Banbury is a constituency in Oxfordshire[n 1] created in 1553 and represented in the House of Commons of the UK Parliament.[n 2] Its current MP is Sean Woodcock of the Labour Party, who gained the seat at the 2024 general election.
Constituency profile
The constituency has relatively high economic dependence on agriculture, as well as modern industry (particularly motorsport), research and development, public services and, to a lesser extent, defence. It is centred on the large market town of Banbury. It is a partly rural seat, with the northwest of the constituency on the edge of the Cotswolds. The area has experienced significant urban growth and is popular with commuters who favour its fast transport links to Birmingham, Oxford and London by rail, or the M40.
History
The constituency was created as a parliamentary borough, consisting of the town of Banbury, on 26 January 1554 through the efforts of Henry Stafford and Thomas Denton.[2] It was one of the few in England in the unreformed House of Commons to elect only one Member of Parliament (MP) to the House of Commons of England until 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 onwards. As such, it used the first past the post system.
It was the seat represented by Lord North, the prime minister during the American War of Independence.
Under the Redistribution of Seats Act 1885, the Parliamentary Borough was abolished and was reconstituted as the Northern or Banbury Division of Oxfordshire when the three-member Parliamentary County of Oxfordshire was divided into the three single-member seats: Banbury, Woodstock and Henley. It comprised the north-western part of Oxfordshire, including Chipping Norton as well as the abolished borough. Banbury has remained as such since then with varying boundaries (see below).
Political history
- Majority views
Banbury had a post-World War I unbroken Conservative representation and significant local support for the party for more than a century, from 1922 to 2024; during that period, the largest vote had been for a Conservative. Since then, its representatives have all served long terms in office, and its MPs from 1922 to 2015 have all been knighted. Although the seat saw a very close election in 1923, the seat would turn out to be one of the Tories' safe seats in the succeeding elections: in 2010, Tony Baldry (Conservative) almost doubled his majority, while the 2015 result made the seat the 125th safest of the Conservative Party's 331 seats by percentage of majority.[3] Victoria Prentis would hold the seat for the Conservatives for nine more years after 2015, until the 2024 general election saw the Labour candidate, Sean Woodcock, win the seat; consequently, this was the first time that the constituency elected a Labour Party MP.
In June 2016, an estimated 50.35% of local adults voting in the EU membership referendum chose to leave the European Union instead of to remain.
- Other parties
Four of the six parties' candidates achieved more than the deposit-retaining threshold of 5% of the vote in 2015. In 2001, the Labour Party candidate Lesley Silbey won the largest opposing-party share of the vote since 1974 — 35% of the vote. Prior to 1974, the highest percentage of votes for the second-placed candidate was in 1945 — 48% of the vote.
Boundaries and boundary changes
1885–1918
- The Borough of Banbury;and
- The Sessional Divisions of Banbury and Bloxham, Chadlington, and Wootton North.[4]
1918–1950
- The Boroughs of Banbury, Chipping Norton, and Woodstock;
- The Urban District of Witney; and
- The Rural Districts of Banbury, Chipping Norton, Witney, and Woodstock.[5]
The constituency was expanded to include the western half of the abolished Woodstock Division, including Witney and Woodstock.
1950–1974
- The Boroughs of Banbury, Chipping Norton, and Woodstock;
- The Urban District of Witney;
- The Rural Districts of Banbury, Chipping Norton, and Witney; and
- The Rural District of Ploughley parishes of Begbroke, Gosford and Water Eaton, Hampton Gay and Poyle, Kidlington, Shipton on Cherwell, Thrupp, and Yarnton.[6]
Change to contents due to reorganisation of rural districts. Marginal loss to the Oxford constituency as a result of the expansion of the County Borough of Oxford.
1974–1983
- The Boroughs of Banbury, Chipping Norton, and Woodstock;
- The Urban District of Bicester;
- The Rural Districts of Banbury and Chipping Norton; and
- The Rural District of Ploughley parishes of Ardley, Bucknell, Caversfield, Chesterton, Cottisford, Finmere, Fringford, Fritwell, Godington, Hardwick with Tusmore, Hethe, Kirtlington, Launton, Lower Heyford, Middleton Stoney, Mixbury, Newton Purcell with Shelswell, Somerton, Souldern, Stoke Lyne, Stratton Audley, and Upper Heyford.[7]
The Urban and Rural Districts of Witney and the parts of the Rural District of Ploughley, including Kidlington, formed the basis of the new constituency of Mid-Oxon. Bicester and northern parts of the Rural District of Ploughley transferred from Henley.
1983–1997
- The District of Cherwell wards of Adderbury, Ambrosden, Ardley, Bicester East, Bicester South, Bicester West, Bloxham, Bodicote, Calthorpe, Chesterton, Cropredy, Deddington, Easington, Fringford, Grimsbury, Hardwick, Heyford, Hook Norton, Hornton, Kirtlington, Launton, Neithrop, Otmoor, Ruscote, Sibford, Steeple Aston, and Wroxton; and
- The District of West Oxfordshire wards of Bartons and Tackley, and Wootton.[8]
Gained a small part of the abolished constituency of Mid-Oxon, to the south of Bicester. The bulk of the area comprising the former Urban and Rural Districts of Chipping Norton transferred to the new constituency of Witney.
1997–2010
- The District of Cherwell wards of Adderbury, Ambrosden, Ardley, Bicester East, Bicester South, Bicester West, Bloxham, Bodicote, Calthorpe, Chesterton, Cropredy, Deddington, Easington, Fringford, Grimsbury, Hardwick, Heyford, Hook Norton, Hornton, Kirtlington, Launton, Neithrop, Otmoor, Ruscote, Sibford, Steeple Aston, and Wroxton.[9]
Minor loss to Witney, comprising the two wards in the District of West Oxfordshire.
2010–2024
- The District of Cherwell wards of Adderbury, Ambrosden and Chesterton, Banbury Calthorpe, Banbury Easington, Banbury Grimsbury and Castle, Banbury Hardwick, Banbury Neithrop, Banbury Ruscote, Bicester East, Bicester North, Bicester South, Bicester Town, Bicester West, Bloxham and Bodicote, Caversfield, Cropredy, Deddington, Fringford, Hook Norton, Launton, Sibford, The Astons and Heyfords, and Wroxton.[10]
Two wards in the District of Cherwell to the south of Bicester (Kirtlington and Otmoor) transferred to Henley.
The 2010 constituency covered the north-east of Oxfordshire, around Banbury and Bicester and largely corresponded to the Cherwell local government district, with the principal exception of the large village of Kidlington on the outskirts of Oxford which lies in the Oxford West and Abingdon constituency, and some smaller villages to the north-east of Oxford that lie in the Henley constituency.
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 electoral wards (as they existed on 1 December 2020):
- The District of Cherwell wards of: Adderbury, Bloxham & Bodicote; Banbury, Calthorpe & Easington; Banbury Cross & Neithrop; Banbury Grimsbury & Hightown; Banbury Hardwick; Banbury Ruscote; Cropredy, Sibfords & Wroxton; Deddington.
- The District of West Oxfordshire wards of: Chadlington and Churchill; Charlbury and Finstock; Chipping Norton; Kingham, Rollright and Enstone; The Bartons.[11]
Major changes, with the town of Bicester and surrounding areas, comprising 38.5% of the existing electorate[12], being included in the newly created constituency of Bicester and Woodstock. This was partly offset by the transfer from Witney of north-western parts of the District of West Oxfordshire, including Chipping Norton and Charlbury.
Members of Parliament
Banbury borough (until 1885)
MPs 1554–1640
Constituency created 1554. (Even before the Reform Act 1832, Banbury only returned one member to Parliament)[13]
MPs 1640–1885
Banbury division of Oxfordshire/Banbury County Constituency (since 1885)
Elections
Elections in the 2020s
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
Election 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;
- Independent Progressive: Patrick Early[43]
Elections in the 1930s
Election in the 1920s
Election in the 1910s
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;
Elections in the 1900s
Elections in the 1890s
Elections in the 1880s
Elections in the 1870s
Elections in the 1860s
Elections in the 1850s
Elections in the 1840s
Elections in the 1830s
See also
Notes
References
- ^ "The 2023 Review of Parliamentary Constituency Boundaries in England – Volume two: Constituency names, designations and composition – South East". Boundary Commission for England. Retrieved 12 June 2024.
- ^ Bindoff, p. 30
- ^ "Conservative Members of Parliament 2015". UK Political.info. Archived from the original on 8 June 2017. Retrieved 12 February 2017.
- ^ The public general acts. Proprietors of the Law Journal Reports, 1884.
- ^ Craig, Fred WS (1972). Boundaries of parliamentary constituencies 1885-1972;. Chichester: Political Reference Publications. ISBN 0900178094. OCLC 539011.
- ^ "Representation of the People Act, 1948". legislation.gov.uk. Retrieved 12 February 2019.
- ^ "The Parliamentary Constituencies (England) Order 1970". legislation.gov.uk. Retrieved 12 February 2019.
- ^ "The Parliamentary Constituencies (England) Order 1983". legislation.gov.uk. Retrieved 12 February 2019.
- ^ "The Parliamentary Constituencies (England) Order 1995". legislation.gov.uk. Retrieved 12 February 2019.
- ^ "The Parliamentary Constituencies (England) Order 2007". legislation.gov.uk. Retrieved 12 February 2019.
- ^ "The Parliamentary Constituencies Order 2023". Schedule 1 Part 6 South East region.
- ^ Baker, Carl; Johnston, Neil (20 March 2024). "Boundary review 2023: Which seats will change in the UK?".
- ^ Banbury in 1835 Old Towns Books & Maps
- ^ Succeeded as baronet, July 1615
- ^ a b Leigh Rayment's Historical List of MPs – Constituencies beginning with "B" (part 1)
- ^ Created a baronet, June 1663
- ^ Expelled from the House of Commons
- ^ Knollys claimed and used the title Viscount Wallingford, but his claim was disallowed by the House of Lords
- ^ a b c d e f g h Stooks Smith, Henry (1845). The Parliaments of England, from 1st George I, to the Present Time. Vol II: Oxfordshire to Wales Inclusive. London: Simpkin, Marshall, & Co. pp. 3–4. Retrieved 18 August 2018 – via Google Books.
- ^ "Election News". Northern Star and Leeds General Advertiser. 10 July 1841. p. 23. Retrieved 15 November 2018 – via British Newspaper Archive.
- ^ Churton, Edward (1838). The Assembled Commons or Parliamentary Biographer: 1838. pp. 74, 79. Retrieved 15 November 2018 – via Google Books.
- ^ "Nottingham Review and General Advertiser for the Midland Counties". 25 August 1837. p. 4. Retrieved 15 November 2018 – via British Newspaper Archive.
- ^ "General Election, 1841". Morning Post. 29 June 1841. pp. 2–4. Retrieved 15 November 2018 – via British Newspaper Archive.
- ^ Churton, Edward (1838). The Assembled Commons or Parliamentary Biographer: 1838. p. 220. Retrieved 26 October 2018 – via Google Books.
- ^ "Election Movements in England". Northern Standard. 19 June 1841. p. 1. Retrieved 26 October 2018 – via British Newspaper Archive. (subscription required)
- ^ a b Tancred, Henry William (1969). Trinder, Barrie Stuart (ed.). A Victorian M.P. and his constituents: the correspondence of H. W. Tancred, 1841-1859 (Illustrated ed.). Banbury Historical Society. p. 105.
- ^ a b c d Potts, A (1969). "The educational work of Sir Bernhard Samuelson (1820-1905) with special reference to technical education" (PDF). Durham E-Theses Online. Durham University. Retrieved 7 April 2018.
- ^ Created a baronet, June 1916
- ^ Stewart, Gordon (7 June 2024). "Election of a Member of Parliament for Banbury Constituency" (PDF). Retrieved 7 June 2024 – via Cherwell District Council.
- ^ "Banbury - General election results 2024". BBC News.
- ^ "Notional results for a UK general election on 12 December 2019". Rallings & Thrasher, Professor David Denver (Scotland), Nicholas Whyte (NI) for Sky News, PA, BBC News and ITV News. UK Parliament. Retrieved 11 July 2024.
- ^ "Banbury Parliamentary constituency". BBC News. BBC. Retrieved 26 November 2019.
- ^ "Election Data 2015". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 17 October 2015. Retrieved 17 October 2015.
- ^ "Cherwell District Council". Cherwell District Council. Archived from the original on 23 September 2015. Retrieved 17 June 2015.
- ^ "Banbury Parliamentary Constituency". Election 2017. BBC News.
- ^ "Victoria Prentis selected as Parliamentary Candidate". Archived from the original on 18 December 2014. Retrieved 14 July 2017. North Oxfordshire Conservatives
- ^ "Oxfordshire PPC Candidates: first in south east". UKIP South East. 12 September 2014. Archived from the original on 13 April 2015. Retrieved 16 January 2015.
- ^ "Ian Middleton - Green Party Parliamentary Candidate for Banbury". Oxfordshire Green Party.
- ^ Total electorate 88420 from Cherwell District Council elections office, 28 May 2015 and accepted by House of Commons Library, 18 June 2015
- ^ "Politics Resources". Election 1992. Politics Resources. 9 April 1992. Archived from the original on 24 July 2011. Retrieved 6 December 2010.
- ^ "1983 General Election - Banbury". Retrieved 11 December 2023.
- ^ The Times' Guide to the House of Commons. 1950.
- ^ Banbury Advertiser 27 July 1939
- ^ British Parliamentary Election Results 1918–49, FWS Craig
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v British parliamentary election results, 1885–1918 (Craig)
- ^ "Complimentary Banquet to L. M. Wynne, Esq". Oxford Journal. 24 September 1892. p. 8. Retrieved 21 November 2017.
- ^ "Representation of Banbury". Derby Telegraph. 19 February 1880. p. 3. Retrieved 23 November 2017.
- ^ "Banbury". Northampton Mercury. 28 March 1874. p. 8. Retrieved 27 December 2017 – via British Newspaper Archive. (subscription required)
- ^ "Banbury". Yorkshire Post and Leeds Intelligencer. 16 November 1868. pp. 3–4. Retrieved 28 January 2018 – via British Newspaper Archive. (subscription required)
- ^ "Banbury". Oxford Times. 22 July 1865. p. 7. Retrieved 28 January 2018 – via British Newspaper Archive. (subscription required)
- ^ "The General Election". North Devon Gazette. 24 March 1857. p. 4. Retrieved 7 April 2018 – via British Newspaper Archive. (subscription required)
- ^ "Election Intelligence". Liverpool Mail. 24 July 1847. p. 5. Retrieved 26 October 2018 – via British Newspaper Archive. (subscription required)
- ^ "Banbury Election". Northampton Mercury. 3 July 1841. p. 3. Retrieved 26 October 2018 – via British Newspaper Archive.(subscription required)
- ^ "Banbury, June 17". Oxford Journal. 19 June 1841. p. 2. Retrieved 26 October 2018 – via British Newspaper Archive. (subscription required)
- ^ "Tory Misrule!". Public Ledger and Daily Advertiser. 2 January 1835. p. 1. Retrieved 7 September 2019 – via British Newspaper Archive.
Sources
- Iain Dale, ed. (2003). The Times House of Commons 1929, 1931, 1935. Politico's (reprint). ISBN 1-84275-033-X.
- The Times House of Commons 1945. 1945.
- The Times House of Commons 1950. 1950.
- The Times House of Commons 1955. 1955.
- Robert Beatson, A Chronological Register of Both Houses of Parliament (London: Longman, Hurst, Res & Orme, 1807) A Chronological Register of Both Houses of the British Parliament, from the Union in 1708, to the Third Parliament of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, in 1807
- Stanley T. Bindoff et al. (1982). The House of Commons: 1509 – 1558 ; 1, Appendices, constituencies, members A – C, Volume 4. Boydell & Brewer. ISBN 0-436-04282-7. pp. 30–31.
- D Brunton & D H Pennington, Members of the Long Parliament (London: George Allen & Unwin, 1954)
- F W S Craig, British Parliamentary Election Results 1832–1885 (2nd edition, Aldershot: Parliamentary Research Services, 1989)
- The Constitutional Year Book for 1913 (London: National Union of Conservative and Unionist Associations, 1913)
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51°58′N 1°24′W / 51.97°N 1.40°W / 51.97; -1.40