Somerton and Frome (UK Parliament constituency)

Last updated

Somerton and Frome
Former county constituency
for the House of Commons
SomertonFrome2007Constituency.svg
Boundary of Somerton and Frome in Somerset
EnglandSomerset.svg
Location of Somerset within England
County Somerset
Electorate 87,921 (2011) [1]
Major settlements Frome, Somerton, Wincanton and Martock
1983–2024
SeatsOne
Created from Wells and Yeovil [2]
Replaced by Frome and East Somerset, Glastonbury and Somerton

Somerton and Frome was a constituency [n 1] in Somerset represented in the House of Commons of the UK Parliament. [n 2]

Contents

It was formerly represented by David Warburton, who was elected as a Conservative, but latterly sat as an Independent after losing the Conservative whip in April 2022 following allegations of misconduct. Warburton resigned as an MP on 17 June 2023, thus triggering the first by-election in this constituency since its creation at the 1983 general election, which was won by Sarah Dyke of the Liberal Democrats.

Further to the completion of the 2023 Periodic Review of Westminster constituencies, the seat was abolished. Subject to major boundary changes – including incorporation of the town of Frome and surrounding rural areas in the former Mendip District into the newly created constituency of Frome and East Somerset , and the transferring in of the towns of Glastonbury and Street from the constituency of Wells (to be renamed Wells and Mendip Hills) to partly compensate – the constituency was reformed as Glastonbury and Somerton , to be first contested at the 2024 general election. [3] Sarah Dyke, the winner of the 2023 by-election, became the inaugural MP for the succeeding constituency. [4] [5]

Constituency profile

This area has a mixed economy, including agriculture and high-tech defence related industries. [6] In November 2012, it had below the national average proportion of jobseekers (3.8%) at 1.6% of the population. [7]

Boundaries

Somerton and Frome (UK Parliament constituency)
Map of boundaries 2010–2024

1983–1997: The District of Yeovil wards of Blackmoor Vale, Brue, Burrow Hill, Camelot, Cary, Curry Rivel, Islemoor, Ivelchester, Langport and Huish, Martock, Milborne Port, Northstone, Turn Hill, Wessex, and Wincanton, and the District of Mendip wards of Beacon, Beckington and Rode, Coleford, Creech, Frome Badcox, Frome Fromefield, Frome Keyford, Mells, Nordinton, Postlebury, Selwood and Berkley, Stratton, and Vale.

1997–2010: The District of South Somerset wards of Blackmoor Vale, Brue, Burrow Hill, Camelot, Cary, Curry Rivel, Islemoor, Ivelchester, Langport and Huish, Martock, Milborne Port, Northstone, Turn Hill, Wessex, and Wincanton, and the District of Mendip wards of Beacon, Beckington and Rode, Coleford, Creech, Frome Badcox, Frome Fromefield, Frome Keyford, Frome Welshmill, Mells, Nordinton, Postlebury, Stratton, and Vale.

2010–2024: The District of South Somerset wards of Blackmoor Vale, Bruton, Burrow Hill, Camelot, Cary, Curry Rivel, Islemoor, Langport and Huish, Martock, Milborne Port, Northstone, Tower, Turn Hill, Wessex, and Wincanton, and the District of Mendip wards of Beacon, Beckington and Rode, Coleford, Creech, Frome Berkley Down, Frome Fromefield, Frome Keyford, Frome Park, Frome Welshmill, Mells, Nordinton, Postlebury, Stratton, and Vale.

The constituency was created in 1983 from parts of the seat of Wells. It covers the east of the district of Mendip and the north of the district of South Somerset.

Members of Parliament

ElectionMember [8] Party
1983 Robert Boscawen Conservative
1992 Mark Robinson Conservative
1997 David Heath Liberal Democrats
2015 David Warburton Conservative
April 2022 Independent
2023 by-election Sarah Dyke Liberal Democrats
2024 Constituency abolished, replaced by

Elections

Elections in the 2020s

2023 Somerton and Frome by-election [9]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Liberal Democrats Sarah Dyke 21,187 54.6 +28.4
Conservative Faye Purbrick10,17926.2−29.6
Green Martin Dimery3,94410.2+5.1
Reform UK Bruce Evans1,3033.4New
Labour Neil Guild1,0092.6−10.3
Independent Rosie Mitchell6351.6New
UKIP Peter Richardson2750.7New
CPA Lorna Corke2560.7New
Majority 11,00828.4N/A
Turnout 38,78844.2−31.4
Liberal Democrats gain from Conservative Swing +29.0

Elections in the 2010s

General election 2019: Somerton and Frome [10]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Conservative David Warburton 36,230 55.8 –0.9
Liberal Democrats Adam Boyden17,01726.2+5.3
Labour Sean Dromgoole8,35412.9–4.3
Green Andrea Dexter3,2955.1+1.4
Majority 19,21329.6–6.2
Turnout 64,89675.6–0.2
Conservative hold Swing –3.1
General election 2017: Somerton and Frome [11]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Conservative David Warburton 36,231 56.7 +3.7
Liberal Democrats Mark Blackburn13,32520.9+1.5
Labour Sean Dromgoole10,99817.2+9.9
Green Theo Simon2,3473.7–5.3
Independent Richard Hadwin9911.6New
Majority 22,90635.8+2.2
Turnout 63,89275.8+3.6
Conservative hold Swing +2.4
General election 2015: Somerton and Frome [12] [13] [14]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Conservative David Warburton 31,960 53.0 +8.5
Liberal Democrats David Rendel 11,69219.4−28.1
UKIP Alan Dimmick6,43910.7+7.5
Green Theo Simon5,4349.0New
Labour David Oakensen4,4197.3+2.9
Independent Ian Angell3650.6New
Majority 20,26833.6N/A
Turnout 60,30972.2−2.1
Conservative gain from Liberal Democrats Swing +18.3
General election 2010: Somerton and Frome [15]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Liberal Democrats David Heath 28,793 47.5 +3.8
Conservative Annunziata Rees-Mogg 26,97644.5+1.9
Labour David Oakensen2,6754.4−6.4
UKIP Barry Harding1,9323.2+1.3
Independent Niall Warry2360.4New
Majority 1,8173.0+1.9
Turnout 60,61274.3+5.1
Liberal Democrats hold Swing +0.9

Elections in the 2000s

General election 2005: Somerton and Frome
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Liberal Democrats David Heath 23,759 43.9 +0.3
Conservative Clive Allen22,94742.40.0
Labour Joseph Pestell5,86510.8−0.8
UKIP Bill Lukins1,0471.9+0.2
Veritas Carl Beaman4840.9New
Majority 8121.5+0.3
Turnout 54,10270.7+1.4
Liberal Democrats hold Swing +0.2
General election 2001: Somerton and Frome
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Liberal Democrats David Heath 22,983 43.6 +4.1
Conservative Jonathan Marland 22,31542.4+3.1
Labour Andy Perkins6,11311.6−4.7
UKIP Peter Bridgwood9191.7+1.1
Liberal Jean Pollock3540.7New
Majority 6681.2+1.0
Turnout 52,68469.3−8.0
Liberal Democrats hold Swing

Elections in the 1990s

General election 1997: Somerton and Frome
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Liberal Democrats David Heath 22,684 39.5 −0.7
Conservative Mark Robinson 22,55439.3−8.2
Labour Robert Ashford9,38516.3+5.9
Referendum Robert Rodwell2,4494.3New
UKIP R.P. Gadd3310.6New
Majority 1300.2N/A
Turnout 57,40377.3−5.4
Liberal Democrats gain from Conservative Swing +4.5
General election 1992: Somerton and Frome [16]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Conservative Mark Robinson 28,052 47.5 −6.2
Liberal Democrats David Heath 23,71140.2+3.9
Labour Robert Ashford6,15410.4+0.4
Green Ms. LA Graham7421.3New
Liberal Ms. J Pollock3880.7New
Majority 4,3417.3−10.1
Turnout 59,04782.7+3.3
Conservative hold Swing −5.1

Elections in the 1980s

General election 1987: Somerton and Frome
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Conservative Robert Boscawen 29,351 53.7 −0.7
Liberal Rowland Morgan19,81336.3+0.5
Labour Ian Kelly5,46110.0+0.2
Majority 9,53817.4−1.2
Turnout 54,62579.4+2.7
Conservative hold Swing -0.6
General election 1983: Somerton and Frome
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Conservative Robert Boscawen 26,988 54.4
SDP Nicholas Hinton17,76135.8
Labour Jeffrey Osborn4,8679.8
Majority 9,22718.6
Turnout 49,61676.7
Conservative win (new seat)

See also

Notes

  1. ↑ A county 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.

References

  1. ↑ "Electorate Figures – Boundary Commission for England". 2011 Electorate Figures. Boundary Commission for England. 4 March 2011. Archived from the original on 6 November 2010. Retrieved 13 March 2011.
  2. ↑ "'Somerton and Frome', June 1983 up to May 1997". ElectionWeb Project. Cognitive Computing Limited. Retrieved 14 March 2016.
  3. ↑ "The 2023 Review of Parliamentary Constituency Boundaries in England – Volume one: Report – South West | Boundary Commission for England". boundarycommissionforengland.independent.gov.uk. Retrieved 2 August 2023.
  4. ↑ "Glastonbury and Somerton – General election results 2024". BBC News. Retrieved 6 July 2024.
  5. ↑ "General Election result: Glastonbury and Somerton constituency". www.somerset.gov.uk. Retrieved 6 July 2024.
  6. ↑ "BBC NEWS | VOTE 2001 | RESULTS & CONSTITUENCIES | Somerton & Frome". news.bbc.co.uk. Retrieved 17 June 2023.
  7. ↑ Unemployment claimants by constituency The Guardian
  8. ↑ "Somerton and Frome". Guardian. Retrieved 17 September 2012.
  9. ↑ "Somerton and Frome by-election candidates named". BBC News. 23 June 2023.
  10. ↑ "Statement of Persons Nominated" (PDF).
  11. ↑ "Parliamentary Constituencies Election Results-Thursday, 8 June 2017" (PDF). South Somerset District Council. 9 June 2017. Retrieved 12 February 2019.
  12. ↑ "Election Data 2015". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 17 October 2015. Retrieved 17 October 2015.
  13. ↑ "Somerton & Frome". Election 2015. BBC. Retrieved 8 June 2015.
  14. ↑ "UK Polling Report".
  15. ↑ "Somerton & Frome". Election 2010. BBC. Retrieved 1 October 2010.
  16. ↑ "Politics Resources". Election 1992. Politics Resources. 9 April 1992. Retrieved 6 December 2010.

51°06′00″N2°30′36″W / 51.1000°N 2.5100°W / 51.1000; -2.5100

This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.