# Banbury (UK Parliament constituency)

Banbury is a constituency in Oxfordshire created in 1553 and represented in the House of Commons of the UK Parliament. Its current MP is Sean Woodcock of the Labour Party, who gained the seat at the 2024 general election.

## Constituency profile

The constituency has relatively high economic dependence on agriculture, as well as modern industry (particularly motorsport), research and development, public services and, to a lesser extent, defence. It is centred on the large market town of Banbury. It is a partly rural seat, with the northwest of the constituency on the edge of the Cotswolds. The area has experienced significant urban growth and is popular with commuters who favour its fast transport links to Birmingham, Oxford and London by rail, or the M40.

## History

The constituency was created as a parliamentary borough, consisting of the town of Banbury, on 26 January 1554 through the efforts of Henry Stafford and Thomas Denton. It was one of the few in England in the unreformed House of Commons to elect only one Member of Parliament (MP) to the House of Commons of England until 1707, then to the House of Commons of Great Britain from 1707 to 1800, and finally to the House of Commons of the United Kingdom from 1801 onwards. As such, it used the first past the post system.
It was the seat represented by Lord North, the prime minister during the American War of Independence.
Under the Redistribution of Seats Act 1885, the Parliamentary Borough was abolished and was reconstituted as the Northern or Banbury Division of Oxfordshire when the three-member Parliamentary County of Oxfordshire was divided into the three single-member seats: Banbury, Woodstock and Henley. It comprised the north-western part of Oxfordshire, including Chipping Norton as well as the abolished borough. Banbury has remained as such since then with varying boundaries (see below).

## Political history
### Majority views

Banbury had a post-World War I unbroken Conservative representation and significant local support for the party for more than a century, from 1922 to 2024; during that period, the largest vote had been for a Conservative. Since then, its representatives have all served long terms in office, and its MPs from 1922 to 2015 have all been knighted. Although the seat saw a very close election in 1923, the seat would turn out to be one of the Tories' safe seats in the succeeding elections: in 2010, Tony Baldry (Conservative) almost doubled his majority, while the 2015 result made the seat the 125th safest of the Conservative Party's 331 seats by percentage of majority. Victoria Prentis would hold the seat for the Conservatives for nine more years after 2015, until the 2024 general election saw the Labour candidate, Sean Woodcock, win the seat; consequently, this was the first time that the constituency elected a Labour Party MP.
In June 2016, an estimated 50.35% of local adults voting in the EU membership referendum chose to leave the European Union instead of to remain.

### Other parties

Four of the six parties' candidates achieved more than the deposit-retaining threshold of 5% of the vote in 2015. In 2001, the Labour Party candidate Lesley Silbey won the largest opposing-party share of the vote since 1974 — 35% of the vote. Prior to 1974, the highest percentage of votes for the second-placed candidate was in 1945 — 48% of the vote.

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

* The Borough of Banbury;and
* The Sessional Divisions of Banbury and Bloxham, Chadlington, and Wootton North.

### 1918–1950

* The Boroughs of Banbury, Chipping Norton, and Woodstock;
* The Urban District of Witney; and
* The Rural Districts of Banbury, Chipping Norton, Witney, and Woodstock.
The constituency was expanded to include the western half of the abolished Woodstock Division, including Witney and Woodstock.

### 1950–1974

* The Boroughs of Banbury, Chipping Norton, and Woodstock;
* The Urban District of Witney;
* The Rural Districts of Banbury, Chipping Norton, and Witney; and
* The Rural District of Ploughley parishes of Begbroke, Gosford and Water Eaton, Hampton Gay and Poyle, Kidlington, Shipton on Cherwell, Thrupp, and Yarnton.
Change to contents due to reorganisation of rural districts. Marginal loss to the Oxford constituency as a result of the expansion of the County Borough of Oxford.

### 1974–1983

* The Boroughs of Banbury, Chipping Norton, and Woodstock;
* The Urban District of Bicester;
* The Rural Districts of Banbury and Chipping Norton; and
* The Rural District of Ploughley parishes of Ardley, Bucknell, Caversfield, Chesterton, Cottisford, Finmere, Fringford, Fritwell, Godington, Hardwick with Tusmore, Hethe, Kirtlington, Launton, Lower Heyford, Middleton Stoney, Mixbury, Newton Purcell with Shelswell, Somerton, Souldern, Stoke Lyne, Stratton Audley, and Upper Heyford.
The Urban and Rural Districts of Witney and the parts of the Rural District of Ploughley, including Kidlington, formed the basis of the new constituency of Mid-Oxon. Bicester and northern parts of the Rural District of Ploughley transferred from Henley.

### 1983–1997

* The District of Cherwell wards of Adderbury, Ambrosden, Ardley, Bicester East, Bicester South, Bicester West, Bloxham, Bodicote, Calthorpe, Chesterton, Cropredy, Deddington, Easington, Fringford, Grimsbury, Hardwick, Heyford, Hook Norton, Hornton, Kirtlington, Launton, Neithrop, Otmoor, Ruscote, Sibford, Steeple Aston, and Wroxton; and
* The District of West Oxfordshire wards of Bartons and Tackley, and Wootton.
Gained a small part of the abolished constituency of Mid-Oxon, to the south of Bicester. The bulk of the area comprising the former Urban and Rural Districts of Chipping Norton transferred to the new constituency of Witney.

### 1997–2010

* The District of Cherwell wards of Adderbury, Ambrosden, Ardley, Bicester East, Bicester South, Bicester West, Bloxham, Bodicote, Calthorpe, Chesterton, Cropredy, Deddington, Easington, Fringford, Grimsbury, Hardwick, Heyford, Hook Norton, Hornton, Kirtlington, Launton, Neithrop, Otmoor, Ruscote, Sibford, Steeple Aston, and Wroxton.
Minor loss to Witney, comprising the two wards in the District of West Oxfordshire.

### 2010–2024

* The District of Cherwell wards of Adderbury, Ambrosden and Chesterton, Banbury Calthorpe, Banbury Easington, Banbury Grimsbury and Castle, Banbury Hardwick, Banbury Neithrop, Banbury Ruscote, Bicester East, Bicester North, Bicester South, Bicester Town, Bicester West, Bloxham and Bodicote, Caversfield, Cropredy, Deddington, Fringford, Hook Norton, Launton, Sibford, The Astons and Heyfords, and Wroxton.
Two wards in the District of Cherwell to the south of Bicester (Kirtlington and Otmoor) transferred to Henley.
The 2010 constituency covered the north-east of Oxfordshire, around Banbury and Bicester and largely corresponded to the Cherwell local government district, with the principal exception of the large village of Kidlington on the outskirts of Oxford which lies in the Oxford West and Abingdon constituency, and some smaller villages to the north-east of Oxford that lie in the Henley constituency.

### 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 wards (as they existed on 1 December 2020):
* The District of Cherwell wards of: Adderbury, Bloxham & Bodicote; Banbury, Calthorpe & Easington; Banbury Cross & Neithrop; Banbury Grimsbury & Hightown; Banbury Hardwick; Banbury Ruscote; Cropredy, Sibfords & Wroxton; Deddington.
* The District of West Oxfordshire wards of: Chadlington and Churchill; Charlbury and Finstock; Chipping Norton; Kingham, Rollright and Enstone; The Bartons.
Major changes, with the town of Bicester and surrounding areas, comprising 38.5% of the existing electorate, being included in the newly created constituency of Bicester and Woodstock. This was partly offset by the transfer from Witney of north-western parts of the District of West Oxfordshire, including Chipping Norton and Charlbury.

## Members of Parliament
### Banbury borough (until 1885)
#### MPs 1554–1640

Constituency created 1554. (Even before the Reform Act 1832, Banbury only returned one member to Parliament)
| Parliament | Member |
| Parliament of 1554 (April) | Thomas Denton |
| Parliament of 1554 (November) | Edward Stafford, 3rd Baron Stafford |
| Parliament of 1555 | Not known |
| Parliament of 1558 | John Denton |
| Parliament of 1559 | Thomas Lee |
| Parliament of 1563 | Francis Walsingham (sat for Lyme Regis, replaced by Owen Brereton) |
| Parliament of 1571 | Anthony Cope |
| Parliament of 1572 | Anthony Cope |
| Parliament of 1584 | Richard Fiennes |
| Parliament of 1586 | Anthony Cope |
| Parliament of 1588 | Anthony Cope |
| Parliament of 1593 | Anthony Cope |
| Parliament of 1597 | Anthony Cope |
| Parliament of 1601 | Anthony Cope |
| Parliament of 1604–1611 | Sir William Cope |
| Addled Parliament (1614) | Sir William Cope |
| Parliament of 1621–1622 | Sir William Cope |
| Happy Parliament (1624–1625) | Sir Erasmus Dryden |
| Useless Parliament (1625) | Sir William Cope (Election declared void, replaced by James Fiennes) |
| Parliament of 1626 | Calcot Chambre |
| Parliament of 1628–1629 | John Crew |
| No Parliament summoned 1629–1640 ||

#### MPs 1640–1885

| Year | Year | Member | Party |
| | April 1640 | Nathaniel Fiennes | Parliamentarian |
| | 1648 | Fiennes excluded in Pride's Purge – seat left vacant | Fiennes excluded in Pride's Purge – seat left vacant |
| | 1653 | Banbury was unrepresented in the Barebones Parliament and the First and Second Parliaments of the Protectorate | Banbury was unrepresented in the Barebones Parliament and the First and Second Parliaments of the Protectorate |
| | January 1659 | Nathaniel Fiennes, the younger | |
| | May 1659 | Banbury was not represented in the restored Rump | Banbury was not represented in the restored Rump |
| | April 1660 | Sir Anthony Cope | |
| | 1661 | Sir John Holman | |
| | 1685 | Sir Dudley North | |
| | 1689 | Sir Robert Dashwood | |
| | 1698 | James Isaacson | |
| | 1699 | Sir John Cope | Whig |
| | 1700 | Patrick Friel | |
| | 1701 | Charles North | |
| | 1713 | Sir Jonathan Cope | Tory |
| | 1722 | Monoux Cope | |
| | 1727 | Hon. Francis North | Whig |
| | 1730 | Toby Chauncy | |
| | 1733 | William Knollys | |
| | 1740 | William Moore | |
| | 1746 | John Willes | |
| | 1754 | Frederick North, Lord North | Tory |
| | 1790 | George North, Lord North | |
| | 1792 | Hon. Frederick North | |
| | 1794 | William Holbech | |
| | 1796 | Dudley Long North | |
| | 1806 | William Praed | |
| | 1808 | Dudley Long North | |
| | 1812 | Frederick Sylvester North Douglas | |
| | 1819 | Hon. Heneage Legge | |
| | 1826 | Hon. Arthur Legge | |
| | 1830 | Henry Villiers-Stuart | Tory |
| | 1831 | John Easthope | Radical |
| | 1832 | Henry William Tancred | Whig |
| | February 1859 | Bernhard Samuelson | Whig |
| | April 1859 | Sir Charles Eurwicke Douglas | Ind. Liberal |
| | 1865 | Sir Bernhard Samuelson, Bt | Liberal |
| 1885 | 1885 | Borough abolished – name transferred to county division | Borough abolished – name transferred to county division |

### Banbury division of Oxfordshire/Banbury County Constituency (since 1885)

| Election | Member | Party |
| 1885 | Sir Bernhard Samuelson | Liberal |
| 1895 | Albert Brassey | Conservative |
| 1906 | Eustace Fiennes | Liberal |
| January 1910 | Robert Brassey | Conservative |
| December 1910 | Eustace Fiennes | Liberal |
| 1918 by-election | Sir Rhys Rhys-Williams, 1st Baronet | Liberal |
| 1918 | Sir Rhys Rhys-Williams, 1st Baronet | Coalition Liberal |
| 1922 | James Edmondson, 1st Baron Sandford | Conservative |
| 1945 | Douglas Dodds-Parker | Conservative |
| 1959 | Neil Marten | Conservative |
| 1983 | Tony Baldry | Conservative |
| 2015 | Victoria Prentis | Conservative |
| 2024 | Sean Woodcock | Labour |

## Elections
### Elections in the 2020s

General election 2024: Banbury :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Sean Woodcock | 18,468 | 38.3 | +13.5 |
| | Conservative | Victoria Prentis | 15,212 | 31.6 | −20.4 |
| | Reform UK | Paul Topley | 6,284 | 13.0 | N/A |
| | Liberal Democrats | Liz Adams | 4,352 | 9.0 | −11.3 |
| | Green | Arron Baker | 2,615 | 5.4 | +2.5 |
| | Independent | Cassi Bellingham | 850 | 1.8 | N/A |
| | Climate | Chris Nevile | 242 | 0.5 | N/A |
| | SDP | Declan Soper | 155 | 0.3 | N/A |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 3,256 | 6.7 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 48,178 | 65.8 | −6.8 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 73,193 | | |
| | Labour gain from Conservative | Labour gain from Conservative | Swing | +17.0 | |

### Elections in the 2010s

2019 notional result :
| Party | Party | Vote | % |
| | Conservative | 26,397 | 52.0 |
| | Labour | 12,598 | 24.8 |
| | Liberal Democrats | 10,335 | 20.3 |
| | Green | 1,480 | 2.9 |
| Turnout | Turnout | 50,810 | 72.6 |
| Electorate | Electorate | 69,943 |
General election 2019: Banbury :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Victoria Prentis | 34,148 | 54.3 | +0.1 |
| | Labour | Suzette Watson | 17,335 | 27.6 | −6.5 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Tim Bearder | 8,831 | 14.0 | +8.4 |
| | Green | Ian Middleton | 2,607 | 4.1 | +2.1 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 16,813 | 26.7 | +6.6 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 62,921 | 69.8 | −3.7 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | +3.3 | |
General election 2017: Banbury :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Victoria Prentis | 33,388 | 54.2 | +1.2 |
| | Labour | Sean Woodcock | 20,989 | 34.1 | +12.8 |
| | Liberal Democrats | John Howson | 3,452 | 5.6 | −0.3 |
| | UKIP | Dickie Bird | 1,581 | 2.6 | −11.3 |
| | Green | Ian Middleton | 1,225 | 2.0 | −2.6 |
| | Independent | Roseanne Edwards | 927 | 1.5 | N/A |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 12,399 | 20.1 | −11.6 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 61,652 | 73.5 | +7.9 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | −5.8 | |
General election 2015: Banbury :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Victoria Prentis | 30,749 | 53.0 | +0.2 |
| | Labour | Sean Woodcock | 12,354 | 21.3 | +2.1 |
| | UKIP | Dickie Bird | 8,050 | 13.9 | +8.9 |
| | Liberal Democrats | John Howson | 3,440 | 5.9 | −14.5 |
| | Green | Ian Middleton | 2,686 | 4.6 | +2.9 |
| | NHA | Roseanne Edwards | 729 | 1.3 | N/A |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 18,395 | 31.7 | −0.7 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 58,008 | 65.6 | +0.9 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | −0.97 | |
General election 2010: Banbury :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Tony Baldry | 29,703 | 52.8 | +5.9 |
| | Liberal Democrats | David Rundle | 11,476 | 20.4 | +2.9 |
| | Labour | Leslie Sibley | 10,773 | 19.2 | −8.9 |
| | UKIP | David Fairweather | 2,806 | 5.0 | +2.8 |
| | Green | Alastair White | 959 | 1.7 | −1.1 |
| | Independent | Roseanne Edwards | 524 | 0.9 | N/A |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 18,227 | 32.4 | +21.8 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 56,241 | 64.7 | +0.2 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | +1.5 | |

### Elections in the 2000s

General election 2005: Banbury :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Tony Baldry | 26,382 | 46.9 | +1.7 |
| | Labour | Leslie Sibley | 15,585 | 27.7 | −7.3 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Zoe Patrick | 10,076 | 17.9 | +2.0 |
| | Green | Alyson Duckmanton | 1,590 | 2.8 | +0.3 |
| | UKIP | Diana Heimann | 1,241 | 2.2 | +0.9 |
| | National Front | James Starkey | 918 | 1.6 | N/A |
| | Your Party | Chris Rowe | 417 | 0.7 | N/A |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 10,797 | 19.2 | +9.0 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 56,209 | 64.5 | +3.4 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | +4.5 | |
General election 2001: Banbury :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Tony Baldry | 23,271 | 45.2 | +2.3 |
| | Labour | Leslie Sibley | 18,052 | 35.0 | +0.2 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Anthony Worgan | 8,216 | 15.9 | −0.8 |
| | Green | Bevis Cotton | 1,281 | 2.5 | +1.6 |
| | UKIP | Stephen Harris | 695 | 1.3 | +0.7 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 5,219 | 10.2 | +2.1 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 51,515 | 61.1 | −14.0 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | +1.0 | |

### Elections in the 1990s

General election 1997: Banbury :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Tony Baldry | 25,076 | 42.9 | −12.1 |
| | Labour | Hazel Y. Peperell | 20,339 | 34.8 | +8.3 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Catherine Bearder | 9,761 | 16.7 | −1.4 |
| | Referendum | James W. Ager | 2,245 | 3.8 | N/A |
| | Green | Bevis Cotton | 530 | 0.9 | N/A |
| | UKIP | L. King | 364 | 0.62 | N/A |
| | Natural Law | Ian Pearson | 131 | 0.22 | −0.2 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 4,737 | 8.1 | −20.4 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 58,446 | 75.1 | −6.0 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | | |
General election 1992: Banbury :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Tony Baldry | 32,215 | 55.0 | −1.2 |
| | Labour | Angela Billingham | 15,495 | 26.5 | +6.1 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Geoffrey J. Fisher | 10,602 | 18.1 | −5.3 |
| | Natural Law | Robin Ticciati | 250 | 0.4 | N/A |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 16,720 | 28.5 | −4.3 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 58,562 | 81.5 | +5.3 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | −3.6 | |

### Elections in the 1980s

General election 1987: Banbury :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Tony Baldry | 29,716 | 56.2 | +2.8 |
| | SDP | David Rowland | 12,386 | 23.4 | −3.5 |
| | Labour | James Honeybone | 10,789 | 20.4 | +1.4 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 17,330 | 32.8 | +6.3 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 52,891 | 76.2 | +1.0 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | | |
General election 1983: Banbury :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Tony Baldry | 26,225 | 53.4 | −1.3 |
| | SDP | Keith Fitchett | 13,200 | 26.9 | +11.7 |
| | Labour | Brian Hodgson | 9,343 | 19.0 | |
| | Monster Raving Loony | David Brough | 383 | 0.8 | N/A |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 13,025 | 26.5 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 49,151 | 75.2 | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | | |

### Elections in the 1970s

General election 1979: Banbury :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Neil Marten | 31,137 | 54.7 | +7.3 |
| | Labour | Brian Hodgson | 16,623 | 29.2 | −6.0 |
| | Liberal | M. White | 8,658 | 15.2 | −1.1 |
| | National Front | I. Cherry | 504 | 0.9 | N/A |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 14,514 | 25.5 | +13.3 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 56,922 | 78.3 | +2.6 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | | |
General election October 1974: Banbury :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Neil Marten | 24,210 | 47.4 | +2.0 |
| | Labour | Anthony C. Booth | 18,019 | 35.2 | +2.2 |
| | Liberal | David Charlton | 8,352 | 16.3 | −5.3 |
| | Independent English Nationalist | Julian Barbour | 547 | 1.1 | N/A |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 6,191 | 12.2 | −0.2 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 51,128 | 75.71 | −7.1 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | | |
General election February 1974: Banbury :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Neil Marten | 25,167 | 45.4 | −7.6 |
| | Labour | Anthony C. Booth | 18,289 | 33.0 | −3.4 |
| | Liberal | Geoffrey J. Fisher | 11,947 | 21.6 | +11.0 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 6,878 | 12.4 | −4.4 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 55,403 | 82.8 | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | | |
General election 1970: Banbury :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Neil Marten | 36,712 | 53.4 | +5.9 |
| | Labour | Anthony C. Booth | 25,166 | 36.6 | −3.7 |
| | Liberal | Geoffrey J. Fisher | 6,859 | 10.0 | −2.2 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 11,546 | 16.8 | +9.6 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 68,737 | 77.4 | −4.6 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | | |

### Elections in the 1960s

General election 1966: Banbury :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Neil Marten | 28,932 | 47.5 | +0.3 |
| | Labour | David Young | 24,529 | 40.3 | +2.0 |
| | Liberal | Penelope Jessel | 7,407 | 12.2 | −1.4 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 4,403 | 7.2 | −1.7 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 60,868 | 82.0 | −0.4 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | | |
General election 1964: Banbury :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Neil Marten | 27,281 | 47.2 | −3.4 |
| | Labour | Gerald Fowler | 22,159 | 38.3 | +0.6 |
| | Liberal | Francis John Ware | 7,851 | 13.6 | +2.0 |
| | Farmers' Candidate | James Hayward | 534 | 0.9 | N/A |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 5,122 | 8.9 | −3.0 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 57,825 | 82.4 | +1.4 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | | |

### Elections in the 1950s

General election 1959: Banbury :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Neil Marten | 26,413 | 50.61 | |
| | Labour | David Buckle | 19,699 | 37.75 | |
| | Liberal | Kenneth Colman | 6,074 | 11.64 | N/A |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 6,714 | 12.86 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 52,186 | 81.02 | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | | |
General election 1955: Banbury :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Conservative | Douglas Dodds-Parker | 25,598 | 54.38 |
| | Labour | Norman Francis Stogdon | 21,473 | 45.62 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 4,125 | 8.76 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 47,071 | 77.14 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | |
General election 1951: Banbury :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Conservative | Douglas Dodds-Parker | 23,246 | 46.84 |
| | Labour | William J. Bird | 19,672 | 39.64 |
| | Liberal | Lawrence Robson | 6,706 | 13.51 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 3,574 | 7.20 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 49,624 | 82.85 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | |
General election 1950: Banbury :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Douglas Dodds-Parker | 21,365 | 43.46 | |
| | Labour Co-op | Cyril Rawlett Fenton | 19,408 | 39.48 | |
| | Liberal | Lawrence Robson | 8,392 | 17.07 | N/A |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,957 | 3.98 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 49,165 | 83.60 | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | | |

### Election in the 1940s

General election 1945: Banbury :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Douglas Dodds-Parker | 23,777 | 52.00 | −13.66 |
| | Labour | Richard Brian Roach | 21,951 | 48.00 | +13.66 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,826 | 4.00 | −27.32 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 45,728 | 70.55 | +4.93 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | -13.66 | |
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 from 1939 and by the end of this year, the following candidates had been selected;
* Independent Progressive: Patrick Early

### Elections in the 1930s

General election 1935: Banbury :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | James Edmondson | 21,904 | 65.66 | N/A |
| | Labour | W E Wade | 11,456 | 34.34 | N/A |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 10,448 | 31.32 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 33,360 | 65.82 | N/A |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | N/A | |
General election 1931: Banbury :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | James Edmondson | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold |

### Election in the 1920s

General election 1929: Banbury :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | James Edmondson | 16,444 | 45.5 | −7.2 |
| | Liberal | Ronald Wilberforce Allen | 13,800 | 38.2 | +7.4 |
| | Labour | Lawrence Arthur Wingfield | 5,894 | 16.3 | −0.2 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 2,644 | 7.3 | −14.6 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 36,138 | 78.7 | −0.6 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | −7.3 | |
General election 1924: Banbury :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | James Edmondson | 15,053 | 52.7 | +6.9 |
| | Liberal | Harry Verney | 8,825 | 30.8 | −14.2 |
| | Labour | Arthur Ernest Monks | 4,733 | 16.5 | +7.3 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 6,228 | 21.9 | +21.1 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 28,611 | 79.3 | +3.3 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | | |
General election 1923: Banbury :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | James Edmondson | 12,490 | 45.8 | −0.7 |
| | Liberal | C. B. Fry | 12,271 | 45.0 | +15.6 |
| | Labour | Ernest Bennett | 2,500 | 9.2 | −14.9 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 219 | 0.8 | −16.3 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 27,261 | 76.0 | −0.4 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | −8.2 | |
General election 1922: Banbury :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | James Edmondson | 12,491 | 46.5 | N/A |
| | Liberal | James Harold Early | 7,885 | 29.4 | N/A |
| | Labour | Ernest Bennett | 6,463 | 24.1 | N/A |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 4,606 | 17.1 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 26,839 | 76.4 | N/A |
| | Conservative gain from Liberal | Conservative gain from Liberal | Swing | | |
By-election 1922: Banbury :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| C | Liberal | Rhys Rhys-Williams | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Liberal hold |
| C indicates candidate endorsed by the coalition government. ||||||

### Election in the 1910s

General election 14 December 1918: Banbury :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| C | Liberal | Rhys Rhys-Williams | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Liberal hold |
| C indicates candidate endorsed by the coalition government. ||||||
1918 Banbury by-election :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | Rhys Rhys-Williams | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Liberal hold |
General Election 1914–15: Another General Election was required to take place before the end of 1915. The political parties had been making preparations for an election to take place and by July 1914, the following candidates had been selected;
* Liberal: Eustace Fiennes
* Conservative:
General election December 1910: Banbury :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | Eustace Fiennes | 3,629 | 50.6 | +2.7 |
| | Conservative | Robert Bingham Brassey | 3,538 | 49.4 | −2.7 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 91 | 1.2 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 7,167 | 89.4 | −2.2 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 8,021 | | |
| | Liberal gain from Conservative | Liberal gain from Conservative | Swing | +2.7 | |
General election January 1910: Banbury :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Robert Bingham Brassey | 3,831 | 52.1 | +10.9 |
| | Liberal | Eustace Fiennes | 3,516 | 47.9 | −10.9 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 315 | 4.2 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 7,347 | 91.6 | +4.0 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 8,021 | | |
| | Conservative gain from Liberal | Conservative gain from Liberal | Swing | +10.9 | |

### Elections in the 1900s

General election 1906: Banbury :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | Eustace Fiennes | 3,992 | 58.8 | +15.1 |
| | Conservative | George Villiers | 2,796 | 41.2 | −15.1 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,196 | 17.6 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 6,788 | 87.6 | +5.4 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 7,748 | | |
| | Liberal gain from Conservative | Liberal gain from Conservative | Swing | +15.1 | |
General election 1900: Banbury :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Albert Brassey | 3,632 | 56.3 | −0.6 |
| | Liberal | Eustace Fiennes | 2,821 | 43.7 | +0.6 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 811 | 12.6 | −1.2 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 6,453 | 82.2 | −5.4 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 7,853 | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | −0.6 | |

### Elections in the 1890s

General election 1895: Banbury :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Albert Brassey | 4,057 | 56.9 | +8.2 |
| | Liberal | Charles W Thornton | 3,074 | 43.1 | −8.2 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 983 | 13.8 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 7,131 | 87.6 | +1.3 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 8,145 | | |
| | Conservative gain from Liberal | Conservative gain from Liberal | Swing | +8.2 | |
General election 1892: Banbury :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | Bernhard Samuelson | 3,640 | 51.3 | −2.3 |
| | Conservative | Llewellyn Malcolm Wynne | 3,453 | 48.7 | +2.3 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 187 | 2.6 | −4.6 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 7,093 | 86.3 | +5.4 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 8,223 | | |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Swing | −2.3 | |

### Elections in the 1880s

General election 1886: Banbury :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | Bernhard Samuelson | 3,677 | 53.6 | −6.5 |
| | Conservative | Llewellyn Malcolm Wynne | 3,184 | 46.4 | +6.5 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 493 | 7.2 | −13.0 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 6,861 | 80.9 | −6.1 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 8,478 | | |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Swing | −6.5 | |
General election 1885: Banbury :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | Bernhard Samuelson | 4,436 | 60.1 | −3.5 |
| | Conservative | Llewellyn Malcolm Wynne | 2,944 | 39.9 | +3.5 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,492 | 20.2 | −7.0 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 7,380 | 87.0 | +3.4 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 8,478 | | |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Swing | −3.5 | |
General election 1880: Banbury :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | Bernhard Samuelson | 1,018 | 63.6 | +10.7 |
| | Conservative | Thomas Gibson Bowles | 583 | 36.4 | −10.7 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 435 | 27.2 | +21.4 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,601 | 86.6 | +11.3 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 1,848 | | |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Swing | +10.7 | |

### Elections in the 1870s

General election 1874: Banbury :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | Bernhard Samuelson | 760 | 52.9 | −13.1 |
| | Conservative | Josiah Wilkinson | 676 | 47.1 | +13.1 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 84 | 5.8 | −26.2 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,436 | 75.3 | −1.4 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 1,906 | | |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Swing | −13.1 | |

### Elections in the 1860s

General election 1868: Banbury :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | Bernhard Samuelson | 772 | 66.0 | +27.2 |
| | Conservative | George Stratton | 397 | 34.0 | +2.9 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 375 | 32.0 | +24.3 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,169 | 76.7 | −9.8 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 1,524 | | |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Swing | +12.2 | |
General election 1865: Banbury :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | Bernhard Samuelson | 206 | 38.8 | −7.1 |
| | Conservative | Charles Bell | 165 | 31.1 | N/A |
| | Independent Liberal | Charles Eurwicke Douglas | 160 | 30.1 | −24.0 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 41 | 7.7 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 531 | 86.5 | +21.9 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 614 | | |
| | Liberal gain from Independent Liberal | Liberal gain from Independent Liberal | Swing | +8.5 | |

### Elections in the 1850s

General election 1859: Banbury :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Independent Liberal | Charles Eurwicke Douglas | 235 | 54.1 | N/A |
| | Liberal | Bernhard Samuelson | 199 | 45.9 | −32.9 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 36 | 8.2 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 434 | 64.6 | +13.7 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 672 | | |
| | Independent Liberal gain from Liberal | Independent Liberal gain from Liberal | Swing | N/A | |
By-election, 9 February 1859: Banbury :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Whig | Bernhard Samuelson | 177 | 37.6 | −41.2 |
| | Conservative | John Hardy | 176 | 37.4 | N/A |
| | Independent Liberal | Edward Miall | 118 | 25.1 | N/A |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1 | 0.2 | −57.4 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 471 | 70.1 | +19.2 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 672 | | |
| | Whig hold | Whig hold | Swing | N/A | |
* Caused by Tancred's resignation.
General election 1857: Banbury :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Whig | Henry William Tancred | 216 | 78.8 | N/A |
| | Radical | Edward Yates | 58 | 21.2 | N/A |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 158 | 57.6 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 274 | 50.9 | N/A |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 538 | | |
| | Whig hold | Whig hold | Swing | N/A | |
General election 1852: Banbury :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Whig | Henry William Tancred | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 491 | | |
| | Whig hold | Whig hold | Whig hold | Whig hold | Whig hold |

### Elections in the 1840s

General election 1847: Banbury :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Whig | Henry William Tancred | 226 | 57.9 | +12.8 |
| | Conservative | James Macgregor | 164 | 42.1 | +5.7 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 62 | 15.9 | +7.2 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 390 | 83.9 | +12.5 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 465 | | |
| | Whig hold | Whig hold | Swing | +3.6 | |
General election 1841: Banbury :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Whig | Henry William Tancred | 124 | 45.1 | −25.6 |
| | Conservative | Hugh Holbech | 100 | 36.4 | +7.1 |
| | Chartist | Henry Vincent | 51 | 18.5 | N/A |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 24 | 8.7 | −32.7 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 275 | 71.4 | −3.2 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 385 | | |
| | Whig hold | Whig hold | Swing | −16.4 | |

### Elections in the 1830s

General election 1837: Banbury :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Whig | Henry William Tancred | 181 | 70.7 | −11.3 |
| | Conservative | Henry Tawney | 75 | 29.3 | N/A |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 106 | 41.4 | −22.6 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 256 | 74.6 | +6.7 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 343 | | |
| | Whig hold | Whig hold | Swing | N/A | |
General election 1835: Banbury :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Whig | Henry William Tancred | 205 | 82.0 | N/A |
| | Radical | Edward Lloyd Williams | 45 | 18.0 | N/A |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 160 | 64.0 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 250 | 67.9 | N/A |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 368 | | |
| | Whig hold | Whig hold | Swing | N/A | |
General election 1832: Banbury :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Whig | Henry William Tancred | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 329 | | |
| | Whig gain from Radical | Whig gain from Radical | Whig gain from Radical | Whig gain from Radical | Whig gain from Radical |
General election 1831: Banbury :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Radical | John Easthope | 6 | 66.7 | N/A |
| | Tory | Henry Hely-Hutchinson | 3 | 33.3 | N/A |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 3 | 33.4 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 9 | | N/A |
| | Radical gain from Tory | Radical gain from Tory | Swing | N/A | |
General election 1830: Banbury :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Tory | Henry Villiers-Stuart | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| | Tory gain from Nonpartisan | Tory gain from Nonpartisan | Tory gain from Nonpartisan | Tory gain from Nonpartisan | Tory gain from Nonpartisan |