# Bury St Edmunds (UK Parliament constituency)

Bury St Edmunds was a constituency in Suffolk from 1621 to 2024, most recently represented in the House of Commons of the UK Parliament from 2015 to 2024 by Jo Churchill, a Conservative.
Under the 2023 Periodic Review of Westminster constituencies, the seat was subject to moderate boundary changes and was abolished for the 2024 general election, with the bulk of the electorate being included in the new constituency of Bury St Edmunds and Stowmarket.

## Constituency profile

The constituency covered Bury St Edmunds, Stowmarket and smaller settlements on the A14 corridor. Residents' wealth was around average for the UK.

## History

The constituency was created as a Parliamentary Borough in 1614, returning two MPs to the House of Commons of England until 1707, then to the House of Commons of Great Britain until 1800, and from 1800 to the House of Commons of the United Kingdom. By the mid eighteenth century the seat was seen as heavily influenced by the Earl of Bristol and the Duke of Grafton. Its representation was reduced to one seat under the Redistribution of Seats Act 1885. Under the Representation of the People Act 1918, it was abolished as a borough and reconstituted as a division of the Parliamentary County of West Suffolk. As well as the abolished borough, the expanded seat comprised most of the abolished Stowmarket Division, except for the town of Stowmarket itself. From 1950, it has been classified as a county constituency in terms of election expenses and type of returning officer.
The electorate has elected Conservative Party candidates at the general elections and two by-elections since a Liberal victory in 1880. The closest contest since that year was in 1997 when the Labour Party candidate fell 368 votes, less than 1%, short of winning the seat in 1997 during Tony Blair's first landslide result.

## Boundaries and boundary changes
### 1918–1950

* The Borough of Bury St Edmunds;
* The Urban District of Newmarket;
* The Rural Districts of Brandon, Mildenhall, and Thedwastre; and
* Parts of the Rural Districts of Moulton and Thingoe.

### 1950–1983

* The Borough of Bury St Edmunds:
* The Urban Districts of Haverhill and Newmarket; and
* The Rural Districts of Clare, Mildenhall, Thedwastre, and Thingoe.
Extended to the south-west, gaining western and northern parts of the abolished Sudbury Division of West Suffolk, including Haverhill.

### 1983–1997

* The Borough of St Edmundsbury wards of Abbeygate, Barningham, Barrow, Chevington, Eastgate, Fornham, Great Barton, Honington, Horringer, Ixworth, Northgate, Pakenham, Risby, Risbygate, Rougham, St Olave's, Sextons, Southgate, Stanton, Westgate, and Whelnetham; and
* The District of Forest Heath.
Southern areas, including Haverhill, were transferred to the new constituency of South Suffolk. The easternmost area, equivalent to the former Rural District of Thedwastre, was transferred to the new constituency of Central Suffolk.

### 1997–2010

* The Borough of St Edmundsbury wards of Abbeygate, Eastgate, Fornham, Great Barton, Horringer Court, Northgate, Pakenham, Risbygate, Rougham, St Olave's, Sextons, Southgate, Westgate, and Whelnetham; and
* The District of Mid Suffolk wards of Badwell Ash, Elmswell, Gislingham, Haughley and Wetherden, Needham Market, Norton, Onehouse, Rattlesden, Rickinghall, Ringshall, Stowmarket Central, Stowmarket North, Stowmarket South, Stowupland, Thurston, Walsham-le-Willows, and Woolpit.
Major reconfiguration, with the majority of the constituency, including Newmarket, forming the basis of the new County Constituency of West Suffolk. Extended eastwards, gaining western half of Central Suffolk, including Stowmarket.

### 2010–2024

* The Borough of St Edmundsbury wards of Abbeygate, Eastgate, Fornham, Great Barton, Horringer and Whelnetham, Minden, Moreton Hall, Northgate, Pakenham, Risbygate, Rougham, St Olave's, Southgate, and Westgate; and
* The District of Mid Suffolk wards of Bacton and Old Newton, Badwell Ash, Elmswell and Norton, Gislingham, Haughley and Wetherden, Needham Market, Onehouse, Rattlesden, Rickinghall and Walsham, Ringshall, Stowmarket Central, Stowmarket North, Stowmarket South, Stowupland, Thurston and Hessett, and Woolpit.
Marginal changes due to revision of local authority wards.
The constituency contained the towns of Bury St Edmunds, Stowmarket and Needham Market. Its boundaries did not match those of the former borough of St Edmundsbury, which included Haverhill (part of West Suffolk constituency), and excludes Stowmarket and Needham Market.

## Members of Parliament
### MPs 1621–1660

| Parliament | First member | Second member |
| 1621 | Sir Thomas Jermyn | John Woodford |
| 1624 | Sir Thomas Jermyn | Anthony Crofts |
| 1625 | Sir Thomas Jermyn | Sir William Spring |
| 1626 | Sir Thomas Jermyn | Emanuel Gifford |
| 1628 | Sir Thomas Jermyn | Sir William Hervey |
| 1629–1640 | No Parliaments summoned | No Parliaments summoned |
| 1640 April | Sir Thomas Jermyn | John Godbolt |
| 1640 November | Thomas Jermyn, disabled on 14 February 1644 | Henry Jermyn, ennobled 6 September 1643 |
| 1645 | Sir Thomas Barnardiston | Sir William Spring, excluded in Pride's Purge in 1648 |
| 1653 | Bury St Edmunds not represented in Barebones Parliament | Bury St Edmunds not represented in Barebones Parliament |
| 1654 | Samuel Moody | John Clarke |
| 1656 | Samuel Moody | John Clarke |
| 1659 | John Clarke | Thomas Chaplin |
| 1659 Restored Rump Parliament | Sir Thomas Barnardiston | No second member |

### MPs 1660–1885

Two Members
| Year | | First member | First party | | Second member | Second party |
| 1660 | | Sir Henry Crofts | | | Sir John Duncombe | |
| 1661 | | Sir Edmund Poley | | | Sir John Duncombe | |
| 1673 | | William Duncombe | | | Sir John Duncombe | |
| 1679 | | Sir Thomas Hervey | | | Thomas Jermyn | |
| 1685 | | Sir Thomas Hervey | | | William Crofts | |
| 1689 | | Sir Thomas Hervey | | | Sir Robert Davers, Bt | Tory |
| 1690 | | Henry Goldwell | | | Sir Robert Davers, Bt | Tory |
| 1694 | | John Hervey | Whig | | Sir Robert Davers, Bt | Tory |
| 1701 | | John Hervey | Whig | | Sir Thomas Felton, Bt | Whig |
| 1703 | | Sir Robert Davers, Bt | Tory | | Sir Thomas Felton, Bt | Whig |
| Dec. 1705 | | Aubrey Porter | | | Sir Thomas Felton, Bt | Whig |
| 1709 | | Aubrey Porter | | | Joseph Weld | |
| 1712 | | Aubrey Porter | | | Samuel Batteley | |
| 1713 | | Aubrey Porter | | | Lord Hervey | |
| 1717 | | James Reynolds | | | Lord Hervey | |
| 1722 | | James Reynolds | | | Sir Jermyn Davers, Bt | Tory |
| 1725 | | Lord Hervey | | | Sir Jermyn Davers, Bt | Tory |
| 1727 | | Lord Hervey | | | Thomas Norton | |
| 1733 | | Thomas Hervey | | | Thomas Norton | |
| 1747 | | Felton Hervey | | | Viscount Petersham | |
| 1756 | | Felton Hervey | | | The Earl of Euston | |
| 1757 | | Felton Hervey | | | Hon. Augustus Hervey | |
| 1761 | | Hon. Charles Fitzroy | | | Hon. Augustus Hervey | |
| 1763 | | Hon. Charles Fitzroy | | | William Hervey | |
| 1768 | | Hon. Charles Fitzroy | | | Hon. Augustus Hervey | |
| 1774 | | Sir Charles Davers, Bt | | | Hon. Augustus Hervey | |
| 1775 | | Sir Charles Davers, Bt | | | Henry Seymour Conway | Whig |
| 1784 | | Sir Charles Davers, Bt | | | Hon. George FitzRoy | |
| 1787 | | Sir Charles Davers, Bt | | | Lord Charles FitzRoy | |
| 1796 | | Sir Charles Davers, Bt | | | Lord Hervey | |
| 1802 | | Lord Charles FitzRoy | | | Lord Hervey | |
| 1803 | | Lord Charles FitzRoy | | | The Lord Templetown | |
| 1812 | | Lord Charles FitzRoy | | | Frederick Foster | Whig |
| 1818 | | The Earl of Euston | Whig | | Hon. Arthur Upton | Whig |
| 1820 | | Lord John FitzRoy | Whig | | Hon. Arthur Upton | Whig |
| 1826 | | Earl Jermyn | Tory | | Earl of Euston | Whig |
| 1831 | | Earl Jermyn | Tory | | Charles Augustus FitzRoy | Whig |
| 1832 | | Earl Jermyn | Tory | | Lord Charles FitzRoy | Whig |
| 1834 | | Earl Jermyn | Conservative | | Lord Charles FitzRoy | Whig |
| 1847 | | Earl Jermyn | Conservative | | Edward Bunbury | Whig |
| 1852 | | Earl Jermyn | Conservative | | John Stuart | Conservative |
| Dec 1852 by-election | | Earl Jermyn | Conservative | | James Oakes | Conservative |
| 1857 | | Earl Jermyn | Conservative | | Joseph Hardcastle | Whig |
| 1859 by-election | | Lord Alfred Hervey | Peelite | | Joseph Hardcastle | Whig |
| 1859 | | Lord Alfred Hervey | Peelite | | Joseph Hardcastle | Liberal |
| 1865 | | Edward Greene | Conservative | | Joseph Hardcastle | Liberal |
| 1874 | | Edward Greene | Conservative | | Lord Francis Hervey | Conservative |
| 1880 | | Edward Greene | Conservative | | Joseph Hardcastle | Liberal |
| 1885 | representation reduced to one member | representation reduced to one member | representation reduced to one member | representation reduced to one member | representation reduced to one member | representation reduced to one member |

### MPs since 1885

| Year | Member | Party |
| 1885 | Lord Francis Hervey | Conservative |
| 1892 by-election | Henry Cadogan | Conservative |
| 1900 | Edward Greene | Conservative |
| 1906 | Frederick Hervey | Conservative |
| 1907 by-election | Walter Guinness | Conservative |
| 1931 | Frank Heilgers | Conservative |
| 1944 by-election | Edgar Keatinge | Conservative |
| 1945 | Geoffrey Clifton-Brown | Conservative |
| 1950 | William Aitken | Conservative |
| 1964 | Eldon Griffiths | Conservative |
| 1992 | Richard Spring | Conservative |
| 1997 | David Ruffley | Conservative |
| 2015 | Jo Churchill | Conservative |
| 2024 | Peter Prinsley | Labour |

## Elections
### Elections in the 2020s

General election 2024: Bury St Edmunds :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Peter Prinsley | 16,745 | 32.9 | +12.1 |
| | Conservative | Will Tanner | 15,293 | 30.0 | −32.9 |
| | Reform UK | Scott Hussey | 8,595 | 16.9 | +16.9 |
| | Green | Emma Buckmaster | 5,761 | 11.3 | −1.1 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,452 | 2.9 | −37.5 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 50,884 | 64.8 | −3.1 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 77,599 | | −3.8 |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | +22.5 | |

### Elections in the 2010s

General election 2019: Bury St Edmunds :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Jo Churchill | 37,770 | 61.0 | +1.8 |
| | Labour | Cliff Waterman | 12,782 | 20.6 | −8.9 |
| | Green | Helen Geake | 9,711 | 15.7 | +11.5 |
| | Independent | Paul Hopfensperger | 1,694 | 2.7 | New |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 24,988 | 40.4 | +10.7 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 61,957 | 69.1 | −3.1 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 89,644 | | +4.2 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | +5.3 | |
General election 2017: Bury St Edmunds :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Jo Churchill | 36,794 | 59.2 | +5.6 |
| | Labour | William Edwards | 18,353 | 29.5 | +11.8 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Helen Korfanty | 3,565 | 5.7 | −0.3 |
| | Green | Helen Geake | 2,596 | 4.2 | −3.7 |
| | Independent | Liam Byrne | 852 | 1.4 | New |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 18,441 | 29.7 | −6.2 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 62,160 | 72.2 | +3.2 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 86,071 | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | -3.1 | |
Note: Independent politician St Edmundsbury Borough Councillor and Bury St Edmunds Town Councillor Paul Hopfensperger submitted a valid nomination but this was subsequently withdrawn. Because of the timing of the withdrawal, his name appears in the Statement of Persons Nominated for this election.
General election 2015: Bury St Edmunds :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Jo Churchill | 31,815 | 53.6 | +6.1 |
| | Labour | William Edwards | 10,514 | 17.7 | +1.0 |
| | UKIP | John Howlett | 8,739 | 14.7 | +9.6 |
| | Green | Helen Geake | 4,692 | 7.9 | +3.6 |
| | Liberal Democrats | David Chappell | 3,581 | 6.0 | −20.4 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 21,301 | 35.9 | +14.8 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 59,341 | 69.0 | −0.3 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | +2.5 | |
General election 2010: Bury St Edmunds :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | David Ruffley | 27,899 | 47.5 | +1.2 |
| | Liberal Democrats | David Chappell | 15,519 | 26.4 | +6.7 |
| | Labour | Kevin Hind | 9,776 | 16.7 | −10.7 |
| | UKIP | John Howlett | 3,003 | 5.1 | +1.6 |
| | Green | Mark Ereira-Guyer | 2,521 | 4.3 | +1.3 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 12,380 | 21.1 | +2.2 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 58,718 | 69.3 | +2.5 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | −2.8 | |

### Elections in the 2000s

General election 2005: Bury St Edmunds :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | David Ruffley | 24,332 | 46.2 | +2.7 |
| | Labour | David Monaghan | 14,402 | 27.4 | −11.1 |
| | Liberal Democrats | David Chappell | 10,423 | 19.8 | +5.9 |
| | UKIP | John Howlett | 1,859 | 3.5 | +1.8 |
| | Green | Graham Manning | 1,603 | 3.0 | New |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 9,930 | 18.8 | +13.8 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 52,619 | 66.1 | +0.1 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | +6.9 | |
General election 2001: Bury St Edmunds :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | David Ruffley | 21,850 | 43.5 | +5.2 |
| | Labour | Mark Ereira-Guyer | 19,347 | 38.5 | +0.8 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Richard Williams | 6,998 | 13.9 | −4.3 |
| | UKIP | John Howlett | 831 | 1.7 | New |
| | Independent | Michael Brundle | 651 | 1.3 | New |
| | Socialist Labour | Michael Benwell | 580 | 1.2 | New |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 2,503 | 5.0 | +4.4 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 50,257 | 66.0 | −9.0 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | +2.1 | |

### Elections in the 1990s

General election 1997: Bury St Edmunds :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | David Ruffley | 21,290 | 38.3 | −7.6 |
| | Labour | Mark Ereira-Guyer | 20,922 | 37.7 | +11.7 |
| | Liberal Democrats | David A. Cooper | 10,102 | 18.2 | −8.7 |
| | Referendum | Ian C.H. McWhirter | 2,939 | 5.3 | New |
| | Natural Law | Joanna B. Lillis | 272 | 0.5 | −0.4 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 368 | 0.6 | −29.4 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 55,525 | 75.0 | +0.6 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | −14.6 | |
General election 1992: Bury St Edmunds :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Richard Spring | 33,554 | 53.5 | −5.8 |
| | Labour | Tommy Sheppard | 14,767 | 23.6 | +6.3 |
| | Liberal Democrats | John B. Williams | 13,814 | 22.0 | +0.5 |
| | Natural Law | Joanna B. Lillis | 550 | 0.9 | New |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 18,787 | 29.9 | −7.9 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 62,685 | 78.9 | +4.8 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | −6.1 | |

### Elections in the 1980s

General election 1987: Bury St Edmunds :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Eldon Griffiths | 33,672 | 59.3 | +0.3 |
| | SDP | Reginald Harland | 12,214 | 21.5 | −6.9 |
| | Labour | Christopher Greene | 9,841 | 17.3 | +4.6 |
| | Green | Ida Wakelam | 1,057 | 1.9 | New |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 21,458 | 37.8 | +7.2 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 56,784 | 74.1 | +1.8 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | +3.6 | |
General election 1983: Bury St Edmunds :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Eldon Griffiths | 31,081 | 59.0 | −2.0 |
| | SDP | Reginald Harland | 14,959 | 28.4 | +14.2 |
| | Labour | Wiktor Mosczynski | 6,666 | 12.7 | −16.3 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 16,122 | 30.6 | +2.6 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 52,706 | 72.3 | −4.0 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | | |

### Elections in the 1970s

General election 1979: Bury St Edmunds :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Eldon Griffiths | 41,426 | 57.0 | +6.6 |
| | Labour | A. Gibson | 21,167 | 29.0 | −4.0 |
| | Liberal | G. Jones | 10,836 | 14.2 | −2.4 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 20,259 | 28.0 | +10.6 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 73,429 | 76.3 | +3.1 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | +5.3 | |
General election October 1974: Bury St Edmunds :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Eldon Griffiths | 32,179 | 50.4 | +2.9 |
| | Labour | J.K Stephenson | 21,097 | 33.0 | +4.3 |
| | Liberal | G Jones | 10,631 | 16.6 | −7.2 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 11,082 | 17.4 | −1.4 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 63,907 | 73.2 | −8.1 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | −0.7 | |
General election February 1974: Bury St Edmunds :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Eldon Griffiths | 33,424 | 47.5 | −13.7 |
| | Labour | J.K Stephenson | 20,171 | 28.7 | −10.1 |
| | Liberal | B. Boulton | 16,772 | 23.8 | New |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 13,253 | 18.8 | −3.6 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 70,367 | 81.3 | +4.1 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | −7.2 | |
General election 1970: Bury St Edmunds :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Eldon Griffiths | 36,688 | 61.2 | +6.6 |
| | Labour | Colin J. V. Seager | 23,286 | 38.8 | −6.6 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 13,402 | 22.4 | +13.2 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 59,974 | 77.2 | −1.6 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | | |

### Elections in the 1960s

General election 1966: Bury St Edmunds :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Eldon Griffiths | 27,782 | 54.6 | +4.4 |
| | Labour | Colin J. V. Seager | 23,140 | 45.4 | +5.2 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 4,462 | 9.2 | −0.8 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 50,922 | 78.8 | −3.4 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | -0.8 | |
General election 1964: Bury St Edmunds :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Eldon Griffiths | 25,206 | 50.2 | −8.6 |
| | Labour | Noel James Insley | 20,216 | 40.2 | −1.1 |
| | Liberal | Richard L. Afton | 4,840 | 9.6 | N/A |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 4,990 | 10.0 | −7.5 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 50,262 | 82.2 | +3.6 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | -7.5 | |
1964 Bury St Edmunds by-election :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Eldon Griffiths | 22,141 | 49.0 | −9.8 |
| | Labour | Noel James Insley | 19,682 | 43.5 | +2.2 |
| | Liberal | Richard L. Afton | 3,387 | 7.5 | New |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 2,459 | 5.5 | −12.0 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 45,210 | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | | |

### Elections in the 1950s

General election 1959: Bury St Edmunds :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | William Aitken | 26,730 | 58.8 | +3.7 |
| | Labour | Alison Margaret A. Walter | 18,768 | 41.3 | −3.6 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 7,962 | 17.5 | +7.3 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 45,498 | 78.6 | +0.3 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | +3.6 | |
General election 1955: Bury St Edmunds :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | William Aitken | 24,532 | 55.1 | +0.7 |
| | Labour | Neville Stanley | 19,962 | 44.9 | −0.7 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 4,570 | 10.2 | +1.4 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 44,494 | 78.3 | −1.5 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | +0.7 | |
General election 1951: Bury St Edmunds :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | William Aitken | 24,679 | 54.4 | +5.1 |
| | Labour | Neville Stanley | 20,690 | 45.6 | +5.3 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 3,989 | 8.8 | −0.2 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 45,369 | 79.8 | −2.7 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | -0.1 | |
General election 1950: Bury St Edmunds :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | William Aitken | 22,559 | 49.3 | +0.6 |
| | Labour | Cecily Alicia McCall | 18,430 | 40.3 | +10.5 |
| | Liberal | Henry William Sparham | 4,780 | 10.4 | −8.6 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 4,129 | 9.0 | −9.9 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 45,769 | 82.5 | +14.7 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | -4.9 | |

### Elections in the 1940s

General election 1945: Bury St Edmunds :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Geoffrey Clifton-Brown | 15,013 | 48.7 | N/A |
| | Labour | Cecily Alicia McCall | 9,195 | 29.8 | New |
| | Liberal | Harold Charles Drayton | 5,863 | 19.0 | New |
| | Common Wealth | Eric Gordon England | 750 | 2.4 | New |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 5,818 | 18.9 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 30,821 | 67.8 | N/A |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | N/A | |
Following the death of Frank Heilgers on 16 January 1944 a by-election was held on 29 February 1944.
1944 Bury St Edmunds by-election :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Edgar Keatinge | 11,705 | 56.2 | N/A |
| | Independent Liberal | Margery Corbett Ashby | 9,121 | 43.8 | New |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 2,584 | 12.4 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 20,828 | 50.8 | N/A |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | N/A | |

### Elections in the 1930s

General election 1935: Bury St Edmunds :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Frank Heilgers | Unopposed | N/A | N/A |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold |
General election 1931: Bury St Edmunds :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Frank Heilgers | Unopposed | N/A | N/A |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold |

### Elections in the 1920s

General election 1929: Bury St Edmunds :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Unionist | Walter Guinness | 16,462 | 54.4 | −8.7 |
| | Liberal | Dar Lyon | 11,344 | 37.4 | +0.5 |
| | Labour | Percy Astins | 2,490 | 8.2 | New |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 5,118 | 17.0 | −9.2 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 30,296 | 77.8 | −4.0 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 38,938 | | |
| | Unionist hold | Unionist hold | Swing | −4.6 | |
On Guinness's nomination as Minister of Agriculture a by-election in 1925 was required under the electoral law of the time, which he won.
1925 Bury St Edmunds by-election :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Unionist | Walter Guinness | 14,700 | 62.8 | −0.3 |
| | Liberal | George Nicholls | 8,703 | 37.2 | +0.3 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 5,997 | 25.6 | −0.6 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 23,403 | 73.9 | −7.9 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 31,648 | | |
| | Unionist hold | Unionist hold | Swing | −0.3 | |
General election 1924: Bury St Edmunds :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Unionist | Walter Guinness | 16,073 | 63.1 | N/A |
| | Liberal | John Adam Day | 9,392 | 36.9 | New |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 6,681 | 26.2 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 25,465 | 81.8 | N/A |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 31,138 | | |
| | Unionist hold | Unionist hold | Swing | N/A | |
General election 1923: Bury St Edmunds :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Unionist | Walter Guinness | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| | Unionist hold | Unionist hold | Unionist hold | Unionist hold | Unionist hold |
General election 1922: Bury St Edmunds :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Unionist | Walter Guinness | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| | Unionist hold | Unionist hold | Unionist hold | Unionist hold | Unionist hold |

### Elections in the 1910s

General election 1918: Bury St Edmunds :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| C | Unionist | Walter Guinness | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| | Unionist hold | Unionist hold | Unionist hold | Unionist hold | Unionist hold |
| C indicates candidate endorsed by the coalition government. ||||||
General Election 1914–15:
Another General Election was required to take place before the end of 1915. The political parties had been making preparations for an election to take place and by July 1914, the following candidates had been selected;
* Unionist: Walter Guinness
* Liberal:
General election December 1910: Bury St Edmunds :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Walter Guinness | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold |
General election January 1910: Bury St Edmunds :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Walter Guinness | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold |

### Elections in the 1900s

1907 Bury St Edmunds by-election :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Walter Guinness | 1,631 | 68.8 | +10.2 |
| | Liberal | Walter Baldwyn Yates | 741 | 31.2 | −10.2 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 890 | 37.6 | +20.4 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,372 | 86.6 | −4.1 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 2,740 | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | +10.2 | |
General election 1906: Bury St Edmunds :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Frederick Hervey | 1,481 | 58.6 | N/A |
| | Liberal | Walter Baldwyn Yates | 1,047 | 41.4 | New |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 434 | 17.2 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,528 | 90.7 | N/A |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 2,788 | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | N/A | |
General election 1900: Bury St Edmunds :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Edward Greene | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold |

### Elections in the 1890s

General election 1895: Bury St Edmunds :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Henry Cadogan | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold |
1892 Bury St Edmunds by-election :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Henry Cadogan | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold |
General election 1892: Bury St Edmunds :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Francis Hervey | 1,267 | 59.5 | +0.8 |
| | Liberal | John Eustace Jameson | 863 | 40.5 | −0.8 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 404 | 19.0 | +1.6 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,130 | 84.7 | +0.3 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 2,515 | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | +0.8 | |

### Elections in the 1880s

General election 1886: Bury St Edmunds :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Francis Hervey | 1,135 | 58.7 | +4.7 |
| | Liberal | Frederick Goodwin | 800 | 41.3 | −4.7 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 335 | 17.4 | +9.4 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,935 | 84.4 | −6.3 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 2,292 | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | +4.7 | |
General election 1885: Bury St Edmunds :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Francis Hervey | 1,122 | 54.0 | −5.9 |
| | Liberal | Joseph Hardcastle | 956 | 46.0 | +5.8 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 166 | 8.0 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,078 | 90.7 | −1.7 (est) |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 2,292 | | |
| | Conservative win (new seat) | Conservative win (new seat) | Conservative win (new seat) | Conservative win (new seat) | Conservative win (new seat) |
General election 1880: Bury St Edmunds (2 seats) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | Joseph Hardcastle | 1,110 | 40.2 | −0.8 |
| | Conservative | Edward Greene | 850 | 30.8 | −0.1 |
| | Conservative | Francis Hervey | 803 | 29.1 | +1.0 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 307 | 11.1 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,960 (est) | 92.4 (est) | +7.6 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 2,122 | | |
| | Liberal gain from Conservative | Liberal gain from Conservative | Swing | −0.7 | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | | |

### Elections in the 1870s

General election 1874: Bury St Edmunds (2 seats) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Edward Greene | 1,004 | 30.9 | +13.1 |
| | Conservative | Francis Hervey | 914 | 28.1 | +10.3 |
| | Liberal | Joseph Hardcastle | 707 | 21.7 | −13.3 |
| | Liberal | Charles Lamport | 628 | 19.3 | −10.2 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 207 | 6.4 | +5.9 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,627 (est) | 84.8 (est) | −5.7 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 1,919 | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | +11.7 | |
| | Conservative gain from Liberal | Conservative gain from Liberal | Swing | +11.8 | |

### Elections in the 1860s

General election 1868: Bury St Edmunds (2 seats) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Edward Greene | 714 | 35.5 | +2.1 |
| | Liberal | Joseph Hardcastle | 703 | 35.0 | −1.9 |
| | Liberal | Edward Bunbury | 593 | 29.5 | N/A |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 11 | 0.5 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,362 (est) | 90.5 (est) | +4.5 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 1,505 | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | N/A | |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Swing | N/A | |
General election 1865: Bury St Edmunds (2 seats) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | Joseph Hardcastle | 331 | 36.9 | +6.5 |
| | Conservative | Edward Greene | 300 | 33.4 | +5.3 |
| | Liberal-Conservative | Alfred Hervey | 266 | 29.7 | −11.7 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 31 | 3.5 | +1.2 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 582 (est) | 86.0 (est) | +13.4 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 676 | | |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Swing | +6.2 | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | +5.6 | |

### Elections in the 1850s

General election 1859: Bury St Edmunds (2 seats) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Peelite | Alfred Hervey | 418 | 41.4 | +4.4 |
| | Liberal | Joseph Hardcastle | 307 | 30.4 | −4.0 |
| | Conservative | Robert Buxton | 284 | 28.1 | −0.5 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 505 (est) | 72.6 (est) | +6.4 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 695 | | |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 111 | 11.0 | N/A |
| | Peelite gain from Conservative | Peelite gain from Conservative | Swing | +2.3 | |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 23 | 2.3 | −3.5 |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Swing | −1.9 | |
By-election, 7 March 1859: Bury St Edmunds :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Peelite | Alfred Hervey | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| | Peelite gain from Conservative | Peelite gain from Conservative | Peelite gain from Conservative | Peelite gain from Conservative | Peelite gain from Conservative |
* Caused by Hervey's succession to the peerage, becoming 2nd Marquess of Bristol
General election 1857: Bury St Edmunds (2 seats) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Frederick Hervey | 344 | 37.0 | −6.2 |
| | Whig | Joseph Hardcastle | 320 | 34.4 | +6.4 |
| | Conservative | James Oakes | 266 | 28.6 | −0.2 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 465 (est) | 66.2 (est) | −10.7 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 702 | | |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 24 | 2.6 | +1.8 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | −4.7 | |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 54 | 5.8 | N/A |
| | Whig gain from Conservative | Whig gain from Conservative | Swing | +6.4 | |
By-election, 4 December 1852: Bury St Edmunds :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | James Oakes | 324 | 50.6 | −21.4 |
| | Whig | Joseph Hardcastle | 316 | 49.4 | +21.4 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 8 | 1.2 | +0.4 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 640 | 89.8 | +12.9 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 713 | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | −21.4 | |
* Caused by Stuart's resignation after being appointed a Vice-Chancellor of the Court of Chancery.
General election 1852: Bury St Edmunds (2 seats) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Frederick Hervey | 493 | 43.2 | +3.4 |
| | Conservative | John Stuart | 328 | 28.8 | +1.9 |
| | Whig | Edward Bunbury | 319 | 28.0 | −5.3 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 9 | 0.8 | −5.7 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 570 (est) | 76.9 (est) | +11.6 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 741 | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | +3.0 | |
| | Conservative gain from Whig | Conservative gain from Whig | Swing | +2.3 | |

### Elections in the 1840s

General election 1847: Bury St Edmunds (2 seats) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Frederick Hervey | 390 | 39.8 | +11.5 |
| | Whig | Edward Bunbury | 327 | 33.3 | −13.6 |
| | Conservative | Horace Twiss | 264 | 26.9 | +2.2 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 491 (est) | 65.3 (est) | −20.5 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 751 | | |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 63 | 6.5 | +3.9 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | +9.2 | |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 63 | 6.4 | +5.4 |
| | Whig hold | Whig hold | Swing | −13.7 | |
By-election, 14 September 1841: Bury St Edmunds :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Frederick Hervey | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold |
* Caused by Hervey's appointment as Treasurer of the Household
General election 1841: Bury St Edmunds (2 seats) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Frederick Hervey | 341 | 28.3 | +2.9 |
| | Whig | Charles FitzRoy | 310 | 25.7 | −0.8 |
| | Conservative | Horace Twiss | 298 | 24.7 | +1.9 |
| | Whig | Rowland Gardiner Alston | 256 | 21.2 | −4.1 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 612 | 85.8 | −0.3 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 713 | | |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 31 | 2.6 | +2.5 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | +2.7 | |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 12 | 1.0 | −0.1 |
| | Whig hold | Whig hold | Swing | −1.6 | |

### Elections in the 1830s

General election 1837: Bury St Edmunds (2 seats) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Whig | Charles FitzRoy | 289 | 26.5 | −7.6 |
| | Conservative | Frederick Hervey | 277 | 25.4 | +8.1 |
| | Whig | Charles Bunbury | 275 | 25.3 | −6.0 |
| | Conservative | Frederick Gough-Calthorpe | 248 | 22.8 | +5.5 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 552 | 86.1 | −7.8 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 641 | | |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 12 | 1.1 | |
| | Whig hold | Whig hold | Swing | −7.2 | |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 2 | 0.1 | −0.4 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | +7.5 | |
By-election, 26 June 1835: Bury St Edmunds :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Whig | Charles FitzRoy | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| | Whig hold | Whig hold | Whig hold | Whig hold | Whig hold |
* Caused by FitzRoy's appointment as Vice-Chamberlain of the Household
General election 1835: Bury St Edmunds (2 seats) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Frederick Hervey | 317 | 34.6 | +2.7 |
| | Whig | Charles FitzRoy | 312 | 34.1 | −6.2 |
| | Whig | Charles Bunbury | 287 | 31.3 | +3.4 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 5 | 0.5 | −3.5 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 582 | 93.9 | +5.6 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 620 | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | +2.8 | |
| | Whig hold | Whig hold | Swing | −3.8 | |
General election 1832: Bury St Edmunds (2 seats) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Whig | Charles FitzRoy | 344 | 40.3 | +14.9 |
| | Tory | Frederick Hervey | 272 | 31.9 | −39.3 |
| | Whig | Frederick King Eagle | 238 | 27.9 | +24.5 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 521 | 88.3 | +1.8 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 590 | | |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 72 | 8.4 | +6.7 |
| | Whig hold | Whig hold | Swing | +17.3 | |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 34 | 4.0 | −18.1 |
| | Tory hold | Tory hold | Swing | −39.4 | |
General election 1831: Bury St Edmunds (2 seats) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Tory | Frederick Hervey | 28 | 47.5 | N/A |
| | Whig | Charles Augustus FitzRoy | 15 | 25.4 | N/A |
| | Tory | Philip Bennet | 14 | 23.7 | N/A |
| | Whig | Robert Rolfe | 2 | 3.4 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 32 | 86.5 | N/A |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 37 | | |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 13 | 22.1 | N/A |
| | Tory hold | Tory hold | Swing | N/A | |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1 | 1.7 | N/A |
| | Whig hold | Whig hold | Swing | N/A | |
General election 1830: Bury St Edmunds (2 seats) :
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| Tory | Frederick Hervey | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| Whig | Henry FitzRoy | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| Tory hold | Tory hold | Tory hold | Tory hold | Tory hold |
| Whig hold | Whig hold | Whig hold | Whig hold | Whig hold |