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Chesham and Amersham (/ˈtʃɛʃəm ... ˈæmərʃəm/) is a parliamentary constituency located in the ceremonial county of Buckinghamshire in South East England. It is represented in the House of Commons by Sarah Green, a Liberal Democrat, who was elected in a by-election in June 2021.

Chesham and Amersham
County constituency for the House of Commons
Boundary of Chesham and Amersham in Buckinghamshire
Location of Buckinghamshire within England
County	Buckinghamshire
Population	92,635 (2011 UK Census)[1]
Electorate	71,259 (2018)[2]
Major settlements	Chesham and Amersham
Current constituency
Created	1974 (1974)
Member of Parliament	Sarah Green (Liberal Democrats)
Number of members	One
Created from	South Buckinghamshire and Aylesbury

History

Contents and regional context

The seat was created for the general election in February 1974. It comprises the southern part of the former Rural District of Amersham, including Amersham and the Chalfonts, previously part of the abolished constituency of South Buckinghamshire; and Chesham and the northern part of the former Rural District, transferred from Aylesbury.

Political history and demography

The local authority is in Buckinghamshire Council and the seat coincides with the abolished Chiltern District. It includes the towns of Chesham and Amersham and outlying villages within the Metropolitan Green Belt. The area is connected with Central London by the Metropolitan Line of the London Underground, as well as the London to Aylesbury Line and the Chiltern Main Line, both operated by Chiltern Railways. The constituency is also close to the M40 and M25 motorways. It is home to many affluent professionals. The two main towns are the only part of London Underground network amid an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (see Chiltern Hills as to which).[3]

Until the 2021 by-election was won by the Liberal Democrats candidate, the previous general election results in the seat since its creation had seen a Conservative winning margin of between 10,416 (Feb 1974) and 23,920 (2015) votes, in each case an absolute majority of the votes cast. In each of the general elections except two the Liberals, or subsequently Liberal Democrats, had come second, with results as high as 31.15 per cent of the votes cast. Labour came second only once, in 2017, when it achieved its best ever result of 20.6 per cent. UKIP came second in 2015, Labour in 2017 and the Liberal Democrats in 2019.

Dame Cheryl Gillan MP died in office on 4 April 2021, and the seat was gained by the Liberal Democrats’ pro-EU Sarah Green in the subsequent by-election on 17 June 2021 with a majority of 8,028 votes.[4] The Liberal Democrat win in the 2021 Chesham and Amersham by-election was seen as an upset in a historically safe Conservative seat,[4] and party leader Sir Ed Davey tweeted that the result had "sent a shockwave through British politics".[5]

In June 2016, an estimated 55 per cent of adults voting in the EU referendum in the constituency voted to remain in the European Union, compared with 48% in the UK as a whole. The estimated turnout of 83.6 per cent was the highest in any constituency in the UK, the only higher turnout in the referendum being in Gibraltar.[6] In the 2019 EU Parliament elections more than 50 per cent voted for parties supporting continued UK membership of the EU, although the turnout was only 42.8 per cent. The pro-EU Liberal Democrats were the most popular party with 31.9 per cent, with the pro-Leave Brexit Party in second place on 30 per cent.[7] Despite the seat's support for remaining in the EU, its pro-Brexit MP, Dame Cheryl Gillan, was re-elected in both generals elections held after the 2016 referendum (in the case of 2017 with her highest vote share since her first election in 1992), albeit with slightly reduced majorities.

Boundaries and boundary changes

1974–1983: The Urban District of Chesham, and the Rural District of Amersham.[8]

1983–1997: The District of Chiltern wards of Amersham Common, Amersham-on-the-Hill, Amersham Town, Asheridge Vale, Ashley Green and Latimer, Austenwood, Chalfont Common, Chalfont St Giles, Chalfont St Peter Central, Chartridge, Chenies, Chesham Bois and Weedon Hill, Cholesbury and The Lee, Coleshill and Penn Street, Gold Hill, Hilltop, Holmer Green, Little Chalfont, Little Missenden, Lowndes, Newtown, Penn, Pond Park, St Mary's, Seer Green and Jordans, Townsend, and Waterside, and the District of Wycombe wards of Hazlemere North and Hazlemere South.[9]

Hazlemere was transferred from Wycombe. Great Missenden was transferred to Aylesbury.

1997–2010: All the wards of the District of Chiltern except the wards of Ballinger and South Heath, Great Missenden, and Prestwood and Heath End, and the District of Wycombe wards of Hazlemere Central, Hazlemere East and Hazlemere West.[10]

Minor changes.

2010–present: The District of Chiltern wards of Amersham Common, Amersham-on-the-Hill, Amersham Town, Asheridge Vale and Lowndes, Ashley Green, Latimer and Chenies, Austenwood, Ballinger, South Heath and Chartridge, Central, Chalfont Common, Chalfont St Giles, Chesham Bois and Weedon Hill, Cholesbury, The Lee and Bellingdon, Gold Hill, Great Missenden, Hilltop and Townsend, Holmer Green, Little Chalfont, Little Missenden, Newtown, Penn and Coleshill, Prestwood and Heath End, Ridgeway, St Mary's and Waterside, Seer Green, and Vale.[11]

Great Missenden transferred back from Aylesbury and Hazlemere returned to Wycombe.

Members of Parliament

The present Member of Parliament for Chesham and Amersham is the Liberal Democrat Sarah Green MP who was elected at the 2021 by-election. Previous MPs were the Conservative Cheryl Gillan, who held the position from 1992 until her death in 2021.[12] and Ian Gilmour.

Election	Member[13][14]	Party
1974	Ian Gilmour		Conservative
1992	Dame Cheryl Gillan		Conservative
2021 by-election	Sarah Green		Liberal Democrats

Elections

Elections in the 2020s

Cheryl Gillan died on 4 April 2021,[12] triggering a by-election held on 17 June 2021.[15]

2021 by-election: Chesham and Amersham[16]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Liberal Democrats	Sarah Green	21,517	56.7	+30.4
	Conservative	Peter Fleet	13,489	35.5	–19.9
	Green	Carolyne Culver	1,480	3.9	–1.6
	Labour	Natasa Pantelic	622	1.6	–11.2
	Reform UK	Alex Wilson	414	1.1	N/A
	Breakthrough Party	Carla Gregory	197	0.5	N/A
	Freedom Alliance	Adrian Oliver	134	0.4	N/A
	Rejoin EU	Brendan Donnelly	101	0.3	N/A
Majority			8,028	21.2	N/A
Registered electors			72,828
Turnout			37,954	52.1	–24.7
	Liberal Democrats gain from Conservative		Swing	+25.2

Elections in the 2010s

General election 2019: Chesham and Amersham[17]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Conservative	Cheryl Gillan	30,850	55.4	-5.3
	Liberal Democrats	Dan Gallagher	14,627	26.3	+13.3
	Labour	Matt Turmaine	7,166	12.9	-7.7
	Green	Alan Booth	3,042	5.5	+2.5
Majority			16,223	29.1	-11.0
Turnout			55,685	76.8	-0.3
	Conservative hold		Swing

General election 2017: Chesham and Amersham[18]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Conservative	Cheryl Gillan	33,514	60.7	+1.6
	Labour	Nina Dluzewska	11,374	20.6	+7.9
	Liberal Democrats	Peter Jones	7,179	13.0	+4.0
	Green	Alan Booth	1,660	3.0	- 2.5
	UKIP	David Meacock	1,525	2.8	-10.9
Majority			22,140	40.1	-5.3
Turnout			55,252	77.1	+4.4
	Conservative hold		Swing	N/A

General election 2015: Chesham and Amersham[19][20]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Conservative	Cheryl Gillan	31,138	59.1	-1.3
	UKIP	Alan Stevens	7,218	13.7	+9.6
	Labour	Ben Davies	6,712	12.7	+7.1
	Liberal Democrats	Kirsten Johnson	4,761	9.0	-19.5
	Green	Gill Walker	2,902	5.5	+4.0
Majority			23,920	45.4	+13.5
Turnout			52,731	72.7	-1.9
	Conservative hold		Swing

General election 2010: Chesham and Amersham[21]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Conservative	Cheryl Gillan	31,658	60.4	+6.8
	Liberal Democrats	Tim Starkey	14,948	28.5	+2.3
	Labour	Anthony Gajadharsingh	2,942	5.6	-8.0
	UKIP	Alan Stevens	2,129	4.1	+0.9
	Green	Nick Wilkins	767	1.5	-2.0
Majority			16,710	31.9	+2.6
Turnout			52,444	74.6	+6.6
	Conservative hold		Swing	+2.2

Elections in the 2000s

General election 2005: Chesham and Amersham[22]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Conservative	Cheryl Gillan	25,619	54.4	+3.9
	Liberal Democrats	John Ford	11,821	25.1	+0.8
	Labour	Rupa Huq	6,610	14.0	-4.8
	Green	Nick Wilkins	1,656	3.5	+1.0
	UKIP	David Samuel-Camps	1,391	3.0	0.0
Majority			13,798	29.3	+3.1
Turnout			47,097	68.0	+3.3
	Conservative hold		Swing	+1.5

General election 2001: Chesham and Amersham[23]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Conservative	Cheryl Gillan	22,867	50.5	+0.1
	Liberal Democrats	John Ford	10,985	24.3	+0.5
	Labour	Kenneth Hulme	8,497	18.8	-0.8
	UKIP	Ian Harvey	1,367	3.0	+1.8
	Green	Nick Wilkins	1,114	2.5	N/A
	ProLife Alliance	Gillian Duval	453	1.0	N/A
Majority			11,882	26.2	-0.4
Turnout			45,283	64.7	-9.8
	Conservative hold		Swing	-0.1

Elections in the 1990s

General election 1997: Chesham and Amersham[24]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Conservative	Cheryl Gillan	26,298	50.4	-12.9
	Liberal Democrats	Michael Brand	12,439	23.8	-0.7
	Labour	Paul Farrelly	10,240	19.6	+9.2
	Referendum	Paul Andrews	2,528	4.8	N/A
	UKIP	C Shilson	618	1.2	N/A
	Natural Law	Hugh Godfrey	74	0.1	-0.3
Majority			13,859	26.6	-12.2
Turnout			52,197	74.5	-7.4
	Conservative hold		Swing	-6.1

General election 1992: Chesham and Amersham[25][26]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Conservative	Cheryl Gillan	36,273	63.3	+1.1
	Liberal Democrats	Andrew Ketteringham	14,053	24.5	-2.6
	Labour	Candy Atherton	5,931	10.4	+1.1
	Green	CL Strickland	753	1.3	-0.1
	Natural Law	MTL Griffith-Jones	255	0.4	N/A
Majority			22,220	38.8	+3.7
Turnout			57,265	81.9	+4.5
	Conservative hold		Swing	+1.9

Elections in the 1980s

General election 1987: Chesham and Amersham[27]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Conservative	Ian Gilmour	34,504	62.2	+1.1
	Liberal	Andrew Ketteringham	15,064	27.1	-4.0
	Labour	Paul Goulding	5,170	9.3	+1.5
	Green	Ann Darnbrough	760	1.4	N/A
Majority			19,440	35.1	+5.3
Turnout			55,498	77.4	+1.4
	Conservative hold		Swing	+2.6

General election 1983: Chesham and Amersham[28]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Conservative	Ian Gilmour	32,435	61.0	-0.4
	Liberal	R Bradnock	16,556	31.2	+8.2
	Labour	C Duncan	4,150	7.8	-6.5
Majority			15,879	29.8	-8.5
Turnout			53,141	75.94	-3.8
	Conservative hold		Swing	-3.9

Elections in the 1970s

General election 1979: Chesham and Amersham

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Conservative	Ian Gilmour	32,924	61.4	+9.8
	Liberal	R Bradnock	12,328	23.0	-5.5
	Labour	Elizabeth Barratt	7,645	14.3	-6.6
	National Front	S Clinch	697	1.3	N/A
Majority			20,596	38.4	+16.3
Turnout			53,594	79.7	+1.6
	Conservative hold		Swing	+7.6

General election October 1974: Chesham and Amersham

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Conservative	Ian Gilmour	25,078	50.6	-0.1
	Liberal	DA Stoddart	14,091	28.5	-2.7
	Labour	JR Poston	10,325	20.9	+1.3
Majority			10,987	22.1	+2.6
Turnout			49,494	78.1	-4.9
	Conservative hold		Swing	-1.3

General election February 1974: Chesham and Amersham

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Conservative	Ian Gilmour	27,035	50.7
	Liberal	D A Stoddart	16,619	31.2
	Labour	BM Warshaw	9,700	18.2
Majority			10,416	19.5
Turnout			53,354	85.0
	Conservative win (new seat)

See also

• List of parliamentary constituencies in Buckinghamshire

References

External links

• nomis Constituency Profile for Chesham and Amersham — presenting data from the ONS annual population survey and other official statistics.

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