Oxford was a parliamentary constituency in the United Kingdom, comprising the city of Oxford in the county of Oxfordshire.

History

The parliamentary borough of Oxford elected two Members of Parliament to the House of Commons of the Parliament of England from its creation in 1295 to 1707, then of the Parliament of Great Britain from 1707 to 1800 and of the Parliament of the United Kingdom from 1801. In 1885, its representation was reduced to one member by the Redistribution of Seats Act 1885 and it was abolished in 1983 as a result of the Third Periodic Review of Westminster constituencies.

During the 1960s and 1970s, Oxford was a marginal seat.

Boundaries and boundary changes

1918–1950

The County Borough of Oxford.

The boundaries were expanded to coincide with the County Borough.

1950–1983

As above, with redrawn boundaries.

Areas which had been absorbed by the County Borough of Oxford, including Cowley and Headington, transferred from the Henley constituency.  Small area in the north also transferred from Banbury.

Following the 1983 redistribution, this constituency was dissolved and divided into two distinct constituencies: Oxford East, and Oxford West and Abingdon. The City of Oxford local government district had succeeded the County Borough of Oxford on 1 April 1974, as outlined in the Local Government Act 1972, and the redistribution was a reflection of this change. Despite Oxford West and Abingdon encompassing Oxford city centre at the time, Oxford East primarily comprised the majority of the new district. Since 2010, the city centre has been situated within the redrawn Oxford East constituency.

Members of Parliament

1295–1640

1640–1885

1885–1983

Elections

Elections in the 1830s

Stonor's election was declared void on petition, causing a by-election.

Elections in the 1840s

Elections in the 1850s

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

Wood resigned after being appointed Vice-Chancellor, causing a by-election.

Neate's election was declared void on petition due to bribery, causing a by-election.

Cardwell was appointed Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, requiring a by-election.

Elections in the 1860s

Cardwell was appointed Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, requiring a by-election.

Langston's death caused a by-election.

Cardwell was appointed Secretary of State for the Colonies, requiring a by-election.

Cardwell was appointed Secretary of State for War, requiring a by-election.

Elections in the 1870s

Harcourt was appointed Solicitor General for England and Wales, causing a by-election.

Cardwell was elevated to the peerage, becoming Viscount Cardwell and causing a by-election.

Elections in the 1880s

Harcourt was appointed Home Secretary, requiring a by-election.

Hall's election was declared void, on account of bribery, and the writ was suspended.

In 1881, Chitty was appointed a judge and resigned the seat. However, as the writ was suspended, no by-election was held and the seat was left without an MP until 1885, when representation was also reduced to one member.

Elections in the 1890s

Chesney's death caused a by-election.

Annesley's appointment as Comptroller of the Household, requiring a by-election.

Elections in the 1900s

Elections in the 1910s

Elections in the 1920s

Elections in the 1930s

Elections in the 1940s

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 Autumn 1939, the following candidates had been selected;

• Conservative: Quintin Hogg
• Labour: Patrick Gordon-Walker
• Liberal: William Brown

Elections in the 1950s

Elections in the 1960s

Elections in the 1970s

References

Sources

• Leigh Rayment's Historical List of MPs – Constituencies beginning with "O"
• Election results, 1951–1979
• Robert Beatson, A Chronological Register of Both Houses of Parliament (London: Longman, Hurst, Res & Orme, 1807) [1]
• D. Brunton & D. H. Pennington, Members of the Long Parliament (London: George Allen & Unwin, 1954)
• Cobbett's Parliamentary history of England, from the Norman Conquest in 1066 to the year 1803 (London: Thomas Hansard, 1808) [2]
• F W S Craig, British Parliamentary Election Results 1832–1885 (2nd edition, Aldershot: Parliamentary Research Services, 1989)
• Craig, F. W. S. (1983). British parliamentary election results 1918–1949 (3 ed.). Chichester: Parliamentary Research Services. ISBN 0-900178-06-X.
• Maija Jansson (ed.), Proceedings in Parliament, 1614 (House of Commons) (Philadelphia: American Philosophical Society, 1988) [3]
• J. E. Neale, The Elizabethan House of Commons (London: Jonathan Cape, 1949)