Central Suffolk and North Ipswich (UK Parliament constituency)

Parliamentary constituency in the United Kingdom, 1997 onwards

Central Suffolk and North Ipswich is a constituency^{[n 1]} represented in the House of Commons of the UK Parliament since 2010 by Dan Poulter, who was elected as a Conservative but announced his defection to Labour in April 2024.^{[3][n 2]}

Constituency profile

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

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.

Boundaries and boundary changes

1997–2010

• 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.^[4]

Map of boundaries 2010-2024

2010–2024

• 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.^[5]

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

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.^[6]

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

Central Suffolk prior to 1997

Elections

Elections in the 2020s

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.^[9]

Elections in the 2010s

Elections in the 2000s

Elections in the 1990s

See also

• List of parliamentary constituencies in Suffolk

Notes

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

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. "The Parliamentary Constituencies (England) Order 1995". www.legislation.gov.uk. Retrieved 22 March 2019.
5. "The Parliamentary Constituencies (England) Order 2007". www.legislation.gov.uk. Retrieved 22 March 2019.
6. "The Parliamentary Constituencies Order 2023". Schedule I Part 2 Eastern region.
7. Leigh Rayment's Historical List of MPs – Constituencies beginning with "S" (part 6)
8. "Statement of Persons Nominated, Notice of Poll and Situation of Polling Stations". Mid Suffolk District Council. 7 June 2024. Retrieved 7 June 2024.
9. Scott, Jennifer. "Labour candidate suspended as Gambling Commission launches investigation". Sky News. Retrieved 25 June 2024.
10. "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.
11. "Suffolk Central & Ipswich North parliamentary constituency - Election 2019". UK results. BBC. Retrieved 14 December 2019.
12. "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.
13. "Suffolk Central & Ipswich North parliamentary constituency - Election 2017" – via www.bbc.co.uk.
14. "Election Data 2015". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 17 October 2015. Retrieved 17 October 2015.
15. "2015 Election Results". BBC News.
16. "Election Data 2010". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 26 July 2013. Retrieved 17 October 2015.
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.

External links

• nomis Constituency Profile for Central Suffolk and North Ipswich — presenting data from the ONS annual population survey and other official statistics.

52°12′N 1°09′E / 52.2°N 1.15°E / 52.2; 1.15