Stevenage is a constituency in Hertfordshire represented in the House of Commons of the UK Parliament since 2024 by Kevin Bonavia, a member of the Labour Party.

Constituency profile

Stevenage is a constituency in Hertfordshire in the East of England. It covers the town and borough of Stevenage, which has a population of around 92,000, and the outlying villages of Codicote, Knebworth and Datchworth.

Stevenage was traditionally a rural market town that was greatly expanded after World War II; it was the first town in the UK to be designated as a new town, done to alleviate housing shortages in London which is located around to the south. Most of the town has average levels of wealth and deprivation whilst the outer suburbs and villages are affluent. Stevenage is densely-populated with most residents living in flats or terraces, and house prices are generally similar to the regional and UK averages.

Stevenage has low proportions of students and retirees and an above-average population of middle-aged adults with families. Residents have high levels of income but below-average rates of homeownership. The child poverty rate is low. Residents have average levels of education and a high proportion work in the health, manufacturing and construction sectors. The percentage claiming unemployment benefits is low. White people made up 84% of the population at the 2021 census. Asians were the largest ethnic minority group at 7%.

At the local council level, most of the constituency is represented by the Labour Party with some Liberal Democrats elected in the wealthier eastern suburbs and rural villages. Reform UK representatives were elected across the town at recent borough and county council elections. An estimated 58% of voters in Stevenage supported leaving the European Union in the 2016 referendum, higher than the UK-wide figure of 52%.

History The constituency was created in 1983 primarily from the abolished seat of Hertford and Stevenage. A Southern England new town seat with volatile voting patterns, like its main predecessor, it was a bellwether of the national result; it was Conservative held between 1983 and 1997 until Labour easily gained it, but their winning margin in 2005 was small and the Conservatives gained the seat at the 2010 election, it being their 72nd target. It remained Conservative until 2024 when it was regained by Labour amidst their national landslide victory.

The seat was held for Labour by Barbara Follett who achieved two ministerial roles from 2007 until 2010.

Boundaries and boundary changes DatesLocal authorityMapsWards1983–1997Borough of StevenageDistrict of North HertfordshireDistrict of East HertfordshireBorough of Stevenage;District of North Hertfordshire wards of Codicote and Knebworth;District of East Hertfordshire wards of Cottered, Datchworth, Mundern, Walkern, and Watton-at-Stone.1997–2010Borough of Stevenage;District of North Hertfordshire wards of Codicote and Knebworth;District of East Hertfordshire wards of Datchworth and Walkern.2010–2024Borough of Stevenage;District of North Hertfordshire wards of Codicote and Knebworth;District of East Hertfordshire ward of Datchworth and Aston.2024–presentBorough of Stevenage;the Knebworth ward and part of the Codicote & Kimpton ward (comprising the parishes of Knebworth and Codicote) in the District of North Hertfordshire;part of the ward of Aston, Datchworth & Walkern in the District of East Hertfordshire, (comprising the parishes of Aston and Datchworth).

Historic

1983–1997 The constituency was formed primarily from the majority of the abolished constituency of Hertford and Stevenage. The wards of Codicote and Knebworth were transferred from the abolished constituency of Hitchin, and the wards of Cottered and Mundern from the abolished constituency of East Hertfordshire.

1997–2010 The District of East Hertfordshire wards of Cottered, Mundern and Watton-at-Stone were transferred to the new constituency of North East Hertfordshire.

2010–2024 Walkern ward transferred to North East Hertfordshire.

Current The 2023 review of Westminster constituencies, which was based on the ward structures in place on 1 December 2020, left the boundaries virtually unchanged. However, following local government boundary reviews in East Hertfordshire and North Hertfordshire which came into effect in May 2023 and May 2024 respectively, the contents of the constituency were revised (see table above).

The constituency comprises the Borough of Stevenage, together with the villages of Codicote and Knebworth to the south and Aston and Datchworth to the east.

Members of Parliament Hertford & Stevenage prior to 1983

ElectionMemberParty 1983 Tim Wood Conservative 1997 Barbara Follett Labour 2010 Stephen McPartland Conservative 2024 Kevin Bonavia Labour

Elections

Elections in the 2020s

Elections in the 2010s

Elections in the 2000s 2005 notional result Party Vote % Labour 17,650 43.2 Conservative 14,161 34.6 Liberal Democrats 7,611 18.6 Others 1,457 3.6Turnout40,87962.7Electorate65,206

Elections in the 1990s

1992 notional result Party Vote % Conservative 24,078 43.9 Labour 21,159 38.6 Liberal Democrats 9,379 17.1 Others 220 0.4Turnout54,83681.8Electorate67,015

Elections in the 1980s

1979 notional result Party Vote % Labour 22,574 44.3 Conservative 21,586 42.4 Liberal 6,228 12.2 Others 531 1.0Turnout50,919Electorate

See also List of parliamentary constituencies in Hertfordshire List of parliamentary constituencies in the East of England (region)

Notes

References

External links Stevenage UK Parliament constituency (boundaries April 1997 – April 2010) at MapIt UK Stevenage UK Parliament constituency (boundaries April 2010 – May 2024) at MapIt UK Stevenage UK Parliament constituency (boundaries from June 2024) at MapIt UK