024.
  11. ↑ "Election Maps". Ordnance Survey. Archived from the original on 14 November 2023. Retrieved 14 November 2023.
  12. ↑ "Your Councillors by Ward". West Berkshire Council. Archived from the original on 14 November 2023. Retrieved 14 November 2023.
  13. ↑ "Your Councillors by Ward". Reading Borough Council. Archived from the original on 14 November 2023. Retrieved 14 November 2023.
  14. ↑ "The Parliamentary Constituencies Order 2023". Schedule 1 Part 6 South East region.
  15. ↑ "Boundary review 2023: Which seats will change in the UK?".
  16. ↑ "Revised Proposals for the South East Region" (PDF). Boundary Commission for England. Archived (PDF) from the original on 13 November 2023. Retrieved 13 November 2023.
  17. ↑ "Statement of Persons Nominated" (PDF). Reading Council. 7 June 2024. Retrieved 1 July 2024.
  18. ↑ "Reading-born Olivia aims for Reading West seat". Reading Today. Retrieved 28 March 2024.
  19. ↑ "Reform UK: Kate Bosley" . Retrieved 1 July 2024.
  20. ↑ "Liberal Democrats select candidate for Reading West & Mid Berkshire". Liberal Democrats . Retrieved 23 May 2024.
  21. ↑ "Carolyne revealed as Green candidate". Reading Today. Retrieved 6 February 2024.
  22. ↑ "Independent Parliamentary Candidates". Adrian Abbs. Retrieved 12 February 2024.
  23. ↑ "Notional results for a UK general election on 12 December 2019". Rallings & Thrasher, Professor David Denver (Scotland), Nicholas Whyte (NI) for Sky News, PA, BBC News and ITV News. UK Parliament . Retrieved 11 July 2024.

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