Folkestone and Hythe (UK Parliament constituency)

Folkestone and Hythe
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
County	Kent
Electorate	70,023 (2023)
Major settlements	Folkestone; Hythe;
Current constituency
Created	1950
Member of Parliament	Tony Vaughan (Labour)
Seats	One
Created from	Ashford; Canterbury; Hythe;

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]}

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.

Constituency profile

Folkestone and Hythe consists of a hilly swathe of East Kent including the coastal urban area of Folkestone and Hythe. The rural communities of New Romney, Lydd, Dymchurch, Lyminge and Elham contain significant farming communities, commuters to towns and business parks, including a small percentage to London and a large retired population.^[2]

Boundaries

Map of boundaries 2010–2024

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.^[3]

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.

	Member^[4]	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^[5]
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^[6]
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 ^[7]
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^[8]
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^[9]^[10]
Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Conservative	Damian Collins	26,323	47.9	−1.5
	UKIP	Harriet Yeo^[11]	12,526	22.8	+18.2
	Labour	Claire Jeffrey^[12]	7,939	14.4	+3.6
	Liberal Democrats	Lynne Beaumont^[13]	4,882	8.9	−21.4
	Green	Martin Whybrow^[14]	2,956	5.4	+4.2
	TUSC	Seth Cruse	244	0.4	N/A
	Young People's	Rohen Kapur^[15]	72	0.1	N/A
	Socialist (GB)	Andy Thomas ^[16]	68	0.1	N/A
Majority			13,797	25.1	+6.0
Turnout			55,010	65.8	−1.9
	Conservative hold		Swing	−9.9

General election 2010: Folkestone and Hythe^[17]^[18]
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 Alternative	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^[19]
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)

Notes

^ A county constituency (for the purposes of election expenses and type of returning officer)
^ 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

^ "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.
^ "Local statistics – Office for National Statistics". www.ons.gov.uk.
^ "The Parliamentary Constituencies Order 2023". Schedule 1 Part 6 South East region.
^ Leigh Rayment's Historical List of MPs – Constituencies beginning with "F"
^ "Folkestone and Hythe - General election results 2024". BBC News. Retrieved 24 July 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.
^ "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)
^ "General Election 2017 Candidates for Folkestone and Hythe". Kent Online. Archived from the original on 10 October 2019. Retrieved 10 October 2019.
^ "Election Data 2015". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 17 October 2015. Retrieved 17 October 2015.
^ "Tories holds Folkestone and Hythe, with Ukip second". Kent Online. 7 May 2015. Retrieved 10 October 2019.
^ "Harriet Yeo to stand as UKIP candidate". folkestone-status.
^ "Claire Jeffrey Labour Candidate". 16 April 2015. Archived from the original on 13 December 2021 – via YouTube.
^ "Lynne Beaumont". Folkestone and Hythe Liberal Democrats.
^ "Martin Edward Whybrow for Folkestone and Hythe in the 2017 General Election". Who Can I Vote For? by Democracy Club.
^ Hillman, Nick (14 March 2015). "What do the 'Young People's Party' promise students?". HEPI. Retrieved 10 October 2019.
^ "General Election – Campaign News" (Press release). The Socialist Party of Great Britain. 15 January 2015. Archived from the original on 27 June 2015.
^ Election result, 2010 (UKPollingReport)
^ Election result, 2010 (BBC)
^ "Politics Resources". Election 1992. Politics Resources. 9 April 1992. Archived from the original on 24 July 2011. Retrieved 6 December 2010.

Sources

Election result, 2005 (BBC)
Election results 1997–2001 (BBC)
Election results 1997–2001 (Election Demon)
Election results 1992–2010 (The Guardian)

External links

Folkestone and Hythe UK Parliament constituency (boundaries April 1997 – April 2010) at MapIt UK
Folkestone and Hythe UK Parliament constituency (boundaries April 2010 – May 2024) at MapIt UK
Folkestone and Hythe UK Parliament constituency (boundaries from June 2024) at MapIt UK

Parliament of the United Kingdom
Preceded by Chingford and Woodford Green	Constituency represented by the leader of the opposition 2003–2005	Succeeded by Witney

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

[2] A county constituency (for the purposes of election expenses and type of returning officer)

[3] 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.

[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.

[4] "Local statistics – Office for National Statistics". www.ons.gov.uk.

[5] "The Parliamentary Constituencies Order 2023". Schedule 1 Part 6 South East region.

[rayment-6] Leigh Rayment's Historical List of MPs – Constituencies beginning with "F"

[7] "Folkestone and Hythe - General election results 2024". BBC News. Retrieved 24 July 2024.

[8] "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-9] "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)

[10] "General Election 2017 Candidates for Folkestone and Hythe". Kent Online. Archived from the original on 10 October 2019. Retrieved 10 October 2019.

[electoralcalculus-11] "Election Data 2015". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 17 October 2015. Retrieved 17 October 2015.

[12] "Tories holds Folkestone and Hythe, with Ukip second". Kent Online. 7 May 2015. Retrieved 10 October 2019.

[13] "Harriet Yeo to stand as UKIP candidate". folkestone-status.

[14] "Claire Jeffrey Labour Candidate". 16 April 2015. Archived from the original on 13 December 2021 – via YouTube.

[15] "Lynne Beaumont". Folkestone and Hythe Liberal Democrats.

[16] "Martin Edward Whybrow for Folkestone and Hythe in the 2017 General Election". Who Can I Vote For? by Democracy Club.

[17] Hillman, Nick (14 March 2015). "What do the 'Young People's Party' promise students?". HEPI. Retrieved 10 October 2019.

[18] "General Election – Campaign News" (Press release). The Socialist Party of Great Britain. 15 January 2015. Archived from the original on 27 June 2015.

[19] Election result, 2010 (UKPollingReport)

[20] Election result, 2010 (BBC)

[21] "Politics Resources". Election 1992. Politics Resources. 9 April 1992. Archived from the original on 24 July 2011. Retrieved 6 December 2010.

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v t e Constituencies in South East England (91)
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Conservative (30)	Arundel and South Downs Beaconsfield Bexhill and Battle Bognor Regis and Littlehampton East Grinstead and Uckfield East Hampshire East Surrey Fareham and Waterlooville Farnham and Bordon Faversham and Mid Kent Godalming and Ash Gosport Hamble Valley Havant Herne Bay and Sandwich Isle of Wight East Maidstone and Malling Mid Buckinghamshire New Forest East New Forest West North West Hampshire Reigate Romsey and Southampton North Runnymede and Weybridge Sevenoaks Spelthorne Sussex Weald Tonbridge Weald of Kent Windsor
Liberal Democrats (24)	Bicester and Woodstock Chesham and Amersham Chichester Didcot and Wantage Dorking and Horley Eastbourne Eastleigh Epsom and Ewell Esher and Walton Guildford Henley and Thame Horsham Lewes Maidenhead Mid Sussex Newbury North East Hampshire Oxford West and Abingdon Surrey Heath Tunbridge Wells Winchester Witney Woking Wokingham
Green (1)	Brighton Pavilion
Independent (1)	Canterbury

v t e Folkestone
People	List of people from Folkestone
Political	Folkestone & Hythe District Folkestone and Hythe constituency
Education	The Harvey Grammar School Folkestone School for Girls Folkestone Academy K College Turner Free School University Centre Folkestone
Transport	Folkestone West railway station Folkestone Central railway station Folkestone Harbour railway station Folkestone East railway station M20 motorway Channel Tunnel Folkestone Harbour
Sport, arts and leisure	Folkestone Invicta F.C. Folkestone Sports Centre Folkestone Triennial Leas Cliff Hall Tower Theatre Folkestone & Hythe Operatic & Dramatic Society Folkestone White Horse Leas Lift
Media	Folkestone Herald Kentish Express KMFM Shepway and White Cliffs Country Radio Folkestone
Historical events	1934 Hillman's Airways de Havilland Dragon Rapide crash 1954 Swissair Convair CV-240 crash 2007 Kent earthquake
Twin towns	Boulogne-sur-Mer Middelburg Étaples

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
County	Kent
Electorate	70,023 (2023)^[1]
Major settlements	Folkestone Hythe
Current constituency
Created	1950
Member of Parliament	Tony Vaughan (Labour)
Seats	One
Created from	Ashford Canterbury Hythe