South Shropshire (constituency)

South Shropshire
County constituency
for the House of Commons
Boundaries since 2024
Map of constituency
Boundary of South Shropshire in West Midlands region
CountyShropshire
Major settlementsBridgnorth, Ludlow
Current constituency
Created2024
Member of ParliamentStuart Anderson (Conservative)
SeatsOne
Created from
1832–1885
SeatsTwo
Created fromBishop's Castle and Shropshire
Replaced byLudlow and Wellington

South Shropshire is a county constituency in Shropshire. It was first created in 1832 and was represented by two Knights of the Shire.

The constituency was abolished, along with North Shropshire, under the Redistribution of Seats Act 1885, with effect from the 1885 general election. The county was then split into four single-member constituencies: Ludlow, Newport, Oswestry and Wellington.

Further to the completion of the 2023 Periodic Review of Westminster constituencies, the seat was re-established for the 2024 general election, formed from the current constituency of Ludlow with only minor boundary changes.[1] It has been represented since 2024 by Stuart Anderson of the Conservative Party.

Constituency profile

Bridgnorth

South Shropshire is a constituency in Shropshire in the West Midlands region of England. Its largest town is Bridgnorth, which has a population of around 12,000.[2] Other settlements include the towns of Ludlow, Clun, Craven Arms, Bishop's Castle, Church Stretton, Much Wenlock, Broseley and Cleobury Mortimer and the village of Highley.

This is a large, rural constituency with many small market towns, villages and hamlets. Much of this constituency is taken up by the Shropshire Hills National Landscape, an area of upland moors and valleys, and the rural areas are predominantly agricultural. Bridgnorth and Ludlow are historic towns known for their Tudor and Jacobean architecture. This constituency lies along the England-Wales border; many of the villages close to the border have Welsh names and some residents in this area profess a Welsh identity.[3] Ludlow's strategic location close to the border traditionally made it an important centre for administration. This constituency has average levels of wealth, although Bridgnorth is more affluent.[4] House prices are generally similar to the UK average and higher than the rest of the West Midlands region.[5]

South Shropshire has a very high retired population and low proportions of young and middle-aged adults.[6] Residents have average levels of income and child poverty and high rates of homeownership.[5][7] They have average levels of education and many residents are religious.[5] A high proportion work in the agriculture, retail and manufacturing sectors,[8] and the percentage claiming unemployment benefits is low.[7] White people made up 98% of the population at the 2021 census.[9]

At the local council, Ludlow and the west of the constituency are mostly represented by Liberal Democrats whilst Bridgnorth and the east predominantly elected Reform UK councillors. An estimated 56% of voters in South Shropshire supported leaving the European Union in the 2016 referendum, higher than the UK-wide figure of 52%.[5]

Boundaries

1832–1868. Extract from 1837 result: the southern doubly blue area. The cumbersome enclaves (belonging to Herefordshire) of "Farlow" etc. were deemed inclusions, and formally united with Shropshire in 1844.

Historic

1832–1885: The Hundreds of Brimstey, Chirbury, Condover, Ford, Munslow, Overs, Purslow (including Clun) and Stoddesdon, and the Franchise of Wenlock.[10]

Current

The re-established constituency is composed of the following:

  • The County of Shropshire electoral divisions of: Alveley and Claverley; Bishop’s Castle; Bridgnorth East and Astley Abbotts; Bridgnorth West and Tasley; Broseley; Brown Clee; Burnell; Chirbury and Worthen; Church Stretton and Craven Arms; Clee; Cleobury Mortimer; Clun; Corvedale; Highley; Ludlow East; Ludlow North; Ludlow South; Much Wenlock; Severn Valley; Worfield.[11]
It comprises the former constituency of Ludlow, with the addition of the Burnell and Severn Valley electoral division from Shrewsbury and Atcham (re-established as Shrewsbury).

Members of Parliament

MPs 1832–1885

ElectionFirst memberFirst partySecond memberSecond party
1832 The Earl of DarlingtonTory[12] Hon. Robert CliveTory[12]
1834 Conservative[12] Conservative[12]
1842 by-election Viscount NewportConservative[12]
1854 by-election Hon. Robert Windsor-CliveConservative
1859 by-election Sir Baldwin Leighton, BtConservative
April 1865 by-election Hon. Sir Percy Egerton HerbertConservative
July 1865 Jasper MoreLiberal
1868 Edward CorbettConservative
1876 by-election John Edmund SeverneConservative
1877 by-election Sir Baldwyn Leighton, BtConservative
1885 Constituency abolished

MPs since 2024

Ludlow prior to 2024

ElectionMemberParty
2024 Stuart Anderson Conservative

Elections

Elections in the 2020s

General election 2024: South Shropshire[13]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Stuart Anderson 17,628 34.1 −31.3
Liberal Democrats Matthew Green 16,004 31.0 +15.6
Reform Charles Shackerley-Bennett 9,171 17.8 N/A
Labour Simon Thomson 6,939 13.4 −2.4
Green Hilary Wendt 1,911 3.7 +0.2
Majority 1,624 3.1 N/A
Turnout 51,653 67.6 N/A
Registered electors 76,723
Conservative win (new seat)

In order to assess the impact of the boundary changes, various organisations calculated the notional result of the 2019 election if it had been conducted under the boundaries established by the 2023 Periodic Review. Below is such an assessment from the BBC for South Shropshire:

For more information see Notional results of the 2019 United Kingdom general election by 2024 constituency.

Elections 1832–1885

Elections in the 1880s

General election 1880: South Shropshire[15]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Baldwyn Leighton 2,491 29.3 N/A
Conservative John Edmund Severne 2,216 26.1 N/A
Liberal Jasper More 2,149 25.3 New
Liberal John William Handley Davenport[16] 1,634 19.2 New
Majority 67 0.8 N/A
Turnout 4,245 (est) 74.6 (est) N/A
Registered electors 5,690
Conservative hold Swing N/A
Conservative hold Swing N/A

Elections in the 1870s

By-election, 10 August 1877: South Shropshire[15]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Baldwyn Leighton Unopposed
Conservative hold
By-election, 3 November 1876: South Shropshire[15]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative John Edmund Severne Unopposed
Conservative hold

Corbett resigned, triggering a by-election.

General election 1874: South Shropshire[15]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Edward Corbett Unopposed
Conservative Percy Egerton Herbert Unopposed
Registered electors 5,710
Conservative hold
Conservative hold

Herbert's death triggered a by-election.

Elections in the 1860s

General election 1868: South Shropshire[15]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Percy Egerton Herbert 2,703 36.6 +2.4
Conservative Edward Corbett 2,514 34.1 +5.6
Liberal Jasper More 2,161 29.3 −8.0
Majority 353 4.8 N/A
Turnout 4,770 (est) 81.6 (est) +1.3
Registered electors 5,847
Conservative hold Swing +3.2
Conservative gain from Liberal Swing +4.8
By-election, 8 March 1867: South Shropshire[15]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Percy Egerton Herbert Unopposed
Conservative hold
General election 1865: South Shropshire[15]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Jasper More 1,819 37.3 New
Conservative Percy Egerton Herbert 1,669 34.2 N/A
Conservative Baldwin Leighton 1,388 28.5 N/A
Majority 431 8.8 N/A
Turnout 3,348 (est) 80.3 (est) N/A
Registered electors 4,170
Liberal gain from Conservative
Conservative hold

Herbert was appointed Treasurer of the Household, triggering a by-election.

By-election, 12 April 1865: South Shropshire[15]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Percy Egerton Herbert Unopposed
Conservative hold

Elections in the 1850s

By-election, 14 September 1859: South Shropshire[15]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Baldwin Leighton Unopposed
Conservative hold

Bridgeman succeeded to the peerage, becoming 3rd Earl of Bradford, triggering a by-election.

General election 1859: South Shropshire[15]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Orlando Bridgeman Unopposed
Conservative Robert Windsor-Clive Unopposed
Registered electors 3,380
Conservative hold
Conservative hold

Windsor-Clive's death triggered a by-election.

By-election, 9 March 1858: South Shropshire[15]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Orlando Bridgeman Unopposed
Conservative hold
General election 1857: South Shropshire[15]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Orlando Bridgeman Unopposed
Conservative Robert Windsor-Clive Unopposed
Registered electors 3,183
Conservative hold
Conservative hold

Bridgeman was appointed Vice-Chamberlain of the Household, triggering a by-election.

By-election, 8 February 1854: South Shropshire[15]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Robert Windsor Clive Unopposed
Conservative hold
General election 1852: South Shropshire[15]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Orlando Bridgeman Unopposed
Conservative Robert Clive Unopposed
Registered electors 3,571
Conservative hold
Conservative hold

Clive's death triggered a by-election.

By-election, 23 March 1852: South Shropshire[15]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Orlando Bridgeman Unopposed
Conservative hold

Elections in the 1840s

General election 1847: South Shropshire[15]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Orlando Bridgeman Unopposed
Conservative Robert Clive Unopposed
Registered electors 3,678
Conservative hold
Conservative hold

Bridgeman was appointed Vice-Chamberlain of the Household, triggering a by-election.

By-election, 3 March 1842: South Shropshire[15][12]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Orlando Bridgeman Unopposed
Conservative hold
General election 1841: South Shropshire[15][12]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Henry Vane Unopposed
Conservative Robert Clive Unopposed
Registered electors 3,831
Conservative hold
Conservative hold

Vane succeeded to the peerage, becoming 2nd Duke of Cleveland, triggering a by-election.

Elections in the 1830s

General election 1837: South Shropshire[15][12]
Party Candidate Votes %
Conservative Henry Vane Unopposed
Conservative Robert Clive Unopposed
Registered electors 3,240
Conservative hold
Conservative hold
General election 1835: South Shropshire[15][12]
Party Candidate Votes %
Conservative Henry Vane Unopposed
Conservative Robert Clive Unopposed
Registered electors 2,852
Conservative hold
Conservative hold
General election 1832: South Shropshire[15][12]
Party Candidate Votes %
Tory Henry Vane 642 52.0
Tory Robert Clive 573 46.4
Tory Thomas Whitmore 20 1.6
Majority 553 44.8
Turnout 661 23.7
Registered electors 2,791
Tory win (new seat)
Tory win (new seat)
  • Whitmore retired in favour of Clive before the poll concluded.


See also

References

  1. ↑ "The 2023 Review of Parliamentary Constituency Boundaries in England – Volume one: Report – West Midlands | Boundary Commission for England". boundarycommissionforengland.independent.gov.uk. Retrieved 3 August 2023.
  2. ↑ "Bridgnorth". citypopulation.de. Retrieved 23 August 2026.
  3. ↑ "National identity - Census Maps, ONS". ons.gov.uk. Retrieved 23 August 2026.
  4. ↑ "Constituency data: Deprivation in England". commonslibrary.parliament.uk. Retrieved 1 July 2026.
  5. 1 2 3 4 "Seat Details - Shropshire South". electoralcalculus.co.uk. Retrieved 1 July 2026.
  6. ↑ "Constituency data: Population, by age". commonslibrary.parliament.uk. Retrieved 1 July 2026.
  7. 1 2 "Constituency dashboard". House of Commons Library. Retrieved 1 July 2026.
  8. ↑ "Constituency data: businesses and industries". commonslibrary.parliament.uk. Retrieved 1 July 2026.
  9. ↑ "2021 census results: Ethnic groups in your constituency". commonslibrary.parliament.uk. 4 July 2024. Retrieved 1 July 2026.
  10. ↑ "The statutes of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland. 2 & 3 William IV. Cap. LXIV. An Act to settle and describe the Divisions of Counties, and the Limits of Cities and Boroughs, in England and Wales, in so far as respects the Election of Members to serve in Parliament". London: His Majesty's statute and law printers. 1832. pp. 300–383. Retrieved 27 July 2017.
  11. ↑ "The Parliamentary Constituencies Order 2023". Schedule 1 Part 8 West Midlands region.
  12. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Stooks Smith, Henry (1845). The Parliaments of England, from 1st George I., to the Present Time. Vol II: Oxfordshire to Wales Inclusive. London: Simpkin, Marshall, & Co. p. 16. Retrieved 27 May 2019 – via Google Books.
  13. ↑ "UK parliamentary election - 4 July 2024". Shropshire Council. Retrieved 7 July 2024.
  14. ↑ "Results spreadsheet (download)". BBC. Retrieved 19 January 2024.
  15. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 Craig, F. W. S., ed. (1977). British Parliamentary Election Results 1832-1885 (e-book) (1st ed.). London: Macmillan Press. pp. 448–449. ISBN 978-1-349-02349-3.
  16. ↑ "South Shropshire Election". Shrewsbury Chronicle. 16 April 1880. p. 8. Retrieved 22 December 2017 – via British Newspaper Archive.

Sources

52°32′N 2°39′W / 52.53°N 2.65°W / 52.53; -2.65

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