# New Forest West (UK Parliament constituency)

New Forest West is a constituency represented in the House of Commons of the UK Parliament since 1997 by Desmond Swayne, a Conservative.

## Constituency profile

This constituency covers the part of the New Forest which is not covered by New Forest East, and southern coastal settlements just outside its boundaries. The largest settlements are Fordingbridge and Ringwood which are inland and coastal New Milton and Lymington.
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. Coast and forest are contained in this area.

## Boundaries

1997–2010: The District of New Forest wards of Barton, Bashley, Becton, Bransgore and Sopley, Downlands, Fordingbridge, Forest North West, Forest West, Hordle, Lymington Town, Milford, Milton, Pennington, Ringwood North, Ringwood South, and Sway.
2010–2023: The District of New Forest wards of Barton, Bashley, Becton, Bransgore and Burley, Buckland, Downlands and Forest, Fernhill, Fordingbridge, Forest North West, Hordle, Lymington Town, Milford, Milton, Pennington, Ringwood East and Sopley, Ringwood North, and Ringwood South.
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: Ashley, Bashley and Fernhill; Ballard; Barton and Becton; Bransgore, Burley, Sopley & Ringwood East; Downlands and Forest North; Fordingbridge, Godshill & Hyde; Lymington; Milford and Hordle; Milton; Pennington; Ringwood North and Ellingham; and Ringwood 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. Since its creation, election results suggest a Conservative safe seat.

## Members of Parliament

New Forest prior to 1997
| Election | Election | Member | Party |
| | 1997 | Sir Desmond Swayne | Conservative |

## Elections
### Elections in the 2020s

General election 2024: New Forest West :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Desmond Swayne | 16,412 | 35.4 | −28.4 |
| | Labour | Sally Johnston | 10,812 | 23.3 | +10.2 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Jack Davies | 8,186 | 17.7 | +2.4 |
| | Reform UK | Reginald Chester-Sterne | 7,577 | 16.4 | New |
| | Green | Anna Collar | 2,800 | 6.0 | −1.7 |
| | Animal Welfare | Gavin Ridley | 393 | 0.8 | New |
| | SDP | Paul Simon | 157 | 0.3 | New |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 5,600 | 12.1 | −36.4 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 46,337 | 67.5 | −3.3 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 68,644 | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | −19.3 | |

### Elections in the 2010s

General election 2019: New Forest West :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Desmond Swayne | 32,113 | 63.8 | −3.0 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Jack Davies | 7,710 | 15.3 | +5.7 |
| | Labour | Jo Graham | 6,595 | 13.1 | −6.5 |
| | Green | Nicholas Bubb | 3,888 | 7.7 | +4.8 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 24,403 | 48.5 | +1.3 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 50,306 | 71.3 | −1.5 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | −4.35 | |
General election 2017: New Forest West :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Desmond Swayne | 33,170 | 66.8 | +6.9 |
| | Labour | Jo Graham | 9,739 | 19.6 | +8.8 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Terry Scriven | 4,781 | 9.6 | +2.7 |
| | Green | Janet Richards | 1,454 | 2.9 | −2.9 |
| | Pirate | Des Hjerling | 483 | 1.0 | New |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 23,431 | 47.2 | +3.8 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 49,627 | 72.8 | +3.6 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | −0.95 | |
General election 2015: New Forest West :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Desmond Swayne | 28,420 | 59.9 | +1.1 |
| | UKIP | Paul Bailey | 7,816 | 16.5 | +10.6 |
| | Labour | Lena Samuels | 5,133 | 10.8 | +1.0 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Imogen Shepherd-DuBey | 3,293 | 6.9 | −16.4 |
| | Green | Janet Richards | 2,748 | 5.8 | +3.6 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 20,604 | 43.4 | +7.9 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 47,410 | 69.2 | −7.4 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | −4.75 | |
General election 2010: New Forest West :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Desmond Swayne | 27,980 | 58.8 | +2.9 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Mike Plummer | 11,084 | 23.3 | +4.1 |
| | Labour | Janice Hurne | 4,666 | 9.8 | −6.7 |
| | UKIP | Martin Lyon | 2,783 | 5.9 | +1.7 |
| | Green | Janet Richards | 1,059 | 2.2 | −1.8 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 16,896 | 35.5 | −1.2 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 47,572 | 69.6 | +3.5 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | −0.6 | |

### Elections in the 2000s

General election 2005: New Forest West :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Desmond Swayne | 26,004 | 56.4 | +0.7 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Murari Kaushik | 8,719 | 18.9 | −6.9 |
| | Labour | Janice Hurne | 7,590 | 16.5 | +1.8 |
| | UKIP | Brian Lawrence | 1,917 | 4.2 | +0.5 |
| | Green | Janet Richards | 1,837 | 4.0 | New |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 17,285 | 37.5 | +7.6 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 46,067 | 66.5 | +1.5 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | +3.8 | |
General election 2001: New Forest West :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Desmond Swayne | 24,575 | 55.7 | +5.1 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Michael Bignell | 11,384 | 25.8 | −2.0 |
| | Labour | Crada N. Onuegbu | 6,481 | 14.7 | +0.4 |
| | UKIP | Michael Clark | 1,647 | 3.7 | +0.6 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 13,191 | 29.9 | +7.1 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 44,087 | 65.0 | −9.7 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | +3.6 | |

### Elections in the 1990s

General election 1997: New Forest West :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Desmond Swayne | 25,149 | 50.6 | |
| | Liberal Democrats | Robert C.H. Hale | 13,817 | 27.8 | |
| | Labour | David R. Griffiths | 7,092 | 14.3 | |
| | Referendum | Maureen A. Elliott | 2,150 | 4.3 | |
| | UKIP | Michael Holmes | 1,542 | 3.1 | |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 11,332 | 22.8 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 49,750 | 74.7 | |
| | Conservative win (new seat) | Conservative win (new seat) | Conservative win (new seat) | Conservative win (new seat) | Conservative win (new seat) |