Bristol South (UK Parliament constituency)

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Bristol South
Borough constituency
for the House of Commons
Map
Interactive map of boundaries from 2024
Map of constituency
Boundary of Bristol South in South West England
CountyCity of Bristol
Population107,365 (2011 census)[1]
Electorate74,696 (2023)[2]
Major settlementsBedminster
Current constituency
Created1885
Member of ParliamentKarin Smyth (Labour)
SeatsOne
Created fromBristol

Bristol South is a constituency[n 1] represented in the House of Commons of the UK Parliament since 2015 by Karin Smyth of the Labour Party.[n 2]

Constituency profile

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Bristol South is a traditional white working class seat. Residents' wealth is around average for the UK.[3]

Boundaries

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Map
Map of boundaries 1997-2024

The constituency covers the south-west of Bristol, bounded by the Avon New Cut to the north, the A37 Wells Road to the east, and the city boundaries to the south and west.

1885–1918: The Borough of Bristol wards of Bedminster East, Bedminster West, Bristol, and Redcliffe, and part of the civil parish of Bedminster.

1918–1950: The County Borough of Bristol wards of Bedminster East, Bedminster West, and Southville, and part of Somerset ward.

1950–1955: The County Borough of Bristol wards of Bedminster, Somerset, Southville, and Windmill Hill.

1955–1983: The County Borough of Bristol wards of Bedminster, Bishopsworth, Hengrove, Somerset, and Southville.

1983–1997: The City of Bristol wards of Bedminster, Bishopsworth, Filwood, Hartcliffe, Knowle, Southville, Whitchurch Park, and Windmill Hill.

1997–2024: The City of Bristol wards of Bedminster, Bishopsworth, Filwood, Hartcliffe, Hengrove, Knowle, Southville, Whitchurch Park, and Windmill Hill.

2024–present: The City of Bristol wards of Bedminster; Bishopsworth; Filwood; Hartcliffe & Withywood; Hengrove & Whitchurch Park; Southville; and Windmill Hill.[4]

To bring the electorate within the permitted range, the Knowle ward was moved to Bristol East.[5][6]

History

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The seat has elected Labour MPs at every election since 1935, the only seat in the south of England outside Greater London with such a record. The closest result, giving a marginal majority, was the 1987 election where Dawn Primarolo won a majority of 2.7% of the vote — in that election the Social Democratic Party, a 'moderate' breakaway party from the Labour Party,[n 3] won 19.6% of the vote.

The incumbent prior to Smyth was Baroness Dawn Primarolo who held the seat for 28 years. She was a Minister of the Crown in the Blair Ministry and throughout the Coalition Government 2010 was a Deputy Speaker of the House of Commons.

Members of Parliament

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Election Member[7] Party
1885 Sir Joseph Dodge Weston Liberal
1886 Sir Edward Stock Hill Conservative
1900 Walter Long Conservative
1906 Sir Howell Davies Liberal
1922 Sir Beddoe Rees Liberal
1929 Alexander Walkden Labour
1931 Noel Ker Lindsay Conservative
1935 Alexander Walkden Labour
1945 William Wilkins Labour
1970 Michael Cocks Labour
1987 Dawn Primarolo Labour
2015 Karin Smyth Labour

Elections

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Elections in the 2020s

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General election 2024: Bristol South[8]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Karin Smyth 18,521 42.7 −8.9
Green Jai Breitnauer 10,855 25.0 +19.9
Reform UK Richard Visick 6,195 14.3 +10.0
Conservative Liz Brennan 4,947 11.4 −21.4
Liberal Democrats Andrew Brown 2,721 6.3 +0.1
SDP Neil Norton 164 0.4 N/A
Majority 7,666 17.7 –1.1
Turnout 43,403 57.5 –7.1
Registered electors 75,533
Labour hold Swing −14.4

Elections in the 2010s

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2019 notional result[9]
Party Vote %
Labour 24,917 51.6
Conservative 15,840 32.8
Liberal Democrats 3,012 6.2
Green 2,445 5.1
Brexit Party 2,054 4.3
Turnout 48,268 64.6
Electorate 74,696
General election 2019: Bristol South[10][11]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Karin Smyth 27,895 50.5 −9.6
Conservative Richard Morgan 18,036 32.7 +2.0
Liberal Democrats Andrew Brown 4,227 7.7 +4.4
Green Tony Dyer 2,713 4.9 +2.3
Brexit Party Robert de Vito Boutin 2,325 4.2 N/A
Majority 9,859 17.8 −11.6
Turnout 55,196 65.6 +0.1
Labour hold Swing -5.8
General election 2017: Bristol South[12]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Karin Smyth[13] 32,666 60.1 +21.7
Conservative Mark Weston 16,679 30.7 +6.4
Liberal Democrats Ben Nutland[14] 1,821 3.3 −5.4
UKIP Ian Kealey 1,672 3.1 −13.4
Green Tony Dyer[15] 1,428 2.6 −8.9
Independent John Langley 116 0.2 N/A
Majority 15,987 29.4 +15.3
Turnout 54,382 65.5 +3.5
Labour hold Swing +7.7
General election 2015: Bristol South[16]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Karin Smyth[17] 19,505 38.4 0.0
Conservative Isobel Grant [17] 12,377 24.3 +1.4
UKIP Steve Wood [18] 8,381 16.5 +13.9
Green Tony Dyer [17] 5,861 11.5 +9.0
Liberal Democrats Mark Wright[17] 4,416 8.7 −20.0
TUSC Tom Baldwin[19] 302 0.6 +0.2
Majority 7,128 14.1 +4.4
Turnout 50,842 62.0 +0.4
Labour hold Swing −0.8
General election 2010: Bristol South[20]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Dawn Primarolo 18,600 38.4 −10.7
Liberal Democrats Mark Wright 13,866 28.7 +4.9
Conservative Mark Lloyd Davies 11,086 22.9 +2.9
BNP Colin Chidsey 1,739 3.6 N/A
UKIP Colin McNamee 1,264 2.6 −0.5
Green Charles Bolton 1,216 2.5 −2.5
English Democrat Craig Clarke 400 0.8 N/A
TUSC Tom Baldwin 206 0.4 N/A
Majority 4,734 9.7 −16.6
Turnout 48,377 61.6 +1.8
Labour hold Swing −7.5

Elections in the 2000s

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General election 2005: Bristol South
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Dawn Primarolo 20,778 49.1 −7.8
Liberal Democrats Kay Barnard 9,636 22.8 +8.0
Conservative Graham Hill 8,466 20.0 −2.3
Green Charlie Bolton 2,127 5.0 +2.0
UKIP Mark Dent 1,321 3.1 +1.9
Majority 11,142 26.3 −8.3
Turnout 42,328 59.8 +3.3
Labour hold Swing −7.9
General election 2001: Bristol South
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Dawn Primarolo 23,299 56.9 −3.1
Conservative Richard Eddy 9,118 22.3 +1.1
Liberal Democrats James Main 6,078 14.8 +1.4
Green Glenn Vowles 1,233 3.0 +1.5
Socialist Alliance Brian Drummond 496 1.2 N/A
UKIP Chris Prasad 496 1.2 N/A
Socialist Labour Giles Shorter 250 0.6 N/A
Majority 14,181 34.6 −4.2
Turnout 40,970 56.5 −12.4
Labour hold Swing

Elections in the 1990s

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General election 1997: Bristol South
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Dawn Primarolo 29,890 60.0 +9.8
Conservative Michael Roe 10,562 21.2 −11.2
Liberal Democrats Stephen Williams 6,691 13.4 −2.2
Referendum Derek W. Guy 1,486 3.0 N/A
Green John H. Boxall 722 1.5 0.0
Socialist Alternative Ian P. Marshall 355 0.7 N/A
Glow Bowling Party Louis P. Taylor 153 0.3 N/A
Majority 19,328 38.8 +21.0
Turnout 49,859 68.9 −8.9
Labour hold Swing
General election 1992: Bristol South[21]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Dawn Primarolo 25,164 50.2 +9.3
Conservative John Bercow 16,245 32.4 −5.7
Liberal Democrats Paul N. Crossley 7,822 15.6 −4.0
Green John H. Boxall 756 1.5 +0.3
Natural Law Neil D. Phillips 136 0.3 N/A
Majority 8,919 17.8 +15.0
Turnout 50,123 77.8 +3.7
Labour hold Swing +7.5

Elections in the 1980s

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General election 1987: Bristol South
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Dawn Primarolo 20,798 40.9 −3.1
Conservative Philip Cutcher 19,394 38.1 +3.0
SDP Hilary Long 9,952 19.6 +0.1
Green Glenn Vowles 600 1.2 +0.5
Red Front Carol Meghji 149 0.3 N/A
Majority 1,404 2.8 −6.1
Turnout 50,893 74.1 +5.3
Labour hold Swing
General election 1983: Bristol South
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Michael Cocks 21,824 44.0
Conservative Alistair B. Gammell 17,405 35.1
SDP David M. Stanbury 9,674 19.5
Ecology Geoff Collard 352 0.7 N/A
Communist A. Chester 224 0.5 N/A
Workers Revolutionary L.J. Byrne 113 0.2
Majority 4,419 8.9
Turnout 49,592 68.8
Labour hold Swing

Elections in the 1970s

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General election 1979: Bristol South
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Michael Cocks 25,038 57.9 −1.4
Conservative Terry Dicks 13,855 32.1 +8.2
Liberal C.J. Bidwell 3,815 8.8 −6.1
National Front K.G. Elliott 392 0.9 −1.0
Workers Revolutionary L.J. Cheek 135 0.3 N/A
Majority 11,183 25.8 −9.6
Turnout 43,235 71.9 +2.5
Labour hold Swing
General election October 1974: Bristol South
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Michael Cocks 25,108 59.3 +4.1
Conservative R.J. Kellaway 10,124 23.9 −2.1
Liberal D.R.F. Burrows 6,289 14.9 −1.7
National Front P.H. Gannaway 795 1.9 −0.3
Majority 14,984 35.4 +6.2
Turnout 42,316 69.4 −5.3
Labour hold Swing +3.1
General election February 1974: Bristol South
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Michael Cocks 24,909 55.2 −6.6
Conservative R.J. Kellaway 11,742 26.0 −12.2
Liberal H.J. Stevens 7,499 16.6 N/A
National Front P.H. Gannaway 1,006 2.2 N/A
Majority 13,167 29.2 +5.6
Turnout 45,156 74.7 +9.8
Labour hold Swing
General election 1970: Bristol South
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Michael Cocks 24,662 61.8 −5.3
Conservative David Hunt 15,254 38.2 +5.3
Majority 9,428 23.6 −10.6
Turnout 39,916 64.9 −4.6
Labour hold Swing

Elections in the 1960s

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General election 1966: Bristol South
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour William Wilkins 26,552 67.1 +3.6
Conservative Robert William Wall 12,998 32.9 −3.6
Majority 13,554 34.2 +7.2
Turnout 39,550 69.5 −3.4
Labour hold Swing
General election 1964: Bristol South
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour William Wilkins 26,569 63.5 +2.7
Conservative Robert William Wall 15,282 36.5 −2.7
Majority 11,287 27.0 +5.4
Turnout 41,851 72.9 −2.8
Labour hold Swing

Elections in the 1950s

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General election 1959: Bristol South
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour William Wilkins 27,010 60.8 −3.3
Conservative George Edward McWatters 17,428 39.2 +3.3
Majority 9,582 21.6 −6.6
Turnout 44,438 75.7 +1.0
Labour hold Swing
General election 1955: Bristol South
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour William Wilkins 24,954 64.1 +0.8
Conservative George Edward McWatters 13,978 35.9 −0.8
Majority 10,976 28.2 +1.6
Turnout 38,932 74.7 −9.7
Labour hold Swing
General election 1951: Bristol South
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour William Wilkins 24,444 63.3 +3.4
Conservative Herbert E.P. Buckle 14,161 36.7 +4.9
Majority 10,283 26.6 −1.5
Turnout 38,605 84.5 −0.6
Labour hold Swing
General election 1950: Bristol South
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour William Wilkins 23,456 59.9 +1.1
Conservative Lynch Maydon 12,473 31.8 +2.6
Liberal Harold Tutt Kay 3,259 8.3 −3.7
Majority 10,983 28.1 −1.5
Turnout 39,188 85.1 +9.6
Labour hold Swing

Elections in the 1940s

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General election 1945: Bristol South
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour William Wilkins 24,929 58.8 +8.4
Conservative Ted Leather 12,379 29.2 −15.8
Liberal Douglas Arthur Jones 5,083 12.0 +7.3
Majority 12,550 29.6 +24.2
Turnout 42,391 75.5 −1.4
Labour hold Swing

Elections in the 1930s

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General election 1935: Bristol South
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Alexander Walkden 22,586 50.4 +11.3
Conservative Noel Lindsay 20,153 45.0 −15.9
Liberal John Osborne Marshall Skelton 2,090 4.7 N/A
Majority 2,433 5.4 N/A
Turnout 44,829 76.9 −5.4
Labour gain from Conservative Swing
General election 1931: Bristol South
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Noel Lindsay 26,694 60.9 N/A
Labour Alexander Walkden 17,174 39.1 −17.4
Majority 9,520 21.8 N/A
Turnout 43,868 82.3 +1.4
Conservative gain from Labour Swing

Elections in the 1920s

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General election 1929: Bristol South
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Alexander Walkden 23,591 56.5 +8.1
Liberal Beddoe Rees 18,194 43.5 −8.1
Majority 5,397 13.0 N/A
Turnout 41,785 80.9 −2.1
Registered electors 51,628
Labour gain from Liberal Swing +8.1
General election 1924: Bristol South
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Beddoe Rees 16,722 51.6 −1.1
Labour David Vaughan 15,702 48.4 +1.1
Majority 1,020 3.2 −2.2
Turnout 32,424 83.0 +8.2
Registered electors 39,056
Liberal hold Swing −1.1
General election 1923: Bristol South
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Beddoe Rees 15,235 52.7 −3.5
Labour David Vaughan 13,701 47.3 +3.5
Majority 1,534 5.4 −7.0
Turnout 28,936 74.8 −1.1
Registered electors 38,675
Liberal hold Swing −3.5
General election 1922: Bristol South
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
National Liberal Beddoe Rees 16,199 56.2 −12.0
Labour David Vaughan 12,650 43.8 +12.0
Majority 3,549 12.4 N/A
Turnout 28,849 75.9 +19.3
Registered electors 38,030
National Liberal gain from National Liberal Swing N/A

Elections in the 1910s

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Davies
General election 1918: Bristol South[22]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
C Liberal Howell Davies 13,761 68.2 +17.7
Labour Thomas Lewis 6,409 31.8 N/A
Majority 7,352 36.4 +35.4
Turnout 20,170 56.6 −27.8
Registered electors 35,663
Liberal hold Swing N/A
C indicates candidate endorsed by the coalition government.
General election December 1910: Bristol South[23]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Howell Davies 6,895 50.5 −0.4
Conservative J.T. Francombe 6,757 49.5 +0.4
Majority 138 1.0 −0.8
Turnout 13,652 84.4 −4.0
Registered electors 16,171
Liberal hold Swing −0.4
General election January 1910: Bristol South[23]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Howell Davies 7,281 50.9 −9.3
Conservative H.W. Chatterton 7,010 49.1 +9.3
Majority 271 1.8 −18.6
Turnout 14,291 88.4 −0.2
Registered electors 16,171
Liberal hold Swing −9.3

Elections in the 1900s

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Walter Long
General election 1906: Bristol South[24]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Howell Davies 7,964 60.2 +13.2
Conservative Walter Long 5,272 39.8 −13.2
Majority 2,692 20.4 N/A
Turnout 13,236 88.6 +10.4
Registered electors 14,935
Liberal gain from Conservative Swing +13.2
General election 1900: Bristol South[24]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Walter Long 5,470 53.0 −0.9
Liberal Howell Davies 4,859 47.0 +0.9
Majority 611 6.0 −1.8
Turnout 10,329 78.2 −0.1
Registered electors 13,206
Conservative hold Swing −0.9

Elections in the 1890s

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General election 1895: Bristol South[24]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Edward Stock Hill 5,190 53.9 +1.0
Liberal John O'Connor Power 4,431 46.1 −1.0
Majority 759 7.8 +2.0
Turnout 9,621 78.3 −1.0
Registered electors 12,281
Conservative hold Swing +1.0
General election 1892: Bristol South[24]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Edward Stock Hill 4,990 52.9 −3.6
Liberal William Wills 4,442 47.1 +3.6
Majority 548 5.8 −7.2
Turnout 9,432 79.3 +3.5
Registered electors 11,887
Conservative hold Swing −3.6

Elections in the 1880s

[edit]
Hill
General election 1886: Bristol South [25]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Edward Stock Hill 4,447 56.5 +7.1
Liberal Joseph Dodge Weston 3,423 43.5 −7.1
Majority 1,024 13.0 N/A
Turnout 7,870 75.8 −4.5
Registered electors 10,384
Conservative gain from Liberal Swing +7.1
General election 1885: Bristol South [25][26][27]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Joseph Dodge Weston 4,217 50.6
Conservative Edward Stock Hill 4,121 49.4
Majority 96 1.2
Turnout 8,338 80.3
Registered electors 10,384
Liberal win (new seat)

See also

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Notes

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  1. ^ A borough constituency (for the purposes of election expenses and type of returning officer)
  2. ^ 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.
  3. ^ See also spoiler effect

References

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  1. ^ "Bristol South: Usual Resident Population, 2011". Neighbourhood Statistics. Office for National Statistics. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 3 February 2015.
  2. ^ "The 2023 Review of Parliamentary Constituency Boundaries in England – Volume two: Constituency names, designations and composition – South West". Boundary Commission for England. Retrieved 27 June 2024.
  3. ^ Electoral Calculus https://www.electoralcalculus.co.uk/fcgi-bin/seatdetails.py?seat=Bristol+South Archived 2022-02-07 at the Wayback Machine
  4. ^ "The Parliamentary Constituencies Order 2023". Schedule 1 Part 7 South West region.
  5. ^ "South West | Boundary Commission for England". boundarycommissionforengland.independent.gov.uk. Retrieved 20 June 2023.
  6. ^ "New Seat Details - Bristol South". Electoral Calculus. Retrieved 21 February 2024.
  7. ^ "Bristol South 1885-". Parliamentary Debates (Hansard). Archived from the original on 15 October 2014. Retrieved 2 February 2015.
  8. ^ "Statement of Persons Nominated and Notice of Poll". Bristol City Council. 7 June 2024. Retrieved 8 June 2024.
  9. ^ "Notional results for a UK general election on 12 December 2019". Rallings & Thrasher, Professor David Denver (Scotland), Nicholas Whyte (NI) for Sky News, PA, BBC News and ITV News. UK Parliament. Retrieved 11 July 2024.
  10. ^ "Statement of Persons Nominated". Archived from the original on 25 July 2021. Retrieved 14 November 2019.
  11. ^ "UK Parliamentary (General Election) results Thursday 12 December 2019". 13 December 2019. Archived from the original on 13 December 2019. Retrieved 13 December 2019.
  12. ^ "Bristol South". BBC. Archived from the original on 24 November 2017. Retrieved 9 June 2017.
  13. ^ Ashcroft, Esme (18 April 2017). "Bristol's four MPs will all be defending their seats in the general election". bristolpost. Archived from the original on 24 April 2017. Retrieved 23 April 2017.
  14. ^ Ben Nutland [@BenNutland] (6 May 2017). "Delighted to announce that I have been selected as the @LibDems Parliamentary Candidate for Bristol South at the upcoming General Election" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  15. ^ "Green MEP to stand for Bristol West in general election". ITV News. Archived from the original on 4 December 2019. Retrieved 4 October 2019.
  16. ^ "Election Data 2015". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 17 October 2015. Retrieved 17 October 2015.
  17. ^ a b c d "UK ELECTION RESULTS: BRISTOL SOUTH 2015". Archived from the original on 24 October 2020. Retrieved 4 October 2019.
  18. ^ "Bristol South". UK Vote. Archived from the original on 10 September 2017. Retrieved 9 September 2017.
  19. ^ "TUSC parliamentary candidates in May 2015" (PDF). Trade Unionist and Socialist Coalition. 4 February 2015. Archived (PDF) from the original on 7 February 2015.
  20. ^ "Election Data 2010". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 26 July 2013. Retrieved 17 October 2015.
  21. ^ "Politics Resources". Election 1992. Politics Resources. 9 April 1992. Archived from the original on 24 July 2011. Retrieved 6 December 2010.
  22. ^ Craig, F.W.S., ed. (1969). British parliamentary election results 1918-1949. Glasgow: Political Reference Publications. p. 419. ISBN 0-900178-01-9.
  23. ^ a b Craig, FWS, ed. (1974). British Parliamentary Election Results: 1885-1918. London: Macmillan Press. ISBN 9781349022984.
  24. ^ a b c d British parliamentary election results, 1885-1918 (Craig)
  25. ^ a b British Parliamentary Election Results 1885-1918, FWS Craig
  26. ^ The Liberal Year Book, 1907
  27. ^ Debrett's House of Commons & Judicial Bench, 1886
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51°25′41″N 2°35′09″W / 51.42808°N 2.58587°W / 51.42808; -2.58587