New Forest West
County constituency
for the House of Commons
Outline map
Boundary of New Forest West in Hampshire
Outline map
Location of Hampshire within England
CountyHampshire
Electorate68,987 (December 2010)[1]
Major settlementsFordingbridge, Ringwood, New Milton, Lymington
Current constituency
Created1997
Member of ParliamentDesmond Swayne (Conservative)
SeatsOne
Created fromNew Forest

New Forest West is a constituency[n 1] represented in the House of Commons of the UK Parliament since 1997 by Desmond Swayne, a Conservative.[n 2]

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.[2] Housing types include far above average detached and semi-detached properties.[2] Coast and forest are contained in this area.[3]

Boundaries

Map
Map of current 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–present: 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.

Proposed

Further to the 2023 Periodic Review of Westminster constituencies, enacted by the Parliamentary Constituencies Order 2023, the composition of the constituency from the next general election, due by January 2025, will be unchanged.[4]

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.

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

Election Member[5] Party
1997 Sir Desmond Swayne Conservative

Elections

Elections in the 2020s

Next General Election: New Forest West
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Green Anna Collar[6]
Liberal Democrats Jack Davies[7]
Conservative Desmond Swayne[8]
Majority
Turnout
Swing

Elections in the 2010s

General election 2019: New Forest West[9]
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 24,403 48.5 +1.3
Turnout 50,306 71.3 -1.5
Conservative hold Swing -4.35
General election 2017: New Forest West
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 23,431 47.2 +3.8
Turnout 49,627 72.8 +3.6
Conservative hold Swing -0.95
General election 2015: New Forest West[10]
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 20,604 43.4 +7.9
Turnout 47,410 69.2 -7.4
Conservative hold Swing -4.75
General election 2010: New Forest West[11]
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 16,896 35.5 -1.2
Turnout 47,572 69.6 +3.5
Conservative hold Swing −0.6

Elections in the 2000s

General election 2005: New Forest West[12]
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 17,285 37.5 +7.6
Turnout 46,067 66.5 +1.5
Conservative hold Swing +3.8
General election 2001: New Forest West[13]
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 13,191 29.9 +7.1
Turnout 44,087 65.0 −9.7
Conservative hold Swing +3.6

Elections in the 1990s

General election 1997: New Forest West[14]
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 11,332 22.8
Turnout 49,750 74.7
Conservative win (new seat)

See also

Notes

  1. ^ A county constituency (for the purposes of election expenses and type of returning officer)
  2. ^ As with all constituencies, the constituency elects one Member of Parliament (MP) by the first past the post system of election at least every five years.

References

  1. ^ "Electorate Figures - Boundary Commission for England". 2011 Electorate Figures. Boundary Commission for England. 4 March 2011. Archived from the original on 6 November 2010. Retrieved 13 March 2011.
  2. ^ a b "2011 census interactive maps". Archived from the original on 29 January 2016.
  3. ^ "New Forest West: Constituency | Politics | The Guardian". 9 April 2014. Archived from the original on 9 April 2014.
  4. ^ "The Parliamentary Constituencies Order 2023". Schedule 1 Part 6 South East region.
  5. ^ Leigh Rayment's Historical List of MPs – Constituencies beginning with "N" (part 1)
  6. ^ "New Forest West Parliamentary constituency".
  7. ^ "New Forest West Parliamentary constituency".
  8. ^ "Conservatives, Lib Dems and Greens select New Forest East and West candidates for next UK general election". Lymington Times and New Milton Advertiser. Retrieved 9 February 2024.
  9. ^ "New Forest West Parliamentary constituency". BBC News. BBC. Retrieved 26 November 2019.
  10. ^ "Election Data 2015". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 17 October 2015. Retrieved 17 October 2015.
  11. ^ "Election Data 2010". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 26 July 2013. Retrieved 17 October 2015.
  12. ^ "Election Data 2005". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
  13. ^ "Election Data 2001". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
  14. ^ "Election Data 1997". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.

Sources

50°48′22″N 1°37′44″W / 50.806°N 1.629°W / 50.806; -1.629

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