Tunbridge Wells
Notional 2005 Results:
Conservative: 23267 (51.1%)
Liberal Democrat: 11503 (25.2%)
Labour: 9147 (20.1%)
Other: 1653 (3.6%)
Majority: 11764 (25.8%)
Actual 2005 result
Conservative: 21083 (49.6%)
Labour: 8736 (20.6%)
Liberal Democrat: 11095 (26.1%)
UKIP: 1568 (3.7%)
Majority: 9988 (23.5%)
2001 Result
Conservative: 19643 (48.9%)
Labour: 9332 (23.2%)
Liberal Democrat: 9913 (24.7%)
UKIP: 1313 (3.3%)
Majority: 9730 (24.2%)
1997 Result
Conservative: 21853 (45.2%)
Labour: 9879 (20.4%)
Liberal Democrat: 14347 (29.7%)
Referendum: 1858 (3.8%)
Other: 417 (0.9%)
Majority: 7506 (15.5%)
Boundary changes: Gains Hawkhurst and Sandhurst from Maidstone and the Weald.
Profile: A semi-rural and solidly Conservative seat in West Kent. Royal Tunbridge Wells is a spa town (and, along with Leamington Spa, one of only two towns in the UK granted the Royal prefix) associated in popular culture with the comfortable, curtain-twitching Middle classes and the mythical letters to the editor signed “Disgusted of Tunbridge Wells”. As well as the towns and villages surrounding Tunbridge Wells itself, such as Southborough, Pembury and Langton Green (birthplace of Subbuteo) the constituency stretches west across the Weald, taking in a swathe of rural villages like Goudhurst, Lamberhurst, Horsmonden, Hawkhurst and Sandhurst.
The seat has been Conservative since its creation in 1974, never having faced any serious challenge to their dominance at Parliamentary level (though the council was briefly controlled by the Liberal Democrats in the mid-90s). The seat was represented by Archie Norman between 1997 and 2005, the former Asda boss and sometime Chief Executive of the Conservative party who was expected to be a Tory highflier upon his election, but never really settled into the world of politics. He stood down in 2005 to be replaced by Greg Clark, the Conservative`s former head of policy.
Outgoing MP: Greg Clark(Conservative) born 1967, Middlesborough. Educated at South Bank Comprehensive and Cambridge University. Doctorate from the LSE. Former special advisor to Ian Lang and Director of policy for the Conservative party. First elected as MP for Tunbridge Wells in 2005. Shadow minister for charities, voluntary sector and social enterprise 2006-2008, Shadow Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change 2008- (more information at They work for you)
Candidates: Greg Clark(Conservative) born 1967, Middlesborough. Educated at South Bank Comprehensive and Cambridge University. Doctorate from the LSE. Former special advisor to Ian Lang and Director of policy for the Conservative party. First elected as MP for Tunbridge Wells in 2005. Shadow minister for charities, voluntary sector and social enterprise 2006-2008, Shadow Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change 2008- (more information at They work for you)
Gary Heather (Labour)
David Hallas (Liberal Democrat)
Hazel Dawe (Green)
Victor Webb (UKIP) Contested Tunbridge Wells 2001, 2005.
Andrew McBride (BNP)
Farel Bradbury (Independent)
2001 Census Demographics
Total 2001 Population: 94330
Male: 48.3%
Female: 51.7%
Under 18: 22.8%
Over 60: 21.2%
Born outside UK: 6.9%
White: 97.5%
Black: 0.3%
Asian: 0.6%
Mixed: 0.9%
Other: 0.6%
Christian: 74.9%
Muslim: 0.6%
Full time students: 2.2%
Graduates 16-74: 24.4%
No Qualifications 16-74: 21.8%
Owner-Occupied: 71.7%
Social Housing: 15.7% (Council: 0.6%, Housing Ass.: 15%)
Privately Rented: 9.8%
Homes without central heating and/or private bathroom: 7.1%
No there was a Tonbridge seat from 1885. I wonder if the confusion arises because it is mis-spelt as Tunbridge in Macalmont’s Parliamentary Poll Book (1832-1910). However the seperate record for the results of December 1910 have it correctly spelt as Tonbridge
This seat was called Royal Tunbridge Wells from 1974 until 1983, but the name was changed simply to Tunbridge Wells without a boundary change taking place at that time.
Cons Hold= 16,000 maj
Many people confuse Tunbridge Wells with Tonbridge, both are separate towns both have separate MP’s, Tonbridge is Tonbridge and West Malling, whereas Tunbridge Wells is plain Tunbridge Wells. Both along with Sevenoaks and Maidstone are solid Tory seats and I see the Conservative Majorities increasing
The interest in this, and several other Kentish seats, is in whether Labour or the LibDems will get more votes, and how well they will fare compared to UKIP and the Greens, who on the basis of the European election may be expected to make progress. See my letter in “Kent on Saturday” and “Kent on Sunday” last weelend (10-11 April).
By the way, there appear to be no biographical details on this site for Hazel Dawe, who is an experienced Green candidate. If I recollect correctly she stood against Michael Howard in Folkestone in 2005.
Then again I could be wrong it could be a lib dem surprise but Greg Clark is well liked and respected in the Tunbridge Wells area
Con Hold
Maj 14500
Con maj 14,000
Con maj 11300
Actually Tunbridge Wells is still officially known as Royal Tunbridge Wells, one way to offend a local is to call it plain old Tunbridge Wells they hate it !
LD HOLD
sorry my brain farted – CON HOLD