Brentwood and Ongar (UK Parliament constituency)

Brentwood and Ongar is a constituency[n 1] in Essex represented in the House of Commons of the UK Parliament since 2017 by Alex Burghart, a Conservative. He served from October 2022 to July 2024 as Parliamentary Secretary for the Cabinet Office.[n 2]

Brentwood and Ongar
County constituency
for the House of Commons
Map
Boundaries since 2024
Map of constituency
Boundary of Brentwood and Ongar in the East of England
CountyEssex
Population92,957 (2011 census)[1]
Electorate74,937 (2023)[2]
Major settlementsBrentwood, Ingatestone, Ongar, Shenfield, West Horndon
Current constituency
Created1974 (1974)
Member of ParliamentAlex Burghart (Conservative)
SeatsOne
Created fromBillericay and Chigwell

History

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The seat was created for the February 1974 general election, primarily from part of the abolished constituency of Billericay. It has always been a safe Conservative seat.

It was held by Eric Pickles between the General Election in 1992 and 2017 when he stood down. The Liberal Democrats amassed their largest share of the vote in 1992 (including results for their two predecessor parties). At the 2010 election their candidate was second-placed with 13.6% of the vote, ahead of the Labour Party's candidate, but this proved the peak of their support, as they declined to fourth place in 2015 and then behind Labour in 2017 and 2019.

In the 2001 election, Pickles was opposed by Martin Bell, who had represented the Tatton constituency in the last Parliament as an independent and had pledged not to seek re-election there. Bell failed to gain Brentwood and Ongar from the Conservatives, but cut the Conservative majority to just 6.5%, the lowest in the seat's history.

The pattern of elections in the seat was disrupted by the emergence of UKIP who jumped to second place in 2015. Following the retirement of Eric Pickles, in the 2017 and 2019 elections it was the Labour Party candidate who emerged as the main challengers to the Conservatives in the seat.

Boundaries and boundary changes

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1974–1983

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  • The Urban District of Brentwood;
  • The Rural District of Epping and Ongar parishes of Abbess Beauchamp and Berners Roding, Blackmore, Bobbingworth, Doddinghurst, Fyfield, High Laver, High Ongar, Kelvedon Hatch, Lambourne, Little Laver, Moreton, Navestock, Ongar, Stanford Rivers, Stapleford Abbotts, Stapleford Tawney, Stondon Massey, Theydon Mount, and Willingale.[3]

The Urban District of Brentwood was previously part of the abolished constituency of Billericay, and the parishes in the Rural District of Epping and Ongar (which had previously constituted the Rural District of Ongar) had been part of the abolished constituency of Chigwell.

1983–2010

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  • The District of Brentwood;
  • The District of Epping Forest wards of Chipping Ongar, Greensted and Marden Ash, High Ongar, Lambourne, Moreton and Matching, Passingford, Roothing Country, and Shelley.[4][5]

Two parishes, formerly part of the Rural District of Chelmsford and included in the District of Brentwood under the Local Government Act 1972 transferred from Chelmsford. Other marginal changes.

2010–present

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  • The Borough of Brentwood;
  • The District of Epping Forest wards of Chipping Ongar, Greensted and Marden Ash; High Ongar, Willingale and The Rodings; Lambourne; Moreton and Fyfield; North Weald Bassett; Passingford; and Shelley.[6]

North Weald Bassett ward transferred from Epping Forest. Other marginal changes due to redistribution of local authority wards.

Subject to a minor adjustment due to ward boundary changes in the District of Epping Forest, the 2023 Periodic Review of Westminster constituencies left the boundaries unchanged.[7]

Members of Parliament

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Billericay and Chigwell prior to 1974

Election Member[8][9] Party
Feb 1974 Sir Robert McCrindle Conservative
1992 Sir Eric Pickles Conservative
2017 Alex Burghart Conservative

Elections

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Elections in the 2020s

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General election 2024: Brentwood and Ongar[10]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Alex Burghart 17,731 36.7 −31.8
Reform UK Paul Godfrey 11,751 24.3 N/A
Labour Gareth Barrett 11,082 22.9 +9.2
Liberal Democrats David Kendall 5,809 12.0 −1.6
Green Reece Learmouth 1,770 3.7 +0.5
English Democrat Robin Tilbrook 189 0.4 −0.6
Majority 5,980 12.4 −42.5
Turnout 48,332 64.1 –6.4
Registered electors 75,352
Conservative hold

Elections in the 2010s

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2019 notional result[11]
Party Vote %
Conservative 36,202 68.5
Labour 7,228 13.7
Liberal Democrats 7,179 13.6
Green 1,675 3.2
Others 532 1.0
Turnout 52,816 70.5
Electorate 74,937
General election 2019: Brentwood and Ongar[12]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Alex Burghart 36,308 68.6 +2.8
Labour Oliver Durose 7,243 13.7 −6.7
Liberal Democrats David Kendall 7,187 13.6 +5.2
Green Paul Jeater 1,679 3.2 +1.5
English Democrat Robin Tilbrook 532 1.0 New
Majority 29,065 54.9 +9.5
Turnout 52,949 70.4 −0.2
Conservative hold Swing +4.8
General election 2017: Brentwood and Ongar[13]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Alex Burghart 34,811 65.8 +7.0
Labour Gareth Barrett 10,809 20.4 +7.9
Liberal Democrats Karen Chilvers 4,426 8.4 −0.4
UKIP Mick McGough 1,845 3.5 −13.3
Green Paul Jeater 915 1.7 −1.0
Independent Louca Kousoulou 104 0.2 New
Majority 24,002 45.4 +3.4
Turnout 52,910 70.6 −1.0
Conservative hold Swing −0.5
General election 2015: Brentwood and Ongar[14]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Eric Pickles 30,534 58.8 +1.9
UKIP Mick McGough 8,724 16.8 +12.8
Labour Liam Preston 6,492 12.5 +2.6
Liberal Democrats David Kendall 4,577 8.8 −14.7
Green Reza Hossain 1,397 2.7 +1.5
English Democrat Robin Tilbrook 173 0.3 −0.7
Majority 21,810 42.0 +8.6
Turnout 51,897 71.6 −0.3
Conservative hold Swing −5.4
General election 2010: Brentwood and Ongar[15][16]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Eric Pickles 28,792 56.9 +2.9
Liberal Democrats David Kendall 11,872 23.5 −3.4
Labour Heidi Benzing 4,992 9.9 −4.9
UKIP Michael McGough 2,037 4.0 −0.1
BNP Paul Morris 1,447 2.9 New
Green Jess Barnecutt 584 1.2 New
English Democrat Robin Tilbrook 491 1.0 New
Independent James Sapwell 263 0.5 New
Independent Danny Attfield 113 0.2 New
Majority 16,920 33.4 +7.1
Turnout 50,591 71.9 +4.0
Conservative hold Swing +3.1

Elections in the 2000s

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General election 2005: Brentwood and Ongar[17]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Eric Pickles 23,609 53.5 +15.5
Liberal Democrats Gavin Stollar 11,997 27.2 +11.6
Labour John Adams 6,579 14.9 +2.3
UKIP Stuart Gulleford 1,805 4.1 +2.7
Independent Anthony Appleton 155 0.4 +0.3
Majority 11,612 26.3 +19.8
Turnout 44,145 68.4 +1.1
Conservative hold Swing +2.0
General election 2001: Brentwood and Ongar[18]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Eric Pickles 16,558 38.0 −7.4
Independent Martin Bell 13,737 31.5 New
Liberal Democrats David Kendall 6,772 15.6 −10.7
Labour Diana Johnson 5,505 12.6 −9.5
UKIP Kenneth Gulleford 611 1.4 +0.5
Independent Peter Pryke 239 0.5 New
Church of the Militant Elvis David Bishop 68 0.2 New
Independent Anthony Appleton 52 0.1 New
Majority 2,821 6.5 −12.6
Turnout 43,542 67.3 −9.3
Conservative hold Swing

Elections in the 1990s

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General election 1997: Brentwood and Ongar[19]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Eric Pickles 23,031 45.4 −12.2
Liberal Democrats Elizabeth Bottomley 13,341 26.3 −4.2
Labour Marc Young 11,231 22.1 +11.2
Referendum Angela Kilmartin 2,658 5.2 New
UKIP David Mills 465 0.9 New
Majority 9,690 19.1 −8.0
Turnout 50,726 76.6 −8.1
Conservative hold Swing −4.0
General election 1992: Brentwood and Ongar[20][21]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Eric Pickles 32,145 57.6 −2.9
Liberal Democrats Elizabeth Bottomley 17,000 30.5 +5.5
Labour Jeremiah Keohane 6,080 10.9 −2.3
Green Carolyn Bartley 555 1.0 −0.3
Majority 15,145 27.1 −8.4
Turnout 55,780 84.7 +5.7
Conservative hold Swing −4.2

Elections in the 1980s

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General election 1987: Brentwood and Ongar[22]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Robert McCrindle 32,258 60.5 +2.1
Liberal Nicholas Amor 13,337 25.0 −5.3
Labour James Orpe 7,042 13.2 +1.8
Green Margaret Willis 686 1.3 New
Majority 18,921 35.5 +7.4
Turnout 53323 79.0 +2.4
Conservative hold Swing +3.7
General election 1983: Brentwood and Ongar[23]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Robert McCrindle 29,484 58.4 −2.0
Liberal Nicholas Amor 15,282 30.3 +16.0
Labour James Orpe 5,739 11.4 −13.9
Majority 14,202 28.1 −7.0
Turnout 50505 76.6 −4.0
Conservative hold Swing −9.0

Elections in the 1970s

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General election 1979: Brentwood and Ongar
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Robert McCrindle 29,113 60.4 +13.5
Labour Ian James Crofton Peddie 12,182 25.3 −4.0
Liberal Colin Cenydd Jones 6,882 14.3 −9.5
Majority 16,931 35.1 +17.5
Turnout 48,177 80.6 +3.4
Conservative hold Swing +8.8
General election October 1974: Brentwood and Ongar
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Robert McCrindle 21,136 46.9 +0.3
Labour Henry Edward Miller 13,190 29.3 +3.7
Liberal Lionel Rufus Wernick 10,725 23.8 −4.0
Majority 7,946 17.6 −1.2
Turnout 45,051 77.2 −6.6
Conservative hold Swing −1.7
General election February 1974: Brentwood and Ongar
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Robert McCrindle 22,545 46.6
Liberal Lionel Rufus Wernick 13,452 27.8
Labour Maurice Howard Rosen 12,398 25.6
Majority 9,093 18.8
Turnout 48,395 83.8
Conservative win (new seat)

Graphical representation

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February 1974 New seat
25.6% 27.8% 46.6%
Labour Liberal Conservative
October 1974
29.3% 23.8% 46.9%
Labour Liberal Conservative
1979
25.3% 14.3% 60.4%
Labour Liberal Conservative
1983
11.4% 30.3% 58.4%
Labour Liberal Conservative
1987
13.2% 25.0% 60.5%
Labour Liberal Conservative
1992
10.9% 30.5% 57.6%
Labour Lib Dems Conservative
1997
22.1% 26.3% 45.4%
Labour Lib Dems Conservative Ref
2001
12.6% 15.6% 31.5% 38.0%
Labour Lib Dems Martin Bell Conservative
2005
14.9% 27.2% 53.5%
Labour Lib Dems Conservative UKIP
2010
9.9% 23.5% 56.9%
Lab Lib Dems Conservative UKIP
2015
12.5% 58.8% 16.8%
Labour Lib Dems Conservative UKIP
2017
20.4% 65.8%
Labour Lib Dems Conservative UKIP
2019
13.7% 13.6% 68.6%
Labour Lib Dems Conservative

See also

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Notes

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  1. ^ A county 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. ^ "Brentwood and Ongar: Usual Resident Population, 2011". Neighbourhood Statistics. Office for National Statistics. Retrieved 2 February 2015.
  2. ^ "The 2023 Review of Parliamentary Constituency Boundaries in England – Volume two: Constituency names, designations and composition – Eastern". Boundary Commission for England. Retrieved 26 June 2024.
  3. ^ "The Parliamentary Constituencies (England) Order 1970". www.legislation.gov.uk. Retrieved 9 September 2019.
  4. ^ "The Parliamentary Constituencies (England) Order 1983". www.legislation.gov.uk. Retrieved 9 September 2019.
  5. ^ "The Parliamentary Constituencies (England) Order 1995". www.legislation.gov.uk. Retrieved 9 September 2019.
  6. ^ "The Parliamentary Constituencies (England) Order 2007". www.legislation.gov.uk. Retrieved 9 September 2019.
  7. ^ "The Parliamentary Constituencies Order 2023". Schedule I Part 2 Eastern region.
  8. ^ "Brentwood and Ongar 1974–". Parliamentary Debates (Hansard). Retrieved 2 February 2015.
  9. ^ Leigh Rayment's Historical List of MPs – Constituencies beginning with "B" (part 5)
  10. ^ "Statement of Persons Nominated and Notice of Poll". Brentwood Borough Council. Retrieved 11 June 2024.
  11. ^ "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.
  12. ^ "Your Council - Electoral Services - 2019 UK Parliamentary El..." Archived from the original on 24 December 2019.
  13. ^ "Karen Chilvers announced as snap General Election candidate". 20 April 2017. Retrieved 28 April 2017.
  14. ^ "Election Data 2015". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 17 October 2015. Retrieved 17 October 2015.
  15. ^ "Election Data 2010". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 26 July 2013. Retrieved 17 October 2015.
  16. ^ "BBC NEWS – Election 2010 – Brentwood & Ongar". BBC News.
  17. ^ "Election Data 2005". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
  18. ^ "Election Data 2001". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
  19. ^ "Election Data 1997". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
  20. ^ "Election Data 1992". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
  21. ^ "Politics Resources". Election 1992. Politics Resources. 9 April 1992. Archived from the original on 24 July 2011. Retrieved 6 December 2010.
  22. ^ "Election Data 1987". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
  23. ^ "Election Data 1983". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
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51°41′N 0°14′E / 51.68°N 0.23°E / 51.68; 0.23