Chelmsford (UK Parliament constituency)

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. 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, although the company is no longer in operation. The city is generally affluent and many neighbourhoods (Springfield, Moulsham and parts of Great Baddow) fall within the 10% least-deprived areas in England.

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. White people make up 85% of the population with Asians, mostly Indians, forming the largest ethnic minority group at 7%. 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.

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. 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.

Boundaries and boundary changes

1885–1918

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

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.

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.[[File:Chelmsford1918.png|thumb|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.

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.

1950–1955

• The Borough of Chelmsford; and
• The Rural Districts of Chelmsford and Ongar.

Brentwood transferred to Romford.

1955–1974

• The Borough of Chelmsford; and
• The Rural District of Chelmsford.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Members of Parliament

MPs 1885–1997

West Chelmsford, Maldon & East Chelmsford and Rayleigh prior to 1885

MPs since 2010

West Chelmsford and Maldon & East Chelmsford prior to 2010

Elections

Elections in the 2020s

|reg. electors = 76,972

Elections in the 2010s

:* Served in the 2005–2010 Parliament as MP for West Chelmsford

Elections in the 1990s

Elections in the 1980s

Elections in the 1970s

Elections in the 1960s

Elections in the 1950s

Elections in the 1940s

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;

• Conservative: John Macnamara
• Labour: Mary Day

Elections in the 1930s

Elections in the 1920s

Elections in the 1910s

|reg. electors = 13,314

Elections in the 1900s

|change −10.8 |reg. electors = 12,539 |reg. electors = 11,767

|reg. electors = 10,341

Elections in the 1890s

|reg. electors = 9,333

Elections in the 1880s

|reg. electors = 9,277

Boundary changes

Notes

References

;Specific Craig, F. W. S. (1983). British parliamentary election results 1918–1949 (3 ed.). Chichester: Parliamentary Research Services. .

;General

Sources

• F. W. S. Craig, British Parliamentary Election Results 1974 – 1983
• The Times Guide to the House of Commons 1983, 1987 & 1992

References

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2. "Chelmsford, Perth and St Asaph gain city status to mark the Diamond Jubilee". The official website of The Queen's Diamond Jubilee.
3. "Tesla – Master of Lightning: Who Invented Radio?". PBS.
4. "Chelmsford: Marconi moving after a century (From Chelmsford Weekly News)". Chelmsfordweeklynews.co.uk.
5. "Constituency data: Deprivation in England".
6. "Seat Details - Chelmsford".
7. (4 July 2024). "2021 census results: Ethnic groups in your constituency".
8. "Frederick Carne Rasch Alumnus Record". [[University of Cambridge]].
9. (5 July 2024). "Chelmsford election results: Chelmsford votes Lib Dem for first time as former Tory MP Vicky Ford defeated". EssexLive.
10. Great Britain, Incorporated Council of Law Reporting for England and Wales. "The public general acts". Proprietors of the Law Journal Reports, 1884.
11. Fraser, Hugh. (1918). "The Representation of the people act, 1918 : with explanatory notes". London : Sweet and Maxwell.
12. Craig, Fred W. S.. (1972). "Boundaries of parliamentary constituencies 1885-1972;". Political Reference Publications.
13. "The Parliamentary Constituencies (England) Order 1970".
14. "The Parliamentary Constituencies (England) Order 1983".
15. "The Parliamentary Constituencies (England) Order 2007".
16. "The Parliamentary Constituencies Order 2023".
17. "Chelmsford (13 April 2010 - 30 May 2024) - overlaps".
18. "Chelmsford 1885–1997".
19. {{Rayment-hc. c. 3. (March 2012)
20. (7 June 2024). "Statement of Persons Nominated and Notice of Poll". [[City of Chelmsford.
21. "Notional results for a UK general election on 12 December 2019". [[UK Parliament]].
22. "Archived copy".
23. "Chelmsford parliamentary constituency - Election 2019". BBC News.
24. (July 2020). "Chelmsford City Council".
25. (29 April 2017). "MEP Vicky Ford to fight for Chelmsford seat in General election". ITV.
26. "General Election 2017 – Candidate List – (A – M)". labour.org.uk.
27. "Election Data 2015". [[Electoral Calculus]].
28. "Chelmsford parliamentary constituency - Election 2017". BBC News.
29. "CHELMSFORD 2015".
30. "Mark Gough PPC page". UK Independence Party.
31. "Election Data 2010". [[Electoral Calculus]].
32. "Election Data 1992". [[Electoral Calculus]].
33. (9 April 1992). "UK General Election results April 1992". Politics Resources.
34. "Election Data 1987". [[Electoral Calculus]].
35. "Election Data 1983". [[Electoral Calculus]].
36. British parliamentary election results 1885–1918
37. (2 Sep 1899). "Profile of To-day". [[Gloucester Citizen]].