Cambridge is a constituency represented in the House of Commons of the UK Parliament since 2015 by Daniel Zeichner of the Labour Party.
History Centred on the university city of Cambridge, Cambridge is one of the country's oldest continuously constituted constituencies. It was created in 1295 and returned two Members of Parliament (MPs) and was represented in the House of Commons of England until 1707, then in the House of Commons of Great Britain from 1707 to 1800, and then in the House of Commons of the United Kingdom from 1801 to 1885. From 1885 onwards, the seat has elected one MP.
It was held by the Conservatives from 1967 to 1992, since which time it has been represented alternately by both Labour and the Liberal Democrats.
In the 2016 referendum to leave the European Union, the constituency voted 73.8% to remain.
Constituency profile The Cambridge constituency covers the majority of the city of Cambridge in the East of England, except some outlying suburbs. Cambridge is a historic settlement dating back to Roman times and was traditionally an important market town supporting trade between London and East Anglia. The city is a popular tourist destination and was described by Forbes as one of the "most beautiful cities in the world". It is known for the University of Cambridge, which consistently ranks as one of the best universities in the world.
Compared to national averages, residents of Cambridge are considerably younger and have low levels of marriage and homeownership. Residents are highly educated and more likely to work in professional jobs. Income and house prices are high.Electoral Calculus https://www.electoralcalculus.co.uk/fcgi-bin/seatdetails.py?seat=Cambridge Parts of the city are in the 10% least-deprived areas in England, although there is some deprivation in the Chesterton suburban area. White people make up 75% of the population with Asians being the largest ethnic minority group at 14%. Cambridge has the highest proportion of Chinese people (4.3%) in the country outside the City of London. At the county and city council levels, the city is represented by a mixture of Liberal Democrat, Labour Party and Green Party councillors. In the 2016 referendum on European Union membership, an estimated 75% of voters in the constituency supported remaining in the European Union, one of the top 20 highest rates out of 650 constituencies nationwide.
Political History
Overview of results before 1992 Cambridge returned two Members to Parliament from 1295 until 1885, using the bloc vote system. These were generally townsmen who were involved in local government, with at least sixty mayors of Cambridge having served as MP by 1621. Under the Redistribution of Seats Act 1885 representation was reduced to one member, using the first-past-the-post system, with effect from the 1885 general election.
From 1910 to 1992, Cambridge was won by the Conservatives, save for the periods 1945 to 1950 and 1966 to 1967, when it was Labour-held with small majorities.
Related extra representation 1603–1950 Historically, the city of Cambridge retained some electors, and was often the source of MPs to a second constituency, for Cambridge University, covering all successful alumni in its electorate. The university seat was created in 1603 as part of the scheme of university constituencies. Its MPs included Isaac Newton, William Pitt the Younger, Lord Palmerston, George Stokes, Richard Jebb, and Archibald Hill before abolition in 1950.
Overview of results since 1992 In 1992, Cambridge was won by Labour's Anne Campbell, who held onto the seat for 13 years (three Parliamentary terms). In 2005, it was taken by David Howarth of the Liberal Democrats, the first time the party (including its two forerunner parties) had taken the seat since the 1906 Liberal-progressive landslide; his successor, Julian Huppert, held the seat with an increased majority in the 2010 general election. In 2015, Huppert was unseated by the Labour candidate, Daniel Zeichner, who took the seat with a thin majority of 599 votes. The 2015 result gave the seat the 7th-smallest majority of Labour's 232 seats by percentage of majority. Zeichner went on to hold the seat at the 2017 and 2019 elections with comfortable majorities.
Most recent results of other parties In 2015, three other parties' candidates kept their deposits, by winning more than 5% of the vote. In order of public preference, these candidates stood for the Conservatives, Green Party and UKIP, respectively.
Turnout since 1918 Turnout at general elections has ranged between 86.48% in 1950 to 60.6% in 2001.
Boundaries and boundary changes
Historic
1868–1918 The Borough of Cambridge, plus the village of Chesterton.
1918–1950 The Borough of Cambridge.
Under the Representation of the People Act 1918, the boundaries were expanded to align with those of the Municipal Borough, incorporating further parts of the former Urban District of Chesterton to the north, and the parish of Cambridge Without to the south.
1950–1983 The Borough of Cambridge, but with redrawn boundaries.
Under the Representation of the People Act 1948, the boundaries were further expanded for the 1950 general election.
1983–2010 The City of Cambridge wards of Abbey, Arbury, Castle, Cherry Hinton, Coleridge, East Chesterton, King's Hedges, Market, Newnham, Petersfield, Romsey, and West Chesterton.
The Queen Edith's and Trumpington wards were included in South West Cambridgeshire (South Cambridgeshire from 1997).
2010–2024
The City of Cambridge wards of Abbey, Arbury, Castle, Cherry Hinton, Coleridge, East Chesterton, King's Hedges, Market, Newnham, Petersfield, Romsey, Trumpington, and West Chesterton.
Trumpington ward returned from South Cambridgeshire.
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 in size with the transfer of the Cherry Hinton ward to South Cambridgeshire.
Members of Parliament Constituency created (1295)
MPs 1386–1660 Elections in (brackets) are by-elections. ParliamentFirst memberSecond member1386 Robert Brigham John HerriesFeb 1388 John Cotton John CampSep 1388 John Blankpayn John MarshallJan 1390 Richard Maisterman Robert GoodrichNov 13901391 John Camp John Payn1393 John Herries Robert Goodrich1394 Robert Brigham1395 John ThriplowJan 1397 Hugh CandlesbySep 1397 Thomas Trivet Simon Bentbow1399 Hugh Candlesby William Salle14011402 Robert Brigham Thomas TrivetJan 1404Oct 14041406 John Knapton John Bilney1407 Simon Bentbow Thomas Beverley14101411 John Bush John AlderhitheFeb 1413May 1413 Stephen Neel Robert AttilbridgeApr 1414 John Beverley John WarwickNov 1414 John Greenlane John Hokington1415 John Knapton Thomas BeverleyMar 1416 John Bilney John SextonOct 14161417 John Bilney Robert Attilbridge1419 John Knapton Henry Topcliffe1420 John CappeMay 1421 John Greenlane John BilneyDec 1421 Richard Andrew William Wedgwood1447 John Say15101512 John Bury John Erlich151515231529 Thomas Brakyn Robert Chapman153615391542 Edward Slegge1545 John Rust Simon Trew1547 John Fanne (died in office) Richard Brakyn(1552)John RustMar 1553 Robert Chapman Alexander RayOct 1553 James Fletcher Richard BrakynApr 1554 John RustNov 1554 Robert Chapman Richard Brassney1555 Alexander Ray Lawrence Hawes1558 John Line Thomas Ventris1558–1559 Thomas Ventris Roger Slegge1562–1563 Henry SerleMar 1571 Robert Shute Apr 1572(1581)John NorthNov 1584 Henry NorthOct 1586 John EdmondsOct 1588 Nicholas Gaunte1593 Thomas Goldsborough Christopher HodsonOct 1597 Robert Wallis John YaxleyOct 16011604 John Yaxley1614 Sir Robert Hitcham Francis Brakin1621 Richard Foxton Thomas MeautysMar 1621 Sir John Hobart1624 Francis Brakyn Robert Luckyn1625 Talbot Pepys Thomas Meautys1626 John Thompson1628 Thomas Purchase1629–1640 No Parliaments summonedApr 1640 Oliver Cromwell Thomas MeautysNov 1640 John Lowry1653Cambridge not represented in Barebone's Parliament1654 Richard Timbs16561659 John Lowry Richard Timbs
MPs 1660–1885 Election1st Member1st Party2nd Member2nd Party 1660 Sir Dudley North Sir Thomas Willys, Bt 1661 Sir William Compton Roger Pepys 1664 The Lord Alington 1679 Sir Thomas Chicheley 1685 Sir William Wren 1689 Sir John Cotton, Bt 1690 Granado Pigot 1695 John Pepys Isaac Watlington 1696 Sir John Cotton, Bt 1698 Sir Henry Pickering, Bt 1702 Anthony Thompson 1705 Sir John Cotton, Bt 1708 Sir John Hynde Cotton, Bt Tory Samuel Shepheard January 1715 Thomas Sclater Tory May 1715 Samuel Shepheard January 1722 Thomas Bacon Tory October 1722 Gilbert Affleck 1727 Sir John Hynde Cotton, Bt 1737 Gilbert Affleck 1741 Viscount Dupplin Whig James Martin 1744 Christopher Jeaffreson 1747 Samuel Shepheard 1748 Christopher Jeaffreson 1749 Charles Cadogan Tory 1754 Hon. Thomas Bromley Whig 1755 Charles Cadogan Tory 1758 Soame Jenyns Tory 1776 Benjamin Keene Tory 1780 James Whorwood Adeane Tory 1784 John Mortlock Whig 1788 Francis Dickins Tory 1789 Edward Finch Tory 1791 Robert Manners Tory 1819 Frederick Trench Tory 1820 Charles Madryll Cheere Tory 1825 Marquess of Graham Tory 1832 George Pryme Whig Thomas Spring Rice Whig 1839 John Manners-Sutton Conservative 1840 Sir Alexander Grant, Bt Conservative 1841 Hon. John Manners-Sutton Conservative 1843 Fitzroy Kelly Conservative 1847 Robert Adair Whig Hon. William Campbell Whig 1852 Kenneth Macaulay Conservative John Harvey Astell Conservative March 1853 Writ suspended 1854 Robert Adair Radical Francis Mowatt Radical 1857 Kenneth Macaulay Conservative Andrew Steuart Conservative 1863 Francis Powell Conservative 1865 William Forsyth Conservative 1866 John Eldon Gorst Conservative 1868 Robert Torrens Liberal William Fowler Liberal 1874 Alfred Marten Conservative Patrick Smollett Conservative 1880 William Fowler Liberal Hugh Shield Liberal 1885 representation reduced to one member
MPs since 1885 ElectionMemberParty 1885 Robert Uniacke-Penrose-Fitzgerald Conservative 1906 Stanley Buckmaster Liberal Jan 1910 Almeric Paget Conservative 1917 by-election Sir Eric Geddes Coalition Conservative 1922 by-election Sir George Newton Conservative 1934 by-election Richard Tufnell Conservative 1945 Arthur Symonds Labour 1950 Sir Hamilton Kerr, Bt. Conservative 1966 Robert Davies Labour 1967 by-election David Lane Conservative 1976 by-election Robert Rhodes James Conservative 1992 Anne Campbell Labour 2005 David Howarth Liberal Democrat 2010 Julian Huppert Liberal Democrat 2015 Daniel Zeichner Labour
Elections 2010s – 2000s – 1990s – 1980s – 1970s – 1960s – 1950s – 1940s – 1930s – 1920s – 1910s – 1900s – 1890s – 1880s – 1870s – 1860s– 1850s– 1840s– 1830s– 1820s– 1810s– 1800s– 1790s– 1780s– 1770s– 1760s– 1750s– Back to Top
Performance of political parties in graphical format This table shows parties' election performance in this seat in graphical format. Cells are shaded by party. The percentage share of the vote that each party gained is indicated by the number in each cell and is also proportional to the height of each cell. The winning party in each election is indicated by a percentage score in bold and by a shaded cell (corresponding to that party's colour) above the header row.
64666770 74 74 76 79 83 87 92 97 01 05 10 15 17 19 2443435255404146424039 5161217512326162616203044303525391647202631213016101753524845124518453640403634373633242628281688
Elections in the 2020s
Elections in the 2010s
2019 notional result Party Vote % Labour 23,600 47.4 Liberal Democrats 15,501 31.2 Conservative 7,344 14.8 Green 2,068 4.2 Brexit Party 958 1.9 Others 269 0.5Turnout49,74068.6Electorate72,560
Elections in the 2000s
Elections in the 1990s
Elections in the 1980s
Elections in the 1970s 2010s – 2000s – 1990s – 1980s – 1970s – 1960s – 1950s – 1940s – 1930s – 1920s – 1910s – 1900s – 1890s – 1880s – 1870s – 1860s– 1850s– 1840s– 1830s– 1820s– 1810s– 1800s– 1790s– 1780s– 1770s– 1760s– 1750s– Back to Top