# Tunbridge Wells (UK Parliament constituency)

Tunbridge Wells is a constituency in Kent represented in the House of Commons of the UK Parliament since 2024 by Mike Martin, a Liberal Democrat.

## Boundaries

1974–1983: The Borough of Royal Tunbridge Wells, the Urban District of Southborough, the Rural District of Cranbrook, in the Rural District of Tonbridge the parishes of Bidborough, Brenchley, Capel, Horsmonden, Lamberhurst, Paddock Wood, Pembury, Speldhurst.
1983–1997: The Borough of Tunbridge Wells. The constituency boundaries remained unchanged.
1997–2010: The Borough of Tunbridge Wells wards of Brenchley, Capel, Culverden, Goudhurst, Horsmonden, Lamberhurst, Paddock Wood, Pantiles, Park, Pembury, Rusthall, St James', St John's, St Mark's, Sherwood, Southborough East, Southborough North, Southborough West, Speldhurst and Bidborough.
2010–2024: The Borough of Tunbridge Wells wards of Brenchley and Horsmonden, Broadwater, Capel, Culverden, Goudhurst and Lamberhurst, Hawkhurst and Sandhurst, Paddock Wood East, Paddock Wood West, Pantiles and St Mark's, Park, Pembury, Rusthall, St James', St John's, Sherwood, Southborough and High Brooms, Southborough North, Speldhurst and Bidborough.
2024–present: The 2023 periodic review of Westminster constituencies, which was based on the ward structure in place on 1 December 2020, left the boundaries unchanged. However, following a local government boundary review which came into effect in May 2024, the constituency now comprises the following from the 2024 general election:
* The Borough of Tunbridge Wells wards of: Culverden; High Brooms; Paddock Wood; Pantiles; Park; Pembury & Capel; Rural Tunbridge Wells; Rusthall & Speldhurst; Sherwood; Southborough & Bidborough; St James'; St John's; and the Hawkhurst and Sandhurst parishes in the Hawkhurst, Sandhurst and Berenden ward.
The current constituency includes the large town of Tunbridge Wells, as well as most of its borough to the east, which is generally rural.

## History

The constituency was created in 1974, and was originally named "Royal Tunbridge Wells". Except for Cranbrook Rural District (previously part of the Ashford constituency) the area had formed part of the constituency of Tonbridge prior to 1974. In 1983 the "Royal" prefix was removed from the seat's name.

### Political history

The seat's results since its 1974 creation indicate a Conservative safe seat. In 1994, the Conservative group on the council lost control, but regained it in 1998.

### Prominent frontbenchers

In succession, from 1983 until 1997 Patrick Mayhew reached three leading positions: Solicitor General for England and Wales, Attorney General for England and Wales and for Northern Ireland (simultaneously) and Secretary of State for Northern Ireland.
From 2000 to 2001, Archie Norman was the Shadow Secretary of State for Environment, Transport and the Regions.
The previous MP Greg Clark, was Minister for Decentralisation from the start of the Cameron ministry, and then two years later became Financial Secretary to the Treasury. He then served as the Minister of State for Cities and Constitution, Minister of State for Universities, Science and Cities before serving in the cabinet as the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government after the 2015 General Election
In the May ministry, he served throughout as the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy before stepping down after May's resignation in July 2019. After returning to the backbenches, he served as the chair of the Science, Innovation and Technology Select Committee across the Johnson, Truss and Sunak ministries.
Clark stepped down for the 2024 general election, when the seat was won by Mike Martin of the Liberal Democrats – the first time it, and its predecessor Tonbridge, have not been represented by a Conservative since the latter's creation in 1918.

## Constituency profile

The area is still largely rural in character and landscape, enjoying a gently elevated position which is traversed by the High Weald Landscape Trail. The area has local service sector and financial sector employers, light engineering combined with being substantially a commuter belt town for London, and to an extent, businesses on the southern side of the M25, such as in the Gatwick Diamond.
The electorate voted for Remain in the 2016 EU referendum, and are wealthier than the UK average.

## Members of Parliament

Tonbridge and Ashford prior to 1974
| Election | Member | Party |
| February 1974 | Patrick Mayhew | Conservative |
| 1997 | Archie Norman | Conservative |
| 2005 | Greg Clark | Conservative |
| September 2019 | Greg Clark | Independent |
| November 2019 | Greg Clark | Conservative |
| 2024 | Mike Martin | Liberal Democrats |

## Elections
### Elections in the 2020s

General election 2024: Tunbridge Wells :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal Democrats | Mike Martin | 23,661 | 43.6 | +15.3 |
| | Conservative | Neil Mahapatra | 14,974 | 27.6 | −27.5 |
| | Reform UK | John Gager | 6,484 | 12.0 | N/A |
| | Labour | Hugo Pound | 6,178 | 11.4 | −3.4 |
| | Green | John Hurst | 2,344 | 4.3 | +4.3 |
| | Independent | Hassan Kassem | 609 | 1.1 | N/A |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 8,687 | 16.0 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 54,250 | 69.2 | −3.8 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 78,738 | | |
| | Liberal Democrats gain from Conservative | Liberal Democrats gain from Conservative | Swing | +21.4 | |

### Elections in the 2010s

General election 2019: Tunbridge Wells :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Greg Clark | 30,119 | 55.1 | –1.8 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Ben Chapelard | 15,474 | 28.3 | +18.4 |
| | Labour | Antonio Weiss | 8,098 | 14.8 | −11.7 |
| | Independent | Christopher Camp | 488 | 0.9 | N/A |
| | Independent | Nigel Peacock | 471 | 0.9 | N/A |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 14,645 | 26.8 | −3.6 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 54,650 | 73.0 | +0.9 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | −10.1 | |
General election 2017: Tunbridge Wells :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Greg Clark | 30,856 | 56.9 | −1.8 |
| | Labour | Charles Woodgate | 14,391 | 26.5 | +12.3 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Rachel Sadler | 5,355 | 9.9 | +1.5 |
| | UKIP | Chris Hoare | 1,464 | 2.7 | −9.9 |
| | Green | Trevor Bisdee | 1,441 | 2.7 | −2.5 |
| | Women's Equality | Celine Thomas | 702 | 1.3 | N/A |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 16,465 | 30.4 | −14.1 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 54,209 | 72.1 | +2.1 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | −5.25 | |
General election 2015: Tunbridge Wells :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Greg Clark | 30,181 | 58.7 | +2.5 |
| | Labour | Kevin Kerrigan | 7,307 | 14.2 | +3.4 |
| | UKIP | Colin Nicholson | 6,481 | 12.6 | +8.5 |
| | Liberal Democrats | James MacCleary | 4,342 | 8.4 | −16.9 |
| | Green | Marie Jones | 2,659 | 5.2 | +3.4 |
| | Independent | Graham Naismith | 458 | 0.9 | N/A |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 22,874 | 44.5 | +13.6 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 51,428 | 70.0 | +0.2 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | −0.5 | |
General election 2010: Tunbridge Wells :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Greg Clark | 28,302 | 56.2 | +5.5 |
| | Liberal Democrats | David Hallas | 12,726 | 25.3 | 0.0 |
| | Labour | Gary Heather | 5,448 | 10.8 | −9.6 |
| | UKIP | Victor Webb | 2,054 | 4.1 | +0.6 |
| | Green | Hazel Dawe | 914 | 1.8 | N/A |
| | BNP | Andrew McBride | 704 | 1.4 | N/A |
| | Independent | Farel Bradbury | 172 | 0.3 | N/A |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 15,576 | 30.9 | +7.4 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 50,320 | 69.8 | +3.9 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | +2.8 | |

### Elections in the 2000s

General election 2005: Tunbridge Wells :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Greg Clark | 21,083 | 49.6 | +0.7 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Laura Murphy | 11,095 | 26.1 | +1.4 |
| | Labour | Jacqui Jedrzejewski | 8,736 | 20.6 | −2.6 |
| | UKIP | Victor Webb | 1,568 | 3.7 | +0.4 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 9,988 | 23.5 | −0.7 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 42,482 | 65.7 | +3.4 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | −0.4 | |
General election 2001: Tunbridge Wells :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Archie Norman | 19,643 | 48.9 | +3.7 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Keith Brown | 9,913 | 24.7 | −5.0 |
| | Labour | Ian Carvell | 9,332 | 23.2 | +2.8 |
| | UKIP | Victor Webb | 1,313 | 3.3 | +2.8 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 9,730 | 24.2 | +6.7 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 40,201 | 62.3 | −11.8 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | +4.4 | |

### Elections in the 1990s

General election 1997: Tunbridge Wells :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Archie Norman | 21,853 | 45.2 | −11.7 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Anthony S. Clayton | 14,347 | 29.7 | +1.3 |
| | Labour | Peter Warner | 9,879 | 20.4 | +6.6 |
| | Referendum | Tim Macpherson | 1,858 | 3.8 | N/A |
| | UKIP | M. Smart | 264 | 0.5 | N/A |
| | Natural Law | Paul Levy | 153 | 0.3 | −0.1 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 7,506 | 15.5 | −13.0 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 48,354 | 74.1 | −4.0 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | −6.5 | |
General election 1992: Tunbridge Wells :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Patrick Mayhew | 34,162 | 56.9 | −1.5 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Anthony S. Clayton | 17,030 | 28.4 | −1.6 |
| | Labour | EAC Goodman | 8,300 | 13.8 | +2.2 |
| | Natural Law | EW Fenna | 267 | 0.4 | N/A |
| | Independent | R Edey | 236 | 0.4 | N/A |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 17,132 | 28.5 | +0.1 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 59,995 | 78.1 | +3.8 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | 0.0 | |

### Elections in the 1980s

General election 1987: Tunbridge Wells :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Patrick Mayhew | 33,111 | 58.4 | +0.1 |
| | Liberal | Dorothy Buckrell | 16,989 | 30.0 | 0.0 |
| | Labour | Peter Sloman | 6,555 | 11.6 | +0.3 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 16,122 | 28.4 | +0.1 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 56,655 | 74.3 | +1.6 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | +0.1 | |
General election 1983: Tunbridge Wells :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Patrick Mayhew | 31,199 | 58.3 | −1.2 |
| | Liberal | Peter Blaine | 16,073 | 30.0 | +11.7 |
| | Labour | Stephen Casely | 6,042 | 11.3 | −9.9 |
| | National Front | D Smith | 236 | 0.4 | −0.5 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 15,126 | 28.3 | −10.0 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 53,550 | 72.7 | −2.00 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | −6.5 | |

### Elections in the 1970s

General election 1979: Royal Tunbridge Wells :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Patrick Mayhew | 31,928 | 59.5 | +10.0 |
| | Labour | AAJ Bartlett | 11,392 | 21.2 | −3.7 |
| | Liberal | R Baker | 9,797 | 18.3 | −7.3 |
| | National Front | W Standen | 509 | 0.9 | N/A |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 20,536 | 38.3 | +14.3 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 53,626 | 74.7 | +2.2 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | +6.9 | |
General election October 1974: Royal Tunbridge Wells :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Patrick Mayhew | 24,829 | 49.5 | +0.1 |
| | Liberal | DC Owens | 12,802 | 25.5 | −3.9 |
| | Labour | RC Blackwell | 12,499 | 24.9 | +3.6 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 12,027 | 24.0 | +4.0 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 50,130 | 72.5 | −7.9 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | +2.0 | |
General election February 1974: Royal Tunbridge Wells :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Patrick Mayhew | 27,212 | 49.4 | |
| | Liberal | DC Owens | 16,184 | 29.4 | |
| | Labour | MF Short | 11,734 | 21.3 | |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 11,028 | 20.0 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 55,130 | 80.4 | |
| | Conservative win (new seat) | Conservative win (new seat) | Conservative win (new seat) | Conservative win (new seat) | Conservative win (new seat) |