# Mitcham and Morden (UK Parliament constituency)

Mitcham and Morden is a constituency in Greater London represented in the House of Commons of the UK Parliament since 1997 by Dame Siobhain McDonagh of the Labour Party.

## History

The constituency was created in 1974 from the former seats of Mitcham and Merton & Morden.
Between 1974 and 1982 it was represented by Bruce Douglas-Mann who was elected as a Labour MP but defected in 1982 to the Social Democratic Party (SDP). Douglas-Mann was the sole SDP defector to resign his seat; he sought immediate re-election.
In the by-election Douglas-Mann triggered in May 1982, during the Falklands War, Angela Rumbold (Con) was elected. Rumbold's gain was the last time the Conservative Party would gain (as opposed to hold) at a by-election until 22 May 2008 when Edward Timpson won the Crewe and Nantwich by-election.
At the 1997 general election the seat was won by the Labour Party's Siobhain McDonagh. At the 2001, 2005 and 2010 General Elections, she was re-elected, in the latter election polling the 26th highest share of the vote for the party of the 631 seats contested.
The 2015 re-election of McDonagh made the seat the 41st safest of Labour's 232 seats by percentage of majority and 14th safest in the capital. The seat is one of the capital's two seats in which its majority in 2015 surpassed the Labour Party's landslide 1997 victory (the other being Ilford South).

## Boundaries
### Historic

1974–1983: The London Borough of Merton wards of Mitcham Central, Mitcham East, Mitcham North, Mitcham South, Mitcham West, Morden, and Ravensbury.
1983–2010: Upon redrawing of most of the local government wards, the London Borough of Merton wards of Colliers Wood, Figge's Marsh, Graveney, Lavender, Longthornton, Lower Morden, Phipps Bridge, Pollards Hill, Ravensbury, and St Helier.
2010–2024: As above except Cricket Green ward replaced Phipps Bridge and Lavender ward was renamed Lavender Fields following a local authority boundary review.

### Current

Further to the 2023 Periodic Review of Westminster constituencies, which came into effect for the 2024 general election, the constituency was expanded to include the Cannon Hill ward, transferred from Wimbledon.

## Constituency profile

The seat is relatively dense suburban — predominantly the housing divides into terraced houses and low-rise apartments in southern parts of Tooting and Streatham at the northern end of the seat. In the south-west of the constituency is the most affluent part, Lower Morden. The name Mitcham and Morden is a partial misnomer — the area of the modern town centre around Morden tube station is in the Wimbledon constituency.
In the middle, the former coaching stop town of Mitcham with its ancient cricket green retains some village-like characteristics and had relatively poor transport connections until the opening of the Tramlink in 2000. In the 20th century, Mitcham became surrounded by modern council housing and light industry. Housing varies between the large rented sector, privately acquired properties much of which due to the Thatcher Ministry-introduced right to buy and significant dependence in certain areas on social housing.
Across the borough, around 40% of the population are ethnic minorities.

## Members of Parliament

| Election | Member | Party |
| February 1974 | Bruce Douglas-Mann | Labour |
| 1981 | Bruce Douglas-Mann | SDP |
| 1982 by-election | Angela Rumbold | Conservative |
| 1997 | Siobhain McDonagh | Labour |

## Election results
### Elections in the 2020s

General election 2024: Mitcham and Morden :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Siobhain McDonagh | 25,085 | 55.4 | −2.1 |
| | Conservative | Ellie Cox | 6,324 | 14.0 | −12.7 |
| | Green | Pippa Maslin | 4,635 | 10.2 | +8.0 |
| | Reform UK | Ruth Price | 4,135 | 9.1 | +6.8 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Jenifer Gould | 3,622 | 8.0 | −2.8 |
| | Workers Party | Mehmood Jamshed | 1,091 | 2.4 | N/A |
| | CPA | Des Coke | 363 | 0.8 | +0.4 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 18,761 | 41.4 | +10.6 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 45,255 | 58.6 | –8.6 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 77,272 | | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | 5.3 | |

### Elections in the 2010s

2019 notional result :
| Party | Party | Vote | % |
| | Labour | 29,671 | 57.5 |
| | Conservative | 13,792 | 26.7 |
| | Liberal Democrats | 5,592 | 10.8 |
| | Brexit Party | 1,202 | 2.3 |
| | Green | 1,160 | 2.2 |
| | Others | 216 | 0.4 |
| Turnout | Turnout | 51,633 | 67.2 |
| Electorate | Electorate | 76,877 |
General election 2019: Mitcham and Morden :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Siobhain McDonagh | 27,964 | 61.1 | −7.6 |
| | Conservative | Toby Williams | 11,482 | 25.1 | +0.9 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Luke Taylor | 3,717 | 8.1 | +5.0 |
| | Brexit Party | Jeremy Maddocks | 1,202 | 2.6 | New |
| | Green | Pippa Maslin | 1,160 | 2.5 | +1.2 |
| | CPA | Des Coke | 216 | 0.5 | 0.0 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 16,482 | 36.0 | −8.5 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 45,741 | 65.3 | −4.7 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 68,705 | | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | -4.2 | |
General election 2017: Mitcham and Morden :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Siobhain McDonagh | 33,039 | 68.7 | +8.0 |
| | Conservative | Alicia Kearns | 11,664 | 24.2 | +1.0 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Claire Mathys | 1,494 | 3.1 | 0.0 |
| | UKIP | Richard Hilton | 1,054 | 2.2 | −7.3 |
| | Green | Laura Collins | 644 | 1.3 | −1.9 |
| | CPA | Des Coke | 223 | 0.5 | 0.0 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 21,375 | 44.5 | +7.0 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 48,118 | 70.0 | +4.1 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 68,705 | | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | +3.45 | |
General election 2015: Mitcham and Morden :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Siobhain McDonagh | 27,380 | 60.7 | +4.2 |
| | Conservative | Paul Holmes | 10,458 | 23.2 | −2.0 |
| | UKIP | Richard Hilton | 4,287 | 9.5 | +7.5 |
| | Green | Mason Redding | 1,422 | 3.2 | +2.3 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Diana Coman | 1,378 | 3.1 | −8.8 |
| | CPA | Des Coke | 217 | 0.5 | New |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 16,922 | 37.5 | +6.2 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 45,142 | 65.9 | −1.1 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 68,474 | | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | +3.1 | |
General election 2010: Mitcham and Morden :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Siobhain McDonagh | 24,722 | 56.5 | +0.1 |
| | Conservative | Melanie Hampton | 11,056 | 25.2 | +0.3 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Diana Coman | 5,202 | 11.9 | −2.1 |
| | BNP | Tony Martin | 1,386 | 3.2 | New |
| | UKIP | Andrew Mills | 857 | 2.0 | New |
| | Green | Smarajit Roy | 381 | 0.9 | −2.6 |
| | Independent | Rathy Alagaratnam | 155 | 0.4 | −0.1 |
| | Independent | Ernest Redgrave | 38 | 0.1 | New |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 13,666 | 31.3 | −0.2 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 43,798 | 67.0 | +6.2 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 65,939 | | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | −0.2 | |

### Elections in the 2000s

General election 2005: Mitcham and Morden :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Siobhain McDonagh | 22,489 | 56.4 | −4.0 |
| | Conservative | Andrew Shellhorn | 9,929 | 24.9 | +0.8 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Jo A.E. Christie-Smith | 5,583 | 14.0 | +3.9 |
| | Green | Thomas Walsh | 1,395 | 3.5 | +1.1 |
| | Veritas | Adrian Roberts | 286 | 0.7 | New |
| | Independent | Rathy Alagaratnam | 186 | 0.5 | New |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 12,560 | 31.5 | −5.8 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 39,868 | 61.2 | +3.4 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 65,148 | | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | −2.4 | |
General election 2001: Mitcham and Morden :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Siobhain McDonagh | 22,936 | 60.4 | +2.0 |
| | Conservative | Henry Stokes | 9,151 | 24.1 | −5.6 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Nicholas Harris | 3,820 | 10.1 | +2.5 |
| | Green | Thomas Walsh | 926 | 2.4 | +1.5 |
| | BNP | John Tyndall | 642 | 1.7 | +0.6 |
| | UKIP | Adrian Roberts | 486 | 1.3 | +1.1 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 13,785 | 36.3 | +7.6 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 37,961 | 57.8 | −15.5 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 65,671 | | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | +3.8 | |

### Elections in the 1990s

General election 1997: Mitcham and Morden :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Siobhain McDonagh | 27,984 | 58.4 | +15.9 |
| | Conservative | Angela Rumbold | 14,243 | 29.7 | −16.8 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Nicholas Harris | 3,632 | 7.6 | −1.6 |
| | Referendum | Peter J. Isaacs | 810 | 1.7 | New |
| | BNP | Linda Miller | 521 | 1.1 | New |
| | Green | Thomas Walsh | 415 | 0.9 | −0.4 |
| | Independent | Krishnapillai Vasan | 144 | 0.3 | New |
| | UKIP | John R. Barrett | 117 | 0.2 | New |
| | Anti-Corruption | Nigel T.V. Dixon | 80 | 0.2 | New |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 13,741 | 28.7 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 47,946 | 73.3 | −7.0 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 65,402 | | |
| | Labour gain from Conservative | Labour gain from Conservative | Swing | -16.0 | |
General election 1992: Mitcham and Morden :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Angela Rumbold | 23,789 | 46.5 | −1.7 |
| | Labour | Siobhain McDonagh | 22,055 | 43.1 | +7.9 |
| | Liberal Democrats | John C. Field | 4,687 | 9.2 | −7.6 |
| | Green | Thomas J. Walsh | 655 | 1.3 | New |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,734 | 3.4 | −9.6 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 51,186 | 80.3 | +4.6 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 63,273 | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | −4.8 | |

### Elections in the 1980s

General election 1987: Mitcham and Morden :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Angela Rumbold | 23,002 | 48.2 | +5.5 |
| | Labour | Siobhain McDonagh | 16,819 | 35.2 | +6.4 |
| | SDP | Bruce Douglas-Mann | 7,930 | 16.6 | −10.8 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 6,183 | 13.0 | −0.9 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 47,751 | 75.7 | +2.6 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 63,089 | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | −0.5 | |
General election 1983: Mitcham and Morden :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Angela Rumbold | 19,827 | 42.7 | −1.2 |
| | Labour | David Nicholas | 13,376 | 28.8 | −16.4 |
| | SDP | Bruce Douglas-Mann | 12,720 | 27.4 | +18.5 |
| | National Front | J.R. Perryman | 539 | 1.2 | −0.8 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 6,451 | 13.9 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 46,462 | 73.1 | −3.8 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 63,535 | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | | |
1982 Mitcham and Morden by-election :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Angela Rumbold | 13,306 | 43.4 | −0.5 |
| | SDP | Bruce Douglas-Mann | 9,032 | 29.4 | +20.5 |
| | Labour | David Nicholas | 7,475 | 24.4 | −20.8 |
| | National Front | Joseph Pearce | 547 | 1.8 | −0.2 |
| | Independent Liberal | Edward Larkin | 123 | 0.4 | New |
| | Ethnic Minority Candidate | Roy Sawh | 84 | 0.3 | New |
| | Democratic Monarchist | Bill Boaks | 66 | 0.2 | New |
| | COPS | Jitendra Bardwaj | 22 | 0.1 | New |
| | Computer Democrat | Christopher Farnsworth | 18 | 0.0 | New |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 4,274 | 14.0 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 30,673 | 48.5 | −28.4 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 63,259 | | |
| | Conservative gain from Labour | Conservative gain from Labour | Swing | +10.2 | |

### Elections in the 1970s

General election 1979: Merton, Mitcham and Morden :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Bruce Douglas-Mann | 21,668 | 45.2 | −3.0 |
| | Conservative | David Samuel | 21,050 | 43.9 | +9.0 |
| | Liberal | Ronald Locke | 4,258 | 8.9 | −7.1 |
| | National Front | John Perryman | 966 | 2.0 | New |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 618 | 1.3 | −12.0 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 47,942 | 76.9 | +5.9 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 62,365 | | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | −6.0 | |
General election October 1974: Merton, Mitcham and Morden :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Bruce Douglas-Mann | 22,384 | 48.2 | +5.7 |
| | Conservative | D. Samuel | 16,193 | 34.9 | −1.3 |
| | Liberal | M. Simpson | 7,429 | 16.0 | −4.4 |
| | Communist | Sid French | 281 | 0.6 | −0.4 |
| | Independent | G. Giddins | 106 | 0.2 | New |
| | Air Road Public Safety White Resident | Bill Boaks | 68 | 0.2 | New |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 6,191 | 13.3 | +7.0 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 46,461 | 71.0 | −8.0 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 65,398 | | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | +3.5 | |
General election February 1974: Merton, Mitcham and Morden :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Bruce Douglas-Mann | 21,771 | 42.5 | |
| | Conservative | David Harris | 18,546 | 36.2 | |
| | Liberal | P. C. Spratling | 10,462 | 20.4 | |
| | Communist | Sid French | 507 | 1.0 | |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 3,225 | 6.3 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 51,286 | 79.0 | |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 64,894 | | |
| | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) |