South Shropshire is a county constituency in Shropshire. It was first created in 1832 and was represented by two Knights of the Shire.
The constituency was abolished, along with North Shropshire, under the Redistribution of Seats Act 1885, with effect from the 1885 general election. The county was then split into four single-member constituencies: Ludlow, Newport, Oswestry and Wellington.
Further to the completion of the 2023 Periodic Review of Westminster constituencies, the seat was re-established for the 2024 general election, formed from the current constituency of Ludlow with only minor boundary changes. It has been represented since 2024 by Stuart Anderson of the Conservative Party.
Constituency profile
South Shropshire is a constituency in Shropshire in the West Midlands region of England. Its largest town is Bridgnorth, which has a population of around 12,000. Other settlements include the towns of Ludlow, Clun, Craven Arms, Bishop's Castle, Church Stretton, Much Wenlock, Broseley and Cleobury Mortimer and the village of Highley.
This is a large, rural constituency with many small market towns, villages and hamlets. Much of this constituency is taken up by the Shropshire Hills National Landscape, an area of upland moors and valleys, and the rural areas are predominantly agricultural. Bridgnorth and Ludlow are historic towns known for their Tudor and Jacobean architecture. This constituency lies along the England-Wales border; many of the villages close to the border have Welsh names and some residents in this area profess a Welsh identity. Ludlow's strategic location close to the border traditionally made it an important centre for administration. This constituency has average levels of wealth, although Bridgnorth is more affluent. House prices are generally similar to the UK average and higher than the rest of the West Midlands region.
South Shropshire has a very high retired population and low proportions of young and middle-aged adults. Residents have average levels of income and child poverty and high rates of homeownership. They have average levels of education and many residents are religious. A high proportion work in the agriculture, retail and manufacturing sectors, and the percentage claiming unemployment benefits is low. White people made up 98% of the population at the 2021 census.
At the local council, Ludlow and the west of the constituency are mostly represented by Liberal Democrats whilst Bridgnorth and the east predominantly elected Reform UK councillors. An estimated 56% of voters in South Shropshire supported leaving the European Union in the 2016 referendum, higher than the UK-wide figure of 52%.
Boundaries
Historic 1832–1885: The Hundreds of Brimstey, Chirbury, Condover, Ford, Munslow, Overs, Purslow (including Clun) and Stoddesdon, and the Franchise of Wenlock.
Current The re-established constituency is composed of the following: The County of Shropshire electoral divisions of: Alveley and Claverley; Bishop’s Castle; Bridgnorth East and Astley Abbotts; Bridgnorth West and Tasley; Broseley; Brown Clee; Burnell; Chirbury and Worthen; Church Stretton and Craven Arms; Clee; Cleobury Mortimer; Clun; Corvedale; Highley; Ludlow East; Ludlow North; Ludlow South; Much Wenlock; Severn Valley; Worfield.
It comprises the former constituency of Ludlow, with the addition of the Burnell and Severn Valley electoral division from Shrewsbury and Atcham (re-established as Shrewsbury).
Members of Parliament
MPs 1832–1885 ElectionFirst memberFirst partySecond memberSecond party 1832The Earl of Darlington ToryHon. Robert Clive Tory 1834 Conservative Conservative1842 by-electionViscount Newport Conservative1854 by-electionHon. Robert Windsor-Clive Conservative1859 by-electionSir Baldwin Leighton, Bt ConservativeApril 1865 by-electionHon. Sir Percy Egerton Herbert ConservativeJuly 1865Jasper More Liberal1868Edward Corbett Conservative1876 by-electionJohn Edmund Severne Conservative1877 by-electionSir Baldwyn Leighton, Bt Conservative1885Constituency abolished
MPs since 2024
Ludlow prior to 2024
ElectionMemberParty 2024 Stuart Anderson Conservative
Elections
Elections in the 2020s
In order to assess the impact of the boundary changes, various organisations calculated the notional result of the 2019 election if it had been conducted under the boundaries established by the 2023 Periodic Review. Below is such an assessment from the BBC for South Shropshire:
For more information see Notional results of the 2019 United Kingdom general election by 2024 constituency.
Elections 1832–1885
Elections in the 1880s
Elections in the 1870s
Corbett resigned, triggering a by-election.
Herbert's death triggered a by-election.
Elections in the 1860s
Herbert was appointed Treasurer of the Household, triggering a by-election.
Elections in the 1850s
Bridgeman succeeded to the peerage, becoming 3rd Earl of Bradford, triggering a by-election.
Windsor-Clive's death triggered a by-election.
Bridgeman was appointed Vice-Chamberlain of the Household, triggering a by-election.
Clive's death triggered a by-election.
Elections in the 1840s
Bridgeman was appointed Vice-Chamberlain of the Household, triggering a by-election.
Vane succeeded to the peerage, becoming 2nd Duke of Cleveland, triggering a by-election.
Elections in the 1830s
Whitmore retired in favour of Clive before the poll concluded.
See also Parliamentary constituencies in Shropshire List of former United Kingdom Parliament constituencies Unreformed House of Commons
References
Sources
External links South Shropshire UK Parliament constituency (boundaries from June 2024) at MapIt UK