Truro (UK Parliament constituency) facts for kids

Truro was the name of an area in Cornwall, England, that used to choose people to represent it in the UK Parliament. This is like a special team of lawmakers for the whole country.

The Truro area sent representatives, called MPs, to Parliament for a very long time. It started way back in 1295! It was part of the House of Commons of England and later the House of Commons of Great Britain until 1800. Then, from 1801 to 1918, and again from 1950 to 1997, it was part of the Parliament of the United Kingdom.

For many years, until 1885, Truro was a "parliamentary borough." This meant it was a town that elected two MPs. After 1885, the name "Truro" was used for a larger surrounding area, called a "county constituency," which elected just one MP.

In 1997, the area's name changed to Truro and St Austell. This happened because the town of St Austell had grown bigger than Truro itself.

Understanding the Truro Area Boundaries

The boundaries of the Truro area, which decided who could vote and be elected, changed a few times over the years.

Boundaries from 1950 to 1974

During this time, the area included:

• The main town of Truro.
• The urban area of St Austell.
• Most of the rural area around Truro (except for one small part called Gwennap).
• Several parishes (small local areas) in the rural district of St Austell, like Creed, Grampound, and St Dennis.

Boundaries from 1974 to 1983

The area grew slightly to include:

• The towns of Truro and St Austell with Fowey.
• The rural area of Truro (still without Gwennap).
• The same parishes in the rural district of St Austell as before.

Boundaries from 1983 to 1997

The boundaries were updated again, using different local government areas:

• Wards (smaller voting areas) from the District of Carrick, such as Boscawen, St Agnes, and Roseland.
• Wards from the Borough of Restormel, including Mevagissey, Poltair, and St Stephen-in-Brannel.

A Brief History of the Truro Constituency

The Truro constituency has had a long and interesting past, changing its form several times.

• Before 1885, it elected two MPs.
• After 1885, it elected only one MP.
• The constituency was stopped in 1918 but brought back in 1950.

The area became a strong place for the Liberal Democrat party, especially because of a popular MP named David Penhaligon. He was well-liked and a great speaker. Sadly, he died in a car accident when he was only 42. He was known for being very independent and practical in Parliament.

His replacement, Matthew Taylor, easily won the special election in 1987. He continued to be the MP for the area even after its name changed in 1997.

Members of Parliament for Truro

An MP, or Member of Parliament, is a person elected by the people in their area to represent them in the House of Commons. They speak for the people who voted for them and help make laws for the country.

Truro Parliamentary Borough (1295–1885)

For many centuries, Truro was a "borough," meaning it was a town that elected its own MPs. Here are some of the MPs who represented Truro during its later years as a borough:

• John Ennis Vivian (Conservative)
• Humphrey Willyams (Whig)
• Sir Henry Vivian (Whig)
• Augustus Smith (Whig, later Liberal)
• Edward Brydges Willyams (Whig, later Liberal)
• Sir Frederick Williams (Conservative)
• Hon. John Vivian (Liberal)
• Sir James McGarel-Hogg (Conservative)
• Arthur Tremayne (Conservative)

In 1885, the borough constituency was ended, and the name was given to a larger county area.

Truro County Constituency (1885–1918)

After 1885, Truro became a "county constituency," meaning it covered a wider rural area and elected just one MP.

• William Bickford-Smith (Liberal, then Liberal Unionist)
• John Charles Williams (Liberal Unionist)
• Sir Edwin Durning-Lawrence (Liberal Unionist)
• George Hay Morgan (Liberal)

The constituency was then abolished in 1918.

Truro County Constituency (1950–1997)

The Truro constituency was brought back in 1950.

• Geoffrey Wilson (Conservative)
• Piers Dixon (Conservative)
• David Penhaligon (Liberal)
• Matthew Taylor (Liberal, then Liberal Democrats)

In 1997, the name of the constituency changed to Truro & St Austell.

Images for kids

• 

  This map shows election results for the St Austell area, which was part of the Truro constituency.

• 

  Thomas Lough was a Liberal politician who stood for election in Truro in 1886.

• 

  George Hay Morgan was a Liberal MP for Truro from 1906 to 1918.

See also

• List of parliamentary constituencies in Cornwall