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Parliamentary constituencies in Kent

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Not to be confused with List of Members of Parliament in Kent.

The ceremonial county of Kent, (which includes the unitary authority of Medway), is divided into 18 parliamentary constituencies - 2 borough constituency and 16 county constituencies.

Constituencies

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Further information: 2024 United Kingdom general election

  Conservative †   Labour ‡   Liberal Democrats ¤   Reform

Constituency[nb 1] Electorate Majority[1][nb 2] Member of Parliament[1] Nearest opposition[1] Map
Ashford CC 76,233 1,779   Sojan Joseph ‡   Damian Green †
Canterbury CC 71,155 8,653   Rosie Duffield
(re-elected as Labour) 		  Louise Harvey-Quirke †
Chatham and Aylesford CC 75,109 1,998   Tris Osborne ‡   Nathan Gamester †
Dartford CC 75,426 1,192   Jim Dickson ‡   Gareth Johnson †
Dover and Deal CC 76,406 7,559   Mike Tapp ‡   Howard Cox ‡
East Thanet BC 74,927 6,971   Polly Billington ‡   Helen Harrison †
Faversham and Mid Kent CC 74,301 1,469   Helen Whately †   Mel Dawkins ‡
Folkestone and Hythe CC 70,056 3,729   Tony Vaughan ‡   Damian Collins †
Gillingham and Rainham BC 73,523 3,972   Naushabah Khan ‡   Rehman Chishti †
Gravesham CC 73,094 2,712   Lauren Sullivan ‡   Adam Holloway †
Herne Bay and Sandwich CC 77,869 2,499   Roger Gale †   Helen Whitehead ‡
Maidstone and Malling CC 76,449 1,674   Helen Grant †   Maureen Cleator ‡
Rochester and Strood CC 74,257 2,293   Lauren Edwards ‡   Kelly Tolhurst †
Sevenoaks CC 73,708 5,440   Laura Trott †   Richard Streatfeild ¤
Sittingbourne and Sheppey CC 79,067 355   Kevin McKenna ‡   Aisha Cuthbert †
Tonbridge CC 72,799 11,166   Tom Tugendhat †   Lewis Bailey ‡
Tunbridge Wells CC 78,738 8,687   Mike Martin ¤   Neil Mahapatra †
Weald of Kent CC 75,987 8,422   Katie Lam †   Lenny Rolles ‡

Boundary changes

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2024

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See 2023 Periodic Review of Westminster constituencies for further details.

Former name Boundaries 2010-2024 Current name Boundaries 2024–present
  1. Ashford CC
  2. Canterbury CC
  3. Chatham and Aylesford CC
  4. Dartford CC
  5. Dover CC
  6. Faversham and Mid Kent CC
  7. Folkestone and Hythe CC
  8. Gillingham and Rainham BC
  9. Gravesham CC
  10. Maidstone and The Weald CC
  11. North Thanet CC
  12. Rochester and Strood CC
  13. Sevenoaks CC
  14. Sittingbourne and Sheppey CC
  15. South Thanet CC
  16. Tonbridge and Malling CC
  17. Tunbridge Wells CC
2010-2024 constituencies in Kent
2010-2024 constituencies in Kent
  1. Ashford CC
  2. Canterbury CC
  3. Chatham and Aylesford CC
  4. Dartford CC
  5. Dover and Deal CC
  6. East Thanet CC
  7. Faversham and Mid Kent CC
  8. Folkestone and Hythe CC
  9. Gillingham and Rainham BC
  10. Gravesham CC
  11. Herne Bay and Sandwich CC
  12. Maidstone and Malling CC
  13. Rochester and Strood CC
  14. Sevenoaks CC
  15. Sittingbourne and Sheppey CC
  16. Tonbridge CC
  17. Tunbridge Wells CC
  18. Weald of Kent CC
2024-present constituencies in Kent
2024-present constituencies in Kent

For the 2023 Periodic Review of Westminster constituencies, which redrew the constituency map ahead of the 2024 United Kingdom general election, the Boundary Commission for England created an additional seat in created in Kent to reflect the growth of its electorate, with the formation of the constituency of Weald of Kent. As a consequence, Maidstone and the Weald, and Tonbridge and Malling were renamed Maidstone and Malling, and Tonbridge respectively. Changes to North Thanet and South Thanet resulted in them being renamed Herne Bay and Sandwich, and Thanet East respectively. Although only subject to a very minor boundary change, Dover reverted to its previous name of Dover and Deal.[2][3][4]

The following constituencies resulted from the boundary review:

Containing electoral wards from Ashford

Containing electoral wards from Canterbury

Containing electoral wards from Dartford

Containing electoral wards from Dover

Containing electoral wards from Folkestone and Hythe

Containing electoral wards from Gravesham

Containing electoral wards from Maidstone

Containing electoral wards from Medway

Containing electoral wards from Sevenoaks

Containing electoral wards from Swale

Containing electoral wards from Thanet

Containing electoral wards from Tonbridge and Malling

  • Chatham and Aylesford (part)
  • Maidstone and Malling (part)
  • Tonbridge (part)

Containing electoral wards from Tunbridge Wells

2010

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Under the Fifth Periodic Review of Westminster constituencies, the Boundary Commission for England[5] decided to retain Kent's 17 constituencies for the 2010 election, making minor changes to realign constituency boundaries with the boundaries of current local government wards, and to reduce the electoral disparity between constituencies, including the transfer of Cliftonville from North Thanet to South Thanet. They recommended two name changes: Gillingham to Gillingham and Rainham to reflect the similar stature of the two towns, and Medway to Rochester and Strood to avoid confusion with the larger Medway unitary authority.

Name (1997–2010) Boundaries 1997–2010 Name (2010–2024) Boundaries 2010–2024
  1. Ashford CC
  2. Canterbury CC
  3. Chatham and Aylesford CC
  4. Dartford CC
  5. Dover CC
  6. Faversham and Mid Kent CC
  7. Folkestone and Hythe CC
  8. Gillingham BC
  9. Gravesham CC
  10. Maidstone and The Weald CC
  11. Medway CC
  12. North Thanet CC
  13. Sevenoaks CC
  14. Sittingbourne and Sheppey CC
  15. South Thanet CC
  16. Tonbridge and Malling CC
  17. Tunbridge Wells CC
Parliamentary constituencies in Kent
Parliamentary constituencies in Kent
  1. Ashford CC
  2. Canterbury CC
  3. Chatham and Aylesford CC
  4. Dartford CC
  5. Dover CC
  6. Faversham and Mid Kent CC
  7. Folkestone and Hythe CC
  8. Gillingham and Rainham BC
  9. Gravesham CC
  10. Maidstone and The Weald CC
  11. North Thanet CC
  12. Rochester and Strood CC
  13. Sevenoaks CC
  14. Sittingbourne and Sheppey CC
  15. South Thanet CC
  16. Tonbridge and Malling CC
  17. Tunbridge Wells CC
Proposed Revised constituencies in Kent
Proposed Revised constituencies in Kent

1997

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Under the Fourth Periodic Review of Westminster constituencies, the Boundary Commission for England opted to increase the number of constituencies in Kent from 16 to 17, reflecting the growth of the county's electorate. The "new" constituency, i.e. the constituency that did not contain a majority of any previous constituency's electorate, was Faversham & Mid Kent, which was formed from portions of the previous Maidstone, Faversham, Mid Kent and Canterbury constituencies. This had knock-on effects throughout the county, and resulted in the renaming of the former constituencies of Faversham and Mid Kent to Sittingbourne & Sheppey and Chatham & Aylesford, respectively.[6][7]

Name (1983–1997) Boundaries 1983–1997 Name (1997–2010) Boundaries 1997–2010
  1. Ashford CC
  2. Canterbury CC
  3. Dartford CC
  4. Dover CC
  5. Faversham CC
  6. Folkestone and Hythe CC
  7. Gillingham BC
  8. Gravesham CC
  9. Maidstone CC
  10. Medway CC
  11. Mid Kent CC
  12. North Thanet CC
  13. Sevenoaks CC
  14. South Thanet CC
  15. Tonbridge and Malling CC
  16. Tunbridge Wells CC
Parliamentary constituencies in Kent (1983–1997)
Parliamentary constituencies in Kent (1983–1997)
  1. Ashford CC
  2. Canterbury CC
  3. Chatham and Aylesford CC
  4. Dartford CC
  5. Dover CC
  6. Faversham and Mid Kent CC
  7. Folkestone and Hythe CC
  8. Gillingham BC
  9. Gravesham CC
  10. Maidstone and The Weald CC
  11. Medway CC
  12. North Thanet CC
  13. Sevenoaks CC
  14. Sittingbourne and Sheppey CC
  15. South Thanet CC
  16. Tonbridge and Malling CC
  17. Tunbridge Wells CC
Parliamentary constituencies in Kent (1997–2010)
Parliamentary constituencies in Kent (1997–2010)

1983

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Under the Third Periodic Review of Westminster constituencies, the Boundary Commission for England opted to increase the number of constituencies in Kent from 15 to 16, reflecting the growth of the county's electorate. This resulted in the previously oversized Rochester and Chatham being split in half, with the city of Rochester becoming part of the new seat of Medway, along with the rural Hoo Peninsula (previously part of the Gravesend constituency) while town of Chatham became part of the new seat of Mid Kent, along with the northern portion of Maidstone. Thanet East (renamed North Thanet) and Thanet West (renamed South Thanet) gained parts of Canterbury and Dover and Deal (renamed Dover) respectively. Small transfer from Sevenoaks to Dartford to make their electorates more equal and minor or no changes to Ashford, Faversham, Folkestone and Hythe, Gillingham, Tonbridge and Malling, and Tunbridge Wells.[8][9]

Name (1974–1983) Boundaries 1974–1983 Name (1983–1997) Boundaries 1983–1997
  1. Ashford CC
  2. Canterbury CC
  3. Dartford CC
  4. Dover and Deal CC
  5. Faversham CC
  6. Folkestone and Hythe CC
  7. Gillingham BC
  8. Gravesham CC
  9. Maidstone CC
  10. Rochester and Chatham CC
  11. North Thanet CC
  12. Sevenoaks CC
  13. Thanet West CC
  14. Tonbridge and Malling CC
  15. Tunbridge Wells CC
Parliamentary constituencies in Kent (1974–1983)
Parliamentary constituencies in Kent (1974–1983)
  1. Ashford CC
  2. Canterbury CC
  3. Dartford CC
  4. Dover CC
  5. Faversham CC
  6. Folkestone and Hythe CC
  7. Gillingham BC
  8. Gravesham CC
  9. Maidstone CC
  10. Medway CC
  11. Mid Kent CC
  12. North Thanet CC
  13. Sevenoaks CC
  14. South Thanet CC
  15. Tonbridge and Malling CC
  16. Tunbridge Wells CC
Parliamentary constituencies in Kent (1983–1997)
Parliamentary constituencies in Kent (1983–1997)

Results history

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Primary data source: House of Commons research briefing - General election results from 1918 to 2019[10]

2024

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The number of votes cast for each political party who fielded candidates in constituencies comprising Kent in the 2019 general election were as follows:

Party Votes % Change from 2019 Seats Change from 2019
Conservative 251,860 31.3% Decrease28.8% 6 Decrease10
Labour 249,043 31.0% Increase6.0% 11 Increase10
Reform 168,652 21.0% Increase21.0% 0 0
Greens 64,303 8.0% Increase4.8% 0 0
Liberal Democrats 57,579 7.0% Decrease3.4% 1 Increase1
Others 13,059 1.6% Increase0.3% 0 0
Total 804,496 100.0 18 Increase1

Percentage votes

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Election year 1974

(Feb)

1974

(Oct)

1979 1983 1987 1992 1997 2001 2005 20100 2015 2017 2019 2024
Conservative 44.2 44.0 53.9 53.9 54.0 53.1 40.5 43.4 45.8 50.5 49.2 56.4 60.1 31.3
Labour 29.5 33.3 29.9 18.6 19.3 24.3 37.1 37.7 32.4 21.1 20.0 31.7 25.0 31.0
Reform1 - - - - - - - - - - - - - 21.0
Green Party - - - - * * * * * 1.0 3.6 2.2 3.2 8.0
Liberal Democrat2 25.7 21.8 15.1 26.9 26.1 21.3 17.0 15.5 17.3 20.9 6.3 5.5 10.4 7.0
UKIP - - - - - - * * * 3.9 20.3 3.6 * *
Other 0.6 0.9 1.1 0.7 0.6 1.3 5.4 3.4 4.4 2.6 0.5 0.6 1.3 1.6

12019 - Brexit Party
21974 & 1979 - Liberal Party; 1983 & 1987 - SDP-Liberal Alliance

* Included in Other

Seats

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Election year 1974

(Feb)

1974

(Oct)

1979 1983 1987 1992 1997 2001 2005 2010 2015 2017 2019 2024
Labour 2 3 0 0 0 0 8 8 7 0 0 1 1 11
Conservative 13 12 15 16 16 16 9 9 10 17 17 16 16 6
Liberal Democrats 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1
Total 15 15 15 16 16 16 17 17 17 17 17 17 17 18

Maps

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1885-1910

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  • 1885
    1885
  • 1886
    1886
  • 1892
    1892
  • 1895
    1895
  • 1900
    1900
  • 1906
    1906
  • Jan 1910
    Jan 1910
  • Dec 1910
    Dec 1910

1918-1945

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  • 1918
    1918
  • 1922
    1922
  • 1923
    1923
  • 1924
    1924
  • 1929
    1929
  • 1931
    1931
  • 1935
    1935
  • 1945
    1945

1950-1970

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  • 1950
    1950
  • 1951
    1951
  • 1955
    1955
  • 1959
    1959
  • 1964
    1964
  • 1966
    1966
  • 1970
    1970

1974-present

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  • Feb 1974
    Feb 1974
  • Oct 1974
    Oct 1974
  • 1979
    1979
  • 1983
    1983
  • 1987
    1987
  • 1992
    1992
  • 1997
    1997
  • 2001
    2001
  • 2005
    2005
  • 2010
    2010
  • 2015
    2015
  • 2017
    2017
  • 2019
    2019
  • 2024
    2024

Historic representation by party

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A cell marked → (with a different colour background to the preceding cell) indicates that the previous MP continued to sit under a new party name.

1885 to 1918

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  Conservative   Independent Conservative   Independent Liberal   Labour   Liberal   Liberal Unionist   National Party

Constituency 1885 1886 88 89 1892 93 1895 98 99 1900 01 03 04 1906 Jan 1910 Dec 1910 11 12 13 15 17 18
Ashford Pomfret Hardy
Canterbury Heaton Bennett-Goldney Anderson
Chatham Gorst Loyd Davies Jenkins Hohler
Dartford Dyke Rowlands Mitchell Rowlands
Dover Dickson Wyndham Ponsonby →
Faversham Knatchbull-Hugessen Barnes Howard Napier Wheler
Gravesend White Palmer Ryder Parker Richardson
Hythe Watkin → Edwards E. Sassoon P. Sassoon
Isle of Thanet King-Harman Lowther Marks Craig
Maidstone Ross Cornwallis Hunt Cornwallis Barker Evans Vane-Tempest-Stewart Bellairs
Medway Gathorne-Hardy Warde
Rochester Hughes-Hallett Knatchbull-Hugessen Davies Gascoyne-Cecil Tuff Lamb Ridley Lamb
St Augustine's Akers-Douglas McNeill
Sevenoaks Mills Forster
Tunbridge Norton Griffith-Boscawen Hedges Spender-Clay

1918 to 1950

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  Coalition Liberal (1918-22) / National Liberal (1922-23)   Conservative   Constitutionalist   Independent   Labour   Liberal   National Labour

Constituency 1918 19 20 21 1922 23 1923 1924 27 28 1929 30 31 1931 33 35 1935 37 38 39 43 1945 45 46 47
Bexley Adamson Bramall
Orpington Smithers
Ashford Steel Kedward Knatchbull Spens Smith
Bromley Forster James Campbell Macmillan
Canterbury McNeill Wayland White
Chatham Moore-Brabazon Markham → Goff Plugge Bottomley
Chislehurst A. Smithers Nesbitt W. Smithers Wallace
Dartford Rowlands Mills Jarrett → Mills McDonnell Mills Clarke Adamson Dodds
Dover Ponsonby Polson Astor Thomas
Faversham Wheler Maitland Wells
Gillingham Hohler Gower Binns
Gravesend Richardson Isaacs Albery Allighan Acland
Hythe P. Sassoon Brabner Mackeson
Isle of Thanet Craig Harmsworth Balfour Carson
Maidstone Bellairs Bossom
Sevenoaks Bennett Williams Styles Young Ponsonby
Tonbridge Spender-Clay Baillie Williams

1950 to 1974

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  Conservative   Labour   Liberal

Constituency 1950 1951 53 55 1955 56 57 1959 62 64 1964 1966 1970
Ashford Deedes
Beckenham Buchan-Hepburn Goodhart Transferred to Greater London
Bexley Heath Transferred to Greater London
Bromley Macmillan Hunt Transferred to Greater London
Canterbury White Thomas Crouch
Chislehurst Hornsby-Smith Macdonald Hornsby-Smith Transferred to Greater London
Dartford Dodds Irving Trew
Dover Arbuthnot Ennals Rees
Erith and Crayford Dodds Transferred to Greater London
Faversham Wells Boston Moate
Folkestone and Hythe Mackeson Costain
Gillingham Burden
Gravesend Acland Kirk Murray White
Isle of Thanet Carson Rees-Davies
Maidstone Bossom Wells
Orpington Smithers Sumner Lubbock Stanbrook Transferred to Greater London
Rochester and Chatham Bottomley Critchley Kerr Fenner
Sevenoaks Rodgers
Tonbridge Williams Hornby

1974 to 2010

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  Conservative   Independent   Labour

Constituency Feb 1974 Oct 1974 1979 1983 1987 1992 1997 2001 2005
Ashford Deedes Speed Green
Canterbury D. Crouch Brazier
Dartford Irving Dunn Stoate
Dover & Deal / Dover (1983–) Rees Shaw Prosser
Faversham / Sittingbourne & Sheppey (1997) Moate Wyatt
Folkestone and Hythe Costain Howard
Gillingham Burden Couchman P. Clark
Gravesend / Gravesham (1983) Ovenden Brinton Arnold Pond Holloway
Maidstone / Maidstone & The Weald (1997) Wells Widdecombe
Rochester & Chatham / Medway (1983) Fenner Bean Fenner Marshall-Andrews
Sevenoaks Rodgers Wolfson Fallon
Thanet W / North Thanet (1983) Rees-Davies Gale
Tonbridge & Malling Hornby Stanley
Thanet East / South Thanet (1983) Aitken Ladyman
Tunbridge Wells Mayhew Norman G. Clark
Mid Kent / Faversham & Mid Kent (1997) Rowe Robertson
Chatham and Aylesford Shaw

2010 to present

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  Conservative   Independent   Labour   Liberal Democrats   UKIP

Constituency 2010 14 2015 2017 17 18 19 2019 24 2024 24
Ashford Green Joseph
Canterbury Brazier Duffield →
Chatham and Aylesford T. Crouch Osborne
Dartford Johnson Dickson
Dover / Dover and Deal (2024) C. Elphicke → → → N. Elphicke → Tapp
Faversham & Mid Kent Robertson Whately
Folkestone and Hythe Collins Vaughan
Gillingham & Rainham Chishti Khan
Gravesham Holloway Sullivan
Maidstone & The Weald / M'stone & Malling ('24) Grant
North Thanet / Herne Bay & Sandwich (2024) Gale
Rochester & Strood Reckless → Tolhurst Edwards
Sevenoaks Fallon Trott
Sittingbourne and Sheppey Henderson McKenna
South Thanet / East Thanet (2024) Sandys Mackinlay Billington
Tonbridge & Malling / Tonbridge (2024) Stanley Tugendhat
Tunbridge Wells G. Clark Martin
Weald of Kent Lam

See also

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Notes

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  1. ^ BC denotes borough constituency, CC denotes county constituency.
  2. ^ The majority is the number of votes the winning candidate receives more than their nearest rival.

References

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  1. ^ a b c "Constituencies A-Z - Election 2019". BBC News. Retrieved 24 April 2020.
  2. ^ "New Constituency Proposed for Kent". Kent Bylines. 21 July 2021. Retrieved 16 November 2021.
  3. ^ Bailes, Kathy (8 June 2021). "Boundary changes proposed for Thanet with East and West constituencies". The Isle Of Thanet News. Retrieved 16 November 2021.
  4. ^ "The 2023 Review of Parliamentary Constituency Boundaries in England – Volume one: Report". Boundary Commission for England. paras 1025-1053. Retrieved 10 July 2023.
  5. ^ "The Parliamentary Constituencies (England) Order 2007". legislation.gov.uk. Retrieved 27 May 2020.
  6. ^ "The Parliamentary Constituencies (England) Order 1995". legislation.gov.uk. 28 June 1995. Retrieved 15 December 2022.
  7. ^ Waller, Robert; Byron Criddle (1995). The Almanac of British Politics (5th ed.). London: Routledge. p. 356. ISBN 0-415-11805-0.
  8. ^ "The Parliamentary Constituencies ( England) Order 1983".
  9. ^ Waller, Robert (April 1983). The Almanac of British Politics (1st ed.). London: Croom Helm. pp. 373–388. ISBN 0-7099-2767-3.
  10. ^ Watson, Christopher; Uberoi, Elise; Loft, Philip (17 April 2020). "General election results from 1918 to 2019".
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