Wikipedia

North Cornwall (UK Parliament constituency)

North Cornwall is a constituency[n 1] represented in the House of Commons of the UK Parliament by Ben Maguire, a Liberal Democrat since the 2024 general election. Like all British constituencies, the seat elects one Member of Parliament (MP) by the first past the post system of election at least every five years. The seat was created in 1918. Since 1950, the constituency has been held by MPs from either the Conservative Party or the Liberal Democrats (including the party's predecessor, the Liberal Party).

North Cornwall
County constituency
for the House of Commons
Map of constituency
Boundary of North Cornwall in South West England
CountyCornwall
Electorate76,741 (2024)[1]
Major settlementsBodmin, Bude, Camelford, Launceston, Padstow and Wadebridge
Current constituency
Created1918
Member of ParliamentBen Maguire (Liberal Democrat)
SeatsOne
Created fromLaunceston and St Austell

History

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This constituency was created under the Representation of the People Act 1918.[2]

With exceptions in 1997, 2001 and 2019, the seat's margin of victory has been less than 20% of the vote. It has been consistently fought over between and won by the Conservative Party and the Liberal Democrats' candidate (or predecessor party in the latter case), and can be considered a marginal seat. In 1997 and 2001 the seat turned out strongly overall for the latter party. However, in the 2019 general election, the Conservatives won a large majority of 28.6% over the Liberal Democrat candidate.

A third-placed (other party) candidate has not polled more in North Cornwall than 16.38%, which took place in 1951. The seat saw three years of defection of its Liberal MP to join the post-World War II Attlee Ministry however in 2015 saw the lowest share of the Labour Party's vote nationally – reinforcing a consistent result by a great majority supporting left-wing politics to vote for a Liberal and later Liberal Democrat at general elections since the seat's inception.

Boundaries

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Map of current boundaries
 
The North Cornwall constituency shown within Cornwall and Devon, 1918-1945

1918–1950: The Borough of Launceston, the Urban Districts of Newquay, Padstow, Stratton and Bude, and Wadebridge, the Rural Districts of Calstock, Camelford, Launceston, St Columb Major, and Stratton, and parts of the Rural Districts of Bodmin and Holsworthy (these areas such as Whitstone and Week St Mary were on the Cornish side of the border).

1950–1974: The Borough of Launceston, the Urban Districts of Bude-Stratton, Newquay, and Padstow, the Rural Districts of Camelford, Launceston, and Stratton, and parts of the Rural Districts of St Austell and Wadebridge.

1974–1983: The Borough of Launceston, the Urban Districts of Bude-Stratton and Newquay, the Rural Districts of Camelford, Launceston, and Stratton, and parts of the Rural Districts of St Austell, and Wadebridge and Padstow.

1983–2010: The District of North Cornwall wards of Allan, Altarnun, Bodmin St Mary's, Bodmin St Petroc, Bude and Poughill, Camelford, Grenville, Lanivet, Launceston North, Launceston South, Lesnewth, North Petherwin, Ottery, Padstow and St Merryn, Penfound, Rumford, St Breward, St Endellion, St Minver, St Teath, South Petherwin, Stratton, Tintagel, Trigg, Wadebridge, and Week St Mary, and the Borough of Restormel wards of Edgcumbe, Gannel, Rialton, St Columb, and St Enoder.

2010–2024: The District of North Cornwall.

Historically four borough constituencies lay within the boundaries, three of which were abolished as 'rotten boroughs' by the Great Reform Act, 1832:

2024–present: Further to the 2023 Periodic Review of Westminster constituencies, enacted by the Parliamentary Constituencies Order 2023, from the 2024 United Kingdom general election, the constituency will be composed of the following electoral divisions of Cornwall (as they existed on 4th May 2021):

  • Altarnun & Stoke Climsland; Bodmin St Mary’s & St. Leonard; Bodmin St Petroc’s; Bude; Camelford & Boscastle; Lanivet, Blisland & Bodmin St Lawrence; Launceston North & North Petherwin; Launceston South; Padstow; Poundstock; St Columb Major, St Mawgan & St Wenn; St Teath & Tintagel; Stratton, Kilkhampton & Morwenstow; Wadebridge East & St Minver; Wadebridge West & St Mabyn.[3]

The St Columb Major, St Mawgan & St Wenn division will be transferred from St Austell and Newquay. Otherwise unchanged.

Members of Parliament

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Election Member[4] Party
1918 George Marks Coalition Liberal
1924 Alfred Martyn Williams Conservative
1929 Sir Donald Maclean Liberal
1932 by-election Sir Francis Dyke Acland Liberal
1939 by-election Tom Horabin Liberal
1946 Independent
1947 Labour
1950 Sir Harold Roper Conservative
1959 James Scott-Hopkins Conservative
1966 John Pardoe Liberal
1979 Gerry Neale Conservative[n 2]
1992 Paul Tyler Liberal Democrat
2005 Dan Rogerson Liberal Democrat
2015 Scott Mann Conservative
2024 Ben Maguire Liberal Democrat

Elections

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North Cornwall electoral history

Elections in the 2020s

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General election 2024: North Cornwall[5]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Democrats Ben Maguire 24,094 47.0 +17.1
Conservative Scott Mann 14,137 27.6 −31.5
Reform UK Rowland O'Connor 8,444 16.5 N/A
Labour Robyn Harris 2,958 5.8 −3.8
Green Lance Symonds 1,335 2.6 +2.4
Heritage Sarah Farrell 277 0.5 N/A
Majority 9,957 19.4 N/A
Turnout 52,055 67.8 −4.3
Registered electors 76,741
Liberal Democrats gain from Conservative Swing  24.9

Elections in the 2010s

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2019 notional result[6]
Party Vote %
Conservative 31,941 59.1
Liberal Democrats 16,158 29.9
Labour 5,201 9.6
Others 676 1.3
Green 101 0.2
Turnout 54,077 72.1
Electorate 75,034
General election 2019: North Cornwall[7]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Scott Mann 30,671 59.4 +8.7
Liberal Democrats Danny Chambers 15,919 30.8 −5.8
Labour Joy Bassett 4,516 8.7 −3.4
Liberal Elmars Liepins 572 1.1 N/A
Majority 14,752 28.6 +14.5
Turnout 51,678 73.9 −0.1
Conservative hold Swing +7.3
General election 2017: North Cornwall[8]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Scott Mann 25,835 50.7 +5.7
Liberal Democrats Dan Rogerson 18,635 36.6 +5.4
Labour Joy Bassett 6,151 12.1 +6.7
CPA John Allman 185 0.4 +0.3
Socialist Labour Robert Hawkins 138 0.3 N/A
Majority 7,200 14.1 +0.3
Turnout 50,944 74.0 +2.2
Conservative hold Swing +0.3
General election 2015: North Cornwall[9]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Scott Mann 21,689 45.0 +3.3
Liberal Democrats Dan Rogerson 15,068 31.2 −16.9
UKIP Julie Lingard 6,121 12.7 +7.8
Labour John Whitby 2,621 5.4 +1.2
Green Amanda Pennington 2,063 4.3 N/A
Mebyon Kernow Jerry Jefferies 631 1.3 +0.2
Restore the Family for Children's Sake John Allman 52 0.1 N/A
Majority 6,621 13.8 N/A
Turnout 48,245 71.8 +3.6
Conservative gain from Liberal Democrats Swing +10.1
General election 2010: North Cornwall[10][11]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Democrats Dan Rogerson 22,512 48.1 +5.7
Conservative Sian Flynn 19,531 41.7 +6.3
UKIP Miriel O'Connor 2,300 4.9 −0.8
Labour Janet Hulme 1,971 4.2 −8.3
Mebyon Kernow Joanie Willet 530 1.1 −2.1
Majority 2,981 6.4 +0.9
Turnout 46,844 68.2 +3.7
Liberal Democrats hold Swing −0.3

Elections in the 2000s

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General election 2005: North Cornwall[12]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Democrats Dan Rogerson 23,842 42.6 −9.4
Conservative Mark Formosa 20,766 37.1 +3.3
Labour David Acton 6,636 11.9 +2.2
UKIP David Campbell-Bannerman 3,063 5.5 +1.1
Mebyon Kernow Dick Cole 1,351 2.4 N/A
Veritas Alan Eastwood 324 0.6 N/A
Majority 3,076 5.5 −12.7
Turnout 55,982 64.5 +0.7
Liberal Democrats hold Swing −6.4
General election 2001: North Cornwall[13]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Democrats Paul Tyler 28,082 52.0 −1.2
Conservative John Weller 18,250 33.8 +4.3
Labour Michael Goodman 5,257 9.7 +0.3
UKIP Steve Protz 2,394 4.4 N/A
Majority 9,832 18.2 −5.5
Turnout 53,983 63.8 −9.3
Liberal Democrats hold Swing −2.7

Elections in the 1990s

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General election 1997: North Cornwall[14]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Democrats Paul Tyler 31,100 53.2 +5.8
Conservative Nigel Linacre 17,253 29.5 −14.8
Labour Anne Lindo 5,523 9.4 +2.8
Referendum Felicity Odam 3,636 6.2 N/A
Mebyon Kernow John Bolitho 645 1.1 N/A
Liberal Rif Winfield 186 0.3 −0.8
Natural Law Nicholas Creswell 152 0.3 +0.1
Majority 13,847 23.7 +10.6
Turnout 58,495 73.1 −9.0
Liberal Democrats hold Swing +10.3[n 3]
General election 1992: Cornwall North[15][16]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Democrats Paul Tyler 29,696 47.4 +5.5
Conservative Gerry Neale 27,775 44.3 −7.4
Labour Frank Jordan 4,103 6.6 +0.2
Liberal Philip Andrews 678 1.1 N/A
Independent Geoffrey Rowe 276 0.4 N/A
Natural Law Robyn Treadwell 112 0.2 N/A
Majority 1,921 3.1 N/A
Turnout 62,640 82.1 +2.3
Liberal Democrats gain from Conservative Swing +6.5

Elections in the 1980s

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General election 1987: Cornwall North[17]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Gerry Neale 29,862 51.7 −0.7
Liberal Michael Mitchell 24,180 41.9 −1.1
Labour Christine Herries 3,719 6.4 +2.5
Majority 5,682 9.8 +0.4
Turnout 57,761 79.8 −0.6
Conservative hold Swing +0.9
General election 1983: Cornwall North[18]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Gerry Neale 28,146 52.4 +0.8
Liberal David Chambers 23,087 43.0 −0.8
Labour James Hayday 2,096 3.9 −0.7
Cornish Nationalist James Whetter 364 0.7 N/A
Majority 5,059 9.4 +1.6
Turnout 53,693 80.4
Conservative hold Swing +0.8

Elections in the 1970s

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General election 1979: Cornwall North
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Gerry Neale 24,489 51.65 +9.65
Liberal John Pardoe 20,742 43.75 −7.50
Labour R.B. Tremlett 1,514 3.19 −3.21
Ecology J. Faull 442 0.93 N/A
National Front R. Bridgwater 224 0.47 N/A
Majority 3,747 7.90 N/A
Turnout 47,411 86.1 +5.6
Conservative gain from Liberal Swing +8.58
General election October 1974: Cornwall North
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal John Pardoe 21,368 51.25 −6.65
Conservative Gerry Neale 17,512 42.00
Labour R. Tremlett 2,663 6.40
Anti Party System R.J. Bridgwater 148 0.35 N/A
Majority 3,856 9.25
Turnout 41,691 80.52
Liberal hold Swing
  • February 1974; new constituency boundaries applied.
General election February 1974: Cornwall North
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal John Pardoe 25,667 57.90
Conservative Trixie Gardner 16,938 38.21
Labour J.B. Benjamin 1,726 3.89
Majority 8,729 19.69
Turnout 44,331 86.29
Liberal hold Swing
General election 1970: Cornwall North
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal John Pardoe 19,863 48.64
Conservative Simon James Day 19,223 47.10
Labour Ernest William J Hill 1,741 4.26
Majority 630 1.54
Turnout 40,827 85.11
Liberal hold Swing

Elections in the 1960s

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General election 1966: Cornwall North
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal John Pardoe 18,460 48.50 +4.69
Conservative James Scott-Hopkins 16,952 44.54 –1.14
Labour Reginald S. Wills 2,647 6.95 –2.82
Majority 1,508 3.96 N/A
Turnout 38,059 87.53
Liberal gain from Conservative Swing
General election 1964: Cornwall North
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative James Scott-Hopkins 16,352 45.68
Liberal Charles Meddon Karslake Bruton 15,683 43.81
Labour Raymond S Dash 3,497 9.77
Independent Edward George C Voullaire 265 0.74 N/A
Majority 669 1.87
Turnout 35,797 83.10
Conservative hold Swing

Elections in the 1950s

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General election 1959: Cornwall North
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative James Scott-Hopkins 16,701 46.7 −0.7
Liberal Edwin Malindine 15,712 43.9 +1.0
Labour William Carlo Ferman 3,389 9.5 −0.3
Majority 989 2.8 −1.7
Turnout 35,802 83.7 +1.4
Conservative hold Swing
General election 1955: Cornwall North
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Harold Roper 16,824 47.38
Liberal Edwin Malindine 15,220 42.86
Labour Vernon Eric Cornford 3,465 9.76
Majority 1,604 4.52
Turnout 35,509 82.30
Conservative hold Swing
General election 1951: Cornwall North
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Harold Roper 18,009 48.77
Liberal Dingle Foot 12,869 34.85
Labour William Carlo Ferman 6,049 16.38
Majority 5,140 13.92
Turnout 36,927 85.71
Conservative hold Swing
General election 1950: Cornwall North
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Harold Roper 17,059 46.6 +1.2
Liberal Dingle Foot 13,987 38.3 −14.6
Labour Herbert Leslie Richardson 5,521 15.1 N/A
Majority 3,072 8.3 N/A
Turnout 36,567 85.9 +13.2
Conservative gain from Liberal Swing

Elections in the 1940s

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General election 1945: Cornwall North
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Tom Horabin 18,836 52.9 +1.6
Conservative Thomas Percy Fulford 16,171 45.4 −3.3
Independent Labour John Hazlewood Worrall 626 1.8 N/A
Majority 2,665 7.5 +4.9
Turnout 35,633 72.7 −7.2
Liberal hold Swing

Elections in the 1930s

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1939 North Cornwall by-election
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Tom Horabin 17,072 52.2 +0.9
Conservative Edward Robin Whitehouse 15,608 47.8 −0.9
Majority 1,464 4.4 +1.8
Turnout 32,680 79.3 −0.6
Liberal hold Swing +0.9
1935 general election: North Cornwall
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Francis Dyke Acland 16,872 51.3 +2.2
Conservative Edward Robin Whitehouse 16,036 48.7 +3.4
Majority 836 2.6 −1.2
Turnout 32,908 79.9 −5.8
Liberal hold Swing -1.1
1932 North Cornwall by-election
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Francis Dyke Acland 16,933 52.4 +3.3
Conservative Alfred Martyn Williams 15,387 47.6 +2.3
Majority 1,546 4.8 +1.0
Turnout 32,320 80.8 −4.9
Liberal hold Swing
  • Death of Maclean 15 June 1932
1931 general election: North Cornwall
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Donald Maclean 16,867 49.1 −0.6
Conservative Alfred Martyn Williams 15,526 45.3 +3.0
Labour Arthur Bennett 1,907 5.6 −2.4
Majority 1,341 3.8 −3.6
Turnout 35,300 85.7 −0.4
Liberal hold Swing

Elections in the 1920s

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Sir Donald Maclean
1929 general election: North Cornwall
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Donald Maclean 16,586 49.7 +3.3
Unionist Alfred Martyn Williams 14,095 42.3 −11.3
Labour F. E. Church 2,654 8.0 N/A
Majority 2,491 7.4 N/A
Turnout 33,335 86.1 +8.1
Liberal gain from Unionist Swing +7.3
General election 1924: North Cornwall
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Unionist Alfred Martyn Williams 12,639 53.6 +10.1
Liberal George Marks 10,927 46.4 −10.1
Majority 1,712 7.2 N/A
Turnout 23,566 78.0 +2.4
Unionist gain from Liberal Swing
General election 1923: North Cornwall
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal George Marks 12,434 56.5 N/A
Unionist Charles Alexander Petrie 9,581 43.5 N/A
Majority 2,853 13.0 N/A
Turnout 22,015 75.6 N/A
Liberal hold Swing N/A
General election 1922: North Cornwall
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
National Liberal George Marks Unopposed N/A N/A
National Liberal hold

Elections in the 1910s

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General election 1918: North Cornwall
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
C Liberal George Marks Unopposed
Liberal win (new seat)
C indicates candidate endorsed by the coalition government.

See also

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Notes

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  1. ^ A county constituency (for the purposes of election expenses and type of returning officer)
  2. ^ Knighted in 1991
  3. ^ The largest two-party swing in this election was (Con-Ref): 10.5%

References

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  1. ^ "Result for North Cornwall constituency - 4 July 2024 - Cornwall Council". www.cornwall.gov.uk. Retrieved 10 July 2024.
  2. ^ "The Representation of the people act, 1918 : with explanatory notes". https://archive.org. 1918. {{cite journal}}: External link in |journal= (help)
  3. ^ "The Parliamentary Constituencies Order 2023". Schedule 1 Part 7 South West region.
  4. ^ Leigh Rayment's Historical List of MPs – Constituencies beginning with "C" (part 6)
  5. ^ "Result for North Cornwall constituency - 4 July 2024 - Cornwall Council". www.cornwall.gov.uk. Retrieved 10 July 2024.
  6. ^ "Notional results for a UK general election on 12 December 2019". Rallings & Thrasher, Professor David Denver (Scotland), Nicholas Whyte (NI) for Sky News, PA, BBC News and ITV News. UK Parliament. Retrieved 11 July 2024.
  7. ^ "Cornwall North". BBC News. 2019. Archived from the original on 6 February 2020. Retrieved 6 February 2020.
  8. ^ "Cornwall North parliamentary constituency". BBC News.
  9. ^ "Election Data 2015". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 17 October 2015. Retrieved 17 October 2015.
  10. ^ "Election Data 2010". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 26 July 2013. Retrieved 17 October 2015.
  11. ^ Lavery, Kevin (20 April 2010). "North Cornwall statement of persons nominated and notice of poll" (MSWord). Acting Returning Officer. Cornwall Council. Retrieved 20 April 2010.
  12. ^ "Election Data 2005". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
  13. ^ "Election Data 2001". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
  14. ^ "Election Data 1997". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
  15. ^ "Election Data 1992". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
  16. ^ "Politics Resources". Election 1992. Politics Resources. 9 April 1992. Archived from the original on 24 July 2011. Retrieved 6 December 2010.
  17. ^ "Election Data 1987". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
  18. ^ "Election Data 1983". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.

Sources

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  • British Parliamentary Election Results 1918-1949, compiled and edited by F.W.S. Craig (Macmillan Press 1977)
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