Colchester
2010 Results:
Conservative: 15169 (32.88%)
Labour: 5680 (12.31%)
Liberal Democrat: 22151 (48.01%)
BNP: 705 (1.53%)
UKIP: 1350 (2.93%)
Green: 694 (1.5%)
English Democrat: 335 (0.73%)
Others: 55 (0.12%)
Majority: 6982 (15.13%)
Notional 2005 Results:
Liberal Democrat: 19213 (46.9%)
Conservative: 13349 (32.6%)
Labour: 8418 (20.5%)
Other: 0 (0%)
Majority: 5864 (14.3%)
Actual 2005 result
Conservative: 14868 (33.1%)
Labour: 8886 (19.8%)
Liberal Democrat: 21145 (47.1%)
Majority: 6277 (14%)
2001 Result
Conservative: 13074 (29.9%)
Labour: 10925 (25%)
Liberal Democrat: 18627 (42.6%)
UKIP: 631 (1.4%)
Other: 479 (1.1%)
Majority: 5553 (12.7%)
1997 Result
Conservative: 16305 (31.4%)
Labour: 15891 (30.6%)
Liberal Democrat: 17886 (34.4%)
Referendum: 1776 (3.4%)
Other: 148 (0.3%)
Majority: 1581 (3%)
Boundary changes:
Profile:
Current MP: Bob Russell(Liberal Democrat) born 1946, London. Educated at St Helena Secondary Modern. Former journalist and publicity officer for Essex university. Colchester councillor from 1971-2002, originally elected as Labour before defecting to the SDP in 1981. Leader of Colchester council 1987-1991. Contested Colchester for Labour in 1979. First elected as MP for Colchester in 1997. Spokesman on legal affairs 1997-1999, sport 1999-2001, whip 2001-2007, culture, media and sport 2001-205 and defence 2005- (more information at They work for you)
Will Quince (Conservative) born Buckinghamshire. Account manager for Britvic. East Hertfordshire councillor.
Jordan Newall (Labour) Born Harwich. Works for Volunteering England.Bob Russell(Liberal Democrat) born 1946, London. Educated at St Helena Secondary Modern. Former journalist and publicity officer for Essex university. Colchester councillor from 1971-2002, originally elected as Labour before defecting to the SDP in 1981. Leader of Colchester council 1987-1991. Contested Colchester for Labour in 1979. First elected as MP for Colchester in 1997. Spokesman on legal affairs 1997-1999, sport 1999-2001, whip 2001-2007, culture, media and sport 2001-205 and defence 2005- (more information at They work for you)
Peter Lynn (Green) Professor of Survey Methodology at Essex University.
John Pitts (UKIP) Runs a mini coach company.Sidney Chaney (BNP) 
Eddie Bone (English Democrat)Garryck Noble (Peoples Party Essex)Paul Shaw (Independent)2001 Census Demographics
Total 2001 Population: 94741
Male: 49.6%
Female: 50.4%
Under 18: 23.2%
Over 60: 17.7%
Born outside UK: 8.2%
White: 95.6%
Black: 0.6%
Asian: 1.5%
Mixed: 1.4%
Other: 0.9%
Christian: 68.8%
Hindu: 0.7%
Muslim: 0.9%
Full time students: 5%
Graduates 16-74: 18.4%
No Qualifications 16-74: 25.5%
Owner-Occupied: 66.2%
Social Housing: 19% (Council: 13.1%, Housing Ass.: 6%)
Privately Rented: 9.7%
Homes without central heating and/or private bathroom: 5.3%
I was surprised that the new Colchester seat, before the 1997 election, had a notional 1992 majority for the Conservatives of only about 5,250.
(In Robert Waller’s Almanac).
The two seats covering Colchester were very Conservative in 1992, and I think there was a swing in both from LD to Con, with Labour moving up in third.
He went on to say that it would only fall, however, if the Conservative Government was very unpopular indeed.
It was.
But like Chelmsford, the LD strength must have been (and be) concentrated very much in the town itself.
In 1992 the electorate of the urban part of Colchester which was in Colchester North was just under 40,000 out of a total electorate then of 86,479 so a bit under half, though on the 1976 figures on which the boundary commission based their boundaries the electorate was only 68,000 so perhaps the Colchester element would have formed a majority at the beginning of the period, with the growth occurring disproportionately outside the town (although that assumption may be incorrect – there will have been a lot in areas like MIle End for example)
The figure fr Colchester South is that c. 28,500 voters were situated in the wards of Colchester town so a little under a third of the 1992 electorate of 86,410 as I suggested
Thanks Pete – that does help explain it,
it looks surprising at first.
clearly been a lot of growth in the area,
“Very good boundaries for the Conservatives and I guess they would have held both seats fairly comfortably in 97 had they been retained”
It’s amazing really that the Conservatives managed to persuade the boundary commission to adopt these proposals, when urban Colchester (ie the boundaries we have now) would have been the right size for a single constituency. This was mooted at first – Robert Waller says Labour ‘cried foul’ at the division of the town as they would have entertained hopes of winning on these boundaries. Obviously they wouldn;’t have come close in any election before 1997 anyway.
I think on the old boundaries Labour may have come quite close in Colchester North but not close enough to win.
Might the Alliance have come close to winning a whole-town Colchester seat in either 1983 or 1987?
Quite possibly yes,
I can’t quite remember the results but the notional majority was only just above 5,000 in 1992, and I think it was one of the places which swung against the Alliance/LDs in 1987 and 1982 so maybe 1983 would have been just 1,000 or so.
Does anyone suspect Russell may cross the floor before before or immediately after the General Election?
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1325223/Nick-Clegg-bust-senior-Lib-Dem-MP-left-door-hinges.html
Will Colchester turn a shade of red for the first time?
Bob Russell on Anglia News talking about banning elephants in circuses.He looked a bit old and tired.
Well he is 65 tomorrow.
Congratulations to SIR Bob!
Bob Russell attempting to resuscitate the LibDem corpse at Conf, made good television on the News. To the tune of ‘Staying Alive’ no less.
The County Standard last weekend was stuffed to the gunnells with items about Bob Russell’s presence at LD conference. I think they even printed the exact same press release twice. Which suggests that the Lib Dems are hoping he stands again, although I can’t for the life of me understand how he has a personal vote.