Battleground Anglia: Cambridge

Cambridge is one of four seats in the Anglia region that the Liberal Democrats won at the 2010 General Election. Credit: ITV News Anglia

Cambridge is world-famous as being home to one of the two most prestigious universities in England. The university dominates the city in every way, although the high-technology sector rose to prominence in the late 20th century in the form of Silicon Fen.

In the 1980s Cambridge University established close links with major technology companies. As a result Cambridge became one of the fastest-growing towns in the UK and the economy has diversified and strengthened.

There is also some commercial and administrative employment within Cambridge, as the town acts as the administrative centre of the region. Additionally there is employment and income from tourism.

  • Liberal Democrat majority in 2010: 6,792

  • Cambridge is Conservative target number 3 of the 6 seats thet didn't win in 2010

  • Cambridge is Labour target number 15 of the 66 seats in the Anglia region

  • The Conservatives would need a swing of just under 7% to win in 2015 and Labour would need a 7% swing

Cambridge is one of four seats in the Anglia region that the Liberal Democrats won at the 2010 General Election. It is one of the few seats in the UK that has been returned a Conservative, Labour and Liberal Democrat MP in recent year.

Scientist Julian Huppert has been the Lib Dem MP since 2010, taking over from the previous Lib Dem, David Howarth. Labour held the seat from 1992 until 2005 and before that it was Conservative.

The Cambridge constituency is the same area as Cambridge City Council with the exception of the Queen Edith's ward which is in the South Cambridgeshire constituency. The Liberal Democrats has an overall majority on Cambridge City Council from 2000 until 2012. Labour won an overall majority in 2014 taking 38% of the vote.

Click below to watch a report on the Cambridge constituency by ITV News Anglia's Political Correspondent Emma Hutchinson

Conservative peer Lord Ashcroft has been conducting opinion polls in marginal seats across the UK.

In a snapshot poll in Cambridge in September 2014, Labour had a narrow lead over the Lib Dems by 33% to 32%. The poll suggested the Conservatives were on 19%.

The Greens scored their third best result in the UK in Cambridge in 2010.

One of the Anglia region's MEPs, Patrick O'Flynn, is standing for UKIP in Cambridge. He is UKIP's Economic Spokesman.

Candidates in 2015

  • Chamali Fernando - Conservative

  • Keith Garrett _ Removing the politicians

  • Julian Huppert - Liberal Democrats

  • Patrick O'Flynn - UKIP

  • Rupert Read - Green

  • Daniel Zeichner - Labour

The full list of candidates will be confirmed when nominations close on 9 April.