Braintree (UK Parliament constituency)

Parliamentary constituency in the United Kingdom since 1974

Braintree

County constituency
for the House of Commons

Boundaries since 2024

Boundary of Braintree in the East of England

County| Essex
Population| 97,840 (2011 census)[1]
Electorate| 75,662 (2023)[2]
Major settlements| Braintree, Halstead, Great Notley
Current constituency
Created| 1974 (1974)
Member of Parliament| James Cleverly (Conservative)
Seats| One
Created from| Maldon

Braintree is a constituency[n 1] in Essex represented in the House of Commons of the UK Parliament since 2015 by James Cleverly, a member of the Conservative Party.[n 2]

Cleverly is a former chairman of the Conservative Party and home secretary. He is also a former foreign secretary and secretary of state for education.

## Constituency profile

[edit]

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

## History

[edit]

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 in 2015, being succeeded by James Cleverly, also a Conservative.[3]

## Boundaries and boundary changes

[edit]

### 1974–1983

[edit]

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

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

### 1983–1997

[edit]

* 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]

Following changes to the structure of local authorities in 1974, the seat was largely unchanged, with just the Boreham and Springfield ward of Chelmsford Borough being transferred to the Chelmsford constituency.

### 1997–2010

[edit]

* 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 constituency of West Chelmsford. Two small wards (Earls Colne and Gosfield) transferred from Saffron Walden.

### 2010–2024

[edit]

* 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.

### 2024–present

[edit]

Following the 2023 Periodic Review of Westminster constituencies, which came into effect for the 2024 general election, the composition of the constituency is as follows (as they existed on 1 December 2020):

* The District of Braintree wards of: Bocking Blackwater; Bocking North; Bocking South; Braintree Central & Beckers Green; Braintree South; Braintree West; Bumpstead; Gosfield & Greenstead Green; Great Notley & Black Notley; Halstead St. Andrew's; Halstead Trinity; Hedingham; Rayne; Stour Valley North; Stour Valley South; Three Fields; Yeldham.

* The District of Uttlesford wards of: Felsted & Stebbing; The Sampfords.[8]

Minor changes – the two Uttlesford District wards were transferred from Saffron Walden (renamed North West Essex), offset by a net loss to Witham mainly due to revision of ward boundaries.

## Members of Parliament

[edit]

Election | Member[9][10] | Party

|
|

| Feb 1974 | Tony Newton | Conservative
| 1997 | Alan Hurst | Labour
| 2005 | Brooks Newmark | Conservative
| 2015 | James Cleverly | Conservative

## Elections

[edit]

Braintree election results 1983-2024

### Elections in the 2020s

[edit]

General election 2024: Braintree[11][12] Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

|
|
|
|

| Conservative | James Cleverly | 17,414  | 35.5  | −32.0
| Labour | Matthew Wright  | 13,744  | 28.0  | +9.8
| Reform UK | Richard Thomson  | 11,346  | 23.1  | New
| Liberal Democrats | Kieron Franks  | 2,879  | 5.9  | −3.8
| Green | Paul Thorogood  | 2,878  | 5.9  | +5.4
| Independent | David Heather  | 767  | 1.6  | New
Majority | 3,670  | 7.5  | −41.3
Turnout | 49,028  | 63  | −5.3
Registered electors | 77,781  |  |
| Conservative hold | Swing | −20.9  |

### Elections in the 2010s

[edit]

2019 general election notional result[13]

Party  | Vote  | %
| Conservative | 34,863 | 67.5
| Labour | 9,397 | 18.2
| Liberal Democrats | 5,013 | 9.7
| Others | 2,169 | 4.4
| Green | 233 | 0.5
Turnout | 51,675  | 68.3
Electorate | 75,662
General election 2019: Braintree[14][15] 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  | New
| Independent | David Mansell  | 420  | 0.8  | New
| Independent | Alan Dorkins  | 261  | 0.5  | New
Majority | 24,673  | 48.8  | +13.6
Turnout | 50,499  | 67.1  | −2.4
| Conservative hold | Swing | +6.8  |
General election 2017: Braintree[16] 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  | −1.3
Majority | 18,422  | 35.2  | +0.2
Turnout | 52,326  | 69.5  | +1.1
| Conservative hold | Swing | −0.1  |
General election 2015: Braintree[17] 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  | −13.9
| Green | Paul Jeater  | 1,564  | 3.1  | +1.6
| Independent | Toby Pereira  | 295  | 0.6  | New
| 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[18][19] 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  | New
| Green | Daisy Blench  | 718  | 1.5  | −1.5
Majority | 16,121  | 32.7  | +25.3
Turnout | 49,203  | 69.1  | +4.9
| Conservative hold | Swing | +6.7  |

### Elections in the 2000s

[edit]

General election 2005: Braintree[20] 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  | 0.0
| UKIP | Roger Lord | 1,181  | 2.2  | +0.7
| Independent | Michael Nolan  | 228  | 0.4  | New
Majority | 3,893  | 7.4  | N/A
Turnout | 53,055  | 65.9  | +2.3
| Conservative gain from Labour | Swing | +4.0  |
General election 2001: Braintree[21][22] 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  | New
| UKIP | Charles Cole  | 748  | 1.5  | New
Majority | 358  | 0.7  | −1.9
Turnout | 50,315  | 63.6  | −12.5
| Labour hold | Swing | −0.9  |

### Elections in the 1990s

[edit]

General election 1997: Braintree[22][23] 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  | New
| Green | James Abbott  | 712  | 1.3  | 0.0
| Independent | Michael Nolan  | 274  | 0.5  | New
Majority | 1,451  | 2.6  | N/A
Turnout | 55,576  | 76.1  | −7.3
| Labour gain from Conservative | Swing | +14.6  |
General election 1992: Braintree[24][25] 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  | New
Majority | 17,494  | 26.6  | −1.1
Turnout | 65,794  | 83.4  | +4.3
| Conservative hold | Swing | +4.1  |

### Elections in the 1980s

[edit]

General election 1987: Braintree[26] 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[27] Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

|
|
|
|

| Conservative | Tony Newton | 29,462  | 52.6  | +0.6
| SDP | Inigo Bing | 16,021  | 28.6  | New
| Labour | Janet 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

[edit]

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  | −6.5
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  | +1.5
| Labour | Keith Kyle | 19,469  | 37.4  | +3.1
| Liberal | Richard 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  |
| Labour | Keith Kyle | 18,796  | 34.3  |
| Liberal | D. Scott  | 15,204  | 27.8  |
Majority | 2,001  | 3.7  |
Turnout | 54,797  | 84.3  |
| Conservative win (new seat)

## See also

[edit]

* List of parliamentary constituencies in Essex

## Notes

[edit]

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

[edit]

1. ^ "Braintree: Usual Resident Population, 2011". Neighbourhood Statistics. Office for National Statistics. Retrieved 2 February 2015.
2. ^ "The 2023 Review of Parliamentary Constituency Boundaries in England – Volume two: Constituency names, designations and composition – Eastern". Boundary Commission for England. Retrieved 26 June 2024.
3. ^ Will Lodge, "Election 2015: Conservatives extend lead in Braintree as James Cleverly takes over as MP" Archived 25 July 2019 at the Wayback Machine, 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. ^ "The Parliamentary Constituencies Order 2023". Schedule I Part 2 Eastern region.
9. ^ "Braintree 1974–". Parliamentary Debates (Hansard). Retrieved 2 February 2015.
10. ^ Leigh Rayment's Historical List of MPs – Constituencies beginning with "B" (part 5)
11. ^ "Statement of Persons Nominated". Braintree District Council. 7 June 2024. Retrieved 10 June 2024.
12. ^ "Braintree Parliamentary constituency". BBC News. BBC. Retrieved 5 July 2024.
13. ^ "Notional results for a UK general election on 12 December 2019". Rallings & Thrasher, Professor David Denver (Scotland), Nicholas Whyte (NI) for Sky News, PA, BBC News and ITV News. UK Parliament. Retrieved 11 July 2024.
14. ^ "Statement of persons nominated and notice of poll" (PDF), Acting Returning Officer, Causeway House, Bocking End, Braintree, Essex, 14 November 2019, archived from the original (PDF) on 15 November 2019 Alt URL
15. ^ "Braintree Parliamentary constituency". BBC News. BBC. Retrieved 18 November 2019.
16. ^ "Statement of Persons Nominated". Braintree District Council. Retrieved 14 May 2017.
17. ^ "Election Data 2015". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 17 October 2015. Retrieved 17 October 2015.
18. ^ "Election Data 2010". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 26 July 2013. Retrieved 17 October 2015.
19. ^ "BBC NEWS – Election 2010 – Braintree". BBC News.
20. ^ "Election Data 2005". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
21. ^ "Election Data 2001". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
22. ^ a b "Political Science Resources – Braintree 1997 & 2001". Archived from the original on 3 June 2012. Retrieved 6 May 2010.
23. ^ "Election Data 1997". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
24. ^ "Election Data 1992". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
25. ^ "Politics Resources". Election 1992. Politics Resources. 9 April 1992. Archived from the original on 24 July 2011. Retrieved 6 December 2010.
26. ^ "Election Data 1987". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
27. ^ "Election Data 1983". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.

## External links

[edit]

* nomis Constituency Profile for Braintree – presenting data from the ONS annual population survey and other official statistics.
* Braintree UK Parliament constituency (boundaries April 1997 – April 2010) at MapIt UK
* Braintree UK Parliament constituency (boundaries April 2010 – May 2024) at MapIt UK
* Braintree UK Parliament constituency (boundaries from June 2024) at MapIt UK

* v
* t
* e

Constituencies in the East of England (61)

Labour (27)|

* Bedford
* Bury St Edmunds and Stowmarket
* Cambridge
* Colchester
* Dunstable and Leighton Buzzard
* Harlow
* Hemel Hempstead
* Hertford and Stortford
* Hitchin
* Ipswich
* Lowestoft
* Luton North
* Luton South and South Bedfordshire
* North East Hertfordshire
* North West Cambridgeshire
* Norwich North
* Norwich South
* Peterborough
* South Norfolk
* South West Norfolk
* Southend East and Rochford
* Southend West and Leigh
* Stevenage
* Suffolk Coastal
* Thurrock
* Watford
* Welwyn Hatfield

Conservative (23)|

* Basildon and Billericay
* Braintree
* Brentwood and Ongar
* Broadland and Fakenham
* Broxbourne
* Castle Point
* Central Suffolk and North Ipswich
* Epping Forest
* Harwich and North Essex
* Hertsmere
* Huntingdon
* Maldon
* Mid Bedfordshire
* Mid Norfolk
* North Bedfordshire
* North East Cambridgeshire
* North West Essex
* North West Norfolk
* Rayleigh and Wickford
* South Suffolk
* South West Hertfordshire
* West Suffolk
* Witham

Liberal Democrats (7)|

* Chelmsford
* Ely and East Cambridgeshire
* Harpenden and Berkhamsted
* North Norfolk
* St Albans
* St Neots and Mid Cambridgeshire
* South Cambridgeshire

Reform UK (3)|

* Clacton
* Great Yarmouth
* South Basildon and East Thurrock

Green Party (1)|

* Waveney Valley

Authority control databases: People |

* UK Parliament

|

51°54′N 0°33′E﻿ / ﻿51.90°N 0.55°E﻿ / 51.90; 0.55
*[v]: View this template
*[t]: Discuss this template
*[e]: Edit this template