The seat was created in 1983 chiefly to replace the
Petersfield constituency.
The first MP was (by election)
Michael Mates, who held it from 1983 until the calling of the 2010 election when he retired.
Boundaries and profile
Map of current boundaries
1983–1997: The District of East Hampshire wards of Binsted, Bramshott and Liphook, Clanfield and Buriton, East Meon and Langrish, Froyle and Bentley, Froxfield and Steep, Grayshott, Headley, Horndean Catherington, Horndean Hazleton, Horndean Kings, Horndean Murray, Liss, Petersfield Heath, Petersfield St Mary's, Petersfield St Peter's, Rowlands Castle, Selborne, The Hangers, Whitehill Bordon and Whitehill, and Whitehill Lindford, and the District of Hart wards of Church Crookham, Crondall, Fleet Courtmoor, Fleet Pondtail, Fleet West, Hook, Long Sutton, and Odiham.
1997–2010: The District of East Hampshire wards of Alton Holybourne, Alton North East, Alton North West, Alton South East, Alton South West and Beech, Clanfield and Buriton, East Meon and Langrish, Farringdon, Four Marks, Froxfield and Steep, Horndean Catherington, Horndean Hazleton, Horndean Kings, Horndean Murray, Liss, Medstead, North Downland, Petersfield Heath, Petersfield St Mary's, Petersfield St Peter's, Ropley and West Tisted, Rowlands Castle, and The Hangers, and the Borough of Havant wards of Cowplain, Hart Plain, and Waterloo.
2010–present: The District of East Hampshire wards of Alton Amery, Alton Ashdell, Alton Eastbrooke, Alton Westbrooke, Alton Whitedown, Alton Wooteys, Binstead and Bentley, Bramshott and Liphook, Downland, East Meon, Four Marks and Medstead, Froxfield and Steep, Grayshott, Headley, Holybourne and Froyle, Lindford, Liss, Petersfield Bell Hill, Petersfield Causeway, Petersfield Heath, Petersfield Rother, Petersfield St Mary's, Petersfield St Peter's, Ropley and Tisted, Selborne, The Hangers and Forest, Whitehill Chase, Whitehill Deadwater, Whitehill Hogmoor, Whitehill Pinewood, and Whitehill Walldown.
The boundaries resemble the
East Hampshire district, shifted somewhat north. The south of the seat has many farm, tourist and outdoor leisure businesses in the
South Downs National Park. Results present a
Conservativesafe seat by length of tenure and size of majorities. On national opinion-poll adjusted results, Hinds achieved the 28th-highest vote share for the party in 2017. The
Liberal Democrats or its predecessor the
Liberals have finished second in the elections, bar:
The Borough of Basingstoke and Deane ward of Oakley & The Candovers (polling districts OC02, OC10, OC12, OC13, OC14, OC15, OC16 and OC17).
The District of East Hampshire wards of: Alton Amery; Alton Ashdell; Alton Eastbrooke; Alton Holybourne; Alton Westbrooke; Alton Whitedown; Alton Wooteys; Bentworth & Froyle; Binsted, Bentley & Selborne; Buriton & East Meon; Clanfield; Four Marks & Medstead; Froxfield, Sheet & Steep; Horndean Catherington; Horndean Downs; Horndean Kings & Blendworth; Horndean Murray; Liss; Petersfield Bell Hill; Petersfield Causeway; Petersfield Heath; Petersfield St. Peter’s; Ropley, Hawkley & Hangers; Rowlands Castle.[5]
The town of
Bordon (which forms part of the parish of
Whitehill) and surrounding areas, comprising 36% of the current electorate[6], will be included in the newly created constituency of
Farnham and Bordon. To compensate, the seat will be expanded southwards to include
Horndean, currently part of the (to be abolished)
Meon Valley constituency. To ensure the electorate is within the permitted range, a small part of the Borough of Basingstoke and Deane ward of Oakley & The Candovers (the "
Candovers") will also be added.