Isle of Wight (UK Parliament constituency)
Encyclopedia
Isle of Wight is a county constituency represented in the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom
. Created by the Great Reform Act
for the 1832 general election
, it covers the whole of the Isle of Wight
and elects one Member of Parliament
(MP) by the first-past-the-post
voting system.
of the Isle of Wight
, and the area administered by the unitary authority
, Isle of Wight Council
.
With an electorate of 110,924 , the constituency has by far the largest electorate in the UK, more than 50% above the England average of 71,537. This is five times the size of the smallest electorate (Na h-Eileanan an Iar
, formerly known as the Western Isles), despite the Isle of Wight having some of the same problems as an island constituency. Successive Boundary Commissions have considered the possibility of splitting the island into two constituencies (or possibly having a constituency crossing the Solent
onto the mainland) but with a distinct lack of local enthusiasm for either option it was felt that the island would be better represented by a single MP. One repeated problem has been the difficulty of dividing the island in two in a way that would be acceptable to all interests.
or other counties across the Solent. Therefore, from the Next United Kingdom general election
the island will be divided into two seats, each containing an electorate far below that of Parliamentary seats on the mainland.
By virtue of the Sixth Periodic Review of Westminster constituencies
, the Boundary Commission has proposed a north/south split. "Isle of Wight North", as proposed, covers Newport, Cowes, East Cowes and Ryde. "Isle of Wight South", unless amended, would incorporate the remainder of the Island, running the length of the Island from Totland in the West to Bembridge in the East, covering the major settlements of Yarmouth, Ventnor, Sandown, Shaklin and Brading.
the island usually had three Parliamentary borough
s: Newport
, Newtown
, and Yarmouth
, each electing two MPs. In 1654 an Isle of Wight constituency was created for the First Protectorate Parliament
but the island subsequently reverted to the three constituencies. Otherwise, the island was represented by the two members for Hampshire
. The Reform Act abolished Newtown and Yarmouth parliamentary boroughs, and created a county constituency for the whole of the Isle of Wight. The county electorate included freeholders, qualified by property, in the remaining parliamentary borough. The separate Newport borough constituency was abolished in 1885.
The constituency has traditionally been a battleground between the Conservatives
and the Liberal Democrats. Between 1974 and 1987 the seat was a Liberal
seat, then becoming Conservative until 1997 when the Liberal Democrats won on a reduced Conservative vote. The seat reverted to the Conservatives in 2001.
In his acceptance speech the incumbent Andrew Turner thanked all the electors and candidates, particularly noting the aid which Mark Chiverton, the Labour Party candidate, had given to him in the previous term during an illness. Liberal Democrat candidate Jill Wareham thanked the candidates and voters, and predicted a further election within the near future. The Labour Party candidate Mark Chiverton, union representative for the local council, again thanked voters and candidates returning the warm thanks of Andrew Turner for his help during the period since the previous election.
The constituency was one of the few in the country to see an increased share of the vote for Labour as Mark Chiverton, the union leader for the local council, represented a strong candidate for the party.
The UKIP had placed second in the 2004 European Parliamentary elections, and a strong performance was expected by some from the party in this election. However, while once again increasing their share of the vote from the last election, Michael Tarrant, the UKIP candidate was unable to retain the deposit, and match the performance of the similarly Eurosceptic Referendum party in 1997.
The final candidate, Edward Corby, presented himself as an independent voice standing up for the rights of pensioners, and representing a green perspective.
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...
. Created by the Great Reform Act
Reform Act 1832
The Representation of the People Act 1832 was an Act of Parliament that introduced wide-ranging changes to the electoral system of England and Wales...
for the 1832 general election
United Kingdom general election, 1832
-Seats summary:-Parties and leaders at the general election:The Earl Grey had been Prime Minister since 22 November 1830. His was the first predominantly Whig administration since the Ministry of all the Talents in 1806-1807....
, it covers the whole of the Isle of Wight
Isle of Wight
The Isle of Wight is a county and the largest island of England, located in the English Channel, on average about 2–4 miles off the south coast of the county of Hampshire, separated from the mainland by a strait called the Solent...
and elects one Member of Parliament
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,...
(MP) by the first-past-the-post
First-past-the-post
First-past-the-post voting refers to an election won by the candidate with the most votes. The winning potato candidate does not necessarily receive an absolute majority of all votes cast.-Overview:...
voting system.
Boundaries
The Isle of Wight forms a single constituency of the House of Commons. The constituency covers exactly the same land area as the ceremonial countyCeremonial counties of England
The ceremonial counties are areas of England to which are appointed a Lord Lieutenant, and are defined by the government as counties and areas for the purposes of the Lieutenancies Act 1997 with reference to the metropolitan and non-metropolitan counties of England and Lieutenancies Act 1997...
of the Isle of Wight
Isle of Wight
The Isle of Wight is a county and the largest island of England, located in the English Channel, on average about 2–4 miles off the south coast of the county of Hampshire, separated from the mainland by a strait called the Solent...
, and the area administered by the unitary authority
Unitary authority
A unitary authority is a type of local authority that has a single tier and is responsible for all local government functions within its area or performs additional functions which elsewhere in the relevant country are usually performed by national government or a higher level of sub-national...
, Isle of Wight Council
Isle of Wight Council
The Isle of Wight Council is a local council. It is a unitary authority covering the Isle of Wight, South East England. It is currently made up of 40 seats, with the Conservatives as ruling party with 24 councillors at the latest local election in June 2009....
.
With an electorate of 110,924 , the constituency has by far the largest electorate in the UK, more than 50% above the England average of 71,537. This is five times the size of the smallest electorate (Na h-Eileanan an Iar
Na h-Eileanan an Iar (UK Parliament constituency)
Na h-Eileanan an Iar is a constituency of the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom, created in 1918. It elects one Member of Parliament by the first past the post system of election.- History :...
, formerly known as the Western Isles), despite the Isle of Wight having some of the same problems as an island constituency. Successive Boundary Commissions have considered the possibility of splitting the island into two constituencies (or possibly having a constituency crossing the Solent
Solent
The Solent is a strait separating the Isle of Wight from the mainland of England.The Solent is a major shipping route for passengers, freight and military vessels. It is an important recreational area for water sports, particularly yachting, hosting the Cowes Week sailing event annually...
onto the mainland) but with a distinct lack of local enthusiasm for either option it was felt that the island would be better represented by a single MP. One repeated problem has been the difficulty of dividing the island in two in a way that would be acceptable to all interests.
Proposed division
Section 11, Clause 6(1) of the Parliamentary Voting System and Constituencies Act 2011 states; "There shall be two constituencies in the Isle of Wight.". This ensures the Boundary Commission for England will be unable to attach the Isle with HampshireHampshire
Hampshire is a county on the southern coast of England in the United Kingdom. The county town of Hampshire is Winchester, a historic cathedral city that was once the capital of England. Hampshire is notable for housing the original birthplaces of the Royal Navy, British Army, and Royal Air Force...
or other counties across the Solent. Therefore, from the Next United Kingdom general election
Next United Kingdom general election
The United Kingdom general election of 2010 was held on Thursday 6 May 2010 to elect members to the House of Commons. The election took place in 650 constituencies across the United Kingdom under the first-past-the-post system. None of the parties achieved the 326 seats needed for an overall majority...
the island will be divided into two seats, each containing an electorate far below that of Parliamentary seats on the mainland.
By virtue of the Sixth Periodic Review of Westminster constituencies
Sixth Periodic Review of Westminster constituencies
The Sixth Periodic Review of Westminster constituencies, also known as the 2013 Review, is an ongoing process by which parliamentary constituencies to the British House of Commons will be reformed, to comply with the revised rules for the number and size of constituencies introduced by the...
, the Boundary Commission has proposed a north/south split. "Isle of Wight North", as proposed, covers Newport, Cowes, East Cowes and Ryde. "Isle of Wight South", unless amended, would incorporate the remainder of the Island, running the length of the Island from Totland in the West to Bembridge in the East, covering the major settlements of Yarmouth, Ventnor, Sandown, Shaklin and Brading.
History
Before the Reform Act 1832Reform Act 1832
The Representation of the People Act 1832 was an Act of Parliament that introduced wide-ranging changes to the electoral system of England and Wales...
the island usually had three Parliamentary borough
Parliamentary borough
Parliamentary boroughs are a type of administrative division, usually covering urban areas, that are entitled to representation in a Parliament...
s: Newport
Newport (Isle of Wight) (UK Parliament constituency)
Newport was a parliamentary borough located in Newport , which was abolished in for the 1885 general election. It was occasionally referred to by the alternative name of Medina....
, Newtown
Newtown (UK Parliament constituency)
Newtown was a parliamentary borough located in Newtown on the Isle of Wight, which was represented in the House of Commons of England then of the House of Commons of Great Britain from 1707 to 1800 and of the House of Commons of the United Kingdom from 1801 to 1832...
, and Yarmouth
Yarmouth (Isle of Wight) (UK Parliament constituency)
Yarmouth was a borough constituency of the House of Commons of England then of the House of Commons of Great Britain from 1707 to 1800 and of the House of Commons of the United Kingdom from 1801 to 1832...
, each electing two MPs. In 1654 an Isle of Wight constituency was created for the First Protectorate Parliament
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....
but the island subsequently reverted to the three constituencies. Otherwise, the island was represented by the two members for Hampshire
Hampshire (UK Parliament constituency)
Hampshire was a county constituency of the Parliament of the United Kingdom, which returned two Knights of the Shire to the House of Commons from 1295 until 1832...
. The Reform Act abolished Newtown and Yarmouth parliamentary boroughs, and created a county constituency for the whole of the Isle of Wight. The county electorate included freeholders, qualified by property, in the remaining parliamentary borough. The separate Newport borough constituency was abolished in 1885.
The constituency has traditionally been a battleground between the Conservatives
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...
and the Liberal Democrats. Between 1974 and 1987 the seat was a 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...
seat, then becoming Conservative until 1997 when the Liberal Democrats won on a reduced Conservative vote. The seat reverted to the Conservatives in 2001.
Since 1832
| Election | Member | Party | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1832 United Kingdom general election, 1832 -Seats summary:-Parties and leaders at the general election:The Earl Grey had been Prime Minister since 22 November 1830. His was the first predominantly Whig administration since the Ministry of all the Talents in 1806-1807.... |
Sir Richard Simeon, Bt Sir Richard Simeon, 2nd Baronet Sir Richard Godin Simeon, 2nd Baronet was an English Liberal Party politician.He was elected at the 1832 general election as the Member of Parliament for the Isle of Wight, a new constituency which had been created by the Reform Act 1832... |
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... |
|
| 1837 United Kingdom general election, 1837 The 1837 United Kingdom general election saw Robert Peel's Conservatives close further on the position of the Whigs, who won their fourth election of the decade.... |
William Holmes à Court William à Court-Holmes, 2nd Baron Heytesbury William Henry Ashe à Court-Holmes, 2nd Baron Heytesbury , was a British peer and Conservative Member of Parliament.... |
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... |
|
| 1847 United Kingdom general election, 1847 -Seats summary:-References:* F. W. S. Craig, British Electoral Facts: 1832-1987* British Electoral Facts 1832-1999, compiled and edited by Colin Rallings and Michael Thrasher *... |
John Simeon Sir John Simeon, 3rd Baronet Sir John Simeon, 3rd Baronet was a British politician and naval officer. He was the eldest son of Sir Richard Simeon, 2nd Baronet, and initially pursued a naval career before being returned for the Isle of Wight in 1847 as a Liberal Member of Parliament.In 1851 he converted to Catholicism, and... |
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... |
|
| 1851 by-election | Edward Dawes Edward Dawes Edward Dawes was an English Liberal Party politician who served for one year as the Member of Parliament for the Isle of Wight... |
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... |
|
| 1852 United Kingdom general election, 1852 The July 1852 United Kingdom general election was a watershed election in the formation of the modern political parties of Britain. Following 1852, the Tory/Conservative party became, more completely, the party of the rural aristocracy, while the Whig/Liberal party became the party of the rising... |
Francis Venables-Vernon-Harcourt Francis Venables-Vernon-Harcourt Colonel Francis Venables-Vernon-Harcourt was a British Conservative Party politician.-Background:Venables-Vernon-Harcourt was the ninth son of the Most Reverend Edward Venables-Vernon-Harcourt, Archbishop of York, who in turn was the third son of George Venables-Vernon, 1st Baron Vernon... |
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... |
|
| 1857 United Kingdom general election, 1857 -Seats summary:-References:*F. W. S. Craig, British Electoral Facts: 1832-1987* British Electoral Facts 1832-1999, compiled and edited by Colin Rallings and Michael Thrasher *... |
Charles Cavendish Clifford Sir Charles Clifford, 4th Baronet Sir Charles Cavendish Clifford, 4th Baronet was an English barrister and Liberal Party politician. He was a Member of Parliament for over 20 years, representing seats on the Isle of Wight, and served as private secretary to the Liberal statesman Viscount Palmerston.- Family and early life... |
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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| 1865 United Kingdom general election, 1865 The 1865 United Kingdom general election saw the Liberals, led by Lord Palmerston, increase their large majority over the Earl of Derby's Conservatives to more than 80. The Whig Party changed its name to the Liberal Party between the previous election and this one.Palmerston died later in the same... |
John Simeon Sir John Simeon, 3rd Baronet Sir John Simeon, 3rd Baronet was a British politician and naval officer. He was the eldest son of Sir Richard Simeon, 2nd Baronet, and initially pursued a naval career before being returned for the Isle of Wight in 1847 as a Liberal Member of Parliament.In 1851 he converted to Catholicism, and... |
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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| 1870 by-election | Alexander Baillie-Cochrane Alexander Baillie-Cochrane Alexander Dundas Ross Cochrane-Wishart-Baillie, 1st Baron Lamington , better known as Alexander Baillie-Cochrane, was a British Conservative politician perhaps best known for his association with Young England in the early 1840s.The son of Admiral of the Fleet Sir Thomas John Cochrane, he succeeded... |
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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| 1880 United Kingdom general election, 1880 -Seats summary:-References:*F. W. S. Craig, British Electoral Facts: 1832-1987* British Electoral Facts 1832-1999, compiled and edited by Colin Rallings and Michael Thrasher *... |
Evelyn Ashley Evelyn Ashley Evelyn Melbourne Ashley PC , was British barrister and Liberal politician. He was private secretary to Lord Palmerston and later published a biography of him... |
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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| 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:... |
Richard Webster Richard Webster, 1st Viscount Alverstone Richard Everard Webster, 1st Viscount Alverstone, GCMG, QC was a British barrister, politician and judge who served in many high political and judicial offices.-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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| 1900 United Kingdom general election, 1900 -Seats summary:-See also:*MPs elected in the United Kingdom general election, 1900*The Parliamentary Franchise in the United Kingdom 1885-1918-External links:***-References:*F. W. S. Craig, British Electoral Facts: 1832-1987**... |
John Seely | 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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| 1904 | 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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| 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**... |
Godfrey Baring | 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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| 1910 | Douglas Hall | 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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| 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... |
Sir Edgar Chatfeild-Clarke Edgar Chatfeild-Clarke Sir Edgar Chatfeild-Clarke was an English Liberal Party politician.-Family and education:Edgar Chatfeild-Clarke was the son of Thomas Chatfeild-Clarke, who was a Fellow of both the Royal Institute of British Architects and of the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors, and his wife Ellen from... |
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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| 1923 United Kingdom general election, 1923 -Seats summary:-References:*F. W. S. Craig, British Electoral Facts: 1832-1987*-External links:***... |
John Seely | 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 :* * *... |
Peter Macdonald Peter Macdonald (Conservative politician) Sir Peter Drummond Macdonald was a Canadian-born Conservative Party politician in the United Kingdom. He was Member of Parliament for the Isle of Wight from 1924 to 1959.... |
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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| 1959 United Kingdom general election, 1959 This United Kingdom general election was held on 8 October 1959. It marked a third successive victory for the ruling Conservative Party, led by Harold Macmillan... |
Mark Woodnutt | 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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| 1974 United Kingdom general election, February 1974 The United Kingdom's general election of February 1974 was held on the 28th of that month. It was the first of two United Kingdom general elections held that year, and the first election since the Second World War not to produce an overall majority in the House of Commons for the winning party,... |
Stephen Ross Stephen Ross, Baron Ross of Newport Stephen Sherlock Ross, Baron Ross of Newport was a Liberal politician in the United Kingdom.Ross was Leader of Isle of Wight County Council 1973-74 and 1981-83... |
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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| 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... |
Barry Field | 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... |
Peter Brand Peter Brand Peter Brand is a United Kingdom general practitioner and Liberal Democrat politician. He was elected Member of Parliament for the Isle of Wight at the 1997 general election after coming second in 1992, but lost his seat to the Conservatives at the 2001 election... |
Liberal Democrats | |
| 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... |
Andrew Turner | 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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Elections in the 2010s
The Conservative party retained the seat at the 2010 General Election.In his acceptance speech the incumbent Andrew Turner thanked all the electors and candidates, particularly noting the aid which Mark Chiverton, the Labour Party candidate, had given to him in the previous term during an illness. Liberal Democrat candidate Jill Wareham thanked the candidates and voters, and predicted a further election within the near future. The Labour Party candidate Mark Chiverton, union representative for the local council, again thanked voters and candidates returning the warm thanks of Andrew Turner for his help during the period since the previous election.
Elections in the 2000s
The general election of 2005 saw an increased lead for the Conservatives, largely at the expense of the Liberal Democrat vote. It is likely that this reflected local anger at the Liberal Democrat dominated local council at this time, primarily arising from local education policy.The constituency was one of the few in the country to see an increased share of the vote for Labour as Mark Chiverton, the union leader for the local council, represented a strong candidate for the party.
The UKIP had placed second in the 2004 European Parliamentary elections, and a strong performance was expected by some from the party in this election. However, while once again increasing their share of the vote from the last election, Michael Tarrant, the UKIP candidate was unable to retain the deposit, and match the performance of the similarly Eurosceptic Referendum party in 1997.
The final candidate, Edward Corby, presented himself as an independent voice standing up for the rights of pensioners, and representing a green perspective.