# Kingswood (UK Parliament constituency)

Kingswood was a borough constituency for the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. It elected one Member of Parliament (MP) at least once every five years by the first-past-the-post electoral system.
The seat was abolished for the 2024 general election.

## History

The constituency existed from the February 1974 general election. It had been held by the Conservative and Labour parties. Before the 2010 election, when the seat was held by Labour, it was 135th on the Conservative Party target seats list and in the 2015 election it was 41st on the Labour Party's target seats.
On 26 November 2022, the previous MP, Conservative Chris Skidmore, announced that he would not seek re-election at the next election. On 5 January 2024, Skidmore announced he would resign from parliament "as soon as possible" in protest at the introduction of the Offshore Petroleum Licensing Bill. On 8 January 2024, he formally resigned as an MP which triggered a by-election. Labour's Damien Egan won the by-election, and would sit for it for the last four months of the constituency's existence before its abolition at the 2024 general election.

## Boundaries

1974–1983: The Urban Districts of Kingswood and Mangotsfield, alongside the Rural District of Warmley.
1983–1997: The District of Kingswood wards of Chase, Chiphouse, Downend, Forest, Hanham, Mangotsfield, New Cheltenham, Soundwell, Staple Hill, Woodstock, alongside the City of Bristol wards of Frome Vale, Hillfields, St George East, St George West.
1997–2010: The Borough of Kingswood wards of Badminton, Blackhorse, Bromley Heath, Chase, Chiphouse, Downend, Forest, Hanham, Mangotsfield, New Cheltenham, Oldland Barrs Court, Oldland Cadbury Heath, Oldland Longwell Green, Siston, Soundwell, Springfield, Staple Hill, Woodstock, alongside the City of Bristol wards of Frome Vale and Hillfields.
2010–2019: The District of South Gloucestershire wards of Bitton, Hanham, Kings Chase, Longwell Green, Oldland Common, Parkwall, Rodway, Siston, Woodstock.
2019 to 2024: The District of South Gloucestershire wards of Bitton and Oldland Common, Hanham, Kingswood, New Cheltenham, Woodstock, Longwell Green, Parkwall and Warmley.
The constituency covered part of the South Gloucestershire unitary authority, consisting of the eastern suburbs of Bristol and commuter villages outside of the city boundary, including the town of Kingswood. It largely corresponded to the former Borough of Kingswood.
The Boundary Commission's Fifth Periodic Review of Westminster constituencies prompted the boundary changes with effect from the 2010 general election. In particular, all wards in the constituency were now from the South Gloucestershire authority. Prior to 2010, the Frome Vale and Hillfields wards of the City of Bristol were part of the Kingswood constituency, but were transferred to Bristol East. Within South Gloucestershire, the Kingswood seat gained Hanham, Bitton and Oldland Common from the former Wansdyke constituency, but lost Downend and Staple Hill to the new Filton and Bradley Stoke seat.

## Abolition

Further to the completion of the 2023 Periodic Review of Westminster constituencies, the seat was abolished for the 2024 general election, with its contents distributed three ways:
* Southern areas, comprising the District of South Gloucestershire wards of Bitton and Oldland Common, Hanham, Longwell Green, and Parkwall and Warmley, included with the majority of North East Somerset to form the new constituency of North East Somerset and Hanham
* The town of Kingswood, comprising the Kingswood, New Cheltenham and Woodstock wards of South Gloucestershire, included in the re-established seat of Bristol North East
* Emersons Green transferred to Filton and Bradley Stoke

## Members of Parliament

| Election | Election | Member | Party |
| | Feb 1974 | Terry Walker | Labour |
| | 1979 | Jack Aspinwall | Conservative |
| | 1983 | Robert Hayward | Conservative |
| | 1992 | Roger Berry | Labour |
| | 2010 | Chris Skidmore | Conservative |
| | 2024 | Chris Skidmore | Independent |
| | 2024 by-election | Damien Egan | Labour |
| 2024 | 2024 | constituency abolished | constituency abolished |

## Elections
### Elections in the 2020s

2024 Kingswood by-election :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Damien Egan | 11,176 | 44.9 | +11.5 |
| | Conservative | Sam Bromiley | 8,675 | 34.9 | –21.3 |
| | Reform UK | Rupert Lowe | 2,578 | 10.4 | New |
| | Green | Lorraine Francis | 1,459 | 5.8 | +3.4 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Andrew Brown | 861 | 3.5 | –3.4 |
| | UKIP | Nicholas Wood | 129 | 0.5 | New |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 2,501 | 10.0 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 24,905 | 37.1 | –21.8 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | | | |
| | Labour gain from Conservative | Labour gain from Conservative | Swing | +17.5 | |

### Elections in the 2010s

General election 2019: Kingswood :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Chris Skidmore | 27,712 | 56.2 | +1.3 |
| | Labour | Nicola Bowden-Jones | 16,492 | 33.4 | –6.1 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Dine Romero | 3,421 | 6.9 | +3.3 |
| | Green | Joseph Evans | 1,200 | 2.4 | +0.4 |
| | Animal Welfare | Angelika Cowell | 489 | 1.0 | New |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 11,220 | 22.8 | +7.4 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 49,314 | 71.5 | +1.3 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 68,972 | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | +3.7 | |
General election 2017: Kingswood :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Chris Skidmore | 26,754 | 54.9 | +6.6 |
| | Labour | Mhairi Threlfall | 19,254 | 39.5 | +9.9 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Karen Wilkinson | 1,749 | 3.6 | –0.2 |
| | Green | Matt Furey-King | 984 | 2.0 | –0.8 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 7,500 | 15.4 | –3.3 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 48,741 | 70.2 | –0.6 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 69,426 | | +2.1 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | –1.7 | |
General election 2015: Kingswood :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Chris Skidmore | 23,252 | 48.3 | +7.9 |
| | Labour | Jo McCarron | 14,246 | 29.6 | –5.7 |
| | UKIP | Duncan Odgers | 7,133 | 14.8 | +11.6 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Adam Boyden | 1,827 | 3.8 | –13.0 |
| | Green | Cezara Nanu | 1,370 | 2.8 | +2.0 |
| | BNP | Julie Lake | 164 | 0.3 | –2.4 |
| | TUSC | Richard Worth | 84 | 0.2 | New |
| | Vapers in Power | Liam Bryan | 49 | 0.1 | New |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 9,006 | 18.7 | +13.6 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 48,125 | 70.8 | –1.4 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 67,992 | | +2.5 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | +6.8 | |
General election 2010: Kingswood :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Chris Skidmore | 19,362 | 40.4 | +8.3 |
| | Labour | Roger Berry | 16,917 | 35.3 | –10.6 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Sally Fitzharris | 8,072 | 16.8 | –1.2 |
| | UKIP | Neil Dowdney | 1,528 | 3.2 | +0.8 |
| | BNP | Michael Carey | 1,311 | 2.7 | New |
| | Green | Nick Foster | 383 | 0.8 | New |
| | English Democrat | Michael Blundell | 333 | 0.7 | New |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 2,445 | 5.1 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 47,906 | 72.2 | +4.5 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 66,361 | | +0.6 |
| | Conservative gain from Labour | Conservative gain from Labour | Swing | +9.4 | |

### Elections in the 2000s

General election 2005: Kingswood :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Roger Berry | 26,491 | 47.0 | –7.9 |
| | Conservative | Owen Inskip | 18,618 | 33.1 | +4.7 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Geoff Brewer | 9,089 | 16.1 | +1.4 |
| | UKIP | John Knight | 1,444 | 2.6 | +0.5 |
| | Independent | David Burnside | 669 | 1.2 | New |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 7,873 | 13.9 | –12.6 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 56,311 | 66.7 | +1.3 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 88,400 | | +4.8 |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | –6.3 | |
General election 2001: Kingswood :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Roger Berry | 28,903 | 54.9 | +1.2 |
| | Conservative | Robert Marven | 14,941 | 28.4 | –1.5 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Christopher Greenfield | 7,747 | 14.7 | +1.8 |
| | UKIP | David Smith | 1,085 | 2.1 | New |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 13,962 | 26.5 | +2.7 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 52,676 | 65.4 | –12.3 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 80,531 | | +4.6 |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | +1.4 | |

### Elections in the 1990s

General election 1997: Kingswood :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Roger Berry | 32,181 | 53.7 | +13.1 |
| | Conservative | Jon Howard | 17,928 | 29.9 | –15.9 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Jeanne B. Pinkerton | 7,672 | 12.9 | –0.8 |
| | Referendum | Alexandra Reather | 1,463 | 2.4 | New |
| | BNP | Peter Hart | 290 | 0.5 | New |
| | Natural Law | Andrew Harding | 238 | 0.4 | New |
| | Independent | Andrew Nicolson | 115 | 0.2 | New |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 14,253 | 23.8 | +18.6 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 59,884 | 77.7 | –6.8 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 77,026 | | +0.9 |
| | Labour win | Labour win | Labour win | Labour win | Labour win |
General election 1992: Kingswood :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Roger Berry | 26,774 | 44.5 | +7.1 |
| | Conservative | Robert Hayward | 24,404 | 40.6 | –4.3 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Jeanne B. Pinkerton | 8,967 | 14.9 | –2.8 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 2,370 | 3.9 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 60,145 | 83.8 | +3.6 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 71,727 | | –1.9 |
| | Labour gain from Conservative | Labour gain from Conservative | Swing | +5.7 | |

### Elections in the 1980s

General election 1987: Kingswood :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Robert Hayward | 26,300 | 44.9 | +4.5 |
| | Labour | Roger Berry | 21,907 | 37.4 | +0.3 |
| | SDP | Pamela Whittle | 10,382 | 17.7 | –4.8 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 4,393 | 7.5 | +4.2 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 58,589 | 80.2 | +2.7 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 73,089 | | +1.3 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | +2.1 | |
General election 1983: Kingswood :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Robert Hayward | 22,573 | 40.4 | –0.8 |
| | Labour | Terry Walker | 20,776 | 37.1 | –10.8 |
| | SDP | Martyn Gilbert | 12,591 | 22.5 | +12.6 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,797 | 3.3 | –3.5 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 55,940 | 77.5 | –3.5 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 72,159 | | +1.6 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | +5.0 | |

### Elections in the 1970s

General election 1979: Kingswood :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Jack Aspinwall | 23,553 | 45.4 | +6.8 |
| | Labour | Terry Walker | 23,250 | 44.8 | +0.8 |
| | Liberal | A Wilson | 4,852 | 9.3 | –8.1 |
| | National Front | R Bale | 258 | 0.5 | New |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 303 | 0.6 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 51,913 | 86.2 | +2.0 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 60,229 | | +7.6 |
| | Conservative gain from Labour | Conservative gain from Labour | Swing | +3.0 | |
General election October 1974: Kingswood :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Terry Walker | 20,703 | 44.0 | +5.3 |
| | Conservative | David Hunt | 18,137 | 38.6 | +3.3 |
| | Liberal | Jack Aspinwall | 8,216 | 17.4 | –8.5 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 2,566 | 5.4 | +2.0 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 47,092 | 84.2 | –2.5 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 55,952 | | +0.9 |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | +1.0 | |
General election February 1974: Kingswood :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Terry Walker | 18,616 | 38.7 | –8.4 |
| | Conservative | Charles Irving | 16,975 | 35.3 | –17.5 |
| | Liberal | Jack Aspinwall | 12,471 | 25.9 | New |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,641 | 3.4 | –2.3 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 48,062 | 86.7 | +12.7 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 55,462 | | +1.2 |
| | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) |