Godalming and Ash
| Godalming and Ash | |
|---|---|
| County constituency for the House of Commons | |
Boundaries since 2024 | |
Boundary of Godalming and Ash in South East England | |
| County | Surrey |
| Electorate | 71,399 (2023)[1] |
| Major settlements | |
| Current constituency | |
| Created | 2024 |
| Member of Parliament | Jeremy Hunt (Conservative) |
| Seats | One |
| Created from | |
Godalming and Ash (/ˈɡɒdəlmɪŋ ... / GOD-əl-ming ...) is a constituency represented in the House of Commons of the UK Parliament that was first contested at the 2024 general election.[2][3] It was created as a result of the 2023 review of Westminster constituencies.
The constituency name refers to the Surrey towns of Godalming and Ash.[3]
Its Member of Parliament (MP) is Sir Jeremy Hunt of the Conservative Party, who had been MP for South West Surrey from 2005 to 2024 and Chancellor of the Exchequer from 2022 to 2024.
Constituency profile
Godalming and Ash is a mostly rural constituency located in Surrey. Most of the constituency lies within the Surrey Hills National Landscape, part of the North Downs range of chalk hills. The constituency's only town is Godalming, which has a population of around 25,000.[4] Godalming is an affluent market town with a history of rural industry including textile manufacturing and hide tanning. The town is served by two train stations which connect it to London and Portsmouth. Other settlements in the constituency include the villages of Ash, Cranleigh, Ash Vale, Shalford and Bramley. The constituency has low levels of deprivation and the average house price is nearly double the national average.[5]
In general, residents of the constituency are older, well-educated and likely to work in professional occupations compared to the rest of the country. The average household income is very high. White people made up 94% of the population at the 2021 census.[5] At the local council level, Godalming, Ash and Cranleigh are mostly represented by Liberal Democrats whilst the other villages and rural areas primarily elected Conservatives. An estimated 54% of voters in the constituency supported remaining in the European Union in the 2016 referendum, higher than the nationwide figure of 48%.[5]
Boundaries
2024–present:
- The Borough of Guildford wards of Ash South, Ash Vale, Ash Wharf, Pilgrims, Shalford, and Tillingbourne.
- The Borough of Waverley wards of Alfold, Dunsfold & Hascombe, Bramley & Wonersh, Chiddingfold, Cranleigh East, Cranleigh West, Elstead & Peper Harow, Ewhurst & Ellens Green (part), Godalming Binscombe & Charterhouse, Godalming Central & Ockford, Godalming Farncombe & Catteshall, Godalming Holloway, Milford & Witley, and Western Commons (part).[6]
The seat comprises the following areas:[6]
- In the Borough of Waverley:
- Godalming and rural areas to the south, transferred from South West Surrey (succeeded by Farnham and Bordon)
- Parts previously in the constituency of Guildford (except Ewhurst ward) – including the village of Cranleigh
- In the Borough of Guildford:
- The communities of Ash and Ash Vale transferred from Surrey Heath
- Shalford and Pilgrims wards, transferred from Guildford
- Tillingbourne ward, transferred from Mole Valley (renamed Dorking and Horley)
Members of Parliament
Parts of South West Surrey, Guildford and Surrey Heath (and the Tillingbourne ward of Mole Valley) prior to 2024
| Election | Member | Party | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | Jeremy Hunt | Conservative | |
Elections
Elections in the 2020s
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Conservative | Jeremy Hunt | 23,293 | 42.6 | −10.8 | |
| Liberal Democrats | Paul Follows | 22,402 | 41.0 | +6.9 | |
| Reform UK | Graham Drage | 4,815 | 8.8 | N/A | |
| Labour | James Walsh | 2,748 | 5.0 | −3.9 | |
| Green | Ruby Tucker | 1,243 | 2.3 | +0.7 | |
| Women's Equality | Harriet Williams | 195 | 0.4 | N/A | |
| Majority | 891 | 1.6 | −17.8 | ||
| Turnout | 54,696 | 73.7 | −4.3 | ||
| Registered electors | 74,168 | ||||
| Conservative hold | Swing | −8.9 | |||
Elections in the 2010s
| 2019 notional result[8] | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Vote | % | |
| Conservative | 29,728 | 53.4 | |
| Liberal Democrats | 19,008 | 34.1 | |
| Labour | 4,964 | 8.9 | |
| Green | 903 | 1.6 | |
| Others | 1,071 | 1.9 | |
| Turnout | 55,674 | 78.0 | |
| Electorate | 71,399 | ||
See also
- Parliamentary constituencies in Surrey
- List of parliamentary constituencies in the South East England (region)
References
- ^ "The 2023 Review of Parliamentary Constituency Boundaries in England – Volume two: Constituency names, designations and composition – South East". Boundary Commission for England. Retrieved 25 June 2024.
- ^ "The 2023 Review of Parliamentary Constituency Boundaries in England – Volume one: Report – South East | Boundary Commission for England". boundarycommissionforengland.independent.gov.uk. Retrieved 2023-07-15.
- ^ a b Armstrong, Julie (2021-06-18). "Jeremy Hunt's South West Surrey could be split in two by boundary review". Surrey Live. Retrieved 2024-02-11.
- ^ "Godalming (Parish) - Population". citypopulation.de. Retrieved 7 February 2026.
- ^ a b c "The Electoral Calculus' profile of Godalming and Ash". Electoral Calculus. Retrieved 13 June 2024.
- ^ a b "New Seat Details – Godalming and Ash". www.electoralcalculus.co.uk. Retrieved 2024-02-11.
- ^ "Godalming and Ash – General election results 2024". BBC News. Archived from the original on 6 July 2024. Retrieved 25 July 2024.
- ^ "Notional results for a UK general election on 12 December 2019". Rallings & Thrasher, Professor David Denver (Scotland), Nicholas Whyte (NI) for Sky News, PA, BBC News and ITV News. UK Parliament. Retrieved 11 July 2024.
External links
- Godalming and Ash UK Parliament constituency (boundaries from June 2024) at MapIt UK