East Midlands · England · 73,324Boundary · 2023

Derbyshire Dales

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Dispatch
Apr 2026

A marginal seat — won by just 350 votes (0.7%) in 2024. Covers Matlock, Ashbourne and Hilton (South Derbyshire). Population 97,197, notably older (median age 49 vs 41 nationally). Recorded crime is 53% below the national average.

A steady Labour loyalist who has attracted negative local press coverage, John Whitby has faced repeated calls to resign from his Derby City Council seat, with residents and fellow councillors criticising him for non-attendance at council meetings. He pledged nine months ago to step down from the council role "when the time is right" but has yet to do so, and his silence on the matter has drawn a formal constituent petition. On a more positive note, he has used his platform to raise environmental concerns specific to his constituency, including pharmaceutical pollution in the Peak District, and has backed planning restrictions on holiday lets to address local housing pressures.

In Parliament, Whitby votes along Labour party lines 100% of the time -- the definition of a loyal backbencher -- and participates in 89% of votes, slightly above the Commons average. His stance profile shows strong alignment with workers' rights and progressive taxation, but low scores on pro-business and parliamentary scrutiny measures. His voting record on assisted dying places him slightly more opposed to assisted dying access than his average Labour colleague, though the gap is modest. His 76 parliamentary contributions span economy, local government, social care, health and environment -- a broad spread without a single dominant focus.

436
Commons votes
This parliament
£28k
Median income
HMRC · 2024
73.3k
Electorate
2024 GE

Lab took this seat from Con after 4 consecutive elections.

Current Member of Parliament

John Whitby

John Whitby

Labour Party

John Whitby is the Labour MP for Derbyshire Dales, and has been an MP continually since 4 July 2024.

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Voting at a Glance

A marginal seat — won by just 350 votes (0.7%) in 2024. Covers Matlock, Ashbourne and Hilton (South Derbyshire). Population 97,197, notably older (median age 49 vs 41 nationally). Recorded crime is 53% below the national average.

2024 General Election

§ 06This week in Westminster.Live · today’s sittingOrder Paper · refreshed daily

Whitby’s scheduled Commons activity this week — whipped divisions, oral questions, debates — drawn from the House of Commons Order Paper.

§ 07The record, at a glance.452 divisions voted

Two readings of the same data. Issue volume shows where Whitby has cast the most ballots — a proxy for engagement, not direction. Notable votes are the moments where the whip was free or where they broke ranks.

Issue volume
Top issues by total divisions voted · cumulative this Parliament
Taxation
86
Economy
83
Employment
52
Crime & Policing
44
Constitution and Democracy
29
Welfare and Benefits
29
Notable votes
Free votes and rebellions — moments the MP’s own judgment matters more than the whip

No rebellions or free votes recorded yet.

§ 08The local picture.24 wards

Constituencies are not uniform. Below — the local council make-up, key facts worth knowing, and the neighbouring seats on either side.

WardCouncillorVotesParty
Ashbourne NorthPeter David Lewis Dobbs653Liberal
Ashbourne NorthStuart Lees575Conserva
Ashbourne SouthAnthony Edward Bates857Conserva
Ashbourne SouthNick Wilton884Liberal
Ashbourne SouthRobert James Archer1,101Liberal
BakewellBob Butcher467Labour P
Bonsall WinsterMatt Buckler578Green Pa
BradwellAndy Nash506Labour P
BrailsfordGeoff Bond379Conserva
Calver LongstoneKelda Boothroyd441Green Pa
ChatsworthSusan Hobson458Conserva
Crich South WingfieldTony Harper617Conserva
Population (2021 Census)
97,197
Electorate 73,324 · 2024 register
Median income
£28,200
HMRC SPI 2024
Households renting privately
14.3%
England average 20.0%
Schools
76
67 primary · 4 secondary
Next · dig deeperEvery division, question, speech and committee record

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record → Data view

Filter divisions, search written questions, read every speech since the election. Sortable, searchable, downloadable.

More constituency data is being added, including local issue analysis and historical trends. Learn about our methodology. View data sources & attribution.