Gillingham (UK Parliament constituency)

Parliamentary constituency in the United Kingdom, 1918–2010

Gillingham

Former Borough constituency
for the House of Commons

Boundary of Gillingham in Kent for the 2005 general election

Location of Kent within England

County| Kent
Major settlements| Gillingham and Rainham
1918–2010
Created from| Rochester, Chatham and Faversham
Replaced by| Gillingham and Rainham

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[edit]

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[edit]

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[edit]

Election | Member[1] | 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.

## Election results[edit]

### Elections in the 2000s[edit]

General election 2005: Gillingham[2] 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  | 254  | 0.5  | -4.9
Turnout | 45,167  | 62.5  | +3.0
| Labour hold | Swing | −2.4  |
General election 2001: Gillingham[3] 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  | 2,272  | 5.4  | +2.5
Turnout | 42,212  | 59.5  | -12.5
| Labour hold | Swing | +0.7  |

### Elections in the 1990s[edit]

General election 1997: Gillingham[4] 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  | New
| Monster Raving Loony | David Robinson  | 305  | 0.6  | New
| BNP | Christopher Jury  | 194  | 0.4  | New
| Natural Law | Gabriel Duguay  | 58  | 0.1  | New
Majority  | 1,980  | 2.9  | N/A
Turnout | 50,682  | 72.0  | -8.3
| Labour gain from Conservative | Swing | +16.0  |
General election 1992: Gillingham[5][6] 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  | 16,638  | 28.8  | +5.6
Turnout | 57,711  | 80.3  | +5.0
| Conservative hold | Swing | -3.6  |

### Elections in the 1980s[edit]

General election 1987: Gillingham[7][8][9] Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

|
|
|
|

| Conservative | James Couchman | 28,711  | 53.1  | +1.4
| Alliance | Leighton Andrews | 16,162  | 29.9  | -0.6
| Labour | David Bishop  | 9,230  | 17.0  | -0.8
Majority  | 12,549  | 23.2  | +2.0
Turnout | 54,100  | 75.3  | +1.6
Registered electors | 71,847  |  |
| Conservative hold | Swing | +1.0  |
General election 1983: Gillingham[10][8][11] 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  | 10,843  | 21.2  | +0.4
Turnout | 51,003  | 73.6  | -5.2
Registered electors | 69,256  |  |
| Conservative hold | Swing |  |

### Elections in the 1970s[edit]

General election 1979: Gillingham[12][13] 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  | 10,499  | 20.82  | +12.35
Turnout | 50,425  | 78.85  | +2.94
Registered electors | 63,951  |  |
| Conservative hold | Swing | +6.18  |
General election October 1974: Gillingham[12][14] 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  | 3,996  | 8.47  | -3.10
Turnout | 47,139  | 75.91  | -6.75
Registered electors | 62,099  |  |
| Conservative hold | Swing | -1.55  |
General election February 1974: Gillingham[12][15] 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  | 5,882  | 11.57  | -6.11
Turnout | 50,834  | 82.66  | +9.30
Registered electors | 61,498  |  |
| Conservative hold | Swing | -23.14  |
General election 1970: Gillingham[16] Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

|
|
|
|

| Conservative | Frederick Burden | 25,813  | 58.84  | +9.34
| Labour | Robert E. Bean | 18,057  | 41.16  | -0.63
Majority  | 7,756  | 17.68  | +9.97
Turnout | 43,870  | 73.36  | -5.14
Registered electors | 59,800  |  |
| Conservative hold | Swing | +4.99  |

### Elections in the 1960s[edit]

General election 1966: Gillingham [17] 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  | 3,140  | 7.71  | -6.62
Turnout | 40,722  | 78.50  | +0.45
Registered electors | 51,874  |  |
| Conservative hold | Swing | -3.31  |
General election 1964: Gillingham [18] 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  | 5,644  | 14.33  | -4.33
Turnout | 39,391  | 78.05  | -2.56
Registered electors | 50,471  |  |
| Conservative hold | Swing | -2.17  |

### Elections in the 1950s[edit]

General election 1959: Gillingham [19] Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

|
|
|
|

| Conservative | Frederick Burden | 23,142  | 59.33  | +3.85
| Labour | Gerald Kaufman | 15,863  | 40.67  | -3.85
Majority  | 7,279  | 18.66  | +7.70
Turnout | 39,005  | 80.61  | +1.08
Registered electors | 48,390  |  |
| Conservative hold | Swing | +3.85  |
General election 1955: Gillingham [20] Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

|
|
|
|

| Conservative | Frederick Burden | 20,984  | 55.48  | +1.77
| Labour | Joseph Huddart  | 16,839  | 44.52  | -1.77
Majority  | 4,145  | 10.96  | +3.54
Turnout | 37,823  | 79.53  | -5.94
Registered electors | 47,561  |  |
| Conservative hold | Swing | +1.77  |
General election 1951: Gillingham [21] Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

|
|
|
|

| Conservative | Frederick Burden | 21,453  | 53.71  | +1.04
| Labour | Edward Redhead | 18,489  | 46.29  | -1.04
Majority  | 2,964  | 7.42  | +2.08
Turnout | 39,942  | 85.47  | +0.60
Registered electors | 46,731  |  |
| Conservative hold | Swing | +1.04  |
General election 1950: Gillingham [22] Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

|
|
|
|

| Conservative | Frederick Burden | 20,504  | 52.67  | +5.94
| Labour | Joseph Binns | 18,424  | 47.33  | -5.94
Majority  | 2,080  | 5.34  | N/A
Turnout | 38,928  | 84.87  | +13.54
Registered electors | 45,866  |  |
| Conservative gain from Labour | Swing | +5.94  |

### Elections in the 1940s[edit]

General election 1945: Gillingham [23][24][25] Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

|
|
|
|

| Labour | Joseph Binns | 15,110  | 53.27  | +18.39
| Conservative | Johnnie Dodge | 13,254  | 46.73  | -18.39
Majority  | 1,856  | 6.54  | N/A
Turnout | 28,364  | 71.33  | -0.08
Registered electors | 39,765  |  |
| Labour gain from Conservative | Swing | +18.39  |

### Elections in the 1930s[edit]

General election 1935: Gillingham [23][24][26] Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

|
|
|
|

| Conservative | Robert Gower | 18,726  | 65.12  | -3.90
| Labour | Evan Durbin | 10,032  | 34.88  | +3.90
Majority  | 8,694  | 30.24  | -7.80
Turnout | 28,758  | 71.41  | -2.66
Registered electors | 40,271  |  |
| Conservative hold | Swing | -3.90  |
General election 1931: Gillingham [23][24][27] Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

|
|
|
|

| Conservative | Robert Gower | 20,277  | 69.02  | +21.05
| Labour | CM Wadham  | 9,103  | 30.98  | -8.52
Majority  | 11,174  | 38.04  | +29.57
Turnout | 29,380  | 74.07  | +0.05
Registered electors | 39,664  |  |
| Conservative hold | Swing | +14.79  |

### Elections in the 1920s[edit]

General election 1929: Gillingham [28][23][24] 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  | 2,405  | 8.47  | -3.97
Turnout | 28,375  | 74.02  | -3.98
Registered electors | 38,336  |  |
| Unionist hold | Swing | -4.48  |
General election 1924: Gillingham[23][24] 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  | 4,109  | 12.44  | -3.84
Turnout | 23,566  | 78.00  | +4.08
Registered electors | 30,212  |  |
| Unionist hold | Swing | +2.50  |
General election 1923: Gillingham [28][23][24] 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  | 2,752  | 12.44  | -3.84
Turnout | 22,115  | 73.92  | +1.63
Registered electors | 29,919  |  |
| Unionist hold | Swing | -1.92  |
General election 1922: Gillingham[23][24][28] Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

|
|
|
|

| Unionist | Gerald Hohler | 12,425  | 58.14  | -10.44
| Labour | Maurice Spencer | 8,944  | 41.86  | +15.95
Majority  | 3,481  | 16.28  | -26.39
Turnout | 21,369  | 72.29  | +7.19
Registered electors | 29,560  |  |
| Unionist hold | Swing | -13.20  |

### Elections in the 1910s[edit]

General election 1918: Gillingham[23][24][28][29] 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  | 7,750  | 42.67  |
Turnout | 18,161  | 65.10  |
Registered electors | 27,899  |  |
| Unionist win (new seat)
C indicates candidate endorsed by the coalition government.

* Cronin was supported by the Lower Deck Parliamentary Committee

## See also[edit]

* List of parliamentary constituencies in Kent

## References[edit]

1. ^ Leigh Rayment's Historical List of MPs – Constituencies beginning with "G" (part 1)
2. ^ "Election Data 2005". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
3. ^ "Election Data 2001". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
4. ^ "Election Data 1997". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
5. ^ "Election Data 1992". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
6. ^ "Politics Resources". Election 1992. Politics Resources. 9 April 1992. Archived from the original on 24 July 2011. Retrieved 6 December 2010.
7. ^ "Election Data 1987". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
8. ^ a b "'Gillingham', June 1983 up to May 1997". ElectionWeb Project. Cognitive Computing Limited. Archived from the original on 23 April 2016. Retrieved 14 April 2016.
9. ^ Kimber, Richard. "UK General Election results 1987". Political Science Resources. Archived from the original on 3 March 2016. Retrieved 14 April 2016.
10. ^ "Election Data 1983". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
11. ^ Kimber, Richard. "UK General Election results 1983". Political Science Resources. Archived from the original on 19 March 2012. Retrieved 14 April 2016.
12. ^ a b c "'Gillingham', Feb 1974 - May 1983". ElectionWeb Project. Cognitive Computing Limited. Archived from the original on 23 April 2016. Retrieved 14 April 2016.
13. ^ Kimber, Richard. "UK General Election results 1979". Political Science Resources. Archived from the original on 24 September 2015. Retrieved 14 April 2016.
14. ^ Kimber, Richard. "UK General Election results October 1974". Political Science Resources. Archived from the original on 8 May 2015. Retrieved 14 April 2016.
15. ^ Kimber, Richard. "UK General Election results February 1974". Political Science Resources. Archived from the original on 16 June 2015. Retrieved 14 April 2016.
16. ^ Kimber, Richard. "UK General Election results 1970". Political Science Resources. Archived from the original on 16 June 2015. Retrieved 14 April 2016.
17. ^ Kimber, Richard. "UK General Election results 1966". Political Science Resources. Archived from the original on 16 June 2015. Retrieved 14 April 2016.
18. ^ Kimber, Richard. "UK General Election results 1964". Political Science Resources. Archived from the original on 25 October 2014. Retrieved 14 April 2016.
19. ^ Kimber, Richard. "UK General Election results 1959". Political Science Resources. Archived from the original on 11 December 2013. Retrieved 14 April 2016.
20. ^ Kimber, Richard. "UK General Election results 1955". Political Science Resources. Archived from the original on 11 August 2011. Retrieved 14 April 2016.
21. ^ Kimber, Richard. "UK General Election results 1951". Political Science Resources. Archived from the original on 25 October 2014. Retrieved 14 April 2016.
22. ^ Kimber, Richard. "UK General Election results 1950". Political Science Resources. Archived from the original on 8 March 2017. Retrieved 14 April 2016.
23. ^ a b c d e f g h "Rochester Gillingham PBDivCon through time - Political Life Statistics - Groupings of Political Parties". A Vision of Britain through Time. GB Historical GIS / University of Portsmouth. Retrieved 14 April 2016.
24. ^ a b c d e f g h "Rochester Gillingham PBDivCon through time - Political Life Statistics - Total Electorate". A Vision of Britain through Time. GB Historical GIS / University of Portsmouth. Retrieved 14 April 2016.
25. ^ Kimber, Richard. "UK General Election results 1945". Political Science Resources. Archived from the original on 25 October 2014. Retrieved 14 April 2016.
26. ^ Kimber, Richard. "UK General Election results 1935". Political Science Resources. Archived from the original on 9 March 2015. Retrieved 14 April 2016.
27. ^ Kimber, Richard. "UK General Election results 1931". Political Science Resources. Archived from the original on 10 March 2015. Retrieved 14 April 2016.
28. ^ a b c d British Parliamentary Election Results 1918-1949, FWS Craig
29. ^ Debrett's House of Commons and the Judicial Bench

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