Derbyshire Dales ( DAR-bee-sheer, -shər) is a constituency that has been represented in the House of Commons of the UK Parliament since 2024 by John Whitby of the Labour Party. The constituency was created for the 2010 general election, largely replacing the West Derbyshire seat.
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Constituency profile
Derbyshire Dales is a large, rural constituency located in Derbyshire which mostly falls within the Peak District National Park. The largest town in the constituency is Matlock, which has a population of around 12,000 and serves as the county town. Other settlements in the constituency include the small towns of Ashbourne, Bakewell, Wirksworth and Darley Dale and the large village of Hilton. The area is popular with tourists, especially in Bakewell and the spa resort of Matlock Bath. The constituency is generally affluent, particularly so in Bakewell and Hilton.
On average, residents of the constituency are older and more religious than the rest of the country. Household income is high, and residents are more likely to be degree-educated and work in professional occupations. At the 2021 census, White people made up 97% of the population. Local politics (district and county) are mixed; Matlock is represented by Liberal Democrat councillors, the south of the constituency around Ashbourne elected Conservatives, Wirksworth has Labour Party representatives and Greens were elected in the more rural north. The Ashbourne and Hilton areas also have Reform UK representation at the county council. An estimated 52% of voters in the constituency supported leaving the European Union in the 2016 referendum, identical to the nationwide figure.
History
Following their review of parliamentary representation in Derbyshire, the Boundary Commission for England created a new constituency of Derbyshire Dales which is almost coterminous with the previous seat of West Derbyshire. At the first four elections of its existence, it elected Conservative MPs by safe margins, with the fifth such election seeing Labour gain the seat for the first time since 1945.
Boundaries
2010–2024
The District of Derbyshire Dales, and the Borough of Amber Valley wards of Alport, Crich and South West Parishes.
Current
Following the 2023 review of Westminster constituencies, which came into effect for the 2024 general election, the composition of the constituency is as follows (as they existed on 1 December 2020):
the Borough of Amber Valley wards of Alport and Crich1 (South West Parishes ward transferred to Mid Derbyshire)
the District of Derbyshire Dales
the District of South Derbyshire wards of Hilton and Hatton (transferred from South Derbyshire)
1 Further to a local government boundary review which came into effect in May 2023, the area in the Borough of Amber Valley comprises parts of the wards of Alport & South West Parishes and Crich & South Wingfield.
Members of Parliament
West Derbyshire prior to 2010