At the last election, in 2019, there were six Bedfordshire constituencies. However, a population increase leading to recent boundary changes, this year there are seven, with the new one shared with Hertfordshire.
The Bedfordshire constituencies for this election are: Bedford, Dunstable & Leighton Buzzard, Luton North, Luton South & South Bedfordshire, Mid Bedfordshire, and North Bedfordshire. The seventh is the new Hitchin constituency – which means some Bedfordshire residents will be voting alongside Hertfordshire residents to decide who will be their next MP.
The new Hitchin constituency is largely rural. It is nestled between the two large towns of Luton to its west and Stevenage to its east. Aside from a smattering of villages scattered across prime green belt land, the only built-up areas are the two market towns of Shefford and Stotfield in southeast Bedfordshire, and across the county boundary is Hitchin sitting at the constituency’s heart.
Hitchin green belt
According to a recent piece in The Guardian, it is the housing crisis and the future of that green belt land that concerns many of the voters, and has become a central political issue. Pressure to build has come from both developers and from the two largest political parties who have made housebuilding a key part of their manifestos. With many newcomers moving from London in the last five years, private rents have risen by 36% and house prices are up 13% in that time. As a result, the area struggles to accommodate local young people who are being pushed further away.
The Labour and Conservative pledges to build 1.5 -1.6m homes nationally in the next parliament necessitate development in areas like Hitchin, intensifying local frustrations over congested roads, strained schools, and overwhelmed GPs. Despite government promises to protect the green belt, local councils are approving large-scale developments, which erode trust in political solutions. There is a tension – which appears politically unresolvable – between those who want more affordable housing in the area, and the residents of villages threatened by Luton engulfing them and who are fighting to preserve their “green lung”.
And the candidates are…
The candidates nominated to stand in Hitchin are: Bim Afolami (Conservative Party), Charles Bunker (Reform UK), Sid Cordle (Christian Peoples Alliance), Will Lavin (Green Party), Chris Lucas (Liberal Democrats) and Alistair Strathern (Labour Party).
Unusually, two of these candidates were sitting MPs in the last parliament. The old constituency of Hitchin & Harpenden was represented by Afolami, and Strathern won the Mid Bedfordshire seat in a by-election last year following the departure of Nadine Dorries. However, due to boundary changes his home is now in the new Hitchin constituency, so he decided to switch in order to remain a ‘local’ MP.
Afolami, who was selected for the new constituency last year, came under fire from the website The Conservative Post. They named him as one of ten MPs they wanted to see deselected for not being right-wing enough. They called on members of local Conservative Associations to put in letters of no confidence, saying: “It’s time to start flexing our muscles and steering our party back to proper conservatism.” In the end, he survived the potential coup.
Local newspaper, The Comet, asked each of the candidates to come up with a statement on why they should be the next MP. Here they are, summarised:
Bim Afolami, Conservative Party:
Bim Afolami having served as Hitchin’s MP since 2017, says he has achieved significant milestones such as securing discretionary grants for small businesses, advancing healthcare with new hospitals, and increasing police presence. He is running to continue protecting the countryside, opposing Luton Airport expansion, creating jobs, enhancing local healthcare, and reducing congestion. He positions himself as experienced leadership against higher taxes and more development.
Charles Bunker, Reform UK:
Charles Bunker, a lifelong Hitchin resident, stands for Reform UK to address what he sees as Britain’s challenges, ignored by other parties. He believes mass immigration strains services and quality of life. Reform UK aims to control borders and address national scandals such as Grenfell and sewage in rivers. Bunker believes only radical reform can solve these issues.
Sid Cordle, Christian People’s Alliance:
Sid Cordle says he aims to achieve tangible results for Hitchin, opposing Luton Airport expansion, proposing a new Thames Estuary airport, and halting wasteful spending. He suggests a tunnel for station access and protecting areas of natural beauty. Cordle commits to stopping unwanted development.
Will Lavin, Green Party:
Will Lavin believes a strong Green vote holds other parties accountable. The Green Party tackles climate crises, air quality, and water issues. They propose funding the NHS, promoting home insulation, and creating jobs in renewable energy. Lavin encourages voters to choose positively for real change.
Chris Lucas, Liberal Democrats:
Chris Lucas says he advocates for a strong local champion. His manifesto addresses healthcare, environmental issues, and economic reforms. The LibDems plan to support vulnerable populations, regulate utilities, and rebuild EU relations. Lucas argues that his party can deliver real change and a fair deal for everyone.
Alistair Strathern, Labour Party:
Alistair Strathern, a former maths teacher and Bank of England professional, says he has always aimed to make a difference. Elected as MP for Mid Bedfordshire, he has tackled issues like GP funding and armed forces accommodation. He is re-standing for Hitchin to address struggles with healthcare, the cost of living, childcare, environmental protection, infrastructure, and local businesses.
What do the polls say?
All the recent MRP polls are predicting a national Conservative collapse providing a comfortable Labour win. This comes from a combination of around 10% of 2019 Conservative voters having died in the interim and losing a further 15% to both Reform and Labour.
There is no doubt that the Hitchin constituency is going to become a political hot potato for the winner. As The Guardian says: “Labour is promising to speed up planning and to take chunks out of the ‘grey belt’ (environmentally poor green belt). But the mood in Hitchin suggests Keir Starmer would be wise not to ignore the risk of another shires rebellion of the kind that thwarted Boris Johnson’s 2021 attempts to ease planning controls.”
If Alistair Strathern does win the battle for the seat as widely predicted, his fight will clearly not be over.
