BBC Profile:
Since the Second World War this seat has been Conservative, and for a while was the safest in the country with a majority of over 25,000. This level of support declined following the 1997 general election, when the Conservative vote dropped to just over 50%, a majority of 15,000. Subsequently the party's majority has continued to fall, down to 13,666 in 2001 and 12,627 in 2005, when their vote share was exactly 50%, its lowest since 1945.

At the election, the seat gains part of the Billinghurst and Shipley ward from Arundel and South Downs, and loses part of the Plaistow ward to Chichester, part of the Petworth ward, all of Wisborough Green and part of Cowfold, Shermanbury and West Grinstead to Arundel and South, and part of Bolney and part of Cuckfield to Mid Sussex. To find out what might have happened had this boundary change been in force at the last election, see a notional - or estimated - result below.

As well as the town of Horsham, this constituency also includes a number of small villages, including Warnham, the birthplace of the poet Shelley. It is bordered by Surrey to the north, by the South Downs to the south, by St Leonards Forest and the High Weald to the east, and by the Arun Valley to the west.

The constituency is well served by transport links, with the M23 and Gatwick Airport within easy reach. While Horsham does serve as a commuter town for Brighton and London, it also has a substantial number of local office workers.

The centre

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BBC Profile:
Since the Second World War this seat has been Conservative, and for a while was the safest in the country with a majority of over 25,000. This level of support declined following the 1997 general election, when the Conservative vote dropped to just over 50%, a majority of 15,000. Subsequently the party's majority has continued to fall, down to 13,666 in 2001 and 12,627 in 2005, when their vote share was exactly 50%, its lowest since 1945.

At the election, the seat gains part of the Billinghurst and Shipley ward from Arundel and South Downs, and loses part of the Plaistow ward to Chichester, part of the Petworth ward, all of Wisborough Green and part of Cowfold, Shermanbury and West Grinstead to Arundel and South, and part of Bolney and part of Cuckfield to Mid Sussex. To find out what might have happened had this boundary change been in force at the last election, see a notional - or estimated - result below.

As well as the town of Horsham, this constituency also includes a number of small villages, including Warnham, the birthplace of the poet Shelley. It is bordered by Surrey to the north, by the South Downs to the south, by St Leonards Forest and the High Weald to the east, and by the Arun Valley to the west.

The constituency is well served by transport links, with the M23 and Gatwick Airport within easy reach. While Horsham does serve as a commuter town for Brighton and London, it also has a substantial number of local office workers.

The centre of the iron-smelting industry in Tudor times, Horsham has little industry today. Major local employers include Royal Sun Alliance and the headquarters of the RSPCA.

Rallings & Thrasher Notional:
C 24,557 (49.34%)
LD 13,777 (27.68%)
Lab 8,316 (16.71%)
UKIP 2,350 (4.72%)
Others 770 (1.55%)

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