Weald of Kent is a proposed constituency of the House of Commons in the UK Parliament.[1] Further to the completion of the 2023 Periodic Review of Westminster constituencies, it will first be contested at the 2024 general election.
Weald of Kent | |
---|---|
County constituency for the House of Commons | |
County | Kent |
Major settlements | Tenterden, Coxheath, Staplehurst, Headcorn and Cranbrook |
Current constituency | |
Created | 2024 |
Member of Parliament | None |
Seats | One |
Created from | Ashford, Faversham and Mid Kent & Maidstone and the Weald |
Constituency profile
editThis will be 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 signficantly 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.[2]
Boundaries
editThe constituency will be 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 [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.[3]
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.
Elections
editElections in the 2020s
editParty | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Liberal Democrats | John Howson[4] | ||||
Reform UK | Daniel Kersten[5] | ||||
Conservative | Katie Lam[6] | ||||
Labour | Lenny Rolles[7] | ||||
Green | Kate Walder[8] | ||||
Majority | |||||
Turnout | |||||
Registered electors | |||||
win (new seat) |
References
edit- ^ "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.
- ^ "Liberal Democrat Prospective Parliamentary Candidates". 28 February 2024.
- ^ "Weald of Kent Constituency". Reform UK. Retrieved 19 February 2024.
- ^ "The former Boris Johnson aide picked for new Weald of Kent seat rated one of country's safest". Kent Online. 5 September 2023. Retrieved 13 February 2024.
- ^ Weald of Kent Labour [@woklabour] (May 28, 2024). "The Weald of Kent Labour Party is delighted to announce that @LennyRolles has been selected as our @UKLabour candidate for General Election on 4 July…" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
- ^ "ASHFORD GREENS SELECT WEALD OF KENT PARLIAMENTARY CANDIDATE". Ashford Green Party. Retrieved 1 April 2024.
External links
edit- Weald of Kent UK Parliament constituency (boundaries from June 2024) at MapIt UK