Thornbury and Yate
Apr 20, 2020 21:57:02 GMT
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Post by loderingo on Apr 20, 2020 21:57:02 GMT
While the Thornbury and Yate constituency name has only been around since 2010, the 2 eponymous towns have been paired together (apart from a 5 year gap) since the 1880s in increasingly smaller constituencies. The old South Gloucestershire seat was briefly held by Labour in the 1950s but the seat at the time included areas of what is now Stroud such as Dursley.
From 1983, the LDs moved into second place in the old Northavon constituency and in 1997 they were able to overturn Sir John (now Lord) Cope's majority of 12,000 to elect Professor Steve Webb. Webb was a very popular local MP and he managed to increase his majority to a maximum of 11,000 in 2005 by squeezing some (but not all of the Labour vote).
Webb's majority % held up in 2010 and he landed a prominent role as pensions minister in the coalition but in 2015 he suffered an agonising defeat by 1,500 votes to the Conservative Luke Hall.
With Webb leaving politics, the Conservative majority increased to approximately 12,000 in 2017 and 2019. This seat is estimated to have been equally split between leave and remain
The Yate part of the constituency consists of 2 towns - Yate and Chipping Sodbury -which are joined together. Yate was during the 1980s supposed to be the fastest growing town at Europe. It is primarily a dormitery town for Bristol with good transport links. Much of the development consists of 1970s and 1980s themed estates (golf courses, counties etc). There has been some newer development in the northern end of the town. Chipping Sodbury seemlessly blends with Yate. It is both older and smaller with a traditional Cotswolds-style high street famous for having 6 pubs.
The other main town Thornbury has a similar demographic to Yate but is much smaller. It is home to Thornbury Castle which is now a hotel.
In between the 2 towns are a number of prosperous villages, which tend to move from a more commuter vibe in Frampton Cotterill in the South to a more rural vibe at Charfield in the North. The Cotswold Edge ward to the North East of Chipping Sodbury has some very upmarket villages. At either end of the constituency, the Severn and Boyd Valley wards have a much more rural feel with many farms.
In the east of the constituency are a number of prominent stately homes. Dyrham Park is now National Trust. Badminton House is home to the Dukes of Beaufort and is famous for the racquet sport and the horse trials. Dodington park is now owned by Sir James Dyson
The areas of Lib Dem strength are the 2 eponymous towns and some of the villages such as Westerleigh and Frampton Cotterill and they did well in these areas in the 2019 local elections. However, this is the sort of place where the anti-Brexit message does as much harm as good.
The LDs can definitely come back here but they will need a strong leader and a message that can appeal to the centre ground rather than the hardcore FBPE types.
From 1983, the LDs moved into second place in the old Northavon constituency and in 1997 they were able to overturn Sir John (now Lord) Cope's majority of 12,000 to elect Professor Steve Webb. Webb was a very popular local MP and he managed to increase his majority to a maximum of 11,000 in 2005 by squeezing some (but not all of the Labour vote).
Webb's majority % held up in 2010 and he landed a prominent role as pensions minister in the coalition but in 2015 he suffered an agonising defeat by 1,500 votes to the Conservative Luke Hall.
With Webb leaving politics, the Conservative majority increased to approximately 12,000 in 2017 and 2019. This seat is estimated to have been equally split between leave and remain
The Yate part of the constituency consists of 2 towns - Yate and Chipping Sodbury -which are joined together. Yate was during the 1980s supposed to be the fastest growing town at Europe. It is primarily a dormitery town for Bristol with good transport links. Much of the development consists of 1970s and 1980s themed estates (golf courses, counties etc). There has been some newer development in the northern end of the town. Chipping Sodbury seemlessly blends with Yate. It is both older and smaller with a traditional Cotswolds-style high street famous for having 6 pubs.
The other main town Thornbury has a similar demographic to Yate but is much smaller. It is home to Thornbury Castle which is now a hotel.
In between the 2 towns are a number of prosperous villages, which tend to move from a more commuter vibe in Frampton Cotterill in the South to a more rural vibe at Charfield in the North. The Cotswold Edge ward to the North East of Chipping Sodbury has some very upmarket villages. At either end of the constituency, the Severn and Boyd Valley wards have a much more rural feel with many farms.
In the east of the constituency are a number of prominent stately homes. Dyrham Park is now National Trust. Badminton House is home to the Dukes of Beaufort and is famous for the racquet sport and the horse trials. Dodington park is now owned by Sir James Dyson
The areas of Lib Dem strength are the 2 eponymous towns and some of the villages such as Westerleigh and Frampton Cotterill and they did well in these areas in the 2019 local elections. However, this is the sort of place where the anti-Brexit message does as much harm as good.
The LDs can definitely come back here but they will need a strong leader and a message that can appeal to the centre ground rather than the hardcore FBPE types.
