Dartford
2010 Results:
Conservative: 24428 (48.78%)
Labour: 13800 (27.56%)
Liberal Democrat: 7361 (14.7%)
UKIP: 1842 (3.68%)
English Democrat: 2178 (4.35%)
Independent: 264 (0.53%)
Others: 207 (0.41%)
Majority: 10628 (21.22%)
Notional 2005 Results:
Labour: 19309 (42.7%)
Conservative: 18725 (41.4%)
Liberal Democrat: 4623 (10.2%)
Other: 2541 (5.6%)
Majority: 583 (1.3%)
Actual 2005 result
Conservative: 19203 (41.1%)
Labour: 19909 (42.6%)
Liberal Democrat: 5036 (10.8%)
UKIP: 1407 (3%)
Other: 1224 (2.6%)
Majority: 706 (1.5%)
2001 Result
Conservative: 18160 (40.6%)
Labour: 21466 (48%)
Liberal Democrat: 3781 (8.5%)
UKIP: 989 (2.2%)
Other: 344 (0.8%)
Majority: 3306 (7.4%)
1997 Result
Conservative: 20950 (40.3%)
Labour: 25278 (48.6%)
Liberal Democrat: 4827 (9.3%)
Other: 943 (1.8%)
Majority: 4328 (8.3%)
Boundary changes: Only minor changes, with Dartford losing Horton Kirby and South Darenth, while gaining the hamlet of Hodsall Street.
Profile: The last seat in Kent before Greater London, Dartford is a former industrial area that is now largely a commuter town. The town is undergoing rapid expansion with large scale housing projects around the Bluewater shopping centre and Ebbsfleet, which will be served by the high speed Channel tunnel raillink. Dartford itself contains strong Labour areas like the Tree and Temple Hill housing estates, but is balanced out by outlying Conservative supporting areas like Joydens Wood and Longfield.
Following the 2010 election (and Labour holding onto former bellwethers Chorley and Luton South) Dartford is the country`s strongest bellwether seat, having returned an MP from the party that went on to win the election since 1964.
Current MP: Gareth Johnson (Conservative) born 1969. Educated at Dartford Grammar School. Solicitor. Former Bexley councillor. Contested Lewisham West 2001, Dartford 2005. MP for Dartford since 2010.
Gareth Johnson (Conservative) born 1969. Educated at Dartford Grammar School. Solicitor. Former Bexley councillor. Contested Lewisham West 2001, Dartford 2005
John Adams (Labour) Educated at University of Wales. Journalist and former Bank of England regulator. Contested Ashford 2001, Brentford and Ongar 2005.
James Willis (Liberal Democrat) Account manager.
Richard Palmer (UKIP) Born Sheffield. Formerly worked for the Air Ambulance Service.
Gary Rogers (English Democrat) born 1967. Taxi driver.
Stephane Tindame (Independent) Self-employed customs agent
Ernie Crockford (Fancy Dress) Retired civil servant.2001 Census Demographics
Total 2001 Population: 91782
Male: 48.9%
Female: 51.1%
Under 18: 23.5%
Over 60: 19.7%
Born outside UK: 5.7%
White: 94.7%
Black: 0.8%
Asian: 2.6%
Mixed: 1.2%
Other: 0.7%
Christian: 73.7%
Hindu: 0.7%
Muslim: 0.7%
Sikh: 1.1%
Full time students: 2.5%
Graduates 16-74: 13.9%
No Qualifications 16-74: 27.9%
Owner-Occupied: 74.9%
Social Housing: 15.9% (Council: 12.5%, Housing Ass.: 3.4%)
Privately Rented: 7.1%
Homes without central heating and/or private bathroom: 6.1%
CON GAIN
I’m a Labour supporter but I have to take my hat off to Gareth Johnson and the Tories in this seat. They wiped the floor with Labour here. I knew Labour would do badly here but I wasn’t expecting this – from a 706 Labour majoirty to a 10,628 Conservative majority!!!!
Johnson / the Tories really sent Labour to the cleaners here!!!
11.6% Lab to Tory swing
48.8% share of the vote
10,628 majority (21.2%)
As happened in 1979 Labour will be absent from Kent for another generation
If Labour are largest minority party at the next election, or have a small majority IMO this seat will stay Tory, and we will lose another Bellwether