History Maidstone (UK Parliament constituency)

1 history

1.1 before 19th century
1.2 after reform act
1.3 county constituency

history
before 19th century

maidstone first enfranchised parliamentary borough, electing 2 members of parliament, in 1552; @ time 1 of largest english towns not represented, , 1 of number of boroughs either enfranchised or re-enfranchised during reign of edward vi. however, barely had won right charter cancelled after accession of mary punishment town s part in wyatt s rebellion. recorded instance of borough s right return mps being directly revoked until grampound disfranchised corruption in 1820s (although there other cases of temporary suspension or of right lapsing through disuse in medieval times, when representation less valued).

after death of mary i, maidstone s right restored, , elected members parliament of 1560, since when constituency has been continuously represented. borough consisted of whole parish of maidstone, although boundaries had no practical effect - right vote vested in freemen of town, whether or not resident within borough, provided not receiving poor relief. in 1833, after franchise reformed great reform act, estimated there 845 freemen, of whom more 300 lived on 7 miles town, , 31 of whom disqualified voting because in receipt of alms. @ 1831 general election, between 600 , 670 men voted.

a borough of size large fall under dominance of local landowner usual in case of smaller constituencies in unreformed parliament, , maidstone remained comparatively free elections vigorously contested (and expensive candidates), although finch , marsham families both had degree of influence on results in 18th century. namier describes in detail maidstone election of 1761, showing how @ period organised divisions among rank-and-file voters in competitive constituencies tended religious rather party-political; whig faction in maidstone drew strength nonconformists while tories anglican establishment. yet complicated politics of period although local whigs had asked rose fuller, personal friend of whig prime minister duke of newcastle, stand candidate newcastle refused support him; indeed, newcastle used government patronage force of electors employed in naval dockyard @ chatham vote incumbent tory mps, whom had promised support before fuller s candidacy mooted. in event, though, fuller succeeded in being elected, many of government employees defying newcastle support him.

after reform act

at time of reform act, population of borough 15,387, , contained 3,018 houses. boundaries of borough remained unchanged until 1918. under reformed franchise, there 1,108 electors registered vote @ general election of 1832. town continued grow 1865 electorate had reached 1,817, , doubled extension of franchise in second reform act, there 3,420 registered electors 1868 general election.

the borough retained 2 mps until 1885, when representation halved; @ 1885 general election franchise extended 6,530 electors, voting population of around 35,000. relatively small electorate period , made bribery practical proposition, , maidstone 1 of small number of constituencies corruption proved after tightening of election law in 1880s. safe conservative seat, constituency elected liberal candidate against national tide in 1900, clear corrupt practices had contributed victory , unseated on petition; voters seem have resented petition, however, , elected liberal candidate in ensuing by-election. @ following election in 1906, maidstone again swung in opposite direction country whole, electing conservative - 1 of 5 unionist gains across country - , victor again charged corruption; on occasion candidate acquitted, 1 of judges noted there exists among voters of borough number of lower class expect, , known respect, payment or reward votes... proved cases of bribery extend through wards.

the county constituency

the borough abolished effect general election of 1918, maidstone name transferred new county division in town stood, consisted of maidstone , maidstone , hollingbourne rural districts. contained no towns of size, villages collectively outvoted maidstone. new constituency safely conservative predecessor, , boundaries remained unaltered until 1983.

by 1980s, population growth meant constituency considerably over-sized, 1 of largest electorates in england. in 1983 boundary revisions, first time reflected local government boundary changes of 1970s, size of maidstone constituency considerably reduced. area north-east of town, , 2 wards of town itself, moved new mid kent constituency; these conservative wards , there had been liberal surge in area around time liberal-sdp alliance formed, alliance had hopes of making breakthrough in revised constituency. however, cut tory majority little on 7,000 in 1983, john wells taking on half votes.

boundary changes in 1997 saw constituency abolished , replaced new maidstone , weald county constituency. maidstone town wards had been in mid kent since 1983 included in new seat, , rural part of weald south of town, in tunbridge wells constituency included; third of electorate in maidstone constituency transferred faversham , mid kent constituency - included rural wards east of town, shepway , park wood areas of maidstone proper.