Sevenoaks (UK Parliament constituency)

Sevenoaks is a constituency in Kent represented in the House of Commons of the UK Parliament since 2019 by Laura Trott, a Conservative who currently serves as Shadow Secretary of State for Education. She was Chief Secretary to the Treasury from November 2023 to July 2024. The seat was previously held by Michael Fallon, who served as Secretary of State for Defence from 2014 to 2017.

History

This constituency has existed since the Redistribution of Seats Act 1885.

With the exception of the one-year Parliament in 1923, the constituency has to date been a Conservative stronghold.

1885–1950

Sir Thomas Jewell Bennett before entering Parliament was a leader writer at The Standard and lived in India for many years, working at the Bombay Gazette before becoming both editor and principal proprietor of the Times of India. Bennett returned to England in 1901 and in 1910 unsuccessfully contested his first Parliamentary election, losing to Alfred Gelder at the time of David Lloyd George and H. H. Asquith's celebrated "People's Budget". He represented the seat for five years from 1918.

Higher in government in this period was Hilton Young, the Health Secretary between 1931 and 1935. The health portfolio at the time included responsibility for housing, including slum clearance and rehousing. Key items of legislation to which he contributed in this period were: the Town and Country Planning Act (1932) (which applied to all 'developable' land), the Housing Act (1935) (which laid down standards of accommodation) and the Restriction of Ribbon Development Act (1935) (which sought to consolidate urban development and restrict ribbon sprawl along major highways).

1950–date

Since 1950 the highest government position has been that of Michael Fallon, who was appointed Secretary of State for Defence in 2014 under Prime Minister David Cameron. Fallon held the office until he resigned on 1 November 2017 in the light of allegations of inappropriate behaviour of a sexual nature, before retiring prior to the 2019 general election.

Boundaries

Template:Maplink 1918–1950: The Urban Districts of Sevenoaks and Wrotham, and the Rural Districts of Malling and Sevenoaks.

1950–1974: The Urban District of Sevenoaks, and the Rural Districts of Malling and Sevenoaks.

1974–1983: The Urban District of Sevenoaks, the Rural District of Sevenoaks as altered by the Greater London Kent and Surrey Order 1968, and in the Rural District of Dartford the civil parishes of Ash-cum-Ridley, Eynsford, Farningham, Fawkham, Hartley, Horton Kirby, Longfield, Swanley, and West Kingsdown.

1983–1997: The District of Sevenoaks wards of Brasted, Chevening, Crockenhill and Lullingstone, Dunton Green, Eynsford, Farningham, Halstead Knockholt and Badgers Mount, Hextable and Swanley Village, Kemsing, Leigh, Otford, Penshurst and Fordcombe, Riverhead, Seal, Sevenoaks Kippington, Sevenoaks Northern, Sevenoaks Town and St John's, Sevenoaks Weald and Underriver, Sevenoaks Wildernesse, Shoreham, Somerdon, Sundridge and Ide Hill, Swanley Christchurch, Swanley St Mary's, Swanley White Oak, Westerham and Crockham, and West Kingsdown.

1997–2010: The District of Sevenoaks wards of Ash-cum-Ridley, Brasted, Chevening, Crockenhill and Lullingstone, Dunton Green, Eynsford, Farningham, Halstead Knockholt and Badgers Mount, Hextable and Swanley Village, Kemsing, Otford, Riverhead, Seal, Sevenoaks Kippington, Sevenoaks Northern, Sevenoaks Town and St John's, Sevenoaks Weald and Underriver, Sevenoaks Wildernesse, Shoreham, Sundridge and Ide Hill, Swanley Christchurch, Swanley St Mary's, Swanley White Oak, Westerham and Crockham, and West Kingsdown.

2010–2024: The District of Sevenoaks wards of Ash, Brasted, Chevening and Sundridge, Crockenhill and Well Hill, Dunton Green and Riverhead, Eynsford, Farningham, Horton Kirby and South Darenth, Fawkham and West Kingsdown, Halstead, Knockholt and Badgers Mount, Hextable, Kemsing, Otford and Shoreham, Seal and Weald, Sevenoaks Eastern, Sevenoaks Kippington, Sevenoaks Northern, Sevenoaks Town and St John's, Swanley Christchurch and Swanley Village, Swanley St Mary's, Swanley White Oak, and Westerham and Crockham Hill.

2024–present: Further to the 2023 periodic review of Westminster constituencies which came into effect for the 2024 general election, the constituency is composed of the following (as they existed on 1 December 2020):

• The Borough of Dartford ward of Wilmington, Sutton-at-Hone & Hawley.
• The District of Sevenoaks wards of: Brasted, Chevening & Sundridge; Crockenhill and Well Hill; Dunton Green and Riverhead; Eynsford; Farningham, Horton Kirby and South Darenth; Fawkham and West Kingsdown; Halstead, Knockholt and Badgers Mount; Hextable; Kemsing; Otford and Shoreham; Seal & Weald; Sevenoaks Eastern; Sevenoaks Kippington; Sevenoaks Northern; Sevenoaks Town and St. John’s; Swanley Christchurch and Swanley Village; Swanley St. Mary’s; Swanley White Oak; Westerham and Crockham Hill.

Minor changes, with the addition of the Wilmington, Sutton-at-Hone & Hawley ward from Dartford being offset by the transfer of the Ash & New Ash Green ward to the re-established constituency of Tonbridge.

Constituency profile

The seat is in mainstay London Commuter Belt territory, which supports a relatively high-income local economy with retail and self-employed trades principally benefiting. Sevenoaks constituency covers the towns of Sevenoaks and Swanley in Kent and some of the surrounding area. The Conservatives currently hold a majority in the District, but all the councillors for Sevenoaks Town wards are Liberal Democrats who also have a majority in the wards of Brasted, Chevening and Sundridge, and hold Leigh and Chiddingstone Causeway and Penshurst, Fordcombe and Chiddingstone. There are also three independent councillors and four Green Party councillors (New Ash Green and Eynsford).

In statistics

The constituency consists of Census Output Areas of one local government districts with a working population whose income is higher than the national average and lower than average reliance upon social housing. At the end of 2012 the unemployment rate in the constituency stood as 1.7% of the population claiming jobseekers allowance, compared to the regional average of 2.4%. The borough contributing to the bulk of the seat has a low 13.1% of its population without a car, 19.2% of the population without qualifications and a high 32.0% with level 4 qualifications or above. In terms of tenure 72.7% of homes are owned outright or on a mortgage by occupants as at the 2011 census across the district.

Electoral Calculus categorises the seat as being part of the “Strong Right” demographic, those who have fiscally conservative views on the economy but are also fairly nationalist and socially conservative, alongside strong support for Brexit. Additionally, the gross household income is £53,612 whilst the average house price is £567,313.

Members of Parliament

West Kent prior to 1885

Election		Member	Party
style="color:inherit;background-color: Template:Party color" |	1885	Charles Mills	Conservative
style="color:inherit;background-color: Template:Party color" |	1892	Henry Forster	Conservative
style="color:inherit;background-color: Template:Party color" |	1918	Sir Thomas Bennett	Coalition Conservative
style="color:inherit;background-color: Template:Party color" |	1923	Ronald Williams	Liberal
style="color:inherit;background-color: Template:Party color" |	1924	Walter Styles	Conservative
style="color:inherit;background-color: Template:Party color" |	1929	Sir Hilton Young	Conservative
style="color:inherit;background-color: Template:Party color" |	1935	Sir Charles Ponsonby	Conservative
style="color:inherit;background-color: Template:Party color" |	1950	Sir John Rodgers	Conservative
style="color:inherit;background-color: Template:Party color" |	1979	Mark Wolfson	Conservative
style="color:inherit;background-color: Template:Party color" |	1997	Sir Michael Fallon	Conservative
style="color:inherit;background-color: Template:Party color" |	2019	Laura Trott	Conservative

Elections

Elections in the 2020s

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General election 2024: Sevenoaks

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
		Richard Streatfeild	12,888	25.8
		James Milmine	9,341	18.7
		Denise Scott-McDonald	6,802	13.6
		Laura Manston	2,033	4.1
		Elwyn Jones	298	0.6
		Adam Hibbert	209	0.4
Majority			5,440	10.9
Turnout			49,899	67.9
Registered electors			73,708
	hold		Swing	−15.7

Elections in the 2010s

2019 notional result
Party		Vote	%
	Conservative	31,780	61.7
	Liberal Democrats	9,987	19.4
	Labour	6,958	13.5
	Green	1,773	3.4
	Others	990	1.9
Turnout		51,488	69.9
Electorate		73,684

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General election 2019: Sevenoaks

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
		Gareth Willis	10,114	19.8
		Seamus McCauley	6,946	13.6
		Paul Wharton	1,974	3.9
		Paulette Furse	695	1.4
		Sean Finch	295	0.6
Majority			20,818	40.9
Turnout			50,956	71.0
	hold		Swing

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General election 2017: Sevenoaks

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
		Chris Clark	10,727	20.9
		Alan Bullion	4,280	8.4
		Graham Cushway	1,894	3.7
		Philip Dodd	1,673	3.3
Majority			21,917	42.8
Turnout			51,218	72.1
	hold		Swing

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General election 2015: Sevenoaks

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
		Steve Lindsay	8,970	17.9
		Chris Clark	6,448	12.9
		Alan Bullion	3,937	7.9
		Amelie Boleyn	2,238	4.5
Majority			19,561	39.0
Turnout			50,124	70.9
	hold		Swing	−7.1

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General election 2010: Sevenoaks

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
		Alan Bullion	10,561	21.4
		Gareth Siddorn	6,541	13.2
		Christopher Heath	1,782	3.6
		Paul Golding	1,384	2.8
		Louise Uncles	806	1.6
		Mark Ellis	258	0.5
Majority			17,515	35.4
Turnout			49,408	71.1
	hold		Swing	+2.8

Elections in the 2000s

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General election 2005: Sevenoaks

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
		Ben Abbotts	9,467	21.9
		Tim Stanley	9,101	21.0
		Robert Dobson	1,309	3.0
		John Marshall	751	1.7
	United Kingdom Pathfinders	Mark Ellis	233	0.5
Majority			12,970	29.9
Turnout			43,298	58.7
	hold		Swing

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General election 2001: Sevenoaks

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
		Caroline Humphreys	10,898	25.6
		Clive Gray	9,214	21.6
		Lisa Hawkins	1,155	2.7
	United Kingdom Pathfinders	Mark Ellis	295	0.7
Majority			10,154	23.8
Turnout			42,614	63.9
	hold		Swing	+1.5

Elections in the 1990s

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General election 1997: Sevenoaks

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
		John Hayes	12,315	24.6
		Roger Walshe	12,086	24.1
		Nigel Large	2,138	4.3
		Margot Lawrence	443	0.9
	Pathfinders	Mark Ellis	244	0.5
		Alex Hankey	147	0.3
Majority			10,461	20.8
Turnout			50,149	75.4
	hold		Swing

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General election 1992: Sevenoaks

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
		Roger Walshe	14,091	24.4
		J. Evans	9,470	16.4
		Margot Lawrence	786	1.4
		P. Wakeling	210	0.4
Majority			19,154	33.1
Turnout			57,802	81.3
	hold		Swing	+1.1

Elections in the 1980s

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General election 1987: Sevenoaks

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
		Stephen Jakobi	15,600	27.9
		Graham Green	7,379	13.2
Majority			17,345	31.0
Turnout			55,923	76.4
	hold		Swing	+0.6

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General election 1983: Sevenoaks

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
		Stephen Jakobi	15,061	28.6
		Roland Gooding	6,439	12.2
		G. L. Burnett	416	0.8
Majority			15,706	29.8
Turnout			52,596	73.7
	hold		Swing

Elections in the 1970s

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General election 1979: Sevenoaks

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
		R. H. Redden	14,583	22.81
		G. Phillips	11,839	18.52
		Michael Easter	821	1.28
Majority			22,114	34.58
Turnout			63,942	78.98
	hold		Swing	+7.07

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General election October 1974: Sevenoaks

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
		James Scanlan	15,065	26.54
		Robert Webster	15,024	26.47
Majority			11,605	20.45
Turnout			56,759	75.71
	hold		Swing

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General election February 1974: Sevenoaks

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
		Ian Bradley	16,223	26.21
		J. Scanlan	14,987	24.21
		D. J. Woolard	754	1.22
Majority			13,713	22.15
Turnout			61,898	83.4
	hold		Swing

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General election 1970: Sevenoaks:

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
		John Ovenden	15,376	25.49
		Robert Webster	12,290	20.37
Majority			17,278	28.64
Turnout			60,320	73.0
	hold		Swing	+5.2

Elections in the 1960s

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General election 1966: Sevenoaks

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
		Peter Pearce	18,338	32.32
		Noel Blackburn	9,746	17.18
Majority			10,313	18.18
Turnout			56,735	79.19
	hold		Swing	+3.3

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General election 1964: Sevenoaks

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
		Peter Pearce	14,958	27.14
		Nelia Penman	11,480	20.83
Majority			13,720	24.89
Turnout			55,116	80.09
	hold		Swing	−1.4

Elections in the 1950s

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General election 1959: Sevenoaks

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
		Roderick Ogley	14,265	28.38
		Nelia Penman	7,819	15.55
Majority			13,921	27.69
Turnout			50,270	80.17
	hold		Swing	+2.0

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General election 1955: Sevenoaks

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
		John N. Powrie	17,858	38.16
Majority			11,078	23.68
Turnout			46,794	78.07
	hold		Swing	+1.47

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General election 1951: Sevenoaks

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
		John N. Powrie	18,823	39.63
Majority			9,845	20.74
Turnout			47,491	81.46
	hold		Swing	+2.5

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General election 1950: Sevenoaks

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
		J. Spencer	17,610	36.03
		Edward Moulton-Barrett	5,969	12.21
Majority			7,682	15.72
Turnout			48,871	84.9
	hold		Swing	+3.1

Elections in the 1940s

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General election 1945: Sevenoaks

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
		John Pudney	14,947	36.08
		Nelia Muspratt	6,906	16.67
		K. Thompson	676	1.63
Majority			3,946	9.53
Turnout			41,422	73.6
	hold		Swing

Elections in the 1930s

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General election 1935: Sevenoaks

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
		John Horridge	10,297	32.5
Majority			11,108	35.0
Turnout			31,702	65.3
	hold		Swing	N/A

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1935 Sevenoaks by-election

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	hold

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General election 1931: Sevenoaks

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	hold

Elections in the 1920s

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General election 1929: Sevenoaks

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
		Edgar Stratton Liddiard	7,844	25.1
		Hamilton Fyfe	6,634	21.2
Majority			8,923	28.6
Turnout			31,245	71.6
Registered electors			43,627
	hold		Swing	+2.4

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General election 1924: Sevenoaks

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
		Ronald Williams	9,311	38.1
Majority			5,814	23.8
Turnout			24,436	74.8
Registered electors			32,660
	gain from Template:Yesno		Swing	+13.5

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General election 1923: Sevenoaks

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
		Thomas Jewell Bennett	9,987	48.4
Majority			669	3.2
Turnout			20,643	64.4
Registered electors			32,078
	gain from Template:Yesno		Swing	N/A

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General election 1922: Sevenoaks

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
		L. A. Goldie	6,849	36.2
Majority			5,196	27.6
Turnout			18,894	60.9
Registered electors			31,000
	hold		Swing	N/A

Elections in the 1910s

Template:Election box winning candidate with party link coalition 1918Template:Election box end 1918

Election results 1885–1918

Elections in the 1880s

General election 1918: Sevenoaks

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
		John Ephraim Skinner	3,323	23.8
Majority			7,327	52.4
Turnout			13,973	46.3
Registered electors			30,189
	hold		Swing	N/A

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General election 1885: Sevenoaks

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
		Patteson Nickalls	3,956	46.0
Majority			695	8.0
Turnout			8,607	77.6
Registered electors			11,089
	win (new seat)

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General election 1886: Sevenoaks

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	hold

Elections in the 1890s

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General election 1892: Sevenoaks

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
		Thomas Johnston	3,908	39.3
Majority			2,128	21.4
Turnout			9,944	71.5
Registered electors			13,916
	hold		Swing	N/A

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General election 1895: Sevenoaks

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	hold

Elections in the 1900s

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General election 1900: Sevenoaks

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
		Murray Spencer Richardson	1,792	21.3
Majority			4,812	57.4
Turnout			8,396	56.5
Registered electors			14,861
	hold		Swing	N/A

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1902 Sevenoaks by-election

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
		Beaumont Morice	4,442	45.4
Majority			891	9.2
Turnout			9,775	63.4
Registered electors			15,420
	hold		Swing	−24.1

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General election 1906: Sevenoaks

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
		Beaumont Morice	6,855	48.6
		Murray Spencer Richardson	44	0.3
Majority			364	2.5
Turnout			14,118	81.8
Registered electors			17,256
	hold		Swing	−27.5

Elections in the 1910s

File:Henry Forster, 1st Baron Forster circa 1925.jpg

Forster

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General election January 1910: Sevenoaks

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
		Frederic Styles Philpin Lely	6,351	37.9
Majority			4,070	24.2
Turnout			16,772	88.1
Registered electors			19,035
	hold		Swing	+11.0

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General election December 1910: Sevenoaks

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	hold

General Election 1914–15:

Another General Election was required to take place before the end of 1915. The political parties had been making preparations for an election to take place and by July 1914, the following candidates had been selected;

• Unionist: Henry Forster
• Liberal: Leonard Powell

See also

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

References

Specific

General

Craig, F. W. S. (1983). British parliamentary election results 1918–1949 (3 ed.). Chichester: Parliamentary Research Services. Template:ISBN.

External links

• Sevenoaks UK Parliament constituency (boundaries April 1997 – April 2010) at MapIt UK
• Sevenoaks UK Parliament constituency (boundaries April 2010 – May 2024) at MapIt UK
• Sevenoaks UK Parliament constituency (boundaries from June 2024) at MapIt UK