Wikipedia

Croydon South (UK Parliament constituency)

For the Croydon South constituency which covered a different area and existed 1918–1945 and 1950–1974, see Croydon South (historic UK Parliament constituency).

Croydon South is a constituency[n 1] created in 1974 and represented in the House of Commons of the UK Parliament since 2015 by Chris Philp, a Conservative.[n 2]

Croydon South
Borough constituency
for the House of Commons
Map
Interactive map of boundaries from 2024
Boundary within Greater London
CountyGreater London
Electorate71,541 (2023) [1]
Major settlementsCoulsdon, Purley, South Croydon
Current constituency
Created1974 (1974)
Member of ParliamentChris Philp (Conservative)
SeatsOne
Created fromEast Surrey

Political history

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In 1974, the original Croydon South constituency created in 1918 was renamed Croydon Central and the current Croydon South was created from the northwestern part of East Surrey, covering Purley and Coulsdon, which had become parts of Greater London in 1965.

Since its creation, the constituency has been represented by three Conservative MPs. Sir William Clark, who had represented East Surrey since 1970, won the new seat in February 1974, and held it until his retirement in 1992. His successor, Sir Richard Ottaway, then held the seat until 2015, when he stood down and was succeeded by Chris Philp.[2][3] Boundary changes have been minor and the 2015 result made the seat the 145th safest of the Conservative Party's 331 seats by percentage of majority.[4] At the 2015 general election, it was one of the Conservatives' safest seats in Greater London.[5] Philp held the seat at the 2024 general election on a substantially reduced majority of just over 2,000, the lowest majority since the seat was created.

Constituency profile

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Croydon South consists of affluent suburbia, including a significant minority of large houses with gardens on the North Downs escarpment. It has many well-to-do commuters taking advantage of the fast trains to the City and Gatwick Airport, plus a significant proportion of retired people. Included are the suburbs of Purley and Kenley, home to the Kenley Aerodrome

The village-like Selsdon – one of the few places in the seat where transport links are poor – has a place on the political map having spawned the phrase 'Selsdon Man',[citation needed] its swing and voters first seen as an ideal bellwether for the national swing by the Conservative Party. The Purley Way, which runs mainly through Waddon, has become home to large retail estates for out-of-town shopping and leisure. Prior to 2018 Waddon was the sole Labour ward in the constituency – one of its councillors, Andrew Pelling, the former Conservative MP for Croydon Central, defected to the Labour Party.

Boundary changes before the 2024 election removed both Selsdon and Waddon from the seat and added the Park Hill & Whitgift ward, close to Croydon Town centre.

At the southern end of the constituency, Coulsdon has much in common with the residual county of Surrey of which it was a more intrinsically associated part until 1965 as it was excluded from Croydon County Borough on the county borough's creation in 1889.

Boundaries

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Dates Local authority Maps Wards
1974–1983 London Borough of Croydon   Coulsdon East, Purley, Sanderstead and Selsdon, Sanderstead North, Woodcote and Coulsdon West
1983–1997 Coulsdon East, Croham, Kenley, Purley, Sanderstead, Selsdon, Woodcote and Coulsdon West
1997–2010   Coulsdon East, Croham, Kenley, Purley, Sanderstead, Selsdon, Waddon, Woodcote and Coulsdon West
2010–2024   Coulsdon East, Coulsdon West, Croham, Kenley, Purley, Sanderstead, Selsdon and Ballards, Waddon
2024–present   Coulsdon Town, Kenley, Old Coulsdon, Park Hill & Whitgift, Purley & Woodcote, Purley Oaks & Riddlesdown, Sanderstead, South Croydon[6]

Members of Parliament

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Election Member Party
February 1974 Sir William Clark Conservative
1992 Sir Richard Ottaway Conservative
2015 Chris Philp Conservative

Election results

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Elections in the 2020s

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General election 2024: Croydon South[7]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Chris Philp 19,757 40.0 –14.5
Labour Ben Taylor 17,444 35.3 +7.2
Liberal Democrats Richard Howard 4,384 8.9 –4.6
Reform UK Bob Bromley 4,149 8.4 N/A
Green Elaine Garrod 2,859 5.8 +2.9
Workers Party Kulsum Hussin 612 1.2 N/A
Independent Mark Samuel 173 0.4 N/A
Majority 2,313 4.7 –21.7
Turnout 49,378 65.9 –5.2
Registered electors 74,968
Conservative hold Swing  10.9

Elections in the 2010s

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2019 notional result[8]
Party Vote %
Conservative 27,725 54.5
Labour 14,317 28.1
Liberal Democrats 6,885 13.5
Green 1,466 2.9
Others 442 0.9
Brexit Party 59 0.1
Turnout 50,894 71.1
Electorate 71,541
General election 2019: Croydon South[9][10]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Chris Philp 30,985 52.2 −2.2
Labour Olga FitzRoy 18,646 31.4 −4.4
Liberal Democrats Anna Jones 7,503 12.6 +6.8
Green Peter Underwood 1,782 3.0 +1.2
UKIP Kathleen Garner 442 0.7 −1.1
Majority 12,339 20.8 +2.2
Turnout 59,358 70.7 −2.6
Registered electors 83,977
Conservative hold Swing +1.1
General election 2017: Croydon South[11][12][13]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Chris Philp 33,334 54.4 −0.1
Labour Jennifer Brathwaite 21,928 35.8 +11.0
Liberal Democrats Anna Jones 3,541 5.8 −0.2
Green Catherine Shelley 1,125 1.8 −1.9
UKIP Kathleen Garner 1,116 1.8 −8.7
CPA David Omamogho 213 0.3 New
Majority 11,406 18.6 −11.1
Turnout 61,247 73.3 +2.9
Registered electors 83,518
Conservative hold Swing -5.5
General election 2015: Croydon South[14]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Chris Philp 31,448 54.5 +3.6
Labour Emily Benn 14,308 24.8 +4.8
UKIP Kathleen Garner 6,068 10.5 +6.1
Liberal Democrats Gill Hickson 3,448 6.0 −16.8
Green Peter Underwood 2,154 3.7 +2.0
Independent Mark Samuel 221 0.4 New
Class War Jon Bigger[15] 65 0.1 New
Majority 17,140 29.7 +1.6
Turnout 57,712 70.4 +1.1
Registered electors 82,010
Conservative hold Swing -0.6
General election 2010: Croydon South[16]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Richard Ottaway 28,684 50.9 −1.1
Liberal Democrats Simon Rix 12,866 22.8 +2.4
Labour Jane Avis 11,287 20.0 −4.0
UKIP Jeffrey Bolter 2,504 4.4 +2.3
Green Gordon Ross 981 1.7 New
Majority 15,818 28.1 +1.4
Turnout 56,322 69.3 +5.8
Registered electors 81,303
Conservative hold Swing +1.7

Elections in the 2000s

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General election 2005: Croydon South
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Richard Ottaway 25,320 51.8 +2.6
Labour Paul Smith 11,792 24.1 –5.8
Liberal Democrats Sandra Lawman 10,049 20.6 +2.3
UKIP James Feisenberger 1,054 2.2 0.0
Veritas Graham Dare 497 1.0 New
Independent Mark Samuel 185 0.4 0.0
Majority 13,528 27.7 +8.4
Turnout 48,897 63.6 +2.2
Registered electors 75,812
Conservative hold Swing +4.2
General election 2001: Croydon South
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Richard Ottaway 22,169 49.2 +1.9
Labour Gerry Ryan 13,472 29.9 +4.6
Liberal Democrats Anna-Nicolett Gallop 8,226 18.3 –2.8
UKIP Kathleen Garner 998 2.2 New
Independent Mark Samuel 195 0.4 +0.2
Majority 8,697 19.3 −2.7
Turnout 45,060 61.4 –12.1
Registered electors 73,372
Conservative hold Swing –1.3

Elections in the 1990s

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General election 1997: Croydon South
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Richard Ottaway 25,649 47.3 −14.3
Labour Charlie Burling 13,719 25.3 +9.0
Liberal Democrats Steven Gauge 11,441 21.1 −0.5
Referendum Tony Barber 2,631 4.9 New
BNP Paul Ferguson 354 0.7 New
Independent A.G. Harker 309 0.6 New
Independent Mark Samuel 96 0.2 −0.3
Majority 11,930 22.0 −18.7
Turnout 54,199 73.5 −4.1
Registered electors 73,787
Conservative hold Swing -11.7
General election 1992: Croydon South
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Richard Ottaway 31,993 63.7 −0.4
Liberal Democrats Peter Billenness 11,568 23.0 −1.3
Labour Helen Salmon 6,444 12.8 +3.0
Independent Mark Samuel 239 0.5 New
Majority 20,425 40.7 +0.9
Turnout 50,244 77.6 +3.9
Registered electors 64,768
Conservative hold Swing +0.5

Elections in the 1980s

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General election 1987: Croydon South
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative William Clark 30,732 64.1 −1.0
Liberal George Morrison 11,669 24.3 −2.8
Labour Geraint Davies 4,679 9.8 +2.0
Green Paul Baldwin 900 1.9 New
Majority 19,063 39.8 +1.8
Turnout 47,980 73.7 +2.6
Registered electors 65,085
Conservative hold Swing +0.9
General election 1983: Croydon South[17]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative William Clark 29,842 65.1 +0.2
Liberal James Forrest[18] 12,402 27.1 +6.1
Labour Robert C E Brooks[18] 3,568 7.8 −5.3
Majority 17,440 38.0 −5.9
Turnout 46,702 71.1 −5.7
Registered electors 64,482
Conservative hold Swing -2.9

Elections in the 1970s

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General election 1979: Croydon South
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative William Clark[19] 30,874 64.9 +7.0
Liberal Peter Billenness[19] 10,006 21.0 −4.9
Labour John Bloom[19] 6,249 13.1 −3.1
National Front Roland Dummer[19] 469 1.0 New
Majority 20,868 43.9 +11.9
Turnout 47,598 76.7 +2.8
Registered electors 62,022
Conservative hold Swing +5.9
General election October 1974: Croydon South
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative William Clark 25,703 57.9 −1.2
Liberal D Nunneley 11,514 25.9 −0.8
Labour DW Keene 7,203 16.2 +2.0
Majority 14,189 32.0 −0.4
Turnout 44,420 73.9 −8.4
Registered electors 60,090
Conservative hold Swing -0.2
General election February 1974: Croydon South
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative William Clark 28,915 59.1
Liberal J.P. Coleman 13,048 26.7
Labour Henry Hodge 6,965 14.2
Majority 15,867 32.4
Turnout 48,928 82.3
Registered electors 59,447
Conservative 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, Croydon South 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 19 June 2024.
  2. ^ "Conservative MP Richard Ottaway to step down at election". BBC News. 27 October 2012. Archived from the original on 4 December 2012. Retrieved 9 February 2013.
  3. ^ "DECLARATION OF RESULT OF POLL" (PDF). 2011 Electorate Figures. London Borough of Croydon. 7 May 2015. Archived from the original (PDF) on 3 March 2016. Retrieved 8 May 2015.
  4. ^ "Conservative Members of Parliament 2015". UK Political.info. Archived from the original on 8 June 2017. Retrieved 12 February 2017.
  5. ^ "Election 2015: Croydon South". BBC News. 8 May 2015. Archived from the original on 12 June 2017. Retrieved 4 April 2017.
  6. ^ "The Parliamentary Constituencies Order 2023". Schedule 1 Part 3 London region.
  7. ^ "Candidate information". Croydon Council. Retrieved 9 June 2024.
  8. ^ "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.
  9. ^ https://www.croydon.gov.uk/sites/default/files/Statement%20of%20Persons%20Nominated%20and%20Notice%20of%20Poll%20Croydon%20South.pdf [dead link‍]
  10. ^ "Commons Briefing Paper 8749. General Election 2019: results and analysis" (PDF). London: House of Commons Library. 28 January 2020. Archived (PDF) from the original on 18 November 2021. Retrieved 19 January 2022.
  11. ^ "STATEMENT OF PERSONS NOMINATED AND NOTICE OF POLL" (PDF). Croydon London Borough Council. 11 May 2017. Archived (PDF) from the original on 25 February 2018. Retrieved 15 May 2017.
  12. ^ "Croydon South parliamentary constituency". BBC News. Archived from the original on 12 June 2017. Retrieved 20 June 2018.
  13. ^ "Commons Briefing Paper 7979. General Election 2017: results and analysis" (PDF) (Second ed.). House of Commons Library. 29 January 2019 [7 April 2018]. Archived (PDF) from the original on 12 November 2019.
  14. ^ "Election Data 2015". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 17 October 2015. Retrieved 17 October 2015.
  15. ^ "Jon Bigger – Croydon South". Class War. Archived from the original on 6 October 2014. Retrieved 1 October 2014.
  16. ^ "Election Data 2010". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 26 July 2013. Retrieved 17 October 2015.
  17. ^ "UK General Election results June 1983:Croydon South". PoliticalResources.net. Archived from the original on 11 August 2011. Retrieved 30 May 2015.
  18. ^ a b "Election '86 – the candidates". Croydon Advertiser. 2 May 1986. p. 5.
  19. ^ a b c d Return of the Expenses of each candidate at the general election of May, 1979, in the United Kingdom (HC 374). Parliament of the United Kingdom. p. 11.

Sources

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51°19′52″N 0°05′53″W / 51.331°N 0.098°W / 51.331; -0.098

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