Eastleigh (UK Parliament constituency)
Eastleigh is a List of [United Kingdom Parliament constituencies|constituency] represented in the House of Commons of the UK Parliament since 2024 [United Kingdom general election|2024] by Liz Jarvis, a Liberal Democrat.
Constituency profile
The Eastleigh constituency is located in Hampshire and forms part of the South Hampshire conurbation. It covers the towns of Eastleigh and Chandler's Ford, the villages of Bishopstoke and Fair Oak and the Southampton suburb of West End. The constituency is generally wealthy with low levels of deprivation; Chandler's Ford falls within the top 10% least-deprived areas in England. House prices are similar to national averages.Compared to the rest of the country, residents of the constituency have average levels of education and high rates of income and professional employment. White people made up 91% of the population at the 2021 census. At the local council level, most of the constituency is represented by Liberal Democrats, although some Conservatives were elected in Fair Oak. An estimated 51% of voters in the constituency supported leaving the European Union in the 2016 referendum, similar to the nationwide figure of 52%.
Boundaries
1955–1974: The Borough of Eastleigh, in the Rural District of New Forest the parishes of Eling and Netley Marsh, in the Rural District of Romsey and Stockbridge the parishes of Ampfield, Chilworth, North Baddesley, and Nursling and Rownhams, and in the Rural District of Winchester the parishes of Botley, Bursledon, Hamble, Hedge End, Hound, and West End.1974–1983: The Boroughs of Eastleigh and Romsey, in the Rural District of Romsey and Stockbridge the parishes of Ampfield, Braishfield, Chilworth, Melchet Park and Plaitford, Michelmersh, North Baddesley, Nursling and Rownhams, Romsey Extra, Sherfield English, and Wellow, and in the Rural District of Winchester the parishes of Botley, Bursledon, Hamble, Hedge End, Hound, and West End.
1983–1997: The Borough of Eastleigh, and the City of Southampton ward of Woolston.
1997–2010: The Borough of Eastleigh wards of Bishopstoke, Botley, Bursledon, Eastleigh Central, Eastleigh North, Eastleigh South, Eastleigh West, Fair Oak, Hamble, Hedge End St John's, Hedge End Wildern, Hound, West End North, and West End South.
2010–2024: The Borough of Eastleigh wards of Bishopstoke East, Bishopstoke West, Botley, Bursledon and Old Netley, Eastleigh Central, Eastleigh North, Eastleigh South, Fair Oak and Horton Heath, Hamble-le-Rice and Butlocks Heath, Hedge End Grange Park, Hedge End St John's, Hedge End Wildern, Netley Abbey, West End North, and West End South.
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 :
- The Borough of Eastleigh wards of Bishopstoke, Chandler's Ford, Eastleigh Central, Eastleigh North, Eastleigh South, Fair Oak & Horton Heath, Hiltingbury, West End North, and West End South.
- The Borough of Test Valley ward of Valley Park.
History
Eastleigh constituency was created for the 1955 general election; before then Eastleigh itself had been in the Winchester constituency. It was a fairly safe seat for the Conservatives for nearly forty years until the death of its then MP, former journalist Stephen Milligan, in 1994. At the subsequent by-election, the Liberal Democrats gained the seat on a very large swing, and then held Eastleigh in the four following general elections, though with somewhat narrow majorities.Chris Huhne, the MP from 2005 to 2013, was his party's environment spokesman in opposition, before becoming the Liberal Democrat senior spokesman for the Home Office. While in the previous role Huhne stood unsuccessfully for Liberal Democrats leadership election|party leader in 2006] against Menzies Campbell and again in 2007 against Nick Clegg. Following the 2010 general election, Huhne joined the coalition government's cabinet as Secretary of State for [Energy and Climate Change], but resigned as an MP in February 2013 after admitting perverting the course of justice over a speeding case. His resignation took effect from 5 February, and the following day it was confirmed that a by-election to fill the vacancy would be held on 28 February 2013. Mike Thornton retained the seat for the Liberal Democrats in the by-election. However, at the 2015 general election Thornton was defeated by the Conservative Mims Davies.
Davies retained the seat for the Conservatives in 2017, but for the 2019 election she stood down from this seat, successfully standing for the Mid Sussex constituency instead. Her fellow Conservative, Paul Holmes was duly elected as her successor. Following the 2023 boundary changes, Holmes followed suit and stood down to fight the new seat of Hamble Valley, which contained a minority of the existing Eastleigh seat. At the 2024 election, Liz Jarvis regained the seat for the Liberal Democrats.