Aldershot (UK Parliament constituency)

Aldershot
Borough constituency
for the House of Commons
Boundaries since 2024
Boundary of Aldershot in South East England
CountyHampshire
Population103,922 (2011 census)[1]
Electorate76,765 (2023) [2]
BoroughAldershot
Major settlementsAldershot, Farnborough, Yateley (part)
Current constituency
Created1918
Member of ParliamentAlex Baker (Labour)
SeatsOne
Created fromBasingstoke

Aldershot (/ˈɔːldərʃɒt/ AWL-dər-shot) is a constituency[n 1] in Hampshire represented in the House of Commons of the UK Parliament.[n 2]

The seat was represented by the Conservative Party from its creation in 1918 to the 2024 general election, when it was won by Alex Baker of the Labour Party.

Constituency profile

The constituency is located in the north-east of Hampshire and includes the towns of Aldershot and Farnborough, the smaller town of Blackwater and the centre and east of Yateley.

The area is strongly associated with the British Armed Forces; Farnborough Airport was formerly used by the Royal Air Force and now primarily serves business aviation, and Aldershot is home to Aldershot Garrison, a military town with a population of over 10,000. The area is more affluent than the national average, with 2021 Census data showing 51.1% of households in Rushmoor district (which contains Aldershot and Farnborough) having no indicators of deprivation[3] compared to 48.3% across England and Wales.[4] Hart district, which includes Blackwater and Yateley, was named the UK's most desirable place to live by Halifax in 2011.[5]

The constituency's population is 79% white[6] but contains a relatively high proportion of Buddhists, who make up 4.7% of Rushmoor district's population. This is the highest percentage of any local authority in England and Wales.[7]

Political history

Aldershot elected a Conservative as its MP at every election from its creation in 1918 until the 2024 general election, which was won by Labour.

From 1974 to 2010 (inclusive) Liberal Democrats (or predecessor, Liberals) polled second. From 2015 to 2019 the Labour candidate was runner-up.

The 2015 result saw the seat rank 123rd safest of the Conservative Party's 331 seats by percentage of majority.[8] In June 2016, 57.9% of local adults voting in the EU membership referendum chose to leave the European Union instead of to remain. This was matched in two January 2018 votes in Parliament by its MP.[9]

In the 2017 general election, Leo Docherty won the seat after Sir Gerald Howarth retired. The seat saw a further increase in the Labour vote, achieving its best result since 1970; however this fell back again in 2019. In 2024 Docherty suffered a 23.2% swing against him, one of the highest ever seen at a general election, and Labour's Alex Baker became the first non-Conservative MP to represent the area since 1857.

Boundaries

1918–1950: The Urban Districts of Aldershot, Farnborough, and Fleet, and the Rural District of Hartley Wintney.

1950–1974: The Borough of Aldershot, the Urban Districts of Farnborough and Fleet, and the Rural District of Hartley Wintney. The constituency boundaries remained unchanged.

1974–1983: The Borough of Aldershot, the Urban Districts of Farnborough and Fleet, and in the Rural District of Hartley Wintney the parishes of Crondall, Crookham Village, Hawley, and Yateley.

1983–1997: The Borough of Rushmoor, and the District of Hart wards of Eversley, Frogmore and Darby Green, Hartley Wintney, Hawley, Whitewater, Yateley East, Yateley North, and Yateley West.

1997–2010: The Borough of Rushmoor, and the District of Hart wards of Frogmore and Darby Green, Hawley, Yateley East, Yateley North, and Yateley West.

2010–2024: The Borough of Rushmoor, and the District of Hart wards of Blackwater and Hawley, and Frogmore and Darby Green.[n 3]

2024–present: Further to the 2023 periodic review of Westminster constituencies which became effective for the 2024 general election, the constituency is composed of the following (as they existed on 1 December 2020):

  • The District of Hart wards of: Blackwater and Hawley; Yateley East.
  • The Borough of Rushmoor.[10]

Small expansion in boundaries to take account of changes to the ward structure in the District of Hart.

Members of Parliament

Basingstoke prior to 1918

Election Member[11] Party
1918 Viscount Wolmer Conservative
1940 by-election Oliver Lyttelton Conservative
1954 by-election Sir Eric Errington Conservative
1970 Sir Julian Critchley Conservative
1997 Sir Gerald Howarth Conservative
2017 Leo Docherty Conservative
2024 Alex Baker Labour

Elections

Elections in the 2020s

2024 general election: Aldershot [12][13]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Alex Baker 19,764 40.7 18.6
Conservative Leo Docherty 14,081 29.0 27.8
Reform Trevor Lloyd-Jones 8,210 16.9 new
Liberal Democrats Paul Harris 4,052 8.3 9.2
Green Ed Neville 2,155 4.4 0.9
Hampshire Ind. Steve James-Bailey 282 0.6 new
Majority 5,683 11.7
Turnout 48,544 61.8 5.7
Registered electors 78,569
Labour gain from Conservative Swing 23.2

Elections in the 2010s

2019 notional result[14]
Party Vote %
Conservative 29,453 56.8
Labour 11,468 22.1
Liberal Democrats 9,068 17.5
Green 1,839 3.5
Turnout 51,828 67.5
Electorate 76,765
2019 general election: Aldershot[15]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Leo Docherty 27,980 58.4 +3.3
Labour Howard Kaye 11,282 23.5 −8.1
Liberal Democrats Alan Hilliar 6,920 14.4 +7.0
Green Donna Wallace 1,750 3.7 +1.5
Majority 16,698 34.9 +11.4
Turnout 47,932 66.0 +1.8
Registered electors 72,617
Conservative hold Swing +5.7
2017 general election: Aldershot[16]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Leo Docherty[17] 26,950 55.1 +4.5
Labour Gary Puffett[18] 15,477 31.6 +13.3
Liberal Democrats Alan Hilliar[19] 3,637 7.4 −1.4
UKIP Roy Swales[20] 1,796 3.7 −14.2
Green Donna Wallace 1,090 2.2 −2.2
Majority 11,518 23.5 −8.8
Turnout 48,995 64.2 +0.4
Registered electors 76,205
Conservative hold Swing −4.4
2015 general election: Aldershot[21]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Gerald Howarth 23,369 50.6 +3.9
Labour Gary Puffett 8,468 18.3 +6.2
UKIP Bill Walker 8,253 17.9 +13.4
Liberal Democrats Alan Hilliar 4,076 8.8 −25.6
Green Carl Hewitt 2,025 4.4 N/A
Majority 14,901 32.3 +20.0
Turnout 46,191 63.8 +0.3
Registered electors 72,430
Conservative hold Swing −1.2
2010 general election: Aldershot[22]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Gerald Howarth 21,203 46.7 +2.7
Liberal Democrats Adrian Collett 15,617 34.4 +5.5
Labour Jonathan Slater 5,489 12.1 −9.6
UKIP Robert Snare 2,041 4.5 +2.1
English Independence Party Gary Cowd 803 1.8 N/A
Christian Juliana Brimicombe 231 0.5 N/A
Majority 5,586 12.3 +1.2
Turnout 45,384 63.5 −0.1
Registered electors 71,465
Conservative hold Swing −1.4

Elections in the 2000s

2005 general election: Aldershot[23]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Gerald Howarth 20,572 42.7 +0.5
Liberal Democrats Adrian Collett 15,238 31.7 +4.1
Labour Howard Linsley 9,895 20.6 −4.6
UKIP Derek Rumsey 1,182 2.5 +0.7
English Democrat Gary Cowd 701 1.5 N/A
Monster Raving Loony Howling Laud Hope 553 1.1 +0.2
Majority 5,334 11.0 −3.6
Turnout 48,141 61.3 +3.4
Registered electors 78,803
Conservative hold Swing −1.8
2001 general election: Aldershot[24]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Gerald Howarth 19,106 42.2 −0.5
Liberal Democrats Adrian Collett 12,512 27.6 −2.9
Labour Luke Akehurst 11,394 25.2 +1.1
UKIP Derek Rumsey 797 1.8 +0.3
Green Adam Stacey 630 1.4 N/A
Independent Arthur Uther Pendragon 459 1.0 N/A
Monster Raving Loony Howling Laud Hope 390 0.9 N/A
Majority 6,594 14.6 +2.4
Turnout 45,288 57.9 −12.9
Registered electors 78,255
Conservative hold Swing 0.0

Elections in the 1990s

1997 general election: Aldershot[25][26]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Gerald Howarth 23,119 42.7 −14.8
Liberal Democrats Adrian Collett 16,498 30.5 +2.9
Labour Terence Bridgeman 13,057 24.1 +10.8
UKIP John Howe 794 1.5 N/A
Independent Arthur Uther Pendragon 361 0.7 N/A
BNP Donald Stevens 322 0.6 N/A
Majority 6,621 12.2 −17.6
Turnout 54,151 70.8 −7.9
Registered electors 76,499
Conservative hold Swing −8.9
1992 general election: Aldershot[27][28]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Julian Critchley 36,974 57.5 −1.5
Liberal Democrats Adrian Collett 17,786 27.6 −1.6
Labour John Smith 8,552 13.3 +1.5
Liberal David H. Robinson 1,038 1.6 N/A
Majority 19,188 29.8 0.0
Turnout 64,350 78.7 +4.7
Registered electors 81,754
Conservative hold Swing 0.0

Elections in the 1980s

1987 general election: Aldershot[29][30]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Julian Critchley 35,272 59.0 +3.5
Liberal Roger Hargreaves 17,488 29.2 −4.6
Labour Ian Pearson 7,061 11.8 +1.0
Majority 17,784 29.8 +8.1
Turnout 59,822 74.0 +1.3
Registered electors 80,797
Conservative hold Swing +4.1
1983 general election: Aldershot[31][32]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Julian Critchley 31,288 55.5 −2.0
Liberal Nicholas Westbrook 19,070 33.8 +12.4
Labour Alexander Crawford 6,070 10.8 −9.9
Majority 12,218 21.7 −14.4
Turnout 56,425 72.7 −3.8
Registered electors 77,593
Conservative hold Swing −7.2

Elections in the 1970s

1979 general election: Aldershot[33]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Julian Critchley 38,014 57.5 +12.4
Liberal Nicholas Westbrook 14,438 21.4 −6.1
Labour Dennis Somerville 13,698 20.7 −4.8
Majority 23,576 36.1 +18.5
Turnout 66,150 76.5 +3.7
Registered electors 86,516
Conservative hold Swing +9.3
October 1974 general election: Aldershot[34]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Julian Critchley 26,463 45.1 −0.3
Liberal A.M. Burton 16,104 27.5 −1.4
Labour E.P. Sudworth 14,936 25.5 +1.6
National Front T. Greenslade 1,120 1.9 +0.1
Majority 10,359 17.6 +1.1
Turnout 58,620 72.8 −8.4
Registered electors 80,522
Conservative hold Swing −0.9
February 1974 general election: Aldershot[35]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Julian Critchley 29,401 45.4 −10.2
Liberal G. Floyd 18,743 28.9 +16.3
Labour W.L.J.T. Card 15,492 23.9 −7.9
National Front T. Greenslade 1,148 1.8 N/A
Majority 10,658 16.5 +7.8
Turnout 64,781 81.2 +10.3
Registered electors 79,761
Conservative hold Swing −13.3
1970 general election: Aldershot[36]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Julian Critchley 33,447 55.8 +6.9
Labour Roger T. Bogg 18,916 31.6 −0.4
Liberal Philip M. Gibbons 7,551 12.6 −6.5
Majority 14,531 24.2 +7.2
Turnout 59,909 70.9 −4.5
Registered electors 84,511
Conservative hold Swing +3.7

Elections in the 1960s

1966 general election: Aldershot[37]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Eric Errington 25,672 48.9 −3.1
Labour Derrick Harold Silvester 16,776 32.0 +4.3
Liberal Gerald Edward Owen 10,025 19.1 −1.2
Majority 8,896 17.0 −7.4
Turnout 52,473 75.4 +0.3
Registered electors 69,612
Conservative hold Swing +3.7
1964 general election: Aldershot[38]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Eric Errington 25,797 52.0 −6.4
Labour Elizabeth K. Collard 13,718 27.7 −0.8
Liberal Gerald Edward Owen 10,066 20.3 +7.1
Majority 12,079 24.3 −5.5
Turnout 49,581 75.0 −0.9
Registered electors 66,098
Conservative hold Swing +3.6

Elections in the 1950s

1959 general election: Aldershot[39]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Eric Errington 25,161 58.4 +1.7
Labour Roy E. Brooks 12,270 28.5 −4.3
Liberal Enid Lakeman 5,679 13.2 +2.6
Majority 12,891 29.9 +6.0
Turnout 43,110 75.9 +2.0
Registered electors 56,820
Conservative hold Swing +3.0
1955 general election: Aldershot[40]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Eric Errington 22,701 56.7 −3.6
Labour Julian D. Richards 13,129 32.8 −6.9
Liberal Enid Lakeman 4,232 10.6 N/A
Majority 9,572 23.9 +3.7
Turnout 40,062 73.9 −3.9
Registered electors 54,209
Conservative hold Swing −5.3
1954 Aldershot by-election[41]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Eric Errington 19,108 60.1 −0.2
Labour William Cuthbertson 12,701 39.9 +0.2
Majority 6,407 20.2 −0.4
Turnout 31,809 58.7 −19.1
Conservative hold Swing −0.2
1951 general election: Aldershot[42]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Oliver Lyttelton 24,951 60.3 +8.1
Labour Robert N. Hales 16,402 39.7 +2.7
Majority 8,549 20.6 +5.4
Turnout 41,353 77.8 −1.9
Registered electors 53,123
Conservative hold Swing +5.4
1950 general election: Aldershot[43]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Oliver Lyttelton 21,238 52.2 −5.2
Labour N.F. Hidden 15,066 37.0 +2.7
Liberal John Henry Gooden 4,355 10.7 N/A
Majority 6,172 15.2 +0.4
Turnout 40,659 79.7 −1.9
Registered electors 50,991
Conservative hold Swing +3.8

Elections in the 1940s

1945 general election: Aldershot[44]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Oliver Lyttelton 19,456 57.4 −16.0
Common Wealth Tom Wintringham 14,435 42.6 N/A
Majority 5,021 14.8 −32.0
Turnout 33,891 69.2 +10.8
Registered electors 48,987
Conservative hold Swing
1940 Aldershot by-election
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Oliver Lyttelton Unopposed
Conservative hold

Elections in the 1930s

1935 general election: Aldershot
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Roundell Palmer 17,730 73.4 −11.0
Independent Progressive Gerald Bailey 6,421 26.6 N/A
Majority 11,309 46.8 −22.0
Turnout 24,151 58.4 −7.2
Registered electors 41,376
Conservative hold Swing
1931 general election: Aldershot
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Roundell Palmer 22,134 84.4 +25.1
Labour Mary Richardson 4,091 15.6 −1.6
Majority 18,043 68.8 +33.0
Turnout 26,225 65.6 −2.9
Conservative hold Swing

Elections in the 1920s

1929 general election: Aldershot [45]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Unionist Roundell Palmer 15,123 59.3 −17.3
Liberal Henry Fabian Orpen 5,984 23.5 N/A
Labour J.R. McPhie 4,389 17.2 −6.2
Majority 9,139 35.8 −17.4
Turnout 25,496 68.5 +0.3
Unionist hold Swing
1924 general election: Aldershot[45]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Unionist Roundell Palmer 14,081 76.6 +17.5
Labour Hubert Beaumont 4,313 23.4 N/A
Majority 9,768 53.2 +35.0
Turnout 18,394 68.2 +8.6
Unionist hold Swing
1923 general election: Aldershot [46]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Unionist Roundell Palmer 9,131 59.1 −8.3
Liberal Alfred Suenson-Taylor 6,315 40.9 +8.3
Majority 2,816 18.2 −16.6
Turnout 15,446 59.6 −5.2
Unionist hold Swing −8.3
1922 general election: Aldershot[45]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Unionist Roundell Palmer 10,952 67.4 −5.0
Liberal Harry Ainger 5,296 32.6 +5.0
Majority 5,656 34.8 −10.0
Turnout 16,248 64.8 +16.8
Unionist hold Swing −5.0

Elections in the 1910s

1918 general election: Aldershot[45]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
C Unionist Roundell Palmer 8,755 72.4
Liberal Harry Ainger 3,342 27.6
Majority 5,413 44.8
Turnout 12,097 48.0
Unionist win (new seat)
C indicates candidate endorsed by the coalition government.

See also

Notes

  1. ^ A borough 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.
  3. ^ Wards were in the interim period reformed as their primary purpose is that of local government, see wards of the United Kingdom

References

  1. ^ "Usual Resident Population, 2011". Neighbourhood Statistics. Office for National Statistics. Archived from the original on 28 January 2015. Retrieved 25 January 2015.
  2. ^ "The 2023 Review of Parliamentary Constituency Boundaries in England – Volume two: Constituency names, designations and composition – South East". Boundary Commission for England. Retrieved 13 June 2024.
  3. ^ "Census maps". ons.gov.uk. Retrieved 17 November 2025.
  4. ^ "TS011 - Households by deprivation dimensions". nomisweb.co.uk.
  5. ^ "Hart in Hampshire named as UK's most desirable place". BBC News. 24 December 2011.
  6. ^ "Seat Details - Aldershot". electoralcalculus.co.uk. Retrieved 17 November 2025.
  7. ^ https://www.ons.gov.uk/census/maps/choropleth/identity/religion/religion-tb/buddhist/ Office of National Statistics: Census maps 2021: Religion
  8. ^ "Conservative Members of Parliament 2015". UK Political.info. Archived from the original on 8 June 2017. Retrieved 12 February 2017.
  9. ^ "Leo Docherty MP, Aldershot". TheyWorkForYou.
  10. ^ "The Parliamentary Constituencies Order 2023". Schedule 1 Part 6 South East region.
  11. ^ Leigh Rayment's Historical List of MPs – Constituencies beginning with "A" (part 1)
  12. ^ "STATEMENT OF PERSONS NOMINATED, NOTICE OF POLL AND SITUATION OF POLLING STATIONS" (PDF). 7 June 2024.
  13. ^ "Aldershot – General election results 2024". BBC News. Retrieved 5 July 2024.
  14. ^ "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.
  15. ^ "Aldershot parliamentary constituency – Election 2019" – via www.bbc.co.uk.
  16. ^ "UK Parliamentary election – Aldershot Constituency". Rushmoor Borough Council. Archived from the original on 26 January 2018. Retrieved 5 June 2017.
  17. ^ "Aldershot – 2017 Election Results – General Elections Online". electionresults.parliament.uk.
  18. ^ "General Election 2017 – Candidate List – (A – M)". labour.org.uk. Archived from the original on 11 May 2017. Retrieved 8 May 2017.
  19. ^ "General Election 2017-Candidate List". libdems.org.uk. Retrieved 11 May 2017.
  20. ^ "UKIP Farnborough and Aldershot: Candidate for General Election". 2 May 2017. Retrieved 12 May 2017.
  21. ^ "Election Data 2015". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 17 October 2015. Retrieved 17 October 2015.
  22. ^ "Election Data 2010". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 26 July 2013. Retrieved 17 October 2015.
  23. ^ "Election Data 2005". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
  24. ^ "Election Data 2001". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
  25. ^ "Election Data 1997". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
  26. ^ "Aldershot". Politicsresources.net. Archived from the original on 8 August 2014. Retrieved 23 July 2016.
  27. ^ "Election Data 1992". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
  28. ^ "Politics Resources". Election 1992. Politics Resources. 9 April 1992. Archived from the original on 24 July 2011. Retrieved 6 December 2010.
  29. ^ "Election Data 1987". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
  30. ^ "UK General Election results: June 1987". Politicsresources.net. 11 June 1987. Archived from the original on 22 May 2011. Retrieved 23 July 2016.
  31. ^ "Election Data 1983". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
  32. ^ "UK General Election results: June 1983". Politicsresources.net. 9 June 1983. Archived from the original on 3 June 2016. Retrieved 23 July 2016.
  33. ^ "UK General Election results: 1979". Politicsresources.net. 3 May 1979. Archived from the original on 3 March 2016. Retrieved 23 July 2016.
  34. ^ "UK General Election results: October 1974". Politicsresources.net. 10 October 1974. Archived from the original on 19 March 2012. Retrieved 23 July 2016.
  35. ^ "UK General Election results: February 1974". Politicsresources.net. 28 February 1974. Archived from the original on 6 October 2014. Retrieved 23 July 2016.
  36. ^ "UK General Election results 1970". Politicsresources.net. 18 June 1970. Archived from the original on 21 August 2016. Retrieved 23 July 2016.
  37. ^ "UK General Election results 1966". Politicsresources.net. 31 March 1966. Archived from the original on 13 August 2014. Retrieved 23 July 2016.
  38. ^ "UK General Election results 1964". Politicsresources.net. 15 October 1964. Archived from the original on 14 August 2014. Retrieved 23 July 2016.
  39. ^ "UK General Election results 1959". Politicsresources.net. 8 October 1959. Archived from the original on 24 September 2015. Retrieved 23 July 2016.
  40. ^ "UK General Election results 1955". Politicsresources.net. 26 May 1955. Archived from the original on 3 March 2016. Retrieved 23 July 2016.
  41. ^ "1954 By Elections". 31 August 2009. Archived from the original on 31 August 2009.
  42. ^ "UK General Election results 1951". Politicsresources.net. 25 October 1951. Archived from the original on 2 October 2013. Retrieved 23 July 2016.
  43. ^ "UK General Election results 1950". Politicsresources.net. 23 February 1950. Archived from the original on 2 May 2016. Retrieved 23 July 2016.
  44. ^ "UK General Election results 1945". Politicsresources.net. 5 July 1945. Archived from the original on 25 May 2015. Retrieved 23 July 2016.
  45. ^ a b c d British Parliamentary Election Results 1918–1949, FWS Craig
  46. ^ F W S Craig, British Parliamentary Election Results 1918–1949; Political Reference Publications, Glasgow 1949

51°17′02″N 0°45′22″W / 51.284°N 0.756°W / 51.284; -0.756

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