# South Dorset (UK Parliament constituency)

South Dorset is a constituency represented in the House of Commons of the UK Parliament since 2024 by Lloyd Hatton, of the Labour Party.

## History
### Formation

The constituency was created as a consequence of the Redistribution of Seats Act 1885. The Act reduced the number of MPs in Dorset from 10 to 4 (see Redistribution of Seats in England, 1885). It was initially proposed to name the new constituencies after existing boroughs (Shaftesbury, Dorchester, Poole and Bridport) but, following an amendment in the Commons on 14 April 1885, the names were changed to the points of the compass (North Dorset, South Dorset, East Dorset, West Dorset).
The South Dorset constituency was divided into 7 polling districts. Dorchester was chosen as the place where the nomination of candidates would take place and the result would be declared. The area covered was:
* Broadwey polling district: Bincombe, Broadwey, Buckland Ripers, Preston and Sutton Poyntz, Upwey
* Chesilton polling district: Portland
* Dorchester polling district: Bockhampton-cum-Stinsford, Bradford Peverell and Muckleford, Charminster, Dorchester All Saints, Dorchester Holy Trinity, Dorchester St Peter, Fordington, Stratton and Grimstone, West Knighton, West Stafford, Whitcombe, Winterborne Came, Winterborne Herringstone, Winterborne Monkton, Winterborne St Martin
* Melcombe Regis polling district: Chickerell, Fleet, Melcombe Regis, Radipole, Weymouth, Wyke Regis
* Poxwell polling district: Broadmayne, Osmington, Poxwell, Warmwell, Watercombe
* Puddletown polling district: Affpuddle, Athelhampton, Burleston, Dewlish, Piddlehinton, Puddletown, Tincleton, Tolpuddle, Turners Puddle, Woodsford
* Winfrith polling district: Chaldon Herring, Coombe Keynes, East Lulworth, Moreton, Owermoigne, West Lulworth, Winfrith Newburgh, Wool

### Recent history

In the 1997 election the seat was won by Ian Bruce by a margin of only 77 votes, one of the smallest margins in the UK. The 2001 election saw the second Labour win in South Dorset's history with Labour's smallest majority in England, at 153. In the 2005 election this constituency was one of the few in which Labour significantly increased their majority. Conservative candidate Ed Matts was found to have doctored an image which was part of his campaign material. Matts changed a photo of a protest against the deportation of a South Dorset resident, so that it appeared to be a protest against "uncontrolled immigration". In both elections, the left-wing singer-songwriter Billy Bragg led an anti-Conservative tactical voting campaign in Dorset constituencies.
The 2010 election saw Conservative Richard Drax, a former soldier and journalist from a long line of Dorset representatives, defeating the incumbent Jim Knight, who ended his final year in parliament as the Minister (of State) for Employment and Welfare Reform. Richard Drax retained the seat in 2015 election with an increased majority.
The 2024 election saw Labour candidate Lloyd Hatton defeat Richard Drax.

## Boundaries

1885–1918: The Municipal Boroughs of Dorchester, and Weymouth and Melcombe Regis, and parts of the Sessional Divisions of Dorchester and Wareham.
1918–1950: The Municipal Boroughs of Wareham, and Weymouth and Melcombe Regis, the Urban Districts of Portland and Swanage, the Rural District of Wareham and Purbeck, and the part of the Rural District of Weymouth that was not included in the Dorset West constituency (i.e. Bincombe, Broadwey, Chickerell, Fleet, Osmington, Owermoigne, Poxwell, Preston, Radipole, Upwey and Wyke Regis).
1950–1983: The Municipal Boroughs of Wareham, and Weymouth and Melcombe Regis, the Urban Districts of Portland and Swanage, the Rural District of Wareham and Purbeck, and in the Rural District of Dorchester the civil parishes of Bincombe, Chickerell, Fleet, Osmington, Owermoigne, and Poxwell.
1983–1997: The Borough of Weymouth and Portland, the District of Purbeck wards of Bere Regis, Castle, Langton, St Martin, Swanage North, Swanage South, Wareham, West Purbeck, Winfrith, and Wool, and the District of West Dorset ward of Owermoigne.
1997–2010: The Borough of Weymouth and Portland, the District of Purbeck wards of Castle, Langton, Swanage North, Swanage South, West Purbeck, Winfrith, and Wool, and the District of West Dorset ward of Owermoigne.
2010–2024: The Borough of Weymouth and Portland, the District of Purbeck wards of Castle, Creech Barrow, Langton, Swanage North, Swanage South, West Purbeck, Winfrith, and Wool, and the District of West Dorset ward of Owermoigne.
2024–present: The District of Dorset wards of Chickerell, Crossways, Littlemoor & Preston, Melcombe Regis, Portland, Radipole, Rodwell & Wyke, South East Purbeck, Swanage, Upwey & Broadwey, polling districts WPU1 and WPU4 through to WPU13 in West Purbeck, and Westham
Minor changes following re-organisation of local authorities and wards in Dorset.

## Constituency profile

The seat includes the coastal areas to the south of the county of Dorset, plus some rural Purbeck territory further inland. The port of Weymouth is one of the few large towns in Dorset and its suburbs extend onto the Wyke Regis peninsula and the isle of Portland, connected to the mainland by road (and, in the past, rail).
The constituency includes Bovington army camp, and further east, Corfe Castle, connected by the preserved Swanage Railway steam railway to the holiday resort of Swanage. This part of the seat is closer to Poole and Bournemouth than to Weymouth.
Workless claimants were in November 2012 significantly lower than the national average of 3.8%, at 2.8% of the population based on a statistical compilation by The Guardian.

## Members of Parliament

| Election | Member | Party |
| 1885 | Henry Parkman Sturgis | Liberal |
| 1886 | Charles J. T. Hambro | Conservative |
| 1891 by-election | William Brymer | Conservative |
| 1906 | Thomas Scarisbrick | Liberal |
| 1910 | Angus Hambro | Conservative |
| 1918 | Angus Hambro | Coalition Conservative |
| 1922 | Robert Yerburgh | Conservative |
| 1929 | Robert Gascoyne-Cecil | Conservative |
| 1941 by-election | Victor Montagu | Conservative |
| 1962 by-election | Guy Barnett | Labour |
| 1964 | Evelyn King | Conservative |
| 1979 | Robert Gascoyne-Cecil | Conservative |
| 1987 | Ian Bruce | Conservative |
| 2001 | Jim Knight | Labour |
| 2010 | Richard Drax | Conservative |
| 2024 | Lloyd Hatton | Labour |

## Elections
### Elections in the 2020s

General election 2024: South Dorset :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Lloyd Hatton | 15,659 | 31.9 | +7.1 |
| | Conservative | Richard Drax | 14,611 | 29.8 | −29.4 |
| | Reform UK | Morgan Young | 8,168 | 16.7 | N/A |
| | Liberal Democrats | Matt Bell | 8,017 | 16.3 | +5.6 |
| | Green | Catherine Bennett | 2,153 | 4.4 | ±0.0 |
| | Independent | Joy Wilson | 192 | 0.4 | N/A |
| | Independent | Giovanna Lewis | 185 | 0.4 | N/A |
| | Independent | Rosie Morrell | 52 | 0.1 | N/A |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,048 | 2.1 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 49,037 | 64.6 | –4.2 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 75,924 | | |
| | Labour gain from Conservative | Labour gain from Conservative | Swing | 18.3 | |

### Elections in the 2010s

2019 notional result :
| Party | Party | Vote | % |
| | Conservative | 31,209 | 59.2 |
| | Labour | 13,062 | 24.8 |
| | Liberal Democrats | 5,628 | 10.7 |
| | Green | 2,335 | 4.4 |
| | Others | 485 | 0.9 |
| Turnout | Turnout | 52,719 | 68.8 |
| Electorate | Electorate | 76,640 |
General election 2019: South Dorset :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Richard Drax | 30,024 | 58.8 | +2.7 |
| | Labour | Carralyn Parkes | 12,871 | 25.2 | −8.4 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Nick Ireland | 5,432 | 10.6 | +4.7 |
| | Green | Jon Orrell | 2,246 | 4.4 | 0.0 |
| | Independent | Joseph Green | 485 | 0.9 | New |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 17,153 | 33.6 | +11.1 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 51,058 | 69.4 | +0.7 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | +5.5 | |
General election 2017: South Dorset :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Richard Drax | 29,135 | 56.1 | +7.4 |
| | Labour | Tashi Warr | 17,440 | 33.6 | +9.4 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Howard Legg | 3,053 | 5.9 | −0.1 |
| | Green | Jon Orrell | 2,278 | 4.4 | −0.3 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 11,695 | 22.5 | −2.0 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 51,906 | 68.7 | +0.6 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | –1.0 | |
General election 2015: South Dorset :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Richard Drax | 23,756 | 48.7 | +3.6 |
| | Labour | Simon Bowkett | 11,762 | 24.2 | −6.1 |
| | UKIP | Malcolm Shakesby | 7,304 | 15.0 | +11.0 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Howard Legg | 2,901 | 6.0 | −13.0 |
| | Green | Jane Burnet | 2,275 | 4.7 | +3.5 |
| | Independent | Mervyn Stewkesbury | 435 | 0.9 | New |
| | Movement for Active Democracy | Andy Kirkwood | 164 | 0.3 | −0.2 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 11,994 | 24.5 | +9.7 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 48,737 | 68.1 | −0.5 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | +4.9 | |
General election 2010: South Dorset :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Richard Drax | 22,667 | 45.1 | +7.1 |
| | Labour | Jim Knight | 15,224 | 30.3 | −11.4 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Ros Kayes | 9,557 | 19.0 | +3.2 |
| | UKIP | Mike Hobson | 2,034 | 4.0 | +0.8 |
| | Green | Brian Heatley | 595 | 1.2 | New |
| | Movement for Active Democracy | Andy Kirkwood | 233 | 0.5 | New |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 7,443 | 14.8 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 50,310 | 68.6 | −0.8 |
| | Conservative gain from Labour | Conservative gain from Labour | Swing | +9.3 | |

### Elections in the 2000s

General election 2005: South Dorset :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Jim Knight | 20,231 | 41.6 | −0.4 |
| | Conservative | Ed Matts | 18,419 | 37.9 | −3.7 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Graham Oakes | 7,647 | 15.7 | +1.3 |
| | UKIP | Hugh Chalker | 1,571 | 3.2 | +1.2 |
| | Legalise Cannabis | Vic Hamilton | 282 | 0.6 | New |
| | Respect | Berny Parkes | 219 | 0.5 | New |
| | Personality and Rational Thinking? Yes! Party | Andy Kirkwood | 107 | 0.2 | New |
| | Wessex Regionalist | Colin Bex | 83 | 0.2 | New |
| | Socialist Labour | David Marchesi | 25 | 0.1 | New |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,812 | 3.7 | +3.3 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 48,584 | 69.4 | +3.9 |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | +1.7 | |
General election 2001: South Dorset :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Jim Knight | 19,027 | 42.0 | +6.1 |
| | Conservative | Ian Bruce | 18,874 | 41.6 | +5.5 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Andy Canning | 6,531 | 14.4 | −5.8 |
| | UKIP | Laurie Moss | 913 | 2.0 | +0.3 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 153 | 0.4 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 45,345 | 65.5 | −8.5 |
| | Labour gain from Conservative | Labour gain from Conservative | Swing | +0.3 | |

### Elections in the 1990s

General election 1997: South Dorset :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Ian Bruce | 17,755 | 36.1 | −14.2 |
| | Labour | Jim Knight | 17,678 | 35.9 | +14.8 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Mike Plummer | 9,936 | 20.2 | −6.9 |
| | Referendum | Patrick C. McAndrew | 2,791 | 5.7 | New |
| | UKIP | Malcolm Shakesby | 861 | 1.8 | New |
| | Natural Law | Gerald T.H. Napper | 161 | 0.3 | |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 77 | 0.2 | −23.0 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 49,182 | 74.0 | −2.9 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | −14.5 | |
General election 1992: South Dorset :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Ian Bruce | 29,319 | 50.3 | −4.5 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Brian E.J. Ellis | 15,811 | 27.1 | −0.4 |
| | Labour | Alan Chedzoy | 12,298 | 21.1 | +3.9 |
| | Independent | JW Hagel | 673 | 1.2 | New |
| | Natural Law | MRF Griffiths | 191 | 0.3 | New |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 13,508 | 23.2 | −4.2 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 58,292 | 76.9 | +1.3 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | −2.1 | |

### Elections in the 1980s

General election 1987: South Dorset :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Ian Bruce | 30,184 | 54.8 | −2.3 |
| | Liberal | Brian Ellis | 15,117 | 27.5 | +0.5 |
| | Labour | Brenda Dench | 9,494 | 17.3 | +1.7 |
| | Independent | Alistair Hayler | 244 | 0.4 | New |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 15,067 | 27.3 | −2.8 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 55,039 | 75.6 | +2.9 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | -1.4 | |
General election 1983: South Dorset :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Robert Gascoyne-Cecil | 28,631 | 57.1 | +1.4 |
| | SDP | Simon Head | 13,533 | 27.0 | New |
| | Labour | David Hewitt | 7,831 | 15.6 | −12.9 |
| | Independent | B.O. Smith | 151 | 0.3 | New |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 15,098 | 30.1 | +3.9 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 50,146 | 72.7 | −5.6 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | | |

### Elections in the 1970s

General election 1979: South Dorset :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Conservative | Robert Gascoyne-Cecil | 32,372 | 55.67 |
| | Labour | Alan Chedzoy | 17,133 | 29.46 |
| | Liberal | P St. J Howe | 8,649 | 14.87 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 15,239 | 26.21 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 58,154 | 78.33 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | |
General election October 1974: South Dorset :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Conservative | Evelyn King | 24,351 | 45.88 |
| | Labour | Alan Chedzoy | 17,652 | 33.26 |
| | Liberal | C Sandy | 11,075 | 20.87 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 6,699 | 12.62 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 53,078 | 75.38 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | |
General election February 1974: South Dorset :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Conservative | Evelyn King | 26,933 | 46.93 |
| | Labour | Alan Chedzoy | 18,318 | 31.92 |
| | Liberal | DT Broomfield | 12,140 | 21.15 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 8,615 | 15.01 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 57,391 | 82.19 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | |
General election 1970: South Dorset :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Conservative | Evelyn King | 27,580 | 52.06 |
| | Labour | Richard May | 20,716 | 39.10 |
| | Liberal | Keith Searby | 4,680 | 8.83 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 6,864 | 12.96 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 52,976 | 78.98 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | |

### Elections in the 1960s

General election 1966: South Dorset :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Conservative | Evelyn King | 22,997 | 46.01 |
| | Labour | Frederick W Morgan | 21,120 | 42.26 |
| | Liberal | Geoffrey Maxwell Goode | 5,862 | 11.72 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,877 | 3.75 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 49,979 | 81.00 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | |
General election 1964: South Dorset :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Conservative | Evelyn King | 21,209 | 43.66 |
| | Labour | Guy Barnett | 20,274 | 41.73 |
| | Liberal | Terence Bourke | 7,100 | 14.61 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 935 | 1.93 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 48,583 | 81.02 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | |
1962 South Dorset by-election :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Guy Barnett | 13,783 | 33.51 | −1.16 |
| | Conservative | Angus Maude | 13,079 | 31.79 | −17.99 |
| | Liberal | Lawrence I Norbury-Williams | 8,910 | 21.66 | +6.11 |
| | Anti Common Market | Piers Debenham | 5,057 | 12.29 | New |
| | Independent | P. Burn | 181 | 0.44 | New |
| | Independent | M. Fudge | 82 | 0.20 | New |
| | Independent | J.C. O'Connor | 45 | 0.11 | New |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 704 | 1.72 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 41,137 | | |
| | Labour gain from Conservative | Labour gain from Conservative | Swing | | |

### Elections in the 1950s

General election 1959: South Dorset :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Conservative | Victor Montagu | 22,050 | 49.78 |
| | Labour | Conrad F Ascher | 15,357 | 34.67 |
| | Liberal | Lawrence I Norbury-Williams | 6,887 | 15.55 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 6,693 | 15.11 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 44,294 | 78.82 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | |
General election 1955: South Dorset :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Conservative | Victor Montagu | 22,119 | 50.71 |
| | Labour | Frederick Newman Stacey | 16,702 | 38.29 |
| | Liberal | Geoffrey Maxwell Goode | 4,798 | 11.00 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 5,417 | 12.42 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 43,619 | 79.25 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | |
General election 1951: South Dorset :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Conservative | Victor Montagu | 21,679 | 48.25 |
| | Labour | Frederick Newman Stacey | 18,244 | 40.61 |
| | Liberal | Wilfred Ewart Ward | 5,005 | 11.14 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 3,435 | 7.64 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 44,928 | 83.98 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | |
General election 1950: South Dorset :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Conservative | Victor Montagu | 20,014 | 45.51 |
| | Labour | Frederick Newman Stacey | 17,471 | 39.73 |
| | Liberal | Wyatt Trevelyan Rawson Rawson | 6,489 | 14.76 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 2,543 | 5.78 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 43,974 | 84.38 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | |

### Elections in the 1940s

General election 1945: Dorset Southern :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Conservative | Victor Montagu | 14,626 | 42.72 |
| | Labour | Philip Sidney Eastman | 12,460 | 36.40 |
| | Liberal | Wilfred Ewart Ward | 7,149 | 20.88 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 2,166 | 6.32 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 34,235 | 73.60 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | |
1941 South Dorset by-election :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Victor Montagu | Unopposed | N/A | N/A |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold |
General Election 1939–40:
Another general election was required to take place before the end of 1940. The political parties had been making preparations for an election to take place from 1939 and by the end of this year, the following candidates had been selected;
* Conservative: Robert Gascoyne-Cecil
* Liberal: Frederick William King
* Labour: Philip Sidney Eastman

### Elections in the 1930s

General election 1935: Dorset Southern :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Robert Gascoyne-Cecil | 17,637 | 57.88 | |
| | Labour | Arthur William Wiltshire | 8,580 | 28.16 | |
| | Liberal | Frederick William King | 4,255 | 13.96 | New |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 9,057 | 29.72 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 30,472 | 70.05 | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | | |
General election 1931: Dorset Southern :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Conservative | Robert Gascoyne-Cecil | 21,284 | 70.73 |
| | Labour | Arthur William Wiltshire | 8,809 | 29.27 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 12,475 | 41.46 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 30,093 | 73.29 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | |

### Elections in the 1920s

General election 1929: Dorset South :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Unionist | Robert Gascoyne-Cecil | 14,632 | 49.2 | −21.3 |
| | Liberal | Cuthbert Plaistowe | 8,168 | 27.4 | New |
| | Labour | Arthur William Wiltshire | 6,959 | 23.4 | −6.1 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 6,464 | 21.8 | −19.2 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 29,759 | 75.5 | +9.4 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 39,396 | | |
| | Unionist hold | Unionist hold | Swing | −7.6 | |
General election 1924: South Dorset :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Unionist | Robert Yerburgh | 13,900 | 70.5 | +17.0 |
| | Labour | W Ridson | 5,821 | 29.5 | +12.0 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 8,079 | 41.0 | +15.5 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 19,721 | 66.1 | −5.5 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 29,845 | | |
| | Unionist hold | Unionist hold | Swing | +2.5 | |
General election 1923: South Dorset :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Unionist | Robert Yerburgh | 11,057 | 53.5 | −3.7 |
| | Liberal | Robert Comben | 5,973 | 29.0 | +7.0 |
| | Labour | David Wyndham Thomas | 3,602 | 17.5 | −3.3 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 5,084 | 24.5 | −10.7 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 20,632 | 71.6 | −3.6 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 28,810 | | |
| | Unionist hold | Unionist hold | Swing | −5.4 | |
General election 1922: South Dorset :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Unionist | Robert Yerburgh | 12,121 | 57.2 | −11.2 |
| | Liberal | Fred Maddison | 4,657 | 22.0 | New |
| | Labour | Henry Pavely | 4,394 | 20.8 | −10.8 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 7,464 | 35.2 | −1.6 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 21,172 | 75.2 | +17.3 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 28,149 | | |
| | Unionist hold | Unionist hold | Swing | −0.2 | |

### Elections in the 1910s

General election 1918: South Dorset :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| C | Unionist | Angus Hambro | 11,175 | 68.4 | N/A |
| | Labour | Brett Morgan | 5,159 | 31.6 | New |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 6,016 | 36.8 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 16,334 | 57.9 | N/A |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 28,224 | | |
| | Unionist hold | Unionist hold | Swing | N/A | |
| C indicates candidate endorsed by the coalition government. ||||||
General election December 1910: South Dorset :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Unionist | Angus Hambro | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| | Unionist hold | Unionist hold | Unionist hold | Unionist hold | Unionist hold |
General election January 1910: South Dorset :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Angus Hambro | 5,811 | 57.0 | +10.3 |
| | Liberal | Thomas Scarisbrick | 4,379 | 43.0 | −10.3 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,432 | 14.0 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 10,190 | 89.1 | +2.0 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 11,440 | | |
| | Conservative gain from Liberal | Conservative gain from Liberal | Swing | +10.3 | |

### Elections in the 1900s

General election 1906: South Dorset :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | Thomas Scarisbrick | 5,035 | 53.3 | +5.8 |
| | Conservative | William Brymer | 4,411 | 46.7 | −5.8 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 624 | 6.6 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 9,446 | 87.1 | +4.9 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 10,845 | | |
| | Liberal gain from Conservative | Liberal gain from Conservative | Swing | +5.8 | |
General election 1900: South Dorset :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | William Brymer | 3,884 | 52.5 | N/A |
| | Liberal | Leslie Renton | 3,519 | 47.5 | New |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 365 | 5.0 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 7,403 | 82.2 | N/A |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 9,011 | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | N/A | |

### Elections in the 1890s

General election 1895: South Dorset :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | William Brymer | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold |
General election 1892: South Dorset :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | William Brymer | 3,657 | 51.2 | −7.1 |
| | Liberal | Robert Edgcumbe | 3,489 | 48.8 | +7.1 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 168 | 2.4 | −14.2 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 7,146 | 86.0 | +4.5 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 8,310 | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | −7.1 | |
1891 South Dorset by-election :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | William Brymer | 3,278 | 50.3 | −8.0 |
| | Liberal | Robert Edgcumbe | 3,238 | 49.7 | +8.0 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 40 | 0.6 | −16.0 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 6,516 | 84.0 | +2.5 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 7,757 | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | −8.0 | |

### Elections in the 1880s

General election 1886: South Dorset :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Charles J. T. Hambro | 3,477 | 58.3 | +8.6 |
| | Liberal | Henry Parkman Sturgis | 2,486 | 41.7 | −8.6 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 991 | 16.6 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 5,963 | 81.5 | −3.6 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 7,316 | | |
| | Conservative gain from Liberal | Conservative gain from Liberal | Swing | +8.6 | |
General election 1885: South Dorset :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | Henry Parkman Sturgis | 3,128 | 50.3 | |
| | Conservative | Charles J. T. Hambro | 3,095 | 49.7 | |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 33 | 0.6 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 6,223 | 85.1 | |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 7,316 | | |
| | Liberal win (new seat) | Liberal win (new seat) | Liberal win (new seat) | Liberal win (new seat) | Liberal win (new seat) |