Fareham (UK Parliament constituency)


Fareham was a constituency in Hampshire represented in the House of Commons of the UK Parliament. It existed from 1885 to 1950 and again from 1974 to 2024. Its final Member of Parliament was Suella Braverman of the Conservative Party, first elected in 2015, who served as Home Secretary in 20222023.
Following the 2023 Periodic Review of Westminster constituencies, the constituency was abolished at the 2024 general election: the majority, comprising Fareham and Portchester, was incorporated into the new constituency of Fareham and Waterlooville, with the remainder, comprising the villages of Locks Heath, Park Gate, Sarisbury, Titchfield and Warsash, forming part of the newly created constituency of Hamble Valley.

Constituency profile

The largest town is Fareham, and other communities include Portchester, Locks Heath, Warsash and Titchfield. There are many commuters to Southampton and Portsmouth. The Royal Navy and Merchant Navy have training facilities. Residents are wealthier than the UK average.

Boundaries

1885–1918: The Municipal Boroughs of Portsmouth and Southampton, the Sessional Division of Fareham, and part of the Sessional Division of Southampton.
1918–1950: The Urban Districts of Fareham, Gosport and Alverstoke, Havant, and Warblington, and the Rural Districts of Fareham and Havant.
1974–1983: The Urban District of Fareham.
1983–1997: The Borough of Fareham except the wards of Hill Head and Stubbington, and the City of Winchester wards of Boarhunt and Southwick, Curdridge, Denmead, Droxford Soberton and Hambledon, Shedfield, Swanmore, Waltham Chase, and Wickham.
1997–2024: The Borough of Fareham wards of Fareham North, Fareham North-West, Fareham South, Fareham West, Locks Heath, Park Gate, Portchester East, Portchester West, Sarisbury, Titchfield, Titchfield Common, and Warsash.

History

The constituency was first created in 1885. In January 1905 the Liberal Party employed Bertha Bowness Foulkes who was Britain's second constituency woman political agent. The constituency was abolished in 1950 and succeeded by Gosport and Fareham but revived in 1974. The constituency has always been represented by Conservatives.

Election results 1885–1918

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;