Shoreham (UK Parliament constituency)

Shoreham was a parliamentary constituency centred on the town of Shoreham-by-Sea in West Sussex. It returned one Member of Parliament (MP) to the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom from 1974 to 1997.

Shoreham
Former County constituency
for the House of Commons
CountyWest Sussex
February 1974–1997
SeatsOne
Created fromArundel and Shoreham
Replaced byEast Worthing and Shoreham, Worthing West, Arundel and South Downs

Before the 1885 general election, the Parliamentary borough of New Shoreham, also known simply as Shoreham, returned two members to the House of Commons.

History edit

This was a safe Conservative seat throughout its existence.

Boundaries edit

1974-1983: The Urban Districts of Shoreham and Southwick, the Rural District of Chanctonbury, and in the Rural District of Worthing the parishes of Coombes, Findon, Houghton, Lancing, and Sompting.

1983-1997: The District of Adur, and the District of Arun wards of Angmering, East Preston and Kingston, Ferring, Findon, Rustington East, and Rustington West.

The constituency was created for the February 1974 general election, when the Arundel and Shoreham constituency was divided. It was abolished for the 1997 general election, when it was largely replaced by the new East Worthing and Shoreham constituency.

Members of Parliament edit

Election Member[1] Party
Feb 1974 Richard Luce Conservative
1992 Michael Stephen Conservative
1997 constituency abolished: see East Worthing and Shoreham,
Worthing West, Arundel and South Downs

Elections edit

Elections in the 1990s edit

General election 1992: Shoreham[2][3]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Michael Stephen 32,670 56.5 −4.4
Liberal Democrats Martin King 18,384 31.8 +1.8
Labour P Godwin 6,123 10.6 +1.5
Liberal W Weights 459 0.8 New
Natural Law JI Dreben 200 0.3 New
Majority 14,286 24.7 −6.2
Turnout 57,836 81.2 +3.5
Conservative hold Swing −3.1

Elections in the 1980s edit

General election 1987: Shoreham[4]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Richard Luce 33,660 60.9 -0.8
Alliance Julian Ingram 16,590 30.0 -1.0
Labour Paul Godwin 5,053 9.1 +1.7
Majority 17,070 30.9 +0.2
Turnout 55,303 77.5 +3.8
Conservative hold Swing
General election 1983: Shoreham[5]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Richard Luce 31,679 61.7 +0.8
Alliance Julian Ingram 15,913 31.0 +8.4
Labour Sylvia Hurcombe 3,794 7.4 -8.3
Majority 15,766 30.7 -7.6
Turnout 51,386 73.7 -4.3
Conservative hold Swing

Elections in the 1970s edit

General election 1979: Shoreham
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Richard Luce 34,339 60.9 +9.7
Liberal C Robinson 12,754 22.6 -6.3
Labour GD Shamash 8,867 15.7 -4.2
National Front J Benjafield 406 0.7 New
Majority 21,585 38.3 +16.0
Turnout 56,366 78.0 +3.3
Conservative hold Swing
General election October 1974: Shoreham
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Richard Luce 26,170 51.2 -0.1
Liberal Peter F Bartram 14,797 28.9 -4.6
Labour Q Barry 10,200 19.9 +4.7
Majority 11,373 22.3 +4.5
Turnout 51,167 74.7 -5.4
Conservative hold Swing
General election February 1974: Shoreham
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Richard Luce 28,200 51.3
Liberal Peter F Bartram 18,442 33.5
Labour Q Barry 8,360 15.2
Majority 9,758 17.8
Turnout 55,002 80.1
Conservative win (new seat)

See also edit

Notes and references edit

  1. ^ Leigh Rayment's Historical List of MPs – Constituencies beginning with "S" (part 3)
  2. ^ "Election Data 1992". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 28 June 2017.
  3. ^ "Politics Resources". Election 1992. Politics Resources. 9 April 1992. Retrieved 6 December 2010.
  4. ^ "Election Data 1987". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 28 June 2017.
  5. ^ "Election Data 1983". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 28 June 2017.

Sources edit

  • Boundaries of Parliamentary Constituencies 1885-1972, compiled and edited by F.W.S. Craig (Parliamentary Reference Publications 1972)
  • The Parliaments of England by Henry Stooks Smith (1st edition published in three volumes 1844–50), second edition edited (in one volume) by F.W.S. Craig (Political Reference Publications 1973) out of copyright
  • Victoria History of the County of Sussex - south part of the Rape of Bramber