The seat was held by a Liberal from 1974 until 1987 , a Conservative until 1997 , a Liberal Democrat until 2001 , and a Conservative since then .
The constituency has traditionally been a battleground between the Conservatives and the Liberal Democrats and their predecessors .
The seat was held by a Liberal Democrats from 1974 until 1987 , a Conservatives until 1997 , a Liberal Democrats   until 2001 , and a Conservatives since then .
The constituency has traditionally been a battleground between the Conservatives and the Liberal Democrats and their predecessors .