Reading (UK Parliament constituency)








































Reading
Former Borough constituency
for the House of Commons
County Berkshire
1295–1950
Number of members Two until 1885, then one until 1950
Replaced by
Reading North and Reading South

1955–1974 (1974)
Number of members One
Type of constituency Borough constituency
Replaced by
Reading North and Reading South
Created from
Reading North and Reading South

Reading was a parliamentary borough, and later a borough constituency, represented in the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. It comprised the town of Reading in the county of Berkshire.


From 1295, as a parliamentary borough, Reading elected two members of parliament (MPs). When the parliamentary borough was replaced by a borough constituency in 1885, this representation was reduced to a single MP. The constituency was abolished in 1950, re-created in 1955, and finally abolished in 1974.




Contents






  • 1 Boundaries


  • 2 History


  • 3 Members of Parliament


    • 3.1 1295–1660


    • 3.2 1640–1885


    • 3.3 1885–1950


    • 3.4 1955–1974




  • 4 Elections


    • 4.1 Elections in the 1840s


    • 4.2 Elections in the 1850s


    • 4.3 Elections in the 1860s


    • 4.4 Elections in the 1870s


    • 4.5 Elections in the 1880s


    • 4.6 Elections in the 1890s


    • 4.7 Elections in the 1900s


    • 4.8 Elections in the 1910s


    • 4.9 Elections in the 1920s


    • 4.10 Elections in the 1930s


    • 4.11 Elections in the 1940s


    • 4.12 Elections in the 1950s


    • 4.13 Elections in the 1960s


    • 4.14 Elections in the 1970s




  • 5 References


    • 5.1 General


    • 5.2 Specific




  • 6 See also





Boundaries


1918-1950: The County Borough of Reading.


1955-1974: The County Borough of Reading wards of Abbey, Battle, Castle, Caversham, Christchurch, Katesgrove, Minster, Redlands, Thames, and Whitley.



History


Reading was one of the boroughs summoned to send members to the Model Parliament. The boundaries (encompassing the whole of one parish and parts of two others) were effectively unchanged from 1295 to 1918. In 1831, the population of the borough was 15,935, and contained 3,307 houses.


The right to vote was exercised by all inhabitants paying scot and lot, a relatively wide franchise for the period, and almost 2,000 votes were cast at the general election of 1826. Despite this high electorate, the corporation of the town was generally considered in practice to control elections to a large extent. In the second half of the 18th century, Reading was notoriously one of the most corrupt constituencies in England, bribery being both routine and expensive: Namier quotes the accounts kept for Prime Minister Newcastle of the 1754 election, which note that John Dodd, the government's candidate there, had already received £1000 and was promised £500 or £600 more to help him win the seat. (Dodd lost by one vote, but had the result overturned on petition by a partisan vote in the House of Commons, and Newcastle's accounts show a continuing trickle of funds to him to nurse the constituency over the next few years.) A few years later, the nomination to one of Reading's seats was advertised for sale in a London newspaper, though Reading was not mentioned by name and no price was specified; the newspaper's printers were charged by the Commons with a breach of privilege, but the sale of seats remained legal if frowned-upon until 1809.


The Great Reform Act left Reading's representation and boundaries unchanged, and the reformed franchise far from increasing its electorate seems to have reduced it: it was estimated that there were 1,250 voters in 1831, but only 1,001 were registered for the first post-Reform election, that of 1832.


The Representation of the People Act 1884, coming into effect at the 1885 general election, caused the parliamentary borough to be replaced by a borough constituency, and reduced Reading's representation to a single MP. The single-member Reading constituency continued to exist until it was split in 1950 into the separate constituencies of Reading North and Reading South. These two constituencies were merged back into a single Reading constituency in 1955, but again split apart in 1974; despite its name, the 1955 constituency contained only ten wards of the County Borough of Reading. Today the area formerly covered by the Reading constituency is within the constituencies of Reading East and Reading West.



Members of Parliament



1295–1660


  • Constituency created 1295
















































































































































































































































































































































































































Parliament First member Second member
1369
William Catour [1]

1371
William Catour [1]

1378
David atte Hacche [2]

1385
John Doublet [3]

1386 William Stapper
Robert atte Lee[4]
1388 (Feb) David atte Hacche
Richard Bedull[4]
1388 (Sep) John Balet
Nicholas Vachell[4]
1390 (Jan) John Kent
Robert Capellade[4]
1390 (Nov)
1391 Henry Barbour
John Doublet[4]
1393 William Catour
David atte Hacche[4]
1394 William Saville
William Tho...[4]
1395 William Shortwade
John Ede[4]
1397 (Jan) John White
Richard Pernecote[4]
1397 (Sep) Thomas Selham
Robert Godewyn[4]
1399 Roger Hay
John Hunt[4]
1401
1402
1404 (Jan) John Kent
William Derby[4]
1404 (Oct)
1406 John Hunt
Philip Richard[4]
1407 John Merehan
William Kenelme[4]
1410 John White
Alexander Colshull[4]
1411
1413 (Feb)
1413 (May) William Wilton
Richard Farle[4]
1414 (Apr) John Hastyng
John Clerk[4]
1414 (Nov) Stephen Stapper
John Pernecote[4]
1415
1416 (Mar) Walter Mustard
Thomas Lavyngton 1[4]
1416 (Oct)
1417 Alexander Colshull
Thomas Lavyngton[4]
1419 Robert Morys
Richard Cross[4]
1420 Thomas Lavyngton
John Veyr[4]
1421 (May) Thomas Lavyngton
Simon Porter alias Kent[4]
1421 (Dec) John Hunt
William Kyng[4]
1422
Simon Porter alias Kent [5]

1425
Simon Porter alias Kent[5]

1432
Simon Porter alias Kent[5]

1433
Simon Porter alias Kent[5]

1435
Simon Porter alias Kent[5]

1437
Simon Porter alias Kent[5]

1447
Simon Porter alias Kent[5]

1449 (Feb)
Simon Porter alias Kent[5]

1449 (Nov)
Simon Porter alias Kent[5]

1510 Richard Cleche
William Justice[6]
1512 William Gifford
Richard Smith[6]
1515 Edmund Knightley
John Pownsar[6]
1523 Nicholas Hyde
William Edmonds[6]
1529 Thomas Vachell I
John Raymond[6]
1536 Thomas Vachell I
John Raymond[6]
1539 ?Thomas Vachell I
?John Raymond[6]
1542 Thomas Vachell I
Richard Justice[6]
1545 Thomas Vachell I
Roger Amyce[6]
1547
William Grey, died May 1551
repl. 1552 by Sir John Mason

John Marshe[6]
1553 (Mar) John Bourne
John Winchcombe[6]
1553 (Oct) Thomas Vachell I
John Bell[6]
1554 (Apr) Robert Bowyer III
John Lovelace[6]
1554 (Nov) John Bourne
Edmund Plowden[6]
1555 Thomas Vachell II
John Bell[6]
1558 Thomas Aldworth
John Bell[6]
1558/9 Thomas Aldworth
Thomas Turner[7]
1562/3 Henry Knollys
Robert Rowbotham[7]
1571 Henry Knollys
John Hastings[7]
1572 Robert Knollys
Francis Alford[7]
1584 Robert Knollys
Robert Harris[7]
1586 Robert Knollys
Robert Harris[7]
1588
Robert Knollys, sat for Breconshire,
repl. Feb 1589 by Thomas Egerton

Robert Harris[7]
1593 Humphrey Donatt
Charles Wednester[7]
1597 Sir Humphrey Forster
Francis Moore[7]
1601 Francis Moore
Anthony Blagrave[7]
1604 Francis Moore
Jerome Bowes
1614 Francis Moore
Robert Knollys
1621–1622 Anthony Barker
John Saunders
1624 Francis Knollys III
John Saunders
1625 Francis Knollys III
John Saunders
1626 Francis Knollys III
John Saunders
1628 Francis Knollys III
John Saunders
1629–1640
No Parliaments summoned


1640–1885














































































































































































































































































































































































































































Year First member First party Second member Second party
April 1640


Francis Knollys III



Adm. Francis Knollys[8]

November 1640


Francis Knollys III (died 1643)



Adm. Francis Knollys (died 1648)

1645


Daniel Blagrave



1648


Tanfield Vachell



1653
Not represented in Barebones Parliament
1654


Robert Hammond



1656


Daniel Blagrave



1659


Henry Neville



Daniel Blagrave
1660


Thomas Rich



John Blagrave

1661


Sir Thomas Dolman



Richard Aldworth

1679


Nathan Knight



John Blagrave

March 1685


Thomas Coates



John Breedon

November 1685


William Aldworth

1689


Sir Henry Fane

Whig


Sir William Rich

1698


Sir Owen Buckingham



John Dalby

January 1701


Francis Knollys

November 1701


Anthony Blagrave



Tanfield Vachell

1702


Sir Owen Buckingham

1705


Sir William Rich

1708


Owen Buckingham



Anthony Blagrave

1710


John Dalby

1713


Robert Clarges



Felix Calvert

1716


Charles Cadogan



Owen Buckingham

1720


Richard Thompson

1722


Anthony Blagrave



Clement Kent

1727


Richard Potenger



Richard Thompson

1734


Henry Grey

1739


John Blagrave

1740


William Strode

February 1741


John Dodd

May 1741


William Strode

1747


John Conyers



Richard Neville Aldworth Neville

1754


William Strode



Charles Fane

Opposition Whig
1755


John Dodd

Whig
1761


Sir Francis Knollys

1768


Henry Vansittart

1774


Francis Annesley

Tory[9]
1782


Richard Aldworth-Neville

Whig[9]
1797


John Simeon

Tory[9]
1802


Charles Shaw-Lefevre

Whig[9]
1806


John Simeon

Tory[9]
1818


Charles Fyshe Palmer

Whig[9][10][11]
1820


John Monck

Whig[9]
1826


George Spence

Tory[9]
1827


Charles Fyshe Palmer

Whig[9][10][11]
1830


Charles Russell

Tory[9]
1834


Conservative[9]
1835


Thomas Talfourd

Radical[12][13][14]
1837


Charles Fyshe Palmer

Whig[9][10][11]
1841


Charles Russell

Conservative[9]


Henry Cadogan

Conservative[9]
1847


Francis Pigott

Whig[15]


Thomas Talfourd

Radical[12][13][14]
1849


John Frederick Stanford

Conservative
1852


Sir Henry Singer Keating

Whig[15]
1859


Liberal


Liberal
January 1860


Sir Francis Goldsmid

Liberal
November 1860


Gillery Pigott

Liberal
1863


George Shaw-Lefevre

Liberal
1878


George Palmer

Liberal

1885

Representation reduced to one member


1885–1950





















































































Election Member Party

1885


Charles Townshend Murdoch

Conservative

1892


George William Palmer

Liberal

1895


Charles Townshend Murdoch

Conservative

1898 by-election


George William Palmer

Liberal

1904 by-election


Rufus Isaacs

Liberal

1913 by-election


Leslie Orme Wilson

Conservative

1922


Edward Cadogan

Conservative

1923


Somerville Hastings

Labour

1924


Herbert Williams

Conservative

1929


Somerville Hastings

Labour

1931


Alfred Howitt

Conservative

1945


Ian Mikardo

Labour

1950

Constituency divided into Reading North and Reading South


1955–1974









































Election Member Party

1955

Constituency recreated

1955


Ian Mikardo

Labour

1959


Peter Emery

Conservative

1966


John Lee

Labour

1970


Gerard Vaughan

Conservative

Feb 1974

Constituency redivided into Reading North and Reading South


Elections



Elections in the 1840s














































































General Election 1841: Reading (2 seats)[16][9]
Party
Candidate
Votes
%
±


Conservative

Charles Russell
570
29.4



Conservative

Henry Cadogan
564
29.1



Whig

Thomas Mills
410
21.1



Whig

William Tooke
397
20.5

Majority
154
7.9

N/A

Turnout
984
82.4


Registered electors
1,194




Conservative gain from Whig

Swing




Conservative gain from Radical

Swing





















































































General Election 1847: Reading (2 seats)[16]
Party
Candidate
Votes
%
±


Whig

Francis Pigott
614
29.1
+8.0


Radical

Thomas Talfourd
596
28.3
+7.8


Conservative

Charles Russell
521
24.7
−4.7


Conservative

Henry Cadogan
376
17.8
−11.3

Turnout
1,054 (est)
84.2 (est)
+1.8

Registered electors
1,251


Majority
18
0.9

N/A


Whig gain from Conservative

Swing
+8.0

Majority
75
3.6

N/A


Radical gain from Conservative

Swing
+7.9


Talfourd resigned after being appointed a judge of the Court of Common Pleas, causing a by-election.































































By-election, 8 August 1849: Reading[16]
Party
Candidate
Votes
%
±


Conservative

John Frederick Stanford
507
51.8
+9.3


Whig

George Bowyer[17]
364
37.2
+8.1


Radical
Thomas Norton[18][19]
107
10.9
−17.4
Majority
143
14.6

N/A

Turnout
978
74.7
−9.5

Registered electors
1,309




Conservative gain from Radical

Swing
+13.4



Elections in the 1850s






































































General Election 1852: Reading (2 seats)[16]
Party
Candidate
Votes
%
±


Whig

Francis Pigott
753
39.6
+10.5


Whig

Henry Singer Keating
631
33.2
+4.9


Conservative

Samuel Auchmuty Dickson[20]
518
27.2
−15.3
Majority
113
5.9
+5.0

Turnout
951 (est)
68.0 (est)
−16.2

Registered electors
1,399




Whig hold

Swing
+9.1



Whig gain from Radical

Swing
+6.3








































General Election 1857: Reading (2 seats)[16]
Party
Candidate
Votes
%
±


Whig

Francis Pigott

Unopposed


Whig

Henry Singer Keating

Unopposed

Registered electors
1431




Whig hold


Whig hold

Keating was appointed Solicitor General for England and Wales, requiring a by-election.
























By-election, 2 June 1857: Reading[16]
Party
Candidate
Votes
%
±


Whig

Henry Singer Keating

Unopposed


Whig hold





































































General Election 1859: Reading (2 seats)[16]
Party
Candidate
Votes
%
±


Liberal

Francis Pigott
761
38.6

N/A


Liberal

Henry Singer Keating
666
33.8

N/A


Conservative
Ralph Augustus Benson
544
27.6

N/A
Majority
122
6.2

N/A

Turnout
986 (est)
67.9 (est)

N/A

Registered electors
1,451




Liberal hold

Swing

N/A



Liberal hold

Swing

N/A


Keating was appointed Solicitor General for England and Wales, requiring a by-election.
























By-election, 27 June 1859: Reading[16]
Party
Candidate
Votes
%
±


Liberal

Henry Singer Keating

Unopposed


Liberal hold


Elections in the 1860s


Keating resigned after being appointed a Judge of the Court of Common Pleas, causing a by-election.























































By-election, 11 January 1860: Reading[16]
Party
Candidate
Votes
%
±


Liberal

Francis Goldsmid
661
54.5
−17.9


Conservative
Ralph Augustus Benson[21]
551
45.5
+17.9
Majority
110
9.1
+2.9

Turnout
1,212
80.5
+12.6

Registered electors
1,506




Liberal hold

Swing
−17.9


Pigott resigned after being appointed Lieutenant Governor of the Isle of Man, causing a by-election.























































By-election, 21 November 1860: Reading[16]
Party
Candidate
Votes
%
±


Liberal

Gillery Pigott
586
57.4
−15.0


Conservative
Edward Walter[22]
435
42.6
+15.0
Majority
151
14.8
+8.6

Turnout
1,021
67.8
−0.1

Registered electors
1,506




Liberal hold

Swing
−15.0


Pigott resigned after being appointed a Judge of the Court of the Exchequer, causing a by-election.
























By-election, 17 October 1863: Reading[16]
Party
Candidate
Votes
%
±


Liberal

George Shaw-Lefevre

Unopposed


Liberal hold





































































General Election 1865: Reading (2 seats)[16]
Party
Candidate
Votes
%
±


Liberal

Francis Goldsmid
727
38.6
+0.0


Liberal

George Shaw-Lefevre
714
37.9
+4.1


Conservative
Stephen Tucker[23]
444
23.6
−4.0
Majority
270
14.3
+8.1

Turnout
1,165 (est)
65.8 (est)
−2.1

Registered electors
1,769




Liberal hold

Swing
+2.0



Liberal hold

Swing
+2.1


Shaw-Lefevre was appointed a Civil Lord of the Admiralty, requiring a by-election.
























By-election, 5 May 1866: Reading[16]
Party
Candidate
Votes
%
±


Liberal

George Shaw-Lefevre

Unopposed


Liberal hold





































































General Election 1868: Reading (2 seats)[16]
Party
Candidate
Votes
%
±


Liberal

Francis Goldsmid
1,629
38.5
−0.1


Liberal

George Shaw-Lefevre
1,618
38.3
+0.4


Conservative

Robert Carden
979
23.2
−0.4
Majority
639
15.1
+0.8

Turnout
2,603 (est)
80.6 (est)
+14.8

Registered electors
3,228




Liberal hold

Swing
+0.1



Liberal hold

Swing
+0.3



Elections in the 1870s














































































General Election 1874: Reading (2 seats)[16]
Party
Candidate
Votes
%
±


Liberal

George Shaw-Lefevre
1,794
26.1
−12.2


Liberal

Francis Goldsmid
1,791
26.1
−12.4


Conservative
Richard Attenborough[24]
1,652
24.1
+12.5


Conservative
William Dalziel Mackenzie[25]
1,631
23.7
+12.1
Majority
139
2.0
−13.1

Turnout
3,434 (est)
83.4 (est)
+2.8

Registered electors
4,118




Liberal hold

Swing
−12.3



Liberal hold

Swing
−12.4


Goldsmid's death caused a by-election.























































By-election, 18 May 1878: Reading (1 seat)[16]
Party
Candidate
Votes
%
±


Liberal

George Palmer
2,223
58.7
+6.5


Conservative
Richard Attenborough
1,565
41.3
−6.5
Majority
658
17.4
+15.4

Turnout
3,788
80.2
−3.2

Registered electors
4,721




Liberal hold

Swing
+6.5



Elections in the 1880s






































































General Election 1880: Reading (2 seats)[16]
Party
Candidate
Votes
%
±


Liberal

George Palmer
2,513
36.6
+10.5


Liberal

George Shaw-Lefevre
2,286
33.3
+7.2


Conservative

Albert George Sandeman[26]
2,067
30.1
−17.8
Majority
219
3.2
+1.2

Turnout
4,580 (est)
89.7 (est)
+6.3

Registered electors
5,107




Liberal hold

Swing
+9.7



Liberal hold

Swing
+8.1


Lefevre was appointed First Commissioner of Works and Public Buildings, requiring a by-election.
























By-election, 15 Dec 1880: Reading (1 seat)[16]
Party
Candidate
Votes
%
±


Liberal

George Shaw-Lefevre

Unopposed


Liberal hold






















































General Election 1885: Reading [27]
Party
Candidate
Votes
%
±


Conservative

Charles Townshend Murdoch
3,518
50.9
+20.8


Liberal

George Shaw-Lefevre
3,389
49.1
−20.8
Majority
129
1.8

N/A

Turnout
6,907
91.9
+2.2 (est)

Registered electors
7,515




Conservative gain from Liberal

Swing
+20.8























































General Election 1886: Reading [28]
Party
Candidate
Votes
%
±


Conservative

Charles Townshend Murdoch
3,378
50.9
+0.0


Liberal
William Berkeley Monck[29]
3,262
49.1
+0.0
Majority
116
1.8
+0.0

Turnout
6,640
88.4
−3.5

Registered electors
7,515




Conservative hold

Swing
+0.0



Elections in the 1890s























































General Election 1892: Reading [30]
Party
Candidate
Votes
%
±


Liberal

George Palmer
3,990
51.9
+2.8


Conservative

Charles Townshend Murdoch
3,700
48.1
−2.8
Majority
290
3.8

N/A

Turnout
7,690
91.1
+2.7

Registered electors
8,438




Liberal gain from Conservative

Swing
+2.8























































General Election 1895: Reading [31]
Party
Candidate
Votes
%
±


Conservative

Charles Townshend Murdoch
4,278
52.1
+4.0


Liberal

George Palmer
3,927
47.9
−4.0
Majority
351
4.2

N/A

Turnout
8,205
90.1
−1.0

Registered electors
9,104




Conservative gain from Liberal

Swing
+4.0


Murdoch's death caused a by-election.































































By-election, 25 Jul 1898: Reading [32]
Party
Candidate
Votes
%
±


Liberal

George Palmer
4,600
52.4
+4.5


Conservative

Charles Edward Keyser
3,906
44.5
−7.6


Social Democratic Federation

Harry Quelch
270
3.1

N/A
Majority
694
7.9

N/A

Turnout
8,776
91.7
+1.6

Registered electors
9,573




Liberal gain from Conservative

Swing
+6.1



Elections in the 1900s




Keyser























































General Election 1900: Reading [33]
Party
Candidate
Votes
%
±


Liberal

George Palmer
4,592
51.3
+3.4


Conservative

Charles Edward Keyser
4,353
48.7
−3.4
Majority
239
2.6

N/A

Turnout
8,945
88.1
−2.0

Registered electors
10,152




Liberal gain from Conservative

Swing
+3.4




Isaacs























































Reading by-election, 1904 [34]
Party
Candidate
Votes
%
±


Liberal

Rufus Isaacs
4,770
51.2
-0.1


Conservative

Charles Edward Keyser
4,540
48.8
+0.1
Majority
230
2.4
-0.2

Turnout
9,310
83.5
−4.6

Registered electors
11,151




Liberal hold

Swing
-0.1























































General Election 1906: Reading [35]
Party
Candidate
Votes
%
±


Liberal

Rufus Isaacs
5,407
53.4
+2.1


Conservative
George Horace Johnstone
4,710
46.6
-2.1
Majority
697
6.8
+ +4.2

Turnout
10,117
91.6
+3.5

Registered electors
11,041




Liberal hold

Swing
+2.1



Elections in the 1910s























































General Election January 1910[36]
Party
Candidate
Votes
%
±


Liberal

Rufus Isaacs
5,264
51.0
−2.4


Liberal Unionist

Leslie Renton
5,057
49.0
+2.4
Majority
207
2.0
−4.8

Turnout
10,321
93.7
+2.1

Registered electors
11,016




Liberal hold

Swing
−2.4


Isaacs is appointed Solicitor General of England and Wales, requiring a by-election.
























By-election, March 1910[36]
Party
Candidate
Votes
%
±


Liberal

Rufus Isaacs

Unopposed


Liberal hold






















































General Election December 1910[36]
Party
Candidate
Votes
%
±


Liberal

Rufus Isaacs
5,094
50.5
−0.5


Conservative

Leslie Orme Wilson
4,995
49.5
+0.5
Majority
99
1.0
−1.0

Turnout
10,089
91.6
−2.1

Registered electors
11,016




Liberal hold

Swing
−0.5


Issacs is appointed Lord Chief Justice of England and is elevated to the peerage as Lord Reading, requiring a by-election.































































Reading by-election, 1913[36]
Party
Candidate
Votes
%
±


Unionist

Leslie Orme Wilson
5,144
50.3
+0.8


Liberal

George Peabody Gooch
4,013
39.3
−11.2


British Socialist Party

Joseph George Butler
1,063
10.4

N/A
Majority
1,131
11.0

N/A

Turnout
10,220
92.2
+0.6

Registered electors
11,088




Unionist gain from Liberal

Swing
+6.0


A General Election was due to take place by the end of 1915. By the summer of 1914, the following candidates had been adopted to contest that election. Due to the outbreak of war, the election never took place.




  • Unionist Party: Leslie Orme Wilson


  • Liberal Party: Henry Norman Spalding[37]


  • British Socialist Party: Joseph George Butler[38]


































































General Election 14 December 1918: Reading
Party
Candidate
Votes
%
±

C

Unionist

Leslie Orme Wilson
15,204
53.9
+4.4


Labour
Thomas Charles Morris
8,410
29.8

N/A


Liberal
Frederick Thoresby
3,143
11.1
−39.4


National Socialist Party

Lorenzo Quelch
1,462
5.2

N/A
Majority
6,794
24.1

N/A

Turnout
28,219
62.2
−29.4


Unionist hold

Swing
+21.9


C indicates candidate endorsed by the coalition government.


Elections in the 1920s




H.D. Roome

























































General Election 1922: Reading[39]
Party
Candidate
Votes
%
±


Unionist

Edward Cadogan
16,082
42.7



Labour

Derwent Hall Caine
14,322
38.1



Liberal
Henry Delacombe Roome
7,212
19.2

Majority
1,760
4.6


Turnout





Unionist hold

Swing


























































General Election 1923: Reading [39]
Party
Candidate
Votes
%
±


Labour

Somerville Hastings
16,657
44.8
+6.7


Unionist

Edward Cadogan
15,115
40.7
-2.0


Liberal

Frederick Maddison
5,406
14.5
-4.7
Majority
1,542
4.1
-0.5

Turnout

82.1



Labour gain from Unionist

Swing
+4.3

















































General Election 1924: Reading [39]
Party
Candidate
Votes
%
±


Unionist

Herbert Williams
21,338
53.8



Labour

Somerville Hastings
18,337
46.2

Majority
3,001
7.6


Turnout

85.8



Unionist gain from Labour

Swing


























































General Election 1929: Reading[39]
Party
Candidate
Votes
%
±


Labour

Somerville Hastings
23,281
43.5
-2.7


Unionist

Herbert Williams
22,429
42.0
-11.8


Liberal

Dugald Macfadyen
7,733
14.5
n/a
Majority
852
1.5
-6.1

Turnout

85.0
-0.8


Labour gain from Unionist

Swing
+4.5



Elections in the 1930s

























































General Election 1931: Reading[40]
Electorate 65,009
Party
Candidate
Votes
%
±


Conservative

Alfred Howitt
34,439
63.1



Labour

Somerville Hastings
19,277
35.3



New Party
ER Troward
861
1.6

Majority
15,162
27.8


Turnout
54,577
83.9



Conservative gain from Labour

Swing



  • The Liberal Party candidate, Rosalie Glynn Grylls withdrew at close of nominations
























































General Election 1935: Reading[39]
Electorate 67,181
Party
Candidate
Votes
%
±


Conservative

Alfred Howitt
27,540
51.8



Labour

Somerville Hastings
22,949
43.2



Liberal
John William Todd
2,685
5.0

Majority
4,591
8.6


Turnout
53,174
79.1



Conservative 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;




  • Conservative: Alfred Howitt


  • Labour: Margaret Bondfield[41]



Elections in the 1940s

























































General Election 1945: Reading[39]
Party
Candidate
Votes
%
±


Labour

Ian Mikardo
30,465
48.8



Conservative
WEC McIlroy
24,075
38.6



Liberal
Robert Nevill Tronchin James
7,834
12.6

Majority
6,390
10.2


Turnout

73.5



Labour gain from Conservative

Swing




Elections in the 1950s




















































General Election 1955: Reading[42][43]
Party
Candidate
Votes
%
±


Labour

Ian Mikardo

25,228

50.24

N/A


Conservative

Frederic Bennett
24,990
49.76

N/A
Majority
238
0.47

N/A

Turnout
50,218
84.15


Registered electors
59,678




Labour win (new seat)






















































General Election 1959: Reading[44][45]
Party
Candidate
Votes
%
±


Conservative

Peter Emery

26,314

54.05

+4.29


Labour

Ian Mikardo
22,372
45.95
-4.29
Majority
3,942
8.10

N/A

Turnout
48,686
82.84
-1.31

Registered electors
58,772




Conservative gain from Labour

Swing
+4.29



Elections in the 1960s































































General Election 1964: Reading[46][47]
Party
Candidate
Votes
%
±


Conservative

Peter Emery

20,815

43.93

-10.12


Labour

John Lee
20,805
43.91
-2.04


Liberal
Michael F Burns
5,759
12.16

N/A
Majority
10
0.02
-8.08

Turnout
47,379
79.80
-3.04

Registered electors
59,371




Conservative hold

Swing
-4.04































































General Election 1966: Reading[48][49]
Party
Candidate
Votes
%
±


Labour

John Lee

25,338

51.01

+7.10


Conservative

Peter Emery
21,205
42.69
-1.24


Liberal
Ernest H Palfrey
3,127
6.30
-5.86
Majority
4,133
8.32

N/A

Turnout
49,670
84.00
+4.20

Registered electors
59,132




Labour gain from Conservative

Swing
+4.17



Elections in the 1970s































































General Election 1970: Reading[50][51]
Party
Candidate
Votes
%
±


Conservative

Gerard Vaughan

23,598

50.31

+7.62


Labour

John Lee
22,444
47.85
-3.16


Democratic Party
Alec Boothroyd
867
1.85

N/A
Majority
1,154
2.46

N/A

Turnout
46,909
74.04
-9.96

Registered electors
63,359




Conservative gain from Labour

Swing
+5.39



References



General



  • Lewis Namier, The Structure of Politics at the Accession of George III (2nd edition – London: St Martin's Press, 1961)

  • J Holladay Philbin, Parliamentary Representation 1832 – England and Wales (New Haven: Yale University Press, 1965)

  • Edward Porritt and Annie G Porritt, The Unreformed House of Commons (Cambridge University Press, 1903)

  • Leigh Rayment's Historical List of MPs – Constituencies beginning with "R" (part 1)



Specific





  1. ^ ab http://www.historyofparliamentonline.org/volume/1386-1421/member/catour-william-1395


  2. ^ http://www.historyofparliamentonline.org/volume/1386-1421/member/hacche-david-atte


  3. ^ http://www.historyofparliamentonline.org/volume/1386-1421/member/doublet-john-1407


  4. ^ abcdefghijklmnopqrstuvwx "History of Parliament". History of Parliament Trust. Retrieved 8 November 2011..mw-parser-output cite.citation{font-style:inherit}.mw-parser-output q{quotes:"""""""'""'"}.mw-parser-output code.cs1-code{color:inherit;background:inherit;border:inherit;padding:inherit}.mw-parser-output .cs1-lock-free a{background:url("//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/65/Lock-green.svg/9px-Lock-green.svg.png")no-repeat;background-position:right .1em center}.mw-parser-output .cs1-lock-limited a,.mw-parser-output .cs1-lock-registration a{background:url("//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/d6/Lock-gray-alt-2.svg/9px-Lock-gray-alt-2.svg.png")no-repeat;background-position:right .1em center}.mw-parser-output .cs1-lock-subscription a{background:url("//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/aa/Lock-red-alt-2.svg/9px-Lock-red-alt-2.svg.png")no-repeat;background-position:right .1em center}.mw-parser-output .cs1-subscription,.mw-parser-output .cs1-registration{color:#555}.mw-parser-output .cs1-subscription span,.mw-parser-output .cs1-registration span{border-bottom:1px dotted;cursor:help}.mw-parser-output .cs1-hidden-error{display:none;font-size:100%}.mw-parser-output .cs1-visible-error{font-size:100%}.mw-parser-output .cs1-subscription,.mw-parser-output .cs1-registration,.mw-parser-output .cs1-format{font-size:95%}.mw-parser-output .cs1-kern-left,.mw-parser-output .cs1-kern-wl-left{padding-left:0.2em}.mw-parser-output .cs1-kern-right,.mw-parser-output .cs1-kern-wl-right{padding-right:0.2em}


  5. ^ abcdefghi http://www.historyofparliamentonline.org/volume/1386-1421/member/porter-simon


  6. ^ abcdefghijklmnop "History of Parliament". History of Parliament Trust. Retrieved 8 November 2011.


  7. ^ abcdefghij "History of Parliament". History of Parliament Trust. Retrieved 8 November 2011.


  8. ^ In place of Edward Herbert and Sir John Berkeley, elected for Old Sarum and Heytesbury


  9. ^ abcdefghijklmno Stooks Smith, Henry. (1973) [1844-1850]. Craig, F. W. S., ed. The Parliaments of England (2nd ed.). Chichester: Parliamentary Research Services. pp. 8–9. ISBN 0-900178-13-2.


  10. ^ abc Churton, Edward (1838). The Assembled Commons or Parliamentary Biographer: 1838. p. 174. Retrieved 29 November 2018 – via Google Books.


  11. ^ abc Mosse, Richard Bartholomew (1838). The Parliamentary Guide: a concise history of the Members of both Houses, etc. p. 201. Retrieved 29 November 2018 – via Google Books.


  12. ^ ab Hall, Edith (2015). "Making it Really New: Dickens versus the Classics". In Stead, Henry; Hall, Edith. Greek and Roman Classics in the British Struggle for Social Reform. Bloomsbury. p. 148. ISBN 9781472584274. Retrieved 30 June 2018.


  13. ^ ab Richards, Jeffrey (2009). The Ancient World on the Victorian and Edwardian Stage (eBook). Basingstoke: Palgrave Macmillan. p. 36. doi:10.1057/9780230250895. ISBN 978-0-230-25089-5. Retrieved 30 June 2018.


  14. ^ ab Gregory, James (2012). Victorians Against the Gallows: Capital Punishment and the Abolitionist Movement in Nineteenth Century Britain. London: I.B. Tauris. p. 200. ISBN 978-18488-56943. Retrieved 30 June 2018.


  15. ^ ab "The Berkshire Chronicle". 10 July 1852. p. 4. Retrieved 30 June 2018 – via British Newspaper Archive. (Subscription required (help)).


  16. ^ abcdefghijklmnopqr Craig, F. W. S., ed. (1977). British Parliamentary Election Results 1832-1885 (e-book)|format= requires |url= (help) (1st ed.). London: Macmillan Press. ISBN 978-1-349-02349-3.


  17. ^ "The Nomination". Windsor and Eton Express. 11 August 1849. p. 3. Retrieved 29 November 2018 – via British Newspaper Archive. (Subscription required (help)).


  18. ^ "John Bull". 13 August 1849. p. 4. Retrieved 29 November 2018 – via British Newspaper Archive. (Subscription required (help)).


  19. ^ "Country News, Reading Election". Illustrated London News. 11 August 1849. p. 30. Retrieved 29 November 2018 – via British Newspaper Archive. (Subscription required (help)).


  20. ^ "Hull Election". Hull Advertiser and Exchange Gazette. 12 August 1854. p. 6. Retrieved 30 June 2018 – via British Newspaper Archive. (Subscription required (help)).


  21. ^ "Reading Election". Berkshire Chronicle. 14 January 1860. p. 4. Retrieved 16 March 2018 – via British Newspaper Archive. (Subscription required (help)).


  22. ^ "To the Conservative Electors of the Borough of Reading". Berkshire Chronicle. 17 November 1860. p. 1. Retrieved 16 March 2018 – via British Newspaper Archive. (Subscription required (help)).


  23. ^ "Reading Borough Election". Berkshire Chronicle. 15 July 1865. p. 6. Retrieved 16 March 2018 – via British Newspaper Archive. (Subscription required (help)).


  24. ^ "The General Election". London Evening Standard. 31 January 1874. pp. 2–3. Retrieved 18 January 2018 – via British Newspaper Archive. (Subscription required (help)).


  25. ^ "To the Electors of the Borough of Reading". Berkshire Chronicle. 31 January 1874. p. 4. Retrieved 18 January 2018 – via British Newspaper Archive. (Subscription required (help)).


  26. ^ "The Representation of Reading". Reading Mercury. 1 March 1884. p. 5. Retrieved 10 December 2017 – via British Newspaper Archive. (Subscription required (help)).


  27. ^ British Parliamentary Election Results 1885-1918, FWS Craig


  28. ^ British Parliamentary Election Results 1885-1918, FWS Craig


  29. ^ "Election Notices". Reading Mercury. 26 June 1886. p. 6. Retrieved 10 December 2017 – via British Newspaper Archive. (Subscription required (help)).


  30. ^ British Parliamentary Election Results 1885-1918, FWS Craig


  31. ^ British Parliamentary Election Results 1885-1918, FWS Craig


  32. ^ British Parliamentary Election Results 1885-1918, FWS Craig


  33. ^ British Parliamentary Election Results 1885-1918, FWS Craig


  34. ^ British Parliamentary Election Results 1885-1918, FWS Craig


  35. ^ British Parliamentary Election Results 1885-1918, FWS Craig


  36. ^ abcd Craig, FWS, ed. (1974). British Parliamentary Election Results: 1885-1918. London: Macmillan Press. ISBN 9781349022984.


  37. ^ Who's Who


  38. ^ "British Socialist Party". Manchester Guardian. 13 April 1914.


  39. ^ abcdef British Parliamentary Election Results 1918-1949, FWS Craig


  40. ^ British Parliamentary Election Results 1918-1949, F W S Craig


  41. ^ Report of the Annual Conference of the Labour Party, 1939


  42. ^ Kimber, Richard. "UK General Election results May 1955". Political Science Resources. Retrieved 12 April 2016.


  43. ^ [1]


  44. ^ Kimber, Richard. "UK General Election results 1959". Political Science Resources. Retrieved 12 April 2016.


  45. ^ [2]


  46. ^ Kimber, Richard. "UK General Election results 1964". Political Science Resources. Retrieved 12 April 2016.


  47. ^ [3]


  48. ^ Kimber, Richard. "UK General Election results 1966". Political Science Resources. Retrieved 12 April 2016.


  49. ^ [4]


  50. ^ Kimber, Richard. "UK General Election results 1970". Political Science Resources. Retrieved 12 April 2016.


  51. ^ [5]




See also


  • List of Parliamentary constituencies in Berkshire



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