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West Dorset — UK General Election Results

Compiled by EveryElectionResult.com's data team · Last updated 2026-08-30

West Dorset was won by Liberal Democrat at the 2024 general election, with a majority of 7,789 votes over Conservative. This page covers every general election in West Dorset from 1885 to 2024.

Full Election History, 1885–2024

Election Elected Votes Vote Share Runner-up Majority Turnout
1885 Henry Richard Farquharson (Conservative) 3,507 51.0% Herbert Carey George Batten (Liberal) 141 (2.1 pts) 86.8%
1886 Henry Richard Farquharson (Conservative) 3,672 59.8% Herbert Carey George Batten (Liberal) 1,205 (19.6 pts) 77.6%
1892 Henry Richard Farquharson (Conservative) 3,691 56.7% Charles Tindal Gatty (Liberal) 878 (13.5 pts) 84.0%
1895 Robert Williams (Conservative) Elected unopposed — no other candidate stood, no vote count on record 0.0%
1900 Robert Williams (Conservative) Elected unopposed — no other candidate stood, no vote count on record 0.0%
1906 Robert Williams (Conservative) 3,671 56.4% Johnstone Haye (Liberal) 837 (12.9 pts) 87.8%
Jan 1910 Robert Williams (Conservative) 4,011 59.2% William Saunders Edwards (Liberal) 1,252 (18.5 pts) 89.4%
Dec 1910 Robert Williams (Conservative) Elected unopposed — no other candidate stood, no vote count on record 0.0%
1918 Robert Williams (Unionist) Elected unopposed — no other candidate stood, no vote count on record 0.0%
1922 William Philip Colfox (Unionist) 11,649 62.1% Thomas Crooks Duke (Labour) 4,548 (24.3 pts) 78.5%
1923 William Philip Colfox (Unionist) 10,100 58.8% Louie Simpson (Labour) 3,013 (17.5 pts) 70.9%
1924 William Philip Colfox (Unionist) 12,426 68.3% Louie Simpson (Labour) 6,662 (36.6 pts) 58.8%
1929 William Philip Colfox (Unionist) 12,247 49.1% George Chappell (Liberal) 4,326 (17.3 pts) 80.6%
1931 William Philip Colfox (Conservative) 15,510 60.2% George Chappell (Liberal) 5,239 (20.3 pts) 81.6%
1935 William Philip Colfox (Conservative) 13,825 54.1% George Chappell (Liberal) 2,090 (8.2 pts) 77.9%
1945 Kenelm Simon Digby Wingfield Digby (Conservative) 13,399 50.2% Cambreth John Kane (Labour) 5,184 (19.4 pts) 74.7%
1950 Kenelm Simon Digby Wingfield Digby (Conservative) 18,771 51.8% Cambreth John Kane (Labour) 6,804 (18.8 pts) 84.0%
1951 Kenelm Simon Digby Wingfield Digby (Conservative) 21,739 60.3% Cambreth John Kane (Labour) 7,431 (20.6 pts) 82.1%
1955 Simon Wingfield Digby (Conservative) 21,007 59.6% Leslie William King (Labour) 6,763 (19.2 pts) 80.1%
1959 Simon Wingfield Digby (Conservative) 19,747 54.7% Leslie William King (Labour) 8,211 (22.7 pts) 81.9%
1964 Simon Wingfield Digby (Conservative) 17,841 48.6% Leslie William King (Labour) 7,210 (19.6 pts) 81.7%
1966 Kenelm Digby (Conservative) 17,709 47.7% F Donald Shirreff (Labour) 5,952 (16.0 pts) 81.7%
1970 Kenelm Digby (Conservative) 21,081 54.1% George Sakwa (Labour) 10,545 (27.1 pts) 76.8%
Feb 1974 Sir James Spicer (Conservative) 21,634 49.0% Roger Mildon Angus (Liberal) 7,451 (16.9 pts) 83.1%
Oct 1974 James Spicer (Conservative) 20,517 49.2% Roger Mildon Angus (Liberal) 8,685 (20.8 pts) 77.9%
1979 Sir James Spicer (Conservative) 26,281 58.7% Trevor Jones (Liberal) 16,505 (36.9 pts) 79.0%
1983 Sir James Spicer (Conservative) 27,030 59.7% Trevor Jones (Liberal) 13,952 (30.8 pts) 74.2%
1987 Sir James Spicer (Conservative) 28,305 56.2% Trevor Jones (Liberal) 12,364 (24.6 pts) 78.3%
1992 Sir James Spicer (Conservative) 27,766 50.8% Robin Legg (Liberal Democrat) 8,010 (14.7 pts) 81.2%
1997 Oliver Letwin (Conservative) 22,036 41.1% Robin Legg (Liberal Democrat) 1,840 (3.4 pts) 76.1%
2001 Oliver Letwin (Conservative) 22,126 44.6% Simon Green (Liberal Democrat) 1,414 (2.9 pts) 71.6%
2005 Oliver Letwin (Conservative) 24,763 46.5% Justine McGuinness (Liberal Democrat) 2,461 (4.6 pts) 76.3%
2010 Oliver Letwin (Conservative) 27,287 47.6% Susan Farrant (Liberal Democrat) 3,923 (6.8 pts) 74.7%
2015 Oliver Letwin (Conservative) 28,329 50.2% Ros Kayes (Liberal Democrat) 16,130 (28.6 pts) 72.6%
2017 Oliver Letwin (Conservative) 33,081 55.5% Andy Canning (Liberal Democrat) 19,091 (32.0 pts) 75.6%
2019 Chris Loder (Conservative) 33,589 55.1% Edward Morello (Liberal Democrat) 14,106 (23.2 pts) 74.7%
2024 Edward Morello (Liberal Democrat) 26,999 51.3% Chris Loder (Conservative) 7,789 (14.8 pts) 70.0%

Full Result Breakdown by Election

1885

CandidatePartyVotesShareElected
Henry Richard Farquharson Conservative 3,50751.0% Yes
Herbert Carey George Batten Liberal 3,36649.0% No

1886

CandidatePartyVotesShareElected
Henry Richard Farquharson Conservative 3,67259.8% Yes
Herbert Carey George Batten Liberal 2,46740.2% No

1892

CandidatePartyVotesShareElected
Henry Richard Farquharson Conservative 3,69156.7% Yes
Charles Tindal Gatty Liberal 2,81343.3% No

1895

CandidatePartyVotesShareElected
Robert Williams Conservative Unopposed Yes

1900

CandidatePartyVotesShareElected
Robert Williams Conservative Unopposed Yes

1906

CandidatePartyVotesShareElected
Robert Williams Conservative 3,67156.4% Yes
Johnstone Haye Liberal 2,83443.6% No

Jan 1910

CandidatePartyVotesShareElected
Robert Williams Conservative 4,01159.2% Yes
William Saunders Edwards Liberal 2,75940.8% No

Dec 1910

CandidatePartyVotesShareElected
Robert Williams Conservative Unopposed Yes

1918

CandidatePartyVotesShareElected
Robert Williams Unionist Unopposed Yes

1922

CandidatePartyVotesShareElected
William Philip Colfox Unionist 11,64962.1% Yes
Thomas Crooks Duke Labour 7,10137.9% No

1923

CandidatePartyVotesShareElected
William Philip Colfox Unionist 10,10058.8% Yes
Louie Simpson Labour 7,08741.2% No

1924

CandidatePartyVotesShareElected
William Philip Colfox Unionist 12,42668.3% Yes
Louie Simpson Labour 5,76431.7% No

1929

CandidatePartyVotesShareElected
William Philip Colfox Unionist 12,24749.1% Yes
George Chappell Liberal 7,92131.8% No
Thomas Robins Labour 4,77019.1% No

1931

CandidatePartyVotesShareElected
William Philip Colfox Conservative 15,51060.2% Yes
George Chappell Liberal 10,27139.8% No

1935

CandidatePartyVotesShareElected
William Philip Colfox Conservative 13,82554.1% Yes
George Chappell Liberal 11,73545.9% No

1945

CandidatePartyVotesShareElected
Kenelm Simon Digby Wingfield Digby Conservative 13,39950.2% Yes
Cambreth John Kane Labour 8,21530.8% No
George Harold Newsom Liberal 5,09819.1% No

1950

CandidatePartyVotesShareElected
Kenelm Simon Digby Wingfield Digby Conservative 18,77151.8% Yes
Cambreth John Kane Labour 11,96733.0% No
Colin Grant Cameron Liberal 5,53115.2% No

1951

CandidatePartyVotesShareElected
Kenelm Simon Digby Wingfield Digby Conservative 21,73960.3% Yes
Cambreth John Kane Labour 14,30839.7% No

1955

CandidatePartyVotesShareElected
Simon Wingfield Digby Conservative 21,00759.6% Yes
Leslie William King Labour 14,24440.4% No

1959

CandidatePartyVotesShareElected
Simon Wingfield Digby Conservative 19,74754.7% Yes
Leslie William King Labour 11,53631.9% No
John H Goodden Liberal 4,85013.4% No

1964

CandidatePartyVotesShareElected
Simon Wingfield Digby Conservative 17,84148.6% Yes
Leslie William King Labour 10,63129.0% No
Michael Aza Pinney Liberal 8,24222.4% No

1966

CandidatePartyVotesShareElected
Kenelm Digby Conservative 17,70947.7% Yes
F Donald Shirreff Labour 11,75731.7% No
Michael Pinney Liberal 7,67620.7% No

1970

CandidatePartyVotesShareElected
Kenelm Digby Conservative 21,08154.1% Yes
George Sakwa Labour 10,53627.1% No
Allan Percival Liberal 7,31418.8% No

Feb 1974

CandidatePartyVotesShareElected
Sir James Spicer Conservative 21,63449.0% Yes
Roger Mildon Angus Liberal 14,18332.1% No
Martin Francis Cross Labour 8,33318.9% No

Oct 1974

CandidatePartyVotesShareElected
James Spicer Conservative 20,51749.2% Yes
Roger Mildon Angus Liberal 11,83228.4% No
Peter John Dawe Labour 9,35022.4% No

1979

CandidatePartyVotesShareElected
Sir James Spicer Conservative 26,28158.7% Yes
Trevor Jones Liberal 9,77621.8% No
Hubert John Skevington Labour 7,99917.9% No
James Tillotson National Front 5141.1% No
Gwendoline Mary McEwan Wessex Regionalist 1920.4% No

1983

CandidatePartyVotesShareElected
Sir James Spicer Conservative 27,03059.7% Yes
Trevor Jones Liberal 13,07828.9% No
Derek Cash Labour 5,16811.4% No

1987

CandidatePartyVotesShareElected
Sir James Spicer Conservative 28,30556.2% Yes
Trevor Jones Liberal 15,94131.6% No
John David Watson Labour 6,12312.2% No

1992

CandidatePartyVotesShareElected
Sir James Spicer Conservative 27,76650.8% Yes
Robin Legg Liberal Democrat 19,75636.2% No
Jonathan Paul Bost Mann Labour 7,08213.0% No

1997

CandidatePartyVotesShareElected
Oliver Letwin Conservative 22,03641.1% Yes
Robin Legg Liberal Democrat 20,19637.7% No
Robert Bygraves Labour 9,49117.7% No
Peter Jenkins UKIP 1,5903.0% No
Mark Griffiths Natural Law 2390.4% No

2001

CandidatePartyVotesShareElected
Oliver Letwin Conservative 22,12644.6% Yes
Simon Green Liberal Democrat 20,71241.8% No
Richard Hyde Labour 6,73313.6% No

2005

CandidatePartyVotesShareElected
Oliver Letwin Conservative 24,76346.5% Yes
Justine McGuinness Liberal Democrat 22,30241.9% No
Dave Roberts Labour 4,1247.7% No
Linda Guest UKIP 1,0842.0% No
Susan Greene Green 9521.8% No

2010

CandidatePartyVotesShareElected
Oliver Letwin Conservative 27,28747.6% Yes
Susan Farrant Liberal Democrat 23,36440.7% No
Steve Bick Labour 3,8156.7% No
Oliver Chisholm UKIP 2,1963.8% No
J. Susan Greene Green 6751.2% No

2015

CandidatePartyVotesShareElected
Oliver Letwin Conservative 28,32950.2% Yes
Ros Kayes Liberal Democrat 12,19921.6% No
David Glossop UKIP 7,05512.5% No
Rachel Rogers Labour 5,63310.0% No
Peter Barton Green 3,2425.7% No

2017

CandidatePartyVotesShareElected
Oliver Letwin Conservative 33,08155.5% Yes
Andy Canning Liberal Democrat 13,99023.5% No
Lee Rhodes Labour 10,89618.3% No
Kelvin Clayton Green 1,6312.7% No

2019

CandidatePartyVotesShareElected
Chris Loder Conservative 33,58955.1% Yes
Edward Morello Liberal Democrat 19,48332.0% No
Claudia Sorin Labour 5,7299.4% No
Kelvin Clayton Green 2,1243.5% No

2024

CandidatePartyVotesShareElected
Edward Morello Liberal Democrat 26,99951.3% Yes
Chris Loder Conservative 19,21036.5% No
Donna Lumsden Labour 3,0865.9% No
Kelvin Clayton Green 2,2884.3% No
Oliver Chisholm Independent 7331.4% No
Marcus White Independent 2890.5% No

Margin Over Time

Winning margin (percentage points) at each election, coloured by the winning party.

1885: Conservative margin 2.1 pts 1886: Conservative margin 19.6 pts 1892: Conservative margin 13.5 pts 1906: Conservative margin 12.9 pts Jan 1910: Conservative margin 18.5 pts 1922: Unionist margin 24.3 pts 1923: Unionist margin 17.5 pts 1924: Unionist margin 36.6 pts 1929: Unionist margin 17.3 pts 1931: Conservative margin 20.3 pts 1935: Conservative margin 8.2 pts 1945: Conservative margin 19.4 pts 1950: Conservative margin 18.8 pts 1951: Conservative margin 20.6 pts 1955: Conservative margin 19.2 pts 1959: Conservative margin 22.7 pts 1964: Conservative margin 19.6 pts 1966: Conservative margin 16.0 pts 1970: Conservative margin 27.1 pts Feb 1974: Conservative margin 16.9 pts Oct 1974: Conservative margin 20.8 pts 1979: Conservative margin 36.9 pts 1983: Conservative margin 30.8 pts 1987: Conservative margin 24.6 pts 1992: Conservative margin 14.7 pts 1997: Conservative margin 3.4 pts 2001: Conservative margin 2.9 pts 2005: Conservative margin 4.6 pts 2010: Conservative margin 6.8 pts 2015: Conservative margin 28.6 pts 2017: Conservative margin 32.0 pts 2019: Conservative margin 23.2 pts 2024: Liberal Democrat margin 14.8 pts 1885 1886 1892 1906 Jan 1910 1922 1923 1924 1929 1931 1935 1945 1950 1951 1955 1959 1964 1966 1970 Feb 1974 Oct 1974 1979 1983 1987 1992 1997 2001 2005 2010 2015 2017 2019 2024

Trend

West Dorset has been contested at 37 general elections on record since 1885. Parties that have won a seat here over that span: Conservative, Unionist, Liberal Democrat.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who won West Dorset in the 2024 general election?

Liberal Democrat won West Dorset in 2024 with 26,999 votes (51.3%), a majority of 7,789 votes over Conservative in second place.

Which parties have won West Dorset since 1885?

Since 1885, West Dorset has been won by: Conservative, Liberal Democrat, Unionist.

What was the closest result in West Dorset?

The closest result on record for West Dorset was 1885, when Conservative beat Liberal by just 141 votes (2.1 percentage points).

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