New Forest West: MP, 2024 result and local figures
New Forest West is represented in the House of Commons by Sir Desmond Swayne (Conservative). On 4 July 2024 Desmond Swayne (Conservative) won 16,412 votes, 35.4% of the valid vote; Sally Johnston (Labour) came second with 10,812. Turnout, counted as valid votes over the electorate, was 67.5% (46,337 of 68,644); the winning margin was 5,600 votes.
Key figures
What the figures show
Compared with other constituencies, New Forest West has the 3rd highest share of adults retired (2021) of the 575 constituencies with this figure (37.1%); it also has the 4th lowest population of the 575 constituencies with this figure (85,021).
About 85,000 people live in New Forest West: the ONS figure for mid-2024 is 85,021. There were more residents aged 65 and over (29,432) than children under 16 (11,510).
Half of the homes sold in the year to March 2026 went for more than £410,000 and half for less. That is up 28% on £320,000 ten years before. The highest March-year median in the series was £450,000, in the year to March 2023. It ranks 127th highest of 575 constituencies. The figure rests on 1,226 recorded sales.
In 2024/25, 20.3% of children under 16 in New Forest West (2,335) lived in relative low income families once housing costs are taken off, says the DWP; the UK figure is 26.0%. Before housing costs the share was 12.0% in 2024/25, from 10.8% in 2021/22.
Median annual pay for full-time work was £36,195 for jobs in New Forest West and £36,780 for its residents (April 2025, ASHE). A year before, the residents' median was £34,098. The residents' figure ranks 232nd lowest of 632 constituencies with an estimate. The latest year is provisional.
Survey estimates for April 2025 to March 2026 have 75.2% of working-age residents in employment, within a margin of 9.1 points. The economically inactive share was 22.8%.
4,995 business sites were registered in New Forest West in March 2026 (4,910 a year before), and employed 34,000 people in 2024.
In September 2026, 2.3% of 16 to 64 year olds in New Forest West were claimants (1,005 people). September 2025 had 1,000.
At the 2021 Census there were 38,657 households and 238.6 residents per square kilometre; 31.1% of workers mainly worked from home and 37.1% of residents aged 16 and over were retired.
MP
Sir Desmond Swayne, Conservative
- MP for New Forest West since 4 July 2024
- In the House of Commons since 1 May 1997
Official UK Parliament page · Statements by Sir Desmond Swayne on this site
In Parliament
The 5 most recent spoken contributions by Sir Desmond Swayne in Hansard, from 14 October 2026 to 27 October 2026, quoted from the official report. Hansard search returns 340 spoken contributions by Sir Desmond Swayne since 4 July 2024.
I remind hon. Members not to rise to catch my eye unless they have the permission of both Mr Jermy and the Minister to speak.
Order. I am imposing a formal five-minute limit.
Order. May I suggest five minutes for speeches?
On the issue of stalwart supporters, the hon. Member for Leeds North East (Fabian Hamilton) has been a magnificent supporter.
Read in Hansard (opening words; the full contribution is longer)
I thank members of the Committee for their attendance and their contributions. In particular, I thank the hon.
Read in Hansard (opening words; the full contribution is longer)
Read from the Hansard API on 28 October 2026. Up to two items per debate; remarks under 40 characters are left out. All contributions in Hansard.
General election, 4 July 2024
| Candidate | Party | Votes | Share | Change in share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Desmond Swayne | Conservative | 16,412 | 35.4% | −28.4 |
| Sally Johnston | Labour | 10,812 | 23.3% | +10.2 |
| Jack Davies | Liberal Democrat | 8,186 | 17.7% | +2.3 |
| Reginald Chester-Sterne | Reform UK | 7,577 | 16.4% | |
| Anna Collar | Green Party | 2,800 | 6.0% | −1.7 |
| Gavin Ridley | Animal Welfare Party | 393 | 0.8% | |
| Paul Simon | Social Democratic Party | 157 | 0.3% |
Result summary as published: Con hold. Change in share is in percentage points against the notional 2019 result on the new boundaries. Source: House of Commons Library, election results (data, read 14 October 2026).
Results on these boundaries
| Date | Election | First | Second | Majority | Turnout |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 July 2024 | General election | Conservative 35.4% | Labour 23.3% | 5,600 | 67.5% |
| 12 December 2019 | General election (notional result on these boundaries) | Conservative 63.8% | Liberal Democrat 15.3% | 24,403 | 70.8% |
Only results on the constituency boundaries first used at the 2024 general election are shown. The 2019 figures are the House of Commons Library's notional estimates of how votes cast in 2019 would have fallen on these boundaries, not a result that was declared. Source: House of Commons Library, constituency results.
Councils
New Forest West lies within New Forest.
- New Forest E07000091
Who has power over New Forest West
Every body that makes decisions for New Forest West, from the street up to the G20. Each one links to its page on the official record. How the ten levels work.
Level 1: Neighbourhood and community power
Residents' and tenants' groups, neighbourhood forums and local policing panels.
Level 2: Parish, town and community councils
Parish, town and community councils, where the area has them, sit below the council.
Level 3: Local councils
Level 5: Devolved and state governments
England has no devolved parliament of its own: its laws are made by the UK Parliament.
Level 6: National government
- New Forest West this page: Sir Desmond Swayne (Conservative) MP
- All 650 MPs votes, interests and costs
- UK government and Parliament official figures and sources
Level 7: Regional blocs and supranational bodies
- Council of Europe and the European Court of Human Rights (CoE / ECtHR) The UK Government says the United Kingdom was one of the Council of Europe's founding members.
Level 8: The UN and global treaty bodies
- United Nations (General Assembly and Security Council) The UN lists the United Kingdom as a member admitted on 24 October 1945.
- United Nations Security Council (UNSC) The UK is one of the five permanent members of the Security Council and holds the veto, according to the UN.
- NATO NATO lists the United Kingdom among its 12 founding members, which signed the North Atlantic Treaty in Washington, D.C.
- World Health Organization (WHO) WHO's list of member states includes the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.
- World Trade Organization (WTO) The WTO says the United Kingdom has been a WTO member since 1 January 1995 and a member of GATT since 1 January 1948.
- Commonwealth of Nations The UK is one of the 56 members, one of three European members with Cyprus and Malta, and the Commonwealth Secretariat is headquartered at Marlborough House in London.
Level 9: The IMF, World Bank and global finance
- International Monetary Fund (IMF) The UK has been a member since 27 December 1945 and has a quota of SDR 20,155.1 million (IMF country page for the United Kingdom).
- World Bank Group (WBG) The UK holds 3.75% of voting power in the IBRD (data as of 30 June 2026) and 6.92% in IDA (as of 30 June 2026), according to the World Bank's voting tables.
Level 10: G7, G20, Davos and global forums
Sources
| Figure | Period | Publisher | Read | Links |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Population | mid-2024 | ONS | 14 October 2026 | data · area |
| Claimants as a share of residents aged 16 to 64 | September 2026 | ONS | 29 October 2026 | data · area |
| Claimant count | September 2026 | ONS | 29 October 2026 | data · area |
| Employment rate, aged 16 to 64 | April 2025 to March 2026 | ONS | 14 October 2026 | data · area |
| Median full-time pay of residents | April 2025 | ONS | 14 October 2026 | data · area |
| Median full-time pay of people working here | April 2025 | ONS | 14 October 2026 | data · area |
| Median house price | the year to March 2026 | ONS | 14 October 2026 | data · release |
| Homes sold | the year to March 2026 | ONS | 14 October 2026 | data · release |
| Children in relative low income families, after housing costs | 2024/25 | DWP | 14 October 2026 | data · release |
| Children in relative low income families, before housing costs | 2024/25 | DWP | 14 October 2026 | data · release |
| Business sites (local units) | March 2026 | ONS | 14 October 2026 | data · area |
| People employed by businesses here | 2024 | ONS | 14 October 2026 | data · area |
| Economically inactive, aged 16 to 64 | April 2025 to March 2026 | ONS | 14 October 2026 | data · area |
| Households | Census 2021 | ONS | 14 October 2026 | data · area |
| Residents per square kilometre | Census 2021 | ONS | 14 October 2026 | data · area |
| Workers mainly working from home | Census 2021 | ONS | 14 October 2026 | data · area |
| Residents aged 16+ who are retired | Census 2021 | ONS | 14 October 2026 | data · area |
"Data" is the file or query each figure was read from (its SHA-256 is in the link title); "area" shows the same table for this constituency alone.
Common questions
Who is the MP for New Forest West?
UK Parliament lists Sir Desmond Swayne, Conservative, as the Member of Parliament for New Forest West since the July 2024 general election.
What was the 2024 general election result in New Forest West?
Desmond Swayne (Conservative) won with 16,412 votes, a majority of 5,600, on a turnout of 67.5% (House of Commons Library).
What is the unemployment claimant rate in New Forest West?
2.3% of residents aged 16 to 64 in September 2026, 1,005 people, on the ONS claimant count.
What is the average house price in New Forest West?
The median price paid was £410,000 in the year to March 2026 (ONS, from HM Land Registry sales).
What is the average salary in New Forest West?
Median full-time pay of residents was £36,780 a year in April 2025 (ONS Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings).
How many children in New Forest West live in low income families?
DWP counts 2,335 (20.3% of under-16s) in relative low income after housing costs for 2024/25.
What is the population of New Forest West?
The ONS estimate for mid-2024 is 85,021 residents.
Built 14 October 2026 from official records; how these pages are compiled. This page lists what the record shows and gives no verdict on the MP or the area. Link moved or figure wrong? Tell us.