There was a slew of candidates standing in this year’s general election who have links to the property industry, either having worked directly for property related companies or having helped shape the policy which governs it in their previous political roles.
Last month, EG picked out a dozen key contests to watch featuring candidates of all political colours who might help shape the agenda this time around. Here we track how those candidates performed, highlighting the strong performance from several property types who have won key marginals.
WON: Julian Knight, Conservative
Link to property industry: Money and property editor at The Independent since 2007, where he has written in favour of Right to Buy and has been supportive of the coalition’s Help to Buy scheme.
Constituency: Solihull
Outcome: Conservative gain
Vote share: 49.2%
Change: +6.7%
WON: Kevin Hollinrake, Conservative
Link to property: Hollinrake has spent his entire working life in property and set up Hunters Property Group in 1992.
Constituency: Thirsk and Molton
Outcome: Conservative hold
Vote share: 52.6%
Change: -0.3%
WON: Michael Tomlinson, Conservative
Link to property industry: Barrister specializing in housing and property
Constituency: Mid-Dorset and North Poole
Outcome: Conservative gain from Lib Dem
Vote share: 50.8%
Change: +6.3%
WON: Maria Caulfield, Conservative
Link to property industry: Brighton and Hove councilor and cabinet member for housing
Constituency: Lewes
Outcome: Conservative gain from Lib Dem
Vote share: 38%
Change: +1.3%
LOST: Louise Baldock, Labour
Link to property industry: Vice-chair of Venture Housing Association for five years until September 2013
Constituency: Stockton South
Outcome: Conservative hold
Vote share: 37%
Change: -1.3%
WON: Helen Hayes, Labour
Link to property industry: Established and ran architecture firm Urban Practitioners for 14 years before joining Allies and Morrison in 2011
Constituency: Dulwich and West Norwood
Outcome: Labour hold
Vote share: 54.1%
Change: +7.5%
LOST: Sarah Jones, Labour
Link to property industry: Member of Wandle Housing Association and previously head of campaigns at housing charity Shelter
Constituency: Croydon Central
Outcome: Conservative hold
Vote share: 42.7%
Change: +9.1%
WON: Catherine West, Labour
Link to property industry: Former Islington Council leader who took in house the management of council homes and announced plans to build 2,000 affordable homes in the London borough by 2015
Constituency: Hornsey and Wood Green
Outcome: Labour gain from Lib Dem
Vote share: 50.9%
Change: +16.9%
WON: Jeff Smith, Labour
Link to property industry: Executive member for housing and regeneration at Manchester City Council
Constituency: Withington
Outcome: Labour gain from Lib Dem
Vote share: 53.7%
Change: +13.3%
LOST: Lauren Keith, Liberal Democrats
Link to property industry: Works for JLL
Constituency: Brent Central
Outcome: Labour gain from Lib Dem
Vote share: 8.4%
Change: -35.8%
LOST: Gerald Vernon-Jackson, Liberal Democrats
Link to property industry: Leader of Portsmouth city council for 10 years during which time he championed affordable housing and set up a scheme that saw the first council housing being built in the city for a generation
Constituency: Portsmouth South
Outcome: Conservative gain from Lib Dem
Vote share: 38.4%
Change: +1.6%
LOST: Dorothy Thornhill, Liberal Democrats
Link to property industry: Elected mayor of Watford since 2002 during which time she put an emphasis on developing brownfield sites and has argued for larger developments so “we can get the correct infrastructure needed to make sustainable communities”
Constituency: Watford
Outcome: Conservative hold
Vote share: 43.5%
Change: +8.5%
