Harrow West (UK Parliament constituency)

Last updated

Harrow West
Borough constituency
for the House of Commons
Harrow West (UK Parliament constituency)
Interactive map of boundaries from 2024
Harrow West 2023 Constituency.svg
Location within Greater London
County Greater London
Electorate 74,060 (2023) [1]
Major settlements Harrow, Wealdstone, Headstone, Rayners Lane, South Harrow
Current constituency
Created 1945
Member of Parliament Gareth Thomas (Labour)
SeatsOne
Created from Harrow and Hendon
During its existence contributed to new seat(s) of Ruislip, Northwood and Pinner (as to Pinner), since 2010

Harrow West is a constituency [n 1] [n 2] in Greater London created in 1945 and represented in the House of Commons of the UK Parliament. Until 1997, it only returned Conservative MPs; since then, it has elected the Labour Co-operative MP Gareth Thomas on a fluctuating majority. Since 2010, this has been bolstered by the loss of Pinner from the seat and the gain of a favourable ward for Labour from Harrow East.

Contents

Constituency profile

The area covers the largely Georgian conservation area on a stand-alone, partly park-lined hill which hosts the famous Harrow School; it also includes the urban Harrow town centre, as well as suburban streets of homes with good-sized gardens and well-kept small parklands. The seat has fast London Underground links to the city centre and rail services, few dual carriageways and few high speed roads.

Political history

Summary of results

The Labour Party have held the seat since 1997, with the Conservative Party second-placed in each election. The 2015 result made the seat the 215th safest of the party's 232 seats (by majority percentage), and thus the 18th most marginal seat. [2] Thomas's majority has ranged from 2.3% in 1997 to 26.4% in 2017.

Unlike Harrow East, it had always been won by the Conservative Party until Labour's landslide in 1997, when a swing of 17.5% was the eighth-highest swing in that election; it was the safest Tory seat lost to Labour. [3] Its electorate produced another better than average result for Labour in 2001, with a swing from the Conservatives to Labour of 5.4%, bettered in only four seats out of 650. The 2005 challenge by future Conservative MP Mike Freer produced a pro-Conservative swing of 4.5%. [3]

The 2010 inceptive seat saw a notional swing to the Tories in line with that nationally of 5.7%; in overall outcome the incumbent Labour MP's swing increased. The Harrow West and East seats now present as less marginal than they were in previous decades.

After a 1.1% swing to the Tories in 2015, the seat swung to Labour in 2017 by around 11%, with a local record number of votes for their incumbent candidate. At 34.4%, the Conservative vote share was the lowest in the seat's history, but the party received more votes in 2017 than in 2001 and 2010.

Other parties

UKIP, Liberal Democrat and Green Party candidates won less than 5% of the vote in 2015 and 2017, therefore forfeiting their deposits.

Boundaries

The constituency was created for the 1945 general election when the Harrow constituency was split into the new seats of Harrow East and Harrow West. It was reduced in size for the 1950 general election, when a third Harrow seat, Harrow Central, was created. The Boundary Commission review before the 1983 general election saw the London Borough of Harrow contained in two seats, resulting in Harrow West gaining parts of the abolished Harrow Central.

Historic

YearsLocal authorityWards
1945–1950Urban District of HarrowHarrow-on-the-Hill and Greenhill, Headstone, Pinner North, Pinner South, Roxeth, West Harrow; part of Harrow Weald.
1950–1955Urban District of HarrowPinner North and Hatch End, Pinner South, Roxbourne, Roxeth.
1955–1983Municipal Borough of HarrowHeadstone, Pinner North and Hatch End, Pinner South, Roxbourne, Roxeth.
1983–2010London Borough of HarrowHarrow on the Hill, Hatch End, Headstone North, Headstone South, Pinner, Pinner West, Rayners Lane, Ridgeway, Roxbourne, Roxeth.
2010–2024London Borough of HarrowGreenhill, Harrow on the Hill, Headstone North, Headstone South, Marlborough (an easterly projection centred on Harrow and Wealdstone station and its compact urban hub), Rayners Lane, Roxbourne, Roxeth, West Harrow.

2010 boundaries

Harrow West (UK Parliament constituency)
Map of boundaries 2010–2024

Reviewing such representation in North London, the Boundary Commission for England ( de facto ), as is custom agreed by Parliament, altered the area's limits to avoid malapportionment, as London's housing and rates of occupancy have altered. The western border district, town or neighbourhood of Pinner went to a new cross-Borough seat, Ruislip, Northwood and Pinner, making its source, based on a ward breakdown of the last result, and mirrored by local election results, a stronger seat for Labour; this was coupled with the inclusion of Marlborough ward which had returned many Labour councillors since World War II.

Current

Following the 2023 periodic review of Westminster constituencies, which came into effect for the 2024 general election, the constituency is composed of the following wards of the London Borough of Harrow:

Wealdstone was transferred in from Harrow East. Other minor changes to align boundaries with new ward structure.

Members of Parliament

ElectionMember [5] Party
1945 Norman Bower Conservative
1951 by-election Sir Albert Braithwaite Conservative
1960 by-election Sir John Page Conservative
1987 Robert Hughes Conservative
1997 Gareth Thomas Labour, then Labour Co-op

Election results

Election results 1945-2024 Har W Election Results.png
Election results 1945-2024

Elections in the 2020s

General election 2024: Harrow West [6]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Labour Co-op Gareth Thomas 19,833 43.8 –9.3
Conservative Abbas Merali13,19129.2–5.6
Independent Pamela Fitzpatrick4,1209.1N/A
Reform UK Michael Beavis2,6395.8+4.0
Green Rupert George2,4385.4+3.3
Liberal Democrats Chris Noyce2,4045.3–2.9
Independent Bharatkumar Patel6161.4N/A
Majority6,64214.6–8.6
Turnout 45,24156.6–10.6
Registered electors 79,902
Labour hold Swing Decrease2.svg1.9

Elections in the 2010s

2019 notional result [7]
PartyVote %
Labour 26,43753.1
Conservative 17,33934.8
Liberal Democrats 4,1078.2
Green 1,0282.1
Brexit Party 8821.8
Turnout49,79367.2
Electorate74,060
General election 2019: Harrow West [8]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Labour Co-op Gareth Thomas 25,132 52.4 Decrease2.svg8.4
Conservative Anwara Ali16,44034.3Decrease2.svg0.1
Liberal Democrats Lisa-Maria Bornemann4,3109.0Increase2.svg6.5
Green Rowan Langley1,1092.3Increase2.svg1.0
Brexit Party Richard Jones9311.9N/A
Majority8,69218.1Decrease2.svg8.3
Turnout 47,92266.1Decrease2.svg6.0
Registered electors 72,477
Labour Co-op hold Swing Decrease2.svg4.2
General election 2017: Harrow West [9]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Labour Co-op Gareth Thomas 30,640 60.8 +13.8
Conservative Hannah David17,32634.4–7.8
Liberal Democrats Christopher Noyce1,2672.5–0.8
Green Rowan Langley6521.3–1.5
UKIP Rathy Alagaratnam4700.9–3.4
Majority13,31426.4+21.6
Turnout 50,35572.1+5.2
Registered electors 68,797
Labour Co-op hold Swing +10.8
General election 2015: Harrow West [10] [11]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Labour Co-op Gareth Thomas 21,885 47.0 +3.4
Conservative Hannah David19,67742.2+5.4
UKIP Ali Bhatti2,0474.3+2.2
Liberal Democrats Chris Noyce1,5673.3–12.9
Green Rowan Langley1,3102.8+1.4
Independent Kailash Trivedi1170.2N/A
Majority2,2084.8–2.0
Turnout 46,60366.9–0.7
Registered electors 69,644
Labour Co-op hold Swing –1.1

Note: From 2010 historically Conservative-strong Pinner formed part of the new seat Ruislip, Northwood and Pinner. The 2010 changes are not based on the 2005 result as the constituency underwent major changes.

General election 2010: Harrow West [12] [13] [14]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Labour Co-op Gareth Thomas 20,111 43.6 −5.0
Conservative Rachel Joyce16,96836.8+6.4
Liberal Democrats Christopher Noyce7,45816.2−2.5
UKIP Herbert Crossman9542.1+0.8
Green Rowan Langley6251.4N/A
Majority3,1436.8+2.6
Turnout 46,11667.6+3.2
Registered electors 68,554
Labour Co-op hold Swing −5.7 (nominal, instead +seen, on new definition)

Elections in the 2000s

General election 2005: Harrow West [15]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Labour Co-op Gareth Thomas 20,298 42.5 −7.1
Conservative Mike Freer 18,27038.3+1.9
Liberal Democrats Christopher Noyce8,18817.1+4.2
UKIP Janice Cronin5761.2+0.1
IndependentBerjis Daver4270.9N/A
Majority2,0284.2−9.0
Turnout 47,75964.3+1.3
Registered electors 74,133
Labour Co-op hold Swing −4.5
General election 2001: Harrow West [16]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Labour Co-op Gareth Thomas 23,142 49.6 +8.1
Conservative Daniel Finkelstein 16,98636.4−2.8
Liberal Democrats Chris Noyce5,99512.9−2.6
UKIP Peter Kefford5251.1N/A
Majority6,15613.2+10.9
Turnout 46,64863.0−9.8
Registered electors 74,083
Labour Co-op hold Swing +5.4

Elections in the 1990s

General election 1997: Harrow West [17]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Labour Gareth Thomas 21,811 41.5 +19.0
Conservative Robert Hughes 20,57139.2−16.0
Liberal Democrats Pash Nandhra8,12715.5−4.67
Referendum Herbert Crossman19973.8N/A
Majority1,2402.3N/A
Turnout 52,50672.8−5.9
Registered electors 72,146
Labour gain from Conservative Swing -17.5
General election 1992: Harrow West [18]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Conservative Robert Hughes 30,240 55.2 0
Labour Claude Moraes 12,34322.5+5.0
Liberal Democrats C. Noyce11,05020.2−7.0
Liberal G. Aitman8451.5N/A
Natural Law J. Argyle3060.6N/A
Majority17,89732.7+4.7
Turnout 54,78478.7+4.2
Registered electors 69,616
Conservative hold Swing

Elections in the 1980s

General election 1987: Harrow West [19]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Conservative Robert Hughes 30,456 55.2 +2.2
SDP Stuart Bayliss15,01227.2−5.0
Labour Colin Bastin9,66517.5+3.7
Majority15,44428.0+7.2
Turnout 55,13374.5+2.1
Registered electors 74,041
Conservative hold Swing +3.6
General election 1983: Harrow West [20]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Conservative John Page 28,056 53.0 −5.0
SDP Stuart Bayliss17,03532.2N/A
Labour Albert Toms7,81114.8−9.3
Majority11,02120.8−13.2
Turnout 52,90272.3−6.4
Registered electors 73,151
Conservative hold Swing

Elections in the 1970s

General election 1979: Harrow West
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Conservative John Page 26,007 58.06 +6.07
Labour Marie Catterson [21] 10,79424.10−0.43
Liberal Ronald Dick [21] 7,35016.41−7.07
National Front Timothy Bennett [21] 6461.44N/A
Majority15,21333.96+6.49
Turnout 44,79778.72+4.27
Registered electors 56,907
Conservative hold Swing
General election October 1974: Harrow West
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Conservative John Page 21,924 51.99 +0.44
Labour M.P. Reynolds10,34224.53+2.08
Liberal R.E. Bell9,90323.48−2.52
Majority11,58227.46+1.91
Turnout 42,16974.45−8.34
Registered electors 56,641
Conservative hold Swing
General election February 1974: Harrow West
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Conservative John Page 23,950 51.55 −7.98
Liberal R.E. Bell12,08126.00+12.98
Labour L. Wagner10,43022.45−4.99
Majority11,86925.55−6.54
Turnout 46,46182.79+10.04
Registered electors 56,122
Conservative hold Swing
General election 1970: Harrow West
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Conservative John Page 24,867 59.53 +6.40
Labour Timothy P C Daniel11,46227.44−1.43
Liberal Jeffrey F Smith5,44013.02−4.98
Majority13,40532.09+7.83
Turnout 41,76972.75−7.40
Registered electors 57,418
Conservative hold Swing

Elections in the 1960s

General election 1966: Harrow West
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Conservative John Page 22,660 53.13 −0.78
Labour Christopher Hubert Beaumont12,31328.87+3.88
Liberal Harry Charles Seigal7,67618.00−3.10
Majority10,34724.26−4.65
Turnout 42,64980.15+0.32
Registered electors 53,210
Conservative hold Swing
General election 1964: Harrow West
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Conservative John Page 23,132 53.91 −17.01
Labour Kenneth W Childerhouse10,72524.99−4.09
Liberal Arnold E. Bender 9,05521.10N/A
Majority12,40728.92−12.93
Turnout 42,91279.83+0.59
Registered electors 53,756
Conservative hold Swing
1960 Harrow West by-election [22]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Conservative John Page 18,526 55.77 −15.15
Liberal John M. Wallbridge7,10021.38N/A
Labour Philip J. Jenkins6,03018.15−10.93
New Conservative John E. Dayton1,5604.70N/A
Majority11,42634.39−7.45
Turnout 33,21661.60−17.64
Registered electors 53,756
Conservative hold Swing

Elections in the 1950s

General election 1959: Harrow West
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Conservative Albert Braithwaite 30,512 70.92 +0.29
Labour Philip J. Jenkins12,51229.08−0.29
Majority18,00041.84+0.58
Turnout 43,02479.24−1.95
Registered electors 54,295
Conservative hold Swing
General election 1955: Harrow West
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Conservative Albert Braithwaite 31,321 70.63 +3.16
Labour Richard Leonard 13,02429.37−3.16
Majority18,29741.26+6.33
Turnout 44,34581.19−2.57
Registered electors 54,616
Conservative hold Swing
General election 1951: Harrow West
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Conservative Albert Braithwaite 26,549 67.47 +8.93
Labour Leslie Littlewood 12,80232.53+3.02
Majority13,74734.93+5.90
Turnout 39,35183.76−2.94
Registered electors 46,979
Conservative hold Swing
1951 Harrow West by-election [23]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Conservative Albert Braithwaite 22,82672.00+13.46
Labour Leslie Littlewood 8,87728.00−13.46
Majority13,94944.00+14.97
Turnout 31,70368.00−18.70
Registered electors 46,599
Conservative hold Swing
General election 1950: Harrow West
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Conservative Norman Bower 23,744 58.54 +8.69
Labour Leslie Littlewood 11,97129.51−3.52
Liberal Philip Montague Syrett4,84611.95−0.88
Majority11,77329.03+12.21
Turnout 40,56186.70+8.09
Registered electors 46,781
Conservative hold Swing

Elections in the 1940s

General election 1945: Harrow West
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Conservative Norman Bower 28,617 49.85
Labour Joan Thompson 18,96133.03
Liberal Hubert Winthrop Young 7,36412.83
Common Wealth Hugh Lawson 2,4624.29
Majority9,65616.82
Turnout 57,40478.61
Registered electors 73,024
Conservative win (new seat)

See also

Notes

  1. ↑ A borough 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. ↑ "The 2023 Review of Parliamentary Constituency Boundaries in England – Volume two: Constituency names, designations and composition – London". Boundary Commission for England. Retrieved 19 June 2024.
  2. ↑ "Labour Members of Parliament 2015". UK Political.info. Archived from the original on 29 September 2018.
  3. 1 2 "Highest constituency swings in each general election since 1951". www.election.demon.co.uk. Archived from the original on 27 December 2017. Retrieved 10 April 2010.
  4. ↑ "The Parliamentary Constituencies Order 2023". Schedule 1 Part 3 London region.
  5. ↑ Leigh Rayment's Historical List of MPs – Constituencies beginning with "H" (part 1)
  6. ↑ "STATEMENT OF PERSONS NOMINATED AND NOTICE OF POLL" (PDF). Harrow Council. Retrieved 9 June 2024.
  7. ↑ "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.
  8. ↑ Statement of persons nominated and notice of poll harrow.gov.uk
  9. ↑ "Harrow West parliamentary constituency". BBC News.
  10. ↑ "Election Data 2015". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 17 October 2015. Retrieved 17 October 2015.
  11. ↑ "Election results for Harrow West, 7 May 2015". 1 January 2004.
  12. ↑ "Election Data 2010". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 26 July 2013. Retrieved 17 October 2015.
  13. ↑ "BBC News – Election 2010 – Constituency – Harrow West". news.bbc.co.uk.
  14. ↑ Changes based upon 2005 notional results
  15. ↑ "Election Data 2005". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
  16. ↑ "Election Data 2001". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
  17. ↑ "Election Data 1997". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
  18. ↑ "Election Data 1992". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
  19. ↑ "Election Data 1987". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
  20. ↑ "Election Data 1983". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
  21. 1 2 3 Election Expenses. Parliament of the United Kingdom. 1980. p. 14. ISBN   0102374805.
  22. ↑ "1960 By Election Results". Archived from the original on 16 October 2013. Retrieved 15 August 2015.
  23. ↑ "1951 By Election Results". Archived from the original on 25 February 2012. Retrieved 12 August 2015.

51°35′06″N0°21′50″W / 51.585°N 0.364°W / 51.585; -0.364

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