Christchurch (UK Parliament constituency)

Christchurch
County constituency for the House of Commons
Boundary of Christchurch in Dorset.
Location of Dorset within England.
County	1983– Dorset 1572–1918: Hampshire
Population	83,596 (2011 census)
Electorate	69,008 (December 2010)
Major settlements	Christchurch
Current constituency
Created	1983
Member of parliament	Christopher Chope (Conservative)
Number of members	One
Created from	Christchurch and Lymington, North Dorset, New Forest
1572–1918
Number of members	1572–1832: Two 1832–1918: One
Type of constituency	Borough constituency
Replaced by	New Forest and Christchurch
Overlaps
European Parliament constituency	South West England

Christchurch is a constituency represented in the House of Commons of the UK Parliament since 1997 by Christopher Chope of the Conservative Party. Centred on the town of the same name in Dorset that has a non-commercial harbour it includes the small resort of Mudeford, Ferndown, West Moors, St Leonards and station-served woodside settlement of Highcliffe and has been a Conservative safe seat since 1997.

The original Christchurch constituency, a parliamentary borough, existed from 1572 until 1918.

The constituency was re-created as a county constituency in 1983 from parts of the seats of Christchurch and Lymington, North Dorset and New Forest. It has since 1983 seen strong Conservative majorities, with the exception of a 1993 by-election caused by the death of Robert Adley when it was won by Diana Maddock a Liberal Democrat. The Conservatives regained the seat at the next general election in 1997, despite their landslide defeat nationally and Chris Chope has retained it ever since.