Borough of Poole - Governance - Parliamentary Representation

Parliamentary Representation

Poole is represented by three parliamentary constituencies in the House of Commons; Poole, Mid Dorset and North Poole, and Bournemouth West, Alderney and Branskome East. The borough constituency of Poole has existed since 1950. Previously the town had been a parliamentary borough, electing two Members of Parliament from 1455 until 1865 when representation was reduced to one member. In 1885 the constituency was abolished altogether and absorbed into the East Dorset constituency until its reintroduction in 1950. Robert Syms (Conservative) has been the Member of Parliament since 1997. At the 2010 general election, the Conservatives won a majority of 7,541 and 47.5% of the vote. The Liberal Democrats won 31.6% of the vote, Labour 12.7%, the UK Independence Party 5.3% and the British National Party 2.5%. The county constituency of Mid Dorset and North Poole was created in 1997 and includes the north east of Poole, Wimborne Minster, Wareham and extends into rural Dorset. Annette Brooke (Liberal Democrat) has been the Member of Parliament since 2001. At the 2010 general election, the Liberal Democrats won with a majority of 269 and 45.1% of the vote in Mid Dorset and North Poole. The Conservatives won 44.5% of the vote, Labour 5.9% and the UK Independence Party 4.15%. Poole is included in the South West England constituency for elections to the European Parliament.