BBC Profile:
Boundary changes in 1983 created the new constituency of South West Cambridgeshire. Conservative Sir Anthony Grant represented South West Cambridgeshire for the 14 years it existed under that name, increasing his share of the vote to nearly 60% in 1992.

In 1995 there were further major boundary changes in Cambridgeshire. Some 29,000 voters from South West Cambridgeshire were transferred to Huntingdon, and 12,500 brought in from neighbouring South East Cambridgeshire, moving the constituency eastwards. Renamed South Cambridgeshire, it was retained by the Conservatives' Andrew Lansley, who increased his majority from 16.2% in 1997 to 17.3% in 2001. In 2005 Lansley retained this majority.

Further boundary changes in 2008 took the parts of the Cambridge suburbs of Trumpington, Cherry Hinton and Coleridge out of South Cambridgeshire and into the Cambridge city constituency. At the same time there were two gains from South East Cambridgeshire: Cottenham and the Abingtons, rural but prosperous villages with highly skilled and academic populations.

Despite boundary changes the constituency retains wards in the wealthy suburbs of Cambridge, namely Queen Ediths, which is near Addenbrookes Hospital and generally elderly; Girton, home to many of the universitys academics; and the Shelfords, which comprises two leafy suburban villages to the south of the city. To find out what might have happened had this boundary change been in force at the last election, see a not

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BBC Profile:
Boundary changes in 1983 created the new constituency of South West Cambridgeshire. Conservative Sir Anthony Grant represented South West Cambridgeshire for the 14 years it existed under that name, increasing his share of the vote to nearly 60% in 1992.

In 1995 there were further major boundary changes in Cambridgeshire. Some 29,000 voters from South West Cambridgeshire were transferred to Huntingdon, and 12,500 brought in from neighbouring South East Cambridgeshire, moving the constituency eastwards. Renamed South Cambridgeshire, it was retained by the Conservatives' Andrew Lansley, who increased his majority from 16.2% in 1997 to 17.3% in 2001. In 2005 Lansley retained this majority.

Further boundary changes in 2008 took the parts of the Cambridge suburbs of Trumpington, Cherry Hinton and Coleridge out of South Cambridgeshire and into the Cambridge city constituency. At the same time there were two gains from South East Cambridgeshire: Cottenham and the Abingtons, rural but prosperous villages with highly skilled and academic populations.

Despite boundary changes the constituency retains wards in the wealthy suburbs of Cambridge, namely Queen Ediths, which is near Addenbrookes Hospital and generally elderly; Girton, home to many of the universitys academics; and the Shelfords, which comprises two leafy suburban villages to the south of the city. To find out what might have happened had this boundary change been in force at the last election, see a notional - or estimated - result below.

The boundaries of South Cambridgeshire extend from the southern suburbs of Cambridge city towards Hinxton and Melbourn with their high-technology and biotech industry clusters. The seat is oddly shaped and sparsely populated, with most residents clustered in the south-east.

IT and high-tech industries are important in the area surrounding Cambridge city. South Cambridgeshire has been at the centre of the so-called Cambridge Phenomenon: the profusion of science parks which are major sites for intensive research and development.

Manufacturing is also important in the constituency, much of it clustered around Bar Hill with its proximity to the A14 and M11 to London. In the more rural areas of the constituency, cattle farming is also important, as are grass crops.

Rallings & Thrasher Notional:
C 24,621 (46.50%)
LD 14,987 (28.31%)
Lab 10,429 (19.70%)
UKIP 1,467 (2.77%)
Green 1,442 (2.72%)

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