Folkestone and Hythe (UK Parliament constituency)

Folkestone and Hythe
County constituency
for the House of Commons
Interactive map of boundaries from 2024
Boundary of Folkestone and Hythe in South East England
CountyKent
Electorate70,023 (2023)[1]
Major settlementsFolkestone, Hythe, Lydd, New Romney
Current constituency
Created1950
Member of ParliamentTony Vaughan (Labour)
SeatsOne
Created from

Folkestone and Hythe (/ˈfoʊkstən ... ˈhaɪð/) is a constituency[n 1] in Kent represented in the House of Commons of the UK Parliament since 2024 by Tony Vaughan, a Labour MP.[n 2]

Constituency profile

The Folkestone and Hythe constituency is located in Kent on the south coast of England and covers most of the local government district of the same name. Its largest settlement is the town of Folkestone, which has a population of around 54,000 and is connected to the smaller town of Hythe.[2] Folkestone was developed during the Victorian era as a popular seaside resort town but has experienced an economic decline similar to other coastal towns in recent decades. The town now has high levels of deprivation with the town centre falling within the 10% most-deprived areas in England, whilst Hythe is comparatively wealthier.[3] On the edge of Folkestone is the Eurotunnel Folkestone Terminal which forms one end of the Channel Tunnel and connects it to High Speed 1.

To the west of Folkestone are the sparsely-populated areas of Romney Marsh and Dungeness, which contain the small towns of New Romney and Lydd and the coastal village of Dymchurch. Dungeness is a large shingle beach and is the site of two decommissioned nuclear power stations. Dungeness is sometimes described as "Britain's only desert",[4] although the Met Office has refuted this.[5] It is an important ecological site and contains a third of Great Britain's plant species.[6] Like Folkestone, these rural areas also experience high levels of deprivation.[3] Across the whole constituency, house prices are marginally lower than the national average.[7]

In general, residents of the constituency are older and have low levels of education. Rates of household income and professional employment are lower than national averages and considerably lower than the rest of South East England. White people made up 92% of the population at the 2021 census.[7] At the local district council, Folkestone is mostly represented by Labour Party councillors, whilst Hythe elected Greens and the rural west elected Conservatives. At the county council, which held elections more recently, most of the constituency is represented by Reform UK except Hythe, which elected Liberal Democrats. Voters in the constituency strongly supported leaving the European Union in the 2016 referendum; an estimated 63% voted in favour of Brexit compared to 52% nationwide.[7]

History

Until 2024, Folkestone and Hythe had elected a Conservative MP at every general election since its creation 1950, as had the earlier Hythe constituency since the late 19th century; it was therefore regarded as a Conservative safe 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 several cabinet posts, including Home Secretary from 1993 to 1997. In Opposition, he was Leader of the Conservative Party from 2003 to 2005.

Boundaries

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.[8]

Electorate reduced to bring it within the permitted range by transferring out the North Downs area in the north, along with the parts in the Borough of Ashford, primarily to the reconfigured constituency of Ashford.

Members of Parliament

The current Member of Parliament is Tony Vaughan of the Labour Party who was elected at the 2024 general election. Vaughan's predecessors for the seat were Damian Collins (served 2010–2024) and Michael Howard (served 1983–2010). Howard held a number of political posts during his career in Parliament, most prominently as Home Secretary from 1993 to 1997 and Leader of the Conservative Party from 2003 to 2005.

Election Member[9] Party
1950 Harry Mackeson Conservative
1959 Albert Costain Conservative
1983 Michael Howard Conservative
2010 Damian Collins Conservative
2024 Tony Vaughan Labour

Elections

Elections in the 2020s

General election 2024: Folkestone and Hythe[10]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Tony Vaughan 15,020 34.7 +7.9
Conservative Damian Collins 11,291 26.1 −30.2
Reform UK 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
Labour gain from Conservative Swing +19.1

Elections in the 2010s

2019 notional result[11]
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
General election 2019: Folkestone and Hythe [12]
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
Conservative hold Swing +5.0
General election 2017: Folkestone and Hythe[13]
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
Conservative hold Swing −3.7
General election 2015: Folkestone and Hythe[14][15]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Damian Collins 26,323 47.9 −1.5
UKIP Harriet Yeo[16] 12,526 22.8 +18.2
Labour Claire Jeffrey[17] 7,939 14.4 +3.6
Liberal Democrats Lynne Beaumont[18] 4,882 8.9 −21.4
Green Martin Whybrow[19] 2,956 5.4 +4.2
TUSC Seth Cruse 244 0.4 N/A
Young People's Rohen Kapur[20] 72 0.1 N/A
Socialist (GB) Andy Thomas [21] 68 0.1 N/A
Majority 13,797 25.1 +6.0
Turnout 55,010 65.8 −1.9
Conservative hold Swing −9.9
See also: Opinion polling in United Kingdom constituencies, 2010–15 § Folkestone and Hythe
General election 2010: Folkestone and Hythe[22][23]
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
Conservative hold Swing −2.6

Elections in the 2000s

General election 2005: Folkestone and Hythe
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
Conservative hold Swing +5.6
General election 2001: Folkestone and Hythe
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
Conservative hold Swing −0.4

Elections in the 1990s

General election 1997: Folkestone and Hythe
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 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
Conservative hold Swing −2.5
General election 1992: Folkestone and Hythe[24]
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
Conservative hold Swing −0.6

Elections in the 1980s

General election 1987: Folkestone and Hythe
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
Conservative hold Swing
General election 1983: Folkestone and Hythe
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
Conservative hold Swing

Elections in the 1970s

General election 1979: Folkestone and Hythe
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
Conservative hold Swing +7.3
General election October 1974: Folkestone and Hythe
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
Conservative hold Swing +0.75
General election February 1974: Folkestone and Hythe
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
Conservative hold Swing −23.10
General election 1970: Folkestone and Hythe
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
Conservative hold Swing +5.22

Elections in the 1960s

General election 1966: Folkestone and Hythe
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
Conservative hold Swing −2.72
General election 1964: Folkestone and Hythe
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
Conservative hold Swing −4.33

Elections in the 1950s

General election 1959: Folkestone and Hythe
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
Conservative hold Swing +1.12
General election 1955: Folkestone and Hythe
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
Conservative hold Swing +0.12
General election 1951: Folkestone and Hythe
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
Conservative hold Swing +2.77
General election 1950: Folkestone and Hythe
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
Conservative win (new seat)

See also

Notes

  1. ^ A county constituency (for the purposes of election expenses and type of returning officer)
  2. ^ As with all constituencies, the constituency elects one Member of Parliament (MP) by the first past the post system of election at least every five years.

References

  1. ^ "The 2023 Review of Parliamentary Constituency Boundaries in England – Volume two: Constituency names, designations and composition – South East". Boundary Commission for England. Retrieved 24 June 2024.
  2. ^ "Folkestone - Population". citypopulation.de. Retrieved 2 February 2026.
  3. ^ a b "Constituency data: Deprivation in England". commonslibrary.parliament.uk. Retrieved 4 December 2025.
  4. ^ "Visit Dungeness". The Kent Tourist. Retrieved 8 November 2025.
  5. ^ Gani, Aisha (10 August 2015). "Dungeness 'desert' estate goes on sale for £1.5m". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 14 February 2017. Retrieved 13 February 2017.
  6. ^ MacDonald, Kriss. "Dungeness flowers in a strange wilderness". wildabouthere.com. Retrieved 2 February 2026.
  7. ^ a b c "Seat Details - Folkestone and Hythe". electoralcalculus.co.uk. Retrieved 2 February 2026.
  8. ^ "The Parliamentary Constituencies Order 2023". Schedule 1 Part 6 South East region.
  9. ^ Leigh Rayment's Historical List of MPs – Constituencies beginning with "F"
  10. ^ "Folkestone and Hythe - General election results 2024". BBC News. Retrieved 24 July 2024.
  11. ^ "Notional results for a UK general election on 12 December 2019". Rallings & Thrasher, Professor David Denver (Scotland), Nicholas Whyte (NI) for Sky News, PA, BBC News and ITV News. UK Parliament. Retrieved 11 July 2024.
  12. ^ "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 17 November 2019. Retrieved 17 November 2019.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  13. ^ "General Election 2017 Candidates for Folkestone and Hythe". Kent Online. Archived from the original on 10 October 2019. Retrieved 10 October 2019.
  14. ^ "Election Data 2015". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 17 October 2015. Retrieved 17 October 2015.
  15. ^ "Tories holds Folkestone and Hythe, with Ukip second". Kent Online. 7 May 2015. Retrieved 10 October 2019.
  16. ^ "Harriet Yeo to stand as UKIP candidate". folkestone-status. Archived from the original on 10 October 2019. Retrieved 10 October 2019.
  17. ^ "Claire Jeffrey Labour Candidate". 16 April 2015. Archived from the original on 13 December 2021 – via YouTube.
  18. ^ "Lynne Beaumont". Folkestone and Hythe Liberal Democrats.
  19. ^ "Martin Edward Whybrow for Folkestone and Hythe in the 2017 General Election". Who Can I Vote For? by Democracy Club.
  20. ^ Hillman, Nick (14 March 2015). "What do the 'Young People's Party' promise students?". HEPI. Retrieved 10 October 2019.
  21. ^ "General Election – Campaign News" (Press release). The Socialist Party of Great Britain. 15 January 2015. Archived from the original on 27 June 2015.
  22. ^ Election result, 2010 (UKPollingReport)
  23. ^ Election result, 2010 (BBC)
  24. ^ "Politics Resources". Election 1992. Politics Resources. 9 April 1992. Archived from the original on 24 July 2011. Retrieved 6 December 2010.

Sources

51°04′N 1°02′E / 51.06°N 1.03°E / 51.06; 1.03

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