Isle of Wight (UK Parliament constituency)
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Name = Isle of Wight | Map = | Entity = England | Type = County | Year = 1832 | DivisionType = County | Division = Isle of Wight | EP = South East England | MP = Andrew Turner | Party = ConservativeThe Isle of Wight is a constituency represented in the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom.The Isle of Wight forms a single constituency of the House of Commons, with an electorate of 108,253 (as of 2004). This is by far the largest electorate in the country, and more than 50% above the England average of 70,026; it is five times the size of the smallest electorate (Na h-Eileanan an Iar; which was formerly know as the Western Isles), despite the Isle of Wight having some of the same problems as an island constituency. Successive Boundary Commissions have considered the possibility of splitting the island into two constituencies (or possibly having a constituency crossing the Solent onto the mainland) but with a distinct lack of local enthusiam for either option it was felt that the island would be better represented by a single MP. One repeated problem has been the difficulty of dividing the island in two in a way that would be acceptable to all interests. [1]
The next review of constituency boundaries is scheduled to take place between 2010 and 2012, at which it is likely that the question of multiple constituencies on the Island will be revisited.
The constituency covers exactly the same land area as the ceremonial county of the Isle of Wight, and the area administered by the unitary authority, Isle of Wight Council.Before the Reform Act of 1832 the island had 3 Parliamentary boroughs: Newport, Newtown, and Yarmouth, each electing two MPs. Outside of the boroughs, people were represented by the member for Hampshire. The Reform Act abolished Newton and Yarmouth parliamentary boroughs, and created a constituency for the whole of the Isle of Wight. The separate Newport borough was abolished later on.
The constituency is traditionally a battleground between the Conservatives and the Liberal Democrats. Between 1974 and 1987 the seat was a Liberal seat, then becoming Conservative until 1997 when the Liberal Democrats slipped in on a reduced Conservative vote. The seat reverted to the Conservatives in 2001.
See also: Newtown constituency, Newport constituency and Yarmouth constituencyElections in the 2000s;General election of 2005Five candidates contested the Isle of Wight constituency in the United Kingdom general election, 2005:
Andrew Turner held the Isle of Wight, with an increased majority. It is likely that local anti-Liberal Democrat feelings due to the Isle of Wight Council manifested in lost votes for the party in the General election. Elections for the council were held on the same day.
General election of 2001
In the United Kingdom general election, 2001, the incumbent MP, Dr Peter Brand, a Liberal Democrat was beaten by Andrew Turner of the Conservatives, one of the few constituencies to be gained by the Conservatives in that election. The Isle of Wight was also the last constituency in England to declare its results, on 8th June.
Among the minor parties the UK Independence gained votes, although not able to equal the results achieved by the similarly eurosceptic Referendum party in 1997. This was possibly due to strategic voting by the generally right-wing supporters of the eurosceptic policies to ensure a Conservative victory. The Green Party also managed to almost triple its share of the vote.
In common with much of the country the turnout in 2001 was down on 1997, with the number voting comparable to the national average (59%).
Elections in the 1990s;General election of 1997In the 1997 general election the Conservatives lost the seat to Dr. Peter Brand, a Liberal Democrat, echoing the massive nationwide losses for the Conservatives. The Lib Dem share of the vote actually fell, but the Conservative share plumetted further amidst gains by the Labour, Referendum and UK Independence Parties. The last time the Liberal Democrats held the seat was prior to the 1987 general election
General election of 1992
*Politics of the Isle of Wight
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