Gloucester ( ) is a constituency centred on the cathedral city and county town of the same name, represented in the House of Commons of the UK by Alex McIntyre of the Labour Party.
The Gloucester constituency is located in Gloucestershire and covers most of the city of Gloucester, excluding some eastern and northern suburbs. Gloucester is a historic cathedral city which was founded in the Roman era. The city has a history of aerospace manufacturing as the site of the Gloster Aircraft Company. The constituency has average levels of deprivation, with some deprived areas in the city centre and in Barton and Tredworth, and some affluent suburbs like Abbeydale and Abbeymead, Hucclecote and Quedgeley. The average house price is low compared to the rest of the country.
In general, residents are young and have low levels of education and professional employment. Household incomes are similar to the national average. White people made up 84% of the population at the 2021 census, a similar proportion to the country as a whole. Political representation in the city is mixed; at the city council, the city centre and Hucclecote elected Liberal Democrats, other suburbs elected Conservatives, and Labour Party councillors were elected in the more deprived areas east of the city centre. At the county council, which held elections more recently, the city's southern suburbs elected Reform UK representatives. An estimated 59% of voters in the constituency supported leaving the European Union in the 2016 referendum, higher than the nationwide figure of 52%.
A borough of Gloucester was established by 1295 that returned two burgesses as Members of Parliament to the House of Commons. Its population meant this was a situation not leading to an outright rotten borough identified for abolition under the Reform Act 1832 however on more fair (far more equal representation) national changes in 1885, representation was reduced to one member under the Redistribution of Seats Act 1885.
Since 1979 Gloucester has been a bellwether constituency by passing between representatives of the two largest parties in the same way as the government. After nearly three decades as a Conservative seat, it was held by Labour from 1997 to 2010 before returning to a Conservative on a swing of 8.9%. Labour recaptured the seat once again at the 2024 general election.
1918âÂÂ1950: The County Borough of Gloucester.
1950âÂÂ1955: The County Borough of Gloucester, and in the Rural District of Gloucester the parishes of Barnwood, Brockworth, Hempsted, Hucclecote, and Wotton Vill.
1955âÂÂ1974: The County Borough of Gloucester, and in the Rural District of Gloucester the parishes of Barnwood, Brockworth, Hempsted, and Hucclecote.
Wotton Vill parish had been absorbed by Gloucester CB in 1951. The constituency boundaries remained unchanged.
1974âÂÂ1983: The County Borough of Gloucester.
1983âÂÂ1997: The City of Gloucester, and the District of Stroud wards of Quedgeley and Hardwicke, and Upton St Leonards.
1997âÂÂ2010: The City of Gloucester.
2010âÂÂ2024: The City of Gloucester wards of Abbey, Barnwood, Barton and Tredworth, Elmbridge, Grange, Hucclecote, Kingsholm and Wotton, Matson and Robinswood, Moreland, Podsmead, Quedgeley Fieldcourt, Quedgeley Severn Vale, Tuffley, and Westgate.
2024âÂÂpresent: As above minus Elmbridge ward.
In 1881, Robinson's willingness to stand down faced with a popular petition and the unwillingness of the Conservatives to make allegations nor investigate matters further led to suspicions of collusion between the parties and a Royal Commission was set up to examine electoral practices. The Royal Commission concluded that Gloucester was among the most corrupt of the seven towns investigated and that bribery was endemic in all elections in the city. The Commission concluded that half of the electorate had taken bribes in 1880 and blamed local politicians for most of the corruption. Despite these findings and virtually halving the electorate eligible to vote Robinson was reelected for Gloucester in 1885 when representation had been reduced to one member under the Redistribution of Seats Act 1885.
Note: The Brexit Party were due to field Richard Ford as a candidate, but the nomination was withdrawn.