Gravesham is a constituency in Kent, represented by Lauren Sullivan for the Labour since July 2024.

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. The 2023 Periodic Review of Westminster constituencies left the boundaries 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 can be considered a bellwether seat: from World War I, with the exceptions of the General Elections in 1929, 1951 and 2005, its winner came from the winning party nationally. In 2005, Adam Holloway was one of 36 Conservative candidates to gain a seat from other parties; he held the seat until 2024, when Labour gained it for the first time in 19 years with the election of Lauren Sullivan as MP.

Members of Parliament

Gravesend prior to 1983

Elections

Elections in the 2020s

Elections in the 2010s

Elections in the 2000s

Elections in the 1990s

Elections in the 1980s