Epping Forest (UK Parliament constituency)

Constituency profile

Epping Forest is a constituency located in Essex. Its largest town is Loughton, which has a population of around 33,000. Other towns in the constituency include Buckhurst Hill, Chigwell, Waltham Abbey and Epping. The constituency lies just outside Greater London within the Metropolitan Green Belt and is named after Epping Forest, an ancient woodland which separates Loughton and Waltham Abbey. Much of Loughton was developed after the Second World War to accommodate the London overspill. The area continues to house London commuters and is served by the Central line of the London Underground. The constituency is generally affluent and house prices are higher than national averages.

In general, residents of Epping Forest have average levels of education, high rates of household income and are more likely to work in professional occupations compared to the rest of the country. White people made up 81% of the population at the 2021 census. Asians (primarily Indians) were the largest ethnic minority group at 9%, concentrated mainly in Chigwell. Most of the constituency is represented by Conservatives at the local council level, although Loughton is mostly represented by a local residents' association. Voters in Epping Forest strongly supported leaving the European Union in the 2016 referendum; an estimated 62% voted in favour of Brexit compared to 52% nationwide.

History

The seat was created for the February 1974 general election, primarily from part of the abolished constituency of Chigwell, together with parts of the abolished constituency of Epping, which was notably the seat held by Winston Churchill from 29 October 1924 – 15 June 1945.

When Epping Forest was first created, it was more favourable to the Conservatives than the old Epping seat, as it lost the new town of Harlow (part of the old Epping Rural District) and gained the more Conservative Chigwell Urban District. During the Thatcher period the Labour Party's vote was crushed. Even though the Liberals managed to move into second place, their vote did little more than follow national trends and as soon as 1987 their votes dropped away as well.

Two former candidates in the Epping Forest constituency have also stood for election as Mayor of London: Steve Norris (Conservative; MP 1988–97) and Julian Leppert (British National Party).

Boundaries and boundary changes

The constituency comprises Loughton, Epping, Waltham Abbey, Chigwell, Buckhurst Hill, Theydon Bois, part of North Weald, small intermediate villages and almost the whole of the ancient Forest itself, except those parts which were transferred to Greater London in 1965.

1974–1983

• The Urban Districts of Chigwell, Epping, and Waltham Holy Cross; and
• The Rural District of Epping and Ongar parishes of Epping Upland, Theydon Bois, and Theydon Garnon.

The majority of the new constituency, comprising the Urban District of Chigwell (incorporating Buckhurst Hill and Loughton), had previously been part of the abolished constituency of Chigwell. Remaining parts had previously been in the abolished constituency of Epping.

1983–1997

• The District of Epping Forest wards of Broadway, Buckhurst Hill East, Buckhurst Hill West, Chigwell Row, Chigwell Village, Debden Green, Epping Hemnall, Epping Lindsey, Grange Hill, High Beach, Loughton Forest, Loughton Roding, Loughton St John's, Loughton St Mary's, Paternoster, Theydon Bois, Waltham Abbey East, and Waltham Abbey West.

Minor loss to Brentwood and Ongar.

1997–2010

• The District of Epping Forest wards of Broadway, Buckhurst Hill East, Buckhurst Hill West, Chigwell Row, Chigwell Village, Debden Green, Epping Hemnall, Epping Lindsey, Grange Hill, High Beach, Loughton Forest, Loughton Roding, Loughton St John's, Loughton St Mary's, North Weald Bassett, Paternoster, Theydon Bois, Waltham Abbey East, and Waltham Abbey West.

North Weald Bassett transferred from Harlow.

2010–2024

• The District of Epping Forest wards of Broadley Common, Epping Upland and Nazeing, Buckhurst Hill East, Buckhurst Hill West, Chigwell Row, Chigwell Village, Epping Hemnall, Epping Lindsey and Thornwood Common, Grange Hill, Loughton Alderton, Loughton Broadway, Loughton Fairmead, Loughton Forest, Loughton Roding, Loughton St John's, Loughton St Mary's, Theydon Bois, Waltham Abbey High Beach, Waltham Abbey Honey Lane, Waltham Abbey North East, Waltham Abbey Paternoster, and Waltham Abbey South West.

The North Weald Bassett ward was transferred to Brentwood and Ongar. Other marginal changes due to redistribution of local authority wards.

2024–present

The 2023 periodic review of Westminster constituencies, which was based on the ward structure in place on 1 December 2020, left the boundaries unchanged. However, following a local government boundary review which came into effect in May 2024, the constituency now comprises the following from the 2024 general election:

• The District of Epping Forest wards or part wards of: Buckhurst Hill East & Whitebridge; Buckhurst Hill West, Chigwell with Lambourne (except Lambourne parish); Epping East; Epping West & Rural; Grange Hill; Loughton Fairmead; Loughton Forest; Loughton Roding; Loughton St John's; Theydon Bois with Passingford (Theydon Bois parish); Waltham Abbey North; Waltham Abbey South & Rural; Waltham Abbey West; and small parts of North Weald Bassett and Roydon & Lower Nazeing.

Members of Parliament

The constituency was created in 1974 from the seats of Epping and Chigwell — both of these (then one constituency, Epping) were represented by Winston Churchill throughout his tenure as Prime Minister during World War II. The Conservative Party has won in Epping Forest in every election since the creation of the constituency. The previous MP Eleanor Laing, was Deputy Speaker of the House from October 2013 and Chairman of Ways and Means from 2020 until 2024.

Elections

Elections in the 2020s

Elections in the 2010s

Elections in the 2000s

Elections in the 1990s

Elections in the 1980s

Elections in the 1970s

Notional results (before 1974)

Graphical representation

Notes

References

References

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3. "Seat Details - Epping Forest".
4. (4 July 2024). "2021 census results: Ethnic groups in your constituency".
5. "The Parliamentary Constituencies (England) Order 1970".
6. "The Parliamentary Constituencies (England) Order 1983".
7. "The Parliamentary Constituencies (England) Order 1995".
8. "The Parliamentary Constituencies (England) Order 2007".
9. "The Parliamentary Constituencies Order 2023".
10. "Seat Details - Epping Forest".
11. "Seat Details - Epping Forest".
12. {{Rayment-hc. e. 2. (March 2012)
13. "Notice of Poll".
14. "Epping Forest - General election results 2024". BBC News.
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17. "Epping Forest parliamentary constituency – Election 2017".
18. "UK ELECTION RESULTS: EPPING FOREST 2015".
19. (2 April 2015). "Ex-mayor selected for election by Lib Dems".
20. "Election Data 2010". [[Electoral Calculus]].
21. "BBC News | Election 2010 | Constituency | Epping Forest".
22. "Election Data 2005". [[Electoral Calculus]].
23. "Election Data 2001". [[Electoral Calculus]].
24. "Election Data 1997". [[Electoral Calculus]].
25. "Election Data 1992". [[Electoral Calculus]].
26. (9 April 1992). "UK General Election results April 1992". Politics Resources.
27. "Election Data 1987". [[Electoral Calculus]].
28. "Election Data 1983". [[Electoral Calculus]].