Chatham and Aylesford (UK Parliament constituency)

Chatham and Aylesford
County constituency
for the House of Commons
Map
Interactive map of boundaries from 2024
Map of constituency
Boundary of Chatham and Aylesford in South East England
CountyKent
Population97,281 (2011 census)[1]
Electorate74,840 (2023)[2]
Major settlementsChatham, Walderslade, Larkfield, Snodland
Current constituency
Created1997
Member of ParliamentTris Osborne (Labour)
SeatsOne
Created fromMid Kent and Tonbridge and Malling

Chatham and Aylesford is a constituency[n 1] in Kent represented in the House of Commons of the UK Parliament since 2024 by Tris Osborne of the Labour Party.[n 2]

Constituency profile

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Most of the population lives in two distinct areas divided by the North Downs. These are Chatham and its suburbs of Luton and Walderslade, within the Medway Towns conurbation; and a patchwork of smaller settlements in the Medway Gap further west.

This is one of the less affluent seats in the otherwise wealthy South East, as shown by lower rates of formal qualifications and cheaper house prices.[3]

Political history

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Local voters returned the Labour candidate in the first three elections to 2005 then the Conservative candidate in the four general elections up to and including 2019, then reverted to Labour in 2024, reflecting the winner of the national general election in each case.

The greatest third party share of vote was 24.5% for Reform UK in 2024, followed by 19.9% for the UK Independence Party candidate in 2015. A Liberal Democrat came third in the first four elections reaching a vote share of 15% in 1997.

In June 2016, an estimated 63.9% of local adults voting in the EU membership referendum chose to leave the European Union instead of to remain. This was matched in two January 2018 votes in Parliament by its MP.[4]

Boundaries

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1997–2010: The City of Rochester-upon-Medway wards of Holcombe, Horsted, Lordswood, Luton, Walderslade, Wayfield, and Weedswood, and the Borough of Tonbridge and Malling wards of Aylesford, Blue Bell Hill, Burham, Eccles and Wouldham, Ditton, Larkfield North, Larkfield South, Snodland East, and Snodland West.

2010–2024: The Borough of Medway wards of Chatham Central, Lordswood and Capstone, Luton and Wayfield, Princes Park, and Walderslade, and the Borough of Tonbridge and Malling wards of Aylesford, Blue Bell Hill and Walderslade, Burham, Eccles and Wouldham, Ditton, Larkfield North, Larkfield South, Snodland East, and Snodland West.

2024–present: Further to the 2023 periodic review of Westminster constituencies which came into effect for the 2024 general election, the constituency was defined as composing of the following as they existed on 1 December 2020:

  • The Borough of Medway wards of: Chatham Central; Lordswood and Capstone; Luton and Wayfield; Princes Park; Rochester South and Horsted; Walderslade.
  • The Borough of Tonbridge and Malling wards of: Aylesford North and Walderslade; Burham and Wouldham; Larkfield North; Larkfield South; Snodland East and Ham Hill; Snodland West and Holborough Lakes.[5]

The Medway ward of Rochester South and Horsted was transferred in from Rochester and Strood, offset by the loss of the Tonbridge and Malling wards of Aylesford South and Ditton to the new constituency of Maidstone and Malling.

Following local government boundary reviews in Medway, and Tonbridge and Malling which came into effect in May 2023,[6][7] the constituency now comprises the following from the 2024 general election:

  • The Borough of Medway wards of: Chatham Central & Brompton (majority); Fort Horsted; Fort Pitt (most); Lordswood & Walderslade; Luton; Princes Park; Rochester East & Warren Wood (small part); Wayfield & Weeds Wood; and a very small part of Hempstead & Wigmore.
  • The Borough of Tonbridge and Malling wards of: Aylesford North & North Downs (most); Larkfield; Snodland East and Ham Hill; Snodland West and Holborough Lakes; Walderslade.[8]

Members of Parliament

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Mid Kent and Tonbridge & Malling prior to 1997

Election Member[9][10] Party
1997 Jonathan Shaw Labour
2010 Tracey Crouch Conservative
2024 Tris Osborne Labour

Elections

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Elections in the 2020s

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General election 2024: Chatham and Aylesford[11]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Tris Osborne 13,689 33.5 +9.1
Conservative Nathan Gamester 11,691 28.6 −37.3
Reform UK Thomas Mallon 9,989 24.5 N/A
Green Kim Winterbottom 2,504 6.1 +3.6
Liberal Democrats Nick Chan 2,175 5.3 −1.4
Workers Party Matt Valentine 340 0.8 N/A
CPA Adedotun Ogundemuren 316 0.8 +0.3
SDP Steven Tanner 141 0.3 N/A
Majority 1,998 4.9 N/A
Turnout 40,845 54.4 –6.8
Registered electors 75,109
Labour gain from Conservative Swing Increase23.2

Elections in the 2010s

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2019 notional result[12]
Party Vote %
Conservative 30,183 65.9
Labour 11,191 24.4
Liberal Democrats 3,085 6.7
Green 1,138 2.5
Others 212 0.5
Turnout 45,809 61.2
Electorate 74,840
General election 2019: Chatham and Aylesford[13]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Tracey Crouch 28,856 66.6 +9.6
Labour Vince Maple 10,316 23.8 −9.9
Liberal Democrats David Naghi 2,866 6.6 +4.1
Green Geoff Wilkinson 1,090 2.5 +1.2
CPA John Gibson 212 0.5 −0.1
Majority 18,540 42.8 +19.5
Turnout 43,340 59.1 −4.6
Conservative hold Swing +9.7
General election 2017: Chatham and Aylesford
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Tracey Crouch 25,587 57.0 +6.8
Labour Vince Maple 15,129 33.7 +10.1
UKIP Nicole Bushill 2,225 5.0 −14.9
Liberal Democrats Thomas Quinton 1,116 2.5 −0.7
Green Bernard Hyde 573 1.3 −1.3
CPA John-Wesley Gibson 260 0.6 +0.3
Majority 10,458 23.3 −3.3
Turnout 44,963 63.7 +0.9
Conservative hold Swing -1.6
General election 2015: Chatham and Aylesford[14][15]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Tracey Crouch[16] 21,614 50.2 +4.0
Labour Tris Osborne 10,159 23.6 −8.7
UKIP Ian Wallace[17] 8,581 19.9 +16.9
Liberal Democrats Thomas Quinton 1,360 3.2 −10.1
Green Luke Balnave 1,101 2.6 +1.7
CPA John-Wesley Gibson[18] 133 0.3 New
TUSC Ivor Riddell 125 0.3 New
Majority 11,455 26.6 +12.7
Turnout 43,073 62.8 +1.2
Conservative hold Swing +6.4
General election 2010: Chatham and Aylesford[19]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Tracey Crouch 20,230 46.2 +9.4
Labour Jonathan Shaw 14,161 32.3 −12.7
Liberal Democrats John McClintock 5,832 13.3 −0.2
BNP Colin McCarthy-Stewart 1,365 3.1 New
UKIP Steve Newton 1,314 3.0 0.0
English Democrat Sean Varnham 400 0.9 −0.8
Green Dave Arthur 396 0.9 New
Christian Maureen Smith 109 0.2 New
Majority 6,069 13.9 N/A
Turnout 43,807 61.6 +1.0
Conservative gain from Labour Swing +11.1

Elections in the 2000s

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General election 2005: Chatham and Aylesford[20]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Jonathan Shaw 18,387 43.7 −4.6
Conservative Anne Jobson 16,055 38.2 +0.9
Liberal Democrats Debbie Enever 5,744 13.7 +1.9
UKIP Jeffrey King 1,226 2.9 +0.4
English Democrat Michael Russell 668 1.6 New
Majority 2,332 5.5 −5.5
Turnout 42,080 59.7 +2.7
Labour hold Swing −2.7
General election 2001: Chatham and Aylesford[21]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Jonathan Shaw 19,180 48.3 +5.2
Conservative Sean Holden 14,840 37.3 −0.1
Liberal Democrats David Lettington 4,705 11.8 −3.2
UKIP Gregory Knopp 1,010 2.5 +1.5
Majority 4,340 11.0 +5.3
Turnout 39,735 57.0 −13.6
Labour hold Swing

Elections in the 1990s

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General election 1997: Chatham and Aylesford[22]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Jonathan Shaw 21,191 43.1
Conservative Richard Knox-Johnston 18,401 37.4
Liberal Democrats Robin Murray 7,389 15.0
Referendum Keith Riddle 1,538 3.1
UKIP Alan Harding 493 1.0
Natural Law Timothy Martell 149 0.3
Majority 2,790 5.7
Turnout 49,161 70.6
Labour win (new seat)

See also

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Notes

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  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.

References

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  1. ^ "Chatham and Aylesford: Usual Resident Population, 2011". Neighbourhood Statistics. Office for National Statistics. Archived from the original on 21 February 2015. Retrieved 20 February 2015.
  2. ^ "The 2023 Review of Parliamentary Constituency Boundaries in England – Volume two: Constituency names, designations and composition – South East". Boundary Commission for England. Retrieved 24 June 2024.
  3. ^ "Chatham and Aylesford: Seat Details". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 9 November 2021. Retrieved 9 November 2021.
  4. ^ "European Union (Withdrawal) Bill – Reject Third Reading – Membership of the European Union: Recent Votes". Archived from the original on 21 December 2021. Retrieved 23 November 2019.
  5. ^ "The Parliamentary Constituencies Order 2023". Schedule 1 Part 6 South East region.
  6. ^ LGBCE. "Medway | LGBCE". lgbce.org.uk. Retrieved 1 April 2024.
  7. ^ "The Medway (Electoral Changes) Order 2021".
  8. ^ "New Seat Details – Chatham and Aylesford". electoralcalculus.co.uk. Retrieved 1 April 2024.
  9. ^ "Chatham and Aylesford 1997-". Parliamentary Debates (Hansard). Archived from the original on 21 February 2015. Retrieved 20 February 2015.
  10. ^ Leigh Rayment's Historical List of MPs – Constituencies beginning with "C" (part 3)
  11. ^ Chatham and Aylesford
  12. ^ "Notional results for a UK general election on 12 December 2019". Rallings & Thrasher, Professor David Denver (Scotland), Nicholas Whyte (NI) for Sky News, PA, BBC News and ITV News. UK Parliament. Retrieved 11 July 2024.
  13. ^ "Chatham & Aylesford Parliamentary constituency". BBC News. Archived from the original on 13 December 2019. Retrieved 26 November 2019.
  14. ^ "Election Data 2015". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 17 October 2015. Retrieved 17 October 2015.
  15. ^ "Chatham & Aylesford parliamentary constituency – Election 2017". BBC. Archived from the original on 29 November 2017. Retrieved 21 June 2018.
  16. ^ "Ian Wallace, Parliamentary Candidate for Chatham and Aylesford". ianwallacechathamandaylesford.co.uk. Archived from the original on 18 May 2015. Retrieved 23 April 2015.
  17. ^ "Constituencies". UKIP South East. Archived from the original on 16 February 2015. Retrieved 1 March 2015.
  18. ^ "CPA Candidates for the General Election". Christian Peoples Alliance. Archived from the original on 10 April 2015. Retrieved 15 April 2015.
  19. ^ "Election Data 2010". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 26 July 2013. Retrieved 17 October 2015.
  20. ^ "Election Data 2005". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
  21. ^ "Election Data 2001". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
  22. ^ "Election Data 1997". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
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51°20′N 0°29′E / 51.333°N 0.483°E / 51.333; 0.483

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