# Croydon South (UK Parliament constituency)

Croydon South is a constituency created in 1974 and represented in the House of Commons of the UK Parliament since 2015 by Chris Philp, a Conservative.

## Political history

In 1974, the original Croydon South constituency created in 1918 was renamed Croydon Central and the current Croydon South was created from the northwestern part of East Surrey, covering Purley and Coulsdon, which had become parts of Greater London in 1965.
Since its creation, the constituency has been represented by three Conservative MPs. Sir William Clark, who had represented East Surrey since 1970, won the new seat in February 1974, and held it until his retirement in 1992. His successor, Sir Richard Ottaway, then held the seat until 2015, when he stood down and was succeeded by Chris Philp. Boundary changes have been minor and the 2015 result made the seat the 145th safest of the Conservative Party's 331 seats by percentage of majority. At the 2015 general election, it was one of the Conservatives' safest seats in Greater London. Philp held the seat at the 2024 general election on a substantially reduced majority of just over 2,000, the lowest majority since the seat was created.

## Constituency profile

Croydon South consists of affluent suburbia, including a significant minority of large houses with gardens on the North Downs escarpment. It has many well-to-do commuters taking advantage of the fast trains to the City and Gatwick Airport, plus a significant proportion of retired people. Included are the suburbs of Purley and Kenley, home to the Kenley Aerodrome
The village-like Selsdon – one of the few places in the seat where transport links are poor – has a place on the political map having spawned the phrase 'Selsdon Man', its swing and voters first seen as an ideal bellwether for the national swing by the Conservative Party. The Purley Way, which runs mainly through Waddon, has become home to large retail estates for out-of-town shopping and leisure. Prior to 2018 Waddon was the sole Labour ward in the constituency – one of its councillors, Andrew Pelling, the former Conservative MP for Croydon Central, defected to the Labour Party.
Boundary changes before the 2024 election removed both Selsdon and Waddon from the seat and added the Park Hill & Whitgift ward, close to Croydon Town centre.
At the southern end of the constituency, Coulsdon has much in common with the residual county of Surrey of which it was a more intrinsically associated part until 1965 as it was excluded from Croydon County Borough on the county borough's creation in 1889.

## Boundaries

| Dates | Local authority | Wards |
| 1974–1983 | London Borough of Croydon | Coulsdon East, Purley, Sanderstead and Selsdon, Sanderstead North, Woodcote and Coulsdon West |
| 1983–1997 | London Borough of Croydon | Coulsdon East, Croham, Kenley, Purley, Sanderstead, Selsdon, Woodcote and Coulsdon West |
| 1997–2010 | London Borough of Croydon | Coulsdon East, Croham, Kenley, Purley, Sanderstead, Selsdon, Waddon, Woodcote and Coulsdon West |
| 2010–2024 | London Borough of Croydon | Coulsdon East, Coulsdon West, Croham, Kenley, Purley, Sanderstead, Selsdon and Ballards, Waddon |
| 2024–present | London Borough of Croydon | Coulsdon Town, Kenley, Old Coulsdon, Park Hill & Whitgift, Purley & Woodcote, Purley Oaks & Riddlesdown, Sanderstead, South Croydon |

## Members of Parliament

| Election | Member | Party |
| February 1974 | Sir William Clark | Conservative |
| 1992 | Sir Richard Ottaway | Conservative |
| 2015 | Chris Philp | Conservative |

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

General election 2024: Croydon South :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Chris Philp | 19,757 | 40.0 | −14.5 |
| | Labour | Ben Taylor | 17,444 | 35.3 | +7.2 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Richard Howard | 4,384 | 8.9 | −4.6 |
| | Reform UK | Bob Bromley | 4,149 | 8.4 | +8.3 |
| | Green | Elaine Garrod | 2,859 | 5.8 | +2.9 |
| | Workers Party | Kulsum Hussin | 612 | 1.2 | N/A |
| | Independent | Mark Samuel | 173 | 0.4 | N/A |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 2,313 | 4.7 | −21.7 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 49,378 | 65.9 | −5.2 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 74,968 | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | −10.9 | |

### Elections in the 2010s

2019 notional result :
| Party | Party | Vote | % |
| | Conservative | 27,725 | 54.5 |
| | Labour | 14,317 | 28.1 |
| | Liberal Democrats | 6,885 | 13.5 |
| | Green | 1,466 | 2.9 |
| | Others | 442 | 0.9 |
| | Brexit Party | 59 | 0.1 |
| Turnout | Turnout | 50,894 | 71.1 |
| Electorate | Electorate | 71,541 |
General election 2019: Croydon South :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Chris Philp | 30,985 | 52.2 | −2.2 |
| | Labour | Olga FitzRoy | 18,646 | 31.4 | −4.4 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Anna Jones | 7,503 | 12.6 | +6.8 |
| | Green | Peter Underwood | 1,782 | 3.0 | +1.2 |
| | UKIP | Kathleen Garner | 442 | 0.7 | −1.1 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 12,339 | 20.8 | +2.2 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 59,358 | 70.7 | −2.6 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 83,977 | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | +1.1 | |
General election 2017: Croydon South :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Chris Philp | 33,334 | 54.4 | −0.1 |
| | Labour | Jennifer Brathwaite | 21,928 | 35.8 | +11.0 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Anna Jones | 3,541 | 5.8 | −0.2 |
| | Green | Catherine Shelley | 1,125 | 1.8 | −1.9 |
| | UKIP | Kathleen Garner | 1,116 | 1.8 | −8.7 |
| | CPA | David Omamogho | 213 | 0.3 | New |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 11,406 | 18.6 | −11.1 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 61,247 | 73.3 | +2.9 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 83,518 | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | −5.5 | |
General election 2015: Croydon South :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Chris Philp | 31,448 | 54.5 | +3.6 |
| | Labour | Emily Benn | 14,308 | 24.8 | +4.8 |
| | UKIP | Kathleen Garner | 6,068 | 10.5 | +6.1 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Gill Hickson | 3,448 | 6.0 | −16.8 |
| | Green | Peter Underwood | 2,154 | 3.7 | +2.0 |
| | Independent | Mark Samuel | 221 | 0.4 | New |
| | Class War | Jon Bigger | 65 | 0.1 | New |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 17,140 | 29.7 | +1.6 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 57,712 | 70.4 | +1.1 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 82,010 | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | −0.6 | |
General election 2010: Croydon South :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Richard Ottaway | 28,684 | 50.9 | −0.9 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Simon Rix | 12,866 | 22.8 | +2.3 |
| | Labour | Jane Avis | 11,287 | 20.0 | −4.1 |
| | UKIP | Jeffrey Bolter | 2,504 | 4.4 | +2.3 |
| | Green | Gordon Ross | 981 | 1.7 | New |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 15,818 | 28.1 | +1.4 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 56,322 | 69.3 | +5.8 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 81,303 | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | +1.6 | |

### Elections in the 2000s

2005 notional result :
| Party | Party | Vote | % |
| | Conservative | 26,355 | 51.8 |
| | Labour | 12,274 | 24.1 |
| | Liberal Democrats | 10,458 | 20.6 |
| | Others | 1,795 | 3.5 |
| Turnout | Turnout | 50,882 | 63.5 |
| Electorate | Electorate | 80,151 |
General election 2005: Croydon South :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Richard Ottaway | 25,320 | 51.8 | +2.6 |
| | Labour | Paul Smith | 11,792 | 24.1 | −5.8 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Sandra Lawman | 10,049 | 20.6 | +2.3 |
| | UKIP | James Feisenberger | 1,054 | 2.2 | 0.0 |
| | Veritas | Graham Dare | 497 | 1.0 | New |
| | Independent | Mark Samuel | 185 | 0.4 | 0.0 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 13,528 | 27.7 | +8.4 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 48,897 | 63.6 | +2.2 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 75,812 | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | +4.2 | |
General election 2001: Croydon South :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Richard Ottaway | 22,169 | 49.2 | +1.9 |
| | Labour | Gerry Ryan | 13,472 | 29.9 | +4.6 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Anna-Nicolett Gallop | 8,226 | 18.3 | −2.8 |
| | UKIP | Kathleen Garner | 998 | 2.2 | New |
| | Independent | Mark Samuel | 195 | 0.4 | +0.2 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 8,697 | 19.3 | −2.7 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 45,060 | 61.4 | −12.1 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 73,372 | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | −1.3 | |

### Elections in the 1990s

General election 1997: Croydon South :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Richard Ottaway | 25,649 | 47.3 | −14.3 |
| | Labour | Charlie Burling | 13,719 | 25.3 | +9.0 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Steven Gauge | 11,441 | 21.1 | −0.5 |
| | Referendum | Tony Barber | 2,631 | 4.9 | New |
| | BNP | Paul Ferguson | 354 | 0.7 | New |
| | Independent | A.G. Harker | 309 | 0.6 | New |
| | Independent | Mark Samuel | 96 | 0.2 | −0.3 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 11,930 | 22.0 | −18.7 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 54,199 | 73.5 | −4.1 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 73,787 | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | −11.7 | |
1992 notional result :
| Party | Party | Vote | % |
| | Conservative | 35,937 | 61.7 |
| | Liberal Democrats | 12,599 | 21.6 |
| | Labour | 9,513 | 16.3 |
| | Others | 242 | 0.4 |
| Turnout | Turnout | 58,291 | 78.0 |
| Electorate | Electorate | 74,777 |
General election 1992: Croydon South :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Richard Ottaway | 31,993 | 63.7 | −0.4 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Peter Billenness | 11,568 | 23.0 | −1.3 |
| | Labour | Helen Salmon | 6,444 | 12.8 | +3.0 |
| | Independent | Mark Samuel | 239 | 0.5 | New |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 20,425 | 40.7 | +0.9 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 50,244 | 77.6 | +3.9 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 64,768 | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | +0.5 | |

### Elections in the 1980s

General election 1987: Croydon South :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | William Clark | 30,732 | 64.1 | −1.0 |
| | Liberal | George Morrison | 11,669 | 24.3 | −2.8 |
| | Labour | Geraint Davies | 4,679 | 9.8 | +2.0 |
| | Green | Paul Baldwin | 900 | 1.9 | New |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 19,063 | 39.8 | +1.8 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 47,980 | 73.7 | +2.6 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 65,085 | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | +0.9 | |
General election 1983: Croydon South :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | William Clark | 29,842 | 65.1 | +0.3 |
| | Liberal | James Forrest | 12,402 | 27.1 | +6.2 |
| | Labour | Robert C E Brooks | 3,568 | 7.8 | −5.5 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 17,440 | 38.0 | −5.9 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 46,702 | 71.1 | −5.7 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 64,482 | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | −2.9 | |

### Elections in the 1970s

1979 notional result :
| Party | Party | Vote | % |
| | Conservative | 31,559 | 64.9 |
| | Liberal | 10,168 | 20.9 |
| | Labour | 6,450 | 13.3 |
| | Others | 476 | 1.0 |
| Turnout | Turnout | 48,653 | |
| Electorate | Electorate | |
General election 1979: Croydon South :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | William Clark | 30,874 | 64.9 | +7.0 |
| | Liberal | Peter Billenness | 10,006 | 21.0 | −4.9 |
| | Labour | John Bloom | 6,249 | 13.1 | −3.1 |
| | National Front | Roland Dummer | 469 | 1.0 | New |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 20,868 | 43.9 | +11.9 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 47,598 | 76.7 | +2.8 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 62,022 | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | +5.9 | |
General election October 1974: Croydon South :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | William Clark | 25,703 | 57.9 | −1.2 |
| | Liberal | D Nunneley | 11,514 | 25.9 | −0.8 |
| | Labour | DW Keene | 7,203 | 16.2 | +2.0 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 14,189 | 32.0 | −0.4 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 44,420 | 73.9 | −8.4 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 60,090 | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | −0.2 | |
General election February 1974: Croydon South :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | William Clark | 28,915 | 59.1 | |
| | Liberal | J.P. Coleman | 13,048 | 26.7 | |
| | Labour | Henry Hodge | 6,965 | 14.2 | |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 15,867 | 32.4 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 48,928 | 82.3 | |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 59,447 | | |
| | Conservative win (new seat) | Conservative win (new seat) | Conservative win (new seat) | Conservative win (new seat) | Conservative win (new seat) |