Forest of Dean is a constituency in Gloucestershire represented in the House of Commons of the UK Parliament since 2024 by Matt Bishop, of the Labour Party.
Boundaries 1885–1918: The Sessional Divisions of Coleford, Lydney, Newent, and Newnham.
1918–1950: The Urban Districts of Awre, Coleford, Newnham, and Westbury-on-Severn, the Rural Districts of East Dean and United Parishes, Lydney, Newent, and West Dean, and part of the Rural District of Gloucester.
1997–2010: The District of Forest of Dean, and the Borough of Tewkesbury wards of Haw Bridge and Highnam.
2010–present: The District of Forest of Dean, and the Borough of Tewkesbury ward of Highnam with Haw Bridge. The constituency boundaries remained unchanged by the Fifth Periodic Review of Westminster constituencies.
The 2023 review of Westminster constituencies also left the boundaries unchanged.
History This seat was created for the 1885 general election (replacing the two-seat constituency of West Gloucestershire under the Redistribution of Seats Act 1885), was redrawn for the 1918 general election, and abolished for the 1950 general election. It was re-created, with different boundaries, for the 1997 general election, and has thus far not undergone any boundary changes.
Constituency profile The Forest of Dean constituency covers Gloucestershire west of the river Severn, and lies in the south west of England, near the Welsh border.
The core of the constituency consists of the Royal Forest of Dean itself, which was established by William the Conqueror nearly a thousand years ago and is one of the last surviving Royal Forests in England. The seat has a rich industrial and mining history, evidenced by the market towns of Coleford and Cinderford, and the old port of Lydney from where coal mined in the Forest of Dean Coalfield would start its journey to all parts of the world.A Glance Back at Lydney Docks, Neil Parkhouse
The Wye Valley forms the western border of the Forest and is an area of outstanding natural beauty, whilst the Leadon Valley forms the northern portion of the constituency. The Vale consists of countryside and farmland centred on the Tudor town of Newent, and also produces English wine.
The constituency also includes parishes from Tewkesbury district, including Forthampton, Chaceley Hole, Hasfield, Ashleworth and Highnam.
Members of Parliament
MPs 1885–1950 ElectionMemberParty 1885 Thomas Blake Liberal 1887 Godfrey Samuelson Liberal 1892 Sir Charles Dilke Liberal 1911 Sir Henry Webb Liberal 1918 James Wignall Labour 1925 A. A. Purcell Labour 1929 David Vaughan Labour 1931 John Worthington National Labour 1935 M. Philips Price Labour 1950constituency abolished
MPs since 1997 ElectionMemberParty 1997Diana OrganLabour 2005 Mark Harper Conservative 2024Matt BishopLabour
Elections
Elections in the 2020s
Elections in the 2010s
Elections in the 2000s
Election in the 1990s
1992 notional result Party Vote % Labour 22,176 42.4 Conservative 21,444 41.0 Liberal Democrats 8,422 16.1 Others 204 0.4Turnout52,24683.1Electorate62,882
Election in the 1940s
Elections in the 1930s
Elections in the 1920s
Election results 1885–1918 Elections in the 1910s
General Election 1914–15
A general election was due to take place by the end of 1915. By the autumn of 1914, the following candidates had been selected to contest that election. Due to the outbreak of war, the election never took place; Liberal Party: Henry Webb Labour Party: James Wignall
Elections in the 1900s
Elections in the 1890s
Elections in the 1880s
Caused by Blake's resignation.
See also Parliamentary constituencies in Gloucestershire
Notes
References
External links Forest of Dean UK Parliament constituency (boundaries April 1997 – April 2010) at MapIt UK Forest of Dean UK Parliament constituency (boundaries April 2010 – May 2024) at MapIt UK Forest of Dean UK Parliament constituency (boundaries from June 2024) at MapIt UK