List of parliamentary constituencies in Dorset explained

The ceremonial county of Dorset (which comprises the two unitary authorities of Dorset and Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole)is divided into 8 parliamentary constituencies: 3 borough constituenciesand 5 county constituencies.

Constituencies

See also: 2024 United Kingdom general election.

Constituency[1] Electorate[2] MajorityMember of Parliament[3] Nearest oppositionMap
Bournemouth East BC73,1735,479 Tom Hayes Tobias Ellwood
Bournemouth West BC72,0943,224 Jessica Toale Conor Burns
Christchurch CC71,5987,455 Christopher Chope Mike Cox¤
Mid Dorset and North Poole CC74,3051,352 Vikki Slade¤ Michael Tomlinson
North Dorset CC72,1091,589 Simon Hoare Gary Jackson¤
Poole BC72,16218 Neil Duncan-Jordan Robert Syms
South Dorset CC76,6401,048 Lloyd Hatton Richard Drax
West Dorset CC75,3907,789 Edward Morello¤ Chris Loder

Boundary changes

2024

See 2023 Periodic Review of Westminster constituencies for further details.

Following the abandonment of the Sixth Periodic Review (the 2018 review), the Boundary Commission for England formally launched the 2023 Review on 5 January 2021.[4] Initial proposals were published on 8 June 2021 and, following two periods of public consultation, revised proposals were published on 8 November 2022. The final recommendations were published on 28 June 2023.

The commission proposed retaining the eight current constituencies in Dorset, with minor boundary changes to reflect changes to ward boundaries following the reorganisation of local government authorities within the county.[5]

Containing electoral wards from Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole

Containing electoral wards from Dorset (unitary authority)

Results history

Primary data source: House of Commons research briefing - General election results from 1918 to 2019[6]

2024

The number of votes cast for each political party who fielded candidates in constituencies comprising Dorset in the 2024 general election were as follows:

PartyVotes%Change from 2019SeatsChange from 2019
Conservative127,18833.7%24.6%26
Liberal Democrats95,46325.3%6.4%22
Labour82,65221.9%3.5%44
Reform45,36712.0%New0
Greens18,4004.9%1.0%0
Others8,2872.2%1.7%0
Total377,357100.08

Percentage votes

Note that before 1983 Dorset did not include the Bournemouth and Christchurch areas (see below).

Election year192219231924192919311935194519501951195519591964196619701974(F)1974(O)197919831987199219972001200520102015201720192024
Conservative39.151.760.146.256.854.045.247.652.253.952.446.647.354.248.148.058.458.657.854.541.845.344.148.351.758.758.333.7
Liberal Democrat118.028.921.936.816.328.724.014.515.813.618.923.620.217.030.928.420.929.730.831.234.131.532.832.812.912.818.925.3
Labour21.419.418.017.012.316.030.837.932.032.628.729.832.528.821.023.620.410.211.313.418.821.118.312.213.025.218.421.9
Reform- --------------------------12.0
Green Party------------------0.55.32.63.94.9
UKIP--------------------5.616.20.3
Other21.5---14.61.4----------0.31.40.10.95.32.14.70.60.90.40.52.2
11950-1979: Liberal Party; 1983 & 1987 - SDP-Liberal Alliance

* Included in Other

Accurate vote percentages are not applicable for the 1918 election because one candidate stood unopposed.

Seats

Election year1950-19791983-199219972001-200520102015-20192024
Labour0001004
Conservative4786782
Liberal Democrat10001102
Total4788888
11950-1979: Liberal Party; 1983 & 1987 - SDP-Liberal Alliance

Maps

1983-present

Historical representation by party

A cell marked → (with a different colour background to the preceding cell) indicates that the previous MP continued to sit under a new party name.

Before 1885

ConstituencyEstablishedAbolished
Bridport1295Redistribution of Seats Act 1885
Corfe Castle1572Parliamentary Boundaries Act 1832
Dorchester1295Redistribution of Seats Act 1885
Dorset1290Redistribution of Seats Act 1885
Lyme Regis1572Parliamentary Boundaries Act 1832
Poole1362Redistribution of Seats Act 1885
Shaftesbury1295Redistribution of Seats Act 1885
Weymouth and Melcombe Regis1572Redistribution of Seats Act 1885
Wareham1302Redistribution of Seats Act 1885

1885 to 1918

Constituency18851886911892951895190004051906Jan 10Dec 10
Dorset EastGlynBondNapier SturtLyellH. Guest1F. Guest
Dorset NorthPortmanWingfield-DigbyWillsBaker
Dorset Southbgcolor=SturgisC. HambroBrymerScarisbrickA. Hambro
Dorset WestFarquharsonWilliams
1original candidate, F. Guest (Lib), disqualified; fresh by-election held June 1910

1918 to 1950

Constituency19181922231923192419291931193537411945
Dorset EastCaineGlasseyCaineWheatley
Dorset NorthColfoxEmlyn-JonesHanburyA. HambroByers
Dorset SouthA. HambroYerburghGascoyne-CecilMontagu
Dorset WestWilliamsColfoxDigby

1950 to 1983

Constituency19501951195557195962196419661970Feb 1974Oct 19741979
Dorset NorthCrouchGlynJamesBaker
Dorset SouthMontaguBarnettKingGascoyne-Cecil
Dorset WestDigbySpicer
PooleWheatleyPilkingtonMurtonWard

1983 to present (7, then 8 MPs)

Constituency198319871992931997200120052010201520171920192024
Bournemouth EastAtkinsonEllwoodHayes
Bournemouth WestButterfillBurnsToale
ChristchurchAdleyMaddockChope
North DorsetBakerWalterHoare
PooleWardSymsDuncan-Jordan
South DorsetGascoyne-CecilBruceKnightDraxHatton
West DorsetSpicerLetwinLoderMorello
Mid Dorset and North PooleSeat not createdFraserBrookeTomlinsonSlade

See also

Notes and References

  1. BC denotes borough constituency, CC denotes county constituency.
  2. Web site: The 2023 Review of Parliamentary Constituency Boundaries - Volume two: Constituency names, designations and composition. Boundary Commission for England. 9 July 2024.
  3. Web site: Constituencies A-Z - Election 2014. BBC News. en-GB. 2024-07-09.
  4. Web site: 2023 Review Boundary Commission for England. 2021-10-06. boundarycommissionforengland.independent.gov.uk.
  5. Web site: The 2023 Review of Parliamentary Constituency Boundaries in England – Volume one: Report Boundary Commission for England . 2023-07-10 . boundarycommissionforengland.independent.gov.uk . paras 1179-1203.
  6. Watson. Christopher. Uberoi. Elise. Loft. Philip. 2020-04-17. General election results from 1918 to 2019. en-GB.