Somerton and Frome (UK Parliament constituency) (original) (raw)

Parliamentary constituency in the United Kingdom, 1983–2024

Somerton and Frome
Former county constituencyfor the House of Commons
Boundary of Somerton and Frome in Somerset
Location of Somerset within England
County	Somerset
Electorate	87,921 (2011)[1]
Major settlements	Frome, Somerton, Wincanton and Martock
1983–2024
Seats	One
Created from	Wells and Yeovil[2]
Replaced by	Frome and East Somerset, Glastonbury and Somerton

Somerton and Frome was a constituency[n 1] in Somerset represented in the House of Commons of the UK Parliament.[n 2]

It was formerly represented by David Warburton, who was elected as a Conservative, but latterly sat as an Independent after losing the Conservative whip in April 2022 following allegations of misconduct. Warburton resigned as an MP on 17 June 2023, thus triggering the first by-election in this constituency since its creation at the 1983 general election, which was won by Sarah Dyke of the Liberal Democrats.

Further to the completion of the 2023 Periodic Review of Westminster constituencies, the seat was abolished. Subject to major boundary changes – including incorporation of the town of Frome and surrounding rural areas in the former Mendip District into the newly created constituency of Frome and East Somerset, and the transferring in of the towns of Glastonbury and Street from the constituency of Wells (to be renamed Wells and Mendip Hills) to partly compensate – the constituency was reformed as Glastonbury and Somerton, to be first contested at the 2024 general election.[3] Sarah Dyke, the winner of the 2023 by-election, became the inaugural MP for the succeeding constituency.[4][5]

Constituency profile

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This area has a mixed economy, including agriculture and high-tech defence related industries.[6] In November 2012, it had below the national average proportion of jobseekers (3.8%) at 1.6% of the population.[7]

Map of boundaries 2010–2024

1983–1997: The District of Yeovil wards of Blackmoor Vale, Brue, Burrow Hill, Camelot, Cary, Curry Rivel, Islemoor, Ivelchester, Langport and Huish, Martock, Milborne Port, Northstone, Turn Hill, Wessex, and Wincanton, and the District of Mendip wards of Beacon, Beckington and Rode, Coleford, Creech, Frome Badcox, Frome Fromefield, Frome Keyford, Mells, Nordinton, Postlebury, Selwood and Berkley, Stratton, and Vale.

1997–2010: The District of South Somerset wards of Blackmoor Vale, Brue, Burrow Hill, Camelot, Cary, Curry Rivel, Islemoor, Ivelchester, Langport and Huish, Martock, Milborne Port, Northstone, Turn Hill, Wessex, and Wincanton, and the District of Mendip wards of Beacon, Beckington and Rode, Coleford, Creech, Frome Badcox, Frome Fromefield, Frome Keyford, Frome Welshmill, Mells, Nordinton, Postlebury, Stratton, and Vale.

2010–2024: The District of South Somerset wards of Blackmoor Vale, Bruton, Burrow Hill, Camelot, Cary, Curry Rivel, Islemoor, Langport and Huish, Martock, Milborne Port, Northstone, Tower, Turn Hill, Wessex, and Wincanton, and the District of Mendip wards of Beacon, Beckington and Rode, Coleford, Creech, Frome Berkley Down, Frome Fromefield, Frome Keyford, Frome Park, Frome Welshmill, Mells, Nordinton, Postlebury, Stratton, and Vale.

The constituency was created in 1983 from parts of the seat of Wells. It covers the east of the district of Mendip and the north of the district of South Somerset.

Members of Parliament

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Elections in the 2020s

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Elections in the 2010s

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Elections in the 2000s

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Elections in the 1990s

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Elections in the 1980s

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• List of parliamentary constituencies in Somerset

1. ^ A county constituency (for the purposes of election expenses and type of returning officer)

2. ^ 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.

3. ^ "Electorate Figures – Boundary Commission for England". 2011 Electorate Figures. Boundary Commission for England. 4 March 2011. Archived from the original on 6 November 2010. Retrieved 13 March 2011.

4. ^ "'Somerton and Frome', June 1983 up to May 1997". ElectionWeb Project. Cognitive Computing Limited. Retrieved 14 March 2016.

5. ^ "The 2023 Review of Parliamentary Constituency Boundaries in England – Volume one: Report – South West | Boundary Commission for England". boundarycommissionforengland.independent.gov.uk. Retrieved 2 August 2023.

6. ^ "Glastonbury and Somerton – General election results 2024". BBC News. Retrieved 6 July 2024.

7. ^ "General Election result: Glastonbury and Somerton constituency". www.somerset.gov.uk. Retrieved 6 July 2024.

8. ^ "BBC NEWS | VOTE 2001 | RESULTS & CONSTITUENCIES | Somerton & Frome". news.bbc.co.uk. Retrieved 17 June 2023.

9. ^ Unemployment claimants by constituency The Guardian

10. ^ "Somerton and Frome". Guardian. Retrieved 17 September 2012.

11. ^ "Somerton and Frome by-election candidates named". BBC News. 23 June 2023.

12. ^ "Statement of Persons Nominated" (PDF).

13. ^ "Parliamentary Constituencies Election Results-Thursday, 8 June 2017" (PDF). South Somerset District Council. 9 June 2017. Retrieved 12 February 2019.

14. ^ "Election Data 2015". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 17 October 2015. Retrieved 17 October 2015.

15. ^ "Somerton & Frome". Election 2015. BBC. Retrieved 8 June 2015.

16. ^ "UK Polling Report".

17. ^ "Somerton & Frome". Election 2010. BBC. Retrieved 1 October 2010.

18. ^ "Politics Resources". Election 1992. Politics Resources. 9 April 1992. Retrieved 6 December 2010.

• Somerton and Frome UK Parliament constituency (boundaries April 1997 – April 2010) at MapIt UK
• Somerton and Frome UK Parliament constituency (boundaries April 2010 – May 2024) at MapIt UK

51°06′00″N 2°30′36″W / 51.1000°N 2.5100°W / 51.1000; -2.5100