The constituency was created during the 1995 boundary changes and is effectively a pared-down version of the old East Hampshire division.
In 1992 East Hampshire recorded the second-largest Tory majority, behind only John Major in Huntingdon. In 1997, the new seat returned the fourth largest Tory majority.
Located on the Portsmouth Harbour to London train route, the area is home to many commuters.
Fleet is the main administrative, retail and commercial centre for the northern half of the constituency and there has been some light industrial development in the town.
There is also a business development at Bartley Wood in Hook near junction 5 on the M3. Other built-up areas include Liphook, Lindford and Headley.
Elsewhere the constituency is dominated by classic English villages with duck ponds, greens, cricket grounds, old Norman churches, half-timbered cottages and pubs. Hartley Wintney, for example, is one of these villages and has a cricket green which is amongst the oldest in the country.