Christchurch
2010 Results:
Conservative: 27888 (56.44%)
Labour: 4849 (9.81%)
Liberal Democrat: 12478 (25.25%)
UKIP: 4201 (8.5%)
Majority: 15410 (31.19%)
Notional 2005 Results:
Conservative: 25052 (55%)
Liberal Democrat: 10819 (23.7%)
Labour: 7323 (16.1%)
Other: 2372 (5.2%)
Majority: 14234 (31.2%)
Actual 2005 result
Conservative: 28208 (54.7%)
Labour: 8051 (15.6%)
Liberal Democrat: 12649 (24.5%)
UKIP: 2657 (5.2%)
Majority: 15559 (30.2%)
2001 Result
Conservative: 27306 (55.1%)
Labour: 7506 (15.1%)
Liberal Democrat: 13762 (27.8%)
UKIP: 993 (2%)
Majority: 13544 (27.3%)
1997 Result
Conservative: 26095 (46.4%)
Labour: 3884 (6.9%)
Liberal Democrat: 23930 (42.6%)
Referendum: 1684 (3%)
Other: 606 (1.1%)
Majority: 2165 (3.9%)
Boundary changes: Gains parts of Longham, Stapehill and Parley from Dorset North, losing the ward of Verwood Dewlands.
Profile: Christchurch is a seat on the south coast between Bournemouth, with which it forms a conurbation along with Poole, and the New Forest. It is an affluent retirement town – the constituency has the highest proportion of over 60s of any seat in Great Britain. As well as Christchurch itself the seat includes Hurn Forest and Bournemouth International Aiport and, to the north of them, the town of Ferndown and the villages of St IVes and West Moors, site of a military fuel depot.
The seat is normally very safely Conservative. It was briefly held by the Liberal Democrats after their 1993 by-election victory, but afer being relatively narrowly regained by the Tories in 1997 it has returned to form.
Current MP: Christopher Chope(Conservative) born 1947, Putney. Educated at Marlborough and St Andrews University. Barrister. Wandsworth councillor 1974-1983 and Leader of Wandsworth council from 1979-1983. MP for Southampton Itchen from 1983 to 1992, MP for Christchurch since 1997. Minister of State at the Treasury 1985-6, Under Secretary of State in the department of Transport 1986-1990, Minister of State in the Department of Transport 1990-1992. Spokesman on the environment 1997-1998, spokesman on social security 1998-2001, Treasury spokesman 2001-2002, shadow transport minister 2002-2003, shadow minister environment and transport 2003-2005. Awarded the OBE for services to local government in 1982 (more information at They work for you)
Christopher Chope(Conservative) born 1947, Putney. Educated at Marlborough and St Andrews University. Barrister. Wandsworth councillor 1974-1983 and Leader of Wandsworth council from 1979-1983. MP for Southampton Itchen from 1983 to 1992, MP for Christchurch since 1997. Minister of State at the Treasury 1985-6, Under Secretary of State in the department of Transport 1986-1990, Minister of State in the Department of Transport 1990-1992. Spokesman on the environment 1997-1998, spokesman on social security 1998-2001, Treasury spokesman 2001-2002, shadow transport minister 2002-2003, shadow minister environment and transport 2003-2005. Awarded the OBE for services to local government in 1982 (more information at They work for you)
Robert Deeks (Labour) Martyn Hurll (Liberal Democrat) David Williams (UKIP)2001 Census Demographics
Total 2001 Population: 78931
Male: 47.2%
Female: 52.8%
Under 18: 16.8%
Over 60: 37.7%
Born outside UK: 4.6%
White: 98.9%
Asian: 0.2%
Mixed: 0.4%
Other: 0.3%
Christian: 80.1%
Full time students: 1.9%
Graduates 16-74: 16.6%
No Qualifications 16-74: 28.7%
Owner-Occupied: 83.6%
Social Housing: 9.7% (Council: 0.6%, Housing Ass.: 9.1%)
Privately Rented: 4.7%
Homes without central heating and/or private bathroom: 3.7%