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Weald of Kent (UK Parliament constituency)

Coordinates: 51°07′N 0°41′E / 51.11°N 0.69°E / 51.11; 0.69
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Weald of Kent
County constituency
for the House of Commons
Map
Boundaries since 2024
Map of constituency
Boundary of Weald of Kent in South East England
CountyKent
Electorate70,110 (2023)[1]
Major settlementsTenterden, Cranbrook, Coxheath, Staplehurst
Current constituency
Created2024
Member of ParliamentKatie Lam (Conservative)
SeatsOne
Created from

Weald of Kent is a constituency of the House of Commons in the UK Parliament.[2] Further to the completion of the 2023 Periodic Review of Westminster constituencies, it was first contested at the 2024 general election. The current MP is Katie Lam.

Constituency profile

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This is 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 significantly 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.[3]

Boundaries

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The constituency is 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 [Hamstreet & 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.[4]

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.

Members of Parliament

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Ashford and Maidstone and the Weald prior to 2024

Election Member Party
2024 Katie Lam Conservative

Elections

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Elections in the 2020s

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General election 2024: Weald of Kent[5]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Katie Lam 20,202 39.8 –32.2
Labour Lenny Rolles 11,780 23.2 +9.1
Reform UK Daniel Kersten 10,208 20.1 N/A
Green Kate Walder 4,547 9.0 +5.1
Liberal Democrats John Howson 3,975 7.8 −2.3
Majority 8,422 16.6 –41.3
Turnout 50,712 66.7 –4.1
Registered electors 75,988
Conservative hold Swing –20.7

Elections in the 2010s

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2019 notional result[6]
Party Vote %
Conservative 35,730 72.0
Labour 6,979 14.1
Liberal Democrats 5,018 10.1
Green 1,925 3.9
Turnout 49,652 70.8
Electorate 70,110

See also

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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. ^ "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.
  3. ^ Electoral Calculus https://www.electoralcalculus.co.uk/fcgi-bin/calcwork23.py?seat=Weald+of+Kent
  4. ^ "The Parliamentary Constituencies Order 2023". Schedule 1 Part 6 South East region.
  5. ^ "Weald of Kent - General election results 2024". BBC News.
  6. ^ "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.
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51°07′N 0°41′E / 51.11°N 0.69°E / 51.11; 0.69

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