North West Cambridgeshire (UK Parliament constituency)

North West Cambridgeshire (UK Parliament constituency)
North West Cambridgeshire is a county constituency represented in the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom since 2005 by Shailesh Vara of the Conservative Party. It elects one Member of Parliament (MP) by the first past the post system of election.
Constituency profile
This safe Conservative Party seat includes a substantial part of the cathedral city of Peterborough, specifically the suburban areas to the south of the river Nene and west of the Soke Parkway, as well as several rural wards from the historic county of Huntingdonshire. While both Labour and the Liberal Democrats are competitive in some wards at local elections, the opposition is evenly divided, and there is a strong Conservative presence in all parts of the seat, ensuring a large majority for the Conservatives.
The London Road home of Peterborough United F.C. is located within the seat.
History
The seat was won upon its creation in 1997 by Sir Brian Mawhinney, former Conservative MP for Peterborough (which was gained at the same election by the Labour Party). He retired from the House of Commons in 2005 and was created Baron Mawhinney, of Peterborough in the county of Cambridgeshire. The Conservative Shailesh Vara has represented the constituency since the 2005 general election.
Withdrawn candidates in 2019
Liam Round was selected to be the Brexit Party candidate, but he withdrew on 10 November. Peterborough City Councillor Ed Murphy was chosen as the Labour Party candidate, but was deselected by the party on 14 November after it was alleged, but not proven, that he had published tweets vilifying Israel.
Boundaries and boundary changes
1997–2010
The District of Huntingdonshire wards of Bury, Earith, Elton, Farcet, Ramsey, Sawtry, Somersham, Stilton, Upwood and the Raveleys, Warboys, and Yaxley; and
The City of Peterborough wards of Barnack, Fletton, Glinton, Northborough, Orton Longueville, Orton Waterville, Stanground, and Wittering.
The constituency was formed primarily from northern, rural parts of the Huntingdon constituency, including Ramsey, together with parts of Peterborough, comprising residential areas to the south of the River Nene (wards of Fletton, Orton Longueville, Orton Waterville and Stanground).
2010–present
The District of Huntingdonshire wards of Earith, Ellington, Elton and Folksworth, Ramsey, Sawtry, Somersham, Stilton, Upwood and the Raveleys, Warboys and Bury, and Yaxley and Farcet; and
The City of Peterborough wards of Barnack, Fletton, Glinton and Wittering, Northborough, Orton Longueville, Orton Waterville, Orton with Hampton, Stanground Central, and Stanground East.
Following their review of parliamentary representation in Cambridgeshire in 2005, the Boundary Commission for England made minor alterations to the existing constituencies to deal with population changes, including a small further gain from Huntingdon. There were also marginal changes to take account of the redistribution of City of Peterborough wards. These changes increased the electorate from 69,082 to 73,648. On the enumeration date of 17 February 2000, the electoral quota for England was 69,934 voters per constituency.
Proposed Changes
Following the boundary commission's final proposals, the constituency, previously the highest populated in the United Kingdom, has been downsized. This is also due to population growth in the middle and south of Cambridgeshire, necessitating the creation of the new Mid Cambridgeshire and St Neots seat, with the Huntingdon constituency absorbing many of Huntingdonshire District Council Wards.
The make up of the new constituency is as follows:
Peterborough City Council: Barnack (one councillor), Fletton & Stanground (three councillors), Fletton & Woodston (three councillors), Glinton & Caster (two councillors), Hargate & Hempstead (three councillors), Hampton Vale (three councillors), Orton Longueville (three councillors), Orton Waterville (three councillors), Standground South (three councillors) and Wittering (one councillor).
Huntingdonshire District Council: Ramsey (three councillors), Stilton, Folksworth & Washingley (two councillors) and Yaxley (three councillors).
New Political Make up
There are 33 council seats across the new constituency, 25 Unitary Authority Councillors (Peterborough), 8 Huntingdonshire Councillors.
Conservative 17 (9 in Peterborough, 8 in Huntingdonshire)
Labour 2 (both in Peterborough)
Liberal Democrat 3 (all in Peterborough)
Green 3 (all in Peterborough)
Independent 9 (8 in Peterborough, 1 in Huntingndonshire)
Members of Parliament
Elections
Elections in the 2010s
Elections in the 2000s
Elections in the 1990s
See also
List of parliamentary constituencies in Cambridgeshire
Peterborough
Huntingdon
References
External links
United Kingdom Parliament
Boundary Commission for England
Parliamentary constituencies in Cambridgeshire
Constituencies of the Parliament of the United Kingdom established in 1997
Politics of Peterborough
Politics of Huntingdonshire