Colchester (UK Parliament constituency)

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Colchester
Borough constituency
for the House of Commons
120px
Boundary of Colchester in Essex.
Outline map
Location of Essex within England.
County Essex
Electorate 73,638 (December 2010)[1]
Current constituency
Created 1997
Member of parliament Will Quince (Conservative)
Number of members One
Created from Colchester North, South Colchester and Maldon
1295–1983
Number of members one (two 1295-1885)
Replaced by Colchester North and Colchester South & Maldon
Overlaps
European Parliament constituency East of England

Colchester is a constituency[n 1] represented in the House of Commons of the UK Parliament since 2015 by Will Quince, a Conservative.[n 2]

History

The borough has sent representatives to Parliament since the Model Parliament of 1295: two members were sent until 1885, when representation was reduced to one.

Boundaries

File:Colchester1918.png
Colchester in Essex, showing boundaries used from 1918 to 1950.

Following their review of parliamentary representation in Essex, the Boundary Commission for England created a modified Colchester constituency formed from the following electoral wards

  • Berechurch, Castle, Christ Church, Harbour, Highwoods, Lexden, Mile End, New Town, Prettygate, St Andrew's, St Anne's, St John's, and Shrub End. These boundaries came into effect for the 2010 general election.

From 1997 to 2010 the seat had very similar boundaries.

The present Colchester constituency most closely resembles the old seat of Colchester North, which was held by the Conservative Bernard Jenkin from 1992 to 1997.

Constituency profile

Once the basis for one or two semi-rural seats, the modern-day Colchester constituency is a compact, urban core, containing the town centre and surrounding neighbourhoods.

The seat has one of Britain's largest residential military populations, but the non-military vote in Colchester has swung further in favour of the Liberal Democrats since 1997 when Bob Russell was elected for the party with a small majority. Russell has increased both his total vote and percentage share in each of the succeeding elections. In the 2010 election it was the only non-Conservative seat in Essex. He was defeated in the 2015 general election by the Conservative candidate Will Quince, winning with a 11.5% majority. This made Clacton the only seat in Essex held by a non-Conservative MP - with Douglas Carswell winning the constituency for UKIP.

Members of Parliament

MPs 1295–1640

This list is incomplete; you can help by expanding it.
Parliament First member Second member
1312 Joseph Elianore
1386 Thomas Francis Ralph Algar[2]
1388 (Feb) Thomas Francis Simon Fordham[2]
1388 (Sep) Ralph Algar Simon Fordham[2]
1390 (Jan) Thomas Francis Simon Fordham[2]
1390 (Nov)
1391 Thomas Francis John Christian[2]
1393 William Mate John Christian[2]
1394
1395 Thomas Francis John Christian[2]
1397 (Jan) Henry Boss John Seaburgh[2]
1397 (Sep)
1399 Thomas Francis Thomas Godstone[2]
1401
1402 Henry Boss Thomas Godstone[2]
1404 (Jan)
1404 (Oct)
1406 Henry Boss William Mate[2]
1407 Thomas Godstone William Mate[2]
1410
1411 Thomas Godstone John Pod[2]
1413 (Feb)
1413 (May) Thomas Godstone Thomas Francis[2]
1414 (Apr)
1414 (Nov) Thomas Godstone Simon Mate[2]
1415
1416 (Mar) John Ford John Sumpter[2]
1416 (Oct)
1417 Thomas Godstone John Ford[2]
1419 Thomas Godstone John Sumpter[2]
1420 Thomas Godstone John Kimberley[2]
1421 (May) Thomas Godstone John Kimberley[2]
1421 (Dec) Thomas Godstone William Nottingham[2]
1485 Thomas Christmas John Vertue[3]
1510 No names known[4]
1512  ?John Clere  ?John Makin[4]
1515  ?John Clere  ?John Makin[4]
1523 Thomas Audley Ambrose Lowth[4]
1529 Sir John Raynsford Richard Rich[4]
1536  ?
1539  ?
1542  ?
1545 John Lucas Benjamin Clere[4]
1547 John Ryther John Lucas[4]
1553 (Mar) Sir Francis Jobson  ?John Lucas[4]
1553 (Oct) John Lucas John Best[4]
1554 (Apr) Sir Francis Jobson William Cardinall[4]
1554 (Nov) George Sayer Robert Browne[4]
1555 Sir Francis Jobson John Hering[4]
1558 George Christmas Thomas Lucas [4]
1559 Sir Francis Jobson William Cardinall[5]
1562/3 Sir Francis Jobson William Cardinall[5]
1571 Henry Golding Francis Harvey[5]
1572 Robert Christmas Henry Golding, died
and repl, 1576 by Nicholas Clere, who alao died
and was repl. 1579 by Robert Middleton[5]
1584 James Morice Francis Harvey[5]
1586 James Morice Francis Harvey[5]
1588 James Morice Arthur Throckmorton[5]
1593 James Morice Martin Bessell[5]
1597 Richard Symnell Robert Barker[5]
1601 Robert Barker Richard Symnell[5]
1604–1611 Robert Barker Edward Alford
1614 Robert Barker Edward Alford
1621–1622 Edward Alford William Towse
1624 Edward Alford William Towse
1625 Sir Robert Quarles William Towse
1626 Edward Alford William Towse
1628 Sir Thomas Cheek Edward Alford
repl. on petition by Sir William Masham, 1st Baronet
1639–1640 No Parliaments summoned

MPs 1640–1885

Year First member[6] First party Second member[6] Second party
April 1640 (Sir) Harbottle Grimston[mpnotes 1] Parliamentarian Sir William Masham, 1st Baronet
November 1640 Sir Thomas Barrington Parliamentarian
September 1644 Barrington died September 1644 - seat vacant
1645 John Sayer
December 1648 Grimston excluded in Pride's Purge - seat vacant Sayer not recorded as sitting after Pride's Purge
1653 Colchester was unrepresented in the Barebones Parliament
1654 Colonel John Barkstead John Maidstone
1656 Henry Lawrence
January 1659 Abraham Johnson John Shaw
May 1659 Not represented in the restored Rump
April 1660 Sir Harbottle Grimston John Shaw
1679 Sir Walter Clarges, Bt
1681 Samuel Reynolds
1685 Sir Walter Clarges Nathaniel Lawrence
1689 Samuel Reynolds Isaac Rebow
1690 Edward Cary
1692 Sir Isaac Rebow
1694 Sir Thomas Cooke
1695 Sir John Morden, Bt
1698 Sir Thomas Cooke
May 1705 Edward Bullock
December 1705 Sir Thomas Webster, Bt[mpnotes 2]
1711 William Gore
1713 Sir Thomas Webster, Bt
1714[mpnotes 3] William Gore Nicholas Corsellis
1715 Richard Du Cane Whig Sir Isaac Rebow Whig
1722 Sir Thomas Webster Whig Matthew Martin Whig
1727 Stamp Brooksbank Whig Samuel Tufnell Whig
1734 Isaac Lemyng Rebow Whig Matthew Martin Whig
1735 Jacob Houblon Tory
1741 John Olmius
1742[mpnotes 4] Samuel Savill Charles Gray[mpnotes 5] Tory
1747 Richard Savage Nassau
1754 John Olmius
1755 Isaac Martin Rebow Whig
1761 Charles Gray Tory
1780 Sir Robert Smyth, Bt Radical Whig
1781 Christopher Potter[mpnotes 6]
1782 [mpnotes 6] Sir Edmund Affleck, Bt[mpnotes 7]
April 1784 Christopher Potter[mpnotes 8]
July 1784 Sir Robert Smyth, Bt Radical
1788 George Tierney Radical
1790 Robert Thornton Tory George Jackson Tory
1796 The Lord Muncaster Tory
1802 John Denison Tory
1806 William Tufnell Whig
1807 Richard Hart Davis Tory
1812 Hart Davis Tory
1817 Sir William Burroughs, Bt Tory
February 1818 James Beckford Wildman Tory
June 1818 Daniel Whittle Harvey[mpnotes 9] Radical
1820 Henry Baring Tory
1826 Daniel Whittle Harvey Radical Sir George Smyth, Bt Tory
1830 Andrew Spottiswoode[mpnotes 10] Tory
1831 William Mayhew Whig
1832 Richard Sanderson Conservative
1835 Sir George Smyth, Bt Conservative
1847 Joseph Alfred Hardcastle Whig
1850 Lord John Manners Conservative
1852 William Warwick Hawkins Conservative
February 1857 John Gurdon Rebow Whig
March 1857 Taverner John Miller Conservative
1859 Philip Oxenden Papillon Conservative
1865 John Gurdon Rebow Liberal
1867 Edward Kent Karslake Conservative
1868 William Brewer Liberal
1870 Alexander Learmonth Conservative
1874 Herbert Mackworth-Praed Conservative
1880 Richard Causton Liberal William Willis Liberal
1885 Representation reduced to one member

Notes

  1. ↑ Succeeded to a baronetcy, April 1648
  2. ↑ Webster and Rebow were re-elected in 1714, but on petition the result was reversed and Gore declared to have been duly elected instead, following a dispute over whether foreigners could be made freemen of the borough and thereby acquire voting rights
  3. ↑ Webster was re-elected in 1710, but on petition the result was reversed and Gore and Corsellis declared to have been duly elected instead, following a further dispute over foreign freemen's voting rights
  4. ↑ At the election of 1741, Olmius and Martin were returned as elected, but on petition their election was declared void and their opponents, Savill and Gray, declared elected in their place
  5. ↑ At the election of 1754, Gray was re- elected, but on petition his election was declared void and his opponent, Rebow, declared elected in his place
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 On petition, Potter's election was declared void on the grounds of defective qualification and his opponent, Affleck, declared duly elected
  7. ↑ Admiral from 1784
  8. ↑ On petition, Potter was declared ineligible on the grounds of bankruptcy, and a writ for a new election was issued
  9. ↑ Harvey was re-elected in 1820 but on petition his election was declared void on the grounds of defective qualification and a by-election was held
  10. ↑ On petition, Spottiswoode's election was declared void and a by-election was held

MPs 1885–1983

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See also: List of MPs of Colchester, 1885–1983
Election Member[6] Party
1885 Henry John Trotter Conservative
1888 by-election Lord Brooke Conservative
1892 Herbert Naylor-Leyland Conservative
1895 Weetman Dickinson Pearson Liberal
1910 (January) Laming Worthington-Evans Conservative
1929 Oswald Lewis Conservative
1945 Charles George Percy Smith Labour
1950 Cuthbert James McCall Alport Conservative
1961 by-election Philip Antony Fyson Buck Conservative
1983 Constituency abolished: see Colchester North, Colchester South and Maldon

MPs since 1997

Election Member[6] Party
1997 Bob Russell Liberal Democrat
2015 Will Quince Conservative

Elections

Elections in the 2010s

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See also: Opinion polling in United Kingdom constituencies, 2010–15 § Colchester
General Election 2015: Colchester[7]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Will Quince [8] 18,919 38.9 +6.1
Liberal Democrat Bob Russell [9] 13,344 27.5 -20.5
Labour Jordan Newell [10] 7,852 16.2 +3.8
UKIP John Pitts[11] 5,870 12.1 +9.2
Green Mark Goacher [12] 2,499 5.1 +3.6
Christian Peoples Ken Scrimshaw[13] 109 0.2 +0.2
Majority 5,575 11.5
Turnout 48,593 65.5 +3.2
Conservative gain from Liberal Democrat Swing 7.2
General Election 2010: Colchester[14][15]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Democrat Bob Russell 22,151 48.0 +0.3
Conservative Will Quince 15,169 32.9 +0.8
Labour Jordan Newell 5,680 12.3 −7.9
UKIP John Pitts 1,350 2.9 N/A
BNP Sidney Chaney 705 1.5 N/A
Green Peter Lynn 694 1.5 N/A
English Democrats Eddie Bone 335 0.7 N/A
Peoples Party Essex Garryck Noble 35 0.1 N/A
Independent Paul Shaw 20 0.0 N/A
Majority 6,982 15.1 −0.5
Turnout 46,139 62.3 +5.8
Liberal Democrat hold Swing −0.2

Elections in the 2000s

General Election 2005: Colchester[16]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Democrat Bob Russell 21,145 47.1 +4.5
Conservative Kevin Bentley 14,868 33.1 +3.2
Labour Laura Bruni 8,886 19.8 −5.2
Majority 6,277 14.0
Turnout 44,899 56.8 +0.7
Liberal Democrat hold Swing +0.6
General Election 2001: Colchester[17]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Democrat Bob Russell 18,627 42.6 +8.2
Conservative Kevin Bentley 13,074 29.9 -1.5
Labour Chris Fegan 10,925 25.0 -5.6
UKIP Roger Lord 631 1.4 N/A
Grey Party Len Overy-Owen 479 1.1 N/A
Majority 5,553 12.7
Turnout 43,736 56.1 -13.5
Liberal Democrat hold Swing

Elections in the 1990s

General Election 1997: Colchester[18]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Democrat Bob Russell 17,886 34.4 +1.7
Conservative Stephan Shakespeare 16,335 31.4 -10.6
Labour Rod Green 15,891 30.5 +6.4
Referendum John Hazell 1,776 3.4 n/a
Natural Law Loretta Basker 148 0.3 n/a
Majority 1,551 3.0
Turnout 52,036 69.2

Elections in the 1970s

General Election 1979: Colchester
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Philip Antony Fyson Buck 36,740 52.93
Labour Bob Russell 22,877 32.96
Liberal M Gage 9,794 14.11
Majority 13,863 19.97
Turnout 76.62
Conservative hold Swing
General Election October 1974: Colchester
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Philip Antony Fyson Buck 27,693 44.45
Labour D Whytock 22,193 35.62
Liberal D Christian 12,421 19.94
Majority 5,500 8.83
Turnout 76.14
Conservative hold Swing
General Election February 1974: Colchester
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Philip Antony Fyson Buck 29,072 43.38
Labour D Whytock 22,210 33.14
Liberal DW Thomas 15,737 23.48
Majority 6,862 10.24
Turnout 82.60
Conservative hold Swing
General Election 1970: Colchester
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Philip Antony Fyson Buck 30,562 52.57
Labour John G Bartlett 20,325 34.96
Liberal Peter S Watts 7,248 12.47
Majority 10,237 17.61
Turnout 77.57
Conservative hold Swing

Elections in the 1960s

General Election 1966: Colchester
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Philip Antony Fyson Buck 24,320 45.60
Labour Michael Hugh Meacher 23,305 43.69
Liberal Peter S Watts 5,714 10.71
Majority 1,015 1.90
Turnout 82.26
Conservative hold Swing
General Election 1964: Colchester
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Philip Antony Fyson Buck 23,319 46.03
Labour Charles CP Williams 19,780 39.04
Liberal Eric W Rodnight 7,566 14.93
Majority 3,539 6.99
Turnout 82.06
Conservative hold Swing
By Election 1961: Colchester
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Philip Antony Fyson Buck 17,891
Labour John Wilson Fear 12,547
Liberal Howard L Fry 7,487
Majority 5,344
Turnout
Conservative hold Swing

Elections in the 1950s

General Election 1959: Colchester
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Cuthbert James McCall Alport 24,592 51.63
Labour Mrs. Joan I. Edmonson 17,096 35.89
Liberal Peter M Linfoot 5,942 12.48
Majority 7,496 15.74
Turnout 82.44
Conservative hold Swing
General Election 1955: Colchester
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Cuthbert James McCall Alport 24,796 55.48
Labour Norman R Thomas 19,898 44.52
Majority 4,898 10.96
Turnout 80.49
Conservative hold Swing
General Election 1951: Colchester
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Cuthbert James McCall Alport 25,063 54.16
Labour Xenia Noelle Field 21,217 45.84
Majority 3,846 8.31
Turnout 84.84
Conservative hold Swing
General Election 1950: Colchester
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Cuthbert James McCall Alport 21,403 46.50
Labour Charles George Percy Smith 20,472 44.47
Liberal David Goldblatt 4,157 9.03
Majority 931 2.02
Turnout 86.77
Conservative gain from Labour Swing

Election in the 1940s

General Election 1945: Colchester
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Charles George Percy Smith 16,587 45.31
Conservative Oswald Lewis 14,123 38.58
Liberal George Alexander Routledge 5,899 16.11
Majority 2,464 6.73
Turnout 73.87
Labour gain from Conservative Swing

Elections in the 1930s

General Election 1935: Colchester
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Oswald Lewis 19,915 58.65
Labour H Beaumont 14,039 41.35
Majority 5,876 17.31
Turnout 74.63
Conservative hold Swing
General Election 1931: Colchester
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Oswald Lewis 22,285 67.51
Labour Edward Aylmer Digby 10,725 32.49
Majority 11,560 35.02
Turnout 76.38
Conservative hold Swing

Elections in the 1920s

General Election 1929: Colchester [19]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Unionist Oswald Lewis 13,411 40.3
Labour Richard Leopold Reiss 12,809 38.5
Liberal William Rowley Elliston 6,896 20.7 n/a
Independent Unionist C.C. Gray 172 0.5 n/a
Majority 602 1.8
Turnout
Unionist hold Swing
General Election 1923: Colchester [20]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Unionist Rt Hon. Sir Worthington Laming Worthington-Evans 10,535 43.4 -13.3
Labour Richard Leopold Reiss 8,316 34.2 -9.1
Liberal Sir Arthur Horne Goldfinch 5,430 22.4 n/a
Majority 2,219 9.2 -4.2
Turnout 78.2
Unionist hold Swing -2.1

See also

Notes and references

Notes
  1. ↑ A borough constituency (for the purposes of election expenses and type of returning officer)
  2. ↑ As with all constituencies, the constituency elects one Member of Parliament (MP) by the first past the post system of election at least every five years.
References
  1. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  2. ↑ 2.00 2.01 2.02 2.03 2.04 2.05 2.06 2.07 2.08 2.09 2.10 2.11 2.12 2.13 2.14 2.15 2.16 2.17 2.18 2.19 2.20 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  3. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  4. ↑ 4.00 4.01 4.02 4.03 4.04 4.05 4.06 4.07 4.08 4.09 4.10 4.11 4.12 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 5.4 5.5 5.6 5.7 5.8 5.9 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 6.3 Leigh Rayment's Historical List of MPs – Constituencies beginning with "C" (part 5)[self-published source][better source needed]
  7. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  8. ↑ http://electionresults.blogspot.co.uk/2013/04/colchester-2015.html
  9. ↑ http://electionresults.blogspot.co.uk/2013/04/colchester-2015.html
  10. ↑ http://electionresults.blogspot.co.uk/2013/04/colchester-2015.html
  11. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  12. ↑ https://twitter.com/ColcGreenParty/status/539164015713611778
  13. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  14. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  15. ↑ BBC - Election 2010 - Colchester
  16. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  17. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  18. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  19. ↑ British Parliamentary Election Results 1918-1949, FWS Craig
  20. ↑ British Parliamentary Election Results 1918-1949, FWS Craig

Sources

  • Robert Beatson, "A Chronological Register of Both Houses of Parliament" (London: Longman, Hurst, Res & Orme, 1807) [1]
  • D Brunton & D H Pennington, Members of the Long Parliament (London: George Allen & Unwin, 1954)
  • Cobbett's Parliamentary history of England, from the Norman Conquest in 1066 to the year 1803 (London: Thomas Hansard, 1808) [2]
  • F W S Craig, "British Parliamentary Election Results 1832-1885" (2nd edition, Aldershot: Parliamentary Research Services, 1989)
  • J E Neale, The Elizabethan House of Commons (London: Jonathan Cape, 1949)
  • Henry Stooks Smith, The Parliaments of England from 1715 to 1847 (2nd edition, edited by FWS Craig - Chichester: Parliamentary Reference Publications, 1973)
  • Victoria County History of Essex online at www.british-history.ac.uk
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