# Bolsover (UK Parliament constituency)

Bolsover (/ˈbɒlsˌoʊvər/, /ˈbɒlzˌoʊvər/ and commonly /boʊzər/) is a constituency in Derbyshire, represented in the House of Commons of the UK Parliament by Natalie Fleet, a member of the Labour Party. The constituency was created in 1950, and is centred on the town of Bolsover.

## History

Before the Reform Act 1832, relatively wealthy people (forty-shilling freeholders) of the whole county could attend elections when there was an opposition candidate. From 1868 until 1885 the area formed part of the East Derbyshire constituency, redrawn out of the North Derbyshire constituency formed in 1832. The Bolsover constituency was created in 1950 from parts of the constituencies of North East Derbyshire, formed in 1885, and Clay Cross, formed in 1918.
Between 1970 and 2019, the constituency was represented by Labour's Dennis Skinner, who by 2019 was the oldest member of the House of Commons and the second longest-serving. At the constituency's inception it was one of the safest Labour seats in the country, but over the following half century Skinner's vote share dropped from 77% in 1970, still holding a high vote share of 65% in 2005, to only 36% in 2019, with the result that he lost the seat to the Conservatives by a margin of 11%. The seat was regained by Labour in 2024, in part due to the two right-wing parties, Reform UK and the Conservative Party splitting the vote. Labour's share of the vote was still well below what they had been getting before Brexit.

## Boundaries

1950–1983: The Urban District of Bolsover, and the Rural Districts of Blackwell and Clowne.
1983–2010: The District of Bolsover, and the District of North East Derbyshire wards of Morton, Pilsley, Shirland, and Sutton.
2010–present: The District of Bolsover, and the District of North East Derbyshire wards of Holmewood and Heath, Pilsley and Morton, Shirland, and Sutton.
Subject to a minor adjustment due to ward boundary changes in the District of North East Derbyshire, the 2023 Periodic Review of Westminster constituencies, which was based on the ward structure in place at 1 December 2020, left the boundaries unchanged.

## Constituency profile

The seat includes many former mining communities. Before 2019 it was a Labour Party stronghold, although the then MP Dennis Skinner's share of the popular vote dropped to 50% in the 2010 election from a high of 77.5% (see below), amongst social and boundary changes. Its economy faced struggles after the last closures in the early 1990s of the coal pits upon which the area thrived for many years. Bolsover's tourism industry has emerged in recent years, including accommodation and tours involving Bolsover Castle, owned by English Heritage, and Hardwick Hall, home of Bess of Hardwick.
Skinner, who held the seat from 1970 until 2019, was between 2017 and 2019 the second longest serving MP in the Commons after Kenneth Clarke. In the 2010 reforms to the constituency, Labour won 50% of the votes cast. At the 2017 general election, Skinner's majority was cut to little more than 5,000, the first time the Labour majority in the seat had ever been lower than 10,000. He lost his bid to be re-elected in 2019 losing to Conservative candidate Mark Fletcher.
The majority of voters in the area voted in favour of Brexit during the 2016 referendum; this was the preferred outcome of the then local MP Dennis Skinner. This considerable turn out in favour of Brexit resulted in Reform UK to include it in its priority list of constituencies for the 2024 General Election.

## Members of Parliament

| Election | Member | Party |
| 1950 | Harold Neal | Labour |
| 1970 | Dennis Skinner | Labour |
| 2019 | Mark Fletcher | Conservative |
| 2024 | Natalie Fleet | Labour |

## Elections
### Elections in the 2020s

General election 2024: Bolsover :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Natalie Fleet | 17,197 | 40.5 | +4.3 |
| | Conservative | Mark Fletcher | 10,874 | 25.5 | –22.1 |
| | Reform UK | Robert Reaney | 9,131 | 21.5 | +12.9 |
| | Green | David Kesteven | 3,754 | 8.8 | +7.2 |
| | Liberal Democrats | David Hancock | 1,478 | 3.5 | –0.3 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 6,323 | 14.9 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 42,434 | 54.9 | −6.2 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 77,334 | | |
| | Labour gain from Conservative | Labour gain from Conservative | Swing | +13.2 | |

### Elections in the 2010s

General election 2019: Bolsover :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Mark Fletcher | 21,791 | 47.4 | +6.9 |
| | Labour | Dennis Skinner | 16,492 | 35.9 | −16.0 |
| | Brexit Party | Kevin Harper | 4,151 | 9.0 | New |
| | Liberal Democrats | David Hancock | 1,759 | 3.8 | +0.9 |
| | Green | David Kesteven | 758 | 1.7 | New |
| | Independent | Ross Walker | 517 | 1.1 | New |
| | Independent | Natalie Hoy | 470 | 1.0 | New |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 5,299 | 11.5 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 45,938 | 61.1 | −2.2 |
| | Conservative gain from Labour | Conservative gain from Labour | Swing | +11.5 | |
General election 2017: Bolsover :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Dennis Skinner | 24,153 | 51.9 | +0.7 |
| | Conservative | Helen Harrison | 18,865 | 40.5 | +16.0 |
| | UKIP | Philip Rose | 2,129 | 4.6 | −16.4 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Ross Shipman | 1,372 | 2.9 | −0.4 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 5,288 | 11.4 | −15.3 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 46,519 | 63.3 | +2.2 |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | −7.7 | |
General election 2015: Bolsover :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Dennis Skinner | 22,542 | 51.2 | +1.2 |
| | Conservative | Peter Bedford | 10,764 | 24.5 | −0.1 |
| | UKIP | Ray Calladine | 9,228 | 21.0 | +17.1 |
| | Liberal Democrats | David Lomax | 1,464 | 3.3 | −12.2 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 11,778 | 26.7 | +1.3 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 43,998 | 61.1 | +0.6 |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | +0.7 | |
General election 2010: Bolsover :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Dennis Skinner | 21,995 | 50.0 | |
| | Conservative | Lee Rowley | 10,812 | 24.6 | |
| | Liberal Democrats | Denise Hawksworth | 6,821 | 15.5 | |
| | BNP | Martin Radford | 2,640 | 6.0 | New |
| | UKIP | Ray Calladine | 1,721 | 3.9 | New |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 11,183 | 25.4 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 43,989 | 60.5 | +3.2 |
| | Labour win (new boundaries) | Labour win (new boundaries) | Labour win (new boundaries) | Labour win (new boundaries) | Labour win (new boundaries) |

### Elections in the 2000s

General election 2005: Bolsover :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Dennis Skinner | 25,217 | 65.2 | −3.4 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Denise Hawksworth | 6,780 | 17.5 | +5.6 |
| | Conservative | Hasan Imam | 6,702 | 17.3 | −2.2 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 18,437 | 47.7 | −1.4 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 38,699 | 57.3 | +0.8 |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | −4.5 | |
General election 2001: Bolsover :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Dennis Skinner | 26,249 | 68.6 | −5.4 |
| | Conservative | Simon Massey | 7,472 | 19.5 | +2.8 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Marie Bradley | 4,550 | 11.9 | +2.6 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 18,777 | 49.1 | −7.8 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 38,271 | 56.5 | −14.8 |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | | |

### Elections in the 1990s

General election 1997: Bolsover :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Dennis Skinner | 35,073 | 74.0 | +9.5 |
| | Conservative | Richard Harwood | 7,924 | 16.7 | −8.6 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Ian Cox | 4,417 | 9.3 | −0.9 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 27,149 | 57.3 | +18.1 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 47,414 | 71.3 | −7.8 |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | +9.1 | |
General election 1992: Bolsover :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Dennis Skinner | 33,978 | 64.5 | +8.3 |
| | Conservative | Timothy D.R. James | 13,323 | 25.3 | −3.0 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Susan P. Barber | 5,368 | 10.2 | −5.3 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 20,655 | 39.2 | +11.3 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 52,669 | 79.1 | +1.8 |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | +5.7 | |

### Elections in the 1980s

General election 1987: Bolsover :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Dennis Skinner | 28,453 | 56.2 | −0.1 |
| | Conservative | Michael Lingens | 14,333 | 28.3 | +1.4 |
| | SDP | Mark Fowler | 7,836 | 15.5 | −1.3 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 14,120 | 27.9 | −1.5 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 50,622 | 77.3 | +4.6 |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | -0.7 | |
General election 1983: Bolsover :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Dennis Skinner | 26,514 | 56.3 | |
| | Conservative | Samuel Roberts | 12,666 | 26.9 | |
| | SDP | Stuart Reddish | 7,886 | 16.8 | |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 13,848 | 29.4 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 47,066 | 72.7 | −5.6 |
| | Labour win (new boundaries) | Labour win (new boundaries) | Labour win (new boundaries) | Labour win (new boundaries) | Labour win (new boundaries) |

### Elections in the 1970s

General election 1979: Bolsover :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Labour | Dennis Skinner | 27,495 | 66.6 |
| | Conservative | Anthony Favell | 10,116 | 24.5 |
| | Liberal | James Ian Frost | 3,688 | 8.9 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 17,379 | 42.09 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 41,299 | 78.31 |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | |
General election October 1974: Bolsover :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Dennis Skinner | 27,275 | 70.6 | |
| | Conservative | C.L. Sternberg | 6,209 | 16.1 | |
| | Liberal | M. Taylor | 5,176 | 13.4 | New |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 21,066 | 54.5 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 38,660 | 74.5 | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | | |
General election February 1974: Bolsover :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Dennis Skinner | 30,787 | 76.5 | −1.03 |
| | Conservative | A.R. Dix | 9,474 | 23.5 | +1.03 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 21,313 | 52.9 | −2.06 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 40,261 | 78.4 | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | | |
General election 1970: Bolsover :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Labour | Dennis Skinner | 28,830 | 77.5 |
| | Conservative | Ivor J Humphrey | 8,371 | 22.5 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 20,459 | 55.0 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 37,201 | 70.76 |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | |

### Elections in the 1960s

General election 1966: Bolsover :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Labour | Harold Neal | 30,114 | 81.55 |
| | Conservative | Peter C Coleman | 6,815 | 18.45 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 23,299 | 63.10 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 36,929 | 74.62 |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | |
General election 1964: Bolsover :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Labour | Harold Neal | 31,234 | 79.34 |
| | Conservative | Patrick Cormack | 8,131 | 20.66 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 23,103 | 58.68 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 39,365 | 78.89 |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | |

### Elections in the 1950s

General election 1959: Bolsover :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Harold Neal | 32,536 | 78.2 | −0.7 |
| | Conservative | Robin Marlar | 9,076 | 21.8 | +0.7 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 23,460 | 56.4 | −1.3 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 41,612 | 82.5 | +4.9 |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | | |
General election 1955: Bolsover :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Labour | Harold Neal | 30,074 | 78.87 |
| | Conservative | Brian RO Bell | 8,055 | 21.13 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 22,019 | 57.74 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 38,129 | 77.57 |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | |
General election 1951: Bolsover :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Labour | Harold Neal | 33,661 | 79.89 |
| | Conservative | John Cordeaux | 8,472 | 20.11 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 25,189 | 59.78 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 42,133 | 85.36 |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | |
General election 1950: Bolsover :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Harold Neal | 34,017 | 80.6 | |
| | Conservative | John Cordeaux | 8,184 | 19.4 | |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 25,833 | 61.2 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 42,201 | 86.2 | |
| | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) |