North Dorset
Notional 2005 Results:
Conservative: 21911 (46.4%)
Liberal Democrat: 18001 (38.1%)
Labour: 4663 (9.9%)
Other: 2690 (5.7%)
Majority: 3910 (8.3%)
Actual 2005 result
Conservative: 23714 (44.9%)
Labour: 4596 (8.7%)
Liberal Democrat: 21470 (40.7%)
Green: 1117 (2.1%)
UKIP: 1918 (3.6%)
Majority: 2244 (4.2%)
2001 Result
Conservative: 22314 (46.7%)
Labour: 5334 (11.2%)
Liberal Democrat: 18517 (38.7%)
UKIP: 1019 (2.1%)
Other: 637 (1.3%)
Majority: 3797 (7.9%)
1997 Result
Conservative: 23294 (44.3%)
Labour: 5380 (10.2%)
Liberal Democrat: 20548 (39.1%)
Referendum: 2564 (4.9%)
Other: 801 (1.5%)
Majority: 2746 (5.2%)
Boundary changes
Current MP: Robert Walter (Con) born 1948, Swansea. Educated at Lord Weymouth School and Aston University. Former farmer and international banker. First elected as MP for North Dorset 1997. Welsh spokesman from 1999-2001. A pro-European supporter of Ken Clarke and member of the Council of Europe’s Parliamentary Assembly, he was an opponent of the Iraq war (more information at They work for you)
Candidates:
Emily Gasson (Liberal Democrat) born 1970. Educated at Frensham Heights, Durham and Oxford Universities. Solicitor. Contested Regents Park and Kensington North in 1997, Dorset North in 2001 and 2005. Married to Lib Dem MP Ed Davey.
Gawain Towler (UKIP) Educated at Clayesmore School and the University of York. Former journalist and public affairs officer, now working as an advisor to the UKIP group in the European Parliament. Contested Glasgow Maryhill 2001, Glasgow Kelvin in the 2003 Scottish Parliament elections for the Conservative party.
Mike Bunney (Labour)
2001 Census Demographics
Total 2001 Population: 87813
Male: 49.3%
Female: 50.7%
Under 18: 22.6%
Over 60: 25.3%
Born outside UK: 5.3%
White: 98.8%
Asian: 0.3%
Mixed: 0.5%
Other: 0.3%
Christian: 78.4%
Full time students: 1.6%
Graduates 16-74: 18.5%
No Qualifications 16-74: 24.5%
Owner-Occupied: 75.3%
Social Housing: 12.3% (Council: 0.7%, Housing Ass.: 11.6%)
Privately Rented: 7.4%
Homes without central heating and/or private bathroom: 6.5%
‘Looking at the 2005 Parliamentary result and the local elections on the same day it shows that Bob Walter gained about 4000 more votes than the Conservative county council candidates. He obviously has a strong personal vote which reflects the amount of work he puts in on the ground.’
Which begs the question why some prominent members of the local Tory Association were so keen to have him de-selected for the henious crime of being too pro-European.
Robert held on which could be just as well for the Tories as the Lib Dems could have exploited the issue and taken the seat
As it is, I’d expect a Tory hold
I’m wondering if Robert Harvey is the former MP for Clwyd South West or a namesake.
Robert Harvey was indeed the Conservative MP for Clwyd SW from 1983 to 1987. I’m not sure what that has to do with Dorset North though
If you look a couple of posts above mine, you’ll see his name.
Ah I see - sorry dave. I was looking in the comments written for some reference to him but didnt look at the actual authors. Robert Harvey was only 30 when elected in 1983 so is not yet of pensionable age himself, though this does not necessarily mean he would not be concerned for the interests of pensioners. It is perhaps surprising he never returned to parliament after his defeat in 1987 as he was still young, but there are many others who served only in that parliament and that may have been his choice. He appears to have been a successful author of history books.
A fantastic opportunity for Emily in 2009/10.
I am predicting a Lib Dem gain with a 3,000 majority.
I’m not.
I think it’ll be Tory hold by about 6,000, and Emily will nervously rush back to Kingston and Surbiton in the early hours where a sweaty Ed Davey will be watching his slashed majority being counted.
Labour have selected Mike Bunney here.