North Dorset (constituency)

Parliamentary constituency in the United Kingdom, 1885 onwards From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

North Dorset is a constituency[n 1] represented in the House of Commons of the UK Parliament since 2015 by Simon Hoare of the Conservative Party.[n 2]

CountyDorset
Electorate72,109 (2023)[1]
Major settlementsBlandford Forum, Gillingham, Shaftesbury, Sturminster Newton, Verwood and Milton Abbas
Created1885
Quick facts County, Electorate ...
North Dorset
County constituency
for the House of Commons
Map of constituency
Boundary of North Dorset in South West England
CountyDorset
Electorate72,109 (2023)[1]
Major settlementsBlandford Forum, Gillingham, Shaftesbury, Sturminster Newton, Verwood and Milton Abbas
Current constituency
Created1885
Member of ParliamentSimon Hoare (Conservative)
SeatsOne
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Constituency profile

North Dorset is a constituency in Dorset in South West England. Its largest town is Verwood, which has a population of around 14,000.[2] Other settlements include the towns of Blandford Forum, Sturminster Newton, Stalbridge, Shaftesbury and Gillingham and the village of Alderholt.

This is a large, rural constituency with many small, historic market towns and villages lying within the Blackmore Vale and Cranborne Chase natural areas. The constituency is situated close to the Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole urban area. Blandford Camp, the headquarters of the British Army's Royal Signals, is located just outside Blandford Forum. The constituency's towns generally have above-average levels of wealth, with Verwood being the most affluent.[3] The average house price here is marginally higher than the national and regional averages.[4]

North Dorset has a very high retired population and a low proportion of young adults.[5] Residents have average levels of education and high rates of homeownership. Household income is average and the child poverty rate is low.[4][6] A high proportion of residents work in the agriculture, retail and education sectors and the percentage claiming unemployment benefits is low.[7] White people made up 97% of the population at the 2021 census.[8]

Most of the constituency is represented by Conservatives at the local council, although some Liberal Democrats were elected in Shaftesbury and in the rural areas closer to the suburbs of Poole and Bournemouth. An estimated 56% of voters in North Dorset supported leaving the European Union in the 2016 referendum, higher than the UK-wide figure of 52%.[4]

History

This seat was created by the Redistribution of Seats Act 1885, since which it has been won at elections by candidates from only two parties. For nineteen of the years between 1885 and 1950, North Dorset was represented by Liberals, and at all other times since 1885 it has been represented by Conservatives. It is historically one of Labour's weakest seats in the country - for example, it gave the party its lowest vote share out of all the seats it contested in 1950 and 1951.

Boundaries

1885–1918: The Borough of Shaftesbury, the Sessional Divisions of Blandford, Shaftesbury, and Sturminster, and part of the Sessional Division of Sherborne.

1918–1950: The Boroughs of Blandford Forum and Shaftesbury, the Urban District of Sherborne, the Rural Districts of Blandford, Shaftesbury, Sherborne, and Sturminster, and part of the Rural District of Wimborne and Cranborne.

1950–1974: The Boroughs of Blandford Forum and Shaftesbury, the Urban District of Wimborne Minster, and the Rural Districts of Blandford, Shaftesbury, Sturminster, and Wimborne and Cranborne.

1974–1983: As 1950 but with redrawn boundaries.

1983–1997: The District of North Dorset, the District of Wimborne wards of Colehill, Corfe Mullen Central, Corfe Mullen North, Corfe Mullen South, Crane, Holt, Sixpenny Handley, Sturminster Marshall, Vale of Allen, and Wimborne Minster, and the District of Purbeck wards of Lytchett Matravers and Lytchett Minster.

1997–2010: The District of North Dorset, and the District of East Dorset wards of Colehill, Crane, Holt, Longham, Sixpenny Handley, Stapehill, Sturminster Marshall, Vale of Allen, and Wimborne Minster.

2010–2024: The District of North Dorset, and the District of East Dorset wards of Alderholt, Crane, Handley Vale, Holt, Stour, Three Cross and Potterne, Verwood Dewlands, Verwood Newtown, and Verwood Stephen's Castle.

2024–present: The District of Dorset wards of Beacon, Blackmore Vale, Blandford, Cranborne & Alderholt, Cranborne Chase, Gillingham, Hill Forts & Upper Tarrants, Puddletown & Lower Winterborne, Shaftesbury Town, Stalbridge & Marnhull, Sturminster Newton, Verwood, and Winterborne North.[9]

Minor changes following re-organisation of local authorities and wards in Dorset.

Members of Parliament

More information Election, Member ...
ElectionMember[10] Party
1885 Edwin Berkeley Portman Liberal
1892 John Wingfield Digby Conservative
1905 by-election Arthur Walters Wills Liberal
January 1910 Sir Randolf Baker Conservative
1918 Philip Colfox Unionist
1922 John Emlyn-Jones Liberal
1924 Sir Cecil Hanbury Unionist
1937 by-election Angus Hambro Conservative
1945 Frank Byers Liberal
1950 Robert Crouch Conservative
1957 by-election Richard Glyn Conservative
1970 David James Conservative
1979 Sir Nicholas Baker Conservative
1997 Robert Walter Conservative
2015 Simon Hoare Conservative
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Elections

Elections in the 2020s

More information Party, Candidate ...
General election 2024: North Dorset[11][12]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Simon Hoare 18,208 36.6 −27.2
Liberal Democrats Gary Jackson 16,619 33.5 +13.1
Reform Ash Leaning 7,894 15.9 N/A
Labour James Coldwell 4,370 8.8 −3.1
Green Ken Huggins 2,082 4.2 +0.3
Independent Si Adams 317 0.6 N/A
UKIP Jeff Taylor 119 0.2 N/A
SDP Daniel Woodruffe 74 0.1 N/A
Majority 1,589 3.1 −40.2
Turnout 49,683 68.3 −5.8
Registered electors 72,690
Conservative hold Swing −20.2
Close

Elections in the 2010s

More information Party, Vote ...
2019 notional result[13]
Party Vote %
Conservative34,08563.8
Liberal Democrats10,89020.4
Labour6,37911.9
Green2,1103.9
Turnout 53,464 74.1
Electorate 72,109
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More information Party, Candidate ...
General election 2019: North Dorset[14]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Simon Hoare 35,705 63.6 −1.3
Liberal Democrats David Chadwick 11,404 20.3 +6.8
Labour Pat Osborne 6,737 12.0 −6.6
Green Ken Huggins 2,261 4.0 +1.1
Majority 24,301 43.3 −3.0
Turnout 56,107 73.9 −0.1
Conservative hold Swing
Close
More information Party, Candidate ...
General election 2017: North Dorset[15]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Simon Hoare 36,169 64.9 +8.3
Labour Pat Osborne 10,392 18.6 +9.6
Liberal Democrats Thomas Panton 7,556 13.6 +1.9
Green John Tutton 1,607 2.9 −2.8
Majority 25,777 46.3 +6.8
Turnout 55,724 74.0 +2.4
Conservative hold Swing −0.7
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More information Party, Candidate ...
General election 2015: North Dorset[16]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Simon Hoare[17] 30,227 56.6 +5.5
UKIP Steve Unwin[18] 9,109 17.1 +11.9
Liberal Democrats Hugo Miéville[19] 6,226 11.7 −25.3
Labour Kim Fendley[20] 4,785 9.0 +3.6
Green Richard Barrington [21] 3,038 5.7 +4.7
Majority 21,118 39.5 +25.4
Turnout 53,385 71.6 −1.9
Conservative hold Swing
Close
More information Party, Candidate ...
General election 2010: North Dorset[22]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Robert Walter 27,640 51.1 +4.6
Liberal Democrats Emily Gasson 20,015 37.0 −0.9
Labour Mike Bunney 2,910 5.4 −4.2
UKIP Jeremy Nieboer 2,812 5.2 +1.3
Green Anna Hayball 546 1.0 −1.3
Monster Raving Loony Roger Monksummers 218 0.4 N/A
Majority 7,625 14.1 +9.9
Turnout 54,141 73.5 +4.2
Conservative hold Swing +2.8
Close

Elections in the 2000s

More information Party, Candidate ...
General election 2005: North Dorset[23]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Robert Walter 23,714 44.9 −1.8
Liberal Democrats Emily Gasson 21,470 40.7 +2.0
Labour John Yarwood 4,596 8.7 −2.5
UKIP Richard Hobbs 1,918 3.6 +1.5
Green Ralph Arliss 1,117 2.1 N/A
Majority 2,244 4.2 −3.8
Turnout 52,815 71.1 +4.8
Conservative hold Swing −1.9
Close
More information Party, Candidate ...
General election 2001: North Dorset[24]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Robert Walter 22,314 46.7 +2.4
Liberal Democrats Emily Gasson 18,517 38.7 −0.4
Labour Mark Wareham 5,334 11.2 +1.0
UKIP Peter Jenkins 1,019 2.1 +0.6
Lower Excise Duty Party Joseph Duthie 391 0.8 N/A
Independent Cora Bone 246 0.5 N/A
Majority 3,797 8.0 +2.8
Turnout 47,821 66.3 −10.0
Conservative hold Swing +1.4
Close

Elections in the 1990s

More information Party, Candidate ...
General election 1997: North Dorset[25]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Robert Walter 23,294 44.3 −10.3
Liberal Democrats Paula Yates 20,548 39.1 +0.6
Labour John Fitzmaurice 5,380 10.2 +3.3
Referendum Margaret Evans 2,564 4.9 N/A
UKIP David Wheeler 801 1.5 N/A
Majority 2,746 5.2 −10.9
Turnout 52,587 76.3 −5.5
Conservative hold Swing −5.5
Close
More information Party, Candidate ...
General election 1992: North Dorset [26][27]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Nicholas Baker 34,234 54.6 −2.5
Liberal Democrats LE Siegle 24,154 38.5 +2.2
Labour John Fitzmaurice 4,360 6.9 +0.3
Majority 10,080 16.1 −4.5
Turnout 62,748 81.8 +2.7
Conservative hold Swing −2.3
Close

Elections in the 1980s

More information Party, Candidate ...
General election 1987: Dorset North[28]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Nicholas Baker 32,854 57.0 −1.1
Liberal Geoffrey William Tapper 20,947 36.4 +0.3
Labour Joseph Hanley 3,819 6.6 +1.4
Majority 11,907 20.6 −1.4
Turnout 57,620 79.1 +2.5
Conservative hold Swing −0.7
Close
More information Party, Candidate ...
General election 1983: Dorset North[29]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Nicholas Baker 30,058 58.1 −4.1
Liberal Geoffrey W Tapper 18,678 36.1 +10.1
Labour Jennifer Fox 2,710 5.2 −6.5
Wessex Regionalists David Fox 294 0.6 N/A
Majority 11,380 22.0 −14.2
Turnout 51,740 76.6 −3.1
Conservative hold Swing −7.1
Close

Elections in the 1970s

More information Party, Candidate ...
General election 1979: Dorset North
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Nicholas Baker 40,046 62.2 +11.0
Liberal G Court 16,750 26.0 −10.0
Labour MC Rowlands 7,543 11.7 −1.1
Majority 23,296 36.2 +21.0
Turnout 64,339 79.7 +0.5
Conservative hold Swing
Close
More information Party, Candidate ...
General election October 1974: Dorset North
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative David James 28,891 51.2 +0.4
Liberal Philip Watkins 20,350 36.0 −3.2
Labour TG Jones 7,245 12.8 +2.7
Majority 8,541 15.2 +3.7
Turnout 56,486 79.2 −5.2
Conservative hold Swing
Close
More information Party, Candidate ...
General election February 1974: Dorset North
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative David James 30,288 50.7
Liberal Philip Watkins 23,405 39.2
Labour TG Smith 6,032 10.1
Majority 6,883 11.5
Turnout 59,725 84.4
Conservative hold Swing
Close
More information Party, Candidate ...
General election 1970: Dorset North
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative David James 28,471 57.9 +9.7
Liberal Philip Watkins 12,095 24.6 −10.6
Labour Haydn R White 8,626 17.5 +0.9
Majority 16,376 33.3 +20.4
Turnout 49,192 78.5 −2.8
Conservative hold Swing
Close

Elections in the 1960s

More information Party, Candidate ...
General election 1966: Dorset North
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Richard Glyn 20,520 48.2 −0.6
Liberal Richard Anthony Lamb 15,005 35.2 −0.9
Labour Jack R Rutland 7,090 16.6 +1.3
Majority 5,515 13.0 +0.5
Turnout 42,615 81.3 −0.4
Conservative hold Swing
Close
More information Party, Candidate ...
General election 1964: Dorset North
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Richard Glyn 19,898 48.6 −4.2
Liberal Richard Anthony Lamb 14,768 36.1 +5.9
Labour John F Armstrong 6,253 15.3 −1.7
Majority 5,130 12.5 −10.0
Turnout 40,919 81.7 −0.3
Conservative hold Swing
Close

Elections in the 1950s

More information Party, Candidate ...
General election 1959: Dorset North
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Richard Glyn 20,255 52.8 +0.7
Liberal John Emlyn-Jones 11,604 30.2 −2.2
Labour Herbert J Dutfield 6,548 17.0 +1.5
Majority 8,651 22.6 +2.9
Turnout 38,407 82.0 −0.2
Conservative hold Swing
Close
More information Party, Candidate ...
1957 North Dorset by-election
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Richard Glyn 15,513 45.1 −7.0
Liberal John Emlyn-Jones 12,411 36.1 +3.7
Labour Herbert J Dutfield 6,278 18.3 +2.8
Independent H C Wright 170 0.5 N/A
Majority 3,102 9.0 −10.7
Turnout 34,372
Conservative hold Swing −5.4
Close
More information Party, Candidate ...
General election 1955: Dorset North [30]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Robert Crouch 18,906 52.1 +5.1
Liberal Michael Portman 11,747 32.4 −12.6
Labour Herbert J Dutfield 5,633 15.5 +7.5
Majority 7,159 19.7 +17.7
Turnout 36,286 82.2 −4.2
Conservative hold Swing
Close
More information Party, Candidate ...
General election 1951: Dorset North
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Robert Crouch 17,392 47.0 +3.7
Liberal Frank Byers 16,645 45.0 +1.9
Labour J. R. Tudor Griffith 2,946 8.0 −5.6
Majority 747 2.0 +1.8
Turnout 36,983 86.4 +1.4
Conservative hold Swing
Close
More information Party, Candidate ...
General election 1950: Dorset North
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Robert Crouch 15,324 43.3 −3.0
Liberal Frank Byers 15,227 43.1 −10.6
Labour J. R. Tudor Griffith 4,807 13.6 N/A
Majority 97 0.2 N/A
Turnout 35,358 85.0 +10.0
Conservative gain from Liberal Swing
Close

Elections in the 1940s

More information Party, Candidate ...
General election 1945: North Dorset
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Frank Byers 14,444 53.7 +15.8
Conservative Richard Glyn 12,479 46.3 −3.8
Majority 1,965 7.40 N/A
Turnout 26,923 75.04 −4.9
Liberal gain from Conservative Swing
Close

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 and by the Autumn of 1939, the following candidates had been selected;

Elections in the 1930s

More information Party, Candidate ...
1937 North Dorset by-election[33]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Angus Hambro 12,247 51.1 +1.0
Liberal William Borthwick 11,704 48.9 +11.0
Majority 543 2.2 −10.0
Turnout 23,951 73.4 −6.3
Conservative hold Swing −5.0
Close
More information Party, Candidate ...
General election 1935: North Dorset [33]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Cecil Hanbury 13,055 50.1 −9.1
Liberal William Borthwick 9,871 37.9 −2.9
Independent Agriculturalist[a] George Pitt-Rivers 1,771 6.8 N/A
Labour M M Whitehead 1,360 5.2 N/A
Majority 3,184 12.2 −6.2
Turnout 26,057 79.7 −2.4
Conservative hold Swing −3.1
Close
More information Party, Candidate ...
General election 1931: North Dorset [33]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Cecil Hanbury 15,499 59.2 +11.9
Liberal William Borthwick 10,682 40.8 −3.0
Majority 4,817 18.4 +14.9
Turnout 26,181 82.1 +0.7
Conservative hold Swing +7.5
Close

Elections in the 1920s

More information Party, Candidate ...
General election 1929: North Dorset [33]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Unionist Cecil Hanbury 12,203 47.3 −6.0
Liberal William Borthwick 11,281 43.8 −2.9
Labour Colin Clark 2,298 8.9 N/A
Majority 922 3.5 −3.1
Turnout 25,782 81.4 −5.1
Registered electors 31,684
Unionist hold Swing −1.6
Close
J. Emlyn-Jones
More information Party, Candidate ...
General election 1924: North Dorset
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Unionist Cecil Hanbury 11,819 53.3 +5.1
Liberal John Emlyn-Jones 10,341 46.7 −5.1
Majority 1,478 6.6 N/A
Turnout 22,160 86.5 +2.2
Registered electors 25,616
Unionist gain from Liberal Swing +5.1
Close
More information Party, Candidate ...
General election 1923: North Dorset
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal John Emlyn-Jones 10,992 51.8 −0.5
Unionist Cecil Hanbury 10,211 48.2 +0.5
Majority 781 3.6 −1.0
Turnout 21,203 84.3 +0.1
Registered electors 25,160
Liberal hold Swing −0.5
Close
More information Party, Candidate ...
General election 1922: North Dorset
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal John Emlyn-Jones 10,805 52.3 +3.0
Unionist Cecil Hanbury 9,869 47.7 −3.0
Majority 936 4.6 N/A
Turnout 20,674 84.2 +23.2
Registered electors 24,539
Liberal gain from Unionist Swing +3.0
Close

Elections in the 1910s

More information Party, Candidate ...
General election 1918: Dorset North
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
C Unionist Philip Colfox 7,532 50.7 +0.5
Liberal John Emlyn-Jones 7,320 49.3 −0.5
Majority 212 1.4 +1.0
Turnout 14,852 61.0 −29.6
Registered electors 24,334
Unionist hold Swing +0.5
C indicates candidate endorsed by the coalition government.
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More information Party, Candidate ...
General election December 1910: Dorset North [34]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Randolf Baker 3,919 50.2 −0.7
Liberal Arthur Wills 3,887 49.8 +0.7
Majority 32 0.4 −1.4
Turnout 7,806 90.6 −2.7
Registered electors 8,616
Conservative hold Swing −0.7
Close
More information Party, Candidate ...
General election January 1910: Dorset North [34]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Randolf Baker 4,093 50.9 +5.1
Liberal Arthur Wills 3,944 49.1 −5.1
Majority 149 1.8 N/A
Turnout 8,037 93.3 +3.1
Registered electors 8,616
Conservative gain from Liberal Swing +5.1
Close

Elections in the 1900s

More information Party, Candidate ...
General election January 1906: Dorset North [35]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Arthur Wills 4,153 54.2 +8.1
Conservative Randolf Baker 3,508 45.8 −8.1
Majority 645 8.4 N/A
Turnout 7,661 90.2 +7.6
Registered electors 8,490
Liberal gain from Conservative Swing +8.1
Close
More information Party, Candidate ...
1905 North Dorset by-election[35]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Arthur Wills 4,239 56.0 +9.9
Conservative Randolf Baker 3,330 44.0 −9.9
Majority 909 12.0 N/A
Turnout 7,569 90.8 +8.2
Registered electors 8,338
Liberal gain from Conservative Swing +9.9
Close
More information Party, Candidate ...
General election January 1900: Dorset North [35]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative John Kenelm Wingfield Digby 3,705 53.9 N/A
Liberal George Hamilton-Gordon 3,165 46.1 N/A
Majority 540 7.8 N/A
Turnout 6,870 82.6 N/A
Registered electors 8,318
Conservative hold Swing N/A
Close

Elections in the 1890s

More information Party, Candidate ...
General election 1895: Dorset North [35]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative John Kenelm Wingfield Digby Unopposed
Conservative hold
Close
More information Party, Candidate ...
General election 1892: Dorset North [35]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative John Kenelm Wingfield Digby 3,981 53.5 +5.2
Liberal Arthur Arnold 3,456 46.5 −5.2
Majority 525 7.0 N/A
Turnout 7,437 85.3 +4.3
Registered electors 8,714
Conservative gain from Liberal Swing +5.2
Close

Elections in the 1880s

More information Party, Candidate ...
General election 1886: Dorset North [35]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Edwin Berkeley Portman 3,571 51.7 −8.2
Liberal Unionist Evelyn Ashley[36] 3,336 48.3 +8.2
Majority 235 3.4 −16.4
Turnout 6,907 81.0 −7.6
Registered electors 8,522
Liberal hold Swing −8.2
Close
More information Party, Candidate ...
General election 1885: Dorset North [35]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Edwin Berkeley Portman 4,520 59.9
Conservative Humphrey Sturt[37] 3,031 40.1
Majority 1,489 19.8
Turnout 7,551 88.6
Registered electors 8,522
Liberal win (new seat)
Close

See also

Notes

  1. [1]
    A county constituency (for the purposes of election expenses and type of returning officer)
  2. [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.

References

External links

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