Chelmsford (constituency)

UK Parliament constituency (1885–1997, 2010 onwards) From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Chelmsford is a constituency in Essex[n 1] represented in the House of Commons of the UK Parliament since 2024 by Marie Goldman of the Liberal Democrats.[n 2]

Population105,424 (2011 census)[1]
Electorate76,454 (2023)[2]
Major settlementsChelmsford, Great Baddow
Quick facts County, Population ...
Chelmsford
Borough constituency
for the House of Commons
Boundaries since 2024
Map of constituency
Boundary of Chelmsford in the East of England
CountyEssex
Population105,424 (2011 census)[1]
Electorate76,454 (2023)[2]
Major settlementsChelmsford, Great Baddow
Current constituency
Created2010
Member of ParliamentMarie Goldman (Liberal Democrats)
SeatsOne
Created fromWest Chelmsford, Maldon and East Chelmsford
18851997
Created fromSouth Essex, West Essex
Replaced byWest Chelmsford, Maldon and East Chelmsford, Rayleigh
Close

Constituency profile

The constituency covers the city of Chelmsford in Essex. Chelmsford is the county town of Essex and was granted city status in 2012.[3] The city was traditionally an agricultural market town but had a growth of industry in the 19th century; it is often described as the "birthplace of radio" as the founding location of the Marconi Company,[4] although the company is no longer in operation.[5] The city is generally affluent and many neighbourhoods (Springfield, Moulsham and parts of Great Baddow) fall within the 10% least-deprived areas in England.[6]

On average, residents of Chelmsford have high household income and are more likely to work in professional jobs compared to the rest of the country.[7] White people make up 85% of the population with Asians, mostly Indians, forming the largest ethnic minority group at 7%.[8] At the local district and county councils, almost all of the city's seats are represented by Liberal Democrat councillors. An estimated 51% of voters in Chelmsford supported leaving the European Union in the 2016 referendum, similar to the nationwide figure.[7]

History

Formally named as the Mid or Chelmsford Division of Essex, the seat was one of eight single-member divisions of Essex (later classified as county constituencies) created by the Redistribution of Seats Act 1885, replacing the three two member divisions of East, South and West Essex. Historically, the constituency was on occasion referred to as 'Mid Essex', especially in the early part of the 20th Century.[9] It continued in existence, gradually being reduced in geographic size as additional seats were created in Essex, until it was briefly abolished for the 1997 general election following the Fourth Periodic Review of Westminster Constituencies and replaced by parts of two new constituencies: Maldon and East Chelmsford and West Chelmsford. It was re-established for the 2010 general election as a Borough Constituency by the Fifth Periodic Review.

During its latter years, the old seat was narrowly won by a Conservative over strong Liberal Democrat performances, including their predecessor party the Liberal Party. At its first contest in 2010, the re-established seat was closely fought by the Conservatives and the Liberal Democrats, who finished less than 10% apart, with Conservative candidate Simon Burns (the former MP for West Chelmsford) being elected. Labour polled 11%, despite having been only around 100 votes behind the Liberal Democrats in West Chelmsford in 2005, and even taking second place in 2001. Labour regained second place for the 2015 and 2017 elections but were overtaken again by the Liberal Democrats in 2019.

At the 2024 general election, following the 2023 Periodic Review of Westminster constituencies which resulted in the constituency reducing in size, Marie Goldman of the Liberal Democrats was returned as MP for Chelmsford. Prior to Goldman's election, Chelmsford had been held by the Conservatives for 74 years, since the 1950 general election.[10]

Boundaries and boundary changes

1885–1918

  • The Sessional Divisions of Brentwood (except the parishes of Rainham and Wennington) and Chelmsford.[11]

Formed from parts of the abolished West (Chelmsford), and South Divisions, (Brentwood and Billericay).

1918–1945

  • The Borough of Chelmsford;
  • The Urban District of Brentwood
  • The Rural Districts of Chelmsford and Ongar: and
  • The Rural District of Billericay parishes of Hutton, Ingrave, Mountnessing, Shenfield, and South Weald.[12]

Gained eastern part of the Epping Division, including Chipping Ongar. The south-western corner, including Upminster, was transferred to Romford and southernmost parts, including the town of Billericay, to the South-Eastern Division.

Chelmsford in Essex, showing boundaries used from 1918 to 1945

1945–1950

  • The Borough of Chelmsford;
  • The Urban District of Brentwood; and
  • The Rural Districts of Chelmsford and Ongar.[13]

Minor changes following the reorganisation of local authorities, involving the abolition of the Rural District of Billericay and the expansion of the Urban District of Brentwood.

Chelmsford in Essex, showing boundaries used from 1945 to 1950

1950–1955

  • The Borough of Chelmsford; and
  • The Rural Districts of Chelmsford and Ongar.[13]

Brentwood transferred to Romford.

1955–1974

  • The Borough of Chelmsford; and
  • The Rural District of Chelmsford.[13]

The Rural District of Ongar included in the new constituency of Chigwell.

1974–1983

  • The Borough of Chelmsford; and
  • The Rural District of Chelmsford parishes of Danbury, East Hanningfield, Great Baddow, Highwood, Ingatestone and Fryerning, Little Baddow, Margaretting, Mountnessing, Rettendon, Runwell, Sandon, South Hanningfield, Stock, West Hanningfield, and Woodham Ferrers.[14]

Northern parts of the Rural District of Chelmsford transferred to the new constituency of Braintree.

1983–1997

  • The Borough of Chelmsford wards of All Saints, Baddow Road, Boreham and Springfield, Cathedral, Danbury and Sandon, East and West Hanningfield, Galleywood, Goat Hall, Great Baddow Village, Highwood and Margaretting, Little Baddow, Mildmays, Moulsham Lodge, Oaklands, Patching Hall, Rothmans, St Andrew's, Stock, The Lawns, and Waterhouse Farm.[15]

Gained the Boreham and Springfield ward from Braintree. Two parishes (Ingatestone and Fryerning, and Mountnessing), included in the District of Brentwood under the Local Government Act 1972, were transferred to Brentwood and Ongar. South-eastern areas, including South Woodham Ferrers, were included in the new constituency of Rochford.

For the 1997 general election the constituency was abolished. Northern and western areas forming the majority of the new constituency of West Chelmsford; eastern areas included in the new constituency of Maldon and East Chelmsford; and a small area in the south included in the constituency of Rayleigh.

Map of boundaries 2010–2024

2010–2024

  • The City of Chelmsford wards of Chelmer Village and Beaulieu Park, Galleywood, Goat Hall, Great Baddow East, Great Baddow West, Marconi, Moulsham and Central, Moulsham Lodge, Patching Hall, St Andrew's, Springfield North, The Lawns, Trinity, and Waterhouse Farm.[16]

Following the Boundary Commission's Fifth Periodic Review of Westminster constituencies in 2007, Parliament re-established Chelmsford as a borough constituency for the 2010 general election. For the previous three elections the constituency had been split in two halves and included more surrounding rural settlements. A majority of the electorate for this new constituency came from the previous West Chelmsford constituency. A smaller element (Great Baddow and Galleywood) came from the Maldon & East Chelmsford constituency.

The new constituency coincides with the built-up area which comprises the City of Chelmsford.

Current

Further to the 2023 Periodic Review of Westminster constituencies, which came into effect for the 2024 general election, the composition of the constituency was reduced to meet the electorate size requirements, with the transfer to Maldon of the Galleywood ward in the south of the city.[17]

The revised constituency is made up of 78.9% by area and 95.1% by population of the previous (2010-2024) version of the seat, the remaining part going to Maldon.[18]

Members of Parliament

Elections

Chelmsford/Chelmsford West election results 1983–2024

Elections in the 2020s

More information Party, Candidate ...
General election 2024: Chelmsford[21]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Democrats Marie Goldman 20,214 39.9 +13.8
Conservative Vicky Ford 15,461 30.5 −24.2
Reform Darren Ingrouille 6,754 13.3 N/A
Labour Richard Parry 6,108 12.0 −6.1
Green Reza Hossain 1,588 3.1 N/A
Ind. Network Richard Hyland 230 0.5 N/A
Monster Raving Loony Mark CitiZen Lawrence 187 0.4 −0.7
Workers Party Mark Kenlen 105 0.2 N/A
Independent Kamla Sangha 69 0.1 N/A
Majority 4,753 9.4 N/A
Turnout 50,716 65.9 −4.5
Registered electors 76,972
Liberal Democrats gain from Conservative Swing +19.0
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Elections in the 2010s

More information Party, Vote ...
2019 notional result[22]
Party Vote %
Conservative29,44754.7
Liberal Democrats14,03126.1
Labour9,76818.1
Others5801.1
Turnout 53,826 70.4
Electorate 76,454
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More information Party, Candidate ...
General election 2019: Chelmsford[23][24]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Vicky Ford 31,934 55.9 +2.2
Liberal Democrats Marie Goldman 14,313 25.1 +12.9
Labour Penny Richards 10,295 18.0 −11.8
Monster Raving Loony Mark Lawrence 580 1.0 N/A
Majority 17,621 30.8 +6.9
Turnout 57,122 71.0 +0.8
Conservative hold Swing −5.3
Close
More information Party, Candidate ...
General election 2017: Chelmsford[25]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Vicky Ford[26] 30,525 53.7 +2.2
Labour Chris Vince[27] 16,953 29.8 +12.2
Liberal Democrats Stephen Robinson 6,916 12.2 +0.3
UKIP Nigel Carter 1,645 2.9 −11.3
Green Reza Hossain 821 1.4 −2.1
Majority 13,572 23.9 −10.0
Turnout 56,860 70.2 +1.7
Conservative hold Swing −5.0
Close
More information Party, Candidate ...
General election 2015: Chelmsford[28][29]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Simon Burns 27,732 51.5 +5.3
Labour Chris Vince[30] 9,482 17.6 +6.6
UKIP Mark Gough[31] 7,652 14.2 +11.4
Liberal Democrats Stephen Robinson 6,394 11.9 −24.9
Green Angela Thomson 1,892 3.5 +2.6
Liberal Henry Boyle 665 1.2 N/A
Majority 18,250 33.9 +24.5
Turnout 53,817 68.5 −1.9
Conservative hold Swing
Close
More information Party, Candidate ...
General election 2010: Chelmsford[32]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Simon Burns* 25,207 46.2 +6.7
Liberal Democrats Stephen Robinson 20,097 36.8 +6.6
Labour Peter Dixon 5,980 11.0 −16.0
UKIP Ken Wedon 1,527 2.8 −0.6
BNP Michael Bateman 899 1.6 N/A
Green Angela Thomson 476 0.9 N/A
English Democrat Claire Breed 254 0.5 +0.3
Reduce Tax On Beer Ben Sherman 153 0.3 N/A
Majority 5,110 9.4
Turnout 54,593 70.4 −14.2
Conservative hold Swing
Close
* Served in the 2005–2010 Parliament as MP for West Chelmsford

Elections in the 1990s

More information Party, Candidate ...
General election 1992: Chelmsford[33][34]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Simon Burns 39,043 55.3 +3.4
Liberal Democrats Hugh Nicholson 20,783 29.4 −11.1
Labour Roy Chad 10,010 14.2 +7.4
Green Eleanor Burgess 769 1.1 +0.4
Majority 18,260 25.9 +14.5
Turnout 70,605 84.6 +2.4
Conservative hold Swing +7.2
Close

Elections in the 1980s

More information Party, Candidate ...
General election 1987: Chelmsford[35]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Simon Burns 35,231 51.9 +4.3
Liberal Stuart Mole 27,470 40.5 −6.5
Labour Clive Playford 4,642 6.8 +1.7
Green Anthony Slade 486 0.7 N/A
Majority 7,761 11.4 +10.8
Turnout 67,829 82.2 +2.8
Conservative hold Swing +5.4
Close
More information Party, Candidate ...
General election 1983: Chelmsford[36]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Norman St John-Stevas 29,824 47.6 −2.0
Liberal Stuart Mole 29,446 47.0 +5.5
Labour Clive Playford 3,208 5.1 −3.8
Independent Philip Waite 127 0.2 N/A
Majority 378 0.6 −9.3
Turnout 62,605 79.4 −4.5
Conservative hold Swing −4.7
Close

Elections in the 1970s

More information Party, Candidate ...
General election 1979: Chelmsford
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Norman St John-Stevas 33,808 49.6 +8.0
Liberal Stuart Mole 28,337 41.5 +6.3
Labour Susan Ann Reeves 6,041 8.9 −14.3
Majority 5,471 8.1 +1.7
Turnout 68,186 81.0 +1.8
Conservative hold Swing +0.9
Close
More information Party, Candidate ...
General election October 1974: Chelmsford
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Norman St John-Stevas 26,334 41.6 −1.3
Liberal Stuart Mole 22,332 35.2 +2.2
Labour John Thomas Acklaw 14,711 23.2 −0.9
Majority 4,002 6.4 −3.5
Turnout 66,377 79.2 −4.7
Conservative hold Swing −1.8
Close
More information Party, Candidate ...
General election February 1974: Chelmsford
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Norman St John-Stevas 28,560 42.9 −11.1
Liberal Stuart Mole 21,929 33.0 +24.3
Labour Frances Morrell 16,063 24.1 −12.7
Majority 6,631 9.9
Turnout 66,552 83.9
Conservative hold Swing
Close
More information Party, Candidate ...
General election 1970: Chelmsford
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Norman St John-Stevas 36,821 55.2 +8.0
Labour Gavin Kennedy 23,780 35.6 −3.4
Liberal Jessie Hunt 5,811 8.7 −5.2
Independent Joseph D. Steel 350 0.5 N/A
Majority 13,041 19.5
Turnout 66,762 75.6
Conservative hold Swing +5.3
Close

Elections in the 1960s

More information Party, Candidate ...
General election 1966: Chelmsford
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Norman St John-Stevas 28,600 47.2
Labour Colin George 23,625 39.0
Liberal W Peter Longhurst 8,419 13.9
Majority 4,975 8.20
Turnout 60,644 82.47
Conservative hold Swing −2.00
Close
More information Party, Candidate ...
General election 1964: Chelmsford
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Norman St John-Stevas 27,849 47.95
Labour E Gordon Lawrence 20,816 35.84
Liberal W Peter Longhurst 9,414 16.21
Majority 7,033 12.11
Turnout 58,105 82.78
Conservative hold Swing
Close

Elections in the 1950s

More information Party, Candidate ...
General election 1959: Chelmsford
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Hubert Ashton 29,992 59.85
Labour Brian Ralph Clapham 20,124 40.15
Majority 9,868 19.70
Turnout 50,116 81.32
Conservative hold Swing
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More information Party, Candidate ...
General election 1955: Chelmsford
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Hubert Ashton 25,450 55.63
Labour Bernard Floud 20,301 44.37
Majority 5,149 11.26
Turnout 45,751 81.82
Conservative hold Swing
Close
More information Party, Candidate ...
General election 1951: Chelmsford
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Hubert Ashton 29,069 55.01
Labour James Haworth 23,775 44.99
Majority 5,294 10.02
Turnout 52,844 83.31
Conservative hold Swing
Close
More information Party, Candidate ...
General election 1950: Chelmsford
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Hubert Ashton 28,541 54.65
Labour Ernest Millington 23,682 45.35
Majority 4,859 9.30 N/A
Turnout 52,223 84.33
Conservative gain from Common Wealth Swing
Close

Elections in the 1940s

More information Party, Candidate ...
General election 1945: Chelmsford
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Common Wealth Ernest Millington 27,309 46.7 N/A
Conservative Hubert Ashton 25,229 43.2 −27.6
Liberal Hilda Buckmaster 5,909 10.1 N/A
Majority 2,080 3.5 N/A
Turnout 58,447 73.4 +8.0
Common Wealth gain from Conservative Swing
Close
More information Party, Candidate ...
1945 Chelmsford by-election
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Common Wealth Ernest Millington 24,548 57.5 N/A
Conservative Brian Batsford 18,117 42.5 −28.3
Majority 6,431 15.0 N/A
Turnout 42,665 54.1 −11.3
Common Wealth gain from Conservative Swing
Close

General Election 1939–40:

Another General Election was required to take place before the end of 1940. The political parties had been making preparations for an election to take place from 1939 and by the end of this year, the following candidates had been selected;

Elections in the 1930s

More information Party, Candidate ...
General election 1935: Chelmsford
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative John Macnamara 28,314 70.8 −9.7
Labour Fred Hughes 11,690 29.2 +9.7
Majority 16,624 41.6 −19.4
Turnout 40,004 65.4 −5.5
Conservative hold Swing
Close
More information Party, Candidate ...
General election 1931: Chelmsford
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Vivian Henderson 31,961 80.5 +36.7
Labour Joseph Sparks 7,755 19.5 −3.3
Majority 24,206 61.0 +50.6
Turnout 39,716 70.9 −4.2
Conservative hold Swing
Close

Elections in the 1920s

More information Party, Candidate ...
General election 1929: Chelmsford
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Unionist Charles Howard-Bury 17,094 43.8 −4.0
Liberal Sydney Robinson 13,034 33.4 +3.2
Labour Nils Henry Moller 8,910 22.8 +0.8
Majority 4,060 10.4 −7.2
Turnout 39,038 75.1 +4.6
Unionist hold Swing −3.6
Close
More information Party, Candidate ...
1926 Chelmsford by-election
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Unionist Charles Howard-Bury 13,395 47.8 −6.9
Liberal Sydney Robinson 8,435 30.2 −5.1
Labour Nils Henry Moller 6,140 22.0 +12.0
Majority 4,960 17.6 −1.8
Turnout 27,970 70.5 −6.6
Unionist hold Swing −0.9
Close
More information Party, Candidate ...
General election 1924: Chelmsford
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Unionist Henry Curtis-Bennett 15,875 54.7 +10.5
Liberal Sydney Robinson 10,244 35.3 −20.5
Labour Nils Henry Moller 2,904 10.0 N/A
Majority 5,631 19.4 N/A
Turnout 29,023 77.1 +13.6
Unionist gain from Liberal Swing +15.5
Close
More information Party, Candidate ...
General election 1923: Chelmsford
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Sydney Robinson 12,877 55.8 +26.0
Unionist E. G. Pretyman 10,185 44.2 −8.4
Majority 2,692 11.6 N/A
Turnout 23,062 63.5 +2.5
Liberal gain from Unionist Swing +17.2
Close
More information Party, Candidate ...
General election 1922: Chelmsford
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Unionist E. G. Pretyman 11,267 52.6 −14.3
Liberal Sydney Robinson 6,380 29.8 N/A
Labour Clara Rackham 3,767 17.6 −15.5
Majority 4,887 22.8 −11.0
Turnout 21,414 61.0 +10.8
Unionist hold Swing N/A
Close

Elections in the 1910s

More information Party, Candidate ...
General election 1918: Chelmsford
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
C Unionist E. G. Pretyman 11,217 66.9 N/A
Labour William Frederick Toynbee 5,551 33.1 N/A
Majority 5,666 33.8 N/A
Turnout 16,768 50.2 N/A
Unionist hold Swing N/A
C indicates candidate endorsed by the coalition government.
Close
More information Party, Candidate ...
General election December 1910: Chelmsford [37]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative E. G. Pretyman Unopposed
Conservative hold
Close
More information Party, Candidate ...
General election January 1910: Chelmsford [37]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative E. G. Pretyman 6,816 61.5 +9.1
Liberal T.Cuthbertson 4,271 38.5 −9.1
Majority 2,545 23.0 +18.2
Turnout 11,087 83.3 +3.6
Registered electors 13,314
Conservative hold Swing
Close

Elections in the 1900s

More information Party, Candidate ...
1908 Chelmsford by-election[37]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative E. G. Pretyman 6,152 63.2 +10.8
Liberal Alexander Henry Dence 3,587 36.8
Majority 2,565 26.4 +21.6
Turnout 9,739 77.7 −2.0
Registered electors 12,539
Conservative hold Swing +10.8
Close
More information Party, Candidate ...
General election January 1906: Chelmsford[37]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Carne Rasch 4,915 52.4 −20.5
Liberal Alexander Henry Dence 4,461 47.6 +20.5
Majority 454 4.8 −41.0
Turnout 9,376 79.7 +13.7
Registered electors 11,767
Conservative hold Swing +20.5
Close
More information Party, Candidate ...
General election October 1900: Chelmsford[37]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Carne Rasch 4,978 72.9 N/A
Liberal Charles Henry 1,849 27.1 N/A
Majority 3,129 45.8 N/A
Turnout 6,827 66.0 N/A
Registered electors 10,341
Conservative hold Swing N/A
Close

Elections in the 1890s

More information Party, Candidate ...
General election 1895: Chelmsford[37]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Thomas Usborne Unopposed
Conservative hold
Close
More information Party, Candidate ...
General election 1892: Chelmsford[37]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Thomas Usborne 4,168 59.8 N/A
Liberal William Ebenezer Grigsby[38] 2,799 40.2 N/A
Majority 1,369 19.6 N/A
Turnout 6,967 74.6 N/A
Registered electors 9,333
Conservative hold Swing N/A
Close
More information Party, Candidate ...
By-election, Chelmsford 1892[37]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Thomas Usborne Unopposed
Conservative hold
Close

Elections in the 1880s

More information Party, Candidate ...
General election 1886: Chelmsford[37]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative William Beadel Unopposed
Conservative hold
Close
More information Party, Candidate ...
General election 1885: Chelmsford[37]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative William Beadel 4,321 58.4
Liberal Richard Martin 3,079 41.6
Majority 1,242 16.8
Turnout 7,400 79.8
Registered electors 9,277
Conservative win (new seat)
Close

Boundary changes

See also

Notes

  1. A borough 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

Sources

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