Richmond Park (UK Parliament constituency)

Last updated

Richmond Park
Borough constituency
for the House of Commons
RichmondPark2007Constituency.svg
Boundary of Richmond Park in Greater London
County Greater London
Electorate 77,071 [1]
Major settlements Richmond and part of Kingston
Current constituency
Created 1997
Member of Parliament Sarah Olney (Liberal Democrats)
SeatsOne
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.

Contents

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.

History

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]

Constituency profile

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%. [6] In 2022, 4.2% of Richmond Park residents have been grant non domicile status to avoid paying tax in the UK. [7]

Boundaries

Richmond Park (UK Parliament constituency)
Map of current boundaries

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–present: 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.

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.

From Kingston Railway Bridge the limits clockwise are: 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 1] the park walls to Robin Hood Gate on the A3 road; the Beverley Brook south, [n 2] 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 comprises the old Surrey part of Richmond upon Thames (borough), Coombe, Norbiton, and half of Kingston upon Thames. [8]

Fifth Boundary Review

As part of its Fifth Periodic Review of Westminster constituencies, the Boundary Commission [n 3] 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. [1] [9] The new boundaries came into effect at the 2010 general election.

2023 Boundary Review

Richmond Park in 2023 Richmond Park 2023 Constituency.svg
Richmond Park in 2023

Further to the 2023 Periodic Review of Westminster constituencies, enacted by the Parliamentary Constituencies Order 2023, the composition of the constituency from the next general election, due by January 2025, 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. [10]

Following a local government boundary review of Kingston-upon-Thames [11] which came into effect in May 2022 [12] , the constituency will now comprise the following from the next general election:

Members of Parliament

ElectionMemberParty
1997 Jenny Tonge Liberal Democrats
2005 Susan Kramer Liberal Democrats
2010 Zac Goldsmith Conservative
2016 by-election Sarah Olney Liberal Democrats
2017 Zac Goldsmith Conservative
2019 Sarah Olney Liberal Democrats

Elections

Results of all deposit-keeping candidates in their bid to be the MP for Richmond Park (UK House of Commons) Results for Richmond Park.svg
Results of all deposit-keeping candidates in their bid to be the MP for Richmond Park (UK House of Commons)

Elections in the 2020s

Next general election: Richmond Park
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Conservative Sara Gezdari [14]
Liberal Democrats Sarah Olney [15]
Green Chas Warlow [16]

Elections in the 2010s

General election 2019: Richmond Park [17] [18]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Liberal Democrats Sarah Olney 34,559 53.1 +8.0
Conservative Zac Goldsmith 26,79341.2―3.9
Labour Sandra Keen3,4075.2―3.9
Independent Caroline Shah2470.4New
Independent John Usher610.1New
Majority7,76611.9N/A
Turnout 65,06779.0―0.1
Registered electors 82,699
Liberal Democrats gain from Conservative Swing +6.0
General election 2017: Richmond Park [19]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Conservative Zac Goldsmith [20] 28,588 45.1 ―13.1
Liberal Democrats Sarah Olney 28,54345.1+25.8
Labour Cate Tuitt5,7739.1―3.2
UKIP Peter Jewell4260.7New
Majority450.0―38.9
Turnout 63,33079.1+2.6
Registered electors 80,025
Conservative gain from Liberal Democrats Swing ―19.4
2016 Richmond Park by-election [21] [22] [23]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Liberal Democrats Sarah Olney 20,510 49.6 +30.3
Independent Zac Goldsmith 18,63845.1―13.1 [n 4]
Labour Christian Wolmar 1,5153.6―8.7
Monster Raving Loony Howling Laud Hope 1840.4New
Independent Fiona Syms1730.4New
CPA Dominic Stockford1640.4New
One Love Maharaja Jammu and Kashmir670.1New
No labelDavid Powell320.0New
Majority1,8724.5N/A
Turnout 41,28353.6―22.9
Registered electors 77,243
Liberal Democrats gain from Conservative Swing +21.7 [n 5]
General election 2015: Richmond Park [24] [25] [26]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Conservative Zac Goldsmith 34,404 58.2 +8.5
Liberal Democrats Robin Meltzer11,38919.3―23.5
Labour Sachin Patel [27] 7,29612.3+7.3
Green Andrée Frieze [28] 3,5486.0+5.0
UKIP Sam Naz [29] 2,4644.2+3.1
Majority23,01538.9+32.0
Turnout 59,10176.5―0.4
Registered electors 77,303
Conservative hold Swing +16.0
General election 2010: Richmond Park [30] [31] [32]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Conservative Zac Goldsmith 29,461 49.7 +10.1
Liberal Democrats Susan Kramer 25,37042.8-3.8
Labour Eleanor Tunnicliffe2,9795.0-4.2
UKIP Peter Dul6691.1+0.2
Green James Page5721.0-1.7
CPA Susan May1330.2-0.3
Independent Charles Hill840.1New
Majority4,0916.9N/A
Turnout 59,26876.9+3.7
Registered electors 77,751
Conservative gain from Liberal Democrats Swing -7.0

Elections in the 2000s

General election 2005: Richmond Park [33]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Liberal Democrats Susan Kramer 24,011 46.7 -1.0
Conservative Marco Forgione20,28039.5+1.9
Labour James Butler4,7689.3-2.0
Green James Page1,3792.7+0.2
UKIP Peter Dul4580.9+0.2
CPA Peter Flower2880.6New
Independent Margaret Harrison830.2New
Rainbow Dream Ticket Rainbow George Weiss 630.1New
Independent Richard Meacock440.1New
Majority3,7317.2-2.9
Turnout 51,37472.8+4.8
Registered electors 69,992
Liberal Democrats hold Swing -1.4
General election 2001: Richmond Park [34]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Liberal Democrats Jenny Tonge 23,444 47.7 +3.0
Conservative Tom Harris18,48037.6―1.9
Labour Barry Langford5,54111.3―1.3
Green James Page1,2232.5New
UKIP Peter Howe3480.7New
Independent Raymond Perrin1150.2New
Majority4,96410.1+4.9
Turnout 49,15167.6―11.9
Registered electors 72,251
Liberal Democrats hold Swing +2.4

Elections in the 1990s

General election 1997: Richmond Park [35] [36]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Liberal Democrats Jenny Tonge 25,393 44.7 +7.0
Conservative Jeremy Hanley 22,44239.5-12.4
Labour Sue Jenkins7,17212.6+3.8
Referendum Jake Pugh1,4672.6New
Monster Raving Loony David Beaupre2040.4New
Natural Law Bruno D'Arcy1020.2New
Rainbow Dream Ticket Peter Davies730.1New
Majority2,9515.2N/A
Turnout 56,85379.0
Registered electors 71,951
Liberal Democrats win (new seat)

See also

Notes

  1. Thus east is Roehampton in the London Borough of Wandsworth, part of Putney seat
  2. Having included the residential section of the A3 at the Beverley Brook Interchange
  3. For the subregion used see South London
  4. Compared to his vote share as a Conservative candidate at the previous election.
  5. Calculated on the basis of the vote share for Zac Goldsmith as a Conservative at the previous election and as an Independent at this election.

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References

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51°26′49″N0°16′41″W / 51.447°N 0.278°W / 51.447; -0.278