Epping Forest (UK Parliament constituency)

Last updated

Epping Forest
County constituency
for the House of Commons
EppingForest2007Constituency.svg
Boundary of Epping Forest in Essex
EnglandEssex.svg
Location of Essex within England
County Essex
Electorate 72,212 (December 2010) [1]
Major settlements Epping, Waltham Abbey, Loughton, Chigwell, Buckhurst Hill
Current constituency
Created 1974 (1974)
Member of Parliament Eleanor Laing (Conservative)
SeatsOne
Created from Epping
Chigwell

Epping Forest is a constituency [n 1] in Essex represented in the House of Commons of the UK Parliament since 1997 by Eleanor Laing, a Conservative. [n 2]

Contents

Constituency profile

The constituency includes the London commuter belt towns of Loughton, Epping and Chigwell (which are served by the Central line) and Waltham Abbey, as well as extensive areas of Metropolitan Green Belt including the majority of Epping Forest itself.

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

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.

Epping Forest (UK Parliament constituency)
Map of current boundaries

2010–present

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

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.

Proposed

Further to the 2023 Periodic Review of Westminster constituencies, enacted by the Parliamentary Constituencies Order 2023, the composition of the constituency from the next general election, due by January 2025, will be unchanged. [6]

Members of Parliament

Eleanor Laing, who has represented the constituency since 1997. Eleanor Laing, MP for Epping Forest.jpg
Eleanor Laing, who has represented the constituency since 1997.

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, and the present MP is the Conservative Dame Eleanor Laing, who has been a Deputy Speaker of the House since October 2013 and Chairman of Ways and Means since 2020.

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

Elections

Elections in the 2020s

Next general election: Epping Forest
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Labour Rosalind Doré [8]
Reform UK Peter Bell [9]

Elections in the 2010s

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 Thomas Hall1810.4+0.2
SDP Jon Newham1700.3New
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 Thomas 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 Mark Wadsworth800.2New
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 Pepper6591.4New
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 Leppert1,7283.9New
UKIP Andrew Smith1,0142.2−0.8
English Democrat Robin Tilbrook 6311.4New
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 Smith1,2903.0New
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 Henderson7431.4New
Majority5,2529.9-26.2
Turnout 53,75072.9-7.6
Conservative hold Swing −13.3
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'Brien5521.0New
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 J. Thompson8,67926.0+6.6
Labour Stephen Murray6,26118.7+0.3
SDP Michael Pettman4,07712.2New
Green Andrew M. Simms6722.0+0.7
National Front Tina Wingfield 2860.6New
Monster Raving Loony Screaming Lord Sutch 2080.6New
Rainbow Alliance – Change the World Jackie Moore330.1New
Vote no Belsen for South AfricansBrian G. Goodier160.0New
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 Boenke4520.9New
BNP Sydney Smith3300.7New
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 Wilkins1,1102.2New
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 Wood11,47822.1New
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%
GrnLabourLib DemsConservativeUKIP
2017
26.0%5.7%62.0%3.7%
LabourLib DemsConservativeUKIP
2019
3.9%20.3%10.7%64.4%
GrnLabourLib DemsConservative

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.

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Loughton</span> Human settlement in England

Loughton is a town and civil parish in the Epping Forest District of Essex, within the metropolitan and urban area of London, England. Situated 12 miles (19 km) north-east of Charing Cross, the town borders Waltham Abbey, Theydon Bois, Chigwell, Chingford, and Buckhurst Hill.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Epping Forest District</span> Non-metropolitan district in England

Epping Forest District is a local government district in Essex, England. It is named after the ancient woodland of Epping Forest, a large part of which lies within the district. The district covers northeastern parts of the London urban area, including the towns of Epping, Loughton, Waltham Abbey, Chigwell, and Buckhurst Hill, as well as rural areas beyond it. The district is situated in the west of the county, bordering north-eastern Greater London.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Buckhurst Hill</span> Human settlement in England

Buckhurst Hill is a suburban town in Epping Forest, Essex, within the Greater London Urban Area and adjacent to the northern boundary of the London Borough of Redbridge. The area developed following the opening of a railway line in 1856, originally part of the Eastern Counties Railway and now on the Central line of the London Underground.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Epping tube station</span> London Underground station

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Abridge</span> Human settlement in England

Abridge is a village in Essex, England. It is on the River Roding, 16 miles (26 km) southwest of the county town of Chelmsford. The village is in the district of Epping Forest and in the parliamentary constituency of Brentwood and Ongar. It is part of the civil parish of Lambourne and is served by Lambourne Parish Council.

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Loughton in Essex, England, was an urban district from 1900 to 1933, when it became part of Chigwell Urban District until 1974, when Epping Forest District Council was created. Loughton Town Council was established in 1996. The Town Council consists of 22 Councillors representing seven wards, elected for a four-year term. The council adopted the designation Town Council just after its re-creation as a parish in 1996, and changed the title of its chairman to Town Mayor in 2004.

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">2018 Epping Forest District Council election</span> 2018 UK local government election

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">2011 Epping Forest District Council election</span> 2011 UK local government election

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References

  1. ↑ "Electorate Figures". 2011 Electorate Figures. Boundary Commission for England. 4 March 2011. Archived from the original on 6 November 2010. Retrieved 13 March 2011.
  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. ↑ https://twitter.com/EofELabour/status/1767929074196877390.{{cite web}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
  9. ↑ "Find My PPC (Eastern England)" (PDF). Reform UK. Archived from the original (PDF) on 15 December 2023. Retrieved 15 December 2023.
  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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