| Folkestone and Hythe | |
| Parliament: | uk |
| Year: | 1950 |
| Type: | County |
| Elects Howmany: | One |
| Electorate: | 70,023 (2023)[1] |
| Party: | Labour Party (UK) |
| Region: | England |
Folkestone and Hythe is a constituency in Kent represented in the House of Commons of the UK Parliament since 2024 by Tony Vaughan, a Labour MP.
Until 2024, Folkestone and Hythe had elected a Conservative MP at every general election since its creation 1950, as had the earlier Hythe constituency since the late 19th century; it was therefore regarded as a Conservative safe seat. However, in 2024 it was won for the first time by the Labour Party.
From 1983 to 2010 it was held by Michael Howard. He held several cabinet posts, including Home Secretary from 1993 to 1997. In Opposition, he was Leader of the Conservative Party from 2003 to 2005.
Folkestone and Hythe consists of a hilly swathe of East Kent including the coastal urban area of Folkestone and Hythe. The rural communities of New Romney, Lydd, Dymchurch, Lyminge and Elham contain significant farming communities, commuters to towns and business parks, including a small percentage to London and a large retired population.[2]
1950–1983: The Boroughs of Folkestone, Hythe, Lydd, and New Romney, and the Rural Districts of Elham and Romney Marsh.
1983–2010: The District of Shepway.
2010–2024: The District of Shepway, and the Borough of Ashford ward of Saxon Shore.
2024–present: The District of Folkestone and Hythe wards of Broadmead, Cheriton, East Folkestone, Folkestone Central, Folkestone Harbour, Hythe, Hythe Rural, New Romney, Romney Marsh, Sandgate & West Folkestone, and Walland & Denge Marsh.[3]
Electorate reduced to bring it within the permitted range by transferring out the North Downs area in the north, along with the parts in the Borough of Ashford, primarily to the reconfigured constituency of Ashford.
The current Member of Parliament is Tony Vaughan of the Labour Party who was elected at the 2024 general election. Vaughan's predecessors for the seat were Damian Collins (served 2010–2024) and Michael Howard (served 1983–2010). Howard held a number of political posts during his career in Parliament, most prominently as Home Secretary from 1993 to 1997 and Leader of the Conservative Party from 2003 to 2005.
| Election | Member | Party | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950 | Harry Mackeson | Conservative | |||
| - | 1959 | Albert Costain | Conservative | ||
| - | 1983 | Michael Howard | Conservative | ||
| - | 2010 | Damian Collins | Conservative | ||
| - | 2024 | Labour | |||
| 2019 notional result[4] | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Vote | % | |
| 25,227 | 56.3 | ||
| 11,988 | 26.8 | ||
| 4,481 | 10.0 | ||
| 2,184 | 4.9 | ||
| Others | 915 | 2.1 | |
| Turnout | 44,795 | 64.0 | |
| Electorate | 70,023 | ||