Bury St Edmunds (UK Parliament constituency)

Bury St Edmunds
County constituency
for the House of Commons

Boundary of Bury St Edmunds in Suffolk.

Location of Suffolk within England.
County Suffolk
Electorate 85,933 (December 2010)[1]
Current constituency
Created 1918 (1918)
Member of Parliament David Ruffley (Conservative)
Number of members One
1614 (1614)–1918 (1918)
Number of members 1614–1885: Two
1885–1918: One
Type of constituency Borough constituency
Overlaps
European Parliament constituency East of England

Bury St Edmunds is a county constituency located in Suffolk and centred on the town of Bury St Edmunds. It elects one Member of Parliament (MP) to in the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. It has elected Conservative MPs for over a century, although Labour came close to gaining the seat in 1997.

The parliamentary borough of Bury St Edmunds was created in 1614, returning two MPs to the House of Commons of England until 1707, then to the House of Commons of Great Britain until 1800, and from 1800 to the House of Commons of the United Kingdom. Its representation was reduced to one seat under the Redistribution of Seats Act 1885, and the borough was abolished for the 1918 Kingdom general election, when it was replaced by the county division of the same name.

Contents

Boundaries

The constituency contains the towns of Bury St Edmunds, Stowmarket and Needham Market. Its boundaries do not match those of St Edmundsbury borough, which includes Haverhill (part of West Suffolk constituency), and excludes Stowmarket and Needham Market.

Boundary review

Following their review of parliamentary representation in Suffolk the Boundary Commission for England has recommended minor alterations to the existing constituency arrangement. The electoral wards used in the creation of this seat are:

Members of Parliament

MPs 1614–1660

Parliament First member Second member
1614 Sir Thomas Jermyn Sir Robert Crane, 1st Baronet
1621 Sir Thomas Jermyn Josiah Woodford
1624 Sir Thomas Jermyn Anthony Crofts
1625 Sir Thomas Jermyn Sir William Spring
1626 Sir Thomas Jermyn Emanuel Gifford
1628 Sir Thomas Jermyn Sir William Hervey
1629–1640 No Parliaments summoned
1640 April Sir Thomas Jermyn John Godbolt
1640 November Thomas Jermyn,
disabled on 14 February 1644		 Henry Jermyn, ennobled 6 Sep 1643 [2]
1645 Sir Thomas Barnardiston Sir William Spring ,
excluded in Pride's Purge in 1648
1653 Bury St Edmunds not represented in Barebones Parliament
1654 Samuel Moody John Clarke
1656 Samuel Moody John Clarke
1659 John Clarke Thomas Chaplin[3]
1659 Restored Rump Parliament Sir Thomas Barnardiston Sir Wm. Spring died 1654

MPs 1660–1885

Two Members

Year First member[4] First party Second member[4] Second party
1660[5] Sir Henry Crofts Sir John Duncombe
1661 Sir Edmund Poley
1673 William Duncombe
1679 Sir Thomas Hervey Thomas Jermyn
1685 William Crofts
1689 Sir Robert Davers
1690 Henry Goldwell
1694 John Hervey
1701 Sir Thomas Felton
1703 Sir Robert Davers[6]
Dec. 1705 Aubrey Porter
1709 Joseph Weld
1712 Samuel Batteley
1713 Carr, Lord Hervey
1717 James Reynolds
1722 Sir Jermyn Davers
1725 John, Lord Hervey
1727 Thomas Norton
1733 Thomas Hervey
1747 Felton Hervey[7] Viscount Petersham
1756 The Earl of Euston
1757 Hon. Augustus John Hervey
1761 Hon. Charles Fitzroy
1763 William Hervey
1768 Hon. Augustus John Hervey
1774 Sir Charles Davers
1775 Henry Seymour Conway Whig
1784 Hon. George FitzRoy
1787 Lord Charles FitzRoy
1796 Lord Hervey
1802 Lord Charles FitzRoy
1803 The Lord Templetown
1812 Frederick Thomas Hervey Foster
1818 The Earl of Euston Arthur Percy Upton
1820 Lord John Edward FitzRoy
1826 The Earl Jermyn Conservative Earl of Euston
1831 Lord Charles FitzRoy Liberal
1847 Edward Herbert Bunbury Liberal
1852 John Stuart Conservative
Dec 1852 James Henry Porteous Oakes Conservative
1857 Joseph Alfred Hardcastle Liberal
1859 Lord Alfred Hervey Conservative
1865 Edward Greene Conservative
1874 Lord Francis Hervey Conservative
1880 Joseph Alfred Hardcastle Liberal
1885 representation reduced to one member

MPs since 1885

Election Member[4] Party
1885 Lord Francis Hervey Conservative
1892 Henry Arthur Cadogan, Viscount Chelsea Conservative
1900 Sir Edward Greene, Bt. Conservative
1906 Frederick William Fane Hervey Conservative
1907 Walter Edward Guinness, later Baron Moyne Conservative
1931 Frank Heilgers Conservative
1944 Edgar Mayne Keatinge Conservative
1945 Lt.-Col. Geoffrey Benedict Clifton-Brown Conservative
1950 William Aitken Conservative
1964 Sir Eldon Griffiths Conservative
1992 Richard Spring Conservative
1997 David Ruffley Conservative

Elections

Elections in the 2010s

General Election 2010: Bury St Edmunds[8]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative David Ruffley 27,899 47.5 +1.2
Liberal Democrat David Chappell 15,519 26.4 +6.7
Labour Kevin Hind 9,776 16.7 -10.7
UKIP John Howlett 3,003 5.1 +1.6
Green Mark Ereira-Guyer 2,521 4.3 +1.3
Majority 12,380 21.1 +2.2
Turnout 58,718 69.3 +2.5
Conservative hold Swing -2.8

Following David Ruffley's accident it was announced that he would be taking sick leave, as a result of this two neighboring constituency MP's (Matthew Hancock and Daniel Poulter), would answer constituents problems on David's behalf from the 22nd June 2010-October 2010.

Elections in the 2000s

General Election 2005: Bury St Edmunds
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative David Ruffley 24,332 46.2 +2.7
Labour David Monaghan 14,402 27.4 -11.1
Liberal Democrat David Chappell 10,423 19.8 +5.9
UKIP John Howlett 1,859 3.5 +1.8
Green Graham Manning 1,603 3.0 N/A
Majority 9,930 18.9 +13.9
Turnout 52,619 66.1 +0.1
Conservative hold Swing +6.9
General Election 2001: Bury St Edmunds
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative David Ruffley 21,850 43.5 +5.1
Labour Mark Ereira-Guyer 19,347 38.5 +0.8
Liberal Democrat Richard Williams 6,998 13.9 -4.3
UKIP John Howlett 831 1.7 N/A
Independent (politician) Michael Brundle 651 1.3 N/A
Socialist Labour Michael Benwell 580 1.2 N/A
Majority 2,503 5.0 +4.3
Turnout 50,257 66 -9.0
Conservative hold Swing +2.1

Elections in the 1990s

General Election 1997: Bury St Edmunds
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative David Ruffley 21,290 38.3 -15.2
Labour Mark Ereira-Guyer 20,922 37.7 +14.1
Liberal Democrat David Cooper 10,102 18.2 -3.8
Referendum Party I McWhirter 2,939 5.3 N/A
Natural Law J Lillis 272 0.5 -0.4
Majority 368 0.7 -29.3
Turnout 55525 75.0 +0.6
Conservative hold Swing -14.6
General Election 1992: Bury St Edmunds[9]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Richard Spring 33,554 53.5 −5.8
Labour Tom Sheppard 14,767 23.6 +6.3
Liberal Democrat J Williams 13,814 22.0 −0.5
Natural Law J Lillis 550 0.9 N/A
Majority 18,787 30.0 −7.8
Turnout 62,685 78.9 +4.8
Conservative hold Swing −6.1

Elections in the 1980s

General Election 1987: Bury St Edmunds
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative E Griffiths 33,672 59.3 +0.3
Social Democrat R Harland 12,214 21.5 -6.9
Labour C.L Greene 9,841 17.3 +4.8
Green IMJ Wakelam 1,057 1.9 N/A
Majority 21,458 37.8 -40.8
Turnout 76,619 74.1 +1.8
Conservative hold Swing +3.6
General Election 1983: Bury St Edmunds
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative E Griffiths 31,081 59.0 -2.0
Social Democrat R Harland 14,959 28.4 N/A
Labour W Mosczynski 6,666 12.7 -16.3
Majority 16,122 22.1 -5.7
Turnout 72,875 72.3 -4.0
Conservative hold Swing N/A

Elections in the 1970s

General Election 1979: Bury St Edmunds
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative E Griffiths 41,426 57.0 +6.6
Labour A Gibson 21,167 29.0 -4.0
Liberal G Jones 10,836 14.2 -2.4
Majority 20,259 27.8 +10.5
Turnout 95,621 76.3 +3.1
Conservative hold Swing +5.3

October 1974

General Election 1974: Bury St Edmunds
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative E Griffiths 32,179 50.4 +2.9
Labour J.K Stephenson 21,097 33.0 +4.3
Liberal G Jones 10,631 16.6 -7.2
Majority 11,082 17.3 -1.5
Turnout 87,321 73.2 -8.1
Conservative hold Swing -0.7

February 1974 election results

General Election 1974: Bury St Edmunds
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative E Griffiths 33,424 47.5 -14.2
Labour J.K Stephenson 20,171 28.7 0.0
Liberal B Boulton 16,772 23.8 N/A
Majority 13,253 18.8 -3.6
Turnout 86,202 81.3 +4.1
Conservative hold Swing -7.2
General Election 1970: Bury St Edmunds
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative E Griffiths 36,688 61.7 +7.1
Labour C.J.V Seager 23,286 28.7 N/A
Majority 13,402 22.4 +13.3
Turnout 77,665 77.2 -1.6
Conservative hold Swing N/A

Elections in the 1960s

General Election 1966: Bury St Edmunds
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative E Griffiths 27,782 54.6 +4.4
Liberal C.J.V Seager 23,140 45.4 +5.2
Majority 4,462 9.1 -0.8
Turnout 64,609 78.8 -3.4
Conservative hold Swing -0.8
General Election 1964: Bury St Edmunds
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative E Griffiths 25,206 50.2 -8.6
Labour N J Insley 20,216 40.2 -1.1
Liberal R Afton 4,840 9.6 N/A
Majority 4,990 9.9 -7.6
Turnout 61,143 82.2 +3.6
Conservative hold Swing -7.5

Elections in the 1950s

General Election 1959: Bury St Edmunds
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative W T Aitken 26,730 58.8 +3.7
Labour A M A Walter 18,768 41.3 -3.6
Majority 7,962 17.5 +7.2
Turnout 57,908 78.6 +0.3
Conservative hold Swing +3.6
General Election 1955: Bury St Edmunds
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative W T Aitken 24,532 55.1 +0.7
Labour N Stanley 19,962 44.9 -0.7
Majority 4,570 10.3 +1.5
Turnout 56,854 78.3 -1.5
Conservative hold Swing +0.7
General Election 1951: Bury St Edmunds
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative W T Aitken 24,679 54.4 +5.1
Labour N Stanley 20,690 45.6 +5.3
Majority 3,989 8.8 -0.2
Turnout 56,851 79.8 -2.7
Conservative hold Swing -0.1
General Election 1950: Bury St Edmunds
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative W T Aitken 22,559 49.3 +0.6
Labour C McCall 18,430 40.3 +10.5
Liberal H W Sparham 4,780 10.4 -8.6
Majority 4,129 9.0 -9.9
Turnout 55,495 82.5 +14.7
Conservative hold Swing -4.9

Elections in the 1940s

General Election 1945: Bury St Edmunds
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative G B Clifton Brown 15,013 48.7
Labour C McCall 9,195 29.8
Liberal H C Drayton 5,863 19.0
Common Wealth E C England 750 2.4
Majority 5,818 18.9 N/A
Turnout 45,482 67.8
Conservative hold Swing

Following the death of Frank Heilgers on 16 January 1944 a by-election was held on 29 February 1944.

Bury St Edmunds by-election, 1944
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative E M Keatinge 11,705 56.2
Liberal Margery Corbett Ashby 9,121 43.8
Majority 2,584 12.4
Turnout 20,828 50.8
Conservative hold Swing

Conservative candidate Frank Heilgers was elected unopposed in the 1931 and 1935 general election so there are no votes for these elections.

Elections in the 1920s

General Election 1929: Bury St Edmunds
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Walter E Guinness 16,462 54.2
Liberal Malcolm Douglas Lyon 11,344 37.4
Labour Cllr Percy Austins 2,490 8.2
Majority 5,118 16.9
Turnout 30,372 78.0
Conservative hold Swing

On Guinness's nomination as Minister of Agriculture a by-election in 1925 was required under the electoral law of the time, which he won.

Bury St Edmunds by-election, 1925
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative W E Guinness 14,700 62.8
Liberal 8,703 37.2
Majority 5,997 25.6
Turnout 23,420 74.0
Conservative hold Swing
General Election 1924: Bury St Edmunds
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative W E Guinness 16,073 63.0
Liberal 9,392 37.0
Majority 6,681 26.2
Turnout 25,533 82.0
Conservative hold Swing

The Conservative candidate W E Guinness was elected unopposed in the 1918, 1922 and the 1923 general elections, so there are no votes for this election.

See also

Notes and references

  1. ^ "Electorate Figures - Boundary Commission for England". 2011 Electorate Figures. Boundary Commission for England. 4 March 2011. http://www.boundarycommissionforengland.org.uk/electoral-figures/electoral-figures.htm. Retrieved 13 March 2011. 
  2. ^ The parliamentary or constitutional history of England|||| being a faithful account of all the most remarkable transactions in Parliament, from the earliest times. Collected from the journals of both Houses, the records, ..., Volume 9
  3. ^ http://books.google.com/books?id=I65pAAAAMAAJ&pg=RA1-PT16
  4. ^ a b c Leigh Rayment's Historical List of MPs – Constituencies beginning with "B" (part 6)
  5. ^ A double return was made, Thomas Chaplin and John Clarke were subsequently declared not duly elected.
  6. ^ At the general election in May 1705, Davers was also returned for Suffolk, for which he chose to sit.
  7. ^ Hon. Augustus John Hervey was also declared elected in April 1754, he and his uncle Felton having an equal number of votes. This election was declared void. At the subsequent by-election held on 9 Dec 1754, Felton Hervey was returned.
  8. ^ "UK > England > Eastern > Bury St Edmunds". BBC News. http://news.bbc.co.uk/nol/shared/election2010/results/constituency/a84.stm. Retrieved 8 May 2010. 
  9. ^ "UK General Election results April 1992". Richard Kimber's Political Science Resources. Politics Resources. 9 April 1992. http://www.politicsresources.net/area/uk/ge92/i04.htm. Retrieved 2010-12-06. 

Sources

Constituencies in the East of England (58)
Conservative (52)
Liberal Democrats (4)
Labour (2)