High_Wycombe_(UK_Parliament_constituency)

Wycombe (UK Parliament constituency)

Wycombe (UK Parliament constituency)

Parliamentary constituency in Buckinghamshire


Wycombe (/ˈwɪkəm/) is a constituency[n 1] in Buckinghamshire represented in the House of Commons of the UK Parliament since 2010 by Steve Baker, a Conservative.[n 2]

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Constituency profile

The constituency shares similar borders with Wycombe local government district, although it covers a slightly smaller area. The main town within the constituency, High Wycombe contains many working/middle class voters and a sizeable ethnic minority population that totals around one quarter of the town's population, with some census output areas of town home to over 50% ethnic minorities, and a number of wards harbouring a considerable Labour vote. The surrounding villages, which account for just under half of the electorate, are some of the most wealthy areas in the country, with extremely low unemployment, high incomes and favour the Conservatives. Workless claimants totalled 3.0% of the population in November 2012, lower than the national average of 3.8%.[2]

History

The Parliamentary Borough of Chipping Wycombe had continuously returned two MPs to the House of Commons of England since the Model Parliament of 1295 until 1707, then to the House of Commons of Great Britain from 1707 to 1800 and finally to the House of Commons of the United Kingdom from 1801. This was reduced to one MP by the Representation of the People Act 1867 and the Borough was abolished altogether by the Redistribution of Seats Act 1885. It was transformed into a large county division, formally named the Southern or Wycombe Division of Buckinghamshire. It was one of three divisions formed from the undivided three-member Parliamentary County of Buckinghamshire, the other two being the Mid or Aylesbury Division and the Northern or Buckingham Division. As well as the abolished Borough, it absorbed the abolished Parliamentary Borough of Great Marlow and included the towns of Beaconsfield and Slough.

Since 1885, the seat has been held by the Conservative Party except for brief intervals for the Liberals (1906-1910 and 1923-1924) and Labour (1945-1951).

The seat bucked the trend in 2019 with a swing of 2.3% to the Labour Party in spite of their heavy general election defeat, and is now looked on as a key Blue Wall marginal constituency in the next general election.

Boundaries and boundary changes

1885–1918

  • The Municipal Borough of Chepping Wycombe;
  • The Sessional Divisions of Burnham and Stoke; and
  • Parts of the first and second Sessional Divisions of Desborough.[3]

1918–1945

  • The Municipal Borough of Chepping Wycombe;
  • The Urban Districts of Eton, Marlow, and Slough;
  • The Rural Districts of Eton and Hambleden; and
  • Part of the Rural District of Wycombe.[4]

Beaconsfield was transferred to Aylesbury. Gained Eton which had been part of the abolished Parliamentary Borough of New Windsor in Berkshire.

1945–1950

The House of Commons (Redistribution of Seats) Act 1944 set up Boundaries Commissions to carry out periodic reviews of the distribution of parliamentary constituencies. It also authorised an initial review to subdivide abnormally large constituencies in time for the 1945 election.[5] This was implemented by the Redistribution of Seats Order 1945 under which Buckinghamshire was allocated an additional seat. As a consequence, the new constituency of Eton and Slough was formed from the Wycombe constituency, comprising the Municipal Borough of Slough and the Urban and Rural Districts of Eton. In compensation, the parts of the (revised) Rural District of Wycombe in the Aylesbury Division, including Hughenden and Princes Risborough, were transferred to Wycombe.

The revised composition of the constituency, after taking account of changes to local authorities, was:

  • The Municipal Borough of Chepping Wycombe;
  • The Urban District of Marlow; and
  • The Rural District of Wycombe.[4]

1950–1974

  • The Municipal Borough of High Wycombe;
  • The Urban District of Marlow; and
  • The Rural District of Wycombe.[4]

No changes to boundaries.

1974–1983

  • The Municipal Borough of High Wycombe;
  • The Urban District of Marlow; and
  • The Rural District of Wycombe parishes of Chepping Wycombe, Fawley, Fingest and Lane End, Great Marlow, Hambleden, Hughenden, Little Marlow, Medmenham, Turville, and West Wycombe Rural.[6]

Northern parts of the Rural District of Wycombe, including Princes Risborough, but excluding Hughenden, were transferred back to Aylesbury.  Wooburn was included in the new constituency of Beaconsfield.

1983–1997

  • The District of Wycombe wards of Booker and Castlefield, Bowerdean and Daws Hill, Cressex and Frogmoor, Downley, Great Marlow, Green Hill and Totteridge, Hambleden Valley, Hughenden Valley, Keep Hill and Hicks Farm, Kingshill, Lane End and Piddington, Little Marlow, Marlow Bottom, Marlow North, Marlow South, Marsh and Micklefield, Oakridge and Tinkers Wood, and West Wycombe and Sands.[7]

Areas to the east of High Wycombe (former parish of Chepping Wycombe) transferred to Beaconsfield. Hazlemere transferred to Chesham and Amersham.

1997–2010

  • The District of Wycombe wards of Booker and Castlefield, Bowerdean and Daws Hill, Cressex and Frogmoor, Downley, Great Marlow, Green Hill and Totteridge, Hambleden Valley, Hughenden Valley, Keep Hill and Hicks Farm, Kingshill, Lane End and Piddington, Marlow Bottom, Marlow North, Marlow South, Marsh and Micklefield, Oakridge and Tinkers Wood, and West Wycombe and Sands.[8]

Minor changes.

Map of current boundaries

2010–present

  • The District of Wycombe wards of Abbey, Booker and Cressex, Bowerdean, Chiltern Rise, Disraeli, Downley and Plomer Hill, Greater Marlow, Hambleden Valley, Hazlemere North, Hazlemere South, Micklefield, Oakridge and Castlefield, Ryemead, Sands, Terriers and Amersham Hill, Totteridge, and Tylers Green and Loudwater.[9]

Hazlemere transferred back from Chesham and Amersham.  Marlow transferred to Beaconsfield and Hughenden to Aylesbury.

In April 2020, the District of Wycombe, together with those of Aylesbury, Chiltern and South Bucks were merged into the new unitary authority of Buckinghamshire Council. Accordingly, the current contents of the constituency are:

  • The Buckinghamshire Council wards of Abbey, Booker, Cressex & Castlefield, Chiltern Villages, Downley, Hazlemere, Ryemead & Micklefield, Terriers & Amersham Hill, Totteridge & Bowerdean, Tylers Green & Loudwater, and West Wycombe (part).

Proposed

Further to the 2023 Periodic Review of Westminster constituencies, enacted by the Parliamentary Constituencies Order 2023, from the next general election, due by January 2025, the constituency will be composed of the following (as they existed on 1 December 2020):

  • The District of Buckinghamshire wards of: Abbey; Booker, Cressex and Castlefield; Chiltern Villages; Downley; Ryemead and Micklefield; Terriers and Amersham Hill; Totteridge and Bowerdean; Tylers Green and Loudwater; West Wycombe.[10]

The electorate will be reduced to bring it within the permitted range by transferring the Hazlemere ward to Chesham and Amersham.

Members of Parliament

MPs 1295–1640

  • Constituency created (1295)
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MPs 1640–1868

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MPs 1868–present

  • Reduced to one member (1868)

Elections

Graph of election results in Wycombe since 1997 (minor parties that never got 2% of the vote or didn't run consistently are omitted)

Elections in the 2020s

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Elections in the 2010s

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  • This constituency underwent boundary changes between the 2005 and 2010 general elections and thus calculation of change in vote share is not meaningful.

Elections in the 2000s

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Elections in the 1990s

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Elections in the 1980s

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  • This constituency underwent boundary changes between the 1979 and 1983 general elections and thus calculation of change in vote share is not meaningful.

Elections in the 1970s

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  • This constituency underwent boundary changes between the 1970 and February 1974 general elections and thus calculation of change in vote share is not meaningful.
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Elections in the 1960s

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Elections in the 1950s

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Election in the 1940s

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A general election was expected 1939–40 and by 1939 the following had been adopted as candidates;

  • Conservative: Alfred Knox
  • Labour: Ernest Whitfield
  • Liberal: Vaughan Watkins

In 1938, the local Labour and Liberal parties had set up a formal organisation, 'The South Bucks Unity Committee' in support of a Popular Front and may well have agreed to support a joint candidate against the sitting Conservative.[43]

Election in the 1930s

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Election in the 1920s

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Vera Terrington
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Elections 1868–1918

Elections in the 1910s

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Elections in the 1900s

Herbert
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Elections in the 1890s

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Hawkins
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Elections in the 1880s

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Elections in the 1870s

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Elections in the 1860s

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Elections 1832–1868

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  • Caused by Carrington's succession to the peerage, becoming Lord Carrington.
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  • Caused by Dashwood's death.

Elections in the 1850s

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Elections in the 1840s

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Elections in the 1830s

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  • Caused by Baring's resignation
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See also

Notes

  1. A county constituency (for the purposes of election expenses and type of returning officer).
  2. As with all constituencies, the constituency elects one Member of Parliament (MP) by the first past the post system of election at least every five years.

References

  1. "England Parliamentary electorates 2010-2018". Boundary Commission for England. Retrieved 23 March 2019.
  2. Great Britain, Incorporated Council of Law Reporting for England and Wales. The public general acts. unknown library. Proprietors of the Law Journal Reports, 1884.
  3. S., Craig, Fred W. (1972). Boundaries of parliamentary constituencies 1885-1972;. Chichester: Political Reference Publications. ISBN 0900178094. OCLC 539011.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  4. Gay, Oonagh (28 July 2010). "The Rules for the Redistribution of Seats- history and reform". {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  5. "The Parliamentary Constituencies (England) Order 1970". www.legislation.gov.uk. Retrieved 8 February 2019.
  6. "The Parliamentary Constituencies (England) Order 1983". www.legislation.gov.uk. Retrieved 8 February 2019.
  7. "The Parliamentary Constituencies (England) Order 1995". www.legislation.gov.uk. Retrieved 8 February 2019.
  8. "The Parliamentary Constituencies (England) Order 2007". www.legislation.gov.uk. Retrieved 8 February 2019.
  9. "The Parliamentary Constituencies Order 2023". Schedule 1 Part 6 South East region.
  10. Archdale, a Quaker, never took his seat as he was not prepared to take the prescribed oath.
  11. On petition, Colyear's election was declared void and a by-election was called. He was re-elected at the by-election but once more voted by the committee not to have been duly returned, and his opponent, Waller, was seated instead.
  12. Waller was also elected for Marlow, which he chose to represent, and did not for Wycombe in this Parliament.
  13. Vice Admiral from 1793.
  14. Fisher, David R. "DASHWOOD KING, Sir John, 4th bt. (?1765-1849), of Halton and West Wycombe, Bucks". The History of Parliament. Retrieved 30 April 2020.
  15. Stooks Smith, Henry (1973) [1844-1850]. Craig, FWS (ed.). The Parliaments of England (2nd ed.). Chichester: Parliamentary Research Services. pp. 22–23. ISBN 0-900178-13-2.
  16. "Sir George Henry Dashwood 5th Bart". Legacies of British Slave-ownership. University College London. Retrieved 28 July 2018.
  17. "Ralph Bernal". Legacies of British Slave-ownership. University College London. Retrieved 7 May 2018.
  18. Malcolmson, APW (2006). The Pursuit of the Heiress: Aristocratic Marriage in Ireland 1740-1840 (Illustrated ed.). Ulster Historical Foundation. p. 176. ISBN 9781903688656. Retrieved 7 May 2018 via Google Books.
  19. "The Brazil Controversy". The Spectator. 18 February 1865. p. 13. Retrieved 7 May 2018.
  20. Rubinstein, William D; Jolles, Michael A; Rubinstein, Hilary L, eds. (2011). The Palgrave Dictionary of Anglo-Jewish History. Basingstoke: Palgrave Macmillan. p. 191. ISBN 978-1-4039-3910-4. Retrieved 7 May 2018 via Google Books.
  21. Hawkins, Angus (2015). Victorian Political Culture: 'Habits of Heart & Mind'. Oxford: Oxford University Press. p. 280. ISBN 978-0-19-872848-1. Retrieved 7 May 2018 via Google Books.
  22. "Liberal Democrat Prospective Parliamentary Candidates". Mark Pack. 5 February 2024. Retrieved 6 February 2024.
  23. "Wycombe Constituency". Reform UK. Retrieved 6 February 2024.
  24. "Wycombe Parliamentary constituency". BBC News. BBC. Retrieved 27 November 2019.
  25. "Election Data 2015". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 17 October 2015. Retrieved 17 October 2015.
  26. electorate 76371 provided by Wycombe Council elections office 22Jun2015.
  27. "Election Data 2010". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 26 July 2013. Retrieved 17 October 2015.
  28. "Wycombe". BBC News Online. Retrieved 7 May 2010.
  29. "Election Data 2005". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
  30. "Election Data 2001". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
  31. "Election Data 1997". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
  32. "Election Data 1992". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
  33. "Politics Resources". Election 1992. Politics Resources. 9 April 1992. Retrieved 6 December 2010.
  34. "Election Data 1987". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
  35. "Election Data 1983". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
  36. British parliamentary election results 1918-1949, Craig, F. W. S.
  37. Craig, F. W. S. British parliamentary election results 1918-1949 London: Macmillan.
  38. Craig, F. W. S., ed. (1974). British Parliamentary Election Results: 1885-1918. London: Macmillan Press. p. 226. ISBN 9781349022984.
  39. Debrett's House of Commons & Judicial Bench, 1916.
  40. The Liberal Year Book, 1907.
  41. Debrett's House of Commons & Judicial Bench, 1901.
  42. Debrett's House of Commons & Judicial Bench, 1886.
  43. Craig, F. W. S., ed. (1977). British Parliamentary Election Results 1832-1885 (e-book) (1st ed.). London: Macmillan Press. pp. 344–345. ISBN 978-1-349-02349-3.
  44. "Wycombe Election". Bolton Evening News. 7 March 1883. p. 3. Retrieved 15 December 2017 via British Newspaper Archive.
  45. "The General Election". Bucks Herald. 7 February 1874. pp. 6–8. Retrieved 23 January 2018 via British Newspaper Archive.
  46. "Wycombe Election". Cardiff and Merthyr Guardian, Glamorgan, Monmouth, and Brecon Gazette. 15 March 1862. p. 6. Retrieved 24 March 2018 via British Newspaper Archive.
  47. "The Elections". London Evening Standard. 2 July 1852. pp. 3–4. Retrieved 28 July 2018 via British Newspaper Archive.
  48. The Spectator, Volume 18. F. C. Westley. 1845. p. 1006. Retrieved 28 July 2018 via Google Books.
  49. "Chipping Wycombe". The History of Parliament. Retrieved 30 April 2020.

Further reading

51.6°N 0.8°W / 51.6; -0.8


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