Bracknell (UK Parliament constituency)

The seat covers the entirety of the town of Bracknell, as well as Sandhurst and Crowthorne - albeit the Crowthorne urban area is split with Wokingham. Additionally, it includes Quelm Park, Martins Heron, The Warren, Forest Park, and Whitegrove.

From creation in 1997 until 2010, Bracknell's MP was Andrew MacKay of the Conservative Party, who represented the old seat of East Berkshire from 1983. On 14 May 2009, he resigned from his position as parliamentary aide to David Cameron in the wake of a major scandal over his Parliamentary expenses. MacKay and his wife, fellow Tory MP Julie Kirkbride, had wrongfully claimed over £250,000 from the taxpayer for mortgage payments for second homes, in a case of so-called 'double-dipping'. They also wrongfully claimed for each other's travel costs. At a hastily called meeting with his constituents in Bracknell to explain the "unacceptable" expenses claims, Mr MacKay was jeered and called a "thieving toad". A video of the angry meeting was leaked to the press and, after an urgent phone call from David Cameron the next day, MacKay agreed to stand down at the 2010 general election. The Conservative Party chose Phillip Lee, a general practitioner, as its new candidate in an American-style open primary, involving seven candidates including Rory Stewart and Iain Dale in a contest open to all registered Bracknell voters.{{cite news |last=Hastings |first=Chris |author2=Georgia Warren |title=Women and gay Tory MPs set to treble by 2010 |newspaper=The Times |date=18 October 2009 |url=http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/politics/article6879470.ece |access-date=18 October 2009}}{{dead link|date=September 2024|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}

;2010 election

Lee went on to become the next MP in an election which saw the share of the vote for the Labour Party fall by 11.1%. The Liberal Democrats saw the biggest rise in support of all the parties (+4.5%), overtaking Labour to gain second place behind the Conservative Party. UKIP saw a slight rise in support to 4.4% of the vote. The 2010 election also saw for the first time the Green Party and British National Party vying for the seat.

;2017 election

Lee held his seat at the 2017 general election.{{Cite web|title=Dr Phillip Lee MP|url=http://www.parliament.uk/biographies/commons/dr-phillip-lee/3921|access-date=7 November 2019|publisher=Parliament of the United Kingdom}} He gained 3.1% of votes, but Labour increased its share by 13.3%. Lee received 32,882 votes, Paul Bidwell (Labour) in second place had 16,866 votes.{{Cite news|url= https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/politics/constituencies/E14000586 |title= Bracknell parliamentary constituency – Election 2017 |publisher=BBC News|access-date=7 November 2019}} On 3 September 2019, Lee resigned from the Conservative party to join the Liberal Democrats due to the Conservative party's support for Brexit. At the 2019 General Election he unsuccessfully contested the adjacent Wokingham seat for that party.

2019 election

James Sunderland was elected for the Conservative party with 58.7% of the vote.

2024 election

Sunderland ran for re-election as Conservative MP for the constituency, but was narrowly defeated by Labour's Peter Swallow on a 16% swing. This marked the first time Labour had ever gained the seat and the first time a Conservative would not represent the area since it became covered by a single-member constituency in the late 19th century. Notably, Labour had previously gained control of Bracknell Forest Borough Council for the first time since 1997 in 2023.{{Cite news|url= https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/election/2023/england/councils/E06000036 |title= Bracknell Forest result – Local Elections 2023 |publisher=BBC News|access-date=11 July 2024}}

Bracknell is based around the town of Bracknell and the Bracknell Forest authority. It is bordered by the constituencies of Wokingham, Maidenhead, Windsor, Surrey Heath, Aldershot, and North East Hampshire.

• The Borough of Bracknell Forest wards of Binfield, Bullbrook, Central Sandhurst, College Town, Crowthorne, Garth, Great Hollands North, Great Hollands South, Hanworth, Harmanswater, Little Sandhurst, Old Bracknell, Owlsmoor, Priestwood, Warfield, and Wildridings; and
• The District of Wokingham wards of Finchampstead North, Finchampstead South, and Wokingham Without.{{Cite web|url=http://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/1995/1626/made/data.htm|title=The Parliamentary Constituencies (England) Order 1995|website=legislation.gov.uk|access-date=2019-02-03}}

The Borough of Bracknell Forest wards had formed the majority of the abolished constituency of East Berkshire. The two Finchampstead wards were transferred from Reading East, and the ward of Wokingham Without was transferred from Wokingham.

{{maplink|raw={{Wikipedia:Map data/Bracknell (UK Parliament constituency) 2010}}|frame=yes|frame-width=200|text=Map of boundaries 2010-2024}}

• The Borough of Bracknell Forest wards of Bullbrook, Central Sandhurst, College Town, Crown Wood, Crowthorne, Great Hollands North, Great Hollands South, Hanworth, Harmanswater, Little Sandhurst and Wellington, Old Bracknell, Owlsmoor, Priestwood and Garth, and Wildridings and Central; and
• The District of Wokingham wards of Finchampstead North, Finchampstead South, and Wokingham Without.{{Cite web|url=http://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2007/1681/made/data.htm|title=The Parliamentary Constituencies (England) Order 2007|website=legislation.gov.uk|access-date=2019-02-03}}

Northern areas, including Binfield, were transferred to Windsor.

Further to the 2023 Periodic Review of Westminster constituencies which came into effect for 2024 general election, the seat lost its District of Wokingham wards to the Wokingham constituency in order to bring its electorate within the permitted range. To partly compensate, the Warfield Harvest Ride ward (as it existed on 1 December 2020) was transferred from Windsor.

Following a local government boundary review which came into effect in May 2023,{{Cite web |last=LGBCE |title=Bracknell Forest {{!}} LGBCE |url=https://www.lgbce.org.uk/all-reviews/bracknell-forest |access-date=2024-03-30 |website=www.lgbce.org.uk |language=en}}{{Cite web |title=The Bracknell Forest (Electoral Changes) Order 2021 |url=https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2021/887/article/1/made}} the constituency now comprises the following from the 2024 general election:

• The Borough of Bracknell Forest wards and part wards of: Binfield North & Warfield West (small part); Binfield South & Jennett's Park (part); Bullbrook; Crowthorne; Easthampstead & Wildridings; Great Hollands; Hanworth; Harmans Water & Crown Wood; Owlsmoor & College Town; Priestwood & Garth; Sandhurst; Swinley Forest (most); Town Centre & The Parks; Whitegrove (most).{{Cite web |title=New Seat Details - Bracknell |url=https://www.electoralcalculus.co.uk/fcgi-bin/calcwork23.py?seat=Bracknell |access-date=2024-03-30 |website=www.electoralcalculus.co.uk}}

East Berkshire prior to 1997

{{Election box begin|title=General election 2024: Bracknell{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/election/2024/uk/constituencies/E14001117 |title=Bracknell results |publisher=BBC News|date=5 July 2024}}}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link|party=Labour Party (UK)|candidate=Peter Swallow|votes=14,783|percentage=33.7|change=+8.3|}}

{{Election box candidate with party link|party=Conservative Party (UK)|candidate=James Sunderland|votes=13,999|percentage=31.9|change=–23.6|}}

{{Election box candidate with party link|party=Reform UK|candidate=Malcolm Tullett|votes=7,445|percentage=17.0|change=N/A|}}

{{Election box candidate with party link|party=Liberal Democrats (UK)|candidate=Katie Mansfield|votes=4,768|percentage=10.9|change=–3.1}}

{{Election box candidate with party link|party=Green Party of England and Wales|candidate=Emily Torode|votes=2,166|percentage=4.9|change=+0.9}}

{{Election box candidate with party link|party=Independent (politician)|candidate=Olivio Barreto|votes=480|percentage=1.1|change=–0.1}}

{{Election box candidate with party link|party=Heritage Party (UK)|candidate=Jason Reardon|votes=196|percentage=0.5|change=N/A}}

{{Election box majority

|votes = 784

|percentage = 1.8

|change = N/A

}}

{{Election box turnout

|votes = 43,837

|percentage = 61.4

|change = –5.3

}}

{{Election box registered electors|

|reg. electors = 71,660

}}

{{Election box gain with party link|

|winner = Labour Party (UK)

|loser = Conservative Party (UK)

|swing = {{increase}}16.0

}}

{{Election box end}}

{{Election box begin|title=General election 2019: Bracknell{{cite web |url=https://www.bracknell-forest.gov.uk/sites/default/files/documents/statement-of-persons-nominated-notice-of-poll-and-situation-of-polling-stations.pdf |title=Bracknell parliamentary constituency |work=Bracknell Forest Council |access-date=14 November 2019 |archive-date=14 November 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191114205959/https://www.bracknell-forest.gov.uk/sites/default/files/documents/statement-of-persons-nominated-notice-of-poll-and-situation-of-polling-stations.pdf |url-status=dead }}

}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link

|party = Conservative Party (UK)

|candidate = James Sunderland

|votes = 31,894

|percentage = 58.7

|change = –0.1

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link

|party = Labour Party (UK)

|candidate = Paul Bidwell

|votes = 12,065

|percentage = 22.2

|change = –8.0

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link|

|party = Liberal Democrats (UK)

|candidate = Kaweh Beheshtizadeh

|votes = 7,749

|percentage = 14.3

|change= +6.8

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link

|party = Green Party of England and Wales

|candidate = Derek Florey

|votes = 2,089

|percentage = 3.8

|change = N/A

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link|

|party = Independent (politician)

|candidate = Olivio Barreto

|votes = 553

|percentage = 1.0

|change= +0.2

}}

{{Election box majority|

|votes = 19,829

|percentage = 36.5

|change = +7.9

}}

{{Election box turnout|

|votes = 54,350

|percentage = 68.6

|change = –2.0

}}

{{Election box hold with party link|

|winner = Conservative Party (UK)

|swing = +3.9

}}

{{Election box end}}

{{Election box begin|title=General election 2017: Bracknell{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/politics/constituencies/E14000586 |title=Bracknell parliamentary constituency |publisher=BBC News}}

}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link

|party = Conservative Party (UK)

|candidate = Phillip Lee

|votes = 32,882

|percentage = 58.8

|change = +3.0

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link

|party = Labour Party (UK)

|candidate = Paul Bidwell

|votes = 16,866

|percentage = 30.2

|change = +13.3

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link

|party = Liberal Democrats (UK)

|candidate = Patrick Smith

|votes = 4,186

|percentage = 7.5

|change = {{steady}}

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link

|party = UK Independence Party

|candidate = Len Amos

|votes = 1,521

|percentage = 2.7

|change = −13.0

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link

|party = Independent politician

|candidate = Olivio Barreto

|votes = 437

|percentage = 0.8

|change = N/A

}}

{{Election box majority

|votes = 16,016

|percentage = 28.6

|change = −10.3

}}

{{Election box turnout

|votes = 55,892

|percentage = 70.6

|change = +5.3

}}

{{Election box hold with party link

|winner = Conservative Party (UK)

|swing = −5.1

}}

{{Election box end}}

{{Election box begin|title=General election 2015: Bracknell{{cite web|title=Election Data 2015|url=http://www.electoralcalculus.co.uk/electdata_2015.txt|publisher=Electoral Calculus|access-date=17 October 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151017112223/http://www.electoralcalculus.co.uk/electdata_2015.txt|archive-date=17 October 2015}}{{Cite web|url=http://democratic.bracknell-forest.gov.uk/mgElectionAreaResults.aspx?XXR=0&ID=220&RPID=13614708|title=Election results for Bracknell, 7 May 2015|date=7 May 2015|website=democratic.bracknell-forest.gov.uk}}

}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link

|party = Conservative Party (UK)

|candidate = Phillip Lee{{cite web|url=http://electionresults.blogspot.co.uk/2013/04/bracknell-2015.html|title=BRACKNELL 2015|website=electionresults.blogspot.co.uk}}

|votes = 29,606

|percentage = 55.8

|change = +3.4

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link

|party = Labour Party (UK)

|candidate = James Walsh

|votes = 8,956

|percentage = 16.9

|change = +0.1

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link

|party = UK Independence Party

|candidate = Richard Thomas

|votes = 8,339

|percentage = 15.7

|change = +11.3

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link

|party = Liberal Democrats (UK)

|candidate = Patrick Smith{{Cite web |url=https://yournextmp.com/constituency/65697/bracknell |title=Candidates (PPCS) for Bracknell in the UK 2015 General Election |access-date=30 January 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150105144716/http://yournextmp.com/constituency/65697/bracknell |archive-date=5 January 2015 |url-status=usurped }}

|votes = 3,983

|percentage = 7.5

|change = −14.8

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link

|party = Green Party of England and Wales

|candidate = Derek Florey{{cite web|url=http://www.getreading.co.uk/news/local-news/bracknell-green-party-select-election-8501593|title=Bracknell Green Party select election candidate|first=Hugh|last=Fort|date=23 January 2015}}

|votes = 2,202

|percentage = 4.1

|change = +2.5

}}

{{Election box majority

|votes = 20,650

|percentage = 38.9

|change = +8.8

}}

{{Election box turnout

|votes = 53,086

|percentage = 65.3

|change = −2.5

}}

{{Election box hold with party link

|winner = Conservative Party (UK)

|swing =

}}

{{Election box end}}

{{Election box begin|title=General election 2010: Bracknell{{cite web|title=Election Data 2010|url=http://www.electoralcalculus.co.uk/electdata_2010.txt|publisher=Electoral Calculus|access-date=17 October 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130726162034/http://www.electoralcalculus.co.uk/electdata_2010.txt|archive-date=26 July 2013 }}[http://www.getbracknell.co.uk/news/s/2070678_phillip_lee_wins_bracknell_general_election_2010 general election 2010: Phillip Lee wins Bracknell seat] GetBracknell, 7 May 2010

}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link

|party = Conservative Party (UK)

|candidate = Phillip Lee

|votes = 27,327

|percentage = 52.4

|change = +2.5

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link

|party = Liberal Democrats (UK)

|candidate = Raymond Earwicker

|votes = 11,623

|percentage = 22.3

|change = +4.5

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link

|party = Labour Party (UK)

|candidate = John Piasecki

|votes = 8,755

|percentage = 16.8

|change = −11.1

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link

|party = UK Independence Party

|candidate = Murray Barter

|votes = 2,297

|percentage = 4.4

|change = +0.9

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link

|party = British National Party

|candidate = Mark Burke

|votes = 1,253

|percentage = 2.4

|change = N/A

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link

|party = Green Party of England and Wales

|candidate = David Young

|votes = 821

|percentage = 1.6

|change = N/A

}}

{{Election box candidate

|party = Scrap Members Allowances

|candidate = Dan Haycocks

|votes = 60

|percentage = 0.1

|change = N/A

}}

{{Election box majority

|votes = 15,704

|percentage = 30.1

|change = +6.6

}}

{{Election box turnout

|votes = 52,140

|percentage = 67.8

|change = +5.1

}}

{{Election box hold with party link

|winner = Conservative Party (UK)

|swing = −1.0

}}

{{Election box end}}

{{Election box begin|title=General election 2005: Bracknell

}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link

|party = Conservative Party (UK)

|candidate = Andrew MacKay

|votes = 25,412

|percentage = 49.7

|change = +3.1

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link

|party = Labour Party (UK)

|candidate = Janet Keene

|votes = 13,376

|percentage = 26.2

|change = −6.8

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link

|party = Liberal Democrats (UK)

|candidate = Lee Glendon

|votes = 10,128

|percentage = 19.8

|change = +2.7

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link

|party = UK Independence Party

|candidate = Vincent Pearson

|votes = 1,818

|percentage = 3.6

|change = +1.0

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link

|party = Independent politician

|candidate = Dominica Roberts

|votes = 407

|percentage = 0.8

|change = N/A

}}

{{Election box majority

|votes = 12,036

|percentage = 23.5

|change = +9.9

}}

{{Election box turnout

|votes = 51,141

|percentage = 63.4

|change = +2.7

}}

{{Election box hold with party link

|winner = Conservative Party (UK)

|swing = +5.0

}}

{{Election box end}}

{{Election box begin|title=General election 2001: Bracknell

}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link

|party = Conservative Party (UK)

|candidate = Andrew MacKay

|votes = 22,962

|percentage = 46.6

|change = −0.8

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link

|party = Labour Party (UK)

|candidate = Janet Keene

|votes = 16,249

|percentage = 33.0

|change = +3.2

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link

|party = Liberal Democrats (UK)

|candidate = Raymond Earwicker

|votes = 8,428

|percentage = 17.1

|change = +1.7

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link

|party = UK Independence Party

|candidate = Lawrence Boxall

|votes = 1,266

|percentage = 2.6

|change = +1.6

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link

|party = ProLife Alliance

|candidate = Dominica Roberts

|votes = 324

|percentage = 0.7

|change = +0.2

}}

{{Election box majority

|votes = 6,713

|percentage = 13.6

|change = -4.0

}}

{{Election box turnout

|votes = 49,229

|percentage = 60.7

|change = −13.8

}}

{{Election box hold with party link

|winner = Conservative Party (UK)

|swing = −2.0

}}

{{Election box end}}

{{Election box begin|title=General election 1997: Bracknell

}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link

|party = Conservative Party (UK)

|candidate = Andrew MacKay

|votes = 27,983

|percentage = 47.4

|change =

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link

|party = Labour Party (UK)

|candidate = Anne Snelgrove

|votes = 17,596

|percentage = 29.8

|change =

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link

|party = Liberal Democrats (UK)

|candidate = Alan Hilliar

|votes = 9,122

|percentage = 15.4

|change =

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link

|party = Independent politician

|candidate = John Tompkins

|votes = 1,909

|percentage = 3.2

|change =

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link

|party = Referendum Party

|candidate = Warwick Cairns

|votes = 1,636

|percentage = 2.8

|change =

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link

|party = UK Independence Party

|candidate = Lawrence Boxall

|votes = 569

|percentage = 1.0

|change =

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link

|party = ProLife Alliance

|candidate = Dominica Roberts

|votes = 276

|percentage = 0.5

|change =

}}

{{Election box majority

|votes = 10,387

|percentage = 17.6

|change =

}}

{{Election box turnout

|votes = 59,091

|percentage = 74.5

|change =

}}

{{Election box new seat win

|winner = Conservative Party (UK)

}}

{{Election box end}}

• List of parliamentary constituencies in Berkshire
• List of parliamentary constituencies in the South East England (region)

{{Reflist|group=n}}

{{Reflist}}

• [http://www.nomisweb.co.uk/reports/lmp/wpca/1929379897/report.aspx nomis Constituency Profile for Bracknell] – presenting data from the ONS annual population survey and other official statistics.
• [https://mapit.mysociety.org/area/12948.html Bracknell UK Parliament constituency] (boundaries April 1997 – April 2010) at MapIt UK
• [https://mapit.mysociety.org/area/65697.html Bracknell UK Parliament constituency] (boundaries April 2010 – May 2024) at MapIt UK
• [https://mapit.mysociety.org/area/168702.html Bracknell UK Parliament constituency] (boundaries from June 2024) at MapIt UK

{{Constituencies in South East England}}

{{Authority control}}

{{Coord |51.38|-0.76|region:GB|display=title}}

Category:Parliamentary constituencies in Berkshire

Category:Constituencies of the Parliament of the United Kingdom established in 1997

Category:Bracknell