Reading West (UK Parliament constituency)
Template:Short description Template:Use British English Template:Use dmy dates Template:Infobox UK constituency main Reading West was a constituency<ref group="n">A borough constituency (for the purposes of election expenses and type of returning officer)</ref> represented in the House of Commons of the UK Parliament.<ref group="n">As with all constituencies, the constituency elects one Member of Parliament (MP) by the first past the post system of election at least every five years.</ref>
Further to the completion of the 2023 Periodic Review of Westminster constituencies, the seat was abolished. Its area was transferred to the new constituencies of Earley and Woodley (Whitley ward), Reading Central (Battle, Minster and Southcote wards), and Reading West and Mid Berkshire (all other wards). These constituencies were first contested at the 2024 general election.<ref group="n">For the purposes of this definition, the Electoral Commission appears to have used the borough ward names and definitions as existed prior to 2022 rather than the current names and definitions.</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref name=bcnam>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref name=bcinit>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
Constituency profile
Since its 1983 creation the constituency was a bellwether paradigm example of a marginal seat. Boundary changes for the 2010 election took in areas of population expansion to the east in new largely private sector housing estates. Unemployment is close to the regional average, which is lower than the national average<ref>Unemployment claimants by constituency The Guardian</ref> and the constituency has seen a marked increase in properties and property prices throughout the 2001 to 2011 period which saw town centre regeneration and investment by a Labour Party-controlled council enhanced by Reading railway station hub improvements and enterprise areas equally.
History
The Reading West parliamentary constituency was first contested in 1983, when it was won by a member of the Conservative Party, Tony Durant, the sitting MP for the abolished Reading North constituency. He held the seat through two subsequent general elections until he retired at the 1997 election.
The constituency was then won by Martin Salter for Labour, as part of the landslide that brought Labour back to power under Tony Blair. Salter held the seat through the 13 years of Labour government until Parliament was dissolved in April 2010, but did not stand in the 2010 general election, when Alok Sharma won the seat for the Conservatives.
Sharma held several posts within government, including serving in the Cabinet as the President for COP26 from January 2021 until October 2022.
Boundaries and boundary changes
Template:Maplink 1983–1997
- The Borough of Reading wards of Battle, Katesgrove, Kentwood, Minster, Norcot, Southcote, and Tilehurst; and
- The District of Newbury wards of Calcot, Pangbourne, Purley, Theale, and Tilehurst.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation
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Formed as a county constituency, largely from parts of the abolished constituency of Reading North. Extended westwards to include parts of Newbury.
1997–2010
- The Borough of Reading wards of Battle, Kentwood, Minster, Norcot, Southcote, Tilehurst, and Whitley; and
- The District of Newbury wards of Calcot, Pangbourne, Purley, Theale, and Tilehurst.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation
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The boundary with Reading East was realigned, gaining Whitley ward and losing Katesgrove ward.
2010–2024
- The Borough of Reading wards of Battle, Kentwood, Minster, Norcot, Southcote, Tilehurst, and Whitley; and
- The District of West Berkshire wards of Birch Copse, Calcot, Pangbourne, Purley on Thames, Theale, and Westwood.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation
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Marginal changes due to revision of local authority wards.
The constituency was bordered by the seats of Newbury, Henley, Reading East, and Wokingham.<ref name="osem2">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
Members of Parliament
| Election | Member<ref name="rayment">Template:Rayment-hc</ref> | Party | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1983 | Tony Durant | Template:Party name with colour | |
| 1997 | Martin Salter | Template:Party name with colour | |
| 2010 | Alok Sharma | Template:Party name with colour | |
Elections
Elections in the 2010s
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Elections in the 2000s
| 2005 notional result | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Vote | % | |
| Template:Party color cell | Labour | 19,451 | 45.1 |
| Template:Party color cell | Conservative | 14,496 | 33.6 |
| Template:Party color cell | Liberal Democrats | 6,814 | 15.8 |
| Template:Party color cell | Others | 2,385 | 5.5 |
| Turnout | 43,146 | 61.2 | |
| Electorate | 70,529 | ||
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Elections in the 1990s
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| 1992 notional result | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Vote | % | |
| Template:Party color cell | Conservative | 27,888 | 52.4 |
| Template:Party color cell | Labour | 15,256 | 28.7 |
| Template:Party color cell | Liberal Democrats | 9,461 | 17.8 |
| Template:Party color cell | Others | 638 | 1.2 |
| Turnout | 53,243 | 77.3 | |
| Electorate | 68,848 | ||
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Elections in the 1980s
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| 1979 notional result<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation | CitationClass=web
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|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Vote | % | ||
| Template:Party color cell | Conservative | 24,628 | 48.0 | |
| Template:Party color cell | Labour | 16,144 | 31.5 | |
| Template:Party color cell | Liberal | 10,056 | 19.6 | |
| Template:Party color cell | Others | 492 | 1.0 | |
| Turnout | 51,320 | |||
| Electorate | ||||
See also
Notes
References
External links
- Reading West UK Parliament constituency (boundaries April 1997 – April 2010) at MapIt UK
- Reading West UK Parliament constituency (boundaries April 2010 – May 2024) at MapIt UK
Template:Constituencies in South East England Template:Reading, Berkshire Template:Authority control Template:Coord