# New Forest East (UK Parliament constituency)

New Forest East is a constituency in Hampshire represented in the House of Commons of the UK Parliament since its creation in 1997 by Julian Lewis of the Conservative Party.

## Constituency profile

The industrial element and mid-density housing of the Southampton Water strip results in some or all Labour and Liberal Democrat councillors in this area at the local district elections from creation to date, and contributes strongly towards the latter party's peak performance leaving the winner a 9% majority in 2001. This contrasts with the Conservative winner's greatest majority to date in 2017 of 42.8% of the votes over his nearest rival which ranks Lewis among the top 10% of his party's MPs by majority. The history of district itself is typical of inherent suburban and retiree districts as it was largely created for the preservation of the National Park and to provide contrast in planning and ethos to the City of Southampton and the Bournemouth conurbation.
The constituency covers the eastern half of the New Forest National Park in Hampshire and land to the east adjoining Southampton Water – almost the whole of its population live in the waterside settlements Totton, Marchwood, Hythe and Fawley or the major forest villages of Lyndhurst, Brockenhurst and Beaulieu.
For all areas the relevant local authority has a higher than average proportion of retired people, and a lower than national average extent of social housing and rented housing. Housing types include far above average detached and semi-detached properties.

## Boundaries

1997–2010: The District of New Forest wards of Blackfield and Langley, Boldre, Brockenhurst, Colbury, Copythorne South, Dibden and Hythe North, Dibden Purlieu, Fawley Holbury, Forest North, Forest South, Hythe South, Lyndhurst, Marchwood, Netley Marsh, Totton Central, Totton North, and Totton South.
2010–2023: The District of New Forest wards of Ashurst, Copythorne South and Netley Marsh, Boldre and Sway, Bramshaw, Copythorne North and Minstead, Brockenhurst and Forest South East, Butts Ash and Dibden Purlieu, Dibden and Hythe East, Fawley, Blackfield and Langley, Furzedown and Hardley, Holbury and North Blackfield, Hythe West and Langdown, Lyndhurst, Marchwood, Totton Central, Totton East, Totton North, Totton South, and Totton West.
2023–present: Following a review of local authority ward boundaries, which became effective in May 2023, the constituency now comprises the following:
* The District of New Forest wards of: Ashurst, Bramshaw, Copythorne & Netley Marsh; Brockenhurst & Denny Lodge; Dibden & Dibden Purlieu; Fawley, Blackfield, Calshot & Langley; Forest & Solent; Hardley, Holbury & North Blackfield; Hythe Central; Hythe South; Lyndhurst & Minstead; Marchwood & Eling; Sway; Totton Central; Totton North; Totton South.
The 2023 Periodic Review of Westminster constituencies, which was based on the ward structure in place at 1 December 2020, left the boundaries unchanged.

## History

This constituency was created when the old New Forest constituency was divided for the 1997 general election. All election results but one since its creation suggest that it is a Conservative safe seat. The 2001 election produced a marginal victory when the Liberal Democrats came within 4,000 votes of winning, closer than any challengers since.

## Members of Parliament

New Forest and Romsey & Waterside prior to 1997
| Election | Member | Party |
| 1997 | Sir Julian Lewis | Conservative |
| July 2020 | Sir Julian Lewis | Independent |
| December 2020 | Sir Julian Lewis | Conservative |

## Elections
### Elections in the 2020s

General election 2024: New Forest East :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Julian Lewis | 17,412 | 38.5 | −26.0 |
| | Labour | Sasjkia Otto | 8,917 | 19.7 | +4.9 |
| | Reform UK | Roy Swales | 7,646 | 16.9 | N/A |
| | Liberal Democrats | Caroline Rackham | 7,198 | 15.9 | +1.3 |
| | Green | Simon King | 3,118 | 6.9 | +2.1 |
| | Monster Raving Loony | Mad Hatter | 529 | 1.2 | N/A |
| | Animal Welfare | Andrew Knight | 410 | 0.9 | −0.4 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 8,495 | 18.8 | −30.9 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 45,376 | 64.2 | −4.8 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 70,618 | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | −15.5 | |

### Elections in the 2010s

General election 2019: New Forest East :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Julian Lewis | 32,769 | 64.5 | +1.9 |
| | Labour | Julie Hope | 7,518 | 14.8 | −5.0 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Bob Johnston | 7,390 | 14.6 | −0.6 |
| | Green | Nicola Jolly | 2,434 | 4.8 | +2.4 |
| | Animal Welfare | Andrew Knight | 675 | 1.3 | N/A |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 25,251 | 49.7 | +6.9 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 50,786 | 69.0 | −2.4 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | +3.45 | |
General election 2017: New Forest East :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Julian Lewis | 32,162 | 62.6 | +6.3 |
| | Labour | Julie Renyard | 10,167 | 19.8 | +7.6 |
| | Liberal Democrats | David Harrison | 7,786 | 15.2 | +5.8 |
| | Green | Henry Mellor | 1,251 | 2.4 | −2.3 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 21,995 | 42.8 | +4.0 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 51,366 | 71.4 | +3.4 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | −0.6 | |
General election 2015: New Forest East :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Julian Lewis | 27,819 | 56.3 | +3.5 |
| | UKIP | Roy Swales | 8,657 | 17.5 | +12.5 |
| | Labour | Andrew Pope | 6,018 | 12.2 | +2.4 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Bruce Tennent | 4,626 | 9.4 | −20.8 |
| | Green | Sally May | 2,327 | 4.7 | +2.7 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 19,162 | 38.8 | +16.2 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 49,447 | 68.0 | −0.7 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | +11.2 | |
General election 2010: New Forest East :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Julian Lewis | 26,443 | 52.8 | +3.4 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Terry Scriven | 15,136 | 30.3 | −3.1 |
| | Labour | Peter W.J. Sopowski | 4,915 | 9.8 | −2.4 |
| | UKIP | Peter A. Day | 2,518 | 5.0 | −0.1 |
| | Green | Beverley J. Golden | 1,024 | 2.0 | N/A |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 11,307 | 22.6 | +8.1 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 50,036 | 68.7 | +2.6 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | +3.2 | |

### Elections in the 2000s

General election 2005: New Forest East :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Julian Lewis | 21,975 | 48.6 | +6.2 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Brian Dash | 15,424 | 34.1 | +0.7 |
| | Labour | Stephen Roberts | 5,492 | 12.1 | −9.6 |
| | UKIP | Katy Davies | 2,344 | 5.2 | +2.7 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 6,551 | 14.5 | +5.5 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 45,235 | 65.9 | +2.7 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | +2.7 | |
General election 2001: New Forest East :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Julian Lewis | 17,902 | 42.4 | −0.5 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Brian Dash | 14,073 | 33.4 | +1.1 |
| | Labour | Alan Goodfellow | 9,141 | 21.7 | −3.1 |
| | UKIP | William Howe | 1,062 | 2.5 | N/A |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 3,829 | 9.0 | −1.6 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 42,178 | 63.2 | −11.4 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | −0.8 | |

### Elections in the 1990s

General election 1997: New Forest East :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Julian Lewis | 21,053 | 42.9 | |
| | Liberal Democrats | George Dawson | 15,838 | 32.3 | |
| | Labour | Alan Goodfellow | 12,161 | 24.8 | |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 5,215 | 10.6 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 49,052 | 74.6 | |
| | Conservative win (new seat) | Conservative win (new seat) | Conservative win (new seat) | Conservative win (new seat) | Conservative win (new seat) |