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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)
Major settlements	Wymondham, Long Stratton, Loddon
Current constituency
Created	1868
Member of Parliament	Ben Goldsborough (Labour)
Seats	1868–1885: Two 1885 onwards: One
Created from	East Norfolk West Norfolk

South Norfolk is a constituency 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.

Constituency profile

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

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 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. 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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

The two excluded wards were transferred to Norwich South.

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.

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.

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)

MPs since 1885 (one seat)

Notes:-

• 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.
• 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

Elections in the 2020s

General election 2024: South Norfolk

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

Elections in the 2000s

Elections in the 1990s

Elections in the 1980s

Elections in the 1970s

Elections in the 1960s

Elections in the 1950s

Election in the 1940s

Elections in the 1930s

Elections in the 1920s

Elections in the 1910s

Elections in the 1900s

Elections in the 1890s

Elections in the 1880s

Elections in the 1870s

• Caused by Howes' death.

Elections in the 1860s

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

References

1. "The 2023 Review of Parliamentary Constituency Boundaries in England – Volume two: Constituency names, designations and composition – Eastern". Boundary Commission for England. Retrieved 27 June 2024.
2. UK Polling Report http://ukpollingreport.co.uk/2015guide/norfolksouth/
3. Electoral Calculus https://www.electoralcalculus.co.uk/fcgi-bin/seatdetails.py?seat=Norfolk+South
4. "Representation of the People Act 1867" (PDF). Retrieved 23 May 2020.
5. "A Collection of the Public General Statutes: 1867/68. Cap. XLVI. An Act to settle and describe the Limits of certain Boroughs and the Divisions of certain Counties in England and Wales, in so far as respects the Election of Members to serve in Parliament". London: Eyre and Spottiswoode. 1868. pp. 119–166. Retrieved 23 May 2020.
6. Great Britain, Incorporated Council of Law Reporting for England and Wales. The public general acts. unknown library. Proprietors of the Law Journal Reports, 1884.
7. ^ S., Craig, Fred W. (1972). Boundaries of parliamentary constituencies 1885-1972;. Chichester: Political Reference Publications. ISBN 0900178094. OCLC 539011.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
8. "The Parliamentary Constituencies (England) Order 1983". www.legislation.gov.uk. Retrieved 13 March 2019.
9. "The Parliamentary Constituencies (England) Order 1995". www.legislation.gov.uk. Retrieved 13 March 2019.
10. "The Parliamentary Constituencies (England) Order 2007". www.legislation.gov.uk. Retrieved 13 March 2019.
11. "The Parliamentary Constituencies Order 2023". Schedule I Part 2 Eastern region.
12. ^ Leigh Rayment's Historical List of MPs – Constituencies beginning with "N" (part 2)
13. "Statement of Persons Nominated, Notice of Poll and Situation of Polling Stations - UK PARLIAMENTARY ELECTION - Election of a Member of Parliament to serve South Norfolk Constituency". Broadland and South Norfolk Councils. 7 June 2024.
14. "Notional results for a UK general election on 12 December 2019". Rallings & Thrasher, Professor David Denver (Scotland), Nicholas Whyte (NI) for Sky News, PA, BBC News and ITV News. UK Parliament. Retrieved 11 July 2024.
15. "Norfolk South Parliamentary constituency". BBC News. BBC. Retrieved 19 November 2019.
16. "Statement of Persons Nominated - South Norfolk Constituency" (PDF). South Norfolk Council. Retrieved 12 May 2017.
17. "Election Data 2015". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 17 October 2015. Retrieved 15 May 2017.
18. "Norfolk South parliamentary constituency - Election 2017". BBC News.
19. ^ "UK Election Results: Norfolk South 2015".
20. "UK Polling Report".
21. "Catherine Rowett MEP (@catherinerowett) | Twitter". twitter.com.
22. "Election Data 2010". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 17 November 2015. Retrieved 14 May 2017.
23. "Politics Resources". Election 1992. Politics Resources. 9 April 1992. Retrieved 6 December 2010.
24. ^ Craig, F.W.S., ed. (1969). British parliamentary election results 1918-1949. Glasgow: Springer International Publishing AG. p. 419. doi:10.1007/978-1-349-81467-1. hdl:2027/mdp.39015032127527. ISBN 978-1-349-81469-5.
25. ^ Craig, FWS, ed. (1974). British Parliamentary Election Results: 1885-1918. London: Macmillan Press. p. 355.
26. "The nominations". Diss Express. 13 May 1898. p. 5. Retrieved 22 November 2017.
27. "Another vacated seat". Western Times. 25 April 1898. p. 4. Retrieved 22 November 2017.
28. ^ Craig, F. W. S., ed. (1977). British Parliamentary Election Results 1832-1885 (e-book) (1st ed.). London: Macmillan Press. ISBN 978-1-349-02349-3.
29. "South Norfolk Election". Norfolk Chronicle. 28 November 1868. pp. 9–10. Retrieved 11 March 2018 – via British Newspaper Archive.

Sources

• Boundaries of Parliamentary Constituencies 1885-1972, compiled and edited by F.W.S. Craig (Parliamentary Reference Publications 1972)
• British Parliamentary Constituencies: A Statistical Compendium, by Ivor Crewe and Anthony Fox (Faber and Faber 1984)
• British Parliamentary Election Results 1832-1885, compiled and edited by F.W.S. Craig (The Macmillan Press 1977)
• British Parliamentary Election Results 1885-1918, compiled and edited by F.W.S. Craig (Macmillan Press 1974)
• British Parliamentary Election Results 1918-1949, compiled and edited by F.W.S. Craig (Macmillan Press, revised edition 1977)
• British Parliamentary Election Results 1950-1973, compiled and edited by F.W.S. Craig (Parliamentary Research Services 1983)
• Social Geography of British Elections 1885-1910. by Henry Pelling (Macmillan 1967)
• Who's Who of British Members of Parliament: Volume I 1832-1885, edited by M. Stenton (The Harvester Press 1976)
• Who's Who of British Members of Parliament, Volume II 1886-1918, edited by M. Stenton and S. Lees (Harvester Press 1978)
• Who's Who of British Members of Parliament, Volume III 1919-1945, edited by M. Stenton and S. Lees (Harvester Press 1979)
• Who's Who of British Members of Parliament, Volume IV 1945-1979, edited by M. Stenton and S. Lees (Harvester Press 1981)

External links

• South Norfolk UK Parliament constituency (boundaries April 1997 – April 2010) at MapIt UK
• South Norfolk UK Parliament constituency (boundaries April 2010 – May 2024) at MapIt UK
• South Norfolk UK Parliament constituency (boundaries from June 2024) at MapIt UK

52°32′N 1°23′E / 52.54°N 1.39°E / 52.54; 1.39

• Parliamentary constituencies in Norfolk
• Constituencies of the Parliament of the United Kingdom established in 1868