Guildford, which derives its name from "the golden crossing" is at the heart of Surrey’s affluent commuter belt. Surrey uniquely had three of the safest ten Tory seats after 1997. However, Guildford is not one of these, as Nick St Aubyn won by fewer than 5,000 votes over the Liberal Democrat Margaret Sharp.
At local government level, the relationship between the Liberal Democrats and the Conservatives is reversed. It is the Conservatives who are the main opposition on the Liberal Democrat controlled Guildford Borough Council.
Guildford is home to the University of Surrey, a solicitors' training college, a modern cathedral and a medieval Guildhall, as well as the Yvonne Arnaud Theatre and the Guildford School of Acting. Guildford also houses Kings Manor School which in 2000 became the country’s first privately run state school.
Although owner occupation is above the national average there is a significant proportion of council housing in the seat. It has nearly twice as many professionals as the average seat and a large number of managerial and technical workers. Unemployment levels are among the lowest in the country.