Reading (UK Parliament constituency)

Parliamentary constituency in the United Kingdom 1801-1950 and 1955-1974

This article is about the historic constituency. For proposed constituency that was briefly known as Reading, see Reading Central (UK Parliament constituency).

Reading

Former borough constituency
for the House of Commons
County| Berkshire
1295–1950
Seats| Two until 1885, then one until 1950
Replaced by| Reading North and Reading South
1955–1974 (1974)
Seats| One
Type of constituency| Borough constituency
Created from| Reading North and Reading South
Replaced by| Reading North and Reading South

Reading was a parliamentary borough, and later a borough constituency in England, represented in the House of Commons of the Parliament of England until 1707, the Parliament of Great Britain from 1707 to 1800, and of the Parliament of the United Kingdom from 1801 to 1950 and 1955 to 1974. Until 1885, the constituency comprised the town of Reading in the county of Berkshire; after 1885, it was centred on the town but the exact boundaries differed.

From 1295, as a parliamentary borough, Reading elected two members of parliament (MPs). Under the Redistribution of Seats Act 1885, this representation was reduced to a single MP.

## History

[edit]

Reading was one of the boroughs summoned to send members to the Model Parliament. The boundaries (encompassing the whole of one parish and parts of two others) were effectively unchanged from 1295 to 1918. In 1831, the population of the borough was 15,935, and contained 3,307 houses.

The right to vote was exercised by all inhabitants paying scot and lot, a relatively wide franchise for the period, and almost 2,000 votes were cast at the general election of 1826. Despite this high electorate, the corporation of the town was generally considered in practice to control elections to a large extent. In the second half of the 18th century, Reading was notoriously one of the most corrupt constituencies in England, bribery being both routine and expensive: Namier quotes the accounts kept for Prime Minister Newcastle of the 1754 election, which note that John Dodd, the government's candidate there, had already received £1000 and was promised £500 or £600 more to help him win the seat.[1] (Dodd lost by one vote, but had the result overturned on petition by a partisan vote in the House of Commons, and Newcastle's accounts show a continuing trickle of funds to him to nurse the constituency over the next few years.) A few years later, the nomination to one of Reading's seats was advertised for sale in a London newspaper, though Reading was not mentioned by name and no price was specified; the newspaper's printers were charged by the Commons with a breach of privilege, but the sale of seats remained legal if frowned-upon until 1809.

The Great Reform Act left Reading's representation and boundaries unchanged, and the reformed franchise far from increasing its electorate seems to have reduced it: it was estimated that there were 1,250 voters in 1831, but only 1,001 were registered for the first post-Reform election, that of 1832.

Context of 1923. Larger as town had grown, one of Labour's 191 of 615 seats: a supply and confidence government lasted for 10 months with Liberal support. 1929 was similar but better for Labour.

Context of 1906. The Liberal Landslide victory.

The Redistribution of Seats Act 1885, coming into effect at the 1885 general election, reduced the representation of the parliamentary borough to a single MP. The single-member Reading constituency continued to exist until it was split in 1950 into the separate constituencies of Reading North and Reading South. These two constituencies were merged back into a single Reading constituency in 1955, but again split apart in 1974; despite its name, the 1955 constituency did not contain the whole of the County Borough of Reading, with one ward being included in both of the Newbury and Wokingham seats.

After 1885, the constituency was marginal, regularly changing hands between the Conservative Party and the Liberal Party up to 1918, then between the Conservatives and Labour.

Today the area formerly covered by the Reading constituency is within the constituencies of Reading Central, Reading West and Mid Berkshire, and Earley and Woodley.

## Boundaries and boundary changes

[edit]

### 1885–1918

[edit]

* The existing Parliamentary borough; and
* The area between the boundary of the Parliamentary borough and a boundary line drawn from the point at which the Reading and Reigate Railway crossed the boundary of the Parliamentary borough at the River Kennet, eastward along the Railway until it crossed Culver Lane, then westward along the centre of Culver Lane as far as the centre of Wokingham Road, then southward along the centre of Wokingham Road as far as the centre of Crescent Road, then westward along the centre of Crescent Road as far as the centre of Eastern Avenue, then southward along the centre of Eastern Avenue as far as the centre of Upper Redlands Road, then westward along the centre of Upper Redlands Road as far as the centre of Alexandra Road, then south and west along the centre of Junction Road to the centre of Christchurch Road, then along the centre of Christchurch Road until the line reached the boundary of the existing Parliamentary borough.[2]

Minor expansion - see map on Vision of Britain website.[3]

### 1918–1950

[edit]

* The County Borough of Reading.[4]

Boundaries extended to the south and west (gained from the Newbury and Wokingham Divisions), and to the north of the River Thames with the annexation of the Urban District of Caversham (part of the Henley Division of Oxfordshire) by Reading County Borough.

For the 1950 general election, Reading was abolished as a single-member Parliamentary borough and split between the two new borough constituencies of Reading North and Reading South.

### 1955–1974

[edit]

For the 1955 general election, Reading was re-established, replacing Reading North and Reading South and comprising:

* The County Borough of Reading wards of Abbey, Battle, Castle, Caversham East, Caversham West, Church, Katesgrove, Minster, Redlands, Victoria, West.[4]

The East and Tilehurst wards were included in the Wokingham and Newbury constituencies respectively.

From the 1964 general election, a revision to the County Borough wards resulted in minor changes. The constituency now comprised:

* The County Borough of Reading wards of Abbey, Battle, Castle, Caversham, Christchurch, Katesgrove, Minster, Redlands, Thames, and Whitley.[4]

The constituency was abolished once again for the 1974 general election. The Christchurch, Redlands and Whitley wards were included in the re-established constituency of Reading South, with remaining wards being included in Reading North.

## Members of Parliament

[edit]

### 1295–1660

[edit]

* Constituency created 1295

This list is incomplete; you can help by adding missing items. (August 2008)

|

Parliament | First member | Second member

|
|

1369 | William Catour[5] |
1371 | William Catour[5] |
1378 | David atte Hacche[6] |
1385 | John Doublet[7] |
1386 | William Stapper | Robert atte Lee[8]
1388 (Feb) | David atte Hacche | Richard Bedull[8]
1388 (Sep) | John Balet | Nicholas Vachell[8]
1390 (Jan) | John Kent | Robert Capellade[8]
1390 (Nov) |
1391 | Henry Barbour | John Doublet[8]
1393 | William Catour | David atte Hacche[8]
1394 | William Saville | William Tho...[8]
1395 | William Shortwade | John Ede[8]
1397 (Jan) | John White | Richard Pernecote[8]
1397 (Sep) | Thomas Selham | Robert Godewyn[8]
1399 | Roger Hay | John Hunt[8]
1401 |  |
1402 |  |
1404 (Jan) | John Kent | William Derby[8]
1404 (Oct) |  |
1406 | John Hunt | Philip Richard[8]
1407 | John Merehan | William Kenelme[8]
1410 | John White | Alexander Colshull[8]
1411 |
1413 (Feb) |  |
1413 (May) | William Wilton | Richard Farle[8]
1414 (Apr) | John Hastyng | John Clerk[8]
1414 (Nov) | Stephen Stapper | John Pernecote[8]
1415 |  |
1416 (Mar) | Walter Mustard | Thomas Lavyngton 1[8]
1416 (Oct) |  |
1417 | Alexander Colshull | Thomas Lavyngton[8]
1419 | Robert Morys | Richard Cross[8]
1420 | Thomas Lavyngton | John Veyr[8]
1421 (May) | Thomas Lavyngton | Simon Porter alias Kent[8]
1421 (Dec) | John Hunt | William Kyng[8]
1422 | Simon Porter alias Kent[9] |
1425 | Simon Porter alias Kent[9] |
1432 | Simon Porter alias Kent[9] |
1433 | Simon Porter alias Kent[9] |
1435 | Simon Porter alias Kent[9] |
1437 | Simon Porter alias Kent[9] |
1447 | Simon Porter alias Kent[9] |
1449 (Feb) | Simon Porter alias Kent[9] |
1449 (Nov) | Simon Porter alias Kent[9] |
1510 | Richard Cleche | William Justice[10]
1512 | William Gifford | Richard Smith[10]
1515 | Edmund Knightley | John Pownsar[10]
1523 | Nicholas Hyde | William Edmonds[10]
1529 | Thomas Vachell I | John Raymond[10]
1536 | Thomas Vachell I | John Raymond[10]
1539 | ?Thomas Vachell I | ?John Raymond[10]
1542 | Thomas Vachell I | Richard Justice[10]
1545 | Thomas Vachell I | Roger Amyce[10]
1547 | William Grey, died May 1551
repl. 1552 by Sir John Mason | John Marshe[10]
1553 (Mar) | John Bourne | John Winchcombe[10]
1553 (Oct) | Thomas Vachell I | John Bell[10]
1554 (Apr) | Robert Bowyer III | John Lovelace[10]
1554 (Nov) | John Bourne | Edmund Plowden[10]
1555 | Thomas Vachell II | John Bell[10]
1558 | Thomas Aldworth | John Bell[10]
1558–9 | Thomas Aldworth | Thomas Turner[11]
1562–3 | Henry Knollys | Robert Rowbotham[11]
1571 | Henry Knollys | John Hastings[11]
1572 | Robert Knollys | Francis Alford[11]
1584 | Robert Knollys | Robert Harris[11]
1586 | Robert Knollys | Robert Harris[11]
1588 | Robert Knollys, sat for Breconshire,
repl. Feb 1589 by Thomas Egerton | Robert Harris[11]
1593 | Humphrey Donatt | Charles Wednester[11]
1597 | Sir Humphrey Forster | Francis Moore[11]
1601 | Francis Moore | Anthony Blagrave[11]
1604 | Francis Moore | Jerome Bowes
1614 | Francis Moore | Robert Knollys
1621–1622 | Anthony Barker | John Saunders
1624 | Francis Knollys III | John Saunders
1625 | Francis Knollys III | John Saunders
1626 | Francis Knollys III | John Saunders
1628 | Francis Knollys III | John Saunders
1629–1640 | No Parliaments summoned

### 1640–1885

[edit]

Year |  | First member | First party |  | Second member | Second party

|
|
|
|
|
|

April 1640  |  | Francis Knollys III |  |  | Adm. Francis Knollys[12] |
November 1640  |  | Francis Knollys III (died 1643)  |  |  | Adm. Francis Knollys (died 1648)  |
1645  |  | Daniel Blagrave |  |  |  |
1648  |  | Tanfield Vachell |  |  |  |
1653 | Not represented in Barebones Parliament
1654  |  | Robert Hammond |  |  |  |
1656  |  | Daniel Blagrave |  |  |  |
1659  |  | Henry Neville |  |  | Daniel Blagrave
1660  |  | Thomas Rich |  |  | John Blagrave |
1661  |  | Sir Thomas Dolman |  |  | Richard Aldworth |
1679  |  | Nathan Knight |  |  | John Blagrave |
March 1685  |  | Thomas Coates |  |  | John Breedon |
November 1685  |  | William Aldworth |
1689  |  | Sir Henry Fane | Whig |  | Sir William Rich |
1698  |  | Sir Owen Buckingham |  |  | John Dalby |
January 1701  |  | Francis Knollys |
November 1701  |  | Anthony Blagrave |  |  | Tanfield Vachell |
1702  |  | Sir Owen Buckingham |
1705  |  | Sir William Rich |
1708  |  | Owen Buckingham |  |  | Anthony Blagrave |
1710  |  | John Dalby |
1713  |  | Robert Clarges |  |  | Felix Calvert |
1716  |  | Charles Cadogan |  |  | Owen Buckingham |
1720  |  | Richard Thompson | Whig
1722  |  | Anthony Blagrave |  |  | Clement Kent |
1727  |  | Richard Potenger |  |  | Richard Thompson | Whig
1734  |  | Henry Grey | Whig
1739  |  | John Blagrave |
1740  |  | William Strode |
February 1741  |  | John Dodd | Whig
May 1741  |  | William Strode |
1747  |  | John Conyers |  |  | Richard Neville Aldworth Neville |
1754  |  | William Strode |  |  | Charles Fane | Opposition Whig
1755  |  | John Dodd | Whig
1761  |  | Sir Francis Knollys |
1768  |  | Henry Vansittart |
1774  |  | Francis Annesley | Tory[13]
1782  |  | Richard Aldworth-Neville | Whig[13]
1797  |  | John Simeon | Tory[13]
1802  |  | Charles Shaw-Lefevre | Whig[13]
1806  |  | John Simeon | Tory[13]
1818  |  | Charles Fyshe Palmer | Whig[13][14][15]
1820  |  | John Monck | Whig[13]
1826  |  | George Spence | Tory[13]
1827  |  | Charles Fyshe Palmer | Whig[13][14][15]
1830  |  | Charles Russell | Tory[13]
1834  |  | Conservative[13]
1835  |  | Thomas Talfourd | Radical[16][17][18]
1837  |  | Charles Fyshe Palmer | Whig[13][14][15]
1841  |  | Charles Russell | Conservative[13] |  | Henry Cadogan | Conservative[13]
1847  |  | Francis Pigott | Whig[19] |  | Thomas Talfourd | Radical[16][17][18]
1849  |  | John Frederick Stanford | Conservative
1852  |  | Sir Henry Singer Keating | Whig[19]
1859  |  | Liberal |  | Liberal
January 1860  |  | Sir Francis Goldsmid | Liberal
November 1860  |  | Gillery Pigott | Liberal
1863  |  | George Shaw-Lefevre | Liberal
1878  |  | George Palmer | Liberal
1885 | Representation reduced to one member

### 1885–1950

[edit]

Election |  | Member | Party

|
|
|

1885 |  | Charles Townshend Murdoch | Conservative
1892 |  | George William Palmer | Liberal
1895 |  | Charles Townshend Murdoch | Conservative
1898 by-election |  | George William Palmer | Liberal
1904 by-election |  | Rufus Isaacs | Liberal
1913 by-election |  | Leslie Orme Wilson | Conservative
1922 |  | Edward Cadogan | Conservative
1923 |  | Somerville Hastings | Labour
1924 |  | Herbert Williams | Conservative
1929 |  | Somerville Hastings | Labour
1931 |  | Alfred Howitt | Conservative
1945 |  | Ian Mikardo | Labour
1950 | Constituency divided into Reading North and Reading South

### 1955–1974

[edit]

Election |  | Member | Party

|
|
|

1955 | Constituency recreated
1955 |  | Ian Mikardo | Labour
1959 |  | Peter Emery | Conservative
1966 |  | John Lee | Labour
1970 |  | Gerard Vaughan | Conservative
Feb 1974 | Constituency redivided into Reading North and Reading South

## Elections

[edit]

### Elections in the 1830s

[edit]

General election 1830: Reading (2 seats)[13][20] Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

|
|
|
|

| Whig | Charles Fyshe Palmer  | 522  | 36.1  |
| Tory | Charles Russell | 471  | 32.6  |
| Whig | Stephen Lushington | 452  | 31.3  |
Turnout | 907  | c. 72.6 |
Registered electors | c. 1,250 |  |
Majority | 51  | 3.5  |
| Whig hold | Swing |  |
Majority | 19  | 1.3  |
| Tory hold | Swing |  |
General election 1831: Reading (2 seats)[13][20] Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %

|
|
|

| Whig | Charles Fyshe Palmer | Unopposed
| Tory | Charles Russell | Unopposed
Registered electors | c. 1,250 |
| Whig hold
| Tory hold
General election 1832: Reading (2 seats)[13][21] Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %

|
|
|

| Whig | Charles Fyshe Palmer | Unopposed
| Tory | Charles Russell | Unopposed
Registered electors | 1,001  |
| Whig hold
| Tory hold
General election 1835: Reading (2 seats)[13][21] Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %

|
|
|

| Radical | Thomas Talfourd | 643  | 43.8
| Conservative | Charles Russell | 441  | 30.0
| Whig | Benjamin Oliveira | 384  | 26.2
Turnout | 960  | 95.8
Registered electors | 1,002  |
Majority  | 202  | 13.8
| Radical gain from Whig
Majority  | 57  | 3.8
| Conservative hold
General election 1837: Reading (2 seats)[13][21] Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

|
|
|
|

| Radical | Thomas Talfourd | 468  | 34.1  | −9.7
| Whig | Charles Fyshe Palmer  | 457  | 33.3  | +7.1
| Conservative | Charles Russell | 448  | 32.6  | +2.6
Turnout | 875  | 84.5  | −11.3
Registered electors | 1,035  |  |
Majority | 11  | 0.8  | −13.0
| Radical hold | Swing | −5.5  |
Majority | 9  | 0.7  | N/A
| Whig gain from Conservative | Swing | +2.9  |

### Elections in the 1840s

[edit]

General election 1841: Reading (2 seats)[21][13] Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

|
|
|
|

| Conservative | Charles Russell | 570  | 29.4  | +13.1
| Conservative | Henry Cadogan | 564  | 29.1  | +12.8
| Whig | Thomas Mills | 410  | 21.1  | +4.5
| Whig | William Tooke | 397  | 20.5  | +3.9
Majority | 154  | 8.0  | N/A
Turnout | 984  | 82.4  | −2.1
Registered electors | 1,194  |  |
| Conservative gain from Whig | Swing | +4.5  |
| Conservative gain from Radical | Swing | +4.3  |
General election 1847: Reading (2 seats)[21] Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

|
|
|
|

| Whig | Francis Pigott | 614  | 29.1  | +8.0
| Radical | Thomas Talfourd | 596  | 28.3  | +7.8
| Conservative | Charles Russell | 521  | 24.7  | −4.7
| Conservative | Henry Cadogan | 376  | 17.8  | −11.3
Turnout | 1,054 (est)  | 84.2 (est)  | +1.8
Registered electors | 1,251  |  |
Majority | 238  | 11.3  | N/A
| Whig gain from Conservative | Swing | +8.0  |
Majority | 75  | 3.6  | N/A
| Radical gain from Conservative | Swing | +7.9  |

Talfourd resigned after being appointed a judge of the Court of Common Pleas, causing a by-election.

By-election, 8 August 1849: Reading[21] Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

|
|
|
|

| Conservative | John Frederick Stanford | 507  | 51.8  | +9.3
| Whig | George Bowyer[22] | 364  | 37.2  | +8.1
| Radical | Thomas Norton[23][24] | 107  | 10.9  | −17.4
Majority | 143  | 14.6  | N/A
Turnout | 978  | 74.7  | −9.5
Registered electors | 1,309  |  |
| Conservative gain from Radical | Swing | +13.4  |

### Elections in the 1850s

[edit]

General election 1852: Reading (2 seats)[21] Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

|
|
|
|

| Whig | Francis Pigott | 753  | 39.6  | +10.5
| Whig | Henry Singer Keating | 631  | 33.2  | +4.9
| Conservative | Samuel Auchmuty Dickson[25] | 518  | 27.2  | −15.3
Majority | 113  | 6.0  | N/A
Turnout | 951 (est)  | 68.0 (est)  | −16.2
Registered electors | 1,399  |  |
| Whig hold | Swing | +9.1  |
| Whig gain from Radical | Swing | +6.3  |
General election 1857: Reading (2 seats)[21] Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

|
|
|
|

| Whig | Francis Pigott | Unopposed
| Whig | Henry Singer Keating | Unopposed
Registered electors | 1,431  |  |
| Whig hold
| Whig hold

Keating was appointed Solicitor General for England and Wales, requiring a by-election.

By-election, 2 June 1857: Reading[21] Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

|
|
|
|

| Whig | Henry Singer Keating | Unopposed
| Whig hold
General election 1859: Reading (2 seats)[21] Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %

|
|
|

| Liberal | Francis Pigott | 761  | 38.6
| Liberal | Henry Singer Keating | 666  | 33.8
| Conservative | Ralph Augustus Benson  | 544  | 27.6
Majority  | 122  | 6.2
Turnout | 986 (est)  | 67.9 (est)
Registered electors | 1,451  |
| Liberal hold
| Liberal hold

Keating was appointed Solicitor General for England and Wales, requiring a by-election.

By-election, 27 June 1859: Reading[21] Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

|
|
|
|

| Liberal | Henry Singer Keating | Unopposed
| Liberal hold

### Elections in the 1860s

[edit]

Keating resigned after being appointed a Judge of the Court of Common Pleas, causing a by-election.

By-election, 11 January 1860: Reading[21] Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

|
|
|
|

| Liberal | Francis Goldsmid | 661  | 54.5  | −17.9
| Conservative | Ralph Augustus Benson[26] | 551  | 45.5  | +17.9
Majority | 110  | 9.0  | +2.8
Turnout | 1,212  | 80.5  | +12.6
Registered electors | 1,506  |  |
| Liberal hold | Swing | −17.9  |

Pigott resigned after being appointed Lieutenant Governor of the Isle of Man, causing a by-election.

By-election, 21 November 1860: Reading[21] Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

|
|
|
|

| Liberal | Gillery Pigott | 586  | 57.4  | −15.0
| Conservative | Edward Walter[27] | 435  | 42.6  | +15.0
Majority | 151  | 14.8  | +8.6
Turnout | 1,021  | 67.8  | −0.1
Registered electors | 1,506  |  |
| Liberal hold | Swing | −15.0  |

Pigott resigned after being appointed a Judge of the Court of the Exchequer, causing a by-election.

By-election, 17 October 1863: Reading[21] Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

|
|
|
|

| Liberal | George Shaw-Lefevre | Unopposed
| Liberal hold
General election 1865: Reading (2 seats)[21] Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

|
|
|
|

| Liberal | Francis Goldsmid | 727  | 38.6  | 0.0
| Liberal | George Shaw-Lefevre | 714  | 37.9  | +4.1
| Conservative | Stephen Tucker[28] | 444  | 23.6  | −4.0
Majority | 270  | 14.3  | +8.1
Turnout | 1,165 (est)  | 65.8 (est)  | −2.1
Registered electors | 1,769  |  |
| Liberal hold | Swing | +2.0  |
| Liberal hold | Swing | +2.1  |

Shaw-Lefevre was appointed a Civil Lord of the Admiralty, requiring a by-election.

By-election, 5 May 1866: Reading[21] Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

|
|
|
|

| Liberal | George Shaw-Lefevre | Unopposed
| Liberal hold
General election 1868: Reading (2 seats)[21] Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

|
|
|
|

| Liberal | Francis Goldsmid | 1,629  | 38.5  | −0.1
| Liberal | George Shaw-Lefevre | 1,618  | 38.3  | +0.4
| Conservative | Robert Carden | 979  | 23.2  | −0.4
Majority | 639  | 15.1  | +0.8
Turnout | 2,603 (est)  | 80.6 (est)  | +14.8
Registered electors | 3,228  |  |
| Liberal hold | Swing | +0.1  |
| Liberal hold | Swing | +0.3  |

### Elections in the 1870s

[edit]

General election 1874: Reading (2 seats)[21] Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

|
|
|
|

| Liberal | George Shaw-Lefevre | 1,794  | 26.1  | −12.2
| Liberal | Francis Goldsmid | 1,791  | 26.1  | −12.4
| Conservative | Richard Attenborough[29] | 1,652  | 24.1  | +12.5
| Conservative | William Dalziel Mackenzie[30] | 1,631  | 23.7  | +12.1
Majority | 139  | 2.0  | −13.1
Turnout | 3,434 (est)  | 83.4 (est)  | +2.8
Registered electors | 4,118  |  |
| Liberal hold | Swing | −12.3  |
| Liberal hold | Swing | −12.4  |

Goldsmid's death caused a by-election.

By-election, 18 May 1878: Reading (1 seat)[21] Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

|
|
|
|

| Liberal | George Palmer | 2,223  | 58.7  | +6.5
| Conservative | Richard Attenborough  | 1,565  | 41.3  | −6.5
Majority | 658  | 17.4  | +15.4
Turnout | 3,788  | 80.2  | −3.2
Registered electors | 4,721  |  |
| Liberal hold | Swing | +6.5  |

### Elections in the 1880s

[edit]

General election 1880: Reading (2 seats)[21] Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

|
|
|
|

| Liberal | George Palmer | 2,513  | 36.6  | +10.5
| Liberal | George Shaw-Lefevre | 2,286  | 33.3  | +7.2
| Conservative | Albert George Sandeman[31] | 2,067  | 30.1  | −17.7
Majority | 219  | 3.2  | +1.2
Turnout | 4,580 (est)  | 89.7 (est)  | +6.3
Registered electors | 5,107  |  |
| Liberal hold | Swing | +9.7  |
| Liberal hold | Swing | +8.1  |

Lefevre was appointed First Commissioner of Works and Public Buildings, requiring a by-election.

By-election, 15 Dec 1880: Reading (1 seat)[21] Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

|
|
|
|

| Liberal | George Shaw-Lefevre | Unopposed
| Liberal hold
General election 1885: Reading[32] Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

|
|
|
|

| Conservative | Charles Townshend Murdoch | 3,518  | 50.9  | +20.8
| Liberal | George Shaw-Lefevre | 3,389  | 49.1  | −20.8
Majority | 129  | 1.8  | N/A
Turnout | 6,907  | 91.9  | +2.2 (est)
Registered electors | 7,515  |  |
| Conservative gain from Liberal | Swing | +20.8  |
General election 1886: Reading[32] Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

|
|
|
|

| Conservative | Charles Townshend Murdoch | 3,378  | 50.9  | 0.0
| Liberal | William Berkeley Monck[33] | 3,262  | 49.1  | 0.0
Majority | 116  | 1.8  | 0.0
Turnout | 6,640  | 88.4  | −3.5
Registered electors | 7,515  |  |
| Conservative hold | Swing | 0.0  |

### Elections in the 1890s

[edit]

General election 1892: Reading[32] Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

|
|
|
|

| Liberal | George Palmer | 3,990  | 51.9  | +2.8
| Conservative | Charles Townshend Murdoch | 3,700  | 48.1  | −2.8
Majority | 290  | 3.8  | N/A
Turnout | 7,690  | 91.1  | +2.7
Registered electors | 8,438  |  |
| Liberal gain from Conservative | Swing | +2.8  |
General election 1895: Reading[32] Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

|
|
|
|

| Conservative | Charles Townshend Murdoch | 4,278  | 52.1  | +4.0
| Liberal | George Palmer | 3,927  | 47.9  | −4.0
Majority | 351  | 4.2  | N/A
Turnout | 8,205  | 90.1  | −1.0
Registered electors | 9,104  |  |
| Conservative gain from Liberal | Swing | +4.0  |

Murdoch's death caused a by-election.

By-election, 25 Jul 1898: Reading[32] Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

|
|
|
|

| Liberal | George Palmer | 4,600  | 52.4  | +4.5
| Conservative | Charles Edward Keyser | 3,906  | 44.5  | −7.6
| Social Democratic Federation | Harry Quelch | 270  | 3.1  | New
Majority | 694  | 7.9  | N/A
Turnout | 8,776  | 91.7  | +1.6
Registered electors | 9,573  |  |
| Liberal gain from Conservative | Swing | +6.1  |

### Elections in the 1900s

[edit]

Keyser General election 1900: Reading[32] Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

|
|
|
|

| Liberal | George Palmer | 4,592  | 51.3  | +3.4
| Conservative | Charles Edward Keyser | 4,353  | 48.7  | −3.4
Majority | 239  | 2.6  | N/A
Turnout | 8,945  | 88.1  | −2.0
Registered electors | 10,152  |  |
| Liberal gain from Conservative | Swing | +3.4  |
Isaacs 1904 Reading by-election[32] Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

|
|
|
|

| Liberal | Rufus Isaacs | 4,770  | 51.2  | −0.1
| Conservative | Charles Edward Keyser | 4,540  | 48.8  | +0.1
Majority | 230  | 2.4  | −0.2
Turnout | 9,310  | 83.5  | −4.6
Registered electors | 11,151  |  |
| Liberal hold | Swing | -0.1  |
General election 1906: Reading[32] Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

|
|
|
|

| Liberal | Rufus Isaacs | 5,407  | 53.4  | +2.1
| Conservative | George Horace Johnstone  | 4,710  | 46.6  | −2.1
Majority | 697  | 6.8  | \+ +4.2
Turnout | 10,117  | 91.6  | +3.5
Registered electors | 11,041  |  |
| Liberal hold | Swing | +2.1  |

### Elections in the 1910s

[edit]

General election January 1910: Reading[32] Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

|
|
|
|

| Liberal | Rufus Isaacs | 5,264  | 51.0  | −2.4
| Liberal Unionist | Leslie Renton | 5,057  | 49.0  | +2.4
Majority | 207  | 2.0  | −4.8
Turnout | 10,321  | 93.7  | +2.1
Registered electors | 11,016  |  |
| Liberal hold | Swing | −2.4  |

Isaacs is appointed Solicitor General of England and Wales, requiring a by-election.

By-election, March 1910[32] Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

|
|
|
|

| Liberal | Rufus Isaacs | Unopposed
| Liberal hold
General election December 1910: Reading[32] Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

|
|
|
|

| Liberal | Rufus Isaacs | 5,094  | 50.5  | −0.5
| Conservative | Leslie Orme Wilson | 4,995  | 49.5  | +0.5
Majority | 99  | 1.0  | −1.0
Turnout | 10,089  | 91.6  | −2.1
Registered electors | 11,016  |  |
| Liberal hold | Swing | −0.5  |

Issacs is appointed Lord Chief Justice of England and is elevated to the peerage as Lord Reading, requiring a by-election.

1913 Reading by-election[32] Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

|
|
|
|

| Unionist | Leslie Orme Wilson | 5,144  | 50.3  | +0.8
| Liberal | George Peabody Gooch | 4,013  | 39.3  | −11.2
| British Socialist Party | Joseph George Butler | 1,063  | 10.4  | New
Majority | 1,131  | 11.0  | N/A
Turnout | 10,220  | 92.2  | +0.6
Registered electors | 11,088  |  |
| Unionist gain from Liberal | Swing | +6.0  |

A General Election was due to take place by the end of 1915. By the summer of 1914, the following candidates had been adopted to contest that election. Due to the outbreak of war, the election never took place.

* Unionist Party: Leslie Orme Wilson
* Liberal Party: Henry Norman Spalding[34]
* British Socialist Party: Joseph George Butler[35]

General election 14 December 1918: Reading  Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

|
|
|
|

C | Unionist | Leslie Orme Wilson | 15,204 | 53.9 | +4.4
| Labour | Thomas Charles Morris | 8,410  | 29.8  | New
| Liberal | Frederick Thoresby  | 3,143  | 11.1  | −39.4
| National Socialist Party | Lorenzo Quelch | 1,462  | 5.2  | New
Majority | 6,794  | 24.1  | N/A
Turnout | 28,219  | 62.2  | −29.4
| Unionist gain from Liberal | Swing | +21.9  |
C indicates candidate endorsed by the coalition government.

### Elections in the 1920s

[edit]

H.D. Roome General election 1922: Reading[36] Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

|
|
|
|

| Unionist | Edward Cadogan | 16,082  | 42.7  | −11.2
| Labour | Derwent Hall Caine | 14,322  | 38.1  | +8.3
| Liberal | Henry Delacombe Roome  | 7,212  | 19.2  | +8.1
Majority | 1,760  | 4.6  | −19.5
Turnout | 37,616  |  |
| Unionist hold | Swing |  |
General election 1923: Reading[36] Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

|
|
|
|

| Labour | Somerville Hastings | 16,657  | 44.8  | +6.7
| Unionist | Edward Cadogan | 15,115  | 40.7  | −2.0
| Liberal | Frederick Maddison | 5,406  | 14.5  | −4.7
Majority | 1,542  | 4.1  | N/A
Turnout | 37,178  | 82.1  |
| Labour gain from Unionist | Swing | +4.3  |
General election 1924: Reading[36] Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

|
|
|
|

| Unionist | Herbert Williams | 21,338  | 53.8  | +13.1
| Labour | Somerville Hastings | 18,337  | 46.2  | +1.4
Majority | 3,001  | 7.6  | N/A
Turnout | 39,675  | 85.8  | +3.7
| Unionist gain from Labour | Swing |  |
General election 1929: Reading[36] Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

|
|
|
|

| Labour | Somerville Hastings | 23,281  | 43.5  | −2.7
| Unionist | Herbert Williams | 22,429  | 42.0  | −11.8
| Liberal | Dugald Macfadyen | 7,733  | 14.5  | New
Majority | 852  | 1.5  | N/A
Turnout | 53,443  | 85.0  | −0.8
| Labour gain from Unionist | Swing | +4.5  |

### Elections in the 1930s

[edit]

General election 1931: Reading[36] Electorate 65,009  Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

|
|
|
|

| Conservative | Alfred Howitt | 34,439  | 63.1  | +21.1
| Labour | Somerville Hastings | 19,277  | 35.3  | −8.2
| New Party | ER Troward  | 861  | 1.6  | New
Majority | 15,162  | 27.8  | N/A
Turnout | 54,577  | 83.9  | −1.1
| Conservative gain from Labour | Swing |  |

* The Liberal Party candidate, Rosalie Glynn Grylls withdrew at close of nominations

General election 1935: Reading[36] Electorate 67,181  Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

|
|
|
|

| Conservative | Alfred Howitt | 27,540  | 51.8  | −9.3
| Labour | Somerville Hastings | 22,949  | 43.2  | +7.9
| Liberal | John William Todd  | 2,685  | 5.0  | New
Majority | 4,591  | 8.6  | −19.2
Turnout | 53,174  | 79.1  | −4.8
| Conservative hold | Swing |  |

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 and by the Autumn of 1939, the following candidates had been selected;

* Conservative: Alfred Howitt
* Labour: Margaret Bondfield[37]

### Elections in the 1940s

[edit]

General election 1945: Reading[36] Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

|
|
|
|

| Labour | Ian Mikardo | 30,465  | 48.8  | +5.6
| Conservative | William Ewart Clarke McIlroy  | 24,075  | 38.6  | −13.2
| Liberal | Robert Nevill Tronchin James  | 7,834  | 12.6  | +7.6
Majority | 6,390  | 10.2  | N/A
Turnout | 62,374  | 73.5  | −5.6
| Labour gain from Conservative | Swing |  |

### Elections in the 1950s

[edit]

General election 1955: Reading[38] Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

|
|
|
|

| Labour | Ian Mikardo | 25,228  | 50.24  |
| Conservative | Frederic Bennett | 24,990  | 49.76  |
Majority | 238  | 0.48  |
Turnout | 50,218  | 84.15  |
Registered electors | 59,678  |  |
| Labour win (new seat)
General election 1959: Reading[39] Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

|
|
|
|

| Conservative | Peter Emery | 26,314  | 54.05  | +4.29
| Labour | Ian Mikardo | 22,372  | 45.95  | −4.29
Majority | 3,942  | 8.10  | N/A
Turnout | 48,686  | 82.84  | −1.31
Registered electors | 58,772  |  |
| Conservative gain from Labour | Swing | +4.29  |

### Elections in the 1960s

[edit]

General election 1964: Reading[40] Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

|
|
|
|

| Conservative | Peter Emery | 20,815  | 43.93  | −10.12
| Labour | John Lee | 20,805  | 43.91  | −2.04
| Liberal | Michael F Burns  | 5,759  | 12.16  | New
Majority | 10  | 0.02  | −8.08
Turnout | 47,379  | 79.80  | −3.04
Registered electors | 59,371  |  |
| Conservative hold | Swing | -4.04  |
General election 1966: Reading[41] Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

|
|
|
|

| Labour | John Lee | 25,338  | 51.01  | +7.10
| Conservative | Peter Emery | 21,205  | 42.69  | −1.24
| Liberal | Ernest H Palfrey  | 3,127  | 6.30  | −5.86
Majority | 4,133  | 8.32  | N/A
Turnout | 49,670  | 84.00  | +4.20
Registered electors | 59,132  |  |
| Labour gain from Conservative | Swing | +4.17  |

### Elections in the 1970s

[edit]

General election 1970: Reading[42] Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

|
|
|
|

| Conservative | Gerard Vaughan | 23,598  | 50.31  | +7.62
| Labour | John Lee | 22,444  | 47.85  | −3.16
| Democratic Party | Alec Boothroyd  | 867  | 1.85  | New
Majority | 1,154  | 2.46  | N/A
Turnout | 46,909  | 74.04  | −9.96
Registered electors | 63,359  |  |
| Conservative gain from Labour | Swing | +5.39  |

## References

[edit]

### General

[edit]

* J Holladay Philbin, Parliamentary Representation 1832 – England and Wales (New Haven: Yale University Press, 1965)
* Edward Porritt and Annie G Porritt, The Unreformed House of Commons (Cambridge University Press, 1903)
* Leigh Rayment's Historical List of MPs – Constituencies beginning with "R" (part 1)

### Specific

[edit]

1. ^ Page 198, Lewis Namier, The Structure of Politics at the Accession of George III (2nd edition – London: St Martin's Press, 1957)
2. ^ "Chap. 23. Redistribution of Seats Act, 1885". The Public General Acts of the United Kingdom passed in the forty-eighth and forty-ninth years of the reign of Queen Victoria. London: Eyre and Spottiswoode. 1885. pp. 111–198.
3. ^ "HMSO Boundary Commission Report 1885, Reading".
4. ^ a b c Craig, Frederick Walter Scott (1972). Boundaries of parliamentary constituencies 1885-1972. Chichester: Political Reference Publications. ISBN 0900178094. OCLC 539011.
5. ^ a b "CATOUR, William (d.1395), of Reading, Berks. | History of Parliament Online". www.historyofparliamentonline.org.
6. ^ "HACCHE, David atte, of Reading, Berks. | History of Parliament Online". www.historyofparliamentonline.org.
7. ^ "DOUBLET, John (d.c.1407), of Reading, Berks. | History of Parliament Online". www.historyofparliamentonline.org.
8. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x "History of Parliament". History of Parliament Trust. Retrieved 8 November 2011.
9. ^ a b c d e f g h i "PORTER, alias KENT, Simon, of Reading, Berks. | History of Parliament Online". www.historyofparliamentonline.org.
10. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p "History of Parliament". History of Parliament Trust. Retrieved 8 November 2011.
11. ^ a b c d e f g h i j "History of Parliament". History of Parliament Trust. Retrieved 8 November 2011.
12. ^ In place of Edward Herbert and Sir John Berkeley, elected for Old Sarum and Heytesbury
13. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t Stooks Smith, Henry. (1973) [1844-1850]. Craig, Frederick Walter Scott (ed.). The Parliaments of England (2nd ed.). Chichester: Parliamentary Research Services. pp. 8–9. ISBN 0-900178-13-2.
14. ^ a b c Churton, Edward (1838). The Assembled Commons or Parliamentary Biographer: 1838. p. 174.
15. ^ a b c Mosse, Richard Bartholomew (1838). The Parliamentary Guide: a concise history of the Members of both Houses, etc. p. 201.
16. ^ a b Hall, Edith (2015). "Making it Really New: Dickens versus the Classics". In Stead, Henry; Hall, Edith (eds.). Greek and Roman Classics in the British Struggle for Social Reform. Bloomsbury. p. 148\. ISBN 9781472584274. Retrieved 30 June 2018.
17. ^ a b Richards, Jeffrey (2009). The Ancient World on the Victorian and Edwardian Stage (eBook). Basingstoke: Palgrave Macmillan. p. 36\. doi:10.1057/9780230250895. ISBN 978-0-230-25089-5. Retrieved 30 June 2018.
18. ^ a b Gregory, James (2012). Victorians Against the Gallows: Capital Punishment and the Abolitionist Movement in Nineteenth Century Britain. London: I.B. Tauris. p. 200\. ISBN 978-18488-56943. Retrieved 30 June 2018.
19. ^ a b "The Berkshire Chronicle". 10 July 1852. p. 4. Retrieved 30 June 2018 - via British Newspaper Archive.
20. ^ a b Fisher, David R. "Reading". The History of Parliament. Retrieved 21 April 2020.
21. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u Craig, Frederick Walter Scott, ed. (1977). British Parliamentary Election Results 1832-1885 (1st ed.). London: Macmillan Press. ISBN 978-1-349-02349-3.
22. ^ "The Nomination". Windsor and Eton Express. 11 August 1849. p. 3. Retrieved 29 November 2018 - via British Newspaper Archive.
23. ^ "John Bull". 13 August 1849. p. 4. Retrieved 29 November 2018 - via British Newspaper Archive.
24. ^ "Country News, Reading Election". Illustrated London News. 11 August 1849. p. 30. Retrieved 29 November 2018 - via British Newspaper Archive.
25. ^ "Hull Election". Hull Advertiser and Exchange Gazette. 12 August 1854. p. 6. Retrieved 30 June 2018 - via British Newspaper Archive.
26. ^ "Reading Election". Berkshire Chronicle. 14 January 1860. p. 4. Retrieved 16 March 2018 - via British Newspaper Archive.
27. ^ "To the Conservative Electors of the Borough of Reading". Berkshire Chronicle. 17 November 1860. p. 1. Retrieved 16 March 2018 - via British Newspaper Archive.
28. ^ "Reading Borough Election". Berkshire Chronicle. 15 July 1865. p. 6. Retrieved 16 March 2018 - via British Newspaper Archive.
29. ^ "The General Election". London Evening Standard. 31 January 1874. pp. 2–3. Retrieved 18 January 2018 - via British Newspaper Archive.
30. ^ "To the Electors of the Borough of Reading". Berkshire Chronicle. 31 January 1874. p. 4. Retrieved 18 January 2018 - via British Newspaper Archive.
31. ^ "The Representation of Reading". Reading Mercury. 1 March 1884. p. 5. Retrieved 10 December 2017 - via British Newspaper Archive.
32. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l Craig, Frederick Walter Scott, ed. (1974). British Parliamentary Election Results: 1885-1918. London: Macmillan Press. ISBN 9781349022984.
33. ^ "Election Notices". Reading Mercury. 26 June 1886. p. 6. Retrieved 10 December 2017 - via British Newspaper Archive.
34. ^ Who's Who
35. ^ "British Socialist Party". Manchester Guardian. 13 April 1914.
36. ^ a b c d e f g Craig, Frederick Walter Scott (editor), British Parliamentary Election Results 1918-1949
37. ^ Report of the Annual Conference of the Labour Party, 1939
38. ^ Kimber, Richard. "UK General Election results May 1955". Political Science Resources. Retrieved 12 April 2016.
39. ^ Kimber, Richard. "UK General Election results 1959". Political Science Resources. Retrieved 12 April 2016.
40. ^ Kimber, Richard. "UK General Election results 1964". Political Science Resources. Retrieved 12 April 2016.
41. ^ Kimber, Richard. "UK General Election results 1966". Political Science Resources. Retrieved 12 April 2016.
42. ^ Kimber, Richard. "UK General Election results 1970". Political Science Resources. Retrieved 12 April 2016.

## See also

[edit]

* List of parliamentary constituencies in Berkshire

*[c.]: circa