Taunton and Wellington (UK Parliament constituency)

Taunton and Wellington
County constituency
for the House of Commons
Map of constituency
Boundary of Taunton and Wellington in South West England
CountySomerset
Electorate76,049 (2023)[1]
Major settlementsNorton Fitzwarren, Taunton, Wellington, Wiveliscombe
Current constituency
Created2024
Member of ParliamentGideon Amos (Liberal Democrat)
SeatsOne
Created fromTaunton Deane

Taunton and Wellington is a constituency of the House of Commons in the UK Parliament.[2] Further to the completion of the 2023 Periodic Review of Westminster constituencies, it was first contested at the 2024 general election,[3] with Gideon Amos of the Liberal Democrats taking the seat with a majority of 11,939. The predecessor seat, Taunton Deane, had been held by Rebecca Pow of the Conservative Party since 2015.

Boundaries

Map
Map of boundaries from 2024

Under the 2023 Periodic Review of Westminster constituencies, the constituency was defined as being composed of the following as they existed on 1 December 2020:

  • The District of Somerset West and Taunton wards of: Blackbrook & Holway; Comeytrowe & Bishop’s Hull; Creech St. Michael; Halcon & Lane; Hatch & Blackdown; Manor & Tangier; Monument; North Curry & Ruishton; North Town; Norton Fitzwarren & Staplegrove; Priorswood; Rockwell Green; Trull, Pitminster and Corfe; Victoria; Vivary; Wellington East; Wellington North; Wellington South; Wellsprings & Rowbarton; West Monkton & Cheddon Fitzpaine; Wilton & Sherford.[4]

With effect from 1 April 2023, the District of Somerset West and Taunton was abolished and absorbed into the new unitary authority of Somerset.[5] Consequently, the constituency now comprises the following electoral divisions of Somerset from the 2024 general election:

  • Bishop's Hull and Taunton West; Blackdown and Neroche; Comeytrowe and Trull; Lydeard (part); Monkton and North Curry; Rowbarton and Staplegrove; Taunton East; Taunton North; Taunton South; Upper Tone (small part); Wellington.[6]

The seat comprises the majority of the former Taunton Deane constituency, with Wiveliscombe and surrounding rural areas being included in the newly created constituency of Tiverton and Minehead.

Constituency profile

Electoral Calculus characterises this area as "Centrist", where voters have moderate/centrist views on economic and social issues and thus could support any of the three main English parties.[6]

Members of Parliament

2024–present

Election Member Party
2024 Gideon Amos Liberal Democrats

Elections

Elections in the 2020s

General election 2024: Taunton and Wellington[7]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Democrats Gideon Amos[8] 24,331 48.4 +12.1
Conservative Rebecca Pow[9] 12,392 24.6 −27.4
Reform UK Charles Hansard[10] 8,053 16.0 N/A
Labour Brenda Weston[11] 3,552 7.1 −0.8
Green Ryan Trower[12] 1,832 3.6 N/A
Communist Rochelle Russell[13] 134 0.3 N/A
Majority 11,939 23.8 N/A
Turnout 50,294 64.4 −7.2
Registered electors 78,116
Liberal Democrats gain from Conservative Swing Increase19.8

Elections in the 2010s

2019 notional result[14]
Party Vote %
Conservative 28,298 52.0
Liberal Democrats 19,762 36.3
Labour 4,299 7.9
Independent 2,081 3.8
Turnout 54,440 71.6
Electorate 76,049

References

  1. ^ "The 2023 Review of Parliamentary Constituency Boundaries in England – Volume two: Constituency names, designations and composition – South West". Boundary Commission for England. Retrieved 29 June 2024.
  2. ^ "South West | Boundary Commission for England". boundarycommissionforengland.independent.gov.uk. Retrieved 2023-06-20.
  3. ^ "Shake-up revealed for Somerset MPs' boundaries". BBC News. 2022-11-08. Retrieved 2023-12-02.
  4. ^ "The Parliamentary Constituencies Order 2023". Schedule 1 Part 7 South West region.
  5. ^ "The Somerset (Structural Changes) Order 2022".
  6. ^ a b "New Seat Details - Taunton and Wellington". www.electoralcalculus.co.uk. Retrieved 2023-12-02.
  7. ^ "Statement of Persons Nominated and Notice of Poll". Somerset Council. 7 June 2024. Retrieved 8 June 2024.
  8. ^ "Liberal Democrat Prospective Parliamentary Candidates". Mark Pack. Retrieved 4 March 2024.
  9. ^ "Conservatives choose MP Rebecca Pow to fight next General Election election". West Somerset Free Press. Retrieved 4 March 2024.
  10. ^ "Taunton and Wellington Constituency PPC - Charles Hansard". Reform UK. Retrieved 29 May 2024.
  11. ^ "Labour Party Prospective Parliamentary Candidates". Labour Party (UK). Retrieved 2 June 2024.
  12. ^ "Stand at the next general election". South West Green Party. 17 September 2023. Retrieved 4 March 2024.
  13. ^ "Instagram".
  14. ^ "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.