Guildford_(UK_Parliament_constituency)

Guildford (UK Parliament constituency)

Guildford (UK Parliament constituency)

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Guildford is a constituency[n 1] in Surrey represented in the House of Commons of the UK Parliament since 2019 by Angela Richardson, a Conservative.[n 2]

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Constituency profile

The seat covers Guildford itself and a more rural area within the Surrey Hills AONB. The seat voted Remain in the 2016 EU referendum, and has wealthier and healthier residents than the national average.[2]

History

From the first Commons in the Model Parliament of 1295 Guildford was a parliamentary borough sending two members to Parliament until 1868[3][n 3] and one until 1885. In the latter years of sending two members a bloc vote system of elections was used. Until 1885 the electorate in the town of Guildford elected the member(s) of parliament,[4] which expanded in 1885 into a county division under the Redistribution of Seats Act 1885.

Early political history

The seat elected between 1868 and 2001 Conservatives. Exceptions in this period took place when the two-then-three main British parties' policies were beginning to coalesce. The first was a continuation of the centuries-old representation of Guildford by influential members of the Earl of Onslow's family, including a single member winning three widely spaced elections, before being defeated by a further member of the same family in its minor Sussex and British Indian branch, then the majority of the seat's voters were again swayed toward the Liberal landslide of the 1906 general election.

Modern political history

Successive elections in 2001 and 2005 saw marginal majorities of under 2% of the vote - in favour of a Liberal Democrat and then a Conservative. The 2015 result brought the incumbent MP a Conservative majority of more than 41%, up from 14% in 2010. The seat swung substantially to the Liberal Democrats in 2019, and is now a marginal again with a Conservative majority of just over 3,000 votes.

Boundaries

Context of 1906.
Context of 1923
Map of current boundaries

1885–1918: The Boroughs of Guildford and Godalming, the Sessional Division of Farnham, and part of the Sessional Division of Guildford.

1918–1950: The Boroughs of Guildford and Godalming, the Urban District of Haslemere,[lower-alpha 1] the Rural District of Hambledon,[lower-alpha 1] and the Rural District of Guildford[lower-alpha 2] except the civil parish of Pirbright.

  1. Was part of Sessional Division of Farnham, the remainder of which formed, with Woking and most of modern Surrey Heath a new seat, named Farnham
  2. This meant rural gains from Chertsey e.g. Send, Ripley, E. & W. Clandon and E. & W. Horsley

1950–1983: The Borough of Guildford, in the Rural District of Guildford the parishes of Artington, Compton, Puttenham, Shackleford, Shalford, Wanborough, and Worplesdon, and in the Rural District of Hambledon the parishes of Alfold, Bramley, Busbridge, Cranleigh, Dunsfold, Ewhurst, Hambledon, Hascombe, and Wonersh.

1983–1997: The Borough of Guildford wards of Christchurch, Friary and St Nicolas, Holy Trinity, Merrow and Burpham, Onslow, Pilgrims, Shalford, Stoke, Stoughton, Tongham, Westborough, and Worplesdon, and the District of Waverley wards of Blackheath and Wonersh, Bramley, Cranleigh East, Cranleigh West, Ewhurst, and Shamley Green.

1997–2010: As above less Tongham ward.

2010–present: The Borough of Guildford wards of Burpham, Christchurch, Friary and St Nicolas, Holy Trinity, Merrow, Onslow, Pilgrims, Shalford, Stoke, Stoughton, Westborough, and Worplesdon, and the Borough of Waverley wards of Alfold, Blackheath and Wonersh, Cranleigh East, Cranleigh Rural and Ellens Green, Cranleigh West, Ewhurst, and Shamley Green and Cranleigh North.

The seat, at greatest limits from 1885 to 1918, still comprises Guildford and nearby parts of Surrey.

Proposed

Further to the 2023 Periodic Review of Westminster constituencies, enacted by the Parliamentary Constituencies Order 2023, from the next general election, due by January 2025, the constituency will be composed of the following (as they existed on 1 December 2020):

  • The Borough of Guildford wards of: Burpham; Christchurch; Clandon and Horsley; Effingham; Friary and St. Nicolas; Holy Trinity; Lovelace; Merrow; Onslow; Send; Stoke; Stoughton; Westborough; Worplesdon.[5]

The electorate will be reduced to bring it within the permitted range by transferring the parts in the Borough of Waverley, including Cranleigh to the newly created constituency of Godalming and Ash (except the small Ewhurst ward, which will be included in Dorking and Horley). To compensate, the wards of Clandon and Horsley, Effingham, Lovelace, and Send will become part of the constituency, moving from the former Mole Valley constituency.[6]

Following a local government boundary review which came into effect in May 2023,[7][8] the constituency will now comprise the following wards of the Borough of Guildford from the next general election:

  • Bellfields & Slyfield; Burpham; Castle; Clandon & Horsley; Effingham; Merrow; Onslow; Send & Lovelace; St. Nicolas; Stoke; Stoughton North; Stoughton South; Westborough; Worplesdon.[6]

Members of Parliament

MPs 1295–1640

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MPs 1640–1868

prior to 1868 the constituency was jointly represented by two MPs

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MPs since 1868

Elections

Results of the UK House of Commons seat Guildford, created in 1295, since 2001.

Elections in the 2020s

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Elections in the 2010s

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Elections in the 2000s

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Elections in the 1990s

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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.

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Elections in the 1980s

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Elections in the 1970s

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Elections in the 1960s

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Elections in the 1950s

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Boundaries were redrawn in time for the 1950 general election. From 1918 to 1950 the three parts of western Surrey are set out at the 1918 results below. The next change saw an additional seat duty carved out, to be Woking. As a result, Guildford, now oversized, shrank considerably in area and population. To the south the areas of Godalming, Elstead, Thursley, Whitley, Haslemere and Chiddingford were added to the Farnham seat. To the east Send, Ripley, Wisley, Ockham, St Martha, Albury, Shere, Clandon and Horsley were added to Dorking.[39]

These boundaries centred on the town of Guildford plus an area southwards towards Cranleigh, became, with small changes in later reviews, form the basic shape for Guildford until present.

Elections in the 1940s

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Elections in the 1930s

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Elections in the 1920s

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Elections in the 1910s

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From 1885 to 1918 the west part of Surrey had been represented by two seats - in the north the seat of Chertsey, in the south that of Guildford. Boundaries were redrawn for proper apportionment in time for the 1918 general election such that the same area saw three seats - Farnham in the west, Chertsey in the north east and Guildford in the south east.

As a result, the seat lost the areas of Ash, Normandy, Seale, Frensham and Farnham, towards its west, but to the east gained the areas of Merrow, Send, Ripley, Ockham, Wisley, Clandon and Horsley from Chertsey.[43]

Horne
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Methuen
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Elections in the 1900s

Cowan
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Elections in the 1890s

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Elections in the 1880s

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Constituency boundaries were redrawn in time for the 1885 general election. From 1868 to 1885 the west part of Surrey had been represented by two constituencies, one known as Guildford (which consisted of the town centre of Guildford and little else) and one constituency known as Surrey Western, which comprised the rest of that part of the county of Surrey. The Guildford constituency was both geographically and in size of electorate significantly smaller than the Surrey Western constituency. The 1885 to 1918 constituency boundaries saw the area of west Surrey divided into two constituencies more equal in size of population and land area. The north part of west Surrey was given the constituency name Chertsey, the south part Guildford.[48]

[49]

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Elections in the 1870s

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Elections in the 1860s

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Constituency boundaries were redrawn in time for the 1868 election.

Prior to the 1868 general election, the constituency of Guildford was represented by two Members of Parliament. That was reduced to one from 1868 onwards.

The 1868 to 1885 constituency known as Guildford was geographically limited to an area around the current centre of Guildford town. This is in marked contrast to the various post-1885 versions of the constituency known as Guildford all of which have had a much greater geographical area. The 1868 constituency was, at its maximum, little over one mile east to west, and just over one mile north to south.[51] (Most of the area which is in the modern constituency of Guildford would in 1868 have been part of the Surrey Western Constituency, rather than the Guildford Constituency.)

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The 17 December 1866 by-election was caused by Bovill resigning as an MP following his appointment to judicial office, namely Chief Justice of the Court of Common Pleas.

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The 11 July 1866 by-election resulted from the need of Bovill to seek re-election upon his appointment as Solicitor General for England and Wales. Long withdrew from the contest before polling.[53]

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Elections in the 1850s

Party designations for many candidates during the 1830s, 1840s and 1850s can be problematic as party ties were not as strong as those that developed, in Britain, in the late 19th century. Therefore, for the 1830s to 1850s election results, listed below, the term Liberal includes Whigs and Radicals; and the term Conservative includes Tories and Peelites, unless otherwise specified.

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The 22 October 1858 by-election was caused by RD Mangles resigning as an MP following his appointment as Member of the Council of India.

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Elections in the 1840s

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Elections in the 1830s

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Constituency boundaries were redrawn in time for the 1832 general election.[59]

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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.
  3. At the 1806 general election, two Tories were returned: Onslow and Sumner. However, a petition was lodged, and on 16 March 1807 Sumner's election was overturned in favour of the 3rd-placed candidate, the Whig Chapple Norton
  4. Due to ward changes somewhat notional (Con-Lib Dem) swing and (Con-Lab) was higher: -9.45
  5. Con to Lib
  6. Notional, based on pact kept here for Liberals to field candidates, pre-merger in forming the Liberal Democrats
  7. Notional Con to SDP swing, most of this swing was Lab and Lib to SDP, shown by the single party swing of -2.2%
  8. Again mostly an opposite sign swing caused by a larger other two-party swing. Here: Lib to Lab
  9. Theoretical Con-Lab swing but wiped out by gains from an additional opponent party, a Liberal

References

  1. "Electorate Figures - Boundary Commission for England". 2011 Electorate Figures. Boundary Commission for England. 4 March 2011. Archived from the original on 6 November 2010. Retrieved 13 March 2011.
  2. Reform Act 1867: representation reduced to one seat with effect from the 1868 general election.
  3. "The Parliamentary Constituencies Order 2023". Schedule 1 Part 6 South East region.
  4. "Guildford: New Boundaries 2023 Calculation". Electoral Calculus. 23 March 2023.
  5. LGBCE. "Guildford | LGBCE". www.lgbce.org.uk. Retrieved 1 April 2024.
  6. "History of Parliament". History of Parliament Trust. Retrieved 29 October 2011.
  7. "History of Parliament". History of Parliament Trust. Retrieved 29 October 2011.
  8. "History of Parliament". History of Parliament Trust. Retrieved 29 October 2011.
  9. Stooks Smith, Henry (1845). The Parliaments of England, from 1st George I., to the Present Time. Vol II: Oxfordshire to Wales Inclusive. London: Simpkin, Marshall, & Co. pp. 66–68.
  10. For political affiliation see Stoke next Guildford pp57-8, 1999 edition, author Lyn Clark, publisher Phillimore.
  11. "Elections Decided". Manchester Courier and Lancashire General Advertiser. 10 July 1841. p. 6. Retrieved 5 November 2018 via British Newspaper Archive.
  12. "Towns and Cities of England and Wales". Newcastle Journal. 10 July 1841. p. 4. Retrieved 5 November 2018 via British Newspaper Archive.
  13. Kinealy, Christine (2013). "Notes". Charity and the Great Hunger in Ireland: The Kindness of Strangers. London: Bloomsbury. p. 345. ISBN 978-1-4411-7660-8. Retrieved 13 May 2018.
  14. "Guildford". London Standard. 2 July 1852. p. 4. Retrieved 13 May 2018.
  15. "Guildford Election". Exeter and Plymouth Gazette. 10 July 1852. pp. 4, 7. Retrieved 13 May 2018 via British Newspaper Archive.
  16. For political affiliation see Guildford p180, 1982 edition, author ER Chamberlin, publisher Phillimore.
  17. "News of the Week". Hertford Mercury and Reformer. 30 October 1858. p. 4. Retrieved 13 May 2018 via British Newspaper Archive.
  18. "Town Talk". Usk Observer, Raglan Herald, and Monmouthshire Central Advertiser. 30 October 1858. p. 2. Retrieved 13 May 2018 via British Newspaper Archive.
  19. "Guildford Constituency". Reform UK. Retrieved 17 February 2024.
  20. "Guildford Parliamentary constituency". BBC News. BBC. Retrieved 27 November 2019.
  21. "Guildford". Retrieved 1 April 2017.
  22. "Election Data 2015". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 17 October 2015. Retrieved 17 October 2015.
  23. "Election Data 2010". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 26 July 2013. Retrieved 17 October 2015.
  24. "Election Data 2005". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
  25. "Election Data 2001". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
  26. "Election Data 1997". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
  27. "Election Data 1992". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
  28. "Politics Resources". Election 1992. Politics Resources. 9 April 1992. Archived from the original on 24 July 2011. Retrieved 6 December 2010.
  29. "Election Data 1987". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
  30. "Election Data 1983". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
  31. 1918-1929 results see British Parliamentary Election Results 1918-1949 FWS Craig
  32. See http://vision.port.ac.uk/maps/sheet/bc_reports_1917/Surrey_1917 for map of constituencies used in 1918 and compare to http://vision.port.ac.uk/maps/sheet/bc_reports_1885/Surrey_1885 for map of 1885-1918 constituencies.
  33. 1885-1910 results see British Parliamentary Results 1885-1918 FWS Craig
  34. Craig, FWS, ed. (1974). British Parliamentary Election Results: 1885-1918. London: Macmillan Press. ISBN 9781349022984.
  35. Lythgoe, Darrin. "Horace Davey". Tatham Family History. Retrieved 22 November 2017.
  36. Craig, F. W. S., ed. (1977). British Parliamentary Election Results 1832-1885 (e-book) (1st ed.). London: Macmillan Press. ISBN 978-1-349-02349-3.
  37. "The Pollings". Huddersfield Chronicle. 3 April 1880. p. 7. Retrieved 28 November 2017 via British Newspaper Archive.
  38. The boundary ran roughly from just west of Guildford Railway Station, to Cross Lanes in the east. See http://vision.port.ac.uk/maps/sheet/bc_reports_1868/Guildford_1868 for further details.
  39. "The by-elections". London Evening Standard. 12 July 1866. pp. 5–6. Retrieved 15 February 2018 via British Newspaper Archive.
  40. "Election Intelligence". Suffolk and Essex Free Press. 19 July 1866. p. 3. Retrieved 15 February 2018 via British Newspaper Archive.
  41. "To the Electors of the Borough of Guildford". Surrey Advertiser. 22 July 1865. p. 1. Retrieved 15 February 2018 via British Newspaper Archive.
  42. "Guildford Election". West Surrey Times. 30 October 1858. p. 1. Retrieved 13 May 2018 via British Newspaper Archive.
  43. "West Surrey". Windsor and Eton Express. 24 July 1852. p. 2. Retrieved 13 May 2018 via British Newspaper Archive.
  44. "Guildford Election". Sussex Advertiser. 3 August 1847. p. 3. Retrieved 5 November 2018 via British Newspaper Archive.
  45. "6 January 1835". London Courier and Evening Gazette. p. 3. Retrieved 13 April 2020 via British Newspaper Archive.
  46. Jenkins, Terry; Spencer, Howard. "Guildford". The History of Parliament. Retrieved 13 April 2020.

Sources

51.246°N 0.552°W / 51.246; -0.552


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