1997–2010

• The District of South Cambridgeshire wards of Arrington, Bar Hill, Barrington and Shepreth, Barton, Bassingbourn, Bourn, Comberton, Coton, Duxford, Elsworth, Foxton, Gamlingay, Girton, Great Shelford, Hardwick, Harston, Haslingfield, Ickleton, Little Shelford, Longstanton, Melbourn, Meldreth, Orwell, Papworth, Sawston, Stapleford, Swavesey, The Mordens, and Whittlesford; and

• The City of Cambridge wards of Queen Edith's and Trumpington.

The constituency was created following the boundary review of 1995, and was first contested at the 1997 general election. Before this, much of the region had been part of the now abolished South West Cambridgeshire constituency represented by Sir Anthony Grant from 1983 to 1997, while the wards of Bar Hill, Coton, Elsworth, Girton, Longstanton and Swavesey were transferred from South East Cambridgeshire.

2010–2024

• The District of South Cambridgeshire wards of Bar Hill, Barton, Bassingbourn, Bourn, Caldecote, Comberton, Cottenham, Duxford, Fowlmere and Foxton, Gamlingay, Girton, Grantchester, Hardwick, Harston and Hauxton, Haslingfield and The Eversdens, Longstanton, Melbourn, Meldreth, Orwell and Barrington, Papworth and Elsworth, Sawston, Swavesey, The Abingtons, The Mordens, The Shelfords and Stapleford, and Whittlesford; and

• The City of Cambridge ward of Queen Edith's.

Following the 2007 review of parliamentary representation in Cambridgeshire, the Boundary Commission made minor alterations to the existing constituencies to deal with population changes.

Trumpington ward and parts of Coleridge and Cherry Hinton wards in the City of Cambridge were transferred to Cambridge, having previously been part of South Cambridgeshire.

Additionally, parts of Cottenham ward (specifically the civil parishes of Cottenham and Rampton) and the Abingtons (Babraham, Great Abington, Little Abington and Pampisford) were added to South Cambridgeshire, having previously voted in the South East Cambridgeshire constituency.

Current

Further to the 2023 Periodic Review of Westminster constituencies, which came into effect for the 2024 general election, the composition of the constituency is as follows (as they existed on 1 December 2020):

• The City of Cambridge wards of: Cherry Hinton; Queen Edith’s.

• The District of South Cambridgeshire wards of: Balsham; Barrington; Bassingbourn; Duxford; Fen Ditton & Fulbourn; Foxton; Gamlingay; Hardwick; Harston & Comberton; Linton; Melbourn; Sawston; Shelford; The Mordens; Whittlesford.

The seat was subject to major changes, with northern areas, including the new towns of Cambourne and Northstowe, being transferred to the newly created constituency of St Neots and Mid Cambridgeshire. To partly compensate, it gained the Cherry Hinton ward in the City of Cambridge and southern parts of the abolished constituency of South East Cambridgeshire, including the villages of Fulbourn and Linton.

Members of Parliament

South West Cambridgeshire prior to 1997

Elections

Elections in the 2020s

Elections in the 2010s

Elections in the 2000s

Elections in the 1990s

See also

• List of parliamentary constituencies in Cambridgeshire
• List of parliamentary constituencies in the East of England (region)
• South Cambridgeshire (administrative district)