Aylesbury (UK Parliament constituency)

Constituency profile

The constituency is located in Buckinghamshire. It contains the large town of Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire's county town, and the rural areas to its east. Other settlements in the constituency include the villages of Aston Clinton, Pitstone and Wing.

Aylesbury has a history as a commercial and market town and expanded significantly after World War II. Residents of the constituency are generally wealthier than local and national averages, and the unemployment rate is low. The ethnic makeup of the constituency is similar to the country as a whole. At the most recent county council election in 2025, voters in Aylesbury elected primarily Liberal Democrat councillors, whilst seats in the rural areas of the constituency were mostly won by Conservatives. In the 2016 referendum on leaving the European Union, voters in the constituency are estimated to have voted slightly in favour of Brexit, similar to the national average.

History

Early form

The Parliamentary Borough of Aylesbury sent two MPs to the House of Commons of England from 1553 to 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.

The seat was a much narrower, generally urban borough with two-member status at Westminster from its grant of a limited franchise in 1553 until the passing of the Great Reform Act 1832.{{cite web| url = http://www.historyofparliamentonline.org/volume/1509-1558/constituencies/aylesbury

Parliamentary Elections, Aylesbury Act 1804 | use_new_UK-LEG = | UK-LEG_title = In 1804, following the voiding of the election of the sitting MP, Robert Bent, for corruption, the franchise was extended by the Parliamentary Elections, Aylesbury Act 1804 (44 Geo. 3. c. 60) to the forty-shilling freeholders of the Three Hundreds of Aylesbury (Aylesbury, Risborough, and Stone). Subsequently, the contents of the Parliamentary Borough were defined within the 1832 Reform Act itself as the Three Hundreds of Aylesbury. This extended the seat to include Wendover and Princes Risborough.

The borough continued to elect two MPs until its abolition by the Redistribution of Seats Act 1885 and transformation into a large county division, formally named the Mid or Aylesbury Division of Buckinghamshire. It was one of three divisions formed from the undivided three-member Parliamentary County of Buckinghamshire, the other two being the Northern or Buckingham Division and the Southern or Wycombe Division. As well as the areas previously represented by the abolished Borough, the reconstituted seat included Linslade to the north-east and Chesham to the south-east. Since then national boundary reviews have seen a gradual reduction in its physical size as its population has grown (see Boundaries Section below).

Political history

The Conservative Party had held the seat from 1924 to 2024, and held it at the 2015 general election with a 50.7% share of the vote. The result made the seat the 133rd safest of the Conservative Party's 331 seats by percentage of majority. The closest result since 1929 but prior to 2024 was in 1966 when the Labour Party candidate fell 7.4% short of a majority. Labour gained the seat for the first time in its history in 2024, on a swing of over 15%.

In June 2016, an estimated 51.8% of local adults voting in the EU membership referendum chose to leave the European Union instead of to remain. This was matched in two January 2018 votes in Parliament by its MP.

Frontbenchers

David Lidington, the constituency's MP from 1992 until 2019, was the Secretary of State for Justice in Theresa May's cabinet since succeeding Liz Truss in the 2017 cabinet reshuffle, before becoming the effective First Secretary of State in the place of Damian Green in 2018's new year's reshuffle. During the premiership of David Cameron he served as Minister for Europe, campaigning unsuccessfully (in the constituency as well as the whole country) to remain in the EU. From 2007 to 2010 he had been his party's Shadow Secretary of State for Northern Ireland.

MPs who have received honours

Stanley Reed edited The Times of India from 1907 until 1924 and received correspondence from the major figures of India such as Mahatma Gandhi. In all he lived in India for fifty years. He was respected in the United Kingdom as an expert on Indian current affairs. He devised the sobriquet for Jaipur, 'the Pink City of India'.

Boundaries and boundary changes

1885–1918

• The Sessional Divisions of Aylesbury, Chesham, and Linslade; and
• Parts of the second Sessional Division of Desborough and the Sessional Division of Winslow.

1918–1945

• The Borough of Aylesbury;
• The Urban Districts of Beaconsfield and Chesham;
• The Rural District of Amersham;
• The part of the Rural District of Aylesbury not included in the Buckingham Division;
• The Rural District of Long Crendon parish of Towersey; and
• The Rural District of Wycombe parishes of Bledlow, Bradenham, Ellesborough, Great and Little Hampden, Great and Little Kimble, Horsenden, Hughenden, Ilmer, Monks Risborough, Princes Risborough, Radnage, Saunderton, and Wendover.

Linslade and Wing were transferred to the Buckingham Division and Amersham and Beaconsfield were transferred from the Wycombe Division.

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. This was implemented by the Redistribution of Seats Order 1945 under which Buckinghamshire was allocated an additional seat. As a consequence, the parts of the (revised) Rural District of Wycombe in the Aylesbury Division, including Hughenden and Princes Risborough (but not Wendover which had been moved from the Rural District of Wycombe to that of Aylesbury by the reorganisation of local authorities in Buckinghamshire), were transferred to Wycombe.

There were no further changes and the revised composition of the constituency, after taking account of changes to local authorities, was:

• The Borough of Aylesbury;
• The Urban Districts of Beaconsfield and Chesham;
• The Rural District of Amersham;
• Parts of the Rural Districts of Aylesbury and Wing; and
• The part of the Rural District of Bullingdon in Buckinghamshire.

1950–1974

• The Borough of Aylesbury;
• The Urban District of Chesham;
• The Rural District of Aylesbury; and
• The Rural District of Amersham parishes of Ashley Green, Chartridge, Cholesbury-cum-St Leonards, Great Missenden, Latimer, Lee, and Little Missenden.

Beaconsfield and southern parts of the Rural District of Amersham (including Amersham itself) were transferred to the new constituency of South Buckinghamshire. The boundary with Buckingham was redrawn to align with the northern boundary of the Rural District of Aylesbury.

1974–1983

• The Borough of Aylesbury;
• The Rural District of Aylesbury; and
• The Rural District of Wycombe parishes of Bledlow-cum-Saunderton, Bradenham, Ellesborough, Great and Little Hampden, Great and Little Kimble, Ibstone, Lacey Green, Longwick-cum-Ilmer, Princes Risborough, Radnage, and Stokenchurch.

Parts of the Rural District of Wycombe, including Princes Risborough (but excluding Hughenden), transferred back from Wycombe. Chesham and the northern part of the Rural District of Amersham included in the new constituency of Chesham and Amersham.

1983–1997

• The District of Aylesbury Vale wards of Aston Clinton, Aylesbury Central, Bedgrove, Elmhurst, Gatehouse, Grange, Mandeville, Meadowcroft, Oakfield, Southcourt, Wendover, and Weston Turville;
• The District of Chiltern wards of Ballinger and South Heath, Great Missenden, and Prestwood and Heath End; and
• The District of Wycombe wards of Bledlow-cum-Saunderton, Icknield, Lacey Green and Hampden, Naphill-cum-Bradenham, Princes Risborough, and Stokenchurch.

Great Missenden transferred from Chesham and Amersham. Rural areas to the north and west of the town of Aylesbury transferred to Buckingham.

1997–2010

• The District of Aylesbury Vale wards of Aylesbury Central, Bedgrove, Elmhurst, Gatehouse, Grange, Mandeville, Meadowcroft, Oakfield, Southcourt, Wendover, and Weston Turville;
• The District of Chiltern wards of Ballinger and South Heath, Great Missenden, and Prestwood and Heath End; and
• The District of Wycombe wards of Bledlow-cum-Saunderton, Icknield, Lacey Green and Hampden, Naphill-cum-Bradenham, Princes Risborough, and Stokenchurch.

Minor changes, including the transfer of the District of Aylesbury Vale ward of Aston Clinton to Buckingham.

2010–2024

• The District of Aylesbury Vale wards of Aston Clinton, Aylesbury Central, Bedgrove, Coldharbour, Elmhurst and Watermead, Gatehouse, Mandeville and Elm Farm, Oakfield, Quarrendon, Southcourt, Walton Court and Hawkslade, and Wendover; and
• The District of Wycombe wards of Bledlow and Bradenham, Greater Hughenden, Lacey Green, Speen and the Hampdens, Stokenchurch, and Radnage.

Hughenden transferred from Wycombe. Princes Risborough transferred to Buckingham, offset by return of Aston Clinton. Great Missenden returned to Chesham and Amersham.

In April 2020, the Districts of Aylesbury Vale and Wycombe, as well as those of South Bucks and Chiltern were merged into the new unitary authority of Buckinghamshire Council. Accordingly, the contents of the constituency were:

• The Buckinghamshire Council wards of Aston Clinton and Bierton (part), Aylesbury East, Aylesbury North, Aylesbury North West, Aylesbury South East, Aylesbury South West, Aylesbury West, Ridgeway East (part), Ridgeway West, Stone and Waddesdon (part), Wendover, Hatton & Stoke Mandeville, West Wycombe (part), and Wing (part).

The constituency is based on the large town of Aylesbury and its suburbs as well as a small swathe of villages broken up by woods and cultivated land in the centre of the Chilterns which cover most of Buckinghamshire and parts of three other counties.

2024–present

Further to the 2023 periodic review of Westminster constituencies which became effective for the 2024 general election the constituency is composed of the following:

• The District of Buckinghamshire wards of: Aston Clinton & Weston Turville; Aylesbury East; Aylesbury North; Aylesbury North West; Aylesbury South East (part); Aylesbury South West; Aylesbury West; Berryfields, Buckingham Park & Watermead (part); Bierton, Kingsbrook & Wing; Ivinghoe; Quainton.

The constituency was subject to significant changes, with southern, largely rural parts, including the town of Wendover, being included in the newly created seat of Mid Buckinghamshire. To partly compensate, the boundaries were extended northwards to include the communities of Ivinghoe and Wing, together with surrounding rural areas, previously part of the abolished Buckingham constituency.

Members of Parliament

MPs 1553–1659

• Constituency created (1553)

• Returned one member to the First and Second Protectorate Parliaments

• Returned two members to the Third Protectorate Parliament and thereafter Back to Members of Parliament

MPs 1659–1885

Back to Members of Parliament

MPs 1885–present

Under the Redistribution of Seats Act 1885, the parliamentary borough of Aylesbury was abolished. The name was transferred to a new, larger, county division of Buckinghamshire, which elected one Member of Parliament (MP).

Back to Members of Parliament

Elections

Elections in the 2020s

|reg. electors = 79,169

Elections in the 2010s

|reg. electors = 86,665

|reg. electors = 82,546

|reg. electors = 80,315

|reg. electors = 77,844 Back to Elections

Elections in the 2000s

|reg. electors = 81,320

|reg. electors = 80,002 Back to Elections

Elections in the 1990s

|reg. electors = 79,047

|reg. electors = 79,208 Back to Elections

Elections in the 1980s

|reg. electors = 76,919

|reg. electors = 72,792 Back to Elections

Elections in the 1970s

|reg. electors = 74,746

|reg. electors = 67,729

|reg. electors = 60,070

|reg. electors = 77,358 Back to Elections

Elections in the 1960s

|reg. electors = 65,968

|reg. electors = 63,262 Back to Elections

Elections in the 1950s

|reg. electors = 54,089

|reg. electors = 49,841

|reg. electors = 48,181

|reg. electors = 47,261 Back to Elections

Elections in the 1940s

|reg. electors = 73,737

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 from 1939 and by the end of this year, the following candidates had been selected;

• Conservative:Stanley Reed
• Liberal: Atholl Robertson
• Labour: Reginald Groves Back to Elections

Elections in the 1930s

|reg. electors = 61,315

Back to Elections

Elections in the 1920s

Back to Elections

Elections in the 1910s

|reg. electors = 12,218 Back to Elections

Elections in the 1900s

|reg. electors = 11,661

Back to Elections

Elections in the 1890s

|reg. electors = 10,928 Back to Elections

Elections in the 1880s

|reg. electors=10,535

|reg. electors=10,535

|reg. electors= 4,473

• Caused by Rothschild's elevation to the peerage, becoming Lord Rothschild.

|reg. electors= 4,228 Back to Elections

Elections in the 1870s

|reg. electors= 4,064 Back to Elections

Elections in the 1860s

|reg. electors= 3,602

|reg. electors= 1,225 Back to Elections

Elections in the 1850s

|reg. electors= 1,304

• On the original count, both Smith and Wentworth received 535 votes, meaning there were three MPs elected. However, after scrutiny, Wentworth lost one vote and was declared unduly elected on 2 August 1859.

|reg. electors= 1,266

• Caused by Bethell's appointment as Attorney General for England and Wales

• Caused by Bethell's appointment as Solicitor General for England and Wales

|reg. electors= 1,417

|reg. electors= 1,512

• Caused by the 1850 by-election being declared void on petition due to treating and bribery.

|reg. electors= 1,512

• Caused by Nugent-Grenville's death. Houghton retired before polling. Back to Elections

Elections in the 1840s

|reg. electors= 1,513

• Caused by Deering's election being declared void on petition due to treating by his agents.

|reg. electors= 1,513

|reg. electors= 1,624 Back to top

Elections in the 1830s

|reg. electors= 1,416

• Caused by Praed's death

|reg. electors= 1,414

|reg. electors= 1,544

|reg. electors= 1,654

• Caused by Nugent-Grenville's appointment as a Lord Commissioner of the Treasury

Back to top

Notes

References

Sources

• British Parliamentary Election Results 1885–1918, compiled and edited by F.W.S. Craig (Macmillan Press 1974)
• British Parliamentary Election Results 1918–1949, compiled and edited by F.W.S. Craig (Macmillan Press, revised edition 1977)

References

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