# Bridgwater (UK Parliament constituency)

Bridgwater is a parliamentary constituency represented in the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom since 2024 by Ashley Fox of the Conservative Party. It elects one Member of Parliament (MP) by the first past the post system of election.
From 2010 to 2024 it was replaced by the Bridgwater and West Somerset constituency. Further to the completion of the 2023 Periodic Review of Westminster constituencies, the seat has been re-established for the 2024 general election, primarily formed from the now abolished of Bridgwater and West Somerset seat but excluding the area comprising the former District of West Somerset.

## History

Bridgwater was one of the original Parliamentary Constituencies in the House of Commons, having elected Members of Parliament since 1295, the Model Parliament.
The original borough constituency was disenfranchised for corruption in 1870. From 4 July 1870 the town was incorporated within the county constituency of West Somerset.
From Parliament's enactment of the major Redistribution of Seats Act 1885 which took effect at the 1885 general election, a new county division of Bridgwater was created, which lasted with modifications until 2010. The constituency expanded considerably beyond Bridgwater town itself from 1885.
Bridgwater frequently compared to other seats had a radical or game-changing representative, though since 1950 this became less noticeable in its candidates elected.
The seat received particular fame in late 1938 when a by-election took place in the aftermath of the signing of the Munich Agreement. Opponents of the agreement persuaded the local Labour and Liberal parties to not field candidates of their own against the Conservative candidate, but to instead jointly back an independent standing on a platform of opposition to the Government's foreign policy, in the hope that this would be the precursor to the formation of a more general Popular Front of opposition to the government of Neville Chamberlain in anticipation of the General Election due in either 1939 or 1940. The noted journalist Vernon Bartlett stood as the independent Popular Front candidate and achieved a sensational victory in what was hitherto a Conservative seat. He represented the constituency for the next twelve years.
In 1970 another by-election in the constituency achieved fame as it was the first occasion when 18-, 19- and 20-year-olds were able to vote in a UK Parliamentary election. The first teenager to cast a vote was Trudy Sellick, 18 on the day of the poll. The by-election was won by the future Conservative Cabinet Minister Tom King who held the seat for the next thirty-one years, followed by another Conservative, Ian Liddell-Grainger, until its abolition in 2010.
Liddell-Grainger served as the MP for Bridgwater and West Somerset from 2010 to 2024, but opted to stand at the 2024 general election for the new seat of Tiverton and Minehead, which he failed to win. Ashley Fox was selected as the Conservative candidate for the re-established constituency, which he narrowly won.

## Boundaries
### Historic

1885–1918: The Municipal Borough of Bridgwater, the Sessional Division of Bridgwater, and parts of the Sessional Divisions of Taunton and Ilminster.
1918–1950: The Municipal Borough of Bridgwater, the Urban Districts of Burnham-on-Sea, Highbridge, Minehead, and Watchet, and the Rural Districts of Bridgwater and Williton.
1950–1983: The Municipal Borough of Bridgwater, the Urban Districts of Burnham-on-Sea, Minehead, and Watchet, and the Rural Districts of Bridgwater and Williton. Highbridge Urban District had been absorbed by Burnham-on-Sea UD in 1933, but the constituency boundaries remained unchanged.
1983–2010: The District of Sedgemoor wards of Cannington and Combwich, Central, Dowsborough, Eastern Quantocks, Eastover, East Poldens, Hamp, Huntspill, Newton Green, North Petherton, Parchey, Pawlett and Puriton, Quantock, Sandford, Sowey, Sydenham, Victoria, Westonzoyland, West Poldens, and Woolavington, and the District of West Somerset wards of Alcombe, Aville Vale, Carhampton and Withycombe, Crowcombe and Stogumber, Dunster, East Brendon, Holnicote, Minehead North, Minehead South, Old Cleeve, Porlock and Oare, Quantock Vale, Watchet, West Quantock, and Williton.

### Current

Under the 2023 Periodic Review of Westminster constituencies, the re-established constituency was defined as being composed of the following as they existed on 1 December 2020:
* The District of Sedgemoor wards of: Berrow; Bridgwater Dunwear; Bridgwater Eastover; Bridgwater Fairfax; Bridgwater Hamp; Bridgwater Victoria; Bridgwater Westover; Bridgwater Wyndham; Burnham Central; Burnham North; Cannington and Wembdon; Highbridge and Burnham Marine; Huntspill and Pawlett; King's Isle; North Petherton; Puriton and Woolavington; Quantocks.
With effect from 1 April 2023, the District of Sedgemoor was abolished and absorbed into the new unitary authority of Somerset. Consequently, the constituency now comprises the following electoral divisions of Somerset from the 2024 general election:
* Brent (part); Bridgwater East and Bawdrip; Bridgwater North and Central; Bridgwater South; Bridgwater West; Burnham on Sea North; Cannington; Highbridge and Burnham South; Huntspill (majority); King Alfred (small part); North Petherton.
It comprises:
* The bulk of the parts of the former District of Sedgemoor in the abolished Bridgwater and West Somerset constituency (74% of the electorate), mainly consisting of the town of Bridgwater itself.
* Burnham-on-Sea and Highbridge, previously in the now abolished constituency of Wells.

## Members of Parliament

* Constituency created (1295)

### Bridgwater borough, 1295–1870
#### MPs 1295–1640

| Parliament | First member | Second member |
| 1377 | William Tomer | John Sydenham |
| 1380 (Jan) | William Tomer | |
| 1383 (Oct) | William Tomer | |
| 1385 | William Tomer | |
| 1386 | John Sydenham | Richard Mayne |
| 1388 (Feb) | John Sydenham | Richard Mayne |
| 1388 (Sep) | John Palmer | John Wynd |
| 1390 (Jan) | William Tomer | John Palmer |
| 1390 (Nov) | |
| 1391 | William Tomer | John Sydenham |
| 1393 | William Tomer | Robert Boson |
| 1394 | John Cole | John Palmer |
| 1395 | William Tomer | John Kedwelly |
| 1397 (Jan) | William Tomer | John Kedwelly |
| 1397 (Sep) | William Tomer | John Sydenham |
| 1399 | William Tomer | John Kedwelly |
| 1401 | |
| 1402 | William Tomer | John Kedwelly |
| 1404 (Jan) | |
| 1404 (Oct) | |
| 1406 | William Tomer | William Gascoigne |
| 1407 | William Gascoigne | Richard Ward |
| 1410 | William Gascoigne | John Kedwelly |
| 1411 | |
| 1413 (Feb) | |
| 1413 (May) | William Gascoigne | William Gosse |
| 1414 (Apr) | William Gascoigne | Thomas Cave |
| 1414 (Nov) | William Gascoigne | John Kedwelly |
| 1415 | |
| 1416 (Mar) | |
| 1416 (Oct) | |
| 1417 | William Gascoigne | John Kedwelly |
| 1419 | William Gascoigne | Richard Mayne |
| 1420 | William Gascoigne | Martin Jacob |
| 1421 (May) | James FitzJames | William Gascoigne |
| 1421 (Dec) | William Gascoigne | John Pitt |
| 1442 | William Dodesham | William Gascoigne |
| 1449 | Thomas Driffield | John Maunsel |
| 1453 | John Maunsel |
| 1467 | James FitzJames |
| 1467 | John Kendall (4 terms) |
| 1472 | Sir Thomas Tremayle |
| 1483 | John Hymerford | William Hody |
| 1510–1523 | No names known | No names known |
| 1529 | Henry Thornton | Hugh Trotter |
| 1536 | ? |
| 1539 | ? |
| 1542 | ? |
| 1545 | Thomas Dyer | Alexander Popham |
| 1547 | Sir Thomas Dyer | Alexander Popham |
| 1553 (Mar) | Sir Thomas Dyer | Richard Gubby |
| 1553 (Oct) | Sir Thomas Dyer | Nicholas Halswell |
| 1554 (Apr) | John Newport | Robert Molyns (or Mullens) |
| 1554 (Nov) | John Newport | John Chapell |
| 1555 | Thomas Dyer | Edmund Lyte |
| 1558 | John Newport | Robert Molyns (or Mullens) |
| 1559 | Sir Thomas Dyer | Robert Molyns (or Mullens) |
| 1563–1567 | John Edwards | Nicholas Halswell |
| 1571 | John Edwards | Edward Popham |
| 1572–1581 | John Edwards | Edward Popham |
| 1584–1585 | Robert Blake | Edward Popham |
| Parliament of 1586–1587 | Robert Blake | John Court |
| Parliament of 1588–1589 | Robert Blake | Alexander Popham |
| 1593 | Robert Bocking | William Thomas |
| 1597–1598 | Alexander Jones | Alexander Popham |
| 1601 | Sir Francis Hastings | Alexander Popham |
| 1604–1611 | Sir Nicholas Halswell | John Povey |
| Addled Parliament (1614) | Robert Halswell | Thomas Warre |
| 1621–1622 | Roger Warre | Edward Popham |
| Happy Parliament (1624–1625) | Roger Warre | Edward Popham |
| Useless Parliament (1625) | Sir Arthur Lake | Edward Popham |
| 1625–1626 | Sir Arthur Lake | Edward Popham |
| 1628 | Thomas Smith | Sir Thomas Wroth |
| 1629–1640 | No Parliament summoned | No Parliament summoned |

#### 1640–1868

| Year | | First member | First party | | Second member | Second party |
| April 1640 | | Robert Blake | | | Edmund Wyndham | Royalist |
| November 1640 | | Sir Peter Wroth | Parliamentarian | | Edmund Wyndham | Royalist |
| February 1641 | | Sir Peter Wroth | Parliamentarian | | Thomas Smith | Royalist |
| August 1642 | | Sir Peter Wroth | Parliamentarian | Smith disabled from sitting — seat vacant | Smith disabled from sitting — seat vacant | Smith disabled from sitting — seat vacant |
| May 1644 | Wroth died — seat vacant | Wroth died — seat vacant | Wroth died — seat vacant | | | Smith disabled from sitting — seat vacant | Smith disabled from sitting — seat vacant | Smith disabled from sitting — seat vacant |
| 1645 | | Admiral Robert Blake | | | Sir Thomas Wroth | |
| 1653 | Bridgwater was unrepresented in the Barebones Parliament | Bridgwater was unrepresented in the Barebones Parliament | Bridgwater was unrepresented in the Barebones Parliament | Bridgwater was unrepresented in the Barebones Parliament | Bridgwater was unrepresented in the Barebones Parliament | Bridgwater was unrepresented in the Barebones Parliament |
| 1654 | | Admiral Robert Blake | | Bridgwater had only one seat in the First and Second Parliaments of the Protectorate | Bridgwater had only one seat in the First and Second Parliaments of the Protectorate | Bridgwater had only one seat in the First and Second Parliaments of the Protectorate |
| 1656 | | Sir Thomas Wroth | | Bridgwater had only one seat in the First and Second Parliaments of the Protectorate | Bridgwater had only one seat in the First and Second Parliaments of the Protectorate | Bridgwater had only one seat in the First and Second Parliaments of the Protectorate |
| January 1659 | | Sir Thomas Wroth | | | John Wroth | |
| May 1659 | | Sir Thomas Wroth | | One seat vacant | One seat vacant | One seat vacant |
| April 1660 | | Sir Thomas Wroth | | | Francis Rolle | |
| 1661 | | Edmund Wyndham | | | John Tynte | |
| November 1669 | | Edmund Wyndham | | | Sir Francis Rolle | |
| December 1669 | | Edmund Wyndham | | | Peregrine Palmer | |
| February 1679 | | Sir Halswell Tynte | | | Sir Francis Rolle | |
| September 1679 | | Sir Halswell Tynte | | | Ralph Stawell | |
| 1681 | | Sir Halswell Tynte | | | Sir John Malet | |
| 1685 | | Sir Halswell Tynte | | | Sir Francis Warre | Tory |
| 1689 | | Henry Bull | Tory | | Sir Francis Warre | Tory |
| 1692 | | Robert Balch | | | Sir Francis Warre | Tory |
| 1695 | | Nathaniel Palmer | | | Roger Hoar | |
| 1698 | | George Crane | | | Roger Hoar | |
| 1699 | | George Crane | | | Sir Francis Warre | Tory |
| January 1701 | | John Gilbert | | | George Balch | Tory |
| November 1701 | | Sir Thomas Wroth | | | George Balch | Tory |
| 1708 | | George Dodington | Whig | | George Balch | Tory |
| 1710 | | George Dodington | Whig | | Nathaniel Palmer | Tory |
| 1713 | | John Rolle | | | Nathaniel Palmer | Tory |
| 1715 | | George Dodington | Whig | | Thomas Palmer | Tory |
| 1720 | | William Pitt | | | Thomas Palmer | Tory |
| 1722 | | George Dodington | | | Thomas Palmer | Tory |
| 1727 | | George Dodington | | | Sir Halswell Tynte | Tory |
| 1731 | | George Dodington | | | Thomas Palmer | Tory |
| 1735 | | George Dodington | | | Charles Wyndham | Tory |
| 1741 | | George Dodington | | | Vere Poulett | Tory |
| 1747 | | George Dodington | | | Peregrine Poulett | Tory |
| 1753 | | George Dodington | | | Robert Balch | Tory |
| 1754 | | The Earl of Egmont | | | Robert Balch | Tory |
| 1761 | | The Earl of Egmont | | | Edward Southwell | |
| 1762 | | Viscount Perceval | | | Edward Southwell | |
| 1763 | | Viscount Perceval | | | The Lord Coleraine | |
| 1768 | | Viscount Perceval | | | Benjamin Allen | Whig |
| 1769 | | Anne Poulett | Tory | | Benjamin Allen | Whig |
| 1781 | | Anne Poulett | Tory | | John Acland | Tory |
| 1784 | | Anne Poulett | Tory | | Rear-Admiral Alexander Hood | Tory |
| 1785 | | Robert Thornton | | | Rear-Admiral Alexander Hood | Tory |
| 1790 | | Major Vere Poulett | Tory | | John Langston | Tory |
| 1796 | | George Pocock | Tory | | Jeffreys Allen | Tory |
| 1804 | | George Pocock | Tory | | John Hudleston | Tory |
| 1806 | | Major-General Vere Poulett | Whig | | John Langston | Whig |
| 1807 | | William Thornton | Tory | | George Pocock | Tory |
| 1820 | | William Thornton | Tory | | Charles Kemeys-Tynte (1) | Whig |
| 1832 | | William Tayleur | Whig | | Charles Kemeys-Tynte (1) | Whig |
| 1835 | | John Temple Leader | Radical | | Charles Kemeys-Tynte (1) | Whig |
| May 1837 | | Henry Broadwood | Conservative | | Charles Kemeys-Tynte (1) | Whig |
| August 1837 | | Henry Broadwood | Conservative | | Philip Courtenay | Conservative |
| 1841 | | Henry Broadwood | Conservative | | Thomas Seaton Forman | Conservative |
| 1847 | | Henry Broadwood | Conservative | | Charles Kemeys-Tynte (2) | Whig |
| 1852 | | Brent Follett | Conservative | | Charles Kemeys-Tynte (2) | Whig |
| 1857 | | Alexander William Kinglake | Whig | | Charles Kemeys-Tynte (2) | Whig |
| 1859 | | Alexander William Kinglake | Liberal | | Charles Kemeys-Tynte (2) | Liberal |
| 1865 | | Alexander William Kinglake | Liberal | | Henry Westropp | Conservative |
| 1866 | | Alexander William Kinglake | Liberal | | George Patton | Conservative |
| 1866 | | Alexander William Kinglake | Liberal | | Philip Vanderbyl | Liberal |
| 1869 | Writ suspended — both seats vacant | Writ suspended — both seats vacant | Writ suspended — both seats vacant | Writ suspended — both seats vacant | Writ suspended — both seats vacant | Writ suspended — both seats vacant |
| 1870 | Constituency abolished for corruption and incorporated into the West Somerset county division from 4 July 1870 | Constituency abolished for corruption and incorporated into the West Somerset county division from 4 July 1870 | Constituency abolished for corruption and incorporated into the West Somerset county division from 4 July 1870 | Constituency abolished for corruption and incorporated into the West Somerset county division from 4 July 1870 | Constituency abolished for corruption and incorporated into the West Somerset county division from 4 July 1870 | Constituency abolished for corruption and incorporated into the West Somerset county division from 4 July 1870 |

### Bridgwater county constituency, 1885–2010; 2024–present

* County division created (1885)
| Year | Member | Party |
| 1885 | Edward Stanley | Conservative |
| 1906 | Henry Montgomery | Liberal |
| 1910 | Sir Robert Sanders | Unionist |
| 1923 | William Morse | Liberal |
| 1924 | Brooks Wood | Unionist |
| 1929 | Reginald Croom-Johnson | Conservative |
| 1938 by-election | Vernon Bartlett | Independent Progressive |
| 1942 | Vernon Bartlett | Common Wealth |
| 1945 | Vernon Bartlett | Independent Progressive |
| 1950 | Sir Gerald Wills | Conservative |
| 1970 by-election | Tom King | Conservative |
| 2001 | Ian Liddell-Grainger | Conservative |
| 2010 | constituency abolished, replaced by Bridgwater and West Somerset | constituency abolished, replaced by Bridgwater and West Somerset |
* County division re-created (2024)
| Election | Election | Member | Party |
| | 2024 | Ashley Fox | Conservative |

## Elections
### Elections in the 2020s

General election 2024: Bridgwater :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Ashley Fox | 12,281 | 30.6 | −27.3 |
| | Labour | Leigh Redman | 10,932 | 27.2 | +6.5 |
| | Reform UK | William Fagg | 8,913 | 22.2 | New |
| | Liberal Democrats | Claire Sully | 5,781 | 14.4 | −3.2 |
| | Green | Charlie Graham | 1,720 | 4.3 | +2.2 |
| | Independent | Pelé Barnes | 334 | 0.8 | New |
| | Workers Party | Gregory Tanner | 168 | 0.4 | New |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,349 | 3.4 | −33.8 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 40,129 | 56.1 | −6.9 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 71,571 | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | −16.9 | |

### Elections in the 2010s

2019 notional result :
| Party | Party | Vote | % |
| | Conservative | 26,058 | 57.9 |
| | Labour | 9,334 | 20.7 |
| | Liberal Democrats | 7,932 | 17.6 |
| | Green | 925 | 2.1 |
| | Others | 755 | 1.7 |
| Turnout | Turnout | 45,004 | 63.0 |
| Electorate | Electorate | 71,418 |

### Elections in the 2000s

General election 2005: Bridgwater :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Ian Liddell-Grainger | 21,240 | 44.10 | +3.70 |
| | Labour | Matthew Burchell | 12,771 | 26.50 | −0.30 |
| | Liberal Democrats | James Main | 10,940 | 22.70 | −3.50 |
| | UKIP | Raymond Weinstein | 1,767 | 3.70 | +0.90 |
| | Green | Charlie Graham | 1,391 | 2.90 | New |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 8,469 | 17.60 | +7.20 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 48,109 | 63.50 | −0.90 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | | |
General election 2001: Bridgwater :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Ian Liddell-Grainger | 19,354 | 40.40 | +3.47 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Ian Thorn | 14,367 | 30.00 | −3.65 |
| | Labour | Bill Monteith | 12,803 | 26.80 | +2.05 |
| | UKIP | Vicky Gardner | 1,323 | 2.80 | New |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 4,987 | 10.40 | +7.12 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 47,847 | 64.40 | −10.01 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | | |

### Elections in the 1990s

General election 1997: Bridgwater :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Tom King | 20,174 | 36.93 | −9.83 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Michael Hoban | 18,378 | 33.65 | +3.96 |
| | Labour | Roger Lavers | 13,519 | 24.75 | +3.02 |
| | Referendum | Fran Evens | 2,551 | 4.67 | New |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,796 | 3.28 | −13.79 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 54,622 | 74.41 | −5.11 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | | |
General election 1992: Bridgwater :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Tom King | 26,610 | 46.76 | −4.76 |
| | Liberal Democrats | WJ Revans | 16,894 | 29.69 | −0.61 |
| | Labour | PE James | 12,365 | 21.73 | +3.54 |
| | Green | G Dummett | 746 | 1.31 | New |
| | Independent | A Body | 183 | 0.32 | New |
| | Natural Law | G Sanson | 112 | 0.20 | New |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 9,716 | 17.07 | −4.15 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 56,910 | 79.52 | +1.34 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | | |

### Elections in the 1980s

General election 1987: Bridgwater :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Tom King | 27,177 | 51.52 | −0.74 |
| | SDP | Christopher Clarke | 15,982 | 30.30 | +0.30 |
| | Labour | John Turner | 9,594 | 18.19 | +0.45 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 11,195 | 21.22 | −1.05 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 52,753 | 78.18 | +3.38 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | | |
General election 1983: Bridgwater :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Conservative | Tom King | 25,107 | 52.26 |
| | SDP | Rosemary Farley | 14,410 | 30.00 |
| | Labour | Andrew May | 8,524 | 17.74 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 10,697 | 22.26 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 48,041 | 74.80 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | |

### Elections in the 1970s

General election 1979: Bridgwater :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Tom King | 31,259 | 54.0 | +9.7 |
| | Labour | J Beasant | 16,809 | 29.05 | −3.8 |
| | Liberal | Christina Baron | 9,793 | 16.9 | −5.5 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 14,450 | 25.0 | +13.5 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 57,861 | 79.2 | +2.0 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | | |
General election October 1974: Bridgwater :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Tom King | 23,850 | 44.3 | +0.7 |
| | Labour | A Mitchell | 17,663 | 32.78 | +4.3 |
| | Liberal | JHG Wyatt | 12,077 | 22.4 | −4.4 |
| | United Democratic | SR Harrad | 288 | 0.5 | New |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 6,187 | 11.5 | −2.6 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 53,878 | 77.2 | −5.0 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | | |
General election February 1974: Bridgwater :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Tom King | 24,830 | 43.65 | −8.7 |
| | Labour | R Undy | 16,786 | 29.5 | −6.3 |
| | Liberal | JHG Wyatt | 15,269 | 26.8 | +14.9 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 8,044 | 14.1 | −2.4 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 56,885 | 82.25 | +5.2 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | | |
General election 1970: Bridgwater :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Tom King | 26,685 | 52.3 | +7.9 |
| | Labour | Raymond J Billington | 18,224 | 35.8 | −2.3 |
| | Liberal | Patrick M O'Loughlin | 6,066 | 11.9 | −5.6 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 8,461 | 16.5 | +10.2 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 50,975 | 77.0 | −3.2 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | +5.3 | |
1970 Bridgwater by-election :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Tom King | 25,687 | 55.5 | +11.1 |
| | Labour | Richard Mayer | 14,772 | 31.9 | −6.2 |
| | Liberal | Patrick M O'Loughlin | 5,832 | 12.6 | −4.9 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 10,915 | 23.6 | +17.3 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 46,291 | 70.3 | −9.9 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | +8.6 | |

### Elections in the 1960s

General election 1966: Bridgwater :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Gerald Wills | 20,850 | 44.4 | −0.4 |
| | Labour | Richard Mayer | 17,864 | 38.1 | +6.6 |
| | Liberal | Philip Watkins | 8,205 | 17.5 | −1.9 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 2,986 | 6.3 | −7.0 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 46,919 | 80.2 | −0.1 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | +3.5 | |
General election 1964: Bridgwater :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Gerald Wills | 20,822 | 44.8 | −5.6 |
| | Labour | Norman J Hart | 14,645 | 31.5 | −0.7 |
| | Liberal | Philip Watkins | 9,009 | 19.4 | +2.1 |
| | Independent | Michael L de V Hart | 2,038 | 4.4 | New |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 6,177 | 13.3 | −4.9 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 46,514 | 80.3 | −1.5 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | | |

### Elections in the 1950s

General election 1959: Bridgwater :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Gerald Wills | 23,002 | 50.44 | |
| | Labour | James Finnigan | 14,706 | 32.25 | |
| | Liberal | Philip Watkins | 7,893 | 17.31 | New |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 8,296 | 18.19 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 45,601 | 81.77 | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | | |
General election 1955: Bridgwater :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Conservative | Gerald Wills | 24,887 | 59.17 |
| | Labour | Albert E Sumbler | 17,170 | 40.83 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 7,717 | 18.34 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 42,057 | 78.00 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | |
General election 1951: Bridgwater :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Conservative | Gerald Wills | 25,365 | 56.34 |
| | Labour Co-op | Norman E Carr | 19,656 | 43.66 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 5,709 | 12.68 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 45,021 | 84.63 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | |
General election 1950: Bridgwater :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Gerald Wills | 21,732 | 48.84 | |
| | Labour Co-op | Norman E Carr | 16,053 | 36.08 | |
| | Independent | Stephen King-Hall | 6,708 | 15.08 | New |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 5,679 | 12.76 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 44,493 | 85.75 | |
| | Conservative gain from Independent Progressive | Conservative gain from Independent Progressive | Swing | | |

### Elections in the 1940s

General election 1945: Bridgwater :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Independent Progressive | Vernon Bartlett | 17,937 | 45.79 | N/A |
| | Conservative | Gerald Wills | 15,625 | 39.89 | |
| | Labour | Norman Corkhill | 5,613 | 14.33 | |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 2,312 | 5.90 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 39,175 | 72.69 | |
| | Independent Progressive hold | Independent Progressive hold | Swing | | |
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;
* Independent Progressive: Vernon Bartlett
* Conservative: Patrick Heathcoat Amery

### Elections in the 1930s

1938 Bridgwater by-election :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Independent Progressive | Vernon Bartlett | 19,540 | 53.2 | New |
| | Conservative | Patrick Gerald Heathcoat-Amory | 17,208 | 46.8 | −10.1 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 2,332 | 6.4 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 36,748 | 82.3 | +9.6 |
| | Independent Progressive gain from Conservative | Independent Progressive gain from Conservative | Swing | | |
General election 1935: Bridgwater :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Reginald Croom-Johnson | 17,939 | 56.9 | −18.6 |
| | Liberal | Norman David Blake | 7,370 | 23.4 | New |
| | Labour | Arthur W Loveys | 6,240 | 19.8 | −2.7 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 10,569 | 33.5 | −21.5 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 31,549 | 72.7 | −1.1 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | | |
General election 1931: Bridgwater :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Reginald Croom-Johnson | 24,041 | 77.5 | +30.7 |
| | Labour | James Musgrave Boltz | 6,974 | 22.5 | +3.1 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 17,067 | 55.03 | +42.0 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 31,015 | 73.8 | −6.6 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | | |

### Elections in the 1920s

General election 1929: Bridgwater :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Unionist | Reginald Croom-Johnson | 15,440 | 46.8 | −5.9 |
| | Liberal | Joseph William Molden | 11,161 | 33.8 | −6.2 |
| | Labour | James Musgrave Boltz | 6,423 | 19.4 | +12.1 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 4,279 | 13.0 | +0.3 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 33,024 | 80.4 | −4.0 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 41,068 | | |
| | Unionist hold | Unionist hold | Swing | +0.1 | |
General election 1924: Bridgwater :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Unionist | Brooks Wood | 14,283 | 52.7 | +5.4 |
| | Liberal | William Morse | 10,842 | 40.0 | −12.7 |
| | Labour | James Musgrave Boltz | 1,966 | 7.3 | New |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 3,441 | 12.7 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 27,091 | 84.4 | +1.0 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 32,111 | | |
| | Unionist gain from Liberal | Unionist gain from Liberal | Swing | +9.1 | |
General election 1923: Bridgwater :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | William Morse | 13,778 | 52.7 | +6.3 |
| | Unionist | Robert Sanders | 12,347 | 47.3 | +0.4 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,431 | 5.4 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 26,125 | 83.4 | +5.2 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 31,317 | | |
| | Liberal gain from Unionist | Liberal gain from Unionist | Swing | +3.0 | |
General election 1922: Bridgwater :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Unionist | Robert Sanders | 11,240 | 46.9 | −21.7 |
| | Liberal | William Morse | 11,121 | 46.4 | New |
| | Labour | Thomas Williams | 1,598 | 6.7 | −24.7 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 119 | 0.5 | −36.7 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 23,959 | 78.2 | +15.8 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 30,657 | | |
| | Unionist hold | Unionist hold | Swing | −34.1 | |

### Elections in the 1910s

General election 1918: Bridgwater :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| C | Unionist | Robert Sanders | 12,587 | 68.6 | +10.9 |
| | Labour | Sid Plummer | 5,771 | 31.4 | New |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 6,816 | 37.2 | +21.8 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 18,358 | 62.4 | |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 29,411 | | |
| | Unionist hold | Unionist hold | Swing | N/A | |
| C indicates candidate endorsed by the coalition government. ||||||
By-election, 1918: Bridgwater :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Robert Sanders | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative 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 from 1914 and by the end of this year, the following candidates had been selected;
* Unionist: Robert Sanders
* Liberal: Philip Foale Rowsell
Sanders is appointed Treasurer of the Household, requiring him to seek re-election.
General election December 1910: Bridgwater :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Robert Sanders | 5,160 | 57.7 | −1.2 |
| | Liberal | Harold C. Hicks | 3,779 | 42.3 | +1.2 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,381 | 15.4 | −2.4 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 8,939 | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | −1.2 | |
General election January 1910: Bridgwater :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Robert Sanders | 5,575 | 58.9 | +9.0 |
| | Liberal | Harold C. Hicks | 3,896 | 41.1 | −9.0 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,679 | 17.8 | 18.0 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 9,471 | | |
| | Conservative gain from Liberal | Conservative gain from Liberal | Swing | +9.0 | |

### Elections in the 1900s

General election 1906: Bridgwater :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | Henry Montgomery | 4,422 | 50.1 | New |
| | Conservative | Robert Sanders | 4,405 | 49.9 | N/A |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 17 | 0.2 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 8,827 | 86.7 | N/A |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 10,180 | | |
| | Liberal gain from Conservative | Liberal gain from Conservative | Swing | N/A | |
General election 1900: Bridgwater :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Edward Stanley | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold |

### Elections in the 1890s

General election 1895: Bridgwater :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Edward Stanley | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold |
General election 1892: Bridgwater :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Edward Stanley | 4,555 | 57.5 | N/A |
| | Liberal | James Douglas Walker | 3,362 | 42.5 | New |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,193 | 15.0 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 7,917 | 77.5 | N/A |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 10,220 | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | N/A | |

### Elections in the 1880s

General election 1886: Bridgwater :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Edward Stanley | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold |
General election 1885: Bridgwater :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Edward Stanley | 3,935 | 50.6 | |
| | Liberal | Edwin Brook Cely Trevilian | 3,835 | 49.4 | |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 100 | 1.2 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 7,770 | 78.8 | |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 9,861 | | |
| | Conservative win (new seat) | Conservative win (new seat) | Conservative win (new seat) | Conservative win (new seat) | Conservative win (new seat) |

### Elections in the 1860s

General election 1868: Bridgwater (2 seats) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | Alexander William Kinglake | 731 | 26.2 | −5.1 |
| | Liberal | Philip Vanderbyl | 725 | 26.0 | −2.8 |
| | Conservative | Henry Westropp | 681 | 24.4 | +4.4 |
| | Conservative | Charles William Gray | 650 | 23.3 | +3.3 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 44 | 1.6 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,394 (est) | 93.0 (est) | +3.7 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 1,499 | | |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Swing | −4.2 | |
| | Liberal gain from Conservative | Liberal gain from Conservative | Swing | −3.6 | |
A Royal Commission found extensive bribery in the seat and, from 4 July 1870, the writ was suspended, both MPs were unseated, and the electorate was absorbed into West Somerset.
By-election, 12 Jul 1866: Bridgwater (1 seat) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | Philip Vanderbyl | 312 | 53.2 | −6.9 |
| | Conservative | George Patton | 275 | 46.8 | +6.9 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 37 | 6.4 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 587 | 91.1 | +1.8 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 644 | | |
| | Liberal gain from Conservative | Liberal gain from Conservative | Swing | −6.9 | |
By-election, 7 Jun 1866: Bridgwater (1 seat) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | George Patton | 301 | 50.7 | +10.8 |
| | Liberal | Walter Bagehot | 293 | 49.3 | −10.8 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 8 | 1.4 | −9.7 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 594 | 92.2 | +2.9 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 644 | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | +10.8 | |
Patton was appointed Lord Advocate, requiring a by-election.
General election 1865: Bridgwater (2 seats) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Henry Westropp | 328 | 39.9 | −3.6 |
| | Liberal | Alexander William Kinglake | 257 | 31.3 | +3.6 |
| | Liberal | John Shelley | 237 | 28.8 | 0.0 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 91 | 11.1 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 575 (est) | 89.3 (est) | +7.3 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 644 | | |
| | Conservative gain from Liberal | Conservative gain from Liberal | Swing | −3.6 | |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Swing | +2.7 | |
Westropp's election was declared void on petition on 25 April 1866, causing a by-election.

### Elections in the 1850s

General election 1859: Bridgwater (2 seats) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | Charles Kemeys-Tynte | 290 | 28.8 | −10.8 |
| | Liberal | Alexander William Kinglake | 279 | 27.7 | −8.4 |
| | Conservative | Henry Padwick | 230 | 22.8 | +10.6 |
| | Conservative | Henry Westropp | 208 | 20.7 | +8.5 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 49 | 4.9 | −6.9 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 504 (est) | 82.0 (est) | −6.0 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 614 | | |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Swing | −10.2 | |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Swing | −9.0 | |
General election 1857: Bridgwater (2 seats) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Whig | Charles Kemeys-Tynte | 330 | 39.6 | +10.8 |
| | Whig | Alexander William Kinglake | 301 | 36.1 | +25.4 |
| | Conservative | Brent Follett | 203 | 24.3 | −20.4 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 98 | 11.8 | +8.9 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 519 (est) | 88.0 (est) | +11.5 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 589 | | |
| | Whig hold | Whig hold | Swing | +10.5 | |
| | Whig gain from Conservative | Whig gain from Conservative | Swing | +17.8 | |
General election 1852: Bridgwater (2 seats) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Whig | Charles Kemeys-Tynte | 271 | 28.8 | −17.3 |
| | Conservative | Brent Follett | 244 | 25.9 | +10.4 |
| | Conservative | John Clavell Mansel | 177 | 18.8 | +3.3 |
| | Whig | Anthony Henley | 149 | 15.8 | N/A |
| | Whig | Alexander William Kinglake | 101 | 10.7 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 471 (est) | 68.5 (est) | −12.4 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 688 | | |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 27 | 2.9 | −12.2 |
| | Whig hold | Whig hold | Swing | −15.5 | |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 95 | 10.0 | +1.9 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | +9.5 | |

### Elections in the 1840s

General election 1847: Bridgwater (2 seats) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Whig | Charles Kemeys-Tynte | 395 | 46.1 | −0.7 |
| | Conservative | Henry Broadwood | 265 | 31.0 | −22.2 |
| | Radical | Stephen Gaselee | 196 | 22.9 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 428 (est) | 80.9 (est) | −7.3 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 529 | | |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 130 | 15.1 | N/A |
| | Whig gain from Conservative | Whig gain from Conservative | Swing | +5.2 | |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 69 | 8.1 | +5.3 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | −10.9 | |
General election 1841: Bridgwater (2 seats) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Henry Broadwood | 280 | 26.8 | −22.8 |
| | Conservative | Thomas Seaton Forman | 276 | 26.4 | −22.8 |
| | Whig | Edward Simcoe Drewe | 247 | 23.6 | +22.7 |
| | Whig | Augustin Robinson | 242 | 23.2 | +22.8 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 29 | 2.8 | −45.5 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 525 | 88.2 | +37.3 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 595 | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | −22.8 | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | −22.8 | |

### Elections in the 1830s

General election 1837: Bridgwater (2 seats) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Henry Broadwood | 279 | 49.6 | +25.7 |
| | Conservative | Philip Courtenay | 277 | 49.2 | +28.8 |
| | Whig | Thomas Lethbridge | 5 | 0.9 | −13.9 |
| | Whig | Richard Brinsley Sheridan | 2 | 0.4 | −14.4 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 272 | 48.3 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 284 | 50.9 | −21.0 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 558 | | |
| | Conservative gain from Whig | Conservative gain from Whig | Swing | +19.9 | |
| | Conservative gain from Radical | Conservative gain from Radical | Swing | +21.5 | |
By-election, 16 May 1837: Bridgwater :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Henry Broadwood | 279 | 55.8 | +11.5 |
| | Whig | Richard Brinsley Sheridan | 221 | 44.2 | +14.7 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 58 | 11.6 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 500 | 89.6 | +17.7 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 558 | | |
| | Conservative gain from Radical | Conservative gain from Radical | Swing | −1.6 | |
General election 1835: Bridgwater (2 seats) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Whig | Charles Kemeys-Tynte | 234 | 29.5 | N/A |
| | Radical | John Temple Leader | 208 | 26.2 | N/A |
| | Conservative | Henry Broadwood | 190 | 23.9 | New |
| | Conservative | Francis Mountjoy Martyn | 162 | 20.4 | New |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 309 | 71.9 | N/A |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 430 | | |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 26 | 3.3 | N/A |
| | Whig hold | Whig hold | Swing | N/A | |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 18 | 2.3 | N/A |
| | Radical gain from Whig | Radical gain from Whig | Swing | N/A | |
Leader resigned, by accepting the office of Steward of the Chiltern Hundreds, in order to contest a by-election at Westminster, causing a by-election.
General election 1832: Bridgwater (2 seats) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Whig | Charles Kemeys-Tynte | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| | Whig | William Tayleur | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 484 | | |
| | Whig hold | Whig hold | Whig hold | Whig hold | Whig hold |
| | Whig gain from Tory | Whig gain from Tory | Whig gain from Tory | Whig gain from Tory | Whig gain from Tory |
General election 1831: Bridgwater (2 seats) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Whig | Charles Kemeys-Tynte | 337 | 44.8 | N/A |
| | Tory | William Astell | 213 | 28.3 | N/A |
| | Radical | Henry Shirley | 202 | 26.9 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 430 | | N/A |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 124 | 16.5 | N/A |
| | Whig hold | Whig hold | Swing | N/A | |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 11 | 1.4 | N/A |
| | Whig hold | Whig hold | Swing | N/A | |
General election 1830: Bridgwater (2 seats) :
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| Tory | William Astell | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| Whig | Charles Kemeys-Tynte | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| Tory hold | Tory hold | Tory hold | Tory hold | Tory hold |
| Whig hold | Whig hold | Whig hold | Whig hold | Whig hold |