Talk:South Gloucestershire (UK Parliament constituency)

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boundaries[edit]

Let's see if we can reconstruct these. I think all of the Thornbury RDC and Chipping Sodbury RDC were in the area, and these included the Patchway and Filton areas, (as well as, in the north, the Berkeley/Sharpness area). That takes us to the Bristol City boundary. The river Severn bounded the West, and I don't think the area went east of CS RDC. (Kingswood was a separate UDC and constituency.) Bob aka Linuxlad (talk) 10:08, 26 December 2007 (UTC)[reply]

Misinformation or Confustion?[edit]

The listed politicians are not representatives of the alleged Gloucestershire South, these represented persons in the County of Avon, Bristol NW and Northavon.. These parliamentary constituencies were not in Gloucestershire, and did not exist when the County of Avon existed, also they did not exist when Avon was abolished, with South Gloucestershire Unitary authority created to take over part of Avon. South Gloucestershire and Southern Gloucestershire are not only utterly different geographic areas, but during the era before 1996 the County of Avon was the political (council) area, and multiple MP's were in Avon. These constituencies that utterly no connection to the geographic area of the county of Gloucestershire. Some1asks (talk) 06:23, 10 May 2016 (UTC)[reply]

This discussion is relevant. As I noted there, the editor above is not correct. This ref from Hansard in 1978 settles the issue. John Cope, listed as the member for "Gloucestershire, South" says: "My constituency covers bits of two separate counties and takes the name of the smaller section. Most of my constituents live in the county of Avon not in Gloucestershire." Valenciano (talk) 11:38, 11 May 2016 (UTC)[reply]

Expert help needed[edit]

Please see recent edit history (and conversation at User_talk:BrownHairedGirl#South_Gloucestershire_constituency and comment on the choice of name for the constituency. Thanks. PamD 06:35, 11 May 2016 (UTC)[reply]

See also Wikipedia_talk:WikiProject_UK_Parliament_constituencies#County_or_Borough. PamD 06:42, 11 May 2016 (UTC)[reply]

South Gloucestershire constituency[edit]

Discussion below moved from User talk:BrownHairedGirl. Please continue the discussion in the next section, below. --BrownHairedGirl (talk) • (contribs) 11:23, 13 May 2016 (UTC)

The following discussion is closed. Please do not modify it. Subsequent comments should be made on the appropriate discussion page. No further edits should be made to this discussion.

Hallo BHG, and @Some1asks: I see that you created Gloucestershire South (UK Parliament constituency) on 6 October 2006 but then moved it on 15 Jan 2007 to South Gloucestershire (UK Parliament constituency) with edit summary "compass point first for county constituencies". The article is still at that title, although there seems no evidence of this name being used (eg Hansard: http://hansard.millbanksystems.com/constituencies/gloucestershire-south). There is a certain amount of discussion about matters "South Gloucestershire" at the moment, and this issue of the constituency name is an added complication!

Is it really our policy to use an inverted form of the name of constituencies like this? Could you direct us to chapter and verse? There's no mention at Wikipedia:WikiProject_UK_Parliament_constituencies/Style#Article_name (though this does confirm my belief that as there is at present an article at South Gloucestershire (UK Parliament constituency) there must be a link, whether a redirect, hatnote link or dab page entry, from South Gloucestershire to that article). I see that we do seem to use the "South Gloucestershire" name consistently throughout en.wiki, eg in MPs' succession boxes. Thanks for your help. PamD 21:00, 9 May 2016 (UTC)[reply]

Longstanding procedure by the Boundary Commission (dating back to the 1948 Act, I believe) is to use compass points as a prefix for "county constituencies" which usually means before county names and local authorities and compass points as a suffix with "borough constituencies", which usually means a town or city. That's mentioned here and here on page 5: "compass point names are adopted where there is not a more suitable name. This takes the form of a prefix where the rest of the name refers to the county area or local council (i.e. South Thanet) and a suffix where the rest of the name refers to a population centre (i.e. Barnsley East)."
The official name of the constituency in this case would undoubtedly have been South Gloucestershire. The 1959 London Gazette lists it under this name. Inevitably, press reports and other publications, Hansard included, will vary the placement of the compass point, but Wikipedia should stick to the official name in these cases. Valenciano (talk) 13:39, 10 May 2016 (UTC)[reply]
@Valenciano:, also pinging @Some1asks:, Thanks for the comments. I was bemused because none of the available online references seemed to use the "South Gloucestershire" form of name. That London Gazette one is slightly reassuring, though as it conflicts with Hansard I wouldn't know which to believe. What is the definitive source for constituency names, I wonder? PamD 14:30, 10 May 2016 (UTC)[reply]
The definitive source could be The Boundary Commission report, in this case the Second Periodical report, published c.1968, but unfortunately not online. Checking sources won't be that useful, since the press frequently vary the placement of compass points. However, given the longstanding convention on putting compass points first for more rural constituencies, I'd be amazed if South Glos was any kind of exception. Note that Hansard, lists John Cope being sworn in for South Gloucestershire. Valenciano (talk) 15:55, 10 May 2016 (UTC)[reply]

During the life of the County of Avon and the 20 years after (anniversary of death this year - 2016), there was NEVER an area described as South Gloucestershire for a Parliamentary Constituency, within the Geographic area that 'was' Avon and became South Gloucestershire.

  • The area to the north IS the ShireCounty and Non-metropolitan county of Gloucestershire, and Gloucestershire South, Southern Gloucestershire IS NOT in the geographic area of what was Avon, nor in the northern part of Avon that became South Gloucestershire.
  • I have repeatedly and consistently tried to highlight these facts, and that the term South Gloucestershire only existed as an area from 1996, and before that Avon.
  • NO Member of Parliament had the reported 'single seat' claimed. WHOLLY BECAUSE the actual geographic area had and has MULTIPLE constituencies across what was Northern Avon, then South Gloucestershire, which had / has a very large population. NONE of the Constituencies was a whole region!
  • Only the Lieutenancy area, an 'area' solely designated as such for the purposes of the queens representative.. The legislation highlights the area is ONLY Gloucestershire for the purposes of the Lieutenancy. See [1].
  • Southern Gloucestershire, Gloucestershire South IS NOT the geographic area of South Gloucestershire (Formally the Avon Districts of northavon and Kingswood.
  • Finally the issue of the Constituency of 'Bristol North West' (later reorganised and renamed to better reflect the real towns, which were not in the City and County of Bristol !!). B NW, was in Avon at the time of its existence not South Gloucestershire (it did not yet exist).

Some1asks (talk) 22:49, 10 May 2016 (UTC)[reply]

> The citation source used by the confused editor ACTUALLY lists Constituencies..

  • Hansard notes NO such Constituency of South Gloucestershire, it did not exist either during the dates she claims, or during the County of Avon era or in the 20 years after Avon.. (See list [2])
  • I also noted in the 'South Gloucestershire' Constituency page..

([citation needed] re 'South Gloucestershire' claim.. These were geographically Avon: Northavon, Bristol North West) Some1asks (talk) 06:01, 11 May 2016 (UTC)[reply]

@Some1asks this is not correct. As I noted above, sources will vary on whether to include compass points before or after the area they are named for. Hansard is no exception to this. It is in the link you give above, it's just listed as Gloucestershire South 1950-1983 here in Hansard. As, I also mentioned in my earlier comment, John Cope is listed in Hansard being sworn in as the member for South Gloucestershire South Gloucestershire in 1974. As to what it covered, here's a speech from its member in Hansard, where he's listed as the member for South Gloucestershire, where he notes that a proposed road "skirts the built-up area north of Bristol, and around Downend and Mangotsfield, before turning north again to Almondsbury. This is entirely in Gloucestershire and most of it is in my constituency." All those areas are in what became Avon. An earlier Hansard source from 1954 notes the "transfer of the rural district of Thornbury from Stroud and Thornbury—to South Gloucestershire." Valenciano (talk) 10:57, 11 May 2016 (UTC)[reply]
Another ref, Hansard 1978. John Cope, listed as the member for "Gloucestershire, South" where he says: "My constituency covers bits of two separate counties and takes the name of the smaller section. Most of my constituents live in the county of Avon not in Gloucestershire." I think that settles the question of whether there was a South Gloucestershire constituency within the county of Avon, don't you? Valenciano (talk) 11:30, 11 May 2016 (UTC)[reply]

Note that 'Sir John Cope' was Member of Parliament for Northavon. This in the County of Avon. I have used Hansard to link to the list of Parliamentary Constituencies'.. There is no South Gloucestershire Parliamentary Constituency listed, see Hansard here: [3]

  • The term Election in a newspaper will give results (in a General Election) for BOTH Parliamentary MP's and some Councils, including a Non-metropolitan county, a modern Unitary authority and Metropolitan county areas.. BECAUSE not all local government Council elections are done at the same time. EG In 2016 most Councils had local council elections, along with Welsh Assembly elections, Scottish Parliament Elections and Northern Ireland elections
  • MANY when voting in the UK General Election voted for both a local MP and their Local Councils, plus Parish or Town Councils. (Regional Council Elections are split into two cycles because of the huge volume of votes, and MP's keep the cycles split as it's and indicator of how a national government is doing).
  • South Gloucestershire is not listed as a Constituency from 1803-2005 in Hansard, and does not exist now. 'IF' there is a reference to South Gloucestershire prior to 1996 it's geographically Southern Gloucestershire, (Avon 1974-1996). The County of Avon was abolished and the northern parts become South Gloucestershire, (Former Avon districts of Northavon and Kingswood becoming the created area of South Gloucestershire, a Unitary authority).
  • Before 1974 a section of Avon (before its creation, was Southern Gloucestershire, but as the area was and is highly populated, several MP constituencies existed, and Hansard does not mention a Parliamentary Constituency of South Gloucestershire.. The Gazette cited, if it is genuine, notes a county representative being voted for, as opposed to a parliamentary representative, note the different entries!
  • Since 1996 the Unitary authority of South Gloucestershire has several Parliamentary constituencies due to dense population.
  • Quoting above, emphasis mine, "My constituency covers bits of two separate counties and takes the name of the smaller section (Hansard, Gloucestershire South Constituency, Southern Gloucestershire),"Most of my constituents live in the county of Avon not in Gloucestershire.
    Not to be confused with Gloucestershire.

Some1asks (talk) 04:23, 12 May 2016 (UTC)[reply]

  • @Some1asks:Just picking up on The Gazette cited, if it is genuine ... above, and a couple of other points:
PamD 05:47, 12 May 2016 (UTC)[reply]

>> The key to peoples confusion is three fold: The separate Gloucestershire County Constituency, which is NOT a Parliamentary Constituency (NB Hansard list below). Also the fact of the pre 1974 area. Plus the name of the 1996 onward Unitary authority, that took on the '"new"' title of South Gloucestershire.

  • I have repeatedly cited the UK Parliament page of Hansard 1803-2005, were no such Parliamentary Constituency exists of South Gloucestershire.
  • The geographic area of The County of Avon 1974-1996, is not Gloucestershire. Sir John Cope MP says, about his then constituency name of '"Gloucestershire South"', "My constituency covers bits of two separate counties and takes the name of the smaller section (Hansard, Gloucestershire South Constituency, Southern Gloucestershire), "Most of my constituents live in the county of Avon not in Gloucestershire.
  • The editor puts on the 'south gloucestershire' parliamentary constituency page, parliamentary district names that existed in the era of the County of Avon and within it's geographic area. These parliamentary areas were both districts of Avon County Council, and had associated Parliamentary areas, BUT these associated parliamentary areas did not match geographic areas. Additional parlanentary areas existed in Avon and now South Gloucestershire, which have all be reconfigured under various Governments, or latterly by The Boundary Commission.
  • If anything should exist on the noted wiki page it should be:

Gloucestershire South Constituency. Highlight made to dates so as not to confuse people, (Avon era constituencies and South Gloucestershire current constituencies should not be cited, they are in a different geographic area). Areas said to be covered should be corrected, and clarifications added.

  • The only place where the geographic areas of South Gloucestershire and Gloucestershire are linked, relates solely to the Lieutenancy areas. The Parliamentary Act is clear in saying the areas exist only in relation to the Sovereigns Lord Lieutenants (The Queens regional representatives). I have cited and provided a link to the legislation, here and elsewhere where Ceremonial Counties are misunderstood, the Legislation says the Lieutenancy areas ARE the Ceremonial yes only Ceremonial Counties.
  • Finally.. Just because someone links to a secondary source of information, (Newspapers, The Encyclopedia Britannica, local websites, The Guardian and other UK papers, ALL publish retractions when errors are made. Wiki itself says people should use the encyclopedia as a starting point to further research, it admits many errors due to it's structure, and it admits misinformation has crept out of Wikipedia, and it as an encyclopedia has been widely mocked and items read on comedy news programs. SO as outlined in the above paragraphs investigate and find 'South Gloucestershire' parliamentary constituency does not exist, again see the Hansard list!

Some1asks (talk) 07:03, 12 May 2016 (UTC)[reply]

You have already been told that compass points in both Hansard and other sources get placed both before and after the geographic area for the same constituency. You have already been given the link from Hansard where John Cope is sworn in for South Gloucestershire and where the previous member is mentioned as the member for South Gloucestershire. You have also been given a London Gazette source which lists the constituency as South Gloucestershire. Since we've clearly established that it did exist, including it on that dab page is fine. Valenciano (talk) 07:56, 12 May 2016 (UTC)[reply]
  • Sir John Cope MP, Gloucestershire South Constituency (Hansard list of constituencies), Sir John Cope said, " "Most of my constituents live in the county of Avon not in Gloucestershire.
  • Gloucestershire County at at 1974-1996 did not cover Avon.
  • Gloucestershire County from 1996 to current date of 2016, is not any part of South Gloucestershire, (the geographic local government area Unitary authority area).
  • Parliamentary Constituencies are hand have been several in the Northern Avon (South Gloucestershire) geographic area.
  • BEFORE 1974 both Somerset and Gloucestershire covered larger areas, but when describing the Gloucestershire South constituency - it should (a) be called that as Parliament called it that (again Hansard lists this).

(b) when describing the area 'other' constituencies should not be lumped in and claimed to be in a an ancient South Gloucestershire Constituency..

  • The 1996-present South Gloucestershire area is not Gloucestershire, the 1974-1996 area was not Gloucestershire, the PRE 1974 area was not South Gloucestershire but in part only, Gloucestershire South Constituency, (again Hansard list 1803-2005).
You are again ignoring the advice you've been given above regarding compass points being interchangable as prefixes and suffixes and the links you've been given to Hansard which prove this (where the member is sworn in for South Gloucestershire.) If you persist in ignoring what people say in a discussion, then they'll end up concluding that it's a waste of time trying to have a discussion with you and just revert any edits you make. Valenciano (talk) 13:24, 12 May 2016 (UTC)[reply]

Some1asks (talk) 10:53, 12 May 2016 (UTC)[reply]

Refs[edit]

  1. ^ http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1997/23/schedule/1
  2. ^ http://hansard.millbanksystems.com/constituencies/s
  3. ^ http://hansard.millbanksystems.com/constituencies/s
The discussion above is closed. Please do not modify it. Subsequent comments should be made on the appropriate discussion page. No further edits should be made to this discussion.

Article name[edit]

Ongoing discussion here. --BrownHairedGirl (talk) • (contribs) 11:27, 13 May 2016 (UTC)[reply]

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