Oxford West and Abingdon (UK Parliament constituency)


Oxford West and Abingdon is a parliamentary constituency in the House of Commons.

History

Creation

The seat was created in 1983 as part of the reconfiguration of those in the county to avoid malapportionment, abolishing Oxford as a seat. It merged about half the city with the east of the former Abingdon seat.

MPs

The Conservative John Patten, held the seat from its creation until he retired in 1997. The seat was gained by the Liberal Democrat, Dr Evan Harris, who held the seat for thirteen years until the 2010 general election, when the Conservative Nicola Blackwood retook the seat in one of the most marginal results of that election. Blackwood held the seat until the 2017 general election when she was defeated by Liberal Democrat Layla Moran in another marginal result.

Contests

The seat has been contested nine times, each of them general elections. At each contest the Labour party candidate has polled third—the peak share of votes to date being 20.2%, in 1997. The strongest victory, in share of the vote, was that of Dr Harris of the Liberal Democrats in 2001, a 17.8% majority.
The Green or predecessor Ecology Party stood in the first eight contests, in each losing the deposit paid.

Constituency profile

The constituency includes the town of Abingdon, the village of Kidlington, and the western and northern parts of the city of Oxford, and some of the colleges of the University of Oxford. At the end of 2010, unemployment was the fifth lowest of the 84 South East constituencies, at 1.2% compared to a mean of 2.45%. The area has rapid transit connections to London, Reading and the commercial heart of Oxford, has large business and research parks and a choice of two major railway stations, and.

Boundaries and boundary changes

;1983–1997
1997–2010
Since 2010

Members of Parliament

Elections

Elections in the 2010s

Elections in the 2000s

Elections in the 1990s

Elections in the 1980s

Neighbouring constituencies