Harrow East is a constituency[n 1] in Greater London created in 1945 and represented in the House of Commons of the UK Parliament since 2010 by Bob Blackman, a Conservative.[n 2]
Constituency profile
Harrow East is a suburban constituency located on the outskirts of Greater London, around 10 miles (16 km) north-west of the centre of London. It covers the neighbourhoods of Stanmore, Canons Park, Harrow Weald and parts of Kenton. The area became connected to London through suburban development in the early 20th century, and has average levels of wealth and deprivation.[2] House prices in the constituency are below the London average.[3]
The constituency is ethnically diverse. White people made up 37% of the population at the 2021 census, around half of whom were of non-British origin;[4] the area has a large Romanian community.[5] Asians (primarily Indians) were the largest ethnic group, making up 47% of residents.[4] Harrow East has one of the largest Hindu populations of any constituency in the country, at 28%.[6]
In general, residents of Harrow East are likely to be homeowners and have average levels of education. Household income is similar to the London average,[3] and a high proportion of residents work in the health industry.[7] At the local council level, almost all seats in the constituency are represented by Conservatives, with a small number of Labour Party councillors in the east of the constituency. An estimated 51% of voters in Harrow East supported remaining in the European Union in the 2016 referendum, higher than the nationwide figure of 48% but lower than the rest of London.[3]
History
The seat was created in 1945 and has been varied due to two sets of major ward reconfigurations and by other national boundary reforms. The predecessor seats were Hendon and to a much lesser extent Harrow.
From 1945 to 2010, it was a stronger area for the Labour Party than neighbouring Harrow West; nevertheless, the seat had been mostly held by the Conservative Party. Labour did win here in landslide victories in 1945, 1966 and 1997, and after the latter, held on in the two subsequent general elections. Commencing with the 1979 general election, and prior to the 2024 general election, the seat was a bellwether by reflecting the national result. The 2017 result produced the 29th-most marginal majority of the Conservative Party's 317 seats by percentage of majority.[8]
The seat was regained in 2010 by the Conservative Bob Blackman on a high turnout whilst Labour's incumbent managed to hold on to Harrow West, as boundary changes had favoured Labour there. Residents in the borough include fewer people in the category of no qualifications than the national average, in 2011, at 16.8%.[9]
In the 2024 general election, Harrow East had the second-largest percentage majority of any Conservative-held seat in the country, behind only Richmond and Northallerton, the seat of then-Prime Minister Rishi Sunak; it was the only seat in the country where the Conservatives exceeded 50% of the vote.
Boundaries
1945–1950: The Urban District of Harrow wards of Kenton, Stanmore North, Stanmore South, Wealdstone North, Wealdstone South, and part of Harrow Weald ward.
1950–1955: As above, but the whole of Harrow Weald, and without Wealdstone North or Wealdstone South.
1955–1974: The Municipal Borough of Harrow wards of Belmont, Harrow Weald, Queensbury, Stanmore North and Stanmore South.
1974–1978: The London Borough of Harrow wards of Belmont, Harrow Weald, Queensbury, Stanmore North and Stanmore South.
1978–1983: The London Borough of Harrow wards of Canons, Centenary, Harrow Weald, Kenton East, Stanmore Park, Stanmore South and Wemborough.
1983–2010: The London Borough of Harrow wards of Canons, Centenary, Greenhill, Harrow Weald, Kenton East, Kenton West, Marlborough, Stanmore Park, Stanmore South, Wealdstone and Wemborough.
2010–2024: The London Borough of Harrow wards of Belmont, Canons, Edgware, Harrow Weald, Kenton East, Kenton West, Queensbury, Stanmore Park and Wealdstone.
2024–present: The London Borough of Brent ward of Queensbury, and the London Borough of Harrow wards of Belmont, Canons, Centenary, Edgware, Harrow Weald, Kenton East, Kenton West, and Stanmore.[10]
- The Borough of Brent ward of Queensbury was transferred from the abolished constituency of Brent North, thus uniting the parts of the suburb of Queensbury in Brent with those in Harrow. Other boundary changes included the transfer of Wealdstone to Harrow West.
Members of Parliament
Election results
Elections in the 2020s
With 53.3% of the vote, Blackman received the highest vote share for any Conservative candidate in the 2024 general election, and was the only Conservative elected with an absolute majority.[12] He was one of three Conservative MPs to be re-elected with increased majorities.[13]
Elections in the 2010s
Elections in the 2000s
Elections in the 1990s
Elections in the 1980s
Elections in the 1970s
Elections in the 1960s
Elections in the 1950s
Elections in the 1940s
See also
Notes
- ^ A borough constituency (for the purposes of election expenses and type of returning officer)
- ^ As with all constituencies, Harrow East elects one Member of Parliament (MP) by the first past the post system of election at least every five years.
References
- ^ "The 2023 Review of Parliamentary Constituency Boundaries in England – Volume two: Constituency names, designations and composition – London". Boundary Commission for England. Retrieved 19 June 2024.
- ^ "Constituency data: Deprivation in England". commonslibrary.parliament.uk. Retrieved 4 December 2025.
- ^ a b c "Seat Details - Harrow East". electoralcalculus.co.uk. Retrieved 2 March 2026.
- ^ a b "2021 census results: Ethnic groups in your constituency". commonslibrary.parliament.uk. 4 July 2024. Retrieved 19 November 2025.
- ^ "Country of birth - Census Maps, ONS". ons.gov.uk. Retrieved 2 March 2026.
- ^ "2021 census results: Religion in your constituency". commonslibrary.parliament.uk. Retrieved 21 November 2025.
- ^ "Constituency data: businesses and industries". commonslibrary.parliament.uk. Retrieved 1 March 2026.
- ^ Conservative Defence 2022 – Election Polling Election Polling. Retrieved 2018-02-08
- ^ "2011 census interactive maps". Archived from the original on 29 January 2016. by comparison, the London Borough of Haringey has 17.8% and Three Rivers District has 17.4%.
- ^ "The Parliamentary Constituencies Order 2023". Schedule 1 Part 3 London region.
- ^ Leigh Rayment's Historical List of MPs – Constituencies beginning with "H" (part 1)
- ^ "The hard work put in by everyone meant I am now the only Conservative MP who received over 50% of the vote share". Archived from the original on 16 July 2024.
- ^ "On a night where colleagues saw huge swings against them, I was grateful to receive an increased majority..." Archived from the original on 16 July 2024.
- ^ "Statement of Person Nominated and Notice of Poll: Harrow East Constituency" (PDF). Harrow Council. 7 June 2024.
- ^ "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.
- ^ "Statement of Persons Nominated and Notice of Poll for Harrow East Constituency". Harrow London Borough Council. 14 November 2019. Retrieved 24 November 2019.
- ^ "Commons Briefing Paper 8749. General Election 2019: results and analysis" (PDF). London: House of Commons Library. 28 January 2020. Archived (PDF) from the original on 18 November 2021. Retrieved 19 January 2022.
- ^ "Harrow East parliamentary constituency". BBC News.
- ^ "Commons Briefing Paper 7979. General Election 2017: results and analysis" (PDF) (Second ed.). House of Commons Library. 29 January 2019 [7 April 2018]. Archived (PDF) from the original on 12 November 2019.
- ^ "Election Data 2015". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 17 October 2015. Retrieved 17 October 2015.
- ^ [email protected] (1 January 2004). "Election results for Harrow East, 7 May 2015".
- ^ "Election Data 2010". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 26 July 2013. Retrieved 17 October 2015.
- ^ "Election Data 2005". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
- ^ "Election Data 2001". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
- ^ "Election Data 1997". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
- ^ "Election Data 1992". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
- ^ "Election Data 1987". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
- ^ "Election Data 1983". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
- ^ a b c Election Expenses. Parliament of the United Kingdom. 1980. p. 14. ISBN 0102374805.
- ^ The Times' Guide to the House of Commons. 1970.
- ^ The Times' Guide to the House of Commons. 1966.
- ^ The Times' Guide to the House of Commons. 1964.
- ^ The Times' Guide to the House of Commons. 1959.
- ^ "Parliamentary and MCC elections in Harrow, 1954-1963" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 26 December 2014. Retrieved 26 December 2014.
- ^ "1959 By Election Results". Archived from the original on 10 October 2012. Retrieved 15 August 2015.
- ^ The Times' Guide to the House of Commons. 1955.
- ^ The Times' Guide to the House of Commons. 1951.
- ^ The Times' Guide to the House of Commons. 1950.
- ^ Stevenson, Graham. "Seaman Bill". Archived from the original on 22 April 2017. Retrieved 22 April 2017.
External links
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51°36′22″N 0°18′47″W / 51.606°N 0.313°W / 51.606; -0.313