Mid Norfolk (UK Parliament constituency)

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Not to be confused with Central Norfolk (UK Parliament constituency).

Mid Norfolk
County constituency
for the House of Commons
Outline map
Boundary of Mid Norfolk in Norfolk for the 2010 general election
Outline map
Location of Norfolk within England
CountyNorfolk
Electorate75,080 (December 2010)[1]
Major settlementsDereham and Wymondham
Current constituency
Created1983
Member of ParliamentGeorge Freeman (Conservative)
SeatsOne
Created fromNorfolk North, Norfolk South West and Yarmouth[2]
1885–1918
SeatsOne
Type of constituencyCounty constituency
Created fromNorth Norfolk, South Norfolk and West Norfolk
Replaced bySouth Norfolk and South West Norfolk

Mid Norfolk is a constituency[n 1] represented in the House of Commons of the UK Parliament since 2010 by George Freeman, a Conservative.[n 2]

History[edit]

Under the Redistribution of Seats Act 1885, the three two-member county divisions of Norfolk were replaced with six single-member divisions, including the newly created Mid Division of Norfolk. It was abolished at the next redistribution of seats under the provisions of the Representation of the People Act 1918, when it was absorbed by neighbouring constituencies.

The seat was re-established as a County Constituency for the 1983 general election, since which it has only elected and been served by a Conservative MP.

The Boundary Commission's Fifth Periodic Review of Westminster constituencies for the 2010 general election created a new constituency, Broadland, based on the local government district of the same name, which was formed from the majority of the Mid Norfolk seat, together with parts of North Norfolk. The Mid Norfolk seat was retained with substantially altered boundaries, gaining parts of South Norfolk and South West Norfolk in compensation (see below). The former MP for Mid Norfolk, Keith Simpson, was selected to contest the newly created Broadland constituency.[3]

Boundaries and boundary changes[edit]

1885–1918[edit]

  • The Sessional Divisions of Forehoes, Guiltcross and Shropham, and Mitford and Launditch.[4]

The constituency was created from parts of the Southern Division of Norfolk and parts of the abolished Eastern Division. The main settlements were East Dereham and Wymondham.

On abolition, southern areas, including Wymondham, were returned to the Southern Division and northern areas, including East Dereham, were transferred to the South-Western Division.

1983–1997[edit]

  • The District of Breckland wards of Beetley and Gressenhall, East Dereham Neatherd, East Dereham St Withburga, East Dereham Toftwood, East Dereham Town, Eynsford, Hermitage, Launditch, Mattishall, Shipworth, Springvale, Swanton Morley, Taverner, Two Rivers, Upper Wensum, and Upper Yare; and
  • The District of Broadland wards of Acle, Aylsham, Blofield, Brundall, Burlingham, Buxton, Cawston, Coltishall, Drayton, Foulsham, Freethorpe, Great Witchingham, Hainford, Hevingham, Horsford, Plumstead, Rackheath, Reedham, Reepham, South Walsham, Spixworth, St Faiths, Taverham, and Wroxham.[5]

Eastern areas were transferred from Yarmouth, central areas (including Aylsham) from North Norfolk and western areas (including East Dereham) from South West Norfolk.

1997–2010[edit]

  • The District of Breckland wards of Beetley and Gressenhall, East Dereham Neatherd, East Dereham St Withburga, East Dereham Toftwood, East Dereham Town, Eynsford, Hermitage, Launditch, Mattishall, Shipworth, Springvale, Swanton Morley, Taverner, Two Rivers, Upper Wensum, and Upper Yare; and
  • The District of Broadland wards of Acle, Aylsham, Blofield, Brundall, Burlingham, Buxton, Cawston, Coltishall, Foulsham, Freethorpe, Great Witchingham, Hainford, Hevingham, Horsford, Plumstead, Rackheath, Reedham, Reepham, South Walsham, Spixworth, St Faiths, and Wroxham.[6]

The District of Broadland wards of Drayton and Taverham were transferred to Norwich North.

Map
Map of current boundaries

2010–present[edit]

  • The District of Breckland wards of All Saints, Buckenham, Burgh and Haverscroft, Dereham Central, Dereham Humbletoft, Dereham Neatherd, Dereham Toftwood, Eynsford, Haggard De Toni, Hermitage, Launditch, Necton, Queen's, Shipdham, Springvale and Scarning, Swanton Morley, Taverner, Templar, Two Rivers, Upper Wensum, Upper Yare, Watton, and Wissey; and
  • The District of South Norfolk wards of Abbey, Cromwells, Hingham and Deopham, Northfields, Rustens, Town, and Wicklewood.[7]

Significant changes. The District of Broadland areas, which had comprised the majority of the constituency, were now included in the new constituency of Broadland. The District of Breckland areas were retained from the 1997-2010 contents, with further parts, including Watton and Attleborough, transferred from South West Norfolk. The District of South Norfolk wards, which incorporated the town of Wymondham, were transferred from the constituency of South Norfolk.

Proposed[edit]

Further to the 2023 Periodic Review of Westminster constituencies, enacted by the Parliamentary Constituencies Order 2023, the composition of the Mid Norfolk constituency from the next general election, due by January 2025, will be (as they existed on 1st December 2020):

  • The District of Breckland wards of: All Saints & Wayland; Attleborough Burgh & Haverscroft; Attleborough Queens & Besthorpe; Dereham Neatherd; Dereham Toftwood; Dereham Withburga; Hermitage; Launditch; Lincoln; Mattishall; Necton; Saham Toney; Shipdham-with-Scarning; The Buckenhams & Banham; Upper Wensum; Watton.
  • The District of South Norfolk wards of: Hingham & Deopham; Wicklewood.[8]

The town of Wymondham is to be transferred back to South Norfolk. Other minor changes due to the revision of local authority ward boundaries.

Members of Parliament[edit]

MPs 1885–1918[edit]

Election Member[9] Party Notes
1885 Robert Gurdon Liberal Gurdon was elected as a Liberal, but joined the Liberal Unionists when the party split
1886 Liberal Unionist
1892 Clement Higgins Liberal Higgins was elected as a Liberal, but later joined the Liberal Unionists. He resigned his seat in 1895
1895 Liberal Unionist
1895 by-election Robert Gurdon Liberal Unionist later Baron Cranworth
1895 Frederick Wilson Liberal
1906 John Wodehouse, Lord Wodehouse Liberal later 3rd Earl of Kimberley
1910 (Jan) William Boyle Liberal Unionist
1918 by-election Neville Jodrell Conservative Later MP for King's Lynn
1918 Constituency abolished, but re-established 1983

MPs since 1983[edit]

Election Member[9] Party
1983 Richard Ryder Conservative
1997 Keith Simpson Conservative
2010 George Freeman Conservative

Elections[edit]

Elections in the 2020s[edit]

Next general election: Mid Norfolk
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative George Freeman[10]
Reform UK Kabeer Kher[11]
Labour Michael Rosen[12]
Majority
Turnout

Elections in the 2010s[edit]

General election 2019: Mid Norfolk[13]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative George Freeman 35,051 62.4 +3.4
Labour Adrian Heald 12,457 22.2 -7.9
Liberal Democrats Steffan Aquarone 7,739 13.8 +8.7
Independent P J O'Gorman 939 1.7 New
Majority 22,594 40.2 +11.3
Turnout 56,186 68.5 -1.1
Conservative hold Swing +5.7
General election 2017: Mid Norfolk[14]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative George Freeman 32,828 59.0 +6.9
Labour Sarah Simpson 16,742 30.1 +11.7
Liberal Democrats Fionna Tod 2,848 5.1 −1.2
UKIP Tracy Knowles 2,092 3.8 −15.2
Green Hannah Lester 1,158 2.1 −2.1
Majority 16,086 28.9 −4.2
Turnout 55,668 69.6 +1.8
Conservative hold Swing −2.4
General election 2015: Mid Norfolk[15]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative George Freeman[16] 27,206 52.1 +2.6
UKIP Anna Coke[17] 9,930 19.0 +13.5
Labour Harry Clarke 9,585 18.4 +1.0
Liberal Democrats Paul Speed[18] 3,300 6.3 −15.9
Green Simeon Jackson[19] 2,191 4.2 +1.3
Majority 17,276 33.1 +5.8
Turnout 52,212 67.8 −0.6
Conservative hold Swing -5.5
General election 2010: Mid Norfolk[20]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative George Freeman 25,123 49.5 +2.9
Liberal Democrats David Newman 11,267 22.2 +3.0
Labour Elizabeth Hughes 8,857 17.4 −12.8
UKIP Richard Toby Coke 2,800 5.5 +1.5
Green Tim Birt 1,457 2.9 New
BNP Christene Kelly[21] 1,261 2.5 New
Majority 13,856 27.3 +13.5
Turnout 50,765 68.4 +2.8
Conservative hold Swing −0.1

Elections in the 2000s[edit]

General election 2005: Mid Norfolk[22]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Keith Simpson 23,564 43.1 −1.7
Labour Daniel Zeichner 16,004 29.2 −6.9
Liberal Democrats Vivienne Clifford-Jackson 12,988 23.7 +9.2
UKIP Simon Fletcher 2,178 4.0 +1.5
Majority 7,560 13.8 +5.1
Turnout 54,734 67.0 −1.1
Conservative hold Swing +2.6
General election 2001: Mid Norfolk[23]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Keith Simpson 23,519 44.8 +5.2
Labour Daniel Zeichner 18,957 36.1 −1.2
Liberal Democrats Vivienne Clifford-Jackson 7,621 14.5 −0.5
UKIP Stuart Agnew 1,333 2.5 New
Green Peter Reeve 1,118 2.1 0.0
Majority 4,562 8.7 +6.4
Turnout 52,548 68.1 −8.2
Conservative hold Swing +3.2

Elections in the 1990s[edit]

General election 1997: Mid Norfolk[24]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Keith Simpson 22,739 39.6 −14.7
Labour Daniel Zeichner 21,403 37.3 +11.9
Liberal Democrats Susan Frary 8,617 15.0 −4.9
Referendum Nigel Holder 3,229 5.6 New
Green Tony Park 1,254 2.1 New
Natural Law Bruce Parker 215 0.4 New
Majority 1,336 2.3 −26.6
Turnout 57,457 76.3 −5.2
Conservative hold Swing −13.3
General election 1992: Mid Norfolk[25][26]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Richard Ryder 35,620 54.3 −2.4
Labour Michael Castle 16,672 25.4 +7.6
Liberal Democrats Michael Gleed 13,072 19.9 −5.6
Natural Law Coral Waite 226 0.3 New
Majority 18,948 28.9 −2.3
Turnout 65,590 81.5 +3.3
Conservative hold Swing −5.0

Elections in the 1980s[edit]

General election 1987: Mid Norfolk[27]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Richard Ryder 32,758 56.7 +0.8
SDP Gavin Graham 14,750 25.5 −0.5
Labour Keith Luckey 10,272 17.8 +0.6
Majority 18,008 31.2 +1.3
Turnout 57,600 78.2 +2.9
Conservative hold Swing
General election 1983: Mid Norfolk[28]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Richard Ryder 29,032 55.9
SDP David Cargill 13,517 26.0
Labour Leslie Potter 8,950 17.2
Independent Mona McNee 405 0.8
Majority 15,515 29.9
Turnout 51,904 75.3
Conservative win (new seat)

Elections in the 1910s[edit]

1918 Mid Norfolk by-election[29]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Unionist Neville Jodrell Unopposed
Unionist hold

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:Mid Norfolk[30][29]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Unionist William Lewis Boyle 4,345 50.2 −2.4
Liberal William Richard Lester 4,308 49.8 +2.4
Majority 37 0.4 −4.8
Turnout 8,653 86.7 −3.3
Registered electors 9,984
Liberal Unionist hold Swing −2.4
Lester
General election January 1910:Mid Norfolk[30][29]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Unionist William Lewis Boyle 4,724 52.6 +2.8
Liberal William Richard Lester 4,265 47.4 −2.8
Majority 459 5.2 N/A
Turnout 8,989 90.0 +1.8
Registered electors 9,984
Liberal Unionist gain from Liberal Swing +2.8

Elections in the 1900s[edit]

Wodehouse
General election 1906:Mid Norfolk[31][29]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal John Wodehouse 4,197 50.2 −3.7
Liberal Unionist William Lewis Boyle 4,170 49.8 +3.7
Majority 27 0.4 −7.4
Turnout 8,367 88.2 +7.8
Registered electors 9,490
Liberal hold Swing −3.7
General election 1900:Mid Norfolk[31][32][29]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Frederick William Wilson 3,996 53.9 +3.1
Liberal Unionist William Lewis Boyle 3,422 46.1 −3.1
Majority 574 7.8 +6.2
Turnout 7,418 80.4 −6.9
Registered electors 9,226
Liberal hold Swing +3.1

Elections in the 1890s[edit]

Wilson
General election 1895: Mid Norfolk [31][32][29]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Frederick William Wilson 4,220 50.8 −2.3
Liberal Unionist Robert Gurdon 4,086 49.2 +2.3
Majority 134 1.6 −4.6
Turnout 8,306 87.3 −1.9
Registered electors 9,509
Liberal hold Swing −2.3
By-election, 23 Apr 1895: Mid Norfolk [31][29]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Unionist Robert Gurdon 4,112 51.3 +4.4
Liberal Frederick William Wilson 3,904 48.7 −4.4
Majority 208 2.6 N/A
Turnout 8,016 84.3 −4.9
Registered electors 9,509
Liberal Unionist gain from Liberal Swing +4.4
General election 1892: Mid Norfolk [31][29]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Clement Higgins 4,069 53.1 +6.7
Liberal Unionist Robert Gurdon 3,599 46.9 −6.7
Majority 470 6.2 N/A
Turnout 7,668 89.2 +32.6
Registered electors 8,601
Liberal gain from Liberal Unionist Swing +6.7

Elections in the 1880s[edit]

General election 1886: Mid Norfolk [31][29]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Unionist Robert Gurdon 3,032 53.6 +18.3
Liberal James Toller[33] 2,625 46.4 −18.3
Majority 407 7.2 N/A
Turnout 5,657 56.6 −24.9
Registered electors 9,992
Liberal Unionist gain from Liberal Swing +18.3
General election 1885: Mid Norfolk [31][34][29]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Robert Gurdon 5,275 64.7
Conservative Ailwyn Fellowes 2,872 35.3
Majority 2,403 29.4
Turnout 8,147 81.5
Registered electors 9,992
Liberal win (new seat)

See also[edit]

Notes[edit]

  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.

References[edit]

  1. ^ "Electorate Figures - Boundary Commission for England". 2011 Electorate Figures. Boundary Commission for England. 4 March 2011. Archived from the original on 6 November 2010. Retrieved 13 March 2011.
  2. ^ "'Norfolk Mid', June 1983 up to May 1997". ElectionWeb Project. Cognitive Computing Limited. Archived from the original on 14 March 2016. Retrieved 13 March 2016.
  3. ^ "Broadland selection". ConservativeHome's Seats & Candidates blog.
  4. ^ Great Britain, Incorporated Council of Law Reporting for England and Wales. The public general acts. unknown library. Proprietors of the Law Journal Reports, 1884.
  5. ^ "The Parliamentary Constituencies (England) Order 1983". www.legislation.gov.uk. Retrieved 13 March 2019.
  6. ^ "The Parliamentary Constituencies (England) Order 1995". www.legislation.gov.uk. Retrieved 13 March 2019.
  7. ^ "The Parliamentary Constituencies (England) Order 2007". www.legislation.gov.uk. Retrieved 13 March 2019.
  8. ^ "The Parliamentary Constituencies Order 2023". Schedule I Part 2 Eastern region.
  9. ^ a b Leigh Rayment's Historical List of MPs – Constituencies beginning with "N" (part 2)
  10. ^ "George Freeman readopted as Mid Norfolk General Election Candidate". Mid Norfolk Conservatives. Retrieved 1 December 2023.
  11. ^ "Find My PPC (Eastern England)" (PDF). Reform UK. Retrieved 15 December 2023.
  12. ^ https://twitter.com/EofELabour/status/1762800050554474751/photo/1
  13. ^ "Norfolk Mid Parliamentary constituency". BBC News. BBC. Retrieved 19 November 2019.
  14. ^ "Election Data 2017". BBC. Retrieved 14 June 2017.
  15. ^ "Election Data 2015". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 17 October 2015. Retrieved 17 October 2015.
  16. ^ "UK ELECTION RESULTS: Norfolk Mid 2015".
  17. ^ "Why Anna?". Mid Norfolk UKIP. Archived from the original on 1 February 2015. Retrieved 1 February 2015.
  18. ^ "General Election 2015 Candidates - Liberal Democrats". Archived from the original on 13 April 2014.
  19. ^ "Member of Parliament for Mid Norfolk". YourNextMP. Archived from the original on 1 February 2015. Retrieved 1 February 2015.
  20. ^ "Election Data 2010". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 26 July 2013. Retrieved 17 October 2015.
  21. ^ "The British National Party — Blog — Tory Councillors Narrowly Defeated in Attempt to Approve King's Lynn Mosque after BNP Objections Dominate Hearing". Archived from the original on 14 April 2010. Retrieved 11 March 2010.
  22. ^ "Election Data 2005". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
  23. ^ "Election Data 2001". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
  24. ^ "Election Data 1997". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
  25. ^ "Election Data 1992". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
  26. ^ "Politics Resources". Election 1992. Politics Resources. 9 April 1992. Archived from the original on 24 July 2011. Retrieved 6 December 2010.
  27. ^ "Election Data 1987". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
  28. ^ "Election Data 1983". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
  29. ^ a b c d e f g h i j Craig, FWS, ed. (1974). British Parliamentary Election Results: 1885-1918. London: Macmillan Press. ISBN 9781349022984.
  30. ^ a b Debrett's House of Commons & Judicial Bench, 1916
  31. ^ a b c d e f g The Liberal Year Book, 1907
  32. ^ a b Debrett's House of Commons & Judicial Bench, 1901
  33. ^ "Mid Division of Norfolk". Norwich Mercury. 25 August 1886. p. 1. Retrieved 5 December 2017 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  34. ^ Debrett's House of Commons & Judicial Bench, 1886
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