Somerton and Frome (UK Parliament constituency)

Somerton and Frome
County constituency
for the House of Commons
Boundary of Somerton and Frome in Somerset.
Location of Somerset within England.
County	Somerset
Electorate	82,150 (December 2010)
Current constituency
Created	1983 (1983)
Member of Parliament	David Heath (Liberal Democrats)
Number of members	One
Created from	Wells
Overlaps
European Parliament constituency	South West England

Somerton and Frome is a county constituency of the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. The current MP is David Heath of the Liberal Democrats, first elected at the 1997 general election.

Boundaries

The constituency was created in 1983 from parts of the seat of Wells. It covers the east of the district of Mendip and the north of the district of South Somerset. The Liberal Democrats have held the seat since 1997, with increasing majorities each election.

The electoral wards used in the composition of Somerton and Frome come from Mendip, and South Somerset districts. They are:

• From Mendip; Ammerdown, Beckington and Selwood, Butleigh and Baltonsborough, Coleford and Holcombe, Cranmore, Doulting and Nunney, Creech, Frome Berkley Down, Frome College, Frome Keyford, Frome Market, Frome Oakfield, Frome Park, Postlebury, Rode and Norton St. Philip, and The Pennards and Ditcheat
• From South Somerset; Blackmoor Vale, Bruton, Burrow Hill, Camelot, Cary, Curry Rivel, Islemoor, Langport and Huish, Martock, Milborne Port, Northstone, Tower, Turn Hill, Wessex, and Wincanton.

Members of Parliament

Election		Member	Party
	1983	Robert Boscawen	Conservative
	1992	Mark Robinson	Conservative
	1997	David Heath	Liberal Democrat

Elections

Elections in the 2010s

General Election 2010: Somerton and Frome
Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Liberal Democrat	David Heath	28,793	47.5	+3.8
	Conservative	Annunziata Rees-Mogg	26,976	44.5	+1.9
	Labour	David Oakensen	2,675	4.4	-6.4
	UKIP	Barry Harding	1,932	3.2	+1.3
	Independent	Niall Warry	236	0.4	+0.4
Majority			1,817	3.0	+1.5
Turnout			60,612	74.3	+5.1
	Liberal Democrat hold		Swing	+0.9

Elections in the 2000s

General Election 2005: Somerton and Frome
Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Liberal Democrat	David Heath	23,759	43.9	+0.3
	Conservative	Clive Allen	22,947	42.4	0.0
	Labour	Joseph Pestell	5,865	10.8	−0.8
	UKIP	Bill Lukins	1,047	1.9	+0.2
	Veritas	Carl Beaman	484	0.9	N/A
Majority			812	1.5	+0.3
Turnout			54,102	70.7	+1.4
	Liberal Democrat hold		Swing	+0.2

General Election 2001: Somerton and Frome
Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Liberal Democrat	David Heath	22,983	43.6	+4.1
	Conservative	Jonathan Marland	22,315	42.4	+3.1
	Labour	Andy Perkins	6,113	11.6	-4.7
	UKIP	Peter Bridgwood	919	1.7	+1.2
	Liberal	Jean Pollock	354	0.7	N/A
Majority			668	1.2	+1.0
Turnout			52,684	69.3	-8.0
	Liberal Democrat hold		Swing

Elections in the 1990s

General Election 1997: Somerton and Frome
Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Liberal Democrat	David Heath	22,684	39.5	-0.7
	Conservative	Mark Robinson	22,554	39.3	-8.2
	Labour	R Ashford	9,385	16.3	+5.9
	Referendum Party	R Rodwell	2,449	4.3	N/A
	UKIP	R Gadd	331	0.6	N/A
Majority			130	0.2
Turnout			57,403	77.3	-5.4
	Liberal Democrat gain from Conservative		Swing

General Election 1992: Somerton and Frome
Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Conservative	Mark Robinson	28,052	47.5	−6.2
	Liberal Democrat	David Heath	23,711	40.2	+3.9
	Labour	R Ashford	6,154	10.4	+0.4
	Green	Ms. LA Graham	742	1.3	N/A
	Liberal	Ms. J Pollock	388	0.7	N/A
Majority			4,341	7.4	−10.1
Turnout			59,047	82.7	+3.3
	Conservative hold		Swing	−5.1

See also

• List of Parliamentary constituencies in Somerset