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Bracknell (UK Parliament constituency)

Coordinates: 51°23′N 0°46′W / 51.38°N 0.76°W / 51.38; -0.76
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Bracknell
County constituency
for the House of Commons
Map
Boundaries since 2024
Map of constituency
Boundary of Bracknell in South East England
CountyBerkshire
Population104,849 (2011 census)[1]
Electorate70,247 (2023)[2]
Major settlementsBracknell, Sandhurst, Crowthorne
Current constituency
Created1997
Member of ParliamentPeter Swallow (Labour)
SeatsOne
Created fromEast Berkshire

Bracknell is a constituency[n 1] in Berkshire represented in the House of Commons of the UK Parliament since 2024 by Peter Swallow, from the Labour Party.[n 2] It was created for the 1997 general election, largely replacing the abolished county constituency of East Berkshire.

Constituency profile

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The seat covers the entirety of the town of Bracknell, as well as Sandhurst and Crowthorne - albeit the Crowthorne urban area is split with Wokingham. Additionally, it includes Quelm Park, Martins Heron, The Warren, Forest Park, and Whitegrove.

History

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From creation in 1997 until 2010, Bracknell's MP was Andrew MacKay of the Conservative Party, who represented the old seat of East Berkshire from 1983. On 14 May 2009, he resigned from his position as parliamentary aide to David Cameron in the wake of a major scandal over his Parliamentary expenses. MacKay and his wife, fellow Tory MP Julie Kirkbride, had wrongfully claimed over £250,000 from the taxpayer for mortgage payments for second homes, in a case of so-called 'double-dipping'. They also wrongfully claimed for each other's travel costs. At a hastily called meeting with his constituents in Bracknell to explain the "unacceptable" expenses claims, Mr MacKay was jeered and called a "thieving toad". A video of the angry meeting was leaked to the press and, after an urgent phone call from David Cameron the next day, MacKay agreed to stand down at the 2010 general election. The Conservative Party chose Phillip Lee, a general practitioner, as its new candidate in an American-style open primary, involving seven candidates including Rory Stewart and Iain Dale in a contest open to all registered Bracknell voters.[3]

2010 election

Lee went on to become the next MP in an election which saw the share of the vote for the Labour Party fall by 11.1%. The Liberal Democrats saw the biggest rise in support of all the parties (+4.5%), overtaking Labour to gain second place behind the Conservative Party. UKIP saw a slight rise in support to 4.4% of the vote. The 2010 election also saw for the first time the Green Party and British National Party vying for the seat.

2017 election

Lee held his seat at the 2017 general election.[4] He gained 3.1% of votes, but Labour increased its share by 13.3%. Lee received 32,882 votes, Paul Bidwell (Labour) in second place had 16,866 votes.[5] On 3 September 2019, Lee resigned from the Conservative party to join the Liberal Democrats due to the Conservative party's support for Brexit. At the 2019 General Election he unsuccessfully contested the adjacent Wokingham seat for that party.

2019 election

James Sunderland was elected for the Conservative party with 58.7% of the vote.

2024 election

Sunderland ran for re-election as Conservative MP for the constituency, but was narrowly defeated by Labour's Peter Swallow on a 16% swing. This marked the first time Labour had ever gained the seat and the first time a Conservative would not represent the area since it became covered by a single-member constituency in the late 19th century. Notably, Labour had previously gained control of Bracknell Forest Borough Council for the first time since 1997 in 2023.[6]

Boundaries and boundary changes

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Bracknell is based around the town of Bracknell and the Bracknell Forest authority. It is bordered by the constituencies of Wokingham, Maidenhead, Windsor, Surrey Heath, Aldershot, and North East Hampshire.

1997–2010

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  • The Borough of Bracknell Forest wards of Binfield, Bullbrook, Central Sandhurst, College Town, Crowthorne, Garth, Great Hollands North, Great Hollands South, Hanworth, Harmanswater, Little Sandhurst, Old Bracknell, Owlsmoor, Priestwood, Warfield, and Wildridings; and
  • The District of Wokingham wards of Finchampstead North, Finchampstead South, and Wokingham Without.[7]

The Borough of Bracknell Forest wards had formed the majority of the abolished constituency of East Berkshire. The two Finchampstead wards were transferred from Reading East, and the ward of Wokingham Without was transferred from Wokingham.

2010–2024

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Map
Map of boundaries 2010-2024
  • The Borough of Bracknell Forest wards of Bullbrook, Central Sandhurst, College Town, Crown Wood, Crowthorne, Great Hollands North, Great Hollands South, Hanworth, Harmanswater, Little Sandhurst and Wellington, Old Bracknell, Owlsmoor, Priestwood and Garth, and Wildridings and Central; and
  • The District of Wokingham wards of Finchampstead North, Finchampstead South, and Wokingham Without.[8]

Northern areas, including Binfield, were transferred to Windsor.

2024–present

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Further to the 2023 Periodic Review of Westminster constituencies which came into effect for 2024 general election, the seat lost its District of Wokingham wards to the Wokingham constituency in order to bring its electorate within the permitted range. To partly compensate, the Warfield Harvest Ride ward (as it existed on 1 December 2020) was transferred from Windsor.

Following a local government boundary review which came into effect in May 2023,[9][10] the constituency now comprises the following from the 2024 general election:

  • The Borough of Bracknell Forest wards and part wards of: Binfield North & Warfield West (small part); Binfield South & Jennett's Park (part); Bullbrook; Crowthorne; Easthampstead & Wildridings; Great Hollands; Hanworth; Harmans Water & Crown Wood; Owlsmoor & College Town; Priestwood & Garth; Sandhurst; Swinley Forest (most); Town Centre & The Parks; Whitegrove (most).[11]

Members of Parliament

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East Berkshire prior to 1997

Election Member[12] Party
1997 Andrew MacKay Conservative
2010 Phillip Lee Conservative
September 2019 Liberal Democrat
2019 James Sunderland Conservative
2024 Peter Swallow Labour

Elections

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Elections in the 2020s

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General election 2024: Bracknell[13]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Peter Swallow 14,783 33.7 +8.3
Conservative James Sunderland 13,999 31.9 –23.6
Reform UK Malcolm Tullett 7,445 17.0 N/A
Liberal Democrats Katie Mansfield 4,768 10.9 –3.1
Green Emily Torode 2,166 4.9 +0.9
Independent Olivio Barreto 480 1.1 –0.1
Heritage Jason Reardon 196 0.4 N/A
Majority 784 1.8 N/A
Turnout 43,837 61.4 –5.3
Registered electors 71,660
Labour gain from Conservative Swing Increase16.0

Elections in the 2010s

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2019 notional result[14]
Party Vote %
Conservative 26,022 55.5
Labour 11,893 25.4
Liberal Democrats 6,555 14.0
Green 1,865 4.0
Others 553 1.2
Turnout 46,888 66.7
Electorate 70,247
General election 2019: Bracknell[15]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative James Sunderland 31,894 58.7 –0.1
Labour Paul Bidwell 12,065 22.2 –8.0
Liberal Democrats Kaweh Beheshtizadeh 7,749 14.3 +6.8
Green Derek Florey 2,089 3.8 N/A
Independent Olivio Barreto 553 1.0 +0.2
Majority 19,829 36.5 +7.9
Turnout 54,350 68.6 –2.0
Conservative hold Swing +3.9
General election 2017: Bracknell[16]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Phillip Lee 32,882 58.8 +3.0
Labour Paul Bidwell 16,866 30.2 +13.3
Liberal Democrats Patrick Smith 4,186 7.5 Steady
UKIP Len Amos 1,521 2.7 −13.0
Independent Olivio Barreto 437 0.8 N/A
Majority 16,016 28.6 −10.3
Turnout 55,892 70.6 +5.3
Conservative hold Swing −5.1
General election 2015: Bracknell[17][18]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Phillip Lee[19] 29,606 55.8 +3.4
Labour James Walsh[19] 8,956 16.9 +0.1
UKIP Richard Thomas[19] 8,339 15.7 +11.3
Liberal Democrats Patrick Smith[20] 3,983 7.5 −14.8
Green Derek Florey[21] 2,202 4.1 +2.5
Majority 20,650 38.9 +8.8
Turnout 53,086 65.3 −2.5
Conservative hold Swing
General election 2010: Bracknell[22][23]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Phillip Lee 27,327 52.4 +2.5
Liberal Democrats Raymond Earwicker 11,623 22.3 +4.5
Labour John Piasecki 8,755 16.8 −11.1
UKIP Murray Barter 2,297 4.4 +0.9
BNP Mark Burke 1,253 2.4 N/A
Green David Young 821 1.6 N/A
Scrap Members Allowances Dan Haycocks 60 0.1 N/A
Majority 15,704 30.1 +6.6
Turnout 52,140 67.8 +5.1
Conservative hold Swing −1.0

Elections in the 2000s

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General election 2005: Bracknell
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Andrew MacKay 25,412 49.7 +3.1
Labour Janet Keene 13,376 26.2 −6.8
Liberal Democrats Lee Glendon 10,128 19.8 +2.7
UKIP Vincent Pearson 1,818 3.6 +1.0
Independent Dominica Roberts 407 0.8 N/A
Majority 12,036 23.5 +9.9
Turnout 51,141 63.4 +2.7
Conservative hold Swing +5.0
General election 2001: Bracknell
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Andrew MacKay 22,962 46.6 −0.8
Labour Janet Keene 16,249 33.0 +3.2
Liberal Democrats Raymond Earwicker 8,428 17.1 +1.7
UKIP Lawrence Boxall 1,266 2.6 +1.6
ProLife Alliance Dominica Roberts 324 0.7 +0.2
Majority 6,713 13.6 −4.0
Turnout 49,229 60.7 −13.8
Conservative hold Swing −2.0

Elections in the 1990s

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General election 1997: Bracknell
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Andrew MacKay 27,983 47.4
Labour Anne Snelgrove 17,596 29.8
Liberal Democrats Alan Hilliar 9,122 15.4
Independent John Tompkins 1,909 3.2
Referendum Warwick Cairns 1,636 2.8
UKIP Lawrence Boxall 569 1.0
ProLife Alliance Dominica Roberts 276 0.5
Majority 10,387 17.6
Turnout 59,091 74.5
Conservative win (new seat)

See also

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Notes

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  1. ^ A borough 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.

References

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  1. ^ "Bracknell: Usual Resident Population, 2011". Neighbourhood Statistics. Office for National Statistics. Archived from the original on 3 March 2016. Retrieved 1 February 2015.
  2. ^ "The 2023 Review of Parliamentary Constituency Boundaries in England – Volume two: Constituency names, designations and composition – South East". Boundary Commission for England. Retrieved 4 June 2024.
  3. ^ Hastings, Chris; Georgia Warren (18 October 2009). "Women and gay Tory MPs set to treble by 2010". The Times. Retrieved 18 October 2009.[dead link]
  4. ^ "Dr Phillip Lee MP". Parliament of the United Kingdom. Retrieved 7 November 2019.
  5. ^ "Bracknell parliamentary constituency – Election 2017". BBC News. Retrieved 7 November 2019.
  6. ^ "Bracknell Forest result – Local Elections 2023". BBC News. Retrieved 11 July 2024.
  7. ^ "The Parliamentary Constituencies (England) Order 1995". legislation.gov.uk. Retrieved 3 February 2019.
  8. ^ "The Parliamentary Constituencies (England) Order 2007". legislation.gov.uk. Retrieved 3 February 2019.
  9. ^ LGBCE. "Bracknell Forest | LGBCE". www.lgbce.org.uk. Retrieved 30 March 2024.
  10. ^ "The Bracknell Forest (Electoral Changes) Order 2021".
  11. ^ "New Seat Details - Bracknell". www.electoralcalculus.co.uk. Retrieved 30 March 2024.
  12. ^ Leigh Rayment's Historical List of MPs – Constituencies beginning with "B" (part 4)
  13. ^ "Bracknell results". BBC News. 5 July 2024.
  14. ^ "Notional results for a UK general election on 12 December 2019". Rallings & Thrasher, Professor David Denver (Scotland), Nicholas Whyte (NI) for Sky News, PA, BBC News and ITV News. UK Parliament. Retrieved 11 July 2024.
  15. ^ "Bracknell parliamentary constituency" (PDF). Bracknell Forest Council. Archived from the original (PDF) on 14 November 2019. Retrieved 14 November 2019.
  16. ^ "Bracknell parliamentary constituency". BBC News.
  17. ^ "Election Data 2015". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 17 October 2015. Retrieved 17 October 2015.
  18. ^ "Election results for Bracknell, 7 May 2015". democratic.bracknell-forest.gov.uk. 7 May 2015.
  19. ^ a b c "BRACKNELL 2015". electionresults.blogspot.co.uk.
  20. ^ "Candidates (PPCS) for Bracknell in the UK 2015 General Election". Archived from the original on 5 January 2015. Retrieved 30 January 2015.
  21. ^ Fort, Hugh (23 January 2015). "Bracknell Green Party select election candidate".
  22. ^ "Election Data 2010". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 26 July 2013. Retrieved 17 October 2015.
  23. ^ general election 2010: Phillip Lee wins Bracknell seat GetBracknell, 7 May 2010
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51°23′N 0°46′W / 51.38°N 0.76°W / 51.38; -0.76

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