West Worcestershire (UK Parliament constituency)

West Worcestershire is a constituency[n 1] in Worcestershire represented in the House of Commons of the UK Parliament since 2010 by Harriett Baldwin, a Conservative.[n 2] The constituency is considered a safe seat for the Conservatives. The constituency boundaries roughly correspond with the Malvern Hills District.

West Worcestershire
County constituency
for the House of Commons
Boundary of West Worcestershire in Worcestershire
Location of Worcestershire within England
CountyWorcestershire
Electorate73,001 (December 2010)[1]
Current constituency
Created1997
Member of ParliamentHarriett Baldwin (Conservative)
Number of membersOne
Created fromSouth Worcestershire, Leominster
1832–1885
Number of membersTwo
Type of constituencyCounty constituency
Replaced byBewdley, Droitwich, Evesham, East Worcestershire and North Worcestershire
Created fromWorcestershire

Members of Parliament

MPs 1832–1885
Worcestershire West
Election1st Member[2] 1st Party2nd Member[2]2nd Party
1832 Hon. Henry Lygon[n 3] Tory[3] Hon. Thomas Foley Whig[3]
1833 by-election Henry Winnington Whig[3][4]
1834 Conservative[3]
1841 Frederick Knight Conservative[3]
1853 by-election The Viscount Elmley[n 4] Conservative
1863 by-election Hon. Frederick Lygon Conservative
1866 by-election William Dowdeswell Conservative
1876 by-election Sir Edmund Lechmere, Bt Conservative
1885 constituency abolished

MPs since 1997
ElectionMember[2] Party
1997 Sir Michael Spicer Conservative
2010 Harriett Baldwin Conservative

Constituency profile

The constituency boundaries roughly correspond with the Malvern Hills District. The seat is known for its hilly landscape: with products such as regional speciality cheeses, drinks and mineral water, a major economic sector is tourism and leisure. However, the principal industries are in agriculture; food; chemicals; distribution; waste and mineral processing; printing and publishing; and transport and retail.

Workless claimants who were registered jobseekers were in November 2012 significantly lower than the national average of 3.8%, at 2.1% of the population based on a statistical compilation by The Guardian.[5]

Boundaries

West Worcestershire stretches from the Gloucestershire border in the south almost to Shropshire in the north, taking in Pershore and Bredon Hill in its eastern side. Its other major towns are Malvern in the west and Upton-upon-Severn in the centre.

Boundary changes for 2010, the fifth modern review nationwide, added an area including Tenbury Wells to the seat (formerly in the Leominster constituency) and lost the small shared part of the Fladbury ward to the Mid Worcestershire seat.[6]

1832–1885: The Petty Sessional Divisions of Upton, Worcester, Hundred House and Kidderminster, and the City and County of the City of Worcester.[7]

1997–2010: The District of Malvern Hills wards of Baldwin, Broadheath, Chase, Hallow, Kempsey, Langland, Laugherne Hill, Leigh and Bransford, Link, Longdon, Martley, Morton, Powick, Priory, Ripple, Temeside, The Hanleys, Trinity, Upton-on-Severn, Wells, West, and Woodbury, and the District of Wychavon wards of Bredon, Eckington, Elmley Castle, Pershore Holy Cross, Pershore St Andrew's, Somerville, and South Bredon Hill.

2010–present: The District of Malvern Hills, and the District of Wychavon wards of Bredon, Eckington, Elmley Castle and Somerville, Pershore, and South Bredon Hill.

History

1832-1885

West Worcestershire formally, the Western division of Worcestershire, was created the first time for the 1832 general election, by the Reform Act 1832 which radically changed the boundaries of many British parliamentary constituencies. It was created by the division of the old Worcestershire constituency (which had existed since 1290) into two new two-member constituencies: West Worcestershire and East Worcestershire.

During this first creation, three members of the Lygon family, the Earls Beauchamp (pronounced Beecham) represented the constituency - their large country estate in the county had its seat at Madresfield Court near the heart of Madresfield village.

The constituency then existed, basically unchanged, until its abolition by the Redistribution of Seats Act 1885 for the 1885 general election, when the constituency's territory was variously incorporated into the seats of Bewdley, Droitwich, Evesham, East Worcestershire and North Worcestershire.

1997–date

The seat was created on Parliament's approval for the 1997 general election of the Boundary Commission's fourth periodic review (following the first such review in 1945, which in turn followed that of the Representation of the People Act 1918.

Political history

In the four elections to date the seat has alternated between Conservative majorities that were quite marginal (7.8% and 5.3%) and those that were greater than 10%, at 12% and 12.7%, close to average in terms of security for any of the three largest parties. As never having had a majority that exceeded 15% of the vote (in this modern creation) and having had the two marginal majorities to date, the seat cannot be classified as safe.

Prominent frontbenchers

The modern seat has had no notable frontbenchers but a notable parliamentarian in the backbenches. The MP for the seat from 1997 to 2010 was Sir Michael Spicer of the Conservative Party. He previously represented the former seat of Worcestershire South from 1974, and was chairman of the backbench 1922 Committee from 2001 until 2010 when he retired.

Elections

Elections in the 2010s
General election 2019: West Worcestershire[8]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Harriett Baldwin 34,909 60.7 0.8
Liberal Democrats Beverley Nielsen 10,410 18.1 8.7
Labour Samantha Charles 9,496 16.5 7.2
Green Martin Allen 2,715 4.7 1.9
Majority 24,499 42.6 4.8
Turnout 57,530 75.4 0.5
Registered electors 76,267
Conservative hold Swing
General election 2017: West Worcestershire[9]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Harriett Baldwin 34,703 61.5 5.4
Labour Samantha Charles 13,375 23.7 10.3
Liberal Democrats Edward McMillan-Scott 5,307 9.4 0.3
Green Natalie McVey 1,605 2.8 3.6
UKIP Mike Savage 1,481 2.6 11.7
Majority 21,328 37.8 3.9
Turnout 56,471 75.9 2.2
Registered electors
Conservative hold Swing
General election 2015: West Worcestershire[10][11][12]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Harriett Baldwin 30,342 56.1 5.8
UKIP Richard Chamings[13] 7,764 14.4 10.4
Labour Daniel Walton 7,244 13.4 6.6
Liberal Democrats Dennis Wharton 5,245 9.7 28.1
Green Julian Roskams 3,505 6.5 5.3
Majority 22,578 41.7 29.0
Turnout 54,100 73.7
Conservative hold Swing
General election 2010: West Worcestershire[14][15]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Harriett Baldwin 27,213 50.4 5.4
Liberal Democrats Richard Burt 20,459 37.7 1.2
Labour Penelope Barber 3,661 6.8 3.7
UKIP Caroline Bovey 2,119 3.9 0.7
Green Malcolm Victory 641 1.2 1.2
Majority 6,754 12.7 6.7
Turnout 53,993 73.7 3.7
Conservative hold Swing 3.3

Elections in the 2000s
General election 2005: West Worcestershire[16]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Michael Spicer 20,959 44.5 1.5
Liberal Democrats Tom Wells 18,484 39.3 5.3
Labour Qamar Bhatti 4,945 10.5 3.5
UKIP Caroline Bovey 1,590 3.4 0.1
Green Malcolm Victory 1,099 2.3 0.2
Majority 2,475 5.3 6.7
Turnout 47,077 70.3 3.2
Conservative hold Swing 3.4
General election 2001: West Worcestershire[17]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Michael Spicer 20,597 46.0 1.0
Liberal Democrats Michael Hadley 15,223 34.0 3.2
Labour Waquar Azmi 6,275 14.0 1.7
UKIP Ian Morris 1,574 3.5 N/A
Green Malcolm Victory 1,138 2.5 0.5
Majority 5,374 12.0 4.2
Turnout 44,807 67.1 9.2
Conservative hold Swing

Elections in the 1990s
General election 1997: West Worcestershire[18]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Michael Spicer 22,223 45.0 N/A
Liberal Democrats Michael Hadley 18,377 37.2 N/A
Labour Neil Stone 7,738 15.7 N/A
Green Sue Cameron 1,006 2.0 N/A
Majority 3,846 7.8 N/A
Turnout 76.3 N/A
Conservative win (new seat)

Elections in the 1880s
General election 1880: West Worcestershire (2 seats)[19]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Edmund Lechmere 2,975 41.8 +0.3
Conservative Frederick Knight 2,913 40.9 +4.4
Independent Liberal Henry Richard Willis[20][21] 1,231 17.3 N/A
Majority 1,682 23.6 +9.1
Turnout 4,175 (est) 60.0 (est) −9.2
Registered electors 6,962
Conservative hold Swing N/A
Conservative hold Swing N/A

Elections in the 1870s
By-election, 8 Jul 1876: West Worcestershire (1 seat)[19]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Edmund Lechmere Unopposed
Conservative hold
  • Caused by Dowdeswell's resignation.
General election 1874: West Worcestershire (2 seats)[19]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative William Dowdeswell 2,910 41.5 N/A
Conservative Frederick Knight 2,554 36.5 N/A
Liberal George Hastings 1,540 22.0 N/A
Majority 1,014 14.5 N/A
Turnout 4,272 (est) 69.2 (est) N/A
Registered electors 6,177
Conservative hold Swing N/A
Conservative hold Swing N/A

Elections in the 1860s
General election 1868: West Worcestershire (2 seats)[19]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative William Dowdeswell Unopposed
Conservative Frederick Knight Unopposed
Registered electors 6,311
Conservative hold
Conservative hold
By-election, 24 March 1866: West Worcestershire[19]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative William Dowdeswell Unopposed
Conservative hold
  • Caused by Lygon's succession to the peerage, becoming 6th Earl Beauchamp.
General election 1865: West Worcestershire (2 seats)[19]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Frederick Lygon Unopposed
Conservative Frederick Knight Unopposed
Registered electors 5,221
Conservative hold
Conservative hold
By-election, 26 October 1863: West Worcestershire[19]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Frederick Lygon Unopposed
Conservative hold
  • Caused by Lygon's succession to the peerage, becoming 5th Earl Beauchamp.

Elections in the 1850s
General election 1859: West Worcestershire (2 seats)[19]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Henry Lygon Unopposed
Conservative Frederick Knight Unopposed
Registered electors 3,910
Conservative hold
Conservative hold
General election 1857: West Worcestershire (2 seats)[19]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Henry Lygon Unopposed
Conservative Frederick Knight Unopposed
Registered electors 4,015
Conservative hold
Conservative hold
By-election, 28 February 1853: West Worcestershire (2 seats)[19]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Henry Lygon Unopposed
Conservative hold
  • Caused by Lygon's succession to the peerage, becoming 4th Earl Beauchamp
General election 1852: West Worcestershire (2 seats)[19]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Henry Lygon Unopposed
Conservative Frederick Knight Unopposed
Registered electors 4,135
Conservative hold
Conservative hold

Elections in the 1840s
General election 1847: West Worcestershire (2 seats)[19]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Henry Lygon Unopposed
Conservative Frederick Knight Unopposed
Registered electors 4,357
Conservative hold
Conservative hold
General election 1841: West Worcestershire (2 seats)[19][3]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Henry Lygon Unopposed
Conservative Frederick Knight Unopposed
Registered electors 4,577
Conservative hold
Conservative gain from Whig

Elections in the 1830s
General election 1837: West Worcestershire (2 seats)[19][3]
Party Candidate Votes %
Conservative Henry Lygon Unopposed
Whig Henry Winnington Unopposed
Registered electors 4,654
Conservative hold
Whig hold
General election 1835: West Worcestershire (2 seats)[19][3]
Party Candidate Votes %
Conservative Henry Lygon 1,945 34.4
Whig Henry Winnington 1,938 34.3
Conservative John Pakington 1,773 31.3
Turnout 3,617 87.6
Registered electors 4,127
Majority 7 0.1
Conservative hold
Majority 165 2.9
Whig hold
By-election, 16 May 1833: West Worcestershire[19][3]
Party Candidate Votes %
Whig Henry Winnington 1,369 51.7
Tory John Pakington 1,278 48.3
Majority 91 3.4
Turnout 2,647 84.8
Registered electors 3,122
Whig hold
  • Caused by Foley's succession to the peerage, becoming 4th Baron Foley
General election 1832: West Worcestershire (2 seats)[19][3]
Party Candidate Votes %
Tory Henry Lygon Unopposed
Whig Thomas Foley Unopposed
Registered electors 3,122
Tory win (new seat)
Whig win (new seat)

See also

Notes and references
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.
  3. Later Earl Beauchamp
  4. Viscount Elmley is a courtesy title given by the Earl Beauchamp to his eldest son, as his main subsidiary title.
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. Leigh Rayment's Historical List of MPs – Constituencies beginning with "W" (part 5)
  3. Stooks Smith, Henry (1845). The Parliaments of England, from 1st George I., to the Present Time. Vol II: Oxfordshire to Wales Inclusive. London: Simpkin, Marshall, & Co. p. 127. Retrieved 11 August 2019 – via Google Books.
  4. Churton, Edward (1838). The Assembled Commons or Parliamentary Biographer. p. 239. Retrieved 11 August 2019 – via Google Books.
  5. Unemployment claimants by constituency The Guardian
  6. 2010 post-revision map non-metropolitan areas and unitary authorities of England Archived 2013-10-03 at the Wayback Machine
  7. "The statutes of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland. 2 & 3 William IV. Cap. LXIV. An Act to settle and describe the Divisions of Counties, and the Limits of Cities and Boroughs, in England and Wales, in so far as respects the Election of Members to serve in Parliament". London: His Majesty's statute and law printers. 1832. pp. 300–383. Retrieved 2017-07-27.
  8. "Worcestershire West Parliamentary constituency". BBC News. BBC. Retrieved 15 December 2019.
  9. "West Worcestershire Nomination of Candidates" (PDF). Malvern Hills District Council. Retrieved 12 May 2017.
  10. "Election Data 2015". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 17 October 2015. Retrieved 17 October 2015.
  11. "WORCESTERSHIRE WEST". Sky News. Sky UK. Retrieved 8 May 2015.
  12. "West Worcestershire Parliamentary constituency". BBC News. BBC. Retrieved 8 May 2015.
  13. "UK Polling Report". Retrieved 14 April 2017.
  14. "Election Data 2010". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 26 July 2013. Retrieved 17 October 2015.
  15. "BBC News - Election 2010 - Constituency - Worcestershire West". Retrieved 14 April 2017.
  16. "Election Data 2005". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
  17. "Election Data 2001". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
  18. "Election Data 1997". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
  19. Craig, F. W. S., ed. (1977). British Parliamentary Election Results 1832-1885 (e-book) |format= requires |url= (help) (1st ed.). London: Macmillan Press. pp. 486–487. ISBN 978-1-349-02349-3.
  20. "West Worcestershire Parliamentary Election, 1880: Bills, Charges & Claims". Worcestershire Chronicle. 17 April 1880. p. 4. Retrieved 23 December 2017 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  21. "The Forthcoming Elections". The Morning Post. 9 March 1880. p. 6. Retrieved 23 December 2017 – via British Newspaper Archive.

Sources

Reference: Statutory Instrument 1987 No. 2208 The Parliamentary Constituencies (England) (Miscellaneous Changes) (No. 3) Order 1987

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