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.

Constituency profile East Hampshire is a large rural constituency located in Hampshire. Most of the constituency lies within the South Downs National Park, a protected area of woodlands and chalk downs. The largest settlement is the town of Alton, which has a population of around 21,000. Other settlements include the town of Petersfield and the villages of Four Marks, Clanfield and Horndean. The area is highly affluent and house prices are considerably above the national average.

In general, residents are older and well-educated compared to the rest of the country. They have high levels of income and are more likely to work in professional occupations. White people made up 96% of the population at the 2021 census. At the local county and district councils, the rural areas of the constituency elected Conservative councillors whilst the towns are mostly represented by Liberal Democrats. An estimated 52% of voters in East Hampshire supported remaining in the European Union in the 2016 referendum compared to 48% nationwide.

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.

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

ElectionMemberPartyNotes 1983 Michael Mates ConservativeMember for Petersfield (1974–1979) 2010 Damian Hinds Conservative Shadow Secretary of State for Education (2024)

Elections

Elections in the 2020s

Elections in the 2010s 2019 notional result 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 1.5Turnout54,17577.4Electorate69,959

2005 notional result Party Vote % Conservative 21,441 47.0 Liberal Democrats 15,473 33.9 Labour 7,499 16.4 UKIP 1,176 2.6Turnout45,58964.7Electorate70,465

Elections in the 2000s

Elections in the 1990s

1992 notional result Party Vote % Conservative 35,960 60.6 Liberal Democrats 16,303 27.5 Labour 5,605 9.4 Others 1,451 2.4Turnout59,31980.4Electorate73,748

Elections in the 1980s

1979 notional result Party Vote % Conservative 32,595 59.6 Liberal 13,328 24.4 Labour 8,687 15.9 Others 39 0.1Turnout54,649Electorate

See also Parliamentary constituencies in Hampshire List of parliamentary constituencies in the South East England (region)

Notes

References

External links East Hampshire UK Parliament constituency (boundaries April 1997 – April 2010) at MapIt UK East Hampshire UK Parliament constituency (boundaries April 2010 – May 2024) at MapIt UK East Hampshire UK Parliament constituency (boundaries from June 2024) at MapIt UK