Oxford West and Abingdon (UK Parliament constituency)
Oxford West and Abingdon is a parliamentary constituency in the House of Commons.[n 1][n 2]
Oxford West and Abingdon | |
---|---|
County constituency for the House of Commons | |
![]() Boundary of Oxford West and Abingdon in Oxfordshire | |
![]() Location of Oxfordshire within England | |
County | Oxfordshire |
Electorate | 76,953 (December 2019)[1] |
Major settlements | Abingdon, Kidlington, Oxford (5 wards), Radley |
Current constituency | |
Created | 1983 |
Member of Parliament | Layla Moran (Liberal Democrats) |
Number of members | One |
Created from | Oxford, Abingdon |
History
Creation
The seat was created in 1983 as part of the reconfiguration of those in the county to avoid malapportionment, abolishing Oxford as a seat. It merged about half the city with the east of the former Abingdon seat.
MPs
The Conservative John Patten (MP for Oxford in the 1979–83 Parliament), held the seat from its creation until he retired in 1997. The seat was gained by the Liberal Democrat, Dr Evan Harris, who held the seat for thirteen years until the 2010 general election, when the Conservative Nicola Blackwood retook the seat in one of the most marginal results of that election. Blackwood held the seat until the 2017 general election when she was defeated by Liberal Democrat Layla Moran in another marginal result.
Contests
The seat has been contested nine times, each of them general elections. At each contest the Labour party candidate has polled third—the peak share of votes to date being 20.2%, in 1997. The strongest victory, in share of the vote, was that of Dr Harris of the Liberal Democrats in 2001, a 17.8% majority (in a seven-way contest).
The Green or predecessor Ecology Party stood in the first eight contests, in each losing the deposit paid.
Constituency profile
The constituency includes the town of Abingdon, the village of Kidlington, and the western and northern parts of the city of Oxford, and some of the colleges of the University of Oxford. At the end of 2010, unemployment was the fifth lowest of the 84 South East constituencies, at 1.2% compared to a mean of 2.45%.[2] The area has rapid transit connections to London, Reading and the commercial heart of Oxford, has large business and research parks and a choice of two major railway stations, Oxford and Didcot Parkway.
Boundaries and boundary changes
- 1983–1997
- The District of Vale of White Horse wards of Abbey, Caldecott, Cumnor, Fitzharris, Hinksey, Kennington, Northcourt, Ock, Radley, St Helen Without, and Sunningwell and Wootton, and the City of Oxford wards of Central, Cherwell, North, South, West, and Wolvercote.[3]
- The majority of the new constituency, comprising the town of Abingdon-on-Thames and areas to the west of Oxford, was previously part of the abolished County Constituency of Abingdon in Berkshire. The City of Oxford wards had previously been in the abolished Borough Constituency of Oxford.
1997–2010
- The District of Vale of White Horse wards of Abbey, Caldecott, Cumnor, Fitzharris, Hinksey, Kennington, Northcourt, Ock, Radley, St Helen Without, and Sunningwell and Wootton, the City of Oxford wards of Central, Cherwell, North, West, and Wolvercote, and the District of Cherwell wards of Gosford, North West Kidlington, and South East Kidlington.[4]
- Kidlington transferred from Witney. The South ward of the City of Oxford transferred to Oxford East.
Since 2010
- The District of Vale of White Horse wards of Abingdon Abbey and Barton, Abingdon Caldecott, Abingdon Dunmore, Abingdon Fitzharris, Abingdon Northcourt, Abingdon Ock Meadow, Abingdon Peachcroft, Appleton and Cumnor, Kennington and South Hinksey, North Hinksey and Wytham, Radley, and Sunningwell and Wootton, the City of Oxford wards of Jericho and Osney, North, St Margaret's, Summertown, and Wolvercote, and the District of Cherwell wards of Kidlington North, Kidlington South, and Yarnton, Gosford and Water Eaton.[5]
- Further loss to Oxford East, including the city centre, following revision of City of Oxford wards. Marginal realignment of boundary with Wantage. Yarnton transferred from Witney.
Members of Parliament
Election | Member[6][7] | Party | |
---|---|---|---|
1983 | John Patten | Conservative | |
1997 | Evan Harris | Liberal Democrats | |
2010 | Nicola Blackwood | Conservative | |
2017 | Layla Moran | Liberal Democrats |
Elections
- Election results for Oxford West and Abingdon
Elections in the 2010s
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ± | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Liberal Democrats | Layla Moran | 31,340 | 53.3 | ![]() | |
Conservative | James Fredrickson | 22,397 | 38.1 | ![]() | |
Labour | Rosie Sourbut | 4,258 | 7.2 | ![]() | |
Brexit Party | Allison Wild | 829 | 1.4 | ![]() | |
Majority | 8,943 | 15.2 | ![]() | ||
Turnout | 58,824 | 76.4 | ![]() | ||
Liberal Democrats hold | Swing | ![]() |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ± | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Liberal Democrats | Layla Moran | 26,256 | 43.7 | ![]() | |
Conservative | Nicola Blackwood | 25,440 | 42.4 | ![]() | |
Labour | Marie Tidball | 7,573 | 12.6 | ![]() | |
UKIP | Alan Harris | 751 | 1.3 | ![]() | |
Majority | 816 | 1.3 | N/A | ||
Turnout | 60,020 | 79.6 | ![]() | ||
Liberal Democrats gain from Conservative | Swing | ![]() |
|||
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ± | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Conservative | Nicola Blackwood | 26,153 | 45.7 | ![]() | |
Liberal Democrats | Layla Moran | 16,571 | 28.9 | ![]() | |
Labour | Sally Copley | 7,274 | 12.7 | ![]() | |
UKIP | Alan Harris | 3,963 | 6.9 | ![]() | |
Green | Larry Sanders | 2,497 | 4.4 | ![]() | |
National Health Action | Helen Salisbury | 723 | 1.3 | ![]() | |
Socialist (GB) | Mike Foster | 66 | 0.1 | ![]() | |
Majority | 9,582 | 16.7 | ![]() | ||
Turnout | 57,247 | 75.2 | ![]() | ||
Conservative hold | Swing | ![]() |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ± | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Conservative | Nicola Blackwood | 23,906 | 42.3 | ![]() | |
Liberal Democrats | Evan Harris | 23,730 | 42.0 | ![]() | |
Labour | Richard Stevens | 5,999 | 10.6 | ![]() | |
UKIP | Paul Williams | 1,518 | 2.7 | ![]() | |
Green | Chris Goodall | 1,184 | 2.1 | ![]() | |
Animal Protection | Keith Mann | 143 | 0.3 | ![]() | |
Majority | 176 | 0.3 | ![]() | ||
Turnout | 56,480 | 70.2 | ![]() | ||
Conservative gain from Liberal Democrats | Swing | ![]() |
|||
Elections in the 2000s
![](../I/m/Hustings_Oxford_West_and_Abingdon_20050204.jpg)
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ± | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Liberal Democrats | Evan Harris | 24,336 | 46.3 | −1.5 | |
Conservative | Amanda McLean | 16,653 | 31.7 | +1.7 | |
Labour | Antonia Bance | 8,725 | 16.6 | −1.1 | |
Green | Tom Lines | 2,091 | 4.0 | +1.2 | |
UKIP | Marcus Watney | 795 | 1.5 | +0.6 | |
Majority | 7,683 | 14.6 | -3.2 | ||
Turnout | 52,600 | 65.6 | +1.1 | ||
Liberal Democrats hold | Swing | −1.6 |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ± | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Liberal Democrats | Evan Harris | 24,670 | 47.8 | +4.9 | |
Conservative | Ed Matts | 15,485 | 30.0 | −2.6 | |
Labour | Gillian Kirk | 9,114 | 17.7 | −2.5 | |
Green | Mike Woodin | 1,423 | 2.8 | +1.6 | |
UKIP | Marcus Watney | 451 | 0.9 | +0.5 | |
Independent | Sigrid Shreeve | 332 | 0.6 | N/A | |
Extinction Club | Robert Twigger | 93 | 0.2 | N/A | |
Majority | 9,185 | 17.8 | +7.6 | ||
Turnout | 51,568 | 64.5 | −13.5 | ||
Liberal Democrats hold | Swing | +3.8 |
Elections in the 1990s
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ± | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Liberal Democrats | Evan Harris | 26,268 | 42.9 | +7.1 | |
Conservative | Laurence Harris | 19,983 | 32.7 | −13.6 | |
Labour | Susan Brown | 12,361 | 20.2 | +4.1 | |
Referendum | Gillian Eustace | 1,258 | 2.1 | N/A | |
Green | Mike Woodin | 691 | 1.1 | −0.1 | |
UKIP | Rodney Buckton | 258 | 0.4 | N/A | |
ProLife Alliance | Linda Hodge | 238 | 0.4 | N/A | |
Natural Law | Anne Wilson | 91 | 0.1 | +0.0 | |
Local Government | John Rose | 48 | 0.1 | N/A | |
Majority | 6,285 | 10.2 | +3.8 | ||
Turnout | 61,196 | 78.0 | +1.3 | ||
Liberal Democrats gain from Conservative | Swing | +10.4 | |||
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ± | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Conservative | John Patten | 25,163 | 45.4 | −1.0 | |
Liberal Democrats | William Goodhart | 21,624 | 39.0 | +1.6 | |
Labour | Bruce Kent | 7,652 | 13.8 | −1.1 | |
Green | Mike Woodin | 660 | 1.2 | −0.1 | |
Liberal | Roger Jenking | 194 | 0.3 | N/A | |
Anti-Federalist League | Susan Nelson | 98 | 0.2 | N/A | |
Natural Law | Geoffrey Wells | 75 | 0.1 | N/A | |
Majority | 3,539 | 6.4 | -2.6 | ||
Turnout | 55,466 | 76.7 | −1.7 | ||
Conservative hold | Swing | −1.3 |
Elections in the 1980s
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ± | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Conservative | John Patten | 25,171 | 46.4 | −1.3 | |
SDP | Chris Huhne | 20,293 | 37.4 | +4.1 | |
Labour | John Power | 8,108 | 14.9 | −2.0 | |
Green | Donald Smith | 695 | 1.3 | +0.2 | |
Majority | 4,878 | 9.0 | -5.4 | ||
Turnout | 54,267 | 78.4 | +4.4 | ||
Conservative hold | Swing | −2.7 |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ± | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Conservative | John Patten | 23,778 | 47.7 | N/A | |
SDP | Evan Luard | 16,627 | 33.3 | N/A | |
Labour | Julian Jacottet | 8,440 | 16.9 | N/A | |
Ecology | Suzette Starmer | 544 | 1.1 | N/A | |
Monster Raving Loony | Robert Jones | 267 | 0.5 | N/A | |
Independent | Christopher Smith | 95 | 0.2 | N/A | |
Independent | Peter Doubleday | 86 | 0.2 | N/A | |
Independent | Ruth Pinder | 26 | 0.1 | N/A | |
Majority | 7,151 | 14.4 | N/A | ||
Turnout | 49,863 | 74.0 | N/A | ||
Conservative win (new seat) |
Neighbouring constituencies
See also
- List of Parliamentary constituencies in Oxfordshire
- Opinion polling for the next United Kingdom general election in individual constituencies
- Banbury
- Henley
- Oxford East
- Wantage
- Witney
Notes
- A county constituency (for the purposes of election expenses and type of returning officer)
- As with all constituencies, the constituency elects one Member of Parliament (MP) by the first past the post system of election at least every five years.
References
- "Oxford West & Abingdon - Election 2019". BBC News. 13 December 2019. Retrieved 18 December 2019.
- Unemployment claimants by constituency The Guardian
- "The Parliamentary Constituencies (England) Order 1983". www.legislation.gov.uk. Retrieved 13 February 2019.
- "The Parliamentary Constituencies (England) Order 1995". www.legislation.gov.uk. Retrieved 13 February 2019.
- "The Parliamentary Constituencies (England) Order 2007". www.legislation.gov.uk. Retrieved 13 February 2019.
- Leigh Rayment's Historical List of MPs – Constituencies beginning with "O"
- "Oxford West & Abingdon parliamentary constituency - Election 2017". BBC News. Retrieved 26 June 2017.
- "Oxford West & Abingdon Parliamentary constituency". BBC News. BBC. Retrieved 27 November 2019.
- "GENERAL ELECTION: List of Oxfordshire parliamentary candidates published". The Oxford Times.
- "South Live: Thursday 11 May". BBC News.
- "Election Data 2015". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 17 October 2015. Retrieved 17 October 2015.
- "Election Data 2010". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 17 October 2015. Retrieved 17 October 2015.
- "Election Data 2005". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
- "Election Data 2001". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
- "Election Data 1997". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
- C. Rallings & M. Thrasher, The Media Guide to the New Parliamentary Constituencies, p.451 (Plymouth: LGC Elections Centre, 1995)
- The 1997 election result is calculated relative to the notional, not the actual, 1992 result.
- "Election Data 1992". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
- "Politics Resources". Election 1992. Politics Resources. 9 April 1992. Archived from the original on 24 July 2011. Retrieved 6 December 2010.
- "Election Data 1987". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
- "Election Data 1983". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
Sources
- Election result 2015
- Election result, 2015 (BBC)
- Election result, 2010 (BBC)
- Election result, 2005 (BBC)
- Election results, 1997–2001 (BBC)
- Election results, 1997–2001 (Election Demon)
- Election results, 1983–1997 (Election Demon)