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Wycombe (UK Parliament constituency)

Coordinates: 51°36′N 0°48′W / 51.6°N 0.8°W / 51.6; -0.8
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Wycombe
County constituency
for the House of Commons
Map
Boundaries since 2024
Map of constituency
Boundary of Wycombe in South East England
CountyBuckinghamshire
Electorate71,769 (2023)[1]
Major settlementsHigh Wycombe
Current constituency
Created1885
Member of ParliamentEmma Reynolds (Labour)
SeatsOne
1295–1885
SeatsTwo until 1868,
then one
Type of constituencyCounty constituency

Wycombe (/ˈwɪkəm/) is a constituency in Buckinghamshire represented in the House of Commons of the UK Parliament since 2024 by Labour's Emma Reynolds.

Constituency profile

[edit]

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

[edit]

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 was looked on as a key blue wall marginal constituency in the 2024 general election, which Labour won for the first time since 1951.

Boundaries and boundary changes

[edit]

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
Map of 2010–2024 boundaries

2010–2024

  • 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).

2024–present

Further to the 2023 Periodic Review of Westminster constituencies which came into effect for the 2024 United Kingdom general election, the constituency is 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 was reduced to bring it within the permitted range by transferring Hazlemere back to Chesham and Amersham once again.

Members of Parliament

[edit]

MPs 1295–1640

[edit]
  • Constituency created (1295)
Year First member Second member
1295 Stephen Ayott Thomas le Tayleur
1298 Adam de Guldeford Roger Allitarius
1300 John le Pistor
1306 Peter le Cotiler John le Bake
1307 Andrew Batyn
1307 Roger de Sandwell
1308 Edmond de Haveringdoun
1312 Thomas Gerveys Matthew le Fuller
1312 Robert Paer William le Cassiere
1318 Robert Smith William le Fote
1322 Richard le Haslere Bennet le Cassiere
1325 John le Tayleur John de Sandwell
1326 Roger Sandwell Matthew le Fuller
1327 Richard atte Walle John atte Donne
1328 John atte Donne Henry de Mussenden
1330 John le Harriere Richard Perre
1332 Matthew le Fuller Richard Tottering
1333 Jordan de Wycombe Richard Bennet
1335 John Ayot Richard Perkyn
1336 John le Harriere Thomas Gerveys
1336 John Ayot Richard Abyndon
1337 John le Clerk John Pool
1338 Stephen Ayot John le Taverner
1338 Thomas Gerveys Jordan de Preston
1341 Robert Stenstoole Robert Harleyford
1346 Ralph Barber
1347 John Martyn Robert Cattingham
1348 Walter atte Leech William Cassiere
1355 Thomas Gerveys Ralph Harleyford
1357 Robert Harleyford
1357 John Mepertshale
1360 Robert le Weeler
1360 Richard Spigurnell
1362 William Frere
1365 Thomas Cornwaile Richard Barbour
1368 William atte Dene
1369 Thomas Gerveys
1371 No other?
1372 John Bledlowe
1373 Thomas Ballard
1377 Richard Sandwell
1378 Richard Jordaine
1379 Richard Sandwell
1381 Thomas Ravell Walter Frere
1382 William Kele William atte Dene
1383 Stephen Watford John Petymin
1384 William atte Dene Richard Kele
1385 Stephen Watford
1386 Walter Frere Richard Holiman
1388 Stephen Watford William atte Dene
1391 William Depham
1392 Walter Waltham
1394 Walter atte Dene William Depham
1396 Richard Sandwell Walter Waltham
1399 John Cotyngham William Clerk
1401 Nicholas Sperling John Sandwell
1406 John Cotyngham William Marchaunt[11]
1413 Henry Sperling Roger More
1414 William Hall John Coventre II
1415 William Clerk Andrew Sperling
1417 Roger More
1419 William Merchant John Cotyngham
1420 Roger More Thomas Merston
1421 John Horewode Thomas Pusey
1421 Roger More Richard Merston
1422 Nicholas Stepton John Coventry
1423 Roger More
1424 William Whaplode John Cotyngham
1425 Thomas Muston William Stocton
1427 John Coventry John Justice
1429 John Wellesbourn John Bishop
1430 Roger More William Fowler
1432 John Martyn John Blackpoll
1434 John Durein John Cotyngham
1436 John Hill Bartholomew Halling
1441 John Radeshill John Martyn
1446 John Wellesbourn
1448 John Haynes
1449 William Stocton Nicholas Fayrewell
1450 Thomas More
1452 William Collard David Thomasyn
1461 Thomas Mansell Thomas Catsbury
1469 Thomas Fowler Thomas Fayrewell
1478 Thomas Gate Thomas Wellesbourn
1529 William Windsor
1542 John Gates William Dormer
1547 Thomas Fisher Armigyll Wade
Mar 1553 Henry Peckham John Cheyne
Oct 1553 Robert Drury
Apr 1554 Thomas Pymme alias Fryer
Nov 1554 John Cheyne William Drury
1555 Henry Peckham Robert Drury
1558 Thomas Pymme Robert Woodleafe
1558 Paul Wentworth Roland Bracebridge
1562 Thomas Fermore alias Draper Thomas Keele
1570 John Russell Robert Christmas
1571 Thomas Nale Rowland Goules
1584 John Morley George Cawfield
1585 Thomas Ridley George Fleetwood
1589 Owen Oglethorp Francis Goodwin
1592 Thomas Tasburgh Thomas Fortescue
1596 William Fortescue John Tasburgh
1601 Richard Blount Henry Fleetwood
1604 Sir John Townsend
1614 William Borlase Sir Henry Neville
1621 Richard Lovelace Arthur Goodwin
1624 Henry Coke
1625 Thomas Lane
1626 Edmund Waller
1628 Sir William Borlase Thomas Lane
1629–1640 No Parliament summoned

MPs 1640–1868

[edit]
Year First member[12] First party Second member[12] Second party
April 1640 Sir Edmund Verney Royalist Thomas Lane Parliamentarian
November 1640
October 1642 Verney killed in battle – seat left vacant
1645 Richard Browne
December 1648 Browne and Lane excluded in Pride's Purge – seats vacant
1653 Wycombe was unrepresented in the Barebones Parliament
1654 Thomas Scot Wycombe had only one seat in the First and
Second Parliaments of the Protectorate
1656 Tobias Bridge
January 1659 Thomas Scot
May 1659 Not represented in the restored Rump
April 1660 Edmund Petty Richard Browne
1661 Sir Edmund Pye Sir John Borlase
February 1673 Sir John Borlase
November 1673 Robert Sawyer
1679 Thomas Lewes
1685 Sir Dennis Hampson Edward Baldwin
1689 Thomas Lewes William Jephson
1691 Charles Godfrey
1696 Fleetwood Dormer
1698 John Archdale[13]
1699 Thomas Archdale
1701 Fleetwood Dormer
1710 Sir Thomas Lee
1713 Sir John Wittewrong
February 1722 John Neale
March 1722 Charles Egerton The Earl of Shelburne
February 1726 Charles Colyear[14]
March 1726 Harry Waller
1727 William Lee
1730 Sir Charles Vernon
1734 Edmund Waller[15]
1734 Sir Charles Vernon
1741 Edmund Waller
1747 Edmund Waller Junior
1754 The Earl of Shelburne John Waller Opposition Whig
1757 Edmund Waller Junior
1760 Viscount FitzMaurice Whig
March 1761 Robert Waller
December 1761 Isaac Barré Whig
1774 Hon. Thomas FitzMaurice
1780 Viscount Mahon Whig
1786 Earl Wycombe
1790 Rear-Admiral Sir John Jervis[16] Whig
1794 Sir Francis Baring
1796 Sir John Dashwood-King Non Partisan[17]
1802 Sir Francis Baring
1806 Sir Thomas Baring Whig[18]
1831 Hon. Robert Smith Whig[18]
1832 Hon. Charles Grey Whig[18]
1837 Sir George Dashwood Whig[19][18]
1838 George Robert Smith Whig[18]
1841 Ralph Bernal Radical[20][21][22][23][24]
1847 Martin Tucker Smith Whig
1859 Liberal Liberal
1862 John Remington Mills Liberal
1865 Hon. Charles Carrington Liberal

MPs 1868–present

[edit]
  • Reduced to one member (1868)
Year Member[12] Party
1868 Hon. William Carrington Liberal
1883 Gerard Smith Liberal
1885 Richard Curzon Conservative
1900 William Grenfell Conservative
1906 Arnold Herbert Liberal
January 1910 Sir Charles Cripps Conservative
1914 William Baring du Pré Conservative
1923 Vera Woodhouse Liberal
1924 Sir Alfred Knox Unionist
1945 John Haire Labour
1951 William Astor Conservative
1952 Sir John Hall Conservative
1978 Sir Ray Whitney Conservative
2001 Paul Goodman Conservative
2010 Steve Baker Conservative
2024 Emma Reynolds Labour

Elections

[edit]
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

[edit]
General election 2024: Wycombe[25]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Emma Reynolds[26] 16,035 35.9 –4.0
Conservative Steve Baker 11,444 25.6 –17.5
Reform UK Richard Phoenix 4,769 10.7 N/A
Liberal Democrats Toni Brodelle 4,236 9.5 –1.8
Workers Party Khalil Ahmed 3,344 7.5 N/A
Green Catherine Bunting 2,193 4.9 +2.3
Independent Ajaz Rehman[27] 1,913 4.3 N/A
Climate Ed Gemmell[28] 489 1.1 N/A
Independent Mark Smallwood 214 0.5 N/A
Majority 4,591 10.3 N/A
Turnout 44,637 60.5 –4.8
Registered electors 73,846
Labour gain from Conservative Swing Increase6.8

Elections in the 2010s

[edit]
2019 notional result[29]
Party Vote %
Conservative 20,213 43.1
Labour 18,719 39.9
Liberal Democrats 5,310 11.3
Others 1,441 3.1
Green 1,209 2.6
Turnout 46,892 65.3
Electorate 71,769
General election 2019: Wycombe[30]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Steve Baker 24,766 45.2 −4.8
Labour Khalil Ahmed 20,552 37.5 −0.2
Liberal Democrats Toni Brodelle 6,543 11.9 +4.1
Green Peter Sims 1,454 2.7 +0.5
Wycombe Independents Julia Wassell 926 1.7 New
UKIP Vijay Srao 324 0.6 −1.7
Independent Edmund Gemmell 191 0.3 New
Majority 4,214 7.7 −4.6
Turnout 54,756 70.1 +0.7
Conservative hold Swing −2.3
General election 2017: Wycombe[31]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Steve Baker 26,766 50.0 −1.4
Labour Rafiq Raja 20,188 37.7 +15.2
Liberal Democrats Steve Guy 4,147 7.8 −1.0
UKIP Richard Phoenix 1,210 2.3 −7.8
Green Peter Sims 1,182 2.2 −3.8
Majority 6,578 12.3 –16.6
Turnout 53,493 69.4 +2.0
Conservative hold Swing −8.3
General election 2015: Wycombe[32][33]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Steve Baker 26,444 51.4 +2.8
Labour David Williams 11,588 22.5 +5.2
UKIP David Meacock 5,198 10.1 +5.7
Liberal Democrats Steve Guy 4,546 8.8 −20.0
Green Jem Bailey 3,086 6.0 New
Independent David Fitton 577 1.1 +0.7
Majority 14,856 28.9 +9.1
Turnout 51,439 67.4[34] +1.2
Conservative hold Swing
General election 2010: Wycombe[35][36]
Party Candidate Votes %
Conservative Steve Baker 23,423 48.6
Liberal Democrats Steve Guy 13,863 28.8
Labour Andrew Lomas 8,326 17.3
UKIP John Wiseman 2,123 4.4
Independent Mudassar Khokar 228 0.5
Independent David Fitton 188 0.4
Majority 9,560 19.8
Turnout 48,151 66.2
Conservative win (new seat)
  • 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

[edit]
General election 2005: Wycombe[37]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Paul Goodman 20,331 45.8 +3.4
Labour Julia Wassell 13,280 29.9 −5.4
Liberal Democrats James Oates 8,780 19.8 +2.8
UKIP Robert Davis 1,735 3.9 +1.5
Independent David Fitton 301 0.7 +0.2
Majority 7,051 15.9 +8.8
Turnout 44,427 62.2 +1.7
Conservative hold Swing +4.4
General election 2001: Wycombe[38]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Paul Goodman 19,064 42.4 +2.5
Labour Chauhdry Shafique 15,896 35.3 −0.1
Liberal Democrats Dee Tomlin 7,658 17.0 −1.5
UKIP Christopher Cooke 1,059 2.4 New
Green John Laker 1,057 2.4 +1.0
Independent David Fitton 240 0.5 New
Majority 3,168 7.1 +2.6
Turnout 44,974 60.5 −10.6
Conservative hold Swing

Elections in the 1990s

[edit]
General election 1997: Wycombe[39]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Ray Whitney 20,890 39.9 −14.2
Labour Chris Bryant 18,520 35.4 +13.8
Liberal Democrats Paul Bensilum 9,678 18.5 −3.1
Referendum Alan Fulford 2,394 4.6 New
Green John Laker 716 1.4 +0.2
Natural Law Mark Heath 121 0.2 New
Majority 2,370 4.5 −25.7
Turnout 52,319 71.1 −6.9
Conservative hold Swing
General election 1992: Wycombe[40][41]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Ray Whitney 30,081 53.14 −0.8
Liberal Democrats Tim Andrews 13,005 22.97 −5.5
Labour John Huddart 12,222 22.6 +2.9
Green John Laker 686 1.2 New
SDP Alan Page 449 0.8 New
Natural Law T. Anton 168 0.3 New
Majority 17,076 30.1 +3.7
Turnout 56,611 78.0 +5.2
Conservative hold Swing +1.9

Elections in the 1980s

[edit]
General election 1987: Wycombe[42]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Ray Whitney 28,209 53.9 −0.3
SDP Tom Hayhoe 14,390 27.5 −0.4
Labour John Huddart 9,773 18.7 +1.5
Majority 13,819 26.4 +0.1
Turnout 56,611 72.8 +1.1
Conservative hold Swing
General election 1983: Wycombe[43]
Party Candidate Votes %
Conservative Ray Whitney 27,221 54.2
SDP Alan Page 14,024 27.9
Labour Colin Bastin 8,636 17.2
Multiracial Political Party M. Amin 327 0.6
Majority 13,197 26.3
Turnout 50,208 71.7
Conservative win (new seat)
  • 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

[edit]
General election 1979: Wycombe
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Ray Whitney 38,171 57.30 +10.97
Labour Trevor Fowler 18,000 27.02 −3.80
Liberal A. Lawson 9,615 14.43 −4.92
National Front Sylvia Jones 833 1.25 −2.25
Majority 20,171 30.28 +14.78
Turnout 66,619 77.61 +5.32
Conservative hold Swing
1978 Wycombe by-election
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Ray Whitney 29,677 59.96 +13.63
Labour Trevor Fowler 14,109 28.51 −2.31
Liberal Harry Warschauer 3,665 7.41 −11.94
National Front Sylvia Jones 2,040 4.12 +0.62
Majority 15,568 31.45 +15.96
Turnout 49,491
Conservative hold Swing
General election October 1974: Wycombe
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative John Hall 27,131 46.33
Labour W. F. Back 18,052 30.82
Liberal M. T. James 11,333 19.35
National Front D. H. Smith 2,049 3.50 New
Majority 9,079 15.49
Turnout 58,565 74.29
Conservative hold Swing -0.6
General election February 1974: Wycombe
Party Candidate Votes %
Conservative John Hall 29,521 46.23
Labour W. F. Back 18,822 29.48
Liberal M. T. James 15,512 24.29
Majority 10,699 16.75
Turnout 63,855 81.65
Conservative win (new seat)
  • This constituency underwent boundary changes between the 1970 and February 1974 general elections and thus calculation of change in vote share is not meaningful.
General election 1970: Wycombe
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative John Hall 40,151 55.93
Labour Bryan S. Jones 23,341 32.51
Liberal Ernest Henry Palfrey 8,297 11.56
Majority 16,810 23.42
Turnout 71,789 74.83
Conservative hold Swing

Elections in the 1960s

[edit]
General election 1966: Wycombe
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative John Hall 31,577 49.25
Labour Joseph Holland 24,498 38.21
Liberal Morris Janis 8,037 12.54
Majority 7,079 11.04
Turnout 64,112 77.19
Conservative hold Swing
General election 1964: Wycombe
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative John Hall 30,877 50.01
Labour Michael Barnes 21,534 34.88
Liberal Arthur Donald Dennis 9,330 15.11
Majority 9,343 15.13
Turnout 61,741 81.34
Conservative hold Swing

Elections in the 1950s

[edit]
General election 1959: Wycombe
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative John Hall 30,774 53.29
Labour Wilfred Fordham 19,904 34.47
Liberal Arthur Donald Dennis 7,068 12.24 New
Majority 10,870 18.82
Turnout 57,746 84.67
Conservative hold Swing
General election 1955: Wycombe
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative John Hall 29,845 57.67
Labour Ray Fletcher 21,905 42.33
Majority 7,940 15.34
Turnout 51,750 82.02
Conservative hold Swing
1952 Wycombe by-election
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative John Hall 26,750 52.04 +0.37
Labour John Haire 24,650 47.96 −0.37
Majority 2,100 4.08 +0.74
Turnout 51,400
Conservative hold Swing
General election 1951: Wycombe
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative William Astor 27,084 51.67
Labour John Haire 25,331 48.33
Majority 1,753 3.34 N/A
Turnout 52,415 86.21
Conservative gain from Labour Swing
General election 1950: Wycombe
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour John Haire 21,491 42.09
Conservative William Astor 21,015 41.16
Liberal Brian Armstrong Law 8,354 16.36
Communist E. Leigh 199 0.39 New
Majority 476 0.93
Turnout 51,059 85.83
Labour hold Swing

Election in the 1940s

[edit]
General election 1945: Wycombe
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour John Haire 20,482 45.17
Conservative Roger Peake 17,946 39.58
Liberal Cecil Chadwick 6,916 15.25 New
Majority 2,536 5.59 N/A
Turnout 45,344 72.10
Labour gain from Conservative Swing

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.[44]

Election in the 1930s

[edit]
General election 1935: Wycombe
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Alfred Knox 34,747 64.87
Labour Ernest Whitfield 18,817 35.13
Majority 15,930 29.74
Turnout 53,564 61.41
Conservative hold Swing
General election 1931: Wycombe
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Alfred Knox 41,208 79.20
Labour Leslie Haden-Guest 10,821 20.80
Majority 30,387 58.40
Turnout 52,029 67.47
Conservative hold Swing

Election in the 1920s

[edit]
General election 1929: Wycombe [45]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Unionist Alfred Knox 23,231 47.4 −7.4
Liberal Leonard John Humphrey 16,929 34.5 +1.5
Labour R. Townsend 8,899 18.1 +5.9
Majority 6,302 12.9 −8.9
Turnout 49,059 71.1 −6.9
Unionist hold Swing −4.5
General election 1924: Wycombe [45]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Unionist Alfred Knox 20,820 54.8 +13.1
Liberal Vera Woodhouse 12,526 33.0 −11.9
Labour George Young 4,626 12.2 +0.8
Majority 8,294 21.8 N/A
Turnout 37,972 78.0 +9.8
Unionist gain from Liberal Swing
General election 1923: Wycombe [45]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Vera Woodhouse 14,910 46.9 +11.1
Unionist William Baring du Pré 13,228 41.7 −8.4
Labour George Young 3,611 11.4 −2.7
Majority 1,682 5.2 N/A
Turnout 31,749 68.2 −1.0
Liberal gain from Unionist Swing +9.8
Vera Terrington
General election 1922: Wycombe [45]
Party Candidate Votes %
Unionist William Baring du Pré 15,627 50.1
Liberal Vera Woodhouse 11,154 35.8
Labour Samuel Stennett 4,403 14.1
Majority 4,473 14.3
Turnout 31,184 69.2
Unionist hold

Elections 1868–1918

[edit]

Elections in the 1910s

[edit]
General election 14 December 1918: Wycombe [46]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
C Unionist William Baring du Pré Unopposed
Unionist hold
C indicates candidate endorsed by the coalition government.
1914 Wycombe by-election[47]
Party Candidate Votes %
Unionist William Baring du Pré 9,044 57.4
Liberal Tonman Mosley 6,713 42.6
Majority 2,331 14.8
Turnout 15,757 86.3
Registered electors 18,268
Unionist hold
General election December 1910: Wycombe [47][48]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Charles Cripps Unopposed
Conservative hold
General election January 1910: Wycombe [47][48]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Charles Cripps 8,690 58.6 +13.5
Liberal Arnold Herbert 6,134 41.4 −13.5
Majority 2,556 17.2 N/A
Turnout 14,824 90.6 +7.8
Registered electors 16,366
Conservative gain from Liberal Swing +13.5

Elections in the 1900s

[edit]
Herbert
General election 1906: Wycombe [47][49]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Arnold Herbert 6,839 54.9 +17.9
Conservative Alfred Cripps 5,626 45.1 −17.9
Majority 1,213 9.8 N/A
Turnout 12,465 82.8 +8.6
Registered electors 15,050
Liberal gain from Conservative Swing +17.9
General election 1900: Wycombe [47][49][50]
Party Candidate Votes %
Conservative William Grenfell 6,111 63.0
Liberal J. Thomas 3,582 37.0
Majority 2,529 26.0
Turnout 9,693 74.2
Registered electors 13,064
Conservative hold

Elections in the 1890s

[edit]
By-election 21 February 1896: Wycombe [47][49][50]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Richard Curzon Unopposed
Conservative hold
General election 1895: Wycombe [47][49][50]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Richard Curzon Unopposed
Conservative hold
Hawkins
General election 1892: Wycombe [47][49]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Richard Curzon 5,030 55.8 −0.8
Liberal Anthony Hope 3,988 44.2 +0.8
Majority 1,042 11.6 −1.6
Turnout 9,018 78.1 +5.7
Registered electors 11,546
Conservative hold Swing −0.8

Elections in the 1880s

[edit]
General election 1886: Wycombe [47][49]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Richard Curzon 4,620 56.6 +2.0
Liberal Alfred Gilbey (British soldier) 3,537 43.4 −2.0
Majority 1,083 13.2 +4.0
Turnout 9,331 72.4 −10.4
Registered electors 11,269
Conservative hold Swing +2.0
General election 1885: Wycombe [47][49][51]
Party Candidate Votes %
Conservative Richard Curzon 5,092 54.6
Liberal Rupert Carington 4,239 45.4
Majority 853 9.2
Turnout 9,331 82.8
Registered electors 11,269
Conservative gain from Liberal
By-election 12 March 1883: Wycombe [52]
Party Candidate Votes %
Liberal Gerard Smith 1,105 66.5
Conservative James Simpson Carson[53] 557 33.5
Majority 548 33.0
Turnout 1,662 80.6
Registered electors 2,062
Liberal hold
By-election 26 May 1880: Wycombe [52]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal William Carington Unopposed
Registered electors 1,865
Liberal hold
General election 1880: Wycombe [52]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal William Carington Unopposed
Registered electors 1,865
Liberal hold

Elections in the 1870s

[edit]
General election 1874: Wycombe [52]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal William Carrington 953 68.7 +10.3
Lib-Lab Henry Broadhurst 415 29.9 N/A
Liberal-Conservative Frederick Charsley[54] 19 1.4 New
Majority 538 38.8 +22.0
Turnout 1,387 86.7 −3.1
Registered electors 1,599
Liberal hold Swing N/A

Elections in the 1860s

[edit]
General election 1868: Wycombe [52]
Party Candidate Votes %
Liberal William Carrington 701 58.4
Liberal John Remington Mills 500 41.6
Majority 201 16.8
Turnout 1,201 89.8
Registered electors 1,338
Liberal hold

Elections 1832–1868

[edit]

Elections in the 1860s

[edit]
By-election 11 April 1868: Wycombe [52]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal William Carrington Unopposed
Liberal hold
  • Caused by Carrington's succession to the peerage, becoming Lord Carrington.
General election 1865: Wycombe [52]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Charles Carrington Unopposed
Liberal John Remington Mills Unopposed
Registered electors 551
Liberal hold
Liberal hold
By-election 18 March 1862: Wycombe [52]
Party Candidate Votes %
Liberal John Remington Mills 220 58.2
Conservative Donald Cameron[55] 158 41.8
Majority 62 16.4
Turnout 378 89.4
Registered electors 423
Liberal hold
  • Caused by Dashwood's death.

Elections in the 1850s

[edit]
General election 1859: Wycombe [52]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal George Dashwood Unopposed
Liberal Martin Tucker Smith Unopposed
Registered electors 392
Liberal hold
Liberal hold
General election 1857: Wycombe [52]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Whig George Dashwood Unopposed
Whig Martin Tucker Smith Unopposed
Registered electors 390
Whig hold
Whig hold
General election 1852: Wycombe [52]
Party Candidate Votes %
Whig George Dashwood 262 44.7
Whig Martin Tucker Smith 208 35.5
Whig William Simpson[56][57] 116 19.8
Majority 92 15.7
Turnout 293 (est) 84.7 (est)
Registered electors 346
Whig hold
Whig hold

Elections in the 1840s

[edit]
General election 1847: Wycombe [52]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Whig George Dashwood Unopposed
Whig Martin Tucker Smith Unopposed
Registered electors 335
Whig hold
Whig gain from Radical
General election 1841: Wycombe [52][18]
Party Candidate Votes %
Whig George Dashwood 189 33.5
Radical Ralph Bernal 159 28.2
Conservative James William Freshfield 130 23.0
Conservative Robert Alexander 86 15.2
Majority 29 5.2
Turnout 288 74.2
Registered electors 388
Whig hold
Radical gain from Whig

Elections in the 1830s

[edit]
By-election, 23 October 1838: Wycombe [18][52]
Party Candidate Votes %
Whig George Robert Smith Unopposed
Whig hold
General election 1837: Wycombe [18][52]
Party Candidate Votes %
Whig Robert Smith Unopposed
Whig George Dashwood Unopposed
Registered electors 387
Whig hold
Whig hold
General election 1835: Wycombe [18][52]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Whig Robert Smith 289 51.2 +10.3
Whig Charles Grey 147 26.1 −5.9
Radical Benjamin Disraeli 128 22.7 −4.5
Majority 19 3.4 −1.4
Turnout c. 282 c. 91.3 c. +2.7
Registered electors 309
Whig hold Swing +6.3
Whig hold Swing −1.8
General election 1832: Wycombe [18][52]
Party Candidate Votes %
Whig Robert Smith 179 40.9
Whig Charles Grey 140 32.0
Radical Benjamin Disraeli 119 27.2
Majority 21 4.8
Turnout 264 88.6
Registered electors 298
Whig hold
Whig hold
By-election, 26 June 1832: Wycombe [18][58]
Party Candidate Votes %
Whig Charles Grey 23 65.7
Radical Benjamin Disraeli 12 34.3
Majority 11 31.4
Turnout 35 33.7
Registered electors 104
Whig hold
  • Caused by Baring's resignation
General election 1831: Wycombe [18][58]
Party Candidate Votes %
Whig Thomas Baring Unopposed
Whig Robert Smith Unopposed
Registered electors 104
Whig hold
Whig gain from Nonpartisan
General election 1830: Wycombe [18][58]
Party Candidate Votes %
Whig Thomas Baring Unopposed
Non Partisan John Dashwood-King Unopposed
Whig hold
Non Partisan hold

See also

[edit]

Notes

[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "The 2023 Review of Parliamentary Constituency Boundaries in England – Volume two: Constituency names, designations and composition – South East". Boundary Commission for England. Retrieved 4 June 2024.
  2. ^ Unemployment claimants by constituency The Guardian.
  3. ^ Great Britain, Incorporated Council of Law Reporting for England and Wales. The public general acts. unknown library. Proprietors of the Law Journal Reports, 1884.
  4. ^ a b c 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)
  5. ^ Gay, Oonagh (28 July 2010). "The Rules for the Redistribution of Seats- history and reform". {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  6. ^ "The Parliamentary Constituencies (England) Order 1970". www.legislation.gov.uk. Retrieved 8 February 2019.
  7. ^ "The Parliamentary Constituencies (England) Order 1983". www.legislation.gov.uk. Retrieved 8 February 2019.
  8. ^ "The Parliamentary Constituencies (England) Order 1995". www.legislation.gov.uk. Retrieved 8 February 2019.
  9. ^ "The Parliamentary Constituencies (England) Order 2007". www.legislation.gov.uk. Retrieved 8 February 2019.
  10. ^ "The Parliamentary Constituencies Order 2023". Schedule 1 Part 6 South East region.
  11. ^ "MARCHAUNT, William III, of Wycombe, Bucks. | History of Parliament Online".
  12. ^ a b c Leigh Rayment's Historical List of MPs – Constituencies beginning with "W" (part 5)
  13. ^ Archdale, a Quaker, never took his seat as he was not prepared to take the prescribed oath.
  14. ^ 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.
  15. ^ Waller was also elected for Marlow, which he chose to represent, and did not for Wycombe in this Parliament.
  16. ^ Vice Admiral from 1793.
  17. ^ 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.
  18. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m 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.
  19. ^ "Sir George Henry Dashwood 5th Bart". Legacies of British Slave-ownership. University College London. Retrieved 28 July 2018.
  20. ^ "Ralph Bernal". Legacies of British Slave-ownership. University College London. Retrieved 7 May 2018.
  21. ^ 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.
  22. ^ "The Brazil Controversy". The Spectator. 18 February 1865. p. 13. Retrieved 7 May 2018.
  23. ^ 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.
  24. ^ 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.
  25. ^ Wycombe
  26. ^ "Labour's Emma Reynolds on High Wycombe's political future". Bucks Free Press. 22 January 2024. Retrieved 6 February 2024.
  27. ^ "'Rehman calls on the people of Wycombe to 'send a message' to the main parties by voting for him': This is Wycombe's newest general election candidate". Bucks Free Press. 13 May 2024.
  28. ^ "'I can oust Steve Baker': Climate Party leader launches campaign to be MP for Wycombe". Bucks Free Press. 11 April 2024.
  29. ^ "Notional results for a UK general election on 12 December 2019". Rallings & Thrasher, Professor David Denver (Scotland), Nicholas Whyte (NI) for Sky News, PA, BBC News and ITV News. UK Parliament. Retrieved 11 July 2024.
  30. ^ "Wycombe Parliamentary constituency". BBC News. BBC. Retrieved 27 November 2019.
  31. ^ "Wycombe parliamentary constituency - Election 2017". BBC News. Retrieved 19 May 2017.
  32. ^ "Election Data 2015". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 17 October 2015. Retrieved 17 October 2015.
  33. ^ "Election results for Wycombe, 7 May 2015". 7 May 2015.
  34. ^ electorate 76371 provided by Wycombe Council elections office 22Jun2015.
  35. ^ "Election Data 2010". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 26 July 2013. Retrieved 17 October 2015.
  36. ^ "Wycombe". BBC News Online. Retrieved 7 May 2010.
  37. ^ "Election Data 2005". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
  38. ^ "Election Data 2001". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
  39. ^ "Election Data 1997". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
  40. ^ "Election Data 1992". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
  41. ^ "Politics Resources". Election 1992. Politics Resources. 9 April 1992. Retrieved 6 December 2010.
  42. ^ "Election Data 1987". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
  43. ^ "Election Data 1983". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
  44. ^ "Upham: Aylesbury By-election 1938".
  45. ^ a b c d British parliamentary election results 1918-1949, Craig, F. W. S.
  46. ^ Craig, F. W. S. British parliamentary election results 1918-1949 London: Macmillan.
  47. ^ a b c d e f g h i j Craig, F. W. S., ed. (1974). British Parliamentary Election Results: 1885-1918. London: Macmillan Press. p. 226. ISBN 9781349022984.
  48. ^ a b Debrett's House of Commons & Judicial Bench, 1916.
  49. ^ a b c d e f g The Liberal Year Book, 1907.
  50. ^ a b c Debrett's House of Commons & Judicial Bench, 1901.
  51. ^ Debrett's House of Commons & Judicial Bench, 1886.
  52. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q 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.
  53. ^ "Wycombe Election". Bolton Evening News. 7 March 1883. p. 3. Retrieved 15 December 2017 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  54. ^ "The General Election". Bucks Herald. 7 February 1874. pp. 6–8. Retrieved 23 January 2018 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  55. ^ "Wycombe Election". Cardiff and Merthyr Guardian, Glamorgan, Monmouth, and Brecon Gazette. 15 March 1862. p. 6. Retrieved 24 March 2018 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  56. ^ "The Elections". London Evening Standard. 2 July 1852. pp. 3–4. Retrieved 28 July 2018 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  57. ^ The Spectator, Volume 18. F. C. Westley. 1845. p. 1006. Retrieved 28 July 2018 – via Google Books.
  58. ^ a b c "Chipping Wycombe". The History of Parliament. Retrieved 30 April 2020.

Further reading

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[edit]

51°36′N 0°48′W / 51.6°N 0.8°W / 51.6; -0.8

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