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1997 Result:
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Oaten, Mark
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LibDem
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26,100
|
42.10%
|
|
Malone, Gerald
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Con
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26,098
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42.10%
|
|
Davies, Patrick
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Lab
|
6,528
|
10.50%
|
|
Strand, Peter
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Ref
|
1,598
|
2.60%
|
|
Huggett, Richard
|
IndLibDem
|
640
|
1.00%
|
|
Rumsey, Derek
|
UKIP
|
476
|
0.80%
|
|
Browne, John
|
Anti-Fed
|
307
|
0.50%
|
|
Stockton, Peter
|
Loony
|
307
|
0.50%
|
|
Majority
|
2
|
|
|
7.4% swing from Con to LibDem
|
|
1992 Notional
Result:
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|
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Con
|
32,604
|
51.68%
|
|
|
LibDem
|
23,286
|
36.91%
|
|
|
Lab
|
4,734
|
7.5%
|
|
|
Others
|
2,468
|
3.91%
|
Notional Majority
|
9,318
|
14.77%
|
|
|
Description:
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Apart from Winchester itself, the seat covers the small towns of Twyford, New Alresford, Bishop's Waltham, Denmead and Wickham. Tourism is a growing industry but there is no great need for the extra income it brings to the constituency. During the 1980s Winchester was the richest city in England with the higest per capita income and one of the lowest levels of unemployment (in 1988 just 2.2%). Since 1991 there have been some significant changes which have toppled Winchester from its top spot. The abolition of the regional health authority in 1995, the transfer of the district health authority's headquarters to Basingstoke and defence cuts have all led to job losses in Winchester in recent years. But the area is still affluent and unemployment is still low. The seat is a popular commuter base for London professionals.
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