The seat covers Battersea, Balham and part of Clapham, and contains the well known, albeit un-picturesque, landmarks of Battersea power station, the Dogs’ Home, Clapham Junction and the new Covent Garden Market.
Battersea and Clapham, and now also Balham, have undergone a transformation in the last 20 years, becoming the home of choice to many affluent young professionals - who made it fashionable to live there and brought with them the wine bars and restaurants which now typify much of the seat.
The Conservatives dominate local politics in Wandsworth - the borough in which Battersea falls. There is only one Labour ward, Latchmere, in the Battersea constituency, the other seven wards are Conservative held.
Contrary to its Conservative tradition, Battersea was one of the first constituencies to elect a left-wing MP in 1892, although his party was the Battersea Labour League, as the Labour party had not yet been created. A communist Asian MP, Shapurji Saklatvala, was also elected in Battersea in 1922 with Labour support.
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