Harwich (UK Parliament constituency)

Harwich was a parliamentary constituency represented in the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom until its abolition for the 2010 general election.

History
The Parliamentary Borough of Harwich had sent two members to the Parliament of England since it was founded in 1604 until 1707, then to the Parliament of Great Britain from 1707 to 1800 and to the Parliament of the United Kingdom from 1801. Under the Reform Act of 1867 its representation was reduced to one, and in 1885 the Parliamentary Borough was abolished and replaced with a Division of the County of Essex (later a County Constituency) under the Redistribution of Seats Act 1885. For a long period of time it was known as a "Treasury borough" due to the control the Treasury had over its elections.

The constituency was abolished for the 2010 general election by the Fifth Periodic Review of Westminster constituencies, being succeeded by the new constituency of Clacton and part of the new constituency of Harwich and North Essex.

1885–1918

 * The Municipal Borough of Harwich; and
 * Parts of the Sessional Divisions of Lexden and Winstree.

Non-resident freeholders of the Parliamentary Borough of Colchester, which constituted the Municipal Borough thereof, were also entitled to vote.

Formally known as the North Eastern or Harwich Division of Essex, incorporating the abolished Parliamentary Borough of Harwich and extending southwards and westwards to include the towns of Clacton and Brightlingsea and the rural areas surrounding Colchester.

1918–1950

 * The Municipal Borough of Harwich;
 * The Urban Districts of Brightlingsea, Clacton, Frinton-on-Sea, Walton-on-the-Naze, and Wivenhoe; and
 * The Rural District of Tendring.

Western, rural areas now included in the new Colchester Division of Essex.

1950–1983

 * The Municipal Borough of Harwich;
 * The Urban Districts of Brightlingsea, Clacton, Frinton and Walton, and Wivenhoe; and
 * The Rural District of Tendring.

''No changes. (The Urban Districts of Frinton-on-Sea and Walton-on-the-Naze had been merged).''

1983–1997

 * The District of Tendring wards of Beaumont and Thorpe, Bockings Elm, Bradfield Wrabness and Wix, Frinton, Golf Green, Great and Little Oakley, Harwich East, Harwich East Central, Harwich West, Harwich West Central, Haven, Holland and Kirby, Little Clacton, Ramsey, Rush Green, Southcliff, St Bartholomew's, St James, St John's, St Mary's, St Osyth, Tendring and Weeley, and Walton.

Western parts, including Brightlingsea and Wivenhoe, included in the new constituency of North Colchester.

1997–2010

 * The District of Tendring wards of Beaumont and Thorpe, Bockings Elm, Frinton, Golf Green, Great and Little Oakley, Harwich East, Harwich East Central, Harwich West, Harwich West Central, Haven, Holland and Kirby, Little Clacton, Ramsey, Rush Green, St Bartholomew's, St James, St John's, St Mary's, Southcliff, and Walton.

A further western slice, including St Osyth, added to the new constituency of North Essex (which had largely succeeded North Colchester).

Following the Boundary Commission's Fifth Periodic Review of Westminster constituencies, Parliament radically altered some constituencies and created new ones to allow for changes in population. Consequently, the constituency of Harwich was abolished. The majority of the constituency, including Clacton, Frinton and Walton, formed the new constituency of Clacton, and Harwich and surrounding areas were included in the new constituency of Harwich and North Essex.

Members of Parliament
Constituency founded 1604

Elections in the 1830s
Herries was appointed Secretary at War, requiring a by-election.

Elections in the 1840s
Attwood's election was declared void on petition due to bribery by his agents, causing a by-election.

Elections in the 1850s
Hobhouse was elevated to the peerage, becoming 1st Baron Broughton and causing a by-election.

Prinsep's election was declared void on petition due to bribery, causing a by-election.

Crawford's election was declared void, due to polling being closed prematurely, and the seat's writ was suspended in July 1851. A by-election was called the next year.

Kelly resigned to contest a by-election in East Suffolk, causing a by-election.

Peacocke's election was declared void on petition, due to corrupt practices, causing a by-election.

Warburton's death caused a by-election.

Bagshaw's resignation caused a by-election.

Elections in the 1860s
Campbell succeeded to the peerage, becoming Lord Stratheden and Campbell, and causing a by-election.

Seat reduced to one member

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: Harry Newton
 * Liberal: Edward Aylmer Digby

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;
 * Liberal National: Stanley Holmes
 * Labour: Ald. Joseph Hewitt

Elections in the 1990s
This was the Referendum Party's best result in the election.