Mid Norfolk (UK Parliament constituency)

Not to be confused with Central Norfolk (UK Parliament constituency).

Mid Norfolk is a constituency^{[n 1]} represented in the House of Commons of the UK Parliament since 2010 by George Freeman, a Conservative.^{[n 2]}

Mid Norfolk
County constituency for the House of Commons
Boundaries since 2024
Boundary of Mid Norfolk in the East of England
County	Norfolk
Electorate	71,060 (2023)[1]
Major settlements	Dereham, Attleborough, Watton
Current constituency
Created	1983
Member of Parliament	George Freeman (Conservative)
Seats	One
Created from	Norfolk North, Norfolk South West and Yarmouth[2]
1885–1918
Seats	One
Type of constituency	County constituency
Created from	North Norfolk, South Norfolk and West Norfolk
Replaced by	South Norfolk and South West Norfolk

History

Under the Redistribution of Seats Act 1885, the three two-member county divisions of Norfolk were replaced with six single-member divisions, including the newly created Mid Division of Norfolk. It was abolished at the next redistribution of seats under the provisions of the Representation of the People Act 1918, when it was absorbed by neighbouring constituencies.

The seat was re-established as a County Constituency for the 1983 general election, since which it has only elected and been served by a Conservative MP.

The Boundary Commission's Fifth Periodic Review of Westminster constituencies for the 2010 general election created a new constituency, Broadland, based on the local government district of the same name, which was formed from the majority of the Mid Norfolk seat, together with parts of North Norfolk. The Mid Norfolk seat was retained with substantially altered boundaries, gaining parts of South Norfolk and South West Norfolk in compensation (see below). The former MP for Mid Norfolk, Keith Simpson, was selected to contest the newly created Broadland constituency.^[3]

Boundaries and boundary changes

1885–1918

• The Sessional Divisions of Forehoes, Guiltcross and Shropham, and Mitford and Launditch.^[4]

The constituency was created from parts of the Southern Division of Norfolk and parts of the abolished Eastern Division. The main settlements were East Dereham and Attleborough.

On abolition, southern areas, including Wymondham, were returned to the Southern Division and northern areas, including East Dereham, were transferred to the South-Western Division.

1983–1997

• The District of Breckland wards of Beetley and Gressenhall, East Dereham Neatherd, East Dereham St Withburga, East Dereham Toftwood, East Dereham Town, Eynsford, Hermitage, Launditch, Mattishall, Shipworth, Springvale, Swanton Morley, Taverner, Two Rivers, Upper Wensum, and Upper Yare; and

• The District of Broadland wards of Acle, Aylsham, Blofield, Brundall, Burlingham, Buxton, Cawston, Coltishall, Drayton, Foulsham, Freethorpe, Great Witchingham, Hainford, Hevingham, Horsford, Plumstead, Rackheath, Reedham, Reepham, South Walsham, Spixworth, St Faiths, Taverham, and Wroxham.^[5]

Eastern areas were transferred from Yarmouth, central areas (including Aylsham) from North Norfolk and western areas (including East Dereham) from South West Norfolk.

1997–2010

• The District of Breckland wards of Beetley and Gressenhall, East Dereham Neatherd, East Dereham St Withburga, East Dereham Toftwood, East Dereham Town, Eynsford, Hermitage, Launditch, Mattishall, Shipworth, Springvale, Swanton Morley, Taverner, Two Rivers, Upper Wensum, and Upper Yare; and
• The District of Broadland wards of Acle, Aylsham, Blofield, Brundall, Burlingham, Buxton, Cawston, Coltishall, Foulsham, Freethorpe, Great Witchingham, Hainford, Hevingham, Horsford, Plumstead, Rackheath, Reedham, Reepham, South Walsham, Spixworth, St Faiths, and Wroxham.^[6]

The District of Broadland wards of Drayton and Taverham were transferred to Norwich North.

Map of boundaries 2010-2024

2010–2024

• The District of Breckland wards of All Saints, Buckenham, Burgh and Haverscroft, Dereham Central, Dereham Humbletoft, Dereham Neatherd, Dereham Toftwood, Eynsford, Haggard De Toni, Hermitage, Launditch, Necton, Queen's, Shipdham, Springvale and Scarning, Swanton Morley, Taverner, Templar, Two Rivers, Upper Wensum, Upper Yare, Watton, and Wissey; and

• The District of South Norfolk wards of Abbey, Cromwells, Hingham and Deopham, Northfields, Rustens, Town, and Wicklewood.^[7]

Significant changes. The District of Broadland areas, which had comprised the majority of the constituency, were now included in the new constituency of Broadland. The District of Breckland areas were retained from the 1997-2010 contents, with further parts, including Watton and Attleborough, transferred from South West Norfolk. The District of South Norfolk wards, which incorporated the town of Wymondham, were transferred from the constituency of South Norfolk.

Current

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

• The District of Breckland wards of: All Saints & Wayland; Attleborough Burgh & Haverscroft; Attleborough Queens & Besthorpe; Dereham Neatherd; Dereham Toftwood; Dereham Withburga; Hermitage; Launditch; Lincoln; Mattishall; Necton; Saham Toney; Shipdham-with-Scarning; The Buckenhams & Banham; Upper Wensum; Watton.

• The District of South Norfolk wards of: Hingham & Deopham; Wicklewood.^[8]

The town of Wymondham was transferred back to South Norfolk. Other minor changes due to the revision of local authority ward boundaries.

Members of Parliament

MPs 1885–1918

North Norfolk, South Norfolk and West Norfolk prior to 1885

Election		Member[9]	Party	Notes
	1885	Robert Gurdon	Liberal	Gurdon was elected as a Liberal, but joined the Liberal Unionists when the party split
	1886		Liberal Unionist
	1892	Clement Higgins	Liberal	Higgins was elected as a Liberal, but later joined the Liberal Unionists. He resigned his seat in 1895
	1895		Liberal Unionist
	1895 by-election	Robert Gurdon	Liberal Unionist	later Baron Cranworth
	1895	Frederick Wilson	Liberal
	1906	John Wodehouse, Lord Wodehouse	Liberal	later 3rd Earl of Kimberley
	1910 (Jan)	William Boyle	Liberal Unionist
	1918 by-election	Neville Jodrell	Conservative	Later MP for King's Lynn
	1918	Constituency abolished, but re-established 1983

MPs since 1983

Norfolk North, Norfolk South West and Yarmouth prior to 1983

Election		Member[9]	Party
	1983	Richard Ryder	Conservative
	1997	Keith Simpson	Conservative
	2010	George Freeman	Conservative

Elections

Mid Norfolk election results 1983-2024

Elections in the 2020s

General election 2024: Mid Norfolk^[10]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Conservative	George Freeman	16,770	36.5	−27.9
	Labour	Michael Rosen[n 3]	13,716	29.9	+7.0
	Reform UK	Kabeer Kher	9,427	20.5	N/A
	Liberal Democrats	Stuart Howard	3,126	6.8	−3.6
	Green	Ash Haynes	2,858	6.2	+5.9
Majority			3,054	6.7	−34.8
Turnout			45,897	61.0	−8.1
Registered electors			75,238
	Conservative hold		Swing	−17.5

Elections in the 2010s

2019 notional result[11]
Party		Vote	%
	Conservative	31,639	64.4
	Labour	11,251	22.9
	Liberal Democrats	5,127	10.4
	Others	939	1.9
	Green	154	0.3
Turnout		49,110	69.1
Electorate		71,060

General election 2019: Mid Norfolk^[12]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Conservative	George Freeman	35,051	62.4	+3.4
	Labour	Adrian Heald	12,457	22.2	−7.9
	Liberal Democrats	Steff Aquarone	7,739	13.8	+8.7
	Independent	P O'Gorman	939	1.7	New
Majority			22,594	40.2	+11.3
Turnout			56,186	68.5	−1.1
	Conservative hold		Swing	+5.7

General election 2017: Mid Norfolk^[13]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Conservative	George Freeman	32,828	59.0	+6.9
	Labour	Sarah Simpson	16,742	30.1	+11.7
	Liberal Democrats	Fionna Tod	2,848	5.1	−1.2
	UKIP	Tracy Knowles	2,092	3.8	−15.2
	Green	Hannah Lester	1,158	2.1	−2.1
Majority			16,086	28.9	−4.2
Turnout			55,668	69.6	+1.8
	Conservative hold		Swing	−2.4

General election 2015: Mid Norfolk^[14]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Conservative	George Freeman[15]	27,206	52.1	+2.6
	UKIP	Anna Coke[16]	9,930	19.0	+13.5
	Labour	Harry Clarke	9,585	18.4	+1.0
	Liberal Democrats	Paul Speed[17]	3,300	6.3	−15.9
	Green	Simeon Jackson[18]	2,191	4.2	+1.3
Majority			17,276	33.1	+5.8
Turnout			52,212	67.8	−0.6
	Conservative hold		Swing	−5.5

General election 2010: Mid Norfolk^[19]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Conservative	George Freeman	25,123	49.5	+2.9
	Liberal Democrats	David Newman	11,267	22.2	+3.0
	Labour	Elizabeth Hughes	8,857	17.4	−12.8
	UKIP	Toby Coke	2,800	5.5	+1.5
	Green	Tim Birt	1,457	2.9	New
	BNP	Christene Kelly[20]	1,261	2.5	New
Majority			13,856	27.3	+13.5
Turnout			50,765	68.4	+2.8
	Conservative hold		Swing	−0.1

Elections in the 2000s

General election 2005: Mid Norfolk^[21]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Conservative	Keith Simpson	23,564	43.1	−1.7
	Labour	Daniel Zeichner	16,004	29.2	−6.9
	Liberal Democrats	Vivienne Clifford-Jackson	12,988	23.7	+9.2
	UKIP	Simon Fletcher	2,178	4.0	+1.5
Majority			7,560	13.8	+5.1
Turnout			54,734	67.0	−1.1
	Conservative hold		Swing	+2.6

General election 2001: Mid Norfolk^[22]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Conservative	Keith Simpson	23,519	44.8	+5.2
	Labour	Daniel Zeichner	18,957	36.1	−1.2
	Liberal Democrats	Vivienne Clifford-Jackson	7,621	14.5	−0.5
	UKIP	Stuart Agnew	1,333	2.5	New
	Green	Peter Reeve	1,118	2.1	0.0
Majority			4,562	8.7	+6.4
Turnout			52,548	68.1	−8.2
	Conservative hold		Swing	+3.2

Elections in the 1990s

General election 1997: Mid Norfolk^[23]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Conservative	Keith Simpson	22,739	39.6	−14.7
	Labour	Daniel Zeichner	21,403	37.3	+11.9
	Liberal Democrats	Susan Frary	8,617	15.0	−4.9
	Referendum	Nigel Holder	3,229	5.6	New
	Green	Tony Park	1,254	2.1	New
	Natural Law	Bruce Parker	215	0.4	New
Majority			1,336	2.3	−26.6
Turnout			57,457	76.3	−5.2
	Conservative hold		Swing	−13.3

General election 1992: Mid Norfolk^[24][25]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Conservative	Richard Ryder	35,620	54.3	−2.4
	Labour	Michael Castle	16,672	25.4	+7.6
	Liberal Democrats	Michael Gleed	13,072	19.9	−5.6
	Natural Law	Coral Waite	226	0.3	New
Majority			18,948	28.9	−2.3
Turnout			65,590	81.5	+3.3
	Conservative hold		Swing	−5.0

Elections in the 1980s

General election 1987: Mid Norfolk^[26]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Conservative	Richard Ryder	32,758	56.7	+0.8
	SDP	Gavin Graham	14,750	25.5	−0.5
	Labour	Keith Luckey	10,272	17.8	+0.6
Majority			18,008	31.2	+1.3
Turnout			57,600	78.2	+2.9
	Conservative hold		Swing

General election 1983: Mid Norfolk^[27]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Conservative	Richard Ryder	29,032	55.9
	SDP	David Cargill	13,517	26.0
	Labour	Leslie Potter	8,950	17.2
	Independent	Mona McNee	405	0.8
Majority			15,515	29.9
Turnout			51,904	75.3
	Conservative win (new seat)

Elections in the 1910s

1918 Mid Norfolk by-election^[28]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Unionist	Neville Jodrell	Unopposed
	Unionist hold

General Election 1914–15:

Another General Election was required to take place before the end of 1915. The political parties had been making preparations for an election to take place and by July 1914, the following candidates had been selected;

• Unionist: William Lewis Boyle
• Liberal: David Waterlow

General election December 1910:Mid Norfolk^[29][28]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Liberal Unionist	William Lewis Boyle	4,345	50.2	−2.4
	Liberal	William Richard Lester	4,308	49.8	+2.4
Majority			37	0.4	−4.8
Turnout			8,653	86.7	−3.3
Registered electors			9,984
	Liberal Unionist hold		Swing	−2.4

Lester

General election January 1910:Mid Norfolk^[29][28]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Liberal Unionist	William Lewis Boyle	4,724	52.6	+2.8
	Liberal	William Richard Lester	4,265	47.4	−2.8
Majority			459	5.2	N/A
Turnout			8,989	90.0	+1.8
Registered electors			9,984
	Liberal Unionist gain from Liberal		Swing	+2.8

Elections in the 1900s

Wodehouse

General election 1906:Mid Norfolk^[30][28]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Liberal	John Wodehouse	4,197	50.2	−3.7
	Liberal Unionist	William Lewis Boyle	4,170	49.8	+3.7
Majority			27	0.4	−7.4
Turnout			8,367	88.2	+7.8
Registered electors			9,490
	Liberal hold		Swing	−3.7

General election 1900:Mid Norfolk^[30][31][28]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Liberal	Frederick William Wilson	3,996	53.9	+3.1
	Liberal Unionist	William Lewis Boyle	3,422	46.1	−3.1
Majority			574	7.8	+6.2
Turnout			7,418	80.4	−6.9
Registered electors			9,226
	Liberal hold		Swing	+3.1

Elections in the 1890s

Wilson

General election 1895: Mid Norfolk ^[30][31][28]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Liberal	Frederick William Wilson	4,220	50.8	−2.3
	Liberal Unionist	Robert Gurdon	4,086	49.2	+2.3
Majority			134	1.6	−4.6
Turnout			8,306	87.3	−1.9
Registered electors			9,509
	Liberal hold		Swing	−2.3

By-election, 23 Apr 1895: Mid Norfolk ^[30][28]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Liberal Unionist	Robert Gurdon	4,112	51.3	+4.4
	Liberal	Frederick William Wilson	3,904	48.7	−4.4
Majority			208	2.6	N/A
Turnout			8,016	84.3	−4.9
Registered electors			9,509
	Liberal Unionist gain from Liberal		Swing	+4.4

General election 1892: Mid Norfolk ^[30][28]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Liberal	Clement Higgins	4,069	53.1	+6.7
	Liberal Unionist	Robert Gurdon	3,599	46.9	−6.7
Majority			470	6.2	N/A
Turnout			7,668	89.2	+32.6
Registered electors			8,601
	Liberal gain from Liberal Unionist		Swing	+6.7

Elections in the 1880s

General election 1886: Mid Norfolk ^[30][28]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Liberal Unionist	Robert Gurdon	3,032	53.6	+18.3
	Liberal	James Toller[32]	2,625	46.4	−18.3
Majority			407	7.2	N/A
Turnout			5,657	56.6	−24.9
Registered electors			9,992
	Liberal Unionist gain from Liberal		Swing	+18.3

General election 1885: Mid Norfolk ^[30][33][28]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Liberal	Robert Gurdon	5,275	64.7
	Conservative	Ailwyn Fellowes	2,872	35.3
Majority			2,403	29.4
Turnout			8,147	81.5
Registered electors			9,992
	Liberal 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. 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. Not to be confused with the children's author of the same name.