Pembroke and Haverfordwest (UK Parliament constituency)

Pembroke and Haverfordwest was a parliamentary constituency centred on the towns of Pembroke and Haverfordwest in West Wales. It returned one Member of Parliament (MP) to the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom, elected by the first past the post system.

Pembroke and Haverfordwest
Former Borough constituency
for the House of Commons
18851918
Seatsone
Created fromHaverfordwest and Pembroke
Replaced byPembrokeshire

History

The constituency was created by the Redistribution of Seats Act 1885 for the 1885 general election, replacing the former Pembroke constituency. It was abolished for the 1918 general election.

The first member was H.G. Allen, Liberal member for Pembroke Boroughs since 1880. In 1886, Allen was among the Liberal members who broke with Gladstone over Irish Home Rule but, despite suggestions that the Conservatives would stand aside in his favour, Allen chose not to defend the seat as a Liberal Unionist. The seat was captured by the Conservatives at the subsequent election and remained a marginal constituency thereafter, changing hands on several occasions.

Boundaries

Comprising the boroughs of Pembroke, Tenby, Wiston, Milford, Haverfordwest, Fishguard, and Narberth and part of the parish of Llanstadwell.[1]

Members of Parliament

ElectionMemberParty
1885Henry AllenLiberal
1886Richard MayneConservative
1892Charles AllenLiberal
1895John LaurieConservative
1906Owen PhilippsLiberal
Jan 1910
Dec 1910Henry GuestLiberal
1918constituency abolished

Elections

Elections in the 1880s

General election 1885: Pembroke and Haverfordwest[2][3]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
LiberalHenry Allen 2,418 52.9
ConservativeRichard Mayne2,15047.1
Majority2685.8
Turnout4,56883.4
Registered electors5,474
Liberal win (new seat)
Lewis Morris
General election 1886: Pembroke and Haverfordwest[2][3]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
ConservativeRichard Mayne 2,305 53.1 +6.0
LiberalLewis Morris2,03346.9-6.0
Majority2726.2N/A
Turnout4,33879.2-4.2
Registered electors5,474
Conservative gain from LiberalSwing+6.0

Elections in the 1890s

General election 1892: Pembroke and Haverfordwest[2][3]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
LiberalCharles Allen 2,580 52.0 +5.1
ConservativeJohn Laurie2,38548.0-5.1
Majority1954.0N/A
Turnout4,96583.0+3.8
Registered electors5,980
Liberal gain from ConservativeSwing+5.1
General election 1895: Pembroke and Haverfordwest[1][3]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
ConservativeJohn Laurie 2,719 51.6 +3.6
LiberalCharles Allen2,55048.4-3.6
Majority1693.2N/A
Turnout5,26983.6+0.6
Registered electors6,299
Conservative gain from LiberalSwing+3.6

Elections in the 1900s

General election 1900: Pembroke and Haverfordwest[1][3]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
ConservativeJohn Laurie 2,679 50.1 -1.5
LiberalThomas Terrell2,66449.9+1.5
Majority150.2-3.0
Turnout5,34381.0-2.6
Registered electors6,598
Conservative holdSwing-1.5
  • The count following the election initially recorded a Conservative victory by 2,679 to 2,667, a majority of 12. After a partial recount the margin had increased to 17 (2,679 to 2,662) with five reserved ballot papers. The Liberal campaign lodged a petition. Judges reviewed the reserved ballots and took the view that the result should be 2,679 to 2,664. The Liberal campaign accepted that review and withdrew their petition.[3]
Owen Philipps
General election 1906: Pembroke and Haverfordwest[2][3]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
LiberalOwen Philipps 3,576 58.6 +8.7
ConservativeReginald Pole-Carew2,52741.4-8.7
Majority1,04917.2N/A
Turnout6,10385.4+4.4
Registered electors7,150
Liberal gain from ConservativeSwing+8.7

Elections in the 1910s

General election January 1910: Pembroke and Haverfordwest[4][3]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
LiberalOwen Philipps 3,582 55.5 -3.1
ConservativeSir George Elliot Armstrong, 2nd Baronet2,87744.5+3.1
Majority70511.0-6.2
Turnout6,45988.0+2.6
Liberal holdSwing-3.1
Henry Guest
General election December 1910: Pembroke and Haverfordwest[4][3]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
LiberalHenry Guest 3,357 54.6 -0.9
ConservativeJohn Frederick Lort Phillips2,79245.4+0.9
Majority5659.2-1.8
Turnout6,14983.8-4.2
Liberal holdSwing-0.9

General Election 1914–15:

Another General Election was required to take place before the end of 1915. The political parties had been making preparations for an election to take place and by July 1914, the following candidates had been selected;

References