County Greater London Electorate 69,916 (May 2015) Created from Carshalton Member of parliament Tom Brake Replaced by Carshalton | Population 95,322 (2011 census) Created 1983 European Parliament constituency London Number of members 1 | |
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Carshalton and Wallington /kɑːˈʃɔːltən ənd wɒlɪŋɡtən/ is a constituency represented in the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom since 1997 by Tom Brake of the Liberal Democrats. It elects one Member of Parliament (MP) by the first past the post system of election.
Contents
The constituency was created at the 1983 general election, replacing the former seat of Carshalton.
Between the 2015 general election and the Richmond Park by-election in December 2016 the MP for this area was the sole Liberal Democrat MP in the south of England, if discounting North Norfolk.
Political history
Results since 1997 have been objectively interpreted more marginal majorities for the victor than emphatic (a majority of under 15% may in some circumstances be considered marginal). However a major national shift in a landslide victory, 1997, ended three parliaments of "strong" or "safe" Conservative Party victories (the lowest percentage majority seen by outgoing Nigel Forman was 18.9% of the vote, in 1992). The 1997 result disproves notions of safe or easy seats for any one party following an election of major political change - no other seat in the southern half of England aside from borderline north/south North Norfolk was retained by a Liberal Democrat in 2015, and transforming the seat into one the party's eight most secure seats by virtue of being won nationally. The result placed it ahead of seats the party lost that had returned a Liberal Democrat or Liberal for decades such as Truro and St Austell, its member (or that for its direct predecessor version, Truro) having the party's allegiance since 1974.
The constituency of Carshalton and Wallington is estimated to have voted by a large majority for 'Leave' in the EU referendum, in contrast to the incumbent MP, Tom Brake, who was a high profile proponent of 'Remain'.
Boundaries
1983-2010: The London Borough of Sutton wards of Beddington North, Beddington South, Carshalton Beeches, Carshalton Central, Carshalton North, Clockhouse, St Helier North, St Helier South, Wallington North, Wallington South, Wandle Valley, Woodcote, and Wrythe Green.
2010-present: The London Borough of Sutton wards of Beddington North, Beddington South, Carshalton Central, Carshalton South and Clockhouse, St Helier, The Wrythe, Wallington North, Wallington South, and Wandle Valley.