Chertsey and Walton (UK Parliament constituency)

Summary

Chertsey and Walton was a late 20th century parliamentary constituency in Surrey which returned one Member of Parliament (MP) to the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom, elected by the first-past-the-post voting system.

Former County constituency
for the House of Commons
CountySurrey
1974 (1974)1997
SeatsOne
Created fromChertsey and Esher (parts)
Replaced byRunnymede and Weybridge and Esher and Walton (equally created from other seats)

History edit

The main impetus for the seat's creation was growth in housing and population across the county to allow for a new seat, North West Surrey, which took most settlements, including the expanded towns of Camberley and Egham from the old Chertsey seat.

The constituency was created for the February 1974 general election from parts of the seats of Chertsey and Esher. It was abolished for the 1997 general election. Its electorate returned Geoffrey Pattie, a Conservative in February 1974 and at the five successive general elections applicable to the seat. Pattie served his time as an MP representing this seat, choosing to retire from the House in 1997.[1]

As the voters of the forerunner constituencies had done in 1970, ultimately the electorates of the successor seats also elected Conservatives in 1997.

Boundaries edit

1974–1983: The Urban Districts of Chertsey, and Walton and Weybridge. These were as defined below under the 1974 reorganisation of local government.

1983–1997: The Borough of Runnymede wards of Addlestone Bourneside, Addlestone North, Addlestone St Paul's, Chertsey Meads, Chertsey St Ann's, Foxhills, New Haw, and Woodham, and the Borough of Elmbridge wards of Hersham North, Hersham South, Oatlands Park, St George's Hill, Walton Ambleside, Walton Central, Walton North, Walton South, Weybridge North, and Weybridge South.

Members of Parliament edit

Election Member Party
Feb 1974 Sir Geoffrey Pattie (knighted 1997) Conservative
1997 constituency abolished

Geoffrey Pattie unsuccessfully contested Barking in 1970. From 1979 to 1986 he held a string of three defence procurement roles, followed by Minister for Industry, a role under Secretaries of State who ran the Department for Trade and Industry. He was vice-chairman of the Conservative Party in 1990. He was knighted in 1997 for his work in government.[1]

Election results edit

Elections in the 1970s edit

General election February 1974: Chertsey and Walton
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Geoffrey Pattie 26,603 48.48
Labour NJ Brady 14,640 26.68
Liberal RH Insoll 13,626 24.83
Majority 11,963 21.80
Turnout 54,869 81.97
Conservative win (new seat)
General election October 1974: Chertsey and Walton
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Geoffrey Pattie 25,151 50.69
Labour NJ Brady 14,847 29.92
Liberal T Robinson 9,194 18.53
Independent HJ Redgrave 424 0.85 New
Majority 10,304 20.77
Turnout 49,616 73.48
Conservative hold Swing
General election 1979: Chertsey and Walton
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Geoffrey Pattie 25,810 49.04
Liberal A Sturgis 13,786 26.20
Labour SP O'Byrne 12,211 23.20
National Front M Gillibrand 819 1.56 New
Majority 12,024 22.86
Turnout 52,626 76.55
Conservative hold Swing

Elections in the 1980s edit

General election 1983: Chertsey and Walton
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Geoffrey Pattie 29,679 58.33
SDP Richard de St. Croix 13,980 27.48
Labour David Green 6,902 13.57
Freddie's Alternative Medicine Fred Barrett 318 0.63 New
Majority 15,699 30.85
Turnout 50,879 72.47
Conservative hold Swing
General election 1987: Chertsey and Walton
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Geoffrey Pattie 32,119 59.53
SDP Susan Stapely 14,650 27.15
Labour Harold Trace 7,185 13.32
Majority 17,469 32.38
Turnout 53,954 75.52
Conservative hold Swing

Elections in the 1990s edit

General election 1992: Chertsey and Walton
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Geoffrey Pattie 34,164 60.21
Liberal Democrats A Kremer 11,344 19.99
Labour Irene Hamilton 10,793 19.02
Natural Law S Bennell 444 0.78 New
Majority 22,820 40.22
Turnout 56,745 80.53
Conservative hold Swing

References edit

  • Leigh Rayment's Historical List of MPs – Constituencies beginning with "C" (part 3)
  1. ^ a b "Pattie, Sir Geoffrey Edwin". Who's Who. A & C Black. 2019. doi:10.1093/ww/9780199540884.013.U30265. (Subscription or UK public library membership required.)

51°23′N 0°27′W / 51.38°N 0.45°W / 51.38; -0.45