South Colchester and Maldon (UK Parliament constituency)

South Colchester and Maldon was a parliamentary constituency in Essex represented in the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom from 1983 to 1997. It elected one Member of Parliament (MP) by the first past the post system of election.

South Colchester and Maldon
Former County constituency
for the House of Commons
Outline map
South Colchester and Maldon, showing boundaries used from 1983-1997
CountyEssex
19831997
SeatsOne
Created fromColchester and Maldon[1]
Replaced byMaldon and East Chelmsford, North Essex, Colchester[1]

History edit

This seat was created for the 1983 general election from parts of the abolished Colchester constituency and parts of the Maldon 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 new county constituencies of Maldon and East Chelmsford and North Essex were created.

It was a safe Conservative seat throughout its existence.

Boundaries edit

  • The Borough of Colchester wards of Berechurch, Birch-Messing, East Donyland, Harbour, New Town, Prettygate, Pyefleet, Shrub End, Tiptree, West Mersea, and Winstree; and
  • The District of Maldon.[2]

The constituency was formed from the bulk of the abolished Maldon constituency (the District of Maldon) and southern parts of the Borough of Colchester (including parts of the town of Colchester) which were previously part of the abolished county constituency of Colchester.

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

Members of Parliament edit

Election Member [3] Party
1983 John Wakeham Conservative
1992 John Whittingdale Conservative
1997 constituency abolished: see Maldon and East Chelmsford,
North Essex and Colchester

Elections edit

General election 1983: South Colchester and Maldon[4]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative John Wakeham 31,296 53.6 −1.4
SDP John William Stevens 19,131 32.8 +17.4
Labour Hilary Barnard 7,932 13.6 −16.0
Majority 12,165 20.8 −4.6
Turnout 58,359 73.3 −3.9
Conservative win (new seat)
General election 1987: South Colchester and Maldon[5]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative John Wakeham 34,894 54.9 +1.3
SDP John William Stevens 19,411 30.6 −2.2
Labour Sally Bigwood 9,229 14.5 +0.9
Majority 15,483 24.4 +3.6
Turnout 63,534 76.2 +2.9
Conservative hold Swing +1.8
General election 1992: South Colchester and Maldon[6][7]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative John Whittingdale 37,548 54.8 −0.1
Liberal Democrats I L Thorn 15,727 23.0 −7.6
Labour C A Pearson 14,158 20.7 +6.2
Green M Patterson 1,028 1.5 New
Majority 21,821 31.9 +7.5
Turnout 68,461 79.2 +3.0
Conservative hold Swing +3.8

1979 Prediction for Colchester South and Maldon boundaries edit

General election 1979: South Colchester and Maldon
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative John Wakeham 33,163 55.0
Labour 17,863 29.6
Liberal 9,262 15.4
Majority 15,300 25.4
Turnout 60,287 77.2
Conservative hold Swing

Notes and references edit

  1. ^ a b "'Colchester South and Maldon', 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 10 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. Retrieved 6 December 2010.

Boundary changes edit

Preceded by UK Parliament constituency
1983–1997
Succeeded by
Preceded by UK Parliament constituency
1983–1997
Succeeded by