- Colchester (UK Parliament constituency)
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Colchester Borough constituency for the House of Commons 
Boundary of Colchester in Essex.
Location of Essex within England.County Essex Electorate 73,638 (December 2010)[1] Current constituency Created 1997 Member of Parliament Bob Russell (Liberal Democrat) 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 parliamentary constituency represented in the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. It elects one Member of Parliament (MP) by the first past the post system of election.
Contents
History
The borough has sent representatives to Parliament since 1295. Two members were sent until 1885, when representation was reduced to one.
Boundaries
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 attractive town centre (often referred to as the oldest town in Britain) and surrounding neighbourhoods.
The seat has one of Britain's largest residential military populations, but the non-military vote in Colchester has been swinging in favour of the Liberal Democrats since 1997, when Bob Russell was elected with a small majority. Russell has increased both his total vote and percentage share in each of the succeeding elections. At the 2010 election it was the only non-Conservative seat in Essex.
Members of Parliament
MPs 1295–1640
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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] 1510 No names known [3] 1512 ?John Clere ?John Makin [3] 1515 ?John Clere ?John Makin [3] 1523 Thomas Audley Ambrose Lowth [3] 1529 Sir John Raynsford Richard Rich [3] 1536 ? 1539 ? 1542 ? 1545 John Lucas Benjamin Clere [3] 1547 John Ryther John Lucas [3] 1553 (Mar) Sir Francis Jobson ?John Lucas [3] 1553 (Oct) John Lucas John Best [3] 1554 (Apr) Sir Francis Jobson William Cardinall [3] 1554 (Nov) George Sayer Robert Browne [3] 1555 Sir Francis Jobson John Hering [3] 1558 George Christmas Thomas Lucas [3] 1559 Sir Francis Jobson William Cardinall [4] 1562/3 Sir Francis Jobson William Cardinall [4] 1571 Henry Golding Francis Harvey [4] 1572 Robert Christmas Henry Golding, died
and repl, 1576 by Nicholas Clere, who alao died
and was repl. 1579 by Robert Middleton [4]1584 James Morice Francis Harvey [4] 1586 James Morice Francis Harvey [4] 1588 James Morice Arthur Throckmorton [4] 1593 James Morice Martin Bessell [4] 1597 Richard Symnell Robert Barker [4] 1601 Robert Barker Richard Symnell [4] 1604-1611 Robert Barker Edward Alford 1614 Robert Barker Edward Alford 1621-1622 Edward Alford Serjeant 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 Baronet1639–1640 No Parliaments summoned MPs 1640–1885
Year First member[5] First party Second member[5] 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 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 1698 Sir Thomas Cooke May 1705 Edward Bullock December 1705 Sir Thomas Webster[mpnotes 2] 1711 William Gore 1713 Sir Thomas Webster 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 Radical Whig 1781 Christopher Potter[mpnotes 6] 1782 [mpnotes 6] Captain Sir Edmund Affleck[mpnotes 7] April 1784 Christopher Potter[mpnotes 8] July 1784 Sir Robert Smyth 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 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 Henry Smyth Tory 1830 Andrew Spottiswoode[mpnotes 10] Tory 1831 William Mayhew Whig 1832 Richard Sanderson Conservative 1835 Sir George Henry Smyth 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 Bulkeley Mackworth-Praed Conservative 1880 Richard Knight Causton Liberal William Willis Liberal 1885 Representation reduced to one member Notes
- ^ Succeeded to a baronetcy, April 1648
- ^ 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
- ^ 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
- ^ 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
- ^ 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
- ^ a b On petition, Potter's election was declared void on the grounds of defective qualification and his opponent, Affleck, declared duly elected
- ^ Admiral from 1784
- ^ On petition, Potter was declared ineligible on the grounds of bankruptcy, and a writ for a new election was issued
- ^ 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
- ^ On petition, Spottiswoode's election was declared void and a by-election was held
MPs 1885–1983
See also: List of MPs of Colchester, 1885–1983Election Member[5] 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[5] Party 1997 Bob Russell Liberal Democrat Elections
Elections in the 2010s
General Election 2010: Colchester[6] 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 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 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 Party Candidate Votes % ±% Liberal Democrat Bob Russell 17,886 34.4 Conservative Stephan Shakespeare 16,335 31.4 Labour R. Green 15,891 30.5 Referendum Party J. Hazell 1,776 3.4 Natural Law L. Basker 148 0.3 Majority 1,551 3.0 Turnout 69.2 See also
Notes and references
- ^ "Electorate Figures - Boundary Commission for England". 2011 Electorate Figures. Boundary Commission for England. 4 March 2011. http://www.boundarycommissionforengland.org.uk/electoral-figures/electoral-figures.htm. Retrieved 13 March 2011.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u "History of Parliament". History of Parliament Trust. http://www.historyofparliamentonline.org/volume/1386-1421/constituencies/colchester. Retrieved 2011-10-16.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m "History of Parliament". History of Parliament Trust. http://www.historyofparliamentonline.org/volume/1509-1558/constituencies/colchester. Retrieved 2011-10-17.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j "History of Parliament". History of Parliament Trust. http://www.historyofparliamentonline.org/volume/1558-1603/constituencies/colchester. Retrieved 2011-10-17.
- ^ a b c d Leigh Rayment's Historical List of MPs – Constituencies beginning with "C" (part 5)
- ^ BBC - Election 2010 - Colchester
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
Categories:- Politics of Colchester
- Parliamentary constituencies in Essex
- United Kingdom Parliamentary constituencies established in 1295
- United Kingdom Parliamentary constituencies disestablished in 1983
- United Kingdom Parliamentary constituencies established in 1997
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