South West Norfolk (UK Parliament constituency)

Last updated

South West Norfolk
County constituency
for the House of Commons
South West Norfolk (UK Parliament constituency)
Boundaries since 2024
East of England - South West Norfolk constituency.svg
Boundary of South West Norfolk in the East of England
County Norfolk
Electorate 72,496 (2023) [1]
Major settlements Downham Market, Swaffham and Thetford
Current constituency
Created 1885
Member of Parliament Terry Jermy (Labour)
SeatsOne
Created from South Norfolk and West Norfolk

South West Norfolk is a constituency [n 1] represented in the House of Commons of the UK Parliament since 2024 by Terry Jermy of the Labour Party. It was previously represented by Liz Truss of the Conservative Party (the shortest-serving UK Prime Minister in British history; serving as head of government for 49 days in 2022) between 2010 and 2024.

Contents

Constituency profile

This is a rural constituency which retains a significant agricultural and food-production sector. [2] The population is largely white and predominantly homeowners, with incomes and house prices slightly below the UK average. [3] Electoral Calculus describes this as a "Strong Right" seat characterised by socially conservative values and strong support for Brexit.

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 South-Western Division of Norfolk, largely formed from southern parts of the abolished Western Division, including Thetford. From the 1950 general election onwards, it has been formally known as the county constituency of South West Norfolk.

South West Norfolk had been held solidly by Conservatives from 1964 to 2024, but for twenty years prior; it had been ultra-marginal. Labour first held it briefly from 1929 to 1931, and Sidney Dye of the Labour Party gained it in 1945 with a narrow majority of 53 votes. Dye retained the seat at the 1950 general election with an increased, but nevertheless, small majority of 260 votes. He lost it to Denys Bullard of the Conservatives in 1951 by 442 votes and regained the seat from Bullard in 1955 with a small majority of 193 votes. Dye died at the end of 1958, and at the by-election, the Labour Party candidate Albert Hilton retained the seat with an increased majority of 1,354 votes. At the 1959 general election that soon followed, Hilton's safe majority was drastically reduced to a thin margin of 78 votes. [4]

Although Labour had held the seat at two general elections, despite two consecutive overall Conservative victories; the Conservatives won the seat at the 1964 general election, which was a Labour victory nationwide, and the party returned to government after 13 years in opposition. Paul Hawkins, then Gillian Shephard held the seat. Shephard's majority was slashed at the 1997 general election, in what would be the worst defeat nationwide for the Conservative Party in 91 years, before recovering at the 2001 general election. Both occasions resulted in an overall Labour victory. [4]

Shephard decided not to run again in 2005 and was elevated to a peerage. The Conservative Party selected Christopher Fraser, former MP for Mid Dorset and Poole North and he was elected with a comfortable majority of over 10,000 votes.

On 28 May 2009, Fraser announced that he would be standing down at the 2010 general election citing family reasons. [5] This was after his expenses claims were highlighted in The Daily Telegraph ; according to the newspaper, Fraser claimed £1,800 in public money for buying 215 trees and marking out the boundary of his second home in the constituency. [6]

Liz Truss was elected to succeed Fraser at the 2010 general election, which saw the Conservatives return to government. Truss served as a Cabinet minister under various Conservative prime ministers since 2014, serving as Environment Secretary between 2014 and 2016 under the leadership of David Cameron, Secretary of State for Justice and Lord Chancellor between 2016 and 2017 under the leadership of Theresa May, and Secretary of State for International Trade and President of the Board of Trade between 2019 and 2021 under the leadership of Boris Johnson; before she was promoted to serve as Foreign Secretary in 2021. In 2022, Truss won the 2022 Conservative leadership election and was subsequently appointed Prime Minister on 6 September. Truss resigned as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom on 25 October 2022. [7] Truss lost her seat to Terry Jermy of the Labour Party at the 2024 general election, a landslide victory for Labour nationally. [8] Her defeat was described by The Spectator as a "Portillo moment". [9]

Boundaries and boundary changes

1885–1918

Formed from southern parts of the abolished Western Division of Norfolk.

1918–1950

The seat gained northern areas of the abolished Mid Division of Norfolk, including East Dereham, and a small area in the south of the Northern Division. Transferred a small area in the east to the Southern Division.

1950–1983

Thetford transferred to South Norfolk. Minor changes to boundary with King's Lynn to align with boundaries of local authorities.

1983–2010

Thetford transferred back from South Norfolk, together with areas comprising the former Rural District of Wayland, including Attleborough. North-eastern areas, including East Dereham, transferred to the re-established constituency of Mid Norfolk. Minor re-alignment of boundary with North West Norfolk.

2010–2024

South West Norfolk (UK Parliament constituency)
Map of boundaries 2010-2024

As a result of the Boundary Commission's report which came into effect for the 2010 general election, South West Norfolk gained wards from neighbouring North West Norfolk including Walpole, Tilney St Lawrence, and Wiggenhall villages. It lost to Mid Norfolk the wards of All Saints, Buckenham, Burgh and Haverscroft, Haggard De Toni, Necton, Queen's, Templar and Watton, which included the villages of Necton, Great Ellingham and Watton.

Current

Further to the 2023 Periodic Review of Westminster constituencies, which came into effect for the 2024 general election, the composition of the constituency is as follows (as they existed on 1 December 2020):

The boundaries of the seat were redrawn as a result of modifications to ward boundaries in both local authorities, resulting in the small net loss of voters to both neighbouring constituencies of Mid Norfolk and North West Norfolk.

The constituency includes Downham Market, Swaffham, Thetford, Outwell, Upwell, and Feltwell.

Members of Parliament

Western Division of Norfolk prior to 1885

Election [4] Member [16] Party
1885 William Tyssen-Amherst Conservative
1892 Sir Thomas Hare Conservative
1906 Richard Winfrey Liberal
1923 Alan McLean Conservative
1929 William Benjamin Taylor Labour
1931 Alan McLean Conservative
1935 Somerset de Chair Conservative
1945 Sidney Dye Labour
1951 Denys Bullard Conservative
1955 Sidney Dye Labour
1959 (b) Albert Hilton Labour
1964 Paul Hawkins Conservative
1987 Gillian Shephard Conservative
2005 Christopher Fraser Conservative
2010 Liz Truss Conservative
2024 Terry Jermy Labour

Elections

Election results 1900-2024 S W Norf Election Results.png
Election results 1900-2024

Elections in the 2020s

General election 2024: South West Norfolk [17]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Labour Terry Jermy 11,847 26.7 +8.4
Conservative Liz Truss 11,21725.3−43.4
Reform UK Toby McKenzie9,95822.4N/A
Independent James Bagge6,28214.2N/A
Liberal Democrats Josie Ratcliffe2,6185.9−2.4
Green Pallavi Devulapalli1,8384.1+1.1
Monster Raving Loony Earl Elvis of East Anglia3380.8−0.9
Heritage Gary Conway1600.4N/A
Communist Lorraine Douglas770.2N/A
Majority6301.4
Turnout 44,33559.3
Labour gain from Conservative Swing +25.8

Elections in the 2010s

General election 2019: South West Norfolk [18]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Conservative Liz Truss 35,507 69.0 +6.2
Labour Emily Blake9,31218.1−9.7
Liberal Democrats Josie Ratcliffe4,1668.1+3.6
Green Pallavi Devulapalli1,6453.2N/A
Monster Raving Loony Earl Elvis of Outwell8361.6N/A
Majority26,19550.9+15.9
Turnout 51,46665.6−1.7
Conservative hold Swing +8.0
General election 2017: South West Norfolk [19]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Conservative Liz Truss [20] 32,894 62.8 +11.9
Labour Peter Smith [20] 14,58227.8+10.5
UKIP David Williams2,5754.9−18.4
Liberal Democrats Stephen Gordon2,3654.5+0.1
Majority18,31235.0+7.4
Turnout 52,41667.3+2.2
Conservative hold Swing +0.7

General election 2015: South West Norfolk [19]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Conservative Liz Truss 25,515 50.9 +2.6
UKIP Paul Smyth11,65423.3+17.1
Labour Peter Smith8,64917.3−1.3
Liberal Democrats Rupert Moss-Eccard2,2174.4−17.2
Green Sandra Walmsley2,0754.1+2.4
Majority13,86127.6+0.9
Turnout 50,11065.1−1.1
Conservative hold Swing −7.2

General election 2010: South West Norfolk [21]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Conservative Liz Truss 23,753 48.3
Liberal Democrats Stephen Gordon10,61321.6
Labour Peter Smith9,11918.6
UKIP Kay Hipsey3,0616.2
BNP Dennis Pearce1,7743.6
Green Lori Allen8301.7
Majority13,14026.7
Turnout 49,15066.2
Conservative hold Swing

Elections in the 2000s

General election 2005: South West Norfolk [22]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Conservative Christopher Fraser 25,881 46.9 −5.3
Labour Charmaine Morgan15,79528.7−5.8
Liberal Democrats April Pond10,20718.5+7.8
UKIP Delia Hall2,7385.0+2.4
Independent Kim Hayes5060.9N/A
Majority10,08618.2+0.5
Turnout 55,12762.5−0.6
Conservative hold Swing +0.3
General election 2001: South West Norfolk [23]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Conservative Gillian Shephard 27,633 52.2 +10.2
Labour Anne Hanson18,26734.5−3.3
Liberal Democrats Gordon Dean5,68110.7−3.2
UKIP Ian Smith1,3682.6N/A
Majority9,36617.7+13.5
Turnout 52,94963.1−10.0
Conservative hold Swing +6.7

Elections in the 1990s

General election 1997: South West Norfolk [24]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Conservative Gillian Shephard 24,694 42.0 −12.6
Labour Adrian Heffernan22,23037.8+10.7
Liberal Democrats David J. Bucton8,17813.9−6.3
Referendum Ronnie J.B. Hoare3,6946.3N/A
Majority2,4644.2−23.3
Turnout 58,79673.1−6.2
Conservative hold Swing −11.6
General election 1992: South West Norfolk [25] [26]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Conservative Gillian Shephard 33,637 54.6 −3.0
Labour Mary Page16,70627.1+6.1
Liberal Democrats John T. Marsh11,23718.2−3.2
Majority16,93127.5−8.7
Turnout 61,58079.3+3.3
Conservative hold Swing −4.6

Elections in the 1980s

General election 1987: South West Norfolk [27]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Conservative Gillian Shephard 32,519 57.6 +1.9
Liberal Malcolm Scott12,08321.4−5.3
Labour Mary Page11,84421.0+3.4
Majority20,43636.2+7.2
Turnout 56,44676.0+2.9
Conservative hold Swing
General election 1983: South West Norfolk [28]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Conservative Paul Hawkins 28,632 55.7
Liberal Brian Baxter13,72226.7
Labour Alan Rosenberg9,07217.6
Majority14,91029.0
Turnout 51,42673.1
Conservative hold Swing

Elections in the 1970s

General election 1979: South West Norfolk
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Conservative Paul Hawkins 24,767 54.8
Labour Alan Rosenberg14,06331.1
Liberal Brian Baxter6,36314.1
Majority10,70423.7
Turnout 45,19378.0
Conservative hold Swing
General election October 1974: South West Norfolk
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Conservative Paul Hawkins 19,778 47.9
Labour H Toch14,85036.0
Liberal Brian Baxter6,65816.1
Majority4,92811.9
Turnout 41,28676.9
Conservative hold Swing
General election February 1974: South West Norfolk
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Conservative Paul Hawkins 20,430 46.2
Labour H Toch14,38732.6
Liberal KW Nash8,98620.4
Independent Powellite MM McNee3800.9N/A
Majority6,04313.4
Turnout 44,18383.0
Conservative hold Swing
General election 1970: South West Norfolk
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Conservative Paul Hawkins 22,220 57.3
Labour Leslie J Potter16,57242.7
Majority5,64814.6
Turnout 38,79280.5
Conservative hold Swing

Elections in the 1960s

General election 1966: South West Norfolk
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Conservative Paul Hawkins 17,880 51.1
Labour Noel Insley17,10548.9
Majority7752.2
Turnout 34,98584.0
Conservative hold Swing
General election 1964: South West Norfolk
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Conservative Paul Hawkins 16,728 50.0
Labour Albert Hilton 16,60549.2
Independent Victor Welch4270.8N/A
Majority1230.4N/A
Turnout 33,76082.0
Conservative gain from Labour Swing

Elections in the 1950s

General election 1959: South West Norfolk
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Labour Albert Hilton 16,858 50.1
Conservative Elaine Kellett 16,78049.9
Majority780.2
Turnout 83.5
Labour hold Swing
1959 South West Norfolk by-election
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Labour Albert Hilton 15,314 51.0 +0.7
Conservative Elaine Kellett 13,96046.4−3.27
Independent Nationalist Andrew Fountaine 7852.6N/A
Majority1,3544.51+3.9
Turnout 30,059
Labour hold Swing
General election 1955: South West Norfolk
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Labour Sidney Dye 16,781 50.3
Conservative Denys Bullard 16,58849.7
Majority1930.6
Turnout 82.6
Labour gain from Conservative Swing
General election 1951: South West Norfolk
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Conservative Denys Bullard 16,970 50.7
Labour Sidney Dye 16,52849.3
Majority4421.3
Turnout 82.6
Conservative gain from Labour Swing
General election 1950: South West Norfolk
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Labour Sidney Dye 15,649 47.4
Conservative Denys Bullard 15,38946.6
Liberal George Stephen Dennis2,0096.1
Majority2600.8
Turnout 83.4
Labour hold Swing

Election in the 1940s

General election 1945: Norfolk South Western
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Labour Sidney Dye 15,091 50.1
Conservative Somerset de Chair 15,03849.9
Majority530.2
Turnout 30,12965.9
Labour gain from Conservative Swing

Elections in the 1930s

General election 1935: Norfolk South Western
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Conservative Somerset de Chair 16,060 57.4
Labour Sidney Dye 11,94342.7
Majority4,11714.7
Turnout 28,00369.5
Conservative hold Swing
General election 1931: Norfolk South Western
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Conservative Alan McLean 19,614 66.3
Labour William Taylor 9,95233.7
Majority9,66232.7N/A
Turnout 29,56674.5
Conservative gain from Labour Swing

Elections in the 1920s

General election 1929: South West Norfolk [29]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Labour William Taylor 12,152 41.8 −0.2
Unionist Alan McLean 11,38239.1−18.9
Liberal Victor Diederichs Duval5,55619.1N/A
Majority7702.7
Turnout 29,09074.1+2.1
Labour gain from Unionist Swing +9.4
General election 1924: South West Norfolk [29]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Unionist Alan McLean 13,838 58.0 +4.5
Labour William Taylor 10,00442.0−4.5
Majority3,83416.0+9.0
Turnout 23,84272.0+7.3
Unionist hold Swing +4.5
General election 1923: South West Norfolk
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Unionist Alan McLean 11,269 53.5 N/A
Labour William Taylor 9,77946.5+1.2
Majority1,4907.0
Turnout 21,04864.7+5.6
Unionist gain from National Liberal Swing
Winfrey 1910s Richard Winfrey.jpg
Winfrey
General election 1922: South West Norfolk [29]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
National Liberal Richard Winfrey 10,432 54.7
Labour William Taylor 8,65545.3
Majority1,7779.4
Turnout 19,08759.1
National Liberal hold Swing

Elections in the 1910s

General election 1918: South West Norfolk [29]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
C Liberal Richard Winfrey Unopposed
Liberal hold
Cindicates candidate endorsed by the coalition government.
General election December 1910: South West Norfolk [30]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Liberal Richard Winfrey 4,176 52.7 +1.2
Conservative Albert Edward Stanley Clarke3,74547.3−1.2
Majority4315.4+2.4
Turnout 7,92187.6−3.5
Liberal hold Swing +1.2
General election January 1910: South West Norfolk [30]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Liberal Richard Winfrey 4,239 51.5 −4.2
Conservative Thomas Hare 4,00048.5+4.2
Majority2393.0−8.4
Turnout 8,23991.1+2.4
Liberal hold Swing −4.2

Elections in the 1900s

Winfrey 1906 Richard Winfrey MP.jpg
Winfrey
General election 1906: South West Norfolk [30]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Liberal Richard Winfrey 4,416 55.7 +6.1
Conservative Thomas Hare 3,51344.3−6.1
Majority90310.4
Turnout 7,92988.7+4.7
Liberal gain from Conservative Swing +6.1
General election 1900: South West Norfolk [30]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Conservative Thomas Hare 3,702 50.4 −0.9
Liberal Richard Winfrey 3,63649.6+0.9
Majority660.8−1.8
Turnout 7,33884.0−0.8
Conservative hold Swing −0.9

Elections in the 1890s

General election 1895: South West Norfolk [30]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Conservative Thomas Hare 3,968 51.3 −0.9
Liberal Richard Winfrey 3,76248.7+0.9
Majority2062.6−1.8
Turnout 7,73084.8−7.2
Conservative hold Swing −0.9
General election 1892: South West Norfolk [30] [31]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Conservative Thomas Hare 4,077 52.2
Liberal Henry Lee-Warner3,73947.8
Majority3384.4
Turnout 7,81692.0
Conservative hold Swing

Elections in the 1880s

Amherst William Tyssen-Amherst, 1st Baron Amherst of Hackney.jpg
Amherst
General election 1886: South West Norfolk [30] [31]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Conservative William Tyssen-Amherst Unopposed
Conservative hold
General election 1885: South West Norfolk [30] [31] [32]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Conservative William Tyssen-Amherst 4,096 52.0
Liberal William Gurdon 3,77648.0
Majority3204.0
Turnout 7,87283.8
Conservative win (new seat)

See also

Notes

  1. ↑ A county constituency (for the purposes of election expenses and type of returning officer)

References

  1. ↑ "The 2023 Review of Parliamentary Constituency Boundaries in England – Volume two: Constituency names, designations and composition – Eastern". Boundary Commission for England. Retrieved 27 June 2024.
  2. ↑ UK Polling Report 2015 https://ukpollingreport.co.uk/2015guide/norfolksouthwest/
  3. ↑ Electoral Calculus https://www.electoralcalculus.co.uk/fcgi-bin/seatdetails.py?seat=Norfolk+South+West
  4. 1 2 3 "Political Science Resources: links to UK and US politics". www.psr.keele.ac.uk.
  5. ↑ "BBC NEWS – UK – UK Politics – MP Fraser poised to leave Commons". news.bbc.co.uk. 28 May 2009.
  6. ↑ Swaine, Jon (26 May 2009). "MPs' expenses: Christopher Fraser says that claim for trees was necessary".
  7. ↑ Morris, Sophie. "A goodbye speech and a meeting with the King: Here's what's happening today - and when". Sky News. Retrieved 25 October 2022.
  8. ↑ Middleton, Joe; Mitchell, Archie (5 July 2024). "Liz Truss loses seat as ex-prime minister becomes biggest scalp in Tory bloodbath". The Independent . Retrieved 5 July 2024.
  9. ↑ Steerpike (5 July 2024). "Watch: Liz Truss loses her seat". The Spectator. Retrieved 5 July 2024.
  10. ↑ Great Britain, Incorporated Council of Law Reporting for England and Wales. The public general acts. unknown library. Proprietors of the Law Journal Reports, 1884.
  11. 1 2 S., Craig, Fred W. (1972). Boundaries of parliamentary constituencies 1885–1972;. Chichester: Political Reference Publications. ISBN   0900178094. OCLC   539011.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  12. ↑ "The Parliamentary Constituencies (England) Order 1983". www.legislation.gov.uk. Retrieved 13 March 2019.
  13. ↑ "The Parliamentary Constituencies (England) Order 1995". www.legislation.gov.uk. Retrieved 13 March 2019.
  14. ↑ "The Parliamentary Constituencies (England) Order 2007". www.legislation.gov.uk. Retrieved 13 March 2019.
  15. ↑ "The Parliamentary Constituencies Order 2023". Schedule I Part 2 Eastern region.
  16. ↑ Leigh Rayment's Historical List of MPs – Constituencies beginning with "N" (part 2)
  17. ↑ "South West Norfolk results". BBC News. 7 June 2024. Retrieved 17 July 2024.
  18. ↑ "Norfolk South West Parliamentary constituency". BBC News. BBC. Retrieved 19 November 2019.
  19. 1 2 "Election Data 2015". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 17 October 2015. Retrieved 17 October 2015.
  20. 1 2 "Norfolk South West 2015". electionresults.blogspot.co.uk.
  21. ↑ "Election Data 2010". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 26 July 2013. Retrieved 17 October 2015.
  22. ↑ "Election Data 2005". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
  23. ↑ "Election Data 2001". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
  24. ↑ "Election Data 1997". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
  25. ↑ "Election Data 1992". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
  26. ↑ "UK General Election results April 1992". Richard Kimber's Political Science Resources. Politics Resources. 9 April 1992. Retrieved 6 December 2010.
  27. ↑ "Election Data 1987". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
  28. ↑ "Election Data 1983". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
  29. 1 2 3 4 Craig, F. W. S. (1983). British parliamentary election results 1918–1949 (3 ed.). Chichester: Parliamentary Research Services. ISBN   0-900178-06-X.
  30. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 British parliamentary election results, 1885–1918 (Craig)
  31. 1 2 3 The Liberal Year Book, 1907
  32. ↑ Debrett's House of Commons & Judicial Bench, 1886
Parliament of the United Kingdom
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