Derbyshire Dales (UK Parliament constituency)

Derbyshire Dales (/ˈdɑːrbiʃɪər, -ʃər, deɪlz/ DAR-bee-sheer, -⁠shər) is a constituency^[a] that has been represented in the House of Commons of the UK Parliament since 2024 by John Whitby of the Labour Party. The constituency was created for the 2010 general election.^[b]

Derbyshire Dales
County constituency for the House of Commons
Interactive map of boundaries from 2024
Boundary of Derbyshire Dales in the East Midlands
County	Derbyshire
Electorate	71,435 (2023)[1]
Major settlements	Ashbourne, Bakewell, Matlock, Darley Dale, Wirksworth
Current constituency
Created	2010
Member of Parliament	John Whitby (Labour)
Seats	One
Created from	West Derbyshire

History

Following their review of parliamentary representation in Derbyshire, the Boundary Commission for England created a new constituency of Derbyshire Dales which is almost coterminous with the previous seat of West Derbyshire. At the first four elections of its existence, it elected Conservative MPs by safe margins, with the fifth such election seeing Labour gain the seat for the first time since 1945.

Constituency profile

The constituency is geographically large and mostly within the Peak District National Park. Its main settlements are Ashbourne, Bakewell and Matlock.

Boundaries

2010–2024

The District of Derbyshire Dales, and the Borough of Amber Valley wards of Alport, Crich and South West Parishes.

2024–

Following 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 Borough of Amber Valley wards of Alport and Crich¹ (South West Parishes ward transferred to Mid Derbyshire)
• the District of Derbyshire Dales
• the District of South Derbyshire wards of Hilton and Hatton (transferred from South Derbyshire)^[2]

¹ Further to a local government boundary review which came into effect in May 2023,^[3][4] the area in the Borough of Amber Valley comprises parts of the wards of Alport & South West Parishes and Crich & South Wingfield.^[5]

Members of Parliament

West Derbyshire prior to 2010

Election		Member[6]	Party
	2010	Sir Patrick McLoughlin	Conservative
	2019	Sarah Dines	Conservative
	2024	John Whitby	Labour

Elections

Derbyshire Dales election results 1983–2024

Elections in the 2020s

General election 2024: Derbyshire Dales^[7][8]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Labour	John Whitby	17,759	34.6	+10.5
	Conservative	Sarah Dines	17,409	34.0	−25.0
	Reform UK	Edward Oakenfull[c]	7,728	15.1	New
	Liberal Democrats	Robert Court	4,860	9.5	−3.3
	Green	Kelda Boothroyd	2,830	5.5	+1.4
	Independent	Rachel Elnaugh-Love	369	0.7	New
	True and Fair Party	Helen Wetherall	317	0.6	New
Majority			350	0.6
Turnout			51,272	69.9	−5.6
Registered electors			73,317
	Labour gain from Conservative		Swing	+17.7

Elections in the 2010s

General election 2019: Derbyshire Dales^[10][11]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Conservative	Sarah Dines	29,356	58.7	−1.3
	Labour	Claire Raw	11,975	23.9	−7.2
	Liberal Democrats	Robert Court	6,627	13.2	+6.9
	Green	Matthew Buckler	2,058	4.1	+2.1
Majority			17,381	34.8	+5.9
Turnout			50,016	77.9	+0.9
	Conservative hold		Swing	+2.9

General election 2017: Derbyshire Dales^[12][13]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Conservative	Patrick McLoughlin	29,744	60.0	+7.6
	Labour	Andy Botham	15,417	31.1	+8.4
	Liberal Democrats	Andrew Hollyer	3,126	6.3	−2.1
	Green	Matthew Buckler	1,002	2.0	−2.6
	Humanity	Robin Greenwood	282	0.6	+0.3
Majority			14,327	28.9	−0.8
Turnout			49,571	77.0	+2.4
	Conservative hold		Swing	−0.4

General election 2015: Derbyshire Dales^[14]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Conservative	Patrick McLoughlin	24,805	52.4	+0.3
	Labour	Andy Botham	10,761	22.7	+3.3
	UKIP	John Young	5,508	11.6	+7.8
	Liberal Democrats	Ben Fearn	3,965	8.4	−14.1
	Green	Ian Wood	2,173	4.6	+2.9
	Humanity	Amila Y'Mech	149	0.3	+0.2
Majority			14,044	29.7	+0.1
Turnout			47,361	74.6	+0.8
	Conservative hold		Swing	−1.6

General election 2010: Derbyshire Dales^[15]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Conservative	Patrick McLoughlin	24,378	52.1	+5.6
	Liberal Democrats	Joe Naitta	10,512	22.5	−1.9
	Labour	Colin Swindell	9,061	19.4	−6.3
	UKIP	Ian Guiver	1,779	3.8	+1.3
	Green	Josh Stockell	772	1.7	New
	Monster Raving Loony	Nick The Flying Brick	228	0.5	New
	Humanity	Amila Y'Mech	50	0.1	New
Majority			13,866	29.6
Turnout			46,780	73.8	+6.3
	Conservative hold		Swing	+3.7

See also

• List of parliamentary constituencies in Derbyshire

Notes

1. A county constituency (for the purposes of election expenses and type of returning officer)
2. As with all constituencies, the constituency elects one Member of Parliament (MP) by the first past the post system of election at least every five years.
3. After nominations for the 2024 general election closed, Reform UK withdrew support for Edward Oakenfull on the 29 June, after reports of "offensive or racist comments"^[9]