Wimbledon (UK Parliament constituency)

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Wimbledon
Borough constituency
for the House of Commons
Outline map
Boundary of Wimbledon in Greater London.
County Greater London
Electorate 65,936 (December 2010)[1]
Major settlements Wimbledon and Raynes Park
Current constituency
Created 1885 (1885)
Member of Parliament Stephen Hammond (Conservative)
Number of members One
Created from Mid Surrey
Overlaps
European Parliament constituency London

Wimbledon is a constituency[n 1] represented in the House of Commons of the UK Parliament since 2005 by Stephen Hammond, a Conservative.[n 2]

Contents

History[edit]

The constituency was created under the Redistribution of Seats Act 1885 from the northeastern part of the former Mid Surrey constituency that elected two MPs. The constituency covered a much larger area than it does today and was reduced in 1918 to create the Mitcham constituency and in 1950 to create the Merton and Morden[n 3].

Political History

Since 1885 the seat has elected Conservative MPs, except for 1945-1950 and 1997-2005, when in landslide years for Labour, its candidate won the seat. While the 2005 majority was marginal, the 2010 majority was 24.1% of the vote, which in majority terms only suggests a safe seat.[n 4]

In terms of other parties, in 2010 the second-placed candidate was a Liberal Democrat. If including their two predecessor parties this result was their highest share of the vote since 1987, at 25%.

Apart from the three 'main parties' none others have to date reached the 5% of the vote threshold, which is the current retention of deposit threshold.

Prominent Frontbenchers

Boundaries[edit]

This area forms the northwest of the London Borough of Merton in south-west London. The seat has electoral wards:

  • Abbey, Cannon Hill, Dundonald, Hillside, Merton Park, Raynes Park, Trinity, Village, West Barnes and Wimbledon Park.[2]

The north and western boundaries are those of the borough. The eastern boundary follows the borough boundary with the London Borough of Wandsworth along the River Wandle east of Summerstown, then along the western edge of Lambeth Cemetery. It then heads south following the Wandle through Colliers Wood and South Wimbledon to cross Morden Hall Park. The boundary then leaves the Wandle to turn west through Morden town centre, then along the London Road (A24) before crossing Morden Park. The boundary then turns north-west towards Cannon Hill Common and then west to pass north of Morden Cemetery to reach the western borough boundary near Motspur Park station.

Wimbledon is bordered by the constituencies of:

History of Boundaries

When established in 1885 the constituency included the parishes of Wimbledon, Merton, Mitcham and Morden - equivalent today to the whole London Borough of Merton.

Constituency Profile[edit]

The seat has a suburban commuter-sustained local economy with many privately owned homes and a range of open green spaces, ranging in value from elevated Wimbledon Village sandwiched between Wimbledon Common and Wimbledon Park[n 5] where a large tranche of homes exceed £1,000,000 to Merton Abbey ruins and South Wimbledon, with more social housing in its wards. The hillside and hilltop village has since 1921 been unpromising territory in local council results for any party other than the Conservative Party (UK).

Wimbledon station is the southern terminus of the District Line as well as a station on the South West main line, as such similar to Richmond on the other side of Richmond Park/Wimbledon Common.

Workless claimants who were registered jobseekers were in November 2012 significantly lower than the national average of 3.8%, at 1.5% of the population based on a statistical compilation by The Guardian.[3]

Members of Parliament[edit]

Election Member [4] Party
1885 Cosmo Bonsor Conservative
1900 Charles Eric Hambro Conservative
1907 by-election Henry Chaplin Conservative
1916 by-election Sir Stuart Coats Conservative
1918 Sir Joseph Hood Conservative
1924 Sir John Power Conservative
1945 Arthur Palmer Labour
1950 Sir Cyril Black Conservative
1970 Sir Michael Havers Conservative
1987 Dr. Charles Goodson-Wickes Conservative
1997 Roger Casale Labour
2005 Stephen Hammond Conservative

Election results[edit]

Elections in the 2010s[edit]

General Election 2010: Wimbledon
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Stephen Hammond 23,257 49.1 +7.7
Liberal Democrat Shas Sheehan 11,849 25.0 +6.8
Labour Andrew Judge 10,550 22.3 −13.4
UKIP Mark McAleer 914 1.9 +1.0
Green Rajeev Thacker 590 1.2 −1.9
Christian David Martin 235 0.5 N/A
Majority 11,408 24.1
Turnout 47,395 73.0 +5.2
Conservative hold Swing

Elections in the 2000s[edit]

General Election 2005: Wimbledon
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Stephen Hammond 17,886 41.2 +4.6
Labour Roger Casale 15,585 35.9 −9.8
Liberal Democrat Stephen M. Gee 7,868 18.1 +5.1
Green Giles T.Barrow 1,374 3.2 +0.8
UKIP Andrew T. Mills 408 0.9 −0.1
Independent Christopher J. Coverdale 211 0.5 N/A
Tiger's Eye - the Party for Kids Alastair P. Wilson 50 0.1 N/A
Rainbow Dream Ticket George Weiss 22 0.1 N/A
Majority 2,301 5.3
Turnout 43,404 68.1 +3.8
Conservative gain from Labour Swing 7.2
General Election 2001: Wimbledon
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Roger Casale 18,806 45.7 +2.9
Conservative Stephen Hammond 15,062 36.6 0.0
Liberal Democrat Martin D. Pierce 5,341 13.0 −3.6
Green Rajeev K. Thacker 1,007 2.4 +1.4
Christian Peoples Roger E. Glencross 479 1.2 N/A
UKIP Mrs. Mariana Bell 414 1.0 N/A
Majority 3,744 9.1 +2.9
Turnout 41,109 64.3 −11.1
Labour hold Swing +1.5

Elections in the 1990s[edit]

General Election 1997: Wimbledon
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Roger Casale 20,674 42.8 +19.5
Conservative Charles Goodson-Wickes 17,684 36.6 −16.4
Liberal Democrat Mrs. Alison L. Willott 8,014 16.6 −4.7
Referendum Party Abid Hameed 993 2.1 +2.1
Green Rajeev K. Thacker 474 1.0 −0.7
ProLife Alliance Mrs. Sophie A.H. Davies 346 0.7 +0.7
Mongolian Barbeque Great Place to Party Matthew G. Kirby 112 0.2 +0.2
Rainbow Dream Ticket Graham L. Stacey 47 0.1 +0.1
Majority 2,990 6.2
Turnout 48,344 75.4 −2.7
Labour gain from Conservative Swing +17.9
General Election 1992: Wimbledon
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Charles Goodson-Wickes 26,331 53.0
Labour Kingsley J. Adams 11,570 23.3
Liberal Democrat Mrs. Alison L. Willott 10,569 21.3
Green Vaughan H. Flood 860 1.7
Natural Law Hugh R.A. Godfrey 181 0.4
Independent Graham W. Hadley 170 0.3
Majority 14,761 29.7
Turnout 61,917 80.2
Conservative hold Swing

Elections in the 1980s[edit]

General Election 1987: Wimbledon
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Charles Goodson-Wickes 24,538 50.9
Liberal Adrian C. Slade 13,237 27.46
Labour Mrs. C.M. Bickerstaff 10,428 21.63
Majority 11,301 23.44
Turnout 76.09
Conservative hold Swing
General Election 1983: Wimbledon
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Sir Michael Havers 24,169 52.06
Liberal David J. Twigg 12,623 27.19
Labour R.B. Tansey 8,806 18.97
Ecology A. Jones 717 1.54
Party of Associates with Licensees E.J. Weakner 114 0.25
Majority 11,546 24.87
Turnout 72.40
Conservative hold Swing

Elections in the 1970s[edit]

General Election 1979: Wimbledon
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Sir Michael Havers 27,567 55.10
Labour R.B. Tansey 14,252 28.48
Liberal David Twigg 7,604 15.20
National Front A. Bailey 612 1.22
Majority 13,315 26.61
Turnout 76.42
Conservative hold Swing
General Election October 1974: Wimbledon
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Sir Michael Havers 23,615 48.53
Labour K. Bill 14,909 30.64
Liberal K. Searby 10,133 20.83
Majority 8,706 17.89
Turnout 68.80
Conservative hold Swing
General Election February 1974: Wimbledon
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Sir Michael Havers 26,542 48.62
Labour K. Bill 14,329 26.25
Liberal K. Searby 13,478 24.69
Independent William G. Boaks 240 0.44
Majority 12,213 22.37
Turnout 77.75
Conservative hold Swing
General Election 1970: Wimbledon
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Sir Michael Havers 15,285 53.47
Labour R.C. Holmes 8,554 29.92
Liberal J.R. MacDonald 4,749 16.61
Majority 6,731 23.54
Turnout 66.83
Conservative hold Swing

Elections in the 1960s[edit]

General Election 1966: Wimbledon
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Sir Cyril Black 15,191 50.33
Labour T. Braddock 9,517 31.53
Liberal J.R. MacDonald 5,475 18.14
Majority 5,674 18.80
Turnout 74.99
Conservative hold Swing
General Election 1964: Wimbledon
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Sir Cyril Black 15,952 52.03
Labour J.R. Daly 8.891 29.00
Liberal G.E. Scott 5,817 18.97
Majority 7,061 23.02
Turnout 74.88
Conservative hold Swing

Elections in the 1950s[edit]

General Election 1959: Wimbledon
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Sir Cyril Black 21,538 66.86
Labour L.M. Kershaw 10,678 33.15
Majority 10,860 33.71
Turnout 78.43
Conservative hold Swing
General Election 1955: Wimbledon
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Sir Cyril Black 22,112 65.55
Labour G.E. Janner 11,622 34.45
Majority 10,490 31.10
Turnout 78.27
Conservative hold Swing
General Election 1951: Wimbledon
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Sir Cyril Black 42,218 66.53
Labour C.H. Ford 21,242 33.47
Majority 20,976 33.05
Turnout 82.34
Conservative hold Swing
General Election 1950: Wimbledon
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Sir Cyril Black 40,339 61.33
Labour G.L. Deacon 20,296 30.86
Liberal Ian Forester Gibson 5,136 7.81
Majority 20,043 30.47
Turnout 85.72
Conservative gain from Labour Swing

Election in the 1940s[edit]

General Election 1945: Wimbledon
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Arthur Palmer 30,188 44.41
Conservative G.P. Hardy-Roberts 28,820 42.39
Liberal A.D. Kay 6,501 9.56
Common Wealth K. Horne 2,472 3.64
Majority 1,368 2.01
Turnout 78.07
Labour gain from Conservative Swing

Elections in the 1930s[edit]

General Election 1935: Wimbledon
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Sir John Power 36,816 67.84
Labour T. Braddock 17,452 32.16
Majority 19,364 35.68
Turnout 67.60
Conservative hold Swing
General Election 1931: Wimbledon
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Sir John Power 39,643 80.38
Labour T. Braddock 9,674 19.62
Majority 29,969 60.77
Turnout 70.95
Conservative hold Swing
Ballot box current.svg
 Election results are missing from this article. Using a reliable source, please add results from elections that are unlisted or incompletely listed.

See also[edit]

Notes and references[edit]

Notes
  1. ^ A county constituency (for the purposes of election expenses and type of returning officer)
  2. ^ As with all constituencies, the constituency elects one Member of Parliament (MP) by the first past the post system of election at least every five years.
  3. ^ Later these merged to form Mitcham and Morden
  4. ^ The other measure is the historic measure which applied also in this instance but only until 1997.
  5. ^ This is where the All-England lawn tennis club and the croquet club where the The Championships are held in June each year.
References
  1. ^ "Electorate Figures - Boundary Commission for England". 2011 Electorate Figures. Boundary Commission for England. 4 March 2011. Retrieved 13 March 2011. 
  2. ^ 2010 post-revision map Greater London and metropolitan areas of England
  3. ^ Unemployment claimants by constituency The Guardian
  4. ^ Leigh Rayment's Historical List of MPs – Constituencies beginning with "W" (part 4)[self-published source][better source needed]
  • Iain Dale, ed. (2003). The Times House of Commons 1929, 1931, 1935. Politico's (reprint). ISBN 1-84275-033-X. 
  • The Times House of Commons 1945. The Times. 1945. 
  • The Times House of Commons 1950. The Times. 1950. 
  • The Times House of Commons 1955. The Times. 1955. 
Labour (38)
Conservative (28)
Liberal Democrats (7)

Coordinates: 51°25′01″N 0°13′05″W / 51.417°N 0.218°W / 51.417; -0.218

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