Wiltshire North
Notional 2005 Results:
Conservative: 22412 (51.1%)
Liberal Democrat: 14858 (33.9%)
Labour: 5025 (11.5%)
Other: 1563 (3.6%)
Majority: 7554 (17.2%)
Actual 2005 result
Conservative: 26282 (46.9%)
Labour: 6794 (12.1%)
Liberal Democrat: 20979 (37.4%)
UKIP: 1428 (2.5%)
Other: 578 (1%)
Majority: 5303 (9.5%)
2001 Result
Conservative: 24090 (45.5%)
Labour: 7556 (14.3%)
Liberal Democrat: 20212 (38.2%)
UKIP: 1090 (2.1%)
Majority: 3878 (7.3%)
1997 Result
Conservative: 25390 (43.8%)
Labour: 8261 (14.2%)
Liberal Democrat: 21915 (37.8%)
Referendum: 1774 (3.1%)
Other: 673 (1.2%)
Majority: 3475 (6%)
Boundary changes: North Wiltshire undergoes major changes, losing the main town in the old constituency, Chippenham, which forms the core of a new constituency, while gaining Calne and Cricklade.
Profile: A mainly rural seat on the edge of the Cotswolds. The main town is Calne, once dominated by the Pork industry, but now a rapidly growing town based around light industry and IT. Other towns include Cricklade, Wootton Bassett and Malmsbury, home to Dyson – although since 2002 their manufacturing division has been moved to Malaysia leaving their research and development in Malmesbury.
Wiltshire North is normally considered to be a safe Conservative seat, however in 2007 the sitting Conservative MP James Gray narrowly avoiding being deselected after it was revealed he had an affair while his wife was suffering from breast cancer. During the deselection attempt there were suggestions from Gray`s opponents that he would face an independent challenger if he managed to be re-selected. Other parties will be hoping that Gray`s personal life has an impact on his vote at the next election.
Outgoing MP: James Gray(Conservative) born 1954, Glasgow. Educated at Glasgow High and the University of Glasgow. Former city broker, special advisor to Michael Howard and John Gummer and director of a public affairs consultancy. First elected as MP for Wiltshire North in 1997. Contested Ross, Cromarty & Skye in 1992. Opposition whip from 2000-2001. Shadow Minister for Defence from 2001-2002, Shadow minister for the countryside from 2002 to 2005 and very briefly Shadow secretary of state for Scotland (more information at They work for you)
Candidates: James Gray(Conservative) born 1954, Glasgow. Educated at Glasgow High and the University of Glasgow. Former city broker, special advisor to Michael Howard and John Gummer and director of a public affairs consultancy. First elected as MP for Wiltshire North in 1997. Contested Ross, Cromarty & Skye in 1992. Opposition whip from 2000-2001. Shadow Minister for Defence from 2001-2002, Shadow minister for the countryside from 2002 to 2005 and very briefly Shadow secretary of state for Scotland (more information at They work for you)Jason Hughes (Labour) Mike Evemy (Liberal Democrat) Market communications controller for the Nationwide Building Society. Swindon Borough councillor since 1992, Liberal Democrat group leader between 1994-2004. Contested Swindon North 1997 & 2005.Phil Chamberlain (Green)Charles Bennett (UKIP) Born 1958, Oxford. Educated at Ampleforth and SOAS. Former army officer and police inspector.
2001 Census Demographics
Total 2001 Population: 81085
Male: 49.7%
Female: 50.3%
Under 18: 23.3%
Over 60: 19.5%
Born outside UK: 5.7%
White: 98.5%
Black: 0.2%
Asian: 0.3%
Mixed: 0.6%
Other: 0.4%
Christian: 77%
Full time students: 1.8%
Graduates 16-74: 23.1%
No Qualifications 16-74: 22.1%
Owner-Occupied: 75.5%
Social Housing: 11.2% (Council: 0.9%, Housing Ass.: 10.3%)
Privately Rented: 7%
Homes without central heating and/or private bathroom: 4.9%
Ellie Bland just came a poor third in a by-election in her home taown of Calne in a Ward where UKIP finished a good second behind the Conservatives last May. The Lib Dems came from third place to win putting their vote up 10%. The BNP and Greens also stood but came 4th and 5th with 10% and 3% respectively
One wonders if the furore surrounding James Gray has all been forgotten or is there still an attempt to put up a strong independent candidate against him.
Labour have selected Jason Hughes here.
James Gray seems to be in a spot of bother over his decision to claim for the cost of Remembrance Day wreaths. Apparently purchasing the wreaths left him £60 out of pocket.
Ouch!
That’ll hurt.
Stick that on a leaflet next to Nick Clegg and Joanna Lumley!
The local party had a chance to deselect him back at the end of 2006, and they missed the opportunity imho. If he stays on and stands here at the next election, I wouldn’t like to bet that he will win here.
Looking at the candidate lists for the Unitary elections today I am astonished that there is not a single Labour candidate standing for any of the Calne wards as far as I can see.
These are my estimates based on 4 June 2009 elections (best fit):
Con 15600 (53.96%) (all 18 seats contested) LD 9132 (31.59%) (18 contested) UKIP 973 (3.37%) (5) Lab 638 (2.21%) (8) Green 544 (1.88%) (3) BNP 91 (0.31%) (2) Ind 1934 (6.69%) (5)
Con win 15 out of 18.
I think it was a good result for the Tories here: over half the vote, comfortably ahead of the Lib Dems. It should be a fairly comfortable hold at the next election despite the bad publicity James Gray has attracted at times.
I am now the UKIP candidate for North Wiltshire (see UKIP/UKIPSW website). Ellenor Bland is no longer associated with the North Wiltshire and Chippenham Branch of UKIP in any way, or as far as I am aware with UKIP as a party at all.
Which seats have included the village of Box, well known as the location of Peter Gabriel’s Real World Studios?