Wimbledon is one of two parliamentary constituencies

United Kingdom constituencies

In the United Kingdom , each of the electoral areas or divisions called constituencies elects one or more members to a parliament or assembly.Within the United Kingdom there are now five bodies with members elected by constituencies:...

 in the London Borough of Merton

London Borough of Merton

The London Borough of Merton is a borough in southwest London, England.The borough was formed under the London Government Act in 1965 by the merger of the Municipal Borough of Mitcham, the Municipal Borough of Wimbledon and the Merton and Morden Urban District, all formerly within Surrey...

 in south-west London

London

London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...

. It elects one Member of Parliament

Member of Parliament

A Member of Parliament is a representative of the voters to a :parliament. In many countries with bicameral parliaments, the term applies specifically to members of the lower house, as upper houses often have a different title, such as senate, and thus also have different titles for its members,...

 (MP) to the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom

Parliament of the United Kingdom

The Parliament of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland is the supreme legislative body in the United Kingdom, British Crown dependencies and British overseas territories, located in London...

, by the first-past-the-post

First-past-the-post

First-past-the-post voting refers to an election won by the candidate with the most votes. The winning potato candidate does not necessarily receive an absolute majority of all votes cast.-Overview:...

 voting system.

The constituency is centred on the district of Wimbledon

Wimbledon, London

Wimbledon is a district in the south west area of London, England, located south of Wandsworth, and east of Kingston upon Thames. It is situated within Greater London. It is home to the Wimbledon Tennis Championships and New Wimbledon Theatre, and contains Wimbledon Common, one of the largest areas...

. Since 2005

United Kingdom general election, 2005

The United Kingdom general election of 2005 was held on Thursday, 5 May 2005 to elect 646 members to the British House of Commons. The Labour Party under Tony Blair won its third consecutive victory, but with a majority of 66, reduced from 160....

 it has been represented by Conservative

Conservative Party (UK)

The Conservative Party, formally the Conservative and Unionist Party, is a centre-right political party in the United Kingdom that adheres to the philosophies of conservatism and British unionism. It is the largest political party in the UK, and is currently the largest single party in the House...

 MP Stephen Hammond

Stephen Hammond

Stephen William Hammond is a Conservative Party politician in the United Kingdom. He has been the Member of Parliament for Wimbledon since winning the seat in the 2005 election on 5 May 2005 with a 7.2% swing....

.

Constituency Profile

Wimbledon was one of Labour's most unlikely gains in the 1997 election, though it has swung a long way back to the Conservatives since long-standing Wimbledon village councillor Stephen Hammond won it back in 2005. At the 2010 Election, Labour slumped to third place and Hammond is now able to command a substantial majority against divided opposition.

The seat is comfortably suburban and the village in particular is full of large, expensive houses and open green spaces, though the area around Merton Abbey and South Wimbledon is more downmarket.

The All-England lawn tennis club where the Championships are played is located at the northern edge of the seat, by Wimbledon Park, and the decidedly upmarket setting seems unpromising territory for any party other than the Conservatives - as has been the case for much of the seat's life.

Wimbledon includes the southern terminus of the District Line

District Line

The District line is a line of the London Underground, coloured green on the Tube map. It is a "sub-surface" line, running through the central area in shallow cut-and-cover tunnels. It is the busiest of the sub-surface lines. Out of the 60 stations served, 25 are underground...

, and it is possible to travel continuously for 20 stops through Conservative-held constituencies before reaching Tower Hill

Tower Hill

Tower Hill is an elevated spot northwest of the Tower of London, just outside the limits of the City of London, in the London Borough of Tower Hamlets. Formerly it was part of the Tower Liberty under the direct administrative control of Tower...

.

History

The constituency was created for the 1885 general election

United Kingdom general election, 1885

-Seats summary:-See also:*List of MPs elected in the United Kingdom general election, 1885*Parliamentary Franchise in the United Kingdom 1885–1918*Representation of the People Act 1884*Redistribution of Seats Act 1885-References:...

 from the north-eastern part of the former East Surrey

East Surrey (UK Parliament constituency)

East Surrey is a county constituency represented in the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. It elects one Member of Parliament by the first past the post system of election....

 constituency that was abolished and broken up by the Redistribution of Seats Act 1885

Redistribution of Seats Act 1885

The Redistribution of Seats Act 1885 was an Act of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. It was a piece of electoral reform legislation that redistributed the seats in the House of Commons, introducing the concept of equally populated constituencies, in an attempt to equalise representation across...

. The constituency covered a much larger area than it does today and was reduced in 1918 to create the Mitcham

Mitcham (UK Parliament constituency)

Mitcham was a parliamentary constituency centred on the Mitcham suburb of South London. It returned one Member of Parliament to the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom, elected by the first past the post system....

 constituency and in 1950 to create the Merton and Morden

Merton and Morden (UK Parliament constituency)

Merton and Morden was a parliamentary constituency in what was then the Merton and Morden Urban District, but is now part of the London Borough of Merton...

 constituency (both subsequently merged to create the Mitcham and Morden constituency).

Boundaries

When established in 1885 the constituency included the parishes of Wimbledon, Merton

Merton (historic parish)

Merton was an ancient parish in the Brixton hundred of Surrey, England. It was bounded by Wimbledon to the north, Mitcham to the east, Morden to the south and Kingston upon Thames to the west. The 1871 Ordnance Survey map records its area as . The parish was centred around the 12th century parish...

, Mitcham

Mitcham

Mitcham is a district in the south west area of London, in the London Borough of Merton. A suburban area, Mitcham is located on the border of Inner London and Outer London. It is both residentially and financially developed, well served by Transport for London, and home to Mitcham Town Centre,...

 and Morden

Morden

Morden is a district in the London Borough of Merton. It is located approximately South-southwest of central London between Merton Park , Mitcham , Sutton and Worcester Park .- Origin of name :...

 - equivalent today to the whole of the London Borough of Merton.

The constituency now occupies the northern and western parts of the borough, corresponding approximately to the borough wards of Abbey, Cannon Hill, Dundonald, Hillside, Merton Park, Raynes Park, Trinty, Village, West Barnes and Wimbledon Park.

The north and western boundaries are those of the borough. The eastern boundary follows the borough boundary with the London Borough of Wandsworth

London Borough of Wandsworth

The London Borough of Wandsworth is a London borough in southwest London, England, and forms part of Inner London.-History:The borough was formed in 1965 from the former area of the Metropolitan Borough of Battersea and much of the former area of the Metropolitan Borough of Wandsworth, but...

 along the River Wandle

River Wandle

The River Wandle is a river in south-east England. The names of the river and of Wandsworth are thought to have derived from the Old English "Wendlesworth" meaning "Wendle's Settlement". The river runs through southwest London and is about long...

 east of Summerstown, then along the western edge of Lambeth Cemetery. It then heads south following the Wandle through Colliers Wood

Colliers Wood

Colliers Wood is an area in south London, England, in the London Borough of Merton. Colliers Wood station is served by the London Underground's Northern Line.It is a mostly residential area, split down the middle by a busy High Street...

 and South Wimbledon

South Wimbledon

South Wimbledon is a locality in the London Borough of Merton in southwest London, England.-Toponymy:It is marked on an Ordnance Survey map of 1876 as New Wimbledon and on a 1907 map as South Wimbledon...

 to cross Morden Hall Park

Morden Hall Park

Morden Hall Park is a National Trust park located on the banks of the River Wandle in Morden, south London. It covers over 50ha of parkland with the River Wandle meandering through it spanned by numerous foot bridges. The estate contains Morden Hall itself, Morden Cottage, an old Snuff Mill, and...

. The boundary then leaves the Wandle to turn west through Morden town centre, then along the London Road (A24) before crossing Morden Park

Morden Park

Morden Park is an area within the district of Morden in the London Borough of Merton, and includes the Park itself, an area of green space in an otherwise dense cluster of 1930s suburban housing....

. The boundary then turns north-west towards Cannon Hill Common and then west to pass north of Morden Cemetery to reach the western borough boundary near Motspur Park station

Motspur Park railway station

Motspur Park railway station is a suburban station in the London Borough of Merton in South London. The station is served by South West Trains, and is in Travelcard Zone 4...

.

Wimbledon is bordered by the constituencies of:

• Mitcham & Morden
• Putney
  Putney (UK Parliament constituency)
  -Elections 1950–1979:-Elections 1918–1945:-Notes and references:...
  
  
• Tooting
  Tooting (UK Parliament constituency)
  -Elections in the 2000s:-Elections in the 1990s:- See also :* List of Parliamentary constituencies in Greater London* London Borough of Wandsworth-External links:****...
  
  
• Richmond Park
  Richmond Park (UK Parliament constituency)
  Richmond Park is a borough constituency represented in the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. It elects one Member of Parliament by the first past the post system of election.-History and character:...
  
  
• Kingston & Surbiton

Members of Parliament

The constituency covers the more affluent north and west of the borough and, since its establishment, has generally been represented by Conservative

Conservative Party (UK)

The Conservative Party, formally the Conservative and Unionist Party, is a centre-right political party in the United Kingdom that adheres to the philosophies of conservatism and British unionism. It is the largest political party in the UK, and is currently the largest single party in the House...

 MPs, though there have been two periods when the Labour party

Labour Party (UK)

The Labour Party is a centre-left democratic socialist party in the United Kingdom. It surpassed the Liberal Party in general elections during the early 1920s, forming minority governments under Ramsay MacDonald in 1924 and 1929-1931. The party was in a wartime coalition from 1940 to 1945, after...

 has held the seat.

Election		Member	Party
	1885 United Kingdom general election, 1885 -Seats summary:-See also:*List of MPs elected in the United Kingdom general election, 1885*Parliamentary Franchise in the United Kingdom 1885–1918*Representation of the People Act 1884*Redistribution of Seats Act 1885-References:...	Cosmo Bonsor	Conservative Conservative Party (UK) The Conservative Party, formally the Conservative and Unionist Party, is a centre-right political party in the United Kingdom that adheres to the philosophies of conservatism and British unionism. It is the largest political party in the UK, and is currently the largest single party in the House...
	1900 United Kingdom general election, 1900 -Seats summary:-See also:*MPs elected in the United Kingdom general election, 1900*The Parliamentary Franchise in the United Kingdom 1885-1918-External links:***-References:*F. W. S. Craig, British Electoral Facts: 1832-1987**...	Charles Eric Hambro Charles Eric Hambro Sir Charles Eric Hambro was a British politician and banker. He was a partner in C. J. Hambro & Son . He was elected Member of Parliament for Wimbledon in 1900, resigning in 1907 by becoming Steward of the Manor of Northstead...	Conservative Conservative Party (UK) The Conservative Party, formally the Conservative and Unionist Party, is a centre-right political party in the United Kingdom that adheres to the philosophies of conservatism and British unionism. It is the largest political party in the UK, and is currently the largest single party in the House...
	1907 by-election	Henry Chaplin Henry Chaplin, 1st Viscount Chaplin Henry Chaplin, 1st Viscount Chaplin PC was a British landowner, racehorse owner and Conservative Party politician who sat in the House of Commons from 1868 until 1916 when he was raised to the peerage....	Conservative Conservative Party (UK) The Conservative Party, formally the Conservative and Unionist Party, is a centre-right political party in the United Kingdom that adheres to the philosophies of conservatism and British unionism. It is the largest political party in the UK, and is currently the largest single party in the House...
	1916 by-election	Sir Stuart Coats	Conservative Conservative Party (UK) The Conservative Party, formally the Conservative and Unionist Party, is a centre-right political party in the United Kingdom that adheres to the philosophies of conservatism and British unionism. It is the largest political party in the UK, and is currently the largest single party in the House...
	1918 United Kingdom general election, 1918 The United Kingdom general election of 1918 was the first to be held after the Representation of the People Act 1918, which meant it was the first United Kingdom general election in which nearly all adult men and some women could vote. Polling was held on 14 December 1918, although the count did...	Sir Joseph Hood Sir Joseph Hood, 1st Baronet Sir Joseph Hood, 1st Baronet, was a British businessman and Conservative Party politician.Born in Ashby de la Zouch, Leicestershire, Hood was educated at the local grammar school...	Conservative Conservative Party (UK) The Conservative Party, formally the Conservative and Unionist Party, is a centre-right political party in the United Kingdom that adheres to the philosophies of conservatism and British unionism. It is the largest political party in the UK, and is currently the largest single party in the House...
	1924 United Kingdom general election, 1924 - Seats summary :- References :* F. W. S. Craig, British Electoral Facts: 1832-1987* - External links :* * *...	Sir John Power Sir John Power, 1st Baronet Sir John Cecil Power, first baronet, was a British businessman and Conservative Party politician. Born in Eldon, County Down, he was the son of William Taylor Power and his wife, Cecilia nee Burgoyne. The family moved to London when he was aged 10. With his brother he entered the family business...	Conservative Conservative Party (UK) The Conservative Party, formally the Conservative and Unionist Party, is a centre-right political party in the United Kingdom that adheres to the philosophies of conservatism and British unionism. It is the largest political party in the UK, and is currently the largest single party in the House...
	1945 United Kingdom general election, 1945 The United Kingdom general election of 1945 was a general election held on 5 July 1945, with polls in some constituencies delayed until 12 July and in Nelson and Colne until 19 July, due to local wakes weeks. The results were counted and declared on 26 July, due in part to the time it took to...	Arthur Palmer Arthur Palmer (politician) Arthur Montague Frank Palmer was a British Labour Co-operative politician.Palmer was born in Northam, Devon and educated at Ashford County Grammar School and Acton Technical College...	Labour Labour Party (UK) The Labour Party is a centre-left democratic socialist party in the United Kingdom. It surpassed the Liberal Party in general elections during the early 1920s, forming minority governments under Ramsay MacDonald in 1924 and 1929-1931. The party was in a wartime coalition from 1940 to 1945, after...
	1950 United Kingdom general election, 1950 The 1950 United Kingdom general election was the first general election ever after a full term of a Labour government. Despite polling over one and a half million votes more than the Conservatives, the election, held on 23 February 1950 resulted in Labour receiving a slim majority of just five...	Sir Cyril Black Cyril Black Sir Cyril Wilson Black was a British Conservative politician. He was Member of Parliament for Wimbledon from 1950 to his retirement at the 1970 general election.-Birth and education:...	Conservative Conservative Party (UK) The Conservative Party, formally the Conservative and Unionist Party, is a centre-right political party in the United Kingdom that adheres to the philosophies of conservatism and British unionism. It is the largest political party in the UK, and is currently the largest single party in the House...
	1970 United Kingdom general election, 1970 The United Kingdom general election of 1970 was held on 18 June 1970, and resulted in a surprise victory for the Conservative Party under leader Edward Heath, who defeated the Labour Party under Harold Wilson. The election also saw the Liberal Party and its new leader Jeremy Thorpe lose half their...	Sir Michael Havers Michael Havers, Baron Havers Robert Michael Oldfield Havers, Baron Havers PC, QC was a British barrister and Conservative politician. From his knighthood in 1972 until becoming a peer in 1987 he was known as Sir Michael Havers.- Early life :...	Conservative Conservative Party (UK) The Conservative Party, formally the Conservative and Unionist Party, is a centre-right political party in the United Kingdom that adheres to the philosophies of conservatism and British unionism. It is the largest political party in the UK, and is currently the largest single party in the House...
	1987 United Kingdom general election, 1987 The United Kingdom general election of 1987 was held on 11 June 1987, to elect 650 members to the British House of Commons. The election was the third consecutive election victory for the Conservative Party under the leadership of Margaret Thatcher, who became the first Prime Minister since the 2nd...	Dr. Charles Goodson-Wickes Charles Goodson-Wickes Dr Charles Goodson-Wickes is the Director General of Canning House, the London-based foundation dedicated to the promotion of Latin American and Iberian political and cultural issues in the United Kingdom....	Conservative Conservative Party (UK) The Conservative Party, formally the Conservative and Unionist Party, is a centre-right political party in the United Kingdom that adheres to the philosophies of conservatism and British unionism. It is the largest political party in the UK, and is currently the largest single party in the House...
	1997 United Kingdom general election, 1997 The United Kingdom general election, 1997 was held on 1 May 1997, more than five years after the previous election on 9 April 1992, to elect 659 members to the British House of Commons. The Labour Party ended its 18 years in opposition under the leadership of Tony Blair, and won the general...	Roger Casale Roger Casale Roger Mark Casale was the Labour member of Parliament for Wimbledon in London. He was educated at King's College School, Hurstpierpoint College, Brasenose College, Oxford and Johns Hopkins University. He won the seat of Wimbledon at the 1997 election but lost it to the Conservatives at the 2005...	Labour Labour Party (UK) The Labour Party is a centre-left democratic socialist party in the United Kingdom. It surpassed the Liberal Party in general elections during the early 1920s, forming minority governments under Ramsay MacDonald in 1924 and 1929-1931. The party was in a wartime coalition from 1940 to 1945, after...
	2005 United Kingdom general election, 2005 The United Kingdom general election of 2005 was held on Thursday, 5 May 2005 to elect 646 members to the British House of Commons. The Labour Party under Tony Blair won its third consecutive victory, but with a majority of 66, reduced from 160....	Stephen Hammond Stephen Hammond Stephen William Hammond is a Conservative Party politician in the United Kingdom. He has been the Member of Parliament for Wimbledon since winning the seat in the 2005 election on 5 May 2005 with a 7.2% swing....	Conservative Conservative Party (UK) The Conservative Party, formally the Conservative and Unionist Party, is a centre-right political party in the United Kingdom that adheres to the philosophies of conservatism and British unionism. It is the largest political party in the UK, and is currently the largest single party in the House...

Election results