# Saffron Walden (UK Parliament constituency)

Saffron Walden was a constituency in Essex, represented in the House of Commons of the UK Parliament from 1922 to 2024 by members of the Conservative Party.
Further to the completion of the 2023 Periodic Review of Westminster constituencies, the seat was abolished. Subject to relatively minor boundary changes, it was reformed as North West Essex for the 2024 general election.

## Constituency profile

The constituency was by far the largest and most rural in Essex and covered the entire north-west corner of the county, an area of almost 400 square miles (1,000 km$^2$). It bordered Hertfordshire and Cambridgeshire and also extended deep into the middle of Essex near Chelmsford.
Two medium-sized market towns, Saffron Walden and Great Dunmow, were 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 consisted of Census Output Areas from two local government districts with similar characteristics. Uttlesford district formed 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. 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%. 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.

## 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.
The constituency mostly voted in Liberal Party MPs in its earlier history, but has been a Conservative safe seat based on election results since 1922, in which period the majorities have occasionally been marginal. However, the constituency returned a Conservative majority at the 2019 general election 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.
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

* The Borough of Saffron Walden;
* The Urban District of Halstead; and
* The Rural Districts of Belchamp, Bumpstead, Dunmow, Halstead, Saffron Walden, and Stansted.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Two small wards (Earls Colne and Gosfield) transferred to Braintree.

### 2010–2024

* The District of Uttlesford; and
* The Borough of Chelmsford wards of Boreham and The Leighs, Broomfield and The Walthams, Chelmsford Rural West, and Writtle.
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

From the snap election in 2017 until its abolition in 2024, this safe Conservative seat was 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.
| Election | Member | 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 | Cecil Beck | Coalition Liberal |
| 1921 | Cecil Beck | 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 |
| 2024 | Seat abolished – see North West Essex | Seat abolished – see North West Essex |

## Elections
### Elections in the 2010s

General election 2019: Saffron Walden :
| Party | 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 | Majority | Majority | 27,594 | 43.8 | +2.8 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 63,086 | 72.5 | −0.6 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | −2.0 | |
General election 2017: Saffron Walden :
| Party | 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 | Majority | Majority | 24,966 | 41.0 | −2.4 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 60,911 | 73.1 | +1.7 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | −2.2 | |
General election 2015: Saffron Walden :
| Party | 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 | Majority | Majority | 24,991 | 43.4 | +15.4 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 57,563 | 71.4 | −0.2 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | −4.0 | |
General election 2010: Saffron Walden :
| Party | 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 | Majority | Majority | 15,242 | 28.0 | +3.5 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 54,429 | 71.6 | +2.8 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | +3.4 | |

### Elections in the 2000s

General election 2005: Saffron Walden :
| Party | 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 | Majority | Majority | 13,008 | 24.5 | +0.5 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 53,020 | 68.3 | +3.1 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | +0.3 | |
General election 2001: Saffron Walden :
| Party | 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 | Majority | Majority | 12,004 | 24.0 | +5.5 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 50,040 | 65.2 | −11.7 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | +2.3 | |

### Elections in the 1990s

General election 1997: Saffron Walden :
| Party | 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 | Majority | Majority | 10,573 | 18.5 | −13.1 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 57,050 | 76.9 | −6.3 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | −6.6 | |
General election 1992: Saffron Walden :
| Party | 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 | Majority | Majority | 17,424 | 28.0 | −0.7 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 62,313 | 83.2 | +4.2 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | −0.4 | |

### Elections in the 1980s

General election 1987: Saffron Walden :
| Party | 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 | Majority | Majority | 16,602 | 28.7 | +0.1 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 57,813 | 79.0 | +2.1 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | +0.1 | |
General election 1983: Saffron Walden :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Alan Haselhurst | 30,869 | 57.8 | +5.0 |
| | SDP | John Torode | 15,620 | 29.3 | New |
| | Labour | Robert Trory | 6,078 | 11.4 | −8.5 |
| | All Party Anti-Common Market | Oliver Smedley | 797 | 1.5 | New |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 15,249 | 28.6 | −0.3 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 53,364 | 76.9 | −4.7 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | | |

### Elections in the 1970s

General election 1979: Saffron Walden :
| Party | 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 | Majority | Majority | 15,363 | 28.94 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 53,077 | 81.61 | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | | |
1977 Saffron Walden by-election :
| Party | 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 | Majority | Majority | 12,437 | 30.55 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 40,713 | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | | |
General election October 1974: Saffron Walden :
| Party | 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 | Majority | Majority | 6,521 | 13.39 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 48,713 | 78.07 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | |
General election February 1974: Saffron Walden :
| Party | 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 | Majority | Majority | 7,545 | 14.61 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 51,619 | 83.40 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | |
General election 1970: Saffron Walden :
| Party | 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 | Majority | Majority | 9,664 | 20.84 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 46,393 | 77.24 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | |

### Elections in the 1960s

General election 1966: Saffron Walden :
| Party | 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 | Majority | Majority | 3,265 | 7.57 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 43,104 | 82.54 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | |
Saffron Walden by-election, 1965 :
| Party | 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 | Majority | Majority | 3,493 | 9.0 | −2.8 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 38,835 | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | | |
General election 1964: Saffron Walden :
| Party | 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 | Majority | Majority | 4,955 | 11.85 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 42,454 | 82.41 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | |

### Elections in the 1950s

General election 1959: Saffron Walden :
| Party | 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 | Majority | Majority | 6,782 | 17.22 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 39,373 | 81.26 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | |
General election 1955: Saffron Walden :
| Party | 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 | Majority | Majority | 6,418 | 16.83 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 38,133 | 79.57 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | |
General election 1951: Saffron Walden :
| Party | 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 | Majority | Majority | 5,319 | 13.44 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 39,583 | 82.75 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | |
General election 1950: Saffron Walden :
| Party | 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 | Majority | Majority | 4,889 | 12.33 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 39,668 | 84.40 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | |

### Election in the 1940s

General election 1945: Saffron Walden :
| Party | 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 | Majority | Majority | 1,158 | 3.20 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 36,137 | 74.64 | |
| | Conservative hold | 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;
* Conservative: Rab Butler
* Labour: Clara Rackham
General election 1935: Saffron Walden :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Conservative | Rab Butler | 19,669 | 67.13 |
| | Labour | Clara Rackham | 9,633 | 32.87 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 10,036 | 34.26 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 29,302 | 68.55 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | |
General election 1931: Saffron Walden :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Conservative | Rab Butler | 22,501 | 77.67 |
| | Labour | Sidney Stanley Wilson | 6,468 | 22.33 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 16,033 | 55.34 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 28,969 | 70.38 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | |
* The Liberal candidate, Arthur Musgrove Mathews withdrew at the last minute

### Elections in the 1920s

General election 1929: Saffron Walden :
| Party | 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 | Majority | Majority | 4,919 | 16.2 | −8.8 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 30,510 | 75.8 | +2.7 |
| | Unionist hold | Unionist hold | Swing | −4.4 | |
General election 1924: Saffron Walden :
| Party | 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 | Majority | Majority | 5,949 | 25.0 | +10.0 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 23,824 | 73.1 | +5.4 |
| | Unionist hold | Unionist hold | Swing | | |
General election 1923: Saffron Walden :
| Party | 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 | Majority | Majority | 3,254 | 15.0 | +1.5 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 21,802 | 67.7 | −3.4 |
| | Unionist hold | Unionist hold | Swing | −0.7 | |
General election 1922: Saffron Walden :
| Party | 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 | Majority | Majority | 3,047 | 13.5 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 22.591 | 71.1 | |
| | Unionist gain from Liberal | Unionist gain from Liberal | Swing | | |

### Elections in the 1910s

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

### Elections in the 1900s

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

### Elections in the 1890s

General election 1895: Saffron Walden :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | Charles Gold | 3,806 | 53.0 | −10.0 |
| | Conservative | Charles Wing Gray | 3,381 | 47.0 | +10.0 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 425 | 6.0 | −20.0 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 7,187 | 80.6 | +0.9 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 8,920 | | |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Swing | −10.0 | |
By-election, 19 Sep 1892: Saffron Walden :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | Herbert Gardner | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Liberal hold |
* Caused by Gardner's appointment as President of the Board of Agriculture
General election 1892: Saffron Walden :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | Herbert Gardner | 4,564 | 63.0 | +8.0 |
| | Conservative | Philip Vernon Smith | 2,683 | 37.0 | −8.0 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,881 | 26.0 | +16.0 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 7,247 | 79.7 | +0.4 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 9,098 | | |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Swing | +8.0 | |

### Elections in the 1880s

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