North West Norfolk (UK Parliament constituency)

North West Norfolk
County constituency for the House of Commons
Boundary of North West Norfolk in Norfolk
Location of Norfolk within England
County	Norfolk
Electorate	73,269 (December 2010) [1]
Major settlements	Kings Lynn and Hunstanton
Current constituency
Created	1974 (1974)
Member of Parliament	James Wild (Conservative)
Seats	One
Created from	King's Lynn
1885–1918
Seats	One
Created from	North Norfolk and West Norfolk
Replaced by	King's Lynn

North West Norfolk is a constituency ^{[n 1]} represented in the House of Commons of the UK Parliament since 2019 by James Wild, a Conservative. ^{[n 2]}

History

Under the Redistribution of Seats Act 1885, the three two-member county divisions of Norfolk were replaced with six single-member divisions, including the newly created North-Western Division of Norfolk, largely formed from northern parts of the abolished Western Division. It was abolished at the next redistribution of seats under the provisions of the Representation of the People Act 1918, when it was largely absorbed by the expanded constituency of King's Lynn. It was re-established for the February 1974 general election, replacing the abolished King's Lynn constituency.

The present constituency includes two former Parliamentary Boroughs, those of Castle Rising, which was abolished as a 'rotten borough' in 1832, and King's Lynn, abolished in 1918.

The first MP in the re-established constituency was Christopher Brocklebank-Fowler, who had gained King's Lynn, largely a bellwether seat, from one of Harold Wilson's government colleagues in the Labour Party. He therefore effectively held the seat in the two 1974 elections, and in 1979; however, by March 1981, he became distanced from the Conservatives and defected to the newly formed Social Democratic Party shortly before the 1983 Conservative landslide, in which Brocklebank-Fowler lost his seat to the replacement Conservative candidate Henry Bellingham.

Bellingham increased his precarious lead over Brocklebank-Fowler at the 1987 general election. Therefore, at the following election, Brocklebank-Fowler chose to contest another seat ^{[n 3]} and Labour's candidate regained second place in this constituency, almost doubling their share of the vote. Labour gained the seat at the 1997 general election; however, Bellingham regained the seat at the 2001 general election and subsequently increased his majority in both 2005 and 2010.

The 2010 election saw political party infighting when the Labour candidate for North West Norfolk, Manish Sood ^{[n 4] [2]} stated in an interview with the local newspaper Lynn News that Gordon Brown was

"the worst prime minister we have had in this country."

This gained national attention and resulted in Labour disowning their candidate. Sood did not attend the count and stated he would watch it from his home in Leicester. ^[3] He ended up finishing third, behind Bellingham and the Liberal Democrat candidate William Summers, whose party received their best ever result in the constituency, ^[4] with an 18.3% swing from Labour to the others. ^{[5] [6] [7]} Labour's share of the vote fell from a winning 43.8% in the 1997 election to just 13.3% in 2010, marking the steepest decline from the start to end of the thirteen years of Labour government.

Bellingham's majority fell slightly in 2015, but he retained the seat in the 2017 general election with 60% of the vote, having been knighted in the New Year's honours list of 2016. He did not stand at the 2019 election and was succeeded as the Conservative candidate by James Wild who won the seat with a record majority of 42.7%.

Constituency profile

Norfolk North West constituency covers an extensive hinterland in the far corner of East Anglia - remote from London, but close to Lincolnshire and the East Midlands, with which the area shares more economic links.

A minority of King's Lynn contain severe poverty marked by unemployment, ^[8] social housing dependency and social problems - within relatively affluent East Anglia, only Jaywick and Great Yarmouth from 2001 to 2004 scored higher in deprivation indices. Contrasted with this is the bulk of the area: the tourist resort Hunstanton, retail, military, public sector and commercial activity of Kings Lynn and the royal estate at Sandringham, along with many small villages and more than 50% undulating cultivated farmland — incomes and types of dwelling are close to the national average.

Boundaries and boundary changes

1885–1918

• The Municipal Borough of King's Lynn; and

• The Sessional Divisions of Brothercross, Freebridge Lynn, Freebridge Marshall, and Gallow and Smithdon. ^[9]

As King's Lynn formed a separate Parliamentary Borough, only non-resident freeholders of the Borough were entitled to vote in this constituency.

On abolition, the bulk of the Division was amalgamated with the abolished Parliamentary Borough of King's Lynn to form the new King's Lynn Division of Norfolk. Eastern areas, including Fakenham, were transferred to the Northern Division.

1974–1983

• The Municipal Borough of King's Lynn;
• The Urban Districts of Hunstanton and Wells-next-the-Sea; and
• The Rural Districts of Docking, Freebridge Lynn, Marshland, and Walsingham. ^[10]

The re-established constituency was formed from the abolished constituency of King's Lynn with the addition of Wells-next-the-Sea and the Rural District of Walsingham, which included Fakenham, transferred from North Norfolk. (This area is currently in the constituencies of North Norfolk and Broadland.)

1983–2010

• The Borough of King's Lynn and West Norfolk wards of Burnham, Chase, Clenchwarton, Creake, Dersingham, Docking, Gayton, Gaywood Central, Gaywood North, Gaywood South, Grimston, Heacham, Hunstanton, Lynn Central, Lynn North, Lynn South West, Mershe Lande, Middleton, North Coast, Priory, Rudham, St Lawrence, St Margaret's, Snettisham, Spellowfields, The Walpoles, The Woottons, Valley Hill, West Walton, West Winch, and Wiggenhall. ^{[11] [12]}

Wells-next-the-Sea and areas comprising the former Rural District of Walsingham, including Fakenham, were transferred back to North Norfolk. Minor realignment of the boundary with South West Norfolk.

Map of current boundaries

2010–present

• The Borough of King's Lynn and West Norfolk wards of Brancaster, Burnham, Clenchwarton, Dersingham, Docking, Fairstead, Gayton, Gaywood Chase, Gaywood North Bank, Grimston, Heacham, Hunstanton, North Lynn, North Wootton, Old Gaywood, Priory, Rudham, St Margaret's with St Nicholas, Snettisham, South and West Lynn, South Wootton, Spellowfields, Springwood, Valley Hill, Walpole, and West Winch. ^[13]

Small area transferred to South West Norfolk.

Proposed

Further to the 2023 Periodic Review of Westminster constituencies, enacted by the Parliamentary Constituencies Order 2023, from the next general election, due by January 2025, the constituency will be composed of the following wards of the borough of King's Lynn and West Norfolk (as they existed on 1^st December 2020):

Bircham with Rudhams; Brancaster; Burnham Market & Docking; Clenchwarton; Dersingham; Fairstead; Gayton & Grimston; Gaywood Chase; Gaywood Clock; Gaywood North Bank; Heacham; Hunstanton; Massingham with Castle Acre; North Lynn; St. Margaret’s with St. Nicholas; Snettisham; South & West Lynn; Springwood; Terrington; The Woottons; Walsoken, West Walton & Walpole; West Winch. ^[14]

Minor net gain from South West Norfolk following changes to local authority ward boundaries.

Members of Parliament

MPs 1885–1918

Election		Member [15]	Party
	1885	Joseph Arch	Liberal
	1886	Lord Henry Cavendish-Bentinck	Conservative
	1892	Joseph Arch	Liberal
	1900	Sir George White	Liberal
	1912 by-election	Edward Hemmerde	Liberal
	1918	constituency abolished: see King's Lynn

MPs since 1974

Election		Member [15]	Party
	Feb. 1974	Christopher Brocklebank-Fowler	Conservative
	1981		SDP
	1983	Henry Bellingham	Conservative
	1997	George Turner	Labour
	2001	Sir Henry Bellingham	Conservative
	2019	James Wild	Conservative

Elections

Elections in the 2020s

Next general election: North West Norfolk

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Green	Michael de Whalley [16] [ better source needed ]
	Labour	Tim Leaver [17]
Majority
Turnout

Elections in the 2010s

General election 2019: North West Norfolk ^[18]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Conservative	James Wild	30,627	65.7	+5.5
	Labour	Joanne Rust	10,705	23.0	-9.0
	Liberal Democrats	Rob Colwell	3,625	7.8	+4.9
	Green	Michael De Whalley	1,645	3.5	+1.8
Majority			19,922	42.7	+14.5
Turnout			46,602	64.7	-3.0
	Conservative hold		Swing	+7.25

General election 2017: North West Norfolk ^[19]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Conservative	Henry Bellingham [20]	29,408	60.2	+8.0
	Labour	Joanne Rust	15,620	32.0	+9.2
	UKIP	Michael Stone	1,539	2.9	−14.9
	Liberal Democrats	Rupert Moss-Eccardt	1,393	2.9	−0.6
	Green	Michael de Whalley [21]	851	1.7	−2.1
Majority			13,788	28.2	−1.2
Turnout			48,811	67.7	+2.3
	Conservative hold		Swing	−0.5

General election 2015: North West Norfolk ^[19]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Conservative	Henry Bellingham [20]	24,727	52.2	-2.0
	Labour	Joanne Rust	10,779	22.8	+9.5
	UKIP	Richard Toby Coke [20]	8,412	17.8	+13.9
	Green	Michael de Whalley [21]	1,780	3.8	+2.2
	Liberal Democrats	Hugh Lanham [22]	1,673	3.5	-19.7
Majority			13,948	29.4	-1.6
Turnout			47,597	65.4	+0.1
	Conservative hold		Swing	-3.75

General election 2010: North West Norfolk ^[23]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Conservative	Henry Bellingham	25,916	54.2	+4.3
	Liberal Democrats	William Summers	11,106	23.2	+8.5
	Labour	Manish Sood	6,353	13.3	-18.3
	UKIP	John Gray	1,841	3.9	+0.2
	BNP	David Fleming	1,839	3.8	New
	Green	Mike de Whalley	745	1.6	New
Majority			14,810	31.0	+12.9
Turnout			47,800	65.3	+3.7
	Conservative hold		Swing	-2.1

Elections in the 2000s

General election 2005: North West Norfolk ^[24]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Conservative	Henry Bellingham	25,471	50.3	+1.8
	Labour	Damien Welfare	16,291	32.2	-9.5
	Liberal Democrats	Simon Higginson	7,026	13.9	+5.5
	UKIP	Michael Stone	1,861	3.7	+2.3
Majority			9,180	18.1	+11.3
Turnout			50,649	61.6	-3.5
	Conservative hold		Swing	+5.7

General election 2001: North West Norfolk ^[25]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Conservative	Henry Bellingham	24,846	48.5	+7.0
	Labour	George Turner	21,361	41.7	-2.1
	Liberal Democrats	Ian Mack	4,292	8.4	-1.2
	UKIP	Ian Durrant	704	1.4	New
Majority			3,485	6.8	N/A
Turnout			51,203	65.1	-9.6
	Conservative gain from Labour		Swing

Elections in the 1990s

General election 1997: North West Norfolk ^{[26] [27]}

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Labour	George Turner	25,250	43.8	+10.2
	Conservative	Henry Bellingham	23,911	41.5	-10.6
	Liberal Democrats	Evelyn Knowles	5,513	9.6	-4.2
	Referendum	Roger Percival	2,923	5.1	New
Majority			1,339	2.3	N/A
Turnout			57,597	74.7	-6.0
	Labour gain from Conservative		Swing	+10.4

General election 1992: North West Norfolk ^{[28] [29]}

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Conservative	Henry Bellingham	32,554	52.1	+1.5
	Labour	George Turner	20,990	33.6	+16.1
	Liberal Democrats	AM Waterman	8,599	13.8	−18.1
	Natural Law	SRA Pink	330	0.5	New
Majority			11,564	18.5	−0.2
Turnout			62,473	80.7	+1.9
	Conservative hold		Swing	−7.3

Elections in the 1980s

General election 1987: North West Norfolk ^[30]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Conservative	Henry Bellingham	29,393	50.6	+7.1
	SDP	Christopher Brocklebank-Fowler	18,568	31.9	-5.7
	Labour	Frank Dignan	10,184	17.5	-1.4
Majority			10,825	18.7	+12.8
Turnout			58,145	78.9	+1.3
	Conservative hold		Swing	+6.4

General election 1983: North West Norfolk ^[31]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Conservative	Henry Bellingham	23,358	43.5	-6.5
	SDP	Christopher Brocklebank-Fowler	20,211	37.6	New
	Labour	Mike Tilbury	10,139	18.9	-20.1
Majority			3,147	5.9	-6.1
Turnout			53,708	77.6	-1.5
	Conservative gain from SDP		Swing

Elections in the 1970s

General election 1979: North West Norfolk

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Conservative	Christopher Brocklebank-Fowler	33,796	51.01
	Labour	RL Williams	25,868	39.04
	Liberal	M Mynott	6,588	9.94
Majority			7,928	11.97
Turnout			66,252	79.15
	Conservative hold		Swing

General election October 1974: North West Norfolk

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Conservative	Christopher Brocklebank-Fowler	27,513	43.99
	Labour	RL Williams	26,170	41.84
	Liberal	RA Walker	8,862	14.17
Majority			1,343	2.15
Turnout			62,545	78.43
	Conservative hold		Swing

General election February 1974: North West Norfolk

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Conservative	Christopher Brocklebank-Fowler	27,823	42.35
	Labour	Derek Page	27,020	41.13
	Liberal	RA Walker	10,852	16.52
Majority			803	1.22
Turnout			65,695	83.07
	Conservative win (new seat)

Elections in the 1910s

Edward Hemmerde

1912 North West Norfolk by-election ^[32]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Liberal	Edward Hemmerde	5,613	53.1	-2.8
	Conservative	Neville Jodrell	4,965	46.9	+2.8
Majority			648	6.2	-5.6
Turnout			10,578	87.7	+4.4
	Liberal hold		Swing	-2.8

General election December 1910: North West Norfolk ^[32]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Liberal	George White	5,407	55.9	-0.1
	Conservative	Neville Jodrell	4,264	44.1	+0.1
Majority			1,143	11.8	-0.2
Turnout			9,671	83.3	-2.7
	Liberal hold		Swing	-0.1

General election January 1910: North West Norfolk ^[32]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Liberal	George White	5,596	56.0	-10.0
	Conservative	Neville Jodrell	4,388	44.0	+10.0
Majority			1,208	12.0	-20.0
Turnout			9,984	86.0	+7.5
	Liberal hold		Swing

Elections in the 1900s

General election 1906: North West Norfolk ^[32]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Liberal	George White	5,772	66.0	+13.1
	Conservative	William James Lancaster	2,972	34.0	−13.1
Majority			2,800	32.0	+26.2
Turnout			8,744	78.5	+3.6
Registered electors			11,140
	Liberal hold		Swing	+13.1

George White

General election 1900: North West Norfolk ^[32]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Liberal	George White	4,287	52.9	−4.9
	Liberal Unionist	William Howell Browne Ffolkes	3,811	47.1	+4.9
Majority			476	5.8	−9.8
Turnout			8,098	74.9	−1.5
Registered electors			10,811
	Liberal hold		Swing	−4.9

Elections in the 1890s

General election 1895: North West Norfolk ^[32]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Lib-Lab	Joseph Arch	4,817	57.8	+1.6
	Conservative	Edward Kenrick Banbury Tighe [33]	3,520	42.2	−1.6
Majority			1,297	15.6	+3.2
Turnout			8,337	76.4	−10.8
Registered electors			10,916
	Lib-Lab hold		Swing	+1.6

General election 1892: North West Norfolk ^[32]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Lib-Lab	Joseph Arch	4,911	56.2	+6.3
	Conservative	Henry Cavendish-Bentinck	3,822	43.8	−6.3
Majority			1,089	12.4	N/A
Turnout			8,733	87.2	+9.2
Registered electors			10,019
	Lib-Lab gain from Conservative		Swing	+6.3

Elections in the 1880s

General election 1886: North West Norfolk ^[32]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Conservative	Henry Cavendish-Bentinck	4,084	50.1	+4.0
	Lib-Lab	Joseph Arch	4,064	49.9	−4.0
Majority			20	0.2	N/A
Turnout			8,148	78.0	−1.3
Registered electors			10,444
	Conservative gain from Lib-Lab		Swing	+4.0

General election 1885: North West Norfolk ^[32]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Lib-Lab	Joseph Arch	4,461	53.9
	Conservative	Henry Cavendish-Bentinck	3,821	46.1
Majority			640	7.8
Turnout			8,282	79.3
Registered electors			10,444
	Lib-Lab win (new seat)

See also

• List of parliamentary constituencies in Norfolk

Notes

1. A county constituency (for the purposes of election expenses and type of returning officer)
2. As with all constituencies, the constituency elects one Member of Parliament (MP) by the first past the post system of election at least every five years.
3. South Norfolk constituency
4. At the time a Leicester councillor

References

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