Wyre Forest (UK Parliament constituency)

Boundaries

1983–1997: The District of Wyre Forest.

1997–2010: All the wards of the District of Wyre Forest except the Rock and Ribbesford ward.

2010–present: The District of Wyre Forest.

The Wyre Forest constituency as it was drawn for the 1997 election was almost coterminous with the Wyre Forest district, with around 2,000 extra electors from the district in the neighbouring Leominster constituency. Following its review of parliamentary constituencies for the 2010 election, the Boundary Commission recommended that the portions of the district currently in Leominster move into this seat, making the constituency and district wholly coterminous. These changes were brought about in part by the consideration of Worcestershire and Herefordshire separately for the drawing of parliamentary constituency boundaries.

The 2023 Periodic Review of Westminster constituencies left the boundaries unchanged.

History

The Wyre Forest constituency was first fought under its present name in the 1983 general election, having succeeded the old Kidderminster seat, and was won for the Conservatives by Esmond Bulmer. Wyre Forest was held with relative ease by the Conservatives' Anthony Coombs in the 1987 and 1992 general elections; however the 1997 Labour landslide saw that party gain the seat with David Lock securing a majority of almost 7,000. Anger over the downgrading of Kidderminster Hospital reflected on Lock at the 2001 election, and Health Concern's Richard Taylor stormed to a decisive victory, then held the seat with a considerably reduced majority in 2005. Taylor lost to Mark Garnier of the Conservatives in the 2010 general election, since when Garnier has retained the seat, albeit with a slim majority of 1.8% over Labour at the 2024 general election.

Turnout in the Wyre Forest at general elections has generally been around 2–3% above the national average, but in 2001 the constituency recorded a 68.0% turnout as against 59.4% nationally; this spike (not repeated in 2005) is widely attributed to the intense local feelings on the hospital issue.

Members of Parliament

Kidderminster prior to 1983

Elections

Elections in the 2020s

Elections in the 2010s

Elections in the 2000s

Elections in the 1990s

url=http://www.politicsresources.net/area/uk/ge92/ge92index.htm|title=Politics Resources|date=9 April 1992|work=Election 1992|publisher=Politics Resources|access-date=2010-12-06}}

Elections in the 1980s

References

References

1. (4 March 2011). "Electorate Figures – Boundary Commission for England". Boundary Commission for England.
2. "The Parliamentary Constituencies Order 2023".
3. [http://www.kidderminstershuttle.co.uk/news/local/8152591.Tory_hails__fresh_start__for_Wyre_Forest/ Tory hails 'fresh start' for Wyre Forest] – ''Kidderminster Shuttle''
4. {{Rayment-hc. w. 5. (March 2012)
5. "Wyre Forest". BBC News.
6. "Wyre Forest Parliamentary constituency". BBC.
7. "Wyre Forest results". [[BBC News]].
8. "Election Data 2015". [[Electoral Calculus]].
9. "Election Data 2010". [[Electoral Calculus]].
10. "Wyre Forest". [[BBC News Online]].
11. (6 May 2005). "Result: Wyre Forest". BBC News.
12. "Election Data 2005". [[Electoral Calculus]].
13. "Election Data 2001". [[Electoral Calculus]].
14. "Election Data 1997". [[Electoral Calculus]].
15. "Election Data 1992". [[Electoral Calculus]].
16. "Election Data 1987". [[Electoral Calculus]].
17. "Election Data 1983". [[Electoral Calculus]].