North Somerset (UK Parliament constituency)

North Somerset

County constituency
for the House of Commons

North Somerset in Somerset

Location of Somerset within England

County| Somerset
Electorate| 78,469 (2018)[1]
Major settlements| Clevedon, Nailsea and Portishead
Current constituency
Created| 2010
Member of Parliament| Liam Fox (Conservative)
Seats| One
Created from| Woodspring
1950–1983
Created from| Frome and Weston-super-Mare
Replaced by| Woodspring, Wansdyke and Wells[2]
1885–1918
Created from| East Somerset
Replaced by| Frome and Weston-super-Mare

North Somerset is a constituency[n 1] represented in the House of Commons of the UK Parliament since 2010 by Liam Fox, a Conservative who served as Secretary of State for International Trade, a new position in the Cabinet, from 2016 to 2019.[n 2]

Further to the completion of the 2023 Periodic Review of Westminster constituencies, the seat will be subject to moderate boundary changes which will involve the loss of the Yatton area which will move into the new constituency of Wells and Mendip Hills to be first contested at the 2024 general election.[3]

## History[edit]

Earlier versions of the seat existed in 1885–1918 and 1950–1983.

First creation

Parliament passed the Redistribution of Seats Act 1885 creating the larger constituency of North Somerset from the 1885 general election, which was later abolished for the 1918 general election.

Second creation

North Somerset was re-established for the 1950 general election, and abolished again for the 1983 general election.

Third creation

Following the review of parliamentary representation in the North Somerset district by the Boundary Commission for England, the former Woodspring constituency was renamed as North Somerset without substantial boundary changes.[4]

## Boundaries[edit]

Map of current boundaries

1885–1918: The Sessional Divisions of Keynsham, Long Ashton, and Temple Cloud, and the civil parishes of Binegar, Chilcompton, and Midsomer Norton.

1950–1983: The Urban Districts of Keynsham, Norton Radstock, and Portishead, the Rural Districts of Bathavon and Clutton, and part of the Rural District of Long Ashton.

2010–present: The District of North Somerset wards of Backwell, Clevedon Central, Clevedon East, Clevedon North, Clevedon South, Clevedon Walton, Clevedon West, Clevedon Yeo, Easton-in-Gordano, Gordano, Nailsea East, Nailsea North and West, Pill, Portishead Central, Portishead Coast, Portishead East, Portishead Redcliffe Bay, Portishead South and North Weston, Portishead West, Winford, Wraxall and Long Ashton, Wrington, and Yatton.

### Proposed[edit]

The composition of the constituency from the 2024 United Kingdom general election will be reduced in order to bring the electorate within the permitted range by transferring the Yatton ward to the new constituency of Wells and Mendip Hills.[5]

## Constituency profile[edit]

This is essentially the former Woodspring seat with a new name. A coastal strip between the Severn Estuary and the M5 motorway includes the towns of Clevedon and Portishead, while inland from the motorway is the town of Nailsea and a predominantly rural area dotted with villages. This is a fairly affluent constituency with average incomes and low proportion of unemployment claimants[6] – about a third of the population commute to work, mostly in Bristol and Bath.[7]

The Woodspring seat returned Conservative MPs, and had been held by Fox since 1992. Fox won the new constituency by nearly 14 percentage points over the Liberal Democrats in 2010, while Labour took second place in 2015 and 2017.

## Members of Parliament[edit]

Year  | Member  | Party

|
|

1885 | Evan Henry Llewellyn |  | Conservative
1892 | Courtenay Warner |  | Liberal
1895 | Evan Henry Llewellyn |  | Conservative
1906 | William Henry Bateman Hope |  | Liberal
1910 | Joseph King |  | Liberal
1918 | constituency abolished
1950 | Sir Ted Leather |  | Conservative
1964 | Paul Dean |  | Conservative
1983 | constituency abolished: see Woodspring
2010 | Liam Fox |  | Conservative

## Elections[edit]

### Elections in the 2020s[edit]

General election 2024: North Somerset[8] Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

|
|
|
|

| Labour | Sadik Al-Hassan[9] |  |  |
| Workers Party | Suneil Basu  |  |  |
| Liberal Democrats | Ashley Cartman[10] |  |  |
| Conservative | Liam Fox[11] |  |  |
| Reform UK | Alexander Kokkinoftas[12] |  |  |
| Green | Oscar Livesey-Lodwick[13] |  |  |
Majority  |  |  |
Turnout |  |  |
|  | Swing |  |

### Elections in the 2010s[edit]

General election 2019: North Somerset[14] Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

|
|
|
|

| Conservative | Liam Fox | 32,801  | 52.9  | –1.3
| Labour | Hannah Young  | 15,265  | 24.6  | –2.0
| Liberal Democrats | Ashley Cartman  | 11,051  | 17.8  | +8.2
| Green | Phil Neve  | 2,938  | 4.7  | +1.5
Majority  | 17,536  | 28.3  | +0.7
Turnout | 62,055  | 77.4  | +0.5
| Conservative hold | Swing | +0.4  |
General election 2017: North Somerset[15] Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

|
|
|
|

| Conservative | Liam Fox | 33,605  | 54.2  | +0.7
| Labour | Greg Chambers  | 16,502  | 26.6  | +12.3
| Liberal Democrats | Richard Foord | 5,982  | 9.6  | -3.1
| Independent | Donald Davies  | 3,929  | 6.3  | New
| Green | Charley Pattison  | 1,976  | 3.2  | -3.3
Majority  | 17,103  | 27.6  | -11.6
Turnout | 61,994  | 76.9  | +3.3
| Conservative hold | Swing | -5.8  |
General election 2015: North Somerset[16] Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

|
|
|
|

| Conservative | Liam Fox | 31,540  | 53.5  | +4.2
| Labour | Greg Chambers  | 8,441  | 14.3  | +3.2
| UKIP | Ian Kealey[17] | 7,669  | 13.0  | +9.1
| Liberal Democrats | Marcus Kravis  | 7,486  | 12.7  | −23.0
| Green | David Derbyshire  | 3,806  | 6.5  | +6.5
Majority  | 23,099  | 39.2  | +25.6
Turnout | 58,942  | 73.6  | −1.4
| Conservative hold | Swing |  |
General election 2010: North Somerset[18][19] Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

|
|
|
|

| Conservative | Liam Fox | 28,549  | 49.3  |
| Liberal Democrats | Brian Mathew  | 20,687  | 35.7  |
| Labour | Steve Parry-Hearn  | 6,448  | 11.1  |
| UKIP | Sue Taylor  | 2,257  | 3.9  |
Majority  | 7,862  | 13.6  |
Turnout | 57,941  | 75.0  |
| Conservative win (new seat)

### Elections in the 1970s[edit]

General election 1979: North Somerset  Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

|
|
|
|

| Conservative | Paul Dean | 43,173  | 54.34  | +9.4
| Labour | AJ Smith  | 22,122  | 27.85  | -3.8
| Liberal | David Sanders  | 12,898  | 16.23  | -6.7
| Ecology | R Carder  | 1,254  | 1.58  | New
Majority  | 21,051  | 26.49  | +13.26
Turnout | 79,447  | 82.24  | +1.81
| Conservative hold | Swing |  |
General election October 1974: North Somerset  Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

|
|
|
|

| Conservative | Paul Dean | 32,146  | 44.88  |
| Labour | HR White  | 22,671  | 31.65  |
| Liberal | JM Bourne  | 16,428  | 22.93  |
| United Democratic Party  | JK Polling  | 387  | 0.54  | New
Majority  | 9,475  | 13.23  |
Turnout | 71,632  | 80.43  |
| Conservative hold | Swing |  |
General election February 1974: North Somerset  Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

|
|
|
|

| Conservative | Paul Dean | 34,576  | 46.09  |
| Labour | HR White  | 22,421  | 29.89  |
| Liberal | JM Bourne  | 18,023  | 24.02  | New
Majority  | 12,155  | 16.20  |
Turnout | 75,020  | 85.06  |
| Conservative hold | Swing |  |
General election 1970: North Somerset  Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

|
|
|
|

| Conservative | Paul Dean | 38,975  | 58.1  | +11.7
| Labour | John T Mitchard  | 28,121  | 41.9  | -0.8
Majority  | 10,854  | 16.2  | +12.5
Turnout | 67,096  | 79.1  | -6.2
| Conservative hold | Swing |  |

### Elections in the 1960s[edit]

General election 1966: North Somerset  Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

|
|
|
|

| Conservative | Paul Dean | 28,824  | 46.4  | 0.0
| Labour | Brian Tilley  | 26,526  | 42.7  | +2.9
| Liberal | Mark E Willies  | 6,745  | 10.9  | -2.9
Majority  | 2,298  | 3.7  | -2.9
Turnout | 62,095  | 85.3  | -0.1
| Conservative hold | Swing |  |
General election 1964: Somerset North  Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

|
|
|
|

| Conservative | Paul Dean | 27,814  | 46.4  | -9.9
| Labour | DT White  | 23,896  | 39.8  | -3.9
| Liberal | Mark E Willies  | 8,253  | 13.8  | New
Majority  | 3,918  | 6.6  | -6.0
Turnout | 59,963  | 85.4  | -0.1
| Conservative hold | Swing |  |

### Elections in the 1950s[edit]

General election 1959: Somerset North  Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

|
|
|
|

| Conservative | Ted Leather | 30,432  | 56.3  | +2.1
| Labour | E Fraser Wilde  | 23,649  | 43.7  | -2.1
Majority  | 6,783  | 12.6  | +4.2
Turnout | 54,081  | 85.5  | +0.1
| Conservative hold | Swing |  |
General election 1955: Somerset North  Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

|
|
|
|

| Conservative | Ted Leather | 26,985  | 54.2  | +1.8
| Labour | David Llewellyn | 22,802  | 45.8  | -1.8
Majority  | 4,183  | 8.4  | +3.6
Turnout | 54,081  | 85.4  |
| Conservative hold | Swing |  |
General election 1951: Somerset North  Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

|
|
|
|

| Conservative | Ted Leather | 27,465  | 52.4  | +6.8
| Labour | Robert J Hurst  | 24,917  | 47.6  | +3.8
Majority  | 2,548  | 4.8  | +3.0
Turnout | 52,382  |  |
| Conservative hold | Swing |  |
General election 1950: Somerset North  Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

|
|
|
|

| Conservative | Ted Leather | 23,953  | 45.6  |
| Labour | Xenia Field | 23,050  | 43.8  |
| Liberal | Albert Ernest Whitcher  | 5,573  | 10.6  |
Majority  | 903  | 1.8  |
Turnout | 52,576  | 87.7  |
| Conservative win (new seat)

## Election results 1885–1918[edit]

### Elections in the 1880s[edit]

Strachey General election 1885: North Somerset[20][21][22] Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

|
|
|
|

| Conservative | Evan Henry Llewellyn | 4,170  | 54.4  |
| Liberal | Edward Strachey | 3,491  | 45.6  |
Majority  | 679  | 8.8  |
Turnout | 7,661  | 75.0  |
Registered electors | 10,209  |  |
| Conservative win (new seat)
General election 1886: North Somerset[20][21] Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

|
|
|
|

| Conservative | Evan Henry Llewellyn | 4,252  | 67.1  | +12.7
| Liberal | James Dormer Marshall[23] | 2,087  | 32.9  | -12.7
Majority  | 2,165  | 34.2  | +25.4
Turnout | 6,339  | 62.1  | -12.9
Registered electors | 10,209  |  |
| Conservative hold | Swing | +12.7  |

### Elections in the 1890s[edit]

Warner General election 1892: North Somerset[20][21] Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

|
|
|
|

| Liberal | Courtenay Warner | 3,920  | 50.1  | +17.2
| Conservative | Evan Henry Llewellyn | 3,901  | 49.9  | −17.2
Majority  | 19  | 0.2  | N/A
Turnout | 7,821  | 77.5  | +15.4
Registered electors | 10,086  |  |
| Liberal gain from Conservative | Swing | +17.2  |
General election 1895: North Somerset[20][21][24] Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

|
|
|
|

| Conservative | Evan Henry Llewellyn | 4,652  | 54.0  | +4.1
| Liberal | Courtenay Warner | 3,966  | 46.0  | -4.1
Majority  | 686  | 8.0  | N/A
Turnout | 8,618  | 84.4  | +6.9
Registered electors | 10,208  |  |
| Conservative gain from Liberal | Swing | +4.1  |

### Elections in the 1900s[edit]

General election 1900: North Somerset[20][21][24] Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

|
|
|
|

| Conservative | Even Llewellyn | 4,530  | 53.0  | −1.0
| Liberal | William Hope | 4,014  | 47.0  | +1.0
Majority  | 516  | 6.0  | −2.0
Turnout | 8,544  | 80.0  | −4.4
Registered electors | 10,682  |  |
| Conservative hold | Swing | −1.0  |
Hope General election 1906: North Somerset[20][21] Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

|
|
|
|

| Liberal | William Hope | 6,626  | 60.2  | +13.2
| Conservative | William Mason | 4,380  | 39.8  | -13.2
Majority  | 2,246  | 20.4  | N/A
Turnout | 11,006  | 88.9  | +8.9
Registered electors | 12,381  |  |
| Liberal gain from Conservative | Swing | +13.2  |

### Elections in the 1910s[edit]

King General election January 1910: North Somerset[20][25] Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

|
|
|
|

| Liberal | Joseph King | 6,568  | 53.2  | -7.0
| Conservative | Frank Beachim Beauchamp  | 5,768  | 46.8  | +7.0
Majority  | 800  | 6.4  | -14.0
Turnout | 12,336  | 91.4  | +2.5
| Liberal hold | Swing | -7.0  |
General election December 1910: North Somerset[20][25] Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

|
|
|
|

| Liberal | Joseph King | 6,299  | 53.9  | +0.7
| Conservative | Frank Beachim Beauchamp  | 5,378  | 46.1  | -0.7
Majority  | 921  | 7.8  | +1.4
Turnout | 11,677  | 86.5  | -4.9
| Liberal 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 July 1914, the following candidates had been selected;

* Liberal: Joseph King
* Unionist: J Windsor Levis[26]

## See also[edit]

* List of parliamentary constituencies in Avon

## Notes[edit]

1. ^ A county constituency (for the purposes of election expenses and type of returning officer)
2. ^ As with all constituencies, the constituency elects one Member of Parliament (MP) by the first past the post system of election at least every five years.

## References[edit]

1. ^ "England Parliamentary electorates 2010-2018". Boundary Commission for England. Retrieved 23 March 2019.
2. ^ "'Somerset North', Feb 1974 – May 1983". ElectionWeb Project. Cognitive Computing Limited. Retrieved 24 March 2016.
3. ^ "South West | Boundary Commission for England". boundarycommissionforengland.independent.gov.uk. Retrieved 20 June 2023.
4. ^ "FINAL RECOMMENDATIONS FOR PARLIAMENTARY CONSTITUENCIES IN THE UNITARY AUTHORITY OF NORTH SOMERSET". Boundary Commission for England. 8 November 2000. Archived from the original on 21 February 2010. Retrieved 11 November 2010.
5. ^ "The Parliamentary Constituencies Order 2023". Schedule 1 Part 7 South West region.
6. ^ Unemployment claimants by constituency The Guardian
7. ^ "Local statistics - Office for National Statistics". www.ons.gov.uk.
8. ^ "Statement of Persons Nominated, Notice of Poll and Situation of Polling Stations" (PDF). North Somerset Council. 7 June 2024. Retrieved 8 June 2024.
9. ^ North Somerset Labour Party [@NSLabour] (19 May 2024). "We are delighted to announce Sadik Al-Hassan @Sadik4Pharmacy as our parliamentary candidate in North Somerset…" (Tweet) - via Twitter.
10. ^ "Liberal Democrat Prospective Parliamentary Candidates". Mark Pack. Retrieved 4 March 2024.
11. ^ "Dr Liam Fox re-adopted as the Conservative Party's Parliamentary Candidate for North Somerset". Liam Fox. Retrieved 4 March 2024.
12. ^ "North Somerset Constituency". Reform UK. Retrieved 4 March 2024.
13. ^ "North Somerset Greens name Oscar Livesey Lodwick as candidate". North Somerset Times. Retrieved 24 April 2024.
14. ^ "Statement of Persons Nominated" (PDF).
15. ^ "Somerset North". BBC. Retrieved 9 June 2017.
16. ^ "Election Data 2015". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 17 October 2015. Retrieved 17 October 2015.
17. ^ "UK Polling Report".
18. ^ "Election Data 2010". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 26 July 2013. Retrieved 17 October 2015.
19. ^ "Somerset North". BBC News. BBC. 7 May 2010. Retrieved 7 May 2010.
20. ^ a b c d e f g h Craig, FWS, ed. (1974). British Parliamentary Election Results: 1885-1918. London: Macmillan Press. p. 380\. ISBN 9781349022984.
21. ^ a b c d e f The Liberal Year Book, 1907
22. ^ Debrett's House of Commons & Judicial Bench, 1886
23. ^ "The Nomination". Shepton Mallet Journal. 9 July 1886. p. 7. Retrieved 11 December 2017 - via British Newspaper Archive.
24. ^ a b Debrett's House of Commons & Judicial Bench, 1901
25. ^ a b Debrett's House of Commons & Judicial Bench, 1916
26. ^ Standard 21 June 1913

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Constituencies in South West England (55)

Conservative (45)|

* Bournemouth East
* Bournemouth West
* Bridgwater and West Somerset
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* North Somerset
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* Thornbury and Yate
* Torbay
* Torridge and West Devon
* Totnes
* Truro and Falmouth
* Wells
* West Dorset
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* Yeovil

Labour (7)|

* Bristol East
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* Bristol South
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* Exeter
* Kingswood
* Plymouth Sutton and Devonport

Liberal Democrats (3)|

* Bath
* Somerton and Frome
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Not yet contested (17)|

* Bridgwater
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* Frome and East Somerset
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* Honiton and Sidmouth
* Melksham and Devizes
* North Cotswolds
* North East Somerset and Hanham
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* South Devon
* Taunton and Wellington
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