# Gillingham (UK Parliament constituency)

Gillingham was a constituency represented in the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. It elected one Member of Parliament (MP) by the first past the post system of election.

## Boundaries

1918–1950: The Municipal Borough of Gillingham, part of the Municipal Borough of Rochester, and the Municipal Borough of Chatham ward of St Mary.
1950–1983: The Municipal Borough of Gillingham.
1983–1997: The Borough of Gillingham, and the Borough of Swale ward of Hartlip and Upchurch.
1997–2010: The Borough of Gillingham.
The constituency was based around the towns of Gillingham and Rainham, which at that time were in Kent.

### Boundary review

Following their review of parliamentary representation in Kent, the Boundary Commission for England abolished Gillingham, replacing it with the renamed constituency of Gillingham and Rainham.

## Members of Parliament

| Election | Member | Party |
| 1918 | Sir Gerald Hohler | Conservative |
| 1929 | Sir Robert Gower | Conservative |
| 1945 | Joseph Binns | Labour |
| 1950 | Sir Frederick Burden | Conservative |
| 1983 | James Couchman | Conservative |
| 1997 | Paul Clark | Labour |
| 2010 | Constituency abolished: see extended constituency of Gillingham and Rainham. | Constituency abolished: see extended constituency of Gillingham and Rainham. |

## Election results
### Elections in the 2000s

General election 2005: Gillingham :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Paul Clark | 18,621 | 41.2 | −3.3 |
| | Conservative | Tim Butcher | 18,367 | 40.7 | +1.6 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Andrew Stamp | 6,734 | 14.9 | +1.3 |
| | UKIP | Craig Mackinlay | 1,191 | 2.6 | +0.4 |
| | Independent | Gordon Bryan | 254 | 0.6 | New |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 254 | 0.5 | −4.9 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 45,167 | 62.5 | +3.0 |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | −2.4 | |
General election 2001: Gillingham :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Paul Clark | 18,782 | 44.5 | +4.7 |
| | Conservative | Tim Butcher | 16,510 | 39.1 | +3.2 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Jonathan Hunt | 5,755 | 13.6 | −5.4 |
| | UKIP | Tony Scholefield | 933 | 2.2 | +1.0 |
| | Socialist Alliance | Wynford Thomas | 232 | 0.5 | New |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 2,272 | 5.4 | +2.5 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 42,212 | 59.5 | −12.5 |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | +0.7 | |

### Elections in the 1990s

General election 1997: Gillingham :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Paul Clark | 20,187 | 39.8 | |
| | Conservative | James Couchman | 18,207 | 35.9 | |
| | Liberal Democrats | Robert Sayer | 9,649 | 19.0 | |
| | Referendum | Geoffrey Cann | 1,492 | 2.9 | New |
| | UKIP | Craig Mackinlay | 590 | 1.2 | |
| | Monster Raving Loony | David Robinson | 305 | 0.6 | New |
| | BNP | Christopher Jury | 194 | 0.4 | New |
| | Natural Law | Gabriel Duguay | 58 | 0.1 | |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,980 | 2.9 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 50,682 | 72.0 | −8.3 |
| | Labour gain from Conservative | Labour gain from Conservative | Swing | +16.0 | |
General election 1992: Gillingham :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | James Couchman | 30,201 | 52.3 | −0.8 |
| | Labour | Paul Clark | 13,563 | 23.5 | +6.4 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Mark Wallabank | 13,509 | 23.4 | −6.5 |
| | Independent | Craig Mackinlay | 248 | 0.4 | New |
| | Natural Law | Daniel Jolicoeur | 190 | 0.3 | New |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 16,638 | 28.8 | +5.6 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 57,711 | 80.3 | +5.0 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | -3.6 | |

### Elections in the 1980s

General election 1987: Gillingham :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | James Couchman | 28,711 | 53.1 | +1.4 |
| | Liberal | Leighton Andrews | 16,162 | 29.9 | −0.6 |
| | Labour | David Bishop | 9,230 | 17.0 | −0.8 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 12,549 | 23.2 | +2.0 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 54,100 | 75.3 | +1.7 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 71,847 | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | +1.0 | |
General election 1983: Gillingham :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | James Couchman | 26,381 | 51.7 | −1.4 |
| | Alliance | Christopher Lewcock | 15,538 | 30.5 | +18.2 |
| | Labour | Antony West | 9,084 | 17.8 | −14.5 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 10,843 | 21.2 | +0.4 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 51,003 | 73.6 | −5.2 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 69,256 | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | | |

### Elections in the 1970s

General election 1979: Gillingham :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Frederick Burden | 26,791 | 53.13 | +12.74 |
| | Labour | Stephen Love | 16,292 | 32.31 | +0.39 |
| | Liberal | David Sidebottom | 6,219 | 12.33 | − 13.40 |
| | National Front | Sidney Campbell | 528 | 1.05 | −0.91 |
| | Ecology | Colin Fry | 501 | 0.99 | New |
| | Workers Revolutionary | Terence Beckwith | 92 | 0.18 | New |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 10,499 | 20.82 | +12.35 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 50,425 | 78.85 | +2.94 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 63,951 | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | +6.18 | |
General election October 1974: Gillingham :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Frederick Burden | 19,042 | 40.39 | −0.79 |
| | Labour | Henry Clother | 15,046 | 31.92 | +2.31 |
| | Liberal | Trevor Jones | 12,131 | 25.73 | −3.88 |
| | National Front | Sidney Campbell | 922 | 1.96 | New |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 3,996 | 8.47 | −3.10 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 47,139 | 75.91 | −6.75 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 62,099 | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | -1.55 | |
General election February 1974: Gillingham :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Frederick Burden | 20,934 | 41.18 | −16.66 |
| | Liberal | Robert Sayer | 15,052 | 29.61 | New |
| | Labour | Henry Clother | 14,850 | 29.21 | −11.95 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 5,882 | 11.57 | −6.11 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 50,834 | 82.66 | +9.30 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 61,498 | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | -23.14 | |
General election 1970: Gillingham :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Frederick Burden | 25,813 | 58.84 | +9.34 |
| | Labour | Robert E. Bean | 18,057 | 41.16 | −0.63 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 7,756 | 17.68 | +9.97 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 43,870 | 73.36 | −5.14 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 59,800 | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | +4.99 | |

### Elections in the 1960s

General election 1966: Gillingham :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Frederick Burden | 20,158 | 49.50 | −1.85 |
| | Labour | Joseph Binns | 17,018 | 41.79 | +4.77 |
| | Liberal | Godfrey A Payne | 3,546 | 8.71 | −1.58 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 3,140 | 7.71 | −6.62 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 40,722 | 78.50 | +0.45 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 51,874 | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | -3.31 | |
General election 1964: Gillingham :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Frederick Burden | 20,228 | 51.35 | −7.98 |
| | Labour | John Ryman | 14,584 | 37.02 | −3.65 |
| | Liberal | Godfrey A Payne | 4,052 | 10.29 | New |
| | Independent | Frederick Cotter | 527 | 1.34 | New |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 5,644 | 14.33 | −4.33 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 39,391 | 78.05 | −2.56 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 50,471 | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | -2.17 | |

### Elections in the 1950s

General election 1959: Gillingham :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Frederick Burden | 23,142 | 59.33 | +3.85 |
| | Labour | Gerald Kaufman | 15,863 | 40.67 | −3.85 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 7,279 | 18.66 | +7.70 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 39,005 | 80.61 | +1.08 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 48,390 | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | +3.85 | |
General election 1955: Gillingham :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Frederick Burden | 20,984 | 55.48 | +1.77 |
| | Labour | Joseph Huddart | 16,839 | 44.52 | −1.77 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 4,145 | 10.96 | +3.54 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 37,823 | 79.53 | −5.94 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 47,561 | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | +1.77 | |
General election 1951: Gillingham :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Frederick Burden | 21,453 | 53.71 | +1.04 |
| | Labour | Edward Redhead | 18,489 | 46.29 | −1.04 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 2,964 | 7.42 | +2.08 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 39,942 | 85.47 | +0.60 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 46,731 | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | +1.04 | |
General election 1950: Gillingham :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Frederick Burden | 20,504 | 52.67 | +5.94 |
| | Labour | Joseph Binns | 18,424 | 47.33 | −5.94 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 2,080 | 5.34 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 38,928 | 84.87 | +13.54 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 45,866 | | |
| | Conservative gain from Labour | Conservative gain from Labour | Swing | +5.94 | |

### Elections in the 1940s

General election 1945: Gillingham :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Joseph Binns | 15,110 | 53.27 | +18.39 |
| | Conservative | Johnnie Dodge | 13,254 | 46.73 | −18.39 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,856 | 6.54 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 28,364 | 71.33 | −0.08 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 39,765 | | |
| | Labour gain from Conservative | Labour gain from Conservative | Swing | +18.39 | |

### Elections in the 1930s

General election 1935: Gillingham :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Robert Gower | 18,726 | 65.12 | −3.90 |
| | Labour | Evan Durbin | 10,032 | 34.88 | +3.90 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 8,694 | 30.24 | −7.80 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 28,758 | 71.41 | −2.66 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 40,271 | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | -3.90 | |
General election 1931: Gillingham :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Robert Gower | 20,277 | 69.02 | +21.05 |
| | Labour | CM Wadham | 9,103 | 30.98 | −8.52 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 11,174 | 38.04 | +29.57 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 29,380 | 74.07 | +0.05 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 39,664 | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | +14.79 | |

### Elections in the 1920s

General election 1929: Gillingham :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Unionist | Robert Gower | 13,612 | 47.97 | −4.72 |
| | Labour | George Pearce Blizard | 11,207 | 39.50 | +4.24 |
| | Liberal | R Ronald Tyrer | 3,556 | 12.53 | −4.90 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 2,405 | 8.47 | −3.97 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 28,375 | 74.02 | −3.98 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 38,336 | | |
| | Unionist hold | Unionist hold | Swing | -4.48 | |
General election 1924: Gillingham :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Unionist | Gerald Hohler | 12,418 | 52.69 | +5.55 |
| | Labour | Maurice Spencer | 8,309 | 35.26 | +0.56 |
| | Liberal | George Herbert Bryans | 2,839 | 17.43 | +5.38 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 4,109 | 12.44 | −3.84 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 23,566 | 78.00 | +4.08 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 30,212 | | |
| | Unionist hold | Unionist hold | Swing | +2.50 | |
General election 1923: Gillingham :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Unionist | Gerald Hohler | 10,426 | 47.14 | −11.00 |
| | Labour | Maurice Spencer | 7,674 | 34.70 | −7.16 |
| | Liberal | George Herbert Bryans | 4,015 | 18.16 | New |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 2,752 | 12.44 | −3.84 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 22,115 | 73.92 | +1.63 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 29,919 | | |
| | Unionist hold | Unionist hold | Swing | -1.92 | |
General election 1922: Gillingham :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Unionist | Gerald Hohler | 12,425 | 58.14 | −10.44 |
| | Labour | Maurice Spencer | 8,944 | 41.86 | +15.95 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 3,481 | 16.28 | −26.39 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 21,369 | 72.29 | +7.19 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 29,560 | | |
| | Unionist hold | Unionist hold | Swing | -13.20 | |

### Elections in the 1910s

General election 1918: Gillingham :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| C | Unionist | Gerald Hohler | 12,455 | 68.58 | |
| | Labour | Alfred William Tapp | 4,705 | 25.91 | |
| | Independent | Joseph Bryan Cronin* | 1,001 | 5.51 | |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 7,750 | 42.67 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 18,161 | 65.10 | |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 27,899 | | |
| | Unionist win (new seat) | Unionist win (new seat) | Unionist win (new seat) | Unionist win (new seat) | Unionist win (new seat) |
| C indicates candidate endorsed by the coalition government. ||||||
* Cronin was supported by the Lower Deck Parliamentary Committee