South West · England · 72,087Boundary · 2023

Tiverton & Minehead

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Created in the 2023 boundary review, replacing Tiverton and Honiton.

Dispatch
Apr 2026

A new constituency created in the 2023 boundary review. Won by LD in its first election in 2024 by 7.4%. Covers Tiverton, Minehead and Williton. Population 91,305, notably older (median age 50 vs 41 nationally). Median income £26K (below average).

One of the more independently-minded Liberal Democrat MPs, Rachel Gilmour has twice broken with her party -- voting against the Tobacco and Vapes Bill at Second Reading in November 2024 and, more recently, backing a new clause on the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill in June 2025, when her party majority voted no. She has also been prominent on agricultural issues: news coverage credits her with helping press the government to reverse its inheritance tax relief changes for farmers, and she voted in March 2026 both to scrap and to inflation-proof the agricultural property relief reforms. More recently, she has called on the Chancellor to act on heating oil costs -- a direct concern for her rural Somerset constituency -- and written to the fisheries minister demanding action on foreign vessels inside the 12 nautical mile limit.

Her parliamentary participation rate is notably low at 41% -- well below the Commons average -- though she has racked up 179 contributions across 136 debates, suggesting selective but active engagement when she does attend. She votes 99% in line with Lib Dem positions overall. Her speeches cluster heavily around economy and jobs, local government, social care, health, and cost of living. She diverges from her party average on pension protection (more supportive) and NHS funding (less supportive), and scores 0% on progressive taxation alignment, notably lower than the Lib Dem average.

202
Commons votes
This parliament
£26k
Median income
HMRC · 2024
72.1k
Electorate
2024 GE

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§ 06This week in Westminster.Live · today’s sittingOrder Paper · refreshed daily

Gilmour’s scheduled Commons activity this week — whipped divisions, oral questions, debates — drawn from the House of Commons Order Paper.

§ 07The record, at a glance.213 divisions voted

Two readings of the same data. Issue volume shows where Gilmour has cast the most ballots — a proxy for engagement, not direction. Notable votes are the moments where the whip was free or where they broke ranks.

Issue volume
Top issues by total divisions voted · cumulative this Parliament
Taxation
46
Economy
36
Crime & Policing
30
Welfare and Benefits
21
Constitution and Democracy
18
Planning
14
Notable votes
Free votes and rebellions — moments the MP’s own judgment matters more than the whip
Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill: New Clause 213 Jun 2025 · free vote
Aye
Tobacco and Vapes Bill: Second Reading26 Nov 2024 · free vote
No
§ 08The local picture.14 wards

Constituencies are not uniform. Below — the local council make-up, key facts worth knowing, and the neighbouring seats on either side.

WardCouncillorVotesParty
CanonsleighGill Westcott521Green Pa
CanonsleighJane Lock786Liberal
Clare ShutternChris Adcock787Liberal
Clare ShutternRachel Gilmour732Liberal
Dulverton ExmoorFrances Mary Nicholson2,072Conserva
Dulverton ExmoorSteven Pugsley2,157Conserva
DunsterChristine Mary Lawrence1,371Conserva
DunsterMarcus Kravis1,332Liberal
HalbertonGwen DuChesne360Liberal
Lower CulmAndrea Theresa Glover814Liberal
Lower CulmCathy Connor722Liberal
Lower CulmJohn Lloyd Poynton673Liberal
Population (2021 Census)
91,305
Electorate 72,087 · 2024 register
Median income
£25,500
HMRC SPI 2024
Households renting privately
18.7%
England average 20.0%
Schools
50
40 primary · 6 secondary
Next · dig deeperEvery division, question, speech and committee record

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More constituency data is being added, including local issue analysis and historical trends. Learn about our methodology. View data sources & attribution.