Cambridge is a constituency represented in the House of Commons of the UK Parliament since 2015 by Daniel Zeichner of the Labour Party.
Centred on the university city of Cambridge, it is one of the country's oldest continuously constituted constituencies. It was created in 1295 and returned two Members of Parliament (MPs) and was represented in the House of Commons of England until 1707, then in the House of Commons of Great Britain from 1707 to 1800, and then in the House of Commons of the United Kingdom from 1801 to 1885. From 1885 onwards, the seat has elected one MP.
It was held by the Conservatives from 1967 to 1992, since which time it has been represented alternately by both Labour and the Liberal Democrats.
In the 2016 referendum to leave the European Union, the constituency voted 73.8% to remain.
The Cambridge constituency covers the majority of the city of Cambridge in the East of England, except some outlying suburbs. Cambridge is a historic settlement dating back to Roman times and was traditionally an important market town supporting trade between London and East Anglia. The city is a popular tourist destination and was described by Forbes as one of the "most beautiful cities in the world". It is known for the University of Cambridge, which consistently ranks as one of the best universities in the world.
Compared to national averages, residents of Cambridge are considerably younger and have low levels of marriage and homeownership. Residents are highly educated and more likely to work in professional jobs. Income and house prices are high. Parts of the city are in the 10% least-deprived areas in England, although there is some deprivation in the Chesterton suburban area. White people make up 75% of the population with Asians being the largest ethnic minority group at 14%. Cambridge has the highest proportion of Chinese people (4.3%) in the country outside the City of London. At the county and city council levels, the city is represented by a mixture of Liberal Democrat, Labour Party and Green Party councillors. In the 2016 referendum on European Union membership, an estimated 75% of voters in the constituency supported remaining in the European Union, one of the top 20 highest rates out of 650 constituencies nationwide.
Cambridge returned two Members to Parliament from 1295 until 1885, using the bloc vote system. These were generally townsmen who were involved in local government, with at least sixty mayors of Cambridge having served as MP by 1621. Under the Redistribution of Seats Act 1885 representation was reduced to one member, using the first-past-the-post system, with effect from the 1885 general election.
From 1910 to 1992, Cambridge was won by the Conservatives, save for the periods 1945 to 1950 and 1966 to 1967, when it was Labour-held with small majorities.
Historically, the city of Cambridge retained some electors, and was often the source of MPs to a second constituency, for Cambridge University, covering all successful alumni in its electorate. The university seat was created in 1603 as part of the scheme of university constituencies. Its MPs included Isaac Newton, William Pitt the Younger, Lord Palmerston, George Stokes, Richard Jebb, and Archibald Hill before abolition in 1950.
In 1992, Cambridge was won by Labour's Anne Campbell, who held onto the seat for 13 years (three Parliamentary terms). In 2005, it was taken by David Howarth of the Liberal Democrats, the first time the party (including its two forerunner parties) had taken the seat since the 1906 Liberal-progressive landslide; his successor, Julian Huppert, held the seat with an increased majority in the 2010 general election. In 2015, Huppert was unseated by the Labour candidate, Daniel Zeichner, who took the seat with a thin majority of 599 votes. The 2015 result gave the seat the 7th-smallest majority of Labour's 232 seats by percentage of majority. Zeichner went on to hold the seat at the 2017 and 2019 elections with comfortable majorities.
In 2015, three other parties' candidates kept their deposits, by winning more than 5% of the vote. In order of public preference, these candidates stood for the Conservatives, Green Party and UKIP, respectively.
Turnout at general elections has ranged between 86.48% in 1950 to 60.6% in 2001.
Under the Representation of the People Act 1918, the boundaries were expanded to align with those of the Municipal Borough, incorporating further parts of the former Urban District of Chesterton to the north, and the parish of Cambridge Without to the south.
Under the Representation of the People Act 1948, the boundaries were further expanded for the 1950 general election.
The Queen Edith's and Trumpington wards were included in South West Cambridgeshire (South Cambridgeshire from 1997).
Trumpington ward returned from South Cambridgeshire.
Further to the 2023 Periodic Review of Westminster constituencies, which came into effect for the 2024 general election, the composition of the constituency was reduced in size with the transfer of the Cherry Hinton ward to South Cambridgeshire.
Constituency created (1295)
Elections in (brackets) are by-elections.
This table shows parties' election performance in this seat in graphical format. Cells are shaded by party. The percentage share of the vote that each party gained is indicated by the number in each cell and is also proportional to the height of each cell. The winning party in each election is indicated by a percentage score in bold and by a shaded cell (corresponding to that party's colour) above the header row.
Election of William Forsyth declared void on petition, due to his holding an office of profit under the Crown.
Resignation of Andrew Steuart.
Previous election declared void on petition, due to bribery and treating.
By-election triggered by the appointment of Fitzroy Kelly as Solicitor-General of England and Wales
By-election triggered by the resignation of Sir Alexander Cray Grant, Bt. by accepting the office of Steward of the Manor of Poynings
Previous by-election declared void on petition due to bribery and treating by Manners-Sutton's agents.
By-election triggered by the elevation to the peerage of Thomas Spring Rice as Lord Monteagle of Brandon.
By-election triggered by the appointment of Thomas Spring Rice as Chancellor of the Exchequer.
By-election triggered by the appointment of Thomas Spring Rice as Secretary of State for War and the Colonies.
By-election triggered by the death of Charles Madryl Cheere.
By-election triggered by the appointment of the Marquess of Graham as Commander of the Board of Control.
By-election triggered by the appointment of Frederick William Trench as Storekeeper of Ordnance.
By-election triggered by the resignation of the Hon. Edward Finch.
By-election triggered by the appointment of Robert Manners as First Equerry and Clerk Marshal of the Mews.
By-election triggered by the simultaneous election of Francis Dickins for Northamptonshire, and his decision to sit for that constituency instead of Cambridge.
By-election triggered by the appointment of John Mortlock to office.
By-election triggered by the appointment of James Whorwood Adeane to office.
By-election triggered by the elevation to the peerage of Charles Sloane Cadogan.
By-election triggered by the appointment of Charles Sloane Cadogan to office.
By-election triggered by the appointment of Charles Sloane Cadogan to office.
By-election triggered by the succession to the peerage of Thomas Bromley.
By-election triggered by the appointment of Thomas Hay, Viscount Dupplin, to office.
By-election triggered by the appointment of Thomas Hay, Viscount Dupplin, to office.
By-election triggered by the succession to the peerage Thomas Hay, Viscount Dupplin.