Richmond and Barnes was a Tory-Liberal marginal for its 14-year existence, and was represented for the whole of that time byJeremy Hanley of theConservative Party. Hanley's main opponent wasAlan Watson of theSDP–Liberal Alliance, who narrowly failed to win the seat in the 1983 and 1987 elections.
The London Borough of Richmond upon Thames wards of Barnes, East Sheen, East Twickenham, Ham and Petersham, Kew, Mortlake, Palewell, Richmond Hill, and Richmond Town.