The Kingston and Surbiton constituency lies at the southwest corner of Greater London and covers around three quarters of the Royal Borough of Kingston upon Thames. Like most London constituencies it consists of a number of towns and villages which, although physically linked by Victorian and 1930's urban sprawl, each retain their own character.

Kingston itself has one of the most successful shopping centres outside the West End, but is renowned as the site of the coronations of seven Saxon kings. Tolworth and New Malden date back to Domesday, but smart houses alongside the Thames gave Surbiton its character when the railway arrived. Parts of Chessington are still predominantly rural, although in summer months it welcomes one million visitors to the World of Adventures.

In 1997 the seat was won by Edward Davey for the Liberal Democrats after three recounts. The Election saw the Conservative MP in the area defeated for the first time in history. The seat was held in the 2001 election with a majority that had increased from 56 to 15,676, the largest swing in the country.