The constituency is slightly more elevated than the surrounding areas. Barnet was once a narrow projection of Hertfordshire into the county of Middlesex, and consisted of an agricultural market town. The town became well connected to central London by the London Underground network and is today prime suburbia, with many of its properties semi-detached with substantial gardens as well as having many small parks and nature reserves. The area has few tower blocks for social housing. It has been held by a Conservative since its creation for the February 1974 general election, and withstood the Labour landslide in 1997 by just over 2%. The 2015 result gave the seat the 92nd most marginal majority of the Conservative Party's 331 seats by percentage of majority. In 2017, the Conservatives came closer than ever before to losing Chipping Barnet, with incumbent Theresa Villiers retaining the seat by just 353 votes, with Labour now holding the majority of councillors in the constituency, in Brunswick Park, Coppetts, East Barnet, and Underhill. However, as of the 2018 Barnet London Borough Council elections, the Conservatives now hold a majority of councillors in Brunswick Park, High Barnet, Oakleigh, and Totteridge. In the 2019 general election, the seat was seen as an important potential gain for the Labour Party, due to Villiers' small majority and high profile and the seat's vote to remain in the 2016 European Union membership referendum. Nevertheless, Villiers retained the seat with an increased majority, albeit a very small one.
Boundaries
1974–1997: The London Borough of Barnet wards of Arkley, Brunswick Park, East Barnet, Hadley, and Totteridge. 1997–2010: As above plus Friern Barnet. 2010–present: The London Borough of Barnet wards of Brunswick Park, Coppetts, East Barnet, High Barnet, Oakleigh, Totteridge, and Underhill. For the 2010 general election, following a review of parliamentary representation and as a consequence of changes to ward boundaries, the Boundary Commission for England recommended that parts of Underhill ward and Coppetts ward be transferred to Chipping Barnet from the constituencies of Hendon and Finchley and Golders Green respectively. It also recommended that a small part of Mill Hill ward be transferred from Chipping Barnet to Hendon.
