1997 result: Peter Temple-Morris, Conservative, 22,888, Terry James, Liberal Democrat, 14,053, Richard Westwood, Labour, 8,831, Anthony Parkin, Referendum, 2,815, Felicity Norman, Green Party, 1,086, Richard Chamings, UK Independence Party, 588, John Haycock, British National Party, 292. Peter Temple-Morris subsequently defected to Labour. Labour majority 8,835

Candidates 2001: Bill Wiggin, Conservative, Celia Downie, Liberal Democrat, Stephen Hart, Labour, Pippa Bennett, Green Party, Christopher Kingsley, UK Independence Party.