The constituency includes the town of
Braintree at its southern end, and a large area of rural Essex to the north.
History
The seat was created for the
February 1974 general election, largely from the majority of the constituency of
Maldon, including the towns of
Braintree and
Witham. It underwent a major redistribution for the
2010 general election when
Witham was formed as a separate constituency. This resulted in making the seat safer for the Conservatives.
The former Leader of the House
Tony Newton held the seat for the
Conservatives from its creation in 1974 until 1997 when
Alan Hurst defeated Newton to gain the seat for
Labour.
Brooks Newmark defeated Hurst in 2005 to regain the seat for the Conservatives, and held it until he stood down in 2015, being succeeded by
James Cleverly, also a Conservative.[3]
Boundaries and boundary changes
1974—1983
The Urban Districts of Braintree and Bocking, and Witham;
The Rural District of Braintree; and
The Rural District of Chelmsford civil parishes of Boreham, Broomfield, Chignall, Good Easter, Great and Little Leighs, Great Waltham, Little Waltham, Mashbury, Pleshey, Roxwell, Springfield, and Writtle.[4]
The District of Braintree wards of Black Notley, Bocking North, Bocking South, Braintree Central, Braintree East, Braintree West, Coggeshall, Cressing, Hatfield Peverel, Kelvedon, Panfield, Rayne, Terling, Three Fields, Witham Central, Witham Chipping Hill, Witham North, Witham Silver End and Rivenhall, Witham South, and Witham West; and
The Borough of Chelmsford wards of Broomfield and Chignall, Good Easter Mashbury and Roxwell, Great and Little Leighs and Little Waltham, Great Waltham and Pleshey, and Writtle.[5]
Following changes to the structure of local authorities in 1974, the seat was largely unchanged, with just the Boreham and Springfield ward of Chelmsford Borough being transferred to the Chelmsford constituency.
1997—2010
The District of Braintree wards of Black Notley, Bocking North, Bocking South, Braintree Central, Braintree East, Braintree West, Coggeshall, Cressing, Earls Colne, Gosfield, Hatfield Peveril, Kelvedon, Panfield, Rayne, Terling, Three Fields, Witham Central, Witham Chipping Hill, Witham North, Witham Silver End and Rivenhall, Witham South, and Witham West.[6]
The parts in the Borough of Chelmsford now included in the new constituency of
West Chelmsford. Two small wards (Earls Colne and Gosfield) transferred from
Saffron Walden.
Map of current boundaries (since 2010 general election)
2010—present
The District of Braintree wards of Bocking Blackwater, Bocking North, Bocking South, Braintree Central, Braintree East, Braintree South, Bumpstead, Cressing and Stisted, Gosfield and Greenstead Green, Great Notley and Braintree West, Halstead St Andrews, Halstead Trinity, Hedingham and Maplestead, Panfield, Rayne, Stour Valley North, Stour Valley South, The Three Colnes, Three Fields, Upper Colne, and Yeldham.[7]
The 2010 redistribution saw a major change, with southern and western areas, including the town of
Witham, forming the basis of the new County Constituency of
Witham. Extended northwards, gaining the District of Braintree wards previously in Saffron Walden, including the town of
Halstead.
The District of Braintree wards of: Bocking Blackwater; Bocking North; Bocking South; Braintree Central & Beckers Green; Braintree South; Braintree West; Bumpstead; Gosfield & Greenstead Green; Great Notley & Black Notley; Halstead St. Andrew’s; Halstead Trinity; Hedingham; Rayne; Stour Valley North; Stour Valley South; Three Fields; Yeldham.
The District of Uttlesford wards of: Felsted & Stebbing; The Sampfords.[8]
Minor changes - the two Uttlesford District wards transferred from
Saffron Walden (to be renamed
North West Essex), offset by a net loss to
Witham mainly due to revision of ward boundaries.
^"Electorate Figures". 2011 Electorate Figures. Boundary Commission for England. 4 March 2011. Archived from
the original on 6 November 2010. Retrieved 13 March 2011.