Epping Forest (UK Parliament constituency)

Last updated

Epping Forest
County constituency
for the House of Commons
Epping Forest (UK Parliament constituency)
Interactive map of boundaries from 2010
East of England - Epping Forest constituency.svg
Location within the East of England
County Essex
Electorate 74,553 (2023) [1]
Major settlements Epping, Waltham Abbey, Loughton, Chigwell, Buckhurst Hill
Current constituency
Created 1974 (1974)
Member of Parliament Neil Hudson (Conservative)
SeatsOne
Created from

Epping Forest is a constituency [n 1] in Essex, created for the February 1974 general election from parts of the abolished Epping and Chigwell constituencies. It has been represented in the House of Commons of the UK Parliament since 2024 by Neil Hudson of the Conservative Party. [n 2]

Contents

Constituency profile

The constituency is largely suburban, containing towns in the north-east of the urban area of London, including Buckhurst Hill, Chigwell, Epping, Loughton, Theydon Bois and Waltham Abbey, as well as extensive areas of the Metropolitan Green Belt including the majority of Epping Forest itself. It is served by several stations on the Central line of the London Underground.

History

The seat was created for the February 1974 general election, primarily from part of the abolished constituency of Chigwell, together with parts of the abolished constituency of Epping, which was notably the seat held by Winston Churchill from 29 October 1924 – 15 June 1945.

When Epping Forest was first created, it was more favourable to the Conservatives than the old Epping seat, as it lost the new town of Harlow (part of the old Epping Rural District) and gained the more Conservative Chigwell Urban District. During the Thatcher period the Labour Party's vote was crushed. Even though the Liberals managed to move into second place, their vote did little more than follow national trends and as soon as 1987 their votes dropped away as well.

Two former candidates in the Epping Forest constituency have also stood for election as Mayor of London: Steve Norris (Conservative; MP 1988–97) and Julian Leppert (British National Party).

Boundaries and boundary changes

The constituency comprises Loughton, Epping, Waltham Abbey, Chigwell, Buckhurst Hill, Theydon Bois, part of North Weald, small intermediate villages and almost the whole of the ancient Forest itself, except those parts which were transferred to Greater London in 1965.

1974–1983

The majority of the new constituency, comprising the Urban District of Chigwell (incorporating Buckhurst Hill and Loughton), had previously been part of the abolished constituency of Chigwell. Remaining parts had previously been in the abolished constituency of Epping.

1983–1997

Minor loss to Brentwood and Ongar.

1997–2010

North Weald Bassett transferred from Harlow.

2010–present

The North Weald Bassett ward was transferred to Brentwood and Ongar. Other marginal changes due to redistribution of local authority wards.

The 2023 Periodic Review of Westminster constituencies left the boundaries unchanged. [6]

Members of Parliament

Neil Hudson, who has represented the constituency since 2024 Official portrait of Dr Neil Hudson MP crop 2.jpg
Neil Hudson, who has represented the constituency since 2024

The constituency was created in 1974 from the seats of Epping and Chigwell — both of these (then one constituency, Epping) were represented by Winston Churchill throughout his tenure as Prime Minister during World War II. The Conservative Party has won in Epping Forest in every election since the creation of the constituency. The previous MP Eleanor Laing, was Deputy Speaker of the House from October 2013 and Chairman of Ways and Means from 2020 until 2024.

ElectionMember [7] Party
Feb 1974 John Biggs-Davison Conservative
1988 by-election Steve Norris Conservative
1997 Eleanor Laing Conservative
2024 Neil Hudson Conservative

Elections

Elections in the 2020s

General election 2024: Epping Forest [8] [9]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Conservative Neil Hudson 18,038 43.2 −21.2
Labour Rosalind Doré12,35629.6+9.3
Liberal Democrats Jon Whitehouse5,26812.6+1.9
Independent Ed Pond3,0377.3N/A
Green Simon Heap2,4866.0+2.1
Shared GroundThomas Hall5681.4N/A
Majority5,68213.6–30.5
Turnout 41,75357.8–9.9
Registered electors 72,229
Conservative hold Swing –15.3

Elections in the 2010s

Eleanor Laing, who represented the constituency from 1997 until 2024 Eleanor Laing 2022.jpg
Eleanor Laing, who represented the constituency from 1997 until 2024
General election 2019: Epping Forest [10]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Conservative Eleanor Laing 32,364 64.4 +2.4
Labour Vicky te Velde10,19120.3−5.7
Liberal Democrats Jon Whitehouse5,38710.7+5.0
Green Steven Neville1,9753.9+1.5
Young People's Party UKThomas Hall1810.4+0.2
SDP Jon Newham1700.3N/A
Majority22,17344.1+8.1
Turnout 50,26867.7−0.2
Conservative hold Swing +4.1
General election 2017: Epping Forest
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Conservative Eleanor Laing 31,462 62.0 +7.2
Labour Liam Preston13,21926.0+9.9
Liberal Democrats Jon Whitehouse2,8845.7−1.3
UKIP Patrick O'Flynn 1,8713.7−14.6
Green Simon Heap1,2332.4−1.2
Young People's Party UKThomas Hall1100.20.0
Majority18,24336.0−0.5
Turnout 50,77967.9+0.8
Conservative hold Swing -0.9
General election 2015: Epping Forest [11] [12]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Conservative Eleanor Laing [13] 27,027 54.8 +0.8
UKIP Andrew Smith [13] 9,04918.3+14.3
Labour Gareth Barrett7,96216.1+1.8
Liberal Democrats Jon Whitehouse [14] 3,4487.0−14.5
Green Anna Widdup1,7823.6+2.2
Young People's Party UKMark Wadsworth800.2N/A
Majority17,97836.5+4.0
Turnout 49,34867.1+2.6
Conservative hold Swing
General election 2010: Epping Forest [15] [16]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Conservative Eleanor Laing 25,148 54.0 +1.2
Liberal Democrats Ann Haigh10,01721.5+3.4
Labour Katie Curtis6,64114.3−7.2
BNP Patricia Richardson 1,9824.3+0.2
UKIP Andrew Smith1,8524.0+1.7
Green Simon Pepper6591.4N/A
English Democrat Kim Sawyer2850.6−0.9
Majority15,13132.5+1.2
Turnout 46,58464.5+2.8
Conservative hold Swing

Elections in the 2000s

General election 2005: Epping Forest [17]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Conservative Eleanor Laing 23,783 53.0 +3.9
Labour Bambos Charalambous 9,42521.0−8.3
Liberal Democrats Michael Heavens8,27918.5−0.1
BNP Julian Leppert1,7283.9N/A
UKIP Andrew Smith1,0142.2−0.8
English Democrat Robin Tilbrook 6311.4N/A
Majority14,35832.0+12.2
Turnout 44,86061.6+3.2
Conservative hold Swing +6.1
General election 2001: Epping Forest [18]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Conservative Eleanor Laing 20,833 49.1 +3.6
Labour Christopher Naylor12,40729.3−6.3
Liberal Democrats Michael Heavens7,88418.6+5.3
UKIP Andrew Smith1,2903.0N/A
Majority8,42619.8+9.9
Turnout 42,41458.4−14.5
Conservative hold Swing +5.0

Elections in the 1990s

General election 1997: Epping Forest [19]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Conservative Eleanor Laing 24,117 45.5 −14.0
Labour Stephen Murray18,86535.6+12.6
Liberal Democrats Stephen Robinson7,07413.3−3.7
BNP Paul Henderson7431.4N/A
Majority5,2529.9−26.2
Turnout 53,75072.9−7.6
Conservative hold Swing −13.3
Steven Norris, who represented the constituency from 1988 until 1997 Steven Norris 2022.jpg
Steven Norris, who represented the constituency from 1988 until 1997
General election 1992: Epping Forest [20] [21]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Conservative Steve Norris 32,407 59.5 −1.4
Labour Stephen Murray12,21922.4+4.0
Liberal Democrats Beryl Austen9,26517.0−2.4
Epping Forest Residents AssociationAndrew O'Brien5521.0N/A
Majority20,18837.1−4.4
Turnout 54,44380.5+4.2
Conservative hold Swing −2.7

Elections in the 1980s

1988 Epping Forest by-election
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Conservative Steven Norris 13,183 39.5 −21.6
SLD Andrew Thompson8,67926.0+6.6
Labour Stephen Murray6,26118.7+0.3
SDP Michael Pettman4,07712.2N/A
Green Andrew Simms6722.0+0.7
National Front Tina Wingfield 2860.6N/A
Monster Raving Loony Screaming Lord Sutch 2080.6N/A
Rainbow Alliance – Change the World Jackie Moore330.1N/A
Vote no Belsen for South AfricansBrian Goodier160.0N/A
Majority4,50413.5−28.0
Turnout 33,41549.1−27.2
Conservative hold Swing
General election 1987: Epping Forest [22]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Conservative John Biggs-Davison 31,536 60.9 +4.4
SDP Anthony Humphris10,02319.4−5.4
Labour Stephen Murray9,49918.4+1.3
Green Richard Denhard6951.3+0.4
Majority21,51341.5+9.8
Turnout 51,75376.3+4.3
Conservative hold Swing +4.9
General election 1983: Epping Forest [23]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Conservative John Biggs-Davison 27,373 56.5 −1.2
SDP Michael Pettman11,99524.8+12.0
Labour Hilary Bryan8,28917.1−10.3
Ecology Robert Boenke4520.9N/A
BNP Sydney Smith3300.7N/A
Majority15,37831.7
Turnout 48,43972.0
Conservative hold Swing −6.6

Elections in the 1970s

General election 1979: Epping Forest
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Conservative John Biggs-Davison 29,447 57.7 +10.0
Labour William David Shepherd13,99427.4−5.9
Liberal David Monro Kitching6,52812.8−6.3
National Front Brian Clive Wilkins1,1102.2N/A
Majority15,45330.3+15.9
Turnout 51,07976.6+3.3
Conservative hold Swing +8.0
General election October 1974: Epping Forest
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Conservative John Biggs-Davison 22,392 47.7 +0.9
Labour Stanley James Palfreman15,61833.3+2.2
Liberal Derek Frederick John Wood8,95219.1−3.0
Majority6,77414.4−1.3
Turnout 46,96273.3−8.5
Conservative hold Swing −0.7
General election February 1974: Epping Forest
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Conservative John Biggs-Davison 24,290 46.8 −7.5
Labour William James Sheaff16,12331.1−14.6
Liberal Derek Frederick John Wood11,47822.1N/A
Majority8,16715.7−7.1
Turnout 51,89181.8+8.7
Conservative hold Swing +3.6

Notional results (before 1974)

Notional General Election 1970: Epping Forest
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Conservative John Biggs-Davison 35,01054.3+9.2
Labour 29,50645.7+4.3
Majority5,5048.6+5.9
Turnout 64,51673.1−9.4
Conservative hold Swing +2.5
Notional General Election 1966: Epping Forest
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Conservative 21,83444.1
Labour 20,50441.4
Liberal 7,20214.5
Majority1,3302.7
Turnout 49,54082.5
Conservative hold Swing

Graphical representation

February 1974
31.1%22.1%46.8%
LabourLiberalConservative
October 1974
33.3%19.1%47.7%
LabourLiberalConservative
1979
27.4%12.8%57.7%
LabourLiberalConservative
1983
17.1%24.8%56.5%
LabourSDPConservative
1987
18.4%19.4%60.9%
LabourLiberalConservative
1988 by-election
18.7%12.2%26.0%39.5%
LabourSDPSocial and Liberal DemocratsConservative
1992
22.4%17.0%59.5%
LabourLib DemsConservative
1997
35.6%13.3%45.5%
LabourLib DemsConservative
2001
29.3%18.6%49.1%3.0%
LabourLib DemsConservativeUKIP
2005
21.0%18.5%53.0%3.9%
LabourLib DemsConservativeBNP
2010
14.3%21.5%54.0%4.0%4.3%
LabLib DemsConservativeUKIPBNP
2015
3.6%16.1%7.0%54.8%18.3%
GreenLabourLib DemsConservativeUKIP
2017
26.0%5.7%62.0%3.7%
LabourLib DemsConservativeUKIP
2019
3.9%20.3%10.7%64.4%
GreenLabourLib DemsConservative
2024
6.0%29.6%12.6%43.2%7.3%
GreenLabourLib DemsConservativeEd Pond

See also

Notes

  1. ↑ A county constituency (for the purposes of election expenses and type of returning officer)
  2. ↑ As with all constituencies, the constituency elects one Member of Parliament (MP) by the first past the post system of election at least every five years.

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">2008 Epping Forest District Council election</span> UK local election

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References

  1. ↑ "The 2023 Review of Parliamentary Constituency Boundaries in England – Volume two: Constituency names, designations and composition – Eastern". Boundary Commission for England. Retrieved 26 June 2024.
  2. ↑ "The Parliamentary Constituencies (England) Order 1970". www.legislation.gov.uk. Retrieved 9 September 2019.
  3. ↑ "The Parliamentary Constituencies (England) Order 1983". www.legislation.gov.uk. Retrieved 9 September 2019.
  4. ↑ "The Parliamentary Constituencies (England) Order 1995". www.legislation.gov.uk. Retrieved 9 September 2019.
  5. ↑ "The Parliamentary Constituencies (England) Order 2007". www.legislation.gov.uk. Retrieved 9 September 2019.
  6. ↑ "The Parliamentary Constituencies Order 2023". Schedule I Part 2 Eastern region.
  7. ↑ Leigh Rayment's Historical List of MPs – Constituencies beginning with "E" (part 2)
  8. ↑ "Notice of Poll" (PDF).
  9. ↑ "Epping Forest - General election results 2024". BBC News. Retrieved 18 July 2024.
  10. ↑ "Epping Forest Parliamentary constituency". BBC News. BBC. Retrieved 19 November 2019.
  11. ↑ "Election Data 2015". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 17 October 2015. Retrieved 17 October 2015.
  12. ↑ "Epping Forest parliamentary constituency – Election 2017" – via www.bbc.co.uk.
  13. 1 2 "UK ELECTION RESULTS: EPPING FOREST 2015".
  14. ↑ "Ex-mayor selected for election by Lib Dems". Epping Forest Guardian. 2 April 2015.
  15. ↑ "Election Data 2010". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 26 July 2013. Retrieved 17 October 2015.
  16. ↑ "BBC News | Election 2010 | Constituency | Epping Forest". news.bbc.co.uk.
  17. ↑ "Election Data 2005". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
  18. ↑ "Election Data 2001". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
  19. ↑ "Election Data 1997". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
  20. ↑ "Election Data 1992". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
  21. ↑ "UK General Election results April 1992". Richard Kimber's Political Science Resources. Politics Resources. 9 April 1992. Archived from the original on 3 June 2016. Retrieved 6 December 2010.
  22. ↑ "Election Data 1987". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
  23. ↑ "Election Data 1983". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
Preceded by
Epping (part)
 UK Parliament constituency
Epping, Theydon Bois, Waltham Abbey, Buckhurst Hill, Chigwell, Loughton
1974 – present		Current boundaries
Preceded by
Chigwell (part)

51°40′N0°05′E / 51.67°N 0.09°E / 51.67; 0.09

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