# Braintree (UK Parliament constituency)

Braintree is a constituency in Essex represented in the House of Commons of the UK Parliament since 2015 by James Cleverly, a member of the Conservative Party.
Cleverly is a former chairman of the Conservative Party and home secretary. He is also a former foreign secretary and secretary of state for education.

## Constituency profile

The constituency includes the town of Braintree at its southern end, and a large area of rural Essex to the north, including the town of Halstead.

## History

The seat was created for the February 1974 general election, largely from the majority of the constituency of Maldon, including the towns of Braintree and Witham. It underwent a major redistribution for the 2010 general election when Witham was formed as a separate constituency. This resulted in making the seat safer for the Conservatives.
The former Leader of the House Tony Newton held the seat for the Conservatives from its creation in 1974 until 1997 when Alan Hurst defeated Newton to gain the seat for Labour. Brooks Newmark defeated Hurst in 2005 to regain the seat for the Conservatives, and held it until he stood down in 2015, being succeeded by James Cleverly, also a Conservative.

## Boundaries and boundary changes
### 1974–1983

* The Urban Districts of Braintree and Bocking, and Witham;
* The Rural District of Braintree; and
* The Rural District of Chelmsford civil parishes of Boreham, Broomfield, Chignall, Good Easter, Great and Little Leighs, Great Waltham, Little Waltham, Mashbury, Pleshey, Roxwell, Springfield, and Writtle.
Formed largely from the existing constituency of Maldon. The northern part of the Rural District of Chelmsford was transferred from Chelmsford and a small part of the Rural District of Braintree was previously in Saffron Walden.

### 1983–1997

* The District of Braintree wards of Black Notley, Bocking North, Bocking South, Braintree Central, Braintree East, Braintree West, Coggeshall, Cressing, Hatfield Peverel, Kelvedon, Panfield, Rayne, Terling, Three Fields, Witham Central, Witham Chipping Hill, Witham North, Witham Silver End and Rivenhall, Witham South, and Witham West; and
* The Borough of Chelmsford wards of Broomfield and Chignall, Good Easter Mashbury and Roxwell, Great and Little Leighs and Little Waltham, Great Waltham and Pleshey, and Writtle.
Following changes to the structure of local authorities in 1974, the seat was largely unchanged, with just the Boreham and Springfield ward of Chelmsford Borough being transferred to the Chelmsford constituency.

### 1997–2010

* The District of Braintree wards of Black Notley, Bocking North, Bocking South, Braintree Central, Braintree East, Braintree West, Coggeshall, Cressing, Earls Colne, Gosfield, Hatfield Peveril, Kelvedon, Panfield, Rayne, Terling, Three Fields, Witham Central, Witham Chipping Hill, Witham North, Witham Silver End and Rivenhall, Witham South, and Witham West.
The parts in the Borough of Chelmsford now included in the new constituency of West Chelmsford. Two small wards (Earls Colne and Gosfield) transferred from Saffron Walden.

### 2010–2024

* The District of Braintree wards of Bocking Blackwater, Bocking North, Bocking South, Braintree Central, Braintree East, Braintree South, Bumpstead, Cressing and Stisted, Gosfield and Greenstead Green, Great Notley and Braintree West, Halstead St Andrews, Halstead Trinity, Hedingham and Maplestead, Panfield, Rayne, Stour Valley North, Stour Valley South, The Three Colnes, Three Fields, Upper Colne, and Yeldham.
The 2010 redistribution saw a major change, with southern and western areas, including the town of Witham, forming the basis of the new County Constituency of Witham. Extended northwards, gaining the District of Braintree wards previously in Saffron Walden, including the town of Halstead.

### 2024–present

Following the 2023 Periodic Review of Westminster constituencies, which came into effect for the 2024 general election, the composition of the constituency is as follows (as they existed on 1 December 2020):
* The District of Braintree wards of: Bocking Blackwater; Bocking North; Bocking South; Braintree Central & Beckers Green; Braintree South; Braintree West; Bumpstead; Gosfield & Greenstead Green; Great Notley & Black Notley; Halstead St. Andrew's; Halstead Trinity; Hedingham; Rayne; Stour Valley North; Stour Valley South; Three Fields; Yeldham.
* The District of Uttlesford wards of: Felsted & Stebbing; The Sampfords.
Minor changes – the two Uttlesford District wards were transferred from Saffron Walden (renamed North West Essex), offset by a net loss to Witham mainly due to revision of ward boundaries.

## Members of Parliament

| Election | Member | Party |
| Feb 1974 | Tony Newton | Conservative |
| 1997 | Alan Hurst | Labour |
| 2005 | Brooks Newmark | Conservative |
| 2015 | James Cleverly | Conservative |

## Elections
### Elections in the 2020s

General election 2024: Braintree :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | James Cleverly | 17,414 | 35.5 | −32.0 |
| | Labour | Matthew Wright | 13,744 | 28.0 | +9.8 |
| | Reform UK | Richard Thomson | 11,346 | 23.1 | New |
| | Liberal Democrats | Kieron Franks | 2,879 | 5.9 | −3.8 |
| | Green | Paul Thorogood | 2,878 | 5.9 | +5.4 |
| | Independent | David Heather | 767 | 1.6 | New |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 3,670 | 7.5 | −41.3 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 49,028 | 63 | −5.3 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 77,781 | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | −20.9 | |

### Elections in the 2010s

2019 general election notional result :
| Party | Party | Vote | % |
| | Conservative | 34,863 | 67.5 |
| | Labour | 9,397 | 18.2 |
| | Liberal Democrats | 5,013 | 9.7 |
| | Others | 2,169 | 4.4 |
| | Green | 233 | 0.5 |
| Turnout | Turnout | 51,675 | 68.3 |
| Electorate | Electorate | 75,662 |
General election 2019: Braintree :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | James Cleverly | 34,112 | 67.5 | +4.7 |
| | Labour | Joshua Garfield | 9,439 | 18.7 | −8.9 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Dominic Graham | 4,779 | 9.5 | +5.2 |
| | Independent | Jo Beavis | 1,488 | 2.9 | New |
| | Independent | David Mansell | 420 | 0.8 | New |
| | Independent | Alan Dorkins | 261 | 0.5 | New |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 24,673 | 48.8 | +13.6 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 50,499 | 67.1 | −2.4 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | +6.8 | |
General election 2017: Braintree :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | James Cleverly | 32,873 | 62.8 | +9.0 |
| | Labour | Malcolm Fincken | 14,451 | 27.6 | +9.1 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Peter Turner | 2,251 | 4.3 | −0.6 |
| | UKIP | Richard Bingley | 1,835 | 3.5 | −15.3 |
| | Green | Thomas Pashby | 916 | 1.8 | −1.3 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 18,422 | 35.2 | +0.2 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 52,326 | 69.5 | +1.1 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | −0.1 | |
General election 2015: Braintree :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | James Cleverly | 27,071 | 53.8 | +1.2 |
| | UKIP | Richard Bingley | 9,461 | 18.8 | +13.8 |
| | Labour | Malcolm Fincken | 9,296 | 18.5 | −1.4 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Matthew Klesel | 2,488 | 4.9 | −13.9 |
| | Green | Paul Jeater | 1,564 | 3.1 | +1.6 |
| | Independent | Toby Pereira | 295 | 0.6 | New |
| | BNP | Paul Hooks | 108 | 0.2 | −2.0 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 17,610 | 35.0 | +2.3 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 50,283 | 68.4 | −0.7 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | −6.3 | |
General election 2010: Braintree :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Brooks Newmark | 25,901 | 52.6 | +2.7 |
| | Labour | Bill Edwards | 9,780 | 19.9 | −10.8 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Steve Jarvis | 9,247 | 18.8 | +5.2 |
| | UKIP | Michael Ford | 2,477 | 5.0 | +2.6 |
| | BNP | Paul Hooks | 1,080 | 2.2 | New |
| | Green | Daisy Blench | 718 | 1.5 | −1.5 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 16,121 | 32.7 | +25.3 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 49,203 | 69.1 | +4.9 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | +6.7 | |

### Elections in the 2000s

General election 2005: Braintree :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Brooks Newmark | 23,597 | 44.5 | +3.2 |
| | Labour | Alan Hurst | 19,704 | 37.1 | −4.9 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Peter Turner | 7,037 | 13.3 | +2.0 |
| | Green | James Abbott | 1,308 | 2.5 | 0.0 |
| | UKIP | Roger Lord | 1,181 | 2.2 | +0.7 |
| | Independent | Michael Nolan | 228 | 0.4 | New |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 3,893 | 7.4 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 53,055 | 65.9 | +2.3 |
| | Conservative gain from Labour | Conservative gain from Labour | Swing | +4.0 | |
General election 2001: Braintree :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Alan Hurst | 21,123 | 42.0 | −0.7 |
| | Conservative | Brooks Newmark | 20,765 | 41.3 | +1.2 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Peter Turner | 5,664 | 11.3 | −0.3 |
| | Green | James Abbott | 1,241 | 2.5 | +1.2 |
| | Legalise Cannabis | Michael Nolan | 774 | 1.5 | New |
| | UKIP | Charles Cole | 748 | 1.5 | New |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 358 | 0.7 | −1.9 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 50,315 | 63.6 | −12.5 |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | −0.9 | |

### Elections in the 1990s

General election 1997: Braintree :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Alan Hurst | 23,729 | 42.7 | +17.0 |
| | Conservative | Tony Newton | 22,278 | 40.1 | −12.2 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Trevor K. Ellis | 6,418 | 11.6 | −9.1 |
| | Referendum | Nicholas P. Westcott | 2,165 | 3.9 | New |
| | Green | James Abbott | 712 | 1.3 | 0.0 |
| | Independent | Michael Nolan | 274 | 0.5 | New |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,451 | 2.6 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 55,576 | 76.1 | −7.3 |
| | Labour gain from Conservative | Labour gain from Conservative | Swing | +14.6 | |
General election 1992: Braintree :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Tony Newton | 34,415 | 52.3 | −1.9 |
| | Labour | Ian Willmore | 16,921 | 25.7 | +6.4 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Diana P. Wallis | 13,603 | 20.7 | −5.8 |
| | Green | James Abbott | 855 | 1.3 | New |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 17,494 | 26.6 | −1.1 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 65,794 | 83.4 | +4.3 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | +4.1 | |

### Elections in the 1980s

General election 1987: Braintree :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Tony Newton | 32,978 | 54.2 | +1.6 |
| | SDP | Inigo Bing | 16,121 | 26.5 | −2.1 |
| | Labour | Brian Stapleton | 11,764 | 19.3 | +0.5 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 16,857 | 27.7 | +3.7 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 60,863 | 79.1 | +2.9 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | +1.9 | |
General election 1983: Braintree :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Tony Newton | 29,462 | 52.6 | +0.6 |
| | SDP | Inigo Bing | 16,021 | 28.6 | New |
| | Labour | Janet Dyson | 10,551 | 18.8 | −12.6 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 13,441 | 24.0 | +3.4 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 56,034 | 76.2 | −4.7 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | −14.0 | |

### Elections in the 1970s

General election 1979: Braintree :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Tony Newton | 31,593 | 52.0 | +12.5 |
| | Labour | J.E.B. Gyford | 19,075 | 31.4 | −6.0 |
| | Liberal | J. Bryan | 10,115 | 16.6 | −6.5 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 12,518 | 20.6 | +18.5 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 60,783 | 80.9 | +1.5 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | +9.3 | |
General election October 1974: Braintree :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Tony Newton | 20,559 | 39.5 | +1.5 |
| | Labour | Keith Kyle | 19,469 | 37.4 | +3.1 |
| | Liberal | Richard Holme | 12,004 | 23.1 | −4.7 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,090 | 2.1 | −1.6 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 52,032 | 79.4 | −4.9 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | −0.8 | |
General election February 1974: Braintree :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Tony Newton | 20,797 | 38.0 | |
| | Labour | Keith Kyle | 18,796 | 34.3 | |
| | Liberal | D. Scott | 15,204 | 27.8 | |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 2,001 | 3.7 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 54,797 | 84.3 | |
| | Conservative win (new seat) | Conservative win (new seat) | Conservative win (new seat) | Conservative win (new seat) | Conservative win (new seat) |