History of Chesham and Amersham constituency

History of the constituency

Today there are 650 parliamentary constituencies for the British House of Commons, including 7 in Buckinghamshire. Each elects a Member of Parliament (MP) to represent them at Parliament. A first past the post system gives the role to the person getting the most votes, even though sometimes that maybe less than half of those who voted.

Constituencies

Historically each English county elected two knights, who were elected by landowners. Buckinghamshire had returned two knights of the shire from 1265. The Borough of Chipping Wycombe had also returned a knight since 1295. Aylesbury constituency was created in 1553, and Amersham was created a constituency in 1624, entitled to return two members of parliament. The 1832 Reform Act did away with many anomalies and divided most counties, including Buckinghamshire into constituencies with 2 or 3 MPs.

By-elections

The first election notice for the Chesham and Amersham constituency in 1974

An MP is expected to serve the full parliamentary term. A by-election occurs when an MP ends their term early, usually because they resign or die. An MP can also be removed for being declared bankrupt or being convicted of a serious criminal offence. Occasionally an MP becomes ineligible to remain in the House of Commons because they become entitled to a seat in the House of Lords.

Charles Compton Cavendish represented Buckinghamshire from 1847 to 1857 and was then created Lord Chesham. A by-election was called and his son William Cavendish became MP. Similarly Benjamin Disraeli, who lived at Hughenden Manor from 1848, represented Buckinghamshire from 1847 until 1876, and he was Prime Minister in 1868, and again from 1874 to 1880. In 1876 a by-election was called after he was created Earl of Beaconsfield. Another interesting case was in 1919 when a by-election was called after Waldorf Astor, who lived at Cliveden in Bucks, inherited the title of Viscount Astor, after his father died. His wife Nancy Astor, stood in his place and became the first serving female MP in England.

Buckinghamshire Constituencies

The Victorian era saw great changes in demographics, with some rural areas de-populating, and some urban areas growing, so the old constituency system had gradually become less representative. The 1885 Redistribution of Seats Act tried to make the population of each constituency fairly equal. Buckinghamshire was divided into 3 constituencies: the Aylesbury or Mid Bucks Division, the Buckingham or North Bucks Division, and the Wycombe or South Bucks Division. Chesham and Amersham came under Mid Bucks.

The incumbent Prime Minister Clement Atlee addresses the crowd in support of the Labour candidate John Haire, Frogmoor, High Wycombe, October 1951

For 57 years from 1865 to 1922 the role of Mid Bucks MP was held by 4 successive members of the Rothschild family, who all represented the Liberal Party.

Eligibility to vote

Upto 1918 only property holders could vote, which effectively meant only wealthy men could vote, although it included a small number of women. Effectively about 58% of the adult male population was eligible to vote. Another issue was that you had to be resident for 12 months, which meant that many soldiers returning from the Great War were inadvertently ineligible. The Suffragette movement had highlighted the unfairness that women could not vote, despite their contribution to the war effort. So in 1918, the franchise was extended to all men over 21, and to women over 30. Then from 1928, all men and women who were over the age of 21 could vote. From 1969 this was lowered to 18 years of age.

Boundary Commission

Each British constituency represents approximately 70,000 people. The Boundary Commission periodically reviews constituencies to keep them about the same population size, and where possible follow county or administrative boundaries. Reviews are caused by some areas disproportionately growing or falling in population. Constituencies can vary considerably in geographical size depending upon the population density. There are also geographical considerations where boundaries cannot be changed. So the largest constituency by population is the Isle of Wight, since its boundaries cannot be changed.

Election Notice for the 1966 election

Members of Parliament represent their constituency at the House of Commons but they do not always live in the constituency they represent. For example Aneurin Bevan, creator of the NHS, was MP for Ebbw Vale in south Wales but lived at Asheridge Farm near Chesham from 1953 to 1960 (see BFP Nostalgia May 24, 2020).

Chesham and Amersham

Before 1974 Chesham and Amersham were in separate constituencies. In 1918 Amersham was transferred to the Wycombe constituency, whilst Chesham remained in the Aylesbury constituency. In 1950 the new constituency of South Buckinghamshire was created which included Beaconsfield, the Chalfonts, Amersham, Chesham Bois and Chenies, whilst Chesham remained in the Aylesbury constituency.

In 1969 the Boundary Commission recommended that the South Buckinghamshire constituency should be split to create the new Beaconsfield constituency, and the new Chesham and Amersham constituency. These were created in time for the 1974 general election. The Chesham and Amersham constituency also includes the Chalfonts and Great Missenden, and its area is that of the former Chiltern District.

Notice about Megan Lloyd George (daughter of David Lloyd George) speaking in Amersham in 1938

In those 47 years the Chesham and Amersham constituency has remarkably only had 2 MPs, both Conservative. Ian Gilmour was the first MP for Chesham and Amersham in 1974, and held the post for 18 years until his retirement in 1992. Then it was held by Cheryl Gillan for 29 years. She had been born and brought up in south Wales and served as Welsh Secretary 2010-2012, whilst MP for Chesham and Amersham.

She tragically died aged 68 this year, which triggered the by-election.

By-election

Engraving depicting Disraeli speaking at the Market Ordinary in Aylesbury

In order to stand for Parliament a candidate has to be nominated by 10 electors and submit a £500 deposit with their nomination papers. The money is returned if the candidate receives over 5% of the total votes cast. The Chesham and Amersham by-election is on 17th June 2021, when 8 candidates are trying to win the seat and not to lose their deposit.