Braintree is a constituency in Essex represented in the House of Commons of the UK Parliament since 2015 by James Cleverly, a member of the Conservative Party.

Cleverly, a former chairman of the Conservative Party, served as Shadow Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government until his resignation in August 2026, having previously held several ministerial roles including home secretary, foreign secretary and secretary of state for education.

Constituency profile The Braintree constituency covers a large area of rural Essex. The largest town is Braintree, with a population of around 43,000. Other settlements include the small town of Halstead and the villages of Great Notley and Sible Hedingham. The area is predominantly agricultural, although Braintree and Halstead have a history of textile manufacturing, particularly silk.

Compared to national averages, residents of the constituency are less likely to be degree-educated but have similar levels of professional employment and slightly higher household income. White people make up 95% of the population. At the local county and district councils, most parts of the constituency are represented by Conservative councillors, although Labour Party councillors were elected in parts of Braintree. Voters in the constituency strongly supported leaving the European Union in the 2016 referendum; an estimated 62% voted in favour of Brexit compared to 52% nationally.

History The seat was created for the February 1974 general election, largely from the majority of the constituency of Maldon, including the towns of Braintree and Witham. It underwent a major redistribution and change of boundaries for the 2010 general election when Witham was formed as a separate constituency. This resulted in making the seat safer for the Conservatives.

The former Leader of the House Tony Newton held the seat for the Conservatives from its creation in 1974 until 1997 when Alan Hurst defeated Newton to gain the seat for Labour. Brooks Newmark defeated Hurst in 2005 to regain the seat for the Conservatives, and held it until he stood down in 2015, being succeeded by James Cleverly, also a Conservative.Will Lodge, "Election 2015: Conservatives extend lead in Braintree as James Cleverly takes over as MP" , East Anglian Daily Times, 8 May 2015

Boundaries and boundary changes

Historic

1974–1983 The Urban Districts of Braintree and Bocking, and Witham; The Rural District of Braintree; and The Rural District of Chelmsford civil parishes of Boreham, Broomfield, Chignall, Good Easter, Great and Little Leighs, Great Waltham, Little Waltham, Mashbury, Pleshey, Roxwell, Springfield, and Writtle.

Formed largely from the existing constituency of Maldon. The northern part of the Rural District of Chelmsford was transferred from Chelmsford and a small part of the Rural District of Braintree was previously in Saffron Walden.

1983–1997 The District of Braintree wards of Black Notley, Bocking North, Bocking South, Braintree Central, Braintree East, Braintree West, Coggeshall, Cressing, Hatfield Peverel, Kelvedon, Panfield, Rayne, Terling, Three Fields, Witham Central, Witham Chipping Hill, Witham North, Witham Silver End and Rivenhall, Witham South, and Witham West; and The Borough of Chelmsford wards of Broomfield and Chignall, Good Easter Mashbury and Roxwell, Great and Little Leighs and Little Waltham, Great Waltham and Pleshey, and Writtle.

Following changes to the structure of local authorities in 1974, the seat was largely unchanged, with just the Boreham and Springfield ward of Chelmsford Borough being transferred to the Chelmsford constituency.

1997–2010 The District of Braintree wards of Black Notley, Bocking North, Bocking South, Braintree Central, Braintree East, Braintree West, Coggeshall, Cressing, Earls Colne, Gosfield, Hatfield Peveril, Kelvedon, Panfield, Rayne, Terling, Three Fields, Witham Central, Witham Chipping Hill, Witham North, Witham Silver End and Rivenhall, Witham South, and Witham West.

The parts in the Borough of Chelmsford now included in the new constituency of West Chelmsford. Two small wards (Earls Colne and Gosfield) transferred from Saffron Walden.

2010–2024 The District of Braintree wards of Bocking Blackwater, Bocking North, Bocking South, Braintree Central, Braintree East, Braintree South, Bumpstead, Cressing and Stisted, Gosfield and Greenstead Green, Great Notley and Braintree West, Halstead St Andrews, Halstead Trinity, Hedingham and Maplestead, Panfield, Rayne, Stour Valley North, Stour Valley South, The Three Colnes, Three Fields, Upper Colne, and Yeldham.

The 2010 redistribution saw a major change, with southern and western areas, including the town of Witham, forming the basis of the new County Constituency of Witham. Extended northwards, gaining the District of Braintree wards previously in Saffron Walden, including the town of Halstead.

Current Following the 2023 review of Westminster constituencies, which came into effect for the 2024 general election, the composition of the constituency is as follows (as they existed on 1 December 2020):

The District of Braintree wards of: Bocking Blackwater; Bocking North; Bocking South; Braintree Central & Beckers Green; Braintree South; Braintree West; Bumpstead; Gosfield & Greenstead Green; Great Notley & Black Notley; Halstead St. Andrew's; Halstead Trinity; Hedingham; Rayne; Stour Valley North; Stour Valley South; Three Fields; Yeldham.

The District of Uttlesford wards of: Felsted & Stebbing; The Sampfords.

Minor changes – the two Uttlesford District wards were transferred from Saffron Walden (renamed North West Essex), offset by a net loss to Witham mainly due to revision of ward boundaries.

Members of Parliament ElectionMemberParty Feb 1974 Tony Newton Conservative 1997 Alan Hurst Labour 2005 Brooks Newmark Conservative 2015 James Cleverly Conservative

Elections

Elections in the 2020s

Elections in the 2010s

2019 notional result Party Vote % Conservative 34,863 67.5 Labour 9,397 18.2 Liberal Democrats 5,013 9.7 Others 2,169 4.4 Green 233 0.5Turnout51,67568.3Electorate75,662

2005 notional result Party Vote % Conservative 22,422 49.9 Labour 13,764 30.7 Liberal Democrats 6,100 13.6 Green 1,308 2.9 UKIP 1,076 2.4 Others 228 0.5Turnout44,89864.2Electorate69,909

Elections in the 2000s

Elections in the 1990s

Elections in the 1980s

Elections in the 1970s

1970 notional result Party Vote % Conservative 22,400 49.0 Labour 18,900 41.4 Liberal 4,400 9.6Turnout45,70078.8Electorate57,993

See also List of parliamentary constituencies in Essex

Notes

References

External links nomis Constituency Profile for Braintree – presenting data from the ONS annual population survey and other official statistics. Braintree UK Parliament constituency (boundaries April 1997 – April 2010) at MapIt UK Braintree UK Parliament constituency (boundaries April 2010 – May 2024) at MapIt UK Braintree UK Parliament constituency (boundaries from June 2024) at MapIt UK