# North Cornwall (UK Parliament constituency)

North Cornwall is a constituency represented in the House of Commons of the UK Parliament by Ben Maguire, a Liberal Democrat since the 2024 general election. Like all British constituencies, the seat elects one Member of Parliament (MP) by the first past the post system of election at least every five years. The seat was created in 1918. Since 1950, the constituency has been held by MPs from either the Conservative Party or the Liberal Democrats (including the party's predecessor, the Liberal Party).

## History

This constituency was created under the Representation of the People Act 1918.
With exceptions in 1997, 2001 and 2019, the seat's margin of victory has been less than 20% of the vote. It has been consistently fought over between and won by the Conservative Party and the Liberal Democrats' candidate (or predecessor party in the latter case), and can be considered a marginal seat. In 1997 and 2001 the seat turned out strongly overall for the latter party. However, in the 2019 general election, the Conservatives won a large majority of 28.6% over the Liberal Democrat candidate. This was overturned in the 2024 general election when the Liberal Democrats recaptured the seat with a majority of 19.4%.
The highest third-placed (other party) candidate was the 16.4% achieved by Reform UK in 2024. The seat saw three years of defection of its Liberal MP to join the post-World War II Attlee Ministry however in 2015 saw the lowest share of the Labour Party's vote nationally – reinforcing a consistent result by a great majority supporting left-wing politics to vote for a Liberal and later Liberal Democrat at general elections since the seat's inception.

## Boundaries

1918–1950: The Borough of Launceston, the urban districts of Newquay, Padstow, Stratton and Bude, and Wadebridge, the rural districts of Calstock, Camelford, Launceston, St Columb Major, and Stratton, and parts of the rural districts of Bodmin and Holsworthy (these areas such as Whitstone and Week St Mary were on the Cornish side of the border).
1950–1974: The Borough of Launceston, the urban districts of Bude-Stratton, Newquay, and Padstow, the Rural Districts of Camelford, Launceston, and Stratton, and parts of the rural districts of St Austell and Wadebridge.
1974–1983: The Borough of Launceston, the urban districts of Bude-Stratton and Newquay, the Rural Districts of Camelford, Launceston, and Stratton, and parts of the rural districts of St Austell, and Wadebridge and Padstow.
1983–2010: The District of North Cornwall wards of Allan, Altarnun, Bodmin St Mary's, Bodmin St Petroc, Bude and Poughill, Camelford, Grenville, Lanivet, Launceston North, Launceston South, Lesnewth, North Petherwin, Ottery, Padstow and St Merryn, Penfound, Rumford, St Breward, St Endellion, St Minver, St Teath, South Petherwin, Stratton, Tintagel, Trigg, Wadebridge, and Week St Mary, and the Borough of Restormel wards of Edgcumbe, Gannel, Rialton, St Columb, and St Enoder.
2010–2024: The District of North Cornwall.
2024–present: Further to the 2023 Periodic Review of Westminster constituencies which became effective for the 2024 general election, the constituency is composed of the following electoral divisions of Cornwall (as they existed on 4 May 2021):
* Altarnun & Stoke Climsland; Bodmin St Mary's & St. Leonard; Bodmin St Petroc's; Bude; Camelford & Boscastle; Lanivet, Blisland & Bodmin St Lawrence; Launceston North & North Petherwin; Launceston South; Padstow; Poundstock; St Columb Major, St Mawgan & St Wenn; St Teath & Tintagel; Stratton, Kilkhampton & Morwenstow; Wadebridge East & St Minver; Wadebridge West & St Mabyn.
The St Columb Major, St Mawgan & St Wenn division was transferred from St Austell and Newquay. Otherwise unchanged.
Historically four borough constituencies lay within the boundaries, three of which were abolished as 'rotten boroughs' by the Reform Act 1832:
* Bossiney (abolished 1832)
* Camelford (abolished 1832)
* Launceston (abolished 1885)
* Newport (abolished 1832 – settlement now a suburb of Launceston).

## Members of Parliament

| Election | Member | Party |
| 1918 | George Marks | Coalition Liberal |
| 1924 | Alfred Martyn Williams | Conservative |
| 1929 | Sir Donald Maclean | Liberal |
| 1932 by-election | Sir Francis Dyke Acland | Liberal |
| 1939 by-election | Tom Horabin | Liberal |
| 1946 | Tom Horabin | Independent |
| 1947 | Tom Horabin | Labour |
| 1950 | Sir Harold Roper | Conservative |
| 1959 | James Scott-Hopkins | Conservative |
| 1966 | John Pardoe | Liberal |
| 1979 | Gerry Neale | Conservative |
| 1992 | Paul Tyler | Liberal Democrat |
| 2005 | Dan Rogerson | Liberal Democrat |
| 2015 | Scott Mann | Conservative |
| 2024 | Ben Maguire | Liberal Democrat |

## Elections
### Elections in the 2020s

General election 2024: North Cornwall :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal Democrats | Ben Maguire | 24,094 | 47.0 | +17.1 |
| | Conservative | Scott Mann | 14,137 | 27.6 | −31.5 |
| | Reform UK | Rowland O'Connor | 8,444 | 16.5 | N/A |
| | Labour | Robyn Harris | 2,958 | 5.8 | −3.8 |
| | Green | Lance Symonds | 1,335 | 2.6 | +2.4 |
| | Heritage | Sarah Farrell | 277 | 0.5 | N/A |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 9,957 | 19.4 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 52,055 | 67.8 | −4.3 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 76,741 | | |
| | Liberal Democrats gain from Conservative | Liberal Democrats gain from Conservative | Swing | +24.9 | |

### Elections in the 2010s

2019 notional result :
| Party | Party | Vote | % |
| | Conservative | 31,941 | 59.1 |
| | Liberal Democrats | 16,158 | 29.9 |
| | Labour | 5,201 | 9.6 |
| | Others | 676 | 1.3 |
| | Green | 101 | 0.2 |
| Turnout | Turnout | 54,077 | 72.1 |
| Electorate | Electorate | 75,034 |
General election 2019: North Cornwall :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Scott Mann | 30,671 | 59.4 | +8.7 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Danny Chambers | 15,919 | 30.8 | −5.8 |
| | Labour | Joy Bassett | 4,516 | 8.7 | −3.4 |
| | Liberal | Elmars Liepins | 572 | 1.1 | N/A |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 14,752 | 28.6 | +14.5 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 51,678 | 73.9 | −0.1 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | +7.3 | |
General election 2017: North Cornwall :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Scott Mann | 25,835 | 50.7 | +5.7 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Dan Rogerson | 18,635 | 36.6 | +5.4 |
| | Labour | Joy Bassett | 6,151 | 12.1 | +6.7 |
| | CPA | John Allman | 185 | 0.4 | +0.3 |
| | Socialist Labour | Robert Hawkins | 138 | 0.3 | N/A |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 7,200 | 14.1 | +0.3 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 50,944 | 74.0 | +2.2 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | +0.3 | |
General election 2015: North Cornwall :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Scott Mann | 21,689 | 45.0 | +3.3 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Dan Rogerson | 15,068 | 31.2 | −16.9 |
| | UKIP | Julie Lingard | 6,121 | 12.7 | +7.8 |
| | Labour | John Whitby | 2,621 | 5.4 | +1.2 |
| | Green | Amanda Pennington | 2,063 | 4.3 | N/A |
| | Mebyon Kernow | Jerry Jefferies | 631 | 1.3 | +0.2 |
| | Restore the Family for Children's Sake | John Allman | 52 | 0.1 | N/A |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 6,621 | 13.8 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 48,245 | 71.8 | +3.6 |
| | Conservative gain from Liberal Democrats | Conservative gain from Liberal Democrats | Swing | +10.1 | |
General election 2010: North Cornwall :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal Democrats | Dan Rogerson | 22,512 | 48.1 | +5.7 |
| | Conservative | Sian Flynn | 19,531 | 41.7 | +6.3 |
| | UKIP | Miriel O'Connor | 2,300 | 4.9 | −0.8 |
| | Labour | Janet Hulme | 1,971 | 4.2 | −8.3 |
| | Mebyon Kernow | Joanie Willet | 530 | 1.1 | −2.1 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 2,981 | 6.4 | +0.9 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 46,844 | 68.2 | +3.7 |
| | Liberal Democrats hold | Liberal Democrats hold | Swing | −0.3 | |

### Elections in the 2000s

General election 2005: North Cornwall :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal Democrats | Dan Rogerson | 23,842 | 42.6 | −9.4 |
| | Conservative | Mark Formosa | 20,766 | 37.1 | +3.3 |
| | Labour | David Acton | 6,636 | 11.9 | +2.2 |
| | UKIP | David Campbell-Bannerman | 3,063 | 5.5 | +1.1 |
| | Mebyon Kernow | Dick Cole | 1,351 | 2.4 | N/A |
| | Veritas | Alan Eastwood | 324 | 0.6 | N/A |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 3,076 | 5.5 | −12.7 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 55,982 | 64.5 | +0.7 |
| | Liberal Democrats hold | Liberal Democrats hold | Swing | −6.4 | |
General election 2001: North Cornwall :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal Democrats | Paul Tyler | 28,082 | 52.0 | −1.2 |
| | Conservative | John Weller | 18,250 | 33.8 | +4.3 |
| | Labour | Michael Goodman | 5,257 | 9.7 | +0.3 |
| | UKIP | Steve Protz | 2,394 | 4.4 | N/A |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 9,832 | 18.2 | −5.5 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 53,983 | 63.8 | −9.3 |
| | Liberal Democrats hold | Liberal Democrats hold | Swing | −2.7 | |

### Elections in the 1990s

General election 1997: North Cornwall :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal Democrats | Paul Tyler | 31,100 | 53.2 | +5.8 |
| | Conservative | Nigel Linacre | 17,253 | 29.5 | −14.8 |
| | Labour | Anne Lindo | 5,523 | 9.4 | +2.8 |
| | Referendum | Felicity Odam | 3,636 | 6.2 | N/A |
| | Mebyon Kernow | John Bolitho | 645 | 1.1 | N/A |
| | Liberal | Rif Winfield | 186 | 0.3 | −0.8 |
| | Natural Law | Nicholas Creswell | 152 | 0.3 | +0.1 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 13,847 | 23.7 | +10.6 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 58,495 | 73.1 | −9.0 |
| | Liberal Democrats hold | Liberal Democrats hold | Swing | +10.3 | |
General election 1992: Cornwall North :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal Democrats | Paul Tyler | 29,696 | 47.4 | +5.5 |
| | Conservative | Gerry Neale | 27,775 | 44.3 | −7.4 |
| | Labour | Frank Jordan | 4,103 | 6.6 | +0.2 |
| | Liberal | Philip Andrews | 678 | 1.1 | N/A |
| | Independent | Geoffrey Rowe | 276 | 0.4 | N/A |
| | Natural Law | Robyn Treadwell | 112 | 0.2 | N/A |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,921 | 3.1 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 62,640 | 82.1 | +2.3 |
| | Liberal Democrats gain from Conservative | Liberal Democrats gain from Conservative | Swing | +6.5 | |

### Elections in the 1980s

General election 1987: Cornwall North :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Gerry Neale | 29,862 | 51.7 | −0.7 |
| | Liberal | Michael Mitchell | 24,180 | 41.9 | −1.1 |
| | Labour | Christine Herries | 3,719 | 6.4 | +2.5 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 5,682 | 9.8 | +0.4 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 57,761 | 79.8 | −0.6 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | +0.9 | |
General election 1983: Cornwall North :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Gerry Neale | 28,146 | 52.4 | +0.8 |
| | Liberal | David Chambers | 23,087 | 43.0 | −0.8 |
| | Labour | James Hayday | 2,096 | 3.9 | −0.7 |
| | Cornish Nationalist | James Whetter | 364 | 0.7 | N/A |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 5,059 | 9.4 | +1.6 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 53,693 | 80.4 | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | +0.8 | |

### Elections in the 1970s

General election 1979: Cornwall North :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Gerry Neale | 24,489 | 51.65 | +9.65 |
| | Liberal | John Pardoe | 20,742 | 43.75 | −7.50 |
| | Labour | R.B. Tremlett | 1,514 | 3.19 | −3.21 |
| | Ecology | J. Faull | 442 | 0.93 | N/A |
| | National Front | R. Bridgwater | 224 | 0.47 | N/A |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 3,747 | 7.90 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 47,411 | 86.1 | +5.6 |
| | Conservative gain from Liberal | Conservative gain from Liberal | Swing | +8.58 | |
General election October 1974: Cornwall North :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | John Pardoe | 21,368 | 51.25 | −6.65 |
| | Conservative | Gerry Neale | 17,512 | 42.00 | |
| | Labour | R. Tremlett | 2,663 | 6.40 | |
| | Anti Party System | R.J. Bridgwater | 148 | 0.35 | N/A |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 3,856 | 9.25 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 41,691 | 80.52 | |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Swing | | |
* February 1974; new constituency boundaries applied.
General election February 1974: Cornwall North :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Liberal | John Pardoe | 25,667 | 57.90 |
| | Conservative | Trixie Gardner | 16,938 | 38.21 |
| | Labour | J.B. Benjamin | 1,726 | 3.89 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 8,729 | 19.69 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 44,331 | 86.29 |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Swing | |
General election 1970: Cornwall North :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | John Pardoe | 19,863 | 48.64 | +0.14 |
| | Conservative | Simon James Day | 19,223 | 47.10 | +2.56 |
| | Labour | Ernest William J Hill | 1,741 | 4.26 | −2.69 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 630 | 1.54 | −2.42 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 40,827 | 85.11 | −2.42 |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Swing | -1.21 | |

### Elections in the 1960s

General election 1966: Cornwall North :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | John Pardoe | 18,460 | 48.50 | +4.69 |
| | Conservative | James Scott-Hopkins | 16,952 | 44.54 | −1.14 |
| | Labour | Reginald S. Wills | 2,647 | 6.95 | −2.82 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,508 | 3.96 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 38,059 | 87.53 | |
| | Liberal gain from Conservative | Liberal gain from Conservative | Swing | | |
General election 1964: Cornwall North :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | James Scott-Hopkins | 16,352 | 45.68 | |
| | Liberal | Charles Meddon Karslake Bruton | 15,683 | 43.81 | |
| | Labour | Raymond S Dash | 3,497 | 9.77 | |
| | Independent | Edward George C Voullaire | 265 | 0.74 | N/A |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 669 | 1.87 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 35,797 | 83.10 | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | | |

### Elections in the 1950s

General election 1959: Cornwall North :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | James Scott-Hopkins | 16,701 | 46.7 | −0.7 |
| | Liberal | Edwin Malindine | 15,712 | 43.9 | +1.0 |
| | Labour | William Carlo Ferman | 3,389 | 9.5 | −0.3 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 989 | 2.8 | −1.7 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 35,802 | 83.7 | +1.4 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | | |
General election 1955: Cornwall North :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Conservative | Harold Roper | 16,824 | 47.38 |
| | Liberal | Edwin Malindine | 15,220 | 42.86 |
| | Labour | Vernon Eric Cornford | 3,465 | 9.76 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,604 | 4.52 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 35,509 | 82.30 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | |
General election 1951: Cornwall North :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Conservative | Harold Roper | 18,009 | 48.77 |
| | Liberal | Dingle Foot | 12,869 | 34.85 |
| | Labour | William Carlo Ferman | 6,049 | 16.38 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 5,140 | 13.92 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 36,927 | 85.71 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | |
General election 1950: Cornwall North :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Harold Roper | 17,059 | 46.6 | +1.2 |
| | Liberal | Dingle Foot | 13,987 | 38.3 | −14.6 |
| | Labour | Herbert Leslie Richardson | 5,521 | 15.1 | N/A |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 3,072 | 8.3 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 36,567 | 85.9 | +13.2 |
| | Conservative gain from Liberal | Conservative gain from Liberal | Swing | | |

### Elections in the 1940s

General election 1945: Cornwall North :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | Tom Horabin | 18,836 | 52.9 | +1.6 |
| | Conservative | Thomas Percy Fulford | 16,171 | 45.4 | −3.3 |
| | Independent Labour | John Hazlewood Worrall | 626 | 1.8 | N/A |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 2,665 | 7.5 | +4.9 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 35,633 | 72.7 | −7.2 |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Swing | | |

### Elections in the 1930s

1939 North Cornwall by-election :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | Tom Horabin | 17,072 | 52.2 | +0.9 |
| | Conservative | Edward Robin Whitehouse | 15,608 | 47.8 | −0.9 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,464 | 4.4 | +1.8 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 32,680 | 79.3 | −0.6 |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Swing | +0.9 | |
1935 general election: North Cornwall :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | Francis Dyke Acland | 16,872 | 51.3 | +2.2 |
| | Conservative | Edward Robin Whitehouse | 16,036 | 48.7 | +3.4 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 836 | 2.6 | −1.2 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 32,908 | 79.9 | −5.8 |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Swing | -1.1 | |
1932 North Cornwall by-election :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | Francis Dyke Acland | 16,933 | 52.4 | +3.3 |
| | Conservative | Alfred Martyn Williams | 15,387 | 47.6 | +2.3 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,546 | 4.8 | +1.0 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 32,320 | 80.8 | −4.9 |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Swing | | |
* Death of Maclean 15 June 1932
1931 general election: North Cornwall :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | Donald Maclean | 16,867 | 49.1 | −0.6 |
| | Conservative | Alfred Martyn Williams | 15,526 | 45.3 | +3.0 |
| | Labour | Arthur Bennett | 1,907 | 5.6 | −2.4 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,341 | 3.8 | −3.6 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 35,300 | 85.7 | −0.4 |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Swing | | |

### Elections in the 1920s

1929 general election: North Cornwall :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | Donald Maclean | 16,586 | 49.7 | +3.3 |
| | Unionist | Alfred Martyn Williams | 14,095 | 42.3 | −11.3 |
| | Labour | F. E. Church | 2,654 | 8.0 | N/A |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 2,491 | 7.4 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 33,335 | 86.1 | +8.1 |
| | Liberal gain from Unionist | Liberal gain from Unionist | Swing | +7.3 | |
General election 1924: North Cornwall :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Unionist | Alfred Martyn Williams | 12,639 | 53.6 | +10.1 |
| | Liberal | George Marks | 10,927 | 46.4 | −10.1 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,712 | 7.2 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 23,566 | 78.0 | +2.4 |
| | Unionist gain from Liberal | Unionist gain from Liberal | Swing | | |
General election 1923: North Cornwall :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | George Marks | 12,434 | 56.5 | N/A |
| | Unionist | Charles Alexander Petrie | 9,581 | 43.5 | N/A |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 2,853 | 13.0 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 22,015 | 75.6 | N/A |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Swing | N/A | |
General election 1922: North Cornwall :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | National Liberal | George Marks | Unopposed | N/A | N/A |
| | National Liberal hold | National Liberal hold | National Liberal hold | National Liberal hold | National Liberal hold |

### Elections in the 1910s

General election 1918: North Cornwall :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| C | Liberal | George Marks | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| | Liberal win (new seat) | Liberal win (new seat) | Liberal win (new seat) | Liberal win (new seat) | Liberal win (new seat) |
| C indicates candidate endorsed by the coalition government. ||||||