Cheltenham (UK Parliament constituency)

Coordinates: 51°53′24″N 2°04′41″W / 51.890°N 2.078°W / 51.890; -2.078
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Cheltenham
Borough constituency
for the House of Commons
Outline map
Boundary of Cheltenham in Gloucestershire
Outline map
Location of Gloucestershire within England
CountyGloucestershire
Population104,867 (2011 census)[1]
Electorate77,937 (December 2010)[2]
Major settlementsCheltenham
Current constituency
Created1832
Member of ParliamentAlex Chalk (Conservative)
SeatsOne
Created fromGloucestershire

Cheltenham (/ˈɛltənəm/) is a constituency[n 1] in Gloucestershire represented in the House of Commons of the UK Parliament since 1832. As with all constituencies, it elects one Member of Parliament (MP) by the first past the post system of election at least every five years. Since 2015, its MP has been Alex Chalk, who was appointed Secretary of State for Justice in 2023.

Boundaries and boundary changes[edit]

Map
Map of present boundaries (since 2010 general election)

1885-1918: The existing parliamentary borough, and so much of the parish of Charlton Kings as lay to the north of the railway from Cheltenham to Banbury.[3]

1918–1950: The Municipal Borough of Cheltenham and the Urban District of Charlton Kings.[4]

1950–1983: As 1918 but with redrawn boundaries.

1983–1997: The Borough of Cheltenham, and the Borough of Tewkesbury wards of Leckhampton with Up Hatherley, Prestbury St Mary's, and Prestbury St Nicolas.

Leckhampton, Up Hatherley and Prestbury were added to the seat from the Cirencester and Tewkesbury constituency; they had previously been in the abolished Cheltenham Rural District.

1997–2010: The Borough of Cheltenham wards of All Saints, Charlton Kings, College, Hatherley and The Reddings, Hesters Way, Lansdown, Park, Pittville, St Mark's, St Paul's, and St Peter's.

Leckhampton, Up Hatherley and Prestbury were transferred to the new Tewkesbury constituency; they had been incorporated into the redrawn Borough of Cheltenham in 1991.

2010–present: The Borough of Cheltenham wards of All Saints, Battledown, Benhall and The Reddings, Charlton Kings, Charlton Park, College, Hesters Way, Lansdown, Leckhampton, Oakley, Park, Pittville, St Mark's, St Paul's, St Peter's, Springbank, Up Hatherley, and Warden Hill.

Leckhampton and Up Hatherley were transferred back to this seat from the Tewkesbury seat.

As its name suggests the constituency is based on the town of Cheltenham in Gloucestershire, covering a different, slightly smaller area than the borough of the same name. It is bordered by the Tewkesbury and Cotswolds seats.

Proposed[edit]

The composition of the constituency from the next general election, due by January 2025, will be reduced in order to bring the electorate within the permitted range by transferring the Springbank ward to Tewkesbury.[5]

Constituency profile[edit]

Famous for its racecourse which hosts the annual Cheltenham Gold Cup in March, with a long-established girls' school and right at the edge of the Cotswold Hills, Cheltenham has a large tourism sector. GE Aviation is a large employer and GCHQ, the government communications centre, is here, so numbers of highly skilled workers and professionals (47.5% in the year ended September 2014[6]) are well above the national average (44.6%[6]). One of the West of England's most upmarket towns, the few neighbourhoods of medium levels in the Index of Multiple Deprivation are almost wholly in Hester's Way ward which has the most social housing. About 10%[citation needed] of the electorate are students at the University of Gloucestershire just outside the compact town centre. A Liberal Democrat served the seat from 1992 when their candidate Nigel Jones overturned four decades of Conservative MPs to 2015 when the Tories regained the seat.

History[edit]

Cheltenham borough constituency was created in the Great Reform Act of 1832 and has returned nine Liberals (or Liberal Democrats) and nine Conservatives to Parliament since that time, along with one independent.

A Conservative served the constituency from 1950 until 1992. The Conservatives' campaign in the 1992 general election following the Poll Tax riots saw a local party member make racist remarks about their own candidate, John Taylor, who was of Afro-Caribbean descent. Taylor lost the election to Nigel Jones of the Liberal Democrats.

In 2000, Jones was nearly murdered in a horrific incident at one of his MP's surgeries; a man attacked him and an assistant with a samurai sword. His colleague Andrew Pennington was killed in the attack. Jones was made a life peer in 2005. The Liberal Democrats held Cheltenham in the 2005 election when Martin Horwood won the election, and again in 2010, but lost when the Conservatives retook the seat in 2015.

Members of Parliament[edit]

Election Member[7][8] Party Notes
1832 Hon. Craven Berkeley Whig[9][10][11][12][13] Son of the 5th Earl of Berkeley
1847 Sir Willoughby Jones Conservative Unseated on petition
1848, June by-election Hon. Craven Berkeley Whig[9][10][11][12] Unseated on petition
1848, September by-election Grenville Berkeley Whig[14]
1852 Hon. Craven Berkeley Whig[9][10][11][12] Died 1855
1855 by-election Grenville Berkeley Whig[14]
1856 by-election Francis Berkeley Whig[15] Later 2nd Baron FitzHardinge
1859 Liberal
1865 Charles Schreiber Conservative
1868 Henry Samuelson Liberal
1874 James Agg-Gardner Conservative
1880 Charles de Ferrieres Liberal
1885 James Agg-Gardner Conservative
1895 Francis Shirley Russell Conservative
1900 James Agg-Gardner Conservative
1906 John Sears Liberal
1910, January Vere Ponsonby Conservative Later 9th Earl of Bessborough
1910, December Richard Mathias Liberal Unseated on petition
1911 by-election Sir James Agg-Gardner Conservative Knighted in 1916
1928 by-election Sir Walter Preston Conservative
1937 by-election Daniel Lipson Independent Conservative
1945 Independent
1950 W. W. Hicks Beach Conservative
1964 Sir Douglas Dodds-Parker Conservative
Oct 1974 Charles Irving Conservative
1992 Nigel Jones Liberal Democrats Later a life peer as Baron Jones of Cheltenham
2005 Martin Horwood Liberal Democrats
2015 Alex Chalk Conservative

Elections[edit]

Elections in the 2020s[edit]

Next general election: Cheltenham
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Democrats Max Wilkinson[16]
Green Daniel Wilson[17]

Elections in the 2010s[edit]

In 2019, Cheltenham was one of five English constituencies, the others being Esher and Walton, Westmorland and Lonsdale, Winchester and East Devon, where Labour failed to obtain over 5% of the vote and lost their deposit.[18]

General election 2019: Cheltenham[19][20]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Alex Chalk 28,486 48.0 +1.3
Liberal Democrats Max Wilkinson 27,505 46.3 +4.1
Labour George Penny 2,921 4.9 ―4.6
Monster Raving Loony George Ridgeon 445 0.7 New
Majority 981 1.7 ―2.8
Turnout 59,357 73.2 +0.9
Registered electors 81,043 +2.7
Conservative hold Swing ―1.3
General election 2017: Cheltenham[21]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Alex Chalk[22] 26,615 46.7 +0.6
Liberal Democrats Martin Horwood[23][24] 24,046 42.2 +8.2
Labour Keith White 5,408 9.5 +2.2
Green Adam Van Coevorden 943 1.7 ―3.3
Majority 2,569 4.5 ―7.6
Turnout 57,012 72.3 +2.8
Registered electors 78,878 +2.1
Conservative hold Swing ―3.8
General election 2015: Cheltenham[25][26]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Alex Chalk[27] 24,790 46.1 +4.9
Liberal Democrats Martin Horwood[27] 18,274 34.0 ―16.5
Labour Paul Gilbert[28] 3,902 7.3 +2.2
UKIP Christina Simmonds[29] 3,808 7.1 +4.8
Green Adam Van Coevorden 2,689 5.0 New
Independent Richard Lupson-Darnell[30] 272 0.5 New
Majority 6,516 12.1 N/A
Turnout 53,735 69.5 +2.5
Registered electors 77,287 ―2.2
Conservative gain from Liberal Democrats Swing +10.7
General election 2010: Cheltenham[31][32] [33]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Democrats Martin Horwood 26,659 50.5 +11.1
Conservative Mark Coote 21,739 41.2 +2.4
Labour James Green 2,703 5.1 ―6.7
UKIP Peter Bowman 1,192 2.3 +1.0
Monster Raving Loony Kenneth Hanks 493 0.9 New
Majority 4,920 9.3 +8.7
Turnout 52,786 67.0 +4.4
Registered electors 78,998 +3.0
Liberal Democrats hold Swing +4.3

Elections in the 2000s[edit]

General election 2005: Cheltenham[34]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Democrats Martin Horwood 18,122 41.5 ―6.2
Conservative Vanessa Gearson 15,819 36.3 +1.1
Labour Chris Evans 4,988 11.4 ―0.6
Independent Robert Hodges[35] 2,651 6.1 New
Green Keith Bessant 908 2.1 +0.3
UKIP Niall Warry 608 1.4 +0.2
Monster Raving Loony Kenneth Hanks 525 1.2 0.0
Majority 2,303 5.2 −7.3
Turnout 43,621 61.0 ―0.9
Registered electors 71,541 +5.9
Liberal Democrats hold Swing ―3.6
General election 2001: Cheltenham[36]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Democrats Nigel Jones 19,970 47.7 ―1.8
Conservative Rob Garnham 14,715 35.2 ―1.0
Labour Andrew Erlam 5,041 12.0 +1.9
Green Keith Bessant 735 1.8 New
Monster Raving Loony Kenneth Hanks 513 1.2 +0.4
UKIP James Carver 482 1.2 +0.6
ProLife Alliance Anthony Gates 272 0.7 +0.2
Independent Roger Everest 107 0.3 New
Majority 5,255 12.5 ―0.8
Turnout 41,835 61.9 ―12.1
Registered electors 67,563 ―0.6
Liberal Democrats hold Swing ―0.3

Elections in the 1990s[edit]

General election 1997: Cheltenham[37] [38]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Democrats Nigel Jones 24,877 49.5 +1.8
Conservative William Todman 18,232 36.2 ―7.9
Labour Barry Leach 5,100 10.1 +3.4
Referendum Alison Powell 1,065 2.1 New
Monster Raving Loony Kenneth Hanks 375 0.8 New
UKIP Gordon Cook 302 0.6 New
ProLife Alliance Anne Harriss 245 0.5 New
Natural Law Sally Brighouse 107 0.2 New
Majority 6,645 13.3 +9.9
Turnout 50,303 74.0 ―7.4
Registered electors 67,950 ―1.7
Liberal Democrats hold Swing +4.9
General election 1992: Cheltenham[39][40]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Democrats Nigel Jones 30,351 47.3 +5.0
Conservative John Taylor 28,683 44.7 ―5.5
Labour Pamela Tatlow 4,077 6.4 ―1.1
Independent Mervyn Rendell 665 1.0 New
Natural Law Henry Brighouse 169 0.3 New
Independent Mark Bruce-Smith 162 0.3 New
Majority 1,668 2.6 ―5.3
Turnout 64,107 80.3 +1.4
Registered electors 79,808 +0.7
Liberal Democrats gain from Conservative Swing +5.2

Elections in the 1980s[edit]

General election 1987: Cheltenham[41]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Charles Irving 31,371 50.2 ―0.4
Liberal Richard Holme 26,475 42.3 +1.3
Labour Michael Luker 4,701 7.5 ―0.1
Majority 4,896 7.9 ―1.7
Turnout 62,547 78.9 +3.0
Registered electors 79,234 +4.2
Conservative hold Swing ―0.9
General election 1983: Cheltenham[42] [43]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Charles Irving 29,187 50.6 ―1.1
Liberal Richard Holme 23,669 41.0 +11.4
Labour Judith James 4,390 7.6 ―10.5
Ecology David Swindley 479 0.8 New
Majority 5,518 9.6 ―12.5
Turnout 57,724 75.9 ―2.5
Registered electors 76,068 +2.7
Conservative hold Swing ―6.3

Elections in the 1970s[edit]

General election 1979: Cheltenham
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Charles Irving 25,618 51.0 +4.9
Liberal Nigel Jones 15,080 30.0 +1.9
Labour Michael Reilley 9,185 18.3 −7.5
National Front Raymond Jacklin 342 0.7 New
Majority 10,538 21.0 +3.0
Turnout 50,225 77.6 +2.6
Registered electors 64,726 +3.2
Conservative hold Swing +1.5
General election October 1974: Cheltenham
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Charles Irving 21,691 46.1 +3.1
Liberal Frederick Carson Rodger 13,237 28.1 −3.2
Labour Fred Inglis 12,134 25.8 +0.1
Majority 8,454 18.0 +6.3
Turnout 47,062 75.0 −6.3
Registered electors 62,727 +1.0
Conservative hold Swing +3.1
General election February 1974: Cheltenham
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Douglas Dodds-Parker 21,723 43.0 −7.2
Liberal Frederick Carson Rodger 15,811 31.3 +12.8
Labour Hugh Gray 12,971 25.7 −5.6
Majority 5,912 11.7 −7.2
Turnout 50,505 81.3 +5.7
Registered electors 62,098
Conservative hold Swing −10.0
General election 1970: Cheltenham
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Douglas Dodds-Parker 22,823 50.2 −3.2
Labour Leslie George Godwin 14,213 31.3 −15.3
Liberal A George Aldridge 8,431 18.5 New
Majority 8,610 18.9 +12.1
Turnout 45,467 75.6 −1.6
Registered electors 60,141 +9.4
Conservative hold Swing +6.0

Elections in the 1960s[edit]

General election 1966: Cheltenham
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Douglas Dodds-Parker 22,683 53.4 +6.2
Labour W. John Wilson 19,768 46.6 +11.9
Majority 2,915 6.8 −5.7
Turnout 42,451 77.2 −0.3
Registered electors 54,964 +1.6
Conservative hold Swing −2.8
General election 1964: Cheltenham
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Douglas Dodds-Parker 19,797 47.2 −3.8
Labour Hugh Gray 14,557 34.7 +5.2
Liberal James Anthony Lemkin [44] 7,568 18.1 −1.4
Majority 5,240 12.5 −9.0
Turnout 41,922 77.5 −4.0
Registered electors 54,120 +2.2
Conservative hold Swing −4.5

Elections in the 1950s[edit]

General election 1959: Cheltenham
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative W. W. Hicks Beach 21,997 51.0 −8.3
Labour Kamalakant G. Pendse 12,725 29.5 −11.2
Liberal George Watson 8,428 19.5 New
Majority 9,272 21.5 +2.9
Turnout 43,150 81.5 +2.1
Registered electors 52,946 +2.8
Conservative hold Swing +1.4
General election 1955: Cheltenham
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative W. W. Hicks Beach 24,259 59.3 +2.2
Labour James Finnigan 16,638 40.7 −2.2
Majority 7,621 18.6 +4.4
Turnout 40,897 79.4 −3.8
Registered electors 51,491 +3.3
Conservative hold Swing +2.2
General election 1951: Cheltenham
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative W. W. Hicks Beach 23,674 57.1 +13.7
Labour James Finnigan 17,777 42.9 +11.5
Majority 5,897 14.2 +2.2
Turnout 41,451 83.2 −1.8
Registered electors 49,844 +2.2
Conservative hold Swing +1.1
General election 1950: Cheltenham
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative W. W. Hicks Beach 18,009 43.4
Labour A. G. James 13,027 31.4
Ind. Conservative Daniel Lipson 10,449 25.2
Majority 4,982 12.0 N/A
Turnout 41,485 85.0
Registered electors 48,786
Conservative gain from Ind. Conservative

Election in the 1940s[edit]

General election 1945: Cheltenham[45]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Ind. Conservative Daniel Lipson 16,081 43.3 N/A
Labour Phyllis Maude Warner 11,095 29.9 +0.4
Conservative W. W. Hicks Beach 9,972 26.8 -45.7
Majority 4,986 13.4 -27.6
Turnout 37,148 75.4 +5.0
Registered electors 49,282 +29.9
Ind. Conservative hold Swing +7.6

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;

Elections in the 1930s[edit]

1937 Cheltenham by-election[45]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Ind. Conservative Daniel Lipson 10,533 40.1 New
Conservative R. T. Harper 10,194 38.8 −31.7
Labour Cyril C Poole 5,570 21.2 −8.3
Majority 339 1.3 −39.7
Turnout 26,297 69.3 −1.1
Registered electors 37,947 +1.4
Ind. Conservative gain from Conservative
General election 1935: Cheltenham[45]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Walter Preston 18,574 70.5 -10.6
Labour Elizabeth Pakenham 7,784 29.5 +10.6
Majority 10,790 41.0 −21.2
Turnout 26,358 70.4 −4.8
Registered electors 37,428 +1.2
Conservative hold Swing −10.6
General election 1931: Cheltenham[45]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Walter Preston 22,524 81.1 +27.9
Labour John Ramage 5,263 18.9 +1.8
Majority 17,261 62.2 +38.7
Turnout 27,787 75.2 −4.6
Registered electors 36,974 +2.7
Conservative hold Swing +13.0

Elections in the 1920s[edit]

General election 1929: Cheltenham[45]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Unionist Walter Preston 15,279 53.2 ―3.4
Liberal Frank Raffety 8,533 29.7 ―13.7
Labour William Ramsey Piggott 4,920 17.1 N/A
Majority 6,746 23.5 +10.3
Turnout 28,732 79.8 ―2.9
Registered electors 35,993 +37.0
Unionist hold Swing +2.8
1928 Cheltenham by-election[45]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Unionist Walter Preston 10,438 49.5 −7.1
Liberal John Brunner 6,678 31.7 −11.7
Labour Florence Widdowson 3,962 18.8 New
Majority 3,760 17.8 +4.6
Turnout 21,078 80.3 −2.4
Registered electors 26,265 +3.2
Unionist hold Swing +2.3
General election 1924: Cheltenham[48]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Unionist James Agg-Gardner 11,909 56.6 +3.2
Liberal Stanley Holmes 9,146 43.4 −3.2
Majority 2,763 13.2 +6.4
Turnout 21,055 82.7 +3.2
Registered electors 25,454 +2.8
Unionist hold Swing +3.2
General election 1923: Cheltenham[48]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Unionist James Agg-Gardner 10,514 53.4 −4.6
Liberal Cuthbert Plaistowe 9,170 46.6 +4.6
Majority 1,344 6.8 −9.2
Turnout 19,684 79.5 −2.3
Registered electors 24,768 +3.2
Unionist hold Swing −4.6
General election 1922: Cheltenham[48]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Unionist James Agg-Gardner 11,383 58.0 −2.3
Liberal Cuthbert Plaistowe 8,237 42.0 New
Majority 3,146 16.0 −4.6
Turnout 19,620 81.8 +13.2
Registered electors 23,997 +3.4
Unionist hold Swing −2.3

Elections in the 1910s[edit]

General election 1918: Cheltenham[45]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Unionist James Agg-Gardner 9,602 60.3
Independent Liberal Richard Davies 6,317 39.7 New
Majority 3,285 20.6
Turnout 15,919 68.6
Registered electors 23,217
Unionist hold
C indicates candidate endorsed by the coalition government.

General Election 1914–15:

A general election was due to take place by the end of 1915. By the autumn of 1914, the following candidates had been adopted to contest that election.

Due to the outbreak of war, the election never took place.

1911 Cheltenham by-election[49]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative James Agg-Gardner 4,043 50.0 +0.6
Liberal Lewis Mathias 4,039 50.0 −0.6
Majority 4 0.0 N/A
Turnout 8,082 92.8 +1.8
Registered electors 8,712 +4.3
Conservative gain from Liberal Swing +0.6
Mathias
General election December 1910: Cheltenham[49]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Richard Mathias 3,846 50.6 +1.5
Conservative Vere Ponsonby 3,753 49.4 −1.5
Majority 93 1.2 N/A
Turnout 7,599 91.0 −2.8
Registered electors 8,353 0.0
Liberal gain from Conservative Swing +1.5
General election January 1910: Cheltenham[49]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Vere Ponsonby 3,988 50.9 +3.6
Liberal Richard Mathias 3,850 49.1 −3.6
Majority 138 1.8 N/A
Turnout 7,838 93.8 +2.4
Registered electors 8,353 +2.9
Conservative gain from Liberal Swing +3.6

Elections in the 1900s[edit]

Sears
General election 1906: Cheltenham[49]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal John Sears 3,910 52.7 New
Conservative James Agg-Gardner 3,509 47.3 N/A
Majority 401 5.4 N/A
Turnout 7,419 91.4 N/A
Registered electors 8,114 N/A
Liberal gain from Conservative
General election 1900: Cheltenham[50][51]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative James Agg-Gardner Unopposed
Conservative hold

Elections in the 1890s[edit]

General election 1895: Cheltenham[50][51]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Francis Russell 3,409 53.5 −1.9
Liberal Wilfrid T Blaydes 2,940 46.1 +1.5
Independent Labour Alton William Hillen 23 0.4 New
Majority 469 7.4 −3.4
Turnout 6,372 88.9 +0.8
Registered electors 7,169 +7.9
Conservative hold Swing −1.7
General election 1892: Cheltenham[50]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative James Agg-Gardner 3,241 55.4 −4.1
Liberal Frank Debenham 2,610 44.6 +4.1
Majority 631 10.8 −8.2
Turnout 5,851 88.1 +1.7
Registered electors 6,642 +2.8
Conservative hold Swing −4.1

Elections in the 1880s[edit]

General election 1886: Cheltenham[50]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative James Agg-Gardner 3,323 59.5 +3.0
Liberal Russell Hugh Worthington Biggs 2,260 40.5 −3.0
Majority 1,063 19.0 +6.0
Turnout 5,583 86.4 −9.6
Registered electors 6,464 +3.0
Conservative hold Swing +3.0
Lehmann
General election 1885: Cheltenham[50][52]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative James Agg-Gardner 3,504 56.5 +6.7
Liberal R. C. Lehmann 2,700 43.5 −6.7
Majority 804 13.0 N/A
Turnout 6,204 96.0 +4.1
Registered electors 6,464 +28.8
Conservative gain from Liberal Swing +6.7
General election 1880: Cheltenham[53]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Charles de Ferrieres 2,318 50.2 +3.7
Conservative James Agg-Gardner 2,297 49.8 −3.7
Majority 21 0.4 N/A
Turnout 4,615 91.9 +2.6
Registered electors 5,018 +13.1
Liberal gain from Conservative Swing +3.7

Election in the 1870s[edit]

General election 1874: Cheltenham[53]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative James Agg-Gardner 2,121 53.5 +6.5
Liberal Henry Samuelson 1,842 46.5 −6.5
Majority 279 7.0 N/A
Turnout 3,963 89.3 +1.5
Registered electors 4,438 +25.5
Conservative gain from Liberal Swing +6.5

Elections in the 1860s[edit]

General election 1868: Cheltenham[53]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Henry Samuelson 1,646 53.0 +3.6
Conservative James Agg-Gardner 1,458 47.0 −3.6
Majority 188 6.0 N/A
Turnout 3,104 87.8 +6.0
Registered electors 3,536 +26.6
Liberal gain from Conservative Swing +3.6
General election 1865: Cheltenham[53]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Charles Schreiber 1,157 50.6 +0.9
Liberal Francis Berkeley 1,129 49.4 −0.9
Majority 28 1.2 N/A
Turnout 2,286 81.8 −2.6
Registered electors 2,793 +28.7
Conservative gain from Liberal Swing +0.9

Elections in the 1850s[edit]

General election 1859: Cheltenham[53]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Francis Berkeley 922 50.3 N/A
Conservative Charles Schreiber 910 49.7 New
Majority 12 0.6 N/A
Turnout 1,832 84.4 N/A
Registered electors 2,171
Liberal hold
General election 1857: Cheltenham[53]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Whig Francis Berkeley Unopposed
Registered electors 2,170
Whig hold
By-election, 8 May 1856: Cheltenham[53]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Whig Francis Berkeley 841 56.2 +2.7
Conservative Edmund Gilling Hallewell[54] 655 43.8 −2.7
Majority 186 12.4 +5.4
Turnout 1,496 68.9 −8.9
Registered electors 2,170
Whig hold Swing +2.7
  • Caused by Berkeley's appointment as a Commissioner of Customs.
By-election, 14 July 1855: Cheltenham[53]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Whig Grenville Berkeley 760 81.0 +27.5
Conservative William Ridler[55] 178 19.0 −27.5
Majority 582 62.0 +55.0
Turnout 938 43.7 −34.1
Registered electors 2,147
Whig hold Swing +27.5
  • Caused by Berkeley's death.
General election 1852: Cheltenham[53]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Whig Craven Berkeley 999 53.5 +6.4
Conservative Willoughby Jones 869 46.5 −6.4
Majority 130 7.0 N/A
Turnout 1,868 77.8 −4.3
Registered electors 2,400
Whig gain from Conservative Swing +6.3

Elections in the 1840s[edit]

By-election, 4 September 1848: Cheltenham[53]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Whig Grenville Berkeley 986 54.1 +7.0
Conservative Bickham Escott[56] 835 45.9 −7.0
Majority 151 8.2 N/A
Turnout 1,821 77.7 −4.4
Registered electors 2,345
Whig gain from Conservative Swing +6.9
  • Election declared void on petition due to "acts of corruption"[57]
By-election, 29 June 1848: Cheltenham[53]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Whig Craven Berkeley 1,024 54.7 +7.6
Conservative James Agg-Gardner 848 45.3 −7.4
Majority 176 9.4 N/A
Turnout 1,872 79.8 −2.3
Registered electors 2,345
Whig gain from Conservative Swing +7.5
  • Election declared void on petition due to bribery[58]
General election 1847: Cheltenham[53]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Willoughby Jones 1,015 52.7 +6.7
Whig Craven Berkeley 907 47.1 −6.6
Conservative Edmund Carrington Smith[56] 4 0.2 N/A
Majority 108 5.6 N/A
Turnout 1,926 82.1 +11.1
Registered electors 2,345
Conservative gain from Whig Swing +6.7
General election 1841: Cheltenham[53][13]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Whig Craven Berkeley 764 53.7 −14.3
Conservative James Agg-Gardner 655 46.0 +14.0
Radical Thomas Perronet Thompson[59][56] 4 0.3 N/A
Majority 109 7.7 −28.3
Turnout 1,423 71.0 +0.8
Registered electors 2,003
Whig hold Swing −14.2

Elections in the 1830s[edit]

General election 1837: Cheltenham[53][13]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Whig Craven Berkeley 632 68.0 −26.3
Conservative Jonathan Peel 298 32.0 New
Majority 334 36.0 −52.6
Turnout 930 70.2 +24.8
Registered electors 1,324
Whig hold
General election 1835: Cheltenham[53][13]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Whig Craven Berkeley 411 94.3 N/A
Radical William Penn Gaskell 25 5.7 N/A
Majority 386 88.6 N/A
Turnout 436 45.4 N/A
Registered electors 960
Whig hold Swing N/A
General election 1832: Cheltenham[53][13]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Whig Craven Berkeley Unopposed
Registered electors 919
Whig win (new seat)

See also[edit]

Notes[edit]

  1. ^ A borough constituency (for the purposes of election expenses and type of returning officer)

References[edit]

  1. ^ "Cheltenham: Usual Resident Population, 2011". Neighbourhood Statistics. Office for National Statistics. Retrieved 21 February 2015.
  2. ^ "Electorate Figures – Boundary Commission for England". 2011 Electorate Figures. Boundary Commission for England. 4 March 2011. Archived from the original on 6 November 2010. Retrieved 13 March 2011.
  3. ^ "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.
  4. ^ Fraser, Hugh (1918). The Representation of the People Act, 1918: with explanatory notes. London: Sweet and Maxwell.
  5. ^ "The Parliamentary Constituencies Order 2023". Schedule 1 Part 7 South West region.
  6. ^ a b "Constituency Profile". nomis Constituency Profile for Cheltenham. Source: Office for National Statistics. Retrieved 21 February 2015.
  7. ^ "Cheltenham 1832–". Parliamentary Debates (Hansard). Retrieved 2 February 2015.
  8. ^ Leigh Rayment's Historical List of MPs – Constituencies beginning with "C" (part 3)
  9. ^ a b c Horwood, Martin. "The Honourable Craven Berkeley". Martin Horwood for Cheltenham. Archived from the original on 28 April 2018. Retrieved 27 April 2018.
  10. ^ a b c Benson, Derek (2012). "William Penn Gaskell (1808–1882)". Cheltenham Local History Society Journal (28). Retrieved 27 April 2018.
  11. ^ a b c "The General Election". The Spectator. 31 July 1847. p. 2. Retrieved 27 April 2018.
  12. ^ a b c Mosse, Richard B. (1838). The Parliamentary Guide: a concise history of the Members of both Houses, etc. p. 142. Retrieved 27 April 2018.
  13. ^ a b c d e Stooks Smith, Henry. (1973) [1844–1850]. Craig, F. W. S. (ed.). The Parliaments of England (2nd ed.). Chichester: Parliamentary Research Services. p. 114. ISBN 0-900178-13-2.
  14. ^ a b Horwood, Martin. "Grenville Berkeley". Martin Horwood for Cheltenham. Archived from the original on 28 April 2018. Retrieved 27 April 2018.
  15. ^ Horwood, Martin. "Colonel Francis Berkeley". Martin Horwood for Cheltenham. Archived from the original on 28 April 2018. Retrieved 27 April 2018.
  16. ^ Pack, Mark (1 March 2022). "Max Wilkinson re-selected by Lib Dem in Cheltenham". Mark Pack. Retrieved 25 February 2023.
  17. ^ "Daniel Wilson selected as Cheltenham parliamentary candidate". Green World. Retrieved 25 February 2023.
  18. ^ "Election results 2019: Greens lose the most deposits - BBC News".
  19. ^ "Statement of Persons Nominated".
  20. ^ "2019 Election Results". Retrieved 13 December 2019.
  21. ^ "UK Parliamentary election: Cheltenham constituency Statement of Persons Nominated and Notice of Poll" (PDF). Cheltenham Borough Council. Patricia Pratley, Acting Returning Officer. Archived from the original (PDF) on 17 May 2017. Retrieved 17 May 2017.
  22. ^ "General Election 2017: Cheltenham MP Alex Chalk says Conservative victory would provide stability". Gloucestershire Live. 19 April 2017. Archived from the original on 19 April 2017. Retrieved 19 April 2017.
  23. ^ "Horwood 'delighted' to be Lib Dem candidate amid "orgy of infighting"". Gloucestershire Live. 21 July 2016. Archived from the original on 19 April 2017. Retrieved 16 October 2016.
  24. ^ "General Election 2017: Former Cheltenham MP says "it's a nakedly opportunistic election to call"". Gloucestershire Live. 18 April 2017. Archived from the original on 19 April 2017. Retrieved 19 April 2017.
  25. ^ "Election Data 2015". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 17 October 2015. Retrieved 17 October 2015.
  26. ^ Council, Cheltenham Borough (7 May 2015). "Election results for Cheltenham, 7 May 2015". democracy.cheltenham.gov.uk.
  27. ^ a b "UK ELECTION RESULTS". electionresults.blogspot.co.uk.
  28. ^ "Paul Gilbert". YourNextMP.
  29. ^ "UKIP Cheltenham". ukipcheltenham.org.uk. Archived from the original on 28 January 2015. Retrieved 24 January 2015.
  30. ^ jrmaidment (29 October 2014). "Cheltenham Decides 2015: Meet the independent MP candidate Richard Lupson-Darnell". Glocestershire Echo. Archived from the original on 28 January 2015. Retrieved 24 January 2015.
  31. ^ "Election Data 2010". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 26 July 2013. Retrieved 17 October 2015.
  32. ^ Acting Returning officer (7 May 2010). "Election Results – Cheltenham Borough Council". Electoral Services. Cheltenham Borough Council. Retrieved 14 May 2010.
  33. ^ Percentage change and swing for 2010 is calculated relative to the PA (Rallings and Thrasher) 2005 notional result, not actual 2005 result "Press Association Elections". Press Association. Archived from the original on 13 June 2018. Retrieved 17 July 2017.
  34. ^ "Election Data 2005". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
  35. ^ "Doctor plans to fight West seat". BBC News. 15 April 2005.
  36. ^ "Election Data 2001". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
  37. ^ "Election Data 1997". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
  38. ^ Percentage change and swing for 1997 is calculated relative to the Rallings and Thrasher 1992 notional constituency result, not actual 1992 result. See C. Rallings & M. Thrasher, The Media Guide to the New Parliamentary Constituencies (Plymouth: LGC Elections Centre, 1995)
  39. ^ "Election Data 1992". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
  40. ^ "Politics Resources". Election 1992. Politics Resources. 9 April 1992. Archived from the original on 24 July 2011. Retrieved 6 December 2010.
  41. ^ "Election Data 1987". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
  42. ^ "Election Data 1983". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
  43. ^ Percentage change and swing for 1983 is calculated relative to the BBC/ITN 1979 notional constituency result, not actual 1979 result. See British Broadcasting Corporation; Independent Television News. The BBC/ITN Guide to the New Parliamentary Constituencies (Chichester: Parliamentary Research Services 1983)
  44. ^ ‘LEMKIN, James Anthony’, Who Was Who, A & C Black, an imprint of Bloomsbury Publishing plc, 1920–2016; online edn, Oxford University Press, 2014 ; online edn, April 2014 accessed 18 Oct 2017
  45. ^ a b c d e f g British parliamentary election results, 1918–1949 (Craig)
  46. ^ Cheltenham Chronicle, 25 February 1939
  47. ^ Cheltenham Chronicle, 20 January 1939
  48. ^ a b c Craig, F. W. S. (1983). British parliamentary election results 1918–1949 (3 ed.). Chichester: Parliamentary Research Services. ISBN 0-900178-06-X.
  49. ^ a b c d British parliamentary election results, 1885–1918 (Craig)
  50. ^ a b c d e The Liberal Year Book, 1907
  51. ^ a b Debrett's House of Commons & Judicial Bench, 1901
  52. ^ Debrett's House of Commons & Judicial Bench, 1886
  53. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p Craig, F. W. S., ed. (1977). British Parliamentary Election Results 1832–1885 (1st ed.). London: Macmillan Press. pp. 84–85. ISBN 978-1-349-02349-3.
  54. ^ "Election Intelligence". North Devon Gazette. 13 May 1856. p. 3. Retrieved 27 April 2018 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  55. ^ "Cheltenham Election". Cheltenham Chronicle. 10 July 1855. p. 2. Retrieved 27 April 2018 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  56. ^ a b c William, William Retlaw (1898). The parliamentary history of the county of Gloucester, including the cities of Bristol and Gloucester, and the boroughs of Cheltenham, Cirencester, Stroud, and Tewkesbury, from the earliest times to the present day, 1213–1898. Herford: Jakeman and Carver. pp. 145–150.
  57. ^ "Cheltenham Election Petition". Cheltenham Journal and Gloucestershire Fashionable Weekly Gazette. 14 August 1848. p. 3. Retrieved 1 November 2018 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  58. ^ "Miscellaneous". Sheffield Independent. 3 June 1848. p. 5. Retrieved 1 November 2018 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  59. ^ "The Elections". Northern Star and Leeds General Advertiser. 3 July 1841. p. 7. Retrieved 1 November 2018 – via British Newspaper Archive.

External links[edit]

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