Cambridge_(UK_Parliament_constituency)

Cambridge (UK Parliament constituency)

Parliamentary constituency in the United Kingdom since 1801

"Cambridge constituency" redirects here. For the university constituency (1603–1950), see Cambridge University (UK Parliament constituency). For the Canadian riding of the same name, see Cambridge (federal electoral district).

Cambridge is a constituency^{[n 1]} represented in the House of Commons of the UK Parliament since 2015 by Daniel Zeichner of the Labour Party.^{[n 2]}

Quick Facts County, Population ...

Cambridge
Borough constituency for the House of Commons
Boundary of Cambridge in Cambridgeshire
Location of Cambridgeshire within England
County	Cambridgeshire
Population	114,740 (2011 census)^[1]
Electorate	74,628 (2018)^[2]
Major settlements	Cambridge, Trumpington
Current constituency
Created	1295
Member of Parliament	Daniel Zeichner (Labour)
Seats	1295–1885: Two 1885–present: One

Centred on the university city of Cambridge, it is one of the country's oldest continuously constituted constituencies. It was created in 1295 and returned two Members of Parliament (MPs) and was represented in the House of Commons of England until 1707, then in the House of Commons of Great Britain from 1707 to 1800, and then in the House of Commons of the United Kingdom from 1801 to 1885. From 1885 onwards, the seat has elected one MP.

It was held by the Conservatives from 1967 to 1992, since when it has been represented alternately by both Labour and the Liberal Democrats.

In the 2016 referendum to leave the European Union, the constituency voted 73.8% to remain.^[3]

Constituency profile

The current constituency covers the majority of the city of Cambridge, including the areas of Arbury (which contains some social housing), Chesterton, Newnham, Cherry Hinton and the village of Trumpington; but the city's Queen Edith's ward (which includes Addenbrooke's Hospital and Homerton College) is in the neighbouring South Cambridgeshire constituency.

Residents are healthier and wealthier than the UK average.^[4]

History

Overview of results before 1992

Cambridge returned two Members to Parliament from 1295 until 1885, using the bloc vote system.^[5] These were generally townsmen who were involved in local government, with at least sixty mayors of Cambridge having served as MP by 1621.^[5] Under the Redistribution of Seats Act 1885 representation was reduced to one member, using the first-past-the-post system, with effect from the 1885 general election.^[5]

From 1910 to 1992, Cambridge was won by the Conservatives, save for 1945 to 1950 and 1966 to 1968, when it was Labour-held with small majorities.

Related extra representation 1603–1950

Historically, the city of Cambridge retained some electors, and was often the source of MPs to a second constituency, for Cambridge University, covering all successful alumni in its electorate. The university seat was created in 1603 as part of the scheme of University constituencies. Its MPs included Isaac Newton, William Pitt the Younger, Lord Palmerston, George Stokes, Richard Jebb, and Archibald Hill before abolition in 1950.

Overview of results since 1992

In 1992, Cambridge was won by Labour's Anne Campbell, who held onto the seat for 13 years (three Parliamentary terms). In 2005, it was taken by David Howarth of the Liberal Democrats, the first time the party (including its two forerunner parties) had taken the seat since the 1906 Liberal-progressive landslide; his successor, Julian Huppert, held the seat with an increased majority in the 2010 general election. In 2015, Huppert was unseated by the Labour candidate, Daniel Zeichner, who took the seat with a thin majority of 599 votes. The 2015 result gave the seat the 7th-smallest majority of Labour's 232 seats by percentage of majority.^[6] Zeichner went on to hold the seat at the 2017 and 2019 elections with comfortable majorities.

Most recent results of other parties

In 2015, three other parties candidates kept their deposits, by winning more than 5% of the vote. In order of public preference, these candidates stood for the Conservatives, Green Party and UKIP, respectively.

Turnout since 1918

Turnout at general elections has ranged between 86.48% in 1950 to 60.6% in 2001.

Boundaries and boundary changes

1868–1918

The Borough of Cambridge, plus the village of Chesterton.^[7]

1918–1950

The Borough of Cambridge.^[8]

Under the Representation of the People Act 1918, the boundaries were expanded to align with those of the Municipal Borough, incorporating further parts of the former Urban District of Chesterton to the north, and the parish of Cambridge Without to the south.

1950–1983

The Borough of Cambridge, but with redrawn boundaries.^[8]

Under the Representation of the People Act 1948, the boundaries were further expanded for the 1950 general election.

Map of present boundaries

1983–2010

The City of Cambridge wards of Abbey, Arbury, Castle, Cherry Hinton, Coleridge, East Chesterton, King's Hedges, Market, Newnham, Petersfield, Romsey, and West Chesterton.^[9]^[10]

The Queen Edith's and Trumpington wards were included in South West Cambridgeshire (South Cambridgeshire from 1997).

2010–present

The City of Cambridge wards of Abbey, Arbury, Castle, Cherry Hinton, Coleridge, East Chesterton, King's Hedges, Market, Newnham, Petersfield, Romsey, Trumpington, and West Chesterton.^[11]

Trumpington ward returned from South Cambridgeshire.

Proposed

Further to the 2023 Periodic Review of Westminster constituencies, enacted by the Parliamentary Constituencies Order 2023, the composition of the constituency from the next general election, due by January 2025, will be reduced in size by the transfer of the Cherry Hinton ward to South Cambridgeshire.^[12]

Members of Parliament

Constituency created (1295)

MPs 1295–1660

More information Parliament, First member ...

Parliament	First member	Second member
1386	Robert Brigham	John Herries^[13]
1388 (Feb)	John Cotton	John Camp^[13]
1388 (Sep)	John Blankpayn	John Marshall^[13]
1390 (Jan)	Richard Maisterman	Robert Goodrich^[13]
1390 (Nov)
1391	John Camp	John Payn^[13]
1393	John Herries	Robert Goodrich^[13]
1394	Robert Brigham	Robert Goodrich^[13]
1395	Robert Brigham	John Thriplow^[13]
1397 (Jan)	Hugh Candlesby	John Thriplow^[13]
1397 (Sep)	Thomas Trivet	Simon Bentbow^[13]
1399	Hugh Candlesby	William Salle^[13]
1401
1402	Robert Brigham	Thomas Trivet^[13]
1404 (Jan)
1404 (Oct)
1406	John Knapton	John Bilney^[13]
1407	Simon Bentbow	Thomas Beverley^[13]
1410
1411	John Bush	John Alderhithe^[13]
1413 (Feb)
1413 (May)	Stephen Neel	Robert Attilbridge^[13]
1414 (Apr)	John Beverley	John Warwick^[13]
1414 (Nov)	John Greenlane	John Hokington^[13]
1415	John Knapton	Thomas Beverley^[13]
1416 (Mar)	John Bilney	John Sexton^[13]
1416 (Oct)
1417	John Bilney	Robert Attilbridge^[13]
1419	John Knapton	Henry Topcliffe^[13]
1420	John Cappe	Henry Topcliffe^[13]
1421 (May)	John Greenlane	John Bilney^[13]
1421 (Dec)	Richard Andrew	William Wedgwood^[13]
1447	John Say
1510	No names known^[14]
1512	John Bury	John Erlich^[14]
1515	?
1523	?
1529	Thomas Brakyn	Robert Chapman^[14]
1536	Thomas Brakyn	Robert Chapman^[14]
1539	Thomas Brakyn	Robert Chapman^[14]
1542	Thomas Brakyn	Edward Slegge^[14]
1545	John Rust	Simon Trew^[14]
1547	John Fanne, died and replaced Jan 1552 by John Rust	Richard Brakyn^[14]
1553 (Mar)	Robert Chapman	Alexander Ray^[14]
1553 (Oct)	James Fletcher	Richard Brakyn^[14]
1554 (Apr)	John Rust	Richard Brakyn^[14]
1554 (Nov)	Robert Chapman	Richard Brassney^[14]
1555	Alexander Ray	Lawrence Hawes^[14]
1558	John Line	Thomas Ventris^[14]
1558–1559	Thomas Ventris	Roger Slegge^[15]
1562–1563	Henry Serle	Roger Slegge^[15]
1571 (Mar)	Robert Shute	Roger Slegge^[15]
1572 (Apr)	Robert Shute, became a judge and replaced Jan 1581 by John North	Roger Slegge^[15]
1584 (Nov)	Henry North	Roger Slegge^[15]
1586 (Oct)	John Edmonds	Roger Slegge^[15]
1588 (Oct)	Nicholas Gaunte	Roger Slegge^[15]
1593	Thomas Goldsborough	Christopher Hodson^[15]
1597 (Oct)	Robert Wallis	John Yaxley^[15]
1601 (Oct)	Robert Wallis	John Yaxley^[15]
1604	Robert Wallis	John Yaxley
1614	Sir Robert Hitcham	Francis Brakin
1621	Richard Foxton	Thomas Meautys
1621 (Mar)	Sir John Hobart	Thomas Meautys
1624	Francis Brakyn	Robert Luckyn
1625	Talbot Pepys	Thomas Meautys
1626	John Thompson	Thomas Meautys
1628	Thomas Purchase	Thomas Meautys
1629–1640	No Parliaments summoned
1640 (Apr)	Oliver Cromwell	Thomas Meautys
1640 (Nov)	Oliver Cromwell	John Lowry
1653	Cambridge not represented in Barebone's Parliament
1654	Richard Timbs	(one member only)
1656	Richard Timbs	(one member only)
1659	John Lowry	Richard Timbs

MPs 1660–1885

More information Election, 1st Member ...

Election	1st Member^[16]		1st Party		2nd Party
1660		Sir Dudley North		Sir Thomas Wills, Bt
1661		Sir William Compton		Roger Pepys
1664		The Lord Alington		Roger Pepys
1679		The Lord Alington		Sir Thomas Chicheley
1685		Sir William Wren
1689		Sir John Cotton, Bt
1690		Sir John Cotton, Bt		Granado Pigot
1695		John Pepys		Isaac Watlington
1696		Sir John Cotton, Bt		Isaac Watlington
1698		Sir John Cotton, Bt		Sir Henry Pickering, Bt
1702		Anthony Thompson		Sir Henry Pickering, Bt
1705		Anthony Thompson		Sir John Cotton, Bt
1708		Sir John Hynde Cotton, Bt	Tory	Samuel Shepheard
January 1715				Thomas Sclater	Tory
May 1715				Samuel Shepheard
January 1722				Thomas Bacon	Tory
October 1722		Gilbert Affleck
1727		Sir John Hynde Cotton, Bt
1737		Sir John Hynde Cotton, Bt		Gilbert Affleck
1741		Viscount Dupplin	Whig	James Martin
1744				Christopher Jeaffreson
1747				Samuel Shepheard
1748				Christopher Jeaffreson
1749				Charles Cadogan	Tory^[17]
1754				Hon. Thomas Bromley	Whig
1755				Charles Cadogan	Tory^[17]
1758		Soame Jenyns	Tory^[17]	Charles Cadogan	Tory^[17]
1776		Soame Jenyns	Tory^[17]	Benjamin Keene	Tory^[17]
1780		James Whorwood Adeane	Tory^[17]	Benjamin Keene	Tory^[17]
1784				John Mortlock	Whig^[17]
1788				Francis Dickins	Tory^[17]
1789		Edward Finch	Tory^[17]	Francis Dickins	Tory^[17]
1791		Edward Finch	Tory^[17]	Robert Manners	Tory^[17]
1819		Frederick Trench	Tory^[17]	Robert Manners	Tory^[17]
1820				Charles Madryll Cheere	Tory^[17]
1825				Marquess of Graham	Tory^[17]
1832		George Pryme	Whig^[17]^[18]	Thomas Spring Rice	Whig^[17]
1839				John Manners-Sutton	Conservative^[17]
1840				Sir Alexander Grant, Bt	Conservative^[17]
1841		Hon. John Manners-Sutton	Conservative^[17]	Sir Alexander Grant, Bt	Conservative^[17]
1843		Hon. John Manners-Sutton	Conservative^[17]	Fitzroy Kelly	Conservative^[17]
1847		Robert Adair	Whig^[19]^[20]^[21]^[22]^[23]	Hon. William Campbell	Whig^[22]^[23]
1852		Kenneth Macaulay	Conservative	John Harvey Astell	Conservative
March 1853	Writ suspended^[24]
1854		Robert Adair	Radical^[25]^[26]^[27]	Francis Mowatt	Radical^[28]^[29]
1857		Kenneth Macaulay	Conservative	Andrew Steuart	Conservative
1863		Kenneth Macaulay	Conservative	Francis Powell	Conservative
1865		William Forsyth	Conservative
1866		John Eldon Gorst	Conservative
1868		Robert Torrens	Liberal	William Fowler	Liberal
1874		Alfred Marten	Conservative	Patrick Smollett	Conservative
1880		William Fowler	Liberal	Hugh Shield	Liberal
1885	representation reduced to one member

MPs since 1885

More information Election, Member ...

	Member^[16]^[30]	Party
1885	Robert Uniacke-Penrose-Fitzgerald	Conservative
1906	Stanley Buckmaster	Liberal
Jan 1910	Almeric Paget	Conservative
1917 by-election	Sir Eric Geddes	Coalition Conservative
1922 by-election	Sir George Newton	Conservative
1934 by-election	Richard Tufnell	Conservative
1945	Arthur Symonds	Labour
1950	Sir Hamilton Kerr, Bt.	Conservative
1966	Robert Davies	Labour
1967 by-election	David Lane	Conservative
1976 by-election	Robert Rhodes James	Conservative
1992	Anne Campbell	Labour
2005	David Howarth	Liberal Democrat
2010	Julian Huppert	Liberal Democrat
2015	Daniel Zeichner	Labour