Guildford (UK Parliament constituency)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Guildford | |
|---|---|
| County constituency for the House of Commons | |
![]() Boundaries since 2024 | |
Boundary of Guildford in South East England | |
| County | Surrey |
| Electorate | 71,367 (2023)[1] |
| Major settlements | |
| Current constituency | |
| Created | 1885 |
| Member of Parliament | Zöe Franklin (Liberal Democrat) |
| Seats | One |
| 1295–1885 | |
| Seats |
|
| Type of constituency | Borough constituency |
Guildford is a constituency[n 1] in Surrey represented in the House of Commons of the UK Parliament since 2024 by Zöe Franklin, a Liberal Democrat.[n 2]
The Guildford constituency is located in Surrey. It covers the large town of Guildford, which has a population of around 82,000,[2] and the rural areas to its east including the villages of East Horsley and Send. Guildford is a historic town located around 27 miles (43 km) from central London and forms part of the city's wider urban area. The town is home to the University of Surrey, which has around 16,000 students.[3] Guildford is generally suburban in character with a low proportion of high-density terraced housing.[4] The town and its surroundings are highly affluent, with most parts of the constituency falling within the top 10% least-deprived areas in England.[5] The average house price is considerably higher than the rest of South East England and almost double the national average.[6]
In general, residents of the constituency are young and well-educated. They are likely to work in professional occupations and have very high levels of household income compared to the rest of the country.[6] White people made up 84% of the population at the 2021 census, a similar proportion to the country as a whole. Asians were the largest ethnic minority group at 8%.[7] At the local council level, the town is mostly represented by Liberal Democrats with some Labour Party representation in the more deprived Bellfields area. The villages and rural areas to the east mostly elected minor localist parties. An estimated 59% of voters in the constituency supported remaining in the European Union in the 2016 referendum, higher than the nationwide figure of 48%.[6]
History
From the first Commons in the Model Parliament of 1295 Guildford was a parliamentary borough sending two members to Parliament until 1868[8][n 3] and one until 1885. In the latter years of sending two members a bloc vote system of elections was used. Until 1885 the electorate in the town of Guildford elected the member(s) of parliament,[9] which expanded in 1885 into a county division of Guildford under the Redistribution of Seats Act 1885.
Early political history
The seat almost exclusively elected Conservatives between 1868 and 2001, with just two exceptions during that period. In 1868, Guildford Onslow, a Liberal, became the first MP to secure election to the single-member (as opposed to the previous two-member) borough constituency of Guildford. This was yet another example of a ‘centuries-old’ representation of Guildford by influential members of the Earl of Onslow's family, with Guildford Onslow himself, in turn, being defeated by a further member of this same family (from its minor Sussex and British Indian branch), Denzil Onslow, a Conservative, in the succeeding election of 1874. A majority of the seat's voters were again swayed toward the Liberal cause in the Liberal landslide year of the 1906 general election.
Modern political history
Successive elections in 2001 and 2005 saw marginal majorities of under 2% of the vote - in favour of a Liberal Democrat and then a Conservative. The 2015 result brought the incumbent MP, Anne Milton, a huge Conservative majority of more than 41 percentage points, up from 14 percentage points in 2010. However, the seat swung substantially towards the Liberal Democrats in the 2019 general election, and the Lib Dems then won the seat back from the Conservatives in 2024 with a majority of over 8,000.
Boundaries
Members of Parliament
MPs 1295–1640
MPs 1640–1868
Prior to 1868 the constituency was jointly represented by two MPs.
MPs since 1868
Elections

Elections in the 2020s
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Liberal Democrats | Zöe Franklin[25] | 22,937 | 47.5 | +8.3 | |
| Conservative | Angela Richardson[26] | 14,508 | 30.0 | −15.1 | |
| Reform UK | Dennis Saunders[27] | 4,395 | 9.1 | N/A | |
| Labour | Sarah Gillinson[28] | 3,931 | 8.1 | −0.3 | |
| Green | Sam Peters[29] | 2,268 | 4.7 | +4.3 | |
| Peace | John Morris[30] | 255 | 0.5 | −0.4 | |
| Majority | 8,429 | 17.5 | N/A | ||
| Turnout | 48,294 | 68.3 | −5.4 | ||
| Registered electors | 70,734 | ||||
| Liberal Democrats gain from Conservative | Swing | +11.7 | |||
Elections in the 2010s
| 2019 notional result[31] | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Vote | % | |
| Conservative | 23,708 | 45.1 | |
| Liberal Democrats | 20,591 | 39.2 | |
| Labour | 4,411 | 8.4 | |
| Others | 3,677 | 6.9 | |
| Green | 197 | 0.4 | |
| Turnout | 52,584 | 73.7 | |
| Electorate | 71,367 | ||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Conservative | Angela Richardson | 26,317 | 44.9 | −9.7 | |
| Liberal Democrats | Zöe Franklin | 22,980 | 39.2 | +15.3 | |
| Labour | Anne Rouse | 4,515 | 7.7 | −11.3 | |
| Independent | Anne Milton | 4,356 | 7.4 | new | |
| Peace | John Morris | 483 | 0.8 | +0.4 | |
| Majority | 3,337 | 5.7 | −25.0 | ||
| Turnout | 58,651 | 75.5 | +1.8 | ||
| Registered electors | 77,729 | ||||
| Conservative hold | Swing | −12.5 | |||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Conservative | Anne Milton | 30,295 | 54.6 | −2.5 | |
| Liberal Democrats | Zöe Franklin | 13,255 | 23.9 | +8.4 | |
| Labour | Howard Smith | 10,545 | 19.0 | +6.9 | |
| Green | Mark Bray-Parry | 1,152 | 2.1 | −2.6 | |
| Peace | John Morris | 205 | 0.4 | 0.0 | |
| Independent | Semi Essessi | 57 | 0.1 | New | |
| Majority | 17,040 | 30.7 | −10.9 | ||
| Turnout | 55,509 | 73.7 | +2.4 | ||
| Conservative hold | Swing | −5.5 | |||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Conservative | Anne Milton | 30,802 | 57.1 | +3.8 | |
| Liberal Democrats | Kelly-Marie Blundell | 8,354 | 15.5 | −23.8 | |
| Labour | Richard Wilson | 6,534 | 12.1 | +7.0 | |
| UKIP | Harry Aldridge | 4,774 | 8.8 | +7.0 | |
| Green | John Pletts | 2,558 | 4.7 | New | |
| Guildford Greenbelt Group | Susan Parker | 538 | 1.0 | New | |
| Peace | John Morris | 230 | 0.4 | −0.1 | |
| CISTA | Gerri Smyth | 196 | 0.4 | New | |
| Majority | 22,448 | 41.6 | +27.6 | ||
| Turnout | 53,986 | 71.3 | −0.8 | ||
| Conservative hold | Swing | +13.8 | |||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Conservative | Anne Milton | 29,618 | 53.3 | +9.9 | |
| Liberal Democrats | Sue Doughty | 21,836 | 39.3 | −4.0 | |
| Labour | Tim Shand | 2,812 | 5.1 | −4.8 | |
| UKIP | Mazhar Manzoor | 1,021 | 1.8 | +0.6 | |
| Peace | John Morris | 280 | 0.5 | +0.2 | |
| Majority | 7,782 | 14.0 | +13.3 | ||
| Turnout | 55,567 | 72.1 | +5.0 | ||
| Conservative hold | Swing | +5.5 | |||
Elections in the 2000s
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Conservative | Anne Milton | 22,595 | 43.8 | +2.4 | |
| Liberal Democrats | Sue Doughty | 22,248 | 43.1 | +0.5 | |
| Labour | Karen Landles | 5,054 | 9.8 | −3.9 | |
| Green | John Pletts | 811 | 1.6 | New | |
| UKIP | Martin Haslam | 645 | 1.2 | −0.3 | |
| Peace | John Morris | 166 | 0.3 | −0.5 | |
| Independent | Victoria Lavin | 112 | 0.2 | New | |
| Majority | 347 | 0.7 | N/A | ||
| Turnout | 51,631 | 68.3 | +5.6 | ||
| Conservative gain from Liberal Democrats | Swing | +0.9 | |||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Liberal Democrats | Sue Doughty | 20,358 | 42.6 | +8.5 | |
| Conservative | Nick St Aubyn | 19,820 | 41.4 | −1.1 | |
| Labour | Joyce Still | 6,558 | 13.7 | −3.8 | |
| UKIP | Sonya Porter | 736 | 1.5 | +0.8 | |
| Peace | John Morris | 370 | 0.8 | +0.3 | |
| Majority | 538 | 1.2 | N/A | ||
| Turnout | 47,842 | 62.7 | −11.9 | ||
| Liberal Democrats gain from Conservative | Swing | +4.7 | |||
Elections in the 1990s
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Conservative | Nick St Aubyn | 24,230 | 42.5 | −12.8 | |
| Liberal Democrats | Margaret Sharp | 19,439 | 34.1 | +1.3 | |
| Labour | Joseph Burns | 9,945 | 17.5 | +6.1 | |
| Referendum | James Gore | 2,650 | 4.7 | New | |
| UKIP | Robert McWhirter | 400 | 0.7 | New | |
| Peace | John Morris | 294 | 0.5 | New | |
| Majority | 4,791 | 8.4 | −14.1 | ||
| Turnout | 56,958 | 74.6 | |||
| Conservative hold | Swing | −7.05[n 5] | |||
This constituency underwent boundary changes between the 1992 and 1997 general elections and thus change in share of vote is based on a notional calculation.
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Conservative | David Howell | 33,516 | 55.3 | −0.2 | |
| Liberal Democrats | Margaret Sharp | 20,112 | 33.1 | −0.8 | |
| Labour | Howard Mann | 6,781 | 11.2 | +0.6 | |
| Natural Law | Alex Law | 234 | 0.4 | New | |
| Majority | 13,404 | 22.2 | +0.6 | ||
| Turnout | 60,643 | 78.5 | +3.2 | ||
| Conservative hold | Swing | +0.3 | |||
Elections in the 1980s
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Conservative | David Howell | 32,504 | 55.5 | +0.4 | |
| SDP | Margaret Sharp | 19,897 | 33.9 | +0.5 | |
| Labour | Robert Wolverson | 6,216 | 10.6 | −0.1 | |
| Majority | 12,607 | 21.6 | −0.1 | ||
| Turnout | 58,617 | 75.3 | +2.8 | ||
| Conservative hold | Swing | −0.1[n 6] | |||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Conservative | David Howell | 30,016 | 55.1 | −2.2 | |
| SDP | Margaret Sharp | 18,192 | 33.4 | +12.2 | |
| Labour | Keith Chesterton | 5,853 | 10.7 | −10.5 | |
| Party of Associates with Licensees | Anthony Farrell | 425 | 0.8 | New | |
| Majority | 11,824 | 21.7 | −14.4 | ||
| Turnout | 54,486 | 72.5 | −2.8 | ||
| Conservative hold | Swing | −7.2[n 7] | |||
Elections in the 1970s
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Conservative | David Howell | 31,595 | 57.3 | +8.1 | |
| Labour | Paul Blagbrough | 11,689 | 21.2 | −1.4 | |
| Liberal | Henry Donnelly | 11,673 | 21.2 | −7.0 | |
| Independent Rhodesian Front | Peter Scott | 232 | 0.4 | New | |
| Majority | 19,906 | 36.1 | +15.1 | ||
| Turnout | 55,189 | 75.3 | +3.4 | ||
| Conservative hold | Swing | +4.75 | |||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Conservative | David Howell | 25,564 | 49.2 | +0.3 | |
| Liberal | Christopher Fox | 14,660 | 28.2 | −3.5 | |
| Labour | Robert Harris | 11,727 | 22.6 | +3.2 | |
| Majority | 10,904 | 21.0 | +3.8 | ||
| Turnout | 51,951 | 71.9 | −8.5 | ||
| Conservative hold | Swing | +1.9[n 8] | |||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Conservative | David Howell | 28,152 | 48.9 | −6.5 | |
| Liberal | Christopher Fox | 18,261 | 31.7 | +13.7 | |
| Labour | Jean Crow | 11,175 | 19.4 | −7.3 | |
| Majority | 9,891 | 17.2 | −11.5 | ||
| Turnout | 57,588 | 80.4 | +8.4 | ||
| Conservative hold | Swing | −10.1 | |||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Conservative | David Howell | 27,203 | 55.4 | +5.0 | |
| Labour | Patton Smith | 13,108 | 26.7 | −6.2 | |
| Liberal | Michael Walton | 8,822 | 18.0 | +1.3 | |
| Majority | 14,095 | 28.7 | +11.2 | ||
| Turnout | 49,133 | 72.0 | −6.7 | ||
| Conservative hold | Swing | +5.6 | |||
Elections in the 1960s
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Conservative | David Howell | 24,116 | 50.4 | −0.5 | |
| Labour | Cedric Thornberry | 15,771 | 32.9 | +4.9 | |
| Liberal | John R. Buchanan | 7,992 | 16.7 | −4.4 | |
| Majority | 8,345 | 17.5 | −5.4 | ||
| Turnout | 47,879 | 78.7 | +0.1 | ||
| Conservative hold | Swing | ||||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Conservative | George Nugent | 24,277 | 50.9 | −6.6 | |
| Labour | Gwilym Emrys H Griffith | 13,365 | 28.0 | −1.1 | |
| Liberal | Christopher John N Martin | 10,052 | 21.1 | +7.7 | |
| Majority | 10,912 | 22.9 | −5.5 | ||
| Turnout | 47,694 | 78.6 | −1.6 | ||
| Conservative hold | Swing | −2.8 | |||
Elections in the 1950s
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Conservative | Richard Nugent | 27,198 | 57.5 | −5.7 | |
| Labour | George R. Bellerby | 13,756 | 29.1 | −7.7 | |
| Liberal | Arthur Braybrooke | 6,318 | 13.4 | New | |
| Majority | 13,442 | 28.4 | +2.0 | ||
| Turnout | 47,272 | 80.2 | +3.8 | ||
| Conservative hold | Swing | +1.0[n 9] | |||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Conservative | Richard Nugent | 27,113 | 63.20 | 0.0 | |
| Labour | George R Bellerby | 15,785 | 36.79 | 0.0 | |
| Majority | 11,328 | 26.41 | 0.0 | ||
| Turnout | 42,898 | 76.4 | −3.2 | ||
| Conservative hold | Swing | 0.0 | |||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Conservative | Richard Nugent | 27,604 | 63.20 | +7.7 | |
| Labour | Vernon Wilkinson | 16,068 | 36.79 | +2.5 | |
| Majority | 11,536 | 26.41 | +5.2 | ||
| Turnout | 43,672 | 79.6 | −4.5 | ||
| Conservative hold | Swing | +5.1 | |||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Conservative | Richard Nugent | 24,983 | 55.5 | +5.5 | |
| Labour | Vernon Wilkinson | 15,443 | 34.3 | +1.4 | |
| Liberal | Frederick Philpott | 4,552 | 10.12 | −7.0 | |
| Majority | 9,540 | 21.21 | +4.1 | ||
| Turnout | 44,978 | 84.07 | +9.2 | ||
| Conservative hold | Swing | ||||
Boundaries were redrawn in time for the 1950 general election. From 1918 to 1950 the three parts of western Surrey are set out at the 1918 results below. The next change saw an additional seat duty carved out, to be Woking. As a result, Guildford, now oversized, shrank considerably in area and population. To the south the areas of Godalming, Elstead, Thursley, Whitley, Haslemere and Chiddingford were added to the Farnham seat. To the east Send, Ripley, Wisley, Ockham, St Martha, Albury, Shere, Clandon and Horsley were added to Dorking.[44]
These boundaries centred on the town of Guildford plus an area southwards towards Cranleigh, became, with small changes in later reviews, form the basic shape for Guildford until present.
Elections in the 1940s
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Conservative | John Jarvis | 33,091 | 50.0 | −25.0 | |
| Labour | Vernon George Wilkinson | 21,789 | 32.93 | +7.87 | |
| Liberal | Joseph Gerald Curie Ruston | 11,281 | 17.1 | New | |
| Majority | 11,302 | 17.1 | −32.8 | ||
| Turnout | 66,161 | 74.9 | +5.6 | ||
| Conservative hold | Swing | −16.4 | |||
Elections in the 1930s
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Conservative | John Jarvis | 35,384 | 74.98 | ||
| Labour | FA Campbell | 11,833 | 25.06 | ||
| Majority | 23,551 | 49.88 | |||
| Turnout | 47,217 | 69.27 | |||
| Conservative hold | Swing | ||||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Conservative | Charles Rhys | 39,008 | 86.21 | ||
| Labour | Sidney Peck | 6,242 | 13.79 | ||
| Majority | 32,766 | 72.42 | |||
| Turnout | 45,250 | 72.26 | |||
| Conservative hold | Swing | ||||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Conservative | Charles Rhys | Unopposed | N/A | N/A | |
| Conservative hold | |||||
Elections in the 1920s
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Unionist | Henry Buckingham | 20,550 | 48.3 | −14.0 | |
| Liberal | Somerset Stopford Brooke | 15,984 | 37.6 | +21.1 | |
| Labour | Lawrence Miles Worsnop | 5,996 | 14.1 | −7.1 | |
| Majority | 4,566 | 10.7 | −30.4 | ||
| Turnout | 42,530 | 72.1 | +0.8 | ||
| Registered electors | 58,958 | ||||
| Unionist hold | Swing | −17.6 | |||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Unionist | Henry Buckingham | 18,273 | 62.3 | +10.0 | |
| Labour | Frank Markham | 6,227 | 21.2 | +1.7 | |
| Liberal | Samuel Parnell Kerr | 4,842 | 16.5 | −11.7 | |
| Majority | 12,046 | 41.1 | +17.0 | ||
| Turnout | 29,342 | 71.3 | +3.7 | ||
| Registered electors | 41,164 | ||||
| Unionist hold | Swing | +4.2 | |||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Unionist | Henry Buckingham | 14,117 | 52.3 | −18.3 | |
| Liberal | Samuel Parnell Kerr | 7,601 | 28.2 | New | |
| Labour | William Bennett | 5,260 | 19.5 | −9.9 | |
| Majority | 6,516 | 24.1 | −17.1 | ||
| Turnout | 26,978 | 67.6 | +2.2 | ||
| Registered electors | 39,931 | ||||
| Unionist hold | Swing | −4.2 | |||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Unionist | Henry Buckingham | 18,045 | 70.6 | −1.5 | |
| Labour | William Bennett | 7,514 | 29.4 | +1.5 | |
| Majority | 10,531 | 41.2 | −3.0 | ||
| Turnout | 25,559 | 65.4 | +15.4 | ||
| Registered electors | 39,087 | ||||
| Unionist hold | Swing | −1.5 | |||
Elections in the 1910s
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| C | Unionist | Edgar Horne | 13,149 | 72.1 | +8.4 |
| Labour | William Bennett | 5,078 | 27.9 | New | |
| Majority | 8,071 | 44.2 | +16.8 | ||
| Turnout | 18,227 | 50.0 | −33.0 | ||
| Registered electors | 36,427 | ||||
| Unionist hold | Swing | ||||
| C indicates candidate endorsed by the coalition government. | |||||
From 1885 to 1918 the west part of Surrey had been represented by two seats - in the north the seat of Chertsey, in the south that of Guildford. Boundaries were redrawn for proper apportionment in time for the 1918 general election such that the same area saw three seats - Farnham in the west, Chertsey in the north east and Guildford in the south east.
As a result, the seat lost the areas of Ash, Normandy, Seale, Frensham and Farnham, towards its west, but to the east gained the areas of Merrow, Send, Ripley, Ockham, Wisley, Clandon and Horsley from Chertsey.[48]

| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Conservative | Edgar Horne | 8,463 | 63.7 | −1.1 | |
| Liberal | Arthur Jex Davey | 4,832 | 36.3 | +1.1 | |
| Majority | 3,631 | 27.4 | −2.2 | ||
| Turnout | 13,295 | 83.0 | −6.2 | ||
| Registered electors | 16,020 | ||||
| Conservative hold | Swing | −1.1 | |||

| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Conservative | Edgar Horne | 9,264 | 64.8 | +18.1 | |
| Liberal | Algernon Methuen | 5,033 | 35.2 | −18.1 | |
| Majority | 4,231 | 29.6 | N/A | ||
| Turnout | 14,297 | 89.2 | +5.8 | ||
| Registered electors | 16,020 | ||||
| Conservative gain from Liberal | Swing | +18.1 | |||
Elections in the 1900s

| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Liberal | Henry Cowan | 6,430 | 53.3 | +15.0 | |
| Conservative | St John Brodrick | 5,630 | 46.7 | −15.0 | |
| Majority | 800 | 6.6 | N/A | ||
| Turnout | 12,060 | 83.4 | +7.9 | ||
| Registered electors | 14,469 | ||||
| Liberal gain from Conservative | Swing | +15.0 | |||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Conservative | St John Brodrick | Unopposed | |||
| Conservative hold | |||||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Conservative | St John Brodrick | 5,816 | 61.7 | N/A | |
| Liberal | AW Chapman | 3,609 | 38.3 | New | |
| Majority | 2,207 | 23.4 | N/A | ||
| Turnout | 9,425 | 75.5 | N/A | ||
| Registered electors | 12,477 | ||||
| Conservative hold | Swing | N/A | |||
Elections in the 1890s
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Conservative | St John Brodrick | Unopposed | |||
| Conservative hold | |||||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Conservative | St John Brodrick | 5,191 | 58.3 | N/A | |
| Liberal | George Patrick Charles Lawrence[51][52] | 3,720 | 41.7 | New | |
| Majority | 1,471 | 16.6 | N/A | ||
| Turnout | 8,911 | 79.2 | N/A | ||
| Registered electors | 11,248 | ||||
| Conservative hold | Swing | N/A | |||
Elections in the 1880s
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Conservative | St John Brodrick | Unopposed | |||
| Conservative hold | |||||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Conservative | St John Brodrick | 4,485 | 54.5 | −0.8 | |
| Liberal | Ellis Duncombe Gosling | 3,750 | 45.5 | +0.8 | |
| Majority | 735 | 9.0 | −1.6 | ||
| Turnout | 8,235 | 82.5 | −8.3 | ||
| Registered electors | 9,978 | ||||
| Conservative hold | Swing | −0.8 | |||
Constituency boundaries were redrawn in time for the 1885 general election. From 1868 to 1885 the west part of Surrey had been represented by two constituencies, one known as Guildford (which consisted of the town centre of Guildford and little else) and one constituency known as Surrey Western, which comprised the rest of that part of the county of Surrey. The Guildford constituency was both geographically and in size of electorate significantly smaller than the Surrey Western constituency. The 1885 to 1918 constituency boundaries saw the area of west Surrey divided into two constituencies more equal in size of population and land area. The north part of west Surrey was given the constituency name Chertsey, the south part Guildford.[53]
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Conservative | Denzil Onslow | 705 | 55.3 | −5.7 | |
| Liberal | Thomas R. Kemp [55] | 571 | 44.7 | +5.7 | |
| Majority | 134 | 10.6 | −11.4 | ||
| Turnout | 1,276 | 90.8 | +6.3 | ||
| Registered electors | 1,406 | ||||
| Conservative hold | Swing | −5.7 | |||
Elections in the 1870s
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Conservative | Denzil Onslow | 673 | 61.0 | +12.0 | |
| Liberal | Guildford Onslow[22] | 430 | 39.0 | −12.0 | |
| Majority | 243 | 22.0 | N/A | ||
| Turnout | 1,103 | 84.5 | −1.7 | ||
| Registered electors | 1,306 | ||||
| Conservative gain from Liberal | Swing | +12.0 | |||
Elections in the 1860s
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Liberal | Guildford Onslow[22] | 536 | 51.0 | −12.8 | |
| Conservative | Richard Garth | 515 | 49.0 | +12.8 | |
| Majority | 21 | 2.0 | +0.3 | ||
| Turnout | 1,051 | 86.2 | −3.5 | ||
| Registered electors | 1,219 | ||||
| Liberal hold | Swing | −12.8 | |||
Constituency boundaries were redrawn in time for the 1868 election.
Prior to the 1868 general election, the constituency of Guildford was represented by two Members of Parliament. That was reduced to one from 1868 onwards.
The 1868 to 1885 constituency known as Guildford was geographically limited to an area around the current centre of Guildford town. This is in marked contrast to the various post-1885 versions of the constituency known as Guildford all of which have had a much greater geographical area. The 1868 constituency was, at its maximum, little over one mile east to west, and just over one mile north to south.[56] (Most of the area which is in the modern constituency of Guildford would in 1868 have been part of the Surrey Western Constituency, rather than the Guildford Constituency.)
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Conservative | Richard Garth | 339 | 53.0 | +16.8 | |
| Liberal | William Willmer Pocock | 301 | 47.0 | −16.8 | |
| Majority | 38 | 6.0 | −4.3 | ||
| Turnout | 640 | 96.0 | +6.3 | ||
| Registered electors | 667 | ||||
| Conservative hold | Swing | +16.8 | |||
The 17 December 1866 by-election was caused by Bovill resigning as an MP following his appointment to judicial office, namely Chief Justice of the Court of Common Pleas.
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Conservative | William Bovill | 316 | 96.6 | +60.4 | |
| Liberal | Henry Lawes Long[57] | 11 | 3.4 | −60.4 | |
| Majority | 305 | 93.2 | +82.9 | ||
| Turnout | 327 | 49.0 | −40.7 | ||
| Registered electors | 667 | ||||
| Conservative hold | Swing | +60.4 | |||
The 11 July 1866 by-election resulted from the need of Bovill to seek re-election upon his appointment as Solicitor General for England and Wales. Long withdrew from the contest before polling.[58]
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Liberal | Guildford Onslow[22] | 333 | 37.9 | N/A | |
| Conservative | William Bovill | 318 | 36.2 | N/A | |
| Liberal | William Willmer Pocock[59] | 228 | 25.9 | N/A | |
| Turnout | 599 (est) | 89.7 (est) | N/A | ||
| Registered electors | 667 | ||||
| Majority | 15 | 1.7 | N/A | ||
| Liberal hold | Swing | N/A | |||
| Majority | 90 | 10.3 | N/A | ||
| Conservative hold | Swing | N/A | |||
Elections in the 1850s
Party designations for many candidates during the 1830s, 1840s and 1850s can be problematic as party ties were not as strong as those that developed, in Britain, in the late 19th century. Therefore, for the 1830s to 1850s election results, listed below, the term Liberal includes Whigs and Radicals; and the term Conservative includes Tories and Peelites, unless otherwise specified.
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Liberal | Guildford Onslow[22] | Unopposed | |||
| Conservative | William Bovill | Unopposed | |||
| Registered electors | 677 | ||||
| Liberal hold | |||||
| Conservative hold | |||||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Whig | Guildford Onslow[22] | 268 | 52.9 | +12.0 | |
| Conservative | William John Evelyn[60] | 239 | 47.1 | +7.5 | |
| Majority | 29 | 5.8 | +4.5 | ||
| Turnout | 507 | 76.1 | +12.0 | ||
| Registered electors | 666 | ||||
| Whig hold | Swing | +2.3 | |||
The 22 October 1858 by-election was caused by RD Mangles resigning as an MP following his appointment as Member of the Council of India.
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Whig | Ross Donnelly Mangles | 349 | 40.9 | −1.9 | |
| Conservative | William Bovill | 338 | 39.6 | +11.4 | |
| Radical | James Bell | 167 | 19.6 | −9.4 | |
| Turnout | 427 (est) | 64.1 (est) | −2.6 | ||
| Registered electors | 666 | ||||
| Majority | 11 | 1.3 | −12.5 | ||
| Whig hold | Swing | −3.8 | |||
| Majority | 171 | 20.0 | N/A | ||
| Conservative gain from Radical | Swing | +10.4 | |||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Whig | Ross Donnelly Mangles | 370 | 42.8 | +11.0 | |
| Radical | James Bell | 251 | 29.0 | N/A | |
| Conservative | Thomas Lyon Thurlow[61] | 244 | 28.2 | −40.0 | |
| Turnout | 433 (est) | 66.7 (est) | +1.6 | ||
| Registered electors | 648 | ||||
| Majority | 119 | 13.8 | +6.1 | ||
| Whig hold | Swing | +15.5 | |||
| Majority | 7 | 0.8 | N/A | ||
| Radical gain from Conservative | Swing | N/A | |||
Elections in the 1840s
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Conservative | Henry Currie | 336 | 44.1 | +24.0 | |
| Whig | Ross Donnelly Mangles | 242 | 31.8 | −26.0 | |
| Conservative | Thomas Lyon Thurlow[62] | 184 | 24.1 | +2.0 | |
| Turnout | 381 (est) | 65.1 (est) | −17.4 | ||
| Registered electors | 585 | ||||
| Majority | 94 | 12.3 | N/A | ||
| Conservative gain from Whig | Swing | +18.5 | |||
| Majority | 58 | 7.7 | +2.2 | ||
| Whig hold | Swing | −26.0 | |||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Whig | Ross Donnelly Mangles | 242 | 30.2 | +17.0 | |
| Whig | Charles Baring Wall | 221 | 27.6 | +14.4 | |
| Conservative | James Yorke Scarlett | 177 | 22.1 | −9.3 | |
| Conservative | Henry Currie | 161 | 20.1 | −22.0 | |
| Majority | 44 | 5.5 | N/A | ||
| Turnout | 401 (est) | 82.5 (est) | +0.1 | ||
| Registered electors | 486 | ||||
| Whig gain from Conservative | Swing | +16.3 | |||
| Whig gain from Conservative | Swing | +15.0 | |||
Elections in the 1830s
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Conservative | Charles Baring Wall | 252 | 42.1 | +25.5 | |
| Conservative | James Yorke Scarlett | 188 | 31.4 | +14.8 | |
| Whig | James Mangles | 159 | 26.5 | −40.2 | |
| Majority | 29 | 4.7 | −8.2 | ||
| Turnout | 350 | 82.4 | +19.5 | ||
| Registered electors | 425 | ||||
| Conservative hold | Swing | +22.8 | |||
| Conservative gain from Whig | Swing | +17.5 | |||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Whig | James Mangles | 299 | 46.4 | −2.1 | |
| Conservative | Charles Baring Wall | 214 | 33.2 | +4.0 | |
| Whig | Robert Alfred Cloyne Austen[63] | 131 | 20.3 | −2.1 | |
| Turnout | 338 | 62.9 | −25.7 | ||
| Registered electors | 537 | ||||
| Majority | 85 | 13.2 | −6.1 | ||
| Whig hold | Swing | −2.1 | |||
| Majority | 83 | 12.9 | +6.1 | ||
| Conservative hold | Swing | +4.1 | |||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Whig | James Mangles | 299 | 48.5 | +22.0 | |
| Tory | Charles Baring Wall | 180 | 29.2 | −12.2 | |
| Whig | Charles Francis Norton | 138 | 22.4 | −9.6 | |
| Turnout | 303 | 88.6 | −4.0 | ||
| Registered electors | 342 | ||||
| Majority | 119 | 19.3 | +16.4 | ||
| Whig hold | Swing | +14.1 | |||
| Majority | 42 | 6.8 | N/A | ||
| Tory gain from Whig | Swing | −12.3 | |||
Constituency boundaries were redrawn in time for the 1832 general election.[64]
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Whig | Charles Francis Norton | 99 | 32.0 | +20.4 | |
| Whig | James Mangles | 82 | 26.5 | +14.9 | |
| Tory | George Holme Sumner | 73 | 23.6 | −8.1 | |
| Tory | Charles Baring Wall | 55 | 17.8 | −27.4 | |
| Majority | 9 | 2.9 | N/A | ||
| Turnout | 162 | 92.6 | +18.6 | ||
| Registered electors | 175 | ||||
| Whig gain from Tory | Swing | +19.1 | |||
| Whig gain from Tory | Swing | +16.3 | |||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tory | Charles Baring Wall | 117 | 45.2 | ||
| Tory | George Holme Sumner | 82 | 31.7 | ||
| Whig | George Chapple Norton | 60 | 23.2 | ||
| Majority | 22 | 8.5 | |||
| Turnout | c. 130 | c. 74.0 | |||
| Registered electors | c. 175 | ||||
| Tory hold | |||||
| Tory gain from Whig | |||||

