General Election 2010 Results
7th May 2010
The votes are in, and the count has finished, Congratulations to James Gray on holding the North Wiltshire Constituency. He has increased his overall majority again with over 51% of the vote. James Gray received 25,114 votes, followed by the Lib Dems' Mike Evemy with 17,631 and Labour's Jason Hughes with 3,239. Mr Gray had a 7483 majority this election, beating the prevous 2005 majority of 5303 compared to the 3,878 majority at the 2001 Election.

Speaking just before the local results were announced, James Gray said: "My wonderful team and I have fought a tough campaign - called on about 25,000 houses right across the patch and met and talked to thousands of people; held walkabouts in the five main high streets, attended 3 church hustings meetings, as well as my own Conservative Campaign rallies, called public meetings in Calne and Cricklade, held special meetings on RAF Lyneham and on rural affairs and farming; churned out thousands of pieces of (recyclable) paper, covered our fields and hedgerows, gardens and windows with posters (which will be cleared up after Thursday for re-use) and generally entered into the spirit of a good, robust, North Wilts election campaign."

He continued; " People on doorsteps are particularly worried about the economy locally and nationally and the huge debt burden hanging over our heads; slightly counter-intuitively in an area with very few immigrants, they are deeply concerned about immigration; and they are worried about the environment and house-building, travellers’ sites, and the imminent closure of RAF Lyneham and the devastating effect it could have on the local area."

As the polling stations closed at 10pm last night, the Ballot Box was sealed, your votes were rushed from St Michael's Church Hall, to the counting station at theLeisure Centre Malmesbury, where around 70 staff had the unenviable task of counting the votes.. In a packed sports centre, all the local candidates waited in anticipation of the first results to come in. Not only were they waiting in anticipation locally, but they were kept up-to-date nationally via a large television screen.

In this election, there was an increased turnout and maybe many people were voting for a change of government, and even the Labour strongholds the majorities were cut and large swings to the Conservatives, At the last election the strong seats of Labour majorities were slashed to slight majorities, particularly in Swindon North and South, but this time they changes to Conservatives.

Mr Gray has passed his thanks to people of North Wiltshire and has sent a personal message to the people of Lyneham: "I am delighted and honoured to have been returned with an increased majority - and very pleasingly, more than 51% of the vote. I will be doing all I can as I promised to keep the  RAF at Lyneham, failing which the army, failing which a swift and decisive move to a private sector employer of one kind or another. It is absolutely at the top of my political agenda for the new Parliament and Government (whatever it may turn out to look like!) With so many thanks and all best wishes to all at Lyneham"

North Wiltshire
This seat has been in Conservative hands since 1924. In 1992 the Tories achieved a majority of almost 15,000, having polled over 56% of the vote, but in 1997 their majority fell to under 3,500.

The Conservatives recovered at the 2001 elections, and 2005 presented a similar picture, with the Tory MP James Gray increasing his majority over the Liberal Democrats to 5,303.

Boundary changes mean the new seat of North Wiltshire has changed considerably. The constituency has gained nine wards from Devizes, centred on the town of Calne, while Chippenham has been given its own seat. To find out what might have happened had these boundary changes been in force at the last election, see a notional - or estimated - result below.

The Cotswolds reaches into the western and northern ends of the constituency. It is bordered in the east by the Marlborough Downs and Swindon.

North Wiltshire has a significant manufacturing industry, especially in the food and engineering sectors. However, these sources of employment are focused almost exclusively on Malmesbury.

The natural beauty of the area has attracted many commuters in recent years. It is possible to commute to both London and Bristol either by the M4, which bisects the constituency, or the intercity rail links.

Conservative Claire Perry was elected in Devizes with a 13,005 majority. She takes over from Michael Ancram who has held the seat for the Tories since 1992. In Swindon North, Tory candidate Justin Tomlinson took the seat from Labour, with 22,408 votes to the latter's 15,348. The Tories scored a 7,060 majority. The Tories also held Wiltshire North, with a majority of 7,483.