Bracknell (UK Parliament constituency)
Bracknell | |
---|---|
County constituency for the House of Commons | |
![]() Boundaries since 2024 | |
![]() Boundary of Bracknell in South East England | |
County | Berkshire |
Population | 104,849 (2011 census)[1] |
Electorate | 70,247 (2023) [2] |
Major settlements | Bracknell, Sandhurst, Crowthorne |
Current constituency | |
Created | 1997 |
Member of Parliament | Peter Swallow (Labour) |
Seats | One |
Created from | East Berkshire |
Bracknell is a constituency[n 1] in Berkshire represented in the House of Commons of the UK Parliament since 2024 by Peter Swallow, from the Labour Party.[n 2] It was created for the 1997 general election, largely replacing the abolished county constituency of East Berkshire.
Constituency profile
[edit]The seat covers the entirety of the town of Bracknell, as well as Sandhurst and Crowthorne - albeit the Crowthorne urban area is split with Wokingham. Additionally, it includes Quelm Park, Martins Heron, The Warren, Forest Park, and Whitegrove.
History
[edit]From creation in 1997 until 2010, Bracknell's MP was Andrew MacKay of the Conservative Party, who represented the old seat of East Berkshire from 1983. On 14 May 2009, he resigned from his position as parliamentary aide to David Cameron in the wake of a major scandal over his Parliamentary expenses. MacKay and his wife, fellow Tory MP Julie Kirkbride, had wrongfully claimed over £250,000 from the taxpayer for mortgage payments for second homes, in a case of so-called 'double-dipping'. They also wrongfully claimed for each other's travel costs. At a hastily called meeting with his constituents in Bracknell to explain the "unacceptable" expenses claims, Mr MacKay was jeered and called a "thieving toad". A video of the angry meeting was leaked to the press and, after an urgent phone call from David Cameron the next day, MacKay agreed to stand down at the 2010 general election. The Conservative Party chose Phillip Lee, a general practitioner, as its new candidate in an American-style open primary, involving seven candidates including Rory Stewart and Iain Dale in a contest open to all registered Bracknell voters.[3]
- 2010 election
Lee went on to become the next MP in an election which saw the share of the vote for the Labour Party fall by 11.1%. The Liberal Democrats saw the biggest rise in support of all the parties (+4.5%), overtaking Labour to gain second place behind the Conservative Party. UKIP saw a slight rise in support to 4.4% of the vote. The 2010 election also saw for the first time the Green Party and British National Party vying for the seat.
- 2017 election
Lee held his seat at the 2017 general election.[4] He gained 3.1% of votes, but Labour increased its share by 13.3%. Lee received 32,882 votes, Paul Bidwell (Labour) in second place had 16,866 votes.[5] On 3 September 2019, Lee resigned from the Conservative party to join the Liberal Democrats due to the Conservative party's support for Brexit. At the 2019 General Election he unsuccessfully contested the adjacent Wokingham seat for that party.
2019 election
James Sunderland was elected for the Conservative party with 58.7% of the vote.
2024 election
Sunderland ran for re-election as Conservative MP for the constituency, but was narrowly defeated by Labour's Peter Swallow on a 16% swing. This marked the first time Labour had ever gained the seat and the first time a Conservative would not represent the area since it became covered by a single-member constituency in the late 19th century. Notably, Labour had previously gained control of Bracknell Forest Borough Council for the first time since 1997 in 2023. [6]
Boundaries and boundary changes
[edit]Bracknell is based around the town of Bracknell and the Bracknell Forest authority. It is bordered by the constituencies of Wokingham, Maidenhead, Windsor, Surrey Heath, Aldershot, and North East Hampshire.
1997–2010
[edit]- The Borough of Bracknell Forest wards of Binfield, Bullbrook, Central Sandhurst, College Town, Crowthorne, Garth, Great Hollands North, Great Hollands South, Hanworth, Harmanswater, Little Sandhurst, Old Bracknell, Owlsmoor, Priestwood, Warfield, and Wildridings; and
- The District of Wokingham wards of Finchampstead North, Finchampstead South, and Wokingham Without.[7]
The Borough of Bracknell Forest wards had formed the majority of the abolished constituency of East Berkshire. The two Finchampstead wards were transferred from Reading East, and the ward of Wokingham Without was transferred from Wokingham.
2010–2024
[edit]- The Borough of Bracknell Forest wards of Bullbrook, Central Sandhurst, College Town, Crown Wood, Crowthorne, Great Hollands North, Great Hollands South, Hanworth, Harmanswater, Little Sandhurst and Wellington, Old Bracknell, Owlsmoor, Priestwood and Garth, and Wildridings and Central; and
- The District of Wokingham wards of Finchampstead North, Finchampstead South, and Wokingham Without.[8]
Northern areas, including Binfield, were transferred to Windsor.
2024–present
[edit]Following the 2023 Periodic Review of Westminster constituencies, enacted by the Parliamentary Constituencies Order 2023, from the 2024 general election, the constituency is composed of the following wards:
- The Borough of Bracknell Forest wards of: Binfield North & Warfield West (small part); Binfield South & Jennett's Park (part); Bullbrook; Crowthorne; Easthampstead & Wildridings; Great Hollands; Hanworth; Harmans Water & Crown Wood; Owlsmoor & College Town; Priestwood & Garth; Sandhurst; Swinley Forest (most); Town Centre & The Parks; Whitegrove (most).[9]
To bring its electorate within the permitted range, the seat lost its District of Wokingham wards to the Wokingham constituency. To partly compensate, the Warfield Harvest Ride ward was transferred from Windsor.
Members of Parliament
[edit]East Berkshire prior to 1997
Election | Member[10] | Party | |
---|---|---|---|
1997 | Andrew MacKay | Conservative | |
2010 | Phillip Lee | Conservative | |
September 2019 | Liberal Democrat | ||
2019 | James Sunderland | Conservative | |
2024 | Peter Swallow | Labour |
Elections
[edit]Elections in the 2020s
[edit]Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Labour | Peter Swallow | 14,783 | 33.7 | +8.3 | |
Conservative | James Sunderland | 13,999 | 31.9 | –23.6 | |
Reform UK | Malcolm Tullett | 7,445 | 17.0 | N/A | |
Liberal Democrats | Katie Mansfield | 4,768 | 10.9 | –3.1 | |
Green | Emily Torode | 2,166 | 4.9 | +0.9 | |
Independent | Olivio Barreto | 480 | 1.1 | –0.1 | |
Heritage | Jason Reardon | 196 | 0.4 | N/A | |
Majority | 784 | 1.8 | N/A | ||
Turnout | 43,837 | 61.4 | –5.3 | ||
Registered electors | 71,660 | ||||
Labour gain from Conservative | Swing | ![]() |
Elections in the 2010s
[edit]2019 notional result[12] | |||
---|---|---|---|
Party | Vote | % | |
Conservative | 26,022 | 55.5 | |
Labour | 11,893 | 25.4 | |
Liberal Democrats | 6,555 | 14.0 | |
Green | 1,865 | 4.0 | |
Others | 553 | 1.2 | |
Turnout | 46,888 | 66.7 | |
Electorate | 70,247 |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Conservative | James Sunderland | 31,894 | 58.7 | –0.1 | |
Labour | Paul Bidwell | 12,065 | 22.2 | –8.0 | |
Liberal Democrats | Kaweh Beheshtizadeh | 7,749 | 14.3 | +6.8 | |
Green | Derek Florey | 2,089 | 3.8 | N/A | |
Independent | Olivio Barreto | 553 | 1.0 | +0.2 | |
Majority | 19,829 | 36.5 | +7.9 | ||
Turnout | 54,350 | 68.6 | –2.0 | ||
Conservative hold | Swing | +3.9 |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Conservative | Phillip Lee | 32,882 | 58.8 | +3.0 | |
Labour | Paul Bidwell | 16,866 | 30.2 | +13.3 | |
Liberal Democrats | Patrick Smith | 4,186 | 7.5 | ![]() | |
UKIP | Len Amos | 1,521 | 2.7 | −13.0 | |
Independent | Olivio Barreto | 437 | 0.8 | N/A | |
Majority | 16,016 | 28.6 | −10.3 | ||
Turnout | 55,892 | 70.6 | +5.3 | ||
Conservative hold | Swing | −5.1 |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Conservative | Phillip Lee[17] | 29,606 | 55.8 | +3.4 | |
Labour | James Walsh[17] | 8,956 | 16.9 | +0.1 | |
UKIP | Richard Thomas[17] | 8,339 | 15.7 | +11.3 | |
Liberal Democrats | Patrick Smith[18] | 3,983 | 7.5 | −14.8 | |
Green | Derek Florey[19] | 2,202 | 4.1 | +2.5 | |
Majority | 20,650 | 38.9 | +8.8 | ||
Turnout | 53,086 | 65.3 | −2.5 | ||
Conservative hold | Swing |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Conservative | Phillip Lee | 27,327 | 52.4 | +2.5 | |
Liberal Democrats | Raymond Earwicker | 11,623 | 22.3 | +4.5 | |
Labour | John Piasecki | 8,755 | 16.8 | −11.1 | |
UKIP | Murray Barter | 2,297 | 4.4 | +0.9 | |
BNP | Mark Burke | 1,253 | 2.4 | N/A | |
Green | David Young | 821 | 1.6 | N/A | |
Scrap Members Allowances | Dan Haycocks | 60 | 0.1 | N/A | |
Majority | 15,704 | 30.1 | +6.6 | ||
Turnout | 52,140 | 67.8 | +5.1 | ||
Conservative hold | Swing | −1.0 |
Elections in the 2000s
[edit]Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Conservative | Andrew MacKay | 25,412 | 49.7 | +3.1 | |
Labour | Janet Keene | 13,376 | 26.2 | −6.8 | |
Liberal Democrats | Lee Glendon | 10,128 | 19.8 | +2.7 | |
UKIP | Vincent Pearson | 1,818 | 3.6 | +1.0 | |
Independent | Dominica Roberts | 407 | 0.8 | N/A | |
Majority | 12,036 | 23.5 | +9.9 | ||
Turnout | 51,141 | 63.4 | +2.7 | ||
Conservative hold | Swing | +5.0 |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Conservative | Andrew MacKay | 22,962 | 46.6 | −0.8 | |
Labour | Janet Keene | 16,249 | 33.0 | +3.2 | |
Liberal Democrats | Raymond Earwicker | 8,428 | 17.1 | +1.7 | |
UKIP | Lawrence Boxall | 1,266 | 2.6 | +1.6 | |
ProLife Alliance | Dominica Roberts | 324 | 0.7 | +0.2 | |
Majority | 6,713 | 13.6 | −4.0 | ||
Turnout | 49,229 | 60.7 | −13.8 | ||
Conservative hold | Swing | −2.0 |
Elections in the 1990s
[edit]Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Conservative | Andrew MacKay | 27,983 | 47.4 | ||
Labour | Anne Snelgrove | 17,596 | 29.8 | ||
Liberal Democrats | Alan Hilliar | 9,122 | 15.4 | ||
Independent | John Tompkins | 1,909 | 3.2 | ||
Referendum | Warwick Cairns | 1,636 | 2.8 | ||
UKIP | Lawrence Boxall | 569 | 1.0 | ||
ProLife Alliance | Dominica Roberts | 276 | 0.5 | ||
Majority | 10,387 | 17.6 | |||
Turnout | 59,091 | 74.5 | |||
Conservative win (new seat) |
See also
[edit]- List of parliamentary constituencies in Berkshire
- List of parliamentary constituencies in the South East England (region)
Notes
[edit]- ^ A borough constituency (for the purposes of election expenses and type of returning officer)
- ^ 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
[edit]- ^ "Bracknell: Usual Resident Population, 2011". Neighbourhood Statistics. Office for National Statistics. Archived from the original on 3 March 2016. Retrieved 1 February 2015.
- ^ "The 2023 Review of Parliamentary Constituency Boundaries in England – Volume two: Constituency names, designations and composition – South East". Boundary Commission for England. Retrieved 4 June 2024.
- ^ Hastings, Chris; Georgia Warren (18 October 2009). "Women and gay Tory MPs set to treble by 2010". The Times. Retrieved 18 October 2009.
- ^ "Dr Phillip Lee MP". Parliament of the United Kingdom. Retrieved 7 November 2019.
- ^ "Bracknell parliamentary constituency – Election 2017". BBC News. Retrieved 7 November 2019.
- ^ [hhttps://www.bbc.co.uk/news/election/2023/england/councils/E06000036 "Bracknell Forest result – Local Elections 2023"]. BBC News. Retrieved 11 July 2024.
- ^ "The Parliamentary Constituencies (England) Order 1995". legislation.gov.uk. Retrieved 3 February 2019.
- ^ "The Parliamentary Constituencies (England) Order 2007". legislation.gov.uk. Retrieved 3 February 2019.
- ^ "New Seat Details – Bracknell". electoralcalculus.co.uk. Retrieved 30 March 2024.
- ^ Leigh Rayment's Historical List of MPs – Constituencies beginning with "B" (part 4)
- ^ "Bracknell results". BBC News. 5 July 2024.
- ^ "Notional results for a UK general election on 12 December 2019". Rallings & Thrasher, Professor David Denver (Scotland), Nicholas Whyte (NI) for Sky News, PA, BBC News and ITV News. UK Parliament. Retrieved 11 July 2024.
- ^ "Bracknell parliamentary constituency" (PDF). Bracknell Forest Council. Archived from the original (PDF) on 14 November 2019. Retrieved 14 November 2019.
- ^ "Bracknell parliamentary constituency". BBC News.
- ^ "Election Data 2015". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 17 October 2015. Retrieved 17 October 2015.
- ^ "Election results for Bracknell, 7 May 2015". democratic.bracknell-forest.gov.uk. 7 May 2015.
- ^ a b c "BRACKNELL 2015". electionresults.blogspot.co.uk.
- ^ "Candidates (PPCS) for Bracknell in the UK 2015 General Election". Archived from the original on 5 January 2015. Retrieved 30 January 2015.
- ^ Fort, Hugh (23 January 2015). "Bracknell Green Party select election candidate".
- ^ "Election Data 2010". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 26 July 2013. Retrieved 17 October 2015.
- ^ general election 2010: Phillip Lee wins Bracknell seat GetBracknell, 7 May 2010
External links
[edit]- nomis Constituency Profile for Bracknell – presenting data from the ONS annual population survey and other official statistics.
- Bracknell UK Parliament constituency (boundaries April 1997 – April 2010) at MapIt UK
- Bracknell UK Parliament constituency (boundaries April 2010 – May 2024) at MapIt UK
- Bracknell UK Parliament constituency (boundaries from June 2024) at MapIt UK