Epsom and Ewell (UK Parliament constituency)

Template:UK constituency infobox 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.

In 2005 the Boundary Commission has made its final recommendations for boundary alterations in Surrey. Proposed changes to Epsom & Ewell will 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 2001 is Chris Grayling of the Conservative Party, who has been Shadow Secretary of State for the Home Department since January 2009. He has been accused of abusing expenses by The Daily Telegraph.

Year		Member	Party
1885		constituency created as Epsom
style="background-color: Template:Conservative Party (UK)/meta/color" |	1885	George Cubitt	Conservative
style="background-color: Template:Conservative Party (UK)/meta/color" |	1892	Thomas Townsend Bucknill	Conservative
style="background-color: Template:Conservative Party (UK)/meta/color" |	1899	William Keswick	Conservative
style="background-color: Template:Conservative Party (UK)/meta/color" |	1912	Henry Keswick	Conservative
style="background-color: Template:Conservative Party (UK)/meta/color" |	1918	George Blades	Conservative
style="background-color: Template:Conservative Party (UK)/meta/color" |	1928 by-election	Archibald Southby	Conservative
style="background-color: Template:Conservative Party (UK)/meta/color" |	1947 by-election	Malcolm McCorquodale	Conservative
style="background-color: Template:Conservative Party (UK)/meta/color" |	1955	Peter Rawlinson	Conservative
1974		constituency renamed Epsom and Ewell
style="background-color: Template:Conservative Party (UK)/meta/color" |	1974	Peter Rawlinson	Conservative
style="background-color: Template:Conservative Party (UK)/meta/color" |	1978	Archie Hamilton	Conservative
style="background-color: Template:Conservative Party (UK)/meta/color" |	2001	Chris Grayling	Conservative

Elections

The Labour Party has selected South London solicitor Craig Montgomery as its candidate for the next General Election.

Confirmed candidates for the next General Election: Epsom and Ewell

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Conservative	Chris Grayling
	Liberal Democrats	Jonathan Lees
	Labour	Craig Montgomery
	UKIP	Elizabeth Parker

General Election 2005: Epsom and Ewell

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Conservative	Chris Grayling	27,146	54.4	+6.3
	Liberal Democrats	Jonathan Lees	10,699	21.4	−0.7
	Labour	Charlie Mansell	10,265	20.6	−5.9
	UKIP	Peter Kefford	1,769	3.5	+0.2
Majority			16,447	33.0
Turnout			49,879	66.1	3.3
	Conservative hold		Swing	+3.5

General Election 2001: Epsom and Ewell

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Conservative	Chris Grayling	22,430	48.1	+2.5
	Labour	Charlie Mansell	12,350	26.5	+2.1
	Liberal Democrats	John Vincent	10,316	22.1	−0.7
	UKIP	Graham Webster-Gardiner	1,547	3.3	+2.3
Majority			10,080	21.6
Turnout			46,643	62.8	−11.2
	Conservative hold		Swing

General Election 1997: Epsom and Ewell

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Conservative	Archibald Hamilton	24,717	45.6	−14.6
	Labour	Philip Woodford	13,192	24.3	+8.6
	Liberal Democrats	John Vincent	12,380	22.8	−0.7
	Referendum	Christopher Macdonald	2,355	4.3
	UKIP	Harold Green	544	1.0
	Green	Hugo Charlton	527	1.0
	Prolife Alliance	Katherine Weeks	466	0.9
Majority			11,525	21.3
Turnout
	Conservative hold		Swing

General Election 1992: Epsom and Ewell

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Conservative	Archibald Hamilton	32,861	60.2	−2.0
	Liberal Democrats	Martin Emerson	12,840	23.5	+0.3
	Labour	Richard Warren	8,577	15.7	+1.2
	Natural Law	G Hatchard	334	0.6
Majority			20,021	36.7	−2.3
Turnout			68,138	80.1	+4.7
	Conservative hold		Swing

Sources

• Historical List of MPs
• Election result, 2005 (BBC)
• Election results, 1997 - 2001 (BBC)
• Election results, 1997 - 2001 (Election Demon)
• Election results, 1983 - 1992 (Election Demon)
• Election results, 1992 - 2005 (Guardian)
• Election results, 1951 - 1979 (Keele University)

See also

• List of Parliamentary constituencies in Surrey