Basingstoke (UK Parliament constituency)


Basingstoke is a constituency in Hampshire represented in the House of Commons of the UK Parliament since 2024 by Luke Murphy, a member of the Labour Party.

Constituency profile

The constituency is located within the Basingstoke and Deane local government district in Hampshire. It contains most of the large town of Basingstoke and extends into rural areas to the west of the town, including the village of Oakley.
Basingstoke is a historic market town that was significantly expanded after World War II to accommodate the London overspill. Residents are generally wealthier than the national average and have a similar ethnic makeup to the country as a whole. Local politics are mixed, with Conservative, Labour and Liberal Democrat councillors all being elected in the town at the most recent borough council election in 2024. The constituency is estimated to have voted marginally in favour of leaving the European Union in the 2016 referendum, similar to the national average.

History

Political history

Historically, Basingstoke has been a Conservative safe seat, but in 2024 it elected a Labour MP for the first time in its history. With the exception of this and a Liberal MP being elected in 1923, it has elected Conservative MPs since the seat was created in 1885. The closest it came to a non-Conservative victory in the century between was in 2001, when its incumbent since 1983, Andrew Hunter, in his final election, was returned by 880 votes. Hunter notably crossed the floor in 2004 to join the Democratic Unionist Party, a party which traditionally only runs in Northern Ireland.
In June 2016, an estimated 53.6% of local adults voting in the EU membership referendum chose to leave the European Union instead of to remain.

Content and regional context

The town was represented in the Model Parliament convened in 1295 but not again until the modern seat was created in 1885 which was done on a broad contents basis. From 1295 inclusive to the one year parliament of 1831–32 its area was part of the Hampshire constituency or election of knights of the shire as the event was more often called and from 1832 to 1885 its area lay in the North Hampshire constituency.

Boundaries

1885–1918: The Borough of Basingstoke, and the Sessional Divisions of Basingstoke and Odiham.
1918–1950: The Boroughs of Basingstoke and Andover, and the Rural Districts of Andover, Basingstoke, Kingsclere, Stockbridge, and Whitchurch.
1950–1955: The Boroughs of Basingstoke and Andover, the Rural Districts of Andover, Basingstoke, and Kingsclere and Whitchurch, and in the Rural District of Romsey and Stockbridge the parishes of Ashley, Bossington, Broughton, Buckholt, East Tytherley, Frenchmoor, Houghton, King's Somborne, Leckford, Little Somborne, Longstock, Nether Wallop, Over Wallop, Stockbridge, and West Tytherley.
1955–1974: The Boroughs of Basingstoke and Andover, and the Rural Districts of Andover, Basingstoke, and Kingsclere and Whitchurch.
1974–1983: The Borough of Basingstoke, the Rural Districts of Basingstoke, and Kingsclere and Whitchurch, and in the Rural District of Hartley Wintney the parishes of Bramshill, Dogmersfield, Eversley, Greywell, Hartley Wintney, Heckfield, Hook, Long Sutton, Mattingley, Odiham, Rotherwick, South Warnborough, and Winchfield. Note: among these Hook was by 1983 commonly considered a town.
1983–1997: The Borough of Basingstoke and Deane wards of Basing, Black Dam, Bramley, Brighton Hill, Buckskin, Chapel, Daneshill, Eastrop, Farleigh Wallop, Kempshott, King's Furlong, Norden, North Waltham, Oakley, Pamber, Popley, Sherborne St John, Sherfield on Loddon, Silchester, South Ham, Upton Grey, Viables, Westside, and Winklebury.
1997–2010: The Borough of Basingstoke and Deane wards of Basing, Brighton Hill, Brookvale, Buckskin, Calleva, Chineham, Eastrop, Grove, Hatch Warren, Kempshott, Norden, Popley, South Ham, Upton Grey, and Winklebury.
2010–2024: The Borough of Basingstoke and Deane wards of Basing, Brighton Hill North, Brighton Hill South, Brookvale and King's Furlong, Buckskin, Chineham, Eastrop, Grove, Hatch Warren and Beggarwood, Kempshott, Norden, Popley East, Popley West, Rooksdown, South Ham, and Winklebury.
2024–present: Further to the 2023 Periodic Review of Westminster constituencies, which came into effect for the 2024 general election, the constituency is composed of the following :
  • The Borough of Basingstoke and Deane wards of: Brighton Hill; Brookvale & Kings Furlong; Chineham; Eastrop & Grove; Hatch Warren & Beggarwood; Kempshott & Buckskin; Norden; Oakley & The Candovers ; Popley; South Ham; Winklebury & Manydown.
''To bring the electorate within the permitted range, Old Basing was transferred to North East Hampshire. The suburb of Rooksdown was transferred to North West Hampshire in exchange for the village of Oakley.''

Members of Parliament

''North Hampshire prior to 1885''

Elections

Elections in the 2020s

withdrew support for Saint on 27 June, after it was revealed that he was a former member of the British National Party. As this was after nominations for the election had closed, Saint remained on the ballot as the Reform UK candidate.

Elections in the 2010s

For the 2015 election, the Green Party attempted to field two candidates who would job share. Sarah Cope had young children and Clare Lorraine Phipps is disabled, so neither could work as a full-time MP. Their application was rejected.

Elections in the 2000s

Elections in the 1990s

Elections in the 1980s

Elections in the 1970s

Elections in the 1960s

Elections in the 1950s

Elections in the 1940s

Elections in the 1930s

Election in the 1920s

Election in the 1910s

Election results, 1885–1918

Elections in the 1880s

Sclater-Booth was elevated to the peerage, becoming Lord Basing, requiring a by-election.

Elections in the 1890s

Elections in the 1900s

Elections in the 1910s

General Election 1914–15:
Another General Election was required to take place before the end of 1915. The political parties had been making preparations for an election to take place and by July 1914, the following candidates had been selected;