Stevenage (UK Parliament constituency)

Last updated

Stevenage
County constituency
for the House of Commons
Stevenage (UK Parliament constituency)
Boundaries since 2010
East of England - Stevenage constituency.svg
Boundary of Stevenage in the East of England
County Hertfordshire
Electorate 70,370 (2023) [1]
Major settlements Knebworth, Stevenage
Current constituency
Created 1983
Member of Parliament Kevin Bonavia (Labour)
SeatsOne
Created from Hertford & Stevenage, Hitchin and East Hertfordshire

Stevenage is a constituency [n 1] in Hertfordshire represented in the House of Commons of the UK Parliament since 2024 by Kevin Bonavia, a member of the Labour Party.

Contents

Constituency profile

The main town is known for its fast rail links to London and proximity to Luton Airport which accompanies a few headquarters of global businesses based in the seat. Workless claimants, registered jobseekers, were in November 2012 higher than the national average of 3.8%, and eastern regional average of 3.2%, at 4.0% of the population based on a statistical compilation by The Guardian . [2]

History

The constituency was created in 1983 primarily from the abolished seat of Hertford and Stevenage. A Southern England new town seat with volatile voting patterns, like its main predecessor, it was a bellwether of the national result; it was Conservative held between 1983 and 1997 until Labour easily gained it, but their winning margin in 2005 was small and the Conservatives gained the seat at the 2010 election. It remained Conservative until 2024 when it was regained by Labour amidst their national landslide victory.

The seat was held for Labour by Barbara Follett who achieved two ministerial roles from 2007 until 2010.

Boundaries and boundary changes

1983–1997

The constituency was formed primarily from the majority of the abolished constituency of Hertford and Stevenage. The wards of Codicote and Knebworth were transferred from the abolished constituency of Hitchin, and the wards of Cottered and Mundern from the abolished constituency of East Hertfordshire.

1997–2010

The District of East Hertfordshire wards of Cottered, Mundern and Watton-at-Stone were transferred to the new constituency of North East Hertfordshire.

2010–present

Walkern ward transferred to North East Hertfordshire.

Following a local government boundary review which came into effect in May 2023, [6] [7] the part in the District of East Hertfordshire now comprises the parishes of Aston and Datchworth in the ward of Aston, Datchworth & Walkern. [8]

Further to the 2023 Periodic Review of Westminster constituencies, which came into effect for the 2024 general election, the composition of the constituency is unchanged. [9]

The constituency covers the Borough of Stevenage, as well as the villages of Codicote and Knebworth to the south and Aston and Datchworth to the east. [10]

Members of Parliament

Hertford & Stevenage prior to 1983

ElectionMember [11] Party
1983 Tim Wood Conservative
1997 Barbara Follett Labour
2010 Stephen McPartland Conservative
2024 Kevin Bonavia Labour

Elections

Elections in the 2020s

General election 2024: Stevenage
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Labour Kevin Bonavia [12] 17,698 41.4 +6.2
Conservative Alex Clarkson [13] 11,08025.9−27.2
Reform UK Peter Hopper [14] 7,66717.9N/A
Liberal Democrats Lisa Nash [15] 3,4678.1−0.6
Green Paul Dawson [16] 2,6556.2+3.1
CPA Joshua Smith [17] 1480.3N/A
Majority6,61815.5N/A
Turnout 42,71561.0−6.9
Registered electors 70,086
Labour gain from Conservative Swing Increase2.svg16.7

Elections in the 2010s

General election 2019: Stevenage [18]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Conservative Stephen McPartland 25,328 53.1 +2.8
Labour Jill Borcherds16,76635.2–8.2
Liberal Democrats Lisa Nash4,1328.7+4.6
Green Victoria Snelling1,4573.1+0.9
Majority8,56217.9+11.0
Turnout 47,68366.6–3.1
Conservative hold Swing +5.5
General election 2017: Stevenage [19]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Conservative Stephen McPartland 24,798 50.3 +5.8
Labour Co-op Sharon Taylor 21,41443.4+9.2
Liberal Democrats Barbara Gibson 2,0324.1+0.8
Green Victoria Snelling1,0852.2–0.7
Majority3,3846.9–3.4
Turnout 49,32969.7+2.0
Conservative hold Swing –1.8
General election 2015: Stevenage [20] [21]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Conservative Stephen McPartland 21,291 44.5 +3.1
Labour Co-op Sharon Taylor 16,33634.2+0.8
UKIP David Collins6,86414.4+9.9
Liberal Democrats Susan Van De Ven1,5823.3−13.3
Green Graham White1,3692.9New
TUSC Trevor Palmer1750.4New
English Democrat Charles Vickers1150.2−0.6
Independent David Cox670.1−0.1
Majority4,95510.3+2.3
Turnout 47,79967.7+2.9
Conservative hold Swing +1.2
General election 2010: Stevenage [22] [23]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Conservative Stephen McPartland 18,491 41.4 +6.0
Labour Co-op Sharon Taylor 14,91333.4−9.7
Liberal Democrats Julia Davies7,43216.6−1.7
UKIP Marion Mason2,0044.5+1.4
BNP Michael Green1,0072.3New
English Democrat Charles Vickers3660.8New
NCDMV! Stephen Phillips3270.7New
Independent David Cox800.2New
Your Right To Democracy Party Ltd.Andrew Ralph310.1New
Majority3,5788.0N/A
Turnout 44,65164.8+2.1
Conservative gain from Labour Swing +8.0

Elections in the 2000s

General election 2005: Stevenage [24]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Labour Barbara Follett 18,003 42.9 −9.0
Conservative George Freeman 14,86435.4+3.7
Liberal Democrats Julia Davies7,61018.1+3.9
UKIP Victoria Peebles1,3053.1New
Independent Antal Losonczi1520.4−0.4
Majority3,1397.5−13.3
Turnout 41,93462.7+2.0
Labour hold Swing −6.4
General election 2001: Stevenage [25]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Labour Barbara Follett 22,025 51.9 −3.5
Conservative Graeme Brian Quar13,45931.7−1.1
Liberal Democrats Harold Davies6,02714.2+5.3
Socialist Alliance Stephen William Glennon4491.1New
Independent Antal Losonczi3200.8New
ProLife Alliance Mrs. Sarah Teresa Anne Bell1730.4New
Majority8,56620.2−2.4
Turnout 42,45360.7−15.9
Labour hold Swing

Elections in the 1990s

General election 1997: Stevenage [26]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Labour Barbara Follett 28,440 55.4 +16.8
Conservative Timothy Wood 16,85832.8−11.1
Liberal Democrats Alexander Iain Cameron Wilcock4,5888.9−8.2
Referendum Jeffery Michael Coburn1,1942.3New
ProLife Alliance David William Bundy1960.4New
Natural Law Andrew Brinley Michael Calcraft1100.2−0.2
Majority11,58222.6N/A
Turnout 51,38676.6−6.4
Labour gain from Conservative Swing +14.0
General election 1992: Stevenage [27] [28]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Conservative Timothy Wood 26,652 45.7 +3.6
Labour Judith Church 21,76437.3+11.9
Liberal Democrats Andrew Anthony Reilly9,66816.6−15.9
Natural Law Andrew Brinley Michael Calcraft2330.4New
Majority4,8888.4−1.2
Turnout 58,31783.0+2.5
Conservative hold Swing −4.1

Elections in the 1980s

General election 1987: Stevenage [29]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Conservative Timothy Wood 23,541 42.1 +2.7
SDP Ben Stoneham 18,20132.5−3.6
Labour Malcolm Robert Crawford Withers14,22925.4+1.4
Majority5,3409.6+6.3
Turnout 55,97180.5+2.6
Conservative hold Swing
General election 1983: Stevenage [30]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Conservative Timothy Wood 20,787 39.4
SDP Ben Stoneham 19,03236.1
Labour Mrs. Susan Ann Reeves12,67324.0
BNP David Robert Bowmaker2360.5
Majority1,7553.3
Turnout 52,72877.9
Conservative win (new seat)

See also

Notes

  1. A county constituency (for the purposes of election expenses and type of returning officer)

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References

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  2. Unemployment claimants by constituency The Guardian
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  8. "New Seat Details - Stevenage". www.electoralcalculus.co.uk. Retrieved 7 April 2024.
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  10. 2010 post-revision map non-metropolitan areas and unitary authorities of England
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  12. "Meet Kevin Bonavia - Stevenage's Labour candidate vying for your vote". The Comet. Retrieved 30 November 2023.
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  14. "Stevenage Constituency". Reform UK . Retrieved 23 May 2024.
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  16. "Paul Dawson is your Green Party Parliamentary Candidate for Stevenage". North Herts & Stevenage Green Party. Retrieved 24 March 2024.
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51°53′N0°10′W / 51.883°N 0.167°W / 51.883; -0.167