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 constituencies and 5 county constituencies.
Constituencies
ConstituencyBC denotes borough constituency, CC denotes county constituency.ElectorateMajorityMember of ParliamentNearest oppositionMapBournemouth 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†
2024 Boundary changes See 2023 review of Westminster constituencies for further details. NameBoundaries 2010–2024 Boundaries 2024–present Bournemouth East BC Bournemouth West BC Christchurch CC Mid Dorset and North Poole CC North Dorset CC Poole BC South Dorset CC West Dorset CC
For the 2023 review of Westminster constituencies, which redrew the constituency map ahead of the 2024 United Kingdom general election, the Boundary Commission for England opted to retain 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.
The boundary commission recommended the following seats within Dorset:
Containing electoral wards from Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole
Bournemouth East Bournemouth West Christchurch (part) Mid Dorset and North Poole (part) Poole
Containing electoral wards from Dorset (unitary authority)
Christchurch (part) Mid Dorset and North Poole (part) North Dorset South Dorset West Dorset
Results history Primary data source: House of Commons research briefing - General election results from 1918 to 2019
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 2019Conservative127,18833.7%24.6%26Liberal Democrats95,46325.3%6.4%22Labour82,65221.9%3.5%44Reform45,36712.0%New0Greens18,4004.9%1.0%0Others8,2872.2%1.7%0Total377,357100.08
Percentage votes Note that before 1983 Dorset did not include the Bournemouth and Christchurch areas (see below). Election year192219231924192919311935194519501951195519591964196619701974(F)1974(O)197919831987199219972001200520102015201720192024Conservative39.151.760.146.256.854.045.247.652.253.952.446.647.354.248.148.058.458.657.854.541.845.344.148.351.758.758.333.7Liberal Democrat118.028.921.936.816.328.724.014.515.813.618.923.620.217.030.928.420.929.730.831.234.131.532.832.812.912.818.925.3Labour21.419.418.017.012.316.030.837.932.032.628.729.832.528.821.023.620.410.211.313.418.821.118.312.213.025.218.421.9Reform - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -12.0Green Party - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -*****0.55.32.63.94.9UKIP - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -***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 year1950-19791983-199219972001-200520102015-20192024Labour0001004Conservative4786782Liberal Democrat10001102Total4788888 11950-1979: Liberal Party; 1983 & 1987 - SDP–Liberal Alliance
Maps 1885-1910
1918-1945
1950-1979
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 ConstituencyEstablishedAbolishedBridport1295Redistribution of Seats Act 1885Corfe Castle1572Parliamentary Boundaries Act 1832Dorchester1295Redistribution of Seats Act 1885Dorset1290Redistribution of Seats Act 1885Lyme Regis1572Parliamentary Boundaries Act 1832Poole1362Redistribution of Seats Act 1885Shaftesbury1295Redistribution of Seats Act 1885Weymouth and Melcombe Regis1572Redistribution of Seats Act 1885Wareham1302Redistribution of Seats Act 1885
1885 to 1918
Constituency18851886911892951895190004051906Jan 10Dec 10 Dorset EastGlynBondNapier SturtLyellH. Guest1F. GuestDorset NorthPortmanWingfield-DigbyWillsBakerDorset SouthSturgisC. HambroBrymerScarisbrickA. HambroDorset WestFarquharsonWilliams 1original candidate, F. Guest (Lib), disqualified; fresh by-election held June 1910
1918 to 1950
Constituency19181922231923192419291931193537411945Dorset East→Caine→GlasseyCaineWheatleyDorset NorthColfoxEmlyn-JonesHanburyA. HambroByersDorset SouthA. HambroYerburghGascoyne-CecilMontaguDorset WestWilliamsColfoxDigby
1950 to 1983
Constituency19501951195557195962196419661970Feb 1974Oct 19741979Dorset NorthCrouchGlynJamesBakerDorset SouthMontaguBarnettKingGascoyne-CecilDorset WestDigbySpicerPooleWheatleyPilkingtonMurtonWard
1983 to present (7, then 8 MPs)
Constituency19831987199293199720012005201020152017192019202425Bournemouth EastAtkinsonEllwoodHayesBournemouth WestButterfillBurnsToaleChristchurchAdleyMaddockChopeNorth DorsetBakerWalterHoarePooleWardSymsDuncan-Jordan→→South DorsetGascoyne-CecilBruceKnightDraxHattonWest DorsetSpicerLetwin→LoderMorelloMid Dorset and North PooleSeat not createdFraserBrookeTomlinsonSlade
See also Parliamentary constituencies in South West England
Notes
References