Epsom and Ewell (UK Parliament constituency)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Epsom and Ewell Borough constituency |
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| Epsom and Ewell shown within Surrey, and Surrey shown within England | |
| Created: | 1885 |
| MP: | Chris Grayling |
| Party: | Conservative |
| Type: | House of Commons |
| County: | Surrey |
| EP constituency: | South East England |
Epsom and Ewell is a borough constituency represented in the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. It elects one Member of Parliament (MP) by the first past the post system of election.
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[edit] Boundaries
The seat contains the entirety of the borough of Epsom and Ewell. At various times it has also contained areas around the borough. Currently it contains Ashtead, which is part of the Mole Valley district, and the wards of Nork, Tattenhams and Preston from the Reigate and Banstead borough. Before 1997 it lacked Ashtead but instead included Banstead from Reigate and Banstead.
As of 2005 the Boundary Commission has made its final recommendations for boundary alterations in Surrey. Proposed changes to Epsom & Ewell would see the relignment of the boundary with Mole Valley in the Ashtead and Leatherhead area line with the recent adjustment of local government wards, although these proposed changes do not move any voters. In addition the Preston ward will be transferred to Reigate to bring that constituency's electorate closer to the county average.
[edit] History
The constituency was established for the 1885 general election as Epsom from part of the East Surrey constituency.
In Westminster elections, Epsom & Ewell is one of the strongest Conservative areas in the country. However locally the borough council is controlled by the Epsom and Ewell Residents Association, with the Conservatives lacking a firm base here and until recently rarely contested elections. There are also a number of Residents Association councillors in the Reigate & Banstead wards in the constituency, although in the Mole Valley wards the Conservatives have a stronger base and several elected councillors.
In 1974, the constituency acquired its current name.
In 1987, Barbara Follett, later Member of Parliament for Stevenage, stood for Labour in the constituency.
Few expect the seat to change hands in normal circumstances, unless there is an apocalyptic election for the Conservatives.
[edit] Members of Parliament
The Member of Parliament since the 2001 general election is Chris Grayling of the Conservative Party. He succeeded Sir Archie Hamilton, who had represented the seat since a by-election in 1978.
| Year | Member | Party | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1885 | constituency created as Epsom | ||
| 1885 | George Cubitt | Conservative | |
| 1892 | Thomas Bucknill | Conservative | |
| 1899 | William Keswick | Conservative | |
| 1912 | Henry Keswick | Conservative | |
| 1918 | George Blades | Conservative | |
| 1928 | Archibald Southby | Conservative (by-election) | |
| 1947 | Malcolm McCorquodale | Conservative (by-election) | |
| 1955 | Peter Rawlinson | Conservative | |
| 1974 | constituency renamed Epsom and Ewell | ||
| 1974 | Peter Rawlinson | Conservative | |
| 1978 | Archie Hamilton | Conservative | |
| 2001 | Chris Grayling | Conservative | |
[edit] Elections
| General Election 2005: Epsom and Ewell | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
| Conservative | Chris Grayling | 27,146 | 54.4 | +6.3 | |
| Liberal Democrat | Jonathan Lees | 10,699 | 21.4 | -0.7 | |
| Labour | Charlie Mansell | 10,265 | 20.6 | -5.9 | |
| UK Independence | Peter Kefford | 1,769 | 3.5 | +0.2 | |
| Majority | 16,447 | 33.0 | |||
| Turnout | 49,879 | 66.1 | 3.3 | ||
| Conservative hold | Swing | +3.5 | |||
| General Election 2001: Epsom and Ewell | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
| Conservative | Chris Grayling | 22,430 | 48.1 | +2.5 | |
| Labour | Charlie Mansell | 12,350 | 26.5 | +2.1 | |
| Liberal Democrat | John Vincent | 10,316 | 22.1 | -0.7 | |
| UK Independence | Graham Webster-Gardiner | 1,547 | 3.3 | +2.3 | |
| Majority | 10,080 | 21.6 | |||
| Turnout | 46,643 | 62.8 | -11.2 | ||
| Conservative hold | Swing | ||||
| General Election 1997: Epsom and Ewell | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
| Conservative | Archibald Hamilton | 24,717 | 45.6 | -14.6 | |
| Labour | Philip Woodford | 13,192 | 24.3 | +8.6 | |
| Liberal Democrat | John Vincent | 12,380 | 22.8 | -0.7 | |
| Referendum Party | Christopher Macdonald | 2,355 | 4.3 | ||
| UK Independence | Harold Green | 544 | 1.0 | ||
| Green | Hugo Charlton | 527 | 1.0 | ||
| ProLife Alliance | Katherine Weeks | 466 | 0.9 | ||
| Majority | 11,525 | 21.3 | |||
| Turnout | |||||
| Conservative hold | Swing | ||||
| General Election 1992: Epsom and Ewell | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
| Conservative | Archibald Hamilton | 32,861 | 60.2 | -2.0 | |
| Liberal Democrat | Martin Emerson | 12,840 | 23.5 | +0.3 | |
| Labour | Richard Warren | 8,577 | 15.7 | +1.2 | |
| Natural Law | G Hatchard | 334 | 0.6 | ||
| Majority | 20,021 | 36.7 | -2.3 | ||
| Turnout | 68,138 | 80.1 | +4.7 | ||
| Conservative hold | Swing | ||||
[edit] Sources
- Historical List of MPs
- Election result, 2005 (BBC)
- Election results, 1997 - 2001 (BBC)
- Election results, 1997 - 2001 (Election Demon)
- Election resutls, 1983 - 1992 (Election Demon)
- Election results, 1992 - 2005 (Guardian)
- Election results, 1951 - 1979 (Keele University)
