| Folkestone and Hythe | |
|---|---|
| County constituency for theHouse of Commons | |
![]() Interactive map of boundaries from 2024 | |
Boundary of Folkestone and Hythe in South East England | |
| County | Kent |
| Electorate | 70,023 (2023)[1] |
| Major settlements | Folkestone,Hythe,Lydd,New Romney |
| Current constituency | |
| Created | 1950 |
| Member of Parliament | Tony Vaughan (Labour) |
| Seats | One |
| Created from | |
Folkestone and Hythe (/ˈfoʊkstən ... ˈhaɪð/) is aconstituency[n 1] inKent represented in theHouse of Commons of theUK Parliament since2024 byTony Vaughan, aLabour MP.[n 2]
Until 2024, Folkestone and Hythe had elected a Conservative MP at every general election since its creation 1950, as had the earlierHythe constituency since the late 19th century; it was therefore regarded as a Conservativesafe seat. However, in 2024 it was won for the first time by the Labour Party.
From 1983 to 2010 it was held by Michael Howard. He held severalcabinet posts, includingHome Secretary from 1993 to 1997. In Opposition, he wasLeader of the Conservative Party from 2003 to 2005.
Folkestone and Hythe consists of a hilly swathe of EastKent including the coastal urban area ofFolkestone andHythe. The rural communities ofNew Romney,Lydd,Dymchurch,Lyminge andElham contain significant farming communities, commuters to towns and business parks, including a small percentage toLondon and a large retired population.[2]
1950–1983: The Boroughs of Folkestone, Hythe, Lydd, and New Romney, and the Rural Districts of Elham and Romney Marsh.
1983–2010: The District of Shepway.
2010–2024: The District of Shepway, and the Borough of Ashford ward of Saxon Shore.
2024–present: The District of Folkestone and Hythe wards of Broadmead, Cheriton, East Folkestone, Folkestone Central, Folkestone Harbour, Hythe, Hythe Rural, New Romney, Romney Marsh, Sandgate & West Folkestone, and Walland & Denge Marsh.[3]
The currentMember of Parliament isTony Vaughan of theLabour Party who was elected at the2024 general election. Vaughan's predecessors for the seat wereDamian Collins (served 2010–2024) andMichael Howard (served 1983–2010). Howard held a number of political posts during his career in Parliament, most prominently asHome Secretary from 1993 to 1997 andLeader of the Conservative Party from 2003 to 2005.
| Election | Member[4] | Party | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1950 | Harry Mackeson | Conservative | |
| 1959 | Albert Costain | Conservative | |
| 1983 | Michael Howard | Conservative | |
| 2010 | Damian Collins | Conservative | |
| 2024 | Tony Vaughan | Labour | |
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Labour | Tony Vaughan | 15,020 | 34.7 | +7.9 | |
| Conservative | Damian Collins | 11,291 | 26.1 | −30.2 | |
| Reform | William Wright | 10,685 | 24.7 | N/A | |
| Green | Marianne Brett | 3,954 | 9.1 | +4.2 | |
| Liberal Democrats | Larry Ngan | 1,736 | 4.0 | −6.0 | |
| TUSC | Momtaz Khanom | 249 | 0.6 | N/A | |
| Fairer Voting Party | David Allen | 240 | 0.6 | N/A | |
| Socialist (GB) | Andy Thomas | 71 | 0.2 | +0.1 | |
| Majority | 3,729 | 8.6 | N/A | ||
| Turnout | 43,246 | 61.7 | −2.3 | ||
| Registered electors | 70,056 | ||||
| Labourgain fromConservative | Swing | +19.1 | |||
| 2019notional result[6] | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Vote | % | |
| Conservative | 25,227 | 56.3 | |
| Labour | 11,988 | 26.8 | |
| Liberal Democrats | 4,481 | 10.0 | |
| Green | 2,184 | 4.9 | |
| Others | 915 | 2.1 | |
| Turnout | 44,795 | 64.0 | |
| Electorate | 70,023 | ||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Conservative | Damian Collins | 35,483 | 60.1 | +5.4 | |
| Labour | Laura Davison | 14,146 | 24.0 | −4.5 | |
| Liberal Democrats | Simon Bishop | 5,755 | 9.8 | +2.6 | |
| Green | Georgina Treloar | 2,706 | 4.6 | +0.4 | |
| Independent | Henry Bolton | 576 | 1.0 | N/A | |
| SDP | Colin Menniss | 190 | 0.3 | N/A | |
| Young People's | Rohen Kapur | 80 | 0.1 | N/A | |
| Socialist (GB) | Andy Thomas | 69 | 0.1 | N/A | |
| Majority | 21,337 | 36.1 | +9.9 | ||
| Turnout | 59,005 | 66.8 | −1.6 | ||
| Conservativehold | Swing | +5.0 | |||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Conservative | Damian Collins | 32,197 | 54.7 | +6.8 | |
| Labour | Laura Davison | 16,786 | 28.5 | +14.1 | |
| Liberal Democrats | Lynne Beaumont | 4,222 | 7.2 | −1.7 | |
| UKIP | Stephen Priestley | 2,565 | 4.4 | −18.4 | |
| Green | Martin Whybrow | 2,498 | 4.2 | −1.2 | |
| Independent | David Plumstead | 493 | 0.8 | N/A | |
| Independent | Naomi Slade | 114 | 0.2 | N/A | |
| Majority | 15,411 | 26.2 | +1.1 | ||
| Turnout | 58,875 | 68.4 | +2.6 | ||
| Conservativehold | Swing | −3.7 | |||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Conservative | Damian Collins | 26,323 | 47.9 | −1.5 | |
| UKIP | Harriet Yeo[11] | 12,526 | 22.8 | +18.2 | |
| Labour | Claire Jeffrey[12] | 7,939 | 14.4 | +3.6 | |
| Liberal Democrats | Lynne Beaumont[13] | 4,882 | 8.9 | −21.4 | |
| Green | Martin Whybrow[14] | 2,956 | 5.4 | +4.2 | |
| TUSC | Seth Cruse | 244 | 0.4 | N/A | |
| Young People's | Rohen Kapur[15] | 72 | 0.1 | N/A | |
| Socialist (GB) | Andy Thomas[16] | 68 | 0.1 | N/A | |
| Majority | 13,797 | 25.1 | +6.0 | ||
| Turnout | 55,010 | 65.8 | −1.9 | ||
| Conservativehold | Swing | −9.9 | |||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Conservative | Damian Collins | 26,109 | 49.4 | −4.5 | |
| Liberal Democrats | Lynne Beaumont | 15,987 | 30.3 | +0.7 | |
| Labour | Donald Worsley | 5,719 | 10.8 | −1.8 | |
| UKIP | Frank McKenna | 2,439 | 4.6 | +3.3 | |
| BNP | Harry Williams | 1,662 | 3.1 | N/A | |
| Green | Penny Kemp | 637 | 1.2 | −0.3 | |
| Independent | David Plumstead | 247 | 0.5 | +0.5 | |
| Majority | 10,122 | 19.1 | −4.9 | ||
| Turnout | 52,800 | 67.7 | −1.0 | ||
| Conservativehold | Swing | −2.6 | |||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Conservative | Michael Howard | 26,161 | 53.9 | +8.9 | |
| Liberal Democrats | Peter Carroll | 14,481 | 29.9 | −2.2 | |
| Labour | Maureen Tomison | 6,053 | 12.5 | −7.7 | |
| Green | Hazel Dawe | 688 | 1.4 | N/A | |
| UKIP | Petrina Holdsworth | 619 | 1.3 | −1.3 | |
| Monster Raving Loony | Lord Toby Jug | 175 | 0.4 | N/A | |
| Get Britain Back | Rodney Hylton-Potts | 153 | 0.3 | N/A | |
| Senior Citizens | Grahame Leon-Smith | 151 | 0.3 | N/A | |
| Peace and Progress | Sylvia Dunn | 22 | 0.0 | N/A | |
| Majority | 11,680 | 24.0 | +11.1 | ||
| Turnout | 48,503 | 68.4 | +4.3 | ||
| Conservativehold | Swing | +5.6 | |||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Conservative | Michael Howard | 20,645 | 45.0 | +6.0 | |
| Liberal Democrats | Peter Carroll | 14,738 | 32.1 | +5.2 | |
| Labour | Albert Catterall | 9,260 | 20.2 | −4.7 | |
| UKIP | John Baker | 1,212 | 2.6 | +1.9 | |
| Majority | 5,907 | 12.9 | +0.8 | ||
| Turnout | 45,855 | 64.1 | −8.6 | ||
| Conservativehold | Swing | −0.4 | |||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Conservative | Michael Howard | 20,313 | 39.0 | −13.3 | |
| Liberal Democrats | David Laws | 13,981 | 26.9 | −8.4 | |
| Labour | Peter Doherty | 12,939 | 24.9 | +12.8 | |
| Referendum | John Aspinall | 4,188 | 8.0 | N/A | |
| UKIP | John Baker | 378 | 0.7 | N/A | |
| Socialist Alternative | Eric Segal | 182 | 0.4 | N/A | |
| Country Field and Shooting Sports | Raymond Saint | 69 | 0.1 | N/A | |
| Majority | 6,332 | 12.1 | −4.9 | ||
| Turnout | 52,050 | 72.7 | −6.9 | ||
| Conservativehold | Swing | −2.5 | |||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Conservative | Michael Howard | 27,437 | 52.3 | −3.1 | |
| Liberal Democrats | Linda W. Cufley | 18,527 | 35.3 | −2.0 | |
| Labour | Peter Doherty | 6,347 | 12.1 | +4.7 | |
| Natural Law | Anthony Hobbs | 123 | 0.2 | N/A | |
| Majority | 8,910 | 17.0 | −1.1 | ||
| Turnout | 52,434 | 79.6 | +1.3 | ||
| Conservativehold | Swing | −0.6 | |||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Conservative | Michael Howard | 27,915 | 55.4 | −1.5 | |
| Liberal | John MacDonald | 18,789 | 37.3 | +4.7 | |
| Labour | Vidya Anand | 3,720 | 7.4 | −2.4 | |
| Majority | 9,126 | 18.1 | −6.2 | ||
| Turnout | 50,424 | 78.3 | +8.7 | ||
| Conservativehold | Swing | ||||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Conservative | Michael Howard | 27,261 | 56.9 | +1.2 | |
| Liberal | John MacDonald | 15,591 | 32.6 | +10.1 | |
| Labour | Leslie Lawrie | 4,700 | 9.8 | −11.0 | |
| Independent | Philip Todd | 318 | 0.7 | N/A | |
| Majority | 11,670 | 24.3 | −8.9 | ||
| Turnout | 47,870 | 69.6 | −3.0 | ||
| Conservativehold | Swing | ||||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Conservative | Albert Costain | 26,837 | 55.74 | +9.66 | |
| Liberal | Bernard Budd | 10,817 | 22.47 | −5.08 | |
| Labour | GJ Priestman | 10,015 | 20.8 | −4.88 | |
| National Front | M Lavine | 478 | 0.99 | N/A | |
| Majority | 16,020 | 33.2 | +14.6 | ||
| Turnout | 48,147 | 72.6 | +2.6 | ||
| Conservativehold | Swing | +7.3 | |||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Conservative | Albert Costain | 20,930 | 46.18 | −0.90 | |
| Liberal | Bernard Budd | 12,488 | 27.55 | −2.41 | |
| Labour | MJS Butler | 11,639 | 25.68 | +2.72 | |
| Independent | Harold W. Button | 265 | 0.58 | N/A | |
| Majority | 8,442 | 18.63 | +1.51 | ||
| Turnout | 45,322 | 70.03 | −7.28 | ||
| Conservativehold | Swing | +0.75 | |||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Conservative | Albert Costain | 23,400 | 47.08 | −17.25 | |
| Liberal | Bernard Budd | 14,890 | 29.96 | N/A | |
| Labour | MJS Butler | 11,412 | 22.96 | −9.81 | |
| Majority | 8,510 | 17.12 | −14.44 | ||
| Turnout | 49,702 | 77.31 | +8.50 | ||
| Conservativehold | Swing | −23.10 | |||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Conservative | Albert Costain | 27,031 | 64.33 | +3.82 | |
| Labour | Nicholas A Hyman | 13,772 | 32.77 | −7.62 | |
| Independent | Harold W Button | 1,219 | 2.90 | N/A | |
| Majority | 13,259 | 31.56 | +11.35 | ||
| Turnout | 42,022 | 68.81 | −1.79 | ||
| Conservativehold | Swing | +5.22 | |||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Conservative | Albert Costain | 22,964 | 59.51 | −2.72 | |
| Labour | John Horam | 15,562 | 40.39 | +2.72 | |
| Majority | 7,402 | 19.22 | −5.24 | ||
| Turnout | 38,526 | 70.60 | −0.39 | ||
| Conservativehold | Swing | −2.72 | |||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Conservative | Albert Costain | 23,587 | 62.23 | +5.79 | |
| Labour | Michael J. Stewart | 14,314 | 37.77 | +14.45 | |
| Majority | 9,273 | 24.46 | −7.76 | ||
| Turnout | 37,901 | 70.99 | −5.42 | ||
| Conservativehold | Swing | −4.33 | |||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Conservative | Albert Costain | 21,726 | 56.54 | −8.45 | |
| Labour | W Edgar Simpkins | 9,346 | 24.32 | −10.69 | |
| Liberal | Robert D Emerson | 7,351 | 19.13 | N/A | |
| Majority | 12,380 | 32.22 | +2.24 | ||
| Turnout | 38,423 | 76.41 | +3.38 | ||
| Conservativehold | Swing | +1.12 | |||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Conservative | Harry Mackeson | 23,851 | 64.99 | +0.12 | |
| Labour | Leslie Leonard Reeves | 12,849 | 35.01 | −0.12 | |
| Majority | 11,002 | 29.98 | +0.24 | ||
| Turnout | 36,700 | 72.83 | −6.12 | ||
| Conservativehold | Swing | +0.12 | |||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Conservative | Harry Mackeson | 25,792 | 64.87 | +6.65 | |
| Labour | I Rhys Jones | 13,968 | 35.13 | +1.11 | |
| Majority | 11,824 | 29.74 | +5.54 | ||
| Turnout | 39,760 | 78.95 | −4.29 | ||
| Conservativehold | Swing | +2.77 | |||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Conservative | Harry Mackeson | 23,767 | 58.22 | ||
| Labour | Moss Murray | 13,885 | 34.02 | ||
| Liberal | Ray Ward Bateson | 3,168 | 7.76 | ||
| Majority | 9,882 | 24.20 | |||
| Turnout | 40,820 | 83.24 | |||
| Conservativewin (new seat) | |||||
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)| Parliament of the United Kingdom | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by | Constituency represented by theleader of the opposition 2003–2005 | Succeeded by |