Sevenoaks (UK Parliament constituency)

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Sevenoaks
County constituency
for the House of Commons
Outline map
Boundary of Sevenoaks in Kent for the 2010 general election.
Outline map
Location of Kent within England.
CountyKent
Electorate69,925 (December 2010)[1]
Current constituency
Created1885
Member of parliamentSir Michael Fallon (Conservative)
Number of membersOne
Created fromWest Kent
Overlaps
European Parliament constituencySouth East England

Sevenoaks is a constituency represented in the House of Commons of the UK Parliament since 1997 by Sir Michael Fallon, a Conservative, who served as Secretary of State for Defence until 1 November 2017. It is considered a safe Conservative seat.

History[edit]

This constituency has existed since the Redistribution of Seats Act 1885.

With the exception of the one-year Parliament in 1923, the constituency has to date been a Conservative stronghold.

1885–1950

Sir Thomas Jewell Bennett before entering Parliament was a leader writer at The Standard and lived in India for many years, working at the Bombay Gazette before becoming both editor and principal proprietor of the Times of India. Bennett returned to England in 1901 and in 1910 unsuccessfully contested his first Parliamentary election, losing to Alfred Gelder at the time of David Lloyd George and H. H. Asquith's celebrated "People's Budget". He represented the seat for five years from 1918.

Higher in government in this period was Hilton Young, the Health Secretary between 1931 and 1935. The health portfolio at the time included responsibility for housing, including slum clearance and rehousing. Key items of legislation to which he contributed in this period were: the Town and Country Planning Act (1932) (which applied to all 'developable' land), the Housing Act (1935) (which laid down standards of accommodation)[2] and the Restriction of Ribbon Development Act (1935) (which sought to consolidate urban development and restrict ribbon sprawl along major highways).[3]

1950–date

Since 1950 the highest government position has been that of Michael Fallon, who was the Secretary of State for Defence from 2014 until resigning on 1 November 2017, in the light of allegations of inappropriate behaviour of a sexual nature.

Boundaries[edit]

1918–1950: The Urban Districts of Sevenoaks and Wrotham, and the Rural Districts of Malling and Sevenoaks.

1950–1974: The Urban District of Sevenoaks, and the Rural Districts of Malling and Sevenoaks.

1974–1983: The Urban District of Sevenoaks, the Rural District of Sevenoaks as altered by the Greater London Kent and Surrey Order 1968, and in the Rural District of Dartford the civil parishes of Ash-cum-Ridley, Eynsford, Farningham, Fawkham, Hartley, Horton Kirby, Longfield, Swanley, and West Kingsdown.

1983–1997: The District of Sevenoaks wards of Brasted, Chevening, Crockenhill and Lullingstone, Dunton Green, Eynsford, Farningham, Halstead Knockholt and Badgers Mount, Hextable and Swanley Village, Kemsing, Leigh, Otford, Penshurst and Fordcombe, Riverhead, Seal, Sevenoaks Kippington, Sevenoaks Northern, Sevenoaks Town and St John's, Sevenoaks Weald and Underriver, Sevenoaks Wildernesse, Shoreham, Somerdon, Sundridge and Ide Hill, Swanley Christchurch, Swanley St Mary's, Swanley White Oak, Westerham and Crockham, and West Kingsdown.

1997–2010: The District of Sevenoaks wards of Ash-cum-Ridley, Brasted, Chevening, Crockenhill and Lullingstone, Dunton Green, Eynsford, Farningham, Halstead Knockholt and Badgers Mount, Hextable and Swanley Village, Kemsing, Otford, Riverhead, Seal, Sevenoaks Kippington, Sevenoaks Northern, Sevenoaks Town and St John's, Sevenoaks Weald and Underriver, Sevenoaks Wildernesse, Shoreham, Sundridge and Ide Hill, Swanley Christchurch, Swanley St Mary's, Swanley White Oak, Westerham and Crockham, and West Kingsdown.

2010–present: The District of Sevenoaks wards of Ash, Brasted, Chevening and Sundridge, Crockenhill and Well Hill, Dunton Green and Riverhead, Eynsford, Farningham, Horton Kirby and South Darenth, Fawkham and West Kingsdown, Halstead, Knockholt and Badgers Mount, Hextable, Kemsing, Otford and Shoreham, Seal and Weald, Sevenoaks Eastern, Sevenoaks Kippington, Sevenoaks Northern, Sevenoaks Town and St John’s, Swanley Christchurch and Swanley Village, Swanley St Mary’s, Swanley White Oak, and Westerham and Crockham Hill.

Constituency profile[edit]

The seat is in mainstay City commuter belt territory, which supports a relatively high-income local economy with retail and self-employed trades principally benefiting. Sevenoaks constituency covers the towns of Sevenoaks and Swanley in Kent and some of the surrounding area. Most wards are most often Conservative councillor represented with the exceptions being part-Labour councillor represented Swanley and Crockenhill (5 of the 11 councillors who serve Swanley wards in 2013 for example) and two of three Sevenoaks Eastern councillors are Liberal Democrats based on local election results. Despite an unprecedented number of parties standing in 2010 no other parties have local councillors.[4]

In statistics

The constituency consists of Census Output Areas of one local government districts with a working population whose income is higher than the national average and lower than average reliance upon social housing.[5] At the end of 2012 the unemployment rate in the constituency stood as 1.7% of the population claiming jobseekers allowance, compared to the regional average of 2.4%.[6] The borough contributing to the bulk of the seat has a low 13.1% of its population without a car, 19.2% of the population without qualifications and a high 32.0% with level 4 qualifications or above. In terms of tenure 72.7% of homes are owned outright or on a mortgage by occupants as at the 2011 census across the district.[7]

Members of Parliament[edit]

Election Member[8] Party
1885 Charles Mills Conservative
1892 Henry Forster Conservative
1918 Sir Thomas Bennett Coalition Conservative
1923 Ronald Williams Liberal
1924 Walter Styles Conservative
1929 Sir Hilton Young Conservative
1935 Sir Charles Ponsonby Conservative
1950 Sir John Rodgers Conservative
1979 Mark Wolfson Conservative
1997 Sir Michael Fallon Conservative

Elections[edit]

Elections in the 2010s[edit]

General Election 2017: Sevenoaks[9]
Party Candidate Votes % ±
Conservative Michael Fallon 32,644 63.7 Increase 6.8
Labour Chris Clark 10,727 20.9 Increase 8.1
Liberal Democrat Alan Bullion 4,280 8.4 Increase 0.5
UKIP Graham Cushway 1,894 3.7 Decrease 14.2
Green Philip Dodd 1,673 3.3 Decrease 1.2
Majority 21,917 42.8 Increase 3.8
Turnout 51,218 72.1 Increase 1.2
Conservative hold Swing Decrease 0.7
General election 2015: Sevenoaks[10]
Party Candidate Votes % ±
Conservative Michael Fallon 28,531 56.9 +0.1
UKIP Steve Lindsay[11] 8,970 17.9 +14.3
Labour Chris Clark 6,448 12.9 −0.4
Liberal Democrat Alan Bullion 3,937 7.9 −13.5
Green Amelie Boleyn 2,238 4.5 +4.5
Majority 19,561 39.0
Turnout 50,124 70.9
Conservative hold Swing -7.1
General election 2010: Sevenoaks[12][13]
Party Candidate Votes % ±
Conservative Michael Fallon 28,076 56.8 +5.0
Liberal Democrat Alan Bullion 10,561 21.4 −0.5
Labour Gareth Siddorn 6,541 13.2 −7.8
UKIP Christopher Heath 1,782 3.6 +0.6
BNP Paul Golding 1,384 2.8 N/A
English Democrat Louise Uncles 806 1.6 −0.1
Independent Mark Ellis 258 0.5 N/A
Majority 17,515 35.4 +5.4
Turnout 49,408 71.1 +12.4
Conservative hold Swing +2.8

Elections in the 2000s[edit]

General election 2005: Sevenoaks[14]
Party Candidate Votes % ±
Conservative Michael Fallon 22,437 51.8 +2.4
Liberal Democrat Ben Abbotts 9,467 21.9 +0.3
Labour Tim Stanley 9,101 21.0 −4.6
UKIP Robert Dobson 1,309 3.0 +0.3
English Democrat John Marshall 751 1.7 N/A
United Kingdom Pathfinders Mark Ellis 233 0.5 −0.2
Majority 12,970 30.0
Turnout 43,298 58.7 −5.2
Conservative hold Swing +1.1
General election 2001: Sevenoaks[15]
Party Candidate Votes % ±
Conservative Michael Fallon 21,052 49.4 +4.0
Labour Caroline Humphreys 10,898 25.6 +1.0
Liberal Democrat Clive Gray 9,214 21.6 -2.5
UKIP Lisa Hawkins 1,155 2.7 N/A
United Kingdom Pathfinders Mark Ellis 295 0.7 N/A
Majority 10,154 23.8
Turnout 42,614 63.9 -11.4
Conservative hold Swing +1.5

Elections in the 1990s[edit]

General election 1997: Sevenoaks[16][17]
Party Candidate Votes % ±
Conservative Michael Fallon 22,776 45.42
Labour John Hayes 12,315 24.56
Liberal Democrat Roger Walshe 12,086 24.1
Referendum Nigel Large 2,138 4.26
Green Margot Lawrence 443 0.88
Pathfinders Mark Ellis 244 0.49
Natural Law Alex Hankey 147 0.29
Majority 10,461 20.86
Turnout 50,151 75.38
Conservative hold Swing
General election 1992: Sevenoaks[18][19]
Party Candidate Votes % ±
Conservative Mark Wolfson 33,245 57.5 −1.4
Liberal Democrat Roger Walshe 14,091 24.4 −3.5
Labour J. Evans 9,470 16.4 +3.2
Green Margot Lawrence 786 1.4 N/A
Natural Law P. Wakeling 210 0.4 N/A
Majority 19,154 33.1 +2.1
Turnout 57,802 81.3 +4.9
Conservative hold Swing +1.1

Elections in the 1980s[edit]

General election 1987: Sevenoaks[20][21]
Party Candidate Votes % ±
Conservative Mark Wolfson 32,945 58.91
Liberal Stephen Jakobi 15,600 27.9
Labour Graham Green 7,379 13.19
Majority 17,345 31.02
Turnout 55,923 76.42
Conservative hold Swing
General election 1983: Sevenoaks[22][23]
Party Candidate Votes % ±
Conservative Mark Wolfson 30,722 58.41
Liberal Stephen Jakobi 15,061 28.55
Labour R. Gooding 6,439 12.24
National Front G. L. Burnett 416 0.79
Majority 15,706 29.86
Turnout 52,596 73.74
Conservative hold Swing

Elections in the 1970s[edit]

General election 1979: Sevenoaks[24]
Party Candidate Votes % ±
Conservative Mark Wolfson 36,697 57.39
Labour R. H. Redden 14,583 22.81
Liberal G. Phillips 11,839 18.52
National Front Michael Easter 821 1.28 n/a
Majority 22,114 34.59
Turnout 63,942 78.98
Conservative hold Swing
General election October 1974: Sevenoaks
Party Candidate Votes % ±
Conservative John Rodgers 26,670 46.99
Labour J. Scanlan 15,065 26.54
Liberal Robert Webster 15,024 26.47
Majority 11,605 20.45
Turnout 56,759 75.71
Conservative hold Swing
General election February 1974: Sevenoaks[25]
Party Candidate Votes % ±
Conservative John Rodgers 29,963 48.36
Liberal Ian Bradley 16,223 26.21
Labour J. Scanlan 14,987 24.21
Independent D. J. Woolard 754 1.22 n/a
Majority 13,713 22.15
Turnout 61,898 83.4
Conservative hold Swing
General election 1970: Sevenoaks:[26]
Party Candidate Votes % ±
Conservative John Rodgers 32,654 54.13 +3.6
Labour John Ovenden 15,376 25.49 -6.8
Liberal Robert F. Webster 12,290 20.37 +3.2
Majority 17,278 28.64
Turnout 60,320 73.00
Conservative hold Swing +5.2

Elections in the 1960s[edit]

General election 1966: Sevenoaks[26]
Party Candidate Votes % ±
Conservative John Rodgers 28,651 50.50
Labour Peter B. Pearce 18,338 32.32
Liberal A. Noel H. Blackburn 9,746 17.18
Majority 10,313 18.18
Turnout 56,735 79.19
Conservative hold Swing +3.3
General election 1964: Sevenoaks[26]
Party Candidate Votes % ±
Conservative John Rodgers 28,678 52.03
Labour Peter B. Pearce 14,958 27.14
Liberal Nelia Penman 11,480 20.83
Majority 13,720 24.89
Turnout 55,116 80.09
Conservative hold Swing

Elections in the 1950s[edit]

General election 1959: Sevenoaks[26]
Party Candidate Votes % ±
Conservative John Rodgers 28,186 56.07
Labour Roderick Ogley 14,265 28.38
Liberal Nelia Penman 7,819 15.55 n/a
Majority 13,921 27.69
Turnout 50,270 80.17
Conservative hold Swing
General election 1955: Sevenoaks[26]
Party Candidate Votes % ±
Conservative John Rodgers 28,936 61.84
Labour John N. Powrie 17,858 38.16
Majority 11,078 23.67
Turnout 46,794 78.07
Conservative hold Swing
General election 1951: Sevenoaks[26]
Party Candidate Votes % ±
Conservative John Rodgers 28,668 60.37
Labour John N. Powrie 18,823 39.63
Majority 9,845 20.73
Turnout 81.46
Conservative hold Swing
General election 1950: Sevenoaks[26]
Party Candidate Votes % ±
Conservative John Rodgers 25,292 51.75
Labour J. Spencer 17,610 36.03
Liberal Edward Moulton-Barrett 5,969 12.21
Majority 7,682 15.72
Turnout 84.90
Conservative hold Swing

Elections in the 1940s[edit]

General election 1945: Sevenoaks[27]
Party Candidate Votes % ±
Conservative Charles Ponsonby 18,893 45.61
Labour John Pudney 14,947 36.08 n/a
Liberal Nelia Muspratt 6,906 16.67
Communist K. Thompson 676 1.63 n/a
Majority 3,946 9.53
Turnout 73.6
Conservative hold Swing

Elections in the 1930s[edit]

General election 1935: Sevenoaks[27]
Party Candidate Votes % ±
Conservative Charles Ponsonby 21,405 67.5 n/a
Liberal John Horridge 10,297 32.5 n/a
Majority 11,108 35.0 n/a
Turnout 65.3 n/a
Conservative hold Swing n/a
General election 1931: Sevenoaks
Party Candidate Votes % ±
Conservative Hilton Young unopposed n/a n/a
Conservative hold Swing n/a

Elections in the 1920s[edit]

General election 1929: Sevenoaks
Party Candidate Votes % ±
Unionist Hilton Young 16,767 53.7 -8.2
Liberal Edgar Stratton Liddiard 7,844 25.1 -13.0
Labour Hamilton Fyfe 6,634 21.2 N/A
Majority 8,923 28.6 +4.8
Turnout 31,245 71.6 −3.2
Registered electors 43,627
Unionist hold Swing +2.4
General election 1924: Sevenoaks
Party Candidate Votes % ±
Unionist Walter Styles 15,125 61.9 +13.5
Liberal Ronald Williams 9,311 38.1 −13.5
Majority 5,814 23.8 N/A
Turnout 24,436 74.8 +10.4
Registered electors 32,660
Unionist gain from Liberal Swing +13.5
General election 1923: Sevenoaks
Party Candidate Votes % ±
Liberal Ronald Williams 10,656 51.6 N/A
Unionist Thomas Jewell Bennett 9,987 48.4 −15.4
Majority 669 3.2 N/A
Turnout 20,643 64.4 +3.5
Registered electors 32,078
Liberal gain from Unionist Swing N/A
General election 1922: Sevenoaks
Party Candidate Votes % ±
Unionist Thomas Jewell Bennett 12,045 63.8 −12.4
Labour L. A. Goldie 6,849 36.2 N/A
Majority 5,196 27.6 −24.8
Turnout 18,894 60.9 +14.6
Registered electors 31,000
Unionist hold Swing N/A

Elections in the 1910s[edit]

General election 1918: Sevenoaks[28]
Party Candidate Votes % ±
C Unionist Thomas Jewell Bennett 10,650 76.2 N/A
Independent Labour John Ephraim Skinner 3,323 23.8 N/A
Majority 7,327 52.4 N/A
Turnout 13,973 46.3 N/A
Registered electors 30,189
Unionist hold Swing N/A
C indicates candidate endorsed by the coalition government.

Election results 1885–1918[edit]

Elections in the 1880s[edit]

General Election 1885: Sevenoaks [29][30][31]
Party Candidate Votes % ±
Conservative Charles Mills 4,651 54.0 N/A
Liberal Patteson Nickalls 3,956 46.0 N/A
Majority 695 8.0 N/A
Turnout 8,607 77.6 N/A
Registered electors 11,089
Conservative win (new seat)
General Election 1886: Sevenoaks [29][30]
Party Candidate Votes % ±
Conservative Charles Mills Unopposed
Conservative hold

Elections in the 1890s[edit]

General Election 1892: Sevenoaks [29][30]
Party Candidate Votes % ±
Conservative Henry Forster 6,036 60.7 N/A
Liberal Thomas Johnston 3,908 39.3 N/A
Majority 2,128 21.4 N/A
Turnout 9,944 71.5 N/A
Registered electors 13,916
Conservative hold Swing N/A
General Election 1895: Sevenoaks [29][30][32]
Party Candidate Votes % ±
Conservative Henry Forster Unopposed
Conservative hold

Elections in the 1900s[edit]

General Election 1900: Sevenoaks [29][30][32]
Party Candidate Votes % ±
Conservative Henry Forster 6,604 78.7 N/A
Liberal Murray Spencer Richardson 1,792 21.3 N/A
Majority 4,812 57.4 N/A
Turnout 8,396 56.5 N/A
Registered electors 14,861
Conservative hold Swing N/A
Sevenoaks by-election, 1902 [29][30][33]
Party Candidate Votes % ±
Conservative Henry Forster 5,333 54.6 -24.1
Liberal Beaumont Morice 4,442 45.4 +24.1
Majority 891 9.2 -48.2
Turnout 9,775 63.4 +6.9
Registered electors 15,420
Conservative hold Swing -24.1
General Election 1906: Sevenoaks [29][30]
Party Candidate Votes % ±
Conservative Henry Forster 7,219 51.1 −27.6
Liberal Beaumont Morice 6,855 48.6 +27.3
Independent Liberal Murray Spencer Richardson 44 0.3 N/A
Majority 364 2.5 −54.9
Turnout 14,118 81.8 +25.3
Registered electors 17,256
Conservative hold Swing −27.5

Elections in the 1910s[edit]

Forster
General Election January 1910: Sevenoaks [29][34]
Party Candidate Votes % ±
Conservative Henry Forster 10,421 62.1 +11.0
Liberal Frederick Lely 6,351 37.9 -11.0
Majority 4,070 24.2 +22.0
Turnout 16,772 88.1 +6.3
Registered electors 19,035
Conservative hold Swing +11.0
General Election December 1910: Sevenoaks [29][34]
Party Candidate Votes % ±
Conservative Henry Forster Unopposed
Conservative hold

General Election 1914/15:

Another General Election was required to take place before the end of 1915. The political parties had been making preparations for an election to take place and by the July 1914, the following candidates had been selected;

See also[edit]

References[edit]

Craig, F. W. S. (1983). British parliamentary election results 1918–1949 (3 ed.). Chichester: Parliamentary Research Services. ISBN 0-900178-06-X.

  1. ^ "Electorate Figures – Boundary Commission for England". 2011 Electorate Figures. Boundary Commission for England. 4 March 2011. Archived from the original on 6 November 2010. Retrieved 13 March 2011.
  2. ^ Young, W. (1971), p.1089.
  3. ^ Sheail, J. (1979), The Restriction of Ribbon Development Act: The character and perception of land-use control in inter-war Britain, Regional Studies, 13: 6, 501–12.
  4. ^ "Your Councillors". sevenoaks.gov.uk. 20 April 2018. Retrieved 20 April 2018.
  5. ^ "Local statistics - Office for National Statistics". neighbourhood.statistics.gov.uk. Retrieved 20 April 2018.
  6. ^ Unemployment claimants by constituency The Guardian
  7. ^ 2011 census interactive maps Archived 29 January 2016 at the Wayback Machine
  8. ^ Leigh Rayment's Historical List of MPs – Constituencies beginning with "S" (part 2)
  9. ^ "Statement of persons nominated, notice of poll and situation of polling stations" (PDF). Sevenoaks District Council. 11 May 2017. Archived from the original (PDF) on 24 May 2017. Retrieved 8 June 2017.
  10. ^ "Election Data 2015". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 17 October 2015. Retrieved 17 October 2015.
  11. ^ "UK Polling Report". ukpollingreport.co.uk. Retrieved 20 April 2018.
  12. ^ "Election Data 2010". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 26 July 2013. Retrieved 17 October 2015.
  13. ^ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 16 July 2011. Retrieved 7 May 2010.CS1 maint: Archived copy as title (link)
  14. ^ "Election Data 2005". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
  15. ^ "Election Data 2001". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
  16. ^ "Election Data 1997". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
  17. ^ "Sevenoaks [Archive]". www.politicsresources.net. Retrieved 20 April 2018.
  18. ^ "Election Data 1992". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
  19. ^ "Politics Resources". Election 1992. Politics Resources. 9 April 1992. Retrieved 2010-12-06.
  20. ^ "Election Data 1987". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
  21. ^ "UK General Election results: June 1987 [Archive]". www.politicsresources.net. Retrieved 20 April 2018.
  22. ^ "Election Data 1983". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
  23. ^ "UK General Election results: June 1983 [Archive]". www.politicsresources.net. Retrieved 20 April 2018.
  24. ^ "UK General Election results: May 1979 [Archive]". www.politicsresources.net. Retrieved 20 April 2018.
  25. ^ "UK General Election results: February 1974 [Archive]". www.politicsresources.net. Retrieved 20 April 2018.
  26. ^ a b c d e f g British parliamentary election results 1950–1973, Craig, F. W. S.
  27. ^ a b British parliamentary election results 1918–1949, Craig, F. W. S.
  28. ^ Craig, F.W.S., ed. (1969). British parliamentary election results 1918-1949. Glasgow: Political Reference Publications. p. 390. ISBN 0-900178-01-9.
  29. ^ a b c d e f g h i Craig, FWS, ed. (1974). British Parliamentary Election Results: 1885-1918. London: Macmillan Press. p. 308. ISBN 9781349022984.
  30. ^ a b c d e f g The Liberal Year Book, 1907
  31. ^ Debrett's House of Commons & Judicial Bench, 1886
  32. ^ a b Debrett's House of Commons & Judicial Bench, 1901
  33. ^ "Election intelligence". The Times (36854). London. 23 August 1902. p. 4.
  34. ^ a b Debrett's House of Commons & Judicial Bench, 1916
  35. ^ Kent & Sussex Courier 13 Mar 1914

Coordinates: 51°20′N 0°11′E / 51.333°N 0.183°E / 51.333; 0.183