Surrey is one of the few counties which remained exclusively Conservative in 1997 and despite a 10% fall in the Tory vote, Ian Taylor secured a majority of over 14,000.
In the 1530s Cardinal Wolsey decided to build his resplendent Hampton Court Palace here, in what is now the very north of the seat. The average inhabitant today is still white, upper-middle-class and an owner-occupier, but is more likely to be in senior management than the Church.
There are very few manual workers, and council housing accounts for only 11% of the total stock. The area is almost exclusively residential, and the properties overlooking the Thames are usually exclusive. There are a number of well-appointed parks and gardens, and open space is fiercely defended.
Mr Taylor faced calls in December 2000 for him to be de-selected because of his pro-European views, but he was approved by his local association.