South Norfolk (UK Parliament constituency)

South Norfolk (UK Parliament constituency) is a county constituency in the ceremonial county of Norfolk, represented in the House of Commons since 2001 by the Conservative Richard Bacon. The constituency was first created by the Redistribution of Seats Act 1885 and existed until 1983, before being re-established for the 1983 general election under the same name. It is a largely rural seat, encompassing market towns such as Diss, Wymondham, and Long Stratton, and forms part of the broader East of England region.

History

The original constituency was established in the 1885 general election following the Third Reform Act, replacing the former two-member Norfolk seat. Its political history has been predominantly Conservative, though it was held by the Liberal Francis Taylor from 1906 to 1910. The seat was abolished in 1983 under the Fifth Periodic Review of Westminster constituencies, with its area divided between the new constituencies of Mid Norfolk and Norwich South. It was re-created for the 1983 election from parts of those seats and has remained a Conservative safe seat since, with notable MPs including John MacGregor, who served as Chief Secretary to the Treasury under Margaret Thatcher.

Boundaries

The constituency covers the southern part of the administrative county of Norfolk, excluding the city of Norwich. As defined by the Boundary Commission for England, it includes the District of South Norfolk and parts of the Broadland district. Key settlements include the towns of Diss, Wymondham, Harleston, and Long Stratton, along with numerous rural villages. The boundaries were last revised for the 2010 general election, and the seat is bordered by the constituencies of Mid Norfolk, Norwich South, Norwich North, Broadland, and Great Yarmouth, as well as the county of Suffolk.

Members of Parliament

{| class="wikitable" |- ! Election ! Member ! Party |- | 1885 | Edward Birkbeck | Conservative |- | 1892 | Francis Taylor | Liberal |- | 1895 | Arthur Soames | Conservative |- | 1906 | Francis Taylor | Liberal |- | 1910 (Jan) | John Dewar | Conservative |- | 1922 | Christopher Clayton | Conservative |- | 1923 | John Dewar | Conservative |- | 1929 | Herbert Eccles | Conservative |- | 1945 | Peter Baker | Conservative |- | 1950 | John Hill | Conservative |- | 1964 | John MacGregor | Conservative |- | 1983 | Constituency abolished | |- | 1983 | John MacGregor | Conservative |- | 2001 | Richard Bacon | Conservative |}

Elections

Elections in the constituency have consistently returned Conservative candidates since its re-establishment, with the Labour Party and Liberal Democrats typically placing second and third. At the 2019 general election, Richard Bacon won with 64.5% of the vote, a majority of 21,275 over the Labour candidate. The Brexit Party and the Green Party also contested the seat. Previous notable contests include the 1997 election, where John MacGregor retained the seat despite the national Labour landslide, and the 1983 election following boundary changes.

Notes and references

Category:Parliamentary constituencies in Norfolk Category:Constituencies of the Parliament of the United Kingdom established in 1885 Category:Constituencies of the Parliament of the United Kingdom established in 1983