Chelmsford is a constituency in Essex represented in the House of Commons of the UK Parliament since 2024 by Marie Goldman of the Liberal Democrats.
Contents
Constituency profile
The constituency covers the city of Chelmsford in Essex. Chelmsford is the county town of Essex and was granted city status in 2012. The city was traditionally an agricultural market town but had a growth of industry in the 19th century; it is often described as the "birthplace of radio" as the founding location of the Marconi Company, although the company is no longer in operation. The city is generally affluent and many neighbourhoods (Springfield, Moulsham and parts of Great Baddow) fall within the 10% least-deprived areas in England.
On average, residents of Chelmsford have high household income and are more likely to work in professional jobs compared to the rest of the country. White people make up 85% of the population with Asians, mostly Indians, forming the largest ethnic minority group at 7%. At the local district and county councils, almost all of the city's seats are represented by Liberal Democrat councillors. An estimated 51% of voters in Chelmsford supported leaving the European Union in the 2016 referendum, similar to the nationwide figure.
History
Formally named as the Mid or Chelmsford Division of Essex, the seat was one of eight single-member divisions of Essex (later classified as county constituencies) created by the Redistribution of Seats Act 1885, replacing the three two member divisions of East, South and West Essex. Historically, the constituency was on occasion referred to as 'Mid Essex', especially in the early part of the 20th Century. It continued in existence, gradually being reduced in geographic size as additional seats were created in Essex, until it was briefly abolished for the 1997 general election following the Fourth Periodic Review of Westminster Constituencies and replaced by parts of two new constituencies: Maldon and East Chelmsford and West Chelmsford. It was re-established for the 2010 general election as a Borough Constituency by the Fifth Periodic Review.
During its latter years, the old seat was narrowly won by a Conservative over strong Liberal Democrat performances, including their predecessor party the Liberal Party. At its first contest in 2010, the re-established seat was closely fought by the Conservatives and the Liberal Democrats, who finished less than 10% apart, with Conservative candidate Simon Burns (the former MP for West Chelmsford) being elected. Labour polled 11%, despite having been only around 100 votes behind the Liberal Democrats in West Chelmsford in 2005, and even taking second place in 2001. Labour regained second place for the 2015 and 2017 elections but were overtaken again by the Liberal Democrats in 2019.
At the 2024 general election, Marie Goldman of the Liberal Democrats was returned as MP for Chelmsford. Prior to Goldman's election, Chelmsford had been held by the Conservatives for 74 years, since the 1950 general election.
Boundaries and boundary changes
Historic
The Sessional Divisions of Brentwood (except the parishes of Rainham and Wennington) and Chelmsford.
Formed from parts of the abolished South (Brentwood) and West Divisions (Chelmsford).
The Borough of Chelmsford;
The Urban District of Brentwood
The Rural Districts of Chelmsford and Ongar: and
The Rural District of Billericay parishes of Hutton, Ingrave, Mountnessing, Shenfield, and South Weald.
Gained eastern part of the Epping Division, including Chipping Ongar. The south-western corner, including Upminster, was transferred to Romford and southernmost parts, including the town of Billericay, to the South-Eastern Division.
The Borough of Chelmsford;
The Urban District of Brentwood; and
The Rural Districts of Chelmsford and Ongar.
Minor changes following the reorganisation of local authorities, involving the abolition of the Rural District of Billericay and the expansion of the Urban District of Brentwood.
The Borough of Chelmsford; and
The Rural Districts of Chelmsford and Ongar.
Brentwood transferred to Romford.
The Borough of Chelmsford; and
The Rural District of Chelmsford.
Current
Further to the 2023 review of Westminster constituencies, which came into effect for the 2024 general election, the composition of the constituency was reduced to meet the electorate size requirements, with the transfer to Maldon of the Galleywood ward in the south of the city.
The revised constituency is made up of 78.9% by area and 95.1% by population of the previous (2010-2024) version of the seat, the remaining part going to Maldon.
Members of Parliament
MPs 1885–1997
West Essex and South Essex prior to 1885
MPs since 2010
West Chelmsford and Maldon & East Chelmsford 1997 to 2010
Elections
Elections in the 2010s
* Served in the 2005–2010 Parliament as MP for West Chelmsford
Elections in the 1940s
General Election 1939–40:
Another General Election was required to take place before the end of 1940. The political parties had been making preparations for an election to take place from 1939 and by the end of this year, the following candidates had been selected;
Conservative: John Macnamara
Labour: Mary Day