Woking (UK Parliament constituency)

Last updated

Woking
Borough constituency
for the House of Commons
Woking (UK Parliament constituency)
Boundaries since 2024
South East England - Woking constituency.svg
Boundary of Woking in South East England
County Surrey
Electorate 71,737 (2023) [1]
Major settlements
Current constituency
Created 1950
Member of Parliament Will Forster (Liberal Democrat)
Created from

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.

Contents

Constituency profile

The seat comprises the Borough of Woking, which has one main town: Woking. Voters are, on average, wealthier than the UK average. [2]

History

The seat was created in 1950 from the county constituencies of Chertsey and lightly populated parts of Farnham. [n 1]

Prior to 2024, and with exceptions only in 1974 (February election), 1997, 2005 and 2010, this constituency returned a Conservative with majorities exceeding 15% of votes cast.

At the 2015 and 2017 general elections, the Labour candidates polled in second place, whereas in 2019 the Lib Dem candidate did so. Until the election of 2024, similar second place results had been emulated locally eight and nine times respectively by Labour and the Lib Dems.

A Conservative win by 11.2% of the vote in 1997 was a notably marginal result. By contrast, at the 2015 general election the seat was the 41st-safest of the Conservative Party's 331 seats by percentage of majority, 40 percentage points ahead of Labour. [3]

By 2024, the Liberal Democrats had a very sizeable majority on Woking Borough Council and there were no Conservative councillors left on the authority, although historically the Conservatives had been the dominant force on the council.

Local Conservatives won the previously relevant (Guildford Council) wards of Pirbright and Normandy over many election cycles, but these two villages were transferred to the Surrey Heath constituency from 2024 onwards following boundary changes.

Boundaries

Woking (UK Parliament constituency)
Map of 1997–2024 boundaries

Historic

1950–74: The Urban Districts of Frimley and Camberley, and Woking, and in the Rural District of Guildford the parishes of Ash, Normandy, and Pirbright.

1974–83: as above less Frimley and Camberley (transferred to North West Surrey - which was subsequently abolished in 1997, but replaced in large part at that point by the new Surrey Heath constituency). Note that in 1974 these areas constituted the whole of Woking (borough) and a part of Guildford (borough).

1983–97: unchanged (i.e. The Borough of Woking, and the Borough of Guildford wards of Ash, Ash Vale, Normandy, and Pirbright).

1997–2024: as above less Ash and Ash Vale (transferred to Surrey Heath).

The Boundary Commission made no changes to the Woking constituency in the Parliamentary boundary review that took place prior to the 2010 General Election.

Current

Further to the 2023 periodic review of Westminster constituencies which came into effect for the 2024 general election, the size of the electorate was reduced by transferring the wards of Pirbright and Normandy to the constituency of Surrey Heath. The constituency boundaries of Woking thereby became coterminous with those of the Borough of Woking, [4] comprising the ten Woking Borough Council wards of:

Members of Parliament

ElectionMember [5] Party
1950 Harold Watkinson Conservative
1964 Sir Cranley Onslow Conservative
1997 Humfrey Malins Conservative
2010 Jonathan Lord Conservative
2024 Will Forster Liberal Democrats

Elections

Elections in the 2020s

General election 2024: Woking [6]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Liberal Democrats Will Forster 24,019 49.9 +18.8
Conservative Jonathan Lord 12,77326.5–21.8
Reform UK Richard Barker4,88810.2N/A
Labour Ese Erheriene4,4449.2–7.5
Green Nataly Anderson1,8533.8+1.0
Heritage Tim Read1680.3N/A
Majority11,24623.4N/A
Turnout 48,14566.0–4.4
Registered electors 72,977
Liberal Democrats gain from Conservative Swing +20.3

Elections in the 2010s

2019 notional result [7]
PartyVote %
Conservative 24,35848.3
Liberal Democrats 15,67531.1
Labour 8,44416.7
Green 1,3982.8
Others6001.2
Turnout50,47570.4
Electorate71,737
General election 2019: Woking [8] [9]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Conservative Jonathan Lord 26,396 48.9 Decrease2.svg5.2
Liberal Democrats Will Forster 16,62930.8Increase2.svg13.2
Labour Gerry Mitchell8,82716.4Decrease2.svg7.5
Green Ella Walding1,4852.8Increase2.svg0.8
UKIP Troy de Leon6001.1Decrease2.svg1.0
Majority9,76718.1Decrease2.svg12.1
Turnout 53,93771.5Decrease2.svg1.0
Registered electors 75,455
Conservative hold Swing Decrease2.svg9.3
General election 2017: Woking [10]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Conservative Jonathan Lord 29,903 54.1 Decrease2.svg2.1
Labour Fiona Colley13,17923.9Increase2.svg7.8
Liberal Democrats Will Forster 9,71117.6Increase2.svg6.0
UKIP Troy de Leon1,1612.1Decrease2.svg9.2
Green James Brierley1,0922.0Decrease2.svg2.1
Independent Hassan Akberali2000.4N/A
Majority16,72430.2Decrease2.svg9.8
Turnout 55,24672.5Increase2.svg2.5
Conservative hold Swing Decrease2.svg4.9
General election 2015: Woking [11] [12]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Conservative Jonathan Lord 29,199 56.2 +5.9
Labour Jill Rawling8,38916.1+8.1
Liberal Democrats Chris Took6,04711.6−25.8
UKIP Rob Burberry5,87311.3+7.5
Green Martin Robson2,1094.1N/A
CISTA Declan Wade2290.4N/A
Magna Carta Conservation Party Great BritainRuth Temple770.1N/A
The Evolution PartyAngela Woolford410.1N/A
Majority20,81040.0+27.1
Turnout 51,96470.0−1.5
Conservative hold Swing −1.1
General election 2010: Woking [13]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Conservative Jonathan Lord 26,551 50.3 +2.9
Liberal Democrats Rosie Sharpley19,74437.4+4.3
Labour Tom Miller4,2468.0−8.3
UKIP Rob Burberry1,9973.8+0.9
Peace Julie Roxburgh2040.4N/A
Magna Carta Conservation Party Great BritainRuth Temple440.1N/A
Majority6,80712.9−1.5
Turnout 52,78671.5+8.1
Conservative hold Swing −0.7

Elections in the 2000s

General election 2005: Woking [14]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Conservative Humfrey Malins 21,838 47.4 +1.4
Liberal Democrats Anne Lee15,22633.1+2.8
Labour Ellie Blagbrough7,50716.3−4.0
UKIP Matthew Davies1,3242.9−0.5
UK Community Issues Party Michael Osman1500.3N/A
Majority6,61214.4−1.3
Turnout 46,04563.4+3.2
Conservative hold Swing −0.7
General election 2001: Woking [15]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Conservative Humfrey Malins 19,747 46.0 +7.6
Liberal Democrats Alan Hilliar12,98830.3+3.0
Labour Sabir Hussain8,71420.3−0.7
UKIP Michael Harvey1,4613.4+2.4
Majority6,75915.7+4.6
Turnout 42,91060.2−12.5
Conservative hold Swing +2.3

Elections in the 1990s

General election 1997: Woking [16]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Conservative Humfrey Malins 19,553 38.4 −20.7
Liberal Democrats Philip Goldenberg13,87527.3+0.2
Labour Katie Hanson10,69521.0+7.6
Ind. Conservative Hugh Bell3,9337.7N/A
Referendum Christopher Skeate2,2094.3N/A
UKIP Michael Harvey5121.0N/A
Natural Law Deirdre Sleeman1370.3−0.2
Majority5,67811.1−19.9
Turnout 50,91472.7−6.5
Conservative hold Swing -10.3

This constituency underwent boundary changes between the 1992 and 1997 general elections and thus change in share of vote is based on a notional calculation.

General election 1992: Woking [17] [18]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Conservative Cranley Onslow 37,744 58.9 +0.8
Liberal Democrats Dorothy Buckrell17,90228.0−3.4
Labour James Dalgleish8,08012.6+2.1
Natural Law Teresa Macintyre3020.5N/A
Majority19,84231.0+4.3
Turnout 64,02879.2+4.1
Conservative hold Swing +2.1

Elections in the 1980s

General election 1987: Woking [19]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Conservative Cranley Onslow 35,990 58.1 −0.2
Alliance (Liberal)Philip Goldenberg19,44631.4+2.0
Labour Anita Pollack 6,53710.5−1.2
Majority16,54426.7−2.2
Turnout 61,97375.1+3.4
Conservative hold Swing -1.1
General election 1983: Woking [20]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Conservative Cranley Onslow 32,748 58.3 +1.3
Alliance (Liberal)Philip Goldenberg16,51129.4+11.4
Labour Barbara Broer 6,56611.7−6.3
Party of Associates with LicenseesD. M. Comens3680.6N/A
Majority16,23728.9−4.2
Turnout 56,19371.7−4.8
Conservative hold Swing -5.1

Elections in the 1970s

General election 1979: Woking
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Conservative Cranley Onslow 31,71957.05+11.01
Labour Nigel Beard 13,32723.97+0.27
Liberal George H. Dunk9,99117.97−10.43
National Front P. A. Gleave5641.01−0.85
Majority18,39233.08+15.44
Turnout 55,60176.51+3.58
Conservative hold Swing +5.4
General election October 1974: Woking
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Conservative Cranley Onslow 22,80446.04−0.29
Liberal P. Wade14,06928.40−4.01
Labour J. W. Tattersall11,73723.70+2.44
National Front R. Vaughan-Smith9211.86N/A
Majority8,73517.64+3.72
Turnout 49,53172.93−7.94
Conservative hold Swing +1.9
General election February 1974: Woking
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Conservative Cranley Onslow 25,24346.33−10.38
Liberal P. Wade17,66032.41+17.54
Labour J. W. Tattersall11,58321.26−7.16
Majority7,58313.92−14.37
Turnout 54,48680.87+10.99
Conservative hold Swing -14.0
General election 1970: Woking
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Conservative Cranley Onslow 37,22056.71+5.31
Labour R. M. Taylor18,65228.42−2.38
Liberal P. Wade9,76314.87−2.93
Majority18,56828.29+7.69
Turnout 65,63569.88−7.23
Conservative hold Swing +3.8

Elections in the 1960s

General election 1966: Woking
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Conservative Cranley Onslow 32,05751.40−0.30
Labour Michael Downing19,21030.80+1.22
Liberal Agnes H. Scott11,10417.80−0.92
Majority12,84720.60−1.52
Turnout 62,37177.11−0.98
Conservative hold Swing -0.8
General election 1964: Woking
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Conservative Cranley Onslow 31,17051.70−15.70
Labour H. G. N. Clother17,83429.58−3.02
Liberal Agnes H. Scott11,28518.72N/A
Majority13,33622.12−12.68
Turnout 60,28978.09+0.74
Conservative hold Swing -6.3

Elections in the 1950s

General election 1959: Woking
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Conservative Harold Watkinson 33,52167.40+2.99
Labour R David Vaughan Williams16,21032.60−2.99
Majority17,31134.80+5.98
Turnout 49,73177.35+1.63
Conservative hold Swing +3.0
General election 1955: Woking
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Conservative Harold Watkinson 27,86064.41−0.54
Labour R David Vaughan Williams15,39335.59+0.54
Majority12,46728.82−1.08
Turnout 43,25375.72−3.01
Conservative hold Swing -0.5
General election 1951: Woking
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Conservative Harold Watkinson 26,52264.95+6.97
Labour W. Eric Wolff14,31335.05+3.86
Majority12,20929.90+3.11
Turnout 40,83578.73−4.51
Conservative hold Swing +1.6
General election 1950: Woking
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Conservative Harold Watkinson 24,45457.98
Labour T. Davies13,15731.19
Liberal Michael Fernley Turner-Bridger4,56710.83
Majority11,29726.79
Turnout 42,17883.24
Conservative win (new seat)

See also

Notes

  1. ↑ All extant UK seats elect one Member of Parliament (MP) by the first past the post system of election, as from the outset in Woking in 1950

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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. ↑ Electoral Calculus https://www.electoralcalculus.co.uk/fcgi-bin/seatdetails.py?seat=Woking
  3. ↑ "Conservative Members of Parliament 2015". UK Political.info. Archived from the original on 8 June 2017. Retrieved 12 February 2017.
  4. ↑ "The Parliamentary Constituencies Order 2023". Schedule 1 Part 6 South East region.
  5. ↑ Leigh Rayment's Historical List of MPs – Constituencies beginning with "W" (part 5)
  6. ↑ "Woking results". BBC News Online . 5 July 2024. Retrieved 5 July 2024.
  7. ↑ "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.
  8. ↑ "Statement of Persons Nominated, Notice of Poll and Situation of Polling Stations" (PDF). Woking Borough Council. 14 November 2019. Retrieved 14 November 2019.
  9. ↑ "Woking Parliamentary constituency". BBC News Online . 13 December 2019. Retrieved 13 December 2019.
  10. ↑ "Known candidates for Woking in the 2017 general election". Democracy Club. 12 May 2017. Archived from the original on 14 May 2017. Retrieved 14 May 2017.
  11. ↑ "Election Data 2015". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 17 October 2015. Retrieved 17 October 2015.
  12. ↑ "UK 2015 general election results in full". The Guardian . 8 May 2015. Retrieved 14 May 2017.
  13. ↑ "Election Data 2010". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 26 July 2013. Retrieved 17 October 2015.
  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. ↑ "Election Data 1992". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
  18. ↑ "Politics Resources". Election 1992. Politics Resources. 9 April 1992. Retrieved 6 December 2010.
  19. ↑ "Election Data 1987". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
  20. ↑ "Election Data 1983". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.

Sources

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