# Hayes and Harlington (UK Parliament constituency)

Hayes and Harlington is a constituency in the west of London represented in the House of Commons of the UK Parliament since 1997 by John McDonnell of the Labour Party, who also served as the Shadow Chancellor of the Exchequer from 2015 to 2020 until his suspension and whip withdrawn on 23 July 2024, as a result of voting to scrap the two child benefit cap. He now sits as an Independent MP until the whip is re-established.
The seat, created in 1950, is 1 of 49 won (held or gained) by a Labour candidate in 2017 from a total of 73 covering London. In the period 1983–1997 the seat was Conservative-represented. From 1981 until 1983 the seat was represented, by defection, by a member of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) which later merged into the Liberal Democrats. From 1950 until 1983 the seat was won by Labour candidates.
Its London Heathrow Airport component has most of the border with Buckinghamshire and Surrey and its shape is near-square with a north-east square attached: Hayes and Yeading. Harlington is among the lowest-population components of the seat; with Hayes it gives its name to a railway station and with Hayes was the name of an urban district.

## Constituency profile

The south-west is Heathrow Airport, which is the largest single provider of employment including its many associated businesses, such as retail, international distribution, cargo handling and parking throughout the seat and nearby. Housing is overwhelmingly semi-detached houses and mid-rise apartments. The topography is near-flat and features the M4 motorway, mixed-traction Great Western Main Line, and the airport itself. Newer housing in the seat adjoins the Grand Union Canal and reduced pollution is expected from less diesel rolling stock on the main line. The seat has an income level of earnings slightly below national and Greater London averages. Among its working-age population, the most dominant occupation sectors are manufacturing, distribution, self-employed trades and light industry.

### Political history since 1997

McDonnell's majority has fluctuated between 25.4% and 41.6% of the votes cast over his runner-up, which in each election has been the Conservative Party's candidate. The 2015 result made the seat the 56th safest of the party's 232 seats (by majority percentage).

### 2016 EU referendum results

The constituency of Hayes and Harlington voted 58.25% leave versus 41.75% to remain; this is in contrast to the public stance of incumbent MP, John McDonnell, at the time of the referendum.

## History

The seat since its 1950 creation has in most elections been quite heavily Labour-voting in relative terms (as with its predecessor in the post war years). In 1981 its Labour MP, Neville Sandelson, defected to the now Liberal-merged Social Democratic Party. Sandelson stood for election for the new party in 1983 which led to a three-way split in the vote which enabled Conservative Terry Dicks to gain the seat in 1983 and retain it in the next two General Elections on marginal majorities (in 1992 being only 53 votes). In 1997, the seat swung heavily back to the Labour candidate McDonnell with his +17.5% swing exceeding that nationally (10% average swing). McDonnell's majorities have ranged between 21.1% and 41.6% of the votes cast.
The constituency shared boundaries with the Hayes and Harlington electoral division for election of councillors to the Greater London Council at elections in 1973, 1977 and 1981. John McDonnell held the seat from 1981 to 1986.

## Boundaries

1950–1974: The Urban District of Hayes and Harlington.
1974–1983: The London Borough of Hillingdon wards of Belmore, Frogmore, Hayes, South, and Yeading.
1983–2010: The London Borough of Hillingdon wards of Barnhill, Botwell, Charville, Crane, Harlington, Heathrow, Townfield, Wood End, and Yeading.
2010–2024: The London Borough of Hillingdon wards of Barnhill, Botwell, Charville, Heathrow Villages, Pinkwell, Townfield, West Drayton, and Yeading.
2024–present: The London Borough of Hillingdon wards of Belmore, Charville, Hayes Town, Heathrow Villages, Pinkwell, West Drayton, Wood End, and Yeading.

## Members of Parliament

| Election | Member | Party | Most notable frontbench role (if any) |
| 1950 | Walter Ayles | Labour |
| 1953 by-election | Arthur Skeffington | Labour |
| 1971 by-election | Neville Sandelson | Labour |
| 1981 | Neville Sandelson | SDP |
| 1983 | Terry Dicks | Conservative |
| 1997 | John McDonnell | Labour | Shadow Chancellor of the Exchequer (2015–2020) |
| July 2024 | John McDonnell | Independent |

## Election results
### Elections in the 2020s

General election 2024: Hayes and Harlington :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | John McDonnell | 20,405 | 53.3 | −2.5 |
| | Conservative | Dylan Thomas | 8,374 | 21.9 | −12.8 |
| | Reform UK | Francoise Thompson | 4,114 | 10.7 | +7.8 |
| | Green | Christine West | 2,131 | 5.6 | +3.9 |
| | Workers Party | Rizwana Karim | 1,975 | 5.2 | N/A |
| | Liberal Democrats | Alex Cunliffe | 1,316 | 3.4 | −1.0 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 12,031 | 31.4 | +10.3 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 38,315 | 51.5 | −8.9 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 74,404 | | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | 5.2 | |

### Elections in the 2010s

General election 2019: Hayes and Harlington :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | John McDonnell | 24,545 | 55.8 | −10.7 |
| | Conservative | Wayne Bridges | 15,284 | 34.7 | +6.1 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Alexander Cunliffe | 1,947 | 4.4 | +3.1 |
| | Brexit Party | Harry Boparai | 1,292 | 2.9 | New |
| | Green | Christine West | 739 | 1.7 | +0.5 |
| | CPA | Chika Amadi | 187 | 0.4 | New |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 9,261 | 21.1 | −16.8 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 43,994 | 60.8 | −4.4 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 72,356 | | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | -8.4 | |
General election 2017: Hayes and Harlington :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | John McDonnell | 31,796 | 66.5 | +6.9 |
| | Conservative | Greg Smith | 13,681 | 28.6 | +3.9 |
| | UKIP | Cliff Dixon | 1,153 | 2.4 | −9.6 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Bill Newton Dunn | 601 | 1.3 | −0.7 |
| | Green | John Bowman | 571 | 1.2 | −0.6 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 18,115 | 37.9 | +3.0 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 47,802 | 65.2 | +5.0 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 73,268 | | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | +1.5 | |
General election 2015: Hayes and Harlington :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | John McDonnell | 26,843 | 59.6 | +4.8 |
| | Conservative | Pearl Lewis | 11,143 | 24.7 | −4.7 |
| | UKIP | Cliff Dixon | 5,388 | 12.0 | New |
| | Liberal Democrats | Satnam Kaur Khalsa | 888 | 2.0 | −6.7 |
| | Green | Alick Munro | 794 | 1.8 | +1.0 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 15,700 | 34.9 | +9.5 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 45,056 | 60.2 | −0.5 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 74,874 | | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | +4.7 | |
General election 2010: Hayes and Harlington :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | John McDonnell | 23,377 | 54.8 | −3.9 |
| | Conservative | Scott Seaman-Digby | 12,553 | 29.4 | +4.2 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Satnam Kaur Khalsa | 3,726 | 8.7 | −1.1 |
| | BNP | Chris Forster | 1,520 | 3.6 | +1.0 |
| | National Front | Andy Cripps | 566 | 1.3 | New |
| | English Democrat | Cliff Dixon | 464 | 1.1 | New |
| | Green | Jessica Lee | 348 | 0.8 | −0.6 |
| | Christian | Aneel Shahzad | 83 | 0.2 | New |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 10,824 | 25.4 | −8.1 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 42,637 | 60.7 | +5.4 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 70,231 | | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | -4.1 | |

### Elections in the 2000s

General election 2005: Hayes and Harlington :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | John McDonnell | 19,009 | 58.7 | −7.0 |
| | Conservative | Richard Worrall | 8,162 | 25.2 | +1.1 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Jon Ball | 3,174 | 9.8 | +3.8 |
| | BNP | Tony Hazel | 830 | 2.6 | +0.4 |
| | UKIP | Martin Haley | 552 | 1.7 | New |
| | Green | Brian Outten | 442 | 1.4 | New |
| | Independent | Paul Goddard | 220 | 0.7 | New |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 10,847 | 33.5 | −8.1 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 32,389 | 56.3 | 0.0 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 57,449 | | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | -4.1 | |
General election 2001: Hayes and Harlington :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | John McDonnell | 21,279 | 65.7 | +3.7 |
| | Conservative | Robert McLean | 7,813 | 24.1 | −3.1 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Nahid Boethe | 1,958 | 6.0 | −1.4 |
| | BNP | Gary Birch | 705 | 2.2 | New |
| | Socialist Alternative | Walter Kennedy | 648 | 2.0 | New |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 13,466 | 41.6 | +6.8 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 32,403 | 56.3 | −16.0 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 57,561 | | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | +3.4 | |

### Elections in the 1990s

General election 1997: Hayes and Harlington :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | John McDonnell | 25,458 | 62.0 | +17.2 |
| | Conservative | Andrew Retter | 11,167 | 27.2 | −17.7 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Tony Little | 3,049 | 7.4 | −2.9 |
| | Referendum | Frederick Page | 778 | 1.9 | New |
| | National Front | John Hutchins | 504 | 1.2 | New |
| | All Night Party | Daniel Farrow | 135 | 0.3 | New |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 14,291 | 34.8 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 41,091 | 72.3 | −7.4 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 56,783 | | |
| | Labour gain from Conservative | Labour gain from Conservative | Swing | +17.4 | |
General election 1992: Hayes and Harlington :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Terry Dicks | 19,489 | 44.9 | −4.3 |
| | Labour | John McDonnell | 19,436 | 44.8 | +9.3 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Tony Little | 4,472 | 10.3 | New |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 53 | 0.1 | −13.7 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 43,397 | 79.7 | +5.2 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 54,449 | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | -6.8 | |

### Elections in the 1980s

General election 1987: Hayes and Harlington :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Terry Dicks | 21,355 | 49.2 | +8.9 |
| | Labour | Peter Fagan | 15,390 | 35.5 | +5.6 |
| | SDP | Sue Slipman | 6,641 | 15.3 | −13.7 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 5,965 | 13.8 | +3.4 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 43,386 | 74.5 | +3.6 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 58,240 | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | +7.2 | |
General election 1983: Hayes & Harlington :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Terry Dicks | 16,451 | 40.3 | −0.2 |
| | Labour | Peter Fagan | 12,217 | 29.9 | −18.4 |
| | SDP | Neville Sandelson | 11,842 | 29.0 | New |
| | Freedom | F. Hill | 324 | 0.8 | New |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 4,234 | 10.4 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 40,834 | 70.9 | −4.1 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 57,620 | | |
| | Conservative gain from Labour | Conservative gain from Labour | Swing | +9.3 | |

### Elections in the 1970s

General election 1979: Hayes & Harlington :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Neville Sandelson | 20,350 | 48.30 | −3.88 |
| | Conservative | Albert Tyrell | 17,048 | 40.47 | +12.51 |
| | Liberal | Hester Smallbone | 3,900 | 9.26 | −7.03 |
| | National Front | Gordon Callow | 582 | 1.38 | −1.68 |
| | Communist | John Mansfield | 249 | 0.59 | New |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 3,302 | 7.83 | −16.39 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 42,129 | 75.01 | +5.52 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 56,165 | | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | -8.20 | |
General election October 1974: Hayes & Harlington :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Neville Sandelson | 20,291 | 52.18 | −6.53 |
| | Conservative | Neil Balfour | 10,871 | 27.96 | −6.85 |
| | Liberal | C. Lyon | 6,336 | 16.29 | New |
| | National Front | J.S. Fairhurst | 1,189 | 3.06 | −3.41 |
| | Workers Revolutionary | R. Bull | 198 | 0.51 | New |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 9,420 | 24.22 | +1.12 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 38,885 | 69.49 | −6.32 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 55,960 | | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | +0.2 | |
General election February 1974: Hayes & Harlington :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Neville Sandelson | 24,682 | 58.71 | +1.06 |
| | Conservative | P.D. Watherston | 14,634 | 34.81 | −6.43 |
| | National Front | J.S. Fairhurst | 2,721 | 6.47 | New |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 10,048 | 23.10 | +6.69 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 42,037 | 75.81 | +8.70 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 55,451 | | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | | |
1971 Hayes and Harlington by-election :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Neville Sandelson | 15,827 | 74.7 | +17.1 |
| | Conservative | Andre William Potier | 5,348 | 25.3 | −15.98 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 10,479 | 49.4 | +32.99 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 21,175 | 42.3 | −24.9 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 50,766 | | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | | |
General election 1970: Hayes and Harlington :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Arthur Skeffington | 19,192 | 57.65 | −4.56 |
| | Conservative | Andre William Potier | 13,728 | 41.24 | +5.54 |
| | Communist | Peter Pink | 372 | 1.12 | −0.98 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 5,464 | 16.41 | −10.10 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 33,292 | 67.11 | −5.58 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 49,609 | | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | | |

### Elections in the 1960s

General election 1966: Hayes & Harlington :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Arthur Skeffington | 20,707 | 62.21 | +3.42 |
| | Conservative | Lionel E. Smith | 11,883 | 35.70 | −2.94 |
| | Communist | Frank Stanley | 698 | 2.10 | −0.46 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 8,824 | 26.51 | +6.36 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 33,288 | 72.69 | −0.51 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 45,797 | | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | | |
General election 1964: Hayes & Harlington :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Arthur Skeffington | 20,018 | 58.79 | +9.61 |
| | Conservative | Lionel E. Smith | 13,158 | 38.64 | +0.62 |
| | Communist | Frank Stanley | 873 | 2.56 | +1.14 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 6,860 | 20.15 | +8.99 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 34,049 | 73.20 | −7.27 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 46,512 | | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | | |

### Elections in the 1950s

General election 1959: Hayes & Harlington :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Arthur Skeffington | 18,301 | 49.18 | −8.54 |
| | Conservative | Anthony Grant | 14,149 | 38.02 | −1.64 |
| | Liberal | Stanley Gay | 4,235 | 11.38 | −1.19 |
| | Communist | Francis Foster | 527 | 1.42 | New |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 4,152 | 11.16 | −6.90 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 37,212 | 80.47 | +3.91 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 46,244 | | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | | |
General election 1955: Hayes & Harlington :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Arthur Skeffington | 19,558 | 57.72 | −7.07 |
| | Conservative | Anthony Courtney | 13,440 | 39.66 | +4.45 |
| | Communist | Francis Foster | 886 | 2.61 | New |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 6,118 | 18.06 | −8.80 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 33,884 | 76.56 | −5.64 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 44,259 | | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | | |
1953 Hayes and Harlington by-election :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Arthur Skeffington | 12,797 | 63.93 | −0.86 |
| | Conservative | Anthony Sumption | 7,221 | 36.07 | +0.86 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 5,576 | 27.86 | −1.72 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 20,018 | 45.00 | −37.20 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 44,525 | | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | | |
General election 1951: Hayes & Harlington :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Walter Ayles | 23,823 | 64.79 | +4.65 |
| | Conservative | Mannas Joel Rantzen | 12,949 | 35.21 | +5.21 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 10,874 | 29.58 | −0.56 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 36,772 | 82.20 | −2.99 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 44,737 | | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | | |
General election 1950: Hayes & Harlington :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Walter Ayles | 22,490 | 60.14 | |
| | Conservative | C.C. Vinson | 11,218 | 30.00 | |
| | Liberal | John Walter Frank Lett | 3,093 | 8.27 | |
| | Communist | Francis Foster | 593 | 1.59 | |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 11,272 | 30.14 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 37,394 | 85.19 | |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 43,893 | | |
| | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) |