Colchester North (UK Parliament constituency)

North Colchester was a Borough 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.

Colchester North
Former borough constituency
for the House of Commons
Outline map
Colchester North, showing boundaries used from 1983-1997
CountyEssex
19831997
SeatsOne
Created fromColchester and Harwich[1]
Replaced byColchester and North Essex[1]

History

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This seat was created for the 1983 general election from parts of the abolished Colchester constituency and parts of the Harwich constituency. It was abolished at the next redistribution which came into effect for the 1997 general election, when Colchester was re-established as a borough constituency and a new county constituency of North Essex was created.

It was a safe Conservative seat throughout its existence.

Boundaries

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  • The Borough of Colchester wards of Boxted and Langham, Castle, Copford and Eight Ash Green, Dedham, Fordham, Great and Little Horkesley, Great Tey, Highwoods Lexden, Marks Tey, Mile End, St Andrew's, St Anne's, St John's, St Mary's, Stanway, West Bergholt, and Wivenhoe; and
  • The District of Tendring wards of Alresford Thorrington and Frating, Ardleigh, Brightlingsea East, Brightlingsea West, Elmstead, Great Bentley, Great Bromley Little Bromley and Little Bentley, Lawford and Manningtree, and Mistley.[2]

The seat was created in 1983 by dividing the Colchester constituency. It took in the northern parts of the town of Colchester, including the town centre, plus the rural areas to the north of Colchester, and south of either the Stour estuary or the Suffolk border. It also included western parts of the Harwich constituency, including Wivenhoe and Brightlingsea.

The seat was abolished in 1997, with the parts of the town being included in the re-established constituency of Colchester and remaining areas being included in the new constituency of North Essex, a seat surrounding Colchester.

Members of Parliament

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Election Member[3] Party
1983 Sir Antony Buck Conservative
1992 Bernard Jenkin Conservative
1997 constituency abolished: see Colchester & North Essex

Elections

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Elections in the 1980s

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General election 1983: Colchester North[4]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Antony Buck 29,921 53.0 +0.1
Liberal Ronald Montgomerie 14,873 26.3 +12.2
Labour Raymond Allen 10,397 18.4 −14.9
Ind. Conservative Derek Wilkinson 784 1.4 New
Independent Roger Davies 510 0.9 New
Majority 15,048 26.7
Turnout 56,485 73.1 −3.5
Conservative win (new seat)

Changes in vote share for 1983 is based on change from 1979 result of Colchester.

General election 1987: Colchester North[5]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Antony Buck 32,747 52.3 −0.7
SDP Alan Hayman 19,124 30.5 +4.2
Labour Roderic Green 10,768 17.2 −1.2
Majority 13,623 21.8 −4.9
Turnout 62,639 76.0 +2.9
Conservative hold Swing −2.5

Elections in the 1990s

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General election 1992: Colchester North[6][7]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Bernard Jenkin 35,123 51.5 −0.8
Liberal Democrats James Raven 18,721 27.4 −3.1
Labour David Lee 13,870 20.3 +3.1
Green Muhammed Shabeer 372 0.5 New
Natural Law Michael Mears 238 0.4 New
Majority 16,402 24.1 +2.3
Turnout 68,414 79.1 +3.1
Conservative hold Swing +1.2

See also

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Notes and references

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  1. ^ a b "'Colchester North', June 1983 up to May 1997". ElectionWeb Project. Cognitive Computing Limited. Retrieved 10 March 2016.
  2. ^ "The Parliamentary Constituencies (England) Order 1983". www.legislation.gov.uk. Retrieved 9 September 2019.
  3. ^ Leigh Rayment's Historical List of MPs – Constituencies beginning with "C" (part 5)
  4. ^ "Election Data 1983". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 28 June 2017.
  5. ^ "Election Data 1987". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 28 June 2017.
  6. ^ "Election Data 1992". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 28 June 2017.
  7. ^ "Politics Resources". Election 1992. Politics Resources. 9 April 1992. Archived from the original on 24 July 2011. Retrieved 6 December 2010.