Richmond Park | |
---|---|
Borough constituency for the House of Commons | |
County | Greater London |
Electorate | 75,037 (2023) [1] |
Major settlements | Richmond and part of Kingston |
Current constituency | |
Created | 1997 |
Member of Parliament | Sarah Olney (Liberal Democrats) |
Seats | One |
Created from | Richmond 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.
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]
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]
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]
Further to the 2023 periodic review of Westminster constituencies, the composition of the constituency from the 2024 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:
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.
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) |
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 |
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 |
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.
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 |
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 |
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 |
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 |
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.
The Royal Borough of Kingston upon Thames is a borough in southwest London. The main town is Kingston upon Thames and it includes Chessington, Malden Rushett, New Malden, Surbiton and Tolworth. It is the oldest of the four royal boroughs in England. The others are Windsor and Maidenhead, the site of Windsor Castle, and the London boroughs of Greenwich, and Kensington and Chelsea. The local authority is Kingston upon Thames London Borough Council.
Mortlake is a suburban district of the London Borough of Richmond upon Thames on the south bank of the River Thames between Kew and Barnes. Historically it was part of Surrey and until 1965 was in the Municipal Borough of Barnes. For many centuries it had village status and extended far to the south, to include East Sheen and part of what is now Richmond Park. Its Stuart and Georgian history was economically one of malting, brewing, farming, watermen and the Mortlake Tapestry Works (1617–1704), Britain's most important producer. A London landmark, the former Mortlake Brewery or Stag Brewery, is on the edge of Mortlake.
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Richmond is a town in south-west London, 8.2 miles (13.2 km) west-southwest of Charing Cross. It stands on the River Thames, and features many parks and open spaces, including Richmond Park, and many protected conservation areas, which include much of Richmond Hill. A specific Act of Parliament protects the scenic view of the River Thames from Richmond.
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Richmond upon Thames London Borough Council, also known as Richmond upon Thames Council, LBRUT or Richmond Council, is the local authority for the London Borough of Richmond upon Thames in Greater London, England. It is a London borough council, one of 32 in London. The council has been under Liberal Democrat majority control since 2018. Although the borough is named after Richmond, the council meets at York House in Twickenham, and has its main offices in the adjoining Civic Centre.
On 1 December 2016, a by-election was held in the UK parliamentary constituency of Richmond Park. It was triggered by the resignation of the Conservative Member of Parliament Zac Goldsmith on 25 October 2016 over the Government's proposal for a third runway at the nearby Heathrow Airport. It was won by Sarah Olney of the Liberal Democrats, after a campaign focused on opposition to Brexit.
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