Hitchin

New parliamentary constituency

This constituency is new at the July general election, and replaces the previous three constituencies:

Hitchin and Harpenden

Covered approximately 53% of this new constituency’s population, and 60% of this new constituency’s area.

North East Bedfordshire

Covered approximately 21% of this new constituency’s population, and 6% of this new constituency’s area.

Mid Bedfordshire

Covered approximately 16% of this new constituency’s population, and 8% of this new constituency’s area.

MP

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Alistair Strathern

Alistair Strathern

Labour Party

Data from TheyWorkForYou.

MP profiles

Data collated by The Climate Coalition.

Positions and memberships

We’re currently working on collecting updated data on MP memberships.

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Votes and EDMs

Vote Position
MP vote on Environment Bill Not in office
MP vote on Ban on Fracking for Shale Gas Bill Not in office
MP support for Cumbria coal mine court appeal Did not support
MP support for Zero carbon homes Did not support
MP support for Accelerating construction work and lower carbon construction vehicles Did not support
MP support for Fossil Fuel Non-Proliferation Treaty Did not support

Data from UK Parliament. Votes and EDMs selected for indicating support for climate/nature movement. See this MP’s full voting record on TheyWorkForYou.

Written Answers

Department Topic Date
Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Birds of Prey: Rodenticides 2024-12-02
Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Lithium-ion Batteries: Explosions 2024-11-20
Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Lithium-ion Batteries: Waste Disposal 2024-11-18

Data from TheyWorkForYou. Recent Written Answers to questions submitted by the MP to departments relevant to climate and nature. See this MP’s full record on TheyWorkForYou.

2024 majority

8,109

Data from UK Parliament. This information is provided because in the UK electoral system, political parties and the media will be paying more attention to marginal seats and therefore the voices of the people within them can have greater national impact.

Date elected

19th Oct 2023

Data from UK Parliament.

More MP data <

Public opinion

Support offshore wind

90.1%

85.3% national average

Survation MRP polling, commissioned by RenewableUK, adjusted for the demographics of the local area by mySociety. This dataset has been automatically converted from 2010 parliamentary constituencies. Updated September 2022.

Support onshore wind

86.9%

82.7% national average

Survation MRP polling, commissioned by RenewableUK, adjusted for the demographics of the local area by mySociety. This dataset has been automatically converted from 2010 parliamentary constituencies. Updated September 2022.

Would be less favourable towards the Conservative Party if they chose to weaken climate policies

76.2%

69.1% national average

Survation MRP polling, commissioned by RenewableUK. This dataset has been automatically converted from 2010 parliamentary constituencies. Updated September 2022.

Support solar power

92.1%

87.6% national average

Survation MRP polling, commissioned by RenewableUK, adjusted for the demographics of the local area by mySociety. This dataset has been automatically converted from 2010 parliamentary constituencies. Updated September 2022.

Support tidal energy

91.1%

86.0% national average

Survation MRP polling, commissioned by RenewableUK, adjusted for the demographics of the local area by mySociety. This dataset has been automatically converted from 2010 parliamentary constituencies. Updated September 2022.

Support wave energy

90.8%

86.7% national average

Survation MRP polling, commissioned by RenewableUK, adjusted for the demographics of the local area by mySociety. This dataset has been automatically converted from 2010 parliamentary constituencies. Updated September 2022.

Support nuclear energy

66.1%

57.4% national average

Survation MRP polling, commissioned by RenewableUK, adjusted for the demographics of the local area by mySociety. This dataset has been automatically converted from 2010 parliamentary constituencies. Updated September 2022.

Support renewable energy projects in their local area

88.6%

85.1% national average

Survation MRP polling, commissioned by RenewableUK, adjusted for the demographics of the local area by mySociety. This dataset has been automatically converted from 2010 parliamentary constituencies. Updated September 2022.

Believe the government has increased investment in renewables over the past 5 years

54.7%

52.0% national average

Survation MRP polling, commissioned by RenewableUK. This dataset has been automatically converted from 2010 parliamentary constituencies. Updated September 2022.

Believe that the government should use wind and solar farms to reduce energy bills

89.1%

84.3% national average

Survation MRP polling, commissioned by RenewableUK. This dataset has been automatically converted from 2010 parliamentary constituencies. Updated September 2022.

Believe that the government should continue the block on onshore wind development

22.2%

24.3% national average

Survation MRP polling, commissioned by RenewableUK. This dataset has been automatically converted from 2010 parliamentary constituencies. Updated September 2022.

Second placed party at most recent election

Conservative Party

Data from UK Parliament. The parliamentary party who came second in this constituency’s most recent election or by-election Updated 2024-07-29.

Consider climate change a high priority

57%

53.6% national average

Public First MRP Polling, commissioned by Onward UK, adjusted for the demographics of the local area by mySociety. This dataset has been automatically converted from 2010 parliamentary constituencies. Estimated percentage of constituents who consider climate change a high priority. Updated July 2022.

EU (Brexit) leave vote percentage

47%

50.5% national average

Data from UK Parliament. Percentage of constituents who voted to leave the EU in the 2016 referendum Updated February 2017.

Have missed a bill payment in the last six months

24.4%

31.5% national average

Survation 2023 MRP polling, commissioned by 38Degrees. This dataset has been automatically converted from 2010 parliamentary constituencies. Updated March 2023.

Have missed a credit payment in the last six months

18.6%

23.6% national average

Survation 2023 MRP polling, commissioned by 38Degrees. This dataset has been automatically converted from 2010 parliamentary constituencies. Updated March 2023.

Have missed a rent payment in the last six months

17.3%

19.0% national average

Survation 2023 MRP polling, commissioned by 38Degrees. This dataset has been automatically converted from 2010 parliamentary constituencies. Updated March 2023.

Have not been able to afford to turn the heating on at home when they have felt cold in the past month

31.4%

37.5% national average

Survation 2023 MRP polling, commissioned by 38Degrees. This dataset has been automatically converted from 2010 parliamentary constituencies. Updated March 2023.

Likelihood to take action such as voting for a particular candidate or lobbying an MP to tackle climate change and protect nature

This area National average
Net likely 41.2% 39.7%
Net unlikely 27.3% 27.8%
Very likely 13.1% 12.2%
Quite likely 27.9% 27.5%
Neither likely nor unlikely 30.9% 32.5%
Quite unlikely 13.4% 12.6%
Very unlikely 13.9% 15.3%

Focaldata 2023 MRP polling, commissioned by HOPE not hate. This dataset has been automatically converted from 2010 parliamentary constituencies. Updated April 2023.

Loss of nature and destruction of the environment should be one of the most important concerns for the country

This area National average
Net agree 75.1% 72.6%
Net disagree 9% 8.7%
Strongly agree 35.7% 33.8%
Partly agree 40% 38.8%
Neither agree nor disagree 15.9% 18.7%
Partly disagree 6.4% 5.9%
Strongly disagree 2% 2.7%

Focaldata 2023 MRP polling, commissioned by HOPE not hate. This dataset has been automatically converted from 2010 parliamentary constituencies. Updated April 2023.

Mental health has been impacted by the cost of living crisis

36.9%

41.5% national average

Survation 2023 MRP polling, commissioned by 38Degrees. This dataset has been automatically converted from 2010 parliamentary constituencies. Updated March 2023.

Neither support nor oppose Net Zero

23%

26.2% national average

Public First MRP Polling, commissioned by Onward UK, adjusted for the demographics of the local area by mySociety. This dataset has been automatically converted from 2010 parliamentary constituencies. Estimated percentage of constituents who neither support nor oppose net zero. Updated July 2022.

Oppose Net Zero

12%

12.4% national average

Public First MRP Polling, commissioned by Onward UK, adjusted for the demographics of the local area by mySociety. This dataset has been automatically converted from 2010 parliamentary constituencies. Estimated percentage of constituents who oppose net zero. Updated July 2022.

Policies for tackling the cost of living crisis should go hand in hand with policies to tackle the climate crisis

This area National average
Net agree 60.9% 58.9%
Net disagree 17.9% 17.6%
Strongly agree 24.6% 24.2%
Somewhat agree 36.9% 34.7%
Neither agree nor disagree 21.2% 23.4%
Somewhat disagree 10.7% 10.5%
Strongly disagree 7.4% 7.1%

Focaldata 2023 MRP polling, commissioned by HOPE not hate. This dataset has been automatically converted from 2010 parliamentary constituencies. Updated April 2023.

Results of last election

Party Votes
Labour Party 23067
Conservative Party 14958
Reform UK 6760
Liberal Democrats 4913
Green Party 2631
Other 181

Data from UK Parliament. The results of the last parliamentary election held in this constituency Updated 2024-07-29.

Support Net Zero

63%

60.4% national average

Public First MRP Polling, commissioned by Onward UK, adjusted for the demographics of the local area by mySociety. This dataset has been automatically converted from 2010 parliamentary constituencies. Estimated percentage of constituents who support net zero. Updated July 2022.

Tackling climate change should / should not be one of the Government’s biggest priorities right now

This area National average
Should be a priority 61.0% 57.5%
Should not be a priority 39.0% 42.5%

Focaldata 2023 MRP polling, commissioned by HOPE not hate. This dataset has been automatically converted from 2010 parliamentary constituencies. Updated April 2023.

Worried about having to use a foodbank in the next year

24.6%

28.7% national average

Survation 2023 MRP polling, commissioned by 38Degrees. This dataset has been automatically converted from 2010 parliamentary constituencies. Updated March 2023.

Worried about not being able to afford their mortgage or rent in the next year

36.9%

40.0% national average

Survation 2023 MRP polling, commissioned by 38Degrees. This dataset has been automatically converted from 2010 parliamentary constituencies. Updated March 2023.

Worried about not being able to pay their energy bills in the next year

54.3%

53.5% national average

Survation 2023 MRP polling, commissioned by 38Degrees. This dataset has been automatically converted from 2010 parliamentary constituencies. Updated March 2023.

More public opinion data <

Place

Constituency age distribution

This area National average
Ages 0 - 15 20.1% 18.3%
Ages 16 - 24 8.2% 10.5%
Ages 25 - 34 12.4% 13.2%
Ages 35 - 49 22.0% 19.1%
Ages 50 - 64 19.8% 19.8%
Ages 65 and over 17.4% 19.1%

Data from ONS (England and Wales), NRS (Scotland), and NISRA (Northern Ireland), collated by House of Commons Library. Updated May 2024.

Constituency Population

98,700

102,977.2 national average

Data from ONS (England and Wales), NRS (Scotland), and NISRA (Northern Ireland), collated by House of Commons Library. Updated May 2024.

Country of the UK

England

Data from mySociety. Updated 2024-04-24.

Estimated child poverty

13.7%

29.3% national average

Data from End Child Poverty, based on data from DWP/HMRC. This dataset has been automatically converted from 2010 parliamentary constituencies. Percentage of children living in households with a net income (after housing costs) below 60% of the national median. Updated June 2024.

Estimated households in fuel poverty

17.1%

17.9% national average

Data from End Fuel Poverty Coalition. This dataset has been automatically converted from 2010 parliamentary constituencies. Percentage of households in fuel poverty, including adjustment for Energy Price Guarantee, using National Energy Action base number of households in fuel poverty. Updated July 2023.

Friends of the Earth ‘State of the Environment’ report

The state of the environment in Hitchin

From Friends of the Earth. These reports highlight key environmental issues impacting people in this constituency, as well as proposed solutions. Updated August 2023.

Housing Tenure

This area National average
Owned with a mortgage 36.0% 28.9%
Other tenure 1.7% 1.2%
Owned outright 32.5% 33.3%
Private rented 15.1% 19.9%
Social rented 14.7% 16.8%

Data from ONS (England and Wales) and NISRA (Northern Ireland), collated by House of Commons Library. Updated May 2024.

Index of Multiple Deprivation (IMD)

5

2.8 national average

Data from ONS (England and Wales), NRS (Scotland), and NISRA (Northern Ireland), collated and standardised by mySociety. This dataset has been automatically converted from 2010 parliamentary constituencies. Deciles of deprivation, from 1 (most deprived) to 10 (least deprived). This uses a composite measure of deprivation (including income, employment, education, skills, health, crime, and housing) standardised across the countries of the UK.

Number of onshore windfarms

0

0.7 national average

Data from Wikipedia. Updated 2024-04-24.

Travel to work method

This area National average
Bicycle 0.6% 0.9%
Bus, minibus or coach 0.3% 1.8%
Driving a car or van 22.7% 21.3%
On foot 2.8% 3.5%
Work mainly at or from home 22.0% 14.5%
Underground, metro, light rail, tram 0.1% 0.7%
Motorcycle, scooter or moped 0.2% 0.2%
Not in employment or aged 15 years and under 47.9% 53.4%
Other method of travel to work 0.4% 0.5%
Passenger in a car or van 1.5% 1.8%
Taxi 0.1% 0.3%
Train 1.6% 0.8%

Data from ONS. Updated May 2024.

More place data <

Movement

Churches that have declared a climate emergency

0

0.2 national average

Data from Tearfund. Updated July 2023.

Constituents pledged to meet MP as part of Common Grounds 2024

0

0.7 national average

Data from The Climate Coalition. Updated October 2024.

Friends of the Earth activists

405

302.3 national average

Data from Friends of the Earth. Activists have taken at least one online action for Friends of the Earth in the last 12 months. Updated January 2024.

Friends of the Earth financial supporters

137

122.2 national average

Data from Friends of the Earth. Financial supporters have donated to Friends of the Earth in the last 12 months. Updated January 2024.

Number of Great Big Green Week 2022 events

0

1.8 national average

Data from The Climate Coalition. Number of Great Big Green Week 2022 events Updated October 2022.

Number of Great Big Green Week 2023 events

0

2.2 national average

Data from The Climate Coalition. Number of Great Big Green Week 2023 events Updated July 2023.

Number of Great Big Green Week 2024 events

1

1.9 national average

Data from The Climate Coalition. Number of public Great Big Green week 2024 events held in the area. This exludes any private events that were held. Updated September 2024.

Number of RSPB Reserves

0

0.3 national average

Data from the RSPB. Updated September 2023.

Number of Save the Children shops

0

0.2 national average

Data from Save the Children. Updated July 2023.

Number of Trussell Trust foodbanks

1

2.2 national average

Data from Trussell Trust. Updated December 2022.

Number of Wildlife Trusts Reserves

3

  • Hexton Chalk Pit
  • Oughtonhead
  • Purwell Ninesprings

Data from the Wildlife Trusts. Number of Wildlife Trusts Reserves Updated 2024-07-02.

Number of Women’s Institute groups

14

Data from the WI. Updated 2024-04-24.

More movement data <

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