Bournemouth West
2010 Results:
Conservative: 18808 (45.15%)
Labour: 6171 (14.81%)
Liberal Democrat: 13225 (31.75%)
UKIP: 2999 (7.2%)
Independent: 456 (1.09%)
Majority: 5583 (13.4%)
Notional 2005 Results:
Conservative: 13961 (39.2%)
Liberal Democrat: 11353 (31.9%)
Labour: 8245 (23.2%)
Other: 2028 (5.7%)
Majority: 2608 (7.3%)
Actual 2005 result
Conservative: 14057 (41.4%)
Labour: 7824 (23.1%)
Liberal Democrat: 10026 (29.6%)
UKIP: 2017 (5.9%)
Majority: 4031 (11.9%)
2001 Result
Conservative: 14417 (42.8%)
Labour: 9699 (28.8%)
Liberal Democrat: 8468 (25.2%)
UKIP: 1064 (3.2%)
Majority: 4718 (14%)
1997 Result
Conservative: 17115 (41.7%)
Labour: 10093 (24.6%)
Liberal Democrat: 11405 (27.8%)
Referendum: 1910 (4.7%)
Other: 549 (1.3%)
Majority: 5710 (13.9%)
Boundary changes:
Profile:
Current MP: Conor Burns (Conservative) Educated at Southampton University. Former Southampton councillor. Contested Eastleigh 2001, 2005.
Conor Burns (Conservative) Educated at Southampton University. Former Southampton councillor. Contested Eastleigh 2001, 2005.
Sharon Carr-Brown (Labour) 
Alasdair Murray (Liberal Democrat) Educated at King Edward VI School Southampton and Oxford University. Director of CentreForum.
Philip Glover (UKIP) 
Harvey Taylor (Independent) Born 1956, Wimborne. Educated at Trent Polytechnic. Leadership trainer and hypnotherapist.2001 Census Demographics
Total 2001 Population: 89521
Male: 48.1%
Female: 51.9%
Under 18: 18.9%
Over 60: 25.8%
Born outside UK: 7.4%
White: 97%
Black: 0.3%
Asian: 0.7%
Mixed: 1%
Other: 0.9%
Christian: 70.3%
Jewish: 0.9%
Muslim: 0.9%
Full time students: 8.5%
Graduates 16-74: 15.5%
No Qualifications 16-74: 27.9%
Owner-Occupied: 68.5%
Social Housing: 13.7% (Council: 9.7%, Housing Ass.: 4.1%)
Privately Rented: 14.7%
Homes without central heating and/or private bathroom: 8.3%
‘So what did you make of it Tim? I last visited Bournemouth about five years ago and it looks posh to me.’
Just noticed your post John
I concur – I was pleasantly surprised by Bournemouth – nice big sandy beech, lots of green areas, fairly vibrant town centre, and nothing remotely comparable to places like Hastings, Margate and Littlehampton
Poole didn’t seem particularly nice but I only drove through it so didn’t see much of it
Yes, Poole is a more downmarket relation to Bournemouth but it’s not without its nicer parts. The Quay and old town are pleasant places to visit as is the Sandbanks area.
The difference between the two towns can be seen in their council compositions. While Bournemouth council is strongly Conservative, Poole council is more mixed with 21 Conservatives, 18 Lib Dems and 3 Poole People.
although perhaps oddly Labour retain councillors in Bournemouth, in the Kinson council estate. There used to be Labour councillors in Wallisdown too, but now that’s combined with part of owner-occupied middle-class Winton that’s not easy to achieve any more. There are certain other wards which could be Labour in certain circumstances too but on the whole the town remains resolutely upmarket.
‘Yes, Poole is a more downmarket relation to Bournemouth.’
I always thought it was the other way round with Poole the more up-market town – similar to how Hove used to compare to Brighton (ie favourably)
But Bournemouth is nothing like the coastal towns further east – from Southampton to Margate – so the Conservative composition of the council isn’t surprising
I still think the Lib Dems should have done better here in 2010
Has Central ward been in this seat since 1950? I think Bournemouth was in the Christchurch seat until 1918.
I think all the territory covered by present-day Central ward has been in this seat since 1950. Before then of course it was in Bournemouth, and I believe all of Bournemouth was in Christchurch until 1918.
Both towns used to be in Hampshire rather than Dorset.
And many Dorset folk would suggest they still should be!