General Election 2024

After a long five years that included a global pandemic and no less than three different Prime Ministers, we are again taking to the polls on Thursday 4 July 2024 to decide who governs the UK.

Pier Journal exists to celebrate and promote the creative culture of Dorset - showcasing all the amazing people, places and organsiations that make this brilliant county what it is. A community of changemakers, innovators and collaborators.

We want to see political leadership that supports and encourages more creative culture and sustainable communities. Dorset deserves MPs that can give us a strong voice in Westminster and help the local area to shine.

The candidates

So, we approached the candidates from all main political parties (Conservative, Labour, Liberal Democrat and Green) to ask them what they’d do to help Dorset’s creative culture thrive if elected/re-elected.

We asked them three questions:

  1. What action would you take as MP to support/sustain/encourage creative culture (arts, events, innovation and creative collaboration) in Dorset?

  2. If elected, how would you support local independent businesses and freelancers?

  3. What role do you see politicians playing in fostering pride in your local area, and what steps would you take to do so?

Out of the 32 candidates we approached (and chased!), eight responded with a video, which you can watch below:

Tom Hayes (Lab)
Bournemouth East

Joe Salmon (Green)
Bournemouth East

Jessica Toale (Lab)
Bournemouth West

Darren Jones (Green)
Bournemouth West

Joanna Howard (Lab)
Christchurch

Candice Johnson-Cole (Lab)
Mid-Dorset & North Poole

Neil Duncan-Jordan (Lab)
Poole

Lloyd Hatton (Lab)
South Dorset

General Election 2024 - Dorset overview

The county of Dorset is home to eight parliamentary constituencies: North Dorset, West Dorset, South Dorset, Poole, Christchurch, Bournemouth West, Bournemouth East, Mid Dorset & North Poole. All of the current Dorset MPs are Conservative MPs, all male, all white and all standing for re-election.

As in previous years, male candidates dominate the candidate lists; three out of four Dorset candidates standing with the four main parties are male, with just eight female candidates - half of whom are Labour candidates (constituting a 50:50 male to female split).

How candidates value creative culture

Disappointingly, not one Conservative candidate in Dorset submitted a video to us (although Tobias Ellwood, MP for Bournemouth East, at least replied saying he would!).

Almost all Labour candidates responded to our request (*high fives*), with six videos submitted within the deadline as they campaign hard to win seats in Dorset. They’ve marked all bar one Dorset constituency as key battlegrounds to unseat longstanding Conservative MPs.

Bournemouth’s two Green Party candidates shared a video with us, but unfortunately no Liberal Democrat candidates in Dorset agreed to take part.

Voting guide

If you aren’t sure what constituency you are in, you can pop your postcode into this constituency finder. And you can check where your polling station is (the place you cast your vote) on the Where Do I Vote? website (remember you now need photo ID to vote, you do not need your polling card).

It’s so easy to vote, you head in, give your name, show your ID, get your voting paper, go to the booth, mark ‘X’ in the box next to your preferred candidate’s name, pop it in the box, and off you go - knowing you’ve played your part in improving the country (hopefully!).

We won’t tell you who to vote for, but we encourage everyone over the age of 18 to make the most of this once in 4-5 year opportunity to choose who will lead us through these challenging times - choose wisely!