| East Hampshire | |
| Parliament: | uk |
| Year: | 1983 |
| Type: | County |
| Previous: | Petersfield, Aldershot and Basingstoke[1] |
| Electorate: | 69,959 (2023) [2] |
| Party: | Conservative Party (UK) |
| Region: | England |
| Elects Howmany: | One |
East Hampshire is a constituency represented in the House of Commons of the UK Parliament since 2010 by Damian Hinds of the Conservative Party.
Further to the completion of the 2023 Periodic Review of Westminster constituencies, the constituency was subject to major boundary changes. The town of Bordon moved to a majority Surrey constituency named Farnham and Bordon, first contested at the 2024 general election.[3]
The seat was created in 1983 chiefly to replace the Petersfield constituency.The first MP was (by election) Michael Mates, who held it from 1983 until the calling of the 2010 election when he retired.
The boundaries resemble the East Hampshire district, shifted somewhat north. The south of the seat has many farm, tourist and outdoor leisure businesses in the South Downs National Park. Results present a Conservative safe seat by length of tenure and size of majorities. On national opinion-poll adjusted results, Hinds achieved the 28th-highest vote share for the party in 2017. The Liberal Democrats or its predecessor the Liberals have finished second in the elections, bar:
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.
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: The Borough of Basingstoke and Deane ward of Oakley & The Candovers (part) and 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.[5]
The town of Bordon (which forms part of the parish of Whitehill) and surrounding areas, comprising 36% of the 2010-2024 electorate[6] , 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 subsequently-abolished Meon Valley constituency. To ensure the electorate is within the permitted range, a small part of the Borough of Basingstoke and Deane ward of Oakley & The Candovers (the "Candovers") was also added.
Petersfield, Aldershot and Basingstoke prior to 1983
| Election | Member | Party | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1983 | Michael Mates | Conservative | ||
| 2010 | Damian Hinds | Conservative | ||
| 2019 notional result[7] | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Vote | % | |
| 31,965 | 59.0 | ||
| 11,765 | 21.7 | ||
| 6,662 | 12.3 | ||
| 2,971 | 5.5 | ||
| Others | 812 | 1.5 | |
| Turnout | 54,175 | 77.4 | |
| Electorate | 69,959 | ||