Election 97

Gravesham

Current MP Jacques Arnold
Conservative 97 20,681
Labour 97 26,460
LibDem 97 4,128
Nationalist 97 0
Other 97 543
Elected party
Gravesham

Robert Waller wrote
Old constituency Gravesham
Conservative 92 29,031
Labour 92 23,663
LibDem 92 5,207
Nationalist 92 0
Other 92 634
Elected party Conservative

Gravesham is a seat which, under its former name of Gravesend, developed a reputation in the 1960s and 1970s as the kind of constituency that would fall to whichever party won a general election. It changed hands four times between 1964 and 1979. However, this north Kent seat, on the south bank of the Thames south east of London, has remained fairly firmly in Tory hands since 1979.

Like a neighbouring seat, Dartford, there is something of a battle between the more Labour territory along the river and the more Conservative hinterland. However, whereas in the 1983 boundary changes Dartford became more Conservative due to more inland areas being added, Gravesham lost some of its villages. It is unaltered in the most recent changes, and it must be regarded as a chance of a Labour gain if they win the general election as a whole. In 1992 the Tory MP Jacques Arnold had a majority of just under 5,500, which is vulnerable to a swing of about 5 per cent.


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