Esher and Walton
2005 Results:
Conservative: 21882 (45.7%)
Liberal Democrat: 14155 (29.6%)
Labour: 9309 (19.4%)
Other: 2532 (5.3%)
Majority: 7727 (16.1%)
2001 Result
Conservative: 22296 (49%)
Labour: 10758 (23.6%)
Liberal Democrat: 10241 (22.5%)
UKIP: 2236 (4.9%)
Majority: 11538 (25.3%)
1997 Result
Conservative: 26747 (49.8%)
Labour: 12219 (22.8%)
Liberal Democrat: 10937 (20.4%)
Referendum: 2904 (5.4%)
Other: 860 (1.6%)
Majority: 14528 (27.1%)
No Boundary Changes:
Profile:
Outgoing MP: Ian Taylor(Conservative) Will stand down at the next election (more information at They work for you)
Candidates: Dominic Raab (Conservative) Educated at Oxford University. Chief of staff to Dominic Grieve and former foreign officer legal advisor. Francis Eldergill (Labour) 
Lionel Blackman (Liberal Democrat) Educated at Sutton Grammar. Solictor. Former Epsom and Ewell councillor.Bernard Collignon (UKIP) Educated at Eastbourne Grammar. Personnel Manager. Former member of the SDP. Contested Esher & Walton 1997, 2001, 2005.Mike Kearsley (English Democrat)
Chinners (Official Monster Raving Loony) Real name Jason Chinnery. Former civil servant. Contested Esher and Walton 2005.
Andy Lear (Best of a bad bunch) Born Kingston. Educated at Esher College and Kingston University. Technical manager.
2001 Census Demographics
Total 2001 Population: 102473
Male: 48.3%
Female: 51.7%
Under 18: 23.4%
Over 60: 20.8%
Born outside UK: 15.1%
White: 94%
Black: 0.4%
Asian: 2.3%
Mixed: 1.6%
Other: 1.6%
Christian: 74.2%
Hindu: 0.9%
Jewish: 0.7%
Muslim: 1.3%
Full time students: 2.7%
Graduates 16-74: 32.5%
No Qualifications 16-74: 17.7%
Owner-Occupied: 78%
Social Housing: 10.9% (Council: 3.1%, Housing Ass.: 7.8%)
Privately Rented: 8.4%
Homes without central heating and/or private bathroom: 3.5%
I thought I answered it upthread too.
From 1885-1918 Walton was part of the Surrey Mid (or Epsom) division. In 1918 it was moved to Chertsey along with most of the rest of this area (the southern part around Cobham stayed in Epsom).
In 1950 a new Esher seat was created which had the same boundaries as the current Elmbridge district (in other words it included the Esher UD and the Walton UD). In 1974 the old Walton UD was linked with the old Chertsey UD in the new Chertsey & walton seat leaving a very undersized Esher seat. In 1983 that seat was augmented with some rural wards from Guildford borough and from the Dorking constituency. In 1997 these were removed again (alo again to be linked with Dorking in the Mole Valley seat). Walton returned to become part of this constituency but Weybridge stayed with Chertsey (Runnymede & Weybridge)
Thanks very much, really useful.
Hi everyone, I’m new here, so this is my first comment. Im a 22 year old Journalism Graduate and I have voted at all the local and european elections but this will be the 1st General election. Does anyone reckon this seat has any chance of changing from Tory to Liberal Democrat? Especially after the long-serving Ian Taylor is standing down. I am traditionally a Labour Supporter but I am astute enough to know that voting Labour in Esher and Walton is a compete waste of time. So am going to Vote Liberal Democrat to hopefully tactfully remove the tories, I kow its a long shot but was interested in your opinion. Thanks John.
I doubt it. The Lib Dems would need a massive swing to unseat the Tories. It would be a major shock if they did it. The Lib Dems are expected to lose ground to the Tories in the south and in London this time. I would expect the Lib Dems to be focusing on holding on to the nearby Richmond seat, and campaigning heavily in Guildford.
Having said that, the Tories have been losing support here in the last several elections, although it could be because Ian Taylor is unpopular as a europhile.
It will be interesting to see whether Dominic Raab reverses the recent trend and the Tories pull away, which they ought to do.
I agree with Peter, I don’t think the Lib Dems will advance above 30%
“So am going to Vote Liberal Democrat to hopefully tactfully remove the tories”
I have heard of tactical voting before, but tactful voting is a new one on me. I dont know what it involves but would have guessed that it wouldnt mean announcing your voting intention on a public internet forum
no Pete he means that he’ll say something like “Don’t you think you’ve had enough for this evening?” to the Tories, instead of “Sling yer ‘ook, you’re drunk.”
I would agree with Pete, that tactical voting is a waste of time in Esher & Walton. The Tories will always win.
I had Sereena Davey as the selected LD PPC for this seat, but I see Matt has Lionel Blackman – which is confirmed by the LD national web site.
What is abundently clear and I think you will all agree is that the voting system in the United Kingdom in general needs a huge Overhaul!!! It is crazy that 1/3rd of all seats have not changed since the war!! It adds fuel to the pessimists arguments in regards to them saying “What is the point in voting?” I am willing to bet everything I own on this seat staying Conservative, I will vote tactically for the Lib Dems (and Pete this is for you!!) When I say this I mean I am not a Lib Dem supporter but they stand a much much better chance of winning than the Labour Party that is the ONLY reason.
“It is crazy that 1/3rd of all seats have not changed since the war!!”
That sums it all up doesn’t it really. The electoral gerrymanderers don’t give a damn who voters actually WANT to represent them. They will have who we want and they WILL like it!
And as for him voting Lib DEm, well its good to see that John Peters has as little faith in Gordon Brown and the Labour Party as everybody else does.
The Conservatives displayed a strong result against the Liberal Democrats in Long Ditton in the May 2008 District elections.
Have the Liberal Democrats always been strong in Long Ditton and Claygate or were they once solid Conservative territory prior to the party’s troubles in the early to mid 1990s?
I ask this, because they both seem to be the types of divisions that would be home to middle class professionals and affluent populations. I would assume that they would have naturally voted Conservative, but have since switched to the Liberal Democrats.
Long Ditton (bordering Surbiton)was first won by the Liberals in 1986 and before 2008 was last won by the Tories in 87.
Claygate was often a split ward in the 60s and 70s and was last won by a Tory in 87 (who later went independent) First won by a Liberal in 1962.
Lib Dems also held Surrey CC seats in Dittons and Claygate/Hinchley Wood 1993-2005
I am actually shocked at how the wheels are coming off the conservative campaign at the moment, despite all of Labour’s Problems. I often go to Kingston and I have seen a massive poster campaign by the Conservatives there, but I do agree that they are pretty much assured of victory here in Esher and Walton so I do think their strategy of targeting marginal seats is a wise move as its the few seats that decide a general election in this country not the many unfortunately. This is not gerrymandering just Pure Fact!
Ian Taylor has announced that he is stepping down, BBC Website just announced.
Sorry was announced in june…. need to read thing before I Jump!