South Norfolk (UK Parliament constituency)

South Norfolk is a constituency^{[n 1]} in the House of Commons of the UK Parliament represented by Ben Goldsborough, a member of the Labour Party, after winning the seat in the 2024 general election.

South Norfolk
County constituency for the House of Commons
Boundaries since 2024
Boundary of South Norfolk in the East of England
County	Norfolk
Electorate	69,837 (2023)[1]
Major settlements	Wymondham, Long Stratton, Loddon, Hethersett
Current constituency
Created	1868
Member of Parliament	Ben Goldsborough (Labour)
Seats	1868–1885: Two 1885 onwards: One
Created from	East Norfolk West Norfolk

Constituency profile

This is a rural constituency to the south of Norwich with small market towns and villages.^[2] Residents' health and wealth are around average for the UK.^[3]

History

Following the Reform Act 1832 the historic county constituency Norfolk was for the first time split into two, two member, county divisions - East Norfolk and West Norfolk.

The Reform Act 1867 led, the following year, to the county's redistribution into three, two member, county divisions. The three divisions, from the 1868 United Kingdom general election became this one, the North and modified Western division.

The Southern division had its place of election^{[n 2]} at Norwich. This was the same place of election as the abolished Eastern division. In 1868 the same two MPs who had sat for East Norfolk were re-elected for this constituency.

Under the provisions of the Redistribution of Seats Act 1885, single member constituencies became the norm and greater equalisation in electorate occurred. In Norfolk the three, two member, county divisions were changed to six single member seats. These were this constituency, a revived East Norfolk, Mid Norfolk, North Norfolk, North West Norfolk and South West Norfolk.

The Southern division was very agricultural in character.^{[citation needed]} The largest town was Diss, which had a population of fewer than 4,000 people in 1900.

Boundaries and boundary changes

1868–1885

• The Hundreds of Walsham, Blofield, Henstead, Humbleyard, Loddon, Clavering, Diss, Deepwade, Earsham, Guiltcross, Shropham, Taverham, Forhoe, and Mitford.^[4][5]

The seat was formed largely from southern parts of the abolished Eastern Division, with a small part transferred from the Western Division.

1885–1918

• The Sessional Divisions of Depwade, Diss, Earsham, Loddon and Clavering, and Swainsthorpe.^[6]

The northernmost parts were transferred to the re-established Eastern Division and western parts to the new Mid Division. It bordered Mid Norfolk to the west, the borough constituency of Norwich and East Norfolk to the north, the borough of Great Yarmouth and the Suffolk constituency of Lowestoft to the east and another Suffolk division, Eye, to the south.

1918–1950

• The Urban District of Diss;
• The Rural Districts of Depwade, Forehoe, Henstead, and Wayland; and
• Part of the Rural District of Thetford.^[7]

Gained southern areas of the abolished Mid Division and a small area in the east of the South-Western Division.  Lost eastern areas, which comprised the Loddon and Clavering Rural District (later renamed the Loddon Rural District), to the Eastern Division.

1950–1974

• The Municipal Borough of Thetford;
• The Urban Districts of Diss and Wymondham; and
• The Rural Districts of Depwade, Loddon, and Wayland.^[7]

These areas combined to produce a somewhat more urban constituency than before. Thetford was transferred from South West Norfolk and the Rural District of Loddon regained from the abolished Eastern Division. The (combined) Rural District of Forehoe and Henstead was transferred to the new constituency of Central Norfolk, but Wymondham (which had been created as a separate Urban District in 1935) was retained.

1974–1983

• The Municipal Borough of Thetford;
• The Urban Districts of Diss and Wymondham; and
• The Rural Districts of Depwade, Forehoe and Henstead, Loddon, and Wayland.^[7]

Regained the Rural District of Forhoe and Henstead, including Costessey, from Central Norfolk, which was now abolished.

This was the last redistribution before a major reorganisation of local government, which amalgamated many of the smaller local authorities and which was reflected in the 1983 redistribution.

1983–1997

• District of South Norfolk.^[8]

Thetford and the area comprising the former Rural District of Wayland, including Attleborough, which had been included in the District of Breckland, were transferred to the redrawn South West Norfolk constituency.

1997–2010

• District of South Norfolk, except the wards of Cringleford and Colney, and New Costessey.^[9]

The two excluded wards were transferred to Norwich South.

Map of boundaries 2010-2024

2010–2024

• District of South Norfolk wards of Beck Vale, Bressingham and Burston, Brooke, Bunwell, Chedgrave and Thurton, Cringleford, Dickleburgh, Diss, Ditchingham and Broome, Earsham, Easton, Forncett, Gillingham, Harleston, Hempnall, Hethersett, Loddon, Mulbarton, Newton Flotman, Old Costessey, Poringland with the Framinghams, Rockland, Roydon, Scole, Stoke Holy Cross, Stratton, Tasburgh, and Thurlton.^[10]

Cringleford and Colney (but not New Costessey) were transferred back from Norwich South. Seven District of South Norfolk wards, including Wymondham and surrounding areas, were transferred to Mid Norfolk.

Current

Further to the 2023 Periodic Review of Westminster constituencies, which came into effect for the 2024 general election, the composition of the constituency is as follows (as they existed on 1 December 2020):

• The District of South Norfolk wards of: Brooke; Central Wymondham; Cringleford; Easton; Forncett; Hempnall; Hethersett; Loddon & Chedgrave; Mulbarton & Stoke Holy Cross; Newton Flotman; North Wymondham; Old Costessey; Poringland, Framinghams & Trowse; Rockland; South Wymondham; Stratton; Thurlton.^[11]

The seat was subject to major changes, with areas to the north of the River Waveney, which forms the boundary between Norfolk and Suffolk - including the towns of Diss and Harleston - forming part of the newly created, cross-county boundary, constituency of Waveney Valley. As part compensation, the town of Wymondham was regained from Mid Norfolk. Other minor changes due to ward boundary revisions.

Members of Parliament

MPs 1868 – 1885 (two seats)

Election	First member[12]		First party	Second member[12]		Second party
1868		Clare Sewell Read	Conservative		Edward Howes	Conservative
1871					Sir Robert Buxton, Bt	Conservative
1880		Robert Gurdon	Liberal
1885	representation reduced to one member

MPs since 1885 (one seat)

Soames

Cozens-Hardy

Election		Member[12]	Party
	1885	Francis Taylor	Liberal
	1886		Liberal Unionist
	1898 by-election	Arthur Soames	Liberal
	1918	William Cozens-Hardy a	Liberal
	1919		Coalition Liberal
	1920 by-election	George Edwards	Labour
	1922	Thomas Hay	Conservative
	1923	George Edwards	Labour
	1924	James Christie	Conservative
	1945	Christopher Mayhew	Labour
	1950	Peter Baker b	Conservative
	1955 by-election	John Hill	Conservative
	Feb 1974	John MacGregor	Conservative
	2001	Richard Bacon	Conservative
	2024	Ben Goldsborough	Labour

Notes:-

• ^a Cozens-Hardy stood at the 1918 United Kingdom general election as a Liberal without the Coalition "coupon", but he took the Coalition Liberal whip when Parliament assembled in 1919.
• ^b Baker was expelled from the House of Commons in 1954 after being convicted of fraud, forgery and uttering and sentenced to seven years imprisonment.

Elections

Election results 1900-2024

Elections in the 2020s

General election 2024: South Norfolk^[13]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Labour	Ben Goldsborough	17,353	35.0	+11.6
	Conservative	Poppy Simister-Thomas	14,527	29.3	−27.2
	Reform UK	Chris Harrison	7,583	15.3	N/A
	Liberal Democrats	Christopher Brown	5,746	11.6	−5.4
	Green	Catherine Rowett	3,987	8.0	+4.8
	Independent	Paco Davila	254	0.5	N/A
	SDP	Jason Maguire	129	0.3	N/A
Majority			2,826	5.7	N/A
Turnout			49,579	66.9	–7.4
Registered electors			74,135
	Labour gain from Conservative		Swing	19.4

Elections in the 2010s

2019 notional result[14]
Party		Vote	%
	Conservative	29,298	56.5
	Labour	12,123	23.4
	Liberal Democrats	8,799	17.0
	Green	1,637	3.2
Turnout		51,857	74.3
Electorate		69,837

General election 2019: South Norfolk^[15]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Conservative	Richard Bacon	36,258	58.0	−0.2
	Labour	Beth Jones	14,983	24.0	−6.9
	Liberal Democrats	Christopher Brown	8,744	14.0	+5.7
	Green	Ben Price	2,499	4.0	+1.5
Majority			21,275	34.0	+6.7
Turnout			62,484	72.5	−1.1
	Conservative hold		Swing	+3.4

General election 2017: South Norfolk^[16]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Conservative	Richard Bacon	35,580	58.2	+3.9
	Labour	Danielle Glavin	18,902	30.9	+12.5
	Liberal Democrats	Christopher Brown	5,074	8.3	+0.1
	Green	Catherine Rowett	1,555	2.5	−2.9
Majority			16,678	27.3	−8.6
Turnout			61,111	73.6	+1.2
	Conservative hold		Swing	-4.3

General election 2015: South Norfolk^[17][18]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Conservative	Richard Bacon	30,995	54.3	+5.0
	Labour	Deborah Sacks[19]	10,502	18.4	+5.2
	UKIP	Barry Cameron[20]	7,847	13.7	+9.5
	Liberal Democrats	Jacky Howe[19]	4,689	8.2	−21.2
	Green	Catherine Rowett[21]	3,090	5.4	+3.6
Majority			20,493	35.9	+16.0
Turnout			57,123	72.4	+0.2
	Conservative hold		Swing

General election 2010: South Norfolk^[22]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Conservative	Richard Bacon	27,133	49.3	+4.6
	Liberal Democrats	Jacky Howe	16,193	29.4	−0.4
	Labour	Mick Castle	7,252	13.2	−9.3
	UKIP	Evan Heasley	2,329	4.2	+1.4
	BNP	Helen Mitchell	1,086	2.0	N/A
	Green	Jo Willcott	1,000	1.8	N/A
Majority			10,940	19.9	+5.0
Turnout			54,993	72.2	+3.1
	Conservative hold		Swing	+3.3

Elections in the 2000s

General election 2005: South Norfolk

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Conservative	Richard Bacon	26,399	44.8	+2.6
	Liberal Democrats	Ian Mack	17,617	29.9	0.0
	Labour	John Morgan	13,262	22.5	−2.0
	UKIP	Philip Tye	1,696	2.9	+1.4
Majority			8,782	14.9	+2.6
Turnout			58,974	68.7	+1.1
	Conservative hold		Swing	+1.3

General election 2001: South Norfolk

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Conservative	Richard Bacon	23,589	42.2	+2.0
	Liberal Democrats	Anne Lee	16,696	29.9	+1.6
	Labour	Mark Wells	13,719	24.5	−1.6
	Green	Stephanie Ross-Wagenknect	1,069	1.9	+1.1
	UKIP	Joe Neal	856	1.5	+0.9
Majority			6,893	12.3	+0.4
Turnout			55,929	67.6	−10.8
	Conservative hold		Swing	+0.2

Elections in the 1990s

General election 1997: South Norfolk

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Conservative	John MacGregor	24,935	40.2	−12.4
	Liberal Democrats	Barbara Hacker	17,557	28.3	+1.3
	Labour	Jane Ross	16,188	26.1	+8.0
	Referendum	Patricia Bateson	2,533	4.1	N/A
	Green	Stephanie Ross-Wagenknecht	484	0.8	−0.2
	UKIP	Anthony Boddy	400	0.6	N/A
Majority			7,378	11.9	−13.7
Turnout			62,097	78.4	−5.6
	Conservative hold		Swing	-6.8

General election 1992: South Norfolk^[23]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Conservative	John MacGregor	36,081	52.6	−0.8
	Liberal Democrats	Christopher Brocklebank-Fowler	18,516	27.0	−6.9
	Labour	CJ Needle	12,422	18.1	+5.4
	Green	S Ross-Wagenknecht	702	1.0	N/A
	Natural Law	N Clark	320	0.5	N/A
	Independent	R Peacock	304	0.4	N/A
	Independent Conservative	R Watkins	232	0.3	N/A
Majority			17,565	25.6	+6.1
Turnout			68,577	84.0	+3.0
	Conservative hold		Swing	+3.0

Elections in the 1980s

General election 1987: South Norfolk

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Conservative	John MacGregor	33,912	53.4	−0.8
	Liberal	Richard Carden	21,494	33.9	+1.1
	Labour	Lloyd Addison	8,047	12.7	−0.3
Majority			12,418	19.5	−1.9
Turnout			63,453	81.0	+3.8
	Conservative hold		Swing	-0.9

General election 1983: South Norfolk

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Conservative	John MacGregor	30,747	54.2	−0.3
	Liberal	Richard Carden	18,612	32.8	+17.5
	Labour	Alan Holzer	7,408	13.0	−17.2
Majority			12,135	21.4	−2.9
Turnout			56,767	77.2	−1.8
	Conservative hold		Swing	+4.7

Elections in the 1970s

General election 1979: South Norfolk

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Conservative	John MacGregor	42,792	54.5	+9.0
	Labour	PJ Davies	23,755	30.2	−2.6
	Liberal	J Bristol	11,990	15.3	−5.9
Majority			19,037	24.3	+11.6
Turnout			78,537	78.4	+2.2
	Conservative hold		Swing	+5.8

General election October 1974: South Norfolk

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Conservative	John MacGregor	31,478	45.5	+1.2
	Labour	Hugh Gray	22,713	32.8	+3.2
	Liberal	M Scott	14,687	21.2	−4.4
	United Democratic Party	CC Fairhead	317	0.5	0.0
Majority			8,765	12.7	−2.0
Turnout			69195	76.20	−6.59
	Conservative hold		Swing	-1.0

General election February 1974: South Norfolk

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Conservative	John MacGregor	33,059	44.3
	Labour	RJ Truman	22,040	29.6
	Liberal	M Scott	19,115	25.6
	Independent Progressive	CC Fairhead	337	0.5	N/A
Majority			11,019	14.7
Turnout			74,551	82.79
	Conservative hold		Swing

General election 1970: South Norfolk

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Conservative	John Hill	22,614	51.9	+7.1
	Labour	Cyril Shaw	17,172	39.4	−5.1
	Liberal	Basil Goldstone	3,811	8.7	−2.1
Majority			5,442	12.5	+12.2
Turnout			43,597	78.50	−2.90
	Conservative hold		Swing

Elections in the 1960s

General election 1966: South Norfolk

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Conservative	John Hill	16,968	44.78
	Labour	Geoffrey B L Bennett	16,849	44.46
	Liberal	Robert L Crouch	4,079	10.76
Majority			119	0.32
Turnout			37,896	81.40
	Conservative hold		Swing

General election 1964: South Norfolk

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Conservative	John Hill	17,178	46.42
	Labour	Frank R Thompson	15,012	40.56
	Liberal	Barry HP Turner	4,819	13.02	N/A
Majority			2,166	5.86
Turnout			37,009	82.7
	Conservative hold		Swing

Elections in the 1950s

General election 1959: South Norfolk

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Conservative	John Hill	19,275	53.8	+1.7
	Labour	John MacLennan Stewart	16,542	46.2	−1.7
Majority			2,733	7.6	+3.4
Turnout			35,817	82.4	+0.6
	Conservative hold		Swing	+1.7

General election 1955: South Norfolk

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Conservative	John Hill	18,690	52.1	−2.4
	Labour	John MacLennan Stewart	17,215	47.9	+2.4
Majority			1,475	4.2	−4.8
Turnout			35,905	81.8	−0.6
	Conservative hold		Swing	+0.6

1955 South Norfolk by-election

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Conservative	John Hill	15,119	51.5	−3.0
	Labour	John MacLennan Stewart	14,254	48.5	+3.0
Majority			865	3.0	−6.0
Turnout			29,373
	Conservative hold		Swing	−3.0

General election 1951: South Norfolk

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Conservative	Peter Baker	19,610	54.5	+4.0
	Labour	Lynton Scutts	16,371	45.5	+1.8
Majority			3,239	9.0	+3.2
Turnout			35,981	82.4	−1.2
	Conservative hold		Swing	+1.1

General election 1950: South Norfolk

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Conservative	Peter Baker	18,143	50.5	+18.0
	Labour	Christopher Mayhew	15,714	43.7	−6.6
	Liberal	George Q Bryant	2,097	5.8	N/A
Majority			2,429	6.8	N/A
Turnout			35,954	83.6	+24.6
	Conservative gain from Labour		Swing	+12.3

Election in the 1940s

General election 1945: Norfolk Southern

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Labour	Christopher Mayhew	16,825	50.3	+8.2
	Conservative	John Sandeman Allen	10,862	32.5	−25.4
	Ind. Conservative	John Holt Wilson	5,761	17.2	N/A
Majority			5,963	17.8	N/A
Turnout			33,448	69.0	−4.5
Registered electors			48,451
	Labour gain from Conservative		Swing	+16.8

Elections in the 1930s

General election 1935: Norfolk Southern^[24]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Conservative	James Christie	18,420	57.9	−7.6
	Labour	Colin Clark	13,409	42.1	+7.6
Majority			5,011	15.8	−15.2
Turnout			31,829	73.5	−4.3
Registered electors			43,294
	Conservative hold		Swing	−7.6

General election 1931: Norfolk Southern^[24]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Conservative	James Christie	21,195	65.5	+23.5
	Labour	Edwin Gooch	11,148	34.5	0.0
Majority			10,047	31.0	+23.5
Turnout			32,343	77.8	+1.8
Registered electors			41,551
	Conservative hold		Swing	+11.8

Elections in the 1920s

General election 1929: Norfolk South ^[24]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Unionist	James Christie	12,978	42.0	−13.5
	Labour	George Young	10,686	34.5	−10.0
	Liberal	Ieuan Watkins-Evans	7,268	23.5	N/A
Majority			2,292	7.5	−3.5
Turnout			30,932	76.0	−0.5
Registered electors			40,701
	Unionist hold		Swing	−1.7

General election 1924: Norfolk South ^[24]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Unionist	James Christie	14,189	55.5	+7.4
	Labour	George Edwards	11,376	44.5	−7.4
Majority			2,813	11.0	N/A
Turnout			25,565	76.5	+8.2
Registered electors			33,409
	Unionist gain from Labour		Swing	+7.4

General election 1923: Norfolk South ^[24]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Labour	George Edwards	11,682	51.9	+7.5
	Unionist	Thomas William Hay	10,821	48.1	−7.6
Majority			861	3.8	N/A
Turnout			22,503	68.3	−2.5
Registered electors			32,937
	Labour gain from Unionist		Swing	+7.5

General election 1922: Norfolk South ^[24]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Unionist	Thomas William Hay	12,734	45.7	N/A
	Labour	George Edwards	10,159	44.4	+8.7
Majority			2,575	3.7	N/A
Turnout			22,893	70.8	+12.3
Registered electors			32,326
	Unionist gain from Labour		Swing

1920 South Norfolk by-election^[24]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Labour	George Edwards	8,594	45.7	+10.0
	National Liberal	James Henley Batty	6,476	34.5	−29.8
	Liberal	Charles Roberts	3,718	19.8	−44.5
Majority			2,118	11.2	N/A
Turnout			18,788	58.5	+2.7
Registered electors			32,131
	Labour gain from Liberal		Swing

Elections in the 1910s

General election 1918: Norfolk South ^[24]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Liberal	William Cozens-Hardy	11,755	64.3	+4.7
	Labour	George Edwards	6,536	35.7	N/A
Majority			5,219	28.6	+9.4
Turnout			18,291	55.8	−25.5
Registered electors			32,796
	Liberal hold		Swing

General election, December 1910: Norfolk South ^[25]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Liberal	Arthur Soames	4,740	59.6	+3.2
	Conservative	T.S. Timmis	3,212	40.4	−3.2
Majority			1,528	19.2	+6.4
Turnout			7,952	81.3	−5.4
Registered electors			9,779
	Liberal hold		Swing	+3.2

General election, January 1910: Norfolk South ^[25]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Liberal	Arthur Soames	4,781	56.4	−0.7
	Conservative	E.R.A. Kerrison	3,694	43.6	+0.7
Majority			1,087	12.8	−1.4
Turnout			8,475	86.7	+1.7
Registered electors			9,779
	Liberal hold		Swing	−0.7

Elections in the 1900s

General election 1906: Norfolk South ^[25]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Liberal	Arthur Soames	4,677	57.1	+4.3
	Conservative	Edward Mann	3,519	42.9	−4.3
Majority			1,158	14.2	+8.6
Turnout			8,196	85.0	+6.8
Registered electors			9,643
	Liberal hold		Swing	+4.3

General election 1900: Norfolk South ^[25]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Liberal	Arthur Soames	3,986	52.8	+8.2
	Conservative	Edward Mann	3,566	47.2	−8.2
Majority			420	5.6	N/A
Turnout			7,552	78.2	−0.3
Registered electors			9,654
	Liberal gain from Liberal Unionist		Swing	+8.2

Elections in the 1890s

By-election, 1898: Norfolk South ^[25]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Liberal	Arthur Soames	4,626	58.4	+13.8
	Conservative	John Sancroft Holmes[26]	3,296	41.6	−13.8
Majority			1,330	16.8	N/A
Turnout			7,922	82.3	+3.8
Registered electors			9,625
	Liberal gain from Liberal Unionist		Swing

General election 1895: Norfolk South ^[25]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Liberal Unionist	Francis Taylor	4,281	55.4	+0.6
	Liberal	Thomas Hamer Dolbey[27]	3,445	44.6	−0.6
Majority			836	10.8	+1.2
Turnout			7,726	78.5	−5.9
Registered electors			9,847
	Liberal Unionist hold		Swing	+0.6

General election 1892: Norfolk South ^[25]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Liberal Unionist	Francis Taylor	4,288	54.8	N/A
	Liberal	Arthur Kitching	3,535	45.2	N/A
Majority			753	9.6	N/A
Turnout			7,823	88.4	N/A
Registered electors			8,848
	Liberal Unionist hold		Swing	N/A

Elections in the 1880s

General election 1886: Norfolk South ^[25]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Liberal Unionist	Francis Taylor	Unopposed
	Liberal Unionist gain from Liberal

General election 1885: Norfolk South ^[25]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Liberal	Francis Taylor	4,530	55.8	+22.5
	Conservative	Robert Buxton	3,588	44.2	−22.5
Majority			942	11.6	+11.6
Turnout			8,118	80.1	+1.5 (est)
Registered electors			10,141
	Liberal hold		Swing	+22.5

General election 1880: Norfolk South (2 seats)^[28]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Conservative	Robert Buxton	2,917	33.4	−0.6
	Liberal	Robert Gurdon	2,906	33.3	−2.2
	Conservative	Clare Sewell Read	2,905	33.3	+2.8
Turnout			5,823 (est)	78.6 (est)	+3.3
Registered electors			7,412
Majority			11	0.1	−3.4
	Conservative hold		Swing	−1.0
Majority			1	0.0	N/A
	Liberal gain from Conservative		Swing	−1.8

Elections in the 1870s

General election 1874: Norfolk South (2 seats)^[28]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Conservative	Clare Sewell Read	3,146	35.5	−4.1
	Conservative	Robert Buxton	3,010	34.0	−5.0
	Liberal	Robert Gurdon	2,699	30.5	+9.1
Majority			311	3.5	−14.1
Turnout			5,777 (est)	75.3 (est)	+13.6
Registered electors			7,667
	Conservative hold		Swing	−4.3
	Conservative hold		Swing	−4.8

By-election, 17 Apr 1871: Norfolk South (1 seat)^[28]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Conservative	Robert Buxton	2,868	53.0	−25.6
	Liberal	Robert Gurdon	2,547	47.0	+25.6
Majority			321	6.0	−11.6
Turnout			5,415	70.2	+8.5
Registered electors			7,719
	Conservative hold		Swing	−25.6

• Caused by Howes' death.

Elections in the 1860s

General election 1868: Norfolk South (2 seats)^[28]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Conservative	Clare Sewell Read	3,097	39.6
	Conservative	Edward Howes	3,053	39.0
	Liberal	Henry Lombard Hudson[29]	1,679	21.4
Majority			1,374	17.6
Turnout			4,754 (est)	61.7 (est)
Registered electors			7,709
	Conservative win (new seat)
	Conservative win (new seat)

See also

• List of parliamentary constituencies in Norfolk
• List of parliamentary constituencies in the East of England (region)

Notes

1. A county constituency (for the purposes of election expenses and type of returning officer)
2. Where the hustings stood, at which nominations were made, votes cast before the introduction of multiple polling districts in county constituencies and the result was declared