Mid Norfolk (UK Parliament constituency)

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]

Mid Norfolk
County constituency for the House of Commons
Boundary of Mid Norfolk in Norfolk for the 2010 general election
Location of Norfolk within England
County	Norfolk
Electorate	75,080 (December 2010)[1]
Major settlements	Dereham and Wymondham
Current constituency
Created	1983
Member of Parliament	George Freeman (Conservative)
Number of members	One
Created from	Norfolk North, Norfolk South West and Yarmouth[2]
1885–1918
Number of members	One
Type of constituency	County constituency
Replaced by	South Norfolk and South West Norfolk
Created from	North Norfolk, South Norfolk and West Norfolk

History

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

1885–1918: 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: 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: 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 Teversham were transferred to Norwich North.

2010–present: 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, with only the District of Breckland wards retained.  The District of Broadland wards, which had comprised the majority of the constituency, were included in the new County Constituency of Broadland.  Further District of Breckland wards, including Watton and Attleborough, were transferred from South West Norfolk.  The District of South Norfolk wards, including Wymondham, were transferred from the constituency of South Norfolk.

Members of Parliament

MPs 1885–1918

Election		Member[8]	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
	???		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

Election		Member[8]	Party
	1983	Richard Ryder	Conservative
	1997	Keith Simpson	Conservative
	2010	George Freeman	Conservative

Elections

Elections in the 2010s

General election 2019: Mid Norfolk[9]

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	+1.7
Majority			22,594	40.2	+11.3
Turnout			56,186	68.5	-1.0
	Conservative hold		Swing	+5.7

General election 2017: Mid Norfolk[10]

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	−15.3
	Green	Hannah Lester	1,158	2.1	−2.1
Majority			16,086	28.9	−4.2
Turnout			55,668	69.6	+1.9
	Conservative hold		Swing	−2.4

General election 2015: Mid Norfolk[11]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±
	Conservative	George Freeman[12]	27,206	52.1	+2.6
	UKIP	Anna Coke[13]	9,930	19.0	+13.5
	Labour	Harry Clarke	9,585	18.4	+0.4
	Liberal Democrats	Paul Speed[14]	3,300	6.3	−15.9
	Green	Simeon Jackson[15]	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[16]

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	+2.9
	BNP	Christene Kelly[17]	1,261	2.5	+2.5
Majority			13,856	27.3	+13.5
Turnout			50,765	68.4	+2.8
	Conservative hold		Swing	−0.1

Elections in the 2000s

General election 2005: Mid Norfolk[18]

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
Turnout			54,734	67.0	−1.1
	Conservative hold		Swing	+2.6

General election 2001: Mid Norfolk[19]

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	N/A
	Green	Peter Reeve	1,118	2.1	−0.1
Majority			4,562	8.7
Turnout			52,548	68.1	−8.2
	Conservative hold		Swing	3.2

Elections in the 1990s

General election 1997: Mid Norfolk[20]

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	N/A
	Green	Tony Park	1,254	2.1	N/A
	Natural Law	Bruce Parker	215	0.4	N/A
Majority			1,336	2.3	−26.6
Turnout			57,457	76.3	−5.2
	Conservative hold		Swing	−13.3

General election 1992: Mid Norfolk[21][22]

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	N/A
Majority			18,948	28.9	−2.3
Turnout			65,590	81.5	+3.3
	Conservative hold		Swing	−5.0

Elections in the 1980s

General election 1987: Mid Norfolk[23]

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
Turnout				78.2
	Conservative hold		Swing

General election 1983: Mid Norfolk[24]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±
	Conservative	Richard Ryder	29,032	55.9	N/A
	SDP	David Cargill	13,517	26.0	N/A
	Labour	Leslie Potter	8,950	17.2	N/A
	Independent	Mona McNee	405	0.8	N/A
Majority			15,515	29.9	N/A
Turnout				75.3	N/A
	Conservative win (new seat)

Elections in the 1910s

1918 Mid Norfolk by-election[25]

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 the July 1914, the following candidates had been selected;

• Unionist: William Lewis Boyle
• Liberal: David Waterlow

General election December 1910:Mid Norfolk[26][25]

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[26][25]

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

Wodehouse

General election 1906:Mid Norfolk[27][25]

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[27][28][25]

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

Wilson

General election 1895: Mid Norfolk [27][28][25]

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 [27][25]

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 [27][25]

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

General election 1886: Mid Norfolk [27][25]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±
	Liberal Unionist	Robert Gurdon	3,032	53.6	+18.3
	Liberal	James Toller[29]	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 [27][30][25]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±
	Liberal	Robert Gurdon	5,275	64.7	N/A
	Conservative	Ailwyn Fellowes	2,872	35.3	N/A
Majority			2,403	29.4	N/A
Turnout			8,147	81.5	N/A
Registered electors			9,992
	Liberal win (new seat)

See also

• List of Parliamentary constituencies in Norfolk

Notes and references

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.

References

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 2019-03-13.
6. "The Parliamentary Constituencies (England) Order 1995". www.legislation.gov.uk. Retrieved 2019-03-13.
7. "The Parliamentary Constituencies (England) Order 2007". www.legislation.gov.uk. Retrieved 2019-03-13.
8. Leigh Rayment's Historical List of MPs – Constituencies beginning with "N" (part 2)
9. "Norfolk Mid Parliamentary constituency". BBC News. BBC. Retrieved 19 November 2019.
10. "Election Data 2017". BBC. Retrieved 14 June 2017.
11. "Election Data 2015". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 17 October 2015. Retrieved 17 October 2015.
12. "UK ELECTION RESULTS: Norfolk Mid 2015".
13. "Why Anna?". Mid Norfolk UKIP. Archived from the original on 1 February 2015. Retrieved 1 February 2015.
14. http://www.libdems.org.uk/general_election_candidates#East_of_England
15. "Member of Parliament for Mid Norfolk". YourNextMP. Archived from the original on 1 February 2015. Retrieved 1 February 2015.
16. "Election Data 2010". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 26 July 2013. Retrieved 17 October 2015.
17. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2010-04-14. Retrieved 2010-03-11.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
18. "Election Data 2005". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
19. "Election Data 2001". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
20. "Election Data 1997". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
21. "Election Data 1992". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
22. "Politics Resources". Election 1992. Politics Resources. 9 April 1992. Archived from the original on 24 July 2011. Retrieved 2010-12-06.
23. "Election Data 1987". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
24. "Election Data 1983". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
25. Craig, FWS, ed. (1974). British Parliamentary Election Results: 1885-1918. London: Macmillan Press. ISBN 9781349022984.
26. Debrett's House of Commons & Judicial Bench, 1916
27. The Liberal Year Book, 1907
28. Debrett's House of Commons & Judicial Bench, 1901
29. "Mid Division of Norfolk". Norwich Mercury. 25 August 1886. p. 1. Retrieved 5 December 2017 – via British Newspaper Archive.
30. Debrett's House of Commons & Judicial Bench, 1886