The constituency is based around the town of Basingstoke in Hampshire. Basingstoke is both a commuter town with frequent trains to London and a regional economic centre, making this a prosperous area.[3]
History
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Political history
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Historically, Basingstoke has been a Conservative safe seat, but in 2024 it elected a Labour MP for the first time in its history. With the exception of this and a Liberal MP being elected in 1923, it has elected Conservative MPs since the seat was created in 1885. The closest it came to a non-Conservative victory in the century between was in 2001, when its incumbent since 1983, Andrew Hunter, in his final election, was returned by 880 votes. Hunter notably crossed the floor in 2004 to join the Democratic Unionist Party, a party which traditionally only runs in Northern Ireland.
The town was represented in the Model Parliament convened in 1295 but not again until the modern seat was created in 1885 which was done on a broad contents basis. From 1295 inclusive[b] to the one year parliament of 1831-32 its area was part of the Hampshire constituency or election of knights of the shire as the event was more often called and from 1832 to 1885 its area lay in the North Hampshire constituency.
Boundaries
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Map of boundaries 2010-2024
1885–1918: The Borough of Basingstoke, and the Sessional Divisions of Basingstoke and Odiham.
1918–1950: The Boroughs of Basingstoke and Andover, and the Rural Districts of Andover, Basingstoke, Kingsclere, Stockbridge, and Whitchurch.
1950–1955: The Boroughs of Basingstoke and Andover, the Rural Districts of Andover, Basingstoke, and Kingsclere and Whitchurch, and in the Rural District of Romsey and Stockbridge the parishes of Ashley, Bossington, Broughton, Buckholt, East Tytherley, Frenchmoor, Houghton, King's Somborne, Leckford, Little Somborne, Longstock, Nether Wallop, Over Wallop, Stockbridge, and West Tytherley.
1955–1974: The Boroughs of Basingstoke and Andover, and the Rural Districts of Andover, Basingstoke, and Kingsclere and Whitchurch.
1983–1997: The Borough of Basingstoke and Deane wards of Basing, Black Dam, Bramley, Brighton Hill, Buckskin, Chapel, Daneshill, Eastrop, Farleigh Wallop, Kempshott, King's Furlong, Norden, North Waltham, Oakley, Pamber, Popley, Sherborne St John, Sherfield on Loddon, Silchester, South Ham, Upton Grey, Viables, Westside, and Winklebury.
1997–2010: The Borough of Basingstoke and Deane wards of Basing, Brighton Hill, Brookvale, Buckskin, Calleva, Chineham, Eastrop, Grove, Hatch Warren, Kempshott, Norden, Popley, South Ham, Upton Grey, and Winklebury.
2010–2024: The Borough of Basingstoke and Deane wards of Basing, Brighton Hill North, Brighton Hill South, Brookvale and King's Furlong, Buckskin, Chineham, Eastrop, Grove, Hatch Warren and Beggarwood, Kempshott, Norden, Popley East, Popley West, Rooksdown, South Ham, and Winklebury.
Reform UK withdrew support for Saint on 27 June, after it was revealed that he was a former member of the British National Party. As this was after nominations for the election had closed, Saint remained on the ballot as the Reform UK candidate.[8]
For the 2015 election, the Green Party attempted to field two candidates who would job share.[13] Sarah Cope had young children and Clare Lorraine Phipps is disabled,[13] so neither could work as a full-time MP. Their application was rejected.[14]
Another General Election was required to take place before the end of 1915. The political parties had been making preparations for an election to take place and by July 1914, the following candidates had been selected;
^As with all constituencies, the first past the post system of election is used with elections at least every five years.
^Burgesses (ie freeholders in boroughs could elect their borough member and county members.
References
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^"Usual Resident Population, 2011". Neighbourhood Statistics. Office for National Statistics. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 27 January 2015.
^"The 2023 Review of Parliamentary Constituency Boundaries in England – Volume two: Constituency names, designations and composition – South East". Boundary Commission for England. Retrieved 13 June 2024.
^UK Polling Report http://ukpollingreport.co.uk/2015guide/basingstoke/ Archived 17 November 2021 at the Wayback Machine
^TheyWorkForYou (17 January 2018). "European Union (Withdrawal) Bill — Reject Third Reading — Membership of the European Union: Recent Votes". TheyWorkForYou. Archived from the original on 21 December 2021. Retrieved 14 February 2022.
^"The Parliamentary Constituencies Order 2023". Schedule 1 Part 6 South East region.
^Leigh Rayment's Historical List of MPs – Constituencies beginning with "B" (part 1)
^"Reform UK drops candidate revealed to have been BNP member". The Guardian. 27 June 2024.
^"Notional results for a UK general election on 12 December 2019". Rallings & Thrasher, Professor David Denver (Scotland), Nicholas Whyte (NI) for Sky News, PA, BBC News and ITV News. UK Parliament. Retrieved 11 July 2024.
^"Basingstoke parliamentary constituency - Election 2017". Archived from the original on 23 November 2018. Retrieved 21 June 2018 – via www.bbc.co.uk.
^"Election Data 2015". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 17 October 2015. Retrieved 17 October 2015.
^ ab"Green Basingstoke MP job share nomination rejected". BBC News. 10 April 2015. Archived from the original on 14 February 2022. Retrieved 21 June 2018.
^"Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 19 April 2015. Retrieved 14 April 2015.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
^"Election Data 2010". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 26 July 2013. Retrieved 17 October 2015.
^Parliamentary election - Statement of Persons Nominated(PDF), archived from the original (PDF) on 12 June 2011
^"Election Data 2005". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
^"Election Data 2001". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
^"Election Data 1997". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
^"Election Data 1992". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
^"Politics Resources". Election 1992. Politics Resources. 9 April 1992. Archived from the original on 24 July 2011. Retrieved 6 December 2010.
^"Election Data 1987". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
^"Election Data 1983". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.