Saffron Walden (UK Parliament constituency)

Saffron Walden is a constituency[n 1] in Essex, represented in the House of Commons of the UK Parliament since 2017 by Kemi Badenoch, a Conservative.[n 2]

Saffron Walden
County constituency
for the House of Commons
Outline map
Boundary of Saffron Walden in Essex
Outline map
Location of Essex within England
CountyEssex
Electorate77,109 (December 2010)[1]
Major settlementsSaffron Walden, Great Dunmow
Current constituency
Created1885
Member of ParliamentKemi Badenoch (Conservative)
SeatsOne
Created fromEast Essex and West Essex

Further to the completion of the 2023 Periodic Review of Westminster constituencies, the seat will be subject to relatively minor boundary changes but will be renamed North West Essex, to be first contested at the next general election.[2]

Constituency profile

The constituency is by far the largest and most rural in Essex and covers the entire north-west corner of the county, an area of almost 400 square miles (1,000 km2).[3] It borders Hertfordshire and Cambridgeshire and also extends deep into the middle of Essex near Chelmsford.

Two medium-sized market towns, Saffron Walden and Great Dunmow, are in the constituency. Both of these have historic links and are busy and regionally visitor-drawing towns in the South East.

The largest single source of employment in the constituency is Stansted Airport, while there are also a host of small businesses, many of them high-tech, along and at the ends of the London-Cambridge corridor.

In statistics

The constituency consists of Census Output Areas from two local government districts with similar characteristics. Uttlesford district forms the bulk and has a working population whose income is close to the national average and a much lower than average reliance upon social housing.[4] At the end of 2012, the unemployment rate in the constituency stood at 1.6% of the population claiming jobseekers allowance, compared to the regional average of 2.4%.[5] The borough contributing to the bulk of the seat has a very low 10.1% of its population without a car, 17.7% of the population without qualifications, and a high 31.9% had level 4 qualifications or above. In terms of tenure, 71.6% of homes are owned outright or on a mortgage as of the 2011 census across the Uttlesford district.[6]

History

Saffron Walden 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.

The boundaries were redrawn under the Representation of the People Act 1918, then remained virtually unchanged until changes brought in for the 2010 general election by the Fifth Periodic Review of Westminster constituencies.

This has been a Conservative safe seat based on election results since 1922, in which period the majorities have occasionally been marginal. However, the constituency now has a Conservative majority of over 27,000.

Boundaries and boundary changes

1885–1918
  • The Borough of Saffron Walden;
  • The Sessional Divisions of Freshwell, Hinckford North, and Walden:
  • Part of the Sessional Division of Hinckford South (Halstead Bench);
  • The part of the Borough of Sudbury in the county of Essex; and
  • The parish of Thaxted.[7]

Formed from northern parts of the abolished West Division of Essex including the Municipal Borough of Saffron Walden, and northern parts of the abolished East Division.

1918–1950

Gained northern parts of Epping, including Great Dunmow and Hatfield Broad Oak, and northern parts of Maldon, including Halstead. Other minor changes.

1950–1974
  • The Borough of Saffron Walden;
  • The Urban District of Halstead;
  • The Rural Districts of Dunmow, Halstead, and Saffron Walden; and
  • The Rural District of Braintree parishes of Bardfield Saling and Great Bardfield.[9]

Local authorities re-organised – only nominal changes to boundaries of constituency.

1974–1983
  • The Borough of Saffron Walden;
  • The Urban District of Halstead; and
  • The Rural Districts of Dunmow, Halstead, and Saffron Walden.[10]

The two small parishes within the Rural District of Braintree were included in the new constituency of Braintree.

1983–1997
  • The District of Uttlesford; and
  • The District of Braintree wards of Bumpstead, Castle Hedingham, Colne Engaine and Greenstead Green, Earls Colne, Gosfield, Halstead St Andrews, Halstead Trinity, Sible Hedingham, Stour Valley Central, Stour Valley North, Stour Valley South, Upper Colne, and Yeldham.[11]

Local authorities re-organised – no changes to boundaries of constituency.

1997–2010
  • The District of Uttlesford; and
  • The District of Braintree wards of Bumpstead, Castle Hedingham, Colne Engaine and Greenstead Green, Halstead St Andrews, Halstead Trinity, Sible Hedingham, Stour Valley Central, Stour Valley North, Stour Valley South, Upper Colne, and Yeldham.[12]

Two small wards (Earls Colne and Gosfield) transferred to Braintree.

2010–present
  • The District of Uttlesford; and
  • The Borough of Chelmsford wards of Boreham and The Leighs, Broomfield and The Walthams, Chelmsford Rural West, and Writtle.[13]

The 2010 redistribution resulted in a major change, with eastern areas in the District of Braintree, including Halstead, being transferred to Braintree. Extended southwards to incorporate northern and western rural areas of the Borough of Chelmsford, including Writtle, which were transferred from the abolished constituency of West Chelmsford.

Members of Parliament

Since the snap election in 2017, this safe Conservative seat has been represented by Kemi Badenoch. It was held for many years by former Chancellor of the Exchequer Rab Butler and by former Deputy Speaker of the House of Commons Sir Alan Haselhurst.

ElectionMember[14]Party
1885 Herbert Gardner Liberal
1895 Charles Gold Liberal
1900 Armine Wodehouse Liberal
1901 Joseph Pease Liberal
1910 Douglas Proby Conservative
1910 Cecil Beck Liberal
1919 Coalition Liberal
1921 Independent Parliamentary Group
1922 William Foot Mitchell Unionist
1929 Rab Butler Conservative
1965 by-election Sir Peter Kirk Conservative
1977 by-election Sir Alan Haselhurst Conservative
2017 Kemi Badenoch Conservative

Elections

Elections in the 2010s
General election 2019: Saffron Walden[15]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Kemi Badenoch 39,714 63.0 +1.2
Liberal Democrats Mike Hibbs 12,120 19.2 +5.2
Labour Thomas Van De Bilt 8,305 13.2 -7.6
Green Coby Wing 2,947 4.7 New
Majority 27,594 43.8 +2.8
Turnout 63,086 72.5 -0.6
Conservative hold Swing -2.0
General election 2017: Saffron Walden
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Kemi Badenoch 37,629 61.8 +4.6
Labour Jane Berney 12,663 20.8 +9.0
Liberal Democrats Mike Hibbs 8,528 14.0 +3.4
UKIP Lorna Howe 2,091 3.4 -10.4
Majority 24,966 41.0 -2.4
Turnout 60,911 73.1 +1.7
Conservative hold Swing -2.2
General election 2015: Saffron Walden[16]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Alan Haselhurst 32,926 57.2 +1.8
UKIP Peter Day 7,935 13.8 +9.6
Labour Jane Berney 6,791 11.8 +2.1
Liberal Democrats Mike Hibbs 6,079 10.6 −16.8
Green Karmel Stannard 2,174 3.8 +2.4
R4U Heather Asker 1,658 2.9 New
Majority 24,991 43.4 +15.4
Turnout 57,563 71.4 -0.2
Conservative hold Swing −4.0
General election 2010: Saffron Walden[17]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Alan Haselhurst 30,155 55.4 +4.6
Liberal Democrats Peter Wilcock 14,913 27.4 −2.2
Labour Barbara Light 5,288 9.7 −4.5
UKIP Roger Lord 2,288 4.2 +1.5
BNP Chrissie Mitchell 1,050 1.9 New
Green Reza Hossain 735 1.4 New
Majority 15,242 28.0 +3.5
Turnout 54,429 71.6 +2.8
Conservative hold Swing +3.4

Elections in the 2000s
General election 2005: Saffron Walden
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Alan Haselhurst 27,263 51.4 +2.5
Liberal Democrats Elfreda Tealby-Watson 14,255 26.9 +2.0
Labour Swatantra Nandanwar 8,755 16.5 −6.1
UKIP Raymond Tyler 1,412 2.7 −0.8
English Democrat Raymond Brown 860 1.6 New
Veritas Trevor Hackett 475 0.9 New
Majority 13,008 24.5 +0.5
Turnout 53,020 68.3 +3.1
Conservative hold Swing +0.3
General election 2001: Saffron Walden
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Alan Haselhurst 24,485 48.9 +3.6
Liberal Democrats Elfreda Tealby-Watson 12,481 24.9 −1.9
Labour Tania Rogers 11,305 22.6 +1.1
UKIP Richard Glover 1,769 3.5 +2.3
Majority 12,004 24.0 +5.5
Turnout 50,040 65.2 −11.7
Conservative hold Swing +2.3

Elections in the 1990s
General election 1997: Saffron Walden
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Alan Haselhurst 25,871 45.3 -11.3
Liberal Democrats Melvin H. Caton 15,298 26.8 −1.8
Labour Malcolm J. Fincken 12,275 21.5 +7.2
Referendum Richard Glover 2,308 4.0 New
UKIP Ian Evans 658 1.2 New
Independent Barry Tyler 486 0.9 New
Natural Law Christopher Edwards 154 0.3 −0.1
Majority 10,573 18.5 −13.1
Turnout 57,050 76.9 −6.3
Conservative hold Swing −6.6
General election 1992: Saffron Walden[18]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Alan Haselhurst 35,272 56.6 −1.1
Liberal Democrats Mark Hayes 17,848 28.6 −0.4
Labour John Kotz 8,933 14.3 +2.8
Natural Law Michael D. Miller 260 0.4 New
Majority 17,424 28.0 −0.7
Turnout 62,313 83.2 +4.2
Conservative hold Swing −0.4

Elections in the 1980s
General election 1987: Saffron Walden
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Alan Haselhurst 33,354 57.7 −0.1
Liberal Mark Hayes 16,752 29.0 −0.3
Labour Robert Gifford 6,674 11.5 +0.1
Green George Hannah 816 1.4 New
All Party Anti-Common Market Oliver Smedley 217 0.4 −1.1
Majority 16,602 28.7 +0.1
Turnout 57,813 79.0 +2.1
Conservative hold Swing +0.1
General election 1983: Saffron Walden
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Alan Haselhurst 30,869 57.8 +5.0
SDP John Torode 15,620 29.3 New
Labour RP Trory 6,078 11.4 -8.5
All Party Anti-Common Market Oliver Smedley 797 1.5 New
Majority 15,249 28.6 -0.3
Turnout 53,364 76.9 -4.7
Conservative hold Swing

Elections in the 1970s
General election 1979: Saffron Walden
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Alan Haselhurst 28,563 53.81
Liberal Andrew Phillips 13,200 24.87
Labour Ben Stoneham 10,547 19.87
Independent Oliver Smedley 425 0.80 New
National Front R Bailey 342 0.64 New
Majority 15,363 28.94
Turnout 53,077 81.61
Conservative hold Swing
1977 Saffron Walden by-election
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Alan Haselhurst 22,692 55.74 +12.03
Liberal Andrew Phillips 10,255 25.19 -5.13
Labour Ben Stoneham 5,948 14.61 -11.36
All Party Anti-Common Market Oliver Smedley 1,818 4.47 New
Majority 12,437 30.55
Turnout 40,713
Conservative hold Swing
General election October 1974: Saffron Walden
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Peter Kirk 21,291 43.71
Liberal Frank P D Moore 14,770 30.32
Labour H Green 12,652 25.97
Majority 6,521 13.39
Turnout 48,713 78.07
Conservative hold Swing
General election February 1974: Saffron Walden
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Peter Kirk 23,013 44.58
Liberal Frank P D Moore 15,468 29.97
Labour J Dowsett 13,138 25.45
Majority 7,545 14.61
Turnout 51,619 83.40
Conservative hold Swing
General election 1970: Saffron Walden
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Peter Kirk 24,549 52.92
Labour Ken Weetch 14,885 32.08
Liberal Frank P D Moore 6,959 15.00
Majority 9,664 20.84
Turnout 46,393 77.24
Conservative hold Swing

Elections in the 1960s
General election 1966: Saffron Walden
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Peter Kirk 20,441 47.42
Labour Stephen Haseler 17,176 39.85
Liberal Frank P D Moore 5,487 12.73
Majority 3,265 7.57
Turnout 43,104 82.54
Conservative hold Swing
Saffron Walden by-election, 1965
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Peter Kirk 18,851 48.5 -0.8
Labour Michael D Cornish 15,358 39.5 +2.0
Liberal Frank P D Moore 4,626 11.9 -1.4
Majority 3,493 9.0 -2.8
Turnout 38,835
Conservative hold Swing
General election 1964: Saffron Walden
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Rab Butler 20,610 49.3
Labour Michael D Cornish 15,655 37.5
Liberal Frank P D Moore 6,189 13.3
Majority 4,955 11.85
Turnout 42,454 82.41
Conservative hold Swing

Elections in the 1950s
General election 1959: Saffron Walden
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Rab Butler 20,955 53.22
Labour Hampden N Horne 14,173 36.00
Liberal David J Ridley 4,245 10.78
Majority 6,782 17.22
Turnout 39,373 81.26
Conservative hold Swing
General election 1955: Saffron Walden
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Rab Butler 20,671 54.21
Labour Hampden N Horne 14,253 37.28
Liberal Helen G Carson 3,209 8.42
Majority 6,418 16.83
Turnout 38,133 79.57
Conservative hold Swing
General election 1951: Saffron Walden
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Rab Butler 20,564 51.95
Labour Reginald Groves 15,245 38.51
Liberal Oliver Smedley 3,774 9.53
Majority 5,319 13.44
Turnout 39,583 82.75
Conservative hold Swing
General election 1950: Saffron Walden
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Rab Butler 19,797 49.91
Labour Sidney Stanley Wilson 14,908 37.58
Liberal Oliver Smedley 4,963 12.51
Majority 4,889 12.33
Turnout 39,668 84.40
Conservative hold Swing

Election in the 1940s
General election 1945: Saffron Walden
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Rab Butler 16,950 46.90
Labour Sidney Stanley Wilson 15,792 43.70
Liberal George Adolphus Edinger 3,395 9.39 New
Majority 1,158 3.20
Turnout 36,137 74.64
Conservative hold Swing

Elections in the 1930s

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;

General election 1935: Saffron Walden
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Rab Butler 19,669 67.13
Labour Clara Rackham 9,633 32.87
Majority 10,036 34.26
Turnout 29,302 68.55
Conservative hold Swing
General election 1931: Saffron Walden
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Rab Butler 22,501 77.67
Labour Sidney Stanley Wilson 6,468 22.33
Majority 16,033 55.34
Turnout 28,969 70.38
Conservative hold Swing
  • The Liberal candidate, Arthur Musgrove Mathews withdrew at the last minute

Elections in the 1920s
General election 1929: Saffron Walden [20]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Unionist Rab Butler 13,561 44.5 -7.1
Labour William Cash 8,642 28.3 +1.7
Liberal Arthur Musgrove Mathews 8,307 27.2 +5.4
Majority 4,919 16.2 -8.8
Turnout 30,510 75.8 +2.7
Unionist hold Swing -4.4
General election 1924: Saffron Walden[20]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Unionist William Foot Mitchell 12,289 51.6 +7.3
Labour William Cash 6,340 26.6 -2.7
Liberal Arthur Musgrove Mathews 5,195 21.8 -4.4
Majority 5,949 25.0 +10.0
Turnout 23,824 73.1 +5.4
Unionist hold Swing
General election 1923: Saffron Walden[20]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Unionist William Foot Mitchell 9,652 44.3 +0.7
Labour William Cash 6,398 29.3 -0.8
Liberal Robert McNair Wilson 5,752 26.4 +13.8
Majority 3,254 15.0 +1.5
Turnout 21,802 67.7 -3.4
Unionist hold Swing -0.7
General election 1922: Saffron Walden[20]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Unionist William Foot Mitchell 9,844 43.6 New
Labour William Cash 6,797 30.1 +0.2
National Liberal William Dawson Harbinson 3,097 13.7 N/A
Liberal Robert McNair Wilson 2,853 12.6 -57.5
Majority 3,047 13.5 N/A
Turnout 22.591 71.1
Unionist gain from Liberal Swing

Elections in the 1910s
Sir Cecil Beck
General election 1918: Saffron Walden
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
C Liberal Cecil Beck 10,628 70.1 +19.9
Labour Jimmy Mallon 4,531 29.9 New
Majority 6,097 40.2 +39.8
Turnout 15,159 47.8 −40.4
Liberal hold Swing N/A
C indicates candidate endorsed by the coalition government.
By-election, 1915: Saffron Walden[21]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Cecil Beck Unopposed
Liberal hold
Cecil Beck
General election December 1910: Saffron Walden[21]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Cecil Beck 4,071 50.2 +1.8
Conservative Douglas Proby 4,031 49.8 −1.8
Majority 40 0.4 N/A
Turnout 8,102 88.2 −2.1
Registered electors 9,187
Liberal gain from Conservative Swing +1.8
General election January 1910: Saffron Walden[21]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Douglas Proby 4,283 51.6 +10.5
Liberal Jack Pease 4,011 48.4 −10.5
Majority 272 3.2 N/A
Turnout 8,294 90.3 +9.0
Registered electors 9,187
Conservative gain from Liberal Swing +10.5

Elections in the 1900s
Jack Pease
General election 1906: Saffron Walden[21]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Jack Pease 4,203 58.9 +8.0
Conservative Walter Barttelot 2,935 41.1 −8.0
Majority 1,268 17.8 +16.0
Turnout 7,138 81.3 +6.7
Registered electors 8,779
Liberal hold Swing +8.0
1901 Saffron Walden by-election[22][21]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Jack Pease 3,994 55.5 +4.6
Conservative Charles Wing Gray 3,202 44.5 −4.6
Majority 792 11.0 +9.2
Turnout 7,196 84.2 +7.6
Registered electors 8,550
Liberal hold Swing +4.6
General election 1900: Saffron Walden[21]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Armine Wodehouse 3,247 50.9 -2.1
Conservative Charles Wing Gray 3,137 49.1 +2.1
Majority 110 1.8 -4.2
Turnout 6,384 74.6 −6.0
Registered electors 8,556
Liberal hold Swing −2.1

Elections in the 1890s
General election 1895: Saffron Walden[21]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Charles Gold 3,806 53.0 −10.0
Conservative Charles Wing Gray 3,381 47.0 +10.0
Majority 425 6.0 −20.0
Turnout 7,187 80.6 +0.9
Registered electors 8,920
Liberal hold Swing −10.0
By-election, 19 Sep 1892: Saffron Walden[21]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Herbert Gardner Unopposed
Liberal hold
General election 1892: Saffron Walden[21]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Herbert Gardner 4,564 63.0 +8.0
Conservative Philip Vernon Smith[23] 2,683 37.0 −8.0
Majority 1,881 26.0 +16.0
Turnout 7,247 79.7 +0.4
Registered electors 9,098
Liberal hold Swing +8.0

Elections in the 1880s
General election 1886: Saffron Walden[21]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Herbert Gardner 4,059 55.0 −6.3
Conservative George William Brewis[24] 3,319 45.0 +6.3
Majority 740 10.0 −12.6
Turnout 7,378 79.3 −4.1
Registered electors 9,306
Liberal hold Swing −6.3
General election 1885: Saffron Walden[21]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Herbert Gardner 4,755 61.3
Conservative Charles Hedley Strutt 3,006 38.7
Majority 1,749 22.6
Turnout 7,761 83.4
Registered electors 9,306
Liberal win (new seat)

See also

Notes
  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
  1. "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.
  2. "Eastern | Boundary Commission for England". Boundary Commission for England. Retrieved 20 June 2023.
  3. "Grid Reference Finder". www.gridreferencefinder.com.
  4. "Local statistics – Office for National Statistics". neighbourhood.statistics.gov.uk.
  5. Unemployment claimants by constituency The Guardian
  6. "2011 census interactive maps". Archived from the original on 29 January 2016.
  7. Great Britain, Incorporated Council of Law Reporting for England and Wales. The public general acts. unknown library. Proprietors of the Law Journal Reports, 1884.
  8. Fraser, Hugh (1918). The Representation of the people act, 1918 : with explanatory notes. University of California Libraries. London : Sweet and Maxwell.
  9. "Representation of the People Act, 1948". www.legislation.gov.uk. Retrieved 6 September 2019.
  10. "The Parliamentary Constituencies (England) Order 1970". www.legislation.gov.uk. Retrieved 6 September 2019.
  11. "The Parliamentary Constituencies (England) Order 1983". www.legislation.gov.uk. Retrieved 6 September 2019.
  12. "The Parliamentary Constituencies (England) Order 1995". www.legislation.gov.uk. Retrieved 6 September 2019.
  13. "The Parliamentary Constituencies (England) Order 2007". www.legislation.gov.uk. Retrieved 6 September 2019.
  14. Leigh Rayment's Historical List of MPs – Constituencies beginning with "S" (part 1)
  15. "Saffron Walden Parliamentary constituency". BBC News. BBC. Retrieved 19 November 2019.
  16. "Election Data 2015". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 17 October 2015. Retrieved 17 October 2015.
  17. "Election Data 2010". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 26 July 2013. Retrieved 17 October 2015.
  18. "Politics Resources". Election 1992. Politics Resources. 9 April 1992. Retrieved 6 December 2010.
  19. Report of the Annual Conference of the Labour Party, 1939
  20. Craig, F. W. S. (1983). British parliamentary election results 1918–1949 (3 ed.). Chichester: Parliamentary Research Services. ISBN 0-900178-06-X.
  21. British parliamentary election results, 1885–1918 (Craig)
  22. The Times, 3 June 1901 p7
  23. "Saffron Walden". Herts & Cambs Reporter & Royston Crow. 18 September 1891. Retrieved 15 November 2017.
  24. "Saffron Walden Division". Essex Herald. 19 June 1886. p. 4. Retrieved 10 December 2017 – via British Newspaper Archive.

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51.95°N 0.35°E / 51.95; 0.35

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