Colchester (UK Parliament constituency)

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

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

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.

History
The Parliamentary Borough of Colchester had sent two members to the Parliament of England since the Model Parliament of 1295 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. 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 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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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).

2010–2024

 * 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.

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

Current
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.

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.

MPs since 1997
Colchester North and South Colchester & Maldon prior to 1997

Elections in the 1940s
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 1880s


Trotter's death a caused a by-election.

Elections in the 1910s
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;
 * Unionist: Laming Worthington-Evans
 * Liberal: Arthur Horne Goldfinch
 * Labour: Robert Morley

Elections in the 1850s
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
Miller resigned, causing a by-election.

Elections in the 1870s
Rebow's death caused a by-election.

Elections before 1832

 * Caused by Spottiswoode being unseated on petition