Maidstone and the Weald
Notional 2005 Results:
Conservative: 22118 (50.5%)
Liberal Democrat: 10324 (23.6%)
Labour: 9992 (22.8%)
Other: 1342 (3.1%)
Majority: 11793 (26.9%)
Actual 2005 result
Conservative: 25670 (52.7%)
Labour: 10814 (22.2%)
Liberal Democrat: 10808 (22.2%)
UKIP: 1463 (3%)
Majority: 14856 (30.5%)
2001 Result
Conservative: 22621 (49.6%)
Labour: 12303 (27%)
Liberal Democrat: 9064 (19.9%)
UKIP: 978 (2.1%)
Other: 611 (1.3%)
Majority: 10318 (22.6%)
1997 Result
Conservative: 23657 (44.1%)
Labour: 14054 (26.2%)
Liberal Democrat: 11986 (22.4%)
Referendum: 1998 (3.7%)
Other: 1913 (3.6%)
Majority: 9603 (17.9%)
Boundary changes
Current MP: Ann Widdecombe (Con) born 1947, Bath. Educated at the Royal Naval School, Singapore, Birmingham University and Oxford University. Runnymede councillor 1976-1978. Contested Burnley 1979, Plymouth Devonport 1983. MP for Maidstone since 1987. Parliamentary under-secretary for Social Security 1991-1992. Prisons Minister 1992-1997, during which she was critcised for allowing pregnant prisoners to be shackled while in hospital. During the leadership election following the Conservative’s defeat in 1997 she famously torpedoed Michael Howard’s leadership campaign by describing him as having “something of the night” about him, and image that would stay with him for the rest of his career. She served as shadow health secretary and shadow home secretary under William Hague, promoting hard line anti-drug policies, before returning to the backbenches in 2001.
Widdecombe is a traditional social Conservative. She is a staunch supporter of the death penalty and of Section 28. A devout and traditionalist Christian, she converted to the Catholic church in protest at the Anglican church’s acceptance of female priests. As an animal lover (her website has a large section about her cats) she is also one of the few Conservative MPs to oppose fox hunting. Already a high profile and somewhat eccentric figure on the Tory benches, since her retirement from frontbench politics she has pursued a media career, including writing two novels, a period as an agony aunt, appearing as a coach on Celebrity Fit Club, guest hosting Have I Got News For You and appearing in Doctor Who (more information at They work for you)
Candidates: 
Peter Carroll (Liberal Democrat) Educated at Manchester University. Former research scientist and RAF officer, now owns a haulage company. Shepway councillor. Contested Folkestone and Hythe 2001, 2005. Was a leading figure in 2008 fuel protests. 
Rav Seeruthun (Labour) born Redhill. General Practioner.
Stuart Jeffery (Green) Qualified nurse and NHS manager.
Helen Grant (Conservative) born London. Educated at the University of Hull. Solicitor and owner of a Croydon legal practice.
2001 Census Demographics
Total 2001 Population: 88839
Male: 49%
Female: 51%
Under 18: 22.2%
Over 60: 20.9%
Born outside UK: 6.1%
White: 96.9%
Black: 0.3%
Asian: 1.3%
Mixed: 0.8%
Other: 0.6%
Christian: 75.4%
Hindu: 0.6%
Muslim: 0.7%
Full time students: 3%
Graduates 16-74: 19.1%
No Qualifications 16-74: 23.9%
Owner-Occupied: 77.4%
Social Housing: 11.1% (Council: 7%, Housing Ass.: 4.1%)
Privately Rented: 8.1%
Homes without central heating and/or private bathroom: 7.1%
I also agree with Portillo on this point, and that is why I still find it hard not to think of this in party terms: I am still bitter that the Labour used its inflated majority to impose someone on the House as Speaker
They chose Martin, not because he was the best man for the job, but because they were stuck in class war mode, so liked the idea of putting a formerly working class, Catholic, Sottish Labour MP in the chair.
And because they chose him for these reasons (and not because he was the best man for the job), he turned out to be a complete disaster.
And it appears they have not learned from their mistake, as they are apparently wanting to put Bercow in the chair simply to put two fingers up at the Tories.
For these reasons I find it difficult not to think of all this in party terms.