# Brentwood and Ongar (UK Parliament constituency)

Brentwood and Ongar is a constituency in Essex represented in the House of Commons of the UK Parliament since 2017 by Alex Burghart, a Conservative. He served from October 2022 to July 2024 as Parliamentary Secretary for the Cabinet Office.

## History

The seat was created for the February 1974 general election, primarily from part of the abolished constituency of Billericay. It has always been a safe Conservative seat.
It was held by Eric Pickles between the General Election in 1992 and 2017 when he stood down. The Liberal Democrats amassed their largest share of the vote in 1992 (including results for their two predecessor parties). At the 2010 election their candidate was second-placed with 13.6% of the vote, ahead of the Labour Party's candidate, but this proved the peak of their support, as they declined to fourth place in 2015 and then behind Labour in 2017 and 2019.
In the 2001 election, Pickles was opposed by Martin Bell, who had represented the Tatton constituency in the last Parliament as an independent and had pledged not to seek re-election there. Bell failed to gain Brentwood and Ongar from the Conservatives, but cut the Conservative majority to just 6.5%, the lowest in the seat's history.
The pattern of elections in the seat was disrupted by the emergence of UKIP who jumped to second place in 2015. Following the retirement of Eric Pickles, in the 2017 and 2019 elections it was the Labour Party candidate who emerged as the main challengers to the Conservatives in the seat.

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

* The Urban District of Brentwood;
* The Rural District of Epping and Ongar parishes of Abbess Beauchamp and Berners Roding, Blackmore, Bobbingworth, Doddinghurst, Fyfield, High Laver, High Ongar, Kelvedon Hatch, Lambourne, Little Laver, Moreton, Navestock, Ongar, Stanford Rivers, Stapleford Abbotts, Stapleford Tawney, Stondon Massey, Theydon Mount, and Willingale.
The Urban District of Brentwood was previously part of the abolished constituency of Billericay, and the parishes in the Rural District of Epping and Ongar (which had previously constituted the Rural District of Ongar) had been part of the abolished constituency of Chigwell.

### 1983–2010

* The District of Brentwood;
* The District of Epping Forest wards of Chipping Ongar, Greensted and Marden Ash, High Ongar, Lambourne, Moreton and Matching, Passingford, Roothing Country, and Shelley.
Two parishes, formerly part of the Rural District of Chelmsford and included in the District of Brentwood under the Local Government Act 1972 transferred from Chelmsford. Other marginal changes.

### 2010–2024

* The Borough of Brentwood;
* The District of Epping Forest wards of Chipping Ongar, Greensted and Marden Ash; High Ongar, Willingale and The Rodings; Lambourne; Moreton and Fyfield; North Weald Bassett; Passingford; and Shelley.
North Weald Bassett ward transferred from Epping Forest. Other marginal changes due to redistribution of local authority wards.

### 2024–present

The 2023 periodic review of Westminster constituencies, which was based on the ward structure in place on 1 December 2020, left the boundaries virtually unchanged. However, following a local government boundary review in Epping Forest which came into effect in May 2024, the constituency now comprises the following from the 2024 general election:
* The Borough of Brentwood;
* The District of Epping Forest wards or part wards of: Chigwell with Lambourne (Lambourne parish); North Weald Bassett (most); Ongar (all); Rural East (excluding parishes of Matching and Sheering); Theydon Bois with Passingford (excluding Theydon Bois parish).

## Members of Parliament

Billericay and Chigwell prior to 1974
| Election | Member | Party |
| Feb 1974 | Sir Robert McCrindle | Conservative |
| 1992 | Sir Eric Pickles | Conservative |
| 2017 | Alex Burghart | Conservative |

## Elections
### Elections in the 2020s

General election 2024: Brentwood and Ongar :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Alex Burghart | 17,731 | 36.7 | −31.8 |
| | Reform UK | Paul Godfrey | 11,751 | 24.3 | New |
| | Labour | Gareth Barrett | 11,082 | 22.9 | +9.2 |
| | Liberal Democrats | David Kendall | 5,809 | 12.0 | −1.6 |
| | Green | Reece Learmouth | 1,770 | 3.7 | +0.5 |
| | English Democrat | Robin Tilbrook | 189 | 0.4 | −0.6 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 5,980 | 12.4 | −42.5 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 48,332 | 64.1 | −6.4 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 75,352 | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | | |

### Elections in the 2010s

2019 notional result :
| Party | Party | Vote | % |
| | Conservative | 36,202 | 68.5 |
| | Labour | 7,228 | 13.7 |
| | Liberal Democrats | 7,179 | 13.6 |
| | Green | 1,675 | 3.2 |
| | Others | 532 | 1.0 |
| Turnout | Turnout | 52,816 | 70.5 |
| Electorate | Electorate | 74,937 |
General election 2019: Brentwood and Ongar :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Alex Burghart | 36,308 | 68.6 | +2.8 |
| | Labour | Oliver Durose | 7,243 | 13.7 | −6.7 |
| | Liberal Democrats | David Kendall | 7,187 | 13.6 | +5.2 |
| | Green | Paul Jeater | 1,679 | 3.2 | +1.5 |
| | English Democrat | Robin Tilbrook | 532 | 1.0 | New |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 29,065 | 54.9 | +9.5 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 52,949 | 70.4 | −0.2 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | +4.8 | |
General election 2017: Brentwood and Ongar :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Alex Burghart | 34,811 | 65.8 | +7.0 |
| | Labour | Gareth Barrett | 10,809 | 20.4 | +7.9 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Karen Chilvers | 4,426 | 8.4 | −0.4 |
| | UKIP | Mick McGough | 1,845 | 3.5 | −13.3 |
| | Green | Paul Jeater | 915 | 1.7 | −1.0 |
| | Independent | Louca Kousoulou | 104 | 0.2 | New |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 24,002 | 45.4 | +3.4 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 52,910 | 70.6 | −1.0 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | −0.5 | |
General election 2015: Brentwood and Ongar :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Eric Pickles | 30,534 | 58.8 | +1.9 |
| | UKIP | Mick McGough | 8,724 | 16.8 | +12.8 |
| | Labour | Liam Preston | 6,492 | 12.5 | +2.6 |
| | Liberal Democrats | David Kendall | 4,577 | 8.8 | −14.7 |
| | Green | Reza Hossain | 1,397 | 2.7 | +1.5 |
| | English Democrat | Robin Tilbrook | 173 | 0.3 | −0.7 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 21,810 | 42.0 | +8.6 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 51,897 | 71.6 | −0.3 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | −5.4 | |
General election 2010: Brentwood and Ongar :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Eric Pickles | 28,792 | 56.9 | +2.9 |
| | Liberal Democrats | David Kendall | 11,872 | 23.5 | −3.4 |
| | Labour | Heidi Benzing | 4,992 | 9.9 | −4.9 |
| | UKIP | Michael McGough | 2,037 | 4.0 | −0.1 |
| | BNP | Paul Morris | 1,447 | 2.9 | New |
| | Green | Jess Barnecutt | 584 | 1.2 | New |
| | English Democrat | Robin Tilbrook | 491 | 1.0 | New |
| | Independent | James Sapwell | 263 | 0.5 | New |
| | Independent | Danny Attfield | 113 | 0.2 | New |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 16,920 | 33.4 | +7.1 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 50,591 | 71.9 | +4.0 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | +3.1 | |

### Elections in the 2000s

General election 2005: Brentwood and Ongar :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Eric Pickles | 23,609 | 53.5 | +15.5 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Gavin Stollar | 11,997 | 27.2 | +11.6 |
| | Labour | John Adams | 6,579 | 14.9 | +2.3 |
| | UKIP | Stuart Gulleford | 1,805 | 4.1 | +2.7 |
| | Independent | Anthony Appleton | 155 | 0.4 | +0.3 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 11,612 | 26.3 | +19.8 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 44,145 | 68.4 | +1.1 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | +2.0 | |
General election 2001: Brentwood and Ongar :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Eric Pickles | 16,558 | 38.0 | −7.4 |
| | Independent | Martin Bell | 13,737 | 31.5 | New |
| | Liberal Democrats | David Kendall | 6,772 | 15.6 | −10.7 |
| | Labour | Diana Johnson | 5,505 | 12.6 | −9.5 |
| | UKIP | Kenneth Gulleford | 611 | 1.4 | +0.5 |
| | Independent | Peter Pryke | 239 | 0.5 | New |
| | Church of the Militant Elvis | David Bishop | 68 | 0.2 | New |
| | Independent | Anthony Appleton | 52 | 0.1 | New |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 2,821 | 6.5 | −12.6 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 43,542 | 67.3 | −9.3 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | | |

### Elections in the 1990s

General election 1997: Brentwood and Ongar :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Eric Pickles | 23,031 | 45.4 | −12.2 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Elizabeth Bottomley | 13,341 | 26.3 | −4.2 |
| | Labour | Marc Young | 11,231 | 22.1 | +11.2 |
| | Referendum | Angela Kilmartin | 2,658 | 5.2 | New |
| | UKIP | David Mills | 465 | 0.9 | New |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 9,690 | 19.1 | −8.0 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 50,726 | 76.6 | −8.1 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | −4.0 | |
General election 1992: Brentwood and Ongar :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Eric Pickles | 32,145 | 57.6 | −2.9 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Elizabeth Bottomley | 17,000 | 30.5 | +5.5 |
| | Labour | Jeremiah Keohane | 6,080 | 10.9 | −2.3 |
| | Green | Carolyn Bartley | 555 | 1.0 | −0.3 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 15,145 | 27.1 | −8.4 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 55,780 | 84.7 | +5.7 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | −4.2 | |

### Elections in the 1980s

General election 1987: Brentwood and Ongar :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Robert McCrindle | 32,258 | 60.5 | +2.1 |
| | Liberal | Nicholas Amor | 13,337 | 25.0 | −5.3 |
| | Labour | James Orpe | 7,042 | 13.2 | +1.8 |
| | Green | Margaret Willis | 686 | 1.3 | New |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 18,921 | 35.5 | +7.4 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 53,323 | 79.0 | +2.4 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | +3.7 | |
General election 1983: Brentwood and Ongar :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Robert McCrindle | 29,484 | 58.4 | −2.0 |
| | Liberal | Nicholas Amor | 15,282 | 30.3 | +16.0 |
| | Labour | James Orpe | 5,739 | 11.4 | −13.9 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 14,202 | 28.1 | −7.0 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 50,505 | 76.6 | −4.0 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | −9.0 | |

### Elections in the 1970s

General election 1979: Brentwood and Ongar :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Robert McCrindle | 29,113 | 60.4 | +13.5 |
| | Labour | Ian James Crofton Peddie | 12,182 | 25.3 | −4.0 |
| | Liberal | Colin Cenydd Jones | 6,882 | 14.3 | −9.5 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 16,931 | 35.1 | +17.5 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 48,177 | 80.6 | +3.4 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | +8.8 | |
General election October 1974: Brentwood and Ongar :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Robert McCrindle | 21,136 | 46.9 | +0.3 |
| | Labour | Henry Edward Miller | 13,190 | 29.3 | +3.7 |
| | Liberal | Lionel Rufus Wernick | 10,725 | 23.8 | −4.0 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 7,946 | 17.6 | −1.2 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 45,051 | 77.2 | −6.6 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | −1.7 | |
General election February 1974: Brentwood and Ongar :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Robert McCrindle | 22,545 | 46.6 | |
| | Liberal | Lionel Rufus Wernick | 13,452 | 27.8 | |
| | Labour | Maurice Howard Rosen | 12,398 | 25.6 | |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 9,093 | 18.8 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 48,395 | 83.8 | |
| | Conservative win (new seat) | Conservative win (new seat) | Conservative win (new seat) | Conservative win (new seat) | Conservative win (new seat) |

## Graphical representation

February 1974 New seat :
| 25.6% | 27.8% | 46.6% |
| Labour | Liberal | Conservative |
October 1974 :
| 29.3% | 23.8% | 46.9% |
| Labour | Liberal | Conservative |
1979 :
| 25.3% | 14.3% | 60.4% |
| Labour | Liberal | Conservative |
1983 :
| 11.4% | 30.3% | 58.4% |
| Labour | Liberal | Conservative |
1987 :
| 13.2% | 25.0% | 60.5% |
| Labour | Liberal | Conservative |
1992 :
| 10.9% | 30.5% | 57.6% |
| Labour | Lib Dems | Conservative |
1997 :
| 22.1% | 26.3% | 45.4% | |
| Labour | Lib Dems | Conservative | Ref |
2001 :
| 12.6% | 15.6% | 31.5% | 38.0% |
| Labour | Lib Dems | Martin Bell | Conservative |
2005 :
| 14.9% | 27.2% | 53.5% | |
| Labour | Lib Dems | Conservative | UKIP |
2010 :
| 9.9% | 23.5% | 56.9% | |
| Lab | Lib Dems | Conservative | UKIP |
2015 :
| 12.5% | | 58.8% | 16.8% |
| Labour | Lib Dems | Conservative | UKIP |
2017 :
| 20.4% | | 65.8% | |
| Labour | Lib Dems | Conservative | UKIP |
2019 :
| 13.7% | 13.6% | 68.6% |
| Labour | Lib Dems | Conservative |