Richmond Park (UK Parliament constituency)

Richmond Park
Borough constituency
for the House of Commons
Outline map
Boundary of Richmond Park in Greater London
CountyGreater London
Electorate75,037 (2023)[1]
Major settlementsRichmond and part of Kingston
Current constituency
Created1997
Member of ParliamentSarah Olney
(Liberal Democrats)
SeatsOne
Created fromRichmond and Barnes and Kingston upon Thames

Richmond Park is a constituency in Greater London represented in the House of Commons of the UK Parliament. Since 2019, its Member of Parliament (MP) has been Sarah Olney of the Liberal Democrats.

Previously held by Zac Goldsmith of the Conservative Party from 2010, Goldsmith stood down in 2016 in protest over expansion of Heathrow Airport. Olney won the seat at the resulting by-election, defeating Goldsmith who was then standing as an independent. Goldsmith regained the Conservative nomination and the seat in the 2017 general election, before losing to Olney a second time at the 2019 general election. Olney was re-elected in the 2024 general election with an increased majority.

History

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The seat was created in 1997 from Richmond and Barnes, held by Jeremy Hanley of the Conservative Party; and a northern section of Kingston upon Thames, held by his party colleague, former Chancellor of the Exchequer Norman Lamont. Hanley was selected as the Conservative candidate at the first election for the seat, but lost to Jenny Tonge of the Liberal Democrats. The Liberal Democrats retained the seat until 2010, when it was won by the Conservative candidate Zac Goldsmith by over 4,000 votes. Goldsmith, who blended fiscal conservatism with environmental activism, easily secured re-election in 2015, with a majority of over 23,000. Meanwhile, the Liberal Democrats haemorrhaged support and fell to their lowest level since 1970 (when the Richmond, Surrey constituency was fought, albeit on different boundaries to Richmond Park).

In October 2016, Goldsmith announced his resignation as an MP in protest against the Conservative government's decision to allow a third runway to be built at Heathrow Airport. Goldsmith stood as an independent in the by-election held on 1 December; he was defeated by Sarah Olney, a Liberal Democrat, despite the Conservatives fielding no candidate.[2] It was the first by-election in the constituency since its creation in 1997.

In April 2017, Goldsmith won the Conservative nomination for the seat and stood in the general election on 8 June, at which Olney sought re-election.[3] Despite Olney gaining the largest increase in vote share between general elections in the country, and Goldsmith one of the largest falls, he regained the seat for the Conservatives with a majority of just 45 votes.[4] Goldsmith's six months out was the shortest time a defeated MP had remained so before regaining the same seat. Olney retook the seat in the 2019 general election, with a majority of nearly 8,000.

In December 2023, the Labour Party included the seat in its published list of 211 non-battleground seats, suggesting they did not see it as winnable.[5] In the 2024 general election, Sarah Olney was re-elected on an increased majority, although her total number of votes was down from 2019 due to decreased turnout.[6]

Constituency profile

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The constituency is an affluent area of south west London, with salaries and proportion of residents holding a degree among the highest in the United Kingdom. The most south westerly stations of the District Line, namely Kew Gardens and Richmond, are located within the constituency.

The nature of Richmond Park is leafy and suburban in nature, centred around the major settlement of Richmond town, Richmond Park itself and more suburban neighbourhoods such as Barnes, Coombe, East Sheen, Ham, Kew, Mortlake, Petersham also forming part.

In the 2016 referendum, the estimated local vote to remain in the European Union was 72%.[7] In 2022, 4.2% of Richmond Park residents have been grant non domicile status to avoid paying tax in the UK.[8]

Boundaries

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Historic

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Map
Map of boundaries 2010-2024

1997–2010: The London Borough of Richmond upon Thames wards of Barnes; East Sheen; Ham and Petersham; Kew; Mortlake; Palewell; Richmond Hill; and Richmond Town, and the Royal Borough of Kingston upon Thames wards of Cambridge; Canbury; Coombe Hill; and Tudor.

2010–2024: The London Borough of Richmond upon Thames wards of Barnes; East Sheen; Ham, Petersham and Richmond Riverside; Kew; Mortlake and Barnes Common; North Richmond; and South Richmond, and the Royal Borough of Kingston upon Thames wards of Canbury; Coombe Hill; Coombe Vale; and Tudor.

As part of its Fifth Periodic Review of Westminster constituencies, the Boundary Commission[n 1] made minor changes to re-align the constituency boundaries with the boundaries of the local government wards. This involved moving the entirety of the Beverley ward into Kingston and Surbiton. It had been split between the two constituencies after ward boundaries were changed in 2002. The public consultation on proposed changes across the boroughs of Kingston and Richmond received 11 submissions, of which ten were in support.[9][10] The new boundaries came into effect at the 2010 general election.

From Kingston Railway Bridge the limits clockwise were: the middle of the River Thames north-east to Hammersmith Bridge and then southeast within Barnes to Barn Elms; the outer limit of Putney Common; the houses east of Hallam Road and Dyers Lane; Upper Richmond Road westwards; the Beverley Brook south to Richmond Park itself;[n 2] the park walls to Robin Hood Gate on the A3 road; the Beverley Brook south,[n 3] west across Malden Golf Course; Coombe Road; Coombe Vale both in New Malden; the South West Main Line west of New Malden station; the Kingston branch back to the stated start. The seat comprised the old Surrey part of Richmond upon Thames (borough), Coombe, Norbiton, and half of Kingston upon Thames.[11]

Current

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Richmond Park from 2024

Further to the 2023 Periodic Review of Westminster constituencies, the composition of the constituency from the 2024 United Kingdom general election will be reduced to bring it within the permitted electoral range by transferring the Coombe Vale ward (as it existed at 1 December 2020) to Kingston and Surbiton.[12]

Following a local government boundary review of Kingston-upon-Thames[13] which came into effect in May 2022,[14] the constituency now comprises the following from the 2024 general election:

  • The London Borough of Richmond upon Thames wards of: Barnes; East Sheen; Ham, Petersham and Richmond Riverside; Kew; Mortlake and Barnes Common; North Richmond; and South Richmond.
  • The Royal Borough of Kingston upon Thames wards of: Canbury Gardens; Coombe Hill; Kingston Gate; and a very small part of Coombe Vale.[15]

Richmond Park constituency stretches from Barnes in the north to Kingston upon Thames in the south, and includes the whole of East Sheen, Mortlake, Kew, Richmond, Petersham and Ham. The boundaries also include the Royal Park itself.

Members of Parliament

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Election Member Party
1997 Jenny Tonge Liberal Democrats
2005 Susan Kramer Liberal Democrats
2010 Zac Goldsmith Conservative
2016 by-election Sarah Olney Liberal Democrats
2017 Zac Goldsmith Conservative
2019 Sarah Olney Liberal Democrats

Elections

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Results of all deposit-keeping candidates in their bid to be the MP for Richmond Park (UK House of Commons)

Elections in the 2020s

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General election 2024: Richmond Park[16][17]
Party Candidate Votes %
Liberal Democrats Sarah Olney 28,528 54.6
Conservative Sara Gezdari 11,373 21.8
Labour Laura Coryton 5,048 9.7
Green Chas Warlow 3,416
[n 4] 		6.5
Reform UK Michael Hearn 3,258 6.2
The Mitre TW9 Chris French 349 0.7
SDP Richard Harrison 233 0.5
Majority 17,155 32.8
Turnout 52,205 76.7
Liberal Democrats win (new boundaries)

Elections in the 2010s

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General election 2019: Richmond Park[18][19]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Democrats Sarah Olney 34,559 53.1 +8.0
Conservative Zac Goldsmith 26,793 41.2 −3.9
Labour Sandra Keen 3,407 5.2 −3.9
Independent Caroline Shah 247 0.4 N/A
Independent John Usher 61 0.1 N/A
Majority 7,766 11.9 N/A
Turnout 65,067 79.0 −0.1
Registered electors 82,699
Liberal Democrats gain from Conservative Swing +6.0
General election 2017: Richmond Park[20]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Zac Goldsmith[21] 28,588 45.1 ―13.1
Liberal Democrats Sarah Olney 28,543 45.1 +25.8
Labour Cate Tuitt 5,773 9.1 −3.2
UKIP Peter Jewell 426 0.7 N/A
Majority 45 0.0 −38.9
Turnout 63,330 79.1 +2.6
Registered electors 80,025
Conservative gain from Liberal Democrats Swing ―19.4
2016 Richmond Park by-election[22][23][24]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Democrats Sarah Olney 20,510 49.6 +30.3
Independent Zac Goldsmith 18,638 45.1 −13.1*
Labour Christian Wolmar 1,515 3.6 −8.7
Monster Raving Loony Howling Laud Hope 184 0.4 N/A
Independent Fiona Syms 173 0.4 N/A
CPA Dominic Stockford 164 0.4 N/A
One Love Maharaja Jammu and Kashmir 67 0.1 N/A
No label David Powell 32 0.0 N/A
Majority 1,872 4.5 N/A
Turnout 41,283 53.6 ―22.9
Registered electors 77,243
Liberal Democrats gain from Conservative Swing +21.7[n 5]

*Compared to his vote share as a Conservative candidate at the previous election.

General election 2015: Richmond Park [25][26][27]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Zac Goldsmith 34,404 58.2 +8.5
Liberal Democrats Robin Meltzer 11,389 19.3 −23.5
Labour Sachin Patel[28] 7,296 12.3 +7.3
Green Andrée Frieze[29] 3,548 6.0 +5.0
UKIP Sam Naz[30] 2,464 4.2 +3.1
Majority 23,015 38.9 +32.0
Turnout 59,101 76.5 −0.4
Registered electors 77,303
Conservative hold Swing +16.0
General election 2010: Richmond Park [31][32][33]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Zac Goldsmith 29,461 49.7 +10.1
Liberal Democrats Susan Kramer 25,370 42.8 −3.8
Labour Eleanor Tunnicliffe 2,979 5.0 −4.2
UKIP Peter Dul 669 1.1 +0.2
Green James Page 572 1.0 −1.7
CPA Susan May 133 0.2 −0.3
Independent Charles Hill 84 0.1 N/A
Majority 4,091 6.9 N/A
Turnout 59,268 76.9 +3.7
Registered electors 77,751
Conservative gain from Liberal Democrats Swing −7.0

Elections in the 2000s

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General election 2005: Richmond Park[34]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Democrats Susan Kramer 24,011 46.7 −1.0
Conservative Marco Forgione 20,280 39.5 +1.9
Labour James Butler 4,768 9.3 −2.0
Green James Page 1,379 2.7 +0.2
UKIP Peter Dul 458 0.9 +0.2
CPA Peter Flower 288 0.6 N/A
Independent Margaret Harrison 83 0.2 N/A
Rainbow Dream Ticket Rainbow George Weiss 63 0.1 N/A
Independent Richard Meacock 44 0.1 N/A
Majority 3,731 7.2 −2.9
Turnout 51,374 72.8 +4.8
Registered electors 69,992
Liberal Democrats hold Swing -1.4
General election 2001: Richmond Park[35]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Democrats Jenny Tonge 23,444 47.7 +3.0
Conservative Tom Harris 18,480 37.6 ―1.9
Labour Barry Langford 5,541 11.3 ―1.3
Green James Page 1,223 2.5 N/A
UKIP Peter Howe 348 0.7 N/A
Independent Raymond Perrin 115 0.2 N/A
Majority 4,964 10.1 +4.9
Turnout 49,151 67.6 ―11.9
Registered electors 72,251
Liberal Democrats hold Swing +2.4

Elections in the 1990s

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General election 1997: Richmond Park[36][37]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Democrats Jenny Tonge 25,393 44.7 +7.0
Conservative Jeremy Hanley** 22,442 39.5 −12.4
Labour Sue Jenkins 7,172 12.6 +3.8
Referendum Jake Pugh 1,467 2.6 N/A
Monster Raving Loony David Beaupre 204 0.4 N/A
Natural Law Bruno D'Arcy 102 0.2 N/A
Rainbow Dream Ticket Peter Davies 73 0.1 N/A
Majority 2,951 5.2 N/A
Turnout 56,853 79.0
Registered electors 71,951
Liberal Democrats gain from Conservative Swing -9.7

**Served as the MP for the predecessor constituency of Richmond and Barnes, 1983-97.

See also

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Notes

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  1. ^ For the subregion used see South London
  2. ^ Thus east is Roehampton in the London Borough of Wandsworth, part of Putney seat
  3. ^ Having included the residential section of the A3 at the Beverley Brook Interchange
  4. ^ The Green Party vote was originally declared as 2728 votes due to spreadsheet formula issues
  5. ^ Calculated on the basis of the vote share for Zac Goldsmith as a Conservative at the previous election and as an Independent at this election.

References

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  1. ^ "The 2023 Review of Parliamentary Constituency Boundaries in England – Volume two: Constituency names, designations and composition – London". Boundary Commission for England. Retrieved 22 June 2024.
  2. ^ "Zac Goldsmith quits as MP over 'doomed' Heathrow expansion decision". The Guardian. 26 October 2016. Archived from the original on 27 October 2016. Retrieved 27 October 2016.
  3. ^ "Zac Goldsmith wins Conservative nomination for Richmond Park". BBC News. 26 April 2017. Archived from the original on 5 May 2017. Retrieved 7 May 2017.
  4. ^ "GE2017 – Constituency results". Britain Elects (Google Docs). Archived from the original on 30 April 2020. Retrieved 10 June 2017.
  5. ^ Belger, Tom (8 December 2023). "Labour selections: Full list of 211 'non-battleground' seats now open to applications". labourlist.org. Archived from the original on 9 December 2023. Retrieved 3 January 2024.
  6. ^ "Election results for Richmond Park, 4 July 2024". cabnet.richmond.gov.uk. 4 July 2024. Retrieved 6 July 2024.
  7. ^ "The EU referendum: how did Westminster constituencies vote?". Medium. 28 June 2016. Archived from the original on 22 April 2017. Retrieved 22 April 2017.
  8. ^ "Non-doms: 12% of residents in London's richest parts claimed status in 2018". the Guardian. 7 April 2022. Retrieved 7 April 2022.
  9. ^ Fifth periodical report (PDF) (Report). Vol. 3 Mapping for the London Boroughs and the Metropolitan Counties. Boundary Commission for England. 5 February 2007. ISBN 978-0101703222. Archived from the original on 14 April 2013. Retrieved 7 May 2010.
  10. ^ "South London Boroughs – Proposals for Parliamentary Constituencies" (PDF). Boundary Commission for England. 19 April 2001. Archived from the original (PDF) on 12 June 2010.
  11. ^ For the detailed map see the UK government election map web site Archived 7 March 2008 at the Wayback Machine
  12. ^ "The Parliamentary Constituencies Order 2023". Schedule 1 Part 3 London region.
  13. ^ LGBCE. "Kingston upon Thames | LGBCE". www.lgbce.org.uk. Retrieved 27 March 2024.
  14. ^ "The Royal Borough of Kingston upon Thames (Electoral Changes) Order 2021".
  15. ^ "New Seat Details - Richmond Park". www.electoralcalculus.co.uk. Retrieved 27 March 2024.
  16. ^ "Statement of Persons Nominated, Notice of Poll and Situation of Polling Stations" (PDF). Richmond Upon Thames London Borough Council. 7 June 2024. Retrieved 7 June 2024.
  17. ^ "Richmond Park General Election result 2024" (PDF). London Borough of Richmond upon Thames. Retrieved 1 September 2024.
  18. ^ "Statement of Persons Nominated" (PDF).
  19. ^ "Commons Briefing Paper 8749. General Election 2019: results and analysis" (PDF). London: House of Commons Library. 28 January 2020. Archived (PDF) from the original on 18 November 2021. Retrieved 19 January 2022.
  20. ^ "Commons Briefing Paper 7979. General Election 2017: results and analysis" (PDF) (Second ed.). House of Commons Library. 29 January 2019 [7 April 2018]. Archived (PDF) from the original on 12 November 2019.
  21. ^ @fifisyms (20 September 2019). "@RPNKTories Madness. He's going to lose by miles" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  22. ^ Donovan, Tim (7 November 2016). "Tactics reduce candidates for Richmond Park by-election". BBC News. Archived from the original on 8 November 2016. Retrieved 8 November 2016.
  23. ^ "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 9 November 2016. Retrieved 12 November 2016.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  24. ^ "Election results for Richmond Park, 1 December 2016". 1 December 2016. Archived from the original on 17 November 2018. Retrieved 2 December 2016.
  25. ^ "Election Data 2015". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 17 October 2015. Retrieved 17 October 2015.
  26. ^ "Election results for Richmond Park UK Parliamentary General Election 2015 – Thursday, 7 May 2015". Cabnet.richmond.gov.uk. 7 May 2015. Archived from the original on 6 January 2018. Retrieved 26 October 2016.
  27. ^ "Richmond Park parliamentary constituency – Election 2015". BBC News. Archived from the original on 9 September 2017. Retrieved 8 May 2015.
  28. ^ "Sachin Patel: Candidate for Richmond Park". Labour Party (UK). Archived from the original on 18 January 2015. Retrieved 18 January 2015.
  29. ^ "London Green Party | 2015 general election". Green Party. Archived from the original on 8 January 2015. Retrieved 21 December 2014.
  30. ^ "Richmond Park". UK Polling Report. Archived from the original on 12 July 2018. Retrieved 26 October 2016.
  31. ^ "Election Data 2010". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 26 July 2013. Retrieved 17 October 2015.
  32. ^ Norton, Gillian (20 April 2010). "Parliamentary Election, Richmond Park Constituency, Statement of Persons Nominated" (PDF). London Borough of Richmond upon Thames. Archived from the original (PDF) on 24 September 2015. Retrieved 27 April 2010.
  33. ^ "Election 2010 –Constituency:Richmond Park". Election 2010. BBC News. 6 May 2010. Archived from the original on 31 August 2017. Retrieved 25 August 2021.
  34. ^ "Election Data 2005". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
  35. ^ "Election Data 2001". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
  36. ^ "Election Data 1997". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
  37. ^ "BBC NEWS | VOTE 2001 | RESULTS & CONSTITUENCIES | Richmond Park". BBC News. Retrieved 26 September 2022.
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51°26′49″N 0°16′41″W / 51.447°N 0.278°W / 51.447; -0.278

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