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Woking (UK Parliament constituency)

Coordinates: 51°19′N 0°33′W / 51.31°N 0.55°W / 51.31; -0.55
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Woking
Borough constituency
for the House of Commons
Map
Boundaries since 2024
Map of constituency
Boundary of Woking in South East England
CountySurrey
Electorate71,737 (2023)[1]
Major settlements
Current constituency
Created1950
Member of ParliamentWill Forster (Liberal Democrat)
Created from

Woking is a constituency represented in the House of Commons of the UK Parliament since 2024 by Will Forster, a Liberal Democrat. Since it was first created for the 1950 general election, it had only ever returned Conservative Party candidates until it elected a Liberal Democrat for the first time in 2024.

Constituency profile

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The seat comprises the Borough of Woking, which has one main town: Woking. Voters are, on average, wealthier than the UK average.[2]

History

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The seat was created in 1950 from the county constituencies of Chertsey and lightly populated parts of Farnham.[n 1]

Prior to 2024, and with exceptions only in 1974 (February election), 1997, 2005 and 2010, this constituency returned a Conservative with majorities exceeding 15% of votes cast.

At the 2015 and 2017 general elections, the Labour candidates polled in second place, whereas in 2019 the Lib Dem candidate did so. Until the election of 2024, similar second place results had been emulated locally eight and nine times respectively by Labour and the Lib Dems.

A Conservative win by 11.2% of the vote in 1997 was a notably marginal result. By contrast, at the 2015 general election the seat was the 41st-safest of the Conservative Party's 331 seats by percentage of majority, 40 percentage points ahead of Labour.[3]

By 2024, the Liberal Democrats had a very sizeable majority on Woking Borough Council and there were no Conservative councillors left on the authority, although historically the Conservatives had been the dominant force on the council.

Local Conservatives won the previously relevant (Guildford Council) wards of Pirbright and Normandy over many election cycles, but these two villages were transferred to the Surrey Heath constituency from 2024 onwards following boundary changes.

Boundaries

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Map
Map of 1997–2024 boundaries

Historic

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1950–74: The Urban Districts of Frimley and Camberley, and Woking, and in the Rural District of Guildford the parishes of Ash, Normandy, and Pirbright.

1974–83: as above less Frimley and Camberley (transferred to North West Surrey - which was subsequently abolished in 1997, but replaced in large part at that point by the new Surrey Heath constituency). Note that in 1974 these areas constituted the whole of Woking (borough) and a part of Guildford (borough).

1983–97: unchanged (i.e. The Borough of Woking, and the Borough of Guildford wards of Ash, Ash Vale, Normandy, and Pirbright).

1997–2024: as above less Ash and Ash Vale (transferred to Surrey Heath).

The Boundary Commission made no changes to the Woking constituency in the Parliamentary boundary review that took place prior to the 2010 General Election.

Current

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Further to the 2023 Periodic Review of Westminster constituencies which came into effect for the 2024 general election, the size of the electorate was reduced by transferring the wards of Pirbright and Normandy to the constituency of Surrey Heath. The constituency boundaries of Woking thereby became coterminous with those of the Borough of Woking,[4] comprising the ten Woking Borough Council wards of:

  • Byfleet & West Byfleet; Canalside; Goldsworth Park; Heathlands; Hoe Valley; Horsell; Knaphill; Mount Hermon; Pyrford; and St. John's.

Members of Parliament

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Election Member[5] Party
1950 Harold Watkinson Conservative
1964 Sir Cranley Onslow Conservative
1997 Humfrey Malins Conservative
2010 Jonathan Lord Conservative
2024 Will Forster Liberal Democrats

Elections

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Elections in the 2020s

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General election 2024: Woking[6]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Democrats Will Forster 24,019 49.9 +18.8
Conservative Jonathan Lord 12,773 26.5 –21.8
Reform UK Richard Barker 4,888 10.2 N/A
Labour Ese Erheriene 4,444 9.2 –7.5
Green Nataly Anderson 1,853 3.8 +1.0
Heritage Tim Read 168 0.3 N/A
Majority 11,246 23.4 N/A
Turnout 48,145 66.0 –4.4
Registered electors 72,977
Liberal Democrats gain from Conservative Swing +20.3

Elections in the 2010s

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2019 notional result[7]
Party Vote %
Conservative 24,358 48.3
Liberal Democrats 15,675 31.1
Labour 8,444 16.7
Green 1,398 2.8
Others 600 1.2
Turnout 50,475 70.4
Electorate 71,737
General election 2019: Woking[8][9]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Jonathan Lord 26,396 48.9 Decrease5.2
Liberal Democrats Will Forster 16,629 30.8 Increase13.2
Labour Gerry Mitchell 8,827 16.4 Decrease7.5
Green Ella Walding 1,485 2.8 Increase0.8
UKIP Troy de Leon 600 1.1 Decrease1.0
Majority 9,767 18.1 Decrease12.1
Turnout 53,937 71.5 Decrease1.0
Registered electors 75,455
Conservative hold Swing Decrease9.3
General election 2017: Woking[10]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Jonathan Lord 29,903 54.1 Decrease2.1
Labour Fiona Colley 13,179 23.9 Increase7.8
Liberal Democrats Will Forster 9,711 17.6 Increase6.0
UKIP Troy de Leon 1,161 2.1 Decrease9.2
Green James Brierley 1,092 2.0 Decrease2.1
Independent Hassan Akberali 200 0.4 N/A
Majority 16,724 30.2 Decrease9.8
Turnout 55,246 72.5 Increase2.5
Conservative hold Swing Decrease4.9
General election 2015: Woking[11][12]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Jonathan Lord 29,199 56.2 +5.9
Labour Jill Rawling 8,389 16.1 +8.1
Liberal Democrats Chris Took 6,047 11.6 −25.8
UKIP Rob Burberry 5,873 11.3 +7.5
Green Martin Robson 2,109 4.1 N/A
CISTA Declan Wade 229 0.4 N/A
Magna Carta Conservation Party Great Britain Ruth Temple 77 0.1 N/A
The Evolution Party Angela Woolford 41 0.1 N/A
Majority 20,810 40.0 +27.1
Turnout 51,964 70.0 −1.5
Conservative hold Swing −1.1
General election 2010: Woking[13]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Jonathan Lord 26,551 50.3 +2.9
Liberal Democrats Rosie Sharpley 19,744 37.4 +4.3
Labour Tom Miller 4,246 8.0 −8.3
UKIP Rob Burberry 1,997 3.8 +0.9
Peace Julie Roxburgh 204 0.4 N/A
Magna Carta Conservation Party Great Britain Ruth Temple 44 0.1 N/A
Majority 6,807 12.9 −1.5
Turnout 52,786 71.5 +8.1
Conservative hold Swing −0.7

Elections in the 2000s

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General election 2005: Woking[14]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Humfrey Malins 21,838 47.4 +1.4
Liberal Democrats Anne Lee 15,226 33.1 +2.8
Labour Ellie Blagbrough 7,507 16.3 −4.0
UKIP Matthew Davies 1,324 2.9 −0.5
UK Community Issues Party Michael Osman 150 0.3 N/A
Majority 6,612 14.4 −1.3
Turnout 46,045 63.4 +3.2
Conservative hold Swing −0.7
General election 2001: Woking[15]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Humfrey Malins 19,747 46.0 +7.6
Liberal Democrats Alan Hilliar 12,988 30.3 +3.0
Labour Sabir Hussain 8,714 20.3 −0.7
UKIP Michael Harvey 1,461 3.4 +2.4
Majority 6,759 15.7 +4.6
Turnout 42,910 60.2 −12.5
Conservative hold Swing +2.3

Elections in the 1990s

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General election 1997: Woking[16]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Humfrey Malins 19,553 38.4 −20.7
Liberal Democrats Philip Goldenberg 13,875 27.3 +0.2
Labour Katie Hanson 10,695 21.0 +7.6
Ind. Conservative Hugh Bell 3,933 7.7 N/A
Referendum Christopher Skeate 2,209 4.3 N/A
UKIP Michael Harvey 512 1.0 N/A
Natural Law Deirdre Sleeman 137 0.3 −0.2
Majority 5,678 11.1 −19.9
Turnout 50,914 72.7 −6.5
Conservative hold Swing -10.3

This constituency underwent boundary changes between the 1992 and 1997 general elections and thus change in share of vote is based on a notional calculation.

General election 1992: Woking[17][18]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Cranley Onslow 37,744 58.9 +0.8
Liberal Democrats Dorothy Buckrell 17,902 28.0 −3.4
Labour James Dalgleish 8,080 12.6 +2.1
Natural Law Teresa Macintyre 302 0.5 N/A
Majority 19,842 31.0 +4.3
Turnout 64,028 79.2 +4.1
Conservative hold Swing +2.1

Elections in the 1980s

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General election 1987: Woking[19]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Cranley Onslow 35,990 58.1 −0.2
Alliance (Liberal) Philip Goldenberg 19,446 31.4 +2.0
Labour Anita Pollack 6,537 10.5 −1.2
Majority 16,544 26.7 −2.2
Turnout 61,973 75.1 +3.4
Conservative hold Swing -1.1
General election 1983: Woking[20]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Cranley Onslow 32,748 58.3 +1.3
Alliance (Liberal) Philip Goldenberg 16,511 29.4 +11.4
Labour Barbara Broer 6,566 11.7 −6.3
Party of Associates with Licensees D. M. Comens 368 0.6 N/A
Majority 16,237 28.9 −4.2
Turnout 56,193 71.7 −4.8
Conservative hold Swing -5.1

Elections in the 1970s

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General election 1979: Woking
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Cranley Onslow 31,719 57.05 +11.01
Labour Nigel Beard 13,327 23.97 +0.27
Liberal George H. Dunk 9,991 17.97 −10.43
National Front P. A. Gleave 564 1.01 −0.85
Majority 18,392 33.08 +15.44
Turnout 55,601 76.51 +3.58
Conservative hold Swing +5.4
General election October 1974: Woking
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Cranley Onslow 22,804 46.04 −0.29
Liberal P. Wade 14,069 28.40 −4.01
Labour J. W. Tattersall 11,737 23.70 +2.44
National Front R. Vaughan-Smith 921 1.86 N/A
Majority 8,735 17.64 +3.72
Turnout 49,531 72.93 −7.94
Conservative hold Swing +1.9
General election February 1974: Woking
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Cranley Onslow 25,243 46.33 −10.38
Liberal P. Wade 17,660 32.41 +17.54
Labour J. W. Tattersall 11,583 21.26 −7.16
Majority 7,583 13.92 −14.37
Turnout 54,486 80.87 +10.99
Conservative hold Swing -14.0
General election 1970: Woking
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Cranley Onslow 37,220 56.71 +5.31
Labour R. M. Taylor 18,652 28.42 −2.38
Liberal P. Wade 9,763 14.87 −2.93
Majority 18,568 28.29 +7.69
Turnout 65,635 69.88 −7.23
Conservative hold Swing +3.8

Elections in the 1960s

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General election 1966: Woking
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Cranley Onslow 32,057 51.40 −0.30
Labour Michael Downing 19,210 30.80 +1.22
Liberal Agnes H. Scott 11,104 17.80 −0.92
Majority 12,847 20.60 −1.52
Turnout 62,371 77.11 −0.98
Conservative hold Swing -0.8
General election 1964: Woking
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Cranley Onslow 31,170 51.70 −15.70
Labour H. G. N. Clother 17,834 29.58 −3.02
Liberal Agnes H. Scott 11,285 18.72 N/A
Majority 13,336 22.12 −12.68
Turnout 60,289 78.09 +0.74
Conservative hold Swing -6.3

Elections in the 1950s

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General election 1959: Woking
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Harold Watkinson 33,521 67.40 +2.99
Labour R David Vaughan Williams 16,210 32.60 −2.99
Majority 17,311 34.80 +5.98
Turnout 49,731 77.35 +1.63
Conservative hold Swing +3.0
General election 1955: Woking
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Harold Watkinson 27,860 64.41 −0.54
Labour R David Vaughan Williams 15,393 35.59 +0.54
Majority 12,467 28.82 −1.08
Turnout 43,253 75.72 −3.01
Conservative hold Swing -0.5
General election 1951: Woking
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Harold Watkinson 26,522 64.95 +6.97
Labour W. Eric Wolff 14,313 35.05 +3.86
Majority 12,209 29.90 +3.11
Turnout 40,835 78.73 −4.51
Conservative hold Swing +1.6
General election 1950: Woking
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Harold Watkinson 24,454 57.98
Labour T. Davies 13,157 31.19
Liberal Michael Fernley Turner-Bridger 4,567 10.83
Majority 11,297 26.79
Turnout 42,178 83.24
Conservative win (new seat)

See also

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Notes

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  1. ^ All extant UK seats elect one Member of Parliament (MP) by the first past the post system of election, as from the outset in Woking in 1950

References

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  1. ^ "The 2023 Review of Parliamentary Constituency Boundaries in England – Volume two: Constituency names, designations and composition – South East". Boundary Commission for England. Retrieved 25 June 2024.
  2. ^ Electoral Calculus https://www.electoralcalculus.co.uk/fcgi-bin/seatdetails.py?seat=Woking
  3. ^ "Conservative Members of Parliament 2015". UK Political.info. Archived from the original on 8 June 2017. Retrieved 12 February 2017.
  4. ^ "The Parliamentary Constituencies Order 2023". Schedule 1 Part 6 South East region.
  5. ^ Leigh Rayment's Historical List of MPs – Constituencies beginning with "W" (part 5)
  6. ^ "Woking results". BBC News Online. 5 July 2024. Retrieved 5 July 2024.
  7. ^ "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.
  8. ^ "Statement of Persons Nominated, Notice of Poll and Situation of Polling Stations" (PDF). Woking Borough Council. 14 November 2019. Retrieved 14 November 2019.
  9. ^ "Woking Parliamentary constituency". BBC News Online. 13 December 2019. Retrieved 13 December 2019.
  10. ^ "Known candidates for Woking in the 2017 general election". Democracy Club. 12 May 2017. Archived from the original on 14 May 2017. Retrieved 14 May 2017.
  11. ^ "Election Data 2015". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 17 October 2015. Retrieved 17 October 2015.
  12. ^ "UK 2015 general election results in full". The Guardian. 8 May 2015. Retrieved 14 May 2017.
  13. ^ "Election Data 2010". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 26 July 2013. Retrieved 17 October 2015.
  14. ^ "Election Data 2005". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
  15. ^ "Election Data 2001". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
  16. ^ "Election Data 1997". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
  17. ^ "Election Data 1992". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
  18. ^ "Politics Resources". Election 1992. Politics Resources. 9 April 1992. Retrieved 6 December 2010.
  19. ^ "Election Data 1987". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
  20. ^ "Election Data 1983". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.

Sources

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51°19′N 0°33′W / 51.31°N 0.55°W / 51.31; -0.55

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