# Reading (UK Parliament constituency)

Reading was a parliamentary borough, and later a borough constituency in England, represented in the House of Commons of the Parliament of England until 1707, the Parliament of Great Britain from 1707 to 1800, and of the Parliament of the United Kingdom from 1801 to 1950 and 1955 to 1974. Until 1885, the constituency comprised the town of Reading in the county of Berkshire; after 1885, it was centred on the town but the exact boundaries differed.
From 1295, as a parliamentary borough, Reading elected two members of parliament (MPs). Under the Redistribution of Seats Act 1885, this representation was reduced to a single MP.

## History

Reading was one of the boroughs summoned to send members to the Model Parliament. The boundaries (encompassing the whole of one parish and parts of two others) were effectively unchanged from 1295 to 1918. In 1831, the population of the borough was 15,935, and contained 3,307 houses.
The right to vote was exercised by all inhabitants paying scot and lot, a relatively wide franchise for the period, and almost 2,000 votes were cast at the general election of 1826. Despite this high electorate, the corporation of the town was generally considered in practice to control elections to a large extent. In the second half of the 18th century, Reading was notoriously one of the most corrupt constituencies in England, bribery being both routine and expensive: Namier quotes the accounts kept for Prime Minister Newcastle of the 1754 election, which note that John Dodd, the government's candidate there, had already received £1000 and was promised £500 or £600 more to help him win the seat. (Dodd lost by one vote, but had the result overturned on petition by a partisan vote in the House of Commons, and Newcastle's accounts show a continuing trickle of funds to him to nurse the constituency over the next few years.) A few years later, the nomination to one of Reading's seats was advertised for sale in a London newspaper, though Reading was not mentioned by name and no price was specified; the newspaper's printers were charged by the Commons with a breach of privilege, but the sale of seats remained legal if frowned-upon until 1809.
The Great Reform Act left Reading's representation and boundaries unchanged, and the reformed franchise far from increasing its electorate seems to have reduced it: it was estimated that there were 1,250 voters in 1831, but only 1,001 were registered for the first post-Reform election, that of 1832.
The Redistribution of Seats Act 1885, coming into effect at the 1885 general election, reduced the representation of the parliamentary borough to a single MP. The single-member Reading constituency continued to exist until it was split in 1950 into the separate constituencies of Reading North and Reading South. These two constituencies were merged back into a single Reading constituency in 1955, but again split apart in 1974; despite its name, the 1955 constituency did not contain the whole of the County Borough of Reading, with one ward being included in both of the Newbury and Wokingham seats.
After 1885, the constituency was marginal, regularly changing hands between the Conservative Party and the Liberal Party up to 1918, then between the Conservatives and Labour.
Today the area formerly covered by the Reading constituency is within the constituencies of Reading East and Reading West, which will be replaced by the constituencies of Reading Central, Reading West and Mid Berkshire, and Earley and Woodley at the 2024 general election.

## Boundaries and boundary changes
### 1885–1918

* The existing Parliamentary borough; and
* The area between the boundary of the Parliamentary borough and a boundary line drawn from the point at which the Reading and Reigate Railway crossed the boundary of the Parliamentary borough at the River Kennet, eastward along the Railway until it crossed Culver Lane, then westward along the centre of Culver Lane as far as the centre of Wokingham Road, then southward along the centre of Wokingham Road as far as the centre of Crescent Road, then westward along the centre of Crescent Road as far as the centre of Eastern Avenue, then southward along the centre of Eastern Avenue as far as the centre of Upper Redlands Road, then westward along the centre of Upper Redlands Road as far as the centre of Alexandra Road, then south and west along the centre of Junction Road to the centre of Christchurch Road, then along the centre of Christchurch Road until the line reached the boundary of the existing Parliamentary borough.
Minor expansion - see map on Vision of Britain website.

### 1918–1950

* The County Borough of Reading.
Boundaries extended to the south and west (gained from the Newbury and Wokingham Divisions), and to the north of the River Thames with the annexation of the Urban District of Caversham (part of the Henley Division of Oxfordshire) by Reading County Borough.
For the 1950 general election, Reading was abolished as a single-member Parliamentary borough and split between the two new borough constituencies of Reading North and Reading South.

### 1955–1974

For the 1955 general election, Reading was re-established, replacing Reading North and Reading South and comprising:
* The County Borough of Reading wards of Abbey, Battle, Castle, Caversham East, Caversham West, Church, Katesgrove, Minster, Redlands, Victoria, West.
The East and Tilehurst wards were included in the Wokingham and Newbury constituencies respectively.
From the 1964 general election, a revision to the County Borough wards resulted in minor changes. The constituency now comprised:
* The County Borough of Reading wards of Abbey, Battle, Castle, Caversham, Christchurch, Katesgrove, Minster, Redlands, Thames, and Whitley.
The constituency was abolished once again for the 1974 general election. The Christchurch, Redlands and Whitley wards were included in the re-established constituency of Reading South, with remaining wards being included in Reading North.

## Members of Parliament
### 1295–1660

* Constituency created 1295
| Parliament | First member | Second member |
| 1369 | William Catour | |
| 1371 | William Catour | |
| 1378 | David atte Hacche | |
| 1385 | John Doublet | |
| 1386 | William Stapper | Robert atte Lee |
| 1388 (Feb) | David atte Hacche | Richard Bedull |
| 1388 (Sep) | John Balet | Nicholas Vachell |
| 1390 (Jan) | John Kent | Robert Capellade |
| 1390 (Nov) | |
| 1391 | Henry Barbour | John Doublet |
| 1393 | William Catour | David atte Hacche |
| 1394 | William Saville | William Tho... |
| 1395 | William Shortwade | John Ede |
| 1397 (Jan) | John White | Richard Pernecote |
| 1397 (Sep) | Thomas Selham | Robert Godewyn |
| 1399 | Roger Hay | John Hunt |
| 1401 | | |
| 1402 | | |
| 1404 (Jan) | John Kent | William Derby |
| 1404 (Oct) | | |
| 1406 | John Hunt | Philip Richard |
| 1407 | John Merehan | William Kenelme |
| 1410 | John White | Alexander Colshull |
| 1411 | |
| 1413 (Feb) | | |
| 1413 (May) | William Wilton | Richard Farle |
| 1414 (Apr) | John Hastyng | John Clerk |
| 1414 (Nov) | Stephen Stapper | John Pernecote |
| 1415 | | |
| 1416 (Mar) | Walter Mustard | Thomas Lavyngton 1 |
| 1416 (Oct) | | |
| 1417 | Alexander Colshull | Thomas Lavyngton |
| 1419 | Robert Morys | Richard Cross |
| 1420 | Thomas Lavyngton | John Veyr |
| 1421 (May) | Thomas Lavyngton | Simon Porter alias Kent |
| 1421 (Dec) | John Hunt | William Kyng |
| 1422 | Simon Porter alias Kent | |
| 1425 | Simon Porter alias Kent | |
| 1432 | Simon Porter alias Kent | |
| 1433 | Simon Porter alias Kent | |
| 1435 | Simon Porter alias Kent | |
| 1437 | Simon Porter alias Kent | |
| 1447 | Simon Porter alias Kent | |
| 1449 (Feb) | Simon Porter alias Kent | |
| 1449 (Nov) | Simon Porter alias Kent | |
| 1510 | Richard Cleche | William Justice |
| 1512 | William Gifford | Richard Smith |
| 1515 | Edmund Knightley | John Pownsar |
| 1523 | Nicholas Hyde | William Edmonds |
| 1529 | Thomas Vachell I | John Raymond |
| 1536 | Thomas Vachell I | John Raymond |
| 1539 | ?Thomas Vachell I | ?John Raymond |
| 1542 | Thomas Vachell I | Richard Justice |
| 1545 | Thomas Vachell I | Roger Amyce |
| 1547 | William Grey, died May 1551 repl. 1552 by Sir John Mason | John Marshe |
| 1553 (Mar) | John Bourne | John Winchcombe |
| 1553 (Oct) | Thomas Vachell I | John Bell |
| 1554 (Apr) | Robert Bowyer III | John Lovelace |
| 1554 (Nov) | John Bourne | Edmund Plowden |
| 1555 | Thomas Vachell II | John Bell |
| 1558 | Thomas Aldworth | John Bell |
| 1558–9 | Thomas Aldworth | Thomas Turner |
| 1562–3 | Henry Knollys | Robert Rowbotham |
| 1571 | Henry Knollys | John Hastings |
| 1572 | Robert Knollys | Francis Alford |
| 1584 | Robert Knollys | Robert Harris |
| 1586 | Robert Knollys | Robert Harris |
| 1588 | Robert Knollys, sat for Breconshire, repl. Feb 1589 by Thomas Egerton | Robert Harris |
| 1593 | Humphrey Donatt | Charles Wednester |
| 1597 | Sir Humphrey Forster | Francis Moore |
| 1601 | Francis Moore | Anthony Blagrave |
| 1604 | Francis Moore | Jerome Bowes |
| 1614 | Francis Moore | Robert Knollys |
| 1621–1622 | Anthony Barker | John Saunders |
| 1624 | Francis Knollys III | John Saunders |
| 1625 | Francis Knollys III | John Saunders |
| 1626 | Francis Knollys III | John Saunders |
| 1628 | Francis Knollys III | John Saunders |
| 1629–1640 | No Parliaments summoned | No Parliaments summoned |

### 1640–1885

| Year | | First member | First party | | Second member | Second party |
| April 1640 | | Francis Knollys III | | | Adm. Francis Knollys | |
| November 1640 | | Francis Knollys III (died 1643) | | | Adm. Francis Knollys (died 1648) | |
| 1645 | | Daniel Blagrave | | | | |
| 1648 | | Tanfield Vachell | | | | |
| 1653 | Not represented in Barebones Parliament | Not represented in Barebones Parliament | Not represented in Barebones Parliament | Not represented in Barebones Parliament | Not represented in Barebones Parliament | Not represented in Barebones Parliament |
| 1654 | | Robert Hammond | | | | |
| 1656 | | Daniel Blagrave | | | | |
| 1659 | | Henry Neville | | | Daniel Blagrave |
| 1660 | | Thomas Rich | | | John Blagrave | |
| 1661 | | Sir Thomas Dolman | | | Richard Aldworth | |
| 1679 | | Nathan Knight | | | John Blagrave | |
| March 1685 | | Thomas Coates | | | John Breedon | |
| November 1685 | | Thomas Coates | | | William Aldworth | |
| 1689 | | Sir Henry Fane | Whig | | Sir William Rich | |
| 1698 | | Sir Owen Buckingham | | | John Dalby | |
| January 1701 | | Sir Owen Buckingham | | | Francis Knollys | |
| November 1701 | | Anthony Blagrave | | | Tanfield Vachell | |
| 1702 | | Sir Owen Buckingham | | | Tanfield Vachell | |
| 1705 | | Sir Owen Buckingham | | | Sir William Rich | |
| 1708 | | Owen Buckingham | | | Anthony Blagrave | |
| 1710 | | Owen Buckingham | | | John Dalby | |
| 1713 | | Robert Clarges | | | Felix Calvert | |
| 1716 | | Charles Cadogan | | | Owen Buckingham | |
| 1720 | | Charles Cadogan | | | Richard Thompson | Whig |
| 1722 | | Anthony Blagrave | | | Clement Kent | |
| 1727 | | Richard Potenger | | | Richard Thompson | Whig |
| 1734 | | Richard Potenger | | | Henry Grey | Whig |
| 1739 | | John Blagrave | | | Henry Grey | Whig |
| 1740 | | John Blagrave | | | William Strode | |
| February 1741 | | John Blagrave | | | John Dodd | Whig |
| May 1741 | | John Blagrave | | | William Strode | |
| 1747 | | John Conyers | | | Richard Neville Aldworth Neville | |
| 1754 | | William Strode | | | Charles Fane | Opposition Whig |
| 1755 | | John Dodd | Whig | | Charles Fane | Opposition Whig |
| 1761 | | John Dodd | Whig | | Sir Francis Knollys | |
| 1768 | | John Dodd | Whig | | Henry Vansittart | |
| 1774 | | John Dodd | Whig | | Francis Annesley | Tory |
| 1782 | | Richard Aldworth-Neville | Whig | | Francis Annesley | Tory |
| 1797 | | John Simeon | Tory | | Francis Annesley | Tory |
| 1802 | | Charles Shaw-Lefevre | Whig | | Francis Annesley | Tory |
| 1806 | | Charles Shaw-Lefevre | Whig | | John Simeon | Tory |
| 1818 | | Charles Shaw-Lefevre | Whig | | Charles Fyshe Palmer | Whig |
| 1820 | | John Monck | Whig | | Charles Fyshe Palmer | Whig |
| 1826 | | John Monck | Whig | | George Spence | Tory |
| 1827 | | John Monck | Whig | | Charles Fyshe Palmer | Whig |
| 1830 | | Charles Russell | Tory | | Charles Fyshe Palmer | Whig |
| 1834 | | Charles Russell | Conservative | | Charles Fyshe Palmer | Whig |
| 1835 | | Charles Russell | Conservative | | Thomas Talfourd | Radical |
| 1837 | | Charles Fyshe Palmer | Whig | | Thomas Talfourd | Radical |
| 1841 | | Charles Russell | Conservative | | Henry Cadogan | Conservative |
| 1847 | | Francis Pigott | Whig | | Thomas Talfourd | Radical |
| 1849 | | Francis Pigott | Whig | | John Frederick Stanford | Conservative |
| 1852 | | Francis Pigott | Whig | | Sir Henry Singer Keating | Whig |
| 1859 | | Francis Pigott | Liberal | | Sir Henry Singer Keating | Liberal |
| January 1860 | | Francis Pigott | Liberal | | Sir Francis Goldsmid | Liberal |
| November 1860 | | Gillery Pigott | Liberal | | Sir Francis Goldsmid | Liberal |
| 1863 | | George Shaw-Lefevre | Liberal | | Sir Francis Goldsmid | Liberal |
| 1878 | | George Shaw-Lefevre | Liberal | | George Palmer | Liberal |
| 1885 | Representation reduced to one member | Representation reduced to one member | Representation reduced to one member | Representation reduced to one member | Representation reduced to one member | Representation reduced to one member |

### 1885–1950

| Election | | Member | Party |
| 1885 | | Charles Townshend Murdoch | Conservative |
| 1892 | | George William Palmer | Liberal |
| 1895 | | Charles Townshend Murdoch | Conservative |
| 1898 by-election | | George William Palmer | Liberal |
| 1904 by-election | | Rufus Isaacs | Liberal |
| 1913 by-election | | Leslie Orme Wilson | Conservative |
| 1922 | | Edward Cadogan | Conservative |
| 1923 | | Somerville Hastings | Labour |
| 1924 | | Herbert Williams | Conservative |
| 1929 | | Somerville Hastings | Labour |
| 1931 | | Alfred Howitt | Conservative |
| 1945 | | Ian Mikardo | Labour |
| 1950 | Constituency divided into Reading North and Reading South | Constituency divided into Reading North and Reading South | Constituency divided into Reading North and Reading South |

### 1955–1974

| Election | | Member | Party |
| 1955 | Constituency recreated | Constituency recreated | Constituency recreated |
| 1955 | | Ian Mikardo | Labour |
| 1959 | | Peter Emery | Conservative |
| 1966 | | John Lee | Labour |
| 1970 | | Gerard Vaughan | Conservative |
| Feb 1974 | Constituency redivided into Reading North and Reading South | Constituency redivided into Reading North and Reading South | Constituency redivided into Reading North and Reading South |

## Elections
### Elections in the 1830s

General election 1830: Reading (2 seats) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Whig | Charles Fyshe Palmer | 522 | 36.1 |
| | Tory | Charles Russell | 471 | 32.6 |
| | Whig | Stephen Lushington | 452 | 31.3 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 907 | c. 72.6 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | c. 1,250 | |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 51 | 3.5 |
| | Whig hold | Whig hold | Swing | |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 19 | 1.3 |
| | Tory hold | Tory hold | Swing | |
General election 1831: Reading (2 seats) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Whig | Charles Fyshe Palmer | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| | Tory | Charles Russell | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | c. 1,250 | |
| | Whig hold | Whig hold | Whig hold | Whig hold |
| | Tory hold | Tory hold | Tory hold | Tory hold |
General election 1832: Reading (2 seats) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Whig | Charles Fyshe Palmer | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| | Tory | Charles Russell | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 1,001 | |
| | Whig hold | Whig hold | Whig hold | Whig hold |
| | Tory hold | Tory hold | Tory hold | Tory hold |
General election 1835: Reading (2 seats) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Radical | Thomas Talfourd | 643 | 43.8 |
| | Conservative | Charles Russell | 441 | 30.0 |
| | Whig | Benjamin Oliveira | 384 | 26.2 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 960 | 95.8 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 1,002 | |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 202 | 13.8 |
| | Radical gain from Whig | Radical gain from Whig | Radical gain from Whig | Radical gain from Whig |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 57 | 3.8 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold |
General election 1837: Reading (2 seats) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Radical | Thomas Talfourd | 468 | 34.1 | −9.7 |
| | Whig | Charles Fyshe Palmer | 457 | 33.3 | +7.1 |
| | Conservative | Charles Russell | 448 | 32.6 | +2.6 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 875 | 84.5 | −11.3 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 1,035 | | |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 11 | 0.8 | −13.0 |
| | Radical hold | Radical hold | Swing | −5.5 | |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 9 | 0.7 | N/A |
| | Whig gain from Conservative | Whig gain from Conservative | Swing | +2.9 | |

### Elections in the 1840s

General election 1841: Reading (2 seats) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Charles Russell | 570 | 29.4 | +13.1 |
| | Conservative | Henry Cadogan | 564 | 29.1 | +12.8 |
| | Whig | Thomas Mills | 410 | 21.1 | +4.5 |
| | Whig | William Tooke | 397 | 20.5 | +3.9 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 154 | 8.0 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 984 | 82.4 | −2.1 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 1,194 | | |
| | Conservative gain from Whig | Conservative gain from Whig | Swing | +4.5 | |
| | Conservative gain from Radical | Conservative gain from Radical | Swing | +4.3 | |
General election 1847: Reading (2 seats) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Whig | Francis Pigott | 614 | 29.1 | +8.0 |
| | Radical | Thomas Talfourd | 596 | 28.3 | +7.8 |
| | Conservative | Charles Russell | 521 | 24.7 | −4.7 |
| | Conservative | Henry Cadogan | 376 | 17.8 | −11.3 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,054 (est) | 84.2 (est) | +1.8 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 1,251 | | |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 238 | 11.3 | N/A |
| | Whig gain from Conservative | Whig gain from Conservative | Swing | +8.0 | |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 75 | 3.6 | N/A |
| | Radical gain from Conservative | Radical gain from Conservative | Swing | +7.9 | |
Talfourd resigned after being appointed a judge of the Court of Common Pleas, causing a by-election.
By-election, 8 August 1849: Reading :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | John Frederick Stanford | 507 | 51.8 | +9.3 |
| | Whig | George Bowyer | 364 | 37.2 | +8.1 |
| | Radical | Thomas Norton | 107 | 10.9 | −17.4 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 143 | 14.6 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 978 | 74.7 | −9.5 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 1,309 | | |
| | Conservative gain from Radical | Conservative gain from Radical | Swing | +13.4 | |

### Elections in the 1850s

General election 1852: Reading (2 seats) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Whig | Francis Pigott | 753 | 39.6 | +10.5 |
| | Whig | Henry Singer Keating | 631 | 33.2 | +4.9 |
| | Conservative | Samuel Auchmuty Dickson | 518 | 27.2 | −15.3 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 113 | 6.0 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 951 (est) | 68.0 (est) | −16.2 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 1,399 | | |
| | Whig hold | Whig hold | Swing | +9.1 | |
| | Whig gain from Radical | Whig gain from Radical | Swing | +6.3 | |
General election 1857: Reading (2 seats) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Whig | Francis Pigott | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| | Whig | Henry Singer Keating | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 1,431 | | |
| | Whig hold | Whig hold | Whig hold | Whig hold | Whig hold |
| | Whig hold | Whig hold | Whig hold | Whig hold | Whig hold |
Keating was appointed Solicitor General for England and Wales, requiring a by-election.
By-election, 2 June 1857: Reading :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Whig | Henry Singer Keating | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| | Whig hold | Whig hold | Whig hold | Whig hold | Whig hold |
General election 1859: Reading (2 seats) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Liberal | Francis Pigott | 761 | 38.6 |
| | Liberal | Henry Singer Keating | 666 | 33.8 |
| | Conservative | Ralph Augustus Benson | 544 | 27.6 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 122 | 6.2 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 986 (est) | 67.9 (est) |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 1,451 | |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Liberal hold |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Liberal hold |
Keating was appointed Solicitor General for England and Wales, requiring a by-election.
By-election, 27 June 1859: Reading :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | Henry Singer Keating | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Liberal hold |

### Elections in the 1860s

Keating resigned after being appointed a Judge of the Court of Common Pleas, causing a by-election.
By-election, 11 January 1860: Reading :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | Francis Goldsmid | 661 | 54.5 | −17.9 |
| | Conservative | Ralph Augustus Benson | 551 | 45.5 | +17.9 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 110 | 9.0 | +2.8 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,212 | 80.5 | +12.6 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 1,506 | | |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Swing | −17.9 | |
Pigott resigned after being appointed Lieutenant Governor of the Isle of Man, causing a by-election.
By-election, 21 November 1860: Reading :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | Gillery Pigott | 586 | 57.4 | −15.0 |
| | Conservative | Edward Walter | 435 | 42.6 | +15.0 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 151 | 14.8 | +8.6 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,021 | 67.8 | −0.1 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 1,506 | | |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Swing | −15.0 | |
Pigott resigned after being appointed a Judge of the Court of the Exchequer, causing a by-election.
By-election, 17 October 1863: Reading :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | George Shaw-Lefevre | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Liberal hold |
General election 1865: Reading (2 seats) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | Francis Goldsmid | 727 | 38.6 | 0.0 |
| | Liberal | George Shaw-Lefevre | 714 | 37.9 | +4.1 |
| | Conservative | Stephen Tucker | 444 | 23.6 | −4.0 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 270 | 14.3 | +8.1 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,165 (est) | 65.8 (est) | −2.1 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 1,769 | | |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Swing | +2.0 | |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Swing | +2.1 | |
Shaw-Lefevre was appointed a Civil Lord of the Admiralty, requiring a by-election.
By-election, 5 May 1866: Reading :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | George Shaw-Lefevre | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Liberal hold |
General election 1868: Reading (2 seats) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | Francis Goldsmid | 1,629 | 38.5 | −0.1 |
| | Liberal | George Shaw-Lefevre | 1,618 | 38.3 | +0.4 |
| | Conservative | Robert Carden | 979 | 23.2 | −0.4 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 639 | 15.1 | +0.8 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,603 (est) | 80.6 (est) | +14.8 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 3,228 | | |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Swing | +0.1 | |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Swing | +0.3 | |

### Elections in the 1870s

General election 1874: Reading (2 seats) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | George Shaw-Lefevre | 1,794 | 26.1 | −12.2 |
| | Liberal | Francis Goldsmid | 1,791 | 26.1 | −12.4 |
| | Conservative | Richard Attenborough | 1,652 | 24.1 | +12.5 |
| | Conservative | William Dalziel Mackenzie | 1,631 | 23.7 | +12.1 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 139 | 2.0 | −13.1 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 3,434 (est) | 83.4 (est) | +2.8 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 4,118 | | |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Swing | −12.3 | |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Swing | −12.4 | |
Goldsmid's death caused a by-election.
By-election, 18 May 1878: Reading (1 seat) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | George Palmer | 2,223 | 58.7 | +6.5 |
| | Conservative | Richard Attenborough | 1,565 | 41.3 | −6.5 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 658 | 17.4 | +15.4 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 3,788 | 80.2 | −3.2 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 4,721 | | |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Swing | +6.5 | |

### Elections in the 1880s

General election 1880: Reading (2 seats) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | George Palmer | 2,513 | 36.6 | +10.5 |
| | Liberal | George Shaw-Lefevre | 2,286 | 33.3 | +7.2 |
| | Conservative | Albert George Sandeman | 2,067 | 30.1 | −17.7 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 219 | 3.2 | +1.2 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 4,580 (est) | 89.7 (est) | +6.3 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 5,107 | | |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Swing | +9.7 | |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Swing | +8.1 | |
Lefevre was appointed First Commissioner of Works and Public Buildings, requiring a by-election.
By-election, 15 Dec 1880: Reading (1 seat) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | George Shaw-Lefevre | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Liberal hold |
General election 1885: Reading :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Charles Townshend Murdoch | 3,518 | 50.9 | +20.8 |
| | Liberal | George Shaw-Lefevre | 3,389 | 49.1 | −20.8 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 129 | 1.8 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 6,907 | 91.9 | +2.2 (est) |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 7,515 | | |
| | Conservative gain from Liberal | Conservative gain from Liberal | Swing | +20.8 | |
General election 1886: Reading :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Charles Townshend Murdoch | 3,378 | 50.9 | 0.0 |
| | Liberal | William Berkeley Monck | 3,262 | 49.1 | 0.0 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 116 | 1.8 | 0.0 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 6,640 | 88.4 | −3.5 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 7,515 | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | 0.0 | |

### Elections in the 1890s

General election 1892: Reading :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | George Palmer | 3,990 | 51.9 | +2.8 |
| | Conservative | Charles Townshend Murdoch | 3,700 | 48.1 | −2.8 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 290 | 3.8 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 7,690 | 91.1 | +2.7 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 8,438 | | |
| | Liberal gain from Conservative | Liberal gain from Conservative | Swing | +2.8 | |
General election 1895: Reading :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Charles Townshend Murdoch | 4,278 | 52.1 | +4.0 |
| | Liberal | George Palmer | 3,927 | 47.9 | −4.0 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 351 | 4.2 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 8,205 | 90.1 | −1.0 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 9,104 | | |
| | Conservative gain from Liberal | Conservative gain from Liberal | Swing | +4.0 | |
Murdoch's death caused a by-election.
By-election, 25 Jul 1898: Reading :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | George Palmer | 4,600 | 52.4 | +4.5 |
| | Conservative | Charles Edward Keyser | 3,906 | 44.5 | −7.6 |
| | Social Democratic Federation | Harry Quelch | 270 | 3.1 | New |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 694 | 7.9 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 8,776 | 91.7 | +1.6 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 9,573 | | |
| | Liberal gain from Conservative | Liberal gain from Conservative | Swing | +6.1 | |

### Elections in the 1900s

General election 1900: Reading :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | George Palmer | 4,592 | 51.3 | +3.4 |
| | Conservative | Charles Edward Keyser | 4,353 | 48.7 | −3.4 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 239 | 2.6 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 8,945 | 88.1 | −2.0 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 10,152 | | |
| | Liberal gain from Conservative | Liberal gain from Conservative | Swing | +3.4 | |
1904 Reading by-election :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | Rufus Isaacs | 4,770 | 51.2 | −0.1 |
| | Conservative | Charles Edward Keyser | 4,540 | 48.8 | +0.1 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 230 | 2.4 | −0.2 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 9,310 | 83.5 | −4.6 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 11,151 | | |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Swing | -0.1 | |
General election 1906: Reading :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | Rufus Isaacs | 5,407 | 53.4 | +2.1 |
| | Conservative | George Horace Johnstone | 4,710 | 46.6 | −2.1 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 697 | 6.8 | + +4.2 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 10,117 | 91.6 | +3.5 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 11,041 | | |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Swing | +2.1 | |

### Elections in the 1910s

General election January 1910: Reading :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | Rufus Isaacs | 5,264 | 51.0 | −2.4 |
| | Liberal Unionist | Leslie Renton | 5,057 | 49.0 | +2.4 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 207 | 2.0 | −4.8 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 10,321 | 93.7 | +2.1 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 11,016 | | |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Swing | −2.4 | |
Isaacs is appointed Solicitor General of England and Wales, requiring a by-election.
By-election, March 1910 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | Rufus Isaacs | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Liberal hold |
General election December 1910: Reading :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | Rufus Isaacs | 5,094 | 50.5 | −0.5 |
| | Conservative | Leslie Orme Wilson | 4,995 | 49.5 | +0.5 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 99 | 1.0 | −1.0 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 10,089 | 91.6 | −2.1 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 11,016 | | |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Swing | −0.5 | |
Issacs is appointed Lord Chief Justice of England and is elevated to the peerage as Lord Reading, requiring a by-election.
1913 Reading by-election :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Unionist | Leslie Orme Wilson | 5,144 | 50.3 | +0.8 |
| | Liberal | George Peabody Gooch | 4,013 | 39.3 | −11.2 |
| | British Socialist Party | Joseph George Butler | 1,063 | 10.4 | New |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,131 | 11.0 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 10,220 | 92.2 | +0.6 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 11,088 | | |
| | Unionist gain from Liberal | Unionist gain from Liberal | Swing | +6.0 | |
A General Election was due to take place by the end of 1915. By the summer of 1914, the following candidates had been adopted to contest that election. Due to the outbreak of war, the election never took place.
* Unionist Party: Leslie Orme Wilson
* Liberal Party: Henry Norman Spalding
* British Socialist Party: Joseph George Butler
General election 14 December 1918: Reading :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| C | Unionist | Leslie Orme Wilson | 15,204 | 53.9 | +4.4 |
| | Labour | Thomas Charles Morris | 8,410 | 29.8 | New |
| | Liberal | Frederick Thoresby | 3,143 | 11.1 | −39.4 |
| | National Socialist Party | Lorenzo Quelch | 1,462 | 5.2 | New |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 6,794 | 24.1 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 28,219 | 62.2 | −29.4 |
| | Unionist gain from Liberal | Unionist gain from Liberal | Swing | +21.9 | |
| C indicates candidate endorsed by the coalition government. ||||||

### Elections in the 1920s

General election 1922: Reading :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Unionist | Edward Cadogan | 16,082 | 42.7 | −11.2 |
| | Labour | Derwent Hall Caine | 14,322 | 38.1 | +8.3 |
| | Liberal | Henry Delacombe Roome | 7,212 | 19.2 | +8.1 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,760 | 4.6 | −19.5 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 37,616 | | |
| | Unionist hold | Unionist hold | Swing | | |
General election 1923: Reading :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Somerville Hastings | 16,657 | 44.8 | +6.7 |
| | Unionist | Edward Cadogan | 15,115 | 40.7 | −2.0 |
| | Liberal | Frederick Maddison | 5,406 | 14.5 | −4.7 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,542 | 4.1 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 37,178 | 82.1 | |
| | Labour gain from Unionist | Labour gain from Unionist | Swing | +4.3 | |
General election 1924: Reading :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Unionist | Herbert Williams | 21,338 | 53.8 | +13.1 |
| | Labour | Somerville Hastings | 18,337 | 46.2 | +1.4 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 3,001 | 7.6 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 39,675 | 85.8 | +3.7 |
| | Unionist gain from Labour | Unionist gain from Labour | Swing | | |
General election 1929: Reading :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Somerville Hastings | 23,281 | 43.5 | −2.7 |
| | Unionist | Herbert Williams | 22,429 | 42.0 | −11.8 |
| | Liberal | Dugald Macfadyen | 7,733 | 14.5 | New |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 852 | 1.5 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 53,443 | 85.0 | −0.8 |
| | Labour gain from Unionist | Labour gain from Unionist | Swing | +4.5 | |

### Elections in the 1930s

General election 1931: Reading Electorate 65,009 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Alfred Howitt | 34,439 | 63.1 | +21.1 |
| | Labour | Somerville Hastings | 19,277 | 35.3 | −8.2 |
| | New Party | ER Troward | 861 | 1.6 | New |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 15,162 | 27.8 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 54,577 | 83.9 | −1.1 |
| | Conservative gain from Labour | Conservative gain from Labour | Swing | | |
* The Liberal Party candidate, Rosalie Glynn Grylls withdrew at close of nominations
General election 1935: Reading Electorate 67,181 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Alfred Howitt | 27,540 | 51.8 | −9.3 |
| | Labour | Somerville Hastings | 22,949 | 43.2 | +7.9 |
| | Liberal | John William Todd | 2,685 | 5.0 | New |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 4,591 | 8.6 | −19.2 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 53,174 | 79.1 | −4.8 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | | |
General Election 1939–40: Another General Election was required to take place before the end of 1940. The political parties had been making preparations for an election to take place and by the Autumn of 1939, the following candidates had been selected;
* Conservative: Alfred Howitt
* Labour: Margaret Bondfield

### Elections in the 1940s

General election 1945: Reading :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Ian Mikardo | 30,465 | 48.8 | +5.6 |
| | Conservative | William Ewart Clarke McIlroy | 24,075 | 38.6 | −13.2 |
| | Liberal | Robert Nevill Tronchin James | 7,834 | 12.6 | +7.6 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 6,390 | 10.2 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 62,374 | 73.5 | −5.6 |
| | Labour gain from Conservative | Labour gain from Conservative | Swing | | |

### Elections in the 1950s

General election 1955: Reading :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Ian Mikardo | 25,228 | 50.24 | |
| | Conservative | Frederic Bennett | 24,990 | 49.76 | |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 238 | 0.48 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 50,218 | 84.15 | |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 59,678 | | |
| | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) |
General election 1959: Reading :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Peter Emery | 26,314 | 54.05 | +4.29 |
| | Labour | Ian Mikardo | 22,372 | 45.95 | −4.29 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 3,942 | 8.10 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 48,686 | 82.84 | −1.31 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 58,772 | | |
| | Conservative gain from Labour | Conservative gain from Labour | Swing | +4.29 | |

### Elections in the 1960s

General election 1964: Reading :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Peter Emery | 20,815 | 43.93 | −10.12 |
| | Labour | John Lee | 20,805 | 43.91 | −2.04 |
| | Liberal | Michael F Burns | 5,759 | 12.16 | New |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 10 | 0.02 | −8.08 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 47,379 | 79.80 | −3.04 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 59,371 | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | -4.04 | |
General election 1966: Reading :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | John Lee | 25,338 | 51.01 | +7.10 |
| | Conservative | Peter Emery | 21,205 | 42.69 | −1.24 |
| | Liberal | Ernest H Palfrey | 3,127 | 6.30 | −5.86 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 4,133 | 8.32 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 49,670 | 84.00 | +4.20 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 59,132 | | |
| | Labour gain from Conservative | Labour gain from Conservative | Swing | +4.17 | |

### Elections in the 1970s

General election 1970: Reading :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Gerard Vaughan | 23,598 | 50.31 | +7.62 |
| | Labour | John Lee | 22,444 | 47.85 | −3.16 |
| | Democratic Party | Alec Boothroyd | 867 | 1.85 | New |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,154 | 2.46 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 46,909 | 74.04 | −9.96 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 63,359 | | |
| | Conservative gain from Labour | Conservative gain from Labour | Swing | +5.39 | |