Despite this seatís Conservative history, it is currently held by a Liberal Democrat - David Chidgey - who won it at a by-election in 1994. In 1997, he held it, plying a heavy tactical voting message.
The seat itself is a mix of old industrial town - whose rail works and Pirelli tyre factory are in fatal decline - and the wealthy and picturesque towns and villages along the Solent and River Itchen. Eastleigh has long been a satellite of Southampton, and consequently has few facilities of its own. This is a major cause of planning disagreements, and indeed of social alienation amongst young people in the constituency, as the local authority looks to find places to put cinemas and youth centres.
Eastleigh Borough Council is still controlled by the Lib Dems, and at the elections in 2000, they lost just 2 seats to the Conservatives of the 9 they were defending, and even managed to pick one up from Labour. They now have 27 in the parliamentary constituency, while Labour and the Conservatives have just 7 apiece.