BBC Profile:
Since its formation in 1918 the old Gillingham constituency had returned a Labour MP only once before the coming of New Labour. The election in 1997 saw a swing against the Conservatives with the 16,638 vote majority of James Couchman turned into a 1,980 majority for Labour's Paul Clark, a local councillor. This increased slightly in 2,272 but in 2005 his majority fell to just 254.

This new seat is formed from a large part of the old Gillingham seat, with a part-ward each from Medway and Chatham and Aylesford. To find out what might have happened had this boundary change been in force at the last election, see a notional - or estimated - result below.

The constituency is dominated by the town of Gillingham and the surrounding smaller towns, including Rainham, and is densely populated and largely residential. The estuary location attracted the Royal Naval Dockyard to the area in the 17th century, where it remained until its closure in 1984.

The successful regeneration of the area following the closure of the Naval Dockyard at Chatham and the loss of some associated engineering businesses has created new jobs.

A major new employer is Delphi Systems. The increasingly significant financial sector includes offices of Lloyds TSB, Halifax, Abbey and a prestigious new NatWest call centre.

The Chatham Maritime University Campus is predominantly within this constituency at Pembroke in the former Royal Naval base. The importance of regeneration in the area i

[More...]

BBC Profile:
Since its formation in 1918 the old Gillingham constituency had returned a Labour MP only once before the coming of New Labour. The election in 1997 saw a swing against the Conservatives with the 16,638 vote majority of James Couchman turned into a 1,980 majority for Labour's Paul Clark, a local councillor. This increased slightly in 2,272 but in 2005 his majority fell to just 254.

This new seat is formed from a large part of the old Gillingham seat, with a part-ward each from Medway and Chatham and Aylesford. To find out what might have happened had this boundary change been in force at the last election, see a notional - or estimated - result below.

The constituency is dominated by the town of Gillingham and the surrounding smaller towns, including Rainham, and is densely populated and largely residential. The estuary location attracted the Royal Naval Dockyard to the area in the 17th century, where it remained until its closure in 1984.

The successful regeneration of the area following the closure of the Naval Dockyard at Chatham and the loss of some associated engineering businesses has created new jobs.

A major new employer is Delphi Systems. The increasingly significant financial sector includes offices of Lloyds TSB, Halifax, Abbey and a prestigious new NatWest call centre.

The Chatham Maritime University Campus is predominantly within this constituency at Pembroke in the former Royal Naval base. The importance of regeneration in the area is indicated by the fact the South East England Development Agency has offices here.

Rallings & Thrasher Notional:
Lab 18,009 (40.73%)
C 17,994 (40.70%)
LD 6,774 (15.32%)
UKIP 1,180 (2.67%)
Others 254 (0.57%)

[Less...]