Rochford (UK Parliament constituency)

Rochford was a County Constituency in Essex, represented in the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom from 1983 until 1997. It elected one Member of Parliament (MP) by the first past the post system of election.

Rochford
Former County constituency
for the House of Commons
Rochford, showing boundaries used from 1983-1997
CountyEssex
1983–1997
Number of membersOne
Replaced byRayleigh, Rochford and Southend East, Maldon and Chelmsford East
Created fromChelmsford, Maldon, South East Essex, Southend East

History

The seat was created for the 1983 general election from parts of the Maldon, Chelmsford and abolished South East Essex constituencies. It was abolished at the next redistribution which came into effect for the 1997 general election, when it was largely replaced by the new constituency of Rayleigh, with the town of Rochford itself being included in the new constituency of Rochford and Southend East.

It was held by Michael Clark for the Conservatives throughout its existence.

Boundaries

The District of Rochford, and the Borough of Chelmsford wards of Ramsden Heath and Downham, Rettendon and South Hanningfield, Runwell, Woodham Ferrers North, and Woodham Ferrers South.[1]

The District of Rochford comprised the former Rural District of Rochford, which had been part of the Maldon constituency, and the former Urban District of Rayleigh, which had been part of the abolished South East Essex constituency. The Borough of Chelmsford wards had previously been in the Chelmsford constituency.

On abolition in 1997, the bulk of the constituency formed the new constituency of Rayleigh, with Rochford and Great Wakering being included in the new constituency of Rochford and Southend East.

Members of Parliament
ElectionMember[2]Party
1983Michael ClarkConservative
1997 constituency abolished: see Rayleigh, Rochford and Southend East & Maldon and Chelmsford East

Elections

Elections in the 1980s
General election 1983: Rochford[3]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Michael Clark 29,495 57.84 −3.28
Liberal Richard Boyd 16,393 32.15 +14.11
Labour Hyman Witzer 5,105 10.01 −10.83
Majority 13,102 25.69
Turnout 50,993 73.49
Conservative win (new seat)
General election 1987: Rochford[3]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Michael Clark 35,872 60.4 +2.6
Liberal Philip Young 16,178 27.3 −4.8
Labour David Weir 7,308 12.3 +2.3
Majority 19,694 33.1 +7.4
Turnout 59,358 78.0 +4.5
Conservative hold Swing

Elections in the 1990s
General election 1992: Rochford[4]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Michael Clark 38,967 61.1 +0.7
Liberal Democrats Nicholas Harris 12,931 20.3 −7.0
Labour Donald Quinn 10,537 16.5 +4.2
Liberal Linda Farmer 1,362 2.1 New
Majority 26,036 40.8 +7.7
Turnout 63,797 83.0 +5.0
Conservative hold Swing +3.8

Notes and references
  1. "The Parliamentary Constituencies (England) Order 1983". www.legislation.gov.uk. Retrieved 2019-09-09.
  2. Leigh Rayment's Historical List of MPs – Constituencies beginning with "R" (part 2)
  3. "'Rochford', June 1983 up to May 1997". ElectionWeb Project. Cognitive Computing Limited. Archived from the original on 8 March 2016. Retrieved 8 March 2016.
  4. "Politics Resources". Election 1992. Politics Resources. 9 April 1992. Retrieved 2010-12-06.


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