Runnymede and Weybridge (UK Parliament constituency)

Last updated

Runnymede and Weybridge
County constituency
for the House of Commons
Runnymede and Weybridge (UK Parliament constituency)
Boundaries since 2024
South East England - Runnymede and Weybridge constituency.svg
Boundary of Runnymede and Weybridge in South East England
County Surrey
Electorate 73,778 (2023) [1]
Major settlements
Current constituency
Created 1997
Member of Parliament Ben Spencer (Conservative)
SeatsOne
Created from

Runnymede and Weybridge is a constituency [n 1] in Surrey represented in the House of Commons of the UK Parliament since 2019 by Ben Spencer, a Conservative. [n 2]

Contents

The constituency was created for the 1997 general election and represented from then until 2019 by Philip Hammond, who served as Foreign Secretary from 2014 to 2016 and Chancellor of the Exchequer from 2016 to 2019. Hammond sat as a Conservative before becoming an Independent backbencher for the last two months of his final term.

Boundaries

Runnymede and Weybridge (UK Parliament constituency)
Map of 2010–2024 boundaries

1997–2024

Since 1997 and until 2024 the constituency and comprised the whole of the area of the Borough of Runnymede plus the town of Weybridge in the Borough of Elmbridge, all in north Surrey.

Current

Further to the 2023 periodic review of Westminster constituencies which came into effect for the 2024 general election, the constituency is now composed of the following (as they existed on 1 December 2020):

The mainly low-density villages of Englefield Green and Virginia Water were transferred to the Berkshire seat of Windsor, creating a cross-county constituency. To compensate, two similar southern wards that were in Esher and Walton, including Cobham, were gained, partly offset by the similar village of Oatlands moving in the opposite direction.

History

The constituency was created in 1997 from parts of the former constituencies of Chertsey and Walton and North West Surrey.

From its creation until 2019, it was represented by Philip Hammond, of the Conservative Party, who served as a Cabinet Minister throughout the Cameron–Clegg coalition before holding in succession two of the Great Offices of State: Foreign Secretary from 2014 to 2016, and Chancellor of the Exchequer from 2016 to 2019.

Runnymede and Weybridge is a Conservative safe seat based on both length of tenure and size of majorities – the narrowest margin of victory was in the 2024 general election, of 15.8% of the vote.

Constituency profile

The constituency is roughly bisected by the M25. To the east are a series of affluent towns including part of Staines, Chertsey, Addlestone and Weybridge. There is more open land to the west, bordering Windsor Great Park and Chobham Common.

The constituency has incomes well above the national average, and lower than average reliance upon social housing. [4] At the end of 2012 the unemployment rate in the constituency stood as 1.3% of the population claiming jobseekers allowance, compared to the regional average of 2.4%. [5] The borough contributing to the bulk of the seat has a low 14.7% of its population without a car, 18.3% of the population without qualifications and a high 29.9% with level 4 qualifications or above.

In terms of tenure 69.2% of homes are owned outright or on a mortgage as at the 2011 census across Runnymede. [6]

Members of Parliament

Chertsey and Walton prior to 1997

ElectionMember [7] Party
1997 Philip Hammond Conservative
September 2019Independent
2019 Ben Spencer Conservative

Elections

Elections in the 2020s

General election 2024: Runnymede and Weybridge [8] [9]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Conservative Ben Spencer 18,442 38.2 –15.0
Liberal Democrats Ellen Nicholson10,81522.4–0.3
Labour Robert King9,96320.6+2.9
Reform UK Stewart Mackay6,41913.3N/A
Green Steve Ringham1,9544.0+1.3
Independent Michael Cressey5181.1N/A
UKIP Nicholas Wood1420.3–0.6
Majority7,62715.8–18.5
Turnout 48,25365.6–5.8
Registered electors 73,610
Conservative hold Swing –7.4

Elections in the 2010s

2019 notional result [10]
PartyVote %
Conservative 28,02853.2
Liberal Democrats 11,95622.7
Labour 9,34717.7
Others1,9233.7
Green 1,4152.7
Turnout52,66971.4
Electorate73,778
General election 2019: Runnymede and Weybridge [11]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Conservative Ben Spencer 29,262 54.9 −6.0
Labour Robert King10,99220.6−5.3
Liberal Democrats Rob O'Carroll9,23617.3+10.0
Green Benjamin Smith1,8763.5+0.9
Independent Stewart Mackay7771.5New
Independent Lorna Rowland6701.3New
UKIP Nicholas Wood4760.9−2.4
Majority18,27034.3−0.7
Turnout 53,28969.0+0.9
Conservative hold Swing -0.4
General election 2017: Runnymede and Weybridge [12]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Conservative Philip Hammond 31,436 60.9 +1.2
Labour Fiona Dent13,38625.9+10.4
Liberal Democrats John Vincent3,7657.3+0.6
UKIP Nicholas Wood1,6753.3−10.6
Green Lee-Anne Lawrance1,3472.6−1.5
Majority18,05035.0−9.2
Turnout 51,60968.10.0
Conservative hold Swing -4.6
General election 2015: Runnymede and Weybridge [13]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Conservative Philip Hammond 29,901 59.7 +3.8
Labour Arran Neathey7,76715.5+2.1
UKIP Joe Branco [14] 6,95113.9+7.4
Liberal Democrats John Vincent [15] 3,3626.7−14.9
Green Rustam Majainah [16] 2,0714.1+2.7
Majority22,13444.2+7.9
Turnout 50,22468.1+1.7
Conservative hold Swing +0.8
General election 2010: Runnymede and Weybridge [17]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Conservative Philip Hammond 26,915 55.9 +4.5
Liberal Democrats Andrew Falconer10,40621.6+3.7
Labour Paul Greenwood6,44613.4−9.6
UKIP Toby Micklethwait3,1466.5+2.6
Green Jenny Gould6961.4−1.3
Independent David Sammons5411.1+1.1
Majority16,50934.3+5.9
Turnout 48,29266.5+7.8
Conservative hold Swing +0.4

Elections in the 2000s

General election 2005: Runnymede and Weybridge [18]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Conservative Philip Hammond 22,366 51.4 +2.7
Labour Paul Greenwood10,01723.0−6.0
Liberal Democrats Henry Bolton 7,77117.9+1.6
UKIP Anthony Micklethwait1,7193.9+0.8
Green Charles Gilman1,1802.7−0.2
Monster Raving Loony Andrew Collett3580.8New
UK Community Issues PartyKatrina Osman1130.3New
Majority12,34928.4+8.7
Turnout 43,52458.7+2.6
Conservative hold Swing +4.4
General election 2001: Runnymede and Weybridge [19]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Conservative Philip Hammond 20,646 48.7 +0.1
Labour Jane Briginshaw12,28629.0−0.4
Liberal Democrats Chris Bushill6,92416.30.0
UKIP Christopher Browne1,3323.1+1.9
Green Charles Gilman1,2382.9New
Majority8,36019.7+0.5
Turnout 42,42656.1−15.4
Conservative hold Swing +0.3

Elections in the 1990s

General election 1997: Runnymede and Weybridge [20]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Conservative Philip Hammond 25,051 48.6 −12.8
Labour Ian Peacock15,17629.4+13.5
Liberal Democrats Geoffrey Taylor8,39716.3−4.8
Referendum Peter Rolt2,1504.2New
UKIP Simon Slater6251.2New
Natural Law Jeremy Sleeman1620.3New
Majority9,87519.2
Turnout 51,56171.5
Conservative win (new seat)

See also

Notes

  1. ↑ A county constituency (for the purposes of election expenses and type of returning officer)
  2. ↑ As with all constituencies, the constituency elects one Member of Parliament (MP) by the first past the post system of election at least every five years.

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Borough of Runnymede</span> Borough and non-metropolitan district in England

The Borough of Runnymede is a local government district with borough status in Surrey, England. Its council is based in Addlestone and the borough also includes the towns of Chertsey and Egham. The borough is named after Runnymede, a water meadow on the banks of the River Thames near Egham, which is connected with the sealing of Magna Carta by King John in 1215.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Egham</span> Town in Surrey, England

Egham is a town in the Borough of Runnymede in Surrey, England, approximately 19 miles (31 km) west of central London. First settled in the Bronze Age, the town was under the control of Chertsey Abbey for much of the Middle Ages. In 1215, Magna Carta was sealed by King John at Runnymede, to the north of Egham, having been chosen for its proximity to the King's residence at Windsor. Under the Dissolution of the Monasteries in the early 16th Century, the major, formerly ecclesiastical, manorial freehold interests in the town and various market revenues passed to the Crown.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Englefield Green</span> Village in Surrey, England

Englefield Green is a large village in the Borough of Runnymede, Surrey, England, approximately 20 miles (32 km) west of central London. It is home to Runnymede Meadow, The Commonwealth Air Forces Memorial, The Savill Garden,and Royal Holloway, University of London.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">East Surrey (UK Parliament constituency)</span> Parliamentary constituency in the United Kingdom, 1918 onwards

East Surrey is a constituency represented in the House of Commons of the UK Parliament since 2019 by Claire Coutinho, a Conservative who formerly served as Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero. The seat covers an affluent area in the English county of Surrey.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Guildford (UK Parliament constituency)</span> Parliamentary constituency in the United Kingdom, 1885 onwards

Guildford is a constituency in Surrey represented in the House of Commons of the UK Parliament since 2024 by Zöe Franklin, a Liberal Democrat.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Maidenhead (UK Parliament constituency)</span> Parliamentary constituency in the United Kingdom, 1997 onwards

Maidenhead is a constituency in Berkshire represented in the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom by Joshua Reynolds, a Liberal Democrat, since 2024. Following its creation at the 1997 general election, the seat was held for twenty-seven years by Conservative Member of Parliament Theresa May, who served as Home Secretary from 2010 to 2016 and as Prime Minister from 2016 to 2019.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Woking (UK Parliament constituency)</span> Parliamentary constituency in the United Kingdom, 1950 onwards

Woking is a constituency represented in the House of Commons of the UK Parliament since 2024 by Will Forster, a Liberal Democrat. Since it was first created for the 1950 general election, it had only ever returned Conservative Party candidates until it elected a Liberal Democrat for the first time in 2024.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Esher and Walton (UK Parliament constituency)</span> Parliamentary constituency in the United Kingdom, 1997 onwards

Esher and Walton is a constituency in Surrey represented in the House of Commons of the UK Parliament. Since 2024, it has been represented by Monica Harding of the Liberal Democrats. Prior to this, Dominic Raab of the Conservative Party, who served as deputy prime minister before resigning from that role in April 2023 due to bullying allegations, had served as the MP since 2010.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Addlestone</span> Town in Surrey, England

Addlestone is a town in Surrey, England. It is located approximately 18+1⁄2 miles southwest of London. The town is the administrative centre of the Borough of Runnymede, of which it is the largest settlement.

Esher was a borough constituency represented in the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. It elected one Member of Parliament (MP) by the first past the post system of election. In the general elections during its 47-year lifetime it was won by three Conservatives successively. In area it shrank in 1974, then regrew in 1983 taking in four sparsely inhabited wards which proved to be temporary, as omitted from the successor seat, Esher and Walton.

Chertsey and Walton was a late 20th century parliamentary constituency in Surrey which returned one Member of Parliament (MP) to the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom, elected by the first-past-the-post voting system.

Chertsey sometimes seen as Surrey North Western, equally the North Western Division of Surrey was created as one of six county constituencies of Surrey for the House of Commons of the UK Parliament. The seat underwent two net reductions and variously included and excluded growing suburban settlements: Egham, Frimley, Weybridge, Walton-on-Thames and Woking.

North West Surrey was a county constituency in the county of Surrey. It returned one Member of Parliament (MP) to the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">West Surrey (UK Parliament constituency)</span> Parliamentary constituency in the United Kingdom, 1832–1885

West Surrey was a parliamentary constituency in the county of Surrey, which returned two Members of Parliament (MPs) to the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom, elected by the bloc vote system.

One-third of Runnymede Borough Council in Surrey, England, is elected each year, followed by one year where there is an election to Surrey County Council instead. The council is divided up into 14 wards, electing 41 councillors, since the last boundary changes in 2019.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2021 Runnymede Borough Council election</span> 2021 UK local government election

The 2021 Runnymede Borough Council election was held on 6 May 2021 to elect members of Runnymede Borough Council in England. This was on the same day as other local elections, and was the second election on new electoral boundaries, following the 2019 Runnymede Borough Council election. The elections were postponed from May 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic Englefield Green East was not contested.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2024 Runnymede Borough Council election</span> 2024 English Local election

The 2024 Runnymede Borough Council election took place on 2 May 2024 to elect one-third of members of the Runnymede Borough Council in Surrey, England. This was on the same day as other local elections in England and police and crime commissioner elections.

References

  1. ↑ "The 2023 Review of Parliamentary Constituency Boundaries in England – Volume two: Constituency names, designations and composition – South East". Boundary Commission for England. Retrieved 25 June 2024.
  2. ↑ 2010 post-revision map non-metropolitan areas and unitary authorities of England
  3. ↑ "The Parliamentary Constituencies Order 2023". Schedule 1 Part 6 South East region.
  4. ↑ "Local statistics – Office for National Statistics". neighbourhood.statistics.gov.uk. Archived from the original on 11 February 2003. Retrieved 13 February 2022.
  5. ↑ Unemployment claimants by constituency The Guardian
  6. ↑ "2011 census interactive maps". Archived from the original on 29 January 2016.
  7. ↑ Leigh Rayment's Historical List of MPs – Constituencies beginning with "R" (part 2)
  8. ↑ https://www.runnymede.gov.uk/downloads/file/2364/statement-of-persons-nominated-general-election-2024 [ bare URL ]
  9. ↑ "Runnymede and Weybridge – General election results 2024". BBC News.
  10. ↑ "Notional results for a UK general election on 12 December 2019". Rallings & Thrasher, Professor David Denver (Scotland), Nicholas Whyte (NI) for Sky News, PA, BBC News and ITV News. UK Parliament . Retrieved 11 July 2024.
  11. ↑ "Runnymede & Weybridge Parliamentary constituency". BBC News. BBC. Retrieved 27 November 2019.
  12. ↑ "Runnymede and Weybridge candidates" . Retrieved 17 May 2017.
  13. ↑ "Election Data 2015". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 17 October 2015. Retrieved 17 October 2015.
  14. ↑ "UK Polling Report". ukpollingreport.co.uk. Archived from the original on 5 December 2014. Retrieved 27 November 2014.
  15. ↑ East
  16. ↑ "Surrey Green Party | News". Archived from the original on 5 February 2015.
  17. ↑ "Election Data 2010". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 26 July 2013. Retrieved 17 October 2015.
  18. ↑ "Election Data 2005". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
  19. ↑ "Election Data 2001". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
  20. ↑ "Election Data 1997". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.

Sources

Parliament of the United Kingdom
Preceded by Constituency represented by the chancellor of the Exchequer
2016–2019		Succeeded by

51°22′N0°27′W / 51.36°N 0.45°W / 51.36; -0.45

This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.