Central Suffolk and North Ipswich (UK Parliament constituency)

Central Suffolk and North Ipswich
County constituency
for the House of Commons
Map
Interactive map of boundaries from 2024
Map of constituency
Boundary of Central Suffolk and North Ipswich in the East of England
CountySuffolk
Population98,935 (2011 census)[1]
Electorate71,020 (2023)[2]
Major settlementsNeedham Market, Kesgrave and Framlingham
Current constituency
Created1997
Member of ParliamentPatrick Spencer (Conservative)
SeatsOne
Created fromCentral Suffolk

Central Suffolk and North Ipswich is a constituency[n 1] represented in the House of Commons of the UK Parliament since 2024 by Patrick Spencer of the Conservative Party.[n 2]

Constituency profile

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Central Suffolk and North Ipswich was a safe seat for the Conservative Party, primarily made up of rural farming communities and retirement properties. The exception to this are the three wards from Ipswich Borough Council, which polarise support between the Conservatives and Labour, and Kesgrave, a new satellite town, which shows strong support for the Conservatives. The rural areas which make up the majority of the constituency, consistently return a majority of Conservative councillors. The local government make up of the seat, in respect of the number of borough and district councillors elected by party is 27 Conservative, 5 Labour, 4 Independent, 3 Liberal Democrat, and 2 Green. (Barking by-election 2016 was a Green gain). Significant Green gains were made in the 2023 District council elections.

History

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The county constituency was formed for the 1997 general election, largely from eastern parts of the abolished constituency of Central Suffolk, including the north-western wards of the Borough of Ipswich. It also included western fringes of Suffolk Coastal.

Sir Michael Lord, knighted in 2001, who had held the predecessor seat of Central Suffolk, was the first MP who served the seat, from 1997 until 2010. The 2010 general election saw the fourth win for a Conservative with the election of Dan Poulter, who retained the seat at the three subsequent elections. Dan Poulter announced his defection to Labour in April 2024, and did not seek re-election.[3] Following the 2024 election, the MP is Patrick Spencer for the Conservative Party.[4]

Boundaries and boundary changes

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1997–2010

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  • The District of Mid Suffolk wards of Barham, Barking, Bramford, Claydon, Creeting, Debenham, Eye, Fressingfield, Helmingham, Hoxne, Mendlesham, Palgrave, Stonham, Stradbroke, Wetheringsett, Weybread, and Worlingworth;
  • The District of Suffolk Coastal wards of Bealings, Dennington, Earl Soham, Framlingham, Glemham, Grundisburgh and Witnesham, Hasketon, Kesgrave, Otley, Rushmere, and Wickham Market; and
  • The Borough of Ipswich wards of Broom Hill, Castle Hill, Whitehouse, and Whitton.[5]
Map
Map of boundaries 2010–2024

2010–2024

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  • The District of Mid Suffolk wards of Barking and Somersham, Bramford and Blakenham, Claydon and Barham, Debenham, Eye, Fressingfield, Helmingham and Coddenham, Hoxne, Mendlesham, Palgrave, Stradbroke and Laxfield, The Stonhams, Wetheringsett, and Worlingworth;
  • The District of Suffolk Coastal wards of Earl Soham, Framlingham, Grundisburgh, Hacheston, Kesgrave East, Kesgrave West, Otley, Rushmere St Andrew, Wickham Market, and Witnesham; and
  • The Borough of Ipswich wards of Castle Hill, Whitehouse, and Whitton.[6]

Lost the Borough of Ipswich ward of Broom Hill which had been abolished by a revision of the borough wards; area covered by the ward now included in Ipswich. Other marginal changes due to revision of local authority wards.

2024–present

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Following the 2023 Periodic Review of Westminster constituencies, which came into effect for the 2024 general election, the composition of the constituency is as follows:

  • The District of East Suffolk wards of: Carlford & Fynn Valley; Framlingham; Kesgrave; Rushmere St. Andrew; Wickham Market.
  • The Borough of Ipswich wards of: Castle Hill; Whitehouse; Whitton.
  • The District of Mid Suffolk wards of: Battisford & Ringshall; Blakenham; Bramford; Claydon & Barham; Debenham; Needham Market; Stonham.[7]

Northern areas, including Eye, now form part of the newly created constituency of Waveney Valley, with small transfers in from Bury St Edmunds (Needham Market) and Suffolk Coastal.

Members of Parliament

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Central Suffolk prior to 1997

Election Member[8] Party
1997 Sir Michael Lord Conservative
2010 Dan Poulter Conservative
April 2024 Labour
2024 Patrick Spencer Conservative

Elections

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Elections in the 2020s

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General election 2024: Central Suffolk and North Ipswich[9][4]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Patrick Spencer 15,144 32.6 −29.3
Labour Kevin Craig[a] 10,854 23.4 +1.6
Reform UK Tony Gould 8,806 19.0 N/A
Green Daniel Pratt 5,652 12.2 +6.6
Liberal Democrats Brett Mickelburgh 5,407 11.6 +1.0
Independent Charlie Caiger 366 0.8 N/A
Independent Mike Hallatt 194 0.4 N/A
Majority 4,290 9.2 –30.9
Turnout 46,423 64.5 –6.5
Registered electors 71,975
Conservative hold Swing –15.5
  1. ^ After nominations for the 2024 general election closed, the Labour Party withdrew support for Kevin Craig on 25 June due to placing a bet on the outcome of the election in the seat.[10]

Elections in the 2010s

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2019 notional result[11]
Party Vote %
Conservative 31,222 61.9
Labour 11,009 21.8
Liberal Democrats 5,365 10.6
Green 2,816 5.6
Turnout 50,412 71.0
Electorate 71,020
General election 2019: Central Suffolk and North Ipswich[12][13]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Dan Poulter 35,253 62.7 +2.6
Labour Emma Bonner-Morgan 11,862 21.1 −8.6
Liberal Democrats James Sandbach 6,485 11.5 +7.2
Green Daniel Pratt 2,650 4.7 +1.8
Majority 23,391 41.6 +11.2
Turnout 56,250 73.8 +1.4
Conservative hold Swing +5.6
General election 2017: Central Suffolk and North Ipswich[14][15]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Dan Poulter 33,992 60.1 +4.0
Labour Elizabeth Hughes 16,807 29.7 +10.9
Liberal Democrats Aidan Van de Weyer 2,431 4.3 −1.8
Green Regan Scott 1,659 2.9 −2.0
UKIP Stephen Searle 1,635 2.9 −10.9
Majority 17,185 30.4 −6.9
Turnout 56,524 72.4 +1.7
Conservative hold Swing −3.4
General election 2015: Central Suffolk and North Ipswich[16][17]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Dan Poulter 30,317 56.1 +5.3
Labour Jack Abbott 10,173 18.8 +2.6
UKIP Mark Cole 7,459 13.8 +9.4
Liberal Democrats Jon Neal 3,314 6.1 −18.9
Green Rhodri Griffiths 2,664 4.9 +2.2
English Democrat Tony Holyoak 162 0.3 N/A
Majority 20,144 37.3 +11.5
Turnout 54,089 68.7 −1.7
Conservative hold Swing +1.4
General election 2010: Central Suffolk and North Ipswich[18]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Dan Poulter 27,125 50.8 +6.2
Liberal Democrats Andrew Aalders-Dunthorne 13,339 25.0 +4.7
Labour Bhavna Joshi 8,636 16.2 −12.3
UKIP Roy Philpott 2,361 4.4 +0.9
Green Andrew Stringer 1,452 2.7 −0.6
Independent Mark Trevitt 389 0.7 N/A
New Party Richard Vass 118 0.2 N/A
Majority 13,786 25.8 +10.4
Turnout 53,420 70.4 +3.4
Conservative hold Swing +0.8

Elections in the 2000s

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General election 2005: Central Suffolk and North Ipswich[19]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Michael Lord 22,333 43.9 −0.5
Labour Neil Macdonald 14,477 28.5 −8.6
Liberal Democrats Andrew Houseley 10,709 21.1 +5.0
UKIP John West 1,754 3.4 +1.0
Green Martin Wolfe 1,593 3.1 N/A
Majority 7,856 15.4 +8.1
Turnout 50,866 66.7 +3.2
Conservative hold Swing +4.1
General election 2001: Central Suffolk and North Ipswich[20]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Michael Lord 20,924 44.4 +1.8
Labour Carole Jones 17,455 37.1 +1.2
Liberal Democrats Ann Elvin 7,593 16.1 −4.5
UKIP Jonathan Wright 1,132 2.4 N/A
Majority 3,469 7.3 +0.6
Turnout 47,104 63.5 −11.5
Conservative hold Swing +0.3

Elections in the 1990s

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General election 1997: Central Suffolk and North Ipswich[21]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Michael Lord 22,493 42.6
Labour Carole Jones 18,955 35.9
Liberal Democrats Minone Goldspink 10,886 20.6
Independent Conservative Stephanie A. Bennell 489 0.9
Majority 3,538 6.7
Turnout 52,823 75.0
Conservative win (new seat)

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. ^ "Central Suffolk and North Ipswich: Usual Resident Population, 2011". Neighbourhood Statistics. Office for National Statistics. Retrieved 20 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. ^ Helm, Toby (27 April 2024). "Top Tory MP defects to Labour in fury at NHS crisis". The Observer. ISSN 0029-7712. Retrieved 29 May 2024.
  4. ^ a b "Central Suffolk and North Ipswich". BBC News. 4 July 2024. Retrieved 5 July 2024.
  5. ^ "The Parliamentary Constituencies (England) Order 1995". www.legislation.gov.uk. Retrieved 22 March 2019.
  6. ^ "The Parliamentary Constituencies (England) Order 2007". www.legislation.gov.uk. Retrieved 22 March 2019.
  7. ^ "The Parliamentary Constituencies Order 2023". Schedule I Part 2 Eastern region.
  8. ^ Leigh Rayment's Historical List of MPs – Constituencies beginning with "S" (part 6)
  9. ^ "Statement of Persons Nominated, Notice of Poll and Situation of Polling Stations". Mid Suffolk District Council. 7 June 2024. Retrieved 7 June 2024.
  10. ^ Scott, Jennifer. "Labour candidate suspended as Gambling Commission launches investigation". Sky News. Retrieved 25 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. ^ "Election of a Member of Parliament for Central Suffolk & North Ipswich" (PDF). 14 November 2019. Archived (PDF) from the original on 15 November 2019. Retrieved 22 July 2021.
  13. ^ "Suffolk Central & Ipswich North parliamentary constituency – Election 2019". UK results. BBC. Retrieved 14 December 2019.
  14. ^ "Election of the Member of Parliament for the Central Suffolk & North Ipswich constituency" (PDF). 11 May 2017. Archived (PDF) from the original on 3 June 2019. Retrieved 22 July 2021.
  15. ^ "Suffolk Central & Ipswich North parliamentary constituency – Election 2017" – via www.bbc.co.uk.
  16. ^ "Election Data 2015". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 17 October 2015. Retrieved 17 October 2015.
  17. ^ "2015 Election Results". BBC News.
  18. ^ "Election Data 2010". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 26 July 2013. Retrieved 17 October 2015.
  19. ^ "Election Data 2005". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
  20. ^ "Election Data 2001". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
  21. ^ "Election Data 1997". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
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52°12′N 1°09′E / 52.2°N 1.15°E / 52.2; 1.15

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