Greenwich and Woolwich

Greenwich and Woolwich
Borough constituency
for the House of Commons
Interactive map of boundaries from 2024
Boundary of Greenwich and Woolwich in Greater London
CountyGreater London
Electorate69,824 (2023)[1]
Major settlementsGreenwich, Woolwich and Charlton
Current constituency
Created1997
Member of ParliamentMatthew Pennycook (Labour)
SeatsOne
Created fromGreenwich, Woolwich

Greenwich and Woolwich is a constituency represented in the House of Commons of the UK Parliament since 2015 by Matthew Pennycook of the Labour Party.[n 1][n 2]

Constituency profile

Greenwich and Woolwich is a constituency located in Greater London in the Royal Borough of Greenwich. It lies on the south bank of the River Thames to the east of the centre of London. It covers the neighbourhoods of Greenwich, Woolwich, Charlton and parts of Deptford and Blackheath. Greenwich has an astronomical and maritime history as the site of the Royal Observatory and Maritime Greenwich, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The Greenwich Peninsula has an industrial history as a former centre for coal gas and cement production.[2] Greenwich is generally affluent with below-average levels of deprivation.[3] Woolwich is highly-deprived and is undergoing urban regeneration;[3][4] the area experienced economic decline after the closure of factories during the 1960s.[5] Many residents of Woolwich live in council housing.[6] House prices across the constituency are generally higher than the rest of the country but lower than the London average.[7][8]

Compared to the rest of the country, residents of the constituency are young, well-educated and generally live in private rented accommodation. They have high rates of professional employment, and household income is high compared to the nationwide average and in line with the rest of London.[8] White people made up 55% of the population at the 2021 census, a similar proportion to the rest of London, with White British people making up 38% of all residents. Black people were the largest ethnic minority group at 20% and Asians were 14%.[9] At the local council level, all seats in the constituency are represented by Labour Party councillors. Voters in the constituency strongly supported remaining in the European Union in the 2016 referendum; an estimated 67% voted to remain compared to 48% nationwide.[8]

History

Since 1997

The constituency was created for the 1997 general election by the merger of the former Greenwich constituency, and the western half of the former Woolwich constituency. It has been controlled by the Labour Party since its creation, when they polled 63.4% of the vote and a majority of 44.8%. Thirteen years later, the 2010 general election produced the smallest majority as a share of the vote, 24.7%, with the Labour candidate taking 49.2% of votes cast.

The 2015 general election result was the 105th-safest Labour majority of 232 seats won by Labour at that election.[10]

Greenwich forerunner

Reflecting a demographic split in the latter twentieth century were five and eleven-year periods when the two predecessor seats were represented by candidates from the SDP.

The former Greenwich constituency was a secure Labour Party seat for much of the twentieth century, though it had been a safe Liberal seat throughout most of the nineteenth century. In 1987, it was gained by the Social Democratic Party at a by-election and narrowly regained by Labour five years later at the 1992 general election.

Woolwich forerunner

The former Woolwich constituency (and its predecessor Woolwich East) was a similar safe-Liberal-seat-turned-safe-Labour-seat. Its Labour MP Christopher Mayhew defected to the Liberal Party in 1974 before being defeated, and his Labour successor, John Cartwright, defected to the SDP in 1981. He retained the seat at the 1983 and 1987 general elections, but narrowly lost it to Labour in 1992; in a similar fashion to the neighboring Greenwich seat. In council elections, since the seat's 1997 creation, most wards have tended to elect Labour councillors and few wards other than the Blackheath Westcombe ward have tended to elect Conservative councilors.

1945-1997 combined summary

Including the pre-1997 predecessors, the area has since World War II been a Labour safe seat, or, as indicated in the 1987 result for Greenwich only, in the best result for a Conservative candidate locally during the years since 1955, occasionally a marginal.[n 3]

Boundaries

1997–2010: The London Borough of Greenwich wards of Arsenal, Blackheath, Burrage, Charlton, Ferrier, Hornfair, Kidbrooke, Nightingale, Rectory Field, St Alfege, St Mary's, Trafalgar, Vanbrugh, West, and Woolwich Common.

2010–2024: The London Borough of Greenwich wards of Blackheath Westcombe, Charlton, Glyndon, Greenwich West, Peninsula, Woolwich Common, and Woolwich Riverside.

Part of Woolwich Common ward transferred to Greenwich and Woolwich from the constituency of Eltham; parts of Glyndon ward transferred from Eltham and Erith and Thamesmead; and parts of Kidbrooke with Hornfair, Eltham West, and Middle Park & Sutcliffe wards be transferred from Greenwich and Woolwich to Eltham.

2024–present: The London Borough of Greenwich wards of Blackheath Westcombe (part), Charlton Hornfair (part), Charlton Village and Riverside, East Greenwich, Greenwich Creekside, Greenwich Park, Greenwich Peninsula, Woolwich Arsenal (part), Woolwich Common (part), Woolwich Dockyard, and small parts of Shooters Hill and Plumstead Common.[11]

Glyndon ward transferred to Erith and Thamesmead to bring the electorate within the permitted range.[12]

Members of Parliament

Election Member[13] Party
1997 Nick Raynsford Labour
2015 Matthew Pennycook Labour

Election results

Elections in the 2020s

General election 2024: Greenwich and Woolwich [14][15]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Matthew Pennycook 23,999 56.2 +1.2
Green Stacy Smith 5,633 13.2 +8.6
Conservative Jonathan Goff 4,863 11.4 –11.3
Liberal Democrats Chris Annous 3,865 9.0 –5.6
Reform UK Abdoul Ndiaye 3,305 7.7 +5.4
Workers Party Sheikh Raquib 570 1.3 N/A
Independent Niko Omilana 311 0.7 N/A
Climate Priyank Bakshi 173 0.4 N/A
Majority 18,366 43.0 +10.7
Turnout 42,719 58.1 –9.7
Registered electors 73,573
Labour hold Swing 3.7

Elections in the 2010s

2019 notional result[16]
Party Vote %
Labour 26,043 55.0
Conservative 10,760 22.7
Liberal Democrats 6,902 14.6
Green 2,176 4.6
Brexit Party 1,089 2.3
Others 370 0.8
Turnout 47,340 67.8
Electorate 69,824
General election 2019: Greenwich and Woolwich[17][18][19]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Matthew Pennycook 30,185 56.8 −7.6
Conservative Thomas Turrell 11,721 22.1 −3.3
Liberal Democrats Rhian O'Connor 7,253 13.7 +6.6
Green Victoria Rance 2,363 4.4 +1.4
Brexit Party Kailash Trivedi 1,228 2.3 N/A
CPA Eunice Odesanmi 245 0.5 N/A
Independent Shushil Gaikwad 125 0.2 N/A
Majority 18,464 34.7 −4.3
Turnout 53,120 66.4 −2.4
Registered electors 79,997
Labour hold Swing -2.1
General election 2017: Greenwich and Woolwich[20][21]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Matthew Pennycook 34,215 64.4 +12.2
Conservative Caroline Attfield 13,501 25.4 −1.2
Liberal Democrats Chris Adams 3,785 7.1 +1.4
Green Daniel Garrun 1,605 3.0 −3.4
Majority 20,714 39.0 +13.4
Turnout 53,107 68.8 +5.1
Registered electors 77,190
Labour hold Swing +6.7
General election 2015: Greenwich and Woolwich[22][23]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Matthew Pennycook 24,384 52.2 +3.0
Conservative Matt Hartley 12,438 26.6 +2.1
UKIP Ryan Acty[24] 3,888 8.3 N/A
Green Abbey Akinoshun[25] 2,991 6.4 +3.8
Liberal Democrats Tom Holder[26] 2,645 5.7 −12.8
TUSC Lynne Chamberlain 370 0.8 +0.2
Majority 11,946 25.6 +0.9
Turnout 46,716 63.7 +0.8
Registered electors 73,315
Labour hold Swing +0.5
General election 2010: Greenwich and Woolwich[27]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Nick Raynsford 20,262 49.2 −3.3
Conservative Spencer Drury 10,109 24.5 +7.0
Liberal Democrats Joseph Lee 7,498 18.5 −1.5
BNP Lawrence Rustem[28] 1,151 2.8 N/A
Green Andy Hewett 1,054 2.6 −1.9
Christian Edward Adeyele 443 1.1 N/A
English Democrat Raden Wresniwiro 339 0.8 −2.6
TUSC Onay Kasab 267 0.6 N/A
No description Tammy Alingham 61 0.2 N/A
Majority 10,153 24.7 −3.8
Turnout 41,184 62.9 +9.6
Registered electors 65,489
Labour hold Swing -5.1

Elections in the 2000s

General election 2005: Greenwich and Woolwich[29]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Nick Raynsford 17,527 49.2 −11.3
Liberal Democrats Christopher Le Breton 7,381 20.7 +5.1
Conservative Alistair Craig 7,142 20.1 +0.9
Green David Sharman 1,579 4.4 N/A
English Democrat Garry Bushell 1,216 3.4 N/A
UKIP Stan Gain 709 2.0 −0.1
Independent Purvarani Nagalingam 61 0.2 N/A
Majority 10,146 28.5 −12.8
Turnout 35,615 55.6 +1.5
Registered electors 63,631
Labour hold Swing -8.2
General election 2001: Greenwich and Woolwich[30]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Nick Raynsford 19,691 60.5 −2.9
Conservative Richard Forsdyke 6,258 19.2 +0.6
Liberal Democrats Russell Pyne 5,082 15.6 +3.1
UKIP Stan Gain 672 2.1 N/A
Socialist Alliance Kirstie Paton 481 1.5 N/A
Socialist Labour Margaret Sharkey 352 1.1 N/A
Majority 13,433 41.3 −3.5
Turnout 32,536 54.1 −11.8
Registered electors 60,114
Labour hold Swing -1.8

Elections in the 1990s

General election 1997: Greenwich and Woolwich[31]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Nick Raynsford 25,630 63.4
Conservative Michael Mitchell 7,502 18.6
Liberal Democrats Cherry Luxton 5,049 12.5
Referendum Douglas Ellison 1,670 4.1
Fellowship Ronald Mallone 428 1.1
Constitutionalist David Martin-Eagle 124 0.3
Majority 18,128 44.8
Turnout 40,403 65.9
Registered electors 61,352
Labour win (new seat)

See also

Notes

  1. ^ MP for Greenwich (UK Parliament constituency) 1992–97
  2. ^ As with all constituencies, Greenwich and Woolwich elects one Member of Parliament (MP) by the first past the post system of election at least every five years.
  3. ^ The winning majority was 5.7% over the Conservative challenger.

References

  1. ^ "The 2023 Review of Parliamentary Constituency Boundaries in England – Volume two: Constituency names, designations and composition – London". Boundary Commission for England. Retrieved 21 June 2024.
  2. ^ Carr, R.J.M. (Ed) 1983, Dockland, NELP/GLC, ISBN 0-7168-1611-3
  3. ^ a b "Constituency data: Deprivation in England". commonslibrary.parliament.uk. Retrieved 4 December 2025.
  4. ^ Woolwich Town Centre Masterplan SPD (April 2012), pp. 12–14, 60–61.
  5. ^ In 1991 27% of the population of St Mary's Ward (the area south of the Dockyard) was unemployed; 84% lived in council housing. Saint & Guillery (2012), p. 17.
  6. ^ "Local statistics - Office for National Statistics". www.ons.gov.uk.
  7. ^ "Area and Property Guide for se10 - Mouseprice". www.mouseprice.com.
  8. ^ a b c "Seat Details - Greenwich and Woolwich". electoralcalculus.co.uk. Retrieved 11 February 2026.
  9. ^ "2021 census results: Ethnic groups in your constituency". commonslibrary.parliament.uk. 4 July 2024. Retrieved 19 November 2025.
  10. ^ "Labour Members of Parliament 2015". UK Political.info. Archived from the original on 29 September 2018.
  11. ^ "New Seat Details - Greenwich and Woolwich". www.electoralcalculus.co.uk. Retrieved 29 March 2024.
  12. ^ "The Parliamentary Constituencies Order 2023". Schedule 1 Part 3 London region.
  13. ^ Leigh Rayment's Historical List of MPs – Constituencies beginning with "G" (part 2)
  14. ^ "Greenwich and Woolwich Statement of Persons Nominated" (PDF). Royal Borough of Greenwich. Retrieved 9 June 2024.
  15. ^ "Greenwich & Woolwich Parliamentary constituency". Greenwich Council. Retrieved 5 July 2024.
  16. ^ "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.
  17. ^ "Greenwich & Woolwich Parliamentary constituency". BBC News. BBC. Retrieved 23 November 2019.
  18. ^ "Greenwich & Woolwich Parliamentary constituency". Greenwich Council. Retrieved 13 December 2019.
  19. ^ "Commons Briefing Paper 8749. General Election 2019: results and analysis" (PDF). London: House of Commons Library. 28 January 2020. Archived (PDF) from the original on 18 November 2021. Retrieved 19 January 2022.
  20. ^ "Greenwich & Woolwich parliamentary constituency". BBC News.
  21. ^ "Commons Briefing Paper 7979. General Election 2017: results and analysis" (PDF) (Second ed.). House of Commons Library. 29 January 2019 [7 April 2018]. Archived (PDF) from the original on 12 November 2019.
  22. ^ "Election Data 2015". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 17 October 2015. Retrieved 17 October 2015.
  23. ^ "Results of 2015 elections". Royal Borough of Greenwich. Archived from the original on 24 September 2015. Retrieved 21 August 2015.
  24. ^ "Ryan Acty for UKIP Greenwich & Woolwich". www.ryanacty.org.uk. Archived from the original on 11 February 2015.
  25. ^ "Your Green candidates for May 2015". London Green Party. Archived from the original on 8 January 2015. Retrieved 25 February 2015.
  26. ^ "Our candidates for the 2015 General Election". Greenwich Borough Liberal Democrats. Archived from the original on 2 April 2015. Retrieved 2 March 2015.
  27. ^ "Election Data 2010". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 26 July 2013. Retrieved 17 October 2015.
  28. ^ "BNP to Fight 32 Parliamentary Seats in London". BNP. 3 April 2010. Archived from the original on 8 April 2010. Retrieved 11 April 2010.
  29. ^ "Election Data 2005". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
  30. ^ "Election Data 2001". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
  31. ^ "Election Data 1997". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.

51°28′59″N 0°01′41″E / 51.483°N 0.028°E / 51.483; 0.028

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