The constituency is located within theBasingstoke and Deane local government district inHampshire. It contains most of the large town ofBasingstoke and extends into rural areas to the west of the town, including the village ofOakley.
Historically, Basingstoke has been a Conservativesafe seat, but in2024 it elected aLabour MP for the first time in its history. With the exception of this and aLiberal MP being elected in1923, it has electedConservative 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 notablycrossed the floor in 2004 to join theDemocratic Unionist Party, a party which traditionally only runs inNorthern Ireland.
The town was represented in theModel 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 of1831–32 its area was part of theHampshire constituency or election of knights of the shire as the event was more often called and from 1832 to 1885 its area lay in theNorth Hampshire constituency.
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.
For the 2015 election, theGreen Party attempted to field two candidates who wouldjob share.[15] Sarah Cope had young children and Clare Lorraine Phipps is disabled,[15] so neither could work as a full-time MP. Their application was rejected.[16]
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, thefirst 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.
^Reform UK withdrew support for Saint on 27 June, after it was revealed that he was a former member of theBritish National Party. As this was after nominations for the election had closed, Saint remained on the ballot as the Reform UK candidate.[10]
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