West Dorset (UK Parliament constituency)

West Dorset is a constituency[n 1] represented in the House of Commons of the UK Parliament since 2019 by Chris Loder, a Conservative.[n 2]

West Dorset
County constituency
for the House of Commons
Outline map
Boundary of West Dorset in Dorset
Outline map
Location of Dorset within England
CountyDorset
Electorate83,000 (December 2021)[1]
Major settlementsDorchester, Bridport and Sherborne
Current constituency
Created1885
Member of ParliamentChris Loder (Conservative)
SeatsOne

History

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

Political history

Only Conservative MPs have been elected in West Dorset. Historically there have mostly been large majorities; thus the seat can be considered a safe seat. The 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

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

The West Dorset constituency covers most of the West Dorset district and 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.[2] 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.[3]

Members of Parliament
ElectionMember[4]PartyNotes
1885 Henry Farquharson Conservative Died 1895
1895 by-election Robert Williams Conservative
1922 Philip Colfox Conservative Resigned 1941
1941 by-election Simon Digby Conservative
Feb 1974 Jim Spicer Conservative
1997 Oliver Letwin Conservative
2019 Independent Conservative whip removed in September 2019
2019 Chris Loder Conservative

Elections

Elections in the 2020s
Next general election: West Dorset
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Democrats Edward Morello[5]

Elections in the 2010s
General election 2019: West Dorset[6]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Chris Loder 33,589 55.1 –0.4
Liberal Democrats Edward Morello 19,483 32.0 +8.5
Labour Claudia Sorin 5,729 9.4 –8.9
Green Kelvin Clayton 2,124 3.5 +0.8
Majority 14,106 23.1 –8.9
Turnout 60,925 74.7 –0.9
Conservative hold Swing –4.5
General election 2017: West Dorset
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Oliver Letwin 33,081 55.5 +5.3
Liberal Democrats Andy Canning 13,990 23.5 +1.9
Labour Lee Rhodes 10,896 18.3 +8.3
Green Kelvin Clayton 1,631 2.7 −3.0
Majority 19,091 32.0 +2.4
Turnout 59,750 75.6 +3.0
Conservative hold Swing +1.7
General election 2015: West Dorset[7]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Oliver Letwin 28,329 50.2 +2.6
Liberal Democrats Ros Kayes 12,199 21.6 −19.1
UKIP David Glossop 7,055 12.5 +8.7
Labour Rachel Rogers 5,633 10.0 +3.3
Green Peter Barton 3,242 5.7 +4.5
Majority 16,130 28.6 +21.7
Turnout 56,643 72.6 −2.0
Conservative hold Swing +10.9
General election 2010: West Dorset[8]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Oliver Letwin 27,287 47.6 +1.1
Liberal Democrats Sue Farrant 23,364 40.7 −1.2
Labour Steve Bick 3,815 6.7 −1.0
UKIP Oliver Chisholm 2,196 3.8 +1.8
Green Susan Greene 675 1.2 −0.6
Majority 3,923 6.9 +2.3
Turnout 57,337 74.6 −1.7
Conservative hold Swing +1.1

Elections in the 2000s
General election 2005: West Dorset[9]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Oliver Letwin 24,763 46.5 +1.9
Liberal Democrats Justine McGuinness 22,302 41.9 +0.1
Labour Dave Roberts 4,124 7.7 −5.9
UKIP Linda Guest 1,084 2.0 New
Green Susan Greene 952 1.8 New
Majority 2,461 4.6 +1.8
Turnout 53,225 76.3 +6.8
Conservative hold Swing +0.9
General election 2001: West Dorset[10]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Oliver Letwin 22,126 44.6 +3.5
Liberal Democrats Simon Green 20,712 41.8 +4.1
Labour Richard Hyde 6,733 13.6 −4.1
Majority 1,414 2.8 -0.6
Turnout 49,571 69.5 −6.6
Conservative hold Swing

Elections in the 1990s
General election 1997: West Dorset[11]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Oliver Letwin 22,036 41.1 -7.7
Liberal Democrats Robin AS Legg 20,196 37.7 +1.5
Labour Robert Bygraves 9,491 17.7 +4.7
UKIP P. Jenkins 1,590 3.0 New
Natural Law Mark Griffiths 239 0.4 New
Majority 1,840 3.4 -11.2
Turnout 53,552 76.1 -4.9
Conservative hold Swing
General election 1992: Dorset West[12][13]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative James Spicer 27,766 50.8 −5.4
Liberal Democrats Robin A.S. Legg 19,756 36.2 +4.6
Labour JPB Mann 7,082 13.0 +0.8
Majority 8,010 14.6 −10.0
Turnout 54,604 81.2 +2.9
Conservative hold Swing −4.9

Elections in the 1980s
General election 1987: Dorset West[14]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative James Spicer 28,305 56.2 -3.5
Liberal Trevor Jones 15,941 31.6 +2.7
Labour John Watson 6,123 12.2 +0.8
Majority 12,364 24.6 -6.2
Turnout 50,369 78.3 +4.1
Conservative hold Swing -3.1
General election 1983: Dorset West[15]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative James Spicer 27,030 59.7 +1.0
Liberal Trevor Jones 13,078 28.9 +7.1
Labour D Cash 5,168 11.4 -6.4
Majority 13,952 30.8 -6.1
Turnout 45,276 74.2 -4.8
Conservative hold Swing -3.0

Elections in the 1970s
General election 1979: Dorset West
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative James Spicer 26,281 58.71
Liberal Trevor Jones 9,776 21.84
Labour HJ Skevington 7,999 17.87
National Front J Tillotson 514 1.15 New
Wessex Regionalist G McEwan 192 0.43 New
Majority 16,505 36.87
Turnout 44,762 79.00
Conservative hold Swing
General election October 1974: Dorset West
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative James Spicer 20,517 49.20
Liberal RM Angus 11,832 28.37
Labour PJ Dawe 9,350 22.42
Majority 8,685 20.83
Turnout 41,699 77.84
Conservative hold Swing
General election February 1974: Dorset West
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative James Spicer 21,634 49.00
Liberal R Angus 14,183 32.12
Labour MF Cross 8,333 18.87
Majority 7,451 16.88
Turnout 44,150 83.12
Conservative hold Swing
General election 1970: Dorset West
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Simon Wingfield Digby 21,081 54.15
Labour George Sakwa 10,536 27.06
Liberal Allan Percival 7,314 18.79
Majority 10,545 27.09
Turnout 38,931 76.76
Conservative hold Swing

Elections in the 1960s
General election 1966: Dorset West
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Simon Wingfield Digby 17,709 47.68
Labour F Donald Shirreff 11,757 31.65
Liberal Michael Aza Pinney 7,676 20.67
Majority 5,952 16.03
Turnout 37,142 80.85
Conservative hold Swing
General election 1964: Dorset West
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Simon Wingfield Digby 17,841 48.59
Labour Leslie William King 10,631 28.96
Liberal Michael Aza Pinney 8,242 22.45
Majority 7,210 19.63
Turnout 36,714 81.68
Conservative hold Swing

Elections in the 1950s
General election 1959: Dorset West
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Simon Wingfield Digby 19,747 54.65
Labour Leslie William King 11,536 31.93
Liberal John H. Goodden 4,850 13.42 New
Majority 8,211 22.72
Turnout 36,133 81.92
Conservative hold Swing
General election 1955: Dorset West
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Simon Wingfield Digby 21,007 59.59
Labour Leslie William King 14,244 40.41
Majority 6,763 19.18
Turnout 35,251 80.07
Conservative hold Swing
General election 1951: Dorset West
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Simon Wingfield Digby 21,739 60.31
Labour Cambreth John Kane 14,308 39.69
Majority 7,431 20.62
Turnout 36,047 82.11
Conservative hold Swing
General election 1950: Dorset West
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Simon Wingfield Digby 18,771 51.75
Labour Cambreth John Kane 11,967 33.00
Liberal Colin Grant Cameron 5,531 15.25
Majority 6,804 18.75
Turnout 36,269 83.95
Conservative hold Swing

Elections in the 1940s
General election 1945: West Dorset[16]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Simon Wingfield Digby 13,399 50.1 -4.0
Labour Cambreth John Kane 8,215 30.8 New
Liberal George Newsom 5,098 19.1 -26.8
Majority 5,184 19.3 +9.1
Turnout 26,712 74.7 -3.2
Conservative hold Swing
1941 West Dorset by-election[16]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Simon Wingfield Digby Unopposed N/A N/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[16]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Philip Colfox 13,825 54.1 -6.1
Liberal George Edwin Chappell 11,735 45.9 +6.1
Majority 2,090 8.2 -12.2
Turnout 25,560 77.9 -3.7
Conservative hold Swing -6.1
General election 1931: West Dorset[16]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Philip Colfox 15,510 60.2 +11.1
Liberal George Edwin Chappell 10,271 39.8 +8.0
Majority 5,239 20.4 +3.1
Turnout 25,781 81.6 +1.0
Conservative hold Swing

Elections in the 1920s
General election 1929: Dorset West[16]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Unionist Philip Colfox 12,247 49.1 -19.2
Liberal George Edwin Chappell 7,921 31.8 New
Labour Thomas Robins 4,770 19.1 -12.6
Majority 4,326 17.3 -19.3
Turnout 24,938 80.6 +7.4
Unionist hold Swing N/A
General election 1924: West Dorset[16]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Unionist Philip Colfox 12,426 68.3 +9.5
Labour Louie Simpson 5,764 31.7 -9.5
Majority 6,662 36.6 +19.0
Turnout 18,190 73.2 +2.3
Unionist hold Swing +9.5
General election 1923: West Dorset[16]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Unionist Philip Colfox 10,100 58.8 -3.3
Labour Louie Simpson 7,087 41.2 +3.3
Majority 3,013 17.6 -6.6
Turnout 17,187 70.9 -7.6
Unionist hold Swing -3.3
General election 1922: West Dorset[16]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Unionist Philip Colfox 11,649 62.1 N/A
Labour T C Duke 7,101 37.9 New
Majority 4,548 24.2 N/A
Turnout 18,750 78.5 N/A
Unionist hold Swing N/A

Elections in the 1910s
General election 1918: West Dorset[16]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
C Unionist Robert Williams Unopposed
Unionist hold
C indicates 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[17]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Robert Williams Unopposed
Conservative hold
General election January 1910: Dorset West[17]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Robert Williams 4,011 59.2 +2.8
Liberal William Saunders Edwards 2,759 40.8 -2.8
Majority 1,252 18.4 +5.6
Turnout 6,770 89.4 +1.6
Registered electors 7,576
Conservative hold Swing +2.8

Elections in the 1900s
General election 1906: Dorset West[17]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Robert Williams 3,671 56.4 N/A
Liberal Johnstone J Haye 2,834 43.6 New
Majority 837 12.8 N/A
Turnout 6,505 87.8 N/A
Registered electors 7,413
Conservative hold Swing N/A
General election 1900: Dorset West[17]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Robert Williams Unopposed
Conservative hold

Elections in the 1890s
General election 1895: Dorset West[17]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Robert Williams Unopposed
Conservative hold
1895 West Dorset by-election[18][17]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Robert Williams 3,538 60.3 +3.6
Independent Farmers George Wood Homer[19][n 3] 2,325 39.7 −3.6
Majority 1,213 20.6 +7.2
Turnout 5,863 76.0 −8.0
Registered electors 7,713
Conservative hold Swing +3.6
General election 1892: Dorset West[17]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Henry Farquharson 3,691 56.7 −3.1
Liberal Charles Tindal Gatty 2,813 43.3 +3.1
Majority 878 13.4 −6.2
Turnout 6,504 84.0 +6.4
Registered electors 7,747
Conservative hold Swing −3.1

Elections in the 1880s
General election 1886: Dorset West[17]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Henry Farquharson 3,672 59.8 +8.8
Liberal Herbert Carey George Batten[20] 2,467 40.2 -8.8
Majority 1,205 19.6 +17.6
Turnout 6,139 77.6 −9.2
Registered electors 7,914
Conservative hold Swing +8.8
General election 1885: Dorset West[17]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Henry Farquharson 3,507 51.0
Liberal Herbert Carey George Batten[20] 3,366 49.0
Majority 141 2.0
Turnout 6,873 86.8
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. "Electorate Figures – Boundary Commission for England". 2011 Electorate Figures. Boundary Commission for England. 4 March 2011. Retrieved 13 March 2011.
  2. "Local statistics - Office for National Statistics". www.ons.gov.uk.
  3. Unemployment claimants by constituency The Guardian
  4. Leigh Rayment's Historical List of MPs – Constituencies beginning with "D" (part 2)
  5. Lawrence, Tom (16 February 2023). "Dorset Liberal Democrats select candidate for General Election". Bridport News. Retrieved 16 February 2023.
  6. "Statement of Persons Nominated" (PDF).
  7. "Election Data 2015". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 17 October 2015. Retrieved 17 October 2015.
  8. "Election Data 2010". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 26 July 2013. Retrieved 17 October 2015.
  9. "Election Data 2005". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
  10. "Election Data 2001". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
  11. "Election Data 1997". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
  12. "Election Data 1992". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
  13. "Politics Resources". Election 1992. Politics Resources. 9 April 1992. Retrieved 6 December 2010.
  14. "Election Data 1987". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
  15. "Election Data 1983". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
  16. Craig, F. W. S. (1983). British parliamentary election results 1918-1949 (3rd ed.). Chichester: Parliamentary Research Services. ISBN 0-900178-06-X.
  17. British Parliamentary Election Results 1885-1918, FWS Craig
  18. The Constitutional Year Book, 1904, published by Conservative Central Office, page 143 (167 in web page), Dorsetshire
  19. "West Dorset". Salisbury and Winchester Journal. 11 May 1895. p. 2. Retrieved 23 November 2017.
  20. Mayers, Rachel (November 2015). Barber, Bob (ed.). "What's in a name: Ainslie and Stanfield" (PDF). The Greenwood Tree. Sherborne: The Somerset and Dorset Family History Society. 40 (4): 120. Retrieved 25 November 2017.

50.7889°N 2.5980°W / 50.7889; -2.5980

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