Sevenoaks | |
---|---|
County constituency for the House of Commons | |
County | Kent |
Electorate | 69,925 (December 2010) [1] |
Major settlements | Sevenoaks, Swanley |
Current constituency | |
Created | 1885 |
Member of Parliament | Laura Trott ( Conservative) |
Seats | One |
Created from | West Kent |
Sevenoaks is a constituency in Kent represented in the House of Commons of the UK Parliament since 2019 by Laura Trott, a Conservative who has served as Chief Secretary to the Treasury since 13 November 2023. The seat was previously held by Michael Fallon, who served as Secretary of State for Defence from 2014 to 2017.
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.
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]
Since 1950 the highest government position has been that of Michael Fallon, who was appointed Secretary of State for Defence in 2014 under Prime Minister David Cameron. Fallon held the office until he resigned on 1 November 2017 in the light of allegations of inappropriate behaviour of a sexual nature, before retiring prior to the 2019 general election.
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.
Further to the 2023 Periodic Review of Westminster constituencies, enacted by the Parliamentary Constituencies Order 2023, from the 2024 United Kingdom general election, the constituency will be composed of the following (as they existed on 1 December 2020):
Minor changes, with the addition of the Wilmington, Sutton-at-Hone & Hawley ward from Dartford being offset by the transfer of the Ash & New Ash Green ward to the re-established constituency of Tonbridge.
The seat is in mainstay London 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. The Conservatives currently hold a majority in the District, but all the councillors for Sevenoaks Town wards are Liberal Democrats who also have a majority in the wards of Brasted, Chevening and Sundridge, and hold Leigh and Chiddingstone Causeway and Penshurst, Fordcombe and Chiddingstone. There are also three independent councillors and four Green Party councillors (New Ash Green and Eynesford). [5]
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. [6] 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%. [7] 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. [8]
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
SDP | Adam Hibbert [10] | ||||
Green | Laura Manston [11] | ||||
Liberal Democrats | Richard Streatfeild [12] | ||||
Conservative | Laura Trott [13] | ||||
Labour | Denise Scott-McDonald [14] | ||||
Swing | |||||
Majority | |||||
Turnout | |||||
Registered electors |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Conservative | Laura Trott | 30,932 | 60.7 | −3.0 | |
Liberal Democrats | Gareth Willis | 10,114 | 19.8 | +11.4 | |
Labour | Seamus McCauley | 6,946 | 13.6 | −7.3 | |
Green | Paul Wharton | 1,974 | 3.9 | +0.6 | |
Independent | Paulette Furse | 695 | 1.4 | New | |
Libertarian | Sean Finch | 295 | 0.6 | New | |
Majority | 20,818 | 40.9 | −1.9 | ||
Turnout | 50,956 | 71.0 | −1.1 | ||
Conservative hold | Swing |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Conservative | Michael Fallon | 32,644 | 63.7 | +6.8 | |
Labour | Chris Clark | 10,727 | 20.9 | +8.0 | |
Liberal Democrats | Alan Bullion | 4,280 | 8.4 | +0.5 | |
UKIP | Graham Cushway | 1,894 | 3.7 | −14.2 | |
Green | Philip Dodd | 1,673 | 3.3 | −1.2 | |
Majority | 21,917 | 42.8 | +3.8 | ||
Turnout | 51,218 | 72.1 | +1.2 | ||
Conservative hold | Swing |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Conservative | Michael Fallon | 28,531 | 56.9 | +0.1 | |
UKIP | Steve Lindsay [18] | 8,970 | 17.9 | +14.3 | |
Labour | Chris Clark | 6,448 | 12.9 | −0.3 | |
Liberal Democrats | Alan Bullion | 3,937 | 7.9 | −13.5 | |
Green | Amelie Boleyn | 2,238 | 4.5 | New | |
Majority | 19,561 | 39.0 | +3.6 | ||
Turnout | 50,124 | 70.9 | −0.2 | ||
Conservative hold | Swing | −7.1 |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Conservative | Michael Fallon | 28,076 | 56.8 | +5.0 | |
Liberal Democrats | 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 | New | |
English Democrat | Louise Uncles | 806 | 1.6 | −0.1 | |
Independent | Mark Ellis | 258 | 0.5 | New | |
Majority | 17,515 | 35.4 | +5.5 | ||
Turnout | 49,408 | 71.1 | +12.4 | ||
Conservative hold | Swing | +2.8 |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Conservative | Michael Fallon | 22,437 | 51.8 | +2.4 | |
Liberal Democrats | 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 | New | |
United Kingdom Pathfinders | Mark Ellis | 233 | 0.5 | −0.2 | |
Majority | 12,970 | 29.9 | +6.1 | ||
Turnout | 43,298 | 58.7 | −5.2 | ||
Conservative hold | Swing |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Conservative | Michael Fallon | 21,052 | 49.4 | +4.0 | |
Labour | Caroline Humphreys | 10,898 | 25.6 | +1.0 | |
Liberal Democrats | Clive Gray | 9,214 | 21.6 | -2.5 | |
UKIP | Lisa Hawkins | 1,155 | 2.7 | New | |
United Kingdom Pathfinders | Mark Ellis | 295 | 0.7 | New | |
Majority | 10,154 | 23.8 | +3.0 | ||
Turnout | 42,614 | 63.9 | -11.5 | ||
Conservative hold | Swing | +1.5 |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Conservative | Michael Fallon | 22,776 | 45.4 | -12.1 | |
Labour | John Hayes | 12,315 | 24.6 | +8.2 | |
Liberal Democrats | Roger Walshe | 12,086 | 24.1 | -0.3 | |
Referendum | Nigel Large | 2,138 | 4.3 | New | |
Green | Margot Lawrence | 443 | 0.9 | -0.5 | |
Pathfinders | Mark Ellis | 244 | 0.5 | New | |
Natural Law | Alex Hankey | 147 | 0.3 | -0.1 | |
Majority | 10,461 | 20.8 | -12.7 | ||
Turnout | 50,151 | 75.4 | -5.9 | ||
Conservative hold | Swing |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Conservative | Mark Wolfson | 33,245 | 57.5 | −1.4 | |
Liberal Democrats | Roger Walshe | 14,091 | 24.4 | −3.5 | |
Labour | J. Evans | 9,470 | 16.4 | +3.2 | |
Green | Margot Lawrence | 786 | 1.4 | New | |
Natural Law | P. Wakeling | 210 | 0.4 | New | |
Majority | 19,154 | 33.1 | +2.1 | ||
Turnout | 57,802 | 81.3 | +4.9 | ||
Conservative hold | Swing | +1.1 |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Conservative | Mark Wolfson | 32,945 | 58.9 | +0.5 | |
Liberal | Stephen Jakobi | 15,600 | 27.9 | -0.7 | |
Labour | Graham Green | 7,379 | 13.2 | +1.0 | |
Majority | 17,345 | 31.0 | +1.2 | ||
Turnout | 55,923 | 76.4 | -2.7 | ||
Conservative hold | Swing | +0.6 |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Conservative | Mark Wolfson | 30,722 | 58.4 | +1.0 | |
Liberal | Stephen Jakobi | 15,061 | 28.6 | +10.1 | |
Labour | Roland Gooding | 6,439 | 12.2 | -12.6 | |
National Front | G. L. Burnett | 416 | 0.8 | -0.5 | |
Majority | 15,706 | 29.8 | -4.8 | ||
Turnout | 52,596 | 73.7 | -5.3 | ||
Conservative hold | Swing |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Conservative | Mark Wolfson | 36,697 | 57.39 | +10.4 | |
Labour | R. H. Redden | 14,583 | 22.81 | -3.73 | |
Liberal | G. Phillips | 11,839 | 18.52 | -7.95 | |
National Front | Michael Easter | 821 | 1.28 | New | |
Majority | 22,114 | 34.58 | +14.13 | ||
Turnout | 63,942 | 78.98 | +3.27 | ||
Conservative hold | Swing | +7.07 |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Conservative | John Rodgers | 26,670 | 46.99 | -1.37 | |
Labour | James Scanlan | 15,065 | 26.54 | +2.33 | |
Liberal | Robert Webster | 15,024 | 26.47 | +0.26 | |
Majority | 11,605 | 20.45 | -1.7 | ||
Turnout | 56,759 | 75.71 | -7.69 | ||
Conservative hold | Swing |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Conservative | John Rodgers | 29,963 | 48.36 | -5.77 | |
Liberal | Ian Bradley | 16,223 | 26.21 | +5.85 | |
Labour | J. Scanlan | 14,987 | 24.21 | -1.28 | |
Independent | D. J. Woolard | 754 | 1.22 | New | |
Majority | 13,713 | 22.15 | -6.49 | ||
Turnout | 61,898 | 83.4 | +10.4 | ||
Conservative hold | Swing |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Conservative | John Rodgers | 32,654 | 54.13 | +3.63 | |
Labour | John Ovenden | 15,376 | 25.49 | -6.83 | |
Liberal | Robert Webster | 12,290 | 20.37 | +3.19 | |
Majority | 17,278 | 28.64 | +8.46 | ||
Turnout | 60,320 | 73.0 | -6.19 | ||
Conservative hold | Swing | +5.2 |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Conservative | John Rodgers | 28,651 | 50.5 | -1.53 | |
Labour | Peter Pearce | 18,338 | 32.32 | +5.18 | |
Liberal | Noel Blackburn | 9,746 | 17.18 | -3.65 | |
Majority | 10,313 | 18.18 | -6.71 | ||
Turnout | 56,735 | 79.19 | 0.89 | ||
Conservative hold | Swing | +3.3 |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Conservative | John Rodgers | 28,678 | 52.03 | -4.04 | |
Labour | Peter Pearce | 14,958 | 27.14 | -1.24 | |
Liberal | Nelia Penman | 11,480 | 20.83 | +5.28 | |
Majority | 13,720 | 24.89 | -2.8 | ||
Turnout | 55,116 | 80.09 | -0.08 | ||
Conservative hold | Swing | -1.4 |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Conservative | John Rodgers | 28,186 | 56.07 | -5.77 | |
Labour | Roderick Ogley | 14,265 | 28.38 | -9.78 | |
Liberal | Nelia Penman | 7,819 | 15.55 | New | |
Majority | 13,921 | 27.69 | +4.01 | ||
Turnout | 50,270 | 80.17 | +2.1 | ||
Conservative hold | Swing | +2.0 |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Conservative | John Rodgers | 28,936 | 61.84 | +1.47 | |
Labour | John N. Powrie | 17,858 | 38.16 | -1.47 | |
Majority | 11,078 | 23.68 | +2.94 | ||
Turnout | 46,794 | 78.07 | -3.39 | ||
Conservative hold | Swing | +1.47 |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Conservative | John Rodgers | 28,668 | 60.37 | +8.62 | |
Labour | John N. Powrie | 18,823 | 39.63 | +3.6 | |
Majority | 9,845 | 20.74 | +5.02 | ||
Turnout | 47,491 | 81.46 | -3.44 | ||
Conservative hold | Swing | +2.5 |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Conservative | John Rodgers | 25,292 | 51.75 | +6.14 | |
Labour | J. Spencer | 17,610 | 36.03 | -0.05 | |
Liberal | Edward Moulton-Barrett | 5,969 | 12.21 | -4.46 | |
Majority | 7,682 | 15.72 | +6.19 | ||
Turnout | 48,871 | 84.9 | +10.6 | ||
Conservative hold | Swing | +3.1 |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Conservative | Charles Ponsonby | 18,893 | 45.61 | -21.89 | |
Labour | John Pudney | 14,947 | 36.08 | New | |
Liberal | Nelia Muspratt | 6,906 | 16.67 | -15.83 | |
Communist | K. Thompson | 676 | 1.63 | New | |
Majority | 3,946 | 9.53 | -25.5 | ||
Turnout | 41,422 | 73.6 | +8.3 | ||
Conservative hold | Swing |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Conservative | Charles Ponsonby | 21,405 | 67.5 | N/A | |
Liberal | John Horridge | 10,297 | 32.5 | New | |
Majority | 11,108 | 35.0 | N/A | ||
Turnout | 31,702 | 65.3 | N/A | ||
Conservative hold |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Conservative | Charles Ponsonby | Unopposed | N/A | N/A | |
Conservative hold |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Conservative | Hilton Young | Unopposed | N/A | N/A | |
Conservative hold |
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 | New | |
Majority | 8,923 | 28.6 | +4.8 | ||
Turnout | 31,245 | 71.6 | −3.2 | ||
Registered electors | 43,627 | ||||
Unionist hold | Swing | +2.4 |
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 |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Liberal | Ronald Williams | 10,656 | 51.6 | New | |
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 |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Unionist | Thomas Jewell Bennett | 12,045 | 63.8 | −12.4 | |
Labour | L. A. Goldie | 6,849 | 36.2 | New | |
Majority | 5,196 | 27.6 | −24.8 | ||
Turnout | 18,894 | 60.9 | +14.6 | ||
Registered electors | 31,000 | ||||
Unionist hold | Swing | N/A |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
C | Unionist | Thomas Jewell Bennett | 10,650 | 76.2 | N/A |
Independent Labour | John Ephraim Skinner | 3,323 | 23.8 | New | |
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. |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Conservative | Charles Mills | 4,651 | 54.0 | ||
Liberal | Patteson Nickalls | 3,956 | 46.0 | ||
Majority | 695 | 8.0 | |||
Turnout | 8,607 | 77.6 | |||
Registered electors | 11,089 | ||||
Conservative win (new seat) |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Conservative | Charles Mills | Unopposed | |||
Conservative hold |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Conservative | Henry Forster | 6,036 | 60.7 | N/A | |
Liberal | Thomas Johnston | 3,908 | 39.3 | New | |
Majority | 2,128 | 21.4 | N/A | ||
Turnout | 9,944 | 71.5 | N/A | ||
Registered electors | 13,916 | ||||
Conservative hold | Swing | N/A |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Conservative | Henry Forster | Unopposed | |||
Conservative hold |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Conservative | Henry Forster | 6,604 | 78.7 | N/A | |
Liberal | Murray Spencer Richardson | 1,792 | 21.3 | New | |
Majority | 4,812 | 57.4 | N/A | ||
Turnout | 8,396 | 56.5 | N/A | ||
Registered electors | 14,861 | ||||
Conservative hold | Swing | N/A |
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 |
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 | New | |
Majority | 364 | 2.5 | −54.9 | ||
Turnout | 14,118 | 81.8 | +25.3 | ||
Registered electors | 17,256 | ||||
Conservative hold | Swing | −27.5 |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Conservative | Henry Forster | 10,421 | 62.1 | +11.0 | |
Liberal | Frederic Styles Philpin Lely | 6,351 | 37.9 | -10.7 | |
Majority | 4,070 | 24.2 | +21.7 | ||
Turnout | 16,772 | 88.1 | +6.3 | ||
Registered electors | 19,035 | ||||
Conservative hold | Swing | +11.0 |
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 July 1914, the following candidates had been selected;
Craig, F. W. S. (1983). British parliamentary election results 1918–1949 (3 ed.). Chichester: Parliamentary Research Services. ISBN 0-900178-06-X.
Sevenoaks | |
---|---|
County constituency for the House of Commons | |
County | Kent |
Electorate | 69,925 (December 2010) [1] |
Major settlements | Sevenoaks, Swanley |
Current constituency | |
Created | 1885 |
Member of Parliament | Laura Trott ( Conservative) |
Seats | One |
Created from | West Kent |
Sevenoaks is a constituency in Kent represented in the House of Commons of the UK Parliament since 2019 by Laura Trott, a Conservative who has served as Chief Secretary to the Treasury since 13 November 2023. The seat was previously held by Michael Fallon, who served as Secretary of State for Defence from 2014 to 2017.
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.
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]
Since 1950 the highest government position has been that of Michael Fallon, who was appointed Secretary of State for Defence in 2014 under Prime Minister David Cameron. Fallon held the office until he resigned on 1 November 2017 in the light of allegations of inappropriate behaviour of a sexual nature, before retiring prior to the 2019 general election.
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.
Further to the 2023 Periodic Review of Westminster constituencies, enacted by the Parliamentary Constituencies Order 2023, from the 2024 United Kingdom general election, the constituency will be composed of the following (as they existed on 1 December 2020):
Minor changes, with the addition of the Wilmington, Sutton-at-Hone & Hawley ward from Dartford being offset by the transfer of the Ash & New Ash Green ward to the re-established constituency of Tonbridge.
The seat is in mainstay London 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. The Conservatives currently hold a majority in the District, but all the councillors for Sevenoaks Town wards are Liberal Democrats who also have a majority in the wards of Brasted, Chevening and Sundridge, and hold Leigh and Chiddingstone Causeway and Penshurst, Fordcombe and Chiddingstone. There are also three independent councillors and four Green Party councillors (New Ash Green and Eynesford). [5]
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. [6] 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%. [7] 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. [8]
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
SDP | Adam Hibbert [10] | ||||
Green | Laura Manston [11] | ||||
Liberal Democrats | Richard Streatfeild [12] | ||||
Conservative | Laura Trott [13] | ||||
Labour | Denise Scott-McDonald [14] | ||||
Swing | |||||
Majority | |||||
Turnout | |||||
Registered electors |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Conservative | Laura Trott | 30,932 | 60.7 | −3.0 | |
Liberal Democrats | Gareth Willis | 10,114 | 19.8 | +11.4 | |
Labour | Seamus McCauley | 6,946 | 13.6 | −7.3 | |
Green | Paul Wharton | 1,974 | 3.9 | +0.6 | |
Independent | Paulette Furse | 695 | 1.4 | New | |
Libertarian | Sean Finch | 295 | 0.6 | New | |
Majority | 20,818 | 40.9 | −1.9 | ||
Turnout | 50,956 | 71.0 | −1.1 | ||
Conservative hold | Swing |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Conservative | Michael Fallon | 32,644 | 63.7 | +6.8 | |
Labour | Chris Clark | 10,727 | 20.9 | +8.0 | |
Liberal Democrats | Alan Bullion | 4,280 | 8.4 | +0.5 | |
UKIP | Graham Cushway | 1,894 | 3.7 | −14.2 | |
Green | Philip Dodd | 1,673 | 3.3 | −1.2 | |
Majority | 21,917 | 42.8 | +3.8 | ||
Turnout | 51,218 | 72.1 | +1.2 | ||
Conservative hold | Swing |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Conservative | Michael Fallon | 28,531 | 56.9 | +0.1 | |
UKIP | Steve Lindsay [18] | 8,970 | 17.9 | +14.3 | |
Labour | Chris Clark | 6,448 | 12.9 | −0.3 | |
Liberal Democrats | Alan Bullion | 3,937 | 7.9 | −13.5 | |
Green | Amelie Boleyn | 2,238 | 4.5 | New | |
Majority | 19,561 | 39.0 | +3.6 | ||
Turnout | 50,124 | 70.9 | −0.2 | ||
Conservative hold | Swing | −7.1 |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Conservative | Michael Fallon | 28,076 | 56.8 | +5.0 | |
Liberal Democrats | 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 | New | |
English Democrat | Louise Uncles | 806 | 1.6 | −0.1 | |
Independent | Mark Ellis | 258 | 0.5 | New | |
Majority | 17,515 | 35.4 | +5.5 | ||
Turnout | 49,408 | 71.1 | +12.4 | ||
Conservative hold | Swing | +2.8 |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Conservative | Michael Fallon | 22,437 | 51.8 | +2.4 | |
Liberal Democrats | 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 | New | |
United Kingdom Pathfinders | Mark Ellis | 233 | 0.5 | −0.2 | |
Majority | 12,970 | 29.9 | +6.1 | ||
Turnout | 43,298 | 58.7 | −5.2 | ||
Conservative hold | Swing |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Conservative | Michael Fallon | 21,052 | 49.4 | +4.0 | |
Labour | Caroline Humphreys | 10,898 | 25.6 | +1.0 | |
Liberal Democrats | Clive Gray | 9,214 | 21.6 | -2.5 | |
UKIP | Lisa Hawkins | 1,155 | 2.7 | New | |
United Kingdom Pathfinders | Mark Ellis | 295 | 0.7 | New | |
Majority | 10,154 | 23.8 | +3.0 | ||
Turnout | 42,614 | 63.9 | -11.5 | ||
Conservative hold | Swing | +1.5 |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Conservative | Michael Fallon | 22,776 | 45.4 | -12.1 | |
Labour | John Hayes | 12,315 | 24.6 | +8.2 | |
Liberal Democrats | Roger Walshe | 12,086 | 24.1 | -0.3 | |
Referendum | Nigel Large | 2,138 | 4.3 | New | |
Green | Margot Lawrence | 443 | 0.9 | -0.5 | |
Pathfinders | Mark Ellis | 244 | 0.5 | New | |
Natural Law | Alex Hankey | 147 | 0.3 | -0.1 | |
Majority | 10,461 | 20.8 | -12.7 | ||
Turnout | 50,151 | 75.4 | -5.9 | ||
Conservative hold | Swing |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Conservative | Mark Wolfson | 33,245 | 57.5 | −1.4 | |
Liberal Democrats | Roger Walshe | 14,091 | 24.4 | −3.5 | |
Labour | J. Evans | 9,470 | 16.4 | +3.2 | |
Green | Margot Lawrence | 786 | 1.4 | New | |
Natural Law | P. Wakeling | 210 | 0.4 | New | |
Majority | 19,154 | 33.1 | +2.1 | ||
Turnout | 57,802 | 81.3 | +4.9 | ||
Conservative hold | Swing | +1.1 |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Conservative | Mark Wolfson | 32,945 | 58.9 | +0.5 | |
Liberal | Stephen Jakobi | 15,600 | 27.9 | -0.7 | |
Labour | Graham Green | 7,379 | 13.2 | +1.0 | |
Majority | 17,345 | 31.0 | +1.2 | ||
Turnout | 55,923 | 76.4 | -2.7 | ||
Conservative hold | Swing | +0.6 |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Conservative | Mark Wolfson | 30,722 | 58.4 | +1.0 | |
Liberal | Stephen Jakobi | 15,061 | 28.6 | +10.1 | |
Labour | Roland Gooding | 6,439 | 12.2 | -12.6 | |
National Front | G. L. Burnett | 416 | 0.8 | -0.5 | |
Majority | 15,706 | 29.8 | -4.8 | ||
Turnout | 52,596 | 73.7 | -5.3 | ||
Conservative hold | Swing |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Conservative | Mark Wolfson | 36,697 | 57.39 | +10.4 | |
Labour | R. H. Redden | 14,583 | 22.81 | -3.73 | |
Liberal | G. Phillips | 11,839 | 18.52 | -7.95 | |
National Front | Michael Easter | 821 | 1.28 | New | |
Majority | 22,114 | 34.58 | +14.13 | ||
Turnout | 63,942 | 78.98 | +3.27 | ||
Conservative hold | Swing | +7.07 |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Conservative | John Rodgers | 26,670 | 46.99 | -1.37 | |
Labour | James Scanlan | 15,065 | 26.54 | +2.33 | |
Liberal | Robert Webster | 15,024 | 26.47 | +0.26 | |
Majority | 11,605 | 20.45 | -1.7 | ||
Turnout | 56,759 | 75.71 | -7.69 | ||
Conservative hold | Swing |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Conservative | John Rodgers | 29,963 | 48.36 | -5.77 | |
Liberal | Ian Bradley | 16,223 | 26.21 | +5.85 | |
Labour | J. Scanlan | 14,987 | 24.21 | -1.28 | |
Independent | D. J. Woolard | 754 | 1.22 | New | |
Majority | 13,713 | 22.15 | -6.49 | ||
Turnout | 61,898 | 83.4 | +10.4 | ||
Conservative hold | Swing |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Conservative | John Rodgers | 32,654 | 54.13 | +3.63 | |
Labour | John Ovenden | 15,376 | 25.49 | -6.83 | |
Liberal | Robert Webster | 12,290 | 20.37 | +3.19 | |
Majority | 17,278 | 28.64 | +8.46 | ||
Turnout | 60,320 | 73.0 | -6.19 | ||
Conservative hold | Swing | +5.2 |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Conservative | John Rodgers | 28,651 | 50.5 | -1.53 | |
Labour | Peter Pearce | 18,338 | 32.32 | +5.18 | |
Liberal | Noel Blackburn | 9,746 | 17.18 | -3.65 | |
Majority | 10,313 | 18.18 | -6.71 | ||
Turnout | 56,735 | 79.19 | 0.89 | ||
Conservative hold | Swing | +3.3 |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Conservative | John Rodgers | 28,678 | 52.03 | -4.04 | |
Labour | Peter Pearce | 14,958 | 27.14 | -1.24 | |
Liberal | Nelia Penman | 11,480 | 20.83 | +5.28 | |
Majority | 13,720 | 24.89 | -2.8 | ||
Turnout | 55,116 | 80.09 | -0.08 | ||
Conservative hold | Swing | -1.4 |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Conservative | John Rodgers | 28,186 | 56.07 | -5.77 | |
Labour | Roderick Ogley | 14,265 | 28.38 | -9.78 | |
Liberal | Nelia Penman | 7,819 | 15.55 | New | |
Majority | 13,921 | 27.69 | +4.01 | ||
Turnout | 50,270 | 80.17 | +2.1 | ||
Conservative hold | Swing | +2.0 |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Conservative | John Rodgers | 28,936 | 61.84 | +1.47 | |
Labour | John N. Powrie | 17,858 | 38.16 | -1.47 | |
Majority | 11,078 | 23.68 | +2.94 | ||
Turnout | 46,794 | 78.07 | -3.39 | ||
Conservative hold | Swing | +1.47 |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Conservative | John Rodgers | 28,668 | 60.37 | +8.62 | |
Labour | John N. Powrie | 18,823 | 39.63 | +3.6 | |
Majority | 9,845 | 20.74 | +5.02 | ||
Turnout | 47,491 | 81.46 | -3.44 | ||
Conservative hold | Swing | +2.5 |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Conservative | John Rodgers | 25,292 | 51.75 | +6.14 | |
Labour | J. Spencer | 17,610 | 36.03 | -0.05 | |
Liberal | Edward Moulton-Barrett | 5,969 | 12.21 | -4.46 | |
Majority | 7,682 | 15.72 | +6.19 | ||
Turnout | 48,871 | 84.9 | +10.6 | ||
Conservative hold | Swing | +3.1 |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Conservative | Charles Ponsonby | 18,893 | 45.61 | -21.89 | |
Labour | John Pudney | 14,947 | 36.08 | New | |
Liberal | Nelia Muspratt | 6,906 | 16.67 | -15.83 | |
Communist | K. Thompson | 676 | 1.63 | New | |
Majority | 3,946 | 9.53 | -25.5 | ||
Turnout | 41,422 | 73.6 | +8.3 | ||
Conservative hold | Swing |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Conservative | Charles Ponsonby | 21,405 | 67.5 | N/A | |
Liberal | John Horridge | 10,297 | 32.5 | New | |
Majority | 11,108 | 35.0 | N/A | ||
Turnout | 31,702 | 65.3 | N/A | ||
Conservative hold |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Conservative | Charles Ponsonby | Unopposed | N/A | N/A | |
Conservative hold |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Conservative | Hilton Young | Unopposed | N/A | N/A | |
Conservative hold |
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 | New | |
Majority | 8,923 | 28.6 | +4.8 | ||
Turnout | 31,245 | 71.6 | −3.2 | ||
Registered electors | 43,627 | ||||
Unionist hold | Swing | +2.4 |
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 |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Liberal | Ronald Williams | 10,656 | 51.6 | New | |
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 |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Unionist | Thomas Jewell Bennett | 12,045 | 63.8 | −12.4 | |
Labour | L. A. Goldie | 6,849 | 36.2 | New | |
Majority | 5,196 | 27.6 | −24.8 | ||
Turnout | 18,894 | 60.9 | +14.6 | ||
Registered electors | 31,000 | ||||
Unionist hold | Swing | N/A |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
C | Unionist | Thomas Jewell Bennett | 10,650 | 76.2 | N/A |
Independent Labour | John Ephraim Skinner | 3,323 | 23.8 | New | |
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. |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Conservative | Charles Mills | 4,651 | 54.0 | ||
Liberal | Patteson Nickalls | 3,956 | 46.0 | ||
Majority | 695 | 8.0 | |||
Turnout | 8,607 | 77.6 | |||
Registered electors | 11,089 | ||||
Conservative win (new seat) |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Conservative | Charles Mills | Unopposed | |||
Conservative hold |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Conservative | Henry Forster | 6,036 | 60.7 | N/A | |
Liberal | Thomas Johnston | 3,908 | 39.3 | New | |
Majority | 2,128 | 21.4 | N/A | ||
Turnout | 9,944 | 71.5 | N/A | ||
Registered electors | 13,916 | ||||
Conservative hold | Swing | N/A |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Conservative | Henry Forster | Unopposed | |||
Conservative hold |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Conservative | Henry Forster | 6,604 | 78.7 | N/A | |
Liberal | Murray Spencer Richardson | 1,792 | 21.3 | New | |
Majority | 4,812 | 57.4 | N/A | ||
Turnout | 8,396 | 56.5 | N/A | ||
Registered electors | 14,861 | ||||
Conservative hold | Swing | N/A |
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 |
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 | New | |
Majority | 364 | 2.5 | −54.9 | ||
Turnout | 14,118 | 81.8 | +25.3 | ||
Registered electors | 17,256 | ||||
Conservative hold | Swing | −27.5 |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Conservative | Henry Forster | 10,421 | 62.1 | +11.0 | |
Liberal | Frederic Styles Philpin Lely | 6,351 | 37.9 | -10.7 | |
Majority | 4,070 | 24.2 | +21.7 | ||
Turnout | 16,772 | 88.1 | +6.3 | ||
Registered electors | 19,035 | ||||
Conservative hold | Swing | +11.0 |
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 July 1914, the following candidates had been selected;
Craig, F. W. S. (1983). British parliamentary election results 1918–1949 (3 ed.). Chichester: Parliamentary Research Services. ISBN 0-900178-06-X.