Gravesham (UK Parliament constituency)

Gravesham is a constituency in Kent that was represented by Adam Holloway from 2005 until 2024. After the 2024 General Election, Gravesham has been led under the Labour candidate, Lauren Sullivan.

Constituency profile
The seat covers the historic riverside town of Gravesend and a more rural area extending to Higham and Vigo Village on the North Downs. The electorate voted strongly to leave in the 2016 EU referendum. Health and wealth are roughly average for the UK.

Boundaries
1983–present: The Borough of Gravesham wards of: Central; Chalk; Coldharbour; Higham; Istead Rise; Meopham North; Meopham South and Vigo; Northfleet North; Northfleet South; Painters Ash; Pelham; Riverside; Riverview; Shorne, Cobham and Luddesdown; Singlewell; Westcourt, Whitehill; Woodlands.

Since the constituency's creation, its boundaries have been co-terminous with those of the Borough of Gravesham. The largest town in the constituency is Gravesend.

Further to the 2023 Periodic Review of Westminster constituencies, enacted by the Parliamentary Constituencies Order 2023, the composition of the constituency from the 2024 general election remained unchanged.

History
This particular name of the seat was created in 1983 effectively as the new name for the Gravesend seat.

The constituency and its predecessor together was considered a bellwether seat: from World War I until 2005 with the exceptions of the General Elections in 1929 Election and 1951, its winner came from the winning party. In 2005 Adam Holloway was one of 36 Conservative candidates to gain a seat from other parties, and held the seat until 2024. Since the 2005 result conflicted with the UK outcome, the seat was regarded as having lost its bellwether status. However, since the 2010 election, it has returned to this status, voting for the Conservatives in every election until 2024, when Labour gained it for the first time in 19 years.

Members of Parliament
Gravesend prior to 1983