The seat covers most of Gloucester and its neighbouring suburbs of Quedgeley and Hucclecote. Residents' incomes and wealth are around average for the UK.[2]
Since 1979 Gloucester has been a bellwether constituency by passing between representatives of the two largest parties in the same way as the government. After nearly three decades as a Conservative seat, it was held by Labour from 1997 to 2010 before returning to a Conservative on a swing of 8.9%. Labour recaptured the seat once again at the 2024 general election.
Boundaries
1918–1950: The County Borough of Gloucester.
1950–1955: The County Borough of Gloucester, and in the Rural District of Gloucester the parishes of Barnwood, Brockworth, Hempsted, Hucclecote, and Wotton Vill.
1955–1974: The County Borough of Gloucester, and in the Rural District of Gloucester the parishes of Barnwood, Brockworth, Hempsted, and Hucclecote.
Wotton Vill parish had been absorbed by Gloucester CB in 1951. The constituency boundaries remained unchanged.
1974–1983: The County Borough of Gloucester.
1983–1997: The City of Gloucester, and the District of Stroud wards of Quedgeley and Hardwicke, and Upton St Leonards.
1997–2010: The City of Gloucester.
2010–2024: The City of Gloucester wards of Abbey, Barnwood, Barton and Tredworth, Elmbridge, Grange, Hucclecote, Kingsholm and Wotton, Matson and Robinswood, Moreland, Podsmead, Quedgeley Fieldcourt, Quedgeley Severn Vale, Tuffley, and Westgate.
In 1881, Robinson's willingness to stand down faced with a popular petition and the unwillingness of the Conservatives to make allegations nor investigate matters further led to suspicions of collusion between the parties and a Royal Commission was set up to examine electoral practices. The Royal Commission concluded that Gloucester was among the most corrupt of the seven towns investigated and that bribery was endemic in all elections in the city. The Commission concluded that half of the electorate had taken bribes in 1880 and blamed local politicians for most of the corruption. Despite these findings and virtually halving the electorate eligible to vote Robinson was reelected for Gloucester in 1885 when representation had been reduced to one member under the Redistribution of Seats Act 1885.[21]
A petition was raised against the election of Robinson and Monk, leading to Robinson's election being made void. Although the petition against Monk was dismissed, the writ was suspended and Monk became the only MP for the constituency.
^Lenthall was also elected for Oxfordshire. Cobbett's recording of William Lenthall as elected for Gloucester may be an error, as his son John sat for the city both before and after this Parliament.
^Major-General John Desborough elected but was also elected for Somerset. Chose Somerset and was replaced by James Stephens
^At the election of 1727 there was a double return, but two of the candidates returned, Matthew Ducie Moreton and Thomas Chester waived their rights and Bathurst and Selwyn were declared duly elected.
^ abcHall, Catherine; Draper, Nicholas; McClelland, Keith; Donington, Katie; Lang, Rachel (2014). "Appendix 4: MPs 1832-80 in the compensation records". Legacies of British Slave-ownership: Colonial Slavery and the Formation of Victorian Britain. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. p. 294. ISBN978-1-107-04005-2.
^On petition, the 1859 election was declared void, the writ was suspended, and a Royal Commission appointed to investigate. After the Commission reported, the writ was restored and a by-election held to fill the vacant seats.
^On petition, Robinson's election was declared void, the writ was suspended and a Royal Commission appointed to investigate
^Percentage change and swing for 2010 is calculated relative to the PA (Rallings and Thrasher) 2005 notional result, not actual 2005 result "Press Association Elections". Press Association. Archived from the original on 13 June 2018. Retrieved 17 July 2017.
^Percentage change and swing for 1997 is calculated relative to the Rallings and Thrasher 1992 notional constituency result, not actual 1992 result. See C. Rallings & M. Thrasher, The Media Guide to the New Parliamentary Constituencies (Plymouth: LGC Elections Centre, 1995)
^"Politics Resources". Election 1992. Politics Resources. 9 April 1992. Archived from the original on 24 July 2011. Retrieved 6 December 2010.
^Percentage change and swing for 1983 is calculated relative to the BBC/ITN 1979 notional constituency result, not actual 1979 result. See British Broadcasting Corporation; Independent Television News. The BBC/ITN Guide to the New Parliamentary Constituencies (Chichester: Parliamentary Research Services 1983)
^Percentage change and swing for February 1974 is calculated relative to the BBC notional 1970 constituency result, not actual 1970 result. Notional 1970 results were rounded to the nearest hundred. Constituency data for 1974-83 including 1970 notionals, retrieved 18 July 2017
Lewis Namier & John Brooke, The History of Parliament: The House of Commons 1754–1790 (London: HMSO, 1964)
J. E. Neale, The Elizabethan House of Commons (London: Jonathan Cape, 1949)
J. Holladay Philbin, Parliamentary Representation 1832 – England and Wales (New Haven: Yale University Press, 1965)
Henry Stooks Smith, The Parliaments of England from 1715 to 1847 (2nd edition, edited by FWS Craig – Chichester: Parliamentary Reference Publications, 1973)
