The constituency is based around the town of Basingstoke, and the surrounding countryside, in Hampshire. Basingstoke is both a commuter town with frequent trains to London and a regional economic centre, making this a prosperous area.[3]
History
Political history
With the exception of a 1923-1924 Liberal MP, since broadening in 1885 it has elected Conservative MPs, and thus meets the longevity indicator, if not majority indicator, as a Conservative safe seat. The closest it came to a non-Conservative victory was in 2001, when its incumbent since 1983, Hunter, in his final election, was returned by 880 votes.
The town was represented in the Model 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 of 1831-32 its area was part of the Hampshire constituency or election of knights of the shire as the event was more often called and from 1832 to 1885 its area lay in the North Hampshire constituency.
Boundaries
Map of boundaries 2010-2024
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, the Green Party attempted to field two candidates who would job share.[12] Sarah Cope has young children and Clare Lorraine Phipps who is disabled,[12] so neither could work as a full-time MP. Their application was rejected.[13]
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;