- Source: Devizes (UK Parliament constituency)
Devizes was a constituency in Wiltshire, England, which included four towns and many villages in the middle and east of the county. The seat was held by members of the Conservative Party continuously for a century from 1924.
Further to the completion of the 2023 Periodic Review of Westminster constituencies, the seat was subject to boundary changes which entailed the loss of the town of Devizes to the newly created constituency of Melksham and Devizes. As a consequence, it was renamed East Wiltshire, and first contested under its new name at the 2024 general election.
History
Until 1885 Devizes was a parliamentary borough, electing two Members of Parliament (MPs) by the bloc vote system until the 1868 election, when the Reform Act 1867 reduced its representation to one MP, elected by the first-past-the-post system of election. The Redistribution of Seats Act 1885 abolished the parliamentary borough, and created a new county constituency of the same name, covering a wider area and electing one member. It returned a Conservative MP at every election from 1924.
Its most notable MP was Henry Addington, who held the seat during his term as Prime Minister, as well as when he was Speaker of the House of Commons.
Boundaries
1885–1918: The Boroughs of Devizes and Marlborough, the Sessional Divisions of Devizes, Everley, and Marlborough and Ramsbury, and part of the Sessional Division of Pewsey.
1918–1950: The Boroughs of Devizes and Marlborough, the Rural Districts of Devizes, Marlborough, Pewsey, and Ramsbury, and part of the Rural District of Highworth.
1950–1983: The Boroughs of Devizes and Marlborough, and the Rural Districts of Devizes, Highworth, Marlborough and Ramsbury, and Pewsey.
1983–1997: The District of Kennet, and the Borough of Thamesdown wards of Blunsdon, Chiseldon, Covingham, Highworth, Ridgeway, St Margaret, St Philip, and Wroughton.
1997–2010: The District of Kennet, the District of North Wiltshire wards of Calne Abberd, Calne Central, Calne North, Calne North East, Calne South, and Calne Without, and the District of West Wiltshire wards of Blackmore Forest, Melksham Forest, Melksham Lambourne, Melksham Roundpoint, Melksham Town, and Melksham Woodrow.
2010–2024: The District of Kennet, and the District of Salisbury wards of Bulford and Durrington.
The constituency covered Devizes in Wiltshire and the surrounding former Kennet district, which included the towns of Marlborough, Ludgershall and Tidworth, together with the large villages of Bulford, Durrington and Pewsey.
Members of Parliament
= 1295–1640
== 1640–1832
== 1832–1868
== Since 1868
=Devizes has been a safe Conservative seat since 1945. The last Member of Parliament was Danny Kruger who had been first elected at the 2019 general election, succeeding Claire Perry O'Neill, who stood down at that election after nine years of holding the seat.
Fictional Member of Parliament
Devizes was the stated constituency of fictional Conservative MP The Honourable Sir Piers Fletcher-Dervish, Baronet, later Junior Minister for Housing, in the TV sitcom The New Statesman starring Rik Mayall as Alan B'Stard MP, which was produced and set during the same decade (1980s) that Charles Andrew Morrison was MP for the real-life seat. Sir Piers was portrayed by actor Michael Troughton.
Elections
= 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
== Elections 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;
Conservative: Percy Hurd,
Liberal: Frances Josephy
= Elections in the 1930s
== Elections in the 1920s
== Elections in the 1910s
=Election results 1885–1918
= Elections in the 1880s
== Elections in the 1890s
== Elections in the 1900s
== Elections 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;
Unionist: Basil Peto
Liberal: James Currie
Election results 1868–1880
= Elections in the 1860s
=Seat reduced to one member
= Elections in the 1870s
== Elections in the 1880s
=Election results 1832–1868
Gore resigned after defecting to the Tories, causing a by-election.
Locke's death caused a by-election.
Durham resigned, causing a by-election.
Dundas was appointed as Clerk of the Ordnance, requiring a by-election.
Following the by-election, Dundas was unseated due to bribery and Heneage was declared elected in his place
= Elections in the 1840s
=Sotheron resigned, by accepting the office of Steward of the Chiltern Hundreds, in order to contest a by-election at North Wiltshire, causing a by-election.
Bruges resigned by accepting the office of Steward of the Chiltern Hundreds, causing a by-election.
= Elections in the 1850s
== Elections in the 1860s
=Gladstone's death caused a by-election.
Addington succeeded to the peerage, causing a by-election.
Curling retired before polling day.
Election results before 1832
Some sources, including the corporation minutes, do not list Locke or Salmon as candidates. However, they are included here as per Stooks Smith.
See also
List of parliamentary constituencies in Wiltshire
Notes
References
External links
Craig, F. W. S. (1983). British parliamentary election results 1918–1949 (3 ed.). Chichester: Parliamentary Research Services. ISBN 0-900178-06-X.
Devizes UK Parliament constituency (boundaries April 1997 – April 2010) at MapIt UK
Devizes UK Parliament constituency (boundaries April 2010 – May 2024) at MapIt UK
Kata Kunci Pencarian:
- Daftar daerah pemilihan Parlemen Britania Raya
- Devizes (UK Parliament constituency)
- Melksham and Devizes (UK Parliament constituency)
- East Wiltshire (UK Parliament constituency)
- Chippenham (UK Parliament constituency)
- Devizes
- Swindon North (UK Parliament constituency)
- South Staffordshire (UK Parliament constituency)
- Constituencies of the Parliament of the United Kingdom
- Colchester (UK Parliament constituency)
- Isle of Wight (UK Parliament constituency)
