Braintree (UK Parliament constituency)

Braintree is a constituency[n 1] represented in the House of Commons of the UK Parliament since 2015 by James Cleverly, a Conservative. He is the former Chairman of the Conservative Party and currently a minister in the Foreign Office and the Department for International Development. [n 2]

Braintree
County constituency
for the House of Commons
Boundary of Braintree in Essex
Location of Essex within England
CountyEssex
Population97,840 (2011 census)[1]
Electorate72,064 (December 2010)[2]
Major settlementsBraintree, Halstead
Current constituency
Created1974 (1974)
Member of ParliamentJames Cleverly (Conservative)
Number of membersOne
Created fromMaldon

History

The seat was created for the February 1974 general election, largely from the majority of the constituency of Maldon, including the towns of Braintree and Witham. It underwent a major redistribution for the 2010 general election when Witham was formed as a separate constituency. This resulted in making the seat safer for the Conservatives.

The former Leader of the House Tony Newton held the seat for the Conservatives from its creation in 1974 until 1997 when Alan Hurst defeated Newton to gain the seat for Labour. Brooks Newmark defeated Hurst in 2005 to regain the seat for the Conservatives, and held it until he stood down and was succeeded by James Cleverly, also a Conservative.[3]

Constituency profile

The constituency includes the town of Braintree at its southern end, and a large area of rural Essex to the north.

Boundaries and boundary changes

1974—1983: The Urban Districts of Braintree and Bocking, and Witham, the Rural District of Braintree, and the civil parishes of Boreham, Broomfield, Chignall, Good Easter, Great and Little Leighs, Great Waltham, Little Waltham, Mashbury, Pleshey, Roxwell, Springfield, and Writtle in the Rural District of Chelmsford.[4]

Formed largely from the existing constituency of Maldon.  The northern part of the Rural District of Chelmsford was transferred from the Constituency of Chelmsford and a small part of the Rural District of Braintree was previously in Saffron Walden.

1983—1997: The District of Braintree wards of Black Notley, Bocking North, Bocking South, Braintree Central, Braintree East, Braintree West, Coggeshall, Cressing, Hatfield Peverel, Kelvedon, Panfield, Rayne, Terling, Three Fields, Witham Central, Witham Chipping Hill, Witham North, Witham Silver End and Rivenhall, Witham South, and Witham West, and the Borough of Chelmsford wards of Broomfield and Chignall, Good Easter Mashbury and Roxwell, Great and Little Leighs and Little Waltham, Great Waltham and Pleshey, and Writtle.[5]

The Boreham and Springfield ward of Chelmsford Borough was transferred to the constituency of Chelmsford.

1997—2010: The District of Braintree wards of Black Notley, Bocking North, Bocking South, Braintree Central, Braintree East, Braintree West, Coggeshall, Cressing, Earls Colne, Gosfield, Hatfield Peveril, Kelvedon, Panfield, Rayne, Terling, Three Fields, Witham Central, Witham Chipping Hill, Witham North, Witham Silver End and Rivenhall, Witham South, and Witham West.[6]

The parts in the Borough of Chelmsford now included in the new County Constituency of West Chelmsford. Two small wards (Earls Colne and Gosfield) transferred from Saffron Walden.

2010—present: The District of Braintree wards of Bocking Blackwater, Bocking North, Bocking South, Braintree Central, Braintree East, Braintree South, Bumpstead, Cressing and Stisted, Gosfield and Greenstead Green, Great Notley and Braintree West, Halstead St Andrews, Halstead Trinity, Hedingham and Maplestead, Panfield, Rayne, Stour Valley North, Stour Valley South, The Three Colnes, Three Fields, Upper Colne, and Yeldham.[7]

The 2010 redistribution saw a major change, with southern and western areas, including the town of Witham, forming the basis of the new County Constituency of Witham.  Extended northwards, gaining the District of Braintree wards previously in Saffron Walden, including the town of Halstead.

Members of Parliament
ElectionMember[8][9] PartyNotes
Feb 1974 Tony Newton Conservative Leader of the House of Commons 1992—97. Defeated at 1997 general election
1997 Alan Hurst Labour Defeated at the 2005 general election
2005 Brooks Newmark Conservative Retired at the 2015 general election
2015 James Cleverly Conservative Chairman of the Conservative Party & Minister without portfolio (2019-2020)

Elections

Elections in the 2010s
General election 2019: Braintree[10][11]
Party Candidate Votes % ±
Conservative James Cleverly 34,112 67.5 4.7
Labour Joshua Garfield 9,439 18.7 8.9
Liberal Democrats Dominic Graham 4,779 9.5 5.2
Independent Jo Beavis 1,488 2.9 N/A
Independent David Mansell 420 0.8 N/A
Independent Alan Dorkins 261 0.5 N/A
Majority 24,673 48.8 13.6
Turnout 50,499 67.1 2.3
Conservative hold Swing 6.8
General election 2017: Braintree[12]
Party Candidate Votes % ±
Conservative James Cleverly 32,873 62.8 9.0
Labour Malcolm Fincken 14,451 27.6 9.1
Liberal Democrats Peter Turner 2,251 4.3 0.6
UKIP Richard Bingley 1,835 3.5 15.3
Green Thomas Pashby 916 1.8 1.4
Majority 18,422 35.2 0.2
Turnout 52,326 69.5 1.1
Conservative hold Swing 0.1
General election 2015: Braintree[13]
Party Candidate Votes % ±
Conservative James Cleverly 27,071 53.8 1.2
UKIP Richard Bingley 9,461 18.8 13.8
Labour Malcolm Fincken 9,296 18.5 1.4
Liberal Democrats Matthew Klesel 2,488 4.9 13.8
Green Paul Jeater 1,564 3.1 1.7
Independent Toby Pereira 295 0.6 N/A
BNP Paul Hooks 108 0.2 2.0
Majority 17,610 35.0 2.3
Turnout 50,283 68.4 0.7
Conservative hold Swing 6.3
General election 2010: Braintree[14][15]
Party Candidate Votes % ±
Conservative Brooks Newmark 25,901 52.6 2.7
Labour Bill Edwards 9,780 19.9 10.8
Liberal Democrats Steve Jarvis 9,247 18.8 5.2
UKIP Michael Ford 2,477 5.0 2.6
BNP Paul Hooks 1,080 2.2 N/A
Green Daisy Blench 718 1.5 1.5
Majority 16,121 32.8 25.4
Turnout 49,203 69.1 4.9
Conservative hold Swing 6.7

Elections in the 2000s
General election 2005: Braintree[16]
Party Candidate Votes % ±
Conservative Brooks Newmark 23,597 44.5 3.2
Labour Alan Hurst 19,704 37.1 4.9
Liberal Democrats Peter Turner 7,037 13.3 2.0
Green James Abbott 1,308 2.5
UKIP Roger Lord 1,181 2.2 0.7
Independent Michael Nolan 228 0.4 0.4
Majority 3,893 7.3 N/A
Turnout 53,055 65.9 2.3
Conservative gain from Labour Swing 4.0
General election 2001: Braintree[17][18]
Party Candidate Votes % ±
Labour Alan Hurst 21,123 42.0 0.7
Conservative Brooks Newmark 20,765 41.3 1.2
Liberal Democrats Peter Turner 5,664 11.3 0.3
Green James Abbott 1,241 2.5 1.2
Legalise Cannabis Michael Nolan 774 1.5 N/A
UKIP Charles Cole 748 1.5 N/A
Majority 358 0.7 1.9
Turnout 50,315 63.6 12.5
Labour hold Swing 0.9

Elections in the 1990s
General election 1997: Braintree[18][19]
Party Candidate Votes % ±
Labour Alan Hurst 23,729 42.7 17.0
Conservative Tony Newton 22,278 40.1 12.2
Liberal Democrats Trevor K. Ellis 6,418 11.6 9.1
Referendum Nicholas P. Westcott 2,165 3.9 N/A
Green James Abbott 712 1.3
Independent Michael Nolan 274 0.5 N/A
Majority 1,451 2.6 N/A
Turnout 55,576 76.1 7.3
Labour gain from Conservative Swing 12.9
General election 1992: Braintree[20][21]
Party Candidate Votes % ±
Conservative Tony Newton 34,415 52.3 1.9
Labour Ian Willmore 16,921 25.7 6.4
Liberal Democrats Diana P. Wallis 13,603 20.7 5.8
Green James Abbott 855 1.3 N/A
Majority 17,494 26.6 1.1
Turnout 65,794 83.4 4.4
Conservative hold Swing 4.1

Elections in the 1980s
General election 1987: Braintree[22]
Party Candidate Votes % ±
Conservative Tony Newton 32,978 54.2 1.6
SDP Inigo Bing 16,121 26.5 2.1
Labour Brian Stapleton 11,764 19.3 0.5
Majority 16,857 27.7 3.7
Turnout 60,863 79.1 2.9
Conservative hold Swing 1.9
General election 1983: Braintree[23]
Party Candidate Votes % ±
Conservative Tony Newton 29,462 52.6 0.6
SDP Inigo Bing 16,021 28.6 N/A
Labour J.M. Dyson 10,551 18.8 12.6
Majority 13,441 24.0 3.4
Turnout 56,034 76.2 4.7
Conservative hold Swing 14.0

Elections in the 1970s
General election 1979: Braintree
Party Candidate Votes % ±
Conservative Tony Newton 31,593 52.0 12.5
Labour J.E.B. Gyford 19,075 31.4 6.0
Liberal J. Bryan 10,115 16.6 6.4
Majority 12,518 20.6 18.5
Turnout 60,783 80.9 1.5
Conservative hold Swing 9.3
General election October 1974: Braintree
Party Candidate Votes % ±
Conservative Tony Newton 20,559 39.5 1.6
Labour Keith Kyle 19,469 37.4 3.1
Liberal R. Holme 12,004 23.1 4.7
Majority 1,090 2.1 1.6
Turnout 52,032 79.4 4.9
Conservative hold Swing 0.8
General election February 1974: Braintree
Party Candidate Votes % ±
Conservative Tony Newton 20,797 38.0 N/A
Labour Keith Kyle 18,796 34.3 N/A
Liberal D. Scott 15,204 27.8 N/A
Majority 2,001 3.7 N/A
Turnout 54,797 84.3 N/A
Conservative win (new seat)
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See also

Notes and references
Notes
  1. A county constituency (for the purposes of election expenses and type of returning officer)
  2. As with all constituencies, the constituency elects one Member of Parliament (MP) by the first past the post system of election at least every five years.
References
  1. "Braintree: Usual Resident Population, 2011". Neighbourhood Statistics. Office for National Statistics. Retrieved 2 February 2015.
  2. "Electorate Figures". 2011 Electorate Figures. Boundary Commission for England. 4 March 2011. Archived from the original on 6 November 2010. Retrieved 13 March 2011.
  3. Will Lodge, "Election 2015: Conservatives extend lead in Braintree as James Cleverly takes over as MP", East Anglian Daily Times, 8 May 2015
  4. "The Parliamentary Constituencies (England) Order 1970". www.legislation.gov.uk. Retrieved 9 September 2019.
  5. "The Parliamentary Constituencies (England) Order 1983". www.legislation.gov.uk. Retrieved 9 September 2019.
  6. "The Parliamentary Constituencies (England) Order 1995". www.legislation.gov.uk. Retrieved 9 September 2019.
  7. "The Parliamentary Constituencies (England) Order 2007". www.legislation.gov.uk. Retrieved 9 September 2019.
  8. "Braintree 1974-". Hansard 1803-2005. UK Parliament. Retrieved 2 February 2015.
  9. Leigh Rayment's Historical List of MPs – Constituencies beginning with "B" (part 5)
  10. "Statement of persons nominated and notice of poll", Acting Returning Officer, Causeway House, Bocking End, Braintree, Essex, 14 November 2019, archived from the original (PDF) on 15 November 2019
  11. "Braintree Parliamentary constituency". BBC News. BBC. Retrieved 18 November 2019.
  12. "Statement of Persons Nominated". Braintree District Council. Retrieved 14 May 2017.
  13. "Election Data 2015". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 17 October 2015. Retrieved 17 October 2015.
  14. "Election Data 2010". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 26 July 2013. Retrieved 17 October 2015.
  15. "BBC NEWS – Election 2010 – Braintree". BBC News.
  16. "Election Data 2005". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
  17. "Election Data 2001". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
  18. "Political Science Resources - Braintree 1997 & 2001". Archived from the original on 3 June 2012. Retrieved 6 May 2010.
  19. "Election Data 1997". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
  20. "Election Data 1992". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
  21. "Politics Resources". Election 1992. Politics Resources. 9 April 1992. Archived from the original on 24 July 2011. Retrieved 6 December 2010.
  22. "Election Data 1987". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
  23. "Election Data 1983". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.

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