Yeovil (UK Parliament constituency)

Template:Short description Template:Use British English Template:Infobox UK constituency main Yeovil is a constituency in Somerset created in 1918 and represented in the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. Since the 2024 General Election, the constituency has been represented by Liberal Democrat MP Adam Dance.

Boundaries

Historic

1918–1974: The Municipal Boroughs of Yeovil and Chard, the Urban Districts of Crewkerne and Ilminster, the Rural Districts of Chard, Langport, Yeovil.

1974–1983: As 1918 but with redrawn boundaries.

1983–1997: The District of Yeovil wards of Blackdown, Chard North East, Chard North West, Chard Parish, Chard South East, Chard South West, Chinnock, Coker, Crewkerne Town, Dowlish, Egwood, Hazelbury, Houndstone, Ilminster Town, Lynches, Mudford, Neroche, St Michael's, South Petherton, Stoke, Windwhistle, Yeovil Central, Yeovil East, Yeovil North, Yeovil Preston, Yeovil South, Yeovil West.

The communities of Martock, Somerton and Ilchester were now included in the new seat of Somerton and Frome.

1997–2010: The District of South Somerset wards of Blackdown, Chard Avishayes, Chard Combe, Chard Crimchard, Chard Holyrood, Chard Jocelyn, Coker, Crewkerne, Egwood, Hamdon, Houndstone, Ilminster, Mudford, Neroche, Parrett, St Michael's, South Petherton, Tatworth and Forton, Windwhistle, Yeovil Central, Yeovil East, Yeovil Preston, Yeovil South, Yeovil West, Yeovil Without.

2010–2024: The District of South Somerset wards of Blackdown, Brympton, Chard Avishayes, Chard Combe, Chard Crimchard, Chard Holyrood, Chard Jocelyn, Coker, Crewkerne, Egwood, Hamdon, Ilminster, Ivelchester, Neroche, Parrett, St Michael's, South Petherton, Tatworth and Forton, Windwhistle, Yeovil Central, Yeovil East, Yeovil South, Yeovil West, Yeovil Without.Template:Maplink

Current

Further to the 2023 Periodic Review of Westminster constituencies which came into effect for the 2024 general election, the constituency was defined as being composed of the following as they existed on 1 December 2020:

• The District of South Somerset wards of: Blackdown & Tatworth; Brympton; Chard Avishayes; Chard Combe; Chard Crimchard; Chard Holyrood; Chard Jocelyn; Coker; Crewkerne; Eggwood; Ilminster; Neroche; Parrett; South Petherton; Windwhistle; Yeovil College; Yeovil Lyde; Yeovil Summerlands; Yeovil Westland; Yeovil Without.

With effect from 1 April 2023, the District of South Somerset was abolished and absorbed into the new unitary authority of Somerset. Consequently, the constituency now comprises the following electoral divisions of Somerset from the 2024 general election:

• Brympton (most); Chard North; Chard South; Coker (most); Crewkerne; Ilminster; South Petherton and Islemoor (most); Yeovil Central; Yeovil East; Yeovil South; Yeovil West.

In order to bring the electorate within the permitted range, rural areas to the north of the town of Yeovil were transferred to the new constituency of Glastonbury and Somerton.

The seat covers the towns of Yeovil, Chard, Crewkerne and Ilminster in the county of Somerset.

History

File:Results for Yeovil since 1983.svg

Results of all deposit-keeping candidates since 1983 in their bid be the MP for Yeovil (UK House of Commons).

From 1918 until 1983, Yeovil always returned a Conservative MP (though by only narrow margins over Labour in the 1940s and 1950s). There then followed a period of over 30 years during which the seat was represented by a member of the Liberal Party or their successors, the Liberal Democrats; firstly former leader Paddy Ashdown (1983–2001) and then former Chief Secretary to the Treasury David Laws (2001 to 2015). At the 2015 election, the seat returned to its former Conservative allegiance as Marcus Fysh defeated Laws by over 5,000 votes.

The South Somerset district voted 57% to leave the European Union, and academic analysis estimates that Yeovil itself voted 59% to leave. There was a swing of 7.7% away from the pro-Remain Liberal Democrats towards the pro-Leave Conservatives, which made the seat much safer in 2017, Marcus Fysh's majority increasing to just under 15,000. In 2019 the voters slightly increased this majority (to over 16,000).

In the 2024 General Election, the seat returned to the Liberal Democrats, with Adam Dance defeating the existing Conservative MP, Marcus Fysh, by over 12,000 votes.

Members of Parliament

Election		Member	Party
style="color:inherit;background-color: Template:Party color" |	1918	Aubrey Herbert	Conservative
style="color:inherit;background-color: Template:Party color" |	1923 by-election	George Davies
style="color:inherit;background-color: Template:Party color" |	1945	William Kingsmill
style="color:inherit;background-color: Template:Party color" |	1951	John Peyton
style="color:inherit;background-color: Template:Party color" |	1983	Paddy Ashdown	Liberal
style="color:inherit;background-color: Template:Party color" |	1988		Liberal Democrats
style="color:inherit;background-color: Template:Party color" |	2001	David Laws
style="color:inherit;background-color: Template:Party color" |	2015	Marcus Fysh	Conservative
style="color:inherit;background-color: Template:Party color" |	2024	Adam Dance	Liberal Democrats

Elections

Elections in the 2020s

General election 2024: Yeovil

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
		Adam Dance	Template:Replace	48.5
		Marcus Fysh	11,497	23.5
		Laura Bailhache	7,677	15.7
		Rebecca Montacute	3,002	6.1
		Serena Wootton	2,403	4.9
		Steve Ashton	608	1.2
Majority			12,286	25.2
Turnout			48,952	61.4
Registered electors			79,918
	gain from Template:Yesno		Swing	+26.0

Elections in the 2010s

2019 notional result
Party		Vote	%
	Conservative	31,477	58.2
	Liberal Democrats	16,839	31.1
	Labour	3,419	6.3
	Green	1,518	2.8
	Others	875	1.6
Turnout		54,128	71.2
Electorate		76,056

General election 2019: Yeovil

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
		Marcus Fysh	Template:Replace	58.4
		Mick Clark	18,407	31.1
		Terence Ledlie	3,761	6.3
		Diane Wood	1,629	2.7
		Tony Capozzoli	689	1.2
	Constitution and Reform	Tom Fox	186	0.3
Majority			16,181	27.3
Turnout			59,260	71.9
	hold		Swing	Increase1.3

General election 2017: Yeovil

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
		Marcus Fysh	Template:Replace	54.5
		Jo Roundell Greene	17,646	29.7
		Ian Martin	7,418	12.5
		Robert Wood	1,052	1.8
		Katy Pritchard	919	1.5
Majority			14,723	24.8
Turnout			59,404	71.6
	hold		Swing	+7.7

General election 2015: Yeovil

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
		Marcus Fysh	Template:Replace	42.5
		David Laws	18,885	33.2
		Simon Smedley	7,646	13.4
		Sheena King	4,053	7.1
		Emily McIvor	2,191	3.8
Majority			5,293	9.4
Turnout			56,933	69.1
	gain from Template:Yesno		Swing	+16.1

General election 2010: Yeovil

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
		David Laws	Template:Replace	55.7
		Kevin Davis	18,807	32.9
		Lee Skevington	2,991	5.2
		Nigel Pearson	2,357	4.1
		Robert Baehr	1,162	2.0
Majority			13,036	22.8
Turnout			57,160	69.4
	hold		Swing	+2.7

Elections in the 2000s

General election 2005: Yeovil

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
		David Laws	Template:Replace	51.4
		Ian Jenkins	17,096	34.3
		Colin Rolfe	5,256	10.5
		Graham Livings	1,903	3.8
Majority			8,562	17.1
Turnout			49,913	64.3
	hold		Swing	+4.5

General election 2001: Yeovil

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
		David Laws	Template:Replace	44.3
		Marco Forgione	17,338	36.1
		Joe Conway	7,077	14.7
		Neil Boxall	1,131	2.3
		Alex Begg	786	1.6
		Anthony Prior	534	1.1
Majority			3,928	8.2
Turnout			48,132	64.2
	hold		Swing	−6.5

Elections in the 1990s

File:ASHDOWN Paddy.jpg

Paddy Ashdown

General election 1997: Yeovil

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
		Paddy Ashdown	Template:Replace	48.7
		Nicholas Cambrook	14,946	27.7
		Patrick Conway	8,053	14.9
		John Beveridge	3,574	6.6
		David Taylor	728	1.3
		John Archer	306	0.6
		Christopher Hudson	97	0.2
Majority			11,403	21.0
Turnout			54,053	72.3
	hold		Swing	+3.2

General election 1992: Yeovil

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
		Paddy Ashdown	Template:Replace	51.7
		Julian Davidson	22,125	36.9
		Vivien Elson	5,765	9.6
		Jay Risbridger	639	1.1
		Screaming Lord Sutch	338	0.6
	Anti-Paddy Ashdown Keep Britain Independent	Reginald Simmerson	70	0.1
Majority			8,833	14.8
Turnout			59,895	82.0
	hold		Swing	+2.4

Elections in the 1980s

General election 1987: Yeovil

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
		Paddy Ashdown	Template:Replace	51.4
		George Sandeman	23,141	41.3
		John Fitzmaurice	4,099	7.3
Majority			5,700	10.1
Turnout			56,081	79.7
	hold		Swing	+2.4

General election 1983: Yeovil

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
		Paddy Ashdown	Template:Replace	50.5
		David Martin	23,202	44.0
		Peter Brushett	2,928	5.6
Majority			3,406	6.5
Turnout			52,738	79.8
	gain from Template:Yesno		Swing	+12.0

Elections in the 1970s

General election 1979: Yeovil

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
		John Peyton	Template:Replace	47.9
		Paddy Ashdown	19,939	30.5
		Ian Luder	14,098	21.6
Majority			11,382	17.4
Turnout			65,358	82.1
	hold		Swing	+3.2

General election October 1974: Yeovil

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
		John Peyton	Template:Replace	43.0
		M. T. McVicar	17,330	29.0
		Geoffrey F. Taylor	17,298	29.0
		J. E. Tippett	332	0.5
Majority			7,379	14.0
Turnout			60,618	79.3
	hold		Swing	+0.12

General election February 1974: Yeovil

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
		John Peyton	25,955	41.53
		Geoffrey F. Taylor	18,465	29.54
		M.T. McVicar	17,362	27.78
	Democratic Conservative	J.E. Tippett	720	1.15
Majority			7,490	11.99
Turnout			62,542	83.86
	hold		Swing	-12.2

General election 1970: Yeovil

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
		John Peyton	27,689	49.69
		John A Elswood	20,621	37.00
		David E Evans	7,418	13.31
Majority			7,068	12.69
Turnout			55,728	79.34
	hold		Swing	+4.36

Elections in the 1960s

General election 1966: Yeovil

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
		John Peyton	22,664	43.17
		John A Elswood	20,584	39.21
		David E Evans	9,248	17.62
Majority			2,080	3.96
Turnout			52,496	83.63
	hold		Swing	+3.25

General election 1964: Yeovil

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
		John Peyton	21,919	42.55
		Albert C Reed	17,171	33.33
		Geoffrey F. Taylor	12,426	24.12
Majority			4,748	9.22
Turnout			51,516	83.31
	hold		Swing	-2.75

Elections in the 1950s

General election 1959: Yeovil

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
		John Peyton	23,771	46.71
		W. Alex Baker	17,638	34.66
		Geoffrey Fawsitt Taylor	9,484	18.64
Majority			6,133	12.05
Turnout			50,893	85.19
	hold		Swing	+3.3

General election 1955: Yeovil

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
		John Peyton	24,059	48.17
		Moss Murray	19,793	39.63
		Geoffrey Fawsitt Taylor	6,089	12.19
Majority			4,266	8.54
Turnout			49,941	85.06
	hold		Swing	+0.88

General election 1951: Yeovil

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
		John Peyton	23,701	46.84
		Moss Murray	20,780	41.07
		Marguerite L Winsor	6,118	12.09
Majority			2,921	5.77
Turnout			50,599	87.96
	hold		Swing	+3.0

General election 1950: Yeovil

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
		William Kingsmill	21,145	42.57
		Maurice Shinwell	19,532	39.33
		Leon MacLaren	8,990	18.10
Majority			1,613	3.24
Turnout			49,867	87.46
	hold		Swing	+3.38

Election in the 1940s

General election 1945: Yeovil

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
		William Kingsmill	16,815	37.78
		Malcolm MacPherson	16,641	37.38
		James Douglas Bateman	11,057	24.84
Majority			174	0.40
Turnout			44,513	75.26
	hold		Swing	-13.15

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 and by the Autumn of 1939, the following candidates had been selected;

• Conservative: John Fox-Strangways
• Liberal: James Bateman
• Labour: Malcolm MacPherson

Elections in the 1930s

General election 1935: Yeovil

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
		George Davies	Template:Replace	46.8
		James Douglas Bateman	12,482	33.1
		Albert Edward Millett	7,567	20.1
Majority			5,158	13.7
Turnout			37,689	78.3
	hold		Swing	-0.9

File:Hamilton Fyfe.jpg

Hamilton Fyfe

General election 1931: Yeovil

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
		George Davies	Template:Replace	50.9
		Percy Holt Heffer	14,046	35.5
		Hamilton Fyfe	5,377	13.6
Majority			6,119	15.4
Turnout			39,588	84.1
	hold		Swing	+6.6

Elections in the 1920s

General election 1929: Yeovil

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
		George Davies	Template:Replace	41.1
		Percy Holt Heffer	14,679	38.8
		Francis Douglas	7,609	20.1
Majority			847	2.3
Turnout			37,814	83.4
	hold		Swing	-7.5

General election 1924: Yeovil

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
		George Davies	Template:Replace	48.3
		Charles Waley Cohen	9,320	31.1
		James Lievsley George	6,179	20.6
Majority			5,157	17.2
Turnout			29,976	83.6
	hold		Swing	+5.1

1923 general election: Yeovil

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
		George Davies	Template:Replace	44.5
		Charles Waley Cohen	10,715	37.6
		William Kelly	5,080	17.8
Majority			1,975	6.9
Turnout			28,485
	hold		Swing	-7.5

1923 Yeovil by-election

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
		George Davies	Template:Replace	46.6
		William Kelly	8,140	28.7
		Charles Waley Cohen	7,024	24.8
Majority			5,065	17.9
Turnout			28,369	80.8
	hold		Swing	-2.8

1922 general election: Yeovil

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
		Aubrey Herbert	Template:Replace	61.8
		William Kelly	9,581	38.3
Majority			5,887	23.5
Turnout			25,049	73.0
	hold		Swing	+4.7

Elections in the 1910s

File:Aubrey Herbert.jpg

Aubrey Herbert

Template:Election box winning candidate with party link coalition 1918Template:Election box end 1918

See also

• List of parliamentary constituencies in Somerset

External links

• Yeovil UK Parliament constituency (boundaries April 1997 – April 2010) at MapIt UK
• Yeovil UK Parliament constituency (boundaries April 2010 – May 2024) at MapIt UK
• Yeovil UK Parliament constituency (boundaries from June 2024) at MapIt UK

General election 14 December 1918: Yeovil

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
		William Kelly	7,589	36.4
		J. R. Brough	2,743	13.2
Majority			2,933	14.1
Turnout			20,854	61.8
	win (new seat)