Tiverton and Honiton (UK Parliament constituency)

Last updated

Tiverton and Honiton
County constituency
for the House of Commons
TivertonHoniton2007Constituency.svg
Boundary of Tiverton and Honiton in Devon
EnglandDevon.svg
Location of Devon within England
County Devon
Electorate 75,839 (December 2010) [1]
Major settlements Tiverton, Honiton, Axminster, Seaton and Cullompton
Current constituency
Created 1997
Member of Parliament Richard Foord (Liberal Democrat)
SeatsOne
Created from Tiverton, Honiton

Tiverton and Honiton is a constituency [n 1] in Devon, England. The current MP is Richard Foord of the Liberal Democrats, elected at a by-election on 23 June 2022.

Contents

Prior to the by-election, the constituency had always returned a Conservative MP since its creation in 1997. The by-election was held following the resignation of Neil Parish after he was caught watching pornography in the House of Commons chamber (Parish himself admitted to doing so on two separate occasions). [2]

Further to the completion of the 2023 Periodic Review of Westminster constituencies, the seat will be abolished, with the majority, including the towns of Axminster, Cullompton, Honiton and Seaton, being included in the new constituency of Honiton and Sidmouth , to be first contested at the next general election. The town of Tiverton and surrounding rural areas will be included in the newly created cross-county boundary seat of Tiverton and Minehead. [3]

Constituency profile

This is a mostly rural constituency covering a broad sweep between Exmoor to the north and Lyme Bay to the south, including the towns of Tiverton and Honiton and their surrounding villages (which include extensive farmland, rivers popular with kayakers and part of the Blackdown Hills). Some residents commute to Exeter. [4] Residents' wealth is around average for the UK. [5]

Boundaries

Tiverton and Honiton (UK Parliament constituency)
Map of current boundaries

1997–2010: The District of Mid Devon except the wards of Taw, Taw Vale, and West Creedy, and the District of East Devon wards of Broadclyst, Clystbeare, Clyst Valley, Exe Valley, Honiton St Michael's, Honiton St Paul's, Otterhead, Ottery St Mary Rural, Ottery St Mary Town, Patteson, and Tale Vale.

2010–present: The District of Mid Devon wards of Canonsleigh, Castle, Clare and Shuttern, Cranmore, Cullompton North, Cullompton Outer, Cullompton South, Halberton, Lower Culm, Lowman, Upper Culm, and Westexe, and the District of East Devon wards of Axminster Rural, Axminster Town, Beer and Branscombe, Coly Valley, Dunkeswell, Feniton and Buckerell, Honiton St Michael's, Honiton St Paul's, Newbridges, Otterhead, Seaton, Tale Vale, Trinity, and Yarty.

Boundary changes for 2010

Parliament accepted the Boundary Commission's Fifth Periodic Review of Westminster constituencies which slightly altered this constituency for the 2010 general election, and gave Devon 12 seats instead of 11. Some wards of Mid Devon District in this seat were transferred to the new Central Devon constituency; however, parts of the East Devon constituency, including the towns of Axminster and Seaton, were gained in return.

History

The seat came about when the town of Honiton from the Honiton constituency was added to the Tiverton constituency in 1997. Both were long-established seats, with the former having existed from 1640 and the latter from 1615. Both elected two Members of Parliament until the 1884 Reform Act reduced the number for both to one and their area was widened to cover two divisions of the county under the Redistribution of Seats Act 1885.

Prominent holders of the seats in the 19th century included Whig politician Joseph Locke, a railway pioneer, who was MP for Honiton, and Lord Palmerston, who, while MP for Tiverton, served as the first Prime Minister from the newly formed Liberal Party (1855–1858 and 1859–1865).

The area served by the constituency had not been represented by a party other than the Conservative Party in Westminster since 1923. Following the 2022 Tiverton and Honiton by-election, the Liberal Democrats gained the seat from the Conservatives.

Members of Parliament

ElectionMember [6] Party
1997 Angela Browning Conservative
2010 Neil Parish Conservative
2022 Independent
2022 by-election Richard Foord Liberal Democrats

Elections

Results over time by percentage
Results over time by number of votes

Elections in the 2020s

2022 Tiverton and Honiton by-election [7] [8]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Liberal Democrats Richard Foord 22,537 52.9 +38.1
Conservative Helen Hurford16,39338.5−21.7
Labour Liz Pole1,5623.7−15.8
Green Gill Westcott1,0642.5−1.3
Reform UK Andy Foan4811.1New
UKIP Ben Walker2410.6−1.0
Heritage Jordan Donoghue-Morgan1670.4New
For Britain Frankie Rufolo1460.3New
Majority6,14414.4N/A
Turnout 42,59352.3−19.6
Liberal Democrats gain from Conservative Swing +29.9

Elections in the 2010s

General election 2019: Tiverton and Honiton [9]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Conservative Neil Parish 35,893 60.2 ―1.2
Labour Liz Pole11,65419.5―7.6
Liberal Democrats John Timperley8,80714.8+6.8
Green Colin Reed2,2913.8+0.3
UKIP Margaret Dennis9681.6New
Majority24,23940.7+6.4
Turnout 59,61371.9+0.4
Conservative hold Swing +3.3
General election 2017: Tiverton and Honiton [10]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Conservative Neil Parish 35,471 61.4 +7.4
Labour Caroline Kolek15,67027.1+14.4
Liberal Democrats Matthew Wilson4,6398.0―2.5
Green Gill Westcott2,0353.5―2.9
Majority19,80134.3―3.2
Turnout 57,81571.5+1.0
Conservative hold Swing ―3.5
General election 2015: Tiverton and Honiton [11]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Conservative Neil Parish 29,030 54.0 +3.7
UKIP Graham Smith8,85716.5+10.5
Labour Caroline Kolek6,83512.7+3.8
Liberal Democrats Stephen Kearney5,62610.5―22.8
Green Paul Edwards3,4156.4+4.9
Majority20,17337.5+20.5
Turnout 53,76370.5―1.0
Conservative hold Swing ―3.4
General election 2010: Tiverton and Honiton [12] [13]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Conservative Neil Parish 27,614 50.3 +3.6
Liberal Democrats Jon Underwood18,29433.3+4.2
Labour Vernon Whitlock4,9078.9―4.4
UKIP Daryl Stanbury3,2776.0+1.2
Green Cathy Connor8021.5―1.3
Majority9,32017.0+0.6
Turnout 54,89471.5+1.0
Conservative hold Swing ―0.3

Elections prior to the 2010s

General election 2005: Tiverton and Honiton [14]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Conservative Angela Browning 27,838 47.9 +0.8
Liberal Democrats David Nation16,78728.9―6.9
Labour Fiona Bentley7,94413.7+1.8
UKIP Bob Edwards2,4994.3+2.0
Liberal Roy Collins1,7012.9+1.8
Green Colin Matthews1,3992.4+0.6
Majority11,05119.0+7.7
Turnout 58,16869.8+0.6
Conservative hold Swing +3.8
General election 2001: Tiverton and Honiton [15]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Conservative Angela Browning 26,258 47.1 +5.8
Liberal Democrats James Barnard19,97435.8―2.7
Labour Isabel Owen6,64711.9―0.9
UKIP Alan Langmaid1,2812.3New
Green Matthew Burgess1,0301.8+1.0
Liberal Jennifer Roach5941.10.0
Majority6,28411.3+8.5
Turnout 55,78469.2―8.4
Conservative hold Swing +4.2
General election 1997: Tiverton and Honiton [16]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Conservative Angela Browning 24,438 41.3
Liberal Democrats James Barnard22,78538.5
Labour John King7,59812.8
Referendum Stephen Lowings2,9525.0
Liberal Jennifer Roach6351.1
Green Emily McIvor4850.8
National Democrats Del Charles2360.4
Majority1,6532.8
Turnout 59,12977.6
Conservative win (new seat)

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">East Devon</span> Non-metropolitan district in England

East Devon is a local government district in Devon, England. Its council is based in the town of Honiton, although Exmouth is the largest town. The district also contains the towns of Axminster, Budleigh Salterton, Cranbrook, Ottery St Mary, Seaton and Sidmouth, along with numerous villages and surrounding rural areas.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mid Devon</span> Non-metropolitan district in England

Mid Devon is a local government district in Devon, England. The council is based in the district's largest town of Tiverton. The district also contains the towns of Bampton, Bradninch, Crediton and Cullompton, along with numerous villages and surrounding rural areas. Part of the district lies within the Blackdown Hills, an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cullompton</span> Town and civil parish in Devon, England

Cullompton is a town and civil parish in the district of Mid Devon and the county of Devon, England. It is 13 miles (21 km) north-east of Exeter and lies on the River Culm. In 2011, the parish as a whole had a population of 8,499, while the built-up area of the town had a population of 7,439.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">North Devon (UK Parliament constituency)</span> UK Parliament constituency

North Devon is a constituency represented in the House of Commons of the UK Parliament since 2019 by Selaine Saxby of the Conservative Party.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mid Dorset and North Poole (UK Parliament constituency)</span>

Mid Dorset and North Poole is a constituency represented in the House of Commons of the UK Parliament since 2015 by Michael Tomlinson, a Conservative.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">East Devon (UK Parliament constituency)</span> UK Parliament constituency since 1997

East Devon is a constituency represented in the House of Commons of the UK Parliament since 2019 by Simon Jupp of the Conservative Party.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">South West Devon (UK Parliament constituency)</span> UK Parliament constituency

South West Devon is a constituency represented in the House of Commons of the UK Parliament since 1997 by Sir Gary Streeter, a Conservative.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Faversham and Mid Kent (UK Parliament constituency)</span>

Faversham and Mid Kent is a constituency represented in the House of Commons of the UK Parliament. Since 2015, the seat has been held by Helen Whately of the Conservative Party.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Central Devon (UK Parliament constituency)</span> UK Parliament constituency since 2010

Central Devon is a constituency represented in the House of Commons of the UK Parliament since 2010 by Mel Stride, a Conservative.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Honiton (UK Parliament constituency)</span>

Honiton was a parliamentary constituency centred on the town of Honiton in east Devon, formerly represented in the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. It sent members intermittently from 1300, consistently from 1640. It elected two Members of Parliament (MPs) until it was abolished in 1868. It was recreated in 1885 as a single-member constituency.

Mid Devon District Council elections are held every four years to elect Mid Devon District Council in Devon, England. Since the last boundary changes in 2023 the council has comprised 42 councillors, representing 22 wards, with each ward electing one, two or three councillors.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tiverton (UK Parliament constituency)</span>

Tiverton was a constituency located in Tiverton in east Devon, formerly represented in the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. Enfranchised as a parliamentary borough in 1615 and first represented in 1621, it elected two Members of Parliament (MPs) by the first past the post system of election until 1885. The name was then transferred to a county constituency electing one MP.

The EX postcode area, also known as the Exeter postcode area, is a group of 33 postcode districts in South West England, within 30 post towns. These cover north and east Devon, plus the northernmost part of Cornwall and very small parts of Somerset and Dorset.

A by-election for the United Kingdom parliamentary constituency of Tiverton and Honiton was held on 23 June 2022. The vacancy was caused by the resignation on 4 May 2022 of the incumbent Member of Parliament (MP), Neil Parish of the Conservative Party, following his admission to accusations that he viewed pornography on his mobile phone in the House of Commons chamber.

Honiton and Sidmouth is a proposed constituency of the House of Commons in the UK Parliament. Further to the completion of the 2023 Periodic Review of Westminster constituencies, it will first be contested at the next general election.

Tiverton and Minehead is a proposed constituency of the House of Commons in the UK Parliament. Further to the completion of the 2023 Periodic Review of Westminster constituencies, it will first be contested at the next general election.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2023 Mid Devon District Council election</span> 2023 English local election

The 2023 Mid Devon District Council election took place on 4 May 2023 to elect members of Mid Devon District Council in Devon, England. It was held on the same day as other local elections in the United Kingdom.

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. Ambrose, Tom (30 April 2022). "Tory Neil Parish to resign as MP after porn 'moment of madness'". The Guardian . Retrieved 30 April 2022.
  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. UK Polling Report http://ukpollingreport.co.uk/2015guide/tivertonandhoniton/
  5. Electoral Calculus https://www.electoralcalculus.co.uk/fcgi-bin/seatdetails.py?seat=Tiverton+and+Honiton
  6. Leigh Rayment's Historical List of MPs – Constituencies beginning with "T" (part 2)
  7. "The results". Mid Devon District Council. June 2022. Retrieved 26 June 2022.
  8. "Tiverton and Honiton turnout 52%". Sky News. 24 June 2022. Retrieved 26 June 2022.
  9. "Statement of Persons Nominated" (PDF).
  10. "2017 general election candidates in Devon". Devon Live. 11 May 2017. Archived from the original on 11 May 2017.
  11. "Election Data 2015". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 17 October 2015. Retrieved 17 October 2015.
  12. "Election Data 2010". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 26 July 2013. Retrieved 17 October 2015.
  13. Finan, Kevin (20 April 2010). "Statement of Persons Nominated - Tiverton & Honiton" (MS Word). Acting Returning Officer, Mid Devon District Council. Retrieved 21 April 2010.
  14. "Election Data 2005". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
  15. "Election Data 2001". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
  16. "Election Data 1997". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.

Sources

50°49′37″N3°20′56″W / 50.827°N 3.349°W / 50.827; -3.349