Upminster (UK Parliament constituency) facts for kids

Upminster was an area in east London that used to choose a person to represent it in the UK Parliament. This person is called a Member of Parliament (MP). MPs help make laws for the country. The Upminster area was created for elections in 1974 and stopped being a separate area for elections in 2010. People living in Upminster voted using a system called first-past-the-post, where the candidate with the most votes wins.

What was the Upminster area like?

The Upminster area was part of the London Borough of Havering. It was divided into smaller sections called wards. These wards changed a little over the years. From 1974 to 1983, it included wards like Cranham, Emerson Park, and Upminster. Later, more wards were added or changed, but the main parts stayed the same.

A brief history of Upminster's politics

The Upminster area often voted for the Conservative Party. This meant it was usually a "safe seat" for them, making it likely a Conservative MP would be elected.

However, in the 1997 election, there was a big change across the country. The Labour Party won by a huge amount, and they also won in Upminster. This was a surprise for the area. But in the 2001 election, the Conservative Party won the seat back.

In 2010, the Upminster area was changed. It became part of a new area called the Hornchurch and Upminster constituency.

Where was Upminster located?

Upminster was the most eastern area for voting in the London Borough of Havering and in Greater London. It had an interesting shape. It included both richer and poorer parts of the borough. It was also known for being one of the least ethnically diverse areas in London.

The area included the suburb of Cranham. To the north, it stretched beyond the main roads like the A127 and A12, including places like Harold Wood and Harold Hill. Uniquely for a London area, it even crossed the M25 motorway to include North Ockendon in the east. To the west, it included the wealthy area of Emerson Park. The River Ingrebourne and the M25 motorway formed parts of its boundaries.

Who were the Members of Parliament for Upminster?

Here are the people who represented Upminster in the UK Parliament:

See also

• List of parliamentary constituencies in London