Shrewsbury (UK Parliament constituency)

Shrewsbury is a parliamentary constituency in England, centred on the town of Shrewsbury in Shropshire. It has been represented in the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom since 2024 by Julia Buckley.

A constituency for the town has existed since the 13th century. It was nominally abolished for the 1983 general election, being replaced by Shrewsbury and Atcham. The 2023 Periodic Review of Westminster constituencies re‑established a constituency with the name of "Shrewsbury", with this taking effect from the 2024 general election.

Since 2024
2024–present: The re-established constituency is composed of the following:


 * The County of Shropshire electoral divisions of: Abbey; Bagley; Battlefield; Bayston Hill, Column and Sutton; Belle Vue; Bowbrook; Castlefields and Ditherington; Copthorne; Harlescott; Longden; Loton; Meole; Monkmoor; Porthill; Quarry and Coton Hill; Radbrook; Rea Valley; Sundorne; Tern; Underdale.

It comprises the wards of its predecessor Shrewsbury and Atcham, with the exception of the Burnell and Severn Valley wards which were transferred to the re-established constituency of South Shropshire.

Until 1983
1918–1950: The Borough of Shrewsbury, and the Rural Districts of Atcham and Chirbury.

1950–1974: The Borough of Shrewsbury, and the Rural District of Atcham.

1974–1983: As prior but with redrawn boundaries.

History
Shrewsbury was founded in 1290 as parliamentary borough, returning two members to the House of Commons of England until 1707, then of the House of Commons of Great Britain from 1707 to 1800, and of the House of Commons of the United Kingdom from 1801 to 1885.

Famous MPs have included Sir Philip Sidney in 1581, Robert Clive (known as 'Clive of India') from 1761 to his death in 1774, and Benjamin Disraeli (later Prime Minister) in 1841–47. By the mid eighteenth century Shrewsbury was known as an independent constituency. The right of election was vested in resident burgesses paying scot and lot. By 1722 the number of voters exceeded 1300 but Parliament sharply reduced the number by excluding parts of Shrewsbury from the parliamentary borough.

Under the Redistribution of Seats Act 1885, its representation was reduced to one Member of Parliament (MP). The parliamentary borough was abolished with effect from the 1918 general election, and the name transferred to a new county constituency. The constituency was renamed Shrewsbury and Atcham, but continued with the exact same boundaries as had been in effect from 1974-1983.

The seat was re-established from wards that had comprised Shrewsbury and Atcham as part of the 2023 Periodic Review of Westminster constituencies. This took effect from the 2024 United Kingdom general election. The constituency was won by Julia Buckley, who became the first Labour Party MP to represent the constituency under its name of Shrewsbury, as well as the first woman to represent the seat under either of its names.

MPs since 2024
Constituency re-established from Shrewsbury and Atcham in 2024

MPs 1290–1660
Constituency created in 1290

Elections in the 2020s

 * Daniel Kawczynski (Conservative) ― Incumbent MP for Shrewsbury and Atcham

Elections in the 1860s
Slaney's death caused a by-election.

Elections in the 1870s
Clement's death caused a by-election.

Elections in the 1880s
Cotes was appointed a Lord Commissioner of the Treasury, requiring a by-election.

Representation reduced to one Member

Elections in the 1910s
General Election 1914–15:

Another General Election was required to take place before the end of 1915. The political parties had been making preparations for an election to take place and by July 1914, the following candidates had been selected;
 * Unionist: George Lloyd
 * Liberal:

Elections in the 1940s
General Election 1939–40:

Another General Election was required to take place before the end of 1940. The political parties had been making preparations for an election to take place from 1939 and by the end of this year, the following candidates had been selected;
 * Conservative: Arthur Duckworth
 * Liberal: John Share Jones
 * Labour: Stanley Norman Chapman

The outbreak of World War II in September 1939 caused general elections to be suspended until 1945.