Sutton and Cheam (UK Parliament constituency)

Coordinates: 51°21′43″N 0°12′32″W / 51.362°N 0.209°W / 51.362; -0.209
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Sutton and Cheam
Borough constituency
for the House of Commons
Outline map
Boundary of Sutton and Cheam in Greater London
CountyGreater London
Electorate66,147 (December 2010)[1]
Current constituency
Created1945
Member of ParliamentPaul Scully (Conservative)
Created fromMid Surrey or more commonly 'Epsom' (as eastern offshoot seat)

Sutton and Cheam is a constituency[n 1] in Greater London represented in the House of Commons of the UK Parliament since 2015 by Paul Scully, a Conservative.[n 2]

Political history[edit]

The area's voters produced a 32.6% swing to the Liberal Party in the 1972 by-election.[2] In the nine prior elections it only returned Conservative MPs and the Liberal candidate polled third behind Labour six times and none stood three times.

The seat is a marginal seat which has since 1970 frequently flipped between electing Conservative and Liberal/Liberal Democrat candidates. During the Conservative Government 1979–1990, the seat was won by a sufficient majority to be branded a Conservative safe seat. It was regained by the Liberal Democrats in the 1997 general election and subsequently held in the 2001, 2005 and 2010 general elections. In the 2015 general election the seat was regained by the Conservatives. In June 2016, an estimated 51.28% of local adults voting in the EU membership referendum chose to leave the European Union instead of to remain.[3] This was matched in two January 2018 votes in Parliament by its MP.[4]

At the 2017 general election, the incumbent Conservative MP, Paul Scully, gained an 8.3% swing which moved the seat away from the typical "marginal" band of analysis: Scully won by a 24.4% majority. Due to the secret ballot only opinion polls can determine if this rise in popularity had more to do with the campaign of the Liberal Democrat candidate and/or the Conservatives picking up votes from the non-standing party UKIP, whose withdrawal was common in 2017 nationwide, following the vote to leave the EU. UKIP had 378 candidates across the UK, 346 fewer than in 2015.[5] Also not standing, and having lost their deposits in 2015, were two left-wing minor candidates. An 11.6% extra vote share was on hand for four parties as the candidate list fell from seven to four.

The seat had ranked from 2015 to 2017 the 39th-slimmest margin of majority, specifically in share of the vote as opposed to number of votes, among the 331 Conservative seats.[6] Labour achieved their highest in Sutton and Cheam since 1970 but still finished third; a swing of several percentage points would have been required to make Labour the closest challengers to the Conservatives. The Conservatives finished in fourth place in the European Election 2019, trailing significantly behind the Liberal Democrats, the Brexit Party, and the Labour Party.[7]

Prominent members[edit]

Richard Sharples, the constituency's Conservative MP from 1954, was a former major in the army, and served as a Home Office Minister, before resigning his seat in 1972 to become Governor of Bermuda.

Boundaries[edit]

Map
Map of current boundaries

1945–1950: The Municipal Borough of Sutton and Cheam.

1950–1964: as above (from 1965 becoming wards of the London Borough of Sutton but not described as such in boundary legislation itself for a time).

1964–1978: The London Borough of Sutton wards of Belmont, Cheam North, Cheam South, Cheam West, Sutton Central, Sutton East, Sutton North, Sutton North East, Sutton South, Sutton South East, Worcester Park North, and Worcester Park South.

1978–2002: The London Borough of Sutton wards of Belmont, Cheam South, Cheam West, North Cheam, Rosehill, Sutton Central, Sutton Common, Sutton East, Sutton South, Sutton West, Worcester Park North, and Worcester Park South.

2002–present: The London Borough of Sutton wards of Belmont, Cheam, Nonsuch, Stonecot, Sutton Central, Sutton North, Sutton South, Sutton West, and Worcester Park.

Proposed[edit]

Sutton and Cheam in 2023

Further to the 2023 Periodic Review of Westminster constituencies, enacted by the Parliamentary Constituencies Order 2023, the boundaries of the constituency from the next general election, due by January 2025, will be virtually unchanged. However, following a review of local authority ward boundaries which came into effect on 4 May 2022, the composition of the seat will now be composed of the following London Borough of Sutton wards:

Belmont; Cheam; North Cheam; Stonecot; Sutton Central; Sutton North; Sutton South; Sutton West & East Cheam; Worcester Park North; Worcester Park South.[8]

Constituency profile[edit]

The area maintains separate schooling systems, with grammar schools and comprehensive schools, similar to Kingston upon Thames; it has more semi-detached, terraced and detached properties than the Greater London average.[9]

Workless claimants, registered jobseekers, were in November 2012 significantly lower than the national average of 3.8%, at 2.1% of the population based on a statistical compilation by The Guardian.[10]

Members of Parliament[edit]

Election Member[11] Party Notes
1945 Sir Sidney Marshall Conservative Resigned 1954
1954 by-election Richard Sharples Conservative Resigned 1972
1972 by-election Graham Tope Liberal
Feb 1974 Sir Neil Macfarlane Conservative
1992 Lady Olga Maitland Conservative
1997 Paul Burstow Liberal Democrats
2015 Paul Scully Conservative

Elections[edit]

Elections in the 2010s[edit]

General election 2019: Sutton and Cheam[12][13]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Paul Scully 25,235 50.0 -1.1
Liberal Democrats Hina Bokhari 16,884 33.4 +6.7
Labour Bonnie Craven 7,200 14.3 -6.2
Green Claire Jackson-Prior 1,168 2.3 +0.6
Majority 8,351 16.6 -7.8
Turnout 50,487 70.4 -3.4
Registered electors 71,760
Conservative hold Swing -3.9
General election 2017: Sutton and Cheam[14][15]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Paul Scully 26,567 51.1 +9.6
Liberal Democrats Amna Ahmad 13,869 26.7 -7.0
Labour Bonnie Craven 10,663 20.5 +9.4
Green Claire Jackson-Prior 871 1.7 -0.4
Majority 12,698 24.4 +16.6
Turnout 51,970 73.8 +1.7
Registered electors 70,404
Conservative hold Swing +8.3
General election 2015: Sutton and Cheam[16][17]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Paul Scully 20,732 41.5 -0.8
Liberal Democrats Paul Burstow 16,811 33.7 -12.0
Labour Emily Brothers 5,546 11.1 +4.1
UKIP Angus Dalgleish 5,341 10.7 +8.7
Green Maeve Tomlinson 1,051 2.1 +1.6
NHA Dave Ash 345 0.7 New
TUSC Pauline Gorman 79 0.2 New
Majority 3,921 7.8 N/A
Turnout 49,905 72.1 -0.7
Registered electors 69,228
Conservative gain from Liberal Democrats Swing +5.6
General election 2010: Sutton and Cheam[18][19]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Democrats Paul Burstow 22,156 45.7 −1.2
Conservative Philippa Stroud 20,548 42.4 +1.7
Labour Kathy Allen 3,376 7.0 −4.9
BNP John Clarke 1,014 2.1 New
UKIP David Pickles 950 2.0 New
Green Peter Hickson 246 0.5 New
English Democrat John Dodds 106 0.2 New
CPA Matthew Connolly 52 0.1 New
Libertarian Martin Cullip 41 0.1 New
Independents Federation UK Brian Hammond 19 0.0 New
Majority 1,608 3.3 −2.9
Turnout 48,508 72.8 +5.5
Registered electors 66,658
Liberal Democrats hold Swing −1.5

Elections in the 2000s[edit]

General election 2005: Sutton and Cheam[20]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Democrats Paul Burstow 19,768 47.1 -1.7
Conservative Richard Willis 16,922 40.4 +2.4
Labour Anand Shukla 4,954 11.8 -1.4
Rainbow Dream Ticket Rainbow George Weiss 288 0.7 New
Majority 2,846 6.7 -4.1
Turnout 41,932 66.2 +3.8
Registered electors 62,885
Liberal Democrats hold Swing -2.0
General election 2001: Sutton and Cheam[21]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Democrats Paul Burstow 19,382 48.8 +6.5
Conservative Olga Maitland 15,078 38.0 +0.2
Labour Lisa Homan 5,263 13.2 -2.3
Majority 4,304 10.8 +6.4
Turnout 39,723 62.4 -12.5
Registered electors 63,648
Liberal Democrats hold Swing +3.2

Elections in the 1990s[edit]

General election 1997: Sutton and Cheam[22]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Democrats Paul Burstow 19,919 42.3 +8.5
Conservative Olga Maitland 17,822 37.9 -17.3
Labour Mark Allison 7,280 15.5 +5.6
Referendum Peter Atkinson 1,784 3.8 New
UKIP Simon Mckie 191 0.4 New
Natural Law Deborah Wright 96 0.2 -0.1
Majority 2,097 4.4 N/A
Turnout 47,092 74.9 -7.5
Registered electors 62,824
Liberal Democrats gain from Conservative Swing -12.9
General election 1992: Sutton and Cheam[23]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Olga Maitland 27,710 55.2 -5.6
Liberal Democrats Paul Burstow 16,954 33.8 +5.2
Labour G. C. Martin 4,980 9.9 -0.7
Green J. Duffy 444 0.9 New
Natural Law A. Hatchard 133 0.3 New
Majority 10,756 21.4 -10.8
Turnout 50,221 82.4 +5.8
Registered electors 60,949
Conservative hold Swing -5.4

Elections in the 1980s[edit]

General election 1987: Sutton and Cheam[24]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Neil Macfarlane 29,710 60.8 +3.7
Liberal Robert Greig 13,992 28.6 -6.6
Labour Loraine Monk 5,202 10.6 +3.0
Majority 15,718 32.2 +10.3
Turnout 48,904 76.6 +2.3
Registered electors 63,850
Conservative hold Swing +5.1
General election 1983: Sutton and Cheam[25]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Neil Macfarlane 26,782 57.1 -0.9
Liberal Christopher Caswill 16,518 35.2 +8.8
Labour Geoffrey Dixon 3,568 7.6 -6.7
Majority 10,264 21.9 -9.7
Turnout 46,868 74.3 -4.5
Registered electors 63,099
Conservative hold Swing -4.0

Elections in the 1970s[edit]

General election 1979: Sutton and Cheam
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Neil Macfarlane 28,842 58.0 +10.4
Liberal Christopher Caswill 13,136 26.4 -10.1
Labour Nancy Irwin[26] 7,126 14.3 -1.0
National Front John Hunt[26] 465 0.9 New
Independent John Smoker[26] 128 0.2 New
Majority 15,706 31.6 +20.5
Turnout 49,277 78.8 +1.9
Registered electors 63,038
Conservative hold Swing
General election October 1974: Sutton and Cheam
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Neil Macfarlane 22,156 47.6 +2.2
Liberal Graham Tope 16,995 36.5 -5.5
Labour James Kenneth Rhodes 7,118 15.3 +2.7
Women's Rights Una Kroll 298 0.6 New
Majority 5,161 11.1 +7.7
Turnout 46,567 76.9 -5.7
Registered electors 60,559
Conservative hold Swing
General election February 1974: Sutton and Cheam
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Neil Macfarlane 22,555 45.4 -12.7
Liberal Graham Tope 20,836 42.0 +27.4
Labour James Kenneth Rhodes 6,270 12.6 -14.7
Majority 1,719 3.4 N/A
Turnout 49,661 82.6 +15.0
Registered electors 60,109
Conservative hold Swing
1972 Sutton and Cheam by-election
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Graham Tope 18,328 53.6 +39.0
Conservative Neil Macfarlane 10,911 31.9 -26.2
Labour David Miller 2,937 8.6 -18.7
Anti-Common Market Chris Frere-Smith 1,332 3.9 New
National Independence Edgar Scruby 660 1.9 New
Majority 7,417 21.7 N/A
Turnout 34,194 56.3 -11.3
Registered electors
Liberal gain from Conservative Swing +32.6
General election 1970: Sutton and Cheam[27]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Richard Sharples 23,957 58.1 +7.00
Labour John Dowsett 11,261 27.3 -2.99
Liberal Nicholas DM McGeorge 6,023 14.6 -4.01
Majority 12,696 30.8 +9.99
Turnout 41,241 67.6 -8.76
Registered electors 61,050
Conservative hold Swing

Elections in the 1960s[edit]

General election 1966: Sutton and Cheam[28]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Richard Sharples 22,331 51.10 -1.55
Labour Frank J Ward 13,235 30.29 +3.16
Liberal Nicholas DM McGeorge 8,134 18.61 -1.62
Majority 9,096 20.81 -4.71
Turnout 43,700 76.36 +2.09
Registered electors 57,227
Conservative hold Swing
General election 1964: Sutton and Cheam[29]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Richard Sharples 22,975 52.65 -5.67
Labour Paul Derrick 11,839 27.13 +1.65
Liberal John Montgomerie 8,827 20.23 +4.02
Majority 11,136 25.52 -7.32
Turnout 43,641 74.27 -5.34
Registered electors 58,898
Conservative hold Swing

Elections in the 1950s[edit]

General election 1959: Sutton and Cheam[30]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Richard Sharples 27,344 58.32 -7.70
Labour Frank Judd 11,946 25.48 -8.50
Liberal John Montgomerie 7,600 16.21 New
Majority 15,398 32.84 +0.81
Turnout 46,890 79.61 +3.16
Registered electors 58,763
Conservative hold Swing
General election 1955: Sutton and Cheam[31]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Richard Sharples 29,538 66.02 +3.25
Labour Ronald M Lewis 15,205 33.98 -3.25
Majority 14,333 32.04 +6.51
Turnout 44,743 76.45 -5.23
Registered electors 58,529
Conservative hold Swing
1954 Sutton and Cheam by-election
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Richard Sharples 21,930 66.55 +3.78
Labour N. T. Poulter 11,023 33.45 -3.78
Majority 10,907 33.10 +7.57
Turnout 32,953 55.60 -26.08
Registered electors 59,292
Conservative hold Swing
General election 1951: Sutton and Cheam[32]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Sidney Marshall 30,684 62.77 +5.84
Labour Eric KI Hurst 18,202 37.23 +2.71
Majority 12,482 25.54 +3.13
Turnout 58,886 81.68 -5.05
Registered electors 59,848
Conservative hold Swing
General election 1950: Sutton and Cheam
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Sidney Marshall 29,200 56.93 +10.89
Labour Helen O. Judd 17,706 34.52 -6.45
Liberal Henry Joseph Wheeler 4,389 8.56 -4.45
Majority 11,494 22.41 +17.34
Turnout 51,295 86.73 +11.01
Registered electors 59,141
Conservative hold Swing

Elections in the 1940s[edit]

General election 1945: Sutton and Cheam
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Sidney Marshall 19,431 46.04
Labour Helen O. Judd 17,293 40.97
Liberal John Pickering Hughes 5,483 12.99
Majority 2,138 5.07
Turnout 42,207 75.72
Registered electors 55,742
Conservative win (new seat)

See also[edit]

Notes[edit]

  1. ^ A borough constituency (for the purposes of election expenses and type of returning officer)
  2. ^ As with all constituencies, the constituency elects one Member of Parliament (MP) by the first past the post system of election at least every five years.

References[edit]

  1. ^ "Electorate Figures – Boundary Commission for England". 2011 Electorate Figures. Boundary Commission for England. 4 March 2011. Archived from the original on 6 November 2010. Retrieved 13 March 2011.
  2. ^ "BBC NEWS – UK – UK Politics – Memorable by-election results". bbc.co.uk. 22 May 2008.
  3. ^ "Constituency Referendum Results". Retrieved 20 September 2019.
  4. ^ "European Union (Withdrawal) Bill — Reject Third Reading — Membership of the European Union: Recent Votes".
  5. ^ Library, House of Commons (8 June 2017). "Who stood in the General Election 2017?".
  6. ^ "Conservative Members of Parliament 2015". UK Political.info. Archived from the original on 8 June 2017. Retrieved 12 February 2017.
  7. ^ Dempsey, Noel (6 February 2017). "Estimated 2019 European Parliament election results by constituency". Retrieved 20 September 2019.
  8. ^ "The Parliamentary Constituencies Order 2023". Schedule 1 Part 3 London region.
  9. ^ "2011 Census Interactive – ONS". ons.gov.uk. Archived from the original on 29 January 2016.
  10. ^ Unemployment claimants by constituency The Guardian
  11. ^ Leigh Rayment's Historical List of MPs – Constituencies beginning with "S" (part 6)
  12. ^ Council, Sutton. "Statement of Persons Nominated & Notice of Poll - Sutton & Cheam 2019 | Sutton Council". www.sutton.gov.uk. Retrieved 19 November 2019.
  13. ^ "Sutton & Cheam parliamentary constituency". BBC News.
  14. ^ "Sutton & Cheam parliamentary constituency". BBC News.
  15. ^ Research briefing[dead link]
  16. ^ "Election Data 2015". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 17 October 2015. Retrieved 17 October 2015.
  17. ^ "Election Results - Sutton Council". Archived from the original on 15 May 2015.
  18. ^ "Election Data 2010". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 26 July 2013. Retrieved 17 October 2015.
  19. ^ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 8 June 2011. Retrieved 2 May 2010.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  20. ^ "Election Data 2005". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
  21. ^ "Election Data 2001". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
  22. ^ "Election Data 1997". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
  23. ^ "Election Data 1992". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
  24. ^ "Election Data 1987". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
  25. ^ "Election Data 1983". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
  26. ^ a b c Election Expenses. Parliament of the United Kingdom. 1980. p. 21. ISBN 0102374805.
  27. ^ The Times' Guide to the House of Commons. 1970.
  28. ^ The Times' Guide to the House of Commons. 1966.
  29. ^ The Times' Guide to the House of Commons. 1964.
  30. ^ The Times' Guide to the House of Commons. 1959.
  31. ^ The Times' Guide to the House of Commons. 1955.
  32. ^ The Times' Guide to the House of Commons. 1951.

External links[edit]

51°21′43″N 0°12′32″W / 51.362°N 0.209°W / 51.362; -0.209