Broadland and Fakenham


Broadland and Fakenham is a Norfolk constituency, which has been represented in the House of Commons of the UK Parliament since the 2019 general election by Jerome Mayhew, a Conservative.
Prior to the 2023 review of Westminster constituencies, coming into effect at the 2024 general election, the constituency was known as Broadland.

Constituency profile

The Broadland and Fakenham constituency is located in Norfolk and covers a large rural area to the north of the city of Norwich. It is named after the Broads, an area of navigable rivers and lakes with status equivalent to a national park, which is partly located in the constituency. The largest settlement in the constituency is the affluent village of Taverham on outskirts of Norwich, which has a population of over 10,000. Other settlements include the small market towns of Fakenham, Reepham, Aylsham and Acle. The constituency is mostly agricultural and contains many farms and small villages.
Compared to national averages, residents of the constituency are older and have average levels of wealth and professional employment. White people make up 97% of the population. At the local council level, most parts of the constituency are represented by Conservative and Liberal Democrat councillors, with the Conservatives more popular in the east of the constituency. Most voters in Broadland and Fakenham supported leaving the European Union in the 2016 referendum, with an estimated 55% voting in favour of Brexit.

History

Under the Fifth Periodic Review of Westminster constituencies coming into effect for the 2010 general election, the Boundary Commission for England created the Broadland constituency as the successor seat to Mid Norfolk, which was relocated. It comprised the majority of Mid Norfolk, together with parts of North Norfolk and Norwich North.
Since its creation, the seat has been held by the Conservative Party with comfortable majorities – until 2024, when the majority over the Labour Party was cut to 1.5%.

Boundaries

2010–2024

''The seat includes the District of Broadland wards which had previously comprised a majority of the Mid Norfolk constituency, as well as Drayton and Taverham, transferred back from Norwich North. The six District of North Norfolk wards, including the town of Fakenham, were transferred from the constituency of North Norfolk.''

2024–present

Further to the 2023 Periodic Review of Westminster constituencies, which came into effect for the 2024 general election, the composition of the Broadland and Fakenham constituency is as follows :
  • The District of Broadland wards of: Acle; Aylsham; Blofield with South Walsham; Brundall; Burlingham; Buxton; Coltishall; Eynesford; Great Witchingham; Hevingham; Horsford and Felthorpe; Marshes; Plumstead; Reepham; Spixworth with St. Faiths; Taverham North; Taverham South; Wroxham.
  • The District of North Norfolk wards of: Lancaster North; Lancaster South; Stibbard; The Raynhams; Walsingham.
''Minor losses, including the transfer of Drayton back to Norwich North.''