Harlow (UK Parliament constituency)

Harlow
County constituency
for the House of Commons
Boundaries since 2024
Boundary of Harlow in the East of England
CountyEssex
Electorate73,479 (2023)[1]
Major settlementsHarlow, Roydon
Current constituency
Created1974 (1974)
Member of ParliamentChris Vince (Labour Co-op)
SeatsOne
Created fromEpping

Harlow is a constituency[n 1] represented in the House of Commons of the UK Parliament since 2024 by Chris Vince, of the Labour and Co-operative Party.[n 2]

Constituency profile

The Harlow constituency is located in Essex. It covers the large town of Harlow and the rural areas and villages surrounding it, including Lower Nazeing, Sheering and Hatfield Heath. Harlow was a small town until 1947, when it was designated as a new town to accommodate the London overspill. There is some deprivation in Harlow whilst the rural parts of the constituency are wealthier.[2] House prices are similar to the rest of the East of England and higher than the national average.[3]

In general, residents of Harlow have low levels of education, and household income is similar to the national average. They are less likely to work in professional occupations compared to the rest of the country,[3] and a high proportion of residents work in the retail and health industries.[4] White people made up 84% of the population at the 2021 census, a similar proportion to the country as a whole.[3] Black and Asian people made up 5% each.[5] At the local council level, the centre of Harlow is mostly represented by the Labour Party whilst the suburban and rural areas primarily elected Conservatives. Voters in Harlow showed strong support for leaving the European Union in the 2016 referendum; an estimated 67% voted in favour of Brexit, making Harlow one of the top 50 most Brexit-supporting constituencies out of 650 nationwide.

History

This seat was created for the February 1974 general election from the abolished seat of Epping, and has been subject only to minor changes since.

Boundaries

Historic

1974–1983: Harlow Urban District, and Epping and Ongar Rural District parishes of Magdalen Laver, Matching, Nazeing, North Weald Bassett, Roydon, and Sheering.[6]

1983–1997: The District of Harlow, and the District of Epping Forest wards of Nazeing, North Weald Bassett, Roydon, and Sheering.[7]

Minor loss to Brentwood and Ongar.

1997–2010: The District of Harlow, and the District of Epping Forest wards of Nazeing, Roydon, and Sheering.[8]

North Weald Bassett transferred to Epping Forest.

2010–2024: The District of Harlow, and the District of Epping Forest wards of Hastingwood, Matching and Sheering Village, Lower Nazeing, Lower Sheering, and Roydon.[9]

Marginal changes due to redistribution of local authority wards.

Current

Further to the 2023 Periodic Review of Westminster constituencies, which came into effect for the 2024 general election, the composition of the constituency was expanded northwards to meet the electorate size requirements, with the transfer in from Saffron Walden of the two District of Uttlesford wards of Broad Oak & the Hallingburys, and Hatfield Heath.[10]

Following a local government boundary review in Epping Forest which came into effect in May 2024,[11] the constituency now comprises the following from the 2024 general election:

  • The District of Epping Forest part wards of: North Weald Bassett (small part); Roydon & Lower Nazeing (bulk); Rural East (parishes of Matching and Sheering).
  • The District of Harlow.
  • The District of Uttlesford wards of: Broad Oak & the Hallingburys; Hatfield Heath.[12]

Members of Parliament

Epping prior to 1974

Election Member[13] Party
Feb 1974 Stan Newens Labour Co-op
1983 Jerry Hayes Conservative
1997 Bill Rammell Labour
2010 Robert Halfon Conservative
2024 Chris Vince Labour Co-op

Elections

Elections in the 2020s

General election 2024: Harlow[14]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Co-op Chris Vince[15][16] 16,313 37.6 +8.3
Conservative Hannah Ellis[17] 13,809 31.8 −32.8
Reform UK Malcolm Featherstone[18] 9,461 21.8 N/A
Green Yasmin Gregory[19] 2,267 5.2 +4.9
Liberal Democrats Riad Mannan 1,350 3.1 −2.8
UKIP Lois Perry 157 0.4 N/A
Majority 2,504 5.8 N/A
Turnout 43,357 58.2 –6.3
Registered electors 74,683
Labour gain from Conservative Swing 20.6

Elections in the 2010s

2019 notional result[20]
Party Vote %
Conservative 30,573 64.6
Labour 13,879 29.3
Liberal Democrats 2,783 5.9
Green 125 0.3
Turnout 47,360 64.5
Electorate 73,479
General election 2019: Harlow[21]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Robert Halfon 27,510 63.5 +9.5
Labour Laura McAlpine 13,447 31.0 −7.3
Liberal Democrats Charlotte Cane 2,397 5.5 +3.3
Majority 14,063 32.5 +16.8
Turnout 43,354 63.7 −2.5
Conservative hold Swing +8.4
General election 2017: Harlow
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Robert Halfon 24,230 54.0 +5.1
Labour Phil Waite 17,199 38.3 +8.3
UKIP Mark Gough 1,787 4.0 −12.3
Liberal Democrats Geoffrey Seef 970 2.2 +0.2
Green Hannah Clare 660 1.5 −0.7
Majority 7,031 15.7 −3.2
Turnout 44,846 66.2 +1.1
Conservative hold Swing −1.6
See also: Opinion polling in United Kingdom constituencies, 2010–15 § Harlow
General election 2015: Harlow[22][23]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Robert Halfon 21,623 48.9 +4.0
Labour Suzy Stride 13,273 30.0 −3.7
UKIP Sam Stopplecamp 7,208 16.3 +12.7
Green Murray Sackwild 954 2.2 N/A
Liberal Democrats Geoffrey Seeff 904 2.0 −11.7
TUSC David Brown 174 0.4 N/A
English Democrat Eddy Butler 115 0.3 N/A
Majority 8,350 18.9 +7.7
Turnout 44,251 65.1 ±0.0
Conservative hold Swing +3.9
General election 2010: Harlow[24][25]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Robert Halfon 19,691 44.9 +4.1
Labour Bill Rammell 14,766 33.7 −7.7
Liberal Democrats David White 5,990 13.7 +0.7
BNP Eddy Butler 1,739 4.0 N/A
UKIP John Croft 1,591 3.6 +1.1
Christian Oluyemi Adeeko 101 0.2 N/A
Majority 4,925 11.2 N/A
Turnout 43,878 65.1 +2.7
Conservative gain from Labour Swing +5.9

Elections in the 2000s

General election 2005: Harlow[26]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Bill Rammell 16,453 41.4 −6.4
Conservative Robert Halfon 16,356 41.2 +6.4
Liberal Democrats Lorna Spenceley 5,002 12.6 −0.8
UKIP John Felgate 981 2.5 −0.5
Veritas Anthony Bennett 941 2.4 N/A
Majority 97 0.2 −12.8
Turnout 39,733 62.6 +2.9
Labour hold Swing −6.4
General election 2001: Harlow[27]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Bill Rammell 19,169 47.8 −6.3
Conservative Robert Halfon 13,941 34.8 +2.7
Liberal Democrats Lorna Spenceley 5,381 13.4 +3.9
UKIP Tony Bennett 1,223 3.0 +2.3
Socialist Alliance John Hobbs 401 1.0 N/A
Majority 5,228 13.0 −9.0
Turnout 40,115 59.7 −14.6
Labour hold Swing −4.5

Elections in the 1990s

General election 1997: Harlow[28]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Bill Rammell 25,861 54.1 +12.3
Conservative Jerry Hayes 15,347 32.1 −14.9
Liberal Democrats Lorna Spenceley 4,523 9.5 −1.8
Referendum Mark Wells 1,422 3.0 N/A
UKIP Gerard Batten 340 0.7 N/A
BNP John Bowles 319 0.7 N/A
Majority 10,514 22.0 N/A
Turnout 47,812 74.3 −8.3
Labour gain from Conservative Swing +13.6
General election 1992: Harlow[29][30]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Jerry Hayes 26,608 47.0 −0.2
Labour Bill Rammell 23,668 41.8 +5.2
Liberal Democrats Lorna Spenceley 6,375 11.3 −4.9
Majority 2,940 5.2 −5.5
Turnout 56,651 82.6 +8.5
Conservative hold Swing −2.7

Elections in the 1980s

General election 1987: Harlow[31]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Jerry Hayes 26,017 47.2 +6.1
Labour Co-op Stanley Newens 20,140 36.6 +2.4
SDP (Alliance) Monica Eden-Green 8,915 16.2 −8.0
Majority 5,877 10.7 +3.8
Turnout 55,072 74.1 −2.4
Conservative hold Swing +1.9
General election 1983: Harlow[32]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Jerry Hayes 21,924 41.1 +1.0
Labour Co-op Stanley Newens 18,250 34.2 −8.5
Liberal (Alliance) John Bastick 12,891 24.2 +8.6
Independent John Ward 256 0.5 N/A
Majority 3,674 6.9 N/A
Turnout 53,321 76.5 −2.2
Conservative gain from Labour Co-op Swing +4.8

Elections in the 1970s

General election 1979: Harlow
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Co-op Stanley Newens 22,698 42.7 −10.0
Conservative John Powley 21,306 40.1 +15.8
Liberal Robert Browne 8,289 15.6 −7.4
National Front J Childs 840 1.6 N/a
Majority 1,392 2.6 –25.8
Turnout 53,133 78.7 +3.5
Labour Co-op hold Swing −12.9
General election October 1974: Harlow
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Co-op Stanley Newens 24,961 52.7 +3.2
Conservative James Emerton Smith 11,510 24.3 −0.7
Liberal Basil Goldstone 10,869 23.0 −2.5
Majority 13,451 28.4 +4.4
Turnout 47,340 75.2 −8.7
Labour Co-op hold Swing +2.0
General election February 1974: Harlow
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Co-op Stanley Newens 25,814 49.5 −11.4
Liberal Basil Goldstone 13,280 25.5 +25.5
Conservative James Emerton Smith 13,016 25.0 −14.1
Majority 12,534 24.0 +2.2
Turnout 52,110 83.9 +10.0
Labour Co-op win (new seat)
1970 notional result[33]
Party Vote %
Labour 29,453 60.9
Conservative 18,880 39.1
Turnout 48,333 72.9
Electorate 58,512

Graphical representation

February 1974 New Seat
49.5% 25.5% 25.0%
Labour Liberal Conservative
October 1974
52.7% 23.0% 24.3%
Labour Liberal Conservative
1979
42.7% 15.7% 40.1%
Labour Liberal Conservative
1983
34.2% 24.2% 41.1%
Labour Liberal Conservative
1987
36.6% 16.2% 47.2%
Labour SDP Conservative
1992
41.8% 11.3% 47.0%
Labour Lib Dems Conservative
1997
54.1% 9.5% 32.1% 3.0%
Labour Lib Dems Conservative Ref
2001
47.8% 13.4% 34.8% 3.0%
Labour Lib Dems Conservative UKIP
2005
41.4% 12.6% 41.2%
Labour Lib Dems Conservative
2010
33.7% 13.7% 44.9% 3.6% 4.0%
Labour Lib Dems Conservative UKIP BNP
2015
30.0% 48.9% 16.3%
Labour Conservative UKIP
2017
38.4% 54.0% 4.0%
Labour Conservative UKIP
2019
31.0% 5.5% 63.5%
Labour LD Conservative
2024
5.2% 37.6% 31.9% 21.8%
Green Labour Conservative Reform

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 – Eastern". Boundary Commission for England. Retrieved 26 June 2024.
  2. ^ "Constituency data: Deprivation in England". commonslibrary.parliament.uk. Retrieved 4 December 2025.
  3. ^ a b c "Seat Details - Harlow". electoralcalculus.co.uk. Retrieved 1 March 2026.
  4. ^ "Constituency data: businesses and industries". commonslibrary.parliament.uk. Retrieved 1 March 2026.
  5. ^ "2021 census results: Ethnic groups in your constituency". commonslibrary.parliament.uk. 4 July 2024. Retrieved 19 November 2025.
  6. ^ "The Parliamentary Constituencies (England) Order 1970". www.legislation.gov.uk. Retrieved 9 September 2019.
  7. ^ "The Parliamentary Constituencies (England) Order 1983". www.legislation.gov.uk. Retrieved 9 September 2019.
  8. ^ "The Parliamentary Constituencies (England) Order 1995". www.legislation.gov.uk. Retrieved 9 September 2019.
  9. ^ "The Parliamentary Constituencies (England) Order 2007". www.legislation.gov.uk. Retrieved 9 September 2019.
  10. ^ "The Parliamentary Constituencies Order 2023". Schedule I Part 2 Eastern region.
  11. ^ "Seat Details - Epping Forest". www.electoralcalculus.co.uk. Retrieved 15 January 2025.
  12. ^ "Seat Details - Harlow". www.electoralcalculus.co.uk. Retrieved 15 January 2025.
  13. ^ Leigh Rayment's Historical List of MPs – Constituencies beginning with "H" (part 1)
  14. ^ Harlow
  15. ^ "Chris Vince selected as Labour's Parliamentary candidate for Harlow". Your Harlow. 11 August 2023. Retrieved 30 November 2023.
  16. ^ "2024 General Election candidates". Co-operative Party. Retrieved 4 July 2024.
  17. ^ Robert Halfon [@RtHonRobHalfon] (30 May 2024). "Huge congratulations to Hannah Ellis who is the new Conservative Parliamentary Candidate for @HarlowTories…" (Tweet) – via X (formerly Twitter).
  18. ^ "Find My PPC (East of England)" (PDF). Reform UK. Retrieved 21 December 2023.
  19. ^ "Green Party select Yasmin Gregory to fight General Election in Harlow". Your Harlow. 29 January 2024.
  20. ^ "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.
  21. ^ "General election results". Harlow Council. Archived from the original on 14 May 2021. Retrieved 8 July 2021.
  22. ^ "Election Data 2015". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 17 October 2015. Retrieved 17 October 2015.
  23. ^ "Harlow Parliamentary constituency". BBC News. 8 May 2015. Retrieved 8 May 2015.
  24. ^ "Election Data 2010". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 26 July 2013. Retrieved 17 October 2015.
  25. ^ Statement of Persons Nominated Harlow Council
  26. ^ "Election Data 2005". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
  27. ^ "Election Data 2001". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
  28. ^ "Election Data 1997". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
  29. ^ "Election Data 1992". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
  30. ^ "Politics Resources". Election 1992. Politics Resources. 9 April 1992. Archived from the original on 24 July 2011. Retrieved 6 December 2010.
  31. ^ "Election Data 1987". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
  32. ^ "Election Data 1983". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
  33. ^ Michael Stead. "1970 notional general election & February 1974 general election". BBC. Retrieved 18 March 2025.

51°46′N 0°05′E / 51.77°N 0.09°E / 51.77; 0.09

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