Chatham and Aylesford

The Chatham and Aylesford constituency is located in Kent. The Kent Downs runs through the centre of the constituency, dividing it into two populated areas. In the east is the town of Chatham, although the constituency does not include the town centre. In the west is the Medway Gap which includes the small town of Snodland, the villages of New Hythe and Larkfield and the old centre of Aylesford. The Medway area has a long naval history. Parts of Chatham, particularly around Luton, are within the 10% most-deprived areas in England, whilst Walderslade and the west of the constituency are more affluent. Compared to national averages, residents of the constituency have low levels of education and professional employment and average levels of income. House prices are low compared to the rest of South East England. White people make up 86% of the population. At the local council level, most of the constituency is represented by Labour Party councillors, whilst Walderslade elected Conservatives and New Hythe and Larkfield elected Liberal Democrats. Voters in Chatham and Aylesford were strongly in favour of leaving the European Union in the 2016 referendum, with an estimated 65% voting for Brexit. ==Political history==

Local voters returned the Labour candidate in the first three elections to 2005 then the Conservative candidate in the four general elections up to and including 2019, then reverted to Labour in 2024, reflecting the winner of the national general election in each case. The greatest third party share of vote was 24.5% for Reform UK in 2024, followed by 19.9% for the UK Independence Party candidate in 2015. A Liberal Democrat came third in the first four elections reaching a vote share of 15% in 1997. In June 2016, an estimated 63.9% of local adults voting in the EU membership referendum chose to leave the European Union instead of to remain. This was matched in two January 2018 votes in Parliament by its MP. ==Boundaries==

1997–2010: The City of Rochester-upon-Medway wards of Holcombe, Horsted, Lordswood, Luton, Walderslade, Wayfield, and Weedswood, and the Borough of Tonbridge and Malling wards of Aylesford, Blue Bell Hill, Burham, Eccles and Wouldham, Ditton, Larkfield North, Larkfield South, Snodland East, and Snodland West. 2010–2024: The Borough of Medway wards of Chatham Central, Lordswood and Capstone, Luton and Wayfield, Princes Park, and Walderslade, and the Borough of Tonbridge and Malling wards of Aylesford, Blue Bell Hill and Walderslade, Burham, Eccles and Wouldham, Ditton, Larkfield North, Larkfield South, Snodland East, and Snodland West. 2024–present: Further to the 2023 periodic review of Westminster constituencies which came into effect for the 2024 general election, the constituency was defined as composing of the following as they existed on 1 December 2020: • The Borough of Medway wards of: Chatham Central; Lordswood and Capstone; Luton and Wayfield; Princes Park; Rochester South and Horsted; Walderslade. • The Borough of Tonbridge and Malling wards of: Aylesford North and Walderslade; Burham and Wouldham; Larkfield North; Larkfield South; Snodland East and Ham Hill; Snodland West and Holborough Lakes. The Medway ward of Rochester South and Horsted was transferred in from Rochester and Strood, offset by the loss of the Tonbridge and Malling wards of Aylesford South and Ditton to the new constituency of Maidstone and Malling. Following local government boundary reviews in Medway, and Tonbridge and Malling which came into effect in May 2023, the constituency now comprises the following from the 2024 general election: • The Borough of Medway wards of: Chatham Central & Brompton (majority); Fort Horsted; Fort Pitt (most); Lordswood & Walderslade; Luton; Princes Park; Rochester East & Warren Wood (small part); Wayfield & Weeds Wood; and a very small part of Hempstead & Wigmore. • The Borough of Tonbridge and Malling wards of: Aylesford North & North Downs (most); Larkfield; Snodland East and Ham Hill; Snodland West and Holborough Lakes; Walderslade. == Members of Parliament ==

Mid Kent and Tonbridge & Malling prior to 1997 ==Elections==

Elections in the 2020s Elections in the 2010s Elections in the 2000s Elections in the 1990s ==See also==