 The 2011 census shows that the borough is 84.3% White European/British, lower than the national average (86%) and higher than then London average (59%).Until 2006 it was one of the Conservative Party's safest seats but the by-election of that year saw the party's electoral majority fall steeply from over 13,000 (in the 2005 election) to just over 600 votes (see below - "Election results").They have since rebuilt this majority, which currently stands at just under 11,000.