{"history":[],"article":{"id":"69012b2f-b387-4d09-9681-be05d20f1052","title":"South West Norfolk (UK Parliament constituency)","slug":"south-west-norfolk-uk-parliament-constituency","content":":::summary\n**Name:** South West Norfolk \n**Parliament:** uk \n**Image 2:** East of England - South West Norfolk constituency.svg \n**Caption 2:** Boundary of South West Norfolk in the East of England \n**Year:** 1885 \n**Type:** County \n**Elects Howmany:** One \n**Previous:** [South Norfolk](https://bliptext.com/articles/south-norfolk-uk-parliament-constituency) and [West Norfolk](https://bliptext.com/articles/west-norfolk-uk-parliament-constituency) \n**Electorate:** 72,496 (2023) \n**Mp:** [Terry Jermy](https://bliptext.com/articles/terry-jermy) \n**Party:** [Labour](https://bliptext.com/articles/labour-party-uk) \n**Region:** England \n**County:** [Norfolk](https://bliptext.com/articles/norfolk) \n**Towns:** [Downham Market](https://bliptext.com/articles/downham-market), [Swaffham](https://bliptext.com/articles/swaffham) and [Thetford](https://bliptext.com/articles/thetford) \n:::\n\n# \n**South West Norfolk** is a [constituency](https://bliptext.com/articles/constituencies-of-the-parliament-of-the-united-kingdom) represented in the [House of Commons](https://bliptext.com/articles/house-of-commons-of-the-united-kingdom) of the [UK Parliament](https://bliptext.com/articles/uk-parliament) since [2024](https://bliptext.com/articles/2024-united-kingdom-general-election) by [Terry Jermy](https://bliptext.com/articles/terry-jermy) of the [Labour Party](https://bliptext.com/articles/labour-party-uk).\nIt was previously represented by [Liz Truss](https://bliptext.com/articles/liz-truss) of the Conservative Party (the shortest-serving UK Prime Minister in British history; serving as head of government for 49 days in 2022) between 2010 and 2024.\n\n# Constituency profile\nThis is a rural constituency which retains a significant agricultural and food-production sector.\nThe population is largely [white](https://bliptext.com/articles/white-british) and predominantly homeowners, with incomes and house prices slightly below the UK average.\n[Electoral Calculus](https://bliptext.com/articles/electoral-calculus) describes this as a \"Strong Right\" seat characterised by socially conservative values and strong support for [Brexit](https://bliptext.com/articles/brexit-and-the-irish-border).\n\n# History\nUnder the [Redistribution of Seats Act 1885](https://bliptext.com/articles/redistribution-of-seats-act-1885), the three two-member county divisions of Norfolk were replaced with six single-member divisions, including the newly created **South-[Western Division](https://bliptext.com/articles/west-norfolk-uk-parliament-constituency) of Norfolk**, largely formed from southern parts of the abolished [Western Division](https://bliptext.com/articles/west-norfolk-uk-parliament-constituency), including [Thetford](https://bliptext.com/articles/thetford).\nFrom the [1950 general election](https://bliptext.com/articles/1950-united-kingdom-general-election) onwards, it has been formally known as the [county constituency](https://bliptext.com/articles/county-constituency) of **South West Norfolk**.\nSouth West Norfolk had been held solidly by Conservatives from [1964](https://bliptext.com/articles/1964-uk-general-election) to [2024](https://bliptext.com/articles/2024-uk-general-election), but for twenty years prior; it had been ultra-[marginal](https://bliptext.com/articles/marginal-seat).\nLabour first held it briefly from 1929 to 1931, and [Sidney Dye](https://bliptext.com/articles/sidney-dye) of the Labour Party gained it in [1945](https://bliptext.com/articles/1945-united-kingdom-general-election) with a narrow majority of 53 votes.\nDye retained the seat at the [1950 general election](https://bliptext.com/articles/1950-united-kingdom-general-election) with an increased, but nevertheless, small majority of 260 votes.\nHe lost it to [Denys Bullard](https://bliptext.com/articles/denys-bullard) of the Conservatives in [1951](https://bliptext.com/articles/1951-united-kingdom-general-election) by 442 votes and regained the seat from Bullard in [1955](https://bliptext.com/articles/1955-united-kingdom-general-election) with a small majority of 193 votes.\nDye died at the end of 1958, and at the by-election, the Labour Party candidate [Albert Hilton](https://bliptext.com/articles/albert-hilton) retained the seat with an increased majority of 1,354 votes.\nAt the [1959 general election](https://bliptext.com/articles/1959-united-kingdom-general-election) that soon followed, Hilton's safe majority was drastically reduced to a thin margin of 78 votes.\nAlthough Labour had held the seat at two general elections, despite two consecutive overall Conservative victories; the Conservatives won the seat at the [1964 general election](https://bliptext.com/articles/1964-united-kingdom-general-election), which was a Labour victory nationwide, and the party returned to government after 13 years in opposition.\n[Paul Hawkins](https://bliptext.com/articles/paul-hawkins-politician), then [Gillian Shephard](https://bliptext.com/articles/gillian-shephard) held the seat.\nShephard's majority was slashed at the [1997 general election](https://bliptext.com/articles/1997-united-kingdom-general-election), in what would be the worst defeat nationwide for the Conservative Party in 91 years, before recovering at the [2001 general election](https://bliptext.com/articles/2001-united-kingdom-general-election).\nBoth occasions resulted in an overall Labour victory.\nShephard decided not to run again in [2005](https://bliptext.com/articles/2005-united-kingdom-general-election) and was elevated to a peerage.\nThe Conservative Party selected [Christopher Fraser](https://bliptext.com/articles/christopher-fraser), former MP for [Mid Dorset and Poole North](https://bliptext.com/articles/mid-dorset-and-north-poole-uk-parliament-constituency) and he was elected with a comfortable majority of over 10,000 votes.\nOn 28 May 2009, Fraser announced that he would be standing down at the [2010 general election](https://bliptext.com/articles/2010-united-kingdom-general-election) citing family reasons.\nThis was after his [expenses claims](https://bliptext.com/articles/united-kingdom-parliamentary-expenses-scandal) were highlighted in [The Daily Telegraph](https://bliptext.com/articles/the-daily-telegraph); according to the newspaper, Fraser claimed £1,800 in public money for buying 215 trees and marking out the boundary of his second home in the constituency.\n[Liz Truss](https://bliptext.com/articles/liz-truss) was elected to succeed Fraser at the 2010 general election, which saw the Conservatives return to government.\nTruss served as a Cabinet minister under various Conservative prime ministers since 2014, serving as [Environment Secretary](https://bliptext.com/articles/secretary-of-state-for-environment-food-and-rural-affairs) between 2014 and 2016 under the leadership of [David Cameron](https://bliptext.com/articles/david-cameron), [Secretary of State for Justice](https://bliptext.com/articles/secretary-of-state-for-justice) and [Lord Chancellor](https://bliptext.com/articles/lord-chancellor) between 2016 and 2017 under the leadership of [Theresa May](https://bliptext.com/articles/theresa-may), and [Secretary of State for International Trade](https://bliptext.com/articles/secretary-of-state-for-international-trade) and [President of the Board of Trade](https://bliptext.com/articles/president-of-the-board-of-trade) between 2019 and 2021 under the leadership of [Boris Johnson](https://bliptext.com/articles/boris-johnson); before she was promoted to serve as [Foreign Secretary](https://bliptext.com/articles/foreign-secretary) in 2021.\nIn 2022, Truss won the [2022 Conservative leadership election](https://bliptext.com/articles/july-september-2022-conservative-party-leadership-election) and was subsequently appointed [Prime Minister](https://bliptext.com/articles/prime-minister-of-the-united-kingdom) on 6 September.\nTruss resigned as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom on 25 October 2022.\nTruss lost her seat to [Terry Jermy](https://bliptext.com/articles/terry-jermy) of the Labour Party at the [2024 general election](https://bliptext.com/articles/2024-united-kingdom-general-election), a landslide victory for Labour nationally.\nHer defeat was described by [The Spectator](https://bliptext.com/articles/the-spectator) as a \"[Portillo moment](https://bliptext.com/articles/portillo-moment)\".\n\n# Boundaries and boundary changes\n\n## 1885–1918\nFormed from southern parts of the abolished [Western Division of Norfolk](https://bliptext.com/articles/west-norfolk-uk-parliament-constituency).\n\n## 1918–1950\n''The seat gained northern areas of the abolished [Mid Division of Norfolk](https://bliptext.com/articles/mid-norfolk), including [East Dereham](https://bliptext.com/articles/east-dereham), and a small area in the south of the [Northern Division](https://bliptext.com/articles/north-norfolk-uk-parliament-constituency).\nTransferred a small area in the east to the [Southern Division](https://bliptext.com/articles/south-norfolk-uk-parliament-constituency).''\n\n## 1950–1983\n''Thetford transferred to [South Norfolk](https://bliptext.com/articles/south-norfolk-uk-parliament-constituency).\nMinor changes to boundary with [King's Lynn](https://bliptext.com/articles/king-s-lynn-uk-parliament-constituency) to align with boundaries of local authorities.''\n\n## 1983–2010\n''Thetford transferred back from South Norfolk, together with areas comprising the former [Rural District of Wayland](https://bliptext.com/articles/wayland-rural-district), including [Attleborough](https://bliptext.com/articles/attleborough).\nNorth-eastern areas, including East Dereham, transferred to the re-established constituency of [Mid Norfolk](https://bliptext.com/articles/mid-norfolk).\nMinor re-alignment of boundary with [North West Norfolk](https://bliptext.com/articles/north-west-norfolk).''\n\n## 2010–2024\n''As a result of the [Boundary Commission](https://bliptext.com/articles/boundary-commission-for-england)'s [report](https://bliptext.com/articles/fifth-periodic-review-of-westminster-constituencies) which came into effect for the [2010 general election](https://bliptext.com/articles/2010-united-kingdom-general-election), South West Norfolk gained wards from neighbouring [North West Norfolk](https://bliptext.com/articles/north-west-norfolk) including Walpole, Tilney St Lawrence, and Wiggenhall villages.\nIt lost to [Mid Norfolk](https://bliptext.com/articles/mid-norfolk) the wards of All Saints, Buckenham, Burgh and Haverscroft, Haggard De Toni, Necton, Queen's, Templar and Watton, which included the villages of Necton, Great Ellingham and Watton.''\n\n## Current\nFurther to the [2023 Periodic Review of Westminster constituencies](https://bliptext.com/articles/2023-periodic-review-of-westminster-constituencies), which came into effect for the [2024 general election](https://bliptext.com/articles/2024-united-kingdom-general-election), the composition of the constituency is as follows (as they existed on 1 December 2020):\nThe boundaries of the seat were redrawn as a result of modifications to ward boundaries in both local authorities, resulting in the small net loss of voters to both neighbouring constituencies of [Mid Norfolk](https://bliptext.com/articles/mid-norfolk) and [North West Norfolk](https://bliptext.com/articles/north-west-norfolk).\nThe constituency includes Downham Market, Swaffham, Thetford, Outwell, Upwell, and Feltwell.\n\n# Members of Parliament\n[Western Division of Norfolk](https://bliptext.com/articles/west-norfolk-uk-parliament-constituency) prior to 1885\n\n# Elections\n\n## Elections in the 2020s\n

\n\n## Elections in the 2010s\n

\n\n## Elections in the 2000s\n\n## Elections in the 1990s\n\n## Elections in the 1980s\n\n## Elections in the 1970s\n\n## Elections in the 1960s\n\n## Elections in the 1950s\n\n## Election in the 1940s\n\n## Elections in the 1930s\n\n## Elections in the 1920s\n# [Winfrey | upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/c/c9/1910s///Richard///Winfrey.jpg]\n\n## Elections in the 1910s\n\n## Elections in the 1900s\n# [Winfrey | upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/d/dc/1906///Richard///Winfrey///MP.jpg]\n\n## Elections in the 1890s\n\n## Elections in the 1880s\n# [Amherst | upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/b/be/William///Tyssen-Amherst%2C///1st///Baron///Amherst///of///Hackney.jpg]","current_revision":null,"created_by":"kACnuQmH5k9Nr5VNVEpVeg7XpvUmMctD","created_at":"2025-01-25T21:31:30.170Z","updated_at":"2025-01-25T21:31:30.170Z","search_vector":"'constitu':6 'norfolk':3 'parliament':5 'south':1 'uk':4 'west':2","search_content":" \n**Name:** South West Norfolk \n**Parliament:** uk \n**Image 2:** East of England - South West Norfolk constituency.svg \n**Caption 2:** Boundary of South West Norfolk in the East of England \n**Year:** 1885 \n**Type:** County \n**Elects Howmany:** One \n**Previous:** [South Norfolk](https://bliptext.com/articles/south-norfolk-uk-parliament-constituency) and [West Norfolk](https://bliptext.com/articles/west-norfolk-uk-parliament-constituency) \n**Electorate:** 72,496 (2023) \n**Mp:** [Terry Jermy](https://bliptext.com/articles/terry-jermy) \n**Party:** [Labour](https://bliptext.com/articles/labour-party-uk) \n**Region:** England \n**County:** [Norfolk](https://bliptext.com/articles/norfolk) \n**Towns:** [Downham Market](https://bliptext.com/articles/downham-market), [Swaffham](https://bliptext.com/articles/swaffham) and [Thetford](https://bliptext.com/articles/thetford) \n \n\n# \n**South West Norfolk** is a [constituency](https://bliptext.com/articles/constituencies-of-the-parliament-of-the-united-kingdom) represented in the [House of Commons](https://bliptext.com/articles/house-of-commons-of-the-united-kingdom) of the [UK Parliament](https://bliptext.com/articles/uk-parliament) since [2024](https://bliptext.com/articles/2024-united-kingdom-general-election) by [Terry Jermy](https://bliptext.com/articles/terry-jermy) of the [Labour Party](https://bliptext.com/articles/labour-party-uk).\nIt was previously represented by [Liz Truss](https://bliptext.com/articles/liz-truss) of the Conservative Party (the shortest-serving UK Prime Minister in British history; serving as head of government for 49 days in 2022) between 2010 and 2024.\n\n# Constituency profile\nThis is a rural constituency which retains a significant agricultural and food-production sector.\nThe population is largely [white](https://bliptext.com/articles/white-british) and predominantly homeowners, with incomes and house prices slightly below the UK average.\n[Electoral Calculus](https://bliptext.com/articles/electoral-calculus) describes this as a \"Strong Right\" seat characterised by socially conservative values and strong support for [Brexit](https://bliptext.com/articles/brexit-and-the-irish-border).\n\n# History\nUnder the [Redistribution of Seats Act 1885](https://bliptext.com/articles/redistribution-of-seats-act-1885), the three two-member county divisions of Norfolk were replaced with six single-member divisions, including the newly created **South-[Western Division](https://bliptext.com/articles/west-norfolk-uk-parliament-constituency) of Norfolk**, largely formed from southern parts of the abolished [Western Division](https://bliptext.com/articles/west-norfolk-uk-parliament-constituency), including [Thetford](https://bliptext.com/articles/thetford).\nFrom the [1950 general election](https://bliptext.com/articles/1950-united-kingdom-general-election) onwards, it has been formally known as the [county constituency](https://bliptext.com/articles/county-constituency) of **South West Norfolk**.\nSouth West Norfolk had been held solidly by Conservatives from [1964](https://bliptext.com/articles/1964-uk-general-election) to [2024](https://bliptext.com/articles/2024-uk-general-election), but for twenty years prior; it had been ultra-[marginal](https://bliptext.com/articles/marginal-seat).\nLabour first held it briefly from 1929 to 1931, and [Sidney Dye](https://bliptext.com/articles/sidney-dye) of the Labour Party gained it in [1945](https://bliptext.com/articles/1945-united-kingdom-general-election) with a narrow majority of 53 votes.\nDye retained the seat at the [1950 general election](https://bliptext.com/articles/1950-united-kingdom-general-election) with an increased, but nevertheless, small majority of 260 votes.\nHe lost it to [Denys Bullard](https://bliptext.com/articles/denys-bullard) of the Conservatives in [1951](https://bliptext.com/articles/1951-united-kingdom-general-election) by 442 votes and regained the seat from Bullard in [1955](https://bliptext.com/articles/1955-united-kingdom-general-election) with a small majority of 193 votes.\nDye died at the end of 1958, and at the by-election, the Labour Party candidate [Albert Hilton](https://bliptext.com/articles/albert-hilton) retained the seat with an increased majority of 1,354 votes.\nAt the [1959 general election](https://bliptext.com/articles/1959-united-kingdom-general-election) that soon followed, Hilton's safe majority was drastically reduced to a thin margin of 78 votes.\nAlthough Labour had held the seat at two general elections, despite two consecutive overall Conservative victories; the Conservatives won the seat at the [1964 general election](https://bliptext.com/articles/1964-united-kingdom-general-election), which was a Labour victory nationwide, and the party returned to government after 13 years in opposition.\n[Paul Hawkins](https://bliptext.com/articles/paul-hawkins-politician), then [Gillian Shephard](https://bliptext.com/articles/gillian-shephard) held the seat.\nShephard's majority was slashed at the [1997 general election](https://bliptext.com/articles/1997-united-kingdom-general-election), in what would be the worst defeat nationwide for the Conservative Party in 91 years, before recovering at the [2001 general election](https://bliptext.com/articles/2001-united-kingdom-general-election).\nBoth occasions resulted in an overall Labour victory.\nShephard decided not to run again in [2005](https://bliptext.com/articles/2005-united-kingdom-general-election) and was elevated to a peerage.\nThe Conservative Party selected [Christopher Fraser](https://bliptext.com/articles/christopher-fraser), former MP for [Mid Dorset and Poole North](https://bliptext.com/articles/mid-dorset-and-north-poole-uk-parliament-constituency) and he was elected with a comfortable majority of over 10,000 votes.\nOn 28 May 2009, Fraser announced that he would be standing down at the [2010 general election](https://bliptext.com/articles/2010-united-kingdom-general-election) citing family reasons.\nThis was after his [expenses claims](https://bliptext.com/articles/united-kingdom-parliamentary-expenses-scandal) were highlighted in [The Daily Telegraph](https://bliptext.com/articles/the-daily-telegraph); according to the newspaper, Fraser claimed £1,800 in public money for buying 215 trees and marking out the boundary of his second home in the constituency.\n[Liz Truss](https://bliptext.com/articles/liz-truss) was elected to succeed Fraser at the 2010 general election, which saw the Conservatives return to government.\nTruss served as a Cabinet minister under various Conservative prime ministers since 2014, serving as [Environment Secretary](https://bliptext.com/articles/secretary-of-state-for-environment-food-and-rural-affairs) between 2014 and 2016 under the leadership of [David Cameron](https://bliptext.com/articles/david-cameron), [Secretary of State for Justice](https://bliptext.com/articles/secretary-of-state-for-justice) and [Lord Chancellor](https://bliptext.com/articles/lord-chancellor) between 2016 and 2017 under the leadership of [Theresa May](https://bliptext.com/articles/theresa-may), and [Secretary of State for International Trade](https://bliptext.com/articles/secretary-of-state-for-international-trade) and [President of the Board of Trade](https://bliptext.com/articles/president-of-the-board-of-trade) between 2019 and 2021 under the leadership of [Boris Johnson](https://bliptext.com/articles/boris-johnson); before she was promoted to serve as [Foreign Secretary](https://bliptext.com/articles/foreign-secretary) in 2021.\nIn 2022, Truss won the [2022 Conservative leadership election](https://bliptext.com/articles/july-september-2022-conservative-party-leadership-election) and was subsequently appointed [Prime Minister](https://bliptext.com/articles/prime-minister-of-the-united-kingdom) on 6 September.\nTruss resigned as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom on 25 October 2022.\nTruss lost her seat to [Terry Jermy](https://bliptext.com/articles/terry-jermy) of the Labour Party at the [2024 general election](https://bliptext.com/articles/2024-united-kingdom-general-election), a landslide victory for Labour nationally.\nHer defeat was described by [The Spectator](https://bliptext.com/articles/the-spectator) as a \"[Portillo moment](https://bliptext.com/articles/portillo-moment)\".\n\n# Boundaries and boundary changes\n\n## 1885–1918\nFormed from southern parts of the abolished [Western Division of Norfolk](https://bliptext.com/articles/west-norfolk-uk-parliament-constituency).\n\n## 1918–1950\n''The seat gained northern areas of the abolished [Mid Division of Norfolk](https://bliptext.com/articles/mid-norfolk), including [East Dereham](https://bliptext.com/articles/east-dereham), and a small area in the south of the [Northern Division](https://bliptext.com/articles/north-norfolk-uk-parliament-constituency).\nTransferred a small area in the east to the [Southern Division](https://bliptext.com/articles/south-norfolk-uk-parliament-constituency).''\n\n## 1950–1983\n''Thetford transferred to [South Norfolk](https://bliptext.com/articles/south-norfolk-uk-parliament-constituency).\nMinor changes to boundary with [King's Lynn](https://bliptext.com/articles/king-s-lynn-uk-parliament-constituency) to align with boundaries of local authorities.''\n\n## 1983–2010\n''Thetford transferred back from South Norfolk, together with areas comprising the former [Rural District of Wayland](https://bliptext.com/articles/wayland-rural-district), including [Attleborough](https://bliptext.com/articles/attleborough).\nNorth-eastern areas, including East Dereham, transferred to the re-established constituency of [Mid Norfolk](https://bliptext.com/articles/mid-norfolk).\nMinor re-alignment of boundary with [North West Norfolk](https://bliptext.com/articles/north-west-norfolk).''\n\n## 2010–2024\n''As a result of the [Boundary Commission](https://bliptext.com/articles/boundary-commission-for-england)'s [report](https://bliptext.com/articles/fifth-periodic-review-of-westminster-constituencies) which came into effect for the [2010 general election](https://bliptext.com/articles/2010-united-kingdom-general-election), South West Norfolk gained wards from neighbouring [North West Norfolk](https://bliptext.com/articles/north-west-norfolk) including Walpole, Tilney St Lawrence, and Wiggenhall villages.\nIt lost to [Mid Norfolk](https://bliptext.com/articles/mid-norfolk) the wards of All Saints, Buckenham, Burgh and Haverscroft, Haggard De Toni, Necton, Queen's, Templar and Watton, which included the villages of Necton, Great Ellingham and Watton.''\n\n## Current\nFurther to the [2023 Periodic Review of Westminster constituencies](https://bliptext.com/articles/2023-periodic-review-of-westminster-constituencies), which came into effect for the [2024 general election](https://bliptext.com/articles/2024-united-kingdom-general-election), the composition of the constituency is as follows (as they existed on 1 December 2020):\nThe boundaries of the seat were redrawn as a result of modifications to ward boundaries in both local authorities, resulting in the small net loss of voters to both neighbouring constituencies of [Mid Norfolk](https://bliptext.com/articles/mid-norfolk) and [North West Norfolk](https://bliptext.com/articles/north-west-norfolk).\nThe constituency includes Downham Market, Swaffham, Thetford, Outwell, Upwell, and Feltwell.\n\n# Members of Parliament\n[Western Division of Norfolk](https://bliptext.com/articles/west-norfolk-uk-parliament-constituency) prior to 1885\n\n# Elections\n\n## Elections in the 2020s\n \n \n\n## Elections in the 2010s\n \n \n \n \n \n \n\n## Elections in the 2000s\n\n## Elections in the 1990s\n\n## Elections in the 1980s\n\n## Elections in the 1970s\n\n## Elections in the 1960s\n\n## Elections in the 1950s\n\n## Election in the 1940s\n\n## Elections in the 1930s\n\n## Elections in the 1920s\n# [Winfrey | upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/c/c9/1910s///Richard///Winfrey.jpg]\n\n## Elections in the 1910s\n\n## Elections in the 1900s\n# [Winfrey | upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/d/dc/1906///Richard///Winfrey///MP.jpg]\n\n## Elections in the 1890s\n\n## Elections in the 1880s\n# [Amherst | upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/b/be/William///Tyssen-Amherst%2C///1st///Baron///Amherst///of///Hackney.jpg]","revisionCount":0},"hasMore":false,"nextCursor":null}