Faversham and Mid Kent (UK Parliament constituency)

Template:Short description Template:Infobox UK constituency main Faversham and Mid Kent is a constituencyTemplate:Refn represented in the House of Commons of the UK Parliament. Since 2015, the seat has been held by Helen Whately of the Conservative Party.Template:Refn

History

In 1997, the Faversham and Mid Kent constituency was formed when the previous Faversham seat was abolished and split into Sittingbourne and Sheppey and the town of Faversham which was then merged with Mid Kent to form this constituency.

It has been held by members of the Conservative Party throughout its existence.

Constituency profile

Faversham and Mid Kent covers a mainly rural sweep around the North Downs, including part of Swale and Maidstone boroughs. Some of the traditional farming industry remains. Residents' health and wealth are around average for the UK.

Boundaries

Template:Maplink 1997–2010: The Borough of Swale wards of Abbey, Boughton & Courtenay, Davington Priory, East Downs, St Ann's, Teynham and Lynsted, and Watling, and the Borough of Maidstone wards of Bearsted, Boxley, Detling, Harrietsham and Lenham, Headcorn, Hollingbourne, Langley, Leeds, Park Wood, Shepway East, Shepway West, Sutton Valence, and Thurnham.

The boundary change in 1997 caused some confusion among a large minority of residents of the Maidstone electoral wards as a constituency named Maidstone and The Weald was also created at the same time (largely replacing the former Maidstone constituency), but residents in the Shepway and Park Wood areas of the town found themselves in Faversham and Mid Kent instead.

2010–2024: The Borough of Swale wards of Abbey, Boughton and Courtenay, Davington Priory, East Downs, St Ann's, and Watling, and the Borough of Maidstone wards of Bearsted, Boughton Monchelsea and Chart Sutton, Boxley, Detling and Thurnham, Downswood and Otham, Harrietsham and Lenham, Headcorn, Leeds, North Downs, Park Wood, Shepway North, Shepway South, and Sutton Valence and Langley.

2024–present: Under the 2023 periodic review of Westminster constituencies, the constituency was defined as comprising the following, as they existed on 1 December 2020:

• The Borough of Maidstone wards of Bearsted, Boxley, Detling and Thurnham, Downswood and Otham, Harrietsham and Lenham, Leeds, North Downs, Park Wood, Shepway North, and Shepway South.
• The Borough of Swale wards of Abbey, Boughton and Courtenay, East Downs, Priory, St Ann's, Teynham and Lynsted, Watling, and West Downs.

The Swale wards of Teynham and Lynstead, and West Downs were transferred in from Sittingbourne and Sheppey, offset by the loss of the Maidstone wards of Boughton Monchelsea and Chart Sutton, Headcorn, and Sutton Valence and Langley to the new constituency of Weald of Kent.

Following a local government boundary review in Maidstone which came into effect in May 2024, the constituency now comprises the following from the 2024 general election:

• The Borough of Maidstone wards or part wards of: Bearsted & Downswood; Boughton Monchelsea & Chart Sutton (small part); Boxley Downs; Grove Green & Vinters Park (part); Harrietsham, Lenham & North Downs; Leeds & Langley (except Langley parish); Park Wood & Mangravet; Senacre; Shepway.
• The Borough of Swale wards of: Abbey; Boughton and Courtenay; East Downs; Priory; St Ann's; Teynham and Lynsted; Watling; West Downs.

Members of Parliament

Election		Member	Party
style="color:inherit;background-color: Template:Party color" |	1997	Andrew Rowe	Conservative
style="color:inherit;background-color: Template:Party color" |	2001	Sir Hugh Robertson	Conservative
style="color:inherit;background-color: Template:Party color" |	2015	Helen Whately	Conservative

Elections

Elections in the 2020s

General election 2024: Faversham and Mid Kent

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
		Helen Whately	Template:Replace	31.8
		Mel Dawkins	13,347	28.6
		Maxwell Harrison	9,884	21.2
		Hannah Temple	4,218	9.1
		Hannah Perkin	4,158	8.9
		Lawrence Rustem	171	0.4
Majority			1,469	3.2
Turnout			46,594	62.7
Registered electors			74,301
	hold		Swing	−19.8

Elections in the 2010s

2019 notional result
Party		Vote	%
	Conservative	30,187	62.6
	Labour	9,569	19.8
	Liberal Democrats	6,011	12.5
	Green	1,974	4.1
	Others	474	1.0
Turnout		48,215	67.2
Electorate		71,798

General election 2019: Faversham and Mid Kent

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
		Helen Whately	Template:Replace	63.2
		Jenny Reeves	9,888	19.6
		Hannah Perkin	6,170	12.2
		Hannah Temple	2,103	4.2
		Gary Butler	369	0.7
Majority			21,976	43.6
Turnout			50,394	68.7
	hold		Swing	+4.3

General election 2017: Faversham and Mid Kent

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
		Helen Whately	Template:Replace	61.1
		Michael Desmond	12,977	26.1
		David Naghi	3,249	6.5
		Mark McGiffin	1,702	3.4
		Alastair Gould	1,431	2.9
Majority			17,413	35.0
Turnout			49,749	68.9
	hold		Swing	−1.6

General election 2015: Faversham and Mid Kent

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
		Helen Whately	Template:Replace	54.4
		Peter Edwards-Daem	8,243	18.0
		Michael Desmond	7,403	16.2
		David Naghi	3,039	6.6
		Tim Valentine	1,768	3.9
		Hairy Knorm Davidson	297	0.6
		Gary Butler	158	0.3
Majority			16,652	36.4
Turnout			45,803	65.9
	hold		Swing	−8.1

General election 2010: Faversham and Mid Kent

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
		Hugh Robertson	Template:Replace	56.2
		David Naghi	9,162	19.6
		Ashok Rehal	7,748	16.6
		Sarah Larkins	1,722	3.7
		Tim Valentine	890	1.9
		Graham Kemp	542	1.2
		Hairy Knorm Davidson	398	0.9
Majority			17,088	36.6
Turnout			46,712	67.8
	hold		Swing	+1.6

Elections in the 2000s

General election 2005: Faversham and Mid Kent

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
		Hugh Robertson	Template:Replace	49.7
		Andrew Bradstock	12,970	29.7
		David Naghi	7,204	16.5
		Robert Thompson	1,152	2.6
		Norman Davidson	610	1.4
Majority			8,720	20.0
Turnout			43,626	65.7
	hold		Swing	+4.9

General election 2001: Faversham and Mid Kent

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
		Hugh Robertson	Template:Replace	45.6
		Grahame Birchall	14,556	35.5
		Michael Sole	5,529	13.5
		James Gascoyne	828	2.0
		Penelope Kemp	799	1.9
		Norman Davidson	600	1.5
Majority			4,183	10.1
Turnout			41,051	60.4
	hold		Swing	+0.9

Elections in the 1990s

General election 1997: Faversham and Mid Kent

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
		Andrew Rowe	Template:Replace	44.4
		Alan Stewart	17,843	36.0
		Bruce E. Parmenter	6,138	12.4
		Robin M. Birley	2,073	4.2
		Norman W. Davidson	511	1.0
		Michael J. Cunningham	431	0.9
		David J. Currer	380	0.8
	Green Referendum Lawless Naturally Street Party	Caroline Morgan	115	0.2
		Nigel P.J. Pollard	99	0.2
Majority			4,173	8.4
Turnout			49,606	73.5
	win (new seat)

See also

• List of parliamentary constituencies in Kent
• List of parliamentary constituencies in the South East England (region)

Sources

• Election result, 2005 (BBC)
• Election results, 1997 – 2001 (BBC)
• Election results, 1997 – 2001 Template:Webarchive (Election Demon)
• Election results, 1997 – 2005 Template:Webarchive (Guardian)

External links

• Faversham and Mid Kent UK Parliament constituency (boundaries April 1997 – April 2010) at MapIt UK
• Faversham and Mid Kent UK Parliament constituency (boundaries April 2010 – May 2024) at MapIt UK
• Faversham and Mid Kent UK Parliament constituency (boundaries from June 2024) at MapIt UK