South East Cambridgeshire (UK Parliament constituency)

South East Cambridgeshire is a constituency[n 1] represented in the House of Commons of the UK Parliament since 2015 by Lucy Frazer, a member of the Conservative Party who has served as the Culture Secretary since 2023.[n 2] It was established for the 1983 general election. The constituency has always been based on the cathedral city of Ely.

South East Cambridgeshire
County constituency
for the House of Commons
Outline map
Boundary of South East Cambridgeshire in Cambridgeshire
Outline map
Location of Cambridgeshire within England
CountyCambridgeshire
Electorate84,668 (2018)[1]
Major settlementsEly
Current constituency
Created1983
Member of ParliamentLucy Frazer (Conservative)
SeatsOne
Created fromCambridgeshire, Isle of Ely

Under the 2023 Periodic Review of Westminster constituencies, the constituency will be subject to major boundary changes. As a result, the seat will be renamed Ely and East Cambridgeshire, to be first contested at the next general election.[2]

History

The constituency was created in 1983 from parts of the former seats of Cambridgeshire and Isle of Ely. Its first MP, Francis Pym, was a Conservative Cabinet Minister, serving in roles such as Secretary of State for Northern Ireland (1973–1974) in the Heath government and Secretary of State for Defence (1979–1981), Leader of the House of Commons (1981–1982) and most prominently Foreign Secretary (1982–1983, during the Falklands War) under Margaret Thatcher. However, during the four years he served South East Cambridgeshire, he was a Tory 'wet' backbencher, having been sacked by Thatcher for famously remarking during the 1983 election that "Landslides don't on the whole produce successful governments".

It has to date been a safe Conservative seat, although in 2010 the margin was cut to a relatively small 10.3% by the Liberal Democrat candidate (possibly helped by controversies surrounding the Labour candidate). In 2015 and 2017 Labour achieved the largest increase in their share of the vote; in 2017 they achieved their highest ever vote share in the seat (27.7%) and overtook the Liberal Democrats for the first time since 1997; despite this, the Conservatives achieved over 50% of the vote in the seat for the first time since 1992.

According to approximate analysis of the 2016 EU membership referendum, South East Cambridgeshire (which is made up of wards from East Cambridgeshire District Council, which voted 51% to leave, as well as South Cambridgeshire District Council, which voted 60% to remain) voted 54% to remain in the EU.[3]

Constituency profile

The constituency is predominantly low-lying and agricultural, with many residents commuting to work in Cambridge. Workless claimants were in November 2012 significantly lower than the national average of 3.8%, at 1.4% of the population based on a statistical compilation by The Guardian.[4]

South East Cambridgeshire
Racial makeup (2021)[5]
 • White91.8%
 • Asian3.8%
 • Mixed2.4%
 • Black1.0%
 • Other0.9%
Religion (2021)
 • Christian47.3%
 • None42.8%
 • Not answered6.6%
 • Muslim1.1%
 • Hindu0.9%
 • Other0.5%
 • Buddhist0.5%
 • Jewish0.2%
 • Sikh0.1%

Boundaries and boundary changes

1983–1997
  • The District of East Cambridgeshire wards of Bottisham, Burwell, Cheveley, Dullingham Villages, Ely North, Ely South, Ely West, Fordham Villages, Isleham, Soham, The Swaffhams, and Woodditton; and
  • The District of South Cambridgeshire wards of Abington, Balsham, Bar Hill, Castle Camps, Coton, Cottenham, Elsworth, Fulbourn, Girton, Histon, Linton, Longstanton, Milton, Over, Swavesey, Teversham, The Wilbrahams, Waterbeach, and Willingham.[6]

The seat was created for the 1983 general election which followed on from the merger under the Local Government Act 1972, of the two administrative counties of Huntingdon and Peterborough and Cambridgeshire and Isle of Ely to form the non-metropolitan county of Cambridgeshire, with effect from 1 April 1974. It was formed from eastern parts of the abolished constituency of Cambridgeshire, together with the city of Ely, which had been in the abolished constituency of Isle of Ely.

1997–2010
  • The District of East Cambridgeshire wards of Bottisham, Burwell, Cheveley, Dullingham Villages, Ely North, Ely South, Ely West, Fordham Villages, Haddenham, Isleham, Soham, Stretham, The Swaffhams, Witchford, and Woodditton; and
  • The District of South Cambridgeshire wards of Abington, Balsham, Castle Camps, Cottenham, Fulbourn, Histon, Linton, Milton, Over, Teversham, The Wilbrahams, Waterbeach, and Willingham.[7]

The westernmost area was transferred to the new constituency of South Cambridgeshire.  Minor gain from North East Cambridgeshire.

2010–present
  • The District of East Cambridgeshire wards of Bottisham, Burwell, Cheveley, Dullingham Villages, Ely East, Ely North, Ely South, Ely West, Fordham Villages, Haddenham, Isleham, Soham North, Soham South, Stretham, and The Swaffhams; and
  • The District of South Cambridgeshire wards of Balsham, Fulbourn, Histon and Impington, Linton, Milton, Teversham, The Wilbrahams, Waterbeach, and Willingham and Over.[8]

Further minor loss to South Cambridgeshire.

The constituency includes the eastern half of South Cambridgeshire district and the southern part of East Cambridgeshire. Ely, the largest community, has cathedral city status, and there are many smaller settlements including Burwell, Fulbourn, Isleham, Linton, Milton, Soham and Waterbeach.

Members of Parliament
ElectionMember[9] Party
1983 Francis Pym Conservative
1987 Sir Jim Paice Conservative
2015 Lucy Frazer Conservative

Elections

Elections in the 2010s
General election 2019: South East Cambridgeshire[10]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Lucy Frazer 32,187 50.0 –3.3
Liberal Democrats Pippa Heylings 20,697 32.1 +13.1
Labour James Bull 10,492 16.3 –11.4
Independent Edmund Fordham 1,009 1.6 New
Majority 11,490 17.9 –7.7
Turnout 64,385 74.2 +1.0
Conservative hold Swing –8.3

Edmund Fordham was originally the Brexit Party candidate for the Bury St Edmunds constituency in the 2019 general election.[11][12][13]

General election 2017: South East Cambridgeshire[14][15]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Lucy Frazer 33,601 53.3 +4.8
Labour Huw Jones 17,443 27.7 +12.6
Liberal Democrats Lucy Nethsingha 11,958 19.0 –1.2
Majority 16,158 25.6 –2.7
Turnout 63,002 73.2 +2.8
Conservative hold Swing –3.8
General election 2015: South East Cambridgeshire[16][17]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Lucy Frazer[18][n 3] 28,845 48.5 +0.5
Liberal Democrats Jonathan Chatfield[18] 12,008 20.2 –17.6
Labour Huw Jones[18] 9,013 15.1 +7.5
UKIP Deborah Rennie[20] 6,593 11.1 +7.4
Green Clive Semmens[21] 3,047 5.1 +3.8
Majority 16,837 28.3 +17.9
Turnout 59,506 70.4 +1.1
Conservative hold Swing +9.0
General election 2010: South East Cambridgeshire[22][23]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative James Paice 27,629 48.0 +0.8[n 4]
Liberal Democrats Jonathan Chatfield 21,683 37.6 +6.2
Labour John Cowan 4,380 7.6 –13.8 [n 5]
UKIP Andy Monk 2,138 3.7 New
Green Simon Sedgwick-Jell 766 1.3 New
Independent Geoffrey Woollard 517 0.9 New
CPA Daniel Bell 489 0.8 New
Majority 5,946 10.4 –5.0
Turnout 57,602 69.3 +4.0
Conservative hold Swing –2.7

Elections in the 2000s
General election 2005: South East Cambridgeshire
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative James Paice 26,374 47.1 +2.9
Liberal Democrats Jonathan Chatfield 17,750 31.7 +4.8
Labour Fiona Ross 11,936 21.3 –5.1
Majority 8,624 15.4 –1.9
Turnout 56,060 65.3 +1.8
Conservative hold Swing –1.0
General election 2001: South East Cambridgeshire
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative James Paice 22,927 44.2 +1.3
Liberal Democrats Sal Brinton 13,937 26.9 +1.8
Labour Andrew Inchley 13,714 26.4 –0.1
UKIP Neil Scarr 1,308 2.5 New
Majority 8,990 17.3 0.0
Turnout 51,886 63.5 –10.6
Conservative hold Swing –0.3

Elections in the 1990s
General election 1997: South East Cambridgeshire
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative James Paice 24,397 42.9 –15.0
Labour Rex Collinson 15,048 26.5 +6.5
Liberal Democrats Sal Brinton 14,246 25.1 +4.8
Referendum John Howlett 2,838 5.0 New
Building a Fair Society Karl Lam 167 0.3 New
Natural Law Peter While 111 0.2 –0.2
Majority 9,349 17.3 –20.2
Turnout 56,807 75.1 –5.5
Conservative hold Swing –10.8
General election 1992: South East Cambridgeshire[26]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative James Paice 36,693 57.9 –0.9
Liberal Democrats Ronald Wotherspoon 12,883 20.3 –7.2
Labour Arthur Jones 12,688 20.0 +6.3
Green John Marsh 836 1.3 New
Natural Law Bridget Langridge 231 0.4 New
Majority 23,810 37.5 +6.2
Turnout 63,331 80.6 +3.2
Conservative hold Swing +3.2

Elections in the 1980s
General election 1987: South East Cambridgeshire[27]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative James Paice 32,901 58.8 +1.2
SDP Peter Lee 15,399 27.5 –2.3
Labour Thomas Ling 7,694 13.7 +1.1
Majority 17,502 31.3 +3.5
Turnout 55,994 77.4 +3.2
Conservative hold Swing +1.8
General election 1983: South East Cambridgeshire[27]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Francis Pym 28,555 57.6
SDP Christopher Slee 14,791 29.8
Labour Mary Jackson 6,261 12.6
Majority 13,764 27.8
Turnout 49,607 74.2
Conservative 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.
  3. Note: In January 2014 Lucy Frazer, a barrister, was "reaffirmed" as Conservative candidate for South East Cambridgeshire on Friday despite claims that she had been beaten in an open primary by another woman, Heidi Allen,[19] who is the Conservative candidate in the neighbouring constituency, South Cambridgeshire.
  4. Percentage changes based on 2005 notional results due to boundary changes
  5. Note: In April 2010 John Cowan was suspended from the Labour Party following controversy over comments he had made which, if elected, would have led to a period as an independent MP. As nominations for candidates had closed, Labour were unable to replace him, nor did he withdraw his candidature.[24] He had previously been expelled from the Liberal Democrats.[25]

References
  1. "England Parliamentary electorates 2010-2018". Boundary Commission for England. Archived from the original on 23 March 2019. Retrieved 23 March 2019.
  2. "Eastern | Boundary Commission for England". Boundary Commission for England. Retrieved 20 June 2023.
  3. Baxter, Martin. "Cambridgeshire South East: Seat, Ward and Prediction Details". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 1 March 2017.
  4. Unemployment claimants by constituency Archived 2017-08-02 at the Wayback Machine The Guardian
  5. https://commonslibrary.parliament.uk/topic/home-affairs/communities/demography/census/
  6. "The Parliamentary Constituencies (England) Order 1983". www.legislation.gov.uk. Archived from the original on 29 January 2019. Retrieved 6 March 2019.
  7. "The Parliamentary Constituencies (England) Order 1995". www.legislation.gov.uk. Archived from the original on 29 January 2019. Retrieved 6 March 2019.
  8. "The Parliamentary Constituencies (England) Order 2007". www.legislation.gov.uk. Archived from the original on 20 November 2018. Retrieved 6 March 2019.
  9. Leigh Rayment's Historical List of MPs – Constituencies beginning with "C" (part 1)
  10. "Cambridgeshire South East Parliamentary constituency". BBC News. Archived from the original on 8 May 2015. Retrieved 19 November 2019.
  11. "Brexit Party names its Bury St Edmunds prospective parliamentary candidate". 16 September 2019. Archived from the original on 8 November 2019. Retrieved 20 January 2020.
  12. "'Disappointment' at Brexit Party's election decision to withdraw from Conservative seats". 11 November 2019. Archived from the original on 12 November 2019. Retrieved 18 November 2019.
  13. "General Election 2019: South East Cambridgeshire candidates answer four key questions". 4 December 2019. Archived from the original on 3 January 2020. Retrieved 20 January 2020.
  14. Hill, John (11 May 2017). "PARLIAMENTARY ELECTION THURSDAY, 8 JUNE 2017, SOUTH EAST CAMBRIDGESHIRE CONSTITUENCY. STATEMENT AS TO PERSONS NOMINATED AND NOTICE OF POLL" (PDF). East Cambridgeshire District Council. Archived (PDF) from the original on 19 May 2017. Retrieved 13 May 2017.
  15. "Candidates standing in the General Election in Cambridgeshire". ITV News. 12 May 2017. Archived from the original on 5 October 2019. Retrieved 5 October 2019.
  16. "Election Data 2015". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 17 October 2015. Retrieved 17 October 2015.
  17. "Election 2019: Cambridgeshire South East". BBC News. Archived from the original on 8 May 2015. Retrieved 21 June 2018.
  18. "UK ELECTION RESULTS: CAMBRIDGESHIRE SOUTH EAST 2015". Archived from the original on 5 October 2019. Retrieved 5 October 2019.
  19. "The battle of the Tory women: Farcical scenes after 'invalid' vote to select candidate for safe seat". Independent. 12 January 2014. Archived from the original on 9 August 2017. Retrieved 2 November 2017.
  20. "The Cambridge & South East Cambs Branch of the UK Independence Party". ukip-cambridge.org. Archived from the original on 5 December 2014. Retrieved 29 November 2014.
  21. "Clive Semmens confirmed as candidate for South East Cambridgeshire seat". eastcambs.greenparty.org.uk. Archived from the original on 5 October 2019. Retrieved 5 October 2019.
  22. http://www.scambs.gov.uk/admin/documents/retrieve.asp?pk_document=908869%5B%5D
  23. "Election 2010: Cambridgeshire South East". BBC News. Archived from the original on 26 November 2021. Retrieved 8 May 2010.
  24. "Labour axes Muslim row candidate". BBC News. 26 April 2010.
  25. "General Election 2010: Labour suspends candidate over online messages". The Daily Telegraph. London. 26 April 2010. Archived from the original on 22 March 2016. Retrieved 2 April 2018.
  26. "Politics Resources". Election 1992. Politics Resources. 9 April 1992. Archived from the original on 15 December 2009. Retrieved 6 December 2010.
  27. "British Parliamentary Election results 1983-97: English Counties". www.election.demon.co.uk. Archived from the original on 19 August 2000. Retrieved 4 May 2010.

52.131°N 0.310°E / 52.131; 0.310

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