Tonbridge (UK Parliament constituency)

1918–1950: The Borough of Royal Tunbridge Wells, the Urban Districts of Tonbridge and Southborough, and Tonbridge Rural District.

1950–1974: As 1918 but with redrawn boundaries.

The re-established constituency id defined as being composed of the following as they existed on 1 December 2020:

• The District of Sevenoaks wards of: Ash and New Ash Green; Cowden and Hever; Edenbridge North and East; Edenbridge South and West; Hartley and Hodsoll Street; Leigh and Chiddingstone Causeway; Penshurst, Fordcombe and Chiddingstone.
• The Borough of Tonbridge and Malling wards of: Borough Green and Long Mill; Cage Green; Castle; Downs and Mereworth; Hadlow and East Peckham; Higham; Hildenborough; Judd; Medway; Trench; Vauxhall; Wateringbury; Wrotham, Ightham and Stansted.{{Cite web |title=The Parliamentary Constituencies Order 2023 |url=https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2023/1230/schedules/made |at=Schedule 1 Part 6 South East region}}

Following a local government boundary review in Tonbridge and Malling which came into effect in May 2023,{{Cite web |last=LGBCE |title=Medway {{!}} LGBCE |url=https://www.lgbce.org.uk/all-reviews/medway |access-date=2024-04-01 |website=www.lgbce.org.uk |language=en}}{{Cite web |title=The Medway (Electoral Changes) Order 2021 |url=https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2021/1054/contents/made}} the constituency is now composed of the following from the 2024 general election:

• The District of Sevenoaks wards of: Ash and New Ash Green; Cowden and Hever; Edenbridge North and East; Edenbridge South and West; Hartley and Hodsoll Street; Leigh and Chiddingstone Causeway; Penshurst, Fordcombe and Chiddingstone.
• The Borough of Tonbridge and Malling wards of: Birling, Leybourne & Ryarsh (part); Borough Green & Platt; Bourne; Cage Green & Angel; East and West Peckham, Mereworth & Wateringbury; East Malling, West Malling & Offham (small part); Higham; Hildenborough; Judd; Pilgrims with Ightham; Trench; Vauxhall.{{Cite web |title=New Seat Details - Tonbridge |url=https://www.electoralcalculus.co.uk/fcgi-bin/calcwork23.py?seat=Tonbridge |access-date=2024-04-01 |website=www.electoralcalculus.co.uk}}

The reformed constituency comprises the bulk of the preceding Tonbridge and Malling seat (excluding East and West Malling), plus an additional two District of Sevenoaks wards to the north - Ash and New Ash Green, and Hartley and Hodsoll Street, from the constituencies of Sevenoaks and Dartford respectively.

The seat includes the commuter town of Tonbridge and its hinterland to the north, plus the smaller town of Edenbridge further west. Electoral Calculus characterises this area as "Strong Right", with right-wing economic and social views, high home ownership levels and strong support for Brexit.Electoral Calculus https://www.electoralcalculus.co.uk/fcgi-bin/calcwork23.py?seat=Tonbridge

Tunbridge prior to 1918

Tonbridge and Malling prior to 2024

{{Election box begin|title=General election 2024: Tonbridge{{cite web|url=https://members.parliament.uk/constituency/4364/election/422|title=Election result for Tonbridge|publisher=UK Parliament|access-date=21 March 2025}}|}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link||party=Conservative Party (UK)|candidate=Tom Tugendhat|votes=20,517|percentage=40.8|change=−24.0}}

{{Election box candidate with party link||party=Labour Party (UK)|candidate=Lewis Bailey|votes=9,351|percentage=18.6|change=+3.5}}

{{Election box candidate with party link|party=Green Party of England and Wales|candidate=Anna Cope|votes=7,596|percentage=15.1|change=+7.2}}

{{Election box candidate with party link||party=Reform UK|candidate=Teresa Hansford|votes=7,548|percentage=15.0|change=N/A}}

{{Election box candidate with party link|party=Liberal Democrats (UK)|candidate=John Woollcombe|votes=4,234|percentage=8.4|change=−3.9}}

{{Election box candidate with party link||party=Independent Alliance (Kent)|candidate=Tim Shaw|votes=926|percentage=1.8|change=N/A}}

{{Election box candidate with party link|party=Social Democratic Party (UK, 1990–present)|candidate=Ian Grattidge|votes=156|percentage=0.3|change=N/A}}

{{Election box majority|votes=11,166|percentage=22.2|change=−27.5}}

{{Election box turnout|votes=50,328|percentage=68.3|change=−5.6}}

{{Election box registered electors

|reg. electors = 72,799

}}

{{Election box hold with party link|winner=Conservative Party (UK)|swing=−13.8}}

{{Election box end}}

{{Election box begin |

|title=General election 1918: TonbridgeBritish Parliamentary Election Results 1918-1949, FWS Craig

}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link coalition 1918|

|party = Unionist Party (UK)

|candidate = Herbert Spender-Clay

|votes = 14,622

|percentage = 68.1

|change =

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link|

|party = Labour Party (UK)

|candidate = John Palmer

|votes = 5,006

|percentage = 23.3

|change =

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link|

|party = Liberal Party (UK)

|candidate = Thomas Buxton

|votes = 1,851

|percentage = 8.6

|change =

}}

{{Election box majority|

|votes = 9,616

|percentage = 44.8

|change =

}}

{{Election box turnout|

|votes = 21,479

|percentage = 57.4

|change =

}}

{{Election box new seat win|

|winner = Unionist Party (UK)

}}

{{Election box end 1918}}

{{Election box begin |

|title=General election 1922: TonbridgeBritish Parliamentary Election Results 1918-1949, FWS Craig

}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link|

|party = Unionist Party (UK)

|candidate = Herbert Spender-Clay

|votes = 14,797

|percentage = 53.0

|change = -15.1

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link|

|party = Labour Party (UK)

|candidate = Joseph Thomas Davies

|votes = 7,665

|percentage = 27.4

|change = +4.1

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link|

|party = Liberal Party (UK)

|candidate = Albert Charles Crane

|votes = 5,472

|percentage = 19.6

|change = +11.0

}}

{{Election box majority|

|votes = 7,132

|percentage = 25.6

|change = -19.2

}}

{{Election box turnout|

|votes = 27,934

|percentage = 72.5

|change = +15.1

}}

{{Election box hold with party link|

|winner = Unionist Party (UK)

|swing =

}}

{{Election box end}}

{{Election box begin |

|title=General election 1923: Tonbridge British Parliamentary Election Results 1918-1949, FWS Craig

}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link|

|party = Unionist Party (UK)

|candidate = Herbert Spender-Clay

|votes = 13,910

|percentage = 49.8

|change = -3.2

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link|

|party = Liberal Party (UK)

|candidate = Albert Charles Crane

|votes = 7,433

|percentage = 26.6

|change = +7.0

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link|

|party = Labour Party (UK)

|candidate = Joseph Thomas Davis

|votes = 6,610

|percentage = 23.6

|change = -3.8

}}

{{Election box majority|

|votes = 6,477

|percentage = 23.2

|change = -2.4

}}

{{Election box turnout|

|votes = 27,953

|percentage = 70.6

|change = -1.9

}}

{{Election box hold with party link|

|winner = Unionist Party (UK)

|swing = -5.1

}}

{{Election box end}}

{{Election box begin |

|title=General election 1924: TonbridgeBritish Parliamentary Election Results 1918-1949, FWS Craig

}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link|

|party = Unionist Party (UK)

|candidate = Herbert Spender-Clay

|votes = 17,392

|percentage = 58.2

|change = +8.4

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link|

|party = Labour Party (UK)

|candidate = W F Toynbee

|votes = 6,564

|percentage = 22.0

|change = -1.6

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link|

|party = Liberal Party (UK)

|candidate = James Millard Tucker

|votes = 5,898

|percentage = 19.8

|change = -6.8

}}

{{Election box majority|

|votes = 10,828

|percentage = 36.2

|change = +13.0

}}

{{Election box turnout|

|votes = 29,854

|percentage = 74.3

|change = +3.7

}}

{{Election box hold with party link|

|winner = Unionist Party (UK)

|swing =

}}

{{Election box end}}

{{Election box begin |

|title=General election 1929: TonbridgeBritish Parliamentary Election Results 1918-1949, FWS Craig

}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link|

|party = Unionist Party (UK)

|candidate = Herbert Spender-Clay

|votes = 19,018

|percentage = 49.8

|change = -8.4

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link|

|party = Liberal Party (UK)

|candidate = Gordon Alchin

|votes = 10,025

|percentage = 26.2

|change = +6.4

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link|

|party = Labour Party (UK)

|candidate = W F Toynbee

|votes = 9,149

|percentage = 24.0

|change = +2.0

}}

{{Election box majority|

|votes = 8,993

|percentage = 23.6

|change = -12.6

}}

{{Election box turnout|

|votes = 38,192

|percentage = 72.3

|change = -2.0

}}

{{Election box hold with party link|

|winner = Unionist Party (UK)

|swing = -7.4

}}

{{Election box end}}

{{Election box begin |

|title=General election 1931: TonbridgeBritish Parliamentary Election Results 1918-1949, FWS Craig

}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link|

|party = Conservative Party (UK)

|candidate = Herbert Spender-Clay

|votes = 30,602

|percentage = 78.8

|change = +29.0

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link|

|party = Labour Party (UK)

|candidate = Constance Borrett

|votes = 8,208

|percentage = 21.1

|change = -2.9

}}

{{Election box majority|

|votes = 22,394

|percentage = 57.7

|change = +34.1

}}

{{Election box turnout|

|votes = 38,810

|percentage = 69.2

|change = -3.0

}}

{{Election box hold with party link|

|winner = Conservative Party (UK)

|swing =

}}

{{Election box end}}

{{Election box begin |

|title=General election 1935: TonbridgeBritish Parliamentary Election Results 1918-1949, FWS Craig

}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link|

|party = Conservative Party (UK)

|candidate = Herbert Spender-Clay

|votes = 23,460

|percentage = 61.3

|change = -17.5

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link|

|party = Labour Party (UK)

|candidate = F M Landau

|votes = 9,405

|percentage = 24.6

|change = +3.5

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link|

|party = Liberal Party (UK)

|candidate = Richard Pope-Hennessy

|votes = 5,403

|percentage = 14.1

|change = New

}}

{{Election box majority|

|votes =14,055

|percentage = 36.7

|change = -21.0

}}

{{Election box turnout|

|votes = 38,268

|percentage = 68.2

|change = -1.0

}}

{{Election box hold with party link|

|winner = Conservative Party (UK)

|swing =

}}

{{Election box end}}

{{Election box begin |

|title=1937 Tonbridge by-electionBritish Parliamentary Election Results 1918-1949, FWS Craig

}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link|

|party = Conservative Party (UK)

|candidate = Adrian Baillie

|votes = 18,802

|percentage = 56.9

|change = -4.4

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link|

|party = Labour Party (UK)

|candidate = H Smith

|votes = 8,147

|percentage = 24.7

|change = +0.1

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link|

|party = Liberal Party (UK)

|candidate = Richard Matthews

|votes = 6,073

|percentage = 18.4

|change = +4.3

}}

{{Election box majority|

|votes = 10,655

|percentage = 32.2

|change = -4.5

}}

{{Election box turnout|

|votes = 33,022

|percentage = 58.2

|change = -10.0

}}

{{Election box hold with party link|

|winner = Conservative Party (UK)

|swing = -2.2

}}

{{Election box end}}

General Election 1939–40:

Another General Election was required to take place before the end of 1940. The political parties had been making preparations for an election to take place and by the Autumn of 1939, the following candidates had been selected;

• Conservative: Adrian Baillie
• Labour: R. E. L. Bowyer"Parliamentary candidates' protest", The Times, 6 April 1939
• Liberal: Richard MatthewsThe Liberal Magazine, 1939
• British Union: E J Crawford

{{Election box begin |

|title=General election 1945: TonbridgeBritish Parliamentary Election Results 1918-1949, FWS Craig

}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link|

|party = Conservative Party (UK)

|candidate = Gerald Williams

|votes = 23,081

|percentage = 49.9

|change = -7.0

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link|

|party = Labour Party (UK)

|candidate = Vera Dart

|votes = 16,590

|percentage = 35.8

|change = +11.1

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link|

|party = Liberal Party (UK)

|candidate = John Metcalfe

|votes = 5,351

|percentage = 11.6

|change = -6.8

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link|

|party = Independent Conservative

|candidate = E F St John Lyburn

|votes = 1,249

|percentage = 2.7

|change = New

}}

{{Election box majority|

|votes = 6,491

|percentage = 14.1

|change = -18.1

}}

{{Election box turnout|

|votes = 46,271

|percentage = 73.2

|change = +15.0

}}

{{Election box hold with party link|

|winner = Conservative Party (UK)

|swing =

}}

{{Election box end}}

{{Election box begin |

|title=General election 1950: TonbridgeBritish parliamentary election results, 1950-1973 by FWS Craig

}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link|

|party = Conservative Party (UK)

|candidate = Gerald Williams

|votes = 27,893

|percentage = 51.9

|change =

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link|

|party = Labour Party (UK)

|candidate = Brian Clapham

|votes = 19,525

|percentage = 36.3

|change =

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link|

|party = Liberal Party (UK)

|candidate = Leslie Albert Willard

|votes = 5,634

|percentage = 10.5

|change =

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link|

|party = Independent Conservative

|candidate = E F St. John Lyburn

|votes = 739

|percentage = 1.4

|change =

}}

{{Election box majority|

|votes = 8,368

|percentage = 15.6

|change =

}}

{{Election box turnout|

|votes = 53,791

|percentage = 83.5

|change =

}}

{{Election box hold with party link|

|winner = Conservative Party (UK)

|swing =

}}

{{Election box end}}

{{Election box begin |

|title=General election 1951: TonbridgeBritish parliamentary election results, 1950-1973 by FWS Craig

}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link|

|party = Conservative Party (UK)

|candidate = Gerald Williams

|votes = 31,377

|percentage = 59.8

|change = +7.9

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link|

|party = Labour Party (UK)

|candidate = Bernard Bagnari

|votes = 21,109

|percentage = 40.2

|change = +3.9

}}

{{Election box majority|

|votes = 10,268

|percentage = 19.6

|change = +4.0

}}

{{Election box turnout|

|votes = 52,486

|percentage = 80.6

|change = -2.9

}}

{{Election box hold with party link|

|winner = Conservative Party (UK)

|swing =

}}

{{Election box end}}

{{Election box begin |

|title=General election 1955: TonbridgeBritish parliamentary election results, 1950-1973 by FWS Craig

}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link|

|party = Conservative Party (UK)

|candidate = Gerald Williams

|votes = 29,521

|percentage = 60.4

|change = +0.6

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link|

|party = Labour Party (UK)

|candidate = Robert L Fagg

|votes = 19,325

|percentage = 39.6

|change = -0.6

}}

{{Election box majority|

|votes = 10,196

|percentage = 20.8

|change = +1.2

}}

{{Election box turnout|

|votes = 48,846

|percentage = 75.5

|change = -5.1

}}

{{Election box hold with party link|

|winner = Conservative Party (UK)

|swing =

}}

{{Election box end}}

{{Election box begin | title=1956 Tonbridge by-electionF W S Craig, British Parliamentary Election Results 1950-1973; Political Reference Publications, Glasgow 1973

}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link|

|party = Conservative Party (UK)

|candidate = Richard Hornby

|votes = 20,515

|percentage = 52.0

|change = -8.4

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link|

|party = Labour Party (UK)

|candidate = Robert L Fagg

|votes = 18,913

|percentage = 48.0

|change = +8.4

}}

{{Election box majority|

|votes = 1,602

|percentage = 4.0

|change = -16.8

}}

{{Election box turnout|

|votes = 39,428

|percentage =

|change =

}}

{{Election box hold with party link|

|winner = Conservative Party (UK)

|swing =

}}

{{Election box end}}

{{Election box begin | title=General election 1959: TonbridgeF W S Craig, British Parliamentary Election Results 1950-1973; Political Reference Publications, Glasgow 1973

}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link|

|party = Conservative Party (UK)

|candidate = Richard Hornby

|votes = 31,687

|percentage = 59.9

|change = -0.5

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link|

|party = Labour Party (UK)

|candidate = Kenneth W May

|votes = 21,181

|percentage = 40.1

|change = +0.5

}}

{{Election box majority|

|votes = 10,506

|percentage = 19.8

|change = -1.0

}}

{{Election box turnout|

|votes = 52,868

|percentage = 78.5

|change = +3.0

}}

{{Election box hold with party link|

|winner = Conservative Party (UK)

|swing =

}}

{{Election box end}}

{{Election box begin |

|title=General election 1964: TonbridgeF W S Craig, British Parliamentary Election Results 1950-1973; Political Reference Publications, Glasgow 1973

}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link|

|party = Conservative Party (UK)

|candidate = Richard Hornby

|votes = 27,802

|percentage = 49.2

|change = -10.7

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link|

|party = Labour Party (UK)

|candidate = Donald Savage

|votes = 19,037

|percentage = 33.7

|change = -6.4

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link|

|party = Liberal Party (UK)

|candidate = Edward Babbs

|votes = 9,682

|percentage = 17.1

|change = New

}}

{{Election box majority|

|votes = 8,765

|percentage = 15.5

|change = -4.3

}}

{{Election box turnout|

|votes = 56,521

|percentage = 78.7

|change = +0.2

}}

{{Election box hold with party link|

|winner = Conservative Party (UK)

|swing =

}}

{{Election box end}}

{{Election box begin |

|title=General election 1966: TonbridgeBritish parliamentary election results, 1950-1973 by FWS Craig

}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link|

|party = Conservative Party (UK)

|candidate = Richard Hornby

|votes = 26,896

|percentage = 46.7

|change = -2.5

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link|

|party = Labour Party (UK)

|candidate = William Eric Wolff

|votes = 20,068

|percentage = 34.9

|change = +1.2

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link|

|party = Liberal Party (UK)

|candidate = Colin Bloy

|votes = 10,586

|percentage = 18.4

|change = +1.3

}}

{{Election box majority|

|votes = 6,828

|percentage = 11.8

|change = -3.7

}}

{{Election box turnout|

|votes = 57,550

|percentage = 77.3

|change = -1.4

}}

{{Election box hold with party link|

|winner = Conservative Party (UK)

|swing =

}}

{{Election box end}}

{{Election box begin |

|title=General election 1970: TonbridgeBritish parliamentary election results, 1950-1973 by FWS Craig

}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link|

|party = Conservative Party (UK)

|candidate = Richard Hornby

|votes = 31,890

|percentage = 53.2

|change = +4.5

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link|

|party = Labour Party (UK)

|candidate = Maureen Colquhoun

|votes = 17,897

|percentage = 29.9

|change = -5.0

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link|

|party = Liberal Party (UK)

|candidate = Harry Hill

|votes = 10,167

|percentage = 17.0

|change = -1.4

}}

{{Election box majority|

|votes = 13,993

|percentage = 23.3

|change = +11.5

}}

{{Election box turnout|

|votes = 59,954

|percentage = 72.0

|change = -5.3

}}

{{Election box hold with party link|

|winner = Conservative Party (UK)

|swing =

}}

{{Election box end}}

• List of parliamentary constituencies in Kent
• List of parliamentary constituencies in the South East England (region)

{{reflist}}

• {{Rayment-hc|t|2|date=March 2012}}

• [https://mapit.mysociety.org/area/168771.html Tonbridge UK Parliament constituency] (boundaries from June 2024) at MapIt UK

{{Constituencies in South East England}}

{{Tonbridge}}

{{coord|50.99|0.24|region:GB|display=title}}

Category:Tonbridge

Category:Parliamentary constituencies in Kent

Category:Constituencies of the Parliament of the United Kingdom established in 1918

Category:Constituencies of the Parliament of the United Kingdom disestablished in 1974

Category:Constituencies of the Parliament of the United Kingdom established in 2024