Stephen Dorrell is the Conservative MP for the Charnwood constituency in Leicestershire in the East Midlands.  Previously, he represented the neighbouring constituency of Loughborough from 1979 – 1997, when he moved to Charnwood, a newly created constituency including much of the old Loughborough constituency.  He was re-elected in May 2010 with an increased majority of 15,029.

The constituency is named after the local government district and ancient forest of Charnwood.  It includes Loughborough’s Soar Valley in the suburbs immediately north of Leicester (Birstall, Thurcaston and Mountsorrel), the villages from the other bank of the Soar, Six Hills, East Goscote, Queniborough, Syston and Thurmaston, North East of Leicester.  Finally to the west of Leicester it covers Glenfield, Kirby Muxloe, Groby and Leicester Forest East.

The constituency is unusual in that it cuts across three local government districts returning councillors to Charnwood, Blaby and Hinckley & Bosworth District Councils.

The County Council is Leicestershire and controlled by the Conservative Party.