Jump to content

List of parliamentary constituencies in Cornwall

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The ceremonial county of Cornwall, which includes the Isles of Scilly, is divided into six parliamentary constituencies. They are all county constituencies.

Parliamentary history of Cornwall

[edit]

Four of the six Cornish parliamentary seats are currently held by Labour, after having no seats in Cornwall between the 2005 and 2024 elections. Two are held by the Liberal Democrats since the 2024 election, after previously winning all Cornish constituencies in 2005 then losing three to the Conservatives in 2010, and losing the remaining three to the Conservatives in 2015. The Conservatives, who had won no Cornish seats in 1997, 2001 and 2005, held three from 2010 and all six from 2015 to 2024. In 2017, several previous Liberal Democrat candidates, including previous MPs Andrew George and Steve Gilbert stood in their old seats, but failed to be re-elected. In all six seats, the Labour vote surged, pushing the Liberal Democrats into third place in four of the six seats. In the 2019 election, Labour retained their position as the second-placed party in most of the Cornish seats, holding their vote up far better in the region than elsewhere in the country.

In the 2024 election, the Conservatives lost all six seats, four of them going to Labour and the other two going to the Liberal Democrats, with Andrew George (MP for St Ives 1997-2015) retaking his St Ives seat for the first time since 2015 - George stood in his St Ives constituency in every election since 1992, winning in six out of nine elections. This marked the first time since 2005 that the Conservatives held no seats in Cornwall, the first time since 2015 that the Liberal Democrats held any seats, and the first time since 2005 that the Labour Party held any seats. It is also the first time in history that the Labour Party has held a majority of Cornish seats, as well as the most seats they have ever gained there, previously only holding one seat in a number of elections, and thus is their best result in Cornwall ever. Reform UK failed to win any seats in Cornwall but came third in five out of six seats and fourth in the remaining seat, while the Green Party came fifth in all six seats and increased their vote share in all seats.

Constituencies

[edit]

  Labour   Conservative   Liberal Democrat ¤

Constituency Electorate[1] Majority[1][nb 1] Member of Parliament[1] Nearest opposition[1] Current electoral wards[2][3] Map
Camborne and Redruth 74,382 7,806   Perran Moon Connor Donnithorne ‡
  • Camborne Roskear & Tuckingmill
  • Camborne Trelowarren
  • Camborne West & Treswithian
  • Constantine, Mabe & Mawnan
  • Crowan, Sithney & Wendron (part)
  • Falmouth Trescobeas & Budock (part)
  • Four Lanes, Beacon & Troon
  • Gwinear-Gwithian & Hayle East
  • Hayle West
  • Helston South & Meneage (part)
  • Illogan & Portreath
  • Lanner, Stithians & Gwennap (part)
  • Mylor, Perranarworthal & Ponsanooth (part)
  • Perranporth (part)
  • Pool & Tehidy
  • Redruth Central, Carharrack & St Day
  • Redruth North
  • Redruth South
  • St Agnes (part)
A small constituency. It is situated in the south west of the county, although it borders another constituency located further south west.
North Cornwall 76,741 10,767 Ben Maguire ¤ Scott Mann
  • Altarnun & Stoke Climsland
  • Bodmin St Mary's & St Leonard
  • Bodmin St Petroc
  • Bude
  • Camelford & Boscastle
  • Lanivet, Blisland & Bodmin St Lawrence
  • Launceston North & North Petherwin
  • Launceston South
  • Padstow
  • Poundstock
  • St Teath & Tintagel
  • Stratton, Kilkhampton & Morwenstow
  • Wadebridge East & St Minver
  • Wadebridge West & St Mabyn
A large constituency in the north of the county.
South East Cornwall 72,654 1,911   Anna Gelderd Sheryll Murray
  • Callington & St Dominic
  • Calstock
  • Liskeard Central
  • Liskeard South & Dobwalls
  • Looe East & Deviock
  • Looe West, Pelynt, Lansallos & Lanteglos
  • Lostwithiel & Lanreath
  • Lynher
  • Rame Peninsula & St Germans
  • Roche & Bugle (part)
  • Saltash Essa
  • Saltash Tamar
  • Saltash Trematon & Landrake
  • St Cleer & Menheniot
  • Torpoint
A medium-sized constituency found in the south east of the county.
St Austell and Newquay 76,076 2,470 Noah Law Steve Double
  • Fowey, Tywardreath & Par
  • Mevagissey & St Austell Bay
  • Newquay Central & Pentire
  • Newquay Porth & Tretherras
  • Newquay Trenance
  • Penwithick & Boscoppa
  • Roche & Bugle (part)
  • St Austell Bethel & Holmbush
  • St Austell Central & Gover
  • St Austell Poltair & Mount Charles
  • St Blazey
  • St Columb Major, St Mawgan & St Wenn
  • St Columb Minor & Colan
  • St Dennis & St Enoder
  • St Goran, Tregony & the Roseland (part)
  • St Mewan & Grampound
  • St Newlyn East, Cubert & Goonhavern (part)
  • St Stephen-in-Brannel
A medium constituency located in the center of the county.
St Ives 69,978 13,786 Andrew George ¤ Derek Thomas
  • Crowan, Sithney & Wendron (part)
  • Helston North
  • Helston South & Meneage (part)
  • Land's End
  • Long Rock, Marazion & St Erth
  • Ludgvan, Madron, Gulval & Heamoor
  • Mousehole, Newlyn & St Buryan
  • Mullion & St Keverne
  • Penzance East
  • Penzance Promenade
  • Porthleven, Breage & Germoe
  • St Ives, Lelant & Carbis Bay
  • St Ives West & Towednack

Isles of Scilly

A medium constituency located in the extreme south west of the county.
Truro and Falmouth 72,982 8,151   Jayne Kirkham Cherilyn Mackrory
  • Falmouth Arwenack
  • Falmouth Boslowick
  • Falmouth Penwerris
  • Falmouth Trescobeas & Budock (part)
  • Feock & Kea
  • Gloweth, Malabar & Shortlanesend
  • Lanner, Stithians & Gwennap (part)
  • Mylor, Perranarworthal & Ponsanooth (part)
  • Penryn
  • Perranporth (part)
  • Probus & St Erme
  • St Agnes (part)
  • St Goran, Tregony & the Roseland (part)
  • St Newlyn East, Cubert & Goonhaven (part)
  • Threemilestone & Chacewater
  • Truro Boscawen & Redannick
  • Truro Moresk & Trehaverne
A medium constituency located in the centre of the county. Due to the elongated shape of the county, no constituencies border it to the north or the south despite its central location.

Boundary changes

[edit]

2024

[edit]

See 2023 Periodic Review of Westminster constituencies for further details.

Name Boundaries 2010–2024 Name Boundaries 2024–present
  1. Camborne and Redruth CC
  2. North Cornwall CC
  3. South East Cornwall CC
  4. St Austell and Newquay CC
  5. St Ives CC
  6. Truro and Falmouth CC
Parliamentary constituencies in Cornwall (2010-2024)
Parliamentary constituencies in Cornwall (2010-2024)
  1. Camborne and Redruth CC
  2. North Cornwall CC
  3. South East Cornwall CC
  4. St Austell and Newquay CC
  5. St Ives CC
  6. Truro and Falmouth CC
Parliamentary constituencies in Cornwall (2024-present)
Parliamentary constituencies in Cornwall (2024-present)

For the 2023 Periodic Review of Westminster constituencies, which redrew the constituency map ahead of the 2024 United Kingdom general election, the Boundary Commission for England retained the six existing parliamentary constituencies in Cornwall with the same names and relatively minor alterations compared to other parts of the country.[4]

2010

[edit]

Under the Fifth Periodic Review of Westminster constituencies, the Boundary Commission for England decided to increase the number of seats which covered Cornwall from 5 to 6. Falmouth and Camborne, and Truro and St Austell were abolished and replaced by Camborne and Redruth, St Austell and Newquay, and Truro and Falmouth.

Name (1997-2010) Boundaries 1997–2010 Name (2010-2024) Boundaries 2010–present
  1. Falmouth and Camborne CC
  2. North Cornwall CC
  3. South East Cornwall CC
  4. St Ives CC
  5. Truro and St Austell CC
Parliamentary constituencies in Cornwall
Parliamentary constituencies in Cornwall
  1. Camborne and Redruth CC
  2. North Cornwall CC
  3. South East Cornwall CC
  4. St Austell and Newquay CC
  5. St Ives CC
  6. Truro and Falmouth CC
Proposed Revised constituencies in Cornwall
Proposed Revised constituencies in Cornwall

Results history

[edit]

Primary data source: House of Commons research briefing – General election results from 1918 to 2019[5]

Vote breakdown

[edit]
Year Labour Conservative Liberal Democrats Reform Green UKIP Mebyon Kernow Others Notes
Votes % -/+ Votes % -/+ Votes % -/+ Votes % -/+ Votes % -/+ Votes % -/+ Votes % -/+ Votes %
2024 77,517 26.0 +3.3 76,817 25.8 -27.7 73,691 24.7 +5.5 48,574 16.3% +16.3 13,778 4.6 +2.5 111 0.0 +16.5 did not contest 3,740 1.3
2019 74,392 23.1 -3.6 173,027 53.8 +5.4 62,165 19.3 -4.2 did not contest 7,129 2.2 +1.1 did not contest 1,660 0.5 +0.5 3,602 1.1
2017 83,968 26.7 +14.4 152,428 48.4 +5.3 73,875 23.5 +1.1 did not exist 3,218 1.0 -4.8 897 0.3 -13.5 did not contest 323 0.1
2015 36,235 12.3 +3.7 127,079 43.1 +2.2 66,056 22.4 -19.4 17,241 5.8 +4.5 40,785 13.8 +8.9 5,675 1.9 Steady 1,757 0.6
2010 24,257 8.6 -7.0 115,016 40.9 +9.1 117,307 41.8 -2.6 3,573 1.3 +0.6 13,763 4.9 -0.1 5,379 1.9 +0.5 1,586 0.6
2005 41,140 15.6 -1.7 82,543 31.8 -0.8 115,241 44.4 -0.4 1,738 0.7 +0.7 12,863 5.0 +1.3 3,552 1.4 +0.1 2,356 0.9
2001 43,674 17.3 +0.2 82,227 32.6 +2.2 113,000 44.8 +0.9 did not contest 9,290 3.7 +2.7 3,199 1.3 +0.6 727 0.3
1997 47,913 17.1 +3.2 85,077 30.4 -12.3 123,124 43.9 +2.2 482 0.2 -0.1 2,926 1.0 +1.0 1,906 0.7 +0.7 18,779 6.7
1992 41,593 13.9 +1.3 127,678 42.7 -4.6 124,553 41.7 +1.7 1,035 0.3 +0.3 did not exist did not contest 4,098 1.4
1987 34,994 12.6 +3.7 131,194 47.3 -2.0 111,064 40.0 -0.8 did not contest did not contest 373 0.1
1983 22,838 8.9 -3.7 126,182 49.3 -1.3 104,365 40.8 +6.6 776 0.3 -0.2 1,151 0.5 -1.1 677 0.3

Percentage votes

[edit]
Election year 1923 1924 1929 1945 1950 1951 1955 1959 1964 1966 1970 1974

(Feb)

1974

(Oct)

1979 1983 1987 1992 1997 2001 2005 2010 2015 2017 2019 2024
Labour 2.3 9.7 18.1 25.4 29.6 33.3 30.7 27.5 25.9 27.6 24.6 19.6 20.0 12.6 8.9 12.6 13.9 17.1 17.3 15.9 8.6 12.3 26.7 23.1 26.0
Conservative1 35.0 48.6 38.4 42.0 44.2 50.5 48.5 43.8 41.1 41.1 47.9 41.8 43.6 50.6 49.3 47.3 42.7 30.4 32.6 31.8 40.9 43.1 48.4 53.8 25.8
Liberal Democrat2 52.6 41.7 42.4 32.6 26.2 16.2 20.8 28.7 32.8 30.6 27.0 38.2 35.2 34.2 40.8 40.0 41.7 44.0 44.8 44.4 41.8 22.4 23.5 19.3 24.7
Reform 16.3
Green Party * * * * * 1.3 5.8 1.0 2.2 4.6
UKIP * * * 4.9 13.8 0.3 *
Other 10.0 1.2 0.4 0.1 0.7 0.4 0.4 1.2 2.6 1.0 0.1 1.7 8.6 5.2 7.9 2.5 2.5 0.1 1.6 17.6

1Includes Constitutionalist in 1924 and National Liberal Party up to 1966

21950–1979 – Liberal; 1983 & 1987 – SDP-Liberal Alliance

* Included in Other

Meaningful vote percentages are not applicable for the elections of 1918, 1922, 1931 and 1935 since one or more seats were gained unopposed.

Seats

[edit]
Election year 1918 1922 1923 1924 1929 1931 1935 1945 1950 1951 1955 1959 1964 1966 1970 1974

(Feb)

1974

(Oct)

1979 1983 1987 1992 1997 2001 2005 2010 2015 2017 2019 2024
Labour 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 4
Liberal Democrat2 2 1 4 0 5 2 1 1 0 0 0 0 1 2 1 2 2 1 1 1 2 4 4 5 3 0 0 0 2
Conservative1 2 2 0 5 0 3 4 3 4 4 4 4 3 2 4 3 3 4 4 4 3 0 0 0 3 6 6 6 0
National Liberal 1 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Independent Liberal 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Total 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 6 6 6 6 6

1Includes Constitutionalist in 1924 and National Liberal Party up to 1966

2pre-1979 – Liberal; 1983 & 1987 – SDP-Liberal Alliance

Maps

[edit]

1885–1910

[edit]

1918–1945

[edit]

1950–present

[edit]

Historical representation by party

[edit]

A cell marked → (with a different colour background to the preceding cell) indicates that the previous MP continued to sit under a new party name.

1832 to 1847 (14 MPs)

[edit]

  Conservative   Radical   Whig

Constituency 1832 1835 1837 38 40 1841 42 43 44 45 46
Bodmin Peter C. Vivian Spry
Spry Gardner
Cornwall Eastern Molesworth R. H. Vivian W. Rashleigh
W. Salusbury-Trelawny Eliot Pole-Carew
Cornwall Western Wynne-Pendarves
Lemon Boscawen-Rose Lemon
Helston Lane-Fox Townshend Sackville Basset R. Vyvyan
Launceston Hardinge Bowles
Liskeard C. Buller
Penryn & Falmouth Rolfe Hutchins J. C. Vivian
Bury Freshfield Plumridge
St Ives Halse W. Praed Powlett
Truro R. H. Vivian J. E. Vivian
Tooke Turner

1847 to 1868 (14 MPs)

[edit]

  Conservative   Independent Liberal   Liberal   Peelite   Radical   Whig

Constituency 1847 49 1852 53 54 1857 58 1859 59 65 1865 66 68
Bodmin Wyld Michell J. C. Vivian Leveson-Gower
Lacy Graves-Sawle Wyld Michell Wyld
Cornwall Eastern T. J. Agar-Robartes
Pole-Carew Kendall
Cornwall Western Wynne-Pendarves Williams St Aubyn
Lemon Davey
Helston R. Vyvyan Trueman Rogers Young W. Brett
Launceston Bowles Percy Haliburton Campbell Lopes
Liskeard C. Buller Crowder Grey Osborne A. Buller
Penryn & Falmouth Gwyn Baring Smith
Mowatt Freshfield Gurney
St Ives Powlett Laffan Paull
Truro J. E. Vivian A. Smith J. C. Vivian
Turner H. Willyams H. Vivian E. Willyams M. Smith F. Williams

1868 to 1885 (13 MPs)

[edit]

  Conservative   Liberal

Constituency 1868 69 71 1874 74 76 77 78 1880 81 82 85
Bodmin Leveson-Gower
Cornwall Eastern E. Willyams C. Rashleigh T. C. Agar-Robartes Dyke Acland
J. Salusbury-Trelawney J. Tremayne Borlase
Cornwall Western St Aubyn
A. Vivian
Helston Young Molesworth-St Aubyn
Launceston Lopes Deakin Giffard Webster
Liskeard A. Buller Horsman Courtney
Penryn & Falmouth Fowler Jenkins
Eastwick Cole R. Brett
St Ives Magniac Davenport C. Praed Reed Ross
Truro J. C. Vivian McGarel-Hogg
F. Williams A. Tremayne E. Willyams

1885 to 1906 (7 MPs)

[edit]

  Conservative   Independent Liberal   Liberal   Liberal Unionist

Constituency 1885 1886 87 1892 1895 98 99 1900 03 04
Bodmin Courtney Molesworth
Camborne Conybeare Strauss Caine Lawson
Launceston C. Dyke-Acland Owen Moulton
Penryn and Falmouth Jenkins Cavendish-Bentinck Horniman
St Austell Borlase McArthur
St Ives St Aubyn Bolitho Hain
Truro Bickford-Smith Williams Durning-Lawrence

1906 to 1918 (7 MPs)

[edit]

  Conservative   Liberal   Liberal Unionist

Constituency 1906 06 08 Jan 1910 Dec 1910 12 15 16
Bodmin Agar-Robartes Freeman-Thomas Grenfell Pole-Carew Hanson
Camborne Dunn F. Dyke Acland
Launceston Marks
Penryn and Falmouth Barker Goldman
St Austell McArthur Agar-Robartes Layland-Barratt
St Ives Cory
Truro Morgan

1918 to 1931 (5 MPs)

[edit]

  Coalition Liberal (1918–22) / National Liberal (1922–23)   Conservative   Constitutionalist   Independent Liberal   Liberal   National Liberal (1931–68)

Constituency 1918 22 1922 1923 1924 24 28 1929 31
Bodmin Hanson Foot Harrison Foot
Camborne Dyke Acland Moreing Jones Moreing Jones
Cornwall North Marks Williams Maclean
Penryn and Falmouth Nicholl Shipwright Mansel Pilcher Walters
St Ives Cory Hawke Cory Hawke H. Runciman W. Runciman

1931 to 1950 (5 MPs)

[edit]

  Conservative   Independent   Labour   Liberal   National Liberal (1931–68)

Constituency 1931 32 1935 37 39 41 1945 46 47
Bodmin Foot Rathbone B. Rathbone Marshall
Camborne Agnew
Cornwall North Maclean Dyke Acland Horabin
Penryn and Falmouth Petherick King
St Ives W. Runciman Beechman

1950 to 1983 (5 MPs)

[edit]

  Conservative   Labour   Liberal   Liberal Democrats   National Liberal (1931–68)

Constituency 1950 1951 1955 1959 1964 1966 68 1970 Feb 1974 Oct 1974 1979
Bodmin Marshall Bessell Hicks Tyler Hicks
Cornwall North Roper Scott-Hopkins Pardoe Neale
Falmouth & Camborne Hayman Dunwoody Mudd
St Ives Howard Nott
Truro Wilson Dixon Penhaligon

1983 to 2010 (5 MPs)

[edit]

  Conservative   Labour   Liberal   Liberal Democrats   National Liberal (1931–68)

Constituency 1983 87 1987 88 1992 1997 2001 2005
Cornwall North Neale Tyler Rogerson
Cornwall South East Hicks Breed
Falmouth and Camborne Mudd Coe Atherton Goldsworthy
St Ives Harris George
Truro / Truro & St Austell ('97) Penhaligon Taylor

2010 to present (6 MPs)

[edit]

  Conservative   Labour   Liberal Democrats

Constituency 2010 2015 2017 2019 2024
Camborne and Redruth Eustice Moon
North Cornwall Rogerson Mann Maguire
South East Cornwall Murray Gelderd
St Austell and Newquay Gilbert Double Law
St Ives George Thomas George
Truro and Falmouth Newton Mackrory Kirkham

See also

[edit]

Notes

[edit]
  1. ^ The majority is the number of votes the winning candidate receives more than their nearest rival.

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b c d "2024 General Election - 4th July 2024 - Cornwall Council". www.cornwall.gov.uk. Retrieved 10 July 2024.
  2. ^ "LGBCE | Cornwall | LGBCE Site". www.lgbce.org.uk. Retrieved 15 October 2021.
  3. ^ "Election Maps". www.ordnancesurvey.co.uk. Retrieved 15 October 2021.
  4. ^ "The 2023 Review of Parliamentary Constituency Boundaries in England – Volume one: Report | Boundary Commission for England". boundarycommissionforengland.independent.gov.uk. paras 1204-1215. Retrieved 10 July 2023.
  5. ^ Watson, Christopher; Uberoi, Elise; Loft, Philip (17 April 2020). "General election results from 1918 to 2019". {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)