Colchester Politics

Colchester Politics:
Colchester is a historic town located in Essex, England. It served as the first capital of Roman Britain and makes a claim to be the oldest town in Britain.

Local Political Parties

The three main national parties (Tory, Labour, and Lib Dems are represented locally by constituency parties/associations. All of the main parties have representation on the Colchester Borough Council. In addition, there are a 3 "independents" on the 60-member council. The last two borough council elections have seen every seat contested by the Conservatives, Labour, the Liberal Democrats and the Green Party.

Colchester Borough Council

Colchester Borough Council is the local municipal authority. The political composition of the council was (2008 local government elections):
* Conservative – 27 seats
* Liberal Democrats – 23 seats
* Labour – 7 seats
* Others – 3 seats

Mayor of Colchester

The current Mayor of Colchester is Councillor Ray Gamble (Liberal Democrat) from St John's ward.

Parliamentary Politics

The current Member of Parliament for the Colchester (UK Parliament constituency) is Bob Russell (LibDem).

Previous Colchester MP's have included Laming Worthington-Evans (Conservative, 1910-1929), Oswald Lewis (Conservative, 1929-1945), Charles Smith (Labour, 1945-1950), Cub Alport (Conservative, 1950-1964), and Antony Buck (Conservative 1964-1992).

2005 General Election

Election date May 5, 2005.
*RE Russell (LibDem) - 21,145 (47.09%)
*KP Bentley (Conservative) - 14,868 (33.11%)
*LJF Bruni (Labour) - 8,886 (19.79%)
*Electorate 77,365
*Turnout 58.04%
*Majority 6,277 (13.98%)
*LibDem hold
*Source [http://www.psr.keele.ac.uk/area/uk/ge05/i06.htm#C153 University of Keele]

2001 General Election

Election date June 7, 2001.
*RE Russell (LibDem) - 18,627 (42.6%)
*KP Bentley (Conservative) - 13,074 (29.9%)
*C Fegan (Labour) - 10,925 (25.0%)
*R Lord (UKIP) - 631 (1.4%)
*L Overy-Owen (Grey Party) - 479 (1.1%)
*Electorate 77,958
*Turnout 56.1%
*Majority 5,553 (12.7%)
*Lib Dem hold (4.8% swing from LibDem to Con)
*Source: [http://www.psr.keele.ac.uk/area/uk/constit/123.htm University of Keele]

1997 General Election

Election date May 1, 1997. Colchester returned to being one constituency.
*RE Russell (LibDem) - 17,886 (34.37%)
*S Shakespeare (Conservative) - 16,335 (31.39%)
*R Green(Labour) - 15,891 (30.54%)
*Electorate 74,743
*Turnout 69.20%
*Majority 1,551 (2.98%)
*LibDem gain (6.2% swing from Con to LibDem)
*Source [http://www.psr.keele.ac.uk/area/uk/constit/123.htm University of Keele]

1992 General Election

Election date April 9, 1992. Colchester split into two Parliamentary constituencies.

Colchester North
*B. C. Jenkin (Conservative) - 35,213 (51.47%)
*JR Raven (Liberal Democrat) - 18,721 (27.36%)
*DJ Lee (Labour) - 13,870 (20.27%)
*M Tariq Shabeer (Green) - 372 (0.54%)
*M Mears (Natural Law) - 238 (0.35%)
*Electorate 86,479
*Turnout 79.11%
*Majority 16,492 (24.11%)
*Conservative hold
*Source University of Keele

Colchester South & Maldon
*JFL Whittingdale (Conservative) - 37,548 (54.85%)
*IL Thorn (Liberal Democrat) - 15,727 (22.97%)
*CA Pearson (Labour) - 14,178 (20.68%)
*M Patterson (Green) - 1,028 (1.50%)
*Electorate 86,410
*Turnout 79.23%
*Majority 21,821 (31.87%)
*Conservative hold
*Source University of Keele

1987 General Election

Election date June 11, 1987. Colchester split into two Parliamentary constituencies.

Colchester North
*Antony Buck (Conservative) - 32,747 (52.28%)
*A Hayman (Liberal-SDP Alliance) - 19,124 (30.53%)
*RA Green (Labour) - 10,768 (17.19%)
*Electorate 82,240
*Turnout 76.00%
*Majority 13,623 (21.75%)
*Conservative hold
*Source University of Keele

Colchester South & Maldon
*J Wakeham (Conservative) - 34,894 (54.92%)
*JW Stevens (Liberal-SDP Alliance) - 19,411 (30.55%)
*S Bigwood (Labour) - 9,229 (14.53%)
*Electorate 84,392
*Turnout 75.28%
*Majority 15,483 (24.37%)
*Conservative hold
*Source University of Keele

1983 General Election

Election date June 9, 1983. Colchester split into two Parliamentary constituencies.

Colchester North
*A Buck (Conservative) – 29,921 (52.97%)
*R Montgomerie (Liberal-SDP Alliance) – 14,873 (26.33%)
*RC Allen (Labour) – 10,397 (18.41%)
*D Wilkinson (Independent Conservative) – 784 (1.39%)
*R Davies (Independent) – 510 (0.90%)
*Electorate 77,292
*Turnout 73.08%
*Majority 15,048 (26.64%)
*Source [http://www.psr.keele.ac.uk/area/uk/ge83/i05.htm University of Keele]

Colchester South & Maldon
*J Wakeham (Conservative) – 31,296 (53.63%)
*J Stevens (Liberal-SDP Alliance) – 19,131 (32.78%)
*HJ Barnard (Labour) – 7,932 (13.59%)
*Electorate 79,582
*Turnout 73.33%
*Majority 12,165 (20.85%)
*Source [http://www.psr.keele.ac.uk/area/uk/ge83/i05.htm University of Keele]

1979 General Election

Election date May 28, 1979.
*A Buck (Conservative) – 36,740 (52.93%)
*RE Russell (Labour) – 22,877 (32.96%)
*M Gage (Liberal) – 9,704 (14.11%)
*Electorate 90,589
*Turnout 76.62%
*Majority 13,863 (19.97%)
*Conservative hold
*Source [http://www.psr.keele.ac.uk/area/uk/ge79/i06.htm University of Keele]

1974 General Election (October)

Election date October 10, 1974
*A Buck (Conservative) – 27,693 (44.45%)
* D Whytock (Labour) – 22,193 (35.62%)
* D Christian (Liberal) – 12,421 (19.94%)
* Electorate 81,836
* Turnout 76.14%
* Majority 5,550
* Conservative hold
* Source [http://www.psr.keele.ac.uk/area/uk/ge74b/i06.htm University of Keele]

1974 General Election (February)

Election date February 28, 1974.
* A Buck (Conservative) – 29,072 (43.38%)
* D Whytock (Labour) – 22,210 (33.14%)
* DW Thomas (Liberal) – 15,737 (23.48%)
*Electorate 81,134
*Turnout 82.60%
*Majority 6,862 (10.24%)
*Conservative hold
*Source [http://www.psr.keele.ac.uk/area/uk/ge74a/i06.htm University of Keele]

1970 General Election

Election date June 18, 1970.
*A Buck (Conservative) – 30,562 (52.57%)
*JG Bartlett (Labour) – 20,325 (34.96%)
*PS Watts (Liberal) – 7,248 (12.47%)
*Electorate: 74,946
*Turnout 77.57%
*Majority 10,237 (17.61%)
*Conservative hold
*Source University of Keele

1966 General Election

Election date March 31, 1966.
*A Buck (Conservative) – 24,320 (45.60%)
*MH Meacher (Labour) – 23,305 (43.69%)
*PS Watts (Liberal) – 5,714 (10.71%)
*Electorate 64,843
*Turnout 82.26%
*Majority 1,015 (1.90%)
*Conservative hold
*Source University of Keele

1964 General Election

Election date October 15, 1964.
*A Buck (Conservative) – 23,319 (46.03%)
*CCP Williams (Labour) – 19,780 (39.04%)
*EW Rodnigt (Liberal) – 7,566 (14.93%)
*Electorate 61,742
*Turnout 82.06%
*Majority 3,539
*Conservative hold
*Source University of Keele

1959 General Election

Election date October 8, 1959.
*CJM Alport (Conservative) – 24,592 (51.63%)
*JI Edmonson (Labour) – 17,096 (35.89%)
*PM Linfoot (Liberal) – 5,942 (12.48%)
*Electorate 57,5776
*Turnout 82.44%
*Majority 7,496 (15.74%)
*Conservative hold
*Source [http://www.psr.keele.ac.uk/area/uk/ge59/i06.htm University of Keele]

1955 General Election

Election date May 26, 1955.
*CJM Alport (Conservative) – 24,796 (55.48%)
*NR Thomas (Labour) – 19,898 (44.52%)
*Electorate 55,527
*Turnout 80.49%
*Majority 4,898 (10.96%)
*Conservative hold
*Source [http://www.psr.keele.ac.uk/area/uk/ge55/i06.htm University of Keele]

1951 General Election

Election date October 25,1951.
*CJM Alport (Conservative) – 25,063 (54.16%)
*XN Field (Labour) – 21,217 (45.84%)
*Electorate 54,551
*Turnout 84.84%
*Majority 3,846 (8.31%)
*Conservative hold
*Source [http://www.psr.keele.ac.uk/area/uk/ge51/i06.htm University of Keele]

1950 General Election

Election date February 23, 1950.
*CJM Alport (Conservative) - 21,403 (46.50%)
*C Smith (Labour) - 20,472 (44.47%)
*D Goldblat (Liberal) - 4,157 (9.03%)
*Electorate 53,048
*Turnout 86.77%
*Majority 931 (2.02%)
*Conservative gain
*Source [http://www.psr.keele.ac.uk/area/uk/ge50/i06.htm University of Keele]

External links

* [http://www.colchester.gov.uk/Info_page_two_pic_2_det.asp?art_id=2735&sec_id=246 Colchester Borough Council, list of borough councillors]
* [http://www.colchesterconservatives.com/ Colchester Conservative Association]
* [http://www.colchesterlabour.com/ Colchester Constituency Labour Party]
* [http://libdem.meetup.com/cities/gb/colchester/ Colchester Liberal Democrats]
* [http://colchester.greenparty.org.uk/ Colchester Green Party]
* [http://www.ukipcolchester.co.uk/ Colchester UK Independence Party]