Michael Ancram came out of the political wilderness when he was elected to represent the staunchly Conservative seat of Devizes in 1992, having lost his Edinburgh South seat in 1987.
The 1995 boundary review, which gave Wiltshire an extra seat, substantially altered the make-up and character of the Devizes constituency. Previously it was comprised of some suburbs of Swindon and some more rural areas of Wiltshire: some 92,000 electors. As a result of the boundary changes Devizes lost a great deal of territory to South Swindon and gained the market towns of Calne and Melksham in return.
The small towns in the seat are old boroughs and market centres for the agricultural hinterland, and they still bring in the tourists. The constituency is also host to the public school at Marlborough.
Devizes itself is the home of the Wadworth's brewery - makers of 6X, Old Timer and Farmer's Glory - while Melksham’s economy is dependent on the Avon Rubber tyre factory.
Prehistoric sites are found on the downland, with barrows and white chalk horses. The Vale of Pewsey has much rustic charm, and the Kennet and Avon canal is undergoing restoration.