History
Eastleigh was a fairly safe seat for the Conservatives for nearly forty years until the death of its then MP, former journalist Stephen Milligan, in 1994. At the subsequent by-election, the Liberal Democrats gained the seat on a very large swing, and have since held Eastleigh in the four following General Elections, though with somewhat narrow majorities.
The current MP, Chris Huhne, has gained national attention first as environment spokesman, then as Liberal Democrat Shadow Home Secretary, having previously stood unsuccessfully as a candidate for party leader in 2006 against Sir Menzies Campbell and again in 2007 against Nick Clegg. Following the 2010 general election, Huhne joined the coalition government's cabinet as Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, but resigned in February 2012 after being charged with perverting the course of justice over a speeding case.
Read more about this topic: Eastleigh (UK Parliament Constituency)
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