Orpington (UK Parliament constituency)

Orpington is a constituency[n 1] created in 1945 represented in the House of Commons of the UK Parliament since 2019 by Gareth Bacon of the Conservative Party. It is the largest constituency in Greater London by area.[2]

Map showing the wards of the Orpington Parliament Constituency (red) within the London Borough of Bromley (yellow). Cray Valley West (orange) was included in the constituency at the election in 2005 but was transferred to Bromley and Chislehurst in 2010.
Orpington
Borough constituency
for the House of Commons
Boundary of Orpington in Greater London for the 2010 general election
CountyGreater London
Electorate68,221 (December 2010)[1]
Major settlementsOrpington and Biggin Hill
Current constituency
Created1945
Member of ParliamentGareth Bacon (Conservative)
Number of membersOne
Created fromChislehurst and Dartford

History

Orpington was created in a major boundary review enacted at the 1945 general election, which followed an absence of reviews since 1918. The seats of Dartford and Chislehurst had both seen their electorate grow enormously into newly built houses since the 1918 review and were treated as one and reformed into four seats, creating the additional seats of Bexley and this one in 1945.

Political history

The seat has been won by a Conservative since creation except for the 1962, 1964 and 1966 Liberal Party wins of Eric Lubbock.

The 2015 result made the seat the 43rd safest of the Conservative Party's 331 seats by percentage of majority.[3]

Role in the Liberal Party revival

The seat is famous for its 1962 by-election when it was taken in a shock result and substantial victory by the Liberal Party candidate Eric Lubbock.[4] He lost the seat in the 1970 general election.

Boundaries
Orpington in Kent, boundaries used 1955-74

1945–1974: The Urban District of Orpington, and part of the Rural District of Dartford.

1974–1983: The London Borough of Bromley wards of Biggin Hill, Chelsfield, Darwin, Farnborough, Goddington, Petts Wood, and St Mary Cray.

1983–1997: In the same borough: Chelsfield and Goddington, Crofton, Farnborough, Orpington Central, Petts Wood and Knoll, and St Mary Cray.

1997–2010: In the same borough: Biggin Hill, Chelsfield and Goddington, Crofton, Darwin, Farnborough, Orpington Central, Petts Wood and Knoll, St Mary Cray, and St Paul’s Cray.

2010–present: In the same borough: Biggin Hill, Chelsfield and Pratts Bottom, Cray Valley East, Darwin, Farnborough and Crofton, Orpington, and Petts Wood and Knoll.

Boundary changes

The seat has changed a little in subsequent boundary reviews since 1945. For the 1997 general election the Ravensbourne seat which had emerged in the west by Bromley was divided between three constituencies which before then overshot the London Borough of Bromley, adding to Orpington the community of Biggin Hill.

Constituency profile

The constituency is in the quite uniformly larger-housing dominated London Borough of Bromley,[5] which has low unemployment[6] and forms the southeastern limits of Greater London. It contains the largely buffered settlements of St Mary Cray, parts of St Pauls Cray, Swanley and Ruxley, then ascends through Orpington, Farnborough, and Chelsfield to the uppermost tracts of the North Downs and to the Biggin Hill settlement, which has an airport [7] and retains some of the hill-farming and woodland which dominated the area through the Industrial Revolution until the inter-war period.[8]

The wealth of the Conservative vote comes from Biggin Hill, Biggin Hill Valley, Downe and Orpington. The area mainly comprises detached and semi-detached houses surrounded by winding roads and vast areas of parkland, which since the ward’s creation have continually returned Conservative candidates, with the exception of 2002, when a Liberal Democrat councillor was elected to represent Orpington.

Members of Parliament
Election Member[9] Party
1945 Sir Waldron Smithers Conservative
1955 by-election Donald Sumner Conservative
1962 by-election Eric Lubbock Liberal
1970 Ivor Stanbrook Conservative
1992 John Horam Conservative
2010 Jo Johnson Conservative
2019 Gareth Bacon Conservative

Elections

Elections in the 2010s
General election 2019: Orpington[10]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Gareth Bacon 30,882 63.4 +0.5
Labour Simon Jeal 8,504 17.5 -6.9
Liberal Democrats Allan Tweddle 7,552 15.5 +8.9
Green Karen Wheller 1,783 3.7 +1.6
Majority 22,378 45.9 +7.4
Turnout 48,721 70.7 -3.6
Registered electors 68,884
Conservative hold Swing +3.7
General election 2017: Orpington[11][12]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Jo Johnson 31,762 62.9 +5.5
Labour Nigel de Gruchy 12,309 24.4 +8.8
Liberal Democrats Alex Feakes 3,315 6.6 -0.2
UKIP Brian Philp 2,023 4.0 -12.7
Green Tamara Galloway 1,060 2.1 -1.4
Majority 19,453 38.5 -2.2
Turnout 50,469 74.3 +1.7
Registered electors 67,902
Conservative hold Swing -1.6

By numerical vote share, the 2017 general election saw Orpington become the safest Conservative seat in London.

General election 2015: Orpington[13][14]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Jo Johnson 28,152 57.4 -2.3
UKIP Idham Ramadi[15] 8,173 16.7 +13.9
Labour Nigel de Gruchy 7,645 15.6 +6.6
Liberal Democrats Peter Brooks 3,330 6.8 -17.7
Green Tamara Galloway[16] 1,732 3.5 +2.5
Majority 19,979 40.7 +5.5
Turnout 49,032 72.6 +0.4
Registered electors 68,129
Conservative hold Swing -8.1
General election 2010: Orpington[17]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Jo Johnson 29,200 59.7 +8.5
Liberal Democrats David McBride 12,000 24.5 -15.9
Labour Stephen Morgan 4,400 9.0 +3.0
UKIP Mick Greenhough 1,360 2.8 +0.4
BNP Tess Culnane 1,241 2.5 N/A
Green Tamara Galloway 511 1.0 N/A
English Democrat Chris Snape 199 0.4 N/A
Majority 17,200 35.2 +26.2
Turnout 48,911 72.2 -0.2
Registered electors 67,732
Conservative hold Swing +12.19

Elections in the 2000s
General election 2005: Orpington[18]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative John Horam 26,718 48.8 +4.9
Liberal Democrats Chris Maines 21,771 39.8 -3.5
Labour Emily Bird 4,914 9.0 -1.8
UKIP Mick Greenhough 1,331 2.4 +0.4
Majority 4,947 9.0 +8.4
Turnout 54,734 69.9 +5.3
Registered electors 78,240
Conservative hold Swing +4.2
General election 2001: Orpington[19]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative John Horam 22,334 43.9 +3.3
Liberal Democrats Chris Maines 22,065 43.3 +7.7
Labour Chris A. Purnell 5,517 10.8 -7.0
UKIP John B. Youles 996 2.0 +1.1
Majority 269 0.6 -4.3
Turnout 50,912 64.6 -11.7
Registered electors 78,853
Conservative hold Swing -2.2

Elections in the 1990s
General election 1997: Orpington[20]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative John Horam 24,417 40.6 -16.6
Liberal Democrats Chris Maines 21,465 35.7 +5.5
Labour Sue Polydorou 10,753 17.9 +6.4
Referendum David Clark 2,316 3.8 N/A
UKIP James Carver 526 0.9 N/A
Liberal Robin Almond 494 0.8 -0.3
ProLife Alliance Nicholas Wilton 191 0.3 N/A
Majority 2,952 4.9 -22.1
Turnout 60,162 76.3 -7.4
Registered electors 78,831
Conservative hold Swing -11.0
General election 1992: Orpington[21]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative John Horam 27,421 57.2 −1.0
Liberal Democrats Chris Maines 14,486 30.2 −0.8
Labour Stephen J. Cowan 5,512 11.5 +0.8
Liberal Robin Almond 539 1.1 N/A
Majority 12,935 27.0 -0.2
Turnout 47,958 83.7 +5.2
Registered electors 57,318
Conservative hold Swing -0.1

Elections in the 1980s
General election 1987: Orpington[22]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Ivor Stanbrook 27,261 58.2 +0.9
Alliance (Liberal) Jonathan Fryer 14,529 31.0 −3.5
Labour Steven Cowan 5,020 10.7 +3.0
Majority 12,732 27.2 +4.5
Turnout 46,810 78.5 +2.5
Registered electors 59,608
Conservative hold Swing +2.2
General election 1983: Orpington[23]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Ivor Stanbrook 25,569 57.3 -0.7
Alliance (Liberal) J.W. Cook 15,418 34.5 +5.5
Labour D.M. Bean 3,439 7.7 -4.2
BNP L.T. Taylor 215 0.5 N/A
Majority 10,151 22.7 -6.3
Turnout 44,641 76.0 -5.7
Registered electors 58,759
Conservative hold Swing -3.2

Elections in the 1970s
General election 1979: Orpington
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Ivor Stanbrook 32,150 58.0 +11.0
Liberal J.W. Cook 16,074 29.0 -8.4
Labour A.J. Weyman 6,581 11.9 -3.8
National Front F. Hitches 516 0.9 N/A
Homeland Party I. MacKillian 146 0.3 N/A
Majority 16,076 29.0 +19.3
Turnout 55,467 81.7 +2.7
Registered electors 67,917
Conservative hold Swing +9.6
General election October 1974: Orpington
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Ivor Stanbrook 24,394 47.0 -0.2
Liberal Lady Avebury 19,384 37.3 -3.4
Labour C. Spillane 8,121 15.6 +3.5
Majority 5,010 9.7 +3.1
Turnout 51,899 79.0 -7.1
Registered electors 65,686
Conservative hold Swing +1.6
General election February 1974: Orpington
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Ivor Stanbrook 26,435 47.2 -0.1
Liberal Robin Young 22,771 40.7 -4.0
Labour David Grant 6,752 12.1 +4.1
Majority 3,664 6.6 +4.0
Turnout 55,598 86.1 +7.0
Registered electors 64,967
Conservative hold Swing +2.0
General election 1970: Orpington
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Ivor Stanbrook 24,385 47.3 +4.0
Liberal Eric Lubbock 23,063 44.7 -2.0
Labour David Grant 4,098 8.0 -2.1
Majority 1,322 2.6 N/A
Turnout 51,546 79.1 -7.9
Registered electors 65,191
Conservative gain from Liberal Swing +3.0

Elections in the 1960s
General election 1966: Orpington
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Eric Lubbock 22,615 46.7 -1.7
Conservative Norris McWhirter 20,993 43.3 +1.5
Labour David Jonathan Sleigh 4,870 10.1 +0.2
Majority 1,622 3.4 -3.2
Turnout 48,478 87.0 +1.6
Registered electors 55,776
Liberal hold Swing -1.6
General election 1964: Orpington
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Eric Lubbock 22,637 48.4 +27.2
Conservative Norris McWhirter 19,565 41.8 -14.8
Labour Peter A W Merriton 4,609 9.9 -12.3
Majority 3,072 6.6 N/A
Turnout 46,811 87.0 +4.2
Registered electors 54,846
Liberal gain from Conservative Swing
1962 Orpington by-election[24]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Eric Lubbock 22,846 52.9 +30.7
Conservative Peter Goldman 14,991 34.7 -21.9
Labour Alan Jinkinson 5,350 12.4 -9.8
Majority 7,855 18.2 -16.2
Turnout 43,187 80.3 -2.5
Registered electors 53,779
Liberal gain from Conservative Swing +26.3

Elections in the 1950s
General election 1959: Orpington
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Donald Sumner 24,303 56.6 -3.3
Labour Norman John Hart 9,543 22.2 -5.4
Liberal Jack Omar Galloway 9,092 21.2 +8.7
Majority 14,760 34.4 +1.1
Turnout 42,938 82.8 +3.4
Registered electors 51,872
Conservative hold Swing +0.6
General election 1955: Orpington
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Donald Sumner 22,166 59.9 -2.8
Labour Norman John Hart 10,230 27.6 -9.8
Liberal Alfred B. Howard 4,610 12.5 N/A
Majority 11,936 32.3 +7.0
Turnout 37,006 79.4 -2.6
Registered electors 46,581
Conservative hold Swing +3.5
1955 Orpington by-election[25]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Donald Sumner 20,082 65.8 +3.1
Labour R. David Vaughan Williams 10,426 34.2 -3.1
Majority 9,656 31.7 +6.4
Turnout 30,508 55.4 -26.6
Registered electors 55,069
Conservative hold Swing +3.1
General election 1951: Orpington
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Waldron Smithers 27,244 62.7 +6.0
Labour R. David Vaughan Williams 16,241 37.4 +4.6
Majority 11,003 25.3 +1.4
Turnout 43,485 82.0 -3.1
Registered electors 53,023
Conservative hold Swing +0.7
General election 1950: Orpington
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Waldron Smithers 24,450 56.7 +8.1
Labour George H. C. Vaughan 14,161 32.8 -5.0
Liberal Ruth Abrahams 4,523 10.5 -1.8
Majority 10,289 23.9 +13.1
Turnout 43,134 85.1 +12.4
Registered electors 50,704
Conservative hold Swing

Elections in the 1940s
General election 1945: Orpington[26]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Waldron Smithers 20,388 48.6 N/A
Labour Alan Raymond Mais 15,846 37.8 N/A
Liberal Edward Rogers Goodfellow 5,140 12.3 N/A
Independent Guy Chandler Milner 528 1.3 N/A
Majority 4,542 10.8 N/A
Turnout 41,902 72.7 N/A
Registered electors 57,625
Conservative win (new seat)

See also

Notes and references
Notes
  1. A county constituency (for the purposes of election expenses and type of returning officer)
References
  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. "PM's brother quits as MP and minister". BBC. 5 September 2019. Retrieved 5 September 2019.
  3. List of Conservative MPs elected in 2015 by % majority UK Political.info. Retrieved 2017-01-29
  4. On This Day - "1962: Liberals seize Orpington" BBC News
  5. 2011 census interactive maps Archived 2016-01-29 at the Wayback Machine
  6. Unemployment claimants by constituency The Guardian
  7. "OS Maps - online and App mapping system - Ordnance Survey Shop". getamap.ordnancesurvey.co.uk.
  8. Samuel Lewis (publisher) (1848). "Orpington - Osgoodby". A Topographical Dictionary of England. Institute of Historical Research. Retrieved 22 January 2013. A
  9. Leigh Rayment's Historical List of MPs – Constituencies beginning with "O"
  10. Bromley, London Borough of. "Statement of Persons Nominated General Election 2019 - Orpington constituency | London Borough of Bromley". www.bromley.gov.uk. Retrieved 2019-11-19.
  11. "Orpington parliamentary constituency". BBC News.
  12. http://researchbriefings.files.parliament.uk/documents/CBP-7979/CBP-7979.pdf
  13. "Election Data 2015". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 17 October 2015. Retrieved 17 October 2015.
  14. Bromley, London Borough of. "Orpington Constituency result of poll May 2015 - London Borough of Bromley". www.bromley.gov.uk.
  15. "Tweets with replies by Idham Ramadi (@idhamramadi) - Twitter". twitter.com.
  16. london.greenparty.org.uk/elections/2015-general-election.html
  17. "Election Data 2010". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 26 July 2013. Retrieved 17 October 2015.
  18. "Election Data 2005". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
  19. "Election Data 2001". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
  20. "Election Data 1997". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
  21. "Election Data 1992". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
  22. "Election Data 1987". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
  23. "Election Data 1983". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
  24. "1962 By Election Results". Archived from the original on 2012-02-05. Retrieved 2015-08-15.
  25. British Parliament by-election: 1955
  26. British Parliamentary Election Results 1918-1949, compiled and edited by F.W.S. Craig (Macmillan Press, revised edition 1977)

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