| Somerton and Frome | |
| Parliament: | uk |
| Map1: | SomertonFrome2007 |
| Map2: | EnglandSomerset |
| Year: | 1983 |
| Abolished: | 2024 |
| Type: | County |
| Previous: | Wells and Yeovil[1] |
| Electorate: | 87,921 (2011)[2] |
| Region: | England |
| European: | South West England |
| Elects Howmany: | One |
Somerton and Frome was a constituency in Somerset represented in the House of Commons of the UK Parliament.
It was formerly represented by David Warburton, who was elected as a Conservative, but latterly sat as an Independent after losing the Conservative whip in April 2022 following allegations of misconduct. Warburton resigned as an MP on 17 June 2023, thus triggering the first by-election in this constituency since its creation at the 1983 general election, which was won by Sarah Dyke of the Liberal Democrats.
Further to the completion of the 2023 Periodic Review of Westminster constituencies, the seat was abolished. Subject to major boundary changes – including incorporation of the town of Frome and surrounding rural areas in the former Mendip District into the newly created constituency of Frome and East Somerset, and the transferring in of the towns of Glastonbury and Street from the constituency of Wells (to be renamed Wells and Mendip Hills) to partly compensate – the constituency was reformed as Glastonbury and Somerton, to be first contested at the 2024 general election.[3] Sarah Dyke, the winner of the 2023 by-election, became the inaugural MP for the succeeding constituency.[4] [5]
This area has a mixed economy, including agriculture and high-tech defence related industries.[6] In November 2012, it had below the national average proportion of jobseekers (3.8%) at 1.6% of the population.[7]
1983–1997: The District of Yeovil wards of Blackmoor Vale, Brue, Burrow Hill, Camelot, Cary, Curry Rivel, Islemoor, Ivelchester, Langport and Huish, Martock, Milborne Port, Northstone, Turn Hill, Wessex, and Wincanton, and the District of Mendip wards of Beacon, Beckington and Rode, Coleford, Creech, Frome Badcox, Frome Fromefield, Frome Keyford, Mells, Nordinton, Postlebury, Selwood and Berkley, Stratton, and Vale.
1997–2010: The District of South Somerset wards of Blackmoor Vale, Brue, Burrow Hill, Camelot, Cary, Curry Rivel, Islemoor, Ivelchester, Langport and Huish, Martock, Milborne Port, Northstone, Turn Hill, Wessex, and Wincanton, and the District of Mendip wards of Beacon, Beckington and Rode, Coleford, Creech, Frome Badcox, Frome Fromefield, Frome Keyford, Frome Welshmill, Mells, Nordinton, Postlebury, Stratton, and Vale.
2010–2024: The District of South Somerset wards of Blackmoor Vale, Bruton, Burrow Hill, Camelot, Cary, Curry Rivel, Islemoor, Langport and Huish, Martock, Milborne Port, Northstone, Tower, Turn Hill, Wessex, and Wincanton, and the District of Mendip wards of Beacon, Beckington and Rode, Coleford, Creech, Frome Berkley Down, Frome Fromefield, Frome Keyford, Frome Park, Frome Welshmill, Mells, Nordinton, Postlebury, Stratton, and Vale.
The constituency was created in 1983 from parts of the seat of Wells. It covers the east of the district of Mendip and the north of the district of South Somerset.
| Election | Member[8] | Party | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1983 | Robert Boscawen | |||
| 1992 | Mark Robinson | |||
| 1997 | David Heath | |||
| 2015 | David Warburton | |||
| April 2022 | ||||
| 2023 by-election | Sarah Dyke | |||
| 2024 | Constituency abolished, replaced by | |||