# East Hampshire (UK Parliament constituency)

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 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.

## History

The seat was created in 1983 chiefly to replace the Petersfield constituency. The first MP was Michael Mates of the Conservative Party, who held it from 1983 until the calling of the 2010 election when he retired. He was replaced by fellow Conservative Damian Hinds, who has held the seat since.
Hinds achieved the 28th-highest vote share of his party in the 2017 General Election. The Liberal Democrats or its predecessor party the Liberals have finished second in all the general elections since 1983, bar:
* 2015, where this was the UKIP candidate,
* 2017 where this was the Labour candidate.
In 2024, the Liberal Democrats came within 2.5% of gaining the seat.

## Constituency profile

The constituency largely comprises the majority of East Hampshire district. 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.

## Boundaries

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: Further to the 2023 review of Westminster constituencies which became effective for the 2024 general election, the constituency is composed of the following (as they existed on 1 December 2020):
* The Borough of Basingstoke and Deane ward of Oakley & The Candovers (part)
* 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.
The town of Bordon (which forms part of the parish of Whitehill) and surrounding areas, comprising 36% of the 2010-2024 electorate, 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 now abolished Meon Valley constituency. To ensure the electorate was within the permitted range, a small part of the Borough of Basingstoke and Deane ward of Oakley & The Candovers (the "Candovers") was also added.

## Members of Parliament

Petersfield, Aldershot and Basingstoke prior to 1983
| Election | Election | Member | Party |
| | 1983 | Michael Mates | Conservative |
| | 2010 | Damian Hinds | Conservative |

## Elections
### Elections in the 2020s

General election 2024: East Hampshire :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Damian Hinds | 18,509 | 37.0 | −22.0 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Dominic Martin | 17,234 | 34.4 | +12.8 |
| | Reform UK | Matthew Kellermann | 6,476 | 13.0 | N/A |
| | Labour | Lucy Sims | 4,967 | 9.7 | −2.6 |
| | Green | Richard Knight | 2,404 | 4.8 | −0.7 |
| | Hampshire Ind. | Jim Makin | 364 | 0.7 | N/A |
| | SDP | Sara Smith | 152 | 0.3 | N/A |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,275 | 2.5 | −34.8 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 50,106 | 69.6 | −7.8 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 71,965 | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | −17.4 | |

### Elections in the 2010s

2019 notional result :
| Party | Party | Vote | % |
| | Conservative | 31,965 | 59.0 |
| | Liberal Democrats | 11,765 | 21.7 |
| | Labour | 6,662 | 12.3 |
| | Green | 2,971 | 5.5 |
| | Others | 812 | 1.5 |
| Turnout | Turnout | 54,175 | 77.4 |
| Electorate | Electorate | 69,959 |
General election 2019: East Hampshire :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Damian Hinds | 33,446 | 58.8 | −4.8 |
| | Liberal Democrats | David Buxton | 13,750 | 24.2 | +9.0 |
| | Labour | Gaynor Austin | 6,287 | 11.1 | −5.9 |
| | Green | Zoe Parker | 2,600 | 4.6 | +1.4 |
| | UKIP | Jim Makin | 616 | 1.1 | New |
| | JAC | Eddie Trotter | 196 | 0.3 | −0.7 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 19,696 | 34.6 | −12.0 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 56,895 | 74.4 | −0.3 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | | |
General election 2017: East Hampshire :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Damian Hinds | 35,263 | 63.6 | +2.9 |
| | Labour | Rohit Dasgupta | 9,411 | 17.0 | +6.9 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Richard Robinson | 8,403 | 15.2 | +4.1 |
| | Green | Richard Knight | 1,760 | 3.2 | −2.9 |
| | JAC | Susan Jerrard | 571 | 1.0 | New |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 25,852 | 46.6 | −2.1 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 55,567 | 74.7 | +2.0 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | | |
General election 2015: East Hampshire :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Damian Hinds | 31,334 | 60.7 | +3.9 |
| | UKIP | Peter Baillie | 6,187 | 12.0 | +9.1 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Richard Robinson | 5,732 | 11.1 | −19.4 |
| | Labour | Alex Wilks | 5,220 | 10.1 | +2.2 |
| | Green | Peter Bisset | 3,176 | 6.1 | New |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 25,147 | 48.7 | +22.4 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 51,649 | 72.7 | +1.7 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | | |
General election 2010: East Hampshire :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Damian Hinds | 29,137 | 56.8 | +9.7 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Adam Carew | 15,640 | 30.5 | −3.5 |
| | Labour | Jane Edbrooke | 4,043 | 7.9 | −8.6 |
| | UKIP | Hugh McGuiness | 1,477 | 2.9 | +0.3 |
| | English Democrat | Matt Williams | 710 | 1.4 | New |
| | JAC | Don Jerrard | 310 | 0.6 | New |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 13,467 | 26.3 | +15.9 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 51,317 | 71.0 | +6.3 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | +6.6 | |

### Elections in the 2000s

General election 2005: East Hampshire :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Michael Mates | 24,273 | 45.7 | −1.9 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Ruth Bright | 18,764 | 35.3 | +5.4 |
| | Labour | Marjorie Broughton | 8,519 | 16.0 | −3.6 |
| | UKIP | David Samuel | 1,583 | 3.0 | +0.2 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 5,509 | 10.4 | −7.3 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 53,139 | 66.9 | +2.6 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | −3.7 | |
General election 2001: East Hampshire :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Michael Mates | 23,950 | 47.6 | −0.4 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Robert Booker | 15,060 | 29.9 | +1.8 |
| | Labour | Barbara Burfoot | 9,866 | 19.6 | +2.5 |
| | UKIP | Stephen Coles | 1,413 | 2.8 | +1.9 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 8,890 | 17.7 | −2.2 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 50,289 | 64.3 | −11.3 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | | |

### Elections in the 1990s

General election 1997: East Hampshire :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Michael Mates | 27,927 | 48.0 | |
| | Liberal Democrats | Robert Booker | 16,337 | 28.1 | |
| | Labour | Robert Hoyle | 9,945 | 17.1 | |
| | Referendum | John Hayter | 2,757 | 4.7 | New |
| | Green | Ian Foster | 649 | 1.1 | |
| | UKIP | Stephen Coles | 513 | 0.9 | New |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 11,590 | 19.9 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 58,128 | 75.6 | −3.7 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | | |
General election 1992: Hampshire East :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Michael Mates | 47,541 | 64.2 | −0.3 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Susan Baring | 18,376 | 24.8 | −4.1 |
| | Labour | James Phillips | 6,840 | 9.2 | +2.5 |
| | Green | Ian Foster | 1,113 | 1.5 | New |
| | Independent | Stanley Hale | 165 | 0.2 | New |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 29,165 | 39.4 | +3.8 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 74,035 | 79.3 | +1.9 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | +1.9 | |

### Elections in the 1980s

General election 1987: Hampshire East :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Michael Mates | 43,093 | 64.5 | +1.7 |
| | Liberal | Robert Booker | 19,307 | 28.9 | −2.8 |
| | Labour | Colin Lloyd | 4,443 | 6.7 | +1.2 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 23,786 | 35.6 | +4.5 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 66,843 | 77.4 | +3.2 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | | |
General election 1983: Hampshire East :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Michael Mates | 36,968 | 62.8 | |
| | Liberal | Rebecca Bryan | 18,641 | 31.7 | |
| | Labour | Steven Cowan | 3,247 | 5.5 | |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 18,327 | 31.1 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 58,856 | 74.2 | |
| | Conservative win (new seat) | Conservative win (new seat) | Conservative win (new seat) | Conservative win (new seat) | Conservative win (new seat) |