Battleground Anglia: South Cambridgeshire

The Conservatives won the South Cambridgeshire constituency at the 2010 General Election with a majority of nearly 8,000 votes. Credit: ITV News Anglia / Contains OS data © Crown copyright

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.

  • Conservative majority in 2010: 7,838

  • South Cambs is target number 6 for the Lib Dems in the Anglia region

  • The Lib Dems would need a swing of 7% to win in 2015 and Labour would need a 19% swing

South Cambridgeshire has had a Conservative MP since there there was a major re-organisation of constituencies in the county in 1983.

Former Health Secretary and Leader of the House of Commons Andrew Lansley is the sitting MP but is retiring at this election after 18 years in Parliament.

Candidates in 2015

  • Heidi Allen - Conservative

  • Dan Greef - Labour

  • Sebastian Kindersley - Liberal Democrats

  • Marion Mason - UKIP

  • Simon Saggers - Green