Created in the 2023 boundary review, replacing Tonbridge and Malling.
A new constituency created in the 2023 boundary review.
MP News Approval i
+48
Tom Tugendhat
Conservative and Unionist PartyThe Rt Hon Tom Tugendhat is the Conservative MP for Tonbridge, and has been an MP continually since 7 May 2015.
Sign up free to read the full briefing on Tom Tugendhat.
Sign up freeCoverage of Tonbridge has been predominantly positive for Tom across 40 recent articles.
Positive coverage
“MP urges government to reduce housing targets for parts of Kent” — BBC
“Sainsbury's £20m expansion set to open in former department store” — Kent Online
Won by Con in its first election in 2024. Covers Tonbridge, Longfield, New Ash Green and Hartley and Edenbridge. Population 90,113. Recorded crime is 39% below the national average.
Fleet survive a late onslaught by Angels
The Non League Football Paper - Daily football news · 4 Apr 2026
Sign up free to see how Tom Tugendhat votes, their stance profile, speeches, and committee roles.
Sign up freeMedian Income▼
£32,600
per year (HMRC 2022-23)
Mean Income▼
£54,400
per year (HMRC 2022-23)
Businesses▼
4,725
VAT/PAYE registered (ONS 2024)
Schools▼
53
33 primary, 8 secondary, 12 other
Total Income Tax▼
£656m
from 54,000 taxpayers
Median Tax▼
£3,480
per taxpayer / year
Mean Tax
£12,200
per taxpayer / year
Source: HMRC Survey of Personal Incomes, tax year 2022-23. Allocated by taxpayer residence. Covers income tax only — excludes NI, VAT, and capital gains. Sample-based estimate (~8% confidence interval).
Attainment 8▼
56.9
average score (DfE)
GCSE Pass Rate▼
78.0%
5+ GCSEs 9-4 (DfE)
1 large town, 4 towns, 9 villages, rural areas — 97,220 total population
Source: ONS Built-Up Areas (Census 2021) + data.police.uk — crime rates are per 1,000 population (last 3 months)
Source: data.police.uk — street-level crime data aggregated from LSOA to constituency
39 councillors across 19 wards · Last elections: Jul 2024
| Ward | Party | Councillor | Elected |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ash New Ash Green | Green Party of England and Wales | Laura Marie Manston | May 2023 |
| Green Party of England and Wales | Mark Lindop | May 2023 | |
| Green Party of England and Wales | Shani Manamperi | May 2023 | |
| Birling Leybourne Ryarsh | Liberal Democrats | Bill Banks | May 2023 |
| Liberal Democrats | Paul Andrew Boxall | May 2023 | |
| Borough Green Platt | Independent Alliance (Kent) | Mike Taylor | May 2023 |
| Independent Alliance (Kent) | Wendy Elizabeth Palmer | May 2023 | |
| Bourne | Conservative and Unionist Party | James Lark | May 2023 |
| Green Party of England and Wales | Steve Crisp | May 2023 | |
| Cage Green Angel | Green Party of England and Wales | Anna Victoria Cope | May 2023 |
| Green Party of England and Wales | Bethan Alexandra Parry | May 2023 | |
| Green Party of England and Wales | Robert William George Oliver | May 2023 | |
| Cowden Hever | Conservative and Unionist Party | James Barnett | May 2023 |
| East Malling West Malling Offham | Liberal Democrats | Michelle Tatton | May 2023 |
| Liberal Democrats | Roger Vincent Roud | May 2023 | |
| Liberal Democrats | Trudy Dean | May 2023 | |
| East West Peckham Mereworth Wateringbury | Conservative and Unionist Party | Matt Boughton | May 2023 |
| Conservative and Unionist Party | Sarah Anne Hudson | May 2023 | |
| Edenbridge North East | Conservative and Unionist Party | Angela Baker | May 2023 |
| Liberal Democrats | James David Morgan | May 2023 | |
| Edenbridge South West | Conservative and Unionist Party | Alan Layland | May 2023 |
| Conservative and Unionist Party | Margot McArthur | May 2023 | |
| Hartley Hodsoll Street | Conservative and Unionist Party | Larry Abraham | May 2023 |
| Conservative and Unionist Party | Penny Cole | May 2023 | |
| Conservative and Unionist Party | Perry Cole | May 2023 | |
| Higham | Conservative and Unionist Party | Dennis King | May 2023 |
| Green Party of England and Wales | Lee Athwal | May 2023 | |
| Hildenborough | Green Party of England and Wales | Kath Barton | May 2023 |
| Conservative and Unionist Party | Mark Rhodes | May 2023 | |
| Judd | Green Party of England and Wales | Stacey Dean Pilgrim | Jul 2024 |
| Leigh Chiddingstone Causeway | Liberal Democrats | Malcolm Davidson Silander | May 2023 |
| Penshurst Fordcombe Chiddingstone | Liberal Democrats | Richard Giles Streatfeild | May 2023 |
| Pilgrims With Ightham | Conservative and Unionist Party | Martin Andrew Coffin | May 2023 |
| Conservative and Unionist Party | Robin Betts | May 2023 | |
| Trench | Conservative and Unionist Party | Adem Mehmet | May 2023 |
| Conservative and Unionist Party | Keith Simon Tunstall | May 2023 | |
| Vauxhall | Liberal Democrats | Frances Annabel Hoskins | May 2023 |
| Liberal Democrats | Garry Christopher Bridge | May 2023 | |
| Liberal Democrats | James Anthony Clokey | May 2023 |
Source: DCLEAPIL v1.0 by Jason Leman, LEAP (Andrew Teale) & Democracy Club. CC BY-SA 4.0. Data last refreshed: 1 Apr 2026.
| Candidate | Party | Votes | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
✓ Won 2017 GEWon 2015 GE | Con | 20,517 | 40.8% |
| Lab | 9,351 | 18.6% | |
| Green | 7,596 | 15.1% | |
| Ref | 7,548 | 15.0% | |
| LD | 4,234 | 8.4% | |
| Ind | 926 | 1.8% | |
| Ind | 156 | 0.3% |
Tom Tugendhat appeared in 1 national article across 2 topics (13 Apr 2026 – 13 Apr 2026)
Mixed (+0.20)Ranked #120 of 286 MPs mentioned in national coverage
Tugendhat's security concerns about China are cited as his position, though the deal's collapse undermines rather than validates his argument.
28 articles hidden as not sufficiently relevant to this constituency
Royal Mail has released data showing 2,197 dog attacks on postal workers in the year ending March 2025, with the Tonbridge area recording 56 incidents—the third-highest in the UK. The article explains Royal Mail's Dog Awareness Week campaign and safety measures to protect delivery staff from dog-related injuries.
Tom Tugendhat, MP for Tonbridge, has publicly criticised Israel's decision to bar senior Catholic clergy from celebrating Palm Sunday Mass at the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem, describing it as a 'worrying infringement of religious freedom.' The incident drew international condemnation, with Israeli President Herzog later defending the action on security grounds while committing to uphold religious freedom.
Southern trains serving the Redhill-Tonbridge line will operate on an amended timetable on Sunday, March 29, due to engineering work between East Croydon and Purley. Tonbridge-bound services will depart earlier than usual, affecting commuters and passengers on this route.
Pothole insurance claims are hitting record levels, with Tonbridge identified as the third-worst affected area in the UK for pothole damage claims since 2020, after Peterborough and Northampton. The article highlights deteriorating road conditions across the country and warns that damage claims could worsen further without urgent action.
Sainsbury's has opened a newly expanded £20m flagship supermarket in Tonbridge, featuring a 70% increase in floorspace and 17,000 new products including new clothing and beauty departments. The opening was attended by MP Tom Tugendhat and local council leader Matt Boughton, marking Sainsbury's largest store investment in a decade.
Tonbridge and Malling Borough Council leader and MP Tom Tugendhat have jointly warned the Housing Minister that South East Water cannot supply the 19,746 new homes mandated by the government's housing targets for the district by 2042. Tugendhat raised the issue in Parliament, highlighting that increased housing targets (up 34% locally) conflict with inadequate water infrastructure, citing recent winter water shortages in towns including Tonbridge.
BBC Question Time is broadcasting from Clacton-on-Sea with Tom Tugendhat (Conservative MP for Tonbridge) appearing on the panel alongside Labour's Jake Richards and others. The article provides viewing details and brief biographical information about the panellists.
Kent Police have released CCTV footage seeking a man suspected of vandalising furniture at a Tonbridge High Street business on 12 March 2026. The incident highlights local crime concerns in the constituency.
Sainsbury's has completed a £20m expansion in Tonbridge, moving into the former Beales department store and increasing floor space by 70%. The project, which involved MP Tom Tugendhat and Council Leader Matt Boughton's "Three years empty is plenty" campaign, has created 30 new jobs and significantly expanded the store's offerings.
PC Bradley Corke, 27, a Kent Police officer based in Tonbridge, died on March 21 after a road collision while responding to an emergency call on the A20 near Swanley. His family, colleagues, and senior figures including the Home Secretary paid tribute to his dedication and bravery in serving West Kent communities.
Tom Tugendhat, MP for Tonbridge, has urged the government to reduce housing targets for Tonbridge and Malling Borough Council, arguing that current targets of 19,746 homes by 2042 are unachievable due to insufficient water supply (South East Water can only support 6,318 additional homes). The MP called the government's position 'completely irresponsible' and demanded immediate action to align housing targets with water infrastructure capacity.
Subscribe to unlock AI parliamentary agenda analysis: what's coming up, how it affects this constituency, and how your MP is likely to vote.
See plansSign up free to ask AI questions about Tom Tugendhat — 3 questions per month on the free tier.
Sign up freeMore constituency data is being added, including local issue analysis and historical trends. Learn about our methodology. View data sources & attribution.