West Dorset (UK Parliament constituency)

Last updated

West Dorset
County constituency
for the House of Commons
South West England - West Dorset constituency.svg
Boundary of West Dorset in South West England
County Dorset
Electorate 75,390 (2023) [1]
Major settlements Dorchester, Bridport and Sherborne
Current constituency
Created 1885
Member of Parliament Edward Morello (Liberal Democrats)
SeatsOne

West Dorset is a constituency [n 1] represented in the House of Commons of the UK Parliament since 2024 by Edward Morello, a Liberal Democrat. [n 2]

Contents

History

The seat was created under the Redistribution of Seats Act 1885.

Political history

Only Conservative MPs had been elected in West Dorset until the 2024 general election, when Edward Morello won the seat for the Liberal Democrats for the first time since its creation. Historically there had mostly been large majorities; thus the seat was considered a safe seat. The previous closest result in recent years was in 2001, when the then member, Oliver Letwin, held his seat with a majority of only 2.8% over the Liberal Democrat candidate, Simon Green. The second place in every election after 1970 has been taken by the Liberal Party and, subsequent to that party's merging with the SDP, the Liberal Democrats. Labour's best results in the constituency were in 1945 and 1966.

Prominent frontbenchers

Oliver Letwin, with a settled background in policy formulation, was appointed Minister of State for Policy (a Cabinet Office role) in the Conservative-Liberal Democrat Coalition on 12 May 2010. He had previously served as Shadow Chancellor of the Exchequer between 2003 and 2005.

Boundaries

West Dorset (UK Parliament constituency)
Map of boundaries 2010–2024

1885–1918: The Municipal Boroughs of Bridport and Lyme Regis, the Sessional Divisions of Bridport and Cerne, and part of the Sessional Divisions of Dorchester and Sherborne.

1918–1950: The Municipal Boroughs of Bridport, Dorchester, and Lyme Regis, the Rural Districts of Beaminster, Bridport, Cerne, and Dorchester, and part of the Rural District of Weymouth.

1950–1974: The Municipal Boroughs of Bridport, Dorchester, and Lyme Regis, the Urban District of Sherborne, the Rural Districts of Beaminster, Bridport, and Sherborne, and part of the Rural District of Dorchester.

1974–1983: As 1950 but with redrawn boundaries.

1983–2024: The District of West Dorset except the ward of Owermoigne.

2024–present: The District of Dorset wards of: Beaminster; Bridport; Chalk Valleys; Charminster St. Mary’s; Chesil Bank; Dorchester East; Dorchester Poundbury; Dorchester West; Eggardon; Lyme & Charmouth; Marshwood Vale; Sherborne East; Sherborne Rural; Sherborne West; Winterborne & Broadmayne; Yetminster. [2]

Minor changes to bring the electorate within the permitted range following re-organisation of local authorities and wards in Dorset.

The West Dorset constituency includes the towns of Dorchester, the county town of Dorset; Bridport, Lyme Regis and Beaminster to the west; and Sherborne to the north.

Constituency profile

Aside from tourist areas, including the Jurassic Coast which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, the seat draws on managerial and advanced professional skills in sectors such as mechanical engineering, manufacturing, reconditioning, defence, art and design, which support local trades and retail. A slightly greater than average proportion of people are retired. [3] Workless claimants who were registered jobseekers were in November 2012 significantly lower than the national average of 3.8%, at 1.4% of the population based on a statistical compilation by The Guardian . [4]

Members of Parliament

ElectionMember [5] PartyNotes
1885 Henry Farquharson Conservative Died 1895
1895 by-election Robert Williams Conservative
1922 Philip Colfox Conservative Resigned 1941
1941 by-election Simon Wingfield Digby Conservative
Feb 1974 Jim Spicer Conservative
1997 Oliver Letwin Conservative
2019 Independent Conservative whip removed in September 2019
2019 Chris Loder Conservative
2024 Edward Morello Liberal Democrat

Elections

Elections in the 2020s

General election 2024: West Dorset [6]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Liberal Democrats Edward Morello 26,999 51.3 +18.5
Conservative Chris Loder 19,21036.5−17.8
Labour Donna Lumsden3,0865.9−3.5
Green Kelvin Clayton2,2884.3+0.8
Independent Oliver Chisholm7331.4New
Independent Marcus White2890.5New
Majority 7,78914.8N/A
Turnout 52,60569.2−7.5
Registered electors 75,998
Liberal Democrats gain from Conservative Swing +18.1

Elections in the 2010s

2019 notional result [7]
PartyVote%
Conservative 31,37554.3
Liberal Democrats 18,98732.8
Labour 5,4149.4
Green 2,0373.5
Turnout57,81376.7
Electorate75,390
General election 2019: West Dorset [8]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Conservative Chris Loder 33,589 55.1 −0.4
Liberal Democrats Edward Morello 19,48332.0+8.5
Labour Claudia Sorin5,7299.4−8.9
Green Kelvin Clayton2,1243.5+0.8
Majority 14,10623.1−8.9
Turnout 60,92574.7−0.9
Conservative hold Swing −4.5
General election 2017: West Dorset
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Conservative Oliver Letwin 33,081 55.5 +5.3
Liberal Democrats Andy Canning13,99023.5+1.9
Labour Lee Rhodes10,89618.3+8.3
Green Kelvin Clayton1,6312.7−3.0
Majority 19,09132.0+2.4
Turnout 59,75075.6+3.0
Conservative hold Swing +1.7
General election 2015: West Dorset [9]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Conservative Oliver Letwin 28,329 50.2 +2.6
Liberal Democrats Ros Kayes12,19921.6−19.1
UKIP David Glossop7,05512.5+8.7
Labour Rachel Rogers5,63310.0+3.3
Green Peter Barton3,2425.7+4.5
Majority 16,13028.6+21.7
Turnout 56,64372.6−2.0
Conservative hold Swing +10.9
General election 2010: West Dorset [10]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Conservative Oliver Letwin 27,287 47.6 +1.1
Liberal Democrats Sue Farrant23,36440.7−1.2
Labour Steve Bick3,8156.7−1.0
UKIP Oliver Chisholm2,1963.8+1.8
Green Susan Greene6751.2−0.6
Majority 3,9236.9+2.3
Turnout 57,33774.6−1.7
Conservative hold Swing +1.1

Elections in the 2000s

General election 2005: West Dorset [11]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Conservative Oliver Letwin 24,763 46.5 +1.9
Liberal Democrats Justine McGuinness22,30241.9+0.1
Labour Dave Roberts4,1247.7−5.9
UKIP Linda Guest1,0842.0New
Green Susan Greene9521.8New
Majority 2,4614.6+1.8
Turnout 53,22576.3+6.8
Conservative hold Swing +0.9
General election 2001: West Dorset [12]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Conservative Oliver Letwin 22,126 44.6 +3.5
Liberal Democrats Simon Green20,71241.8+4.1
Labour Richard Hyde6,73313.6−4.1
Majority 1,4142.8−0.6
Turnout 49,57169.5−6.6
Conservative hold Swing

Elections in the 1990s

General election 1997: West Dorset [13]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Conservative Oliver Letwin 22,036 41.1 −7.7
Liberal Democrats Robin Legg20,19637.7+1.5
Labour Robert Bygraves9,49117.7+4.7
UKIP P. Jenkins1,5903.0New
Natural Law Mark Griffiths2390.4New
Majority 1,8403.4−11.2
Turnout 53,55276.1−4.9
Conservative hold Swing
General election 1992: Dorset West [14] [15]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Conservative James Spicer 27,766 50.8 −5.4
Liberal Democrats Robin Legg19,75636.2+4.6
Labour J Mann7,08213.0+0.8
Majority 8,01014.6−10.0
Turnout 54,60481.2+2.9
Conservative hold Swing −4.9

Elections in the 1980s

General election 1987: Dorset West [16]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Conservative James Spicer 28,305 56.2 −3.5
Liberal Trevor Jones15,94131.6+2.7
Labour John Watson6,12312.2+0.8
Majority 12,36424.6−6.2
Turnout 50,36978.3+4.1
Conservative hold Swing −3.1
General election 1983: Dorset West [17]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Conservative James Spicer 27,030 59.7 +1.0
Liberal Trevor Jones13,07828.9+7.1
Labour Derek Cash5,16811.4−6.4
Majority 13,95230.8−6.1
Turnout 45,27674.2−4.8
Conservative hold Swing −3.0

Elections in the 1970s

General election 1979: Dorset West
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Conservative James Spicer 26,281 58.71
Liberal Trevor Jones9,77621.84
Labour HJ Skevington7,99917.87
National Front J Tillotson5141.15New
Wessex Regionalist G McEwan1920.43New
Majority 16,50536.87
Turnout 44,76279.00
Conservative hold Swing
General election October 1974: Dorset West
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Conservative James Spicer 20,517 49.20
Liberal RM Angus11,83228.37
Labour PJ Dawe9,35022.42
Majority 8,68520.83
Turnout 41,69977.84
Conservative hold Swing
General election February 1974: Dorset West
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Conservative James Spicer 21,634 49.00
Liberal RM Angus14,18332.12
Labour MF Cross8,33318.87
Majority 7,45116.88
Turnout 44,15083.12
Conservative hold Swing
General election 1970: Dorset West
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Conservative Simon Wingfield Digby 21,081 54.15
Labour George Sakwa10,53627.06
Liberal Allan Percival7,31418.79
Majority 10,54527.09
Turnout 38,93176.76
Conservative hold Swing

Elections in the 1960s

General election 1966: Dorset West
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Conservative Simon Wingfield Digby 17,709 47.68
Labour F Donald Shirreff11,75731.65
Liberal Michael Aza Pinney7,67620.67
Majority 5,95216.03
Turnout 37,14280.85
Conservative hold Swing
General election 1964: Dorset West
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Conservative Simon Wingfield Digby 17,841 48.59
Labour Leslie William King10,63128.96
Liberal Michael Aza Pinney8,24222.45
Majority 7,21019.63
Turnout 36,71481.68
Conservative hold Swing

Elections in the 1950s

General election 1959: Dorset West
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Conservative Simon Wingfield Digby 19,747 54.65
Labour Leslie William King11,53631.93
Liberal John H. Goodden4,85013.42New
Majority 8,21122.72
Turnout 36,13381.92
Conservative hold Swing
General election 1955: Dorset West
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Conservative Simon Wingfield Digby 21,007 59.59
Labour Leslie William King14,24440.41
Majority 6,76319.18
Turnout 35,25180.07
Conservative hold Swing
General election 1951: Dorset West
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Conservative Simon Wingfield Digby 21,739 60.31
Labour Cambreth John Kane14,30839.69
Majority 7,43120.62
Turnout 36,04782.11
Conservative hold Swing
General election 1950: Dorset West
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Conservative Simon Wingfield Digby 18,771 51.75
Labour Cambreth John Kane11,96733.00
Liberal Colin Grant Cameron5,53115.25
Majority 6,80418.75
Turnout 36,26983.95
Conservative hold Swing

Elections in the 1940s

General election 1945: West Dorset [18]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Conservative Simon Wingfield Digby 13,399 50.1 −4.0
Labour Cambreth John Kane8,21530.8New
Liberal George Newsom 5,09819.1−26.8
Majority 5,18419.3+9.1
Turnout 26,71274.7−3.2
Conservative hold Swing
1941 West Dorset by-election [18]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Conservative Simon Wingfield Digby Unopposed N/AN/A
Conservative hold

General Election 1939–40:

Another general election was required to take place before the end of 1940. The political parties had been making preparations for an election to take place from 1939, and by the end of this year the following candidates had been selected:

Elections in the 1930s

General election 1935: West Dorset [18]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Conservative Philip Colfox 13,825 54.1 −6.1
Liberal George Edwin Chappell11,73545.9+6.1
Majority 2,0908.2−12.2
Turnout 25,56077.9−3.7
Conservative hold Swing −6.1
General election 1931: West Dorset [18]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Conservative Philip Colfox 15,510 60.2 +11.1
Liberal George Edwin Chappell10,27139.8+8.0
Majority 5,23920.4+3.1
Turnout 25,78181.6+1.0
Conservative hold Swing

Elections in the 1920s

General election 1929: Dorset West [18]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Unionist Philip Colfox 12,247 49.1 −19.2
Liberal George Edwin Chappell7,92131.8New
Labour Thomas Robins4,77019.1−12.6
Majority 4,32617.3−19.3
Turnout 24,93880.6+7.4
Unionist hold Swing N/A
General election 1924: West Dorset [18]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Unionist Philip Colfox 12,426 68.3 +9.5
Labour Louie Simpson 5,76431.7−9.5
Majority 6,66236.6+19.0
Turnout 18,19073.2+2.3
Unionist hold Swing +9.5
General election 1923: West Dorset [18]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Unionist Philip Colfox 10,100 58.8 −3.3
Labour Louie Simpson 7,08741.2+3.3
Majority 3,01317.6−6.6
Turnout 17,18770.9−7.6
Unionist hold Swing −3.3
General election 1922: West Dorset [18]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Unionist Philip Colfox 11,649 62.1 N/A
Labour T C Duke7,10137.9New
Majority 4,54824.2N/A
Turnout 18,75078.5N/A
Unionist hold Swing N/A

Elections in the 1910s

General election 1918: West Dorset [18]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
C Unionist Robert Williams Unopposed
Unionist hold
Cindicates candidate endorsed by the coalition government.

General Election 1914–15:

Another General Election was required to take place before the end of 1915. The political parties had been making preparations for an election to take place and by July 1914, the following candidates had been selected:

General election December 1910: Dorset West [19]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Conservative Robert Williams Unopposed
Conservative hold
General election January 1910: Dorset West [19]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Conservative Robert Williams 4,011 59.2 +2.8
Liberal William Saunders Edwards2,75940.8−2.8
Majority 1,25218.4+5.6
Turnout 6,77089.4+1.6
Registered electors 7,576
Conservative hold Swing +2.8

Elections in the 1900s

General election 1906: Dorset West [19]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Conservative Robert Williams 3,671 56.4 N/A
Liberal Johnstone J Haye2,83443.6New
Majority 83712.8N/A
Turnout 6,50587.8N/A
Registered electors 7,413
Conservative hold Swing N/A
General election 1900: Dorset West [19]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Conservative Robert Williams Unopposed
Conservative hold

Elections in the 1890s

General election 1895: Dorset West [19]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Conservative Robert Williams Unopposed
Conservative hold
1895 West Dorset by-election [20] [19]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Conservative Robert Williams 3,538 60.3 +3.6
Independent FarmersGeorge Wood Homer [21] [n 3] 2,32539.7−3.6
Majority 1,21320.6+7.2
Turnout 5,86376.0−8.0
Registered electors 7,713
Conservative hold Swing +3.6
General election 1892: Dorset West [19]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Conservative Henry Farquharson 3,691 56.7 −3.1
Liberal Charles Tindal Gatty 2,81343.3+3.1
Majority 87813.4−6.2
Turnout 6,50484.0+6.4
Registered electors 7,747
Conservative hold Swing −3.1

Elections in the 1880s

General election 1886: Dorset West [19]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Conservative Henry Farquharson 3,672 59.8 +8.8
Liberal Herbert Carey George Batten [22] 2,46740.2−8.8
Majority 1,20519.6+17.6
Turnout 6,13977.6−9.2
Registered electors 7,914
Conservative hold Swing +8.8
General election 1885: Dorset West [19]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Conservative Henry Farquharson 3,507 51.0
Liberal Herbert Carey George Batten [22] 3,36649.0
Majority 1412.0
Turnout 6,87386.8
Registered electors 7,914
Conservative win (new seat)

See also

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. ↑ Supported by the local Liberal association

References

  1. ↑ "The 2023 Review of Parliamentary Constituency Boundaries in England – Volume two: Constituency names, designations and composition – South West". Boundary Commission for England. Retrieved 29 June 2024.
  2. ↑ "The Parliamentary Constituencies Order 2023". Schedule 1 Part 7 South West region.
  3. ↑ "Local statistics - Office for National Statistics". www.ons.gov.uk.
  4. ↑ Unemployment claimants by constituency The Guardian
  5. ↑ Leigh Rayment's Historical List of MPs – Constituencies beginning with "D" (part 2)
  6. ↑ "view the statement of persons nominated, notice of poll and situation of polling stations". Dorset Council (UK). 8 June 2024. Retrieved 8 June 2024.
  7. ↑ "Notional results for a UK general election on 12 December 2019". Rallings & Thrasher, Professor David Denver (Scotland), Nicholas Whyte (NI) for Sky News, PA, BBC News and ITV News. UK Parliament . Retrieved 11 July 2024.
  8. ↑ "Statement of Persons Nominated" (PDF).
  9. ↑ "Election Data 2015". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 17 October 2015. Retrieved 17 October 2015.
  10. ↑ "Election Data 2010". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 26 July 2013. Retrieved 17 October 2015.
  11. ↑ "Election Data 2005". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
  12. ↑ "Election Data 2001". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
  13. ↑ "Election Data 1997". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
  14. ↑ "Election Data 1992". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
  15. ↑ "Politics Resources". Election 1992. Politics Resources. 9 April 1992. Retrieved 6 December 2010.
  16. ↑ "Election Data 1987". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
  17. ↑ "Election Data 1983". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
  18. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 Craig, F. W. S. (1983). British parliamentary election results 1918-1949 (3rd ed.). Chichester: Parliamentary Research Services. ISBN   0-900178-06-X.
  19. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 British Parliamentary Election Results 1885-1918, FWS Craig
  20. ↑ The Constitutional Year Book, 1904, published by Conservative Central Office, page 143 (167 in web page), Dorsetshire
  21. ↑ "West Dorset". Salisbury and Winchester Journal . 11 May 1895. p. 2. Retrieved 23 November 2017.
  22. 1 2 Mayers, Rachel (November 2015). Barber, Bob (ed.). "What's in a name: Ainslie and Stanfield" (PDF). The Greenwood Tree. 40 (4). Sherborne: The Somerset and Dorset Family History Society: 120. Retrieved 25 November 2017.

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