Pembroke and Haverfordwest (UK Parliament constituency)

Pembroke and Haverfordwest was a parliamentary constituency centred on the towns of Pembroke and Haverfordwest in West Wales. It returned one Member of Parliament (MP) to the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom, elected by the first past the post system.

Pembroke and Haverfordwest
Former borough constituency
for the House of Commons
18851918
Seatsone
Created fromHaverfordwest and Pembroke
Replaced byPembrokeshire

History

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The constituency was created by the Redistribution of Seats Act 1885 for the 1885 general election, replacing the former Pembroke constituency. It was abolished for the 1918 general election.

The first member was H.G. Allen, Liberal member for Pembroke Boroughs since 1880. In 1886, Allen was among the Liberal members who broke with Gladstone over Irish Home Rule but, despite suggestions that the Conservatives would stand aside in his favour, Allen chose not to defend the seat as a Liberal Unionist. The seat was captured by the Conservatives at the subsequent election and remained a marginal constituency thereafter, changing hands on several occasions.

Boundaries

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Comprising the boroughs of Pembroke, Tenby, Wiston, Milford, Haverfordwest, Fishguard, and Narberth and part of the parish of Llanstadwell.[1]

Members of Parliament

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Election Member Party
1885 Henry Allen Liberal
1886 Richard Mayne Conservative
1892 Charles Allen Liberal
1895 John Laurie Conservative
1906 Owen Philipps Liberal
Jan 1910
Dec 1910 Henry Guest Liberal
1918 constituency abolished

Elections

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Elections in the 1880s

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General election 1885: Pembroke and Haverfordwest[2][3]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Henry Allen 2,418 52.9
Conservative Richard Mayne 2,150 47.1
Majority 268 5.8
Turnout 4,568 83.4
Registered electors 5,474
Liberal win (new seat)
 
Lewis Morris
General election 1886: Pembroke and Haverfordwest[2][3]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Richard Mayne 2,305 53.1 +6.0
Liberal Lewis Morris 2,033 46.9 −6.0
Majority 272 6.2 N/A
Turnout 4,338 79.2 −4.2
Registered electors 5,474
Conservative gain from Liberal Swing +6.0

Elections in the 1890s

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General election 1892: Pembroke and Haverfordwest[2][3]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Charles Allen 2,580 52.0 +5.1
Conservative John Laurie 2,385 48.0 −5.1
Majority 195 4.0 N/A
Turnout 4,965 83.0 +3.8
Registered electors 5,980
Liberal gain from Conservative Swing +5.1
General election 1895: Pembroke and Haverfordwest[1][3]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative John Laurie 2,719 51.6 +3.6
Liberal Charles Allen 2,550 48.4 −3.6
Majority 169 3.2 N/A
Turnout 5,269 83.6 +0.6
Registered electors 6,299
Conservative gain from Liberal Swing +3.6

Elections in the 1900s

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General election 1900: Pembroke and Haverfordwest[1][3]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative John Laurie 2,679 50.1 −1.5
Liberal Thomas Terrell 2,664 49.9 +1.5
Majority 15 0.2 −3.0
Turnout 5,343 81.0 −2.6
Registered electors 6,598
Conservative hold Swing -1.5
  • The count following the election initially recorded a Conservative victory by 2,679 to 2,667, a majority of 12. After a partial recount the margin had increased to 17 (2,679 to 2,662) with five reserved ballot papers. The Liberal campaign lodged a petition. Judges reviewed the reserved ballots and took the view that the result should be 2,679 to 2,664. The Liberal campaign accepted that review and withdrew their petition.[3]
 
Owen Philipps
General election 1906: Pembroke and Haverfordwest[2][3]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Owen Philipps 3,576 58.6 +8.7
Conservative Reginald Pole-Carew 2,527 41.4 −8.7
Majority 1,049 17.2 N/A
Turnout 6,103 85.4 +4.4
Registered electors 7,150
Liberal gain from Conservative Swing +8.7

Elections in the 1910s

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General election January 1910: Pembroke and Haverfordwest[4][3]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Owen Philipps 3,582 55.5 −3.1
Conservative Sir George Elliot Armstrong, 2nd Baronet 2,877 44.5 +3.1
Majority 705 11.0 −6.2
Turnout 6,459 88.0 +2.6
Liberal hold Swing -3.1
 
Henry Guest
General election December 1910: Pembroke and Haverfordwest[4][3]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Henry Guest 3,357 54.6 −0.9
Conservative John Frederick Lort Phillips 2,792 45.4 +0.9
Majority 565 9.2 −1.8
Turnout 6,149 83.8 −4.2
Liberal hold Swing -0.9

General Election 1914–15:

Another General Election was required to take place before the end of 1915. The political parties had been making preparations for an election to take place and by July 1914, the following candidates had been selected;

References

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  1. ^ a b c Debrett's House of Commons & Judicial Bench, 1901
  2. ^ a b c d The Liberal Year Book, 1907
  3. ^ a b c d e f g h i Craig, FWS, ed. (1974). British Parliamentary Election Results: 1885-1918. London: Macmillan Press. ISBN 9781349022984.
  4. ^ a b Debrett's House of Commons & Judicial Bench, 1916