# Harwich and North Essex (UK Parliament constituency)

Harwich and North Essex /ˈhærɪtʃ ... ˈɛsɪks/ is a constituency represented in the House of Commons of the UK Parliament by Bernard Jenkin of the Conservative Party since its creation in 2010.

## Constituency profile

The constituency maintains a strong maritime connection, containing the eponymous port and town of Harwich which offers regular ferry services to the Hook of Holland (Hoek van Holland). Deprivation in terms of low income and unemployment exists in the Dovercourt, Parkeston and station neighbourhoods of Harwich itself and south of Brightlingsea whereas the other villages and towns (down to localised Output Areas of a few hundred homes) fall above the national average on the same measures.

## History

The seat was created for the 2010 general election following a review of the Parliamentary representation of Essex by the Boundary Commission for England. It was formed from the majority of the abolished constituency of North Essex, together with the town of Harwich and surrounding areas, previously part of the abolished Harwich constituency, with the remainder of the Harwich seat creating the new seat of Clacton.
Jenkin was previously Member of Parliament for North Essex.

## Boundaries

2010–2024: The District of Tendring wards of Alresford, Ardleigh and Little Bromley, Bradfield, Wrabness and Wix, Brightlingsea, Great and Little Oakley, Great Bentley, Harwich and Kingsway, Lawford, Manningtree, Mistley, Little Bentley and Tendring, Ramsey and Parkeston, and Thorrington, Frating, Elmstead and Great Bromley, and the Borough of Colchester wards of Dedham and Langham, East Donyland, Fordham and Stour, Great Tey, Pyefleet, West Bergholt and Eight Ash Green, West Mersea, Wivenhoe Cross, and Wivenhoe Quay.
2024–present: The District of Tendring wards of Alresford & Elmstead, Ardleigh & Little Bromley, Brightlingsea, Dovercourt All Saints, Dovercourt Bay, Dovercourt Tollgate, Dovercourt Vines & Parkeston, Harwich & Kingsway, Lawford, Manningtree & Mistley, and Stour Valley, and the City of Colchester wards of Lexden & Braiswick (part); Mersea & Pyefleet, Old Heath & The Hythe, Rural North, and Wivenhoe.
    Minor changes – Old Heath and The Hythe areas to the south east of Colchester city centre added from Colchester, offset by the transfer of some rural areas in the east to Clacton.

## Members of Parliament

Harwich and North Essex prior to 2010
| Election | Election | Member | Party |
| | 2010 | Sir Bernard Jenkin | Conservative |

## Elections
### Elections in the 2020s

General election 2024: Harwich and North Essex :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Bernard Jenkin | 16,522 | 34.4 | −24.2 |
| | Labour | Alex Diner | 15,360 | 32.0 | +6.1 |
| | Reform UK | Mark Cole | 9,806 | 20.4 | N/A |
| | Liberal Democrats | Natalie Sommers | 3,561 | 7.4 | −3.3 |
| | Green | Andrew Canessa | 2,794 | 5.8 | +2.2 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,162 | 2.4 | −30.3 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 48,043 | 63.0 | −9.6 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 76,579 | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | −15.2 | |

### Elections in the 2010s

2019 general election notional result :
| Party | Party | Vote | % |
| | Conservative | 31,668 | 58.6 |
| | Labour | 14,017 | 25.9 |
| | Liberal Democrats | 5,801 | 10.7 |
| | Green | 1,924 | 3.6 |
| | Others | 674 | 1.3 |
| Turnout | Turnout | 54,084 | 72.3 |
| Electorate | Electorate | 74,838 |
General election 2019: Harwich and North Essex :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Bernard Jenkin | 31,830 | 61.3 | +2.8 |
| | Labour | Stephen Rice | 11,648 | 22.4 | −8.0 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Mike Beckett | 5,866 | 11.3 | +5.9 |
| | Green | Peter Banks | 1,945 | 3.7 | +1.7 |
| | Independent | Richard Browning-Smith | 411 | 0.8 | N/A |
| | Independent | Tony Francis | 263 | 0.5 | N/A |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 20,182 | 38.9 | +10.8 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 51,963 | 70.1 | −1.6 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | +5.4 | |
General election 2017: Harwich and North Essex :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Bernard Jenkin | 29,921 | 58.5 | +7.5 |
| | Labour | Rosalind Scott | 15,565 | 30.4 | +10.7 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Dominic Graham | 2,787 | 5.4 | −2.0 |
| | UKIP | Aaron Hammond | 1,685 | 3.3 | −14.2 |
| | Green | Blake Roberts | 1,042 | 2.0 | −2.4 |
| | CPA | Stephen Todd | 141 | 0.3 | N/A |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 14,356 | 28.1 | −3.2 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 51,141 | 71.7 | +1.8 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | −1.6 | |
General election 2015: Harwich and North Essex :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Bernard Jenkin | 24,722 | 51.0 | +4.1 |
| | Labour | Edward Browne | 9,548 | 19.7 | −0.2 |
| | UKIP | Mark Hughes | 8,464 | 17.5 | +12.3 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Dominic Graham | 3,576 | 7.4 | −16.2 |
| | Green | Christopher Flossman | 2,122 | 4.4 | +2.5 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 15,174 | 31.3 | +8.0 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 48,432 | 69.9 | +0.6 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | | |
General election 2010: Harwich and North Essex :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Bernard Jenkin* | 23,001 | 46.9 | +4.3 |
| | Liberal Democrats | James Raven | 11,554 | 23.6 | +4.3 |
| | Labour | Darren Barrenger | 9,774 | 19.9 | −10.9 |
| | UKIP | Simon Anselmi | 2,572 | 5.2 | +1.5 |
| | BNP | Stephen Robey | 1,065 | 2.2 | N/A |
| | Green | Chris Fox | 909 | 1.9 | −1.8 |
| | Independent | Peter Bates | 170 | 0.3 | N/A |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 11,447 | 23.3 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 49,000 | 69.3 | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | 0.0 | |
    * Served as an MP in the 2005–2010 Parliament