Epsom and Ewell (UK Parliament constituency)

UK constituency infobox
Name = Epsom and Ewell
Map1 = EpsomEwell
Map2 = Surrey
Entity = Surrey
Type = Borough
Year = 1885
Entity = Surrey
County = Surrey
EP = South East England
MP = Chris Grayling
Party = Conservative

Epsom and Ewell is a borough constituency represented in the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. It elects one Member of Parliament (MP) by the first past the post system of election.

Boundaries

The seat contains the entirety of the borough of Epsom and Ewell. At various times it has also contained areas around the borough. Currently it contains Ashtead, which is part of the Mole Valley district, and the wards of Nork, Tattenhams and Preston from the Reigate and Banstead borough. Before 1997 it lacked Ashtead but instead included Banstead from Reigate and Banstead.

As of 2005 the Boundary Commission has made its final recommendations for boundary alterations in Surrey. Proposed changes to Epsom & Ewell would see the relignment of the boundary with Mole Valley in the Ashtead and Leatherhead area line with the recent adjustment of local government wards, although these proposed changes do not move any voters. In addition the Preston ward will be transferred to Reigate to bring that constituency's electorate closer to the county average.

History

The constituency was established for the 1885 general election as Epsom from part of the East Surrey constituency.

In Westminster elections, Epsom & Ewell is one of the strongest Conservative areas in the country. However locally the borough council is controlled by the Epsom and Ewell Residents Association, with the Conservatives lacking a firm base here and until recently rarely contested elections. There are also a number of Residents Association councillors in the Reigate & Banstead wards in the constituency, although in the Mole Valley wards the Conservatives have a stronger base and several elected councillors.

In 1974, the constituency acquired its current name.

In 1987, Barbara Follett, later Member of Parliament for Stevenage, stood for Labour in the constituency.

Few expect the seat to change hands in normal circumstances, unless there is an apocalyptic election for the Conservatives.

Members of Parliament

The Member of Parliament since the 2001 general election is Chris Grayling of the Conservative Party. He succeeded Sir Archie Hamilton, who had represented the seat since a by-election in 1978.

Elections

Election box begin
title=General Election 2005: Epsom and EwellElection box candidate with party link
party = Conservative Party (UK)
candidate = Chris Grayling
votes = 27,146
percentage = 54.4
change = +6.3Election box candidate with party link
party = Liberal Democrats (UK)
candidate = Jonathan Lees
votes = 10,699
percentage = 21.4
change = -0.7Election box candidate with party link
party = Labour Party (UK)
candidate = Charlie Mansell
votes = 10,265
percentage = 20.6
change = -5.9Election box candidate with party link
party = United Kingdom Independence Party
candidate = Peter Kefford
votes = 1,769
percentage = 3.5
change = +0.2Election box majority
votes = 16,447
percentage = 33.0
change = Election box turnout
votes = 49,879
percentage = 66.1
change = 3.3Election box hold with party link
winner = Conservative Party (UK)
swing = +3.5

Election box begin
title=General Election 2001: Epsom and EwellElection box candidate with party link
party = Conservative Party (UK)
candidate = Chris Grayling
votes = 22,430
percentage = 48.1
change = +2.5Election box candidate with party link
party = Labour Party (UK)
candidate = Charlie Mansell
votes = 12,350
percentage = 26.5
change = +2.1Election box candidate with party link
party = Liberal Democrats (UK)
candidate = John Vincent
votes = 10,316
percentage = 22.1
change = -0.7Election box candidate with party link
party = United Kingdom Independence Party
candidate = Graham Webster-Gardiner
votes = 1,547
percentage = 3.3
change = +2.3Election box majority
votes = 10,080
percentage = 21.6
change = Election box turnout
votes = 46,643
percentage = 62.8
change = -11.2Election box hold with party link
winner = Conservative Party (UK)
swing =

Election box begin
title=General Election 1997: Epsom and EwellElection box candidate with party link
party = Conservative Party (UK)
candidate = Archibald Hamilton
votes = 24,717
percentage = 45.6
change = -14.6Election box candidate with party link
party = Labour Party (UK)
candidate = Philip Woodford
votes = 13,192
percentage = 24.3
change = +8.6Election box candidate with party link
party = Liberal Democrats (UK)
candidate = John Vincent
votes = 12,380
percentage = 22.8
change = -0.7Election box candidate with party link
party = Referendum Party
candidate = Christopher Macdonald
votes = 2,355
percentage = 4.3
change =Election box candidate with party link
party = United Kingdom Independence Party
candidate = Harold Green
votes = 544
percentage = 1.0
change =Election box candidate with party link
party = Green Party of England and Wales
candidate = Hugo Charlton
votes = 527
percentage = 1.0
change =Election box candidate with party link
party = Prolife Alliance
candidate = Katherine Weeks
votes = 466
percentage = 0.9
change =Election box majority
votes = 11,525
percentage = 21.3
change = Election box turnout
votes =
percentage =
change = Election box hold with party link
winner = Conservative Party (UK)
swing =

Election box begin
title=General Election 1992: Epsom and EwellElection box candidate with party link
party = Conservative Party (UK)
candidate = Archibald Hamilton
votes = 32,861
percentage = 60.2
change = -2.0Election box candidate with party link
party = Liberal Democrats (UK)
candidate = Martin Emerson
votes = 12,840
percentage = 23.5
change = +0.3Election box candidate with party link
party = Labour Party (UK)
candidate = Richard Warren
votes = 8,577
percentage = 15.7
change = +1.2Election box candidate with party link
party = Natural Law Party
candidate = G Hatchard
votes = 334
percentage = 0.6
change =Election box majority
votes = 20,021
percentage = 36.7
change = -2.3Election box turnout
votes = 68,138
percentage = 80.1
change = +4.7Election box hold with party link
winner = Conservative Party (UK)
swing =

Sources

* [http://www.angeltowns.com/town/peerage/ecommons2.htm Historical List of MPs]
* [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/shared/vote2005/html/240.stm Election result, 2005] (BBC)
* [http://news.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/static/vote2001/results_constituencies/constituencies/240.stm Election results, 1997 - 2001] (BBC)
* [http://www.election.demon.co.uk/1997EB.html Election results, 1997 - 2001] (Election Demon)
* [http://www.election.demon.co.uk/1983EB.html Election results, 1983 - 1992] (Election Demon)
* [http://politics.guardian.co.uk/hoc/constituency/history/0,9571,-928,00.html Election results, 1992 - 2005] (Guardian)
* [http://www.psr.keele.ac.uk/area/uk/edates.htm Election results, 1951 - 1979] (Keele University)

See also

* List of Parliamentary constituencies in Surrey