Mid Norfolk (UK Parliament constituency)

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

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.

Boundaries and boundary changes

1885–1918

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

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 Attleborough.

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.

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.

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

2010–2024

• 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.

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.

Current

Further to the 2023 Periodic Review of Westminster constituencies, which came into effect for the 2024 general election, the composition of the Mid Norfolk constituency is as follows (as they existed on 1 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.

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

Members of Parliament

MPs 1885–1918

North Norfolk, South Norfolk and West Norfolk prior to 1885

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

MPs since 1983

Norfolk North, Norfolk South West and Yarmouth prior to 1983

Election		Member	Party
style="color:inherit;background-color: Template:Party color" |	1983	Richard Ryder	Conservative
style="color:inherit;background-color: Template:Party color" |	1997	Keith Simpson	Conservative
style="color:inherit;background-color: Template:Party color" |	2010	George Freeman	Conservative

Elections

File:Mid Norf Election Results.png

Mid Norfolk election results 1983-2024

Elections in the 2020s

General election 2024: Mid Norfolk

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
		George Freeman	Template:Replace	36.5
		Michael Rosen	13,716	29.9
		Kabeer Kher	9,427	20.5
		Stuart Howard	3,126	6.8
		Ash Haynes	2,858	6.2
Majority			3,054	6.7
Turnout			45,897	61.0
Registered electors			75,238
	hold		Swing	−17.5

Elections in the 2010s

2019 notional result
Party		Vote	%
	Conservative	31,639	64.4
	Labour	11,251	22.9
	Liberal Democrats	5,127	10.4
	Others	939	1.9
	Green	154	0.3
Turnout		49,110	69.1
Electorate		71,060

General election 2019: Mid Norfolk

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
		George Freeman	Template:Replace	62.4
		Adrian Heald	12,457	22.2
		Steff Aquarone	7,739	13.8
		P O'Gorman	939	1.7
Majority			22,594	40.2
Turnout			56,186	68.5
	hold		Swing	+5.7

General election 2017: Mid Norfolk

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
		George Freeman	Template:Replace	59.0
		Sarah Simpson	16,742	30.1
		Fionna Tod	2,848	5.1
		Tracy Knowles	2,092	3.8
		Hannah Lester	1,158	2.1
Majority			16,086	28.9
Turnout			55,668	69.6
	hold		Swing	−2.4

General election 2015: Mid Norfolk

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
		George Freeman	Template:Replace	52.1
		Anna Coke	9,930	19.0
		Harry Clarke	9,585	18.4
		Paul Speed	3,300	6.3
		Simeon Jackson	2,191	4.2
Majority			17,276	33.1
Turnout			52,212	67.8
	hold		Swing	−5.5

General election 2010: Mid Norfolk

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
		George Freeman	Template:Replace	49.5
		David Newman	11,267	22.2
		Elizabeth Hughes	8,857	17.4
		Toby Coke	2,800	5.5
		Tim Birt	1,457	2.9
		Christene Kelly	1,261	2.5
Majority			13,856	27.3
Turnout			50,765	68.4
	hold		Swing	−0.1

Elections in the 2000s

General election 2005: Mid Norfolk

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
		Keith Simpson	Template:Replace	43.1
		Daniel Zeichner	16,004	29.2
		Vivienne Clifford-Jackson	12,988	23.7
		Simon Fletcher	2,178	4.0
Majority			7,560	13.8
Turnout			54,734	67.0
	hold		Swing	+2.6

General election 2001: Mid Norfolk

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
		Keith Simpson	Template:Replace	44.8
		Daniel Zeichner	18,957	36.1
		Vivienne Clifford-Jackson	7,621	14.5
		Stuart Agnew	1,333	2.5
		Peter Reeve	1,118	2.1
Majority			4,562	8.7
Turnout			52,548	68.1
	hold		Swing	+3.2

Elections in the 1990s

General election 1997: Mid Norfolk

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
		Keith Simpson	Template:Replace	39.6
		Daniel Zeichner	21,403	37.3
		Susan Frary	8,617	15.0
		Nigel Holder	3,229	5.6
		Tony Park	1,254	2.1
		Bruce Parker	215	0.4
Majority			1,336	2.3
Turnout			57,457	76.3
	hold		Swing	−13.3

General election 1992: Mid Norfolk

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
		Richard Ryder	Template:Replace	54.3
		Michael Castle	16,672	25.4
		Michael Gleed	13,072	19.9
		Coral Waite	226	0.3
Majority			18,948	28.9
Turnout			65,590	81.5
	hold		Swing	−5.0

Elections in the 1980s

General election 1987: Mid Norfolk

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
		Richard Ryder	Template:Replace	56.7
		Gavin Graham	14,750	25.5
		Keith Luckey	10,272	17.8
Majority			18,008	31.2
Turnout			57,600	78.2
	hold		Swing

General election 1983: Mid Norfolk

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
		Richard Ryder	Template:Replace	55.9
		David Cargill	13,517	26.0
		Leslie Potter	8,950	17.2
		Mona McNee	405	0.8
Majority			15,515	29.9
Turnout			51,904	75.3
	win (new seat)

Elections in the 1910s

Template:Election box winning candidate unopposed with party link

1918 Mid Norfolk by-election

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	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;

• Unionist: William Lewis Boyle
• Liberal: David Waterlow

General election December 1910:Mid Norfolk

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
		William Lewis Boyle	Template:Replace	50.2
		William Richard Lester	4,308	49.8
Majority			37	0.4
Turnout			8,653	86.7
Registered electors			9,984
	hold		Swing	−2.4

File:William Richard Lester.jpg

Lester

General election January 1910:Mid Norfolk

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
		William Lewis Boyle	Template:Replace	52.6
		William Richard Lester	4,265	47.4
Majority			459	5.2
Turnout			8,989	90.0
Registered electors			9,984
	gain from Template:Yesno		Swing	+2.8

Elections in the 1900s

File:1920 John Wodehouse.jpg

Wodehouse

General election 1906:Mid Norfolk

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
		John Wodehouse	Template:Replace	50.2
		William Lewis Boyle	4,170	49.8
Majority			27	0.4
Turnout			8,367	88.2
Registered electors			9,490
	hold		Swing	−3.7

General election 1900:Mid Norfolk

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
		Frederick William Wilson	Template:Replace	53.9
		William Lewis Boyle	3,422	46.1
Majority			574	7.8
Turnout			7,418	80.4
Registered electors			9,226
	hold		Swing	+3.1

Elections in the 1890s

File:1897 Frederick William Wilson.jpg

Wilson

General election 1895: Mid Norfolk

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
		Frederick William Wilson	Template:Replace	50.8
		Robert Gurdon	4,086	49.2
Majority			134	1.6
Turnout			8,306	87.3
Registered electors			9,509
	hold		Swing	−2.3

By-election, 23 Apr 1895: Mid Norfolk

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
		Robert Gurdon	Template:Replace	51.3
		Frederick William Wilson	3,904	48.7
Majority			208	2.6
Turnout			8,016	84.3
Registered electors			9,509
	gain from Template:Yesno		Swing	+4.4

General election 1892: Mid Norfolk

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
		Clement Higgins	Template:Replace	53.1
		Robert Gurdon	3,599	46.9
Majority			470	6.2
Turnout			7,668	89.2
Registered electors			8,601
	gain from Template:Yesno		Swing	+6.7

Elections in the 1880s

General election 1886: Mid Norfolk

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
		Robert Gurdon	Template:Replace	53.6
		James Toller	2,625	46.4
Majority			407	7.2
Turnout			5,657	56.6
Registered electors			9,992
	gain from Template:Yesno		Swing	+18.3

General election 1885: Mid Norfolk

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
		Robert Gurdon	Template:Replace	64.7
		Ailwyn Fellowes	2,872	35.3
Majority			2,403	29.4
Turnout			8,147	81.5
Registered electors			9,992
	win (new seat)

See also

• List of parliamentary constituencies in Norfolk
• List of parliamentary constituencies in the East of England (region)

External links

• Mid Norfolk UK Parliament constituency (boundaries April 1997 – April 2010) at MapIt UK
• Mid Norfolk UK Parliament constituency (boundaries April 2010 – May 2024) at MapIt UK
• Mid Norfolk UK Parliament constituency (boundaries from June 2024) at MapIt UK