Taunton_(UK_Parliament_constituency)
Taunton (UK Parliament constituency)
Parliamentary constituency in the United Kingdom, 1885–2010
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.
Quick Facts County, Major settlements ...
| Taunton | |
|---|---|
| Former County constituency for the House of Commons | |
Boundary of Taunton in Somerset for the 1997-2010 general election | |
Location of Somerset within England | |
| County | Somerset |
| Major settlements | Taunton |
| 1918–2010 | |
| Seats | One |
| Replaced by | Taunton Deane |
| 1295–1918 | |
| Seats | Two (1295-1885), One (1885-1918) |
| Type of constituency | Borough constituency |
Close
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. The new constituency's boundaries are coterminous with the local government district of the same name.
Famous MPs for the borough include Thomas Cromwell.
The 1754 by-election was so fiercely contested that rioting broke out in which two people died.
In the 2005 general election, the victorious Liberal Democrats candidate in Taunton required the smallest percentage swing from the Conservative MP for them to take the seat.
1918–1950: The Borough of Taunton, the Urban Districts of Wellington and Wiveliscombe, and the Rural Districts of Dulverton, Taunton, and Wellington.
1950–1974: As above less Wiveliscombe Urban District. This had been absorbed by Wellington Rural District in 1933. The constituency boundaries remained unchanged.
1974–1983: As 1950 but with redrawn boundaries.
1983–2010: The Borough of Taunton Deane, and the District of West Somerset wards of Dulverton and Brushford, Exmoor, Haddon, and Quarme.
MPs 1295–1640
- Constituency created (1295)
 |
More information Parliament, First member ...
| Parliament | First member | Second member | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1362 | William Portman | ? | ||
| 1363, 1365, 1366, 1368, 1369, 1371 |
Unknown | |||
| 1372 | William Portman | ? | ||
| 1373, 1376, 1377 (Jan), 1377 (Oct), 1378 |
Unknown | |||
| 1379 | William Portman | ? | ||
| 1380 (Jan) | ? | |||
| 1380 (Nov), 1381, 1382 (May), 1382 (Oct), 1383 (Feb), 1383 (Oct), 1384 (Apr) |
Unknown | |||
| 1384 (Nov) | William Portman | ? | ||
| 1385 | ? | |||
| 1386 | William Marchaunt | |||
| 1388 (Feb) | ||||
| 1388 (Sep) | William Damarle | |||
| 1390 (Jan) | John Porter | |||
| 1390 (Nov) | Unknown | |||
| 1391 | William Portman | William Marchaunt | ||
| 1393 | John Porter | |||
| 1394 | ||||
| 1395 | Walter Puryham | |||
| 1397 (Jan) | Robert Coullyng | Robert Eysel | ||
| 1397 (Sept) | Richard Marchaunt | John Northmore | ||
| 1399 | Walter Puryham | Edmund Rokes | ||
| 1401 | Unknown | |||
| 1402 | William Portman | Ralph Sargor | ||
| 1404 (Jan), 1404 (Oct) | Unknown | |||
| 1406 | William Portman | Robert Bathe | ||
| 1407 | Richard Marchaunt | John Northmore | ||
| 1410 | Thomas Bacot | Thomas Edward | ||
| 1411, 1413 (Feb) | Unknown | |||
| 1413 (May) | John Rydon | Lewis John | ||
| 1414 (Apr) | John Marchaunt | Edmund Dyer | ||
| 1414 (Nov) | ||||
| 1415, 1416 (Mar), 1416 (Oct) | Unknown | |||
| 1417 | John Rydon | Walter Portman | ||
| 1419 | Walter Portman | Robert Croke | ||
| 1420 | Robert Croke | William Borde | ||
| 1421 (May) | Walter Portman | |||
| 1421 (Dec) | John Bowe | |||
| 1422 | ? | |||
| 1423 | Unknown | |||
| 1425 | Walter Portman | ? | ||
| 1426 | ? | |||
| 1427 | ? | |||
| 1429 | Unknown | |||
| 1431 | Walter Portman | ? | ||
| 1432, 1433 | Unknown | |||
| 1435 | Walter Portman | ? | ||
| 1437, 1439, 1442, 1445, 1447, 1449 (Feb), 1449 (Nov), 1450, 1453 |
Unknown | |||
| 1455 | Ralph Legh | ? | ||
| 1459, 1460, 1461, 1463 | Unknown | |||
| 1467 | Sir William Danvers | Robert Ashetill | ||
| 1470 | Sir William Danvers | Edward Aysshton | ||
| 1472 | Sir William Danvers | ? | ||
| 1478 | Edward Aysshton | Robert Lovelord | ||
| 1483–1523 | Unknown | |||
| 1529 | Thomas Cromwell | William Portman | ||
| 1536 | ?Richard Pollard | ?William Portman | ||
| 1547 | Sir Nicholas Hare | John Caryll | ||
| 1553 (Mar) | John Mason | ? | ||
| 1553 (Oct) | James Basset | Jacques Wingfield | ||
| 1554 (Apr) | William Barne | Oliver Vachell | ||
| 1554 (Nov) | Thomas Eden | John Norres | ||
| 1555 | Dr Valentine Dale | ? | ||
| 1558 | Richard Myrfield | |||
| 1559 | ? | |||
| 1563–7 | Miles Sandys | Anthony Leigh | ||
| 1571 | Robert Hill | Richard Blount | ||
| 1572–81 | Roger Hill | Richard Blount[1] Edmund Hodges | ||
| 1584–5 | Alexander Pym[2] Maurice Horner |
William Goldwell | ||
| 1586–7 | Francis Bacon | John Goldwell | ||
| 1588–9 | Thomas Fisher | |||
| 1593 | William Aubrey, DCL | John Davidge | ||
| 1597–8 | Edward Barker | Edward Hext | ||
| 1601 | John Bond | Daniel Donne, DCL | ||
| 1604–11 | Edward Hext | |||
| Addled Parliament (1614) | James Clarke | John Donne | ||
| 1621–2 | Lewis Pope | Thomas Brereton | ||
| Happy Parliament (1624–5) | Roger Prowse | |||
| Useless Parliament (1625) | Hugh Portman | Thomas Brereton | ||
| 1625–6 | Sir Robert Gorges | George Browne | ||
| 1628 | Hugh Portman | |||
| 1629–40 | No Parliament summoned | |||
Close
MPs 1640–1885
More information Year, First member ...
Close
MPs since 1885
More information Election, Member ...
Close
Elections in the 1830s
More information Party, Candidate ...
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Whig | Henry Labouchere | 430 | 46.1 | N/A | |
| Whig | Edward Thomas Bainbridge | 280 | 30.0 | N/A | |
| Tory | William Peachey | 223 | 23.9 | ||
| Majority | 57 | 6.1 | N/A | ||
| Turnout | 533 | c. 66.6 | |||
| Registered electors | c. 800 | ||||
| Whig gain from Tory | Swing | ||||
| Whig gain from Tory | Swing | ||||
Close
More information Party, Candidate ...
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Whig | Henry Labouchere | Unopposed | |||
| Whig | Edward Thomas Bainbridge | Unopposed | |||
| Registered electors | c. 800 | ||||
| Whig hold | |||||
| Whig hold | |||||
Close
Labouchere was appointed as a Lord of the Admiralty, causing a by-election.
More information Party, Candidate ...
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Whig | Henry Labouchere | Unopposed | |||
| Registered electors | c. 800 | ||||
| Whig hold | |||||
Close
More information Party, Candidate ...
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Whig | Henry Labouchere | Unopposed | |||
| Whig | Edward Thomas Bainbridge | Unopposed | |||
| Registered electors | 949 | ||||
| Whig hold | |||||
| Whig hold | |||||
Close
More information Party, Candidate ...
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Whig | Henry Labouchere | Unopposed | |||
| Whig | Edward Thomas Bainbridge | Unopposed | |||
| Registered electors | 920 | ||||
| Whig hold | |||||
| Whig hold | |||||
Close
Labouchere was appointed as vice-president of the Board of Trade, and Master of the Mint, requiring a by-election.
More information Party, Candidate ...
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Whig | Henry Labouchere | 452 | 61.6 | ||
| Conservative | Benjamin Disraeli | 282 | 38.4 | ||
| Majority | 170 | 23.2 | |||
| Turnout | 734 | 79.8 | |||
| Registered electors | 920 | ||||
| Whig hold | |||||
Close
More information Party, Candidate ...
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Whig | Henry Labouchere | 469 | 36.3 | ||
| Whig | Edward Thomas Bainbridge | 414 | 32.0 | ||
| Conservative | Robert Newton Lee | 409 | 31.7 | ||
| Majority | 5 | 0.3 | |||
| Turnout | 798 | 84.6 | |||
| Registered electors | 943 | ||||
| Whig hold | |||||
| Whig hold | |||||
Close
Elections in the 1840s
More information Party, Candidate ...
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Whig | Henry Labouchere | 430 | 29.9 | −6.4 | |
| Whig | Edward Thomas Bainbridge | 409 | 28.4 | −3.6 | |
| Conservative | William Wilberforce | 381 | 26.5 | +10.7 | |
| Conservative | James Hall | 218 | 15.2 | −0.7 | |
| Majority | 28 | 1.9 | +1.6 | ||
| Turnout | 759 | 88.7 | +4.1 | ||
| Registered electors | 856 | ||||
| Whig hold | Swing | −5.7 | |||
| Whig hold | Swing | −4.3 | |||
Close
Bainbridge resigned by accepting the office of Steward of the Chiltern Hundreds, causing a by-election.
More information Party, Candidate ...
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Whig | Edward Colebrooke | 394 | 53.9 | −4.4 | |
| Conservative | James Hall | 337 | 46.1 | +4.4 | |
| Majority | 57 | 7.8 | +5.9 | ||
| Turnout | 731 | 72.4 | −16.3 | ||
| Registered electors | 1,010 | ||||
| Whig hold | Swing | −4.4 | |||
Close
Labouchere was appointed Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, requiring a by-election.
More information Party, Candidate ...
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Whig | Henry Labouchere | Unopposed | |||
| Whig hold | |||||
Close
More information Party, Candidate ...
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Whig | Henry Labouchere | 543 | 41.5 | +11.6 | |
| Whig | Edward Colebrooke | 388 | 29.7 | +1.3 | |
| Conservative | Arthur Mills | 376 | 28.8 | −12.9 | |
| Majority | 12 | 0.9 | −1.0 | ||
| Turnout | 654 (est) | 71.7 (est) | −17.0 | ||
| Registered electors | 911 | ||||
| Whig hold | Swing | +9.0 | |||
| Whig hold | Swing | +3.9 | |||
Close
Elections in the 1850s
More information Party, Candidate ...
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Whig | Henry Labouchere | 430 | 37.4 | −4.1 | |
| Conservative | Arthur Mills | 361 | 31.4 | +2.6 | |
| Whig | Edward Colebrooke | 358 | 31.2 | +1.5 | |
| Turnout | 575 (est) | 72.7 (est) | +1.0 | ||
| Registered electors | 790 | ||||
| Majority | 69 | 6.0 | +5.1 | ||
| Whig hold | Swing | −2.7 | |||
| Majority | 3 | 0.2 | N/A | ||
| Conservative gain from Whig | Swing | +2.6 | |||
Close
Mills' election was declared void on petition.
More information Party, Candidate ...
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Whig | John William Ramsden | 372 | 50.3 | −18.3 | |
| Conservative | Henry Badcock[22] | 367 | 49.7 | +18.3 | |
| Majority | 5 | 0.6 | −5.4 | ||
| Turnout | 739 | 83.4 | +10.7 | ||
| Registered electors | 886 | ||||
| Whig gain from Conservative | Swing | −18.3 | |||
Close
Labouchere was appointed Secretary of State for the Colonies, requiring a by-election.
More information Party, Candidate ...
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Whig | Henry Labouchere | Unopposed | |||
| Whig hold | |||||
Close
More information Party, Candidate ...
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Whig | Henry Labouchere | 442 | 36.6 | −0.8 | |
| Conservative | Arthur Mills | 401 | 33.2 | +1.8 | |
| Whig | William Campbell[23] | 366 | 30.3 | −0.9 | |
| Turnout | 605 (est) | 68.2 (est) | −4.5 | ||
| Registered electors | 887 | ||||
| Majority | 41 | 3.4 | −2.6 | ||
| Whig hold | Swing | −0.9 | |||
| Majority | 35 | 2.9 | +2.7 | ||
| Conservative hold | Swing | +1.8 | |||
Close
More information Party, Candidate ...
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Conservative | Arthur Mills | 415 | 30.0 | +13.4 | |
| Liberal | Henry Labouchere | 388 | 28.1 | −8.5 | |
| Conservative | George Cavendish-Bentinck | 325 | 23.5 | +6.9 | |
| Liberal | William Beadon[24] | 255 | 18.4 | −11.9 | |
| Turnout | 692 (est) | 83.1 (est) | +14.9 | ||
| Registered electors | 832 | ||||
| Majority | 27 | 1.9 | −1.0 | ||
| Conservative hold | Swing | +11.8 | |||
| Majority | 63 | 4.6 | +1.2 | ||
| Liberal hold | Swing | −9.3 | |||
Close
Labouchere was elevated to the peerage, becoming Lord 1st Baron Taunton and causing a by-election.
More information Party, Candidate ...
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Conservative | George Cavendish-Bentinck | 382 | 53.1 | −0.4 | |
| Liberal | Alexander Charles Barclay | 337 | 46.9 | +0.4 | |
| Majority | 45 | 6.2 | N/A | ||
| Turnout | 719 | 86.4 | +3.3 | ||
| Registered electors | 832 | ||||
| Conservative gain from Liberal | Swing | −0.4 | |||
Close
Elections in the 1860s
More information Party, Candidate ...
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Liberal | Alexander Charles Barclay | 478 | 31.9 | +3.8 | |
| Liberal | William Hay | 470 | 31.3 | +12.9 | |
| Conservative | Edward William Cox | 292 | 19.5 | −10.5 | |
| Conservative | Alfred Austin[25] | 260 | 17.3 | −6.2 | |
| Majority | 178 | 11.8 | +7.2 | ||
| Turnout | 750 (est) | 89.4 (est) | +6.3 | ||
| Registered electors | 839 | ||||
| Liberal hold | Swing | +6.1 | |||
| Liberal gain from Conservative | Swing | +10.6 | |||
Close
More information Party, Candidate ...
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Liberal | Alexander Charles Barclay | 1,105 | 37.0 | +5.1 | |
| Conservative | Edward William Cox | 988 | 33.1 | −3.7 | |
| Liberal | Henry James | 890 | 29.8 | −1.5 | |
| Turnout | 1,492 (est) | 75.4 (est) | −14.0 | ||
| Registered electors | 1,977 | ||||
| Majority | 117 | 3.9 | −8.1 | ||
| Liberal hold | Swing | +3.5 | |||
| Majority | 98 | 3.3 | N/A | ||
| Conservative gain from Liberal | Swing | −3.7 | |||
Close
On petition, Cox's election was scrutinised, and some of his votes were found to have been acquired by bribery, and were then struck off. This caused him to be unseated on 8 March 1869 and James was declared elected.[26] While a petition was then lodged against James, the court ruled a petitioner who had been seated on petition could not then be petitioned against.[21]
Elections in the 1870s
James was appointed Solicitor-General for England and Wales, causing a by-election.
More information Party, Candidate ...
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Liberal | Henry James | 899 | 52.5 | −14.3 | |
| Conservative | Sir Alfred Frederic Adolphus Slade, 3rd Baronet | 812 | 47.5 | +14.4 | |
| Majority | 87 | 5.0 | +1.1 | ||
| Turnout | 1,711 | 89.4 | +14.0 | ||
| Registered electors | 1,913 | ||||
| Liberal hold | Swing | −14.4 | |||
Close
More information Party, Candidate ...
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Liberal | Henry James | Unopposed | |||
| Liberal | Alexander Charles Barclay | Unopposed | |||
| Registered electors | 1,999 | ||||
| Liberal hold | |||||
| Liberal gain from Conservative | |||||
Close
Elections in the 1880s
More information Party, Candidate ...
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Conservative | William Palliser | 1,084 | 26.9 | New | |
| Liberal | Henry James | 1,000 | 24.9 | N/A | |
| Conservative | William Cargill | 971 | 24.1 | New | |
| Liberal | Roger Eykyn[27] | 968 | 24.1 | N/A | |
| Turnout | 2,012 (est) | 90.4 (est) | N/A | ||
| Registered electors | 2,225 | ||||
| Majority | 84 | 2.8 | N/A | ||
| Conservative gain from Liberal | Swing | ||||
| Majority | 29 | 0.8 | N/A | ||
| Liberal hold | Swing | ||||
Close
James was appointed Attorney General for England and Wales, requiring a by-election.
More information Party, Candidate ...
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Liberal | Henry James | Unopposed | |||
| Liberal hold | |||||
Close
Palliser's death caused a by-election.
More information Party, Candidate ...
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Conservative | Samuel Allsopp | 1,144 | 55.5 | +4.5 | |
| Liberal | Frederick Lambart | 917 | 44.5 | −4.5 | |
| Majority | 227 | 11.0 | +8.2 | ||
| Turnout | 2,061 | 87.3 | −3.1 (est) | ||
| Registered electors | 2,362 | ||||
| Conservative hold | Swing | +4.5 | |||
Close
More information Party, Candidate ...
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Conservative | Samuel Allsopp | 1,361 | 58.2 | +7.2 | |
| Liberal | Charles Jessel | 978 | 41.8 | −7.2 | |
| Majority | 383 | 16.4 | +14.3 | ||
| Turnout | 2,339 | 92.1 | +1.7 (est) | ||
| Registered electors | 2,541 | ||||
| Conservative hold | Swing | +7.2 | |||
Close
More information Party, Candidate ...
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Conservative | Samuel Allsopp | Unopposed | |||
| Conservative hold | |||||
Close
Allsopp succeeded to the peerage, becoming Lord Hindlip, causing a by-election.
More information Party, Candidate ...
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Conservative | Alfred Allsopp | 1,426 | 61.6 | N/A | |
| Liberal | James Harris Sanders | 890 | 38.4 | New | |
| Majority | 536 | 23.2 | N/A | ||
| Turnout | 2,316 | 89.4 | N/A | ||
| Registered electors | 2,825 | ||||
| Conservative hold | Swing | N/A | |||
Close
Elections in the 1890s
More information Party, Candidate ...
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Conservative | Alfred Allsopp | 1,402 | 60.4 | N/A | |
| Liberal | Henry Hewitt Bridgman | 921 | 39.6 | N/A | |
| Majority | 481 | 20.8 | N/A | ||
| Turnout | 2,323 | 82.2 | N/A | ||
| Registered electors | 2,825 | ||||
| Conservative hold | Swing | ||||
Close
More information Party, Candidate ...
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Conservative | Alfred Welby | Unopposed | |||
| Conservative hold | |||||
Close
Elections in the 1900s
More information Party, Candidate ...
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Conservative | Alfred Welby | 1,387 | 57.5 | N/A | |
| Liberal | Walker King | 1,024 | 42.5 | New | |
| Majority | 363 | 15.0 | N/A | ||
| Turnout | 2,411 | 73.7 | N/A | ||
| Registered electors | 3,272 | ||||
| Conservative hold | Swing | N/A | |||
Close
More information Party, Candidate ...
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Conservative | Edward Boyle | 1,842 | 55.1 | -2.4 | |
| Liberal | Arthur Ponsonby | 1,503 | 44.9 | +2.4 | |
| Majority | 339 | 10.2 | -4.8 | ||
| Turnout | 3,345 | 93.2 | +18.5 | ||
| Registered electors | 3,590 | ||||
| Conservative hold | Swing | -2.4 | |||
Close
More information Party, Candidate ...
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Conservative | William Peel | 1,976 | 64.6 | +9.5 | |
| Labour | Frank Smith | 1,085 | 35.4 | New | |
| Majority | 891 | 29.2 | +19.0 | ||
| Turnout | 3,061 | 80.4 | −12.8 | ||
| Registered electors | 3,808 | ||||
| Conservative hold | Swing | N/A | |||
Close
Elections in the 1910s
More information Party, Candidate ...
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Conservative | William Peel | 1,906 | 55.3 | +0.2 | |
| Liberal | William Arthur Addinsell | 1,538 | 44.7 | −0.2 | |
| Majority | 368 | 10.6 | +0.4 | ||
| Turnout | 3,444 | 90.3 | −2.9 | ||
| Registered electors | 3,814 | ||||
| Conservative hold | Swing | +0.2 | |||
Close
More information Party, Candidate ...
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Conservative | William Peel | 1,806 | 53.4 | −1.9 | |
| Liberal | John Edward Schunck | 1,573 | 46.6 | +1.9 | |
| Majority | 233 | 6.8 | −3.8 | ||
| Turnout | 3,379 | 88.6 | −1.7 | ||
| Registered electors | 3,814 | ||||
| Conservative hold | Swing | −1.9 | |||
Close
More information Party, Candidate ...
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Unionist | Gilbert Wills | 1,882 | 54.1 | +0.7 | |
| Liberal | John Edward Schunk | 1,597 | 45.9 | -0.7 | |
| Majority | 285 | 8.2 | +1.4 | ||
| Turnout | 3,479 | 88.7 | +0.1 | ||
| Registered electors | 3,921 | ||||
| Unionist hold | Swing | +0.7 | |||
Close
General Election 1914–15:
Another General Election was required to take place before the end of 1915. The political parties had been making preparations for an election to take place and by the July 1914, the following candidates had been selected;
- Unionist: Gilbert Wills
- Liberal: James Bromley Eames
More information Party, Candidate ...
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| C | Unionist | Dennis Boles | 12,619 | 72.4 | +19.0 |
| Labour | George Woods | 4,816 | 27.6 | New | |
| Majority | 7,803 | 44.8 | +38.0 | ||
| Turnout | 17,435 | 60.4 | −28.2 | ||
| Unionist hold | Swing | N/A | |||
| C indicates candidate endorsed by the coalition government. | |||||
Close
Elections in the 1920s
More information Party, Candidate ...
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| C | Unionist | Arthur Griffith-Boscawen | 12,994 | 61.1 | -11.3 |
| Labour | James Lunnon | 8,290 | 38.9 | +11.3 | |
| Majority | 4,704 | 22.2 | -22.6 | ||
| Turnout | 21,284 | 73.5 | +13.1 | ||
| Unionist hold | Swing | -11.3 | |||
| C indicates candidate endorsed by the coalition government. | |||||
Close
More information Party, Candidate ...
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Liberal | John Hope Simpson | 13,195 | 56.4 | New | |
| Unionist | Arthur Griffith-Boscawen | 10,182 | 43.6 | -28.8 | |
| Majority | 3,007 | 12.8 | N/A | ||
| Turnout | 23,377 | 79.1 | +18.7 | ||
| Liberal gain from Unionist | Swing | N/A | |||
Close
More information Party, Candidate ...
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Liberal | John Hope Simpson | 13,053 | 52.5 | -3.9 | |
| Unionist | Hamilton Gault | 11,798 | 47.5 | +3.9 | |
| Majority | 1,255 | 5.0 | -7.8 | ||
| Turnout | 24,851 | 82.6 | +3.5 | ||
| Liberal hold | Swing | -3.9 | |||
Close
More information Party, Candidate ...
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Unionist | Hamilton Gault | 13,930 | 52.1 | +4.6 | |
| Liberal | John Hope Simpson | 10,381 | 38.8 | -13.7 | |
| Labour | George Woods | 2,441 | 9.1 | New | |
| Majority | 3,549 | 13.3 | N/A | ||
| Turnout | 26,752 | 85.6 | +3.0 | ||
| Unionist gain from Liberal | Swing | +9.1 | |||
Close
More information Party, Candidate ...
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Unionist | Hamilton Gault | 15,083 | 45.9 | -6.2 | |
| Liberal | Walter Rea | 11,121 | 33.9 | -4.9 | |
| Labour | Joseph Sparks | 6,615 | 20.2 | +11.1 | |
| Majority | 3,962 | 12.0 | -1.3 | ||
| Turnout | 32,819 | 82.2 | -3.4 | ||
| Unionist hold | Swing | -0.6 | |||
Close
Elections in the 1930s
More information Party, Candidate ...
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Conservative | Hamilton Gault | 22,564 | 72.95 | ||
| Labour | Frank George Bushnell | 8,367 | 27.05 | ||
| Majority | 14,197 | 45.90 | |||
| Turnout | 30,931 | 75.43 | |||
| Conservative hold | Swing | ||||
Close
More information Party, Candidate ...
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Conservative | Edward Wickham | 19,443 | 63.41 | ||
| Labour | James Lunnon | 11,219 | 36.59 | ||
| Majority | 8,224 | 26.82 | |||
| Turnout | 30,720 | 72.39 | |||
| Conservative hold | Swing | ||||
Close
Elections in the 1940s
General Election 1939–40
Another General Election was required to take place before the end of 1940. The political parties had been making preparations for an election to take place and by the Autumn of 1939, the following candidates had been selected;
- Conservative: Edward Wickham
- Labour: Charles W. Gott[31]
More information Party, Candidate ...
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Labour | Victor Collins | 19,976 | 52.80 | ||
| Conservative | Edward Wickham | 17,858 | 47.20 | ||
| Majority | 2,118 | 5.60 | N/A | ||
| Turnout | 37,834 | 72.98 | |||
| Labour gain from Conservative | Swing | ||||
Close
Elections in the 1950s
More information Party, Candidate ...
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Conservative | Henry Hopkinson | 20,724 | 46.43 | ||
| Labour | Victor Collins | 19,352 | 43.35 | ||
| Liberal | John Robert Phillipson | 4,561 | 10.22 | New | |
| Majority | 1,372 | 3.08 | N/A | ||
| Turnout | 44,637 | 88.81 | |||
| Conservative gain from Labour | Swing | ||||
Close
More information Party, Candidate ...
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Conservative | Henry Hopkinson | 24,826 | 54.36 | ||
| Labour | Victor Collins | 20,845 | 45.64 | ||
| Majority | 3,981 | 8.72 | |||
| Turnout | 45,671 | 89.00 | |||
| Conservative hold | Swing | ||||
Close
More information Party, Candidate ...
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Conservative | Henry Hopkinson | 22,962 | 52.11 | ||
| Labour | Reginald Wells-Pestell | 17,420 | 39.53 | ||
| Liberal | Guy Barrington | 3,684 | 8.36 | New | |
| Majority | 5,542 | 12.58 | |||
| Turnout | 44,066 | 85.46 | |||
| Conservative hold | Swing | ||||
Close
More information Party, Candidate ...
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Conservative | Edward du Cann | 19,820 | 50.84 | -1.27 | |
| Labour | Reginald Wells-Pestell | 19,163 | 49.16 | +9.63 | |
| Majority | 657 | 1.68 | -10.90 | ||
| Turnout | 38,983 | ||||
| Conservative hold | Swing | ||||
Close
More information Party, Candidate ...
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Conservative | Edward du Cann | 22,680 | 49.42 | ||
| Labour | Leonard V Pike | 16,182 | 35.26 | ||
| Liberal | Charles Meddon Karslake Bruton | 7,031 | 15.32 | ||
| Majority | 6,498 | 14.16 | |||
| Turnout | 45,893 | 87.12 | |||
| Conservative hold | Swing | ||||
Close
Elections in the 1960s
More information Party, Candidate ...
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Conservative | Edward du Cann | 21,367 | 46.52 | ||
| Labour | Leonard V Pike | 16,619 | 36.18 | ||
| Liberal | Margaret Irene Gaenor Heathcoat Amory | 7,944 | 17.30 | ||
| Majority | 4,748 | 10.34 | |||
| Turnout | 45,930 | 84.74 | |||
| Conservative hold | Swing | ||||
Close
More information Party, Candidate ...
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Conservative | Edward du Cann | 22,369 | 47.55 | ||
| Labour | Robin J Bradbury | 19,216 | 40.85 | ||
| Liberal | Margaret Irene Gaenor Heathcoat Amory | 5,460 | 11.61 | ||
| Majority | 3,153 | 6.70 | |||
| Turnout | 47,045 | 85.27 | |||
| Conservative hold | Swing | ||||
Close
Elections in the 1970s
More information Party, Candidate ...
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Conservative | Edward du Cann | 26,158 | 53.55 | ||
| Labour | Steven Mama | 17,823 | 36.48 | ||
| Liberal | Gerard O'Donnell | 4,871 | 9.97 | ||
| Majority | 8,335 | 17.07 | |||
| Turnout | 48,852 | 78.96 | |||
| Conservative hold | Swing | ||||
Close
More information Party, Candidate ...
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Conservative | Edward du Cann | 23,841 | 45.11 | ||
| Labour | D.W. Keene | 15,401 | 29.14 | ||
| Liberal | M.E. Mann | 13,607 | 25.75 | ||
| Majority | 8,440 | 15.97 | |||
| Turnout | 52,849 | 83.88 | |||
| Conservative hold | Swing | ||||
Close
More information Party, Candidate ...
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Conservative | Edward du Cann | 22,542 | 44.61 | ||
| Labour | Barry Sheerman | 15,721 | 31.11 | ||
| Liberal | M.E. Mann | 11,984 | 23.72 | ||
| United Democratic Party | L.D. Bradford | 283 | 0.56 | New | |
| Majority | 6,821 | 13.50 | |||
| Turnout | 50,530 | 79.38 | |||
| Conservative hold | Swing | ||||
Close
More information Party, Candidate ...
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Conservative | Edward du Cann | 28,483 | 53.17 | ||
| Labour | S. Horne | 15,759 | 29.42 | ||
| Liberal | M. Lee | 7,928 | 14.80 | ||
| Ecology | G. Garbett | 1,403 | 2.62 | New | |
| Majority | 12,724 | 23.75 | |||
| Turnout | 53,573 | 80.74 | |||
| Conservative hold | Swing | ||||
Close
Elections in the 1980s
More information Party, Candidate ...
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Conservative | Edward du Cann | 28,112 | 52.89 | ||
| SDP | Michael Cocks | 15,545 | 29.24 | ||
| Labour | Jon Gray | 9,498 | 17.87 | ||
| Majority | 12,567 | 23.65 | |||
| Turnout | 53,155 | 75.55 | |||
| Conservative hold | Swing | ||||
Close
More information Party, Candidate ...
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Conservative | David Nicholson | 30,248 | 51.38 | ||
| SDP | Michael Cocks | 19,868 | 33.75 | ||
| Labour | Gary Reynolds | 8,754 | 14.87 | ||
| Majority | 10,380 | 17.63 | |||
| Turnout | 58,870 | 79.40 | |||
| Conservative hold | Swing | ||||
Close
Elections in the 1990s
More information Party, Candidate ...
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Conservative | David Nicholson | 29,576 | 46.0 | −5.4 | |
| Liberal Democrats | Jackie Ballard | 26,240 | 40.8 | +7.1 | |
| Labour | L. Jean Hole | 8,151 | 12.7 | −2.2 | |
| Natural Law | Philip A. Leavey | 279 | 0.4 | New | |
| Majority | 3,336 | 5.2 | −12.4 | ||
| Turnout | 64,246 | 82.3 | +2.9 | ||
| Conservative hold | Swing | −6.2 | |||
Close
More information Party, Candidate ...
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Liberal Democrats | Jackie Ballard | 26,064 | 42.7 | +1.9 | |
| Conservative | David Nicholson | 23,621 | 38.7 | -7.3 | |
| Labour | Elizabeth Lisgo | 8,248 | 13.5 | +0.8 | |
| Referendum | Brian Ahern | 2,760 | 4.5 | New | |
| BNP | Leslie Andrews | 318 | 0.5 | New | |
| Majority | 2,443 | 4.0 | N/A | ||
| Turnout | 61,011 | 76.5 | −5.8 | ||
| Liberal Democrats gain from Conservative | Swing | ||||
Close
Elections in the 2000s
More information Party, Candidate ...
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Conservative | Adrian Flook | 23,033 | 41.7 | +3.0 | |
| Liberal Democrats | Jackie Ballard | 22,798 | 41.3 | −1.4 | |
| Labour | Andrew Govier | 8,254 | 14.9 | +1.4 | |
| UKIP | Michael Canton | 1,140 | 2.1 | New | |
| Majority | 235 | 0.4 | N/A | ||
| Turnout | 55,225 | 67.6 | −8.9 | ||
| Conservative gain from Liberal Democrats | Swing | ||||
Close
More information Party, Candidate ...
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Liberal Democrats | Jeremy Browne | 25,764 | 43.3 | +2.0 | |
| Conservative | Adrian Flook | 25,191 | 42.3 | +0.6 | |
| Labour | Andrew Govier | 7,132 | 12.0 | −2.9 | |
| UKIP | Helen Miles | 1,441 | 2.4 | +0.3 | |
| Majority | 573 | 1.0 | N/A | ||
| Turnout | 59,528 | 69.7 | +2.1 | ||
| Liberal Democrats gain from Conservative | Swing | −0.7 | |||
Close
- Blount died during the 1572 Parliament, and Hodges was elected in his place in 1575.
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- Cassidy, Irene. "Taunton 1660-1690". The History of Parliament. The History of Parliament Trust. Retrieved 24 September 2012.
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