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: 
Rebecca Hunt (Liberal Democrat) Chartered civil engineer and non-practicising solicitor.
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%
176 Responses
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One Nation Conservative sounds more inclusive to those on the left and in the centre and has some socially Libertarian tangents they can agree with.
February 9th, 2008 at 11:52 amRuislip Northwood
DavidW is mistakenly associating the One Nation tradition with the Tory reform group just because they try and lay claim to the mantle. Leading lights were Enoch Powell and Angus Maude - not people one would normally associate with the kind of ‘wet’ politics of Peter Walker. Other members of the group such as Ian Macleod were more of the tradition he thinks of. This is my point the One Nation tradition is not the preserve of the Tory left but the label has been stretched out of shape by them - and I am seeking to give it its proper perspective. Someone who left the party for UKIP has probably a greater claim to the label than someone who left for the Labour party.
February 9th, 2008 at 1:49 pmCan anyone confirm if Rebecca Hunt is still the Lib Dem candidate here - I thought she had stood down.
February 16th, 2008 at 1:23 pmShipley
Using the idea of ‘one nation’ was indeed the creation of leading members of the Conservative research department in the 1950s (including as well as Enoch Powell, one Edward Heath) but the tradition goes back much further to Disraeli and the ‘two nations, rich and poor’ he described in Sybil. The tory party remains a tense place between those of us who see Disraeli (”the Conservative Party has one purpose, to raise the condition of the working man”) as the originator and those who prefer that interfering old busibody Gladstone. Simon Heffer frequently refers to himself as a ‘Gladstonian Liberal’ which is why proper Conservatives are so iritated by him. As for the TRG, they have become a little more thoughtful but they remain, in essense, social democrats rather that Conservatives. Which is why their claiming the mantle of ‘one nation’ is so galling (but not a galling as New Labour trying to do the same!).
April 3rd, 2008 at 8:05 pmThe Conservative victory on Maidstone Council now gives the Conservatives control of every single Council in Kent! A very encouraging achievement for them. I wonder if this will translate into General election gains? I think that the marginals will fall easily, but will Dover go the same way?
May 4th, 2008 at 10:09 pmBradford South
My prediction for 2009/2010;
C 28000 60% +9%
May 13th, 2008 at 8:13 pmLab 9000 20% -3%
LD 8000 17% -7%
Oth 1000 3%
C maj: 19000 (40%)
Lab to C swing: 6%
C hold
Ruislip Northwood
I think Labour would drop more than the Liberal Democrats here because they have been virtually wiped out locally and the LDs retain considerable strength in the town itself. I also doubt the Tory vote would rise as much since Ann Widdicombe enjoyed a personal vote which will not so readily transfer to Ms Grant. The Conservative share will probably rise a little due to national swing while Labour will likelwise fall ack substantially but the LD share could rise a bit here or at least hold steady
May 13th, 2008 at 9:43 pmTwickenham (& Richmond Park,Windsor)
Hmmm.
May 13th, 2008 at 9:57 pmThe Labour share may be about right actually.
I just think a 60% share looks too optimistic (for Tories), for the reason Pete states, even if this row is patched up.
Ann Widdecombe is someone who we can safely assume has a personal vote.
I think I’d go for something like 55-20 Lab-22 LD.
Twickenham (& Richmond Park,Windsor)
55% would still be very respectable - close to 1992.
May 13th, 2008 at 9:59 pmCan anyone confirm if Rebecca Hunt is still the Lib Dem candidate?
June 8th, 2008 at 3:32 pmIn this year’s local elections the vote share was
Con 45.4%
LDem 39.4%
Lab 6.1%
Oth 9.1%
There seems no logic in forecasting a 7% fall in the LibDem vote share here at the next GE , a 7% fall in the Labour vote is much more likely .
June 8th, 2008 at 9:41 pmPages: « 1 … 8 9 10 11 [12] Show All