Wansdyke (UK Parliament constituency)

Wansdyke was a county constituency represented in the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. It elected one Member of Parliament (MP) by the first past the post system of election.

The constituency was created for the 1983 general election, and abolished at the 2010 general election.

History

Until 1997, it was a safe seat for the Conservative Party. It then became a Labour-held marginal until its abolition.

Boundaries

1983–1997: The District of Wansdyke wards of Bathampton, Batheaston, Bathford, Camerton, Charlcombe, Freshford, Hinton Charterhouse, Keynsham East, Keynsham North, Keynsham South, Keynsham West, Midsomer Norton North, Midsomer Norton Redfield, Newton St Loe, Peasedown St John, Radstock, Saltford, and Westfield, and the District of Kingswood wards of Badminton, Bitton North Common, Bitton Oldland Common, Bitton South, Blackhorse, Bromley Heath, Hanham Abbots East, Hanham Abbots West, Oldland Cadbury Heath, Oldland Longwell Green, Siston, and Springfield.

1997–2010: The District of Wansdyke wards of Cameley, Camerton, Chew Magna, Chew Stoke, Clutton, Compton Dando, Farmborough, Harptrees, High Littleton, Hinton Charterhouse, Keynsham East, Keynsham North, Keynsham South, Keynsham West, Midsomer Norton North, Midsomer Norton Redfield, Newton St Loe, Paulton, Peasedown St John, Publow, Radstock, Saltford, Stowey Sutton, Timsbury, and Westfield, and the Borough of Kingswood wards of Bitton North Common, Bitton Oldland Common, Bitton South, Hanham Abbots East, and Hanham Abbots West.

From 1997, Wansdyke covered the part of Bath and North East Somerset not in the Bath constituency. It also contained six wards or parts of wards from South Gloucestershire Council. It was named after the former Wansdyke district, itself named after the Wansdyke, a historical earthwork.

The constituency was located between the cities of Bristol and Bath, including the towns of Keynsham, Midsomer Norton, Radstock and Saltford, as well as the Chew Valley to the south of Bristol. It also covered parts of South Gloucestershire to the east of Bristol, including Bitton, Longwell Green and Oldland Common.

At the 2010 general election the seat was replaced with a new North East Somerset constituency. The parts in South Gloucestershire were transferred to the Kingswood constituency.

Members of Parliament

Election	Party		Member
1983		Jack Aspinwall
1997		Dan Norris
2010	Constituency abolished: see North East Somerset

Elections

Elections in the 2000s

General election 2005: Wansdyke

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
		Dan Norris	Template:Replace	40.6
		Chris Watt	18,847	37.0
		Gail Coleshill	10,050	19.7
		Peter Sandell	1,129	2.2
		Geoffrey Parkes	221	0.4
Majority			1,839	3.6
Turnout			50,933	72.4
	hold		Swing	−3.8

General election 2001: Wansdyke

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
		Dan Norris	Template:Replace	46.8
		Chris Watt	17,593	35.5
		Gail Coleshill	7,135	14.4
		Francis Hayden	958	1.9
		Peter Sandell	655	1.3
Majority			5,613	11.3
Turnout			49,547	69.9
	hold		Swing	+1.3

Elections in the 1990s

General election 1997: Wansdyke

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
		Dan Norris	Template:Replace	44.1
		Mark Prisk	19,318	35.3
		Jeff Manning	9,205	16.8
		Kevin Clinton	1,327	2.4
		T.S. Hunt	438	0.8
		Peter House	225	0.4
		Sue Lincoln	92	0.2
Majority			4,799	8.8
Turnout			54,722	79.3
	gain from		Swing	-14.65

General election 1992: Wansdyke

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
		Jack Aspinwall	Template:Replace	48.2
		Dan Norris	18,048	27.7
		D Darby	14,834	22.8
		FE Hayden	800	1.2
Majority			13,341	20.5
Turnout			65,071	84.2
	hold		Swing	−3.9

Elections in the 1980s

General election 1987: Wansdyke

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
		Jack Aspinwall	Template:Replace	51.56
		Roger Blackmore	15,393	25.17
		Ian White	14,231	23.27
Majority			16,144	26.39
Turnout			61,161	81.29
	hold		Swing

General election 1983: Wansdyke

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
		Jack Aspinwall	Template:Replace	50.61
		Richard Denton-White	15,368	27.35
		Lynn Williams	12,168	21.66
		A Stout	213	0.38
Majority			13,066	23.26
Turnout			56,183	79.03
	hold		Swing

See also

• List of parliamentary constituencies in Avon

External links

• Wansdyke UK Parliament constituency (boundaries April 1997 – April 2010) at MapIt UK