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Stevenage (UK Parliament constituency)

Coordinates: 51°53′N 0°10′W / 51.883°N 0.167°W / 51.883; -0.167
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Stevenage
County constituency
for the House of Commons
Map
Boundaries since 2010
Map of constituency
Boundary of Stevenage in the East of England
CountyHertfordshire
Electorate70,370 (2023)[1]
Major settlementsKnebworth, Stevenage
Current constituency
Created1983
Member of ParliamentKevin Bonavia (Labour)
SeatsOne
Created fromHertford & 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.

Constituency profile

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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

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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 being their 72nd target. 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

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Dates Local authority Maps Wards
1983–1997 Borough of Stevenage
District of North Hertfordshire
District of East Hertfordshire 		Borough of Stevenage;
District of North Hertfordshire wards of Codicote and Knebworth;
District of East Hertfordshire wards of Cottered, Datchworth, Mundern, Walkern, and Watton-at-Stone.[3]
1997–2010 Borough of Stevenage;
District of North Hertfordshire wards of Codicote and Knebworth;
District of East Hertfordshire wards of Datchworth and Walkern.[4]
2010–2024 Borough of Stevenage;
District of North Hertfordshire wards of Codicote and Knebworth;
District of East Hertfordshire ward of Datchworth and Aston.[5]
2024–present Borough of Stevenage;
District of North Hertfordshire ward of Knebworth and part of the Codicote & Kimpton ward (comprising the parishes of Knebworth and Codicote);
Part of the ward of Aston, Datchworth & Walkern in the District of East Hertfordshire, (comprising the parishes of Aston and Datchworth)

1983–1997

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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

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

2010–2024

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Walkern ward transferred to North East Hertfordshire.

2024–present

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The 2023 periodic review of Westminster constituencies, which was based on the ward structures in place on 1 December 2020, left the boundaries virtually unchanged.[6] However, following local government boundary reviews in East Hertfordshire[7] and North Hertfordshire[8] which came into effect in May 2023 and May 2024 respectively, the constituency now comprises the Borough of Stevenage, as well as the villages of Codicote and Knebworth to the south and Aston and Datchworth to the east.[9]

Members of Parliament

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Hertford & Stevenage prior to 1983

Election Member[10] Party
1983 Tim Wood Conservative
1997 Barbara Follett Labour
2010 Stephen McPartland Conservative
2024 Kevin Bonavia Labour

Elections

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Election results 1983-2024

Elections in the 2020s

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General election 2024: Stevenage[11]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Kevin Bonavia 17,698 41.4 +6.3
Conservative Alex Clarkson 11,080 25.9 –27.2
Reform UK Peter Hopper 7,667 17.9 N/A
Liberal Democrats Lisa Nash 3,467 8.1 –0.5
Green Paul Dawson 2,655 6.2 +3.2
CPA Joshua Smith 148 0.3 N/A
Majority 6,618 15.5 N/A
Turnout 42,715 61.0 –5.7
Registered electors 70,086
Labour gain from Conservative Swing Increase16.7

Elections in the 2010s

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General election 2019: Stevenage[12]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Stephen McPartland 25,328 53.1 +2.8
Labour Jill Borcherds 16,766 35.2 –8.2
Liberal Democrats Lisa Nash 4,132 8.7 +4.5
Green Victoria Snelling 1,457 3.1 +0.9
Majority 8,562 18.0 +11.1
Turnout 47,683 66.6 –3.1
Registered electors 71,562
Conservative hold Swing +5.5
General election 2017: Stevenage[13]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Stephen McPartland 24,798 50.3 +5.7
Labour Co-op Sharon Taylor 21,414 43.4 +9.2
Liberal Democrats Barbara Gibson 2,032 4.1 +0.8
Green Victoria Snelling 1,085 2.2 –0.7
Majority 3,384 6.9 –3.5
Turnout 49,329 69.7 +2.0
Registered electors 70,765
Conservative hold Swing –1.8
See also: Opinion polling in United Kingdom constituencies, 2010–15 § Stevenage
General election 2015: Stevenage[14][15]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Stephen McPartland 21,291 44.5 +3.1
Labour Co-op Sharon Taylor 16,336 34.2 +0.8
UKIP David Collins 6,864 14.4 +9.9
Liberal Democrats Susan Van De Ven 1,582 3.3 −13.3
Green Graham White 1,369 2.9 New
TUSC Trevor Palmer 175 0.4 New
English Democrat Charles Vickers 115 0.2 −0.6
Independent David Cox 67 0.1 −0.0
Majority 4,955 10.4 +2.4
Turnout 47,799 67.7 +2.9
Registered electors 70,597
Conservative hold Swing +1.2
General election 2010: Stevenage[16][17]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Stephen McPartland 18,491 41.4 +6.8
Labour Co-op Sharon Taylor 14,913 33.4 −9.8
Liberal Democrats Julia Davies 7,432 16.6 −2.0
UKIP Marion Mason 2,004 4.5 +1.3
BNP Michael Green 1,007 2.3 New
English Democrat Charles Vickers 366 0.8 New
NCDMV! Stephen Phillips 327 0.7 New
Independent David Cox 80 0.2 New
Your Right To Democracy Party Ltd. Andrew Ralph 31 0.1 New
Majority 3,578 8.0 N/A
Turnout 44,651 64.8 +2.1
Registered electors 68,937
Conservative gain from Labour Swing +8.3

Elections in the 2000s

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2005 notional result
Party Vote %
Labour 17,650 43.2
Conservative 14,161 34.6
Liberal Democrats 7,611 18.6
Others 1,457 3.6
Turnout 40,879 62.7
Electorate 65,206
General election 2005: Stevenage[18]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Barbara Follett 18,003 42.9 −8.9
Conservative George Freeman 14,864 35.4 +3.7
Liberal Democrats Julia Davies 7,610 18.1 +4.0
UKIP Victoria Peebles 1,305 3.1 New
Independent Antal Losonczi 152 0.4 −0.4
Majority 3,139 7.5 −12.7
Turnout 41,934 62.7 +1.3
Registered electors 66,889
Labour hold Swing −6.3
General election 2001: Stevenage[19]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Barbara Follett 22,025 51.9 −3.5
Conservative Graeme Quar 13,459 31.7 −1.1
Liberal Democrats Harold Davies 6,027 14.2 +5.3
Socialist Alliance Stephen Glennon 449 1.1 New
Independent Antal Losonczi 320 0.8 New
ProLife Alliance Sarah Bell 173 0.4 +0.0
Majority 8,566 20.2 −2.4
Turnout 42,453 60.7 −15.5
Registered electors 69,203
Labour hold Swing –1.2

Elections in the 1990s

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General election 1997: Stevenage[20]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Barbara Follett 28,440 55.3 +16.8
Conservative Timothy Wood 16,858 32.8 −11.1
Liberal Democrats Alexander Wilcock 4,588 8.9 −8.2
Referendum Jeffery Coburn 1,194 2.3 New
ProLife Alliance David Bundy 196 0.4 New
Natural Law Andrew Calcraft 110 0.2 −0.2
Majority 11,582 22.5 N/A
Turnout 51,386 76.6 –5.0
Registered electors 66,889
Labour gain from Conservative Swing +13.9
1992 notional result
Party Vote %
Conservative 24,078 43.9
Labour 21,159 38.6
Liberal Democrats 9,379 17.1
Others 220 0.4
Turnout 54,836 81.8
Electorate 67,015
General election 1992: Stevenage[21][22]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Timothy Wood 26,652 45.7 +3.6
Labour Judith Church 21,764 37.3 +11.9
Liberal Democrats Andrew Reilly 9,668 16.6 −15.9
Natural Law Andrew Calcraft 233 0.4 New
Majority 4,888 8.4 −1.2
Turnout 58,317 83.0 +2.5
Registered electors 70,233
Conservative hold Swing −4.1

Elections in the 1980s

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General election 1987: Stevenage[23]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Timothy Wood 23,541 42.1 +2.6
SDP Ben Stoneham 18,201 32.5 −3.6
Labour Malcolm Withers 14,229 25.4 +1.4
Majority 5,340 9.5 +6.2
Turnout 55,971 80.5 +2.6
Registered electors 69,525
Conservative hold Swing +3.1
General election 1983: Stevenage[24]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Timothy Wood 20,787 39.4 –3.0
SDP Ben Stoneham 19,032 36.1 +23.9
Labour Susan Reeves 12,673 24.0 –20.3
BNP David Bowmaker 236 0.5 New
Majority 1,755 3.3 N/A
Turnout 52,728 77.9
Registered electors 67,706
Conservative gain from Labour Swing +8.7
1979 notional result[25]
Party Vote %
Labour 22,574 44.3
Conservative 21,586 42.4
Liberal 6,228 12.2
Others 531 1.0
Turnout 50,919
Electorate

See also

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Notes

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

References

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  1. ^ "The 2023 Review of Parliamentary Constituency Boundaries in England – Volume two: Constituency names, designations and composition – Eastern". Boundary Commission for England. Retrieved 27 June 2024.
  2. ^ Unemployment claimants by constituency The Guardian
  3. ^ "The Parliamentary Constituencies (England) Order 1983". www.legislation.gov.uk. Retrieved 25 February 2019.
  4. ^ "The Parliamentary Constituencies (England) Order 1995". www.legislation.gov.uk. Retrieved 25 February 2019.
  5. ^ "The Parliamentary Constituencies (England) Order 2007". www.legislation.gov.uk. Retrieved 25 February 2019.
  6. ^ "The Parliamentary Constituencies Order 2023". Schedule I Part 2 Eastern region.
  7. ^ LGBCE. "East Hertfordshire | LGBCE". www.lgbce.org.uk. Retrieved 7 April 2024.
  8. ^ LGBCE. "North Hertfordshire | LGBCE". www.lgbce.org.uk. Retrieved 16 January 2025.
  9. ^ 2010 post-revision map non-metropolitan areas and unitary authorities of England
  10. ^ Leigh Rayment's Historical List of MPs – Constituencies beginning with "S" (part 5)
  11. ^ "Stevenage - General election results 2024". BBC News. Retrieved 20 March 2025.
  12. ^ "Stevenage Parliamentary constituency". BBC News. BBC. Retrieved 19 November 2019.
  13. ^ "Stevenage parliamentary constituency - Election 2017 - BBC News". BBC Online. 9 June 2017. Retrieved 13 June 2017.
  14. ^ "Election Data 2015". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 17 October 2015. Retrieved 17 October 2015.
  15. ^ "Stevenage parliamentary constituency - Election 2015 - BBC News". BBC Online. 8 May 2015. Retrieved 8 May 2015.
  16. ^ "Election Data 2010". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 26 July 2013. Retrieved 17 October 2015.
  17. ^ "Stevenage". BBC Online (BBC). 7 May 2010. Retrieved 7 May 2010.
  18. ^ "Election Data 2005". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
  19. ^ "Election Data 2001". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
  20. ^ "Election Data 1997". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
  21. ^ "Election Data 1992". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
  22. ^ "UK General Election results April 1992". Richard Kimber's Political Science Resources. Politics Resources. 9 April 1992. Retrieved 6 December 2010.
  23. ^ "Election Data 1987". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
  24. ^ "Election Data 1983". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
  25. ^ "BBC/ITN NOTIONAL ELECTION 1979". election.demon.co.uk. BBC/ITN. Archived from the original on 28 May 2004. Retrieved 7 March 2025.
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51°53′N 0°10′W / 51.883°N 0.167°W / 51.883; -0.167

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