Cambridgeshire (European Parliament constituency)

Cambridgeshire (1979–1984)
European Parliament constituency
Boundary within the East of England (1979-1984)
Member stateUnited Kingdom
Created1979
Dissolved1984
MEPs1
Recreated
Created1994
Dissolved1999
MEPs1
Sources
[1]

Cambridgeshire was a constituency of the European Parliament located in the United Kingdom, electing one Member of the European Parliament by the first-past-the-post electoral system. It was first created in 1979 for the first elections to the European Parliament, but was abolished in 1984 election.

It was re-created in 1994 and abolished in 1999 on the adoption of proportional representation for European elections in Great Britain. It was succeeded by the East of England region.

Boundaries

1979—1984

On its creation in 1979, it consisted of the parliamentary constituencies of Cambridge, Cambridgeshire, Huntingdonshire, Isle of Ely, Peterborough, and Wellingborough.[1]

When it was abolished in 1984, the subsequent seats were based on the parliamentary constituencies created by the 1983 boundary changes. The area covered by the new parliamentary constituencies of Cambridge, Huntingdon, North East Cambridgeshire, Peterborough and South West Cambridgeshire became part of the Cambridge and Bedfordshire North constituency, while Wellingborough was transferred to Northamptonshire and South East Cambridgeshire was transferred to Suffolk.[2]

1994—1999

The Cambridgeshire constituency was re-created in 1994 from parts of Cambridge and Bedfordshire North and Suffolk. The re-established constituency consisted of the Westminster parliamentary constituencies of Cambridge, Huntingdon, North East Cambridgeshire, Peterborough, South East Cambridgeshire and South West Cambridgeshire.[3] Cambridge, Huntingdon, North East Cambridgeshire, Peterborough and South West Cambridgeshire had previously been part of the Cambridge and Bedfordshire North constituency, while South East Cambridgeshire had been part of the Suffolk constituency.

MEPs

Election Member Party
1979 Sir Fred Catherwood Conservative
1984 constituency abolished, see Cambridge and Bedfordshire North
1994 Robert Sturdy Conservative
1999 constituency abolished, part of East of England from 1999

Election results

European Parliament election, 1979: Cambridgeshire[4]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Sir Fred Catherwood 94,497 59.0
Labour M L Mackie 42,038 26.3
Liberal M W B O'Loughlin 23,501 14.7
Majority 52,459 32.7
Turnout 160,036 32.2
Conservative win (new seat)
European Parliament election, 1994: Cambridgeshire[5]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Robert Sturdy 66,921 37.6
Labour Melanie Jane Johnson 62,979 35.4
Liberal Democrats Andrew Duff 36,114 20.3
Green Margaret Wright 5,756 3.2
Liberal Paul Wiggin 4,051 2.3
Natural Law Francis Chalmers 2,077 1.2
Majority 3,942 2.2
Turnout 177,898
Conservative win (new seat)

References

  1. ^ Boundary Commission for England, European Assembly Constituencies, December 1978.
  2. ^ European Parliament Information Office, MEPs and their constituencies, December 1988
  3. ^ The European Parliament 1994–1999 : MEPs and European constituencies in the United Kingdom, London : UK Office of the European Parliament, November 1994.
  4. ^ European Parliament election 1979 : United Kingdom of Great Britain & Northern Ireland : results of the European election on 7 June 1979, Luxembourg: European Parliament, October 1983
  5. ^ Europe elections 1994 : results and elected members, Directorate-General for Information and Public Relations, Luxembourg: European Parliament, 15 June 1994.