Harborough, Oadby and Wigston () is a constituency covering the south east of Leicestershire represented in the House of Commons of the UK Parliament since 2017 by Neil O'Brien of the Conservative Party.

It is considered a safe seat for the Conservative Party, as the seat has been represented by a Conservative MP since 1950.

Although the constituency had always, since its creation in 1885, contained the towns of Oadby and Wigston, it was formally known as Harborough up until the 2024 general election. Further to the 2023 review of Westminster constituencies, the Boundary Commission for England recommended that it be renamed Harborough, Oadby and Wigston.

Constituency profile The Harborough, Oadby and Wigston constituency is located in Leicestershire. It contains the suburban towns of Oadby and Wigston—which lie on the outskirts of the city of Leicester and form part of its wider urban area—the outlying town of Market Harborough and the villages of Great Glen and Kibworth. Oadby and Wigston grew during the 20th century as commuter towns serving Leicester. Wigston has average levels of wealth whilst Oadby is affluent. Market Harborough is a historic market town and is also generally wealthy. House prices in the constituency are similar to national averages and higher than the rest of the East Midlands.

Compared to the rest of the country, residents of the constituency are older and more likely to be homeowners. They have high levels of income and professional employment. White people made up 75% of the population at the 2021 census and Asians, mostly Indians, were the largest ethnic minority group at 18%. The Asian community is concentrated in Oadby, where they make up around half the population. At the local council level, the constituency's three towns are mostly represented by Liberal Democrats whilst the rural areas and villages elected Conservatives. An estimated 52% of voters in the constituency supported leaving the European Union in the 2016 referendum, identical to the nationwide figure.

Boundaries

Historic (Harborough) 1885–1918: The Municipal Borough of Leicester, the Sessional Divisions of Lutterworth and Market Harborough, and parts of the Sessional Divisions of Leicester and East Norton.

1918–1950: The Urban Districts of Market Harborough, Oadby, and Wigston, and the Rural Districts of Blaby, Hallaton, Lutterworth, and Market Harborough.

1950–1955: The Urban Districts of Market Harborough, Oadby, and Wigston, and the Rural Districts of Blaby, Lutterworth, and Market Harborough.

1955–1974: The Urban Districts of Market Harborough and Wigston, and the Rural Districts of Blaby, Lutterworth, and Market Harborough.

1974–1983: The Urban Districts of Market Harborough, Oadby, and Wigston, and the Rural Districts of Billesdon and Market Harborough.

1983–1997: The District of Harborough wards of Billesdon, Bosworth, Easton, Fleckney, Glen, Houghton, Kibworth, Langton, Lubenham, Market Harborough Bowden, Market Harborough North, Market Harborough South, Market Harborough West, Scraptoft, Thurnby, and Tilton, and the Borough of Oadby and Wigston.

1997–2010: The District of Harborough wards of Bosworth, Fleckney, Glen, Kibworth, Langton, Lubenham, Market Harborough Bowden, Market Harborough North, Market Harborough South, and Market Harborough West, and the Borough of Oadby and Wigston wards of All Saints, Bassett, Brocks Hill, Brookside, Central, Fairfield, Grange, St Peter's, St Wolstan's, and Westfield.

2010–2024: The District of Harborough wards of Bosworth, Fleckney, Glen, Kibworth, Lubenham, Market Harborough Great Bowden and Arden, Market Harborough Little Bowden, Market Harborough Logan, and Market Harborough Welland, and the Borough of Oadby and Wigston wards of Oadby Brocks Hill, Oadby Grange, Oadby St Peter's, Oadby Uplands, Oadby Woodlands, South Wigston, Wigston All Saints, Wigston Fields, Wigston Meadowcourt, and Wigston St Wolstan's.

Current (Harborough, Oadby and Wigston) Further to the 2023 boundary review, the composition of the constituency is as follows from the 2024 general election (as they existed on 1 December 2020):

The District of Harborough wards of: Glen; Kibworths; Lubenham; Market Harborough – Great Bowden & Arden; Market Harborough – Little Bowden; Market Harborough – Logan; Market Harborough – Welland. The Borough of Oadby and Wigston.

Minor adjustments to take account of ward boundary changes.

The constituency takes its name from the town of Market Harborough, seat of the Harborough local government district, combined with the Borough of Oadby and Wigston which adjoins Leicester.

History The seat was created in the Redistribution of Seats Act 1885 and in boundary changes in 1974 reflecting the growth in population and electorate of Leicestershire lost a large amount of its territory to the new seat of Blaby.

Members of Parliament

South Leicestershire before 1885

ElectionMemberParty 1885 Thomas Paget Liberal 1886 Thomas Tapling Conservative 1891 by-election Paddy Logan Liberal 1904 by-election Philip Stanhope Liberal 1906 R. C. Lehmann Liberal December 1910 Paddy Logan Liberal 1916 by-election Percy Harris Liberal 1918 Sir Keith Fraser Coalition Conservative 1923 John Wycliffe Black Liberal 1924 Lewis Winby Conservative 1929 Arthur Stewart Conservative 1933 by-election Ronald Tree Conservative 1945 Humphrey Attewell Labour 1950 John Baldock Conservative 1959 Sir John Farr Conservative 1992 Edward Garnier Conservative 2017 Neil O'Brien Conservative

Elections

Elections in the 2020s

Elections in the 2010s

UKIP originally selected Clive Langley, who was replaced by Mark Hunt in March 2015.

Elections in the 2000s

Elections in the 1990s

Elections in the 1980s

Elections in the 1970s

Elections in the 1960s

Elections in the 1950s

Elections in the 1940s

General Election 1939–40:

Another general election was required to take place before the end of 1940, however this did not happen due to the Second World War. The political parties had been making preparations for an election to take place from 1939 and by the end of this year, the following candidates had been selected: Conservative: Ronald Tree Labour: A E Bennett

Elections in the 1930s

Elections in the 1920s

Elections in the 1910s

Election results 1885–1918 Elections in the 1880s

Elections in the 1890s

Elections in the 1900s

Elections in the 1910s

General Election 1914–15:

Another General Election was required to take place before the end of 1915, however this was not held due to the First World War. The political parties had been making preparations for an election to take place and by July 1914, the following candidates had been selected: Liberal: Percy HarrisStandard, 23 February 1914 Conservative: Unknown

See also List of parliamentary constituencies in Leicestershire and Rutland

Notes

References

Sources

External links Harborough Conservative Association

Kevin McKeever (Labour Parliamentary Candidate - 2010) Harborough UK Parliament constituency (boundaries April 1997 – April 2010) at MapIt UK Harborough UK Parliament constituency (boundaries April 2010 – May 2024) at MapIt UK Harborough, Oadby and Wigston UK Parliament constituency (boundaries from June 2024) at MapIt UK