Richmond Park is a constituency in Greater London represented in the House of Commons of the UK Parliament. Since 2019, its Member of Parliament (MP) has been Sarah Olney of the Liberal Democrats.
Richmond Park | |
---|---|
Borough constituency for the House of Commons | |
![]() Boundary of Richmond Park in Greater London | |
County | Greater London |
Electorate | 75,037 (2023)[1] |
Major settlements | Richmond and part of Kingston |
Current constituency | |
Created | 1997 |
Member of Parliament | Sarah Olney (Liberal Democrats) |
Seats | One |
Created from | Richmond and Barnes and Kingston upon Thames |
Previously held by Zac Goldsmith of the Conservative Party from 2010, Goldsmith stood down in 2016 in protest over expansion of Heathrow Airport. Olney won the seat at the resulting by-election, defeating Goldsmith who was then standing as an independent. Goldsmith regained the Conservative nomination and the seat in the 2017 general election, before losing to Olney a second time at the 2019 general election. Olney was re-elected in the 2024 general election with an increased majority.
History
editThe seat was created in 1997 from Richmond and Barnes, held by Jeremy Hanley of the Conservative Party; and a northern section of Kingston upon Thames, held by his party colleague, former Chancellor of the Exchequer Norman Lamont. Hanley was selected as the Conservative candidate at the first election for the seat, but lost to Jenny Tonge of the Liberal Democrats. The Liberal Democrats retained the seat until 2010, when it was won by the Conservative candidate Zac Goldsmith by over 4,000 votes. Goldsmith, who blended fiscal conservatism with environmental activism, easily secured re-election in 2015, with a majority of over 23,000. Meanwhile, the Liberal Democrats haemorrhaged support and fell to their lowest level since 1970 (when the Richmond, Surrey constituency was fought, albeit on different boundaries to Richmond Park).
In October 2016, Goldsmith announced his resignation as an MP in protest against the Conservative government's decision to allow a third runway to be built at Heathrow Airport. Goldsmith stood as an independent in the by-election held on 1 December; he was defeated by Sarah Olney, a Liberal Democrat, despite the Conservatives fielding no candidate.[2] It was the first by-election in the constituency since its creation in 1997.
In April 2017, Goldsmith won the Conservative nomination for the seat and stood in the general election on 8 June, at which Olney sought re-election.[3] Despite Olney gaining the largest increase in vote share between general elections in the country, and Goldsmith one of the largest falls, he regained the seat for the Conservatives with a majority of just 45 votes.[4] Goldsmith's six months out was the shortest time a defeated MP had remained so before regaining the same seat. Olney retook the seat in the 2019 general election, with a majority of nearly 8,000.
In December 2023, the Labour Party included the seat in its published list of 211 non-battleground seats, suggesting they did not see it as winnable.[5] In the 2024 general election, Sarah Olney was re-elected on an increased majority, although her total number of votes was down from 2019 due to decreased turnout.[6]
Constituency profile
editThe constituency is an affluent area of south west London, with salaries and proportion of residents holding a degree among the highest in the United Kingdom. The most south westerly stations of the District Line, namely Kew Gardens and Richmond, are located within the constituency.
The nature of Richmond Park is leafy and suburban in nature, centred around the major settlement of Richmond town, Richmond Park itself and more suburban neighbourhoods such as Barnes, Coombe, East Sheen, Ham, Kew, Mortlake, Petersham also forming part.
In the 2016 referendum, the estimated local vote to remain in the European Union was 72%.[7] In 2022, 4.2% of Richmond Park residents have been grant non domicile status to avoid paying tax in the UK.[8]
Boundaries
editHistoric
edit1997–2010: The London Borough of Richmond upon Thames wards of Barnes; East Sheen; Ham and Petersham; Kew; Mortlake; Palewell; Richmond Hill; and Richmond Town, and the Royal Borough of Kingston upon Thames wards of Cambridge; Canbury; Coombe Hill; and Tudor.
2010–2024: The London Borough of Richmond upon Thames wards of Barnes; East Sheen; Ham, Petersham and Richmond Riverside; Kew; Mortlake and Barnes Common; North Richmond; and South Richmond, and the Royal Borough of Kingston upon Thames wards of Canbury; Coombe Hill; Coombe Vale; and Tudor.
As part of its Fifth Periodic Review of Westminster constituencies, the Boundary Commission[n 1] made minor changes to re-align the constituency boundaries with the boundaries of the local government wards. This involved moving the entirety of the Beverley ward into Kingston and Surbiton. It had been split between the two constituencies after ward boundaries were changed in 2002. The public consultation on proposed changes across the boroughs of Kingston and Richmond received 11 submissions, of which ten were in support.[9][10] The new boundaries came into effect at the 2010 general election.
From Kingston Railway Bridge the limits clockwise were: the middle of the River Thames north-east to Hammersmith Bridge and then southeast within Barnes to Barn Elms; the outer limit of Putney Common; the houses east of Hallam Road and Dyers Lane; Upper Richmond Road westwards; the Beverley Brook south to Richmond Park itself;[n 2] the park walls to Robin Hood Gate on the A3 road; the Beverley Brook south,[n 3] west across Malden Golf Course; Coombe Road; Coombe Vale both in New Malden; the South West Main Line west of New Malden station; the Kingston branch back to the stated start. The seat comprised the old Surrey part of Richmond upon Thames (borough), Coombe, Norbiton, and half of Kingston upon Thames.[11]
Current
editFurther to the 2023 Periodic Review of Westminster constituencies, the composition of the constituency from the 2024 United Kingdom general election will be reduced to bring it within the permitted electoral range by transferring the Coombe Vale ward (as it existed at 1 December 2020) to Kingston and Surbiton.[12]
Following a local government boundary review of Kingston-upon-Thames[13] which came into effect in May 2022,[14] the constituency now comprises the following from the 2024 general election:
- The London Borough of Richmond upon Thames wards of: Barnes; East Sheen; Ham, Petersham and Richmond Riverside; Kew; Mortlake and Barnes Common; North Richmond; and South Richmond.
- The Royal Borough of Kingston upon Thames wards of: Canbury Gardens; Coombe Hill; Kingston Gate; and a very small part of Coombe Vale.[15]
Richmond Park constituency stretches from Barnes in the north to Kingston upon Thames in the south, and includes the whole of East Sheen, Mortlake, Kew, Richmond, Petersham and Ham. The boundaries also include the Royal Park itself.
Members of Parliament
editElections
editElections in the 2020s
editParty | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Liberal Democrats | Sarah Olney | 28,528 | 55.4 | 1.8 | |
Conservative | Sara Gezdari | 11,373 | 22.1 | 18.5 | |
Labour | Laura Coryton | 5,048 | 9.8 | 4.5 | |
Reform UK | Michael Hearn | 3,258 | 6.3 | N/A | |
Green | Chas Warlow | 2,728 | 5.3 | N/A | |
The Mitre TW9 | Chris French | 349 | 0.7 | N/A | |
SDP | Richard Harrison | 233 | 0.5 | N/A | |
Majority | 17,155 | 33.3 | 21.4 | ||
Turnout | 51,517 | 75.7 | 3.1 | ||
Registered electors | 68,103 | ||||
Liberal Democrats hold | Swing | 10.2 |
Elections in the 2010s
edit2019 notional result[19] | |||
---|---|---|---|
Party | Vote | % | |
Liberal Democrats | 31,695 | 53.6 | |
Conservative | 23,970 | 40.6 | |
Labour | 3,109 | 5.3 | |
Others | 308 | 0.5 | |
Turnout | 59,082 | 78.7 | |
Electorate | 75,037 |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Liberal Democrats | Sarah Olney | 34,559 | 53.1 | +8.0 | |
Conservative | Zac Goldsmith | 26,793 | 41.2 | −3.9 | |
Labour | Sandra Keen | 3,407 | 5.2 | −3.9 | |
Independent | Caroline Shah | 247 | 0.4 | N/A | |
Independent | John Usher | 61 | 0.1 | N/A | |
Majority | 7,766 | 11.9 | N/A | ||
Turnout | 65,067 | 79.0 | −0.1 | ||
Registered electors | 82,699 | ||||
Liberal Democrats gain from Conservative | Swing | +6.0 |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Conservative | Zac Goldsmith[23] | 28,588 | 45.1 | ―13.1 | |
Liberal Democrats | Sarah Olney | 28,543 | 45.1 | +25.8 | |
Labour | Cate Tuitt | 5,773 | 9.1 | −3.2 | |
UKIP | Peter Jewell | 426 | 0.7 | N/A | |
Majority | 45 | 0.0 | −38.9 | ||
Turnout | 63,330 | 79.1 | +2.6 | ||
Registered electors | 80,025 | ||||
Conservative gain from Liberal Democrats | Swing | ―19.4 |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Liberal Democrats | Sarah Olney | 20,510 | 49.6 | +30.3 | |
Independent | Zac Goldsmith | 18,638 | 45.1 | −13.1* | |
Labour | Christian Wolmar | 1,515 | 3.6 | −8.7 | |
Monster Raving Loony | Howling Laud Hope | 184 | 0.4 | N/A | |
Independent | Fiona Syms | 173 | 0.4 | N/A | |
CPA | Dominic Stockford | 164 | 0.4 | N/A | |
One Love | Maharaja Jammu and Kashmir | 67 | 0.1 | N/A | |
No label | David Powell | 32 | 0.0 | N/A | |
Majority | 1,872 | 4.5 | N/A | ||
Turnout | 41,283 | 53.6 | ―22.9 | ||
Registered electors | 77,243 | ||||
Liberal Democrats gain from Conservative | Swing | +21.7[n 4] |
*Compared to his vote share as a Conservative candidate at the previous election.
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Conservative | Zac Goldsmith | 34,404 | 58.2 | +8.5 | |
Liberal Democrats | Robin Meltzer | 11,389 | 19.3 | −23.5 | |
Labour | Sachin Patel[30] | 7,296 | 12.3 | +7.3 | |
Green | Andrée Frieze[31] | 3,548 | 6.0 | +5.0 | |
UKIP | Sam Naz[32] | 2,464 | 4.2 | +3.1 | |
Majority | 23,015 | 38.9 | +32.0 | ||
Turnout | 59,101 | 76.5 | −0.4 | ||
Registered electors | 77,303 | ||||
Conservative hold | Swing | +16.0 |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Conservative | Zac Goldsmith | 29,461 | 49.7 | +10.1 | |
Liberal Democrats | Susan Kramer | 25,370 | 42.8 | −3.8 | |
Labour | Eleanor Tunnicliffe | 2,979 | 5.0 | −4.2 | |
UKIP | Peter Dul | 669 | 1.1 | +0.2 | |
Green | James Page | 572 | 1.0 | −1.7 | |
CPA | Susan May | 133 | 0.2 | −0.3 | |
Independent | Charles Hill | 84 | 0.1 | N/A | |
Majority | 4,091 | 6.9 | N/A | ||
Turnout | 59,268 | 76.9 | +3.7 | ||
Registered electors | 77,751 | ||||
Conservative gain from Liberal Democrats | Swing | −7.0 |
Elections in the 2000s
editParty | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Liberal Democrats | Susan Kramer | 24,011 | 46.7 | −1.0 | |
Conservative | Marco Forgione | 20,280 | 39.5 | +1.9 | |
Labour | James Butler | 4,768 | 9.3 | −2.0 | |
Green | James Page | 1,379 | 2.7 | +0.2 | |
UKIP | Peter Dul | 458 | 0.9 | +0.2 | |
CPA | Peter Flower | 288 | 0.6 | N/A | |
Independent | Margaret Harrison | 83 | 0.2 | N/A | |
Rainbow Dream Ticket | Rainbow George Weiss | 63 | 0.1 | N/A | |
Independent | Richard Meacock | 44 | 0.1 | N/A | |
Majority | 3,731 | 7.2 | −2.9 | ||
Turnout | 51,374 | 72.8 | +4.8 | ||
Registered electors | 69,992 | ||||
Liberal Democrats hold | Swing | -1.4 |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Liberal Democrats | Jenny Tonge | 23,444 | 47.7 | +3.0 | |
Conservative | Tom Harris | 18,480 | 37.6 | ―1.9 | |
Labour | Barry Langford | 5,541 | 11.3 | ―1.3 | |
Green | James Page | 1,223 | 2.5 | N/A | |
UKIP | Peter Howe | 348 | 0.7 | N/A | |
Independent | Raymond Perrin | 115 | 0.2 | N/A | |
Majority | 4,964 | 10.1 | +4.9 | ||
Turnout | 49,151 | 67.6 | ―11.9 | ||
Registered electors | 72,251 | ||||
Liberal Democrats hold | Swing | +2.4 |
Elections in the 1990s
editParty | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Liberal Democrats | Jenny Tonge | 25,393 | 44.7 | +7.0 | |
Conservative | Jeremy Hanley** | 22,442 | 39.5 | −12.4 | |
Labour | Sue Jenkins | 7,172 | 12.6 | +3.8 | |
Referendum | Jake Pugh | 1,467 | 2.6 | N/A | |
Monster Raving Loony | David Beaupre | 204 | 0.4 | N/A | |
Natural Law | Bruno D'Arcy | 102 | 0.2 | N/A | |
Rainbow Dream Ticket | Peter Davies | 73 | 0.1 | N/A | |
Majority | 2,951 | 5.2 | N/A | ||
Turnout | 56,853 | 79.0 | |||
Registered electors | 71,951 | ||||
Liberal Democrats win (new seat) |
**Served as the MP for the predecessor constituency of Richmond and Barnes, 1983-97.
See also
editNotes
edit- ^ For the subregion used see South London
- ^ Thus east is Roehampton in the London Borough of Wandsworth, part of Putney seat
- ^ Having included the residential section of the A3 at the Beverley Brook Interchange
- ^ Calculated on the basis of the vote share for Zac Goldsmith as a Conservative at the previous election and as an Independent at this election.
References
edit- ^ "The 2023 Review of Parliamentary Constituency Boundaries in England – Volume two: Constituency names, designations and composition – London". Boundary Commission for England. Retrieved 22 June 2024.
- ^ "Zac Goldsmith quits as MP over 'doomed' Heathrow expansion decision". The Guardian. 26 October 2016. Archived from the original on 27 October 2016. Retrieved 27 October 2016.
- ^ "Zac Goldsmith wins Conservative nomination for Richmond Park". BBC News. 26 April 2017. Archived from the original on 5 May 2017. Retrieved 7 May 2017.
- ^ "GE2017 – Constituency results". Britain Elects (Google Docs). Archived from the original on 30 April 2020. Retrieved 10 June 2017.
- ^ Belger, Tom (8 December 2023). "Labour selections: Full list of 211 'non-battleground' seats now open to applications". labourlist.org. Archived from the original on 9 December 2023. Retrieved 3 January 2024.
- ^ "Election results for Richmond Park, 4 July 2024". cabnet.richmond.gov.uk. 4 July 2024. Retrieved 6 July 2024.
- ^ "The EU referendum: how did Westminster constituencies vote?". Medium. 28 June 2016. Archived from the original on 22 April 2017. Retrieved 22 April 2017.
- ^ "Non-doms: 12% of residents in London's richest parts claimed status in 2018". the Guardian. 7 April 2022. Retrieved 7 April 2022.
- ^ Fifth periodical report (PDF) (Report). Vol. 3 Mapping for the London Boroughs and the Metropolitan Counties. Boundary Commission for England. 5 February 2007. ISBN 978-0101703222. Archived from the original on 14 April 2013. Retrieved 7 May 2010.
- ^ "South London Boroughs – Proposals for Parliamentary Constituencies" (PDF). Boundary Commission for England. 19 April 2001. Archived from the original (PDF) on 12 June 2010.
- ^ For the detailed map see the UK government election map web site Archived 7 March 2008 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ "The Parliamentary Constituencies Order 2023". Schedule 1 Part 3 London region.
- ^ LGBCE. "Kingston upon Thames | LGBCE". www.lgbce.org.uk. Retrieved 27 March 2024.
- ^ "The Royal Borough of Kingston upon Thames (Electoral Changes) Order 2021".
- ^ "New Seat Details - Richmond Park". www.electoralcalculus.co.uk. Retrieved 27 March 2024.
- ^ "Statement of Persons Nominated, Notice of Poll and Situation of Polling Stations" (PDF). Richmond Upon Thames London Borough Council. 7 June 2024. Retrieved 7 June 2024.
- ^ "Richmond Park results". BBC News. Retrieved 6 July 2024.
- ^ "Election results for Richmond Park". Richmond.gov.uk. Retrieved 6 July 2024.
- ^ "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.
- ^ "Statement of Persons Nominated" (PDF).
- ^ "Commons Briefing Paper 8749. General Election 2019: results and analysis" (PDF). London: House of Commons Library. 28 January 2020. Archived (PDF) from the original on 18 November 2021. Retrieved 19 January 2022.
- ^ "Commons Briefing Paper 7979. General Election 2017: results and analysis" (PDF) (Second ed.). House of Commons Library. 29 January 2019 [7 April 2018]. Archived (PDF) from the original on 12 November 2019.
- ^ @fifisyms (20 September 2019). "@RPNKTories Madness. He's going to lose by miles" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
- ^ Donovan, Tim (7 November 2016). "Tactics reduce candidates for Richmond Park by-election". BBC News. Archived from the original on 8 November 2016. Retrieved 8 November 2016.
- ^ "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 9 November 2016. Retrieved 12 November 2016.
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link) - ^ "Election results for Richmond Park, 1 December 2016". 1 December 2016. Archived from the original on 17 November 2018. Retrieved 2 December 2016.
- ^ "Election Data 2015". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 17 October 2015. Retrieved 17 October 2015.
- ^ "Election results for Richmond Park UK Parliamentary General Election 2015 – Thursday, 7 May 2015". Cabnet.richmond.gov.uk. 7 May 2015. Archived from the original on 6 January 2018. Retrieved 26 October 2016.
- ^ "Richmond Park parliamentary constituency – Election 2015". BBC News. Archived from the original on 9 September 2017. Retrieved 8 May 2015.
- ^ "Sachin Patel: Candidate for Richmond Park". Labour Party (UK). Archived from the original on 18 January 2015. Retrieved 18 January 2015.
- ^ "London Green Party | 2015 general election". Green Party. Archived from the original on 8 January 2015. Retrieved 21 December 2014.
- ^ "Richmond Park". UK Polling Report. Archived from the original on 12 July 2018. Retrieved 26 October 2016.
- ^ "Election Data 2010". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 26 July 2013. Retrieved 17 October 2015.
- ^ Norton, Gillian (20 April 2010). "Parliamentary Election, Richmond Park Constituency, Statement of Persons Nominated" (PDF). London Borough of Richmond upon Thames. Archived from the original (PDF) on 24 September 2015. Retrieved 27 April 2010.
- ^ "Election 2010 –Constituency:Richmond Park". Election 2010. BBC News. 6 May 2010. Archived from the original on 31 August 2017. Retrieved 25 August 2021.
- ^ "Election Data 2005". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
- ^ "Election Data 2001". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
- ^ "Election Data 1997". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
- ^ "BBC NEWS | VOTE 2001 | RESULTS & CONSTITUENCIES | Richmond Park". BBC News. Retrieved 26 September 2022.
External links
edit- Politics Science Resources (Election results from 1922 onwards)
- Electoral Calculus (Election results from 1955 onwards)
- Richmond Park UK Parliament constituency (boundaries April 1997 – April 2010) at MapIt UK
- Richmond Park UK Parliament constituency (boundaries April 2010 – May 2024) at MapIt UK
- Richmond Park UK Parliament constituency (boundaries from June 2024) at MapIt UK