Colchester (UK Parliament constituency)
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]
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] |
Major settlements | Colchester, The Hythe |
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 |
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.[2] Under the Representation of the People Act 1918, the Parliamentary Borough was abolished and replaced with a Division of the County of Essex (later a County Constituency).
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
![](../I/Colchester1918.png.webp)
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.[3]
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.[4]
No changes (the Urban District of West Mersea had been formed as a separate local authority in 1926).
For the 1983 general election the constituency was abolished, with the northern parts (comprising the majority) 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.[5]
Re-established from parts of the abolished constituencies of South Colchester and Maldon (Berechurch, Harbour, New Town, Prettygate and Shrub End wards) and North Colchester (remaining wards).
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.[6]
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 swung 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 slightly decreased margin by percentage (10.6%), with Labour moving into 2nd place after a substantial increase in their vote, meaning this seat is now much more a contest between Labour and the Conservatives for the first time in many years. In the 2019 election, Quince increased his majority to 9,423 or 17.6% in percentage terms.
Members of Parliament
MPs 1295–1640
Parliament | First member | Second member |
---|---|---|
1312 | Joseph Elianore | |
1386 | Thomas Francis | Ralph Algar[7] |
1388 (Feb) | Thomas Francis | Simon Fordham[7] |
1388 (Sep) | Ralph Algar | Simon Fordham[7] |
1390 (Jan) | Thomas Francis | Simon Fordham[7] |
1390 (Nov) | ||
1391 | Thomas Francis | John Christian[7] |
1393 | William Mate | John Christian[7] |
1394 | ||
1395 | Thomas Francis | John Christian[7] |
1397 (Jan) | Henry Boss | John Seaburgh[7] |
1397 (Sep) | ||
1399 | Thomas Francis | Thomas Godstone[7] |
1401 | ||
1402 | Henry Boss | Thomas Godstone[7] |
1404 (Jan) | ||
1404 (Oct) | ||
1406 | Henry Boss | William Mate[7] |
1407 | Thomas Godstone | William Mate[7] |
1410 | ||
1411 | Thomas Godstone | John Pod[7] |
1413 (Feb) | ||
1413 (May) | Thomas Godstone | Thomas Francis[7] |
1414 (Apr) | ||
1414 (Nov) | Thomas Godstone | Simon Mate[7] |
1415 | ||
1416 (Mar) | John Ford | John Sumpter[7] |
1416 (Oct) | ||
1417 | Thomas Godstone | John Ford[7] |
1419 | Thomas Godstone | John Sumpter[7] |
1420 | Thomas Godstone | John Kimberley[7] |
1421 (May) | Thomas Godstone | John Kimberley[7] |
1421 (Dec) | Thomas Godstone | William Nottingham[7] |
1485 | Thomas Christmas | John Vertue[8] |
1510 | No names known[9] | |
1512 | ?John Clere | ?John Makin[9] |
1515 | ?John Clere | ?John Makin[9] |
1523 | Thomas Audley | Ambrose Lowth[9] |
1529 | Sir John Raynsford | Richard Rich[9] |
1536 | ? | |
1539 | ? | |
1542 | ? | |
1545 | John Lucas | Benjamin Clere[9] |
1547 | John Ryther | John Lucas[9] |
1553 (Mar) | Sir Francis Jobson | ?John Lucas[9] |
1553 (Oct) | John Lucas | John Best[9] |
1554 (Apr) | Sir Francis Jobson | William Cardinall[9] |
1554 (Nov) | George Sayer | Robert Browne[9] |
1555 | Sir Francis Jobson | John Hering[9] |
1558 | George Christmas | Thomas Lucas[9] |
1559 | Sir Francis Jobson | William Cardinall[10] |
1562/3 | Sir Francis Jobson | William Cardinall[10] |
1571 | Henry Golding | Francis Harvey[10] |
1572 | Robert Christmas | Henry Golding, died and repl, 1576 by Nicholas Clere, who alao died and was repl. 1579 by Robert Middleton[10] |
1584 | James Morice | Francis Harvey[10] |
1586 | James Morice | Francis Harvey[10] |
1588 | James Morice | Arthur Throckmorton[10] |
1593 | James Morice | Martin Bessell[10] |
1597 | Richard Symnell | Robert Barker[10] |
1601 | Robert Barker | Richard Symnell[10] |
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
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
- 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
Election | Member[11] | Party | |
---|---|---|---|
1885 | Henry John Trotter | Conservative | |
1888 | Lord Brooke | Conservative | |
1892 | Herbert Naylor-Leyland | Conservative | |
1895 | Weetman Pearson | Liberal | |
1910 | Laming Worthington-Evans | Conservative | |
1929 | Oswald Lewis | Conservative | |
1945 | George Smith | Labour | |
1950 | Cuthbert Alport | Conservative | |
1961 | Antony Buck | Conservative | |
1983 | Constituency abolished |
MPs since 1997
Election | Member[11] | Party | |
---|---|---|---|
1997 | Bob Russell | Liberal Democrat | |
2015 | Will Quince | Conservative |
Elections
Elections in the 2010s
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Conservative | Will Quince | 26,917 | 50.4 | +4.6 | |
Labour | Tina McKay | 17,494 | 32.8 | −2.5 | |
Liberal Democrats | Martin Goss | 7,432 | 13.9 | −3.0 | |
Green | Mark Goacher | 1,530 | 2.9 | +1.3 | |
Majority | 9,423 | 17.6 | +7.0 | ||
Turnout | 53,373 | 64.6 | −2.3 | ||
Conservative hold | Swing | ![]() |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Conservative | Will Quince | 24,565 | 45.9 | +6.9 | |
Labour | Tim Young | 18,888 | 35.3 | +19.1 | |
Liberal Democrats | Bob Russell | 9,087 | 17.0 | −10.5 | |
Green | Mark Goacher | 828 | 1.5 | −3.6 | |
CPA | Robin Rennie[22] | 177 | 0.3 | +0.1 | |
Majority | 5,677 | 10.6 | -0.9 | ||
Turnout | 53,545 | 66.9 | +1.4 | ||
Conservative hold | Swing | ![]() |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Conservative | Will Quince | 18,919 | 38.9 | +6.1 | |
Liberal Democrats | Bob Russell | 13,344 | 27.5 | −20.5 | |
Labour | Jordan Newell | 7,852 | 16.2 | +3.8 | |
UKIP | John Pitts | 5,870 | 12.1 | +9.2 | |
Green | Mark Goacher | 2,499 | 5.1 | +3.6 | |
CPA | Ken Scrimshaw | 109 | 0.2 | +0.2 | |
Majority | 5,575 | 11.5 | |||
Turnout | 48,593 | 65.5 | +3.2 | ||
Conservative gain from Liberal Democrats | Swing | 7.2 | |||
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Liberal Democrats | 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 Democrat | 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 Democrats hold | Swing | −0.2 |
Elections in the 2000s
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Liberal Democrats | 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 | +1.3 | ||
Turnout | 44,899 | 56.8 | +0.7 | ||
Liberal Democrats hold | Swing | +0.6 |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Liberal Democrats | Bob Russell | 18,627 | 42.6 | +8.2 | |
Conservative | Kevin Bentley | 13,074 | 29.9 | −1.5 | |
Labour | Christopher Fegan | 10,925 | 25.0 | −5.6 | |
UKIP | Roger Lord | 631 | 1.4 | N/A | |
Grey Party | Leonard Overy-Owen | 479 | 1.1 | N/A | |
Majority | 5,553 | 12.7 | +9.7 | ||
Turnout | 43,736 | 56.1 | −13.5 | ||
Liberal Democrats hold | Swing | +4.9 |
Elections in the 1990s
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Liberal Democrats | 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 | |||
Liberal Democrats gain from Conservative | Swing | ||||
Elections in the 1970s
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Conservative | Antony 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 |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Conservative | Antony Buck | 27,693 | 44.45 | ||
Labour | David Whytock | 22,193 | 35.62 | ||
Liberal | D Christian | 12,421 | 19.94 | ||
Majority | 5,500 | 8.83 | |||
Turnout | 76.14 | ||||
Conservative hold | Swing |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Conservative | Antony Buck | 29,072 | 43.38 | ||
Labour | David Whytock | 22,210 | 33.14 | ||
Liberal | DW Thomas | 15,737 | 23.48 | ||
Majority | 6,862 | 10.24 | |||
Turnout | 82.60 | ||||
Conservative hold | Swing |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Conservative | Antony 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
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Conservative | Antony Buck | 24,320 | 45.60 | ||
Labour | Michael Meacher | 23,305 | 43.69 | ||
Liberal | Peter S Watts | 5,714 | 10.71 | ||
Majority | 1,015 | 1.90 | |||
Turnout | 82.26 | ||||
Conservative hold | Swing |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Conservative | Antony Buck | 23,319 | 46.03 | ||
Labour | Charles Williams | 19,780 | 39.04 | ||
Liberal | Eric W Rodnight | 7,566 | 14.93 | ||
Majority | 3,539 | 6.99 | |||
Turnout | 82.06 | ||||
Conservative hold | Swing |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Conservative | Antony Buck | 17,891 | 47.14 | −4.46 | |
Labour | John Wilson Fear | 12,547 | 33.06 | −2.81 | |
Liberal | Howard Fry | 7,487 | 19.74 | +7.26 | |
Majority | 5,344 | 14.09 | −1.65 | ||
Turnout | 37,925 | ||||
Conservative hold | Swing |
Elections in the 1950s
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Conservative | Cuthbert Alport | 24,592 | 51.63 | ||
Labour | 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 |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Conservative | Cuthbert Alport | 24,796 | 55.48 | ||
Labour Co-op | Norman R Thomas | 19,898 | 44.52 | ||
Majority | 4,898 | 10.96 | |||
Turnout | 80.49 | ||||
Conservative hold | Swing |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Conservative | Cuthbert Alport | 25,063 | 54.16 | ||
Labour | Xenia Field | 21,217 | 45.84 | ||
Majority | 3,846 | 8.31 | |||
Turnout | 84.84 | ||||
Conservative hold | Swing |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Conservative | Cuthbert Alport | 21,403 | 46.50 | ||
Labour | Charles Delacourt-Smith | 20,472 | 44.47 | ||
Liberal | David Goldblatt | 4,157 | 9.03 | ||
Majority | 931 | 2.02 | |||
Turnout | 86.77 | ||||
Conservative gain from Labour | Swing | ||||
Elections in the 1940s
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Labour | Charles Delacourt-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 | ||||
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;
- Conservative: Oswald Lewis
- Labour: Charles Delacourt-Smith
Elections in the 1930s
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Conservative | Oswald Lewis | 19,915 | 58.65 | ||
Labour | Hubert Beaumont | 14,039 | 41.35 | ||
Majority | 5,876 | 17.31 | |||
Turnout | 74.63 | ||||
Conservative hold | Swing |
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
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Unionist | Oswald Lewis | 13,411 | 40.3 | −16.3 | |
Labour | Richard Reiss | 12,809 | 38.5 | −4.9 | |
Liberal | William Elliston | 6,896 | 20.7 | N/A | |
Independent Unionist | C.C. Gray | 172 | 0.5 | N/A | |
Majority | 602 | 1.8 | −11.4 | ||
Turnout | 33,288 | 79.4 | +0.6 | ||
Registered electors | 41,947 | ||||
Unionist hold | Swing | −5.7 |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Unionist | Laming Worthington-Evans | 14,283 | 56.6 | +13.2 | |
Labour | Richard Reiss | 10,953 | 43.4 | +9.2 | |
Majority | 3,330 | 13.2 | +4.0 | ||
Turnout | 25,236 | 78.8 | +0.6 | ||
Registered electors | 32,009 | ||||
Unionist hold | Swing | +2.0 |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Unionist | Laming Worthington-Evans | 10,535 | 43.4 | −13.3 | |
Labour | Richard Reiss | 8,316 | 34.2 | −9.1 | |
Liberal | Arthur Horne Goldfinch | 5,430 | 22.4 | N/A | |
Majority | 2,219 | 9.2 | −4.2 | ||
Turnout | 24,281 | 78.2 | +0.3 | ||
Registered electors | 31,058 | ||||
Unionist hold | Swing | −2.1 |
![](../I/Laming_Worthington_Evans.jpg.webp)
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Unionist | Laming Worthington-Evans | 13,142 | 56.7 | −4.4 | |
Labour | Richard Reiss | 10,045 | 43.3 | +4.4 | |
Majority | 3,097 | 13.4 | −8.8 | ||
Turnout | 23,187 | 77.9 | +17.7 | ||
Registered electors | 29,779 | ||||
Unionist hold | Swing | −4.4 |
Election results 1885–1918
Elections in the 1880s
![](../I/1895_Richard_Causton.jpg.webp)
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Conservative | Henry John Trotter | 2,044 | 52.1 | +3.7 | |
Liberal | Richard Causton | 1,878 | 47.9 | −3.7 | |
Majority | 166 | 4.2 | N/A | ||
Turnout | 3,922 | 92.5 | +4.1 (est) | ||
Registered electors | 4,241 | ||||
Conservative win |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Conservative | Henry John Trotter | 1,996 | 54.0 | +1.9 | |
Liberal | Richard Causton | 1,701 | 46.0 | −1.9 | |
Majority | 295 | 8.0 | +2.8 | ||
Turnout | 3,697 | 87.2 | −5.3 | ||
Registered electors | 4,241 | ||||
Conservative hold | Swing | +1.9 |
Trotter's death a caused a by-election.
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Conservative | Francis Greville | 2,126 | 55.8 | +1.8 | |
Liberal | William Brampton Gurdon | 1,687 | 44.2 | −1.8 | |
Majority | 439 | 11.6 | +3.6 | ||
Turnout | 3,813 | 86.3 | −0.9 | ||
Registered electors | 4,417 | ||||
Conservative hold | Swing | +1.8 |
Elections in the 1890s
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Conservative | Herbert Naylor-Leyland | 2,173 | 50.7 | −3.3 | |
Liberal | Weetman Pearson | 2,112 | 49.3 | +3.3 | |
Majority | 61 | 1.4 | −6.6 | ||
Turnout | 4,285 | 85.7 | −1.5 | ||
Registered electors | 5,000 | ||||
Conservative hold | Swing | −3.3 |
![](../I/Weetman_Pearson.jpg.webp)
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Liberal | Weetman Pearson | 2,559 | 52.7 | +3.4 | |
Conservative | John Medlicott Vereker | 2,296 | 47.3 | −3.4 | |
Majority | 263 | 5.4 | N/A | ||
Turnout | 4,855 | 92.4 | +6.7 | ||
Registered electors | 5,257 | ||||
Liberal gain from Conservative | Swing | +3.4 | |||
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Liberal | Weetman Pearson | 2,475 | 52.2 | +2.9 | |
Conservative | Edward Samuel Norris | 2,270 | 47.8 | −2.9 | |
Majority | 205 | 4.4 | N/A | ||
Turnout | 4,745 | 90.3 | +4.6 | ||
Registered electors | 5,257 | ||||
Liberal gain from Conservative | Swing | +2.9 | |||
Elections in the 1900s
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Liberal | Weetman Pearson | 2,548 | 52.8 | +0.6 | |
Conservative | Trevenen Holland | 2,274 | 47.2 | −0.6 | |
Majority | 274 | 5.6 | +1.2 | ||
Turnout | 4,822 | 85.1 | −5.2 | ||
Registered electors | 5,663 | ||||
Liberal hold | Swing | +0.6 |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Liberal | Weetman Pearson | 3,122 | 52.6 | −0.2 | |
Conservative | Laming Worthington-Evans | 2,812 | 47.4 | +0.2 | |
Majority | 310 | 5.2 | −0.4 | ||
Turnout | 5,934 | 92.3 | +7.2 | ||
Registered electors | 6,426 | ||||
Liberal hold | Swing | −0.2 |
Elections in the 1910s
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Conservative | Laming Worthington-Evans | 3,717 | 56.0 | +8.6 | |
Liberal | Frederick Whitley-Thomson | 2,926 | 44.0 | −8.6 | |
Majority | 791 | 12.0 | 17.2 | ||
Turnout | 91.9 | −0.4 | |||
Conservative gain from Liberal | Swing | +8.6 | |||
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Conservative | Laming Worthington-Evans | 3,489 | 54.8 | −1.2 | |
Liberal | Edgar Vincent | 2,874 | 45.2 | +1.2 | |
Majority | 615 | 9.6 | −2.4 | ||
Turnout | 88.1 | −3.8 | |||
Conservative hold | Swing | −1.2 |
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;
- Unionist: Laming Worthington-Evans
- Liberal: Arthur Horne Goldfinch[36]
- Labour: Robert Morley[37]
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
C | Unionist | Laming Worthington-Evans | 11,186 | 61.1 | +6.3 |
Labour | Andrew Conley | 7,112 | 38.9 | N/A | |
Majority | 4,074 | 22.2 | +12.6 | ||
Turnout | 18,298 | 60.2 | −27.9 | ||
Registered electors | 30,372 | ||||
Unionist hold | Swing | N/A | |||
C indicates candidate endorsed by the coalition government. |
Election results 1832–1885
Elections in the 1830s
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Tory | Richard Sanderson | 648 | 48.7 | +18.5 | |
Radical | Daniel Whittle Harvey | 411 | 30.9 | −4.6 | |
Whig | William Mayhew | 272 | 20.4 | −13.9 | |
Turnout | 991 | 90.2 | c. +16.3 | ||
Registered electors | 1,099 | ||||
Majority | 237 | 17.8 | N/A | ||
Tory gain from Whig | |||||
Majority | 139 | 10.4 | +9.1 | ||
Radical hold | Swing | −11.6 |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Conservative | Richard Sanderson | 637 | 37.3 | +13.0 | |
Conservative | George Smyth | 568 | 33.2 | +8.9 | |
Whig | Henry Tufnell | 505 | 29.5 | +9.1 | |
Majority | 63 | 3.7 | −14.1 | ||
Turnout | 1,040 | 90.3 | +0.1 | ||
Registered electors | 1,152 | ||||
Conservative hold | |||||
Conservative gain from Radical | Swing | +2.2 | |||
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Conservative | Richard Sanderson | 472 | 38.9 | +1.6 | |
Conservative | George Smyth | 435 | 35.9 | +2.7 | |
Radical | James Ruddell-Todd | 306 | 25.2 | N/A | |
Majority | 129 | 10.6 | +6.9 | ||
Turnout | 739 | 62.9 | −27.4 | ||
Registered electors | 1,175 | ||||
Conservative hold | |||||
Conservative hold | Swing | N/A |
Elections in the 1840s
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Conservative | Richard Sanderson | Unopposed | |||
Conservative | George Smyth | Unopposed | |||
Registered electors | 1,176 | ||||
Conservative hold | |||||
Conservative hold |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Conservative | George Smyth | 678 | 37.6 | N/A | |
Whig | Joseph Hardcastle | 596 | 33.0 | N/A | |
Conservative | Richard Sanderson | 531 | 29.4 | N/A | |
Turnout | 903 (est) | 71.7 (est) | N/A | ||
Registered electors | 1,258 | ||||
Majority | 82 | 4.5 | N/A | ||
Conservative hold | Swing | N/A | |||
Majority | 65 | 3.6 | N/A | ||
Whig gain from Conservative | Swing | N/A | |||
Elections in the 1850s
Smyth's resignation caused a by-election.
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Conservative | John Manners | 622 | 61.5 | −5.5 | |
Whig | George Wingrove Cooke[39][40][41] | 389 | 38.5 | +5.5 | |
Majority | 233 | 23.0 | +18.5 | ||
Turnout | 1,011 (est) | 80.9 (est) | +9.2 | ||
Registered electors | 1,250 | ||||
Conservative hold | Swing | −5.5 |
Manners was appointed First Commissioner of Works and Public Buildings, requiring a by-election.
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Conservative | John Manners | Unopposed | |||
Conservative hold |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Conservative | William Warwick Hawkins | 686 | 36.7 | −0.9 | |
Conservative | John Manners | 615 | 32.9 | +3.5 | |
Whig | Joseph Hardcastle | 468 | 25.1 | −7.9 | |
Conservative | Henry Thoby Prinsep[42] | 98 | 5.2 | N/A | |
Majority | 147 | 7.9 | +3.4 | ||
Turnout | 934 (est) | 74.2 (est) | +2.5 | ||
Registered electors | 1,258 | ||||
Conservative hold | Swing | +1.5 | |||
Conservative gain from Whig | Swing | +3.7 | |||
Manners resigned to contest the 1852 by-election in North Leicestershire, causing a by-election.
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Radical | John Gurdon Rebow | 563 | 54.6 | N/A | |
Conservative | Taverner John Miller | 462 | 44.8 | N/A | |
Radical | William Rawdon Havens[43][44][45] | 7 | 0.7 | N/A | |
Majority | 101 | 9.8 | N/A | ||
Turnout | 1,032 (est) | 80.5 (est) | +6.3 | ||
Registered electors | 1,282 | ||||
Radical gain from Conservative | Swing | N/A | |||
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Conservative | Taverner John Miller | 599 | 48.8 | N/A | |
Radical | John Gurdon Rebow | 581 | 47.3 | N/A | |
Radical | William Rawdon Havens | 48 | 3.9 | N/A | |
Majority | 18 | 1.5 | −6.4 | ||
Turnout | 614 (est) | 47.9 (est) | −26.3 | ||
Registered electors | 1,282 | ||||
Conservative hold | Swing | N/A | |||
Radical gain from Conservative | Swing | N/A | |||
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Conservative | Taverner John Miller | 651 | 36.8 | +12.4 | |
Conservative | Philip Oxenden Papillon | 598 | 33.8 | +9.4 | |
Liberal | John Gurdon Rebow | 518 | 29.3 | −18.0 | |
Majority | 80 | 4.5 | +3.0 | ||
Turnout | 884 (est) | 70.3 (est) | +22.4 | ||
Registered electors | 1,257 | ||||
Conservative hold | Swing | +10.7 | |||
Conservative gain from Liberal | Swing | +9.2 | |||
Elections in the 1860s
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Liberal | John Gurdon Rebow | 691 | 36.5 | +7.2 | |
Conservative | Taverner John Miller | 640 | 33.8 | −3.0 | |
Conservative | Philip Oxenden Papillon[46] | 561 | 29.7 | −4.1 | |
Majority | 51 | 2.7 | N/A | ||
Turnout | 1,292 (est) | 91.9 (est) | +21.6 | ||
Registered electors | 1,405 | ||||
Liberal gain from Conservative | Swing | +7.2 | |||
Conservative hold | Swing | −3.3 |
Miller resigned, causing a by-election.
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Conservative | Edward Karslake | 675 | 53.0 | −10.5 | |
Liberal | William Brewer | 598 | 47.0 | +10.5 | |
Majority | 77 | 6.0 | N/A | ||
Turnout | 1,273 | 90.6 | −1.3 | ||
Registered electors | 1,405 | ||||
Conservative hold | Swing | −10.5 |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Liberal | John Gurdon Rebow | 1,467 | 27.2 | +8.9 | |
Liberal | William Brewer | 1,417 | 26.3 | +8.0 | |
Conservative | Edward Karslake | 1,284 | 23.8 | −10.0 | |
Conservative | Alexander Learmonth | 1,217 | 22.6 | −7.1 | |
Majority | 133 | 2.5 | −0.2 | ||
Turnout | 2,693 (est) | 90.7 (est) | −1.2 | ||
Registered electors | 3,183 | ||||
Liberal hold | Swing | +8.0 | |||
Liberal gain from Conservative | Swing | +9.0 | |||
Elections in the 1870s
Rebow's death caused a by-election.
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Conservative | Alexander Learmonth | 1,363 | 61.5 | +15.1 | |
Liberal | Henry Knight Storks[47] | 853 | 38.5 | −15.0 | |
Majority | 510 | 23.0 | N/A | ||
Turnout | 2,216 | 70.5 | −20.2 | ||
Registered electors | 3,145 | ||||
Conservative gain from Liberal | Swing | +15.1 | |||
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Conservative | Alexander Learmonth | 1,515 | 28.0 | +5.4 | |
Conservative | Herbert Mackworth-Praed | 1,407 | 26.0 | +2.2 | |
Liberal | William Brewer | 1,279 | 23.6 | −2.7 | |
Liberal | Richard Causton | 1,218 | 22.5 | −4.7 | |
Majority | 128 | 2.4 | N/A | ||
Turnout | 2,710 (est) | 85.1 (est) | −5.6 | ||
Registered electors | 3,183 | ||||
Conservative gain from Liberal | Swing | +4.1 | |||
Conservative gain from Liberal | Swing | +3.5 | |||
Elections in the 1880s
![](../I/1895_Richard_Causton.jpg.webp)
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Liberal | Richard Causton | 1,738 | 26.5 | +4.0 | |
Liberal | William Willis | 1,650 | 25.1 | +1.5 | |
Conservative | Alexander Learmonth | 1,648 | 25.1 | −2.9 | |
Conservative | Francis Jeune[48] | 1,529 | 23.3 | −2.7 | |
Majority | 2 | 0.0 | N/A | ||
Turnout | 3,283 (est) | 88.4 (est) | −0.7 | ||
Registered electors | 3,713 | ||||
Liberal gain from Conservative | Swing | +3.5 | |||
Liberal gain from Conservative | Swing | +2.1 | |||
Elections before 1832
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Radical | Daniel Whittle Harvey | 617 | 35.5 | −4.8 | |
Whig | William Mayhew | 595 | 34.3 | +10.0 | |
Tory | Richard Sanderson | 524 | 30.2 | −5.2 | |
Turnout | 1,109 | c. 73.9 | |||
Registered electors | c. 1,500 | ||||
Majority | 22 | 1.3 | −3.6 | ||
Radical hold | Swing | −7.4 | |||
Majority | 71 | 4.1 | N/A | ||
Whig gain from Tory | Swing | +7.6 | |||
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Whig | William Mayhew | 604 | 55.2 | +30.9 | |
Tory | William Curtis | 490 | 44.8 | +9.4 | |
Majority | 114 | 10.4 | N/A | ||
Turnout | 1,094 | c. 72.9 | |||
Registered electors | c. 1,500 | ||||
Whig gain from Tory | Swing | +10.8 | |||
- Caused by Spottiswoode being unseated on petition
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Radical | Daniel Whittle Harvey | 650 | 40.3 | N/A | |
Tory | Andrew Spottiswoode | 571 | 35.4 | N/A | |
Whig | William Mayhew | 393 | 24.3 | N/A | |
Turnout | N/A | ||||
Registered electors | c. 1,500 | ||||
Majority | 79 | 4.9 | N/A | ||
Radical hold | Swing | N/A | |||
Majority | 178 | 11.0 | N/A | ||
Tory hold | Swing | N/A |
Notes and references
- Notes
- A borough constituency (for the purposes of election expenses and type of returning officer)
- 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
- "Electorate Figures - Boundary Commission for England". 2011 Electorate Figures. Boundary Commission for England. 4 March 2011. Archived from the original on 6 November 2010. Retrieved 13 March 2011.
- Redistribution of Seats Act 1885, (48-49 Vict. Chapter 23), Schedule 2
- Fraser, Hugh (1918). The Representation of the people act, 1918 : with explanatory notes. University of California Libraries. London : Sweet and Maxwell.
- Craig, F. W. S. (1972). Boundaries of Parliamentary Constituencies 1885-1972. Chichester: Political Reference Publications. ISBN 0-900178-09-4.
- "The Parliamentary Constituencies (England) Order 1995". www.legislation.gov.uk. Retrieved 28 August 2019.
- "The Parliamentary Constituencies (England) Order 2007". www.legislation.gov.uk. Retrieved 28 August 2019.
- "History of Parliament". History of Parliament Trust. Retrieved 16 October 2011.
- Cavill. The English Parliaments of Henry VII 1485-1504.
- "History of Parliament". History of Parliament Trust. Retrieved 17 October 2011.
- "History of Parliament". History of Parliament Trust. Retrieved 17 October 2011.
- Leigh Rayment's Historical List of MPs – Constituencies beginning with "C" (part 5)
- Stooks Smith, Henry. (1973) [1844-1850]. Craig, F. W. S. (ed.). The Parliaments of England (2nd ed.). Chichester: Parliamentary Research Services. pp. 106–108. ISBN 0-900178-13-2.
- "Reference: D/B 5 Pb1/1". Essex Record Office. Retrieved 21 April 2018.
- "Neighbouring Counties". Norfolk News. 7 August 1847. p. 3. Retrieved 21 April 2018 – via British Newspaper Archive.
- Gardeners Chronicle & New Horticulturist, Volume 7. Haymarket Publishing. 1847. p. 233. Retrieved 21 April 2018.
- "Election Intelligence". Morning Post. 16 March 1857. p. 2. Retrieved 5 May 2018 – via British Newspaper Archive.
- "The Coming Election". The Essex County Standard. 25 March 1857. p. 5. Retrieved 5 May 2018.
- "The Dissolution". Essex Standard. 18 March 1857. p. 2. Retrieved 5 May 2018 – via British Newspaper Archive.
- "Colchester Parliamentary constituency". BBC News. BBC. Retrieved 18 November 2019.
- https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/politics/constituencies/E14000644
- "Last night we selected our two candidates for the General Election. Mark Goacher will be standing in the Colchester constituency and Blake Roberts in Harwich and North Essex!". Colchester & District Green Party Facebook page. Retrieved 4 May 2017.
- East Anglian Daily Times
- "Election Data 2015". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 17 October 2015. Retrieved 17 October 2015.
- "Election Data 2010". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 26 July 2013. Retrieved 17 October 2015.
- BBC - Election 2010 - Colchester
- "Election Data 2005". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
- "Election Data 2001". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
- "Election Data 1997". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
- The Times' Guide to the House of Commons. 1955.
- British Parliamentary Election Results 1918-1949, FWS Craig
- British Parliamentary Election Results 1885-1918, FWS Craig
- The Liberal Year Book, 1907
- Debrett's House of Commons & Judicial Bench, 1886
- Debrett's House of Commons & Judicial Bench, 1901
- Debrett's House of Commons & Judicial Bench, 1916
- 'GOLDFINCH, Sir Arthur Horne', Who Was Who, A & C Black, an imprint of Bloomsbury Publishing plc, 1920–2016; online edn, Oxford University Press, 2014 ; online edn, April 2014 accessed 29 Nov 2016
- Dictionary of Labour Biography
- Craig, F. W. S., ed. (1977). British Parliamentary Election Results 1832-1885 (e-book)
|format=
requires|url=
(help) (1st ed.). London: Macmillan Press. ISBN 978-1-349-02349-3. - "Representation of Colchester". Morning Advertiser. 8 February 1850. p. 2. Retrieved 5 May 2018 – via British Newspaper Archive.
- "Colchester Election". Devizes and Wiltshire Gazette. 14 February 1850. p. 4. Retrieved 5 May 2018 – via British Newspaper Archive.
- "From our Private Correspondent". Dublin Evening Mail. 11 February 1850. p. 2. Retrieved 5 May 2018 – via British Newspaper Archive.
- "Colchester". Chelsmford Chronicle. 9 July 1852. p. 3. Retrieved 5 May 2018 – via British Newspaper Archive.
- "Colchester". Bury Free Press. 14 February 1857. p. 4. Retrieved 5 May 2018 – via British Newspaper Archive.
- "Colchester Election". Essex Standard. 27 February 1857. p. 5. Retrieved 5 May 2018 – via British Newspaper Archive.
- "Election Intelligence". Bucks Herald. 28 February 1857. p. 3. Retrieved 5 May 2018 – via British Newspaper Archive.
- "Colchester Election". Essex Standard. 14 July 1865. p. 2. Retrieved 5 February 2018 – via British Newspaper Archive.
- "Colchester Election". Essex Standard. 4 November 1870. p. 4. Retrieved 28 December 2017 – via British Newspaper Archive.
- "Essex". Bury and Norwich Post. 21 February 1888. p. 8. Retrieved 25 November 2017 – via British Newspaper Archive.
- Fisher, David R. "Colchester". The History of Parliament. Retrieved 10 April 2020.
Sources
- Robert Beatson, "A Chronological Register of Both Houses of Parliament" (London: Longman, Hurst, Res & Orme, 1807)
- 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)
- 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