Colchester (UK Parliament constituency)


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This article is about the electoral district in the United Kingdom. For the electoral district of the same name in Canada, see Colchester (provincial electoral district).

Colchester is a constituency[n 1] in Essex represented in the House of Commons of the UK Parliament since 2024 by Pam Cox, of the Labour party.[n 2]

Colchester
Borough constituency
for the House of Commons
Map

Boundaries since 2024

Map of constituency

Boundary of Colchester in the East of England

CountyEssex
Electorate76,843 (2023)[1]
Major settlementsColchester, The Hythe
Current constituency
Created1997
Member of ParliamentPam Cox (Labour)
SeatsOne
Created fromColchester North, South Colchester and Maldon
1918–1983
SeatsOne
Type of constituencyCounty constituency
Created fromColchester (Parliamentary Borough), Harwich (part)
Replaced byColchester North and Colchester South & Maldon
1295–1918
SeatsTwo to 1885, one from 1885 to 1918
Type of constituencyBorough constituency
Replaced byColchester (county constituency)

The seat was previously held by Conservative MP Will Quince who announced in June 2023 that he would not be standing for re-election.[2]

Constituency profile

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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 Parliamentary Borough of Colchester had sent two members to the Parliament of England since the Model Parliament of 1295[3] until 1707, then to the Parliament of Great Britain from 1707 to 1800 and to the Parliament of the United Kingdom from 1801. In 1885, it was one of 36 English boroughs and three Irish boroughs to have its representation reduced to one under the Redistribution of Seats Act 1885.[4] 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).[5]

The revised 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.

In 1997, the vote was split three ways with the Liberal Democrat candidate Bob Russell winning with a small majority. Russell increased his votes and percentage share in next 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. In the 2019 election, Quince increased his majority to 9,423 or 17.6% in percentage terms. The seat lost the ward of Old Heath and The Hythe in the 2023 Boundary Commission review but despite this, Colchester was won by Labour for the first time since 1945 in the 2024 United Kingdom general election with Pam Cox as the new MP. The Liberal Democrats came fourth, narrowly behind Reform UK.

Boundaries and boundary changes

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Colchester in Essex 1918-1983
  • 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.[5]

The area comprising the Rural District of Lexden and Winstree had largely been part of the Harwich Division.

  • The Borough of Colchester;
  • The Urban District of West Mersea; and
  • The Rural District of Lexden and Winstree.[6]

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.

Map of boundaries 2010-2024

  • 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.[7]

Re-established as a Borough Constituency 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).

  • 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.[8]

Local authority wards redistributed. Minor reduction in electorate, with Stanway ward being included in the new constituency of Witham.

Further to the 2023 Periodic Review of Westminster constituencies, which came into effect for the 2024 general election, the composition of the constituency is as follows (as they existed on 1 December 2020):

  • The City of Colchester wards of: Castle; Greenstead; Highwoods; Lexden & Braiswick (polling districts AQ, AS and AT); Mile End; New Town & Christ Church; Prettygate; St. Anne’s & St. John’s; Shrub End.[9]

The revised contents closely correspond to the existing constituency, with the exception of the Old Heath and The Hythe areas to the south east of the city centre, which are now included in Harwich and North Essex.

Members of Parliament

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Parliament First member Second member
1312 Joseph Elianore
1386 Thomas Francis Ralph Algar[10]
1388 (Feb) Thomas Francis Simon Fordham[10]
1388 (Sep) Ralph Algar Simon Fordham[10]
1390 (Jan) Thomas Francis Simon Fordham[10]
1390 (Nov)
1391 Thomas Francis John Christian[10]
1393 William Mate John Christian[10]
1394
1395 Thomas Francis John Christian[10]
1397 (Jan) Henry Boss John Seaburgh[10]
1397 (Sep)
1399 Thomas Francis Thomas Godstone[10]
1401
1402 Henry Boss Thomas Godstone[10]
1404 (Jan)
1404 (Oct)
1406 Henry Boss William Mate[10]
1407 Thomas Godstone William Mate[10]
1410
1411 Thomas Godstone John Pod[10]
1413 (Feb)
1413 (May) Thomas Godstone Thomas Francis[10]
1414 (Apr)
1414 (Nov) Thomas Godstone Simon Mate[10]
1415
1416 (Mar) John Ford John Sumpter[10]
1416 (Oct)
1417 Thomas Godstone John Ford[10]
1419 Thomas Godstone John Sumpter[10]
1420 Thomas Godstone John Kimberley[10]
1421 (May) Thomas Godstone John Kimberley[10]
1421 (Dec) Thomas Godstone William Nottingham[10]
1485 Thomas Christmas John Vertue[11]
1510 No names known[12]
1512 ?John Clere ?John Makin[12]
1515 ?John Clere ?John Makin[12]
1523 Thomas Audley Ambrose Lowth[12]
1529 Sir John Raynsford Richard Rich[12]
1536 ?
1539 ?
1542 ?
1545 John Lucas Benjamin Clere[12]
1547 John Ryther John Lucas[12]
1553 (Mar) Sir Francis Jobson ?John Lucas[12]
1553 (Oct) John Lucas John Best[12]
1554 (Apr) Sir Francis Jobson William Cardinall[12]
1554 (Nov) George Sayer Robert Browne[12]
1555 Sir Francis Jobson John Hering[12]
1558 George Christmas Thomas Lucas[12]
1559 Sir Francis Jobson William Cardinall[13]
1562/3 Sir Francis Jobson William Cardinall[13]
1571 Henry Golding Francis Harvey[13]
1572 Robert Christmas Henry Golding, died
and repl, 1576 by Nicholas Clere, who alao died
and was repl. 1579 by Robert Middleton[13]
1584 James Morice Francis Harvey[13]
1586 James Morice Francis Harvey[13]
1588 James Morice Arthur Throckmorton[13]
1593 James Morice Martin Bessell[13]
1597 Richard Symnell Robert Barker[13]
1601 Robert Barker Richard Symnell[13]
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
Year First member[14] First party Second member[14] 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, Bt
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, Bt
1698 Sir Thomas Cooke
May 1705 Edward Bullock
December 1705 Sir Thomas Webster, Bt[mpnotes 2]
1711 William Gore
1713 Sir Thomas Webster, Bt
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 Whig
1742[mpnotes 4] Samuel Savill Charles Gray[mpnotes 5] Tory
1747 Richard Savage Nassau
1754 John Olmius Whig
1755 Isaac Martin Rebow Whig
1761 Charles Gray Tory
1780 Sir Robert Smyth, Bt Radical Whig
1781 Christopher Potter[mpnotes 6]
1782[mpnotes 6] Sir Edmund Affleck, Bt[mpnotes 7]
April 1784 Christopher Potter[mpnotes 8]
July 1784 Sir Robert Smyth, Bt Radical
1788 George Tierney Radical
1790 Robert Thornton Tory[15] George Jackson Tory
1796 The Lord Muncaster Tory
1802 John Denison Tory
1806 William Tufnell Whig
1807 Richard Hart Davis Tory[15]
1812 Hart Davis Tory
1817 Sir William Burroughs, Bt Tory
February 1818 James Beckford Wildman Tory[15]
June 1818 Daniel Whittle Harvey[mpnotes 9] Radical[15]
1820 Henry Baring Tory
1826 Daniel Whittle Harvey Radical[15] Sir George Smyth, Bt Tory[15]
1829 Richard Sanderson Tory[15]
1830 Andrew Spottiswoode[mpnotes 10] Tory[15]
1831 William Mayhew Whig[15]
1832 Richard Sanderson Tory[15]
1834 Conservative[15]
1835 Sir George Smyth, Bt Conservative[15]
1847 Joseph Hardcastle Whig[16][17][18]
1850 Lord John Manners Conservative
1852 William Warwick Hawkins Conservative
February 1857 John Gurdon Rebow Radical[19][20][21]
March 1857 Taverner John Miller Conservative
1859 Philip Oxenden Papillon Conservative
1865 John Gurdon Rebow Liberal
1867 Edward Karslake Conservative
1868 William Brewer Liberal
1870 Alexander Learmonth Conservative
1874 Herbert Mackworth-Praed Conservative
1880 Richard Causton Liberal William Willis Liberal
1885 Representation reduced to one member
  1. ^ Succeeded to a baronetcy, April 1648
  2. ^ 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
  3. ^ 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
  4. ^ 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
  5. ^ 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
  6. ^ a b On petition, Potter's election was declared void on the grounds of defective qualification and his opponent, Affleck, declared duly elected
  7. ^ Admiral from 1784
  8. ^ On petition, Potter was declared ineligible on the grounds of bankruptcy, and a writ for a new election was issued
  9. ^ 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
  10. ^ On petition, Spottiswoode's election was declared void and a by-election was held
Election Member[14] Party
1885 Henry John Trotter Conservative
1888 by-election Lord Brooke Conservative
1892 Herbert Naylor-Leyland Conservative
1895 by-election Weetman Pearson Liberal
1910 Laming Worthington-Evans Conservative
1929 Oswald Lewis Conservative
1945 George Smith Labour
1950 Cuthbert Alport Conservative
1961 by-election Antony Buck Conservative
1983 Constituency abolished

Colchester North and South Colchester & Maldon prior to 1997

Election Member[14] Party
1997 Bob Russell Liberal Democrat
2015 Will Quince Conservative
2024 Pam Cox Labour

Graph of election results in Colchester since 1997 (minor parties that never got 2% of the vote or didn't run consistently are omitted)

Elections in the 2020s

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Elections in the 2010s

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2019 general election notional result[28]
Party Vote %
Conservative 25,693 52.3
Labour 14,753 30.1
Liberal Democrats 7,209 14.7
Green 1,436 2.9
Turnout 49,091 63.9
Electorate 76,843

Elections in the 2000s

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Elections in the 1990s

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Elections in the 1970s

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Elections in the 1960s

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Elections in the 1950s

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Elections in the 1940s

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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;

Elections in the 1930s

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Elections in the 1920s

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Worthington-Evans

Election results 1885–1918

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Elections in the 1880s

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Causton

Trotter's death a caused a by-election.

Elections in the 1890s

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Pearson

Elections in the 1900s

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Elections in the 1910s

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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;

Election results 1832–1885

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Elections in the 1830s

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Elections in the 1840s

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Elections in the 1850s

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Smyth's resignation caused a by-election.

Manners was appointed First Commissioner of Works and Public Buildings, requiring a by-election.

Manners resigned to contest the 1852 by-election in North Leicestershire, causing a by-election.

Elections in the 1860s

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Miller resigned, causing a by-election.

Elections in the 1870s

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Rebow's death caused a by-election.

Elections in the 1880s

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Causton

Elections before 1832

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  • Caused by Spottiswoode being unseated on petition
  1. ^ A borough constituency (for the purposes of election expenses and type of returning officer)
  2. ^ 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.
  1. ^ "The 2023 Review of Parliamentary Constituency Boundaries in England – Volume two: Constituency names, designations and composition – Eastern". Boundary Commission for England. Retrieved 26 June 2024.
  2. ^ "Statement on the next General Election". 9 June 2023.
  3. ^ "Colchester | History of Parliament Online". www.histparl.ac.uk. Retrieved 11 June 2023.
  4. ^ Redistribution of Seats Act 1885, (48-49 Vict. Chapter 23), Schedule 2
  5. ^ a b Fraser, Hugh (1918). The Representation of the people act, 1918 : with explanatory notes. University of California Libraries. London : Sweet and Maxwell.
  6. ^ Craig, F. W. S. (1972). Boundaries of Parliamentary Constituencies 1885-1972. Chichester: Political Reference Publications. ISBN 0-900178-09-4.
  7. ^ "The Parliamentary Constituencies (England) Order 1995". www.legislation.gov.uk. Retrieved 28 August 2019.
  8. ^ "The Parliamentary Constituencies (England) Order 2007". www.legislation.gov.uk. Retrieved 28 August 2019.
  9. ^ "The Parliamentary Constituencies Order 2023". Schedule I Part 2 Eastern region.
  10. ^ 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. Retrieved 16 October 2011.
  11. ^ Cavill. The English Parliaments of Henry VII 1485-1504.
  12. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m "History of Parliament". History of Parliament Trust. Retrieved 17 October 2011.
  13. ^ a b c d e f g h i j "History of Parliament". History of Parliament Trust. Retrieved 17 October 2011.
  14. ^ a b c d Leigh Rayment's Historical List of MPs – Constituencies beginning with "C" (part 5)
  15. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s 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.
  16. ^ "Reference: D/B 5 Pb1/1". Essex Record Office. Retrieved 21 April 2018.
  17. ^ "Neighbouring Counties". Norfolk News. 7 August 1847. p. 3. Retrieved 21 April 2018 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  18. ^ Gardeners Chronicle & New Horticulturist, Volume 7. Haymarket Publishing. 1847. p. 233. Retrieved 21 April 2018.
  19. ^ "Election Intelligence". Morning Post. 16 March 1857. p. 2. Retrieved 5 May 2018 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  20. ^ "The Coming Election". The Essex County Standard. 25 March 1857. p. 5. Retrieved 5 May 2018.
  21. ^ "The Dissolution". Essex Standard. 18 March 1857. p. 2. Retrieved 5 May 2018 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  22. ^ "Pam Cox is Labour's Parliamentary choice for Colchester". Colchester Gazette. 5 November 2022. Retrieved 30 November 2023.
  23. ^ "James Cracknell: Olympic rowing champion chosen as Tory candidate for Colchester at next general election". Sky News. Retrieved 30 November 2023.
  24. ^ "Colchester constituency". Reform UK. Retrieved 31 March 2024.
  25. ^ "Liberal Democrat Prospective Parliamentary Candidates". Mark Pack. Retrieved 21 December 2023.
  26. ^ "Introducing Your Green Parliamentary Candidates". Colchester Green Party. 26 November 2023. Retrieved 15 December 2023.
  27. ^ "Colchester". BBC News. Retrieved 8 June 2024.
  28. ^ "Notional results for a UK general election on 12 December 2019". Rallings & Thrasher, Professor David Denver (Scotland), Nicholas Whyte (NI) for Sky News, PA, BBC News and ITV News. UK Parliament. Retrieved 11 July 2024.
  29. ^ "Colchester Parliamentary constituency". BBC News. BBC. Retrieved 18 November 2019.
  30. ^ "Colchester parliamentary constituency - Election 2019 - BBC News" – via www.bbc.co.uk.
  31. ^ "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. Archived from the original on 26 February 2022. Retrieved 4 May 2017.
  32. ^ East Anglian Daily Times
  33. ^ "Election Data 2015". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 17 October 2015. Retrieved 17 October 2015.
  34. ^ "Election Data 2010". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 26 July 2013. Retrieved 17 October 2015.
  35. ^ "BBC News | Election 2010 | Constituency | Colchester". news.bbc.co.uk.
  36. ^ "Election Data 2005". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
  37. ^ "Election Data 2001". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
  38. ^ "Election Data 1997". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
  39. ^ The Times' Guide to the House of Commons. 1955.
  40. ^ a b c d e British Parliamentary Election Results 1918-1949, FWS Craig
  41. ^ a b c d e f g h i j British Parliamentary Election Results 1885-1918, FWS Craig
  42. ^ a b c d e f g h The Liberal Year Book, 1907
  43. ^ Debrett's House of Commons & Judicial Bench, 1886
  44. ^ a b c Debrett's House of Commons & Judicial Bench, 1901
  45. ^ a b Debrett's House of Commons & Judicial Bench, 1916
  46. ^ '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
  47. ^ Dictionary of Labour Biography
  48. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q Craig, F. W. S., ed. (1977). British Parliamentary Election Results 1832-1885 (1st ed.). London: Macmillan Press. ISBN 978-1-349-02349-3.
  49. ^ "Representation of Colchester". Morning Advertiser. 8 February 1850. p. 2. Retrieved 5 May 2018 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  50. ^ "Colchester Election". Devizes and Wiltshire Gazette. 14 February 1850. p. 4. Retrieved 5 May 2018 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  51. ^ "From our Private Correspondent". Dublin Evening Mail. 11 February 1850. p. 2. Retrieved 5 May 2018 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  52. ^ "Colchester". Chelsmford Chronicle. 9 July 1852. p. 3. Retrieved 5 May 2018 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  53. ^ "Colchester". Bury Free Press. 14 February 1857. p. 4. Retrieved 5 May 2018 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  54. ^ "Colchester Election". Essex Standard. 27 February 1857. p. 5. Retrieved 5 May 2018 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  55. ^ "Election Intelligence". Bucks Herald. 28 February 1857. p. 3. Retrieved 5 May 2018 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  56. ^ "Colchester Election". Essex Standard. 14 July 1865. p. 2. Retrieved 5 February 2018 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  57. ^ "Colchester Election". Essex Standard. 4 November 1870. p. 4. Retrieved 28 December 2017 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  58. ^ "Essex". Bury and Norwich Post. 21 February 1888. p. 8. Retrieved 25 November 2017 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  59. ^ a b c Fisher, David R. "Colchester". The History of Parliament. Retrieved 10 April 2020.