Tonbridge is a parliamentary constituency in Kent, centred on the town of Tonbridge. It returned one Member of Parliament (MP) to the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom.
Tonbridge | |
---|---|
County constituency for the House of Commons | |
Current constituency | |
Created | 2024 |
Member of Parliament | TBC (TBC) |
Seats | One |
Created from |
|
1918–Feb 1974 | |
Seats | One |
Created from | Tunbridge |
Replaced by | Tonbridge and Malling |
The constituency was created for the 1918 general election, replacing the previous Tunbridge constituency. It was abolished for the February 1974 general election, when it was replaced by the new Tonbridge and Malling constituency.
Further to the completion of the 2023 Periodic Review of Westminster constituencies, the seat will be re-established for the 2024 general election. It will be formed primarily from Tonbridge and Malling.[1]
Boundaries
edit1918–1950: The Borough of Royal Tunbridge Wells, the Urban Districts of Tonbridge and Southborough, and Tonbridge Rural District.
1950–1974: As 1918 but with redrawn boundaries.
Constituency was abolished prior to the 1974 election. After half a century constituency was re-established as a result of 2023 Periodic Review of Westminster constituencies for 2024 election.
2024–present: The District of Sevenoaks wards of: Ash and New Ash Green; Cowden and Hever; Edenbridge North and East; Edenbridge South and West; Hartley and Hodsoll Street; Leigh and Chiddingstone Causeway; Penshurst, Fordcombe and Chiddingstone. And the Borough of Tonbridge and Malling wards of: Birling, Leybourne & Ryarsh (part); Borough Green & Platt; Bourne; Cage Green & Angel; East and West Peckham, Mereworth & Wateringbury; East Malling, West Malling & Offham (small part); Higham; Hildenborough; Judd; Pilgrims with Ightham; Trench; Vauxhall.[2]
Reformed constituency comprised the bulk of the preceding Tonbridge and Malling seat (excluding East and West Malling), plus an additional two District of Sevenoaks wards to the north - Ash and New Ash Green, and Hartley and Hodsoll Street, from the constituencies of Sevenoaks and Dartford respectively.[3]
Constituency profile
editThe seat includes the commuter town of Tonbridge and its hinterland to the north, plus the smaller town of Edenbridge further west. Electoral Calculus characterises this area as "Strong Right", with right-wing economic and social views, high home ownership levels and strong support for Brexit.[4]
Members of Parliament
editMPs 1918-1974
editTunbridge prior to 1918
Election | Member | Party | Notes | |
---|---|---|---|---|
1918 | Herbert Spender-Clay | Conservative | Died 1937 | |
1937 by-election | Sir Adrian Baillie, Bt | Conservative | ||
1945 | Gerald Williams | Conservative | Resigned 1956 | |
1956 by-election | Richard Hornby | Conservative | ||
Feb 1974 | constituency abolished |
MPs since 2024
editTonbridge and Malling prior to 2024
Election | Member | Party | |
---|---|---|---|
2024 | TBC | TBC |
Elections
editElections in the 2020s
editParty | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Labour | Lewis Bailey[5] | ||||
Green | Anna Cope[6] | ||||
SDP | Ian Grattidge[7] | ||||
Reform UK | Teresa Hansford[8] | ||||
Independent Alliance (Kent) | Tim Shaw[9] | ||||
Conservative | Tom Tugendhat[10] | ||||
Liberal Democrats | John Woollcombe[11] | ||||
Majority | |||||
Turnout |
Election results 1918-1974
editElections in the 1910s
editParty | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
C | Unionist | Herbert Spender-Clay | 14,622 | 68.1 | |
Labour | John Palmer | 5,006 | 23.3 | ||
Liberal | Thomas Buxton | 1,851 | 8.6 | ||
Majority | 9,616 | 44.8 | |||
Turnout | 21,479 | 57.4 | |||
Unionist win (new seat) | |||||
C indicates candidate endorsed by the coalition government. |
Elections in the 1920s
editParty | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Unionist | Herbert Spender-Clay | 14,797 | 53.0 | -15.1 | |
Labour | Joseph Thomas Davies | 7,665 | 27.4 | +4.1 | |
Liberal | Albert Charles Crane | 5,472 | 19.6 | +11.0 | |
Majority | 7,132 | 25.6 | -19.2 | ||
Turnout | 27,934 | 72.5 | +15.1 | ||
Unionist hold | Swing |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Unionist | Herbert Spender-Clay | 13,910 | 49.8 | -3.2 | |
Liberal | Albert Charles Crane | 7,433 | 26.6 | +7.0 | |
Labour | Joseph Thomas Davis | 6,610 | 23.6 | -3.8 | |
Majority | 6,477 | 23.2 | -2.4 | ||
Turnout | 27,953 | 70.6 | -1.9 | ||
Unionist hold | Swing | -5.1 |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Unionist | Herbert Spender-Clay | 17,392 | 58.2 | +8.4 | |
Labour | W F Toynbee | 6,564 | 22.0 | -1.6 | |
Liberal | James Millard Tucker | 5,898 | 19.8 | -6.8 | |
Majority | 10,828 | 36.2 | +13.0 | ||
Turnout | 29,854 | 74.3 | +3.7 | ||
Unionist hold | Swing |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Unionist | Herbert Spender-Clay | 19,018 | 49.8 | -8.4 | |
Liberal | Gordon Alchin | 10,025 | 26.2 | +6.4 | |
Labour | W F Toynbee | 9,149 | 24.0 | +2.0 | |
Majority | 8,993 | 23.6 | -12.6 | ||
Turnout | 38,192 | 72.3 | -2.0 | ||
Unionist hold | Swing | -7.4 |
Elections in the 1930s
editParty | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Conservative | Herbert Spender-Clay | 30,602 | 78.8 | +29.0 | |
Labour | Constance Borrett | 8,208 | 21.1 | -2.9 | |
Majority | 22,394 | 57.7 | +34.1 | ||
Turnout | 38,810 | 69.2 | -3.0 | ||
Conservative hold | Swing |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Conservative | Herbert Spender-Clay | 23,460 | 61.3 | -17.5 | |
Labour | F M Landau | 9,405 | 24.6 | +3.5 | |
Liberal | Richard Pope-Hennessy | 5,403 | 14.1 | New | |
Majority | 14,055 | 36.7 | -21.0 | ||
Turnout | 38,268 | 68.2 | -1.0 | ||
Conservative hold | Swing |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Conservative | Adrian Baillie | 18,802 | 56.9 | -4.4 | |
Labour | H Smith | 8,147 | 24.7 | +0.1 | |
Liberal | Richard Matthews | 6,073 | 18.4 | +4.3 | |
Majority | 10,655 | 32.2 | -4.5 | ||
Turnout | 33,022 | 58.2 | -10.0 | ||
Conservative hold | Swing | -2.2 |
General Election 1939–40:
Another General Election was required to take place before the end of 1940. The political parties had been making preparations for an election to take place and by the Autumn of 1939, the following candidates had been selected;
- Conservative: Adrian Baillie
- Labour: R. E. L. Bowyer[20]
- Liberal: Richard Matthews[21]
- British Union: E J Crawford
Elections in the 1940s
editParty | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Conservative | Gerald Williams | 23,081 | 49.9 | -7.0 | |
Labour | Vera Dart | 16,590 | 35.8 | +11.1 | |
Liberal | John Metcalfe | 5,351 | 11.6 | -6.8 | |
Ind. Conservative | E F St John Lyburn | 1,249 | 2.7 | New | |
Majority | 6,491 | 14.1 | -18.1 | ||
Turnout | 46,271 | 73.2 | +15.0 | ||
Conservative hold | Swing |
Elections in the 1950s
editParty | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Conservative | Gerald Williams | 27,893 | 51.9 | ||
Labour | Brian Clapham | 19,525 | 36.3 | ||
Liberal | Leslie Albert Willard | 5,634 | 10.5 | ||
Ind. Conservative | E F St. John Lyburn | 739 | 1.4 | ||
Majority | 8,368 | 15.6 | |||
Turnout | 53,791 | 83.5 | |||
Conservative hold | Swing |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Conservative | Gerald Williams | 31,377 | 59.8 | +7.9 | |
Labour | Bernard Bagnari | 21,109 | 40.2 | +3.9 | |
Majority | 10,268 | 19.6 | +4.0 | ||
Turnout | 52,486 | 80.6 | -2.9 | ||
Conservative hold | Swing |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Conservative | Gerald Williams | 29,521 | 60.4 | +0.6 | |
Labour | Robert L Fagg | 19,325 | 39.6 | -0.6 | |
Majority | 10,196 | 20.8 | +1.2 | ||
Turnout | 48,846 | 75.5 | -5.1 | ||
Conservative hold | Swing |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Conservative | Richard Hornby | 20,515 | 52.0 | -8.4 | |
Labour | Robert L Fagg | 18,913 | 48.0 | +8.4 | |
Majority | 1,602 | 4.0 | -16.8 | ||
Turnout | 39,428 | ||||
Conservative hold | Swing |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Conservative | Richard Hornby | 31,687 | 59.9 | -0.5 | |
Labour | Kenneth W May | 21,181 | 40.1 | +0.5 | |
Majority | 10,506 | 19.8 | -1.0 | ||
Turnout | 52,868 | 78.5 | +3.0 | ||
Conservative hold | Swing |
Elections in the 1960s
editParty | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Conservative | Richard Hornby | 27,802 | 49.2 | -10.7 | |
Labour | Donald Savage | 19,037 | 33.7 | -6.4 | |
Liberal | Edward Babbs | 9,682 | 17.1 | New | |
Majority | 8,765 | 15.5 | -4.3 | ||
Turnout | 56,521 | 78.7 | +0.2 | ||
Conservative hold | Swing |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Conservative | Richard Hornby | 26,896 | 46.7 | -2.5 | |
Labour | William Eric Wolff | 20,068 | 34.9 | +1.2 | |
Liberal | Colin Bloy | 10,586 | 18.4 | +1.3 | |
Majority | 6,828 | 11.8 | -3.7 | ||
Turnout | 57,550 | 77.3 | -1.4 | ||
Conservative hold | Swing |
Elections in the 1970s
editParty | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Conservative | Richard Hornby | 31,890 | 53.2 | +4.5 | |
Labour | Maureen Colquhoun | 17,897 | 29.9 | -5.0 | |
Liberal | Harry Hill | 10,167 | 17.0 | -1.4 | |
Majority | 13,993 | 23.3 | +11.5 | ||
Turnout | 59,954 | 72.0 | -5.3 | ||
Conservative hold | Swing |
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ "The 2023 Review of Parliamentary Constituency Boundaries in England – Volume one: Report – South East | Boundary Commission for England". boundarycommissionforengland.independent.gov.uk. Retrieved 1 August 2023.
- ^ "New Seat Details - Tonbridge". www.electoralcalculus.co.uk. Retrieved 1 April 2024.
- ^ "New Seat Details - Tonbridge". www.electoralcalculus.co.uk. Retrieved 12 February 2024.
- ^ Electoral Calculus https://www.electoralcalculus.co.uk/fcgi-bin/calcwork23.py?seat=Tonbridge
- ^ "Find Your Local Labour Candidates - Tonbridge". Labour Party (UK). Retrieved 23 May 2024.
- ^ "💚 Tonbridge and Malling Green Party announce Parliamentary Candidate…CLLR ANNA COPE!". Tonbridge & Malling Green Party. Retrieved 13 February 2024.
- ^ "General Election Candidates". Retrieved 3 June 2024.
- ^ "Tonbridge Constituency - Teresa Hansford". Reform UK. Retrieved 23 May 2024.
- ^ "Tim Shaw - Independent". Tim Shaw. Retrieved 31 May 2024.
- ^ "Tom Tugendhat - Conservative Candidate - For Tonbridge, Edenbridge and North Downs Villages". Tom Tugendhat. Retrieved 23 May 2024.
- ^ "John Woollcombe - Tonbridge Parliamentary Candidate for the Liberal Democrats". Tonbridge and Malling Liberal Democrats. Retrieved 5 June 2024.
- ^ British Parliamentary Election Results 1918-1949, FWS Craig
- ^ British Parliamentary Election Results 1918-1949, FWS Craig
- ^ British Parliamentary Election Results 1918-1949, FWS Craig
- ^ British Parliamentary Election Results 1918-1949, FWS Craig
- ^ British Parliamentary Election Results 1918-1949, FWS Craig
- ^ British Parliamentary Election Results 1918-1949, FWS Craig
- ^ British Parliamentary Election Results 1918-1949, FWS Craig
- ^ British Parliamentary Election Results 1918-1949, FWS Craig
- ^ "Parliamentary candidates' protest", The Times, 6 April 1939
- ^ The Liberal Magazine, 1939
- ^ British Parliamentary Election Results 1918-1949, FWS Craig
- ^ British parliamentary election results, 1950-1973 by FWS Craig
- ^ British parliamentary election results, 1950-1973 by FWS Craig
- ^ British parliamentary election results, 1950-1973 by FWS Craig
- ^ F W S Craig, British Parliamentary Election Results 1950-1973; Political Reference Publications, Glasgow 1973
- ^ F W S Craig, British Parliamentary Election Results 1950-1973; Political Reference Publications, Glasgow 1973
- ^ F W S Craig, British Parliamentary Election Results 1950-1973; Political Reference Publications, Glasgow 1973
- ^ British parliamentary election results, 1950-1973 by FWS Craig
- ^ British parliamentary election results, 1950-1973 by FWS Craig
External links
edit- Tonbridge UK Parliament constituency (boundaries from June 2024) at MapIt UK