Dorset West
2005 Results:
Conservative: 24763 (46.5%)
Liberal Democrat: 22302 (41.9%)
Labour: 4124 (7.7%)
Other: 2036 (3.8%)
Majority: 2461 (4.6%)
2001 Result
Conservative: 22126 (44.6%)
Labour: 6733 (13.6%)
Liberal Democrat: 20712 (41.8%)
Majority: 1414 (2.9%)
1997 Result
Conservative: 22036 (41.1%)
Labour: 9491 (17.7%)
Liberal Democrat: 20196 (37.7%)
Other: 1829 (3.4%)
Majority: 1840 (3.4%)
No Boundary Changes: West Dorset remains largely co-terminous with West Dorset District Council, with the exception of Owermoigne ward which falls within the
Profile: An affluent and mainly rural seat, the main towns are Dorchester, Bridport, the coastal resort of Lyme Regis, Beaminster and Sherborne. Like many seats on the south coast it is a popular retirement location and has a high proportion of pensioners. The seat also contains the village of Tolpuddle, the site of an annual festival organisated by the TUC to commemorate the Tolpuddle Martyrs.
West Dorset has consistently returned a Conservative MP, throughout the 1980s the Conservatives enjoyed huge majorities. In 1997 though it became a close Conservative/Lib Dem marginal and since then a haven for tactical voting – at subsequent elections both the Conservative and Lib Dem vote shares have risen as the Labour vote is remorselessly squeezed. The singer-songwriter Billy Bragg lives in West Dorset and has run high profile campaigns encouraging Labour voters to vote tactically to defeat Oliver Letwin, thus far unsucessfully.
Current MP: Oliver Letwin(Con) born 1956, Hampstead, son of Professor William Letwin and the American political philosopher Shirley Letwin. Educated at Eton and Cambridge. Served in the Number 10 policy unit in the 1980s and was one of those behind the ill-fated poll tax. Contested Hampstead and Highgate in 1992 and was first returned for West Dorset in 1997. Served as Shadow Chief Secretary under William Hague, Shadow Home Secretary under Iain Duncan Smith and Shadow Chancellor under Michael Howard. Following David Cameron`s election as Conservative leader he was appointed Chairman of the Conservative policy review. Letwin is identified as being on the left of the party, and widely regarded as thoughtful, affable, urbane but somewhat gaffe prone – he famously allowed a man who turned out to be burglar into his house to use the toilet, and had to go into hiding during the 2001 campaign after expressing an aspiration to cut public spending by 20 billion (more information at They work for you)
Candidates: Steve Bick (Labour) GP.
Sue Farrant (Liberal Democrat) born Devon. Educated at Plymouth High School and Wye College. West Berkshire councillor since 2003. Contested Swindon South 2005.
2001 Census Demographics
Total 2001 Population: 88929
Male: 47.7%
Female: 52.3%
Under 18: 20.3%
Over 60: 30.7%
Born outside UK: 4.9%
White: 98.7%
Asian: 0.2%
Mixed: 0.5%
Other: 0.5%
Christian: 77.5%
Full time students: 2%
Graduates 16-74: 21.4%
No Qualifications 16-74: 25.2%
Owner-Occupied: 72.4%
Social Housing: 14% (Council: 0.8%, Housing Ass.: 13.3%)
Privately Rented: 9%
Homes without central heating and/or private bathroom: 9.2%
I think Oliver Letwin should get that. (John’s prediction).
I had pencilled in this weekend for Lyme, but it might have to wait a week or two.
what chances of labour losing their deposit here?
It’s probably already been squeezed in the last two elections, in the Lib Dem decapitation strategy (and failed).
There could be a case for it going up a bit, unless it’s a particularly bad result at national level.
Down a bit most likely perhaps.
I wouldn’t rule out a lost deposit for Labour although Joe’s prediction is more likely to be correct.
In the 2004 Euro elections in the district of West Dorset Labour polled 3,181 votes or 9.8%. It will be interesting to see how low the figure goes tomorrow and on Sunday night. It might go below 5%.
I go to Lyme Regis to row on the sea,
and stay in Uplyme, just on the border of East Devon, and West Dorset. (actually in Devon).
I remember going for a drive once with family along the coast starting at Exmouth then driving along to places like Sidmouth, Seaton, and ending up in Lyme Regis. Nice part of the country to visit.
It’s very pleasant.
Knowing it’s not controlled by the Libs makes me smile aswell.
It would be nice if it returns to being a safe seat, with a respectable Labour opposition of about 20% at some stage in the future.
Amazing how huge the trees are on the road up from Uplyme.
I think that is inevitable. The Lib Dems chance came and went and they do appear to be on the back foot, especially given the local results. I think Dorset Lib Dems will be all hands to the pump in Dorset Mid and Poole North to try to hang on there.
Just re-read your post, Andy. It reminds me of one of the episodes of the TV series “Coast”. As an Exmouth resident, that irritated me by moving the Devon – Dorset border westwards to apparently go down the middle of the Exe estuary! I hope you didn’t make a similar mistake, Andy, seeing as how you posted on West Dorset!