South East Essex (UK Parliament constituency)

South East Essex was a parliamentary constituency in Essex in the East of England. It returned one Member of Parliament to the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom.

South East Essex
Former Borough constituency
for the House of Commons
South East Essex, showing boundaries used from 1955-1974
1955–1983
Number of membersone
Replaced byCastle Point and Rochford
Created fromBillericay and Southend East
1885–1950
Number of membersone
Replaced byBillericay and Southend East
Created fromSouth Essex

History

South East Essex (formally the South Eastern division of Essex in its first incarnation) was one of eight single-member divisions of Essex (later classified as county constituencies) created by the Redistribution of Seats Act 1885, replacing the three two member divisions of East, South and West Essex.

The seat was reduced considerably in size under the Representation of the People Act 1918 and again in the interim redistribution carried out for the 1945 general election, before being abolished for the 1950 general election.

The constituency was re-established for the 1955 general election, and abolished again for the 1983 general election.

Boundaries
South East Essex, showing boundaries used from 1918 to 1945
South East Essex, showing boundaries used from 1945 to 1950

1885–1918: The Sessional Divisions of Dengie, Orsett, and Rochford, and the civil parishes of Rainham and Wennington.[1]

Formed primarily from the abolished South Division of Essex, together with southern part of the abolished East Division (Dengie peninsular). See below for areas covered.

1918–1945: The Urban Districts of Grays Thurrock, Shoeburyness, and Tilbury, the Rural Districts of Orsett and Rochford, and part of the Rural District of Billericay.[2]

Gained southernmost parts of Chelmsford Division of Essex, including Billericay.  Area between River Crouch and River Blackwater (Dengie peninsular), including Burnham-on-Crouch, transferred to Maldon and westernmost area, including Rainham, transferred to Romford.  Parts comprising Southend-on-Sea County Borough created as a separate Parliamentary Borough.

1945–1950: The Urban Districts of Benfleet, Billericay, Canvey Island, and Rayleigh, the Rural District of Rochford, and part of the County Borough of Southend-on-Sea.[2]

The House of Commons (Redistribution of Seats) Act 1944 set up Boundaries Commissions to carry out periodic reviews of the distribution of parliamentary constituencies. It also authorised an initial review to subdivide abnormally large constituencies in time for the 1945 election.[3] This was implemented by the Redistribution of Seats Order 1945 under which South East Essex was divided into two constituencies. As a consequence, the Urban District of Thurrock (created largely from amalgamating the Urban Districts of Grays Thurrock and Tilbury and the Rural District of Orsett) was formed as the new Thurrock Division of Essex.  Other marginal changes resulting from changes to local authority boundaries.

Following the First Periodic Review of Westminster constituencies the seat was abolished. The bulk of the Division, comprising the Urban Districts of Benfleet, Billericay, Canvey Island and Rayleigh, formed the new County Constituency of Billericay.  The Rural District of Rochford, and the parts of the County Borough of Southend-on-Sea situated in the Division (Shoeburyness), included in the new Borough Constituency of Southend East.

1955–1974: The Urban Districts of Benfleet, Canvey Island, and Rayleigh, and the Rural District of Rochford.[2]

Re-established as a County Constituency. Benfleet, Canvey Island and Rayleigh were transferred back from Billericay, and Rochford from Southend East.

1974–1983: The Urban Districts of Benfleet, Canvey Island, and Rayleigh.

The Rural District of Rochford was now transferred to Maldon.

On abolition for the second time, Benfleet and Canvey Island (which now comprised the District of Castle Point) formed the new Borough Constituency of Castle Point. Rayleigh had been incorporated into the District of Rochford and was included in the new County Constituency thereof.

Areas covered
Area 1885 1918 1945 1950 1955 1974 1983
Dengie peninsular,

Burnham-on-Crouch

 South East Essex Maldon (part) South Colchester

and Maldon (part)

Southend-on-Sea - West Southend-on-Sea Southend West
- East Southend East Southend East
Shoeburyness South East Essex
 South East Essex
Rochford South East Essex Maldon (part) Rochford
Rayleigh Billericay South East Essex
South Benfleet, Canvey Island Castle Point
Billericay, Wickford Chelmsford (part) Billericay (part) Basildon Billericay
Basildon Basildon
Tilbury, Grays, Orsett South East Essex Thurrock
Rainham Romford (part) Hornchurch (part)

Members of Parliament

MPs 1885–1950
ElectionMemberParty
1885 constituency created (South Essex divided)
1885 William Makins Conservative
1886 Carne Rasch Conservative
1900 Edward Tufnell Conservative
1906 Rowland Whitehead Liberal
Jan. 1910 John Kirkwood Conservative
1912 Rupert Guinness Unionist
1918 Frank Hilder Unionist
1923 Philip Hoffman Labour
1924 Herbert Looker Unionist
1929 Jack Oldfield Labour
1931 Victor Raikes Conservative
1945 Ray Gunter Labour
1950 constituency abolished

MPs 1955–1983
ElectionMemberParty
1955 constituency re-established
1955 Bernard Braine Conservative
1983 constituency abolished

Elections

Elections in the 1880s
William Wills
General election 1885: South East Essex [4]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative William Makins 3,707 51.4
Liberal William Wills 3,500 48.6
Majority 207 2.8
Turnout 7,207 76.9
Registered electors 9,367
Conservative win (new seat)
General election 1886: South East Essex [4]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Carne Rasch 3,758 56.3 +4.9
Liberal William Wills 2,916 43.7 −4.9
Majority 842 12.6 +9.8
Turnout 6,674 71.3 −5.6
Registered electors 9,367
Conservative hold Swing +4.9

Elections in the 1890s
General election 1892: South East Essex [4]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Carne Rasch 4,901 52.9 −3.4
Liberal Edmund Wright Brooks 4,359 47.1 +3.4
Majority 542 5.8 −6.8
Turnout 9,260 77.4 +6.1
Registered electors 11,960
Conservative hold Swing −3.4
General election 1895: South East Essex [4]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Carne Rasch 5,460 60.8 +7.9
Liberal David Milne-Watson[5] 3,520 39.2 −7.9
Majority 1,940 21.6 +15.8
Turnout 8,980 65.8 −11.6
Registered electors 13,640
Conservative hold Swing +7.9

Elections in the 1900s
General election 1900: South East Essex [4]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Edward Tufnell 5,815 56.6 −4.2
Liberal Rowland Whitehead 4,461 43.4 +4.2
Majority 1,354 13.2 −8.4
Turnout 10,276 67.7 +1.9
Registered electors 15,169
Conservative hold Swing −4.2
General election 1906 South East Essex[4]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Rowland Whitehead 9,230 56.3 +12.9
Conservative John Pretyman Newman 7,170 43.7 −12.9
Majority 2,060 12.6 N/A
Turnout 16,400 79.6 +11.9
Registered electors 20,591
Liberal gain from Conservative Swing +12.9

Elections in the 1910s
Kirkwood
General election January 1910: South East Essex [4]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative John Hendley Morrison Kirkwood 11,199 54.7 +11.0
Liberal Rowland Whitehead 9,288 45.3 −11.0
Majority 1,911 9.4 N/A
Turnout 20,487 83.1 +3.5
Registered electors 24,645
Conservative gain from Liberal Swing +11.0
General election December 1910: South East Essex [4]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative John Hendley Morrison Kirkwood 10,108 53.2 −1.5
Liberal John Henry Burrows 8,891 46.8 +1.5
Majority 1,217 6.4 −3.0
Turnout 18,999 77.1 −6.0
Registered electors 24,645
Conservative hold Swing −1.5
1912 South East Essex by-election [4]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Unionist Rupert Guinness Unopposed
Unionist hold

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 July 1914, the following candidates had been selected;

General election 1918: South East Essex [6][7]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
C Unionist Frank Hilder 11,703 63.6 +10.4
Labour Joe Cotter 5,343 29.0 New
Liberal Sydney Robinson 1,372 7.4 −39.4
Majority 6,360 34.6 +28.2
Turnout 18,418 50.9 −26.2
Registered electors 36,213
Unionist hold Swing +24.9
C indicates candidate endorsed by the coalition government.

Elections in the 1920s
General election 1922: Essex South East [8]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Unionist Frank Hilder 13,522 54.1 −9.5
Labour Philip Hoffman 11,459 45.9 +16.9
Majority 2,063 8.2 −26.4
Turnout 24,981 58.9 +8.0
Registered electors 42,406
Unionist hold Swing −13.2
General election 1923: Essex South East [8]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Philip Hoffman 13,979 53.0 +7.1
Unionist Frank Hilder 12,379 47.0 −7.1
Majority 1,600 6.0 N/A
Turnout 26,358 58.1 −0.8
Registered electors 45,363
Labour gain from Unionist Swing +7.1
General election 1924: Essex South East [8]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Unionist Herbert Looker 19,731 58.8 +11.8
Labour Philip Hoffman 13,820 41.2 −11.8
Majority 5,911 17.6 N/A
Turnout 33,551 69.3 +11.2
Registered electors 48,412
Unionist gain from Labour Swing +11.8
General election 1929: Essex South East [8]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Jack Oldfield 18,756 37.6 −3.6
Unionist Herbert Looker 18,130 36.3 −22.5
Liberal George Thomas Veness 13,030 26.1 New
Majority 626 1.3 N/A
Turnout 49,916 65.3 −4.0
Registered electors 76,466
Labour gain from Unionist Swing +9.5

Elections in the 1930s
General election 1931: Essex South East
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Victor Raikes 30,436 53.4 +17.1
Labour Jack Oldfield 20,066 35.2 -2.4
National Labour Felix Greene 6,539 11.5 New
Majority 10,370 18.2 +16.9
Turnout 57,041 66.8 +1.5
Conservative gain from Labour Swing
General election 1935: Essex South East
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Victor Raikes 25,912 44.2 -9.2
Labour Jack Oldfield 24,942 42.5 +7.3
Liberal Arthur Musgrove Mathews 7,797 13.3 New
Majority 970 1.7 -16.5
Turnout 58,651 59.5 -7.3
Conservative hold Swing

Elections in the 1940s
General election 1945: Essex South East
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Ray Gunter 25,581 53.8 +11.3
Conservative Aubrey Jones 21,990 46.2 +2.0
Majority 3,591 7.6 New
Turnout 47,571 65.8 +6.3
Labour gain from Conservative Swing

Elections in the 1950s
General election 1955: Essex South East[9][10]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Bernard Braine 20,531 59.73
Labour Co-op Edward W Harby 13,841 40.27
Majority 6,690 19.46
Turnout 34,372 72.93
Registered electors 47,132
Conservative win (new seat)
General election 1959: Essex South East[11][12]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Bernard Braine 28,124 60.99 +1.26
Labour Reginald M Fryer 17,991 39.01 -1.26
Majority 10,133 21.98 +2.52
Turnout 46,115 76.46 +3.53
Registered electors 60,315
Conservative hold Swing +1.26

Elections in the 1960s
General election 1964: Essex South East[13][14]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Bernard Braine 33,494 56.98 -4.01
Labour Anthony Pearson-Clarke 25,293 43.02 +4.01
Majority 8,201 13.96 -8.02
Turnout 58,787 75.02 -1.44
Registered electors 78,364
Conservative hold Swing -4.01
General election 1966: Essex South East[15][16]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Bernard Braine 31,942 48.50 -8.48
Labour Derek W Edwards 26,208 39.80 -3.22
Liberal Joyce Arram 7,706 11.70 New
Majority 5,734 8.70 -5.26
Turnout 65,856 77.34 +2.32
Registered electors 85.151
Conservative hold Swing -2.63

Elections in the 1970s
General election 1970: Essex South East[17][18]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Bernard Braine 41,589 57.70 +9.20
Labour Derek W Edwards 23,684 32.86 -6.94
Liberal Christopher H Bohling 6,811 9.45 -2.25
Majority 17,905 24.84 +16.14
Turnout 72,084 71.86 -5.48
Registered electors 85,151
Conservative hold Swing +8.07
General election February 1974: Essex South East[19][20]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Bernard Braine 28,644 46.26 -11.44
Labour David Bryn Jones 19,379 31.30 -1.56
Liberal Frances Alexander 13,891 22.44 +12.99
Majority 9,265 14.96 -13.88
Turnout 61,914 82.09 +10.23
Registered electors 75,394
Conservative hold Swing -4.94
General election October 1974: Essex South East[21][20]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Bernard Braine 27,348 48.81 +2.54
Labour David Bryn Jones 18,638 33.26 +1.96
Liberal Anthony Morris 10,049 17.93 -4.50
Majority 8,710 15.55 +0.59
Turnout 56,035 73.74 -8.35
Registered electors 76,013
Conservative hold Swing +0.29
General election 1979: Essex South East[22][20]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Bernard Braine 40,497 63.96 +15.15
Labour Nigel Smith 15,965 25.21 -8.05
Liberal Frances Alexander 6,858 10.83 -7.10
Majority 24,532 38.75 +23.20
Turnout 63,320 76.89 +3.15
Registered electors 82,350
Conservative hold Swing +11.60

References
  1. Great Britain, Incorporated Council of Law Reporting for England and Wales. The public general acts. unknown library. Proprietors of the Law Journal Reports, 1884.
  2. Craig, Fred W. S. (1972). Boundaries of parliamentary constituencies 1885-1972;. Chichester: Political Reference Publications. ISBN 0900178094. OCLC 539011.
  3. Gay, Oonagh (2010-07-28). "The Rules for the Redistribution of Seats- history and reform". Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  4. British parliamentary election results, 1885-1918 (Craig)
  5. Cox, William. "General Election results covering the Basildon area 1885 - 1935". Basildon History. Retrieved 6 November 2017.
  6. British parliamentary election results, 1918-1949 (Craig)
  7. Debrett's House of Commons and the Judicial Bench, 1922
  8. British Parliamentary Election Results 1918-1949, FWS Craig
  9. Kimber, Richard. "UK General Election results 1955". Political Science Resources. Retrieved 22 March 2016.
  10. The Times Guide to the House of Commons. 1955.
  11. Kimber, Richard. "UK General Election results 1959". Political Science Resources. Retrieved 22 March 2016.
  13. Kimber, Richard. "UK General Election results 1964". Political Science Resources. Retrieved 22 March 2016.
  15. Kimber, Richard. "UK General Election results 1966". Political Science Resources. Retrieved 22 March 2016.
  17. Kimber, Richard. "UK General Election results 1970". Political Science Resources. Retrieved 22 March 2016.
  19. Kimber, Richard. "UK General Election results February 1974". Political Science Resources. Retrieved 22 March 2016.
  20. "'Essex South East', Feb 1974 - May 1983". ElectionWeb Project. Cognitive Computing Limited. Retrieved 22 March 2016.
  21. Kimber, Richard. "UK General Election results October 1974". Political Science Resources. Retrieved 22 March 2016.
  22. Kimber, Richard. "UK General Election results 1979". Political Science Resources. Retrieved 22 March 2016.
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