Devizes (UK Parliament constituency)

History

Until 1885 Devizes was a parliamentary borough, electing two Members of Parliament (MPs) by the bloc vote system until the 1868 election, when the Reform Act 1867 reduced its representation to one MP, elected by the first-past-the-post system of election. The Redistribution of Seats Act 1885 abolished the parliamentary borough, and created a new county constituency of the same name, covering a wider area and electing one member. It returned a Conservative MP at every election from 1924, though between the 1950 and 1970 general elections, the seat often had narrow and marginal majorities over the Labour Party.

Its most notable MP was Henry Addington, who held the seat during his term as Prime Minister, as well as when he was Speaker of the House of Commons.

Boundaries

1885–1918: The Boroughs of Devizes and Marlborough, the Sessional Divisions of Devizes, Everley, and Marlborough and Ramsbury, and part of the Sessional Division of Pewsey.

1918–1950: The Boroughs of Devizes and Marlborough, the Rural Districts of Devizes, Marlborough, Pewsey, and Ramsbury, and part of the Rural District of Highworth.

1950–1983: The Boroughs of Devizes and Marlborough, and the Rural Districts of Devizes, Highworth, Marlborough and Ramsbury, and Pewsey.

1983–1997: The District of Kennet, and the Borough of Thamesdown wards of Blunsdon, Chiseldon, Covingham, Highworth, Ridgeway, St Margaret, St Philip, and Wroughton.

1997–2010: The District of Kennet, the District of North Wiltshire wards of Calne Abberd, Calne Central, Calne North, Calne North East, Calne South, and Calne Without, and the District of West Wiltshire wards of Blackmore Forest, Melksham Forest, Melksham Lambourne, Melksham Roundpoint, Melksham Town, and Melksham Woodrow.

2010–2024: The District of Kennet, and the District of Salisbury wards of Bulford and Durrington.

The constituency covered Devizes in Wiltshire and the surrounding former Kennet district, which included the towns of Marlborough, Ludgershall and Tidworth, together with the large villages of Bulford, Durrington and Pewsey.

Members of Parliament

1295–1640

1640–1832

1832–1868

Since 1868

Devizes has been a safe Conservative seat since 1945. The last Member of Parliament was Danny Kruger who had been first elected at the 2019 general election, succeeding Claire Perry O'Neill, who stood down at that election after nine years of holding the seat.

Elections

Elections in the 2010s

Elections in the 2000s

Elections in the 1990s

Elections in the 1980s

Elections in the 1970s

Elections in the 1960s

Elections in the 1950s

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

• Conservative: Percy Hurd,
• Liberal: Frances Josephy

Elections in the 1930s

Elections in the 1920s

|reg. electors = 32,371 |reg. electors = 26,195 |reg. electors = 25,588

|reg. electors = 24,937

Elections in the 1910s

|reg. electors = 25,091

Election results 1885–1918

Elections in the 1880s

|reg. electors = 9,357

|reg. electors = 9,357

Elections in the 1890s

|reg. electors = 9,987

|reg. electors = 9,156

Elections in the 1900s

|reg. electors = 8,807 |reg. electors = 8,988

Elections in the 1910s

|reg. electors = 9,277

|reg. electors = 9,277 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 July 1914, the following candidates had been selected;

• Unionist: Basil Peto
• Liberal: James Currie

Election results 1868–1880

Elections in the 1860s

Seat reduced to one member |reg. electors = 858

Elections in the 1870s

|reg. electors = 902

Elections in the 1880s

|reg. electors = 913

Election results 1832–1868

|reg. electors = 315

Gore resigned after defecting to the Tories, causing a by-election.

|reg. electors = 311

Locke's death caused a by-election.

|reg. electors = 343

Durham resigned, causing a by-election.

|reg. electors =341

Dundas was appointed as Clerk of the Ordnance, requiring a by-election.

|reg. electors = 266

• Following the by-election, Dundas was unseated due to bribery and Heneage was declared elected in his place

Elections in the 1840s

|reg. electors = 375

Sotheron resigned, by accepting the office of Steward of the Chiltern Hundreds, in order to contest a by-election at North Wiltshire, causing a by-election.

|reg. electors = 385

|reg. electors = 389

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

Elections in the 1850s

|reg. electors = 373

|reg. electors = 319

|reg. electors = 314

Elections in the 1860s

Gladstone's death caused a by-election.

|reg. electors = 331

Addington succeeded to the peerage, causing a by-election.

|reg. electors = 359

• Curling retired before polling day.

Election results before 1832

|reg. electors =

|reg. electors =

• Some sources, including the corporation minutes, do not list Locke or Salmon as candidates. However, they are included here as per Stooks Smith.

Notes

References

References

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