East Hampshire (UK Parliament constituency)

Constituency profile

East Hampshire is a large rural constituency located in Hampshire. Most of the constituency lies within the South Downs National Park, a protected area of woodlands and chalk downs. The largest settlement is the town of Alton, which has a population of around 21,000. Other settlements include the town of Petersfield and the villages of Four Marks, Clanfield and Horndean. The area is highly affluent and house prices are considerably above the national average.

In general, residents are older and well-educated compared to the rest of the country. They have high levels of income and are more likely to work in professional occupations. White people made up 96% of the population at the 2021 census. At the local county and district councils, the rural areas of the constituency elected Conservative councillors whilst the towns are mostly represented by Liberal Democrats. An estimated 52% of voters in East Hampshire supported remaining in the European Union in the 2016 referendum compared to 48% nationwide.

Boundaries

1983–1997: The District of East Hampshire wards of Binsted, Bramshott and Liphook, Clanfield and Buriton, East Meon and Langrish, Froyle and Bentley, Froxfield and Steep, Grayshott, Headley, Horndean Catherington, Horndean Hazleton, Horndean Kings, Horndean Murray, Liss, Petersfield Heath, Petersfield St Mary's, Petersfield St Peter's, Rowlands Castle, Selborne, The Hangers, Whitehill Bordon and Whitehill, and Whitehill Lindford, and the District of Hart wards of Church Crookham, Crondall, Fleet Courtmoor, Fleet Pondtail, Fleet West, Hook, Long Sutton, and Odiham.

History

The seat was created in 1983 chiefly to replace the Petersfield constituency. The first MP was Michael Mates of the Conservative Party, who held it from 1983 until the calling of the 2010 election when he retired. He was replaced by fellow Conservative Damian Hinds, who has held the seat since.

Hinds achieved the 28th-highest vote share of his party in the 2017 General Election. The Liberal Democrats or its predecessor party the Liberals have finished second in all the general elections since 1983, bar:

• 2015, where this was the UKIP candidate,
• 2017 where this was the Labour candidate. In 2024, the Liberal Democrats came within 2.5% of gaining the seat.

1997–2010: The District of East Hampshire wards of Alton Holybourne, Alton North East, Alton North West, Alton South East, Alton South West and Beech, Clanfield and Buriton, East Meon and Langrish, Farringdon, Four Marks, Froxfield and Steep, Horndean Catherington, Horndean Hazleton, Horndean Kings, Horndean Murray, Liss, Medstead, North Downland, Petersfield Heath, Petersfield St Mary's, Petersfield St Peter's, Ropley and West Tisted, Rowlands Castle, and The Hangers, and the Borough of Havant wards of Cowplain, Hart Plain, and Waterloo.

2010–2024: The District of East Hampshire wards of Alton Amery, Alton Ashdell, Alton Eastbrooke, Alton Westbrooke, Alton Whitedown, Alton Wooteys, Binstead and Bentley, Bramshott and Liphook, Downland, East Meon, Four Marks and Medstead, Froxfield and Steep, Grayshott, Headley, Holybourne and Froyle, Lindford, Liss, Petersfield Bell Hill, Petersfield Causeway, Petersfield Heath, Petersfield Rother, Petersfield St Mary's, Petersfield St Peter's, Ropley and Tisted, Selborne, The Hangers and Forest, Whitehill Chase, Whitehill Deadwater, Whitehill Hogmoor, Whitehill Pinewood, and Whitehill Walldown.

2024–present: Further to the 2023 review of Westminster constituencies which became effective for the 2024 general election, the constituency is composed of the following (as they existed on 1 December 2020):

• The Borough of Basingstoke and Deane ward of Oakley & The Candovers (part)
• The District of East Hampshire wards of Alton Amery, Alton Ashdell, Alton Eastbrooke, Alton Holybourne, Alton Westbrooke, Alton Whitedow, Alton Wooteys, Bentworth & Froyle, Binsted, Bentley & Selborne, Buriton & East Meon, Clanfield, Four Marks & Medstead, Froxfield, Sheet & Steep, Horndean Catherington, Horndean Downs, Horndean Kings & Blendworth, Horndean Murray, Liss, Petersfield Bell Hill, Petersfield Causeway, Petersfield Heath, Petersfield St. Peter's, Ropley, Hawkley & Hangers, and Rowlands Castle.

The town of Bordon (which forms part of the parish of Whitehill) and surrounding areas, comprising 36% of the 2010-2024 electorate*, was moved to the new constituency of Farnham and Bordon. To compensate, the seat was expanded southwards again to re-include Horndean, which between 2010 and 2024 was part of the now abolished Meon Valley constituency. To ensure the electorate was within the permitted range, a small part of the Borough of Basingstoke and Deane ward of Oakley & The Candovers* (the "Candovers") was also added.

Members of Parliament

Petersfield, Aldershot and Basingstoke prior to 1983

Elections

Elections in the 2020s

|reg. electors = 71,965

Elections in the 2010s

Elections in the 2000s

Elections in the 1990s

Elections in the 1980s

Notes

References

References

1. "'Hampshire East', June 1983 up to May 1997". Cognitive Computing Limited.
2. "The 2023 Review of Parliamentary Constituency Boundaries in England – Volume one: Report – South East {{!}} Boundary Commission for England".
3. "Alton".
4. "Seat Details - Hampshire East".
5. "Majority Sorted Seats".
6. "The Parliamentary Constituencies Order 2023".
7. "Boundary review 2023: Which seats will change in the UK?".
8. {{Rayment-hc. h. 1. (March 2012)
9. [https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/election/2024/uk/constituencies/E14001214 East Hampshire]
10. "Notional results for a UK general election on 12 December 2019". [[UK Parliament]].
11. "General Election 2019 results {{!".
12. [https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/politics/constituencies/E14000680 "Constituencies. UK results: Conservatives win majority"], Election 2019, BBC News.
13. "Hampshire East parliamentary constituency". BBC News.
14. "Election Data 2015". [[Electoral Calculus]].
15. "Election Data 2010". [[Electoral Calculus]].
16. "Election Data 2005". [[Electoral Calculus]].
17. "Election Data 2001". [[Electoral Calculus]].
18. "Election Data 1997". [[Electoral Calculus]].
19. (9 April 1992). "Politics Resources". Politics Resources.
20. "Election Data 1992". [[Electoral Calculus]].
21. "Election Data 1987". [[Electoral Calculus]].
22. "Election Data 1983". [[Electoral Calculus]].