Billericay (UK Parliament constituency)

History

The seat was first created as a county constituency for the 1950 general election under the Representation of the People Act 1948, as a successor to the abolished seat of South East Essex. The First Periodic Review of Westminster constituencies brought in for the 1955 general election resulted in major boundary changes and it was abolished by the Second Review for the February 1974 general election.

It was re-established for the 1983 general election, with further major changes for the 1997 general election, and abolished once again for the 2010 general election.

Under both versions, the seat returned Conservative MPs at every election except 1966.

Boundaries and boundary changes

1950–1955

• The Urban Districts of Billericay, Benfleet, Canvey Island, and Rayleigh.

Formed from the abolished South-Eastern Division of Essex, excluding the Rural District of Rochford.

1955–1974

• The Urban Districts of Billericay and Brentwood.

Benfleet, Canvey Island and Rayleigh (together with Rochford) now formed the re-established constituency of South East Essex. Billericay was combined with Brentwood, which had previously been included in Romford.

On abolition, the Urban District of Billericay, which had been reconstituted as the Urban District of Basildon, formed the new constituency of Basildon.  The Urban District of Brentwood formed the basis for the new constituency of Brentwood and Ongar.

1983–1997

• The District of Basildon wards of Billericay East, Billericay West, Burstead, Laindon, Wickford North, and Wickford South; and
• The Borough of Thurrock wards of Corringham and Fobbing, Orsett, Stanford-le-Hope, and The Homesteads.

Re-established as a County Constituency, formed from northern parts of the constituency of Basildon, including Billericay and Wickford, together with northern parts of the constituency of Thurrock.

1997–2010

• The District of Basildon wards of Billericay East, Billericay West, Burstead, Laindon, Pitsea East, Pitsea West, Wickford North, and Wickford South.

Major realignment of boundaries with Basildon: Pitsea was transferred from Basildon in exchange for the northern part of the Borough of Thurrock.

The seat was abolished once again for the 2010 general election. The majority, comprising Billericay, Burstead and Laindon, was included in the new constituency of Basildon and Billericay; Pitsea was included in the new constituency of South Basildon and East Thurrock; and Wickford was included in the new constituency of Rayleigh and Wickford.

Members of Parliament

Billericay has elected somewhat colourful characters to Westminster, namely Harvey Proctor, the right-wing MP who resigned after homosexual sex charges, and Teresa Gorman, the Maastricht rebel who stood down after accusing the Commons Standards and Privileges committee of sexism over questions surrounding her registered business dealings.

MPs 1950–1974

MPs 1983–2010

Elections

Elections in the 1950s

| reg. electors = 59,209

| reg. electors = 61,652

| reg. electors = 58,872

| reg. electors = 78,328

Elections in the 1960s

| reg. electors = 96,762

| reg. electors = 102,198

Elections in the 1970s

| reg. electors = 123,297

Elections in the 1980s

| reg. electors = 74,779

| reg. electors = 79,535

Elections in the 1990s

| reg. electors = 80,388

| reg. electors = 76,550

Elections in the 2000s

| reg. electors = 78,528

| reg. electors = 79,537

References

1. "'Billericay', June 1983 up to May 1997". Cognitive Computing Limited.
2. Craig, Fred W. S.. (1972). "Boundaries of parliamentary constituencies 1885-1972;". Political Reference Publications.
3. "The Parliamentary Constituencies (England) Order 1983".
4. "The Parliamentary Constituencies (England) Order 1995".
5. {{Rayment-hc. b. 3. (March 2012)
6. "BBC/ITN NOTIONAL ELECTION 1979". BBC/ITN.
7. "Election Data 1983". [[Electoral Calculus]].
8. "Election Data 1987". [[Electoral Calculus]].
9. "Election Data 1992". [[Electoral Calculus]].
10. (9 April 1992). "Politics Resources". Politics Resources.
11. "Election Data 1997". [[Electoral Calculus]].
12. "Election Data 2001". [[Electoral Calculus]].
13. "Election Data 2005". [[Electoral Calculus]].