Harlow (UK Parliament constituency)

Harlow is a constituency represented in the House of Commons of the UK Parliament since 2024 by Chris Vince, of the Labour and Co-operative Party.

Constituency profile
The seat has been a bellwether since the result in 1983. Included are above county-average levels of social housing, underemployment and unemployment as at the 2001 census and the associated 2000 Index of Multiple Deprivation; however, the new town has brought growth sustained in part by more commuting, with an increasingly-used and separate Mill station in the London Commuter Belt, and has seen a 9.2% increase in the number of apartments to 2011, which brings the proportion of the housing market made up by flats and apartments to 23.8%.

History
This seat was created for the February 1974 general election from the abolished seat of Epping, and has been subject only to minor changes since.

1974–1983

 * The Urban District of Harlow; and
 * The Rural District of Epping and Ongar parishes of Magdalen Laver, Matching, Nazeing, North Weald Bassett, Roydon, and Sheering.

1983–1997

 * The District of Harlow; and
 * The District of Epping Forest wards of Nazeing, North Weald Bassett, Roydon, and Sheering.

Minor loss to Brentwood and Ongar.

1997–2010

 * The District of Harlow; and


 * The District of Epping Forest wards of Nazeing, Roydon, and Sheering.

North Weald Bassett transferred to Epping Forest.

2010–2024

 * The District of Harlow; and
 * The District of Epping Forest wards of Hastingwood, Matching and Sheering Village, Lower Nazeing, Lower Sheering, and Roydon.

Marginal changes due to redistribution of local authority wards.

Current
Further to the 2023 Periodic Review of Westminster constituencies, which came into effect for the 2024 general election, the composition of the constituency was expanded northwards to meet the electorate size requirements, with the transfer in from Saffron Walden of the two District of Uttlesford wards of Broad Oak & the Hallingburys, and Hatfield Heath.

Members of Parliament
Epping prior to 1974