Mitcham and Morden (UK Parliament constituency)

Mitcham and Morden is a constituency[n 1] in Greater London represented in the House of Commons of the UK Parliament since 1997 by Dame Siobhain McDonagh of the Labour Party.[n 2]

Mitcham and Morden
Borough constituency
for the House of Commons
Outline map
Boundary of Mitcham and Morden in Greater London
CountyGreater London
Electorate76,877 (2023)[1]
Major settlementsColliers Wood, Mitcham, Morden and Merton
Current constituency
Created1974 (1974)
Member of ParliamentSiobhain McDonagh (Labour)
SeatsOne
Created fromMitcham
Merton & Morden

History

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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.[2]

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.[3] 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

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Historic

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Map of boundaries 2010-2024

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

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Mitcham and Morden from 2024

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.[4]

Constituency profile

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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.[5]

Across the borough, around 40% of the population are ethnic minorities.[6][7]

Members of Parliament

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Election Member[8] Party
February 1974 Bruce Douglas-Mann Labour
1981 SDP
1982 by-election Angela Rumbold Conservative
1997 Siobhain McDonagh Labour

Election results

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Elections in the 2020s

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General election 2024: Mitcham and Morden [9]
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 18,761 41.4 +10.6
Turnout 45,255 58.6 –8.6
Registered electors 77,272
Labour hold Swing  5.3

Elections in the 2010s

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2019 notional result[10]
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 51,633 67.2
Electorate 76,877
General election 2019: Mitcham and Morden[11]
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 16,482 36.0 −8.5
Turnout 45,741 65.3 −4.7
Registered electors 68,705
Labour hold Swing -4.2
General election 2017: Mitcham and Morden[12][13][14]
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 21,375 44.5 +7.0
Turnout 48,118 70.0 +4.1
Registered electors 68,705
Labour hold Swing +3.45
General election 2015: Mitcham and Morden[15][16]
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 16,922 37.5 +6.2
Turnout 45,142 65.9 −1.1
Registered electors 68,474
Labour hold Swing +3.1
General election 2010: Mitcham and Morden[17]
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 13,666 31.3 −0.2
Turnout 43,798 67.0 +6.2
Registered electors 65,939
Labour hold Swing −0.2

Elections in the 2000s

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General election 2005: Mitcham and Morden[18][19]
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 12,560 31.5 −5.8
Turnout 39,868 61.2 +3.4
Registered electors 65,148
Labour hold Swing −2.4
General election 2001: Mitcham and Morden[20]
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 13,785 36.3 +7.6
Turnout 37,961 57.8 −15.5
Registered electors 65,671
Labour hold Swing +3.8

Elections in the 1990s

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General election 1997: Mitcham and Morden[21][22][23][24]
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 13,741 28.7 N/A
Turnout 47,946 73.3 −7.0
Registered electors 65,402
Labour gain from Conservative Swing -16.0
General election 1992: Mitcham and Morden[25][26]
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 1,734 3.4 −9.6
Turnout 51,186 80.3 +4.6
Registered electors 63,273
Conservative hold Swing −4.8

Elections in the 1980s

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General election 1987: Mitcham and Morden[27]
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 6,183 13.0 −0.9
Turnout 47,751 75.7 +2.6
Registered electors 63,089
Conservative hold Swing −0.5
General election 1983: Mitcham and Morden[28]
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 6,451 13.9 N/A
Turnout 46,462 73.1 −3.8
Registered electors 63,535
Conservative hold Swing
1982 Mitcham and Morden by-election[29]
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 4,274 14.0 N/A
Turnout 30,673 48.5 −28.4
Registered electors 63,259
Conservative gain from Labour Swing +10.2

Elections in the 1970s

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General election 1979: Merton, Mitcham and Morden
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Bruce Douglas-Mann 21,668 45.2 −3.0
Conservative David Samuel[30] 21,050 43.9 +9.0
Liberal Ronald Locke[30] 4,258 8.9 −7.1
National Front John Perryman[30] 966 2.0 New
Majority 618 1.3 −12.0
Turnout 47,942 76.9 +5.9
Registered electors 62,365
Labour hold Swing −6.0
General election October 1974: Merton, Mitcham and Morden
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 6,191 13.3 +7.0
Turnout 46,461 71.0 −8.0
Registered electors 65,398
Labour hold Swing +3.5
General election February 1974: Merton, Mitcham and Morden
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 3,225 6.3
Turnout 51,286 79.0
Registered electors 64,894
Labour win (new seat)

See also

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Notes

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  1. ^ A borough constituency (for the purposes of election expenses and type of returning officer)
  2. ^ As with all constituencies, the constituency elects one Member of Parliament (MP) by the first past the post system of election at least every five years.

References

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  1. ^ "The 2023 Review of Parliamentary Constituency Boundaries in England – Volume two: Constituency names, designations and composition – London". Boundary Commission for England. Retrieved 22 June 2024.
  2. ^ "General Election Results from the Electoral Commission".
  3. ^ "Labour Members of Parliament 2015". UK Political.info. Archived from the original on 29 September 2018.
  4. ^ "The Parliamentary Constituencies Order 2023". Schedule 1 Part 3 London region.
  5. ^ "Local statistics - Office for National Statistics". www.ons.gov.uk.
  6. ^ "UKPollingReport Election Guide 2010 » Mitcham and Morden".
  7. ^ "2011 census interactive maps". Archived from the original on 29 January 2016.
  8. ^ Leigh Rayment's Historical List of MPs – Constituencies beginning with "M" (part 3)
  9. ^ "Mitcham & Morden Parliamentary constituency". BBC News. BBC. Retrieved 7 July 2024.
  10. ^ "Notional results for a UK general election on 12 December 2019". Rallings & Thrasher, Professor David Denver (Scotland), Nicholas Whyte (NI) for Sky News, PA, BBC News and ITV News. UK Parliament. Retrieved 11 July 2024.
  11. ^ "Mitcham & Morden Parliamentary constituency". BBC News. BBC. Retrieved 23 November 2019.
  12. ^ "Merton Council Statement of Persons Nominated Mitcham and Morden General Election 2017" (PDF). Merton Council. Retrieved 13 April 2017.[permanent dead link]
  13. ^ "Mitcham & Morden parliamentary constituency". BBC News.
  14. ^ http://researchbriefings.files.parliament.uk/documents/CBP-7979/CBP-7979.pdf [bare URL PDF]
  15. ^ "Election Data 2015". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 17 October 2015. Retrieved 17 October 2015.
  16. ^ Services, CS-Democracy (7 May 2015). "Councillors". democracy.merton.gov.uk.
  17. ^ "Election Data 2010". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 26 July 2013. Retrieved 17 October 2015.
  18. ^ "Election Data 2005". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
  19. ^ "Mitcham & Morden". Electoral Commission. Retrieved 5 March 2017.
  20. ^ "Election Data 2001". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
  21. ^ "Election Data 1997". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
  22. ^ "Politics Resources". Election 1997. Politics Resources. 1 May 1997. Retrieved 25 December 2010.
  23. ^ C. Rallings & M. Thrasher, The Media Guide to the New Parliamentary Constituencies, p.120 (Plymouth: LGC Elections Centre, 1995)
  24. ^ "'Mitcham and Morden', May 1997 -". ElectionWeb Project. Cognitive Computing Limited. Retrieved 18 May 2016.
  25. ^ "Election Data 1992". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
  26. ^ "Politics Resources". Election 1992. Politics Resources. 9 April 1992. Archived from the original on 24 July 2011. Retrieved 6 December 2010.
  27. ^ "Election Data 1987". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
  28. ^ "Election Data 1983". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
  29. ^ Boothroyd, David. "Results of Byelections in the 1979-83 Parliament". United Kingdom Election Results. Retrieved 19 September 2015.
  30. ^ a b c Election Expenses. Parliament of the United Kingdom. 1980. p. 18. ISBN 0102374805.
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51°24′04″N 0°10′34″W / 51.401°N 0.176°W / 51.401; -0.176