Ipswich (UK Parliament constituency)


Ipswich is a constituency represented in the House of Commons of the UK Parliament since December 2019 by Tom Hunt of the Conservative Party.

History

The constituency was created as Parliamentary Borough in the fourteenth century, returning two MPs to the House of Commons of England until 1707, then to the House of Commons of Great Britain until 1800, and from 1800 to the House of Commons of the United Kingdom. Before the Reform Act 1832, the franchise in Ipswich was in the hands of the Ipswich Corporation and the Freemen. The constituency's parliamentary representation was reduced to a single seat with one MP under the Representation of the People Act 1918. Prior to the 1983 general election, when north-western areas were transferred to the Central Suffolk constituency, the Parliamentary and Municipal/County Boroughs were the same.
Ipswich was the only seat won by a Labour candidate at the 2017 general election from a total of seven seats in Suffolk, the others being retained by Conservatives and more rural in comparison to Ipswich. Martin's 2017 election victory was one of thirty net gains made by the Labour Party. Ipswich is a marginal seat, having changed hands nine times since its creation as a single-member constituency in 1918.

Constituency profile

The constituency includes Ipswich town centre and docks, with its mix of historic buildings and modern developments. Ipswich is a bustling town that serves as a centre for the rest of Suffolk which is predominantly rural and remote, and has the only serious concentration of Labour voters in the county, other than in Lowestoft.
Portman Road Football Ground to the West of the centre, and the new University to the East are both in the seat, as is the vast Chantry council estate to the South.
Ipswich's Conservative-leaning suburbs, such as Castle Hill, Westerfield and Kesgrave, extend beyond the constituency's boundaries – the northernmost wards are in the Suffolk Central constituency, and several strong Conservative areas are just outside the borough's tightly-drawn limits, making Ipswich a target seat for Labour.
The Ipswich constituency has generally been favourable to candidates from the Labour Party, being won by Labour at every postwar general election since the end of World War II; except 1970, February 1974, 1987, 2010 and 2015. Despite this, it was traditionally won by the party by fairly small margins; however, from 1997 until being gained by the Conservative Party in 2010, Labour won the contests with safer margins, and after the Conservatives increased their majority in 2015, Labour regained the seat in 2017.

Boundaries and boundary changes

1918–1983: The County Borough of Ipswich.
1983–2010: The Borough of Ipswich wards of Bixley, Bridge, Chantry, Gainsborough, Priory Heath, Rushmere, St Clement's, St John's, St Margaret's, Sprites, Stoke Park, and Town.
The Broomhill, Castle Hill, White House and Whitton wards were transferred to the new county constituency of Central Suffolk.
2010–present: The Borough of Ipswich wards of Alexandra, Bixley, Bridge, Gainsborough, Gipping, Holywells, Priory Heath, Rushmere, St John’s, St Margaret’s, Sprites, Stoke Park, and Westgate.
Following a revision of the Borough of Ipswich wards, the constituency gained a small area from Central Suffolk and North Ipswich.
The present-day constituency consists of most of the Borough of Ipswich, with the exception of the Castle Hill, Whitehouse and Whitton wards.

Members of Parliament

Freemen belonging to the Ipswich Corporation were entitled to elect two burgesses to the Parliament of England from the fourteenth century which continued uninterrupted after the parliament united with Scotland and Ireland. only becoming a single member constituency in 1918.

MPs 1386–1660

ParliamentFirst memberSecond member
1386Geoffrey StarlingRobert Waleys
1388 Geoffrey StarlingRobert Waleys
1388 John Arnold IRobert Waleys
1390 Geoffrey StarlingRobert Hethe
1390 -
1391Geoffrey StarlingRobert Andrew
1393?Geoffrey Starling?Robert Andrew
1394John Arnold IHenry Wall
1395Geoffrey StarlingWilliam Master
1397 John Arnold IJohn Bernard
1397 William DebenhamJohn Bernard
1399John Arnold IJohn Lewe
1401-
1402Richard ChurchJohn Starling
1404 -
1404 -
1406Robert LucasJohn Starling
1407John FelbriggJohn Bernard
1410John RousJames Andrew
1411John BernardJohn Starling
1413 -
1413 James AndrewJohn Starling
1414 -
1414 William Debenham IJohn Rous
1415-
1416 -
1416 -
1417William Debenham IIJames Andrew
1419William Debenham IIJames Andrew
1420John KneppingJohn Wood
1421 William Debenham IIJames Andrew
1421 Thomas Kempstone IIWilliam Weatherfeld
1455Sir Gilbert Debenham
1510Thomas HallWilliam Spencer
1512Thomas BaldryEdmund Daundy
1515Thomas BaldryEdmund Daundy
1523Humphrey WingfieldThomas Rush
1529Thomas RushThomas Hayward, died
and replaced Nov 1534 by Thomas Alvard
1536?-
1539Robert DaundyWilliam Sabine
1542Ralph GoodwinJohn Sparrow
1545William ReynballRichard Smart
1547John GosnoldJohn Smith alias Dyer
1553 John Smith alias DyerRichard Bryde alias Byrde
1553 John GosnoldJohn Sulyard
1554 Clement HeighamThomas Poley
1554 Ralph GoodwinJohn Smith alias Dyer
1555John SulyardRichard Smart
1558William Wheatcroft,
repl. Nov 1558 by Edmund Withypoll		Philip Williams
1558/9Thomas Seckford IRobert Barker
1562/3Thomas Seckford IEdward Grimston
1571Edward GrimstonJohn More
1572Thomas Seckford IEdward Grimston
1584 Sir John HeighamJohn Barker
1586 John BarkerJohn Laney
1588 John BarkerWilliam Smarte
1593Robert BarkerZachariah Lok
1597 Michael StanhopeFrancis Bacon
1601 Michael StanhopeFrancis Bacon
1604Sir Henry GlenhamSir Francis Bacon
1614Robert SnellingWilliam Cage
1621Robert SnellingWilliam Cage
1624Sir Robert SnellingWilliam Cage
1625Sir Robert SnellingWilliam Cage
1628William CageEdmund Day
1629–1640No Parliaments convenedNo Parliaments convened
1640 John GurdonWilliam Cage
1640 John GurdonWilliam Cage
1645John GurdonFrancis Bacon
1648John GurdonFrancis Bacon
1653Not represented in Barebones ParliamentNot represented in Barebones Parliament
1654Nathaniel BaconFrancis Bacon
1656Nathaniel BaconFrancis Bacon
1659Nathaniel BaconFrancis Bacon

MPs 1660–1832

MPs 1832–1918

During the period between 1835 and 1842 there were five elections and all were found to have been corrupt. After the 1835 election, Dundas and Kelly were unseated on the charge of bribery. After the 1837 election, Tufnell was unseated on a scrutiny. Gibson, who was elected in 1838, resigned. Cochrane was elected in 1839, after which a petition was presented complaining of gross bribery – it was not progressed because a general election was expected. After the 1841 election, Wason and Rennie were unseated, being declared guilty of bribery by their agents.

MPs 1918–present

Elections

Elections in the 2010s

Elections in the 2000s

Following the death of Jamie Cann on 15 October 2001, a by-election was held on 22 November 2001.

Elections in the 1990s

Elections in the 1980s

Elections in the 1970s

Elections in the 1960s

Election in the 1950s

Election in the 1940s

Elections in the 1930s

Elections in the 1920s

Elections in the 1910s

General election 1914/15:
Another general election was required to take place before the end of 1915. The political parties had been making preparations for an election to take place and by the July 1914, the following candidates had been selected;

Elections in the 1900s

Elections in the 1890s

Elections in the 1880s

Elections in the 1850s

Elections in the 1840s