Chelmsford
Borough constituency
for the House of Commons
Outline map
Boundary of Chelmsford in Essex
Outline map
Location of Essex within England
CountyEssex
Population105,424 (2011 census)[1]
Electorate77,835 (December 2010)[2]
Major settlementsChelmsford, Great Baddow
Current constituency
Created2010
Member of ParliamentVicky Ford (Conservative)
SeatsOne
Created fromWest Chelmsford, Maldon and East Chelmsford
1885–1997
Created fromSouth Essex, West Essex
Replaced byWest Chelmsford, Maldon and East Chelmsford, Rayleigh

Chelmsford is a constituency in Essex[n 1] represented in the House of Commons of the UK Parliament since 2017 by Vicky Ford of the Conservative Party.

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. 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, when it was abolished 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. Historically, the constituency has on occasion been referred to as 'Mid Essex', especially in the early part of the 20th Century.[3]

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.

Boundaries and boundary changes

1885–1918

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

1918–1945

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

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

Brentwood transferred to Romford.

1955–1974

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

1974–1983

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

1983–1997

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
Map of present boundaries

2010–present

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.

Proposed

Further to the 2023 Periodic Review of Westminster constituencies, enacted by the Parliamentary Constituencies Order 2023, the composition of the constituency from the next general election, due by January 2025, will be reduced to meet the electorate size requirements, with the transfer to Maldon of the Galleywood ward to the south of the city.[10]

Members of Parliament

Election Member[11][12] Party
1885 William Beadel Conservative
1892 by-election Thomas Usborne Conservative
1900 Sir Carne Rasch, Bt Conservative
1908 by-election E. G. Pretyman Conservative
1918 Coalition Conservative
1922 Conservative
1923 Sydney Robinson Liberal
1924 Henry Curtis-Bennett Conservative
1926 by-election Charles Howard-Bury Conservative
1931 Sir Vivian Henderson Conservative
1935 John Macnamara Conservative
1945 by-election Ernest Millington Common Wealth
1946 Labour
1950 Sir Hubert Ashton Conservative
1964 Norman St John-Stevas Conservative
1987 Simon Burns Conservative
1997 Constituency abolished – see West Chelmsford,
Maldon and Chelmsford East, Rayleigh
2010 Constituency recreated
Sir Simon Burns Conservative
2017 Vicky Ford Conservative

Elections

Elections in the 2020s

Next general election: Chelmsford
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Vicky Ford[13]
Liberal Democrats Marie Goldman[14]
Reform UK Darren Ingrouille[15]


Elections in the 2010s

General election 2019: Chelmsford[16][17]
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 New
Majority 17,621 30.8 +6.9
Turnout 57,122 71.0 +0.8
Conservative hold Swing ―5.3
General election 2017: Chelmsford[18]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Vicky Ford[19] 30,525 53.7 +2.2
Labour Chris Vince[20] 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
General election 2015: Chelmsford[21][22]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Simon Burns 27,732 51.5 +5.3
Labour Chris Vince [23] 9,482 17.6 +6.6
UKIP Mark Gough[24] 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 New
Majority 18,250 33.9 +24.5
Turnout 53,817 68.5 ―1.9
Conservative hold Swing
General election 2010: Chelmsford[25]
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 New
Green Angela Thomson 476 0.9 New
English Democrat Claire Breed 254 0.5 +0.3
Reduce Tax On Beer Ben Sherman 153 0.3 New
Majority 5,110 9.4
Turnout 54,593 70.4 ―14.2
Conservative hold Swing
* Served in the 2005–2010 Parliament as MP for West Chelmsford

Elections in the 1990s

General election 1992: Chelmsford[26][27]
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

Elections in the 1980s

General election 1987: Chelmsford[28]
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 New
Majority 7,761 11.4 +10.8
Turnout 67,829 82.2 +2.8
Conservative hold Swing +5.4
General election 1983: Chelmsford[29]
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 New
Majority 378 0.6 ―9.3
Turnout 62,605 79.4 ―4.5
Conservative hold Swing ―4.7

Elections in the 1970s

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
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
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
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 ―
Liberal Jessie Hunt 5,811 8.7 ―5.2
Independent Joseph D. Steel 350 0.5 New
Majority 13,041 19.5
Turnout 66,762 75.6
Conservative hold Swing +5.3

Elections in the 1960s

General election 1966: Chelmsford
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Norman St John-Stevas 28,600 47.2
Labour Colin George 23,625 39.0 ―3.4
Liberal W Peter Longhurst 8,419 13.9
Majority 4,975 8.20
Turnout 60,644 82.47
Conservative hold Swing –2.00
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 New
Majority 7,033 12.11
Turnout 58,105 82.78
Conservative hold Swing

Elections in the 1950s

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
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
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
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 Labour Swing

Elections in the 1940s

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 New
Majority 2,080 3.5 N/A
Turnout 58,447 73.4 +8.0
Common Wealth gain from Conservative Swing
1945 Chelmsford by-election
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Common Wealth Ernest Millington 24,548 57.5 New
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

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

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
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

Elections in the 1920s

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
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
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 New
Majority 5,631 19.4 N/A
Turnout 29,023 77.1 +13.6
Unionist gain from Liberal Swing +15.5
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
General election 1922: Chelmsford
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Unionist E. G. Pretyman 11,267 52.6 –14.3
Liberal Sydney Robinson 6,380 29.8 New
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

Elections in the 1910s

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 New
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.
General election December 1910: Chelmsford [30]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative E. G. Pretyman Unopposed
Conservative hold
General election January 1910: Chelmsford [30]
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

Elections in the 1900s

1908 Chelmsford by-election[30]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative E. G. Pretyman 6,152 63.2 +10.8
Liberal Alexander Henry Dence 3,587 36.8 −10.8
Majority 2,565 26.4 +21.6
Turnout 9,739 77.7 −2.0
Registered electors 12,539
Conservative hold Swing +10.8
General election January 1906: Chelmsford[30]
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
General election October 1900: Chelmsford[30]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Carne Rasch 4,978 72.9 N/A
Liberal Charles Henry 1,849 27.1 New
Majority 3,129 45.8 N/A
Turnout 6,827 66.0 N/A
Registered electors 10,341
Conservative hold Swing N/A

Elections in the 1890s

General election 1895: Chelmsford[30]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Thomas Usborne Unopposed
Conservative hold
General election 1892: Chelmsford[30]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Thomas Usborne 4,168 59.8 N/A
Liberal William Ebenezer Grigsby[31] 2,799 40.2 New
Majority 1,369 19.6 N/A
Turnout 6,967 74.6 N/A
Registered electors 9,333
Conservative hold Swing N/A
By-election, 1892[30]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Thomas Usborne Unopposed
Conservative hold

Elections in the 1880s

General election 1886: Chelmsford[30]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative William Beadel Unopposed
Conservative hold
General election 1885: Chelmsford[30]
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)

Boundary changes

Preceded byConstituency created UK Parliament constituency Chelmsford (West), Writtle 1885–1997 Succeeded byChelmsford West UK Parliament constituency Chelmsford (East), Great Baddow, Danbury 1885–1997 Succeeded byMaldon and Chelmsford East UK Parliament constituency Ingatestone 1885–1974 Succeeded byBrentwood and Ongar UK Parliament constituency Ongar 1885–1955 Succeeded byChigwell UK Parliament constituency Brentwood 1885–1950 Succeeded byRomford

See also

Notes

  1. ^ A borough constituency (for the purposes of election expenses and type of returning officer).

References

Specific

Craig, F. W. S. (1983). British parliamentary election results 1918–1949 (3 ed.). Chichester: Parliamentary Research Services. ISBN 0-900178-06-X.

General
  1. ^ "Chelmsford: Usual Resident Population, 2011". Neighbourhood Statistics. Office for National Statistics. Archived from the original on 21 February 2015. Retrieved 21 February 2015.
  2. ^ "Electorate Figures – Boundary Commission for England". 2011 Electorate Figures. Boundary Commission for England. 4 March 2011. Archived from the original on 6 November 2010. Retrieved 13 March 2011.
  3. ^ "Frederick Carne Rasch Alumnus Record". University of Cambridge Alumni Print Records. University of Cambridge. Archived from the original on 24 June 2020. Retrieved 22 June 2020.
  4. ^ Great Britain, Incorporated Council of Law Reporting for England and Wales. The public general acts. unknown library. Proprietors of the Law Journal Reports, 1884.
  5. ^ Fraser, Hugh (1918). The Representation of the people act, 1918 : with explanatory notes. University of California Libraries. London : Sweet and Maxwell.
  6. ^ a b c Craig, Fred W. S. (1972). Boundaries of parliamentary constituencies 1885-1972;. Chichester: Political Reference Publications. ISBN 0900178094. OCLC 539011.
  7. ^ "The Parliamentary Constituencies (England) Order 1970". www.legislation.gov.uk. Archived from the original on 30 January 2019. Retrieved 30 August 2019.
  8. ^ "The Parliamentary Constituencies (England) Order 1983". www.legislation.gov.uk. Archived from the original on 29 January 2019. Retrieved 30 August 2019.
  9. ^ "The Parliamentary Constituencies (England) Order 2007". www.legislation.gov.uk. Archived from the original on 20 November 2018. Retrieved 30 August 2019.
  10. ^ "The Parliamentary Constituencies Order 2023". Schedule I Part 2 Eastern region.
  11. ^ "Chelmsford 1885–1997". Parliamentary Debates (Hansard). Archived from the original on 6 September 2014. Retrieved 2 February 2015.
  12. ^ Leigh Rayment's Historical List of MPs – Constituencies beginning with "C" (part 3)
  13. ^ Vicky Ford [@vickyford] (4 April 2023). "Delighted and honoured to be reselected by members of the local Chelmsford @Conservatives Association as their candidate for the next UK General Election. 🗳️" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  14. ^ "Liberal Democrat Prospective Parliamentary Candidates". Mark Pack. Retrieved 21 December 2023.
  15. ^ "Find My PPC (Eastern England)" (PDF). Reform UK. Retrieved 15 December 2023.
  16. ^ "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived (PDF) from the original on 15 November 2019. Retrieved 15 November 2019.((cite web)): CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  17. ^ "Chelmsford parliamentary constituency - Election 2019". BBC News. Archived from the original on 7 August 2017. Retrieved 21 June 2018.
  18. ^ "Chelmsford City Council". Retrieved 18 May 2017.[permanent dead link]
  19. ^ "MEP Vicky Ford to fight for Chelmsford seat in General election". ITV. 29 April 2017. Archived from the original on 7 May 2017. Retrieved 8 May 2017.
  20. ^ "General Election 2017 – Candidate List – (A – M)". labour.org.uk. Archived from the original on 11 May 2017. Retrieved 8 May 2017.
  21. ^ "Election Data 2015". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 17 October 2015. Retrieved 17 October 2015.
  22. ^ "Chelmsford parliamentary constituency - Election 2017". BBC News. Archived from the original on 7 August 2017. Retrieved 21 June 2018.
  23. ^ "CHELMSFORD 2015". electionresults.blogspot.co.uk. Archived from the original on 18 February 2016. Retrieved 25 November 2014.
  24. ^ "Mark Gough PPC page". UK Independence Party. Archived from the original on 6 March 2015. Retrieved 17 January 2015.
  25. ^ "Election Data 2010". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 26 July 2013. Retrieved 17 October 2015.
  26. ^ "Election Data 1992". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
  27. ^ "UK General Election results April 1992". Richard Kimber's Political Science Resources. Politics Resources. 9 April 1992. Archived from the original on 11 August 2011. Retrieved 6 December 2010.
  28. ^ "Election Data 1987". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
  29. ^ "Election Data 1983". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
  30. ^ a b c d e f g h i j British parliamentary election results 1885–1918
  31. ^ "Profile of To-day". Gloucester Citizen. 2 September 1899. p. 4. Retrieved 21 November 2017.

Sources

External links

Constituencies in the East of England (58)
Authority control databases: People
Categories