Colchester (UK Parliament constituency)


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

History

The Parliamentary Borough of Colchester had sent two members to Parliament since the Model Parliament of 1295. In 1885, representation was reduced to one, being one of 36 English boroughs and three Irish boroughs to which this occurred under the Redistribution of Seats Act 1885. Under the Representation of the People Act 1918, the Parliamentary Borough was abolished and replaced with a Division of the County of Essex.
The constituency remained virtually unchanged until it was briefly abolished for the 1983 general election following the Third Periodic Review of Westminster Constituencies, but re-established for the 1997 general election as a Borough Constituency by the Fourth Review.

Boundaries and boundary changes

1918–1950: The Borough of Colchester, and the Rural District of Lexden and Winstree except the detached part of the parish of Inworth which was wholly surrounded by the parishes of Great Braxted and Kelvedon.
The area comprising the Rural District of Lexden and Winstree had largely been part of the Harwich Division.
1950–1983: The Borough of Colchester, the Urban District of West Mersea, and the Rural District of Lexden and Winstree.
No changes.
For the 1983 general election the constituency was abolished, with the northern parts forming the bulk of the new constituency of North Colchester. Southern areas were included in the new constituency of South Colchester and Maldon.
1997–2010: The Borough of Colchester wards of Berechurch, Castle, Harbour, Lexden, Mile End, New Town, Prettygate, St Andrew's, St Anne's, St John's, St Mary's, Shrub End, and Stanway.
Re-established from parts of the abolished constituencies of South Colchester and Maldon and North Colchester.
2010–present: The Borough of Colchester wards of Berechurch, Castle, Christ Church, Harbour, Highwoods, Lexden, Mile End, New Town, Prettygate, St Andrew's, St Anne's, St John's, and Shrub End.
Local authority wards redistributed. Minor reduction in electorate, with Stanway ward being included in the new constituency of Witham.

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 present Colchester constituency most closely resembles the old seat of Colchester North, which was held by the Conservative Bernard Jenkin from 1992 to 1997.
The seat has one of Britain's largest residential military populations. The non-military vote in Colchester swang further in favour of the Liberal Democrats since 1997 when Bob Russell stood. He was elected for the party with a small majority. Russell increased his votes and percentage share in three elections. In the 2010 election this was the only non-Conservative seat in Essex. Russell was defeated in the 2015 general election by Conservative Will Quince, by an 11.5% majority. In the 2017 election Quince was re-elected by a decreased margin by percentage, with Labour moving into 2nd place after a substantial swing, making the seat a more marginal contest between them and the Conservatives.

Members of Parliament

MPs 1295–1640

ParliamentFirst memberSecond member
1312Joseph Elianore-
1386 Thomas FrancisRalph Algar
1388 Thomas FrancisSimon Fordham
1388 Ralph AlgarSimon Fordham
1390 Thomas FrancisSimon Fordham
1390 -
1391Thomas FrancisJohn Christian
1393William MateJohn Christian
1394-
1395Thomas FrancisJohn Christian
1397 Henry BossJohn Seaburgh
1397 -
1399Thomas FrancisThomas Godstone
1401-
1402Henry BossThomas Godstone
1404 -
1404 -
1406Henry BossWilliam Mate
1407Thomas GodstoneWilliam Mate
1410-
1411Thomas GodstoneJohn Pod
1413 -
1413 Thomas GodstoneThomas Francis
1414 -
1414 Thomas GodstoneSimon Mate
1415-
1416 John FordJohn Sumpter
1416 -
1417Thomas GodstoneJohn Ford
1419Thomas GodstoneJohn Sumpter
1420Thomas GodstoneJohn Kimberley
1421 Thomas GodstoneJohn Kimberley
1421 Thomas GodstoneWilliam Nottingham
1485Thomas ChristmasJohn Vertue
1510No names known-
1512?John Clere?John Makin
1515?John Clere?John Makin
1523Thomas AudleyAmbrose Lowth
1529Sir John RaynsfordRichard Rich
1536?-
1539?-
1542?-
1545John LucasBenjamin Clere
1547John RytherJohn Lucas
1553 Sir Francis Jobson?John Lucas
1553 John LucasJohn Best
1554 Sir Francis JobsonWilliam Cardinall
1554 George SayerRobert Browne
1555Sir Francis JobsonJohn Hering
1558George ChristmasThomas Lucas
1559Sir Francis JobsonWilliam Cardinall
1562/3Sir Francis JobsonWilliam Cardinall
1571Henry GoldingFrancis Harvey
1572Robert ChristmasHenry Golding, died
and repl, 1576 by Nicholas Clere, who alao died
and was repl. 1579 by Robert Middleton
1584James MoriceFrancis Harvey
1586James MoriceFrancis Harvey
1588James MoriceArthur Throckmorton
1593James MoriceMartin Bessell
1597Richard SymnellRobert Barker
1601Robert BarkerRichard Symnell
1604–1611Robert BarkerEdward Alford
1614Robert BarkerEdward Alford
1621–1622Edward AlfordWilliam Towse
1624Edward AlfordWilliam Towse
1625Sir Robert QuarlesWilliam Towse
1626Edward AlfordWilliam Towse
1628Sir Thomas CheekEdward Alford
repl. on petition by Sir William Masham, 1st Baronet
1639–1640No Parliaments summonedNo Parliaments summoned

MPs 1640–1885

MPs 1885–1983

MPs since 1997

Elections

Elections in the 2010s

Elections in the 2000s

Elections in the 1990s

Elections in the 1970s

Elections in the 1960s

Elections in the 1950s

Elections in the 1940s

General Election 1939/40:
Another General Election was required to take place before the end of 1940. The political parties had been making preparations for an election to take place from 1939 and by the end of this year, the following candidates had been selected;

Elections in the 1920s

Election results 1885-1918

Elections in the 1880s

Trotter's death a caused a by-election.

Elections in the 1890s

Elections in the 1900s

Elections in the 1910s

General Election 1914/15:
Another General Election was required to take place before the end of 1915. The political parties had been making preparations for an election to take place and by the July 1914, the following candidates had been selected;

Elections in the 1830s

Elections in the 1840s

Elections in the 1850s

Smyth's resignation caused a by-election.
Manners was appointed First Commissioner of Works and Public Buildings, requiring a by-election.
Manners resigned to contest the 1852 by-election in North Leicestershire, causing a by-election.

Elections in the 1860s

Miller resigned, causing a by-election.

Elections in the 1870s

Rebow's death caused a by-election.

Elections in the 1880s

Elections before 1832