Wantage (UK Parliament constituency)
Wantage was a county constituency in Oxfordshire, England, created in 1885 and abolished in 1983. It returned one Member of Parliament (MP) to the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom.
Boundaries:
The constituency was based on the market town of Wantage. Throughout its existence, its boundaries covered a predominantly rural area in southern Oxfordshire, including parts of the Vale of White Horse. Significant boundary changes occurred during its history, reflecting population shifts and redistributions mandated by parliamentary boundary commissions. In its initial iteration, it encompassed areas further west. Later redistributions saw adjustments that shifted its focus more towards the south-east of Oxfordshire.
History:
The Wantage constituency was established as part of the major redistribution of parliamentary seats enacted by the Redistribution of Seats Act 1885. It continued to exist, with boundary revisions, until the 1983 general election.
Abolition:
For the 1983 general election, the Wantage constituency was abolished. Its territory was largely absorbed into the newly created constituencies of Wantage and Didcot and Henley. The Wantage name was retained for a new constituency, but with significantly altered boundaries, reflecting the growing population in the area surrounding Didcot.
Members of Parliament:
A list of MPs who represented Wantage:
- 1885: Walter James, 2nd Baron Northbourne (Liberal)
- 1895: William Reynolds-Moreton, 4th Earl of Ducie (Conservative)
- 1898: Robert Loyd-Lindsay, 1st Baron Wantage (Conservative)
- 1901: William Heaton-Armstrong (Conservative)
- 1906: Arthur Henderson (Labour)
- 1910: Ronald McNeill (Conservative)
- 1918: Reginald Terrell (Conservative)
- 1922: Thomas Simpson (Labour)
- 1924: Robert Croft Bourne (Conservative)
- 1929: John Brown (Labour)
- 1931: Robert Croft Bourne (Conservative)
- 1945: Alfred Moody (Labour)
- 1950: Robert Turton (Conservative)
- 1974: David Madel (Conservative)
Election Results:
Election results for the Wantage constituency are available from various historical sources, including election manifestos and academic studies of British parliamentary elections. These results detail the performance of various political parties and candidates within the constituency over time. Analysis of these results demonstrates the shifts in political allegiance and the changing demographics of the area.