Dover
County constituency
for the House of Commons
Outline map
Boundary of Dover in Kent
Outline map
Location of Kent within England
CountyKent
Electorate71,993 (December 2010)[1]
Major settlementsDover and Deal
Current constituency
Created1369
Member of ParliamentNatalie Elphicke (Conservative)
Seats1660 - 1885: Two
1885 - present: One

Dover is a constituency[n 1] represented in the House of Commons of the UK Parliament since 2019 by Natalie Elphicke, a Conservative.[n 2]

Dover was considered a Cinque Ports constituency from 1386 to 1832.

It was formally known as Dover and Deal between 1974 and 1983 and, further to the completion of the 2023 Periodic Review of Westminster constituencies, the seat will revert back to that name, to be first contested at the next general election.[2]

Constituency profile

The seat includes most of Dover District. It comprises the towns of Deal, Dover, Walmer and surrounding villages in a productive chalkland, long-cultivated area adjoining the Strait of Dover. Since 1983 it has excluded the northern part of the District in and around the historically important Cinque Port of Sandwich with its golf links and accessible shore, which was then transferred to the South Thanet seat.

Since 1945 Dover has been a Labour/Conservative swing seat. In local elections, most of its rural villages and the two small towns favour the Conservative Party, whereas Dover favours the Labour Party, as well as the former mixed mining and agricultural villages in the local coal belt (East Kent coalfield), such as Aylesham. Labour's vote held on very solidly here in 2005, but the seat went Conservative in the 2010 election on a swing of 10.4% compared with a 4.9% swing nationally.

Cinque Port Seat

Dover's representation was originally as a Cinque Port constituency. In the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries the Lord Warden of the Cinque Ports nominated one member as with other Cinque Ports, but this was outlawed by an act of Parliament in 1689.[3] There was still some residual influence but there was also a local independent element in the borough with two local leading families, the Papillons and Furneses, starting to send MPs. By the mid eighteenth century it had come more under government influence through the influence of the Earl of Hardwicke, although government control was often more fragile than it seemed.[4]

Dover lost its status as a Cinque Port seat, becoming a borough seat under the Reform Act 1832 (2 & 3 Will. 4. c. 45).

Boundaries

Map
Map of current boundaries

1918–1950: The Boroughs of Dover and Deal, the Urban District of Walmer, and the Rural Districts of Dover and Eastry.

1950–1983: The Boroughs of Dover, Deal, and Sandwich, the Rural District of Dover, and the Rural District of Eastry except the parishes included in the Isle of Thanet constituency.

1983–2010: The District of Dover wards of Aylesham, Barton, Buckland, Capel-le-Ferne, Castle, Cornilo, Eastry, Eythorne, Lower Walmer, Lydden and Temple Ewell, Maxton and Elms Vale, Middle Deal, Mill Hill, Mongeham, Noninstone, North Deal, Pineham, Priory, Ringwould, River, St Margaret's-at-Cliffe, St Radigund's, Shepherdswell with Coldred, Tower Hamlets, Town and Pier, and Upper Walmer.

2010–present: The District of Dover wards of Aylesham, Buckland, Capel-le-Ferne, Castle, Eastry, Eythorne and Shepherdswell, Lydden and Temple Ewell, Maxton, Elms Vale and Priory, Middle Deal and Sholden, Mill Hill, North Deal, Ringwould, River, St Margaret's-at-Cliffe, St Radigund's, Tower Hamlets, Town and Pier, Walmer, and Whitfield.

Charlie Elphicke scandal

From 2010, the MP was Charlie Elphicke, elected as a member of the Conservative Party. On 3 November 2017, Elphicke was suspended by the Conservative Party after "serious allegations" were made against him, and then sat as an Independent until 12 December 2018 when he had the Conservative Whip restored ahead of a party vote on a no-confidence motion against Theresa May.[5][6] In July 2019, the whip was withdrawn again after he was charged by the Crown Prosecution Service with three counts of sexual assault against two women.[7][8][9] Charlie Elphicke stood down as an MP shortly before the 2019 UK General Election, with his wife, Natalie Elphicke standing as the Conservative Party candidate in his place. Natalie Elphicke was elected as the MP for Dover at the 2019 UK General Election, increasing on her husband's majority.

Members of Parliament

Cinque Port/Parliamentary Borough 1386–1918

MPs 1386–1660

This list is incomplete; you can help by adding missing items. (August 2008)
Parliament First member Second member
1386 John Gyles John Halle I[10]
1388 (Feb) John Gyles John Halle I[10]
1388 (Sep) John Gyles John Monyn[10]
1390 (Jan) John Gyles John Monyn[10]
1390 (Nov)
1391 John Gyles John Strete[10]
1393 John Gyles John Strete[10]
1394
1395 John Gyles John Strete[10]
1397 (Jan) Nicholas Spicer John Monyn[10]
1397 (Sep) John Monyn I[10]
1399 John Gyles John Enebrook[10]
1401
1402 Thomas Gyles John Strete[10]
1404 (Jan)
1404 (Oct)
1406 Thomas Gyles Henry Merley[10]
1407 John Alkham Henry Merley[10]
1410 Nicholas Spicer Peter Rede[10]
1411 Thomas Monyn[10]
1413 (Feb)
1413 (May) Thomas Monyn John Garton[10]
1414 (Apr)
1414 (Nov) Walter Stratton John Garton[10]
1415
1416 (Mar)
1416 (Oct) John Braban[10]
1417 John Braban Thomas atte Crowche[10]
1419 John Braban Walter Stratton[10]
1420 Thomas Arnold Thomas atte Crowche[10]
1421 (May) Thomas Arnold John Braban[10]
1421 (Dec) John Braban Walter Stratton[10]
1439–1444 Sir Thomas Browne
1470 Thomas Smith[11]
1510 John Warren not known[12]
1512 Nicholas Templeman John Warren[12]
1515 Nicholas Templeman John Warren[12]
1523 Thomas Vaughan Robert Nethersole[12]
1529 Robert Nethersole John Warren[12]
1536 Robert Nethersole John Warren[12]
1539 Thomas Vaughan John Payntor[12]
1542 John Warren William Granger[12]
1545 Edmund Mody John Warren[12]
1547 Joseph Beverley Thomas Warren[12]
1553 (Mar) Henry Crispe Thomas Portway[12]
1553 (Oct) Joseph Beverley John Webbe[12]
1554 (Apr) John Webbe Thomas Colly[12]
1554 (Nov) William Hannington John Webbe[12]
1555 Thomas Warren Sir Edmund Rous[12]
1558 Joseph Beverley John Cheyne[12]
1559 Thomas Warren John Robins[13]
1562–3 John Robins Thomas Warren[13]
1571 Thomas Andrews II John Pinchon[13]
1572 Thomas Andrews II Thomas Warren[13]
1584 Richard Barrey John Moore[13]
1586 Richard Barrey John Moore[13]
1588 Thomas Fane Edward Stephens[13]
1593 Thomas Fane Thomas Elwood[13]
1597 Thomas Fane William Leonard[13]
1601 George Fane George Newman[13]
1604 Sir Thomas Waller George Bing
1614 Sir George Fane Sir Robert Brett
1621 Sir Henry Mainwaring Sir Richard Young
1624 Sir Edward Cecil[14] Sir Richard Young
1625 Sir John Hippisley William Beecher
1626 Sir John Hippisley John Pringle
1628 Sir John Hippisley Edward Nicholas

No parliament called between 1629 and 1640

Parliament First member Second member
1640 (Apr) Sir Edward Boys Sir Peter Heyman
1640 (Nov) Sir Edward Boys Benjamin Weston
1645 John Dixwell Benjamin Weston
1648 John Dixwell Benjamin Weston
1653 Dover not represented in Barebones Parliament
1654 William Cullen one seat only
1656 Thomas Kelsey one seat only
1658 John Dixwell Thomas Kelsey
1659 John Dixwell Benjamin Weston

MPs 1660–1885

Year First member[15] First party Second member[15] Second party
April 1660 Edward Montagu Arnold Braemes
August 1660 George Montagu
1661 Sir Francis Vincent, Bt
1670 Edward Montagu
1673 Admiral Sir Edward Spragge[16]
1674 Thomas Papillon
1679 William Stokes
1685 Arthur Herbert William Chapman
1689 Sir Basil Dixwell, Bt Thomas Papillon
1690 James Chadwick
1695 Sir Basill Dixwell, Bt
1697 Admiral Matthew Aylmer
January 1701 Sir Charles Hedges
November 1701 Philip Papillon
1710 Sir William Hardres, Bt
1715 Admiral Matthew Aylmer[17]
1720 George Berkeley Henry Furnese
1734 David Papillon Thomas Revell
1741 Lord George Sackville
1752 William Cayley
1755 Peter Burrell
1756 Hugh Valence Jones
1759 Sir Edward Simpson[18]
1761 Hon. Sir Joseph Yorke
1765 John Campbell
1766 John Bindley
1768 George Villiers
1770 Sir Thomas Hales, Bt
1773 Thomas Barret
1774 John Henniker John Trevanion
1784 Robert Preston Tory[19] Captain the Hon. James Luttrell Tory[19]
1789 John Trevanion Whig[19]
1790 Charles Pybus Tory[19]
1802 John Spencer Smith Whig[19]
1806 John Jackson Whig[19] Charles Jenkinson Tory[19]
1818 Edward Bootle-Wilbraham Tory[19]
1820 Joseph Butterworth Whig[19]
1826 Charles Poulett Thomson[20] Whig[19]
1828 William Henry Trant Tory[19]
1830 Sir John Reid, Bt Tory[19]
1831 Robert Henry Stanhope Whig[19]
1832 Sir John Reid, Bt Tory[19]
1833 John Halcomb Tory[19]
1834 Conservative[19] Conservative[19]
1835 John Minet Fector Conservative[19]
1837 Edward Royd Rice Whig[21][22][23][24][19]
1847 Sir George Clerk, Bt Conservative
1852 Henry Cadogan Conservative
1857 Ralph Bernal Osborne Radical[25][26][27][28][29] Sir William Russell, Bt Whig[30]
1859 Sir Henry Leeke Conservative William Nicol Conservative
1865 Alexander George Dickson Conservative Charles Freshfield Conservative
1868 George Jessel Liberal
1873 Edward William Barnett Conservative
1874 Charles Freshfield Conservative
1885 Representation reduced to one member

MPs 1885–1918

Year Member[15] Party
1885 Alexander George Dickson Conservative
1889 George Wyndham Conservative
1913 Vere Ponsonby Conservative
1918 Constituency abolished – name transferred to county constituency

County constituency 1918–present

Year Member[15] Party
Dover division of Kent
1918 Vere Ponsonby Coalition Conservative
1921 by-election Sir Thomas Polson Independent Parliamentary Group
1922 John Jacob Astor Conservative
1945 John Thomas Labour
1950 John Arbuthnot Conservative
1964 David Ennals Labour
1970 Peter Rees Conservative
Dover and Deal County Constituency
1974 Peter Rees Conservative
Dover County Constituency
1983 Peter Rees Conservative
1987 David Shaw Conservative
1997 Gwyn Prosser Labour
2010 Charlie Elphicke Conservative
November 2017[5] Independent
December 2018 Conservative
July 2019 Independent
2019 Natalie Elphicke Conservative

Elections in the 19th century

Elections in the 1830s

General election 1830: Dover[19][31]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Whig Charles Poulett Thomson 975 36.2
Tory John Reid 974 36.1
Tory John Halcomb 748 27.7
Majority 1 0.1
Turnout 1,866 c. 93.3
Registered electors c. 2,000
Whig hold Swing
Tory hold Swing
By-election November 1830: Dover[19][31]
Party Candidate Votes %
Whig Charles Poulett Thomson Unopposed
Registered electors c. 2,000
Whig hold
General election 1831: Dover[19][31]
Party Candidate Votes %
Whig Charles Poulett Thomson Unopposed
Whig Robert Henry Stanhope Unopposed
Registered electors c. 2,000
Whig hold
Whig gain from Tory
General election 1832: Dover [32][19]
Party Candidate Votes %
Whig Charles Poulett Thomson 713 30.0
Tory John Reid 644 27.1
Tory John Halcomb 523 22.0
Whig Robert Henry Stanhope 498 20.9
Turnout 1,396 84.6
Registered electors 1,651
Majority 69 2.9
Whig hold
Majority 146 6.2
Tory gain from Whig
By-election 1833: Dover [32][19]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Tory John Halcomb 734 52.5 +3.4
Whig Robert Henry Stanhope 665 47.5 −3.4
Majority 69 5.0 N/A
Turnout 1,399 84.7 +0.1
Registered electors 1,651
Conservative gain from Whig Swing +3.4
General election 1835: Dover [32][19]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative John Minet Fector 908 37.0 +15.0
Conservative John Reid 782 31.9 +4.8
Whig Edward Royd Rice 761 31.0 −19.9
Majority 21 0.9 −5.3
Turnout 1,347 86.1 +1.5
Registered electors 1,564
Conservative hold Swing +12.5
Conservative gain from Whig Swing +7.4
General election 1837: Dover [32][19]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Whig Edward Royd Rice 854 35.2 +4.2
Conservative John Reid 829 34.2 +2.3
Conservative John Minet Fector 742 30.6 −6.4
Majority 25 1.0 N/A
Turnout 1,512 90.2 +4.1
Registered electors 1,677
Whig gain from Conservative Swing +3.1
Conservative hold Swing +0.1

Elections in the 1840s

General election 1841: Dover [32][19]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative John Reid 1,000 36.0 +1.8
Whig Edward Royd Rice 960 34.6 −0.6
Conservative John Halcomb 536 19.3 −11.3
Radical Alexander Galloway 281 10.1 N/A
Turnout 1,667 89.8 −0.4
Registered electors 2,060
Majority 40 1.4
Conservative hold Swing +1.1
Majority 424 15.3 +14.3
Whig hold Swing +2.1
General election 1847: Dover [32]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Whig Edward Royd Rice 1,104 37.6 +3.0
Conservative George Clerk 932 31.8 −4.2
Conservative Henry Thoby Prinsep 897 30.6 +11.3
Majority 172 5.8 −9.5
Turnout 1,467 (est) 71.2 (est) −18.6
Registered electors 2,060
Whig hold Swing −2.1
Conservative hold Swing −2.9

Elections in the 1850s

General election 1852: Dover [32]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Henry Cadogan 1,097 39.5 +8.9
Whig Edward Royd Rice 898 32.3 −5.3
Conservative George Clerk 781 28.1 −3.7
Turnout 1,837 (est) 89.0 (est) +17.8
Registered electors 2,064
Majority 199 7.2
Conservative hold Swing +5.8
Majority 117 4.2 −1.6
Whig hold Swing −5.3
General election 1857: Dover [32]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Radical Ralph Bernal Osborne 989 30.8 N/A
Whig William Russell 958 29.8 −2.5
Conservative George Clerk 695 21.6 −6.5
Conservative George William Hope[33] 574 17.8 −21.7
Turnout 1,608 (est) 79.4 (est) −9.6
Registered electors 2,024
Majority 415 13.0 N/A
Radical gain from Conservative Swing N/A
Majority 263 8.2 +4.0
Whig hold Swing +3.8
General election 1859: Dover [32]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Henry John Leeke 931 27.6 +6.0
Conservative William Nicol 902 26.7 +8.9
Liberal William Russell 788 23.4 −6.4
Liberal Ralph Bernal Osborne 752 22.3 −8.5
Majority 114 3.3 N/A
Turnout 1,687 (est) 82.8 (est) +3.4
Registered electors 2,038
Conservative gain from Liberal Swing +6.7
Conservative gain from Liberal Swing +8.2

Elections in the 1860s

General election 1865: Dover [32]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Alexander George Dickson 1,026 26.8 −0.8
Conservative Charles Freshfield 1,012 26.4 −0.3
Liberal William Keppel 903 23.6 +0.2
Liberal Thomas Eustace Smith 892 23.3 +1.0
Majority 109 2.8 −0.5
Turnout 1,917 (est) 82.7 (est) −0.1
Registered electors 2,318
Conservative hold Swing −0.7
Conservative hold Swing −0.5
General election 1868: Dover [32]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Alexander George Dickson 1,461 33.8 +7.0
Liberal George Jessel 1,435 33.2 +9.6
Conservative Charles Freshfield 1,387 32.1 +5.7
Liberal Israel Abrahams[34] 35 0.8 −22.5
Turnout 2,859 (est) 84.3 (est) +1.6
Registered electors 3,392
Majority 26 0.6 −2.2
Conservative hold Swing +14.8
Majority 48 1.1 N/A
Liberal gain from Conservative Swing +2.0

Elections in the 1870s

By-election 1871: Dover[32]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal George Jessel 1,235 51.9 +17.9
Conservative Edward William Barnett 1,144 48.1 −17.8
Majority 91 3.8 +2.7
Turnout 2,379 69.1 −15.2
Registered electors 3,443
Liberal hold Swing +17.9
By-election 1873: Dover[32]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Edward William Barnett 1,415 56.5 −9.4
Liberal James Staats Forbes[35] 1,089 43.5 +9.5
Majority 326 13.0 N/A
Turnout 2,504 70.3 −14.0
Registered electors 3,563
Conservative gain from Liberal Swing −9.5
General election 1874: Dover [32]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Charles Freshfield 1,595 31.3 −0.8
Conservative Alexander George Dickson 1,316 25.8 −8.0
Liberal Christopher Weguelin[36] 1,118 22.0 −11.2
Liberal Frederick Inderwick 1,062 20.9 +20.1
Majority 198 3.8 +3.2
Turnout 2,546 (est) 68.5 (est) −15.8
Registered electors 3,714
Conservative gain from Liberal Swing +5.2
Conservative hold Swing −14.1

Elections in the 1880s

General election 1880: Dover [32]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Charles Freshfield 1,734 26.5 −4.8
Conservative Alexander George Dickson 1,701 26.0 +0.2
Liberal Philip Stanhope[37] 1,607 24.5 +2.5
Liberal Charles Clement Walker[38] 1,506 23.0 +2.1
Majority 94 1.5 -2.3
Turnout 3,274 (est) 77.2 (est) +8.7
Registered electors 4,239
Conservative hold Swing −3.7
Conservative hold Swing −1.0
General election 1885: Dover [39]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Alexander George Dickson 2,066 59.3 +6.8
Liberal Robert Murray Lawes[40] 1,418 40.7 −6.8
Majority 648 18.6 +17.1
Turnout 3,484 71.3 −5.9
Registered electors 4,885
Conservative hold Swing +6.8
General election 1886: Dover [39]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Alexander George Dickson Unopposed
Conservative hold
By-election 1889: Dover [39]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative George Wyndham Unopposed
Conservative hold

Elections in the 1890s

General election 1892: Dover [39]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative George Wyndham 2,231 69.5 N/A
Lib-Lab Eustace G Edwards[41] 978 30.5 New
Majority 1,253 39.0 N/A
Turnout 3,209 62.6 N/A
Registered electors 5,156
Conservative hold
General election 1895: Dover [39]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative George Wyndham Unopposed
Conservative hold

Elections in the 20th century

Elections in the 1900s

General election 1900: Dover [39]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative George Wyndham Unopposed
Conservative hold
By-election 1900: Dover [39]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative George Wyndham Unopposed
Conservative hold
General election 1906: Dover [39]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative George Wyndham 3,269 65.7 N/A
Liberal R. J. Bryce 1,705 34.3 New
Majority 1,564 31.4 N/A
Turnout 4,974 75.4 N/A
Registered electors 6,493
Conservative hold Swing N/A

Elections in the 1910s

General election January 1910: Dover [39]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative George Wyndham 3,330 67.9 +2.2
Liberal A. M. Bradley 1,572 32.1 −2.2
Majority 1,758 35.8 +4.4
Turnout 4,902 78.5 +3.1
Registered electors 6,247
Conservative hold Swing +2.2
General election December 1910: Dover [39]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative George Wyndham Unopposed
Conservative hold
By-election 1913: Dover [39]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Unionist Vere Ponsonby Unopposed
Unionist hold
General election 1918: Dover [42]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
C Unionist Vere Ponsonby 11,249 68.7 N/A
Liberal Alexander Livingstone 5,121 31.3 New
Majority 6,128 37.4 N/A
Turnout 16,370 46.5 N/A
Registered electors 35,170
Unionist hold Swing
C indicates candidate endorsed by the coalition government.

Elections in the 1920s

By-election 1921: Dover [42]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Independent Parliamentary Group Thomas Polson 13,947 56.3 New
Coalition Unionist John Jacob Astor 10,817 43.7 −25.0
Majority 3,130 12.6 N/A
Turnout 24,764 71.0 +24.5
Registered electors 34,890
Ind. Parliamentary Group gain from Unionist Swing
General election 1922: Dover [42]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Unionist John Jacob Astor 18,151 62.2 −6.5
Independent Parliamentary Group Thomas Polson 8,054 27.6 N/A
Liberal Leonard Stein 2,985 10.2 −21.1
Majority 10,097 34.6 −0.8
Turnout 29,190 77.6 +31.1
Registered electors 37,610
Unionist hold Swing +7.3
General election 1923: Dover [42]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Unionist John Jacob Astor Unopposed
Unionist hold
By-election 1924: Dover [42]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Unionist John Jacob Astor Unopposed
Unionist hold
General election 1924: Dover [42]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Unionist John Jacob Astor 21,186 73.5 N/A
Labour A. F. George 7,627 26.5 New
Majority 13,559 47.0 N/A
Turnout 28,813 74.7 N/A
Registered electors 38,580
Unionist hold Swing N/A
General election 1929: Dover [42]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Unionist John Jacob Astor 20,572 54.7 −18.8
Labour Ernest Lionel McKeag 8,864 23.6 −2.9
Liberal Herbert Baxter 8,180 21.7 New
Majority 11,708 31.1 −15.9
Turnout 37,616 74.4 −0.3
Registered electors 50,586
Unionist hold Swing −8.0

Elections in the 1930s

General election 1931: Dover
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative John Jacob Astor 29,743 75.25
Labour W. Moore 9,781 24.75
Liberal Herbert Baxter Withdrew N/A N/A
Majority 19,962 50.50
Turnout 39,524 73.05
Conservative hold Swing
General election 1935: Dover
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative John Jacob Astor 25,884 63.96
Labour W. H. Bennett 14,588 36.04
Majority 11,296 27.92
Turnout 40,472 69.56
Conservative hold Swing

Election in the 1940s

General election 1945: Dover
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour John Thomas 17,373 52.54
Conservative John Arbuthnot 15,691 47.46
Majority 1,682 5.08 N/A
Turnout 33,064 73.29
Labour gain from Conservative Swing

Elections in the 1950s

General election 1950: Dover[43]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative John Arbuthnot 25,640 49.01
Labour Co-op Will Owen 23,331 44.59
Liberal Basil Goldstone 2,873 5.49 New
Communist R. Morrison 474 0.91 New
Majority 2,309 4.42 N/A
Turnout 52,318 85.77
Conservative gain from Labour Swing
General election 1951: Dover[44]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative John Arbuthnot 28,511 53.29
Labour Co-op Will Owen 24,995 46.71
Majority 3,516 6.58
Turnout 53,506 85.74
Conservative hold Swing
General election 1955: Dover
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative John Arbuthnot 27,316 52.92
Labour Horace W. Lee 24,298 47.08
Majority 3,018 5.84
Turnout 51,614 81.84
Conservative hold Swing
General election 1959: Dover
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative John Arbuthnot 27,939 53.08
Labour Horace W. Lee 24,698 46.92
Majority 3,241 6.16
Turnout 52,637 82.88
Conservative hold Swing

Elections in the 1960s

General election 1964: Dover
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour David Ennals 24,115 44.94
Conservative John Arbuthnot 23,697 44.17
Liberal Bernard Budd 5,843 10.89 New
Majority 418 0.77 N/A
Turnout 53,655 82.70
Labour gain from Conservative Swing
General election 1966: Dover
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour David Ennals 27,256 49.31
Conservative Tom Stacey 24,040 43.49
Liberal Bernard Budd 3,981 7.20
Majority 3,216 5.82
Turnout 55,277 84.18
Labour hold Swing

Elections in the 1970s

General election 1970: Dover
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Peter Rees 30,103 51.41
Labour David Ennals 28,454 48.59
Majority 1,649 2.82 N/A
Turnout 58,557 80.58
Conservative gain from Labour Swing
General election February 1974: Dover and Deal
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Peter Rees 27,033 43.11
Labour L. J. A. Bishop 22,183 35.37
Liberal R. S. Young 12,832 20.46
Ind. Social Democrat W. Stone 661 1.05 New
Majority 4,850 7.74
Turnout 62,709 84.69
Conservative hold Swing
General election October 1974: Dover and Deal
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Peter Rees 25,647 43.63
Labour L. J. A. Bishop 23,353 39.74
Liberal R. S. Young 9,767 16.63
Majority 2,294 3.89
Turnout 58,767 78.67
Conservative hold Swing
General election 1979: Dover and Deal
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Peter Rees 30,606 50.01
Labour Jane Chapman 22,664 37.04
Liberal J. Cohen 6,906 11.29
Silly Party Jeremy Fox 642 1.05 New
National Front P. Johnson 378 0.62 New
Majority 7,942 12.97
Turnout 61,196 80.65
Conservative hold Swing

Elections in the 1980s

General election 1983: Dover[45]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Peter Rees 25,454 48.3
Labour Stephen Love 16,234 30.8
SDP Geoffrey Nice 10,601 20.1 New
Ecology M. Potter 404 0.8 New
Majority 9,220 17.5
Turnout 52,693 77.6
Conservative hold Swing
General election 1987: Dover[46]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative David Shaw 25,343 46.0 -2.3
Labour Stephen Love 18,802 34.1 +3.3
SDP Geoffrey Nice 10,942 19.9 -0.2
Majority 6,541 11.9 -5.6
Turnout 55,087 79.8 +2.2
Conservative hold Swing

Elections in the 1990s

General election 1992: Dover[47][48]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative David Shaw 25,395 44.1 −1.9
Labour Gwyn Prosser 24,562 42.6 +8.5
Liberal Democrats M. J. Sole 6,212 10.8 −9.1
Green A. C. W. Sullivan 637 1.1 New
Ind. Conservative P. W. Sherred 407 0.7 New
Ind. Conservative B. J. Philp 250 0.4 New
Natural Law C. F. Percy 127 0.2 New
Majority 833 1.5 −10.4
Turnout 57,590 83.5 +3.7
Conservative hold Swing −5.2
General election 1997: Dover[49]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Gwyn Prosser 29,535 54.5 +11.9
Conservative David Shaw 17,796 32.8 -11.3
Liberal Democrats Mark B. Corney 4,302 7.9 -2.9
Referendum Susan L. Anderson 2,124 3.9 New
UKIP C. Hyde 443 0.8 New
Majority 11,739 21.7 N/A
Turnout 54,200 78.9 -4.6
Labour gain from Conservative Swing

Elections in the 21st century

Elections in the 2000s

General election 2001: Dover[50]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Gwyn Prosser 21,943 48.8 -5.7
Conservative Paul Watkins 16,744 37.2 +4.4
Liberal Democrats Antony Hook 5,131 11.4 +3.5
UKIP Lee Speakman 1,142 2.5 +1.7
Majority 5,199 11.6 -10.1
Turnout 44,960 65.1 -13.8
Labour hold Swing
General election 2005: Dover[51]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Gwyn Prosser 21,680 45.3 -3.5
Conservative Paul Watkins 16,739 35.0 -2.2
Liberal Democrats Antony Hook 7,607 15.9 +4.5
UKIP Mike Wiltshire 1,252 2.6 +0.1
Independent Victor Matcham 606 1.3 New
Majority 4,941 10.3 -1.3
Turnout 47,884 67.6 +2.5
Labour hold Swing -0.6

Elections in the 2010s

General election 2010: Dover[52]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Charlie Elphicke 22,174 44.0 +9.1
Labour Gwyn Prosser 16,900 33.5 −11.8
Liberal Democrats John Brigden 7,962 15.8 0.0
UKIP Victor Matcham 1,747 3.5 +0.8
BNP Dennis Whiting 1,104 2.2 New
English Democrat Mike Walters 216 0.4 New
CPA David Clark 200 0.4 New
Independent George Lee-Delisle 82 0.2 N/A
Majority 5,274 10.5 N/A
Turnout 50,385 70.1 +2.8
Conservative gain from Labour Swing +10.5

See also: Opinion polling in United Kingdom constituencies, 2010–15 § Dover
General election 2015: Dover[53]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Charlie Elphicke 21,737 43.3 -0.7
Labour Clair Hawkins 15,443 30.7 -2.8
UKIP David Little 10,177 20.3 +16.8
Liberal Democrats Sarah Smith 1,572 3.1 -12.7
Green Jolyon Trimingham[54] 1,295 2.6 New
Majority 6,294 12.5 +2.0
Turnout 50,224 68.9 -1.2
Conservative hold Swing +1.0
General election 2017: Dover[55]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Charlie Elphicke 27,211 52.4 +9.1
Labour Stacey Blair 20,774 40.0 +9.3
UKIP Piers Wauchope 1,723 3.3 -17.0
Liberal Democrats Simon Dodd 1,336 2.6 -0.5
Green Beccy Sawbridge 923 1.8 -0.8
Majority 6,437 12.4 -0.1
Turnout 51,966 69.7 +0.8
Conservative hold Swing
General election 2019: Dover[56]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Natalie Elphicke 28,830 56.9 +4.5
Labour Charlotte Cornell 16,552 32.6 -7.4
Liberal Democrats Simon Dodd 2,895 5.7 +3.1
Green Beccy Sawbridge 1,371 2.7 +0.9
Independent Nathan Sutton 916 1.8 New
Women's Equality Eljai Morais 137 0.3 New
Majority 12,278 24.3 +11.9
Turnout 50,701 66.4 -3.3
Conservative hold Swing +5.9

See also

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.

References

  1. ^ "Electorate Figures - Boundary Commission for England". 2011 Electorate Figures. Boundary Commission for England. 4 March 2011. Archived from the original on 6 November 2010. Retrieved 13 March 2011.
  2. ^ "The 2023 Review of Parliamentary Constituency Boundaries in England – Volume one: Report – South East | Boundary Commission for England". boundarycommissionforengland.independent.gov.uk. Retrieved 31 July 2023.
  3. ^ Note 2, Page 121,Lewis Namier, The Structure of Politics at the Accession of George III (2nd edition - London: St Martin's Press, 1957)
  4. ^ Pages 121 to 124,Lewis Namier, The Structure of Politics at the Accession of George III (2nd edition - London: St Martin's Press, 1957)
  5. ^ a b Khan, Shehab (3 November 2017). "Charlie Elphicke: Tory MP suspended and reported to police over 'serious' allegations". The Independent. London. Retrieved 3 November 2017.
  6. ^ "Anger as accused MPs get whip restored for May vote". BBC News. 13 December 2018. Retrieved 22 December 2018.
  7. ^ "MP charged with three sexual assaults". Crown Prosecution Service. Retrieved 22 July 2019.
  8. ^ "Tory MP Charlie Elphicke Charged With Three Counts Of Sexual Assault, Huffington Post". 22 July 2019. Retrieved 22 July 2019.
  9. ^ Francis, Paul (22 July 2019). "Dover MP Charlie Elphicke has party whip withdrawn". Kent Online. Retrieved 23 July 2019.
  10. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w "History of Parliament". History of Parliament Trust. Retrieved 28 November 2011.
  11. ^ Wedgwood, Josiah C. (1936). History Of Parliament (1439-1509). p. 779.
  12. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p "History of Parliament". History of Parliament Trust. Retrieved 28 November 2011.
  13. ^ a b c d e f g h i j "History of Parliament". History of Parliament Trust. Retrieved 28 November 2011.
  14. ^ Dictionary of National Biography, later editions, and Oxford Dictionary of National Biography.
  15. ^ a b c d Leigh Rayment's Historical List of MPs – Constituencies beginning with "D" (part 3)
  16. ^ On petition Spragge's election was declared void
  17. ^ Created Baron Aylmer (in the Peerage of Ireland), 1718
  18. ^ Knighted 1761
  19. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z aa Stooks Smith, Henry. (1973) [1844-1850]. Craig, F. W. S. (ed.). The Parliaments of England (2nd ed.). Chichester: Parliamentary Research Services. pp. 161–163. ISBN 0-900178-13-2.
  20. ^ Thomson was re-elected in 1832 but had also been elected for Manchester, which he chose to represent, and did not sit again for Dover
  21. ^ Churton, Edward (1836). The Assembled Commons or Parliamentary Biographer: 1836. p. 75.
  22. ^ "General Election". Naval & Military Gazette and Weekly Chronicle of the United Service. 29 July 1837. p. 12. Retrieved 7 May 2018 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  23. ^ "Dover Election". Canterbury Journal, Kentish Times and Farmers' Gazette. 29 July 1837. p. 2. Retrieved 7 May 2018 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  24. ^ "Elections in Kent". Kentish Gazette. 1 August 1837. p. 2. Retrieved 7 May 2018 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  25. ^ "Ralph Bernal". Legacies of British Slave-ownership. University College London. Retrieved 7 May 2018.
  26. ^ Malcolmson, A. P. W. (2006). The Pursuit of the Heiress: Aristocratic Marriage in Ireland 1740-1840 (Illustrated ed.). Ulster Historical Foundation. p. 176. ISBN 9781903688656. Retrieved 7 May 2018.
  27. ^ "The Brazil Controversy". The Spectator. 18 February 1865. p. 13. Retrieved 7 May 2018.
  28. ^ Rubinstein, William D.; Jolles, Michael A.; Rubinstein, Hilary L., eds. (2011). The Palgrave Dictionary of Anglo-Jewish History. Basingstoke: Palgrave Macmillan. p. 191. ISBN 978-1-4039-3910-4. Retrieved 7 May 2018.
  29. ^ Hawkins, Angus (2015). Victorian Political Culture: 'Habits of Heart & Mind'. Oxford: Oxford University Press. p. 280. ISBN 978-0-19-872848-1. Retrieved 7 May 2018.
  30. ^ "Dover". Cheltenham Chronicle. 31 March 1857. p. 5. Retrieved 7 May 2018 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  31. ^ a b c Fisher, David R. "Dover". The History of Parliament. Retrieved 11 April 2020.
  32. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o Craig, F. W. S., ed. (1977). British Parliamentary Election Results 1832-1885 (1st ed.). London: Macmillan Press. ISBN 978-1-349-02349-3.
  33. ^ "Dover". South Eastern Gazette. 24 March 1857. p. 5. Retrieved 7 May 2018 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  34. ^ "Representation of Dover". Kentish Gazette. 13 October 1868. p. 6. Retrieved 8 February 2018 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  35. ^ "To the freeman and electors of the Borough of Dover". Dover Express. 5 September 1873. p. 2. Retrieved 29 December 2017 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  36. ^ "Dover". London Evening Standard. 27 January 1874. pp. 2–3. Retrieved 29 December 2017 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  37. ^ "The Town Clerk's Office". Wellington Journal. 14 February 1880. p. 7. Retrieved 25 November 2017 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  38. ^ "This Evening's News". The Pall Mall Gazette. 31 March 1880. pp. 6–7. Retrieved 25 November 2017 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  39. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k Craig, FWS, ed. (1974). British Parliamentary Election Results: 1885-1918. London: Macmillan Press. ISBN 9781349022984.
  40. ^ "The Home Rule Question". Bristol Mercury. 1 January 1886. p. 8. Retrieved 25 November 2017 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  41. ^ Lorraine (8 September 2013). "Ramsay MacDonald - Dover's MP that never was". The Dover Historian. Retrieved 5 November 2017.
  42. ^ a b c d e f g British Parliamentary Election Results 1918-1949, FWS Craig
  43. ^ The Times' Guide to the House of Commons. 1950.
  44. ^ The Times' Guide to the House of Commons. 1951.
  45. ^ "Election Data 1983". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
  46. ^ "Election Data 1987". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
  47. ^ "Election Data 1992". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
  48. ^ "Politics Resources". Election 1992. Politics Resources. 9 April 1992. Archived from the original on 24 July 2011. Retrieved 6 December 2010.
  49. ^ "Election Data 1997". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
  50. ^ "Election Data 2001". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
  51. ^ "Election Data 2005". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
  52. ^ "Election Data 2010". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 26 July 2013. Retrieved 17 October 2015.
  53. ^ "Election Data 2015". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 17 October 2015. Retrieved 17 October 2015.
  54. ^ "Jolyon Trimingham for Dover and Deal". Kent Green Party. Archived from the original on 21 January 2015. Retrieved 21 January 2015.
  55. ^ "Introducing Kent's general election candidates". 12 May 2017.
  56. ^ "Dover parliamentary constituency - Election 2019". BBC News. Retrieved 15 December 2019.

Sources

Categories