Abingdon (UK Parliament constituency)

Abingdon was a constituency of the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom (and its predecessor institutions for England and Great Britain), electing one Member of Parliament (MP) from 1558 until 1983. (It was one of the few English constituencies in the unreformed House of Commons to elect only one Member of Parliament (MP) by the first past the post system of election.)

Abingdon
Former County constituency
for the House of Commons
Boundary of Abingdon in Berkshire, boundaries 1974-83
CountyBerkshire
18851983
Number of membersOne
Replaced byWantage and Oxford West & Abingdon
Created fromBerkshire and Abingdon
1558–1885
Number of membersOne
Type of constituencyBorough constituency

History

Abingdon was one of three English parliamentary boroughs enfranchised by Queen Mary I as anomalous single-member constituencies, and held its first Parliamentary election in 1558. The borough consisted of part of two parishes in the market town of Abingdon, then the county town of Berkshire. The right to vote was exercised by all inhabitant householders paying scot and lot and not receiving alms; the highest recorded number of votes to be cast before 1832 was 253, at the general election of 1806.[1] [2] [3] [4] [5] [6] [7] [8] [9]

Abingdon's voters seem always to have maintained their independence, and the constituency never came under the influence of a "patron" who assumed the right to choose the MP. Nevertheless, this did not always guarantee a pure election, and Porritt records that Abingdon offers the earliest case he was able to trace of a candidate trying to bribe voters with the promise of official office, later one of the most widespread abuses in English elections. In 1698, the defeated candidate, William Hucks, petitioned against the election of Sir Simon Harcourt, but during the hearing of the case it emerged that Hucks had promised that should he be elected an MP he would be made a Commissioner of the Excise, in which case he would use that power to appoint several of the voters to well-paid excise posts. The petition was dismissed and Hucks was committed to the custody of the sergeant-at-arms. (But ten years later, defeated again by Harcourt at the election of 1708, Hucks petitioned once more, on grounds of intimidation and other illegal practices, and this time Harcourt was ejected from his seat and Hucks declared to have been duly elected. Harcourt complained that the decision was a partisan one – which would have been by no means unusual at the period – "insisting to the last that he was the legal member, by a clear majority, by the most fair estimation".)[5]

In 1831, the population of the borough was approximately 5,300, and contained 1,192 houses. This was sufficient for Abingdon to retain its MP under the Great Reform Act. (Indeed, it would have been big enough to retain two MPs had it had them, but there was no question of its representation being increased.) Its boundaries were unaltered, and under the reformed franchise 300 of the residents were qualified to vote.

In 1885 the borough constituency was abolished and the town was moved into a new county, The Northern or Abingdon Division of Berkshire. This constituency consisted of the northern part of the historic county, and as well as Abingdon included the towns of Wantage and Wallingford; it was predominantly agricultural at first, although its character changed during the 20th century with the growth of light industry round Abingdon, and it was generally a safe Conservative seat. This constituency survived essentially intact, with only minor boundary changes, until the 1983 general election, by which time it was simply called Abingdon County Constituency.

Changes in administrative boundaries during the 1970s moved most of the northern part of the historic county of Berkshire, including Abingdon, into the county of Oxfordshire. These changes were reflected in the constituency boundary changes introduced in 1983, and the Abingdon constituency was divided; most of its electors were placed in the new Wantage constituency and a significant minority including electors in the town of Abingdon were placed in the Oxford West and Abingdon constituency. A small part to the south of the constituency had been retained within Berkshire and this area was transferred to Newbury.

Boundaries

Northern or Abingdon Division of Berkshire, 1885 – 1918

The constituency was defined as consisting of: The Abingdon, Faringdon, Wallingford, and Wantage petty sessional divisions of Berkshire, the municipal borough of Wallingford and the parts of the boroughs of Abingdon and Oxford in Berkshire.[10]

Abingdon Division of Berkshire, 1918 – 1950

The constituency's boundaries were adjusted slightly by the Representation of the People Act 1918, gaining a small part of the Newbury Division. It was redefined in terms of the administrative county of Berkshire and the county districts created by the Local Government Acts of 1888 and 1894 as follows:[11]

  • The rural districts of Abingdon (the civil parishes of Abingdon St Helen Without, Appleford, Appleton-with-Eaton, Besselsleigh, Cumnor, Draycot Moor, Drayton, Frilford, Fyfield, Garford, Kingston Bagpuize, Lyford, Marcham, Milton, North Hinksey, Radley, South Hinksey, Steventon, Sunningwell, Sutton Courtenay, Sutton Wick, Tubney, Wootton, and Wytham), Wallingford (the civil parishes of Aston Tirrold, Aston Upthorpe, Brightwell-cum-Sotwell, Cholsey, Didcot, East Hagbourne, Little Wittenham, Long Wittenham, Moulsford, North Moreton, South Moreton, and West Hagbourne), and Wantage (the civil parishes of Aldworth, Ardington, Beedon, Blewbury, Brightwalton, Catmore, Chaddleworth, Childrey, Chilton, Compton, Denchworth, East Challow, East Hanney, East Hendred, East Ilsley, Farnborough, Fawley, Goosey, Grove, Hampstead Norris, Harwell, Hermitage, Letcombe Bassett, Letcombe Regis, Lockinge, Peasemore, Sparshlt, Upton, West Challow, West Hanney and West Hendred, and West Ilsley);
  • The part of the rural district of Bradfield which consists of the civil parishes of Ashampstead, Basildon, Frilsham, Streatley, and Yattendon;
  • The part of the rural district of Faringdon which is within the administrative county of Berks (the civil parishes of Ashbury, Baulking, Bourton, Buckland, Buscot, Charney Bassett, Coleshill, Compton Beauchamp, Eaton Hastings, Fernham, Great Coxwell, Great Faringdon, Hatford, Hinton Waldrist, Kingston Lisle, Little Coxwell, Littleworth, Longcot, Longworth, Pusey, Shellingford, Stanford in the Vale, Uffington, Watchfield, and Woolstone);
  • The municipal boroughs of Abingdon and Wallingford;
  • The urban district of Wantage.

Abingdon County Constituency, 1950 – 1983

The Representation of the People Act 1948 reorganised parliamentary constituencies, and Abingdon County Constituency was altered marginally, with the part of the rural district of Bradfield being transferred to the County Constituency of Newbury. The official definition of the constituency was:[12]

  • The boroughs of Abingdon and Wallingford;
  • the urban district of Wantage;
  • the rural districts of Abingdon, Faringdon, Wallingford and Wantage.

The constituency was not altered by the Parliamentary Constituencies (England) Orders of 1970, and continued virtually unchanged until it was abolished in 1983.

Members of Parliament

1558–1640

Robert Byng served as the Member of Parliament for Abingdon in the Parliament of 1559.
ParliamentMember
Parliament of 1558 Oliver Hyde
Parliament of 1559 Robert Byng
Parliament of 1563–1567 Oliver Hyde (Died during the Parliament)
Anthony Forster (Elected 1566)
Parliament of 1571 Anthony Forster
Parliament of 1572–1583 Anthony Forster (Died during the Parliament)
Richard Beake (Elected 1572)
Parliament of 1584–1585 Hon. Edward Norreys
Parliament of 1586–1587 Griffith Lloyd, chose to sit for Cardiganshire, replaced by Miles Sandys
Parliament of 1588–1589 Hon. Sir Edward Norreys
Parliament of 1593 William Braunche
Parliament of 1597–1598 Francis Little
Parliament of 1601 Robert Ryche
Parliament of 1604–1611 Sir Richard Lovelace
Addled Parliament (1614) Sir Robert Knollys
Parliament of 1621–1622 Robert Hyde
Happy Parliament (1624–1625) Sir Robert Knollys
Useless Parliament (1625) Sir Robert Knollys
Parliament of 1625–1626
Parliament of 1628–1629 Sir John Stonhouse, 2nd Bt.
No Parliament summoned 1629–1640

1640–1885

ElectionMemberParty
April 1640 Sir George Stonhouse, 3rd Baronet Royalist
January 1644 Stonhouse disabled to sit – seat vacant
1645 John Ball (Died 1648)
1649 Henry Neville
1653 Abingdon was unrepresented in the Barebones Parliament
1654 Thomas Holt
1656
January 1659 Sir John Lenthall
May 1659 Henry Neville
April 1660 Sir George Stonhouse, 3rd Baronet
1675 Sir John Stonhouse, 2nd Bt
January 1689 Thomas Medlycott [n 1]
May 1689 John Southby [n 2]
January 1690 Sir John Stonhouse, 2nd Bt
February 1690 Sir Simon HarcourtTory
1705 Grey NevilleWhig
1708 Sir Simon Harcourt [n 3]Tory
1709 William HucksWhig
October 1710 Sir Simon HarcourtTory
December 1710 James JenningsTory
1713 Hon. Simon Harcourt
1715 James JenningsTory
1722 Robert HucksWhig
1741 John Wright
1747 John Morton [n 4]Tory[13]
1770 Nathaniel BaylyWhig[13]
1774 John Mayor [n 5]Tory[13]
1782 Henry Howorth
1783 Edward Loveden LovedenWhig[13]
1796 Thomas MetcalfeTory[13]
1807 George KnappWhig[13]
1809 Henry Bowyer
1811 Sir George Bowyer, 6th BtWhig[13]
1818 John MaberlyWhig[13]
1832 Thomas DuffieldTory[13][14]
1834 Conservative[13][14]
1844 by-election Sir Frederick ThesigerConservative[14]
July 1852 by-election James CaulfeildWhig[15]
December 1852 Montagu BertieWhig[16]
1854 by-election Joseph Haythorne ReedWhig
1857 John Thomas NorrisRadical[16]
1859 Liberal[14]
1865 Hon. Charles LindsayConservative[14]
1874 John Creemer ClarkeLiberal[14]
1885 Parliamentary borough abolished

MPs 1885–1983

After the abolition of the parliamentary borough of Abingdon, a new county division of Berkshire was created.

ElectionMemberParty
1885 Philip WroughtonConservative
1895 Archie LoydConservative
1906 Edward StraussLiberal
1910 (Jan) Harold HendersonConservative
1916 by-election Archie LoydConservative
1918 John Tyson WiganCoalition Conservative
1921 by-election Arthur LoydCoalition Conservative
1922 Conservative
1923 Edward LessingLiberal
1924 Sir Ralph Glyn, 1st Bt.Conservative
1953 by-election Airey NeaveConservative
1979 Thomas BenyonConservative
1983 Constituency abolished

Elections

Sources 1754–1784: Namier and Brooke; (parties) Stooks Smith. Positive swing is from Whig to Tory. Sources 1885–1900: House of Commons 1901.

1754 general election: Abingdon
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Tory John Morton 133 57.08 N/A
Non Partisan Henry Thrale 100 42.92 N/A
Majority 33 14.16 N/A
Turnout 233 N/A N/A
Tory hold Swing N/A
1761 general election: Abingdon
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Tory John Morton Unopposed N/A N/A
Tory hold Swing N/A
By-Election 1762: Abingdon
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Tory John Morton Unopposed N/A N/A
Tory hold Swing N/A
1768 general election: Abingdon
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Tory John Morton 126 50.40 N/A
Whig Nathaniel Bayly 124 49.60 New
Majority 2 0.80 N/A
Turnout 250 N/A N/A
Tory hold Swing N/A
  • On petition Nathaniel Bayly seated in place of John Morton, 8 February 1770
1774 general election: Abingdon
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Tory John Mayor 146 55.73 +5.33
Whig Thomas Wooldridge 116 44.27 5.33
Majority 30 11.46 +10.66
Turnout 262 N/A N/A
Tory hold Swing +5.33
  • Tory hold from previous general election; Tory gain from Whig, from change on petition.
  • Election declared void, 6 March 1775
By-Election 1775: Abingdon
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Tory John Mayor Unopposed N/A N/A
Tory hold Swing N/A
1780 general election: Abingdon
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Tory John Mayor 137 71.35 +15.62
Whig Thomas Wooldridge 55 28.65 15.62
Majority 82 42.70 +31.24
Turnout 192 N/A N/A
Tory hold Swing +15.62
  • Change is calculated from the previous general election.
  • Resignation of Mayor.
By-Election 1782: Abingdon
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Non Partisan Henry Howorth Unopposed N/A N/A
Non Partisan gain from Tory Swing N/A
  • Death of Howorth
By-Election 1783: Abingdon
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Whig Edward Loveden Unopposed N/A N/A
Whig gain from Non Partisan Swing N/A
1784 general election: Abingdon
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Whig Edward Loveden Unopposed N/A N/A
Whig hold Swing N/A

Elections in the 1830s

1830 general election: Abingdon[13]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Whig John Maberly 159 62.8 N/A
Tory Ebenezer Maitland[17] 94 37.2 N/A
Majority 65 25.6 N/A
Turnout 253 N/A
Whig hold Swing N/A
1831 general election: Abingdon[13]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Whig John Maberly Unopposed
Whig hold
1832 general election: Abingdon[13][14]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Tory Thomas Duffield 157 78.1 New
Whig William Leader Maberly[18] 43 21.4 N/A
Whig Thomas Bowles 1 0.5 N/A
Majority 114 56.7 N/A
Turnout 201 67.0 N/A
Registered electors 300
Tory gain from Whig
1835 general election: Abingdon[13][14]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Thomas Duffield Unopposed
Registered electors 292
Conservative hold
1837 general election: Abingdon[13][14]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Thomas Duffield Unopposed
Registered electors 306
Conservative hold

Elections in the 1840s

1841 general election: Abingdon[13][14]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Thomas Duffield Unopposed
Registered electors 321
Conservative hold

Duffield resigned by accepting the office of Steward of the Chiltern Hundreds, causing a by-election.

By-election 1844: Abingdon[14]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Frederic Thesiger Unopposed
Conservative hold

Thesiger was appointed Attorney General for England and Wales, requiring a by-election.

By-election 1845: Abingdon[14]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Frederic Thesiger 156 55.3 N/A
Whig James Caulfeild 126 44.7 New
Majority 30 10.6 N/A
Turnout 282 89.5 N/A
Registered electors 315
Conservative hold Swing N/A
1847 general election: Abingdon[14]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Frederic Thesiger 153 50.3 N/A
Whig James Caulfeild 151 49.7 N/A
Majority 2 0.6 N/A
Turnout 304 89.7 N/A
Registered electors 339
Conservative hold Swing N/A

Elections in the 1850s

Thesiger was appointed Attorney General for England and Wales, requiring a by-election.

By-election 1852: Abingdon[14]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Frederic Thesiger Unopposed
Conservative hold
1852 general election: Abingdon[14]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Whig James Caulfeild Unopposed
Registered electors 312
Whig gain from Conservative

Caulfeild's death caused a by-election.

By-election 1852: Abingdon[14]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Whig Montague Bertie 153 54.3 N/A
Conservative Daniel Higford Davall Burr[19] 129 45.7 New
Majority 24 8.6 N/A
Turnout 282 90.4 N/A
Registered electors 312
Whig hold Swing N/A

Bertie succeeded to the peerage, becoming 6th Earl of Abingdon and causing a by-election.

By-election 1854: Abingdon[14]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Whig Joseph Haythorne Reed 125 51.7 2.6
Radical John Thomas Norris 117 48.3 New
Majority 8 3.4 5.2
Turnout 242 62.2 28.2
Registered electors 389
Whig hold Swing N/A
1857 general election: Abingdon[14]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Radical John Thomas Norris Unopposed
Registered electors 323
Radical gain from Whig
1859 general election: Abingdon[14]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal John Thomas Norris 144 54.8 N/A
Conservative John Godfrey Bellingham Hudson[20] 119 45.2 New
Majority 25 9.6 N/A
Turnout 263 82.2 N/A
Registered electors 320
Liberal hold Swing N/A

Elections in the 1860s

1865 general election: Abingdon[14]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Charles Lindsay 137 54.2 +9.0
Liberal John Thomas Norris 116 45.8 -9.0
Majority 21 8.4 N/A
Turnout 253 83.2 +1.0
Registered electors 304
Conservative gain from Liberal Swing

Lindsay was appointed a Groom in Waiting to Queen Victoria, requiring a by-election.

By-election 1866: Abingdon[14]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Charles Lindsay Unopposed
Conservative hold
1868 general election: Abingdon[14]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Charles Lindsay 397 55.1 +0.9
Liberal Godfrey Lushington[21] 324 44.9 0.9
Majority 73 10.2 +1.8
Turnout 721 90.0 +6.8
Registered electors 801
Conservative hold Swing +0.9

Elections in the 1870s

1874 general election: Abingdon[14]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal John Creemer Clarke 439 56.9 +12.0
Conservative Charles Lindsay 333 43.1 12.0
Majority 106 13.8 N/A
Turnout 772 89.8 0.2
Registered electors 860
Liberal gain from Conservative Swing +12.0

Elections in the 1880s

1880 general election: Abingdon[14]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal John Creemer Clarke 428 52.6 4.3
Conservative Alban Gibbs 386 47.4 +4.3
Majority 42 5.2 8.6
Turnout 814 91.5 +1.7
Registered electors 890
Liberal hold Swing 4.3
Purvis
1885 general election: Abingdon[22]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Philip Wroughton 4,245 58.7 +11.3
Liberal Robert Purvis 2,986 41.3 11.3
Majority 1,259 17.4 N/A
Turnout 7,231 82.3 9.2
Registered electors 8,791
Conservative gain from Liberal Swing +11.3
1886 general election: Abingdon[22]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Philip Wroughton 3,899 67.1 +8.4
Liberal Edward Colston Keevil 1,910 32.9 8.4
Majority 1,989 34.2 +16.8
Turnout 5,809 66.1 16.2
Registered electors 8,791
Conservative hold Swing +8.4

Elections in the 1890s

1892 general election: Abingdon[22]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Philip Wroughton 3,565 52.4 14.7
Liberal Charles Alfred Pryce 3,239 47.6 +14.7
Majority 326 4.8 29.4
Turnout 6,804 79.3 +13.2
Registered electors 8,585
Conservative hold Swing 14.7
1895 general election: Abingdon[22]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Archie Loyd 4,064 57.4 +5.0
Liberal Charles Alfred Pryce 3,019 42.6 5.0
Majority 1,045 14.8 +10.0
Turnout 7,083 82.2 +2.9
Registered electors 8,615
Conservative hold Swing +5.0

Elections in the 1900s

1900 general election: Abingdon[22]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Archie Loyd Unopposed
Registered electors 8,698
Conservative hold
Edward Strauss
1906 general election: Abingdon[22]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Edward Strauss 3,943 51.1 New
Conservative Harold Henderson 3,767 48.9 N/A
Majority 176 2.2 N/A
Turnout 7,710 86.9 N/A
Registered electors 8,875
Liberal gain from Conservative Swing N/A

Elections in the 1910s

January 1910 general election: Abingdon
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Harold Henderson 4,829 56.1 +7.2
Liberal Edward Strauss 3,776 43.9 7.2
Majority 1,053 12.2 N/A
Turnout 8,605 93.0 +6.1
Conservative gain from Liberal Swing +7.2
December 1910 general election: Abingdon
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Harold Henderson 4,677 58.4 +2.3
Liberal Morton Harcourt Sands 3,328 41.6 2.3
Majority 1,349 16.8 +4.6
Turnout 8,005
Conservative hold Swing +2.3
1918 general election: Abingdon
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
C Unionist John Tyson Wigan Unopposed
Unionist hold
C indicates candidate endorsed by the coalition government.

Elections in the 1920s

1921 Abingdon by-election[23]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
C Unionist Arthur Loyd Unopposed
Unionist hold
C indicates candidate endorsed by the coalition government.
1922 general election: Abingdon[23]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Unionist Arthur Loyd 10,507 51.3 N/A
Liberal Edward Lessing 9,967 48.7 New
Majority 540 2.6 N/A
Turnout 20,474 77.1 N/A
Unionist hold Swing N/A
1923 general election: Abingdon[23]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Edward Lessing 10,932 50.6 +1.9
Unionist Ralph Glyn 10,678 49.4 1.9
Majority 254 1.2 N/A
Turnout 21,610 79.5 +2.4
Liberal gain from Unionist Swing +1.9
1924 general election: Abingdon[23]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Unionist Ralph Glyn 13,117 56.4 +7.0
Liberal Edward Lessing 8,805 37.8 -12.8
Labour D F Brundril 1,355 5.8 New
Majority 4,312 18.6 N/A
Turnout 23,277 82.9 +3.4
Unionist gain from Liberal Swing
1929 general election: Abingdon[23]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Unionist Ralph Glyn 14,094 47.4 9.0
Liberal Edward Lessing 11,896 40.1 +2.3
Labour Arthur Reade 3,712 12.5 +6.7
Majority 2,198 7.3 11.3
Turnout 25,990 80.8 2.1
Unionist hold Swing 5.7

Elections in the 1930s

1931 general election: Abingdon
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Ralph Glyn Unopposed N/A N/A
Conservative hold Swing N/A
1935 general election: Abingdon
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Ralph Glyn Unopposed N/A N/A
Conservative hold Swing N/A

Elections in the 1940s

A General election was due to take place before the end of 1940, but was postponed due to the Second World War. By 1939, the following candidates had been selected to contest this constituency;

  • Conservative: Ralph Glyn
  • Liberal: A D Macdonald MC[24]
  • Labour: Frank W Bourne
1945 general election: Abingdon
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Ralph Glyn 16,968 44.6 N/A
Labour Dale Hope Parkinson 11,980 31.5 New
Liberal John Henry Charles Miller 7,031 18.5 New
Communist John Clement Dix Dunman 1,668 4.4 New
Independent Sir Charles Arland Maitland Freake, 4th Baronet 419 1.1 New
Majority 4,988 13.1 N/A
Turnout 38,066 64.1 N/A
Conservative hold Swing

Elections in the 1950s

1950 general election: Abingdon
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Ralph Glyn 20,595 46.45
Labour Robert Jarrett McCullagh 16,733 37.74
Liberal Eric Digby Tempest Vane 6,612 14.91
Communist John Clement Dix Dunman 396 0.89
Majority 3,862 8.71
Turnout 44,336 82.10
Conservative hold Swing
1951 general election: Abingdon
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Ralph Glyn 24,774 55.47
Labour John EG Curthoys 19,891 44.53
Majority 4,883 10.94
Turnout 44,665 79.96
Conservative hold Swing
1953 Abingdon by-election
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Airey Neave 22,986 53.24 2.23
Labour Ted Castle 17,126 39.67 4.86
Liberal George R Allen 3,060 7.09 New
Majority 5,860 13.57 +2.64
Turnout 43,172 75.9 -4.1
Conservative hold Swing 1.3
1955 general election: Abingdon
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Airey Neave 25,613 50.00
Labour Margaret Reid 16,979 33.15
Liberal George R Allen 8,634 16.85 N/A
Majority 8,634 16.85
Turnout 51,226 87.59
Conservative hold Swing
1959 general election: Abingdon
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Airey Neave 27,943 54.19
Labour Philip Picard 16,971 32.91
Liberal Verdun Isabel Perl 6,651 12.90
Majority 10,972 21.28
Turnout 51,565 80.77
Conservative hold Swing

Elections in the 1960s

1964 general election: Abingdon
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Airey Neave 26,707 47.98
Labour Frederick J Riddell 20,334 36.53
Liberal Verdun Isabel Perl 8,627 15.50
Majority 6,373 11.45
Turnout 55,668 80.56
Conservative hold Swing
1966 general election: Abingdon
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Airey Neave 27,749 46.3 -1.7
Labour Alan H.S. Matterson 24,447 40.8 +4.3
Liberal Denis H.V. Case 7,703 12.9 -2.6
Majority 3,302 5.5 -5.9
Turnout 59,899 82.5 +1.9
Conservative hold Swing +3.0

Elections in the 1970s

1970 general election: Abingdon
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Airey Neave 36,209 54.4 +8.1
Labour Norman H. Price 23,136 34.8 −6.0
Liberal S.R. Caradoc Evans 7,198 10.8 −2.1
Majority 13,073 19.6 +14.1
Turnout 66,543 77.6 -4.9
Conservative hold Swing
February 1974 general election: Abingdon
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Airey Neave 34,771 46.8 −7.6
Labour D.E.H. Moriarty 21,028 28.3 −6.5
Liberal Michael Patrick Fogarty 18,458 24.9 +14.1
Majority 13,743 18.5 -1.1
Turnout 74,257 83.0 +5.4
Conservative hold Swing
October 1974 general election: Abingdon
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Airey Neave 31,956 46.6 −0.2
Labour D.E.H. Moriarty 21,319 31.1 +2.8
Liberal Michael Patrick Fogarty 15,239 22.2 −2.7
Majority 10,637 15.5 -3.0
Turnout 68,514 75.8 -7.2
Conservative hold Swing
1979 general election: Abingdon
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Thomas Benyon 41,211 53.8 +7.2
Labour A.J.D. Popper 18,920 24.7 −6.4
Liberal I. Blair 16,164 21.1 −1.1
Independent R. Pinder 381 0.5 New
Majority 22,291 29.1 +13.6
Turnout 76,676 79.5 +3.7
Conservative hold Swing

See also

Notes

  1. Medlycott's election was declared void on petition, and a new election was held
  2. Southby was returned as elected by the Mayor, but on petition the Commons decided that Stonhouse and not Southby had received the most votes, and eventually declared Stonhouse duly elected
  3. Harcourt was initially declared elected, but on petition alleging "that Sir Simon, by menaces and by other illegal practices of himself and his agents, procured several votes for him, and several were admitted to vote for him who had no right", the result was overturned and Hucks declared to have been duly elected
  4. At the election of 1768, Morton was declared re-elected, but on petition the result was overturned and his opponent Bayly declared elected instead
  5. On petition, Mayor's election was declared void, since as High Sheriff of Berkshire he was not eligible to be elected MP for a borough within the county. A new election was ordered, by which time Mayor had completed his term as sheriff and was re-elected.

References

  1. "Abingdon". History of Parliament Online (1558-1603). Retrieved 27 March 2019.
  2. "Abingdon". History of Parliament Online (1604-1629). Retrieved 27 March 2019. (currently unavailable)
  3. "Abingdon". History of Parliament Online (1640-1660). Retrieved 27 March 2019.
  4. "Abingdon". History of Parliament Online (1660-1690). Retrieved 27 March 2019.
  5. "Abingdon". History of Parliament Online (1690-1715). Retrieved 27 March 2019.
  6. "Abingdon". History of Parliament Online (1715-1754). Retrieved 27 March 2019.
  7. "Abingdon". History of Parliament Online (1754-1790). Retrieved 27 March 2019.
  8. "Abingdon". History of Parliament Online (1790-1820). Retrieved 27 March 2019.
  9. "Abingdon". History of Parliament Online (1820-1832). Retrieved 27 March 2019.
  10. Redistribution of Seats Act, 1885 c.23, Schedule 7
  11. Representation of the People Act 1918 c.64, schedule 9
  12. Representation of the People Act 1948, c. 65, Schedule 1
  13. Stooks Smith, Henry. (1973) [1844-1850]. Craig, F. W. S. (ed.). The Parliaments of England (2nd ed.). Chichester: Parliamentary Research Services. pp. 6–7. ISBN 0-900178-13-2.
  14. Craig, F. W. S., ed. (1977). British Parliamentary Election Results 1832-1885 (e-book) (1st ed.). London: Macmillan Press. ISBN 978-1-349-02349-3.
  15. "Election Talk". The Spectator. 6 March 1852. p. 6. Retrieved 6 April 2018.
  16. Salmon, Philip (24 May 2016). "An 'upstart from the ranks': MP of the Month, John Thomas Norris (1808-70)". The Victorian Commons. Retrieved 6 April 2018.
  17. "General Election". Bell's Weekly Messenger. 26 July 1830. p. 8. Retrieved 5 September 2019 via British Newspaper Archive.
  18. "Abingdon Election". Berkshire Chronicle. 15 December 1832. pp. 2–3. Retrieved 5 September 2019 via British Newspaper Archive.
  19. "Abingdon Election". Berkshire Chronicle. 4 December 1852. p. 3. Retrieved 6 April 2018 via British Newspaper Archive.
  20. "Abingdon Election". Reading Mercury. 30 April 1859. p. 5. Retrieved 6 April 2018.
  21. "Election Intelligence". Western Daily Press. 3 August 1868. p. 3. Retrieved 26 January 2018 via British Newspaper Archive.
  22. Craig, FWS, ed. (1974). British Parliamentary Election Results: 1885-1918. London: Macmillan Press. ISBN 9781349022984.
  23. British parliamentary election results 1918–1949, Craig, F.W.S.
  24. The Liberal Magazine, 1939

Bibliography

  • Boundaries of Parliamentary Constituencies 1885–1972, compiled and edited by F. W. S. Craig (Political Reference Publications 1972)
  • British Parliamentary Election Results 1832–1885, compiled and edited by F.W.S. Craig (The Macmillan Press 1977)
  • British Parliamentary Election Results 1885–1918, compiled and edited by F.W.S. Craig (The Macmillan Press 1974)
  • British Parliamentary Election Results 1918–1949, compiled and edited by F.W.S. Craig (The Macmillan Press 1977)
  • D. Brunton & D. H. Pennington, Members of the Long Parliament (London: George Allen & Unwin, 1954)
  • Sir Lewis Namier and John Brooke, The House of Commons 1754–1790 (London: HMSO 1964)
  • J. E. Neale, The Elizabethan House of Commons (London: Jonathan Cape, 1949)
  • Robert H O'Byrne, The Representative History of Great Britain and Ireland, Part II – Berkshire (London: John Ollivier, 1848)
  • T. H. B. Oldfield, The Representative History of Great Britain and Ireland (London: Baldwin, Cradock & Joy, 1816)
  • Henry Pelling, Social Geography of British Elections 1885–1910 (London: Macmillan, 1967)
  • J Holladay Philbin, Parliamentary Representation 1832 – England and Wales (New Haven: Yale University Press, 1965)
  • Edward Porritt and Annie G Porritt, The Unreformed House of Commons (Cambridge University Press, 1903)
  • Henry Stooks Smith, The Parliaments of England (1st edition published in three volumes 1844–50; 2nd edition edited in one volume by F.W.S. Craig, Political Reference Publications, 1973)
  • Frederic A Youngs, jr, "Guide to the Local Administrative Units of England, Vol I" (London: Royal Historical Society, 1979)
  • Leigh Rayment's Historical List of MPs – Constituencies beginning with "A" (part 1)
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