# Forest of Dean (UK Parliament constituency)

Forest of Dean is a constituency in Gloucestershire represented in the House of Commons of the UK Parliament since 2024 UK General Election by Matt Bishop, a Labour MP. Previously represented from
2005 by Mark Harper, a Conservative who served as Secretary of State for Transport between 2022 and 2024.

## Boundaries

1885–1918: The Sessional Divisions of Coleford, Lydney, Newent, and Newnham.
1918–1950: The Urban Districts of Awre, Coleford, Newnham, and Westbury-on-Severn, the Rural Districts of East Dean and United Parishes, Lydney, Newent, and West Dean, and part of the Rural District of Gloucester.
1997–2010: The District of Forest of Dean, and the Borough of Tewkesbury wards of Haw Bridge and Highnam.
2010–present: The District of Forest of Dean, and the Borough of Tewkesbury ward of Highnam with Haw Bridge. The constituency boundaries remained unchanged by the Fifth Periodic Review of Westminster constituencies.
The 2023 Periodic Review of Westminster constituencies also left the boundaries unchanged.

## History

This seat was created for the 1885 general election (replacing the two-seat constituency of West Gloucestershire under the Redistribution of Seats Act 1885), was redrawn for the 1918 general election, and abolished for the 1950 general election. It was re-created, with different boundaries, for the 1997 general election, and has thus far not undergone any boundary changes.

## Constituency profile

The Forest of Dean constituency covers Gloucestershire west of the river Severn, and lies in the south west of England, near the Welsh border.
The core of the constituency consists of the Royal Forest of Dean itself, which was established by William the Conqueror nearly a thousand years ago and is one of the last surviving Royal Forests in England. The seat has a rich industrial and mining history, evidenced by the market towns of Coleford and Cinderford, and the old port of Lydney from where coal mined in the Forest of Dean Coalfield would start its journey to all parts of the world.
The Wye Valley forms the western border of the Forest and is an area of outstanding natural beauty, whilst the Leadon Valley forms the northern portion of the constituency. The Vale consists of countryside and farmland centred on the Tudor town of Newent, and also produces English wine.
The constituency also includes parishes from Tewkesbury district, including Forthampton, Chaceley Hole, Hasfield, Ashleworth and Highnam.

## Members of Parliament
### MPs 1885–1950

| Election | Member | Party |
| 1885 | Thomas Blake | Liberal |
| 1887 | Godfrey Samuelson | Liberal |
| 1892 | Sir Charles Dilke | Liberal |
| 1911 | Sir Henry Webb | Liberal |
| 1918 | James Wignall | Labour |
| 1925 | A. A. Purcell | Labour |
| 1929 | David Vaughan | Labour |
| 1931 | John Worthington | National Labour |
| 1935 | M. Philips Price | Labour |
| 1950 | constituency abolished | constituency abolished |

### MPs since 1997

| Election | Member | Party |
| 1997 | Diana Organ | Labour |
| 2005 | Mark Harper | Conservative |
| 2024 | Matt Bishop | Labour |

## Elections
### Elections in the 2020s

General election 2024: Forest of Dean :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Matt Bishop | 16,373 | 34.0 | +5.2 |
| | Conservative | Mark Harper | 16,095 | 33.5 | −26.1 |
| | Reform UK | Stanley Goodin | 8,194 | 17.0 | N/A |
| | Green | Chris McFarling | 4,735 | 9.8 | +0.7 |
| | Liberal Democrats | James Joyce | 2,604 | 5.4 | N/A |
| | Socialist Labour | Saiham Sikder | 90 | 0.2 | N/A |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 278 | 0.5 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 48,091 | 66.0 | −6.4 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 72,052 | | +0.9 |
| | Labour gain from Conservative | Labour gain from Conservative | Swing | 15.7 | |

### Elections in the 2010s

General election 2019: Forest of Dean :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Mark Harper | 30,680 | 59.6 | +5.3 |
| | Labour Co-op | Di Martin | 14,811 | 28.8 | −7.1 |
| | Green | Chris McFarling | 4,681 | 9.1 | +6.7 |
| | Independent | Julian Burrett | 1,303 | 2.5 | +1.4 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 15,869 | 30.8 | +12.4 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 51,475 | 72.4 | −0.6 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 71,438 | | +0.7 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | +6.2 | |
General election 2017: Forest of Dean :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Mark Harper | 28,096 | 54.3 | +7.5 |
| | Labour | Shaun Stammers | 18,594 | 35.9 | +11.3 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Janet Ellard | 2,029 | 3.9 | −1.4 |
| | Green | James Greenwood | 1,241 | 2.4 | −3.1 |
| | UKIP | Ernie Warrender | 1,237 | 2.4 | −15.4 |
| | Independent | Julian Burrett | 570 | 1.1 | N/A |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 9,502 | 18.4 | −3.8 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 51,767 | 73.0 | +2.1 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 70,898 | | +3.6 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | −1.9 | |
General election 2015: Forest of Dean :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Mark Harper | 23,191 | 46.8 | 0.0 |
| | Labour | Steve Parry-Hearn | 12,204 | 24.6 | +0.5 |
| | UKIP | Steve Stanbury | 8,792 | 17.8 | +12.6 |
| | Green | James Greenwood | 2,703 | 5.5 | +3.6 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Christopher Coleman | 2,630 | 5.3 | −16.6 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 10,987 | 22.2 | −0.5 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 49,520 | 70.9 | −0.4 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 69,865 | | +2.1 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | −0.3 | |
General election 2010: Forest of Dean :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Mark Harper | 22,853 | 46.9 | +6.0 |
| | Labour | Bruce Hogan | 11,789 | 24.2 | −12.4 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Christopher Coleman | 10,676 | 21.9 | +4.7 |
| | UKIP | Tim Congdon | 2,522 | 5.2 | +2.8 |
| | Green | James Greenwood | 923 | 1.9 | −0.2 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 11,064 | 22.7 | +18.4 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 48,763 | 71.3 | +0.4 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 68,419 | | +1.8 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | +9.2 | |

### Elections in the 2000s

General election 2005: Forest of Dean :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Mark Harper | 19,474 | 40.9 | +2.1 |
| | Labour | Isabel Owen | 17,425 | 36.6 | −6.8 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Christopher Coleman | 8,185 | 17.2 | +4.3 |
| | UKIP | Patricia Hill | 1,140 | 2.4 | +0.9 |
| | Green | Stephen Tweedie | 991 | 2.1 | −0.7 |
| | Independent | Anthony Reeve | 300 | 0.6 | – |
| | English Democrat | Gerald Morgan | 125 | 0.3 | −0.4 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 2,049 | 4.3 | −0.3 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 47,640 | 70.8 | +3.5 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 67,241 | | +1.5 |
| | Conservative gain from Labour | Conservative gain from Labour | Swing | +4.4 | |
General election 2001: Forest of Dean :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Diana Organ | 19,350 | 43.4 | −4.8 |
| | Conservative | Mark Harper | 17,301 | 38.8 | +3.2 |
| | Liberal Democrats | David Gayler | 5,762 | 12.9 | +0.6 |
| | Green | Simon Pickering | 1,254 | 2.8 | – |
| | UKIP | Allen Prout | 661 | 1.5 | – |
| | Independent | Gerald Morgan | 279 | 0.6 | +0.2 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 2,049 | 4.6 | −8.0 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 44,607 | 67.3 | −11.7 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 66,240 | | +4.4 |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | −4.0 | |

### Election in the 1990s

General election 1997: Forest of Dean :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Diana Organ | 24,203 | 48.2 | +5.8 |
| | Conservative | Paul Marland | 17,860 | 35.6 | −5.5 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Anthony Lynch | 6,165 | 12.3 | −3.8 |
| | Referendum | Dominic Hopkins | 1,624 | 3.2 | – |
| | Independent | Gerald Morgan | 218 | 0.4 | – |
| | Independent | Colin Palmer | 80 | 0.2 | – |
| | Independent | Stephen Porter | 34 | 0.1 | – |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 6,343 | 12.6 | +11.2 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 50,184 | 79.1 | −4.0 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 63,465 | | +0.9 |
| | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) |

### Election in the 1940s

General election 1945: Forest of Dean :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | M. Philips Price | 19,721 | 65.2 | +7.6 |
| | Independent | John Brown | 10,529 | 34.8 | – |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 9,192 | 30.4 | +15.2 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 30,250 | 70.9 | −6.4 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 42,667 | | 13.3 |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Labour hold | Labour hold | Labour hold |

### Elections in the 1930s

General election 1935: Forest of Dean :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | M. Philips Price | 16,768 | 57.6 | +10.3 |
| | National Labour | John Worthington | 12,337 | 42.4 | −10.3 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 4,431 | 15.2 | +9.8 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 29,105 | 77.3 | +0.4 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 37,643 | | +3.0 |
| | Labour gain from National Labour | Labour gain from National Labour | Swing | +10.3 | |
General election 1931: Forest of Dean :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | National Labour | John Worthington | 14,815 | 52.7 | – |
| | Labour | David Vaughan | 13,291 | 47.3 | −4.8 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,524 | 5.4 | −20.3 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 28,106 | 76.9 | +3.6 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 36,547 | | 0.0 |
| | National Labour gain from Labour | National Labour gain from Labour | National Labour gain from Labour | National Labour gain from Labour | National Labour gain from Labour |

### Elections in the 1920s

General election 1929: Forest of Dean :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | David Vaughan | 13,976 | 52.1 | +3.7 |
| | Unionist | William Mitchell-Cotts | 7,092 | 26.5 | −9.4 |
| | Liberal | Joseph W Westwood | 5,738 | 21.4 | +5.7 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 6,884 | 25.7 | +13.1 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 26,806 | 73.3 | −7.5 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 36,563 | | +23.1 |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | +6.5 | |
1925 Forest of Dean by-election :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | A. A. Purcell | 11,629 | 48.4 | −4.7 |
| | Unionist | Michael Beaumont | 8,607 | 35.8 | −11.0 |
| | Liberal | W.H. West | 3,774 | 15.7 | − |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 3,022 | 12.6 | +6.3 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 24,010 | 80.9 | +10.9 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 29,696 | | 0.0 |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | +3.1 | |
1924 general election: Forest of Dean :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | James Wignall | 11,048 | 53.1 | −7.7 |
| | Unionist | Michael Beaumont | 9,739 | 46.9 | +7.7 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,309 | 6.2 | −15.4 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 20,787 | 70.0 | +5.3 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 29,696 | | +1.8 |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | −7.7 | |
1923 general election: Forest of Dean :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | James Wignall | 11,486 | 60.9 | +8.5 |
| | Unionist | Augustus Dinnick | 7,383 | 39.1 | +10.2 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 4,103 | 21.7 | −1.8 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 18,869 | 64.7 | −7.3 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 29,174 | | +1.7 |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | −0.9 | |
1922 general election: Forest of Dean :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | James Wignall | 10,820 | 52.4 | −10.4 |
| | Ind. Conservative | Augustus Dinnick | 5,976 | 28.9 | – |
| | National Liberal | Winifred Coombe Tennant | 3,861 | 18.7 | – |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 4,854 | 23.5 | −2.1 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 20,647 | 72.0 | +15.9 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 28,686 | | +3.8 |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Labour hold | Labour hold | Labour hold |

## Election results 1885–1918
### Elections in the 1910s

General election 1918: Forest of Dean :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | James Wignall | 9,731 | 62.8 | N/A |
| C | Liberal | Henry Webb | 5,765 | 37.2 | N/A |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 3,966 | 25.6 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 15,496 | 56.1 | N/A |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 27,624 | | N/A |
| | Labour gain from Liberal | Labour gain from Liberal | Labour gain from Liberal | Labour gain from Liberal | Labour gain from Liberal |
| C indicates candidate endorsed by the coalition government. ||||||
General Election 1914–15
A general election was due to take place by the end of 1915. By the autumn of 1914, the following candidates had been selected to contest that election. Due to the outbreak of war, the election never took place;
* Liberal Party: Henry Webb
* Labour Party: James Wignall
1912 Forest of Dean by-election :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | Henry Webb | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Liberal hold |
1911 Forest of Dean by-election :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | Henry Webb | 6,174 | 66.5 | +0.2 |
| | Conservative | David Hope Kyd | 3,106 | 33.5 | −0.2 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 3,068 | 33.1 | +0.5 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 9,280 | 82.8 | +5.9 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 11,214 | | |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Swing | +0.2 | |
General election December 1910: Forest of Dean :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | Charles Dilke | 5,544 | 66.3 | +1.1 |
| | Conservative | David Hope Kyd | 2,820 | 33.7 | −1.1 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 2,724 | 32.6 | +2.2 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 8,364 | 76.9 | −9.7 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 10,881 | | 0.0 |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Swing | +1.1 | |
General election January 1910: Forest of Dean :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | Charles Dilke | 6,141 | 65.2 | N/A |
| | Conservative | John Henry Renton | 3,279 | 34.8 | N/A |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 2,862 | 30.4 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 9,420 | 86.6 | N/A |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 10,881 | | +8.9 |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Liberal hold |

### Elections in the 1900s

General election 1906: Forest of Dean :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | Charles Dilke | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Liberal hold |
General election 1900: Forest of Dean :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | Charles Dilke | 4,972 | 66.4 | n/a |
| | Conservative | H Terrell | 2,520 | 33.6 | n/a |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 2,452 | 32.7 | n/a |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 7,492 | 75.0 | n/a |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 9,993 | | n/a |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Liberal hold |

### Elections in the 1890s

General election 1895: Forest of Dean :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | Charles Dilke | unopposed | n/a | n/a |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Liberal hold |
General election 1892: Forest of Dean :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | Charles Dilke | 5,360 | 64.6 | +3.5 |
| | Conservative | Maynard Wemyss | 2,942 | 35.4 | −3.5 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 2,418 | 29.2 | +7.1 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 8,302 | 77.0 | +7.0 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 10,782 | | +7.5 |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Swing | +3.5 | |

### Elections in the 1880s

By-election, 29 Jul 1887: Forest of Dean :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | Godfrey Samuelson | 4,286 | 61.0 | −7.0 |
| | Conservative | Edward Wyndham | 2,736 | 39.0 | +7.0 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,550 | 22.1 | −14.0 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 7,022 | 70.0 | −10.0 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 10,032 | | |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Swing | −7.0 | |
* Caused by Blake's resignation.
General election 1886: Forest of Dean :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | Thomas Blake | 3,822 | 61.3 | −6.7 |
| | Liberal Unionist | Frederick Louis Lucas | 2,415 | 38.7 | +6.7 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,407 | 22.6 | −13.4 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 6,237 | 65.9 | −14.1 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 9,458 | | |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Swing | +6.7 | |
General election 1885: Forest of Dean :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | Thomas Blake | 5,143 | 68.0 | N/A |
| | Conservative | John Plunkett | 2,421 | 32.0 | N/A |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 2,722 | 36.0 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 7,564 | 80.0 | N/A |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 9,458 | | |
| | Liberal win (new seat) | Liberal win (new seat) | Liberal win (new seat) | Liberal win (new seat) | Liberal win (new seat) |