# North Somerset (UK Parliament constituency)

North Somerset is a constituency represented in the House of Commons of the UK Parliament since 2024 by Sadik Al-Hassan of the Labour Party.

## History

Earlier versions of the seat existed in 1885–1918 and 1950–1983.

### First creation

Parliament passed the Redistribution of Seats Act 1885 creating the larger constituency of North Somerset from the 1885 general election, which was later abolished for the 1918 general election.

### Second creation

North Somerset was re-established for the 1950 general election, and abolished again for the 1983 general election.

### Third creation

Following the review of parliamentary representation in the North Somerset district by the Boundary Commission for England, the former Woodspring constituency was renamed as North Somerset without substantial boundary changes.
The Woodspring seat returned Conservative MPs, and had been held by Liam Fox from 1992 until its abolition. Fox won the new constituency by nearly 14 percentage points over the Liberal Democrats in 2010, while Labour took second place in 2015, 2017 and 2019. In 2024, with the Conservatives doing poorly around Bristol and surrounding coonstituencies in losing all their seats, Sadik Al-Hassan was elected as MP - the first to have been returned to Parliament for the Labour Party.

## Boundaries

1885–1918: The Sessional Divisions of Keynsham, Long Ashton, and Temple Cloud, and the civil parishes of Binegar, Chilcompton, and Midsomer Norton.
1950–1983: The Urban Districts of Keynsham, Norton Radstock, and Portishead, the Rural Districts of Bathavon and Clutton, and part of the Rural District of Long Ashton.
2010–2024: The District of North Somerset wards of Backwell, Clevedon Central, Clevedon East, Clevedon North, Clevedon South, Clevedon Walton, Clevedon West, Clevedon Yeo, Easton-in-Gordano, Gordano, Nailsea East, Nailsea North and West, Pill, Portishead Central, Portishead Coast, Portishead East, Portishead Redcliffe Bay, Portishead South and North Weston, Portishead West, Winford, Wraxall and Long Ashton, Wrington, and Yatton.
2024–present: The District of North Somerset wards of: Backwell; Clevedon East; Clevedon South; Clevedon Walton; Clevedon West; Clevedon Yeo; Gordano Valley; Long Ashton; Nailsea Golden Valley; Nailsea West End; Nailsea Yeo; Nailsea Youngwood; Pill; Portishead East; Portishead North; Portishead South; Portishead West; Winford; Wrington.
Further to the completion of the 2023 review of Westminster constituencies, the seat was subject to moderate boundary changes involving the loss of the Yatton area which was transferred to the new constituency of Wells and Mendip Hills, first contested at the 2024 general election.

## Constituency profile

This is essentially the former Woodspring seat with a new name. A coastal strip between the Severn Estuary and the M5 motorway includes the towns of Clevedon and Portishead, while inland from the motorway is the town of Nailsea and a predominantly rural area dotted with villages. This is a fairly affluent constituency with average incomes and low proportion of unemployment claimants – about a third of the population commute to work, mostly in Bristol and Bath.

## Members of Parliament

| Year | Member | Party | Party |
| 1885 | Evan Henry Llewellyn | | Conservative |
| 1892 | Courtenay Warner | | Liberal |
| 1895 | Evan Henry Llewellyn | | Conservative |
| 1906 | William Henry Bateman Hope | | Liberal |
| 1910 | Joseph King | | Liberal |
| 1918 | constituency abolished | constituency abolished | constituency abolished |
| 1950 | Sir Ted Leather | | Conservative |
| 1964 | Paul Dean | | Conservative |
| 1983 | constituency abolished: see Woodspring | constituency abolished: see Woodspring | constituency abolished: see Woodspring |
| 2010 | Liam Fox | | Conservative |
| 2024 | Sadik Al-Hassan | | Labour |

## Elections
### Elections in the 2020s

General election 2024: North Somerset :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Sadik Al-Hassan | 19,138 | 35.6 | +10.6 |
| | Conservative | Liam Fox | 18,499 | 34.4 | −19.1 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Ashley Cartman | 7,121 | 13.2 | −3.4 |
| | Reform UK | Alexander Kokkinoftas | 5,602 | 10.4 | N/A |
| | Green | Oscar Livesey-Lodwick | 3,273 | 6.1 | +1.2 |
| | Workers Party | Suneil Basu | 133 | 0.2 | N/A |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 639 | 1.2 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 53,766 | 76.3 | −0.6 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 74,426 | | |
| | Labour gain from Conservative | Labour gain from Conservative | Swing | +14.8 | |

### Elections in the 2010s

2019 notional result :
| Party | Party | Vote | % |
| | Conservative | 30,411 | 53.5 |
| | Labour | 14,227 | 25.0 |
| | Liberal Democrats | 9,425 | 16.6 |
| | Green | 2,801 | 4.9 |
| Turnout | Turnout | 56,864 | 76.9 |
| Electorate | Electorate | 73,963 |
General election 2019: North Somerset :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Liam Fox | 32,801 | 52.9 | −1.3 |
| | Labour | Hannah Young | 15,265 | 24.6 | −2.0 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Ashley Cartman | 11,051 | 17.8 | +8.2 |
| | Green | Phil Neve | 2,938 | 4.7 | +1.5 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 17,536 | 28.3 | +0.7 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 62,055 | 77.4 | +0.5 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | +0.4 | |
General election 2017: North Somerset :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Liam Fox | 33,605 | 54.2 | +0.7 |
| | Labour | Greg Chambers | 16,502 | 26.6 | +12.3 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Richard Foord | 5,982 | 9.6 | −3.1 |
| | Independent | Donald Davies | 3,929 | 6.3 | New |
| | Green | Charley Pattison | 1,976 | 3.2 | −3.3 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 17,103 | 27.6 | −11.6 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 61,994 | 76.9 | +3.3 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | −5.8 | |
General election 2015: North Somerset :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Liam Fox | 31,540 | 53.5 | +4.2 |
| | Labour | Greg Chambers | 8,441 | 14.3 | +3.2 |
| | UKIP | Ian Kealey | 7,669 | 13.0 | +9.1 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Marcus Kravis | 7,486 | 12.7 | −23.0 |
| | Green | David Derbyshire | 3,806 | 6.5 | +6.5 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 23,099 | 39.2 | +25.6 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 58,942 | 73.6 | −1.4 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | | |
General election 2010: North Somerset :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Liam Fox | 28,549 | 49.3 | |
| | Liberal Democrats | Brian Mathew | 20,687 | 35.7 | |
| | Labour | Steve Parry-Hearn | 6,448 | 11.1 | |
| | UKIP | Sue Taylor | 2,257 | 3.9 | |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 7,862 | 13.6 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 57,941 | 75.0 | |
| | Conservative win (new seat) | Conservative win (new seat) | Conservative win (new seat) | Conservative win (new seat) | Conservative win (new seat) |

### Elections in the 1970s

General election 1979: North Somerset :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Paul Dean | 43,173 | 54.34 | +9.4 |
| | Labour | AJ Smith | 22,122 | 27.85 | −3.8 |
| | Liberal | David Sanders | 12,898 | 16.23 | −6.7 |
| | Ecology | R Carder | 1,254 | 1.58 | New |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 21,051 | 26.49 | +13.26 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 79,447 | 82.24 | +1.81 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | | |
General election October 1974: North Somerset :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Paul Dean | 32,146 | 44.88 | |
| | Labour | HR White | 22,671 | 31.65 | |
| | Liberal | JM Bourne | 16,428 | 22.93 | |
| | United Democratic Party | JK Polling | 387 | 0.54 | New |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 9,475 | 13.23 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 71,632 | 80.43 | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | | |
General election February 1974: North Somerset :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Paul Dean | 34,576 | 46.09 | |
| | Labour | HR White | 22,421 | 29.89 | |
| | Liberal | JM Bourne | 18,023 | 24.02 | New |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 12,155 | 16.20 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 75,020 | 85.06 | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | | |
General election 1970: North Somerset :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Paul Dean | 38,975 | 58.1 | +11.7 |
| | Labour | John T Mitchard | 28,121 | 41.9 | −0.8 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 10,854 | 16.2 | +12.5 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 67,096 | 79.1 | −6.2 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | | |

### Elections in the 1960s

General election 1966: North Somerset :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Paul Dean | 28,824 | 46.4 | ±0.0 |
| | Labour | Brian Tilley | 26,526 | 42.7 | +2.9 |
| | Liberal | Mark E Willies | 6,745 | 10.9 | −2.9 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 2,298 | 3.7 | −2.9 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 62,095 | 85.3 | −0.1 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | | |
General election 1964: Somerset North :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Paul Dean | 27,814 | 46.4 | −9.9 |
| | Labour | DT White | 23,896 | 39.8 | −3.9 |
| | Liberal | Mark E Willies | 8,253 | 13.8 | New |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 3,918 | 6.6 | −6.0 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 59,963 | 85.4 | −0.1 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | | |

### Elections in the 1950s

General election 1959: Somerset North :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Ted Leather | 30,432 | 56.3 | +2.1 |
| | Labour | E Fraser Wilde | 23,649 | 43.7 | −2.1 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 6,783 | 12.6 | +4.2 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 54,081 | 85.5 | +0.1 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | | |
General election 1955: Somerset North :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Ted Leather | 26,985 | 54.2 | +1.8 |
| | Labour | David Llewellyn | 22,802 | 45.8 | −1.8 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 4,183 | 8.4 | +3.6 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 54,081 | 85.4 | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | | |
General election 1951: Somerset North :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Ted Leather | 27,465 | 52.4 | +6.8 |
| | Labour | Robert J Hurst | 24,917 | 47.6 | +3.8 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 2,548 | 4.8 | +3.0 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 52,382 | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | | |
General election 1950: Somerset North :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Ted Leather | 23,953 | 45.6 | |
| | Labour | Xenia Field | 23,050 | 43.8 | |
| | Liberal | Albert Ernest Whitcher | 5,573 | 10.6 | |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 903 | 1.8 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 52,576 | 87.7 | |
| | Conservative win (new seat) | Conservative win (new seat) | Conservative win (new seat) | Conservative win (new seat) | Conservative win (new seat) |

## Election results 1885–1918
### Elections in the 1880s

General election 1885: North Somerset :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Evan Henry Llewellyn | 4,170 | 54.4 | |
| | Liberal | Edward Strachey | 3,491 | 45.6 | |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 679 | 8.8 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 7,661 | 75.0 | |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 10,209 | | |
| | Conservative win (new seat) | Conservative win (new seat) | Conservative win (new seat) | Conservative win (new seat) | Conservative win (new seat) |
General election 1886: North Somerset :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Evan Henry Llewellyn | 4,252 | 67.1 | +12.7 |
| | Liberal | James Dormer Marshall | 2,087 | 32.9 | −12.7 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 2,165 | 34.2 | +25.4 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 6,339 | 62.1 | −12.9 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 10,209 | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | +12.7 | |

### Elections in the 1890s

General election 1892: North Somerset :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | Courtenay Warner | 3,920 | 50.1 | +17.2 |
| | Conservative | Evan Henry Llewellyn | 3,901 | 49.9 | −17.2 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 19 | 0.2 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 7,821 | 77.5 | +15.4 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 10,086 | | |
| | Liberal gain from Conservative | Liberal gain from Conservative | Swing | +17.2 | |
General election 1895: North Somerset :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Evan Henry Llewellyn | 4,652 | 54.0 | +4.1 |
| | Liberal | Courtenay Warner | 3,966 | 46.0 | −4.1 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 686 | 8.0 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 8,618 | 84.4 | +6.9 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 10,208 | | |
| | Conservative gain from Liberal | Conservative gain from Liberal | Swing | +4.1 | |

### Elections in the 1900s

General election 1900: North Somerset :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Even Llewellyn | 4,530 | 53.0 | −1.0 |
| | Liberal | William Hope | 4,014 | 47.0 | +1.0 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 516 | 6.0 | −2.0 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 8,544 | 80.0 | −4.4 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 10,682 | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | −1.0 | |
General election 1906: North Somerset :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | William Hope | 6,626 | 60.2 | +13.2 |
| | Conservative | William Mason | 4,380 | 39.8 | −13.2 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 2,246 | 20.4 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 11,006 | 88.9 | +8.9 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 12,381 | | |
| | Liberal gain from Conservative | Liberal gain from Conservative | Swing | +13.2 | |

### Elections in the 1910s

General election January 1910: North Somerset :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | Joseph King | 6,568 | 53.2 | −7.0 |
| | Conservative | Frank Beachim Beauchamp | 5,768 | 46.8 | +7.0 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 800 | 6.4 | −14.0 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 12,336 | 91.4 | +2.5 |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Swing | −7.0 | |
General election December 1910: North Somerset :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | Joseph King | 6,299 | 53.9 | +0.7 |
| | Conservative | Frank Beachim Beauchamp | 5,378 | 46.1 | −0.7 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 921 | 7.8 | +1.4 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 11,677 | 86.5 | −4.9 |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Swing | +0.7 | |
General Election 1914–15:
Another General Election was required to take place before the end of 1915. The political parties had been making preparations for an election to take place and by July 1914, the following candidates had been selected;
* Liberal: Joseph King
* Unionist: J Windsor Levis