# Wansdyke (UK Parliament constituency)

Wansdyke was a county constituency represented in the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. It elected one Member of Parliament (MP) by the first past the post system of election.
The constituency was created for the 1983 general election, and abolished at the 2010 general election.

## History

Until 1997, it was a safe seat for the Conservative Party. It then became a Labour-held marginal until its abolition.

## Boundaries

1983–1997: The District of Wansdyke wards of Bathampton, Batheaston, Bathford, Camerton, Charlcombe, Freshford, Hinton Charterhouse, Keynsham East, Keynsham North, Keynsham South, Keynsham West, Midsomer Norton North, Midsomer Norton Redfield, Newton St Loe, Peasedown St John, Radstock, Saltford, and Westfield, and the District of Kingswood wards of Badminton, Bitton North Common, Bitton Oldland Common, Bitton South, Blackhorse, Bromley Heath, Hanham Abbots East, Hanham Abbots West, Oldland Cadbury Heath, Oldland Longwell Green, Siston, and Springfield.
1997–2010: The District of Wansdyke wards of Cameley, Camerton, Chew Magna, Chew Stoke, Clutton, Compton Dando, Farmborough, Harptrees, High Littleton, Hinton Charterhouse, Keynsham East, Keynsham North, Keynsham South, Keynsham West, Midsomer Norton North, Midsomer Norton Redfield, Newton St Loe, Paulton, Peasedown St John, Publow, Radstock, Saltford, Stowey Sutton, Timsbury, and Westfield, and the Borough of Kingswood wards of Bitton North Common, Bitton Oldland Common, Bitton South, Hanham Abbots East, and Hanham Abbots West.
From 1997, Wansdyke covered the part of Bath and North East Somerset not in the Bath constituency. It also contained six wards or parts of wards from South Gloucestershire Council. It was named after the former Wansdyke district, itself named after the Wansdyke, a historical earthwork.
The constituency was located between the cities of Bristol and Bath, including the towns of Keynsham, Midsomer Norton, Radstock and Saltford, as well as the Chew Valley to the south of Bristol. It also covered parts of South Gloucestershire to the east of Bristol, including Bitton, Longwell Green and Oldland Common.
At the 2010 general election the seat was replaced with a new North East Somerset constituency. The parts in South Gloucestershire were transferred to the Kingswood constituency.

## Members of Parliament

| Election | Party | Party | Member |
| 1983 | | Conservative | Jack Aspinwall |
| 1997 | | Labour | Dan Norris |
| 2010 | Constituency abolished: see North East Somerset | Constituency abolished: see North East Somerset | Constituency abolished: see North East Somerset |

## Elections
### Elections in the 2000s

General election 2005: Wansdyke :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Dan Norris | 20,686 | 40.6 | −6.2 |
| | Conservative | Chris Watt | 18,847 | 37.0 | +1.5 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Gail Coleshill | 10,050 | 19.7 | +5.3 |
| | UKIP | Peter Sandell | 1,129 | 2.2 | +0.9 |
| | Independent | Geoffrey Parkes | 221 | 0.4 | New |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,839 | 3.6 | −7.7 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 50,933 | 72.4 | +2.5 |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | −3.8 | |
General election 2001: Wansdyke :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Dan Norris | 23,206 | 46.8 | +2.7 |
| | Conservative | Chris Watt | 17,593 | 35.5 | +0.2 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Gail Coleshill | 7,135 | 14.4 | −2.4 |
| | Green | Francis Hayden | 958 | 1.9 | New |
| | UKIP | Peter Sandell | 655 | 1.3 | +0.5 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 5,613 | 11.3 | +2.5 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 49,547 | 69.9 | −9.4 |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | +1.3 | |

### Elections in the 1990s

General election 1997: Wansdyke :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Dan Norris | 24,117 | 44.1 | +16.4 |
| | Conservative | Mark Prisk | 19,318 | 35.3 | −12.9 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Jeff Manning | 9,205 | 16.8 | −6.0 |
| | Referendum | Kevin Clinton | 1,327 | 2.4 | New |
| | UKIP | T.S. Hunt | 438 | 0.8 | New |
| | Monster Raving Loony | Peter House | 225 | 0.4 | New |
| | Natural Law | Sue Lincoln | 92 | 0.2 | New |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 4,799 | 8.8 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 54,722 | 79.3 | 0.0 |
| | Labour gain from Conservative | Labour gain from Conservative | Swing | -14.65 | |
General election 1992: Wansdyke :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Jack Aspinwall | 31,389 | 48.2 | −3.4 |
| | Labour | Dan Norris | 18,048 | 27.7 | +4.4 |
| | Liberal Democrats | D Darby | 14,834 | 22.8 | −2.4 |
| | Green | FE Hayden | 800 | 1.2 | New |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 13,341 | 20.5 | −5.9 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 65,071 | 84.2 | +2.9 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | −3.9 | |

### Elections in the 1980s

General election 1987: Wansdyke :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Conservative | Jack Aspinwall | 31,537 | 51.56 |
| | Liberal | Roger Blackmore | 15,393 | 25.17 |
| | Labour | Ian White | 14,231 | 23.27 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 16,144 | 26.39 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 61,161 | 81.29 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | |
General election 1983: Wansdyke :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Conservative | Jack Aspinwall | 28,434 | 50.61 |
| | Liberal | Richard Denton-White | 15,368 | 27.35 |
| | Labour | Lynn Williams | 12,168 | 21.66 |
| | Wessex Regionalist | A Stout | 213 | 0.38 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 13,066 | 23.26 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 56,183 | 79.03 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | |