Taunton (UK Parliament constituency)

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Taunton
Former County constituency
for the House of Commons
Outline map
Boundary of Taunton in Somerset for the 1997-2010 general election
Outline map
Location of Somerset within England
CountySomerset
Major settlementsTaunton
1918–2010
SeatsOne
Replaced byTaunton Deane
1295–1918
SeatsTwo (1295-1885), One (1885-1918)
Type of constituencyBorough constituency

Taunton was a constituency represented in the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom and its predecessors from 1295 to 2010, taking its name from the town of Taunton in Somerset. Until 1918, it was a parliamentary borough, electing two Member of Parliaments (MPs) between 1295 and 1885 and one from 1885 to 1918; the name was then transferred to a county constituency, electing one MP.

In the boundary changes that came into effect at the general election of 2010, the Boundary Commission for England replaced Taunton with a modified constituency called Taunton Deane, to reflect the district name. The new constituency's boundaries are coterminous with the local government district of the same name.

History[edit]

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.

Boundaries[edit]

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.

Members of Parliament[edit]

MPs 1295–1640[edit]

  • Constituency created (1295)
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

MPs 1640–1885[edit]

Year First member[3] First party Second member[4] Second party
April 1640 Sir William Portman Royalist Roger Hill Parliamentarian
November 1640 George Searle Parliamentarian
February 1644 Portman disabled from sitting — seat vacant
1645 John Palmer, MD[5]
1653 Taunton was unrepresented in the Barebone's Parliament
1654 Colonel Thomas Gorges John Gorges
1656 Admiral Robert Blake
January 1659 Sir William Wyndham
May 1659 John Palmer, MD One seat vacant
March 1660 Thomas Gorges Sir William Wyndham
1661 Sir William Portman
February 1679 John Trenchard Whig
September 1679 Sir John Cutler Bt
1680 Edmund Prideaux
1685 Sir William Portman Tory John Sanford Tory
March 1690 Edward Clarke Whig
April 1690 John Speke Whig
1698 Henry Seymour Portman Tory
1701 by-election Sir Francis Warre Tory
1710 Henry Seymour Portman Tory
1715 [6] William Pynsent Whig James Smith Whig
1722 John Trenchard Whig
1724 by-election Abraham Elton Whig
1727 George Speke Whig Francis Fane Whig
1734 Henry William Berkeley Portman Tory
1741 Sir John Chapman Whig John Buck Tory
1745 Percy Wyndham-O'Brien Whig
1747 Sir Charles Wyndham[7] Whig Robert Webb Whig
1750 Admiral William Rowley Whig
1754 The Lord Carpenter[8] Whig John Halliday Whig
1754 by-election Robert Maxwell[9] Whig
1762 Laurence Sulivan Whig
1768 Alexander Popham Nathaniel Webb
1774 [10] Hon. Edward Stratford Whig
1775 John Halliday Alexander Popham
1780 Major-General John Roberts
1782 by-election (Sir) Benjamin Hammet
1784 Alexander Popham
1796 William Morland
1800 John Hammet
1806 Alexander Baring Whig[11]
1812 Henry Powell Collins Tory[11]
1818 Sir William Burroughs, Bt Whig[11]
1819 Henry Powell Collins Tory[11]
1820 John Ashley Warre Whig[11]
1826 Henry Seymour Tory[11] William Peachey Tory[11]
1830 Henry Labouchere Whig[11][12][13][14][15] Edward Thomas Bainbridge Whig[11][15]
1842 by-election Sir Edward Colebrooke Whig[11][16][17]
1852 Arthur Mills[18] Conservative
1853 by-election Sir John Ramsden Whig
1857 Arthur Mills Conservative
1859 Liberal
1859 by-election George Cavendish-Bentinck Conservative
1865 Alexander Charles Barclay Liberal Lord William Hay Liberal
1868 Edward William Cox[19] Conservative
1869 (Sir) Henry James Liberal
1873 by-election
1880 Sir William Palliser Conservative
1882 by-election Samuel Allsopp Conservative
1885 Representation reduced to one Member

MPs since 1885[edit]

Election Member Party
1885 Samuel Allsopp Conservative
1887 by-election Alfred Percy Allsopp Conservative
1895 Sir Alfred Welby Conservative
1906 Sir Edward Boyle Conservative
1909 by-election William Peel Conservative
1912 by-election Sir Gilbert Wills Unionist
1918 Dennis Boles Unionist
1921 by-election Sir Arthur Griffith-Boscawen Unionist
1922 Sir John Hope Simpson Liberal
1924 Hamilton Gault Unionist
1935 Edward Wickham Conservative
1945 Victor Collins Labour
1950 Henry Hopkinson Conservative
1956 by-election Sir Edward du Cann Conservative
1987 David Nicholson Conservative
1997 Jackie Ballard Liberal Democrat
2001 Adrian Flook Conservative
2005 Jeremy Browne Liberal Democrat
2010 Constituency abolished

Elections[edit]

Elections in the 1830s[edit]

General election 1830: Taunton (2 seats)[11][20]
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
General election 1831: Taunton (2 seats)[11][20]
Party Candidate Votes %
Whig Henry Labouchere Unopposed
Whig Edward Thomas Bainbridge Unopposed
Registered electors c. 800
Whig hold
Whig hold

Labouchere was appointed as a Lord of the Admiralty, causing a by-election.

By-election, 12 June 1832: Taunton[11][20]
Party Candidate Votes %
Whig Henry Labouchere Unopposed
Registered electors c. 800
Whig hold
General election 1832: Taunton (2 seats)[11][21]
Party Candidate Votes %
Whig Henry Labouchere Unopposed
Whig Edward Thomas Bainbridge Unopposed
Registered electors 949
Whig hold
Whig hold
General election 1835: Taunton (2 seats)[11][21]
Party Candidate Votes %
Whig Henry Labouchere Unopposed
Whig Edward Thomas Bainbridge Unopposed
Registered electors 920
Whig hold
Whig hold

Labouchere was appointed as vice-president of the Board of Trade, and Master of the Mint, requiring a by-election.

By-election, 29 April 1835: Taunton[11][21]
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
General election 1837: Taunton (2 seats)[11][21]
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

Elections in the 1840s[edit]

General election 1841: Taunton (2 seats)[11][21]
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

Bainbridge resigned by accepting the office of Steward of the Chiltern Hundreds, causing a by-election.

By-election, 11 February 1842: Taunton[11][21]
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

Labouchere was appointed Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, requiring a by-election.

By-election, 10 July 1846: Taunton[21]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Whig Henry Labouchere Unopposed
Whig hold
General election 1847: Taunton (2 seats)[21]
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

Elections in the 1850s[edit]

General election 1852: Taunton (2 seats)[21]
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

Mills' election was declared void on petition.

By-election, 4 May 1853: Taunton[21]
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

Labouchere was appointed Secretary of State for the Colonies, requiring a by-election.

By-election, 5 February 1856: Taunton[21]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Whig Henry Labouchere Unopposed
Whig hold
General election 1857: Taunton (2 seats)[21]
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
General election 1859: Taunton (2 seats)[21]
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

Labouchere was elevated to the peerage, becoming Lord 1st Baron Taunton and causing a by-election.

By-election, 9 August 1859: Taunton[21]
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

Elections in the 1860s[edit]

General election 1865: Taunton (2 seats)[21]
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
General election 1868: Taunton (2 seats)[21]
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

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[edit]

James was appointed Solicitor-General for England and Wales, causing a by-election.

By-election, 14 Oct 1873: Taunton (1 seat)[21]
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
General election 1874: Taunton (2 seats)[21]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Henry James Unopposed
Liberal Alexander Charles Barclay Unopposed
Registered electors 1,999
Liberal hold
Liberal gain from Conservative

Elections in the 1880s[edit]

General election 1880: Taunton (2 seats)[21]
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

James was appointed Attorney General for England and Wales, requiring a by-election.

By-election, 8 May 1880: Taunton (1 seat)[21]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Henry James Unopposed
Liberal hold

Palliser's death caused a by-election.

By-election, 17 Feb 1882: Taunton (1 seat)[21]
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
Jessel
General election 1885: Taunton (1 seat) [28]
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
General election 1886: Taunton[29]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Samuel Allsopp Unopposed
Conservative hold

Allsopp succeeded to the peerage, becoming Lord Hindlip, causing a by-election.

By-election, 23 Apr 1887: Taunton [29]
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

Elections in the 1890s[edit]

General election 1892: Taunton[29]
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
General election 1895: Taunton [29]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Alfred Welby Unopposed
Conservative hold

Elections in the 1900s[edit]

General election 1900: Taunton [29]
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
General election 1906: Taunton [29]
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
Smith
1909 Taunton by-election[29]
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

Elections in the 1910s[edit]

Peel
General election January 1910: Taunton [29]
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
General election December 1910: Taunton [29]
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
Wills
1912 Taunton by-election
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

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;

General election 1918: Taunton
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.

Elections in the 1920s[edit]

1921 Taunton by-election
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.
John Simpson
General election 1922: Taunton
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
Andrew Gault
General election 1923: Taunton
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
General election 1924: Taunton
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
General election 1929: Taunton
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

Elections in the 1930s[edit]

General election 1931: Taunton
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
General election 1935: Taunton[30]
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

Elections in the 1940s[edit]

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;

General election 1945: Taunton
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

Elections in the 1950s[edit]

General election 1950: Taunton
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
General election 1951: Taunton
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
General election 1955: Taunton
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
1956 Taunton by-election
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
General election 1959: Taunton
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

Elections in the 1960s[edit]

General election 1964: Taunton
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
General election 1966: Taunton
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

Elections in the 1970s[edit]

General election 1970: Taunton
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
General election February 1974: Taunton
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
General election October 1974: Taunton
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
General election 1979: Taunton
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

Elections in the 1980s[edit]

General election 1983: Taunton[32]
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
General election 1987: Taunton[33]
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

Elections in the 1990s[edit]

General election 1992: Taunton[34][35]
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
General election 1997: Taunton[36]
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

Elections in the 2000s[edit]

General election 2001: Taunton[37]
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
Jeremy Browne
General election 2005: Taunton[38]
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

See also[edit]

Notes and references[edit]

  1. ^ Blount died during the 1572 Parliament, and Hodges was elected in his place in 1575.
  2. ^ Pym died in January 1585.
  3. ^ "Taunton". The History of Parliament. The History of Parliament Trust. Retrieved 24 September 2012.
  4. ^ Cassidy, Irene. "Taunton 1660-1690". The History of Parliament. The History of Parliament Trust. Retrieved 24 September 2012.
  5. ^ Cobbett records Admiral Robert Blake as being elected for Taunton and Palmer for Bridgwater; but Brunton & Pennington agree with the Dictionary of National Biography that Blake was MP for Bridgwater and Palmer for Taunton.
  6. ^ At the general election of 1715, Warre and Portman were initially declared re-elected, but on petition (in a dispute over the franchise) they were adjudged not to have been duly elected and their opponents, Pynsent and Smith, were seated in their place
  7. ^ Styled Lord Cockermouth from October 1749
  8. ^ Created Earl of Tyrconnell (in the Peerage of Ireland), May 1761
  9. ^ Succeeded as The Lord Farnham , August 1759; created Viscount Farnham, September 1760 and Earl of Farnham, May 1763 (all these titles being in the Peerage of Ireland).
  10. ^ On petition, Stratford and Webb were adjudged not to have been duly elected, and their opponents, Halliday and Popham, were seated in their place
  11. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s 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. pp. 34–337. Retrieved 18 December 2018 – via Google Books.
  12. ^ Matthew, H. C. G.; Barker, G. F. R. (4 October 2008) [2004]. "Labouchere, Henry, Baron Taunton (1798–1869)". Oxford Dictionary of National Biography (online ed.). Oxford University Press. doi:10.1093/ref:odnb/15838. Retrieved 14 July 2018. (Subscription or UK public library membership required.)
  13. ^ Barker, George Fisher Russell (1892). "Labouchere, Henry" . In Lee, Sidney (ed.). Dictionary of National Biography. Vol. 31. London: Smith, Elder & Co.
  14. ^ Jenkins, Terry (2009). Fisher, D. R. (ed.). "Taunton". The History of Parliament. Retrieved 14 July 2018.
  15. ^ a b "Worcester Journal". 3 August 1837. p. 6. Retrieved 14 July 2018 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  16. ^ "The Scotsman". 12 February 1842. p. 2. Retrieved 14 July 2018 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  17. ^ "Taunton Election - Final Close of the Poll". Leeds Intelligencer. 19 February 1842. p. 4. Retrieved 14 July 2018 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  18. ^ On petition, Mills' election was declared void and a by-election was held
  19. ^ On petition, the election of Cox was declared void and after scrutiny of the votes his opponent, James, was declared to have been duly elected
  20. ^ a b c Jenkins, Terry. "Taunton". The History of Parliament. Retrieved 26 April 2020.
  21. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v Craig, F. W. S., ed. (1977). British Parliamentary Election Results 1832-1885 (e-book) (1st ed.). London: Macmillan Press. ISBN 978-1-349-02349-3.
  22. ^ "Taunton Election: Close of the Poll". Elgin Courier. 6 May 1853. p. 2. Retrieved 15 July 2018 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  23. ^ "Taunton". Cheltenham Mercury. 21 March 1857. pp. 2–3. Retrieved 15 July 2018 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  24. ^ "Taunton Election". Sherborne Mercury. 3 May 1859. p. 6. Retrieved 15 July 2018 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  25. ^ "Election Intelligence". Bristol Times and Mirror. p. 3. Retrieved 19 March 2018 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  26. ^ "Untitled". The Scotsman. 6 March 1869. p. 2. Retrieved 19 March 2018 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  27. ^ "Election Intelligence". The Globe. 6 February 1882. p. 5. Retrieved 12 December 2017 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  28. ^ Craig, F. W. S., ed. (1974). British Parliamentary Election Results: 1885-1918. London: Macmillan Press. p. 198. ISBN 9781349022984.
  29. ^ a b c d e f g h i British parliamentary election results, 1885-1918 (Craig)
  30. ^ "Election of Lieut-Colonel E. T. R. Wickham". Taunton Courier. 20 November 1935. Retrieved 14 January 2015 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  31. ^ Report of the Annual Conference of the Labour Party, 1939
  32. ^ "Election Data 1983". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
  33. ^ "Election Data 1987". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
  34. ^ "Election Data 1992". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
  35. ^ "Politics Resources". Election 1992. Politics Resources. 9 April 1992. Retrieved 6 December 2010.
  36. ^ "Election Data 1997". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
  37. ^ "Election Data 2001". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
  38. ^ "Election Data 2005". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.

Sources[edit]

External links[edit]

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