# Bournemouth East (UK Parliament constituency)

Bournemouth East is a parliamentary constituency in Dorset represented in the House of Commons of the UK Parliament since 2024 by Tom Hayes, of the Labour Party.

## Constituency profile

The seat covers the eastern suburbs of Bournemouth including Boscombe, Muscliff, Springbourne and Southbourne. Residents' wealth is around average for the UK.

## Boundaries

The constituency is based on the eastern portion of Bournemouth, in Dorset, including the Southbourne district at the border of Christchurch, Boscombe, Throop, Moordown, Muscliff, Townsend, Littledown, Richmond Park, Springbourne, Iford and Queen's Park. Bournemouth Town Centre was in this constituency from 1983 to 1997.
1974–1983: The County Borough of Bournemouth wards of Boscombe East, Boscombe West, King's Park, Moordown North, Moordown South, Queen's Park, Southbourne, and West Southbourne.
1983–1997: The Borough of Bournemouth wards of Boscombe East, Boscombe West, Central, East Cliff, Littledown, Moordown, Muscliff, Queen's Park, Southbourne, Strouden Park, and West Southbourne.
1997–2010: The Borough of Bournemouth wards of Boscombe East, Boscombe West, Littledown, Moordown, Muscliff, Queen's Park, Southbourne, Strouden Park, and West Southbourne.
2010–2024: The Borough of Bournemouth wards of Boscombe East, Boscombe West, East Cliff and Springbourne, East Southbourne and Tuckton, Littledown and Iford, Moordown, Queen's Park, Strouden Park, Throop and Muscliff, and West Southbourne.
For the 2010 general election, the western boundary of the constituency changed so that it aligned with ward boundaries (which had changed since the constituency boundary changes of the 1990s). The main changes saw East Cliff brought into the constituency with the loss of part of east Winton.
2024–present: The District of Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole wards of Boscombe East & Pokesdown; Boscombe West; East Cliff & Springbourne; East Southbourne & Tuckton; Littledown & Ilford; Moordown; Muscliff & Strouden Park; Queen's Park; and West Southbourne.
    Very small change following re-organisation of local authorities and wards in Dorset.

## History

This was a safe seat for the Conservatives since its creation in 1974 with Liberal-inclined candidates being their main opponents, the Labour Party finishing a distant second place on only one occasion in a 1977 by-election.
Labour finished second behind the Conservatives for the first time in a General Election in 2015, with a large swing in their favour in 2017, as wards within Bournemouth East were beginning to swing to Labour, particularly Boscombe, with Labour eventually winning the seat in 2024 for the first time on a swing of 15%.

## Members of Parliament

| Election | Member | Party |
| Feb 1974 | John Cordle | Conservative |
| 1977 by-election | David Atkinson | Conservative |
| 2005 | Tobias Ellwood | Conservative |
| 2022 | Tobias Ellwood | Independent |
| 2022 | Tobias Ellwood | Conservative |
| 2024 | Tom Hayes | Labour |

## Elections
### Elections in the 2020s

General election 2024: Bournemouth East :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Tom Hayes | 18,316 | 40.8 | +8.1 |
| | Conservative | Tobias Ellwood | 12,837 | 28.6 | −22.0 |
| | Reform UK | Martin Houlden | 6,268 | 14.0 | N/A |
| | Liberal Democrats | Jon Nicholas | 3,082 | 6.9 | −4.1 |
| | Green | Joe Salmon | 2,790 | 6.2 | +2.0 |
| | Independent | Kieron Wilson | 1,529 | 3.4 | N/A |
| | SDP | Miles Penn | 88 | 0.2 | N/A |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 5,479 | 12.2 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 44,910 | 61.2 | –5.3 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 73,352 | | |
| | Labour gain from Conservative | Labour gain from Conservative | Swing | +15.0 | |

### Elections in the 2010s

General election 2019: Bournemouth East :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Tobias Ellwood | 24,926 | 50.6 | –1.3 |
| | Labour | Corrie Drew | 16,120 | 32.7 | –2.9 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Philip Dunn | 5,418 | 11.0 | +4.5 |
| | Green | Alasdair Keddie | 2,049 | 4.2 | +1.7 |
| | Independent | Ben Aston | 447 | 0.9 | N/A |
| | Independent | Emma Johnson | 314 | 0.6 | N/A |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 8,806 | 17.9 | +1.6 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 49,274 | 66.5 | +1.3 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | +0.8 | |
General election 2017: Bournemouth East :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Tobias Ellwood | 25,221 | 51.9 | +2.9 |
| | Labour | Mel Semple | 17,284 | 35.6 | +19.0 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Jon Nicholas | 3,168 | 6.5 | –1.9 |
| | UKIP | David Hughes | 1,405 | 2.9 | –13.6 |
| | Green | Alasdair Keddie | 1,236 | 2.5 | –4.8 |
| | Independent | Kieron Wilson | 304 | 0.6 | N/A |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 7,937 | 16.3 | –16.3 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 48,618 | 65.2 | +2.6 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | –8.1 | |
General election 2015: Bournemouth East :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Tobias Ellwood | 22,060 | 49.0 | +0.6 |
| | Labour | Peter Stokes | 7,448 | 16.6 | +3.3 |
| | UKIP | David Hughes | 7,401 | 16.5 | +9.6 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Jon Nicholas | 3,752 | 8.4 | −22.5 |
| | Green | Alasdair Keddie | 3,263 | 7.3 | N/A |
| | Independent | David Ross | 903 | 2.0 | N/A |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 14,612 | 32.6 | +15.1 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 45,014 | 62.6 | +0.7 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | | |
General election 2010: Bournemouth East :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Tobias Ellwood | 21,320 | 48.4 | +3.4 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Lisa Northover | 13,592 | 30.9 | −0.2 |
| | Labour | David Stokes | 5,836 | 13.3 | −5.8 |
| | UKIP | David Hughes | 3,027 | 6.9 | +2.1 |
| | Independent | Steven Humphrey | 249 | 0.6 | N/A |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 7,728 | 17.5 | +3.6 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 44,024 | 61.9 | +2.6 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | +1.8 | |

### Elections in the 2000s

General election 2005: Bournemouth East :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Tobias Ellwood | 16,925 | 45.0 | +1.7 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Andrew Garratt | 11,681 | 31.1 | −2.6 |
| | Labour | David Stokes | 7,191 | 19.1 | −0.8 |
| | UKIP | Thomas Collier | 1,802 | 4.8 | +1.7 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 5,244 | 13.9 | +4.3 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 37,599 | 59.3 | +1.1 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | +2.2 | |
General election 2001: Bournemouth East :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | David Atkinson | 15,501 | 43.3 | +1.9 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Andrew Garratt | 12,067 | 33.7 | +2.3 |
| | Labour | Paul Nicholson | 7,107 | 19.9 | −1.3 |
| | UKIP | George Chamberlaine | 1,124 | 3.1 | +1.3 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 3,434 | 9.6 | −0.4 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 35,799 | 58.2 | −12.0 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | | |

### Elections in the 1990s

General election 1997: Bournemouth East :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | David Atkinson | 17,997 | 41.4 | −14.0 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Douglas Eyre | 13,655 | 31.4 | +0.4 |
| | Labour | Jessica Stevens | 9,181 | 21.2 | +8.3 |
| | Referendum | Alan Musgrave-Scott | 1,808 | 4.2 | N/A |
| | UKIP | Kenneth Benney | 791 | 1.8 | N/A |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 4,346 | 10.01 | −14.4 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 43,432 | 70.21 | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | | |
General election 1992: Bournemouth East :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | David Atkinson | 30,820 | 56.4 | −1.9 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Neil Russell | 15,998 | 29.3 | −1.3 |
| | Labour | Peter Brushett | 7,541 | 13.8 | +2.7 |
| | Natural Law | Susan Holmes | 329 | 0.6 | N/A |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 14,822 | 27.1 | −0.6 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 54,688 | 72.8 | +2.3 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | -0.3 | |

### Elections in the 1980s

General election 1987: Bournemouth East :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | David Atkinson | 30,925 | 58.3 | +4.8 |
| | Liberal | John Millward | 16,242 | 30.6 | +1.4 |
| | Labour | Ian Taylor | 5,885 | 11.1 | +2.6 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 14,683 | 27.7 | +3.4 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 53,052 | 70.5 | +3.9 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | | |
General election 1983: Bournemouth East :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | David Atkinson | 25,176 | 53.5 | −9.2 |
| | Liberal | John Millward | 13,760 | 29.2 | +12.7 |
| | Labour | Michael Shutler | 4,026 | 8.5 | −9.9 |
| | Ind. Conservative | Phyllis Hogarth | 3,644 | 7.7 | N/A |
| | Ecology | Trevor Dykes | 273 | 0.6 | −0.7 |
| | Monster Raving Loony | Jeremy Stooks | 225 | 0.5 | N/A |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 11,416 | 24.3 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 47,104 | 66.6 | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | −11.0 | |

### Elections in the 1970s

General election 1979: Bournemouth East :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | David Atkinson | 25,808 | 62.6 | +10.8 |
| | Labour | Joseph Goodwin | 7,553 | 18.3 | −2.7 |
| | Liberal | Donald Matthew | 6,738 | 16.4 | −8.8 |
| | New Britain | John Philip Pratt | 581 | 1.4 | N/A |
| | Ecology | Jacqueline Mary Dempsey | 523 | 1.3 | N/A |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 18,255 | 44.3 | +17.7 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 41,203 | 73.1 | +2.6 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | | |
By-election 1977: Bournemouth East :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | David Atkinson | 15,235 | 62.1 | +10.3 |
| | Labour | Joseph Goodwin | 3,684 | 15.0 | −6.0 |
| | Liberal | Donald Matthew | 3,212 | 13.1 | −12.1 |
| | New Britain | John Philip Pratt | 1,127 | 4.6 | N/A |
| | National Front | Kenneth Roderick McKilliam | 725 | 3.0 | +0.9 |
| | International Marxist | Brian Heron | 494 | 1.4 | N/A |
| | Democratic Monarchist, Public Safety, White Resident | Bill Boaks | 42 | 0.2 | N/A |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 11,551 | 47.1 | +20.5 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 24,519 | 24.5 | −46.0 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | | |
General election October 1974: Bournemouth East :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | John Cordle | 20,790 | 51.8 | +1.6 |
| | Liberal | George Hamilton Musgrave | 10,129 | 25.2 | −4.1 |
| | Labour | Desmond Earle Lock | 8,422 | 21.0 | +4.3 |
| | National Front | Michael John Hayes | 828 | 2.1 | +0.1 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 10,661 | 26.6 | +5.7 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 40,149 | 70.5 | −8.1 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | | |
General election February 1974: Bournemouth East :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | John Cordle | 22,319 | 50.2 | |
| | Liberal | George Hamilton Musgrave | 13,005 | 29.3 | |
| | Labour | Desmond Earle Lock | 7,423 | 16.7 | |
| | National Front | Michael John Hayes | 875 | 2.0 | |
| | Anti-EEC | Alan Stanley Reynolds | 834 | 1.9 | |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 9,314 | 20.95 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 44,456 | 78.6 | |
| | Conservative win (new seat) | Conservative win (new seat) | Conservative win (new seat) | Conservative win (new seat) | Conservative win (new seat) |