# Harlow (UK Parliament constituency)

Harlow is a constituency represented in the House of Commons of the UK Parliament since 2024 by Chris Vince, of the Labour and Co-operative Party.

## Constituency profile

The seat has been a bellwether since the result in 1983. It has above county-average levels of social housing, underemployment and unemployment as at the 2001 census and the associated 2000 Index of Multiple Deprivation; however, the new town has brought growth sustained in part by more commuting, with an increasingly-used and separate Mill station in the London Commuter Belt, and has seen a 9.2% increase in the number of apartments to 2011, which brings the proportion of the housing market made up by flats and apartments to 23.8%.

## History

This seat was created for the February 1974 general election from the abolished seat of Epping, and has been subject only to minor changes since.

## Boundaries
### Historic

1974–1983: Harlow Urban District, and Epping and Ongar Rural District parishes of Magdalen Laver, Matching, Nazeing, North Weald Bassett, Roydon, and Sheering.
1983–1997: The District of Harlow, and the District of Epping Forest wards of Nazeing, North Weald Bassett, Roydon, and Sheering.
    Minor loss to Brentwood and Ongar.
1997–2010: The District of Harlow, and the District of Epping Forest wards of Nazeing, Roydon, and Sheering.
    North Weald Bassett transferred to Epping Forest.
2010–2024: The District of Harlow, and the District of Epping Forest wards of Hastingwood, Matching and Sheering Village, Lower Nazeing, Lower Sheering, and Roydon.
    Marginal changes due to redistribution of local authority wards.

### Current

Further to the 2023 Periodic Review of Westminster constituencies, which came into effect for the 2024 general election, the composition of the constituency was expanded northwards to meet the electorate size requirements, with the transfer in from Saffron Walden of the two District of Uttlesford wards of Broad Oak & the Hallingburys, and Hatfield Heath.
Following a local government boundary review in Epping Forest which came into effect in May 2024, the constituency now comprises the following from the 2024 general election:
* The District of Epping Forest part wards of: North Weald Bassett (small part); Roydon & Lower Nazeing (bulk); Rural East (parishes of Matching and Sheering).
* The District of Harlow.
* The District of Uttlesford wards of: Broad Oak & the Hallingburys; Hatfield Heath.

## Members of Parliament

Epping prior to 1974
| Election | Member | Party |
| Feb 1974 | Stan Newens | Labour Co-op |
| 1983 | Jerry Hayes | Conservative |
| 1997 | Bill Rammell | Labour |
| 2010 | Robert Halfon | Conservative |
| 2024 | Chris Vince | Labour Co-op |

## Elections
### Elections in the 2020s

General election 2024: Harlow :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour Co-op | Chris Vince | 16,313 | 37.6 | +8.3 |
| | Conservative | Hannah Ellis | 13,809 | 31.8 | −32.8 |
| | Reform UK | Malcolm Featherstone | 9,461 | 21.8 | N/A |
| | Green | Yasmin Gregory | 2,267 | 5.2 | +4.9 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Riad Mannan | 1,350 | 3.1 | −2.8 |
| | UKIP | Lois Perry | 157 | 0.4 | N/A |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 2,504 | 5.8 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 43,357 | 58.2 | –6.3 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 74,683 | | |
| | Labour gain from Conservative | Labour gain from Conservative | Swing | 20.6 | |

### Elections in the 2010s

2019 notional result :
| Party | Party | Vote | % |
| | Conservative | 30,573 | 64.6 |
| | Labour | 13,879 | 29.3 |
| | Liberal Democrats | 2,783 | 5.9 |
| | Green | 125 | 0.3 |
| Turnout | Turnout | 47,360 | 64.5 |
| Electorate | Electorate | 73,479 |
General election 2019: Harlow :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Robert Halfon | 27,510 | 63.5 | +9.5 |
| | Labour | Laura McAlpine | 13,447 | 31.0 | −7.3 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Charlotte Cane | 2,397 | 5.5 | +3.3 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 14,063 | 32.5 | +16.8 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 43,354 | 63.7 | −2.5 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | +8.4 | |
General election 2017: Harlow :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Robert Halfon | 24,230 | 54.0 | +5.1 |
| | Labour | Phil Waite | 17,199 | 38.3 | +8.3 |
| | UKIP | Mark Gough | 1,787 | 4.0 | −12.3 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Geoffrey Seef | 970 | 2.2 | +0.2 |
| | Green | Hannah Clare | 660 | 1.5 | −0.7 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 7,031 | 15.7 | −3.2 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 44,846 | 66.2 | +1.1 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | −1.6 | |
General election 2015: Harlow :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Robert Halfon | 21,623 | 48.9 | +4.0 |
| | Labour | Suzy Stride | 13,273 | 30.0 | −3.7 |
| | UKIP | Sam Stopplecamp | 7,208 | 16.3 | +12.7 |
| | Green | Murray Sackwild | 954 | 2.2 | N/A |
| | Liberal Democrats | Geoffrey Seeff | 904 | 2.0 | −11.7 |
| | TUSC | David Brown | 174 | 0.4 | N/A |
| | English Democrat | Eddy Butler | 115 | 0.3 | N/A |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 8,350 | 18.9 | +7.7 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 44,251 | 65.1 | ±0.0 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | +3.9 | |
General election 2010: Harlow :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Robert Halfon | 19,691 | 44.9 | +4.1 |
| | Labour | Bill Rammell | 14,766 | 33.7 | −7.7 |
| | Liberal Democrats | David White | 5,990 | 13.7 | +0.7 |
| | BNP | Eddy Butler | 1,739 | 4.0 | N/A |
| | UKIP | John Croft | 1,591 | 3.6 | +1.1 |
| | Christian | Oluyemi Adeeko | 101 | 0.2 | N/A |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 4,925 | 11.2 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 43,878 | 65.1 | +2.7 |
| | Conservative gain from Labour | Conservative gain from Labour | Swing | +5.9 | |

### Elections in the 2000s

General election 2005: Harlow :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Bill Rammell | 16,453 | 41.4 | −6.4 |
| | Conservative | Robert Halfon | 16,356 | 41.2 | +6.4 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Lorna Spenceley | 5,002 | 12.6 | −0.8 |
| | UKIP | John Felgate | 981 | 2.5 | −0.5 |
| | Veritas | Anthony Bennett | 941 | 2.4 | N/A |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 97 | 0.2 | −12.8 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 39,733 | 62.6 | +2.9 |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | −6.4 | |
General election 2001: Harlow :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Bill Rammell | 19,169 | 47.8 | −6.3 |
| | Conservative | Robert Halfon | 13,941 | 34.8 | +2.7 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Lorna Spenceley | 5,381 | 13.4 | +3.9 |
| | UKIP | Tony Bennett | 1,223 | 3.0 | +2.3 |
| | Socialist Alliance | John Hobbs | 401 | 1.0 | N/A |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 5,228 | 13.0 | −9.0 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 40,115 | 59.7 | −14.6 |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | −4.5 | |

### Elections in the 1990s

General election 1997: Harlow :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Bill Rammell | 25,861 | 54.1 | +12.3 |
| | Conservative | Jerry Hayes | 15,347 | 32.1 | −14.9 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Lorna Spenceley | 4,523 | 9.5 | −1.8 |
| | Referendum | Mark Wells | 1,422 | 3.0 | N/A |
| | UKIP | Gerard Batten | 340 | 0.7 | N/A |
| | BNP | John Bowles | 319 | 0.7 | N/A |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 10,514 | 22.0 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 47,812 | 74.3 | −8.3 |
| | Labour gain from Conservative | Labour gain from Conservative | Swing | +13.6 | |
General election 1992: Harlow :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Jerry Hayes | 26,608 | 47.0 | −0.2 |
| | Labour | Bill Rammell | 23,668 | 41.8 | +5.2 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Lorna Spenceley | 6,375 | 11.3 | −4.9 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 2,940 | 5.2 | −5.5 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 56,651 | 82.6 | +8.5 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | −2.7 | |

### Elections in the 1980s

General election 1987: Harlow :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Jerry Hayes | 26,017 | 47.2 | +6.1 |
| | Labour Co-op | Stanley Newens | 20,140 | 36.6 | +2.4 |
| | SDP (Alliance) | Monica Eden-Green | 8,915 | 16.2 | −8.0 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 5,877 | 10.7 | +3.8 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 55,072 | 74.1 | −2.4 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | +1.9 | |
General election 1983: Harlow :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Jerry Hayes | 21,924 | 41.1 | +1.0 |
| | Labour Co-op | Stanley Newens | 18,250 | 34.2 | −8.5 |
| | Liberal (Alliance) | John Bastick | 12,891 | 24.2 | +8.6 |
| | Independent | John Ward | 256 | 0.5 | N/A |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 3,674 | 6.9 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 53,321 | 76.5 | −2.2 |
| | Conservative gain from Labour Co-op | Conservative gain from Labour Co-op | Swing | +4.8 | |

### Elections in the 1970s

General election 1979: Harlow :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour Co-op | Stanley Newens | 22,698 | 42.7 | −10.0 |
| | Conservative | John Powley | 21,306 | 40.1 | +15.8 |
| | Liberal | Robert Woodthorpe Browne | 8,289 | 15.7 | −7.4 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,392 | 2.6 | −25.8 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 53,133 | 78.7 | +3.5 |
| | Labour Co-op hold | Labour Co-op hold | Swing | −12.9 | |
General election October 1974: Harlow :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour Co-op | Stanley Newens | 24,961 | 52.7 | +3.2 |
| | Conservative | James Emerton Smith | 11,510 | 24.3 | −0.7 |
| | Liberal | Basil Goldstone | 10,869 | 23.0 | −2.5 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 13,451 | 28.4 | +4.4 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 47,340 | 75.2 | −8.7 |
| | Labour Co-op hold | Labour Co-op hold | Swing | +2.0 | |
General election February 1974: Harlow :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour Co-op | Stanley Newens | 25,814 | 49.5 | −11.4 |
| | Liberal | Basil Goldstone | 13,280 | 25.5 | +25.5 |
| | Conservative | James Emerton Smith | 13,016 | 25.0 | −14.1 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 12,534 | 24.0 | +2.2 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 52,110 | 83.9 | +10.0 |
| | Labour Co-op win (new seat) | Labour Co-op win (new seat) | Labour Co-op win (new seat) | Labour Co-op win (new seat) | Labour Co-op win (new seat) |
General election 1970 (Notional): Harlow :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Labour | | 29,453 | 60.9 |
| | Conservative | | 18,880 | 39.1 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 10,573 | 21.8 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 48,333 | 72.9 |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | |
| Preceded byEpping | UK Parliament constituency 1974– | Succeeded byCurrent Incumbent |

## Graphical representation

February 1974 New Seat :
| 49.5% | 25.5% | 25.0% |
| Labour | Liberal | Conservative |
October 1974 :
| 52.7% | 23.0% | 24.3% |
| Labour | Liberal | Conservative |
1979 :
| 42.7% | 15.7% | 40.1% |
| Labour | Liberal | Conservative |
1983 :
| 34.2% | 24.2% | 41.1% |
| Labour | Liberal | Conservative |
1987 :
| 36.6% | 16.2% | 47.2% |
| Labour | SDP | Conservative |
1992 :
| 41.8% | 11.3% | 47.0% |
| Labour | Lib Dems | Conservative |
1997 :
| 54.1% | 9.5% | 32.1% | 3.0% |
| Labour | Lib Dems | Conservative | Ref |
2001 :
| 47.8% | 13.4% | 34.8% | 3.0% |
| Labour | Lib Dems | Conservative | UKIP |
2005 :
| 41.4% | 12.6% | 41.2% |
| Labour | Lib Dems | Conservative |
2010 :
| 33.7% | 13.7% | 44.9% | 3.6% | 4.0% |
| Labour | Lib Dems | Conservative | UKIP | BNP |
2015 :
| 30.0% | 48.9% | 16.3% |
| Labour | Conservative | UKIP |
2017 :
| 38.4% | 54.0% | 4.0% |
| Labour | Conservative | UKIP |
2019 :
| 31.0% | 5.5% | 63.5% |
| Labour | LD | Conservative |
2024 :
| 5.2% | 37.6% | 31.9% | 21.8% |
| Green | Labour | Conservative | Reform |