Taunton (UK Parliament constituency)

Taunton was a constituency represented in the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom and its predecessors from 1295 to 2010, taking its name from the town of Taunton in Somerset. Until 1918, it was a parliamentary borough, electing two Member of Parliaments (MPs) between 1295 and 1885 and one from 1885 to 1918; the name was then transferred to a county constituency, electing one MP.

In the boundary changes that came into effect at the general election of 2010, the Boundary Commission for England replaced Taunton with a modified constituency called Taunton Deane, to reflect the district name. The new constituency's boundaries are coterminous with the local government district of the same name.

History
Famous MPs for the borough include Thomas Cromwell.

The 1754 by-election was so fiercely contested that rioting broke out in which two people died.

In the 2005 general election, the victorious Liberal Democrats candidate in Taunton required the smallest percentage swing from the Conservative MP for them to take the seat.

Boundaries
1918–1950: The Borough of Taunton, the Urban Districts of Wellington and Wiveliscombe, and the Rural Districts of Dulverton, Taunton, and Wellington.

1950–1974: ''As above less Wiveliscombe Urban District. This had been absorbed by Wellington Rural District in 1933. The constituency boundaries remained unchanged.''

1974–1983: As 1950 but with redrawn boundaries.

1983–2010: The Borough of Taunton Deane, and the District of West Somerset wards of Dulverton and Brushford, Exmoor, Haddon, and Quarme.

MPs 1295–1640

 * Constituency created (1295)

Elections in the 1830s
Labouchere was appointed as a Lord of the Admiralty, causing a by-election.

Labouchere was appointed as vice-president of the Board of Trade, and Master of the Mint, requiring a by-election.

Elections in the 1840s
Bainbridge resigned by accepting the office of Steward of the Chiltern Hundreds, causing a by-election.

Labouchere was appointed Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, requiring a by-election.

Elections in the 1850s
Mills' election was declared void on petition.

Labouchere was appointed Secretary of State for the Colonies, requiring a by-election.

Labouchere was elevated to the peerage, becoming Lord 1st Baron Taunton and causing a by-election.

Elections in the 1860s
On petition, Cox's election was scrutinised, and some of his votes were found to have been acquired by bribery, and were then struck off. This caused him to be unseated on 8 March 1869 and James was declared elected. While a petition was then lodged against James, the court ruled a petitioner who had been seated on petition could not then be petitioned against.

Elections in the 1870s
James was appointed Solicitor-General for England and Wales, causing a by-election.

Elections in the 1880s
James was appointed Attorney General for England and Wales, requiring a by-election.

Palliser's death caused a by-election.



Allsopp succeeded to the peerage, becoming Lord Hindlip, causing a by-election.

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 the July 1914, the following candidates had been selected;
 * Unionist: Gilbert Wills
 * Liberal: James Bromley Eames

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 and by the Autumn of 1939, the following candidates had been selected;
 * Conservative: Edward Wickham
 * Labour: Charles W. Gott