South Dorset is a constituency[n 1] represented in the House of Commons of the UK Parliament since 2024 by Lloyd Hatton, of the Labour Party.

In both elections, the left-wing singer-songwriter Billy Bragg led an anti-Conservative tactical voting campaign in Dorset constituencies.

[4] The 2010 election saw Conservative Richard Drax, a former soldier and journalist from a long line of Dorset representatives, defeating the incumbent Jim Knight, who ended his final year in parliament as the Minister (of State) for Employment and Welfare Reform.

2024–present: The District of Dorset wards of Chickerell, Crossways, Littlemoor & Preston, Melcombe Regis, Portland, Radipole, Rodwell & Wyke, South East Purbeck, Swanage, Upwey & Broadwey, polling districts WPU1 and WPU4 through to WPU13 in West Purbeck, and Westham[6] Minor changes following re-organisation of local authorities and wards in Dorset.

The port of Weymouth is one of the few large towns in Dorset and its suburbs extend onto the Wyke Regis peninsula and the isle of Portland, connected to the mainland by road (and, in the past, rail).