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 uplandmoors 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.[3] 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.[4] House prices are generally similar to the UK average and higher than the rest of the West Midlands region.[5]
South Shropshire has a very high retired population and low proportions of young and middle-aged adults.[6] Residents have average levels of income and child poverty and high rates of homeownership.[5][7] They have average levels of education and many residents are religious.[5] A high proportion work in the agriculture, retail and manufacturing sectors,[8] and the percentage claiming unemployment benefits is low.[7]White people made up 98% of the population at the 2021 census.[9]
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%.[5]
Boundaries
Historic
1832–1885: The Hundreds of Brimstey, Chirbury, Condover, Ford, Munslow, Overs, Purslow (including Clun) and Stoddesdon, and the Franchise of Wenlock.[10]
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.[11]
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).
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:
Notional result of 2019 election under new (2023) boundaries
UK General Election, 2019 Notional Result: South Shropshire[14]
Craig, F. W. S. (1989) [1977]. British parliamentary election results 1832–1885 (2nd ed.). Chichester: Parliamentary Research Services. pp. 448–449. ISBN0-900178-26-4.
