# Bath (UK Parliament constituency)

Bath is a constituency in the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom represented since 2017 by Wera Hobhouse of the Liberal Democrats.
Perhaps its best-known representatives have been the two with international profiles: William Pitt the Elder (Prime Minister 1766–1768) and Chris Patten, the last Governor of Hong Kong (1992–1997).
As of the 2024 general election it has the shortest name of any constituency, with 4 letters, having previously shared the distinction with Hove.
Further to the completion of the 2023 periodic review of Westminster constituencies, at the 2024 general election the seat was subject to moderate boundary changes which involved the gain of the Bathavon North ward from the former North East Somerset constituency.

## Constituency profile

Until the 2024 general election the seat was tightly drawn around the historic city including the University of Bath campus. The 2023 Periodic Review of Westminster constituencies enlarged the Bath constituency to include seven parishes to the north and west of the city. Compared to UK averages residents are wealthier and house prices are higher.

## History

Bath is an ancient constituency which has been constantly represented in Parliament since boroughs were first summoned to send members in the 13th century.

### Unreformed constituency before 1832

Bath was one of the cities summoned to send members in 1295 and represented ever since, although Parliaments in early years were sporadic. Like almost all English constituencies before the Great Reform Act 1832, it originally returned two members to each Parliament.
The precise way in which Bath's MPs were chosen in the Middle Ages is unknown. It is recorded that "election was by the Mayor and three citizens being sent from thence to the county court who in the name of the whole community, and by the assent of the community, returned their representatives"; but whether the "assent of the community" was real or what form it took is unrecorded, even assuming it was not a completely dead letter. By the 17th century, elections had become more competitive, as the means of election in Bath had become a franchise restricted to the Mayor, Aldermen, and members of the Common Council (the City Corporation), a total of thirty voters. The freemen of the city challenged this state of affairs in 1661 and again in 1705, claiming the right to vote and petitioning against the election of the candidates chosen by the corporation, but on both occasions the House of Commons, which at the time was still the final arbiter of such disputes, decided against them. The Commons resolution of 27 January 1708, "That the right of election of citizens to serve in Parliament for this city is in the mayor, aldermen and common-council only", settled the matter until 1832.
Bath was the most populous of the English boroughs where the right to vote was restricted to the corporation. At the time of the 1801 census, it was one of the ten largest towns or cities in England by population, and was almost unique in that the voters generally exercised their powers independently. As was the case elsewhere, the Common Council was not popularly elected, all vacancies being filled by co-option by the existing members, so that once a united interest had gained majority control it was easy to retain it. Most corporation boroughs quickly became pocket boroughs in this way, the nomination of their members of parliament being entirely decided by a patron who may have given some large benefaction to the area or simply used bribery to ensure only his supporters or croneys became members of the corporation. But in Bath, the Common Council retained its independence in most periods and took pride in electing two suitable members of parliament who had either strong local connections or else a national reputation. Nor was there any suggestion of bribery or other corruption, prolific in other "independent" constituencies. Pitt the Elder wrote to the corporation in 1761, on the occasion of his re-election as one of Bath's members, to pay tribute to "a city ranked among the most ancient and most considerable in the kingdom, and justly famed for its integrity, independence, and zeal for the public good".
But even in Bath the limited electorate who voted for its members of Parliament expected them to work to procure favours for their constituents and enterprises to a degree that would be considered corrupt today. By exercising efforts successfully in this direction, the representatives could in return expect a degree of influence over the voters that differed little from patronage in the pocket boroughs, except that its duration was limited. Thus the lawyer Robert Henley, a Bath MP from 1747 and also Recorder of Bath from 1751, seems to have been assumed to have control over both seats while he held one of them and immediately after; yet when he gained a peerage and thus a seat in the House of Lords, Pitt replaced him on the understanding of being independently chosen. Pitt himself then acquired similar influence: the council vetoed Viscount Ligonier's suggestion that he should be succeeded by his nephew when he was elevated the Lords in 1763, but instead allowed Pitt to nominate a candidate to be his new colleague, and voted overwhelmingly for him when he was opposed by a local man. But Pitt's influence also waned when he fell out with the council over the Treaty of Paris later in 1763.
In the final years before the Reform Act 1832, however, local magnates exerted a more controlling influence in Bath. Oldfield, writing early in the 19th century, stated that at that time the Marquess of Bath nominated one member and John Palmer the other; both were former members of Parliament for the city (Lord Bath having sat as Viscount Weymouth, before his father's death took him to the Lords), but neither was then in the Commons – each had a relation sitting as one of the members for Bath. Palmer had succeeded Earl Camden who held one of the two seats before 1802. At the time of the Reform Act 1832, Lord Bath was still being listed as influencing one of the seats, although the second was considered independent once more.

### Reformed constituency (1832–1918)

The Reform Act 1832 opened up the franchise to all resident (male) householders whose houses had a value of at least £10 a year and imposed uniform voting provisions for all the boroughs. Bath was one of the boroughs which continued to elect two members. Given the city's medium size and its generally high property values, its electorate increased by a factor of almost 100, from 30 in 1831 to 2,853 in 1832, and created a competitive and generally marginal constituency which swung between Whig and Tory (later Liberal and Conservative) control. The parliamentary borough's boundaries were also slightly extended, but only to take in those areas into which the built-up area of the city had expanded. Bath's most notable member during this period was probably the Conservative social reformer Lord Ashley, better remembered under his eventual title of 7th Earl of Shaftesbury, for the Factory Acts, the first of which came into effect while he was one of the MPs for Bath.
The franchise was further reformed in 1867 and by the Redistribution of Seats Act 1885, with only minor boundary changes. Bath was lucky to retain its two-member representation in the 1885 reforms, as its electorate of under 7,000 was near the lower limit, and this situation lasted until the 1918 reforms. The continued Liberal strength was unusual for a prosperous and predominantly middle-class town, and the seats could until 1918 not be considered safe for the Conservatives.

### Modern single-member constituency (since 1918)

Bath's representation was reduced to a single member in 1918. The Conservatives held the seat continuously until 1992, except in the 1923 Parliament, and until World War II generally won comfortably – the Liberals retained such strength that the non-Conservative vote was split, and Labour could not rise above third place until the landslide of 1945, when the Conservative James Pitman achieved a very marginal majority. From 1945 to 1970, Labour presented the main challenge, and came within 800 votes of taking the seat in 1966.
The Liberal revival in the 1970s saw the two more left-wing parties swap places, helped by the adoption of a nationally known candidate, Christopher Mayhew, who had defected from the Labour Party. The formation of the SDP–Liberal Alliance made Bath a realistic target. The SDP came 1500 votes from winning in 1987 under Malcolm Dean. In 1992, Conservative Chris Patten was ousted by Liberal Democrat Don Foster in a narrow defeat widely blamed on Patten's strategising, campaign leading and communicating as Conservative Party chairman rather than canvassing his own constituents. At each election from 1992 to 2015, a different Conservative candidate contested the constituency.
The boundary changes implemented in 1997 took Bathampton, Batheaston, Bathford, Charlcombe and Freshford from the Wansdyke district, containing about 7,000 voters; these were moved elsewhere in 2010. Nominally, these areas had a slightly higher tendency to prefer a Conservative candidate but, the national government suffering from sleaze, in 1997 Don Foster more than doubled his almost 4,000 vote majority to over 9,000 votes. After winning two intervening elections, in 2010 Foster achieved his highest majority of 11,883 votes.
In the 2015 general election, following the national Liberal Democrat collapse and Foster standing down, the seat was regained by the Conservatives under Ben Howlett with a 3,833-vote majority.
Bath is estimated to have voted to remain in the European Union by 68.3% in the 2016 referendum on the UK's membership of the EU.
In the 2017 general election, the constituency was regained by the Liberal Democrats' Wera Hobhouse, with the second-highest Liberal Democrat vote share increase nationally (after Richmond Park).
In the 2019 general election, the constituency was one of 60 seats included in an agreement between the Liberal Democrats, the Green Party and Plaid Cymru not to vie against one another in those seats (Unite to Remain). Accordingly, the Green Party did not stand and Hobhouse increased her majority to 23.6%.
In December 2023, the Labour Party included the seat in its published list of 211 non-battleground seats, suggesting they did not see it as winnable.
In the 2024 general election, the Green Party stood again, achieving 12.4% of the vote, resulting in a similar drop in the Liberal Democrat vote. However, Hobhouse's majority was maintained as the Conservative vote collapsed and Labour achieved second place for the first time in the seat's history.

## Boundaries
### Historic boundaries

* Before 1832: The parishes of St James (Bath), St Peter and St Paul (Bath), and St Michael (Bath), and part of the parish of Walcot
* 1832–1867: As above, plus the parishes of Bathwick and Lyncombe & Widcombe, and a further part of the parish of Walcot
* 1867–1918: As above, plus part of the parish of Twerton
* 1918–1983: The county borough of Bath (boundary changes in 1955)
* 1983–1997: The City of Bath (no boundary changes)
* 1997–2010: The City of Bath, and the District of Wansdyke wards of Bathampton, Batheaston, Bathford, Charlcombe, and Freshford
* 2010–2024: The City of Bath (see below)

### 2010–2024

Following the review of the constituencies in the former county of Avon carried out by the Boundary Commission for England, as of the 2010 general election the constituency covered only the city of Bath, and none of the surrounding rural area. Between 1997 and 2010, it had been designated as a county constituency as it also included some outlying villages such as Southstoke and Freshford which were now transferred to the North East Somerset constituency. The changes in 2010 resulted in Bath becoming a borough constituency once again. With its 2010 boundaries, Bath was one of only two UK Parliament constituencies to be surrounded by another constituency, being encircled by North East Somerset; the other constituency, York Central, was entirely surrounded by York Outer.
The 2010 constituency's electoral wards were defined as:
* Abbey, Bathwick, Combe Down, Kingsmead, Lambridge, Lansdown, Lyncombe, Newbridge, Odd Down, Oldfield, Southdown, Twerton, Walcot, Westmoreland, Weston and Widcombe.
In 2019, taking effect at that year's local elections, boundary changes to the wards took place, which included the abolition of Abbey ward, the merger of Lyncombe and Widcombe wards, the creation of Moorlands ward, and the replacement of Oldfield with Oldfield Park. These ward changes did not change the parliamentary constituency boundary.

### 2024–present

Following the 2023 periodic review of Westminster constituencies, the composition of the constituency from the 2024 general election was expanded to bring the electorate within the permitted range by transferring the Bathavon North ward, as well as the parishes of Kelston and North Stoke (part of the redrawn Newbridge ward), from North East Somerset. The boundaries are now similar to those of 1983–1997 and the status of the seat has been changed back to a county constituency.
The current boundaries therefore now comprise the following wards of the District of Bath and North East Somerset:
* Bathavon North; Bathwick; Combe Down; Kingsmead; Lambridge; Lansdown; Moorlands; Newbridge; Odd Down; Oldfield Park; Southdown; Twerton; Walcot; Westmoreland; Weston; Widcombe & Lyncombe.

## Members of Parliament

The current Member of Parliament is Wera Hobhouse of the Liberal Democrats.
From 30 July to 4 August 1766, Bath was the constituency of the prime minister: William Pitt the Elder represented the constituency until he was raised to the peerage as Earl of Chatham shortly after becoming prime minister.

### Members of Parliament 1295–1640

* Constituency created (1295)
| Parliament | First member | Second member |
| 1386 | Sewal Fraunceys | John Honybrigge |
| 1388 (February) | John Palmer | Edmund Ford |
| 1388 (September) | William Shropshire | Roger Skinner |
| 1390 (January) | Richard Clewer | William Rous |
| 1390 (November) | | |
| 1391 | Hugh de la Lynde | Nicholas Sambourne I |
| 1393 | Hugh de la Lynde | Thomas Ryton |
| 1394 | John Touprest | John Marsh I |
| 1395 | Robert Draper | John Marsh I |
| 1397 (January) | Robert Aunger | John Marsh I |
| 1397 (September) | Hugh de la Lynde | John Chaunceys |
| 1399 | John Chaunceys | John Whittocksmead |
| 1401 | | |
| 1402 | John Whittocksmead | John Haygoby |
| 1404 (January) | | |
| 1404 (October) | | |
| 1406 | Thomas Rymour | Henry Bartlett |
| 1407 | Henry Bartlett | John Whittocksmead |
| 1410 | Henry Bartlett | John Whittocksmead |
| 1411 | | |
| 1413 (February) | | |
| 1413 (May) | Richard Widcombe | Roger Hobbes |
| 1414 (April) | John Marsh II | Walter Rich |
| 1414 (November) | Richard Widcombe | William Radstock |
| 1415 | | |
| 1416 (March) | William Chapman |
| 1416 (October) | | |
| 1417 | Ralph Hunt | Walter Rich |
| 1419 | Richard Widcombe | John Marsh II |
| 1420 | Richard Widcombe | William Philips |
| 1421 (May) | Richard Widcombe | John Marsh II |
| 1421 (December) | Walter Rich | Robert Newlyn |
| 1510–1523 | No names known | No names known |
| 1529 | John Bird | Thomas Welpley |
| 1536 | ? | |
| 1539 | John Reynold | John Clement |
| 1542 | ? | |
| 1545 | Matthew Colthurst | Silvester Sedborough |
| 1547 | Richard Denys | John Clerke |
| 1553 (March) | ? | |
| 1553 (October) | Richard Chapman | Edward Ludwell |
| 1554 (April) | William Crowche | Edward Ludwell |
| 1554 (November) | John Story | William Crowche |
| 1555 | ?Henry Hodgkins | ? |
| 1558 | Edward Ludwell | John Bale |
| 1558–59 | Edward St Loe | William Robinson |
| 1562–63 | Edward Ludwell, died and replaced 1566 by John Gwynne | Thomas Turner |
| 1571 | Edward Baber | George Pearman |
| 1572 | George Pearman | Edward Baber |
| 1584 | Thomas Ayshe | William Shareston |
| 1586 | Thomas Ayshe | William Shareston |
| 1588 | John Court | John Walley |
| 1593 | William Shareston | William Price |
| 1597 | William Shareston | William Heath |
| 1601 | William Shareston | William Heath |
| 1604–1611 | William Shareston | Christopher Stone |
| 1614 | Sir James Ley | Nicholas Hyde |
| 1621–1622 | Sir Robert Phelips | Sir Robert Pye |
| 1624 | Sir Robert Pye | John Malet |
| 1625 | Nicholas Hyde sat for Bristol replaced by Ralph Hopton | Edward Hungerford |
| 1626 | Richard Gay | William Chapman |
| 1628–1629 | John Popham | Sir Walter Long |
| 1629–1640 | No Parliaments summoned | No Parliaments summoned |

### Members of Parliament 1640–1918

| Year | | First member | First party | | Second member | Second party |
| April 1640 | | Sir Charles Berkeley | | | Alexander Popham | |
| November 1640 | | William Bassett | Royalist | | Alexander Popham | Parliamentarian |
| February 1642 | Bassett disabled from sitting – seat vacant | Bassett disabled from sitting – seat vacant | Bassett disabled from sitting – seat vacant | | | | Alexander Popham | Parliamentarian |
| 1645 | | James Ashe | | | Alexander Popham | Parliamentarian |
| 1653 | Bath was unrepresented in the Barebones Parliament | Bath was unrepresented in the Barebones Parliament | Bath was unrepresented in the Barebones Parliament | Bath was unrepresented in the Barebones Parliament | Bath was unrepresented in the Barebones Parliament | Bath was unrepresented in the Barebones Parliament |
| 1654 | | Alexander Popham | | Bath had only one seat in the First and Second Parliaments of the Protectorate | Bath had only one seat in the First and Second Parliaments of the Protectorate | Bath had only one seat in the First and Second Parliaments of the Protectorate |
| 1656 | | James Ashe | | Bath had only one seat in the First and Second Parliaments of the Protectorate | Bath had only one seat in the First and Second Parliaments of the Protectorate | Bath had only one seat in the First and Second Parliaments of the Protectorate |
| January 1659 | | James Ashe | | | John Harrington | |
| May 1659 | | James Ashe | | One seat vacant | One seat vacant | One seat vacant |
| March 1660 | | Alexander Popham | | | William Prynne | |
| November 1669 | | Alexander Popham | | | Sir Francis Popham | |
| November 1669 | | Sir William Bassett | | | Sir Francis Popham | |
| 1675 | | Sir William Bassett | | | Sir George Speke | |
| 1679 | | Sir Walter Long | | | Sir George Speke | |
| 1681 | | Viscount Fitzhardinge | | | Sir William Bassett | |
| 1690 | | Joseph Langton | | | Sir William Bassett | |
| 1693 | | Joseph Langton | | | William Blathwayt | Whig |
| 1695 | | Sir Thomas Estcourt | | | William Blathwayt | Whig |
| 1698 | | Alexander Popham | | | William Blathwayt | Whig |
| 1707 | | Samuel Trotman | | | William Blathwayt | Whig |
| 1710 | | Samuel Trotman | | | John Codrington | |
| 1720 | | Robert Gay | | | John Codrington | |
| 1722 | | General George Wade | | | John Codrington | |
| 1727 | | General George Wade | | | Robert Gay | |
| 1734 | | General George Wade | | | John Codrington | |
| 1741 | | General George Wade | | | Philip Bennet | |
| 1747 | | General George Wade | | | Robert Henley | |
| 1748 | | General Sir John Ligonier | | | Robert Henley | |
| 1757 | | General Sir John Ligonier | | | William Pitt the Elder | Whig |
| 1763 | | Major-General Sir John Sebright | Whig | | William Pitt the Elder | Whig |
| 1766 | | Major-General Sir John Sebright | Whig | | John Smith | Tory |
| 1774 | | Abel Moysey | Tory | | John Smith | Tory |
| 1775 | | Abel Moysey | Tory | | Lieutenant-General Sir John Sebright | Whig |
| 1780 | | Abel Moysey | Tory | | Hon. John Pratt | Tory |
| 1790 | | Viscount Weymouth | Tory | | Hon. John Pratt | Tory |
| 1794 | | Viscount Weymouth | Tory | | Sir Richard Pepper Arden | Tory |
| 1796 | | Lord John Thynne | Tory | | Sir Richard Pepper Arden | Tory |
| 1801 | | Lord John Thynne | Tory | | John Palmer | Whig |
| 1808 | | Lord John Thynne | Tory | | Charles Palmer | Whig |
| 1826 | | Lord John Thynne | Tory | | Earl of Brecknock | Tory |
| 1830 | | Lord John Thynne | Tory | | Charles Palmer | Whig |
| 1832 | | John Arthur Roebuck | Radical | | Charles Palmer | Whig |
| 1837 | | Viscount Powerscourt | Conservative | | William Heald Ludlow Bruges | Conservative |
| 1841 | | Viscount Duncan | Whig | | John Arthur Roebuck | Radical |
| 1847 | | Viscount Duncan | Whig | | Lord Ashley | Conservative |
| 1851 | | Viscount Duncan | Whig | | George Treweeke Scobell | Whig |
| 1852 | | Thomas Phinn | Whig | | George Treweeke Scobell | Whig |
| 1855 | | William Tite | Whig | | George Treweeke Scobell | Whig |
| 1857 | | William Tite | Whig | | Sir Arthur Elton | Whig |
| 1859 | | William Tite | Liberal | | Arthur Edwin Way | Conservative |
| 1865 | | William Tite | Liberal | | James McGarel-Hogg | Conservative |
| 1868 | | William Tite | Liberal | | Donald Dalrymple | Liberal |
| May 1873 | | Viscount Chelsea | Conservative | | Donald Dalrymple | Liberal |
| June 1873 | | Viscount Grey de Wilton | Conservative | | Donald Dalrymple | Liberal |
| October 1873 | | Viscount Grey de Wilton | Conservative | | Arthur Hayter | Liberal |
| 1874 | | Nathaniel Bousfield | Conservative | | Arthur Hayter | Liberal |
| 1880 | | Edmond Wodehouse | Liberal | | Arthur Hayter | Liberal |
| 1885 | | Edmond Wodehouse | Liberal | | Robert Stickney Blaine | Conservative |
| 1886 | | Edmond Wodehouse | Liberal Unionist | | Colonel Robert Laurie | Conservative |
| 1892 | | Edmond Wodehouse | Liberal Unionist | | Wyndham Murray | Conservative |
| 1906 | | Donald Maclean | Liberal | | George Peabody Gooch | Liberal |
| 1910 | | Lord Alexander Thynne | Conservative | | Sir Charles Hunter | Conservative |
| 1918 | 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 |

### Members of Parliament since 1918

| Election | Member | Party |
| 1918 | Charles Foxcroft | Unionist |
| 1923 | Frank Raffety | Liberal |
| 1924 | Charles Foxcroft | Unionist |
| 1929 by-election | Charles Baillie-Hamilton | Unionist |
| 1931 | Loel Guinness | Conservative |
| 1945 | James Pitman | Conservative |
| 1964 | Sir Edward Brown | Conservative |
| 1979 | Chris Patten | Conservative |
| 1992 | Don Foster | Liberal Democrat |
| 2015 | Ben Howlett | Conservative |
| 2017 | Wera Hobhouse | Liberal Democrat |

## Elections
### Elections in the 2020s

General election 2024: Bath :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal Democrats | Wera Hobhouse | 19,883 | 41.3 | −12.1 |
| | Labour | Dan Bewley | 8,665 | 18.0 | +5.5 |
| | Conservative | James Wright | 7,659 | 15.9 | −16.2 |
| | Green | Dominic Tristram | 5,952 | 12.4 | +12.1 |
| | Reform UK | Teresa Hall | 3,798 | 7.9 | +6.8 |
| | Independent | Colin David Blackburn | 1,749 | 3.6 | N/A |
| | Workers Party | Matthew Alford | 230 | 0.5 | N/A |
| | Independent | Bill Blockhead | 169 | 0.4 | −0.2 |
| | Independent | A.N.ON | 25 | 0.1 | N/A |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 11,218 | 23.3 | −0.3 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 48,130 | 69.1 | −8.6 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 69,655 | | |
| | Liberal Democrats hold | Liberal Democrats hold | Swing | −8.8 | |

### Elections in the 2010s

2019 notional result :
| Party | Party | Vote | % |
| | Liberal Democrats | 30,376 | 53.4 |
| | Conservative | 18,251 | 32.1 |
| | Labour | 7,120 | 12.5 |
| | Brexit Party | 642 | 1.1 |
| | Others | 341 | 0.6 |
| | Green | 146 | 0.3 |
| Turnout | Turnout | 56,876 | 77.7 |
| Electorate | Electorate | 73,241 |
General election 2019: Bath :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal Democrats | Wera Hobhouse | 28,419 | 54.5 | +7.2 |
| | Conservative | Annabel Tall | 16,097 | 30.9 | −4.9 |
| | Labour | Mike Davies | 6,639 | 12.7 | −2.0 |
| | Brexit Party | Jimi Ogunnusi | 642 | 1.2 | N/A |
| | Independent | Bill Blockhead | 341 | 0.7 | N/A |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 12,322 | 23.6 | +12.1 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 52,138 | 76.9 | +2.6 |
| | Liberal Democrats hold | Liberal Democrats hold | Swing | +6.0 | |
General election 2017: Bath :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal Democrats | Wera Hobhouse | 23,436 | 47.3 | +17.6 |
| | Conservative | Ben Howlett | 17,742 | 35.8 | −2.0 |
| | Labour | Joe Rayment | 7,279 | 14.7 | +1.5 |
| | Green | Eleanor Field | 1,125 | 2.3 | −9.6 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 5,694 | 11.5 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 49,582 | 74.3 | −1.2 |
| | Liberal Democrats gain from Conservative | Liberal Democrats gain from Conservative | Swing | +9.8 | |
General election 2015: Bath :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Ben Howlett | 17,833 | 37.8 | +6.4 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Steve Bradley | 14,000 | 29.7 | −26.9 |
| | Labour | Ollie Middleton | 6,216 | 13.2 | +6.3 |
| | Green | Dominic Tristram | 5,634 | 11.9 | +9.5 |
| | UKIP | Julian Deverell | 2,922 | 6.2 | +4.3 |
| | Independent | Loraine Morgan-Brinkhurst | 499 | 1.1 | N/A |
| | English Democrat | Jenny Knight | 63 | 0.1 | N/A |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 3,833 | 8.1 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 47,167 | 77.5 | +5.7 |
| | Conservative gain from Liberal Democrats | Conservative gain from Liberal Democrats | Swing | +16.7 | |
General election 2010: Bath :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal Democrats | Don Foster | 26,651 | 56.6 | +11.2 |
| | Conservative | Fabian Richter | 14,768 | 31.4 | −0.5 |
| | Labour | Hattie Ajderian | 3,251 | 6.9 | −7.5 |
| | Green | Eric Lucas | 1,120 | 2.4 | −3.6 |
| | UKIP | Ernie Warrender | 890 | 1.9 | +0.2 |
| | Christian | Steve Hewett | 250 | 0.5 | N/A |
| | Independent | A.N.ON | 69 | 0.1 | N/A |
| | Independent | Sean Geddis | 56 | 0.1 | N/A |
| | All The South Party | Robert Craig | 31 | 0.1 | N/A |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 11,883 | 25.2 | +15.1 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 47,086 | 71.8 | +2.7 |
| | Liberal Democrats hold | Liberal Democrats hold | Swing | +5.8 | |

### Elections in the 2000s

General election 2005: Bath :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal Democrats | Don Foster | 20,101 | 43.9 | −6.6 |
| | Conservative | Sian Dawson | 15,463 | 33.7 | +4.6 |
| | Labour | Hattie Ajderian | 6,773 | 14.8 | −0.9 |
| | Green | Eric Lucas | 2,494 | 5.4 | +2.2 |
| | UKIP | Richard Crowder | 770 | 1.7 | +0.2 |
| | Independent | Patrick Cobbe | 177 | 0.4 | N/A |
| | Independent | Graham Walker | 58 | 0.1 | N/A |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 4,638 | 10.2 | −11.2 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 45,836 | 68.6 | +3.7 |
| | Liberal Democrats hold | Liberal Democrats hold | Swing | −5.6 | |
General election 2001: Bath :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal Democrats | Don Foster | 23,372 | 50.5 | +2.0 |
| | Conservative | Ashley Fox | 13,478 | 29.1 | −2.1 |
| | Labour | Marilyn Hawkings | 7,269 | 15.7 | −0.7 |
| | Green | Michael Boulton | 1,469 | 3.2 | +2.1 |
| | UKIP | Andrew Tettenborn | 708 | 1.5 | +0.9 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 9,894 | 21.4 | +4.1 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 46,296 | 64.9 | −11.3 |
| | Liberal Democrats hold | Liberal Democrats hold | Swing | +2.1 | |

### Elections in the 1990s

General election 1997: Bath :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal Democrats | Don Foster | 26,169 | 48.5 | −0.4 |
| | Conservative | Alison McNair | 16,850 | 31.2 | −9.4 |
| | Labour | Tim Bush | 8,828 | 16.4 | +8.6 |
| | Referendum | Tony Cook | 1,192 | 2.2 | N/A |
| | Green | Richard Scrase | 580 | 1.1 | +0.3 |
| | UKIP | Peter Sandell | 315 | 0.6 | N/A |
| | Natural Law | Nicholas Pullen | 55 | 0.1 | N/A |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 9,319 | 17.3 | +10.2 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 53,989 | 76.2 | −9.2 |
| | Liberal Democrats hold | Liberal Democrats hold | Swing | +4.9 | |
General election 1992: Bath :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal Democrats | Don Foster | 25,718 | 48.9 | +6.2 |
| | Conservative | Chris Patten | 21,950 | 41.8 | −3.6 |
| | Labour | Pamela Richards | 4,102 | 7.8 | −2.8 |
| | Green | Duncan McCanlis | 433 | 0.8 | −0.5 |
| | Liberal | May Barker | 172 | 0.3 | N/A |
| | Anti-Federalist League | Alan Sked | 117 | 0.2 | N/A |
| | Independent | John Rumming | 79 | 0.2 | N/A |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 3,768 | 7.1 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 52,571 | 82.4 | +3.0 |
| | Liberal Democrats gain from Conservative | Liberal Democrats gain from Conservative | Swing | +4.9 | |

### Elections in the 1980s

General election 1987: Bath :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Chris Patten | 23,515 | 45.4 | −1.7 |
| | SDP | Malcolm Dean | 22,103 | 42.7 | +6.7 |
| | Labour | Jenny Smith | 5,507 | 10.6 | −4.6 |
| | Green | Derek Wall | 687 | 1.3 | +0.4 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,412 | 2.7 | −8.4 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 51,812 | 79.4 | +5.0 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | −4.2 | |
General election 1983: Bath :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Chris Patten | 22,544 | 47.1 | +0.7 |
| | SDP | Malcolm Dean | 17,240 | 36.0 | +8.0 |
| | Labour | Adrian Pott | 7,259 | 15.2 | −7.8 |
| | Ecology | Don Grimes | 441 | 0.9 | −1.3 |
| | Progressive Liberal | R. S. Wandle | 319 | 0.7 | N/A |
| | World Government | Gilbert Young | 67 | 0.1 | N/A |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 5,304 | 11.1 | −7.3 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 47,870 | 74.4 | −3.7 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | −4.4 | |

### Elections in the 1970s

General election 1979: Bath :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Chris Patten | 23,025 | 46.4 | +8.7 |
| | Liberal | Christopher Mayhew | 13,913 | 28.0 | −5.4 |
| | Labour | M. Baber | 11,407 | 23.0 | −5.6 |
| | Ecology | Don Grimes | 1,082 | 2.2 | N/A |
| | National Front | Thomas Mundy | 206 | 0.4 | N/A |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 9,112 | 18.4 | +14.1 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 49,633 | 78.1 | −0.5 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | +7.0 | |
General election October 1974: Bath :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Edward Brown | 18,470 | 37.7 | −3.1 |
| | Liberal | Christopher Mayhew | 16,348 | 33.4 | +2.7 |
| | Labour | Malcolm Bishop | 14,011 | 28.6 | +0.7 |
| | United Democratic | John Vernon Kemp | 150 | 0.3 | N/A |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 2,122 | 4.3 | −5.8 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 48,979 | 78.6 | −4.4 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | −2.9 | |
General election February 1974: Bath :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Edward Brown | 20,920 | 40.8 | −8.2 |
| | Liberal | Peter Downey | 15,738 | 30.7 | +17.6 |
| | Labour | Malcolm Bishop | 14,396 | 27.9 | −8.2 |
| | Ind. Conservative | H. B. de Laterriere | 204 | 0.4 | N/A |
| | World Government | Gilbert Young | 118 | 0.2 | −1.6 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 5,182 | 10.1 | −2.8 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 51,376 | 83.0 | +5.9 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | −12.9 | |
General election 1970: Bath :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Edward Brown | 22,344 | 49.0 | +6.0 |
| | Labour | David Young | 16,493 | 36.1 | −5.1 |
| | Liberal | Roger H. Crowther | 5,957 | 13.1 | −2.7 |
| | World Government | Gilbert Young | 840 | 1.8 | N/A |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 5,851 | 12.9 | +11.1 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 45,634 | 77.1 | −3.4 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | +5.5 | |

### Elections in the 1960s

General election 1966: Bath :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Edward Brown | 19,344 | 43.0 | −3.5 |
| | Labour | Frederick S. Moorhouse | 18,544 | 41.2 | +6.8 |
| | Liberal | Roger H. Crowther | 7,095 | 15.8 | −2.6 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 800 | 1.8 | −10.3 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 44,983 | 80.5 | −3.7 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | | |
General election 1964: Bath :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Edward Brown | 22,255 | 46.5 | −3.8 |
| | Labour | Frederick S. Moorhouse | 16,464 | 34.4 | −2.3 |
| | Liberal | Brian R. Pamplin | 8,795 | 18.4 | +5.4 |
| | World Government | Gilbert Young | 318 | 0.7 | N/A |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 5,791 | 12.1 | −1.6 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 45,832 | 84.2 | +0.6 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | | |

### Elections in the 1950s

General election 1959: Bath :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Conservative | James Pitman | 24,048 | 50.33 |
| | Labour | George E Mayer | 17,515 | 36.66 |
| | Liberal | George Allen | 6,214 | 13.01 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 6,533 | 13.67 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 47,777 | 83.60 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | |
General election 1955: Bath :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | James Pitman | 24,489 | 51.94 | |
| | Labour Co-op | Thomas W Richardson | 17,646 | 37.43 | |
| | Liberal | Barbara Burwell | 5,011 | 10.63 | N/A |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 6,843 | 14.51 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 47,146 | 82.46 | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | | |
General election 1951: Bath :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Conservative | James Pitman | 27,826 | 55.26 |
| | Labour | Victor Mishcon | 22,530 | 44.74 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 5,296 | 10.52 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 50,356 | 85.64 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | |
General election 1950: Bath :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Conservative | James Pitman | 23,070 | 47.16 |
| | Labour | Hugh Bruce Oliphant Cardew | 19,340 | 39.54 |
| | Liberal | Philip William Hopkins | 6,508 | 13.30 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 3,730 | 7.62 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 48,918 | 87.28 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | |

### Elections in the 1940s

General election 1945: Bath :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | James Pitman | 20,196 | 43.6 | −13.0 |
| | Labour | Dorothy Archibald | 18,120 | 39.2 | +19.5 |
| | Liberal | Philip William Hopkins | 7,952 | 17.2 | −6.5 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 2,076 | 4.4 | −28.5 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 46,268 | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | | |

### Election in the 1930s

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: Lord Ronaldshay
* Liberal: Philip William Hopkins
* Labour: George Gilbert Desmond
* A minority of Bath Conservatives, led by the town Mayor, Adrian Hopkins objected to Ronaldshay who had no link with the town. Hopkins was considering running as an Independent. Desmond was under pressure to withdraw in favour of the Liberal candidate fighting on a Popular Front programme
General election 14 November 1935: Bath :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Loel Guinness | 20,670 | 56.6 | −7.4 |
| | Liberal | Sidney Reginald Daniels | 8,650 | 23.7 | +2.4 |
| | Labour | George Gilbert Desmond | 7,185 | 19.7 | +5.0 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 12,020 | 32.9 | −9.8 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 36,505 | 74.5 | −6.1 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | −4.7 | |
General election 27 October 1931: Bath :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Loel Guinness | 24,696 | 64.0 | +17.1 |
| | Liberal | Sidney Reginald Daniels | 8,241 | 21.3 | −8.8 |
| | Labour | George Gilbert Desmond | 5,680 | 14.7 | −8.3 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 16,455 | 42.7 | +25.9 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 38,617 | 80.6 | −0.7 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | +12.9 | |

### Election in the 1920s

General election 30 May 1929: Bath :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Unionist | Charles Baillie-Hamilton | 17,845 | 46.9 | −8.9 |
| | Liberal | Sidney Reginald Daniels | 11,485 | 30.1 | −0.5 |
| | Labour | George Gilbert Desmond | 8,769 | 23.0 | +9.4 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 6,360 | 16.8 | −8.4 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 38,099 | 81.3 | −3.2 |
| | Unionist hold | Unionist hold | Swing | +0.5 | |
1929 Bath by-election :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Unionist | Charles Baillie-Hamilton | 11,171 | 45.1 | −10.7 |
| | Liberal | Sidney Reginald Daniels | 7,255 | 29.3 | −1.3 |
| | Labour | George Gilbert Desmond | 6,359 | 25.7 | +12.1 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 3916 | 15.8 | −9.4 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 24,785 | 72.8 | −11.7 |
| | Unionist hold | Unionist hold | Swing | −4.6 | |
General election 29 October 1924: Bath :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Unionist | Charles Foxcroft | 16,067 | 55.8 | +7.4 |
| | Liberal | Frank Raffety | 8,800 | 30.6 | −21.0 |
| | Labour | Walter Barton Scobell | 3,914 | 13.6 | N/A |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 7,267 | 25.2 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 23,781 | 84.5 | +5.4 |
| | Unionist gain from Liberal | Unionist gain from Liberal | Swing | +14.2 | |
General election 6 December 1923: Bath :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | Frank Raffety | 13,694 | 51.6 | +19.6 |
| | Unionist | Charles Foxcroft | 12,830 | 48.4 | −1.8 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 864 | 3.2 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 26,524 | 79.1 | −3.3 |
| | Liberal gain from Unionist | Liberal gain from Unionist | Swing | +10.7 | |
General election 15 November 1922: Bath :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Unionist | Charles Foxcroft | 13,666 | 50.2 | −24.6 |
| | Liberal | Harold Spender | 8,699 | 32.0 | N/A |
| | Labour | Herbert Elvin | 4,849 | 17.8 | −7.4 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 4,967 | 18.2 | −31.4 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 27,214 | 82.4 | +16.2 |
| | Unionist hold | Unionist hold | Swing | | |

### Election in the 1910s

General election 1918: Bath :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| C | Unionist | Charles Foxcroft | 15,605 | 74.8 | |
| | Labour | Alfred James Bethell | 5,244 | 25.2 | N/A |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 10,361 | 49.6 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 20,849 | 66.2 | |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 31,512 | | |
| | Unionist hold | Unionist hold | Swing | | |
| C indicates candidate endorsed by the coalition government. ||||||
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;
* Unionist: Charles Hunter, Lord Alexander Thynne
* Liberal: Harry Geen, J.C. Meggott
General election December 1910: Bath :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Lord Alexander Thynne | 3,875 | 26.0 | +0.2 |
| | Conservative | Charles Hunter | 3,841 | 25.7 | +0.4 |
| | Liberal | George Peabody Gooch | 3,631 | 24.3 | −0.2 |
| | Liberal | George Hardy | 3,585 | 24.0 | −0.4 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 210 | 1.4 | +0.6 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 14,932 | 92.0 | −2.7 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 8,144 | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | +0.2 | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | +0.4 | |
General election January 1910: Bath :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Lord Alexander Thynne | 3,961 | 25.8 | +4.1 |
| | Conservative | Charles Hunter | 3,889 | 25.3 | +3.8 |
| | Liberal | Donald Maclean | 3,771 | 24.5 | −4.0 |
| | Liberal | George Peabody Gooch | 3,757 | 24.4 | −3.9 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 118 | 0.8 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 15,378 | 94.7 | +3.9 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 8,144 | | |
| | Conservative gain from Liberal | Conservative gain from Liberal | Swing | +2.1 | |
| | Conservative gain from Liberal | Conservative gain from Liberal | Swing | +3.9 | |

### Elections in the 1900s

General election 1906: Bath :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | Donald Maclean | 4,102 | 28.5 | +6.9 |
| | Liberal | George Peabody Gooch | 4,069 | 28.3 | +7.2 |
| | Conservative | Lord Alexander Thynne | 3,123 | 21.7 | −6.8 |
| | Conservative | Wyndham Murray | 3,088 | 21.5 | −7.3 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 946 | 6.6 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 14,382 | 90.8 | +7.3 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 7,968 | | |
| | Liberal gain from Conservative | Liberal gain from Conservative | Swing | +6.9 | |
| | Liberal gain from Liberal Unionist | Liberal gain from Liberal Unionist | Swing | +7.3 | |
General election 1900: Bath :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Wyndham Murray | 3,486 | 28.8 | +1.5 |
| | Liberal Unionist | Edmond Wodehouse | 3,439 | 28.5 | +1.8 |
| | Liberal | Donald Maclean | 2,605 | 21.6 | −1.6 |
| | Liberal | Alpheus Morton | 2,549 | 21.1 | −1.7 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 12,079 | 83.5 | −6.2 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 7,300 | | |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 881 | 7.2 | +3.1 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | +1.6 | |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 834 | 6.9 | +3.4 |
| | Liberal Unionist hold | Liberal Unionist hold | Swing | +1.8 | |

### Elections in the 1890s

General election 1895: Bath (2 seats) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Wyndham Murray | 3,445 | 27.3 | +1.2 |
| | Liberal Unionist | Edmond Wodehouse | 3,358 | 26.7 | +0.9 |
| | Liberal | Martin Conway | 2,917 | 23.2 | −1.0 |
| | Liberal | John Fuller | 2,865 | 22.8 | −1.1 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 12,585 | 89.7 | +0.4 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 7,059 | | |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 528 | 4.1 | +2.2 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | +1.1 | |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 441 | 3.5 | +1.9 |
| | Liberal Unionist hold | Liberal Unionist hold | Swing | +1.0 | |
General election 1892: Bath (2 seats) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Wyndham Murray | 3,198 | 26.1 | −1.7 |
| | Liberal Unionist | Edmond Wodehouse | 3,177 | 25.8 | −2.5 |
| | Liberal | Thomas P Baptie | 2,981 | 24.2 | +2.0 |
| | Liberal | John Miller Adye | 2,941 | 23.9 | +2.2 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 12,297 | 89.3 | +0.9 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 6,922 | | |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 217 | 1.9 | −3.7 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | −1.9 | |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 196 | 1.6 | −4.5 |
| | Liberal Unionist hold | Liberal Unionist hold | Swing | −2.3 | |

### Elections in the 1880s

General election 1886: Bath (2 seats) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal Unionist | Edmond Wodehouse | 3,309 | 28.3 | +1.9 |
| | Conservative | Robert Peter Laurie | 3,244 | 27.8 | +3.3 |
| | Liberal | Arthur Hayter | 2,588 | 22.2 | −2.2 |
| | Liberal | Frederick Verney | 2,529 | 21.7 | −2.8 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 5,870 | 88.4 | −3.5 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 6,637 | | |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 721 | 6.1 | N/A |
| | Liberal Unionist gain from Liberal | Liberal Unionist gain from Liberal | Swing | +2.1 | |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 656 | 5.6 | +4.1 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | +3.1 | |
General election 1885: Bath (2 seats) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Robert Stickney Blaine | 3,208 | 26.4 | +2.8 |
| | Liberal | Edmond Wodehouse | 2,990 | 24.7 | −2.3 |
| | Conservative | Robert Peter Laurie | 2,971 | 24.5 | +2.1 |
| | Liberal | Arthur Hayter | 2,953 | 24.4 | −2.7 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 6,099 | 91.9 | +1.4 (est) |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 6,637 | | |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 255 | 2.0 | N/A |
| | Conservative gain from Liberal | Conservative gain from Liberal | Swing | +2.8 | |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 19 | 0.2 | −3.2 |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Swing | −2.2 | |
By-election, 8 May 1880: Bath (1 seat) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | Arthur Hayter | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Liberal hold |
* Caused by Hayter's appointment as a Lord Commissioner of the Treasury.
General election 1880: Bath (2 seats) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | Arthur Hayter | 2,712 | 27.1 | +1.0 |
| | Liberal | Edmond Wodehouse | 2,700 | 27.0 | +2.2 |
| | Conservative | Reginald Hardy | 2,359 | 23.6 | −1.2 |
| | Conservative | Thomas James Smyth | 2,241 | 22.4 | −1.9 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 341 | 3.4 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 5,006 (est) | 90.5 (est) | +2.0 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 5,534 | | |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Swing | +1.1 | |
| | Liberal gain from Conservative | Liberal gain from Conservative | Swing | +2.1 | |

### Elections in the 1870s

General election 1874: Bath (2 seats) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | Arthur Hayter | 2,520 | 26.1 | −10.9 |
| | Conservative | Nathaniel Bousfield | 2,397 | 24.8 | +9.6 |
| | Liberal | John William Nicholas Hervey | 2,391 | 24.8 | −7.9 |
| | Conservative | Arthur Egerton | 2,348 | 24.3 | +9.1 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 4,828 (est) | 88.5 (est) | +1.8 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 5,454 | | |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 123 | 1.3 | −1.1 |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Swing | −10.0 | |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 6 | 0.0 | N/A |
| | Conservative gain from Liberal | Conservative gain from Liberal | Swing | +8.7 | |
By-election, 9 Oct 1873: Bath (1 seat) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | Arthur Hayter | 2,210 | 50.9 | −18.8 |
| | Conservative | William Forsyth | 2,071 | 47.7 | +17.4 |
| | Independent Liberal | Charles Thompson | 57 | 1.3 | N/A |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 139 | 3.2 | +0.8 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 4,338 | 83.7 | −3.0 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 5,182 | | |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Swing | −18.1 | |
* Caused by Dalrymple's death.
By-election, 27 June 1873: Bath (1 seat) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Arthur Egerton | 2,194 | 50.4 | +20.1 |
| | Liberal | Arthur Hayter | 2,143 | 49.2 | −20.5 |
| | Independent Liberal | John Charles Cox | 15 | 0.3 | N/A |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 51 | 1.2 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 4,352 | 84.0 | −2.7 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 5,182 | | |
| | Conservative gain from Liberal | Conservative gain from Liberal | Swing | +20.3 | |
* Caused by Cadogan's elevation to the peerage, becoming Earl Cadogan.
By-election, 7 May 1873: Bath (1 seat) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Viscount Chelsea | 2,251 | 53.1 | +22.8 |
| | Liberal | Jerom Murch | 1,991 | 46.9 | −22.8 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 260 | 6.2 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 4,242 | 81.9 | −4.8 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 5,182 | | |
| | Conservative gain from Liberal | Conservative gain from Liberal | Swing | +22.8 | |
* Caused by Tite's death.

### Elections in the 1860s

General election 1868: Bath (2 seats) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | William Tite | 2,478 | 37.0 | N/A |
| | Liberal | Donald Dalrymple | 2,187 | 32.7 | N/A |
| | Conservative | James Hogg | 2,024 | 30.3 | N/A |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 163 | 2.4 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 4,357 (est) | 86.7 (est) | N/A |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 5,024 | | |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Swing | N/A | |
| | Liberal gain from Conservative | Liberal gain from Conservative | Swing | | |
General election 1865: Bath (2 seats) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | William Tite | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| | Conservative | James Hogg | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 2,960 | | |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Liberal hold |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold |

### Elections in the 1850s

General election 1859: Bath (2 seats) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | William Tite | 1,349 | 34.7 | +1.7 |
| | Conservative | Arthur Edwin Way | 1,339 | 34.5 | +1.6 |
| | Liberal | Thomas Phinn | 1,198 | 30.8 | −3.3 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,613 (est) | 82.0 (est) | +5.1 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 3,185 | | |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 10 | 0.2 | +0.1 |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Swing | +0.5 | |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 141 | 3.7 | N/A |
| | Conservative gain from Liberal | Conservative gain from Liberal | Swing | +1.2 | |
General election 1857: Bath (2 seats) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Whig | Arthur Elton | 1,243 | 34.1 | −0.3 |
| | Whig | William Tite | 1,200 | 33.0 | −0.3 |
| | Conservative | Arthur Edwin Way | 1,197 | 32.9 | +0.6 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 3 | 0.1 | −0.9 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,419 (est) | 76.9 (est) | −1.3 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 3,144 | | |
| | Whig hold | Whig hold | Swing | −0.3 | |
| | Whig hold | Whig hold | Swing | −0.3 | |
By-election, 5 June 1855: Bath :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Whig | William Tite | 1,176 | 51.0 | −16.7 |
| | Peelite | William Whateley | 1,129 | 49.0 | +16.7 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 47 | 0.2 | −0.8 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,305 | 73.1 | −5.1 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 3,155 | | |
| | Whig hold | Whig hold | Swing | −16.7 | |
* Caused by Phinn's resignation after his appointment as Assistant Secretary to the Admiralty
General election 1852: Bath (2 seats) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Whig | George Treweeke Scobell | 1,332 | 34.4 | +17.3 |
| | Whig | Thomas Phinn | 1,290 | 33.3 | +16.2 |
| | Peelite | William Whateley | 1,253 | 32.3 | −3.2 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 37 | 1.0 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,564 (est) | 78.2 (est) | −8.1 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 3,278 | | |
| | Whig hold | Whig hold | Swing | +9.5 | |
| | Whig gain from Conservative | Whig gain from Conservative | Swing | +8.9 | |
By-election, 25 June 1851: Bath :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Whig | George Treweeke Scobell | 1,110 | 51.6 | +17.5 |
| | Conservative | William Sutcliffe | 1,041 | 48.4 | +12.9 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 69 | 3.2 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,151 | 68.7 | −17.6 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 3,310 | | |
| | Whig gain from Conservative | Whig gain from Conservative | Swing | +2.3 | |
* Caused by Ashley-Cooper's succession to the peerage, becoming 7th Earl of Shaftesbury

### Elections in the 1840s

General election 1847: Bath (2 seats) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Anthony Ashley-Cooper | 1,278 | 35.5 | −8.4 |
| | Whig | Adam Haldane-Duncan | 1,228 | 34.1 | +5.2 |
| | Radical | John Arthur Roebuck | 1,093 | 30.4 | +3.1 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,439 (est) | 86.3 (est) | +13.0 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 2,825 | | |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 185 | 5.1 | N/A |
| | Conservative gain from Radical | Conservative gain from Radical | Swing | −6.8 | |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 135 | 3.7 | −3.3 |
| | Whig hold | Whig hold | Swing | +4.7 | |
General election 1841: Bath (2 seats) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Whig | Adam Haldane-Duncan | 1,223 | 28.9 | +4.7 |
| | Radical | John Arthur Roebuck | 1,157 | 27.3 | +4.5 |
| | Conservative | William Heald Ludlow Bruges | 930 | 22.0 | −3.7 |
| | Conservative | Richard Wingfield | 926 | 21.9 | −5.4 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,189 | 73.3 | +4.3 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 2,985 | | |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 297 | 7.0 | N/A |
| | Whig gain from Conservative | Whig gain from Conservative | Swing | +4.6 | |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 227 | 5.3 | N/A |
| | Radical gain from Conservative | Radical gain from Conservative | Swing | +4.5 | |

### Elections in the 1830s

General election 1837: Bath (2 seats) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Richard Wingfield | 1,087 | 27.3 | +14.9 |
| | Conservative | William Heald Ludlow Bruges | 1,024 | 25.7 | +13.3 |
| | Whig | Charles Palmer | 962 | 24.2 | −14.4 |
| | Radical | John Arthur Roebuck | 910 | 22.8 | −13.8 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 125 | 3.1 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,051 | 69.0 | +4.7 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 2,973 | | |
| | Conservative gain from Whig | Conservative gain from Whig | Swing | +14.7 | |
| | Conservative gain from Radical | Conservative gain from Radical | Swing | +13.6 | |
General election 1835: Bath (2 seats) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Whig | Charles Palmer | 1,097 | 38.6 | −2.1 |
| | Radical | John Arthur Roebuck | 1,042 | 36.6 | +5.6 |
| | Conservative | Henry Daubeney | 706 | 24.8 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,776 | 64.3 | −17.3 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 2,764 | | |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 55 | 2.0 | −7.7 |
| | Whig hold | Whig hold | Swing | −3.9 | |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 336 | 11.8 | +9.1 |
| | Radical hold | Radical hold | Swing | +3.9 | |
General election 1832: Bath (2 seats) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Whig | Charles Palmer | 1,492 | 40.7 | N/A |
| | Radical | John Arthur Roebuck | 1,138 | 31.0 | N/A |
| | Whig | Henry William Hobhouse | 1,040 | 28.3 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,329 | 81.6 | N/A |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 2,853 | | |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 354 | 9.7 | N/A |
| | Whig hold | Whig hold | Swing | N/A | |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 98 | 2.7 | N/A |
| | Radical gain from Tory | Radical gain from Tory | Swing | N/A | |
General election 1831: Bath (2 seats) :
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| Whig | Charles Palmer | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| Tory | John Thynne | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| Whig hold | Whig hold | Whig hold | Whig hold | Whig hold |
| Tory hold | Tory hold | Tory hold | Tory hold | Tory hold |
General election 1830: Bath (2 seats) :
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| Whig | Charles Palmer | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| Tory | John Thynne | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| Whig gain from Tory | Whig gain from Tory | Whig gain from Tory | Whig gain from Tory | Whig gain from Tory |
| Tory hold | Tory hold | Tory hold | Tory hold | Tory hold |