Bolsover (UK Parliament constituency)

Bolsover (/ˈbɒlsˌoʊvər/, /ˈbɒlzˌoʊvər/ and commonly /boʊzər/) is a constituency in Derbyshire, represented in the House of Commons of the UK Parliament by Mark Fletcher, a member of the Conservative Party. The constituency was created in 1950, and is centred on the town of Bolsover.

Bolsover
County constituency
for the House of Commons
Boundary of Bolsover in Derbyshire for the 2010 general election
Location of Derbyshire within England
CountyDerbyshire
Population94,473 (2011 census)[1]
Electorate72,162 (December 2010)[2]
Major settlementsBolsover, Shirebrook
Current constituency
Created1950
Member of ParliamentMark Fletcher (Conservative)
Number of membersOne
Created fromClay Cross and North East Derbyshire

Between 1970 and 2019, the constituency was represented by Labour's Dennis Skinner, who by 2019 was the oldest member of the House of Commons and the second longest-serving. At the constituency's inception it was one of the safest Labour seats in the country, but over the following half century Skinner's vote share dropped from 77% to only 36%, with the result that he lost the seat to the Conservatives by a margin of 11%.

History

Before the Reform Act 1832, relatively wealthy people (forty-shilling freeholders) of the whole county could attend elections when there was an opposition candidate. From 1868 until 1885 the area formed part of the East Derbyshire constituency, redrawn out of the North Derbyshire constituency formed in 1832. The Bolsover constituency was created in 1950 from parts of the constituencies of North East Derbyshire, formed in 1885, and Clay Cross, formed in 1918.

Boundaries
Boundaries of Bolsover from 1983 to 2010

1950–1983: The Urban District of Bolsover, and the Rural Districts of Blackwell and Clowne.

1983–2010: The District of Bolsover, and the District of North East Derbyshire wards of Morton, Pilsley, Shirland, and Sutton.

2010–present: The District of Bolsover, and the District of North East Derbyshire wards of Holmewood and Heath, Pilsley and Morton, Shirland, and Sutton.

Constituency profile

The seat includes many former mining communities. Before 2019 it was a Labour Party stronghold, although the then MP Dennis Skinner's share of the popular vote dropped to 50% in the 2010 election from a high of 77.5% (see below). Its economy faced struggles after the last closures in the early 1990s of the coal pits upon which the area thrived for many years. From the 1970s, the pits faced increased international competition on price and required a government subsidy. This was achieved in Eastern Europe, albeit on lower wages, which ceased under Margaret Thatcher. Bolsover's tourism industry has emerged in recent years, including accommodation and tours involving Bolsover Castle, owned by English Heritage, and Hardwick Hall, home of Bess of Hardwick.

Skinner, who held the seat from 1970 until 2019, is a former miner whose fast wit and often abrasive manner in the House of Commons led to him being dubbed "The Beast of Bolsover". At the 2017 general election, Skinner's majority was cut to little more than 5,000, the first time the Labour majority in the seat had ever been lower than 10,000. He failed to be re-elected in 2019, missing out on becoming the Father of the House after the retirement of Kenneth Clarke.[3] However, Skinner had earlier said that he would refuse the title anyway.[4]

Members of Parliament
ElectionMember[5]Party
1950 Harold Neal Labour
1970 Dennis Skinner
2019 Mark Fletcher Conservative

Elections

Elections in the 2010s
General election 2019: Bolsover[6]
Party Candidate Votes % ±
Conservative Mark Fletcher 21,791 47.4 6.9
Labour Dennis Skinner 16,492 35.9 16.0
Brexit Party Kevin Harper 4,151 9.0 N/A
Liberal Democrats David Hancock 1,759 3.8 0.9
Green David Kesteven 758 1.7 N/A
Independent Ross Walker 517 1.1 N/A
Independent Natalie Hoy 470 1.0 N/A
Majority 5,299 11.5 N/A
Turnout 45,938 61.1 2.2
Conservative gain from Labour Swing 11.5
General election 2017: Bolsover
Party Candidate Votes % ±
Labour Dennis Skinner 24,153 51.9 0.7
Conservative Helen Harrison 18,865 40.5 16.1
UKIP Philip Rose 2,129 4.6 16.4
Liberal Democrats Ross Shipman 1,372 2.9 0.4
Majority 5,288 11.4 15.4
Turnout 46,519 63.3 2.2
Labour hold Swing 7.7
General election 2015: Bolsover[7]
Party Candidate Votes % ±
Labour Dennis Skinner 22,542 51.2 +1.2
Conservative Peter Bedford 10,764 24.5 -0.1
UKIP Ray Calladine 9,228 21.0 +17.1
Liberal Democrats David Lomax 1,464 3.3 -12.2
Majority 11,778 26.8 +1.4
Turnout 43,998 61.1 +0.6
Labour hold Swing +0.7
General election 2010: Bolsover[8]
Party Candidate Votes % ±
Labour Dennis Skinner 21,994 50.0 N/A
Conservative Lee Rowley 10,812 24.6 N/A
Liberal Democrats Denise Hawksworth 6,821 15.5 N/A
BNP Martin Radford 2,640 6.0 N/A
UKIP Ray Calladine 1,721 3.9 N/A
Majority 11,182 25.4 N/A
Turnout 43,988 60.5 N/A
Labour win (new boundaries)

Elections in the 2000s
General election 2005: Bolsover[9]
Party Candidate Votes % ±
Labour Dennis Skinner 25,217 65.2 −3.4
Liberal Democrats Denise Hawksworth 6,780 17.5 +5.6
Conservative Hasan Imam 6,702 17.3 −2.2
Majority 18,437 47.6 -1.5
Turnout 38,699 57.3 +0.8
Labour hold Swing −4.5
General election 2001: Bolsover[10]
Party Candidate Votes % ±
Labour Dennis Skinner 26,249 68.6 −5.4
Conservative Simon Massey 7,472 19.5 +2.8
Liberal Democrats Marie Bradley 4,550 11.9 +2.6
Majority 18,777 49.1 -7.8
Turnout 38,271 56.5 −14.7
Labour hold Swing

Elections in the 1990s
General election 1997: Bolsover[11][12][13][14]
Party Candidate Votes % ±
Labour Dennis Skinner 35,073 74.0 +9.5
Conservative Richard Harwood 7,924 16.7 −8.6
Liberal Democrats Ian Cox 4,417 9.3 −0.9
Majority 27,149 57.3 +18.1
Turnout 47,414 71.3 -7.8
Labour hold Swing +9.1
General election 1992: Bolsover[15][16]
Party Candidate Votes % ±
Labour Dennis Skinner 33,978 64.5 +8.3
Conservative Timothy D.R. James 13,323 25.3 −3.0
Liberal Democrats Susan P. Barber 5,368 10.2 −5.3
Majority 20,655 39.2 +11.3
Turnout 52,669 79.1 +1.8
Labour hold Swing +5.7

Elections in the 1980s
General election 1987: Bolsover[17]
Party Candidate Votes % ±
Labour Dennis Skinner 28,453 56.2 -0.1
Conservative Michael Lingens 14,333 28.31 +1.4
SDP Mark Fowler 7,836 15.48 -1.3
Majority 14,120 27.89 -1.5
Turnout 50,622 77.34
Labour hold Swing
General election 1983: Bolsover[18]
Party Candidate Votes % ±
Labour Dennis Skinner 26,514 56.3 N/A
Conservative S. Roberts 12,666 26.9 N/A
SDP S. Reddish 7,886 16.8 N/A
Majority 13,848 29.4 N/A
Turnout 72.67
Labour win (new boundaries)

Elections in the 1970s
General election 1979: Bolsover
Party Candidate Votes % ±
Labour Dennis Skinner 27,495 66.58
Conservative Anthony Favell 10,116 24.49
Liberal James Ian Frost 3,688 8.93
Majority 17,379 42.08
Turnout 78.31
Labour hold Swing
General election October 1974: Bolsover
Party Candidate Votes % ±
Labour Dennis Skinner 27,275 70.55
Conservative C.L. Sternberg 6,209 16.06
Liberal M. Taylor 5,176 13.39
Majority 21,066 54.49
Turnout 74.52
Labour hold Swing
General election February 1974: Bolsover
Party Candidate Votes % ±
Labour Dennis Skinner 30,787 76.47 -1.03
Conservative A.R. Dix 9,474 23.53 +1.03
Majority 21,313 52.94 -2.06
Turnout 78.38
Labour hold Swing
General election 1970: Bolsover[19]
Party Candidate Votes % ±
Labour Dennis Skinner 28,830 77.50
Conservative Ivor J Humphrey 8,371 22.50
Majority 20,459 55.00
Turnout 70.76
Labour hold Swing

Elections in the 1960s
General election 1966: Bolsover[20]
Party Candidate Votes % ±
Labour Harold Neal 30,114 81.55
Conservative Peter C Coleman 6,815 18.45
Majority 23,299 63.09
Turnout 74.62
Labour hold Swing
General election 1964: Bolsover [21]
Party Candidate Votes % ±
Labour Harold Neal 31,234 79.34
Conservative Patrick Cormack 8,131 20.66
Majority 23,103 58.69
Turnout 78.89
Labour hold Swing

Elections in the 1950s
General election 1959: Bolsover[22]
Party Candidate Votes % ±
Labour Harold Neal 32,536 78.2
Conservative Robin Marlar 9,076 21.8
Majority 23,460 56.4
Turnout 82.5
Labour hold Swing
General election 1955: Bolsover[23]
Party Candidate Votes % ±
Labour Harold Neal 30,074 78.87
Conservative Brian RO Bell 8,055 21.13
Majority 22,019 57.75
Turnout 77.57
Labour hold Swing
General election 1951: Bolsover[24]
Party Candidate Votes % ±
Labour Harold Neal 33,661 79.89
Conservative John Cordeaux 8,472 20.11
Majority 25,189 59.78
Turnout 85.36
Labour hold Swing
General election 1950: Bolsover[25]
Party Candidate Votes % ±
Labour Harold Neal 34,017 80.6
Conservative John Cordeaux 8,184 19.4
Majority 25,833 61.2
Turnout 86.2
Labour win (new seat)
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See also

Notes and references
Notes
    References
    1. "Bolsover: Usual Resident Population, 2011". Neighbourhood Statistics. Office for National Statistics. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 31 January 2015.
    2. "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.
    3. "Labour legend Dennis Skinner facing shock general election defeat, says new polling". November 5, 2019.
    4. Moss, Stephen (May 2, 2015). "Labour's Dennis Skinner at 83: 'Father of the House? You must be joking'" – via www.theguardian.com.
    5. Leigh Rayment's Historical List of MPs – Constituencies beginning with "B" (part 4)
    6. "Election Nominees 2019" (PDF). Bolsover District Council. Retrieved 15 November 2019.
    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. "Politics Resources". Election 1997. Politics Resources. 1 May 1997. Archived from the original on 14 June 2012. Retrieved 2011-01-10.
    13. C. Rallings & M. Thrasher, The Media Guide to the New Parliamentary Constituencies, p.36 (Plymouth: LGC Elections Centre, 1995)
    14. The 1997 election result is calculated relative to the notional, not the actual, 1992 result.
    15. "Election Data 1992". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
    16. "Politics Resources". Election 1992. Politics Resources. 9 April 1992. Archived from the original on 24 July 2011. Retrieved 2010-12-06.
    17. "Election Data 1987". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
    18. "Election Data 1983". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
    19. "1970 election".
    20. "1966 election".
    21. "1964 election".
    22. "1959 election".
    23. "1955 election".
    24. "1951 election".
    25. "1950 election".

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