{{Short description|UK Parliament constituency (since 1997)}} {{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}} {{Infobox UK constituency main |name = New Forest West |parliament = uk |image = {{maplink|frame=yes|frame-align=center|plain=yes|raw={{Wikipedia:Map data/New Forest West (UK Parliament constituency)}}|frame-height=200|frame-width=250}} |caption = Boundaries since 2010 |image2 = 255px|alt=Map of constituency |caption2 = Boundary of New Forest West in South East England |year = 1997 |abolished = |type = County |elects_howmany = One |previous = New Forest |next = |towns = {{ubl|Fordingbridge|Ringwood|New Milton|Lymington}} |electorate = 71,009 (2023) <ref>{{cite web |url= https://boundarycommissionforengland.independent.gov.uk/2023-review/the-2023-review-of-parliamentary-constituency-boundaries-in-england-volume-two-constituency-names-designations-and-composition/the-2023-review-of-parliamentary-constituency-boundaries-in-england-volume-two-constituency-names-designations-and-composition-south-east/#lg_new-forest-west-cc-71009 |title= The 2023 Review of Parliamentary Constituency Boundaries in England – Volume two: Constituency names, designations and composition – South East |publisher=Boundary Commission for England |access-date=13 June 2024 |df=dmy }}</ref> |mp = Desmond Swayne |party = Conservative |region = England |county = Hampshire }}
'''New Forest West''' is a constituency{{#tag:ref|A county constituency (for the purposes of election expenses and type of returning officer)|group= n}} represented in the House of Commons of the UK Parliament since 1997 by Desmond Swayne, a Conservative.{{#tag:ref|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.|group= n}}
==Constituency profile== New Forest West is a constituency in Hampshire. Most of its population lives in coastal settlements in the south, and much of the inland area is part of the New Forest National Park. Its largest town is New Milton, which, together with the connected villages of Ashley and Barton on Sea, has a population of around 25,000.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.citypopulation.de/en/uk/southeastengland/admin/new_forest/E04004581__new_milton/|title=New Milton|website=citypopulation.de|accessdate=31 May 2026}}</ref> Other settlements in the constituency include the towns of Lymington, Ringwood and Fordingbridge and the villages of Milford on Sea, Hordle and Bransgore.
New Milton is a historic market town that grew significantly during the late 19th and early 20th centuries after the construction of a railway station, and is today a popular retirement location. Lymington is a port town with a history of shipbuilding and yachting. Ringwood and Fordingbridge are traditional market towns and, like the rest of the constituency, are generally affluent.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://commonslibrary.parliament.uk/constituency-data-deprivation-in-england/|title=Constituency data: Deprivation in England|website=commonslibrary.parliament.uk|accessdate=31 May 2026}}</ref> House prices across the constituency are higher than the national and South East England averages.<ref name="EC">{{cite web|url=https://www.electoralcalculus.co.uk/fcgi-bin/seatdetails.py?seat=New+Forest+West|title=Seat Details - New Forest West|website=electoralcalculus.co.uk|accessdate=31 May 2026}}</ref>
New Forest West has a very large retiree population; around 35% of residents are over the age of 65, nearly double the overall England and Wales percentage.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://commonslibrary.parliament.uk/research-briefings/cbp-10529/|title=Constituency data: Population, by age|website=commonslibrary.parliament.uk|accessdate=31 May 2026}}</ref> Residents have average levels of education, are more likely to be religious, and have high rates of homeownership compared to the rest of the country.<ref name="EC"/> Household income levels are average and the child poverty rate is low.<ref name="EC"/><ref name="dashboard">{{cite web |title=Constituency dashboard |url=https://commonslibrary.parliament.uk/constituency-dashboard |website=House of Commons Library |accessdate=31 May 2026}}</ref> A high proportion of residents work in the retail and tourism sectors, and the percentage claiming unemployment benefits is low.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://commonslibrary.parliament.uk/constituency-data-businesses/|title=Constituency data: businesses and industries|website=commonslibrary.parliament.uk|accessdate=31 May 2026}}</ref><ref name="dashboard"/> White people made up 97% of the population at the 2021 census.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://commonslibrary.parliament.uk/constituency-statistics-ethnicity/|title=2021 census results: Ethnic groups in your constituency|website=commonslibrary.parliament.uk|date=4 July 2024|accessdate=31 May 2026}}</ref>
At the local council level, most of the constituency is represented by Conservatives with some Green Party and Liberal Democrat councillors elected in the inland areas and some Reform UK representatives elected at the county council. An estimated 57% of voters in New Forest West supported leaving the European Union in the 2016 referendum, higher than the nationwide figure of 52%.<ref name="EC"/>
==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,<ref>{{Cite web |last=LGBCE |title=New Forest {{!}} LGBCE |url=https://www.lgbce.org.uk/all-reviews/new-forest |access-date=2024-04-01 |website=www.lgbce.org.uk |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=The New Forest (Electoral Changes) Order 2021 |url=https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2021/888/introduction/made}}</ref> 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.<ref>{{Cite web |title=New Seat Details - New Forest West |url=https://www.electoralcalculus.co.uk/fcgi-bin/calcwork23.py?seat=New+Forest+West |access-date=2024-04-01 |website=www.electoralcalculus.co.uk}}</ref> The 2023 Periodic Review of Westminster constituencies, which was based on the ward structure in place at 1 December 2020, left the boundaries unchanged.<ref>{{Cite web |title=The Parliamentary Constituencies Order 2023 |url=https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2023/1230/schedules/made |at=Schedule 1 Part 6 South East region}}</ref>
==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''
{| class="wikitable" |- !colspan="2"|Election!!Member<ref name="rayment">{{Rayment-hc|n|1|date=March 2012}}</ref> !Party |- |style="color:inherit;background-color: {{party color|Conservative Party (UK)}}" | | 1997 | Sir Desmond Swayne | Conservative |}
==Elections== thumb|centre|750px|Election results 1950-2024 === Elections in the 2020s === {{Election box begin |title=General election 2024: New Forest West<ref>[https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/election/2024/uk/constituencies/E14001374 New Forest West]</ref> }} {{Election box winning candidate with party link |party=Conservative Party (UK) |candidate=Desmond Swayne |votes=16,412 |percentage=35.4 |change=−28.4}} {{Election box candidate with party link |party=Labour Party (UK) |candidate=Sally Johnston |votes=10,812 |percentage=23.3 |change=+10.2}} {{Election box candidate with party link |party=Liberal Democrats (UK)|candidate=Jack Davies |votes=8,186 |percentage=17.7 |change=+2.4}} {{Election box candidate with party link |party=Reform UK|candidate= Reginald Chester-Sterne |votes=7,577 |percentage=16.4 |change=''New''}} {{Election box candidate with party link |party=Green Party of England and Wales|candidate=Anna Collar |votes=2,800 |percentage=6.0 |change=−1.7}} {{Election box candidate with party link |party=Animal Welfare Party |candidate=Gavin Ridley |votes=393 |percentage=0.8 |change=''New''}} {{Election box candidate with party link |party=Social Democratic Party (UK, 1990–present) |candidate=Paul Simon |votes=157 |percentage=0.3 |change=''New''}} {{Election box majority|votes=5,600|percentage=12.1|change=−36.4}} {{Election box turnout|votes=46,337|percentage=67.5|change=−3.3}} {{Election box registered electors |reg. electors = 68,644 }} {{Election box hold with party link| |winner = Conservative Party (UK) |swing = −19.3 }} {{Election box end}}
=== Elections in the 2010s ===
{{Election box begin |title=General election 2019: New Forest West<ref>{{cite web |title=New Forest West Parliamentary constituency |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/politics/constituencies/E14000828 |website=BBC News |publisher=BBC |access-date=26 November 2019}}</ref> }} {{Election box winning candidate with party link| |party = Conservative Party (UK) |candidate = Desmond Swayne |votes = 32,113 |percentage = 63.8 |change = −3.0 }} {{Election box candidate with party link||party=Liberal Democrats (UK)|candidate=Jack Davies|votes=7,710|percentage=15.3|change=+5.7}} {{Election box candidate with party link||party=Labour Party (UK)|candidate=Jo Graham|votes=6,595|percentage=13.1|change=−6.5}} {{Election box candidate with party link||party=Green Party of England and Wales|candidate=Nicholas Bubb|votes=3,888|percentage=7.7|change=+4.8}} {{Election box majority|votes=24,403|percentage=48.5|change=+1.3}} {{Election box turnout|votes=50,306|percentage=71.3|change=−1.5}} {{Election box hold with party link |winner = Conservative Party (UK) |swing = −4.35 }} {{Election box end}}
{{Election box begin |title=General election 2017: New Forest West }} {{Election box winning candidate with party link| |party = Conservative Party (UK) |candidate = Desmond Swayne |votes = 33,170 |percentage = 66.8 |change = +6.9 }} {{Election box candidate with party link| |party = Labour Party (UK) |candidate = Jo Graham |votes = 9,739 |percentage = 19.6 |change = +8.8 }} {{Election box candidate with party link| |party = Liberal Democrats (UK) |candidate = Terry Scriven |votes = 4,781 |percentage = 9.6 |change = +2.7 }} {{Election box candidate with party link |party = Green Party of England and Wales |candidate = Janet Richards |votes = 1,454 |percentage = 2.9 |change = −2.9 }} {{Election box candidate with party link| |party = Pirate Party UK |candidate = Des Hjerling |votes = 483 |percentage = 1.0 |change = ''New'' }} {{Election box majority |votes = 23,431 |percentage = 47.2 |change = +3.8 }} {{Election box turnout |votes = 49,627 |percentage = 72.8 |change = +3.6 }} {{Election box hold with party link |winner = Conservative Party (UK) |swing = −0.95 }} {{Election box end}}
{{Election box begin |title=General election 2015: New Forest West<ref name=electoralcalculus2015>{{cite web|title=Election Data 2015|url=http://www.electoralcalculus.co.uk/electdata_2015.txt|publisher=Electoral Calculus|access-date=17 October 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151017112223/http://www.electoralcalculus.co.uk/electdata_2015.txt|archive-date=17 October 2015}}</ref> }} {{Election box winning candidate with party link| |party = Conservative Party (UK) |candidate = Desmond Swayne |votes = 28,420 |percentage = 59.9 |change = +1.1 }} {{Election box candidate with party link |party = UK Independence Party |candidate = Paul Bailey |votes = 7,816 |percentage = 16.5 |change = +10.6 }} {{Election box candidate with party link| |party = Labour Party (UK) |candidate = Lena Samuels |votes = 5,133 |percentage = 10.8 |change = +1.0 }} {{Election box candidate with party link| |party = Liberal Democrats (UK) |candidate = Imogen Shepherd-DuBey |votes = 3,293 |percentage = 6.9 |change = −16.4 }} {{Election box candidate with party link |party = Green Party of England and Wales |candidate = Janet Richards |votes = 2,748 |percentage = 5.8 |change = +3.6 }} {{Election box majority |votes = 20,604 |percentage = 43.4 |change = +7.9 }} {{Election box turnout |votes = 47,410 |percentage = 69.2 |change = −7.4 }} {{Election box hold with party link |winner = Conservative Party (UK) |swing = −4.75 }} {{Election box end}}
{{Election box begin | |title=General election 2010: New Forest West<ref name=electoralcalculus2010>{{cite web|title=Election Data 2010|url=http://www.electoralcalculus.co.uk/electdata_2010.txt|publisher=Electoral Calculus|access-date=17 October 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130726162034/http://www.electoralcalculus.co.uk/electdata_2010.txt|archive-date=26 July 2013}}</ref> }} {{Election box winning candidate with party link| |party = Conservative Party (UK) |candidate = Desmond Swayne |votes = 27,980 |percentage = 58.8 |change = +2.9 }} {{Election box candidate with party link| |party = Liberal Democrats (UK) |candidate = Mike Plummer |votes = 11,084 |percentage = 23.3 |change = +4.1 }} {{Election box candidate with party link| |party = Labour Party (UK) |candidate = Janice Hurne |votes = 4,666 |percentage = 9.8 |change = −6.7 }} {{Election box candidate with party link| |party = UK Independence Party |candidate = Martin Lyon |votes = 2,783 |percentage = 5.9 |change = +1.7 }} {{Election box candidate with party link| |party = Green Party of England and Wales |candidate = Janet Richards |votes = 1,059 |percentage = 2.2 |change = −1.8 }} {{Election box majority| |votes = 16,896 |percentage = 35.5 |change = −1.2 }} {{Election box turnout| |votes = 47,572 |percentage = 69.6 |change = +3.5 }} {{Election box hold with party link| |winner = Conservative Party (UK) |swing = −0.6 }} {{Election box end}}
=== Elections in the 2000s === {{Election box begin | |title=General election 2005: New Forest West<ref name=electoralcalculus2005>{{cite web|title=Election Data 2005|url=http://www.electoralcalculus.co.uk/electdata_2005ob.txt|publisher=Electoral Calculus|access-date=18 October 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111015054249/http://www.electoralcalculus.co.uk/electdata_2005ob.txt|archive-date=15 October 2011}}</ref> }} {{Election box winning candidate with party link| |party = Conservative Party (UK) |candidate = Desmond Swayne |votes = 26,004 |percentage = 56.4 |change = +0.7 }} {{Election box candidate with party link| |party = Liberal Democrats (UK) |candidate = Murari Kaushik |votes = 8,719 |percentage = 18.9 |change = −6.9 }} {{Election box candidate with party link| |party = Labour Party (UK) |candidate = Janice Hurne |votes = 7,590 |percentage = 16.5 |change = +1.8 }} {{Election box candidate with party link| |party = UK Independence Party |candidate = Brian Lawrence |votes = 1,917 |percentage = 4.2 |change = +0.5 }} {{Election box candidate with party link| |party = Green Party of England and Wales |candidate = Janet Richards |votes = 1,837 |percentage = 4.0 |change = ''New'' }} {{Election box majority| |votes = 17,285 |percentage = 37.5 |change = +7.6 }} {{Election box turnout| |votes = 46,067 |percentage = 66.5 |change = +1.5 }} {{Election box hold with party link| |winner = Conservative Party (UK) |swing = +3.8 }} {{Election box end}}
{{Election box begin | |title=General election 2001: New Forest West<ref name=electoralcalculus2001>{{cite web|title=Election Data 2001|url=http://www.electoralcalculus.co.uk/electdata_2001ob.txt|publisher=Electoral Calculus|access-date=18 October 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111015054450/http://www.electoralcalculus.co.uk/electdata_2001ob.txt|archive-date=15 October 2011}}</ref> }} {{Election box winning candidate with party link| |party = Conservative Party (UK) |candidate = Desmond Swayne |votes = 24,575 |percentage = 55.7 |change = +5.1 }} {{Election box candidate with party link| |party = Liberal Democrats (UK) |candidate = Michael Bignell |votes = 11,384 |percentage = 25.8 |change = −2.0 }} {{Election box candidate with party link| |party = Labour Party (UK) |candidate = Crada N. Onuegbu |votes = 6,481 |percentage = 14.7 |change = +0.4 }} {{Election box candidate with party link| |party = UK Independence Party |candidate = Michael Clark |votes = 1,647 |percentage = 3.7 |change = +0.6 }} {{Election box majority| |votes = 13,191 |percentage = 29.9 |change = +7.1 }} {{Election box turnout| |votes = 44,087 |percentage = 65.0 |change = −9.7 }} {{Election box hold with party link| |winner = Conservative Party (UK) |swing = +3.6 }} {{Election box end}}
=== Elections in the 1990s === {{Election box begin | |title=General election 1997: New Forest West<ref name=electoralcalculus1997>{{cite web|title=Election Data 1997|url=http://www.electoralcalculus.co.uk/electdata_1997.txt|publisher=Electoral Calculus|access-date=18 October 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111015054424/http://www.electoralcalculus.co.uk/electdata_1997.txt|archive-date=15 October 2011}}</ref> }} {{Election box winning candidate with party link| |party = Conservative Party (UK) |candidate = Desmond Swayne |votes = 25,149 |percentage = 50.6 |change = }} {{Election box candidate with party link| |party = Liberal Democrats (UK) |candidate = Robert C.H. Hale |votes = 13,817 |percentage = 27.8 |change = }} {{Election box candidate with party link| |party = Labour Party (UK) |candidate = David R. Griffiths |votes = 7,092 |percentage = 14.3 |change = }} {{Election box candidate with party link| |party = Referendum Party |candidate = Maureen A. Elliott |votes = 2,150 |percentage = 4.3 |change = }} {{Election box candidate with party link| |party = UK Independence Party |candidate = Michael Holmes |votes = 1,542 |percentage = 3.1 |change = }} {{Election box majority| |votes = 11,332 |percentage = 22.8 |change = }} {{Election box turnout| |votes = 49,750 |percentage = 74.7 |change = }} {{Election box new seat win| |winner = Conservative Party (UK) }} {{Election box end}}
==See also== *List of parliamentary constituencies in Hampshire *List of parliamentary constituencies in the South East England (region)
==Notes== {{Reflist|group=n}}
==References== {{Reflist}}
==Sources== *[https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/shared/vote2005/html/417.stm Election result, 2005] (BBC) *[https://news.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/static/vote2001/results_constituencies/constituencies/417.stm Election results, 1997 - 2001] (BBC) *[http://www.election.demon.co.uk/1997EC2.html Election results, 1997 - 2001] (Election Demon) *[https://web.archive.org/web/20070310172934/http://politics.guardian.co.uk/hoc/constituency/0,,-1149,00.html Election results, 1997 - 2005] (Guardian)
==External links== *[https://mapit.mysociety.org/area/13252.html New Forest West UK Parliament constituency] (boundaries April 1997 – April 2010) at ''MapIt UK'' *[https://mapit.mysociety.org/area/65815.html New Forest West UK Parliament constituency] (boundaries April 2010 – May 2024) at ''MapIt UK'' *[https://mapit.mysociety.org/area/168726.html New Forest West UK Parliament constituency] (boundaries from June 2024) at ''MapIt UK''
{{Constituencies in South East England}} {{Authority control}} {{Coord|50.806|-1.629|display=title|region:GB_scale:100000}}
Category:Parliamentary constituencies in Hampshire Category:Constituencies of the Parliament of the United Kingdom established in 1997 Category:New Forest District