Taunton (UK Parliament constituency)
Encyclopedia
Taunton was a constituency represented in the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom
and its predecessors from 1295 to 2010, taking its name from the town of Taunton in Somerset
. Until 1918, it was a parliamentary borough
, electing two Member of Parliaments (MPs)
between 1295 and 1885 and one from 1885 to 1918; the name was then transferred to a county constituency, electing one MP.
In the boundary changes that came into effect at the general election of 2010, the Boundary Commission for England replaced Taunton with a modified constituency called Taunton Deane
, to reflect the district name.
, but the boundary act extended it to take in more of the town, including parts of Taunton St James, Wilton, West Monkton
and Bishop's Hull parishes, which more than doubled its population.
Taunton county constituency (1918–2010): The county constituency created in 1918 effectively combined the borough with the southern part of the existing West Somerset or Wellington
county division, so that it included the towns of Wellington
and Wiveliscombe
, many small villages and parts of Exmoor
. Until local government reorganisation in the 1970s, it was defined as consisting of Taunton borough, Wellington Urban District, Wiveliscombe Urban District (until that was abolished) and the Dulverton
, Taunton
and Wellington
rural districts. There were very minor boundary changes in 1983.
, the victorious Liberal Democrats candidate in Taunton required the smallest percentage swing
from the Conservative
MP
for them to take the seat.
Parliament of the United Kingdom
The Parliament of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland is the supreme legislative body in the United Kingdom, British Crown dependencies and British overseas territories, located in London...
and its predecessors from 1295 to 2010, taking its name from the town of Taunton in Somerset
Somerset
The ceremonial and non-metropolitan county of Somerset in South West England borders Bristol and Gloucestershire to the north, Wiltshire to the east, Dorset to the south-east, and Devon to the south-west. It is partly bounded to the north and west by the Bristol Channel and the estuary of the...
. Until 1918, it was a parliamentary borough
Parliamentary borough
Parliamentary boroughs are a type of administrative division, usually covering urban areas, that are entitled to representation in a Parliament...
, electing two Member of Parliaments (MPs)
Member of Parliament
A Member of Parliament is a representative of the voters to a :parliament. In many countries with bicameral parliaments, the term applies specifically to members of the lower house, as upper houses often have a different title, such as senate, and thus also have different titles for its members,...
between 1295 and 1885 and one from 1885 to 1918; the name was then transferred to a county constituency, electing one MP.
In the boundary changes that came into effect at the general election of 2010, the Boundary Commission for England replaced Taunton with a modified constituency called Taunton Deane
Taunton Deane (UK Parliament constituency)
Taunton Deane is a county constituency represented in the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. It elects one Member of Parliament by the first past the post system of election....
, to reflect the district name.
Boundaries
Taunton borough (to 1918): The borough consisted of the town of Taunton, Somerset. Until 1832, it retained the medieval boundaries, which included only part of the parish of St Mary Magdalene, TauntonSt Mary Magdalene, Taunton
The Church of St Mary Magdalene in Taunton, Somerset, England was completed in 1508, in Early Tudor Perpendicular Gothic style and has been designated as a Grade I listed building.-History and description:...
, but the boundary act extended it to take in more of the town, including parts of Taunton St James, Wilton, West Monkton
West Monkton
West Monkton is a village and civil parish in Somerset, England, situated north east of Taunton in the Taunton Deane district. The parish includes the hamlets of Monkton Heathfield, Bathpool, Burlinch and Coombe, and had a population of 2,663 at the 2001 census.-History:The charter for West...
and Bishop's Hull parishes, which more than doubled its population.
Taunton county constituency (1918–2010): The county constituency created in 1918 effectively combined the borough with the southern part of the existing West Somerset or Wellington
Wellington (Somerset) (UK Parliament constituency)
Wellington is a former county constituency in the United Kingdom, formally known as The Western or Wellington Division of Somerset...
county division, so that it included the towns of Wellington
Wellington, Somerset
Wellington is a small industrial town in rural Somerset, England, situated south west of Taunton in the Taunton Deane district, near the border with Devon, which runs along the Blackdown Hills to the south of the town...
and Wiveliscombe
Wiveliscombe
Wiveliscombe is a town and civil parish in Somerset, England, situated west of Taunton in the Taunton Deane district. The town has a population of 2,670. The parish includes the nearby hamlet of Maundown.-History:...
, many small villages and parts of Exmoor
Exmoor
Exmoor is an area of hilly open moorland in west Somerset and north Devon in South West England, named after the main river that flows out of the district, the River Exe. The moor has given its name to a National Park, which includes the Brendon Hills, the East Lyn Valley, the Vale of Porlock and ...
. Until local government reorganisation in the 1970s, it was defined as consisting of Taunton borough, Wellington Urban District, Wiveliscombe Urban District (until that was abolished) and the Dulverton
Dulverton Rural District
Dulverton was a rural district in Somerset, England, from 1894 to 1974.It was created in 1894 under the Local Government Act 1894.In 1974 it was abolished under the Local Government Act 1972 and responsibilities transferred to West Somerset....
, Taunton
Taunton Rural District
Taunton was a rural district in Somerset, England, from 1894 to 1974.It was created in 1894 under the Local Government Act 1894.In 1974 it was abolished under the Local Government Act 1972 when it became part of Taunton Deane district....
and Wellington
Wellington Rural District (Somerset)
Wellington was a rural district in Somerset, England, from 1894 to 1974.It was created in 1894 under the Local Government Act 1894.In 1974 it was abolished under the Local Government Act 1972 when it became part of Taunton Deane....
rural districts. There were very minor boundary changes in 1983.
History
In the 2005 general electionUnited Kingdom general election, 2005
The United Kingdom general election of 2005 was held on Thursday, 5 May 2005 to elect 646 members to the British House of Commons. The Labour Party under Tony Blair won its third consecutive victory, but with a majority of 66, reduced from 160....
, the victorious Liberal Democrats candidate in Taunton required the smallest percentage swing
Swing (politics)
An electoral swing analysis shows the extent of change in voter support from one election to another. It is an indicator of voter support for individual candidates or political parties, or voter preference between two or more candidates or parties...
from the Conservative
Conservative Party (UK)
The Conservative Party, formally the Conservative and Unionist Party, is a centre-right political party in the United Kingdom that adheres to the philosophies of conservatism and British unionism. It is the largest political party in the UK, and is currently the largest single party in the House...
MP
Member of Parliament
A Member of Parliament is a representative of the voters to a :parliament. In many countries with bicameral parliaments, the term applies specifically to members of the lower house, as upper houses often have a different title, such as senate, and thus also have different titles for its members,...
for them to take the seat.
MPs 1295–1640
- Constituency created (1295)
| Parliament | First member | Second member | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1386 | William Portman | William Marchaunt | ||
| 1388 (Feb) | William Marchaunt | William Portman | ||
| 1388 (Sep) | William Marchaunt | William Damarle | ||
| 1390 (Jan) | William Marchaunt | John Porter | ||
| 1390 (Nov) | ||||
| 1391 | William Marchaunt | William Portman | ||
| 1393 | William Marchaunt | John Porter | ||
| 1394 | William Marchaunt | John Porter | ||
| 1395 | William Marchaunt | Walter Puryham | ||
| 1397 (Jan) | Robert Coullyng | Robert Eysel | ||
| 1397 (Sept) | Richard Marchaunt | John Northmore | ||
| 1399 | Walter Puryham | Edmund Rokes | ||
| 1401 | ||||
| 1402 | William Portman | Ralph Sargor | ||
| 1404 (Jan | ||||
| 1404 (Oct) | ||||
| 1406 | William Portman | Robert Bathe | ||
| 1407 | Richard Marchaunt | John Northmore | ||
| 1410 | Thomas Bacot | Thomas Edward | ||
| 1411 | ||||
| 1413 (Feb) | ||||
| 1413 (May) | John Rydon | Lewis John | ||
| 1414 (Apr) | John Marchaunt | Edmund Dyer | ||
| 1414 (Nov) | John Marchaunt | Edmund Dyer | ||
| 1415 | ||||
| 1416 (Mar) | ||||
| 1416 (Oct) | ||||
| 1417 | John Rydon | Walter Portman | ||
| 1419 | Walter Portman | Robert Croke | ||
| 1420 | Robert Croke | William Borde | ||
| 1421 (May) | Walter Portman | William Borde | ||
| 1421 (Dec) | Walter Portman | John Bowe | ||
| 1510-1523 | No names known | |||
| 1529 | Thomas Cromwell Thomas Cromwell, 1st Earl of Essex Thomas Cromwell, 1st Earl of Essex, , was an English statesman who served as chief minister of King Henry VIII of England from 1532 to 1540.... |
William Portman | ||
| 1536 | ?Richard Pollard | ?William Portman | ||
| 1547 | Sir Nicholas Hare Nicholas Hare Sir Nicholas Hare of Bruisyard, Suffolk was Speaker of the House of Commons of England between 1539-1540.He was born the eldest son of John Hare of Homersfield, Suffolk, educated at Gonville and Caius College, Cambridge and admitted to the Inner Temple in 1515... |
John Caryll | ||
| 1553 (Mar) | ? | |||
| 1553 (Oct) | James Basset | John Wingfield | ||
| 1554 (Apr) | William Barne | Oliver Vachell | ||
| 1554 (Nov) | Thomas Eden | John Norres | ||
| 1555 | Dr Valentine Dale | ? | ||
| 1558 | Richard Myrfield | |||
| 1559 | ? | ? | ||
| 1563-1567 | Miles Sandys Miles Sandys Miles Sandys was an English courtier and Member of Parliament who sat in every Parliament from 1563 to 1597 yet never represented the same constituency twice. Sandys was the brother of the Archbishop of York, Edwin Sandys, and an influential crown official, working in the Court of Queen's Bench and... |
Anthony Leigh | ||
| 1571 | Robert Hill | Richard Blount died during the 1572 Parliament In his place Edmund Hodges |
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| 1572-1581 | Roger Hill | |||
| 1584-1585 | Maurice Horner | William Goldwell | ||
| 1586-1587 | Francis Bacon Francis Bacon Francis Bacon, 1st Viscount St Albans, KC was an English philosopher, statesman, scientist, lawyer, jurist, author and pioneer of the scientific method. He served both as Attorney General and Lord Chancellor of England... |
John Goldwell | ||
| 1588-1589 | Thomas Fisher | |||
| 1593 | William Aubrey, DCL William Aubrey William Aubrey was Regius Professor of Civil Law at the University of Oxford from 1553 to 1559, and was one of the founding Fellows of Jesus College, Oxford. He was also a MP.-Early life and Oxford University:... |
John Davidge | ||
| 1597-1598 | Edward Barker | Edward Hexte | ||
| 1601 | John Bond John Bond (classicist) John Bond was an English physician and classical scholar who also served twice as Member of Parliament for Taunton.... |
Daniel Donne, DCL Daniel Donne -Life:He was descended from John Dwnn of Radnorshire, was educated at Oxford, where he was a member of All Souls College, and was admitted to the degree of B.C.L. 14 July 1572. Eight years later the higher degree was conferred on him, when he became Principal of New Inn Hall.He entered the College... |
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| 1604-1611 | Edward Hexte | |||
| Addled Parliament (1614) Addled Parliament The Addled Parliament was the second Parliament of England of the reign of James I of England , which sat between 5 April and 7 June 1614... |
James Clerke | John Dunn | ||
| 1621-1622 | Lewis Pope | Thomas Brereton | ||
| Happy Parliament (1624-1625) Happy Parliament The Happy Parliament was the fourth and last Parliament of England of the reign of King James I, sitting from 19 February 1624 to 24 May 1624 and then from 2 November 1624 to 16 February 1625... |
Roger Prowse | |||
| Useless Parliament (1625) Useless Parliament The Useless Parliament was the first Parliament of England of the reign of King Charles I, sitting only from June until August 1625. It gained its name because it transacted no significant business, making it 'useless' from the king's point of view... |
Sir Hugh Portman Sir Hugh Portman, 4th Baronet Sir Hugh Portman, 4th Baronet was an English politician who sat in the House of Commons in two parliaments between 1625 and 1629.Portman was the son of Sir John Portman, 1st Baronet and his wife Anne Gifford, daughter of Sir Henry Gifford... |
Edward Brereton | ||
| 1625-1626 | Sir Robert Gorges Robert gorges Robert Gorges was a Captain in the English navy and briefly Governor-General of New England from 1623 to 1624. He was the son of Sir Ferdinando Gorges... |
George Browne | ||
| 1628 | Sir Hugh Portman Sir Hugh Portman, 4th Baronet Sir Hugh Portman, 4th Baronet was an English politician who sat in the House of Commons in two parliaments between 1625 and 1629.Portman was the son of Sir John Portman, 1st Baronet and his wife Anne Gifford, daughter of Sir Henry Gifford... |
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| 1629-1640 | No Parliament summoned | |||
MPs 1640–1885
| Year | First member | First party | Second member | Second party | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| April 1640 Short Parliament The Short Parliament was a Parliament of England that sat from 13 April to 5 May 1640 during the reign of King Charles I of England, so called because it lasted only three weeks.... |
Sir William Portman Sir William Portman, 5th Baronet Sir William Portman, 5th Baronet was an English politician who sat in the House of Commons from 1640 to 1644. He supported the Royalist side in the English Civil War.... |
Royalist | Roger Hill Roger Hill (judge) Roger Hill , of Poundsford in Somerset, was an English judge and Member of Parliament.Hill was born at Colyton in Devon, the eldest son of William Hill of Poundisford Park, member of a family of Somerset squires who could trace their ancestry back to a Sir John Hill in the reign of Edward III... |
Parliamentarian | ||
| November 1640 Long Parliament The Long Parliament was made on 3 November 1640, following the Bishops' Wars. It received its name from the fact that through an Act of Parliament, it could only be dissolved with the agreement of the members, and those members did not agree to its dissolution until after the English Civil War and... |
George Searle | Parliamentarian | ||||
| February 1644 | Portman disabled from sitting - seat vacant | |||||
| 1645 | John Palmer, MD | |||||
| 1653 | Taunton was unrepresented in the Barebones Parliament Barebones Parliament Barebone's Parliament, also known as the Little Parliament, the Nominated Assembly and the Parliament of Saints, came into being on 4 July 1653, and was the last attempt of the English Commonwealth to find a stable political form before the installation of Oliver Cromwell as Lord Protector... |
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| 1654 First Protectorate Parliament The First Protectorate Parliament was summoned by the Lord Protector Oliver Cromwell under the terms of the Instrument of Government. It sat for one term from 3 September 1654 until 22 January 1655 with William Lenthall as the Speaker of the House.... |
Colonel Thomas Gorges Thomas Gorges (Maine) Thomas Gorges was a colonial governor of the Province of Maine, an officer in the Parliamentary Army, and a Member of Parliament both during the rule of Oliver Cromwell, and after the restoration of King Charles II to the throne.... |
John Gorges | ||||
| 1656 Second Protectorate Parliament The Second Protectorate Parliament in England sat for two sessions from 17 September 1656 until 4 February 1658, with Thomas Widdrington as the Speaker of the House of Commons... |
Admiral Robert Blake Robert Blake (admiral) Robert Blake was one of the most important military commanders of the Commonwealth of England and one of the most famous English admirals of the 17th century. Blake is recognised as the chief founder of England's naval supremacy, a dominance subsequently inherited by the British Royal Navy into... |
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| January 1659 Third Protectorate Parliament The Third Protectorate Parliament sat for one session, from 27 January 1659 until 22 April 1659, with Chaloner Chute and Thomas Bampfylde as the Speakers of the House of Commons... |
Sir William Wyndham Sir William Wyndham, 1st Baronet Sir William Wyndham, 1st Baronet , English politician, was Member of Parliament for Somerset 1656-1658 and for Taunton 1659 and 1660-1679.He was made a Baronet in 1661, of Orchard, Somerset.- References :*... |
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| May 1659 Rump Parliament The Rump Parliament is the name of the English Parliament after Colonel Pride purged the Long Parliament on 6 December 1648 of those members hostile to the Grandees' intention to try King Charles I for high treason.... |
John Palmer, MD | One seat vacant | ||||
| March 1660 | Thomas Gorges Thomas Gorges (Maine) Thomas Gorges was a colonial governor of the Province of Maine, an officer in the Parliamentary Army, and a Member of Parliament both during the rule of Oliver Cromwell, and after the restoration of King Charles II to the throne.... |
Sir William Wyndham Sir William Wyndham, 1st Baronet Sir William Wyndham, 1st Baronet , English politician, was Member of Parliament for Somerset 1656-1658 and for Taunton 1659 and 1660-1679.He was made a Baronet in 1661, of Orchard, Somerset.- References :*... |
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| 1661 | Sir William Portman Sir William Portman, 6th Baronet Sir William Portman, 6th Baronet FRS was an English politician who sat in the House of Commons between 1661 and 1690.... |
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| February 1679 | John Trenchard John Trenchard (Secretary of State) Sir John Trenchard was an English politician belonging to an old Dorset family. His father was Thomas Trenchard of Wolverton , and his grandfather was Sir Thomas Trenchard of Wolverton... |
Whig | ||||
| September 1679 | Sir John Cutler Bt Cutler Baronets The Baronetcy of Cutler of London was created in the Baronetage of England on 12 November 1660 for John Cutler of Deptford.Cutler was Master of the Worshipful Company of Grocers of the City of London four times. He served as High Sheriff of Kent in 1676. He was Member of Parliament for Taunton... |
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| 1680 | Edmund Prideaux | |||||
| 1685 | Sir William Portman Sir William Portman, 6th Baronet Sir William Portman, 6th Baronet FRS was an English politician who sat in the House of Commons between 1661 and 1690.... |
John Sanford | ||||
| March 1690 | Edward Clarke | |||||
| April 1690 | John Speke | |||||
| 1698 | Henry Seymour Portman | |||||
| 1701 | Sir Francis Warre | |||||
| 1710 | Henry Seymour Portman | |||||
| 1715 | William Pynsent | James Smith | ||||
| 1722 | John Trenchard John Trenchard (writer) John Trenchard , English writer and Commonwealthman, belonged to the same Dorset family as the Secretary of State Sir John Trenchard.Trenchard was educated at Trinity College, Dublin, and became a lawyer... |
Whig | ||||
| 1724 | Abraham Elton | |||||
| 1727 | George Speke | Francis Fane | ||||
| 1734 | Henry William Berkeley Portman | |||||
| 1741 | Sir John Chapman Sir John Chapman, 2nd Baronet Sir John Chapman, 2nd Baronet was a British parliamentarian.He succeeded to the baronetcy in May 1737.He was elected at the 1741 general election as a Member of Parliament for Taunton, and held the seat until the 1741 general election, when he did not stand again... |
John Buck John Buck (MP) Sir John Buck or Sir John Bucke was an English landowner and politician who sat in the House of Commons in 1601.Bucke was the son of Francis Bucke of The Nash, Kempsey, Worcestershire and first cousin of George Wylde through their Wall grandparents. He matriculated at Magdalen Hall, Oxford under... |
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| 1745 | Percy Wyndham-O'Brien Percy Wyndham-O'Brien, 1st Earl of Thomond Percy Wyndham-O'Brien, 1st Earl of Thomond was a British Member of Parliament, Irish peer and the younger son of Tory statesman Sir William Wyndham and brother to Sir Charles Wyndham, 2nd Earl of Egremont.... |
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| 1747 | Sir Charles Wyndham Charles Wyndham, 2nd Earl of Egremont Charles Wyndham, 2nd Earl of Egremont, PC and Catherine née Seymour, succeeded his uncle, Algernon Seymour, 7th Duke of Somerset, as 2nd Earl of Egremont in 1750... |
Robert Webb Robert Webb (MP) Robert Webb was the Member of Parliament for Taunton from 1747 to 1754. He was a prominent sugar merchant, owning plantations on Montserrat.-References:... |
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| 1750 | Admiral William Rowley William Rowley (Royal Navy officer) Admiral of the Fleet Sir William Rowley KB was a British naval commander who distinguished himself during the War of the Austrian Succession and also became a Member of Parliament.-Naval career:... |
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| April 1754 | The Lord Carpenter George Carpenter, 1st Earl of Tyrconnell George Carpenter, 1st Earl of Tyrconnell , known as The Lord Carpenter between 1749 and 1761, was a British peer and politician.-Background:... |
John Halliday | ||||
| December 1754 | Robert Maxwell Robert Maxwell, 1st Earl of Farnham Robert Maxwell, 1st Earl of Farnham PC , styled The Honourable Robert Maxwell from 1756 to 1759, was an Irish peer and a Member of both the Parliament of Great Britain and the Parliament of Ireland.-Background and education:... |
Whig | ||||
| 1762 | Laurence Sulivan | |||||
| 1768 | Alexander Popham Alexander Popham (penal reformer) Alexander Popham was a British politician and penal reformer. Born to Alexander Popham, a rector, and his wife Mary, Popham matriculated at Balliol College, Oxford on 11 November 1746, transferring to All Souls, Oxford, where he was awarded his Bachelor of Arts degree in 1751 and his Master of... |
Nathaniel Webb | ||||
| 1774 | Hon. Edward Stratford Edward Stratford, 2nd Earl of Aldborough Edward Augustus Stratford, 2nd Earl of Aldborough FRS , styled The Honourable from 1763 to 1777 and Viscount Amiens in the latter year, was an Irish peer and Whig politician.-Background:... |
Whig | ||||
| 1775 | John Halliday | Alexander Popham Alexander Popham (penal reformer) Alexander Popham was a British politician and penal reformer. Born to Alexander Popham, a rector, and his wife Mary, Popham matriculated at Balliol College, Oxford on 11 November 1746, transferring to All Souls, Oxford, where he was awarded his Bachelor of Arts degree in 1751 and his Master of... |
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| 1780 | Major-General John Roberts | |||||
| 1782 | (Sir) Benjamin Hammet | |||||
| 1784 | Alexander Popham Alexander Popham (penal reformer) Alexander Popham was a British politician and penal reformer. Born to Alexander Popham, a rector, and his wife Mary, Popham matriculated at Balliol College, Oxford on 11 November 1746, transferring to All Souls, Oxford, where he was awarded his Bachelor of Arts degree in 1751 and his Master of... |
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| 1796 | William Morland | |||||
| 1800 | John Hammet | |||||
| 1806 | Alexander Baring Alexander Baring, 1st Baron Ashburton Alexander Baring, 1st Baron Ashburton PC was a British politician and financier.-Background:Baring was the second son of Sir Francis Baring, 1st Baronet, and of Harriet, daughter of William Herring... |
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| 1812 | Henry Powell Collins | |||||
| 1818 | Sir William Burroughs | |||||
| 1819 | Henry Powell Collins | |||||
| 1820 | John Ashley Warre | |||||
| 1826 | Henry Seymour Henry Seymour (Knoyle) Henry Seymour MP, JP , of Knoyle House, Wiltshire, of Trent, and of Northbrook, was a British Tory politician.... |
William Peachey | ||||
| 1830 | Henry Labouchere Henry Labouchere, 1st Baron Taunton Henry Labouchere, 1st Baron Taunton PC was a prominent British Whig and Liberal Party politician of the mid-19th century.-Background and education:... |
Whig | Edward Thomas Bainbridge | Whig | ||
| 1842 | Sir Thomas Colebrooke Sir Thomas Colebrooke, 4th Baronet Sir Thomas Edward Colebrooke, 4th Baronet was a British politician.He was the son of Henry Thomas Colebrooke and Elizabeth Colebrooke... |
Whig | ||||
| 1852 | Arthur Mills Arthur Mills (MP) Arthur Mills was a British Conservative Party Member of Parliament for Taunton [1852-53 and 1857-1865] and Exeter [1873-1880]. In his career, he was also a barrister, magistrate, and author in Cornwall and London... |
Conservative Conservative Party (UK) The Conservative Party, formally the Conservative and Unionist Party, is a centre-right political party in the United Kingdom that adheres to the philosophies of conservatism and British unionism. It is the largest political party in the UK, and is currently the largest single party in the House... |
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| 1853 | Sir John Ramsden Sir John Ramsden, 5th Baronet Sir John Ramsden, 5th Baronet was a British Liberal Party politician.The fifth Baronet was elected as a Member of Parliament for Hythe in 1857 and served as Under-Secretary of State for War from 1857 to 1858. He resigned through appointment as Steward of the Chiltern Hundreds on 9 February 1859... |
Whig | ||||
| 1857 | Arthur Mills Arthur Mills (MP) Arthur Mills was a British Conservative Party Member of Parliament for Taunton [1852-53 and 1857-1865] and Exeter [1873-1880]. In his career, he was also a barrister, magistrate, and author in Cornwall and London... |
Conservative Conservative Party (UK) The Conservative Party, formally the Conservative and Unionist Party, is a centre-right political party in the United Kingdom that adheres to the philosophies of conservatism and British unionism. It is the largest political party in the UK, and is currently the largest single party in the House... |
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| 1859 | Liberal Liberal Party (UK) The Liberal Party was one of the two major political parties of the United Kingdom during the 19th and early 20th centuries. It was a third party of negligible importance throughout the latter half of the 20th Century, before merging with the Social Democratic Party in 1988 to form the present day... |
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| August 1859 | George Cavendish-Bentinck George Cavendish-Bentinck George Augustus Frederick Cavendish-Bentinck PC, JP , was a British barrister and Conservative politician. An MP from 1859 to 1891, he served under Benjamin Disraeli as Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Trade from 1874 to 1875 and as Judge Advocate General from 1875 to 1880.-Background and... |
Conservative Conservative Party (UK) The Conservative Party, formally the Conservative and Unionist Party, is a centre-right political party in the United Kingdom that adheres to the philosophies of conservatism and British unionism. It is the largest political party in the UK, and is currently the largest single party in the House... |
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| 1865 | Alexander Charles Barclay Alexander Charles Barclay Alexander Charles Barclay was an English brewer and Liberal politician who sat in the House of Commons from 1865 to 1880.... |
Liberal Liberal Party (UK) The Liberal Party was one of the two major political parties of the United Kingdom during the 19th and early 20th centuries. It was a third party of negligible importance throughout the latter half of the 20th Century, before merging with the Social Democratic Party in 1988 to form the present day... |
Lord William Hay | Liberal Liberal Party (UK) The Liberal Party was one of the two major political parties of the United Kingdom during the 19th and early 20th centuries. It was a third party of negligible importance throughout the latter half of the 20th Century, before merging with the Social Democratic Party in 1988 to form the present day... |
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| 1868 | Edward William Cox | Conservative Conservative Party (UK) The Conservative Party, formally the Conservative and Unionist Party, is a centre-right political party in the United Kingdom that adheres to the philosophies of conservatism and British unionism. It is the largest political party in the UK, and is currently the largest single party in the House... |
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| 1869 | (Sir) Henry James Henry James, 1st Baron James of Hereford Henry James, 1st Baron James of Hereford GCVO, PC, QC , known as Sir Henry James between 1873 and 1895, was an Anglo-Welsh lawyer and statesman. Initially a Liberal, he served under William Ewart Gladstone as Solicitor General in 1873 and as Attorney-General between 1873 and 1874 and 1880 and 1885... |
Liberal Liberal Party (UK) The Liberal Party was one of the two major political parties of the United Kingdom during the 19th and early 20th centuries. It was a third party of negligible importance throughout the latter half of the 20th Century, before merging with the Social Democratic Party in 1988 to form the present day... |
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| 1880 | Sir William Palliser William Palliser Major Sir William Palliser CB MP was an Irish-born politician and inventor, Member of Parliament for Taunton from 1880 until his death.-Early life:... |
Conservative Conservative Party (UK) The Conservative Party, formally the Conservative and Unionist Party, is a centre-right political party in the United Kingdom that adheres to the philosophies of conservatism and British unionism. It is the largest political party in the UK, and is currently the largest single party in the House... |
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| 1882 | Samuel Charles Allsopp Samuel Allsopp, 2nd Baron Hindlip Samuel Charles Allsopp, 2nd Baron Hindlip , was a British businessman and Conservative politician who sat in the House of Commons between 1873 and 1887 when he inherited the peerage.... |
Conservative Conservative Party (UK) The Conservative Party, formally the Conservative and Unionist Party, is a centre-right political party in the United Kingdom that adheres to the philosophies of conservatism and British unionism. It is the largest political party in the UK, and is currently the largest single party in the House... |
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| 1885 United Kingdom general election, 1885 -Seats summary:-See also:*List of MPs elected in the United Kingdom general election, 1885*Parliamentary Franchise in the United Kingdom 1885–1918*Representation of the People Act 1884*Redistribution of Seats Act 1885-References:... |
Representation reduced to one Member | |||||
MPs since 1885
| Election | Member | Party | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1885 United Kingdom general election, 1885 -Seats summary:-See also:*List of MPs elected in the United Kingdom general election, 1885*Parliamentary Franchise in the United Kingdom 1885–1918*Representation of the People Act 1884*Redistribution of Seats Act 1885-References:... |
Samuel Charles Allsopp Samuel Allsopp, 2nd Baron Hindlip Samuel Charles Allsopp, 2nd Baron Hindlip , was a British businessman and Conservative politician who sat in the House of Commons between 1873 and 1887 when he inherited the peerage.... |
Conservative Conservative Party (UK) The Conservative Party, formally the Conservative and Unionist Party, is a centre-right political party in the United Kingdom that adheres to the philosophies of conservatism and British unionism. It is the largest political party in the UK, and is currently the largest single party in the House... |
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| 1887 by-election | Alfred Percy Allsopp Alfred Percy Allsopp Alfred Percy Allsopp was an English businessman and Conservative Party politician.Allsopp was the sixth and youngest son of Henry Allsopp, 1st Baron Hindlip and Elizabeth Tongue... |
Conservative Conservative Party (UK) The Conservative Party, formally the Conservative and Unionist Party, is a centre-right political party in the United Kingdom that adheres to the philosophies of conservatism and British unionism. It is the largest political party in the UK, and is currently the largest single party in the House... |
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| 1895 United Kingdom general election, 1895 The United Kingdom general election of 1895 was held from 13 July - 7 August 1895. It was won by the Conservatives led by Lord Salisbury who formed an alliance with the Liberal Unionist Party and had a large majority over the Liberals, led by Lord Rosebery... |
Alfred Cholmeley Earle Welby | Conservative Conservative Party (UK) The Conservative Party, formally the Conservative and Unionist Party, is a centre-right political party in the United Kingdom that adheres to the philosophies of conservatism and British unionism. It is the largest political party in the UK, and is currently the largest single party in the House... |
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| 1906 United Kingdom general election, 1906 -Seats summary:-See also:*MPs elected in the United Kingdom general election, 1906*The Parliamentary Franchise in the United Kingdom 1885-1918-External links:***-References:*F. W. S. Craig, British Electoral Facts: 1832-1987**... |
Sir Edward Boyle Sir Edward Boyle, 1st Baronet Sir Edward Boyle, 1st Baronet was a Conservative Party politician in the United Kingdom.He was elected at the 1906 general election as Member of Parliament for Taunton, but died in office three years later, aged 60.... |
Conservative Conservative Party (UK) The Conservative Party, formally the Conservative and Unionist Party, is a centre-right political party in the United Kingdom that adheres to the philosophies of conservatism and British unionism. It is the largest political party in the UK, and is currently the largest single party in the House... |
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| 1909 by-election | William Wellesley Peel William Wellesley Peel, 1st Earl Peel William Robert Wellesley Peel, 1st Earl Peel GCSI, GBE, PC, TD was a British politician.-Background and education:... |
Conservative Conservative Party (UK) The Conservative Party, formally the Conservative and Unionist Party, is a centre-right political party in the United Kingdom that adheres to the philosophies of conservatism and British unionism. It is the largest political party in the UK, and is currently the largest single party in the House... |
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| 1912 by-election | Sir Gilbert Wills Gilbert Wills, 1st Baron Dulverton Gilbert Alan Hamilton Wills, 1st Baron Dulverton , known as Sir Gilbert Wills, 2nd Baronet, from 1909 to 1929, was a British businessman and Conservative Member of Parliament.... , Bt. |
Conservative Conservative Party (UK) The Conservative Party, formally the Conservative and Unionist Party, is a centre-right political party in the United Kingdom that adheres to the philosophies of conservatism and British unionism. It is the largest political party in the UK, and is currently the largest single party in the House... |
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| 1918 United Kingdom general election, 1918 The United Kingdom general election of 1918 was the first to be held after the Representation of the People Act 1918, which meant it was the first United Kingdom general election in which nearly all adult men and some women could vote. Polling was held on 14 December 1918, although the count did... |
Dennis Fortescue Boles Sir Dennis Boles, 1st Baronet Sir Dennis Fortescue Boles, 1st Baronet CBE, DL , was a British Conservative politician.Boles was the son of Reverend James Thomas Boles of Ryll Court, Exmouth, Devon. He was educated at Bradfield School and Exeter College, Oxford... |
Coalition Conservative | |
| 1921 by-election | Sir Arthur Griffith-Boscawen Arthur Griffith-Boscawen Lieutenant-Colonel Sir Arthur Sackville Trevor Griffith-Boscawen PC was a British Conservative Party politician whose career was cut short by losing a string of Parliamentary elections.... |
Coalition Conservative | |
| 1922 United Kingdom general election, 1922 The United Kingdom general election of 1922 was held on 15 November 1922. It was the first election held after most of the Irish counties left the United Kingdom to form the Irish Free State, and was won by Andrew Bonar Law's Conservatives, who gained an overall majority over Labour, led by John... |
John Hope Simpson John Hope Simpson Sir John Hope Simpson was a British Liberal politician who served as a Member of Parliament and later in the Government of Newfoundland.... |
Liberal Liberal Party (UK) The Liberal Party was one of the two major political parties of the United Kingdom during the 19th and early 20th centuries. It was a third party of negligible importance throughout the latter half of the 20th Century, before merging with the Social Democratic Party in 1988 to form the present day... |
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| 1924 United Kingdom general election, 1924 - Seats summary :- References :* F. W. S. Craig, British Electoral Facts: 1832-1987* - External links :* * *... |
Andrew Hamilton Gault | Conservative Conservative Party (UK) The Conservative Party, formally the Conservative and Unionist Party, is a centre-right political party in the United Kingdom that adheres to the philosophies of conservatism and British unionism. It is the largest political party in the UK, and is currently the largest single party in the House... |
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| 1935 United Kingdom general election, 1935 The United Kingdom general election held on 14 November 1935 resulted in a large, though reduced, majority for the National Government now led by Conservative Stanley Baldwin. The greatest number of MPs, as before, were Conservative, while the National Liberal vote held steady... |
Lt Col Edward Wickham Edward Wickham Edward Thomas Ruscombe Wickham was a Conservative Party politician in the United Kingdom.He was elected as Member of Parliament for Taunton at the 1935 general election, but was defeated at the 1945 general election by the Labour Party candidate, Victor Collins.- External links :... |
Conservative Conservative Party (UK) The Conservative Party, formally the Conservative and Unionist Party, is a centre-right political party in the United Kingdom that adheres to the philosophies of conservatism and British unionism. It is the largest political party in the UK, and is currently the largest single party in the House... |
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| 1945 United Kingdom general election, 1945 The United Kingdom general election of 1945 was a general election held on 5 July 1945, with polls in some constituencies delayed until 12 July and in Nelson and Colne until 19 July, due to local wakes weeks. The results were counted and declared on 26 July, due in part to the time it took to... |
Victor Collins Victor Collins, Baron Stonham Victor John Collins, Baron Stonham PC was a British Labour Party politician.Born in Whitechapel, London, he was elected at the 1945 general election as Member of Parliament for Taunton, in Somerset. He lost his seat at the 1950, to the Conservative Henry Hopkinson... |
Labour Labour Party (UK) The Labour Party is a centre-left democratic socialist party in the United Kingdom. It surpassed the Liberal Party in general elections during the early 1920s, forming minority governments under Ramsay MacDonald in 1924 and 1929-1931. The party was in a wartime coalition from 1940 to 1945, after... |
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| 1950 United Kingdom general election, 1950 The 1950 United Kingdom general election was the first general election ever after a full term of a Labour government. Despite polling over one and a half million votes more than the Conservatives, the election, held on 23 February 1950 resulted in Labour receiving a slim majority of just five... |
Henry Hopkinson | Conservative Conservative Party (UK) The Conservative Party, formally the Conservative and Unionist Party, is a centre-right political party in the United Kingdom that adheres to the philosophies of conservatism and British unionism. It is the largest political party in the UK, and is currently the largest single party in the House... |
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| 1956 by-election | Sir Edward du Cann Edward du Cann Sir Edward Dillon Lott du Cann is a retired politician from the United Kingdom. He was a Member of Parliament from 1956–87, and served as Chairman of the Conservative Party from 1965–67, and Chairman of party's 1922 Committee from 1972-84.Du Cann was educated at Colet Court, Woodbridge School and... |
Conservative Conservative Party (UK) The Conservative Party, formally the Conservative and Unionist Party, is a centre-right political party in the United Kingdom that adheres to the philosophies of conservatism and British unionism. It is the largest political party in the UK, and is currently the largest single party in the House... |
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| 1987 United Kingdom general election, 1987 The United Kingdom general election of 1987 was held on 11 June 1987, to elect 650 members to the British House of Commons. The election was the third consecutive election victory for the Conservative Party under the leadership of Margaret Thatcher, who became the first Prime Minister since the 2nd... |
David Nicholson | Conservative Conservative Party (UK) The Conservative Party, formally the Conservative and Unionist Party, is a centre-right political party in the United Kingdom that adheres to the philosophies of conservatism and British unionism. It is the largest political party in the UK, and is currently the largest single party in the House... |
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| 1997 United Kingdom general election, 1997 The United Kingdom general election, 1997 was held on 1 May 1997, more than five years after the previous election on 9 April 1992, to elect 659 members to the British House of Commons. The Labour Party ended its 18 years in opposition under the leadership of Tony Blair, and won the general... |
Jackie Ballard Jackie Ballard Jacqueline Margaret Ballard has been a politician and journalist in the United Kingdom. She was the Director General of the RSPCA, and took up post as CEO of the RNID on 22 October 2007.... |
Liberal Democrat | |
| 2001 United Kingdom general election, 2001 The United Kingdom general election, 2001 was held on Thursday 7 June 2001 to elect 659 members to the British House of Commons. It was dubbed "the quiet landslide" by the media, as the Labour Party was re-elected with another landslide result and only suffered a net loss of 6 seats... |
Adrian Flook | Conservative Conservative Party (UK) The Conservative Party, formally the Conservative and Unionist Party, is a centre-right political party in the United Kingdom that adheres to the philosophies of conservatism and British unionism. It is the largest political party in the UK, and is currently the largest single party in the House... |
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| 2005 United Kingdom general election, 2005 The United Kingdom general election of 2005 was held on Thursday, 5 May 2005 to elect 646 members to the British House of Commons. The Labour Party under Tony Blair won its third consecutive victory, but with a majority of 66, reduced from 160.... |
Jeremy Browne Jeremy Browne Jeremy Richard Browne is a British Liberal Democrat politician. He has been the Member of Parliament for Taunton Deane since 2005 and a Minister of State at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office since 2010.-Early life and education:... |
Liberal Democrat | |
| 2010 | Constituency abolished: see Taunton Deane Taunton Deane (UK Parliament constituency) Taunton Deane is a county constituency represented in the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. It elects one Member of Parliament by the first past the post system of election.... |
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Elections in the 2000s
Elections in the 1990s
Sources
- Robert Beatson, A Chronological Register of Both Houses of Parliament (London: Longman, Hurst, Res & Orme, 1807) http://books.google.com/books?vid=024wW9LmFc5kXY0FI2&id=Gh2wKY2rkDUC&printsec=toc&dq=Return+of+Members+of+Parliament&as_brr=1&sig=SK5GVtGLfWQ9ovZDbyZObAyIO5I#PPP9,M1
- D. Brunton & D. H. PenningtonD. H. PenningtonD. H. Pennington was an historian of 17th century England, which he taught at Manchester and Oxford universities. He was also a founding member of the Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament . His works include Europe in the Seventeenth Century, Members of the Long Parliament D. H. Pennington (1919-2007)...
, Members of the Long Parliament (London: George Allen & Unwin, 1954) - Cobbett's Parliamentary history of England, from the Norman Conquest in 1066 to the year 1803 (London: Thomas Hansard, 1808) http://www2.odl.ox.ac.uk/gsdl/cgi-bin/library?e=p-000-00---0modhis06--00-0-0-0prompt-10---4------0-1l--1-en-50---20-about---00001-001-1-1isoZz-8859Zz-1-0&a=d&cl=CL1
- F W S Craig, British Parliamentary Election Results 1832-1885 (2nd edition, Aldershot: Parliamentary Research Services, 1989)
- Maija Jansson (ed.), Proceedings in Parliament, 1614 (House of Commons) (Philadelphia: American Philosophical Society, 1988)
- J E Neale, The Elizabethan House of Commons (London: Jonathan Cape, 1949)
- Browne WillisBrowne WillisBrowne Willis was an antiquary, author, numismatist and politician who sat in the House of Commons from 1705 to 1708.-Early life:...
, Notitia Parliamentaria (London, 1750) http://books.google.co.uk/books?id=MgcwAAAAMAAJ&dq=browne+willis+notitia&printsec=frontcover&source=bl&ots=iPcazHaD4I&sig=Z7CoB-41tiaeoxPnGGR4ZwYfLrc&hl=en&ei=sfIrSqvvEpTMjAelxfzqCg&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=1 - Frederic A Youngs, jr, Guide to the Local Administrative Units of England, Vol I (London: Royal Historical SocietyRoyal Historical SocietyThe Royal Historical Society was founded in 1868. The premier society in the United Kingdom which promotes and defends the scholarly study of the past, it is based at University College London...
, 1979) - The BBC/ITN Guide to the New Parliamentary Constituencies (Chichester: Parliamentary Research Services, 1983)
- Concise Dictionary of National Biography
- List of speakers: Parliaments of 1656 and 1658-9, Diary of Thomas Burton esq, volume 4: March - April 1659 (1828) at British History Online