Between the 1832 Reform Act and 1885 there had been a constituency, the Western Division of Suffolk, also known as West Suffolk, although on different boundaries. Its second creation occurred with Parliamentary approval of the Boundary Commission's fourth periodic review of Westminster constituencies in time for the 1997 general election. ;Political history The seat at this time has only been represented by Conservatives with the narrowest majority having been that of 1997 at only 3.8% of the vote, since which the majority has gradually increased to a level seen most commonly in safe seats. For the 2010 general election, the transition was planned six months before, on 23 November 2009, when the incumbent announced he would not stand again. ;Prominent frontbenchers Richard Spring was an opposition spokesman for Foreign Affairs then Shadow Minister for the Treasury before being a Vice-Chairman of his party and being elevated to the House of Lords as Lord Risby. Several of his ancestors had previously represented Suffolk in the House of Commons.
Constituency profile
This area includes a slightly older demographic profile than the national average, with a significant proportion of semi-detached and detached homes and a higher than average proportion of retired people. Major economic sectors include defence, agriculture/food, tourism and leisure and particularly in Haverhill, a range of industries. These include chemicals, waste processing, transport, construction and pharmaceuticals. Workless claimants who were registered jobseekers were in November 2012 lower than the national average of 3.8%, at 2.5% of the population based on a statistical compilation by The Guardian.
Boundaries and boundary changes
1832–1885: The Liberty of Bury St. Edmund's, and the Hundreds of Hartesmere, and Stow. 1997–2010: The District of Forest Heath, and the Borough of St Edmundsbury wards of Barningham, Barrow, Cangle, Castle, Chalkstone, Chevington, Clements, Honington, Horringer, Hundon, Ixworth, Kedington, Risby, St Mary’s and Helions, Stanton, Wickhambrook, and Withersfield. The new county constituency was formed primarily from the majority of the constituency of Bury St Edmunds, which was reconfigured. It also incorporated western-most areas of South Suffolk, including Haverhill. 2010–present: The District of Forest Heath, and the Borough of St Edmundsbury wards of Bardwell, Barningham, Barrow, Chedburgh, Haverhill East, Haverhill North, Haverhill South, Haverhill West, Hundon, Ixworth, Kedington, Risby, Stanton, Wickhambrook, and Withersfield. Marginal changes due to revision of local authority wards. The constituency includes the town of Newmarket, the world headquarters of horse racing, as well as the towns of Haverhill and Mildenhall, with a farmed landscape, interspersed with patches of forest and small villages.
