# Tooting (UK Parliament constituency)

Tooting is a constituency created in 1974 in Greater London. It is represented in the House of Commons of the UK Parliament since 2016 by Rosena Allin-Khan, a member of the Labour Party.

## Boundaries
### Historic

1974–1983: The London Borough of Wandsworth wards of Bedford, Furzedown, Graveney, Springfield, and Tooting.
1983–2010: As above plus Earlsfield, and Nightingale
2010–2022: As above minus Springfield, plus Wandsworth Common.

### Current

Following a local government boundary review which came into effect in May 2022, the constituency now comprises the following wards of the London Borough of Wandsworth from the 2024 general election:
* Balham (part); Furzedown; South Balham; Tooting Bec; Tooting Broadway; Trinity; Wandle; Wandsworth Common; and a small part of Wandsworth Town.
The 2023 Periodic Review of Westminster constituencies, which was based on the ward structure in place at 1 December 2020, left the boundaries unchanged.
Tooting is the south-eastern third of the London Borough of Wandsworth. In addition to Tooting, it includes the districts of Earlsfield, Furzedown and Streatham Park and part of Balham. The constituency includes part of Wandsworth Common, a rectangular open space that lends its name to one of the seven wards.
Tooting since 2010 is bordered to the west by Putney and Wimbledon; to the other three compass points by Mitcham and Morden, Streatham and Battersea.

## History

The constituency was created for the February 1974 election from areas which, prior to that election, were within Battersea South, Streatham and Wandsworth Central.

### Political history

Held by Labour since its creation, Tooting was a target seat for the Conservatives at the 2010 general election after the party made gains in local elections. However, Sadiq Khan was able to retain the seat for Labour. The Conservatives have generally performed best in the northern half of the seat (Bedford, Earlsfield, Nightingale, Wandsworth Common), whereas Labour are strongest in the southern half, which covers Tooting ward itself, Graveney and Furzedown.
The 2015 general election result gave the seat the twenty-fourth-most marginal majority of Labour's 232 seats by percentage of majority. Had the majority obtained by Allin-Khan at her 2016 by-election win been part of the 2015 results, the seat would have been the 136th safest of Labour's 232 seats by percentage of majority.
In the 2016 referendum to leave the European Union, the constituency voted remain by 74.7%.

#### Local government indications

As in the other two constituencies located in the London Borough of Wandsworth, voters have in part supported the Conservatives at local level; however, the southern area has strong enough Labour support to have consistently returned at least seven Labour councillors since 1992.

### Prominent frontbenchers

Sadiq Khan, a solicitor by profession, was the Minister of State for Transport and Minister of State for Communities in the government of Gordon Brown. In opposition after 2010, he became the Shadow Secretary of State for Justice and Lord Chancellor. He was the Labour Party's candidate in the 2016 London mayoral election, and was subsequently elected as Mayor of London. Following his election, Khan announced his intention to resign as MP for Tooting, and on 9 May 2016 he was appointed to the ancient office of Crown Steward and Bailiff of The Three Chiltern Hundreds, triggering a by-election.

## Constituency profile

The modern Tooting constituency is a simplified name, as it contains much of Balham, Wandsworth Common and Earlsfield, yet the southernmost parts of the area that self-identifies as Tooting are actually in the London Borough of Merton and so in the Mitcham and Morden seat.
Transport links to Central London are good, and the population has expanded steadily due to the area's popularity with commuters looking for affordable property.
Unemployment benefit claimants and registered jobseekers, in November 2012 were lower than the national average of 3.8%, at 3.2% of the population based on a statistical compilation by The Guardian.

## Members of Parliament

| Election | Member | Party | Notes |
| February 1974 | Tom Cox | Labour | |
| 2005 | Sadiq Khan | Labour | Elected Mayor of London, May 2016 |
| 2016 by-election | Rosena Allin-Khan | Labour | |

## Elections
### Elections in the 2020s

General election 2024: Tooting :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Rosena Allin-Khan | 29,209 | 55.2 | 2.5 |
| | Conservative | Ethan Brooks | 9,722 | 18.4 | 9.8 |
| | Green | Nick Humberstone | 5,672 | 10.7 | 6.7 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Judith Trounson | 4,438 | 8.4 | 5.8 |
| | Reform UK | Andrew Price | 2,546 | 4.8 | 4.0 |
| | Workers Party | Tarik Hussain | 807 | 1.5 | New |
| | Rejoin EU | Jas Alduk | 370 | 0.7 | New |
| | Independent | Davinder Jamus | 179 | 0.3 | New |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 19,487 | 36.8 | 12.3 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 52,943 | 69.6 | 6.4 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 76,082 | | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | 6.2 | |

### Elections in the 2010s

General election 2019: Tooting :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Rosena Allin-Khan | 30,811 | 52.7 | −6.9 |
| | Conservative | Kerry Briscoe | 16,504 | 28.2 | −4.8 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Olly Glover | 8,305 | 14.2 | +8.9 |
| | Green | Glyn Goodwin | 2,314 | 4.0 | +2.5 |
| | Brexit Party | Adam Shakir | 462 | 0.8 | New |
| | SDP | Roz Hubley | 77 | 0.1 | New |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 14,307 | 24.5 | −2.0 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 58,473 | 76.0 | +1.3 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 76,933 | | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | -1.1 | |
General election 2017: Tooting :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Rosena Allin-Khan | 34,694 | 59.6 | +12.4 |
| | Conservative | Dan Watkins | 19,236 | 33.1 | −8.8 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Alex Glassbrook | 3,057 | 5.3 | +1.4 |
| | Green | Esther Obiri-Darko | 845 | 1.5 | −2.6 |
| | UKIP | Ryan Coshall | 339 | 0.6 | −2.3 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 15,458 | 26.5 | +21.2 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 58,171 | 74.7 | +5.0 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 77,971 | | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | +10.6 | |
Tooting by-election 2016 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Rosena Allin-Khan | 17,894 | 55.9 | +8.7 |
| | Conservative | Dan Watkins | 11,537 | 36.1 | −5.8 |
| | Green | Esther Obiri-Darko | 830 | 2.6 | −1.5 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Alex Glassbrook | 820 | 2.6 | −1.4 |
| | UKIP | Elizabeth Jones | 507 | 1.6 | −1.3 |
| | CPA | Des Coke | 164 | 0.5 | New |
| | Monster Raving Loony | Alan "Howling Laud" Hope | 54 | 0.2 | New |
| | English Democrat | Graham Moore | 50 | 0.2 | New |
| | Immigrants Political Party | Akbar Ali Malik | 44 | 0.1 | New |
| | One Love | Ankit Love | 32 | 0.1 | New |
| | Independent | Zirwa Javaid | 30 | 0.1 | New |
| | Independent | Zia Samadani | 23 | 0.1 | New |
| | Give Me Back Elmo | Bobby Smith | 9 | 0.0 | New |
| | Independent | Smiley Smillie | 5 | 0.0 | New |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 6,357 | 19.8 | +14.5 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 32,048 | 42.5 | −27.2 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 74,701 | | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | +7.3 | |
General election 2015: Tooting :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Sadiq Khan | 25,263 | 47.2 | +3.7 |
| | Conservative | Dan Watkins | 22,421 | 41.9 | +3.4 |
| | Green | Esther Obiri-Darko | 2,201 | 4.1 | +2.9 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Philip Ling | 2,107 | 3.9 | −10.9 |
| | UKIP | Przemek Skwirczyński | 1,537 | 2.9 | +1.7 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 2,842 | 5.3 | +0.3 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 53,529 | 69.7 | +1.1 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 76,782 | | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | +0.1 | |
General election 2010: Tooting :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Sadiq Khan | 22,038 | 43.5 | +0.8 |
| | Conservative | Mark Clarke | 19,514 | 38.5 | +8.0 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Nasser Butt | 7,509 | 14.8 | −4.8 |
| | UKIP | Strachan D. McDonald | 624 | 1.2 | +0.2 |
| | Green | Roy Vickery | 609 | 1.2 | −2.9 |
| | Independent | Susan John-Richards | 190 | 0.4 | New |
| | Christian | Shereen Paul | 171 | 0.3 | New |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 2,524 | 5.0 | −7.9 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 50,655 | 68.6 | +9.3 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 73,840 | | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | −3.6 | |

### Elections in the 2000s

General election 2005: Tooting :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Sadiq Khan | 17,914 | 43.1 | −11.0 |
| | Conservative | James Bethell | 12,533 | 30.2 | +3.8 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Stephanie M. Dearden | 8,110 | 19.5 | +4.6 |
| | Green | Siobhan M. Vitelli | 1,695 | 4.1 | −0.5 |
| | Respect | Ali J. Zaidi | 700 | 1.7 | New |
| | UKIP | Strachan D. McDonald | 424 | 1.0 | New |
| | Independent | Ian K. Perkin | 192 | 0.5 | New |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 5,381 | 12.9 | −14.8 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 41,568 | 59.0 | +4.1 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 70,510 | | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | −7.4 | |
General election 2001: Tooting :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Tom Cox | 20,332 | 54.1 | −5.6 |
| | Conservative | Alexander Nicoll | 9,932 | 26.4 | −0.7 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Simon James | 5,583 | 14.9 | +5.5 |
| | Green | Matthew Ledbury | 1,744 | 4.6 | +3.5 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 10,400 | 27.7 | −4.9 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 37,591 | 54.9 | −14.4 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 68,447 | | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | -2.5 | |

### Elections in the 1990s

General election 1997: Tooting :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Tom Cox | 27,516 | 59.7 | +11.5 |
| | Conservative | James B.B. Hutchings | 12,505 | 27.1 | −13.0 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Simon James | 4,320 | 9.4 | +2.0 |
| | Referendum | Angela M. Husband | 829 | 1.8 | New |
| | Green | John Rattray | 527 | 1.1 | −0.3 |
| | Independent | Peter Boddington | 161 | 0.3 | New |
| | Independent | Jan Koene | 94 | 0.2 | New |
| | Rainbow Dream Ticket | Daniel Bailey-Bond | 83 | 0.2 | New |
| | Natural Law | Peter Miller | 70 | 0.2 | 0.0 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 15,011 | 32.6 | +24.5 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 46,105 | 69.4 | −5.4 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 66,536 | | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | +12.30 | |
General election 1992: Tooting :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Tom Cox | 24,601 | 48.2 | +4.0 |
| | Conservative | Martin Winter | 20,494 | 40.1 | −1.2 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Robert J. Bunce | 3,776 | 7.4 | −5.8 |
| | Liberal | Carmel Martin | 1,340 | 2.6 | New |
| | Green | Paul J. Owens | 694 | 1.4 | +0.1 |
| | Natural Law | Farrakh Anklesalria | 119 | 0.2 | New |
| | Christian Democrat | Michael N. Whitelaw | 64 | 0.1 | New |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 4,107 | 8.1 | +5.1 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 51,088 | 74.8 | +3.6 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 68,306 | | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | +2.6 | |

### Elections in the 1980s

General election 1987: Tooting :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Tom Cox | 21,457 | 44.2 | +1.5 |
| | Conservative | Martin Winter | 20,016 | 41.3 | +4.3 |
| | SDP | Jeremy Ambache | 6,423 | 13.2 | −4.9 |
| | Green | Monica Vickery | 621 | 1.3 | +0.8 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,441 | 3.0 | −2.8 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 48,517 | 71.2 | +3.7 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 68,116 | | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | +2.9 | |
General election 1983: Tooting :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Tom Cox | 19,640 | 42.7 | −6.7 |
| | Conservative | Robin D.R. Harris | 16,981 | 37.0 | −1.8 |
| | SDP | Julia Neuberger | 8,317 | 18.1 | +8.7 |
| | National Front | Peter Berbridge | 355 | 0.8 | −1.1 |
| | Ecology | Elizabeth M. Shaw | 255 | 0.5 | New |
| | Communist | Robert E. Lewis | 181 | 0.4 | −0.3 |
| | Ethnic Minority | H. Patel | 146 | 0.3 | New |
| | Workers Revolutionary | Corin Redgrave | 72 | 0.2 | New |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 2,659 | 5.7 | −8.8 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 45,947 | 67.5 | −3.0 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 68,083 | | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | -4.2 | |

### Elections in the 1970s

General election 1979: Tooting :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Tom Cox | 18,642 | 51.9 | −2.4 |
| | Conservative | Richard Ritchie | 13,442 | 37.4 | +6.1 |
| | Liberal | Richard Fife | 2,917 | 8.1 | −5.5 |
| | National Front | Peter Berbridge | 682 | 1.9 | New |
| | Communist | Robert Lewis | 233 | 0.7 | −0.1 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 5,200 | 14.5 | −8.5 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 35,916 | 70.5 | +7.1 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 50,962 | | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | +4.2 | |
General election October 1974: Tooting :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Tom Cox | 18,530 | 54.3 | +6.0 |
| | Conservative | A.C. Elliot | 10,675 | 31.3 | −1.3 |
| | Liberal | R.F.J. Heron | 4,644 | 13.6 | −4.7 |
| | Communist | Robert E. Lewis | 268 | 0.8 | −0.1 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 7,855 | 23.0 | +7.3 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 34,117 | 63.4 | −9.4 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 53,793 | | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | +3.6 | |
General election February 1974: Tooting :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Tom Cox | 18,795 | 48.3 | |
| | Conservative | A.C. Elliot | 12,687 | 32.6 | |
| | Liberal | R.F.J. Heron | 7,108 | 18.3 | |
| | Communist | Robert E. Lewis | 337 | 0.9 | |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 6,108 | 15.7 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 38,927 | 72.8 | |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 53,443 | | |
| | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) |