Weald of Kent is a constituency of the House of Commons in the UK Parliament.[2] Further to the completion of the 2023 Periodic Review of Westminster constituencies, it was first contested at the 2024 general election. The current MP is Katie Lam.
| Weald of Kent | |
|---|---|
| County constituency for the House of Commons | |
 Boundaries since 2024 | |
 Boundary of Weald of Kent in South East England | |
| County | Kent |
| Electorate | 70,110 (2023)[1] |
| Major settlements | Tenterden, Cranbrook, Coxheath, Staplehurst |
| Current constituency | |
| Created | 2024 |
| Member of Parliament | Katie Lam (Conservative) |
| Seats | One |
| Created from | |
Constituency profile
editThis is one of the most rural seats in the South East, unlike its neighbours which each include at least one large town. House prices and incomes are significantly above UK averages. Electoral Calculus characterises the proposed seat as "Strong Right", with right-wing economic and social views, high home ownership levels and strong support for Brexit.[3]
Boundaries
editThe constituency is composed of the following (as they existed on 1 December 2020):
- The Borough of Ashford wards of: Biddenden, Charing, Downs North [Chilham], Downs West [Challock], Isle of Oxney, Kingsnorth Village & Bridgefield, Rolvenden & Tenterden West, Tenterden North, Tenterden South, Tenterden St Michael's, Weald Central [Bethersden], Weald North [Smarden], Weald South [Hamstreet & Woodchurch];
- The Borough of Maidstone wards of: Boughton Monchelsea and Chart Sutton, Coxheath and Hunton, Headcorn, Loose, Marden and Yalding, Staplehurst, Sutton Valence and Langley;
- The Borough of Tunbridge Wells wards of: Benenden and Cranbrook, Frittenden and Sissinghurst.[4]
It is a mostly rural area in the centre of Kent, including Tenterden, Coxheath, Staplehurst, Headcorn and Cranbrook. The seat was previously part of the Ashford, Maidstone and the Weald, and Faversham and Mid Kent constituencies.
Members of Parliament
editAshford and Maidstone and the Weald prior to 2024
| Election | Member | Party | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | Katie Lam | Conservative | |
Elections
editElections in the 2020s
edit| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Conservative | Katie Lam | 20,202 | 39.8 | –32.2 | |
| Labour | Lenny Rolles | 11,780 | 23.2 | +9.1 | |
| Reform UK | Daniel Kersten | 10,208 | 20.1 | N/A | |
| Green | Kate Walder | 4,547 | 9.0 | +5.1 | |
| Liberal Democrats | John Howson | 3,975 | 7.8 | −2.3 | |
| Majority | 8,422 | 16.6 | –41.3 | ||
| Turnout | 50,712 | 66.7 | –4.1 | ||
| Registered electors | 75,988 | ||||
| Conservative hold | Swing | –20.7 | |||
Elections in the 2010s
edit| 2019 notional result[6] | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Vote | % | |
| Conservative | 35,730 | 72.0 | |
| Labour | 6,979 | 14.1 | |
| Liberal Democrats | 5,018 | 10.1 | |
| Green | 1,925 | 3.9 | |
| Turnout | 49,652 | 70.8 | |
| Electorate | 70,110 | ||
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ "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.
- ^ "The 2023 Review of Parliamentary Constituency Boundaries in England – Volume one: Report – South East | Boundary Commission for England". boundarycommissionforengland.independent.gov.uk. Retrieved 2023-07-15.
- ^ Electoral Calculus https://www.electoralcalculus.co.uk/fcgi-bin/calcwork23.py?seat=Weald+of+Kent
- ^ "The Parliamentary Constituencies Order 2023". Schedule 1 Part 6 South East region.
- ^ "Weald of Kent - General election results 2024". BBC News.
- ^ "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.
External links
edit- Weald of Kent UK Parliament constituency (boundaries from June 2024) at MapIt UK