Saffron Walden was a constituency in Essex, which was represented in the House of Commons of the UK Parliament from 1922 to 2024 exclusively by members of the Conservative Party.
Further to the completion of the 2023 Periodic Review of Westminster constituencies, the seat was abolished. Subject to relatively minor boundary changes, it was reformed as North West Essex for the 2024 general election.
Constituency profile The constituency was by far the largest and most rural in Essex and covered the entire north-west corner of the county, an area of almost . It bordered Hertfordshire and Cambridgeshire and also extended deep into the middle of Essex near Chelmsford.
Two medium-sized market towns, Saffron Walden and Great Dunmow, were in the constituency. Both of these have historic links and are busy and regionally visitor-drawing towns in the South East.
The largest single source of employment in the constituency is Stansted Airport, while there are also a host of small businesses, many of them high-tech, along and at the ends of the London–Cambridge corridor.
In statistics The constituency consisted of Census Output Areas from two local government districts with similar characteristics. Uttlesford district formed the bulk and has a working population whose income is close to the national average and a much lower than average reliance upon social housing. At the end of 2012, the unemployment rate in the constituency stood at 1.6% of the population claiming jobseekers allowance, compared to the regional average of 2.4%.Unemployment claimants by constituency The Guardian The borough contributing to the bulk of the seat has a very low 10.1% of its population without a car, 17.7% of the population without qualifications, and a high 31.9% had level 4 qualifications or above. In terms of tenure, 71.6% of homes are owned outright or on a mortgage as of the 2011 census across the Uttlesford district.
History Saffron Walden 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.
The boundaries were redrawn under the Representation of the People Act 1918, then remained virtually unchanged until changes brought in for the 2010 general election by the Fifth Periodic Review of Westminster constituencies.
The constituency mostly voted in Liberal Party MPs in its earlier history, but has been a Conservative safe seat based on election results since 1922, in which period the majorities have occasionally been marginal. However, the constituency returned a Conservative majority at the 2019 general election of over 27,000.
Boundaries and boundary changes 1885–1918 The Borough of Saffron Walden; The Sessional Divisions of Freshwell, Hinckford North, and Walden: Part of the Sessional Division of Hinckford South (Halstead Bench); The part of the Borough of Sudbury in the county of Essex; and The parish of Thaxted.
Formed from northern parts of the abolished West Division of Essex including the Municipal Borough of Saffron Walden, and northern parts of the abolished East Division.
1918–1950
The Borough of Saffron Walden; The Urban District of Halstead; and The Rural Districts of Belchamp, Bumpstead, Dunmow, Halstead, Saffron Walden, and Stansted.
Gained northern parts of Epping, including Great Dunmow and Hatfield Broad Oak, and northern parts of Maldon, including Halstead. Other minor changes.
1950–1974 The Borough of Saffron Walden; The Urban District of Halstead; The Rural Districts of Dunmow, Halstead, and Saffron Walden; and The Rural District of Braintree parishes of Bardfield Saling and Great Bardfield.
Local authorities re-organised – only nominal changes to boundaries of constituency.
1974–1983 The Borough of Saffron Walden; The Urban District of Halstead; and The Rural Districts of Dunmow, Halstead, and Saffron Walden.
The two small parishes within the Rural District of Braintree were included in the new constituency of Braintree.
1983–1997 The District of Uttlesford; and The District of Braintree wards of Bumpstead, Castle Hedingham, Colne Engaine and Greenstead Green, Earls Colne, Gosfield, Halstead St Andrews, Halstead Trinity, Sible Hedingham, Stour Valley Central, Stour Valley North, Stour Valley South, Upper Colne, and Yeldham.
Local authorities re-organised – no changes to boundaries of constituency.
1997–2010 The District of Uttlesford; and The District of Braintree wards of Bumpstead, Castle Hedingham, Colne Engaine and Greenstead Green, Halstead St Andrews, Halstead Trinity, Sible Hedingham, Stour Valley Central, Stour Valley North, Stour Valley South, Upper Colne, and Yeldham.
Two small wards (Earls Colne and Gosfield) transferred to Braintree.
2010–2024 The District of Uttlesford; and The Borough of Chelmsford wards of Boreham and The Leighs, Broomfield and The Walthams, Chelmsford Rural West, and Writtle.
The 2010 redistribution resulted in a major change, with eastern areas in the District of Braintree, including Halstead, being transferred to Braintree. Extended southwards to incorporate northern and western rural areas of the Borough of Chelmsford, including Writtle, which were transferred from the abolished constituency of West Chelmsford.
Members of Parliament From the snap election in 2017 until its abolition in 2024, this safe Conservative seat was represented by future party leader Kemi Badenoch. It was held for many years by former Chancellor of the Exchequer Rab Butler and by former Deputy Speaker of the House of Commons Sir Alan Haselhurst. ElectionMemberParty 1885 Herbert Gardner Liberal 1895 Charles Gold Liberal 1900 Armine Wodehouse Liberal 1901 Joseph Pease Liberal Jan 1910 Douglas Proby Conservative Dec 1910 Cecil Beck Liberal 1916 Coalition Liberal 1921 Independent Parliamentary Group 1922 William Foot Mitchell Unionist 1929 Rab Butler Conservative 1965 by-election Sir Peter Kirk Conservative 1977 by-election Sir Alan Haselhurst Conservative 2017 Kemi Badenoch Conservative2024Seat abolished – see North West Essex
Elections Elections in the 2010s
2005 notional result Party Vote % Conservative 25,086 50.8 Liberal Democrats 14,603 29.6 Labour 6,995 14.2 UKIP 1,320 2.7 Others 1,335 2.7Turnout49,33968.8Electorate71,711
Elections in the 2000s
Elections in the 1990s
1992 notional result Party Vote % Conservative 33,378 56.6 Liberal Democrats 16,885 28.6 Labour 8,468 14.4 Others 246 0.4Turnout58,97783.7Electorate70,475
Elections in the 1980s
Elections in the 1970s
Elections in the 1960s
Elections in the 1950s
Election in the 1940s
Elections in the 1930s 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: Rab Butler Labour: Clara RackhamReport of the Annual Conference of the Labour Party, 1939
The Liberal candidate, Arthur Musgrove Mathews withdrew at the last minute
Elections in the 1920s
Elections in the 1910s
Elections in the 1900s
Elections in the 1890s
Caused by Gardner's appointment as President of the Board of Agriculture
Elections in the 1880s
See also List of parliamentary constituencies in Essex
Notes
References
External links Saffron Walden UK Parliament constituency (boundaries April 1997 – April 2010) at MapIt UK Saffron Walden UK Parliament constituency (boundaries April 2010 – May 2024) at MapIt UK
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