Maidenhead

Boundary changes: gains Bray ward from Windsor. A small part of Loddon ward also moves into Reading East to take account of changes to ward boundaries.

Profile: the constituency consists of the town of Maidenhead itself, an affluent town on the Thames with strong high-tech and pharmaceutical industries, but also stretches south-west to include a swathe of countryside right up to the suburbs of Reading. The seat includes the villages of Cookham, Wargrave, Twyford and Bray – now best known as the location of Heston Blumenthal`s restaurant The Fat Duck, named as the best restaurant in the world in 2005. To the south the constituency takes in Woodley, a town in its own right that has over time merged into the Reading conurbation.

Affluent and middle class, politically Maidenhead has been Conservative since it was split off from the equally Conservative Windsor and Maidenhead seat in 1997. In 2001 the majority fell to just over 3,000 and the seat was supposedly one of those where the Liberal Democrats attempted to “decapitate” leading Conservative politicians. In the event the Conservative majority doubled and with beneficial boundaries charges for the Tories it is increasingly safe.

Current MP: Theresa May(Conservative) born 1956, Eastbourne. Educated at Oxford University. Former financial consultant. Merton Borough councillor from 1986-1994. Contested North West Durham in 1992 and the Barking by-election in 1994. First elected as MP for Maidenhead in 1997. May was rapidly promoted to the front bench as a shadow spokesman on schools in 1998, and was the first of the 1997 intake to enter the shadow cabinet, becoming shadow education secretary in 1999. After 2001 she became shadow transport secretary and was made party chairman in 2002. As chairman she famously characterised the Conservative party`s image problem as being seen as the “nasty party”. Under Michael Howard`s leadership she served in various roles: as shadow transport and environment secretary (2003-2004), family (2004-2005) and culture secretary (2005). Shadow leader of the House of Commons 2005-2009. Shadow Pensions Secretary since 2009 (more information at They work for you)

2010 election candidates:
Theresa May(Conservative) born 1956, Eastbourne. Educated at Oxford University. Former financial consultant. Merton Borough councillor from 1986-1994. Contested North West Durham in 1992 and the Barking by-election in 1994. First elected as MP for Maidenhead in 1997. May was rapidly promoted to the front bench as a shadow spokesman on schools in 1998, and was the first of the 1997 intake to enter the shadow cabinet, becoming shadow education secretary in 1999. After 2001 she became shadow transport secretary and was made party chairman in 2002. As chairman she famously characterised the Conservative party`s image problem as being seen as the “nasty party”. Under Michael Howard`s leadership she served in various roles: as shadow transport and environment secretary (2003-2004), family (2004-2005) and culture secretary (2005). Shadow leader of the House of Commons 2005-2009. Shadow Pensions Secretary 2009-2010. Home Secretary since 2010. (more information at They work for you)
Pat McDonald (Labour)
Tony Hill (Liberal Democrat) born 1944. Educated at Kings College Taunton and Cambridge University. Retired headteacher.
Peter Forbes (Green)
Kenneth Wight (UKIP)
Tim Rait (BNP) Contested South East in 2004 & 2009 European elections, Maidenhead in 2005, Lothians Region in 2007 Scottish election, Henley by-election 2008.
Peter Prior (Freedom and Responsibility) Businessman.