# 1997 Essex County Council election

The 1997 Essex County Council election took place on 1 May 1997 to elect members of Essex County Council in Essex, England. This was held on the same day as other local elections and the 1997 general election.
79 councillors were elected from various electoral divisions, which returned either one or two county councillors each by first-past-the-post voting for a four-year term of office.
Due to the impending creation of the Southend-on-Sea Borough Council and Thurrock Council unitary authorities, the divisions covering these areas were not contested at this election and would ultimately be abolished in 1998. This would reduce the number of seats on Essex County Council by 19 to 79 seats. In 1993, the breakdown of the abolished seats were 9 Labour, 5 Conservative and 5 Liberal Democrats.

## Previous composition
### 1993 election

| Party | Party | Seats |
| | Labour | 33 |
| | Conservative | 32 |
| | Liberal Democrats | 32 |
| | Independent | 1 |
| Total | Total | 79 |

### Composition of council seats before election

| Party | Party | Seats |
| | Labour | 34 |
| | Liberal Democrats | 32 |
| | Conservative | 31 |
| | Independent | 1 |
| Total | Total | 79 |

## Summary
### Election result

Results below exclude the 19 councillors from Southend and Thurrock whose divisions were not contested at this election and were ultimately abolished in 1998.
1997 Essex County Council election :
| Party | Candidates | Seats | Gains | Losses | Net gain/loss | Seats % | Votes % | Votes | +/− |
| Conservative | 79 | 40 | 14 | 1 | 13 | 50.6 | 38.9 | 281,074 | +3.6 |
| Labour | 79 | 23 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 29.1 | 31.7 | 229,181 | +1.0 |
| Liberal Democrats | 78 | 15 | 1 | 13 | 12 | 19.0 | 26.6 | 192,520 | –5.3 |
| Loughton Residents | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1.3 | 0.7 | 5,040 | N/A |
| Green | 23 | 0 | 0 | 0 | | 0.0 | 1.1 | 7,907 | +0.1 |
| Independent | 6 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0.0 | 1.0 | 7,378 | +0.2 |
| Socialist Alliance (England) | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | | 0.0 | <0.1 | 220 | N/A |

### Election of Group Leaders

Paul White (Stock) was elected leader of the Conservative Group, Mervyn Juliff (Great Parndon) was elected leader of the Labour Group and Kenneth Jones (Park) was elected leader of the Liberal Democratic Group.

## Government Formation

Despite winning less than half the seats contested, the incumbent Labour-Liberal Democrat coalition continued in government because the members from Southend and Thurrock (whose seats had not been contested at the election) gave them a 52 to 45 majority over the Conservatives until April 1998 when those seats would be abolished.
After council leader Chris Pearson (Tendring Rural West), wasn't reelected in Maypole, Mervyn Juliff (Great Parndon) became council leader until the departure of the 19 Southend and Thurrock councilors, at which point Conservative group leader Paul White became leader.
However in May 1999 Alison Enkel (Brentwood Rural) resigned from the Conservatives. This following a by election loss to Labour a year before gave control of the council back to the Labour-Liberal Democrat coalition.
This proved unworkable as with further resignations leading to a power struggle before defeat in budget vote which caused the coalition to resign and the Conservatives to return.

## Division results by local authority
### Basildon

Basildon District Summary :
| Party | Party | Seats | +/- | Votes | % | +/- |
| | Labour | 5 | | 35,336 | 39.9 | –1.3 |
| | Conservative | 5 | 1 | 33,144 | 37.4 | +0.2 |
| | Liberal Democrats | 0 | 1 | 20,021 | 22.6 | +1.5 |
| | Socialist Alliance | 0 | | 120 | 0.1 | N/A |
| Total | Total | 10 | | 88,621 | 70.7 | +32.9 |
Division results
Basildon Crouch :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Donald Morris | 3,586 | 44.0 | +4.5 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Geoffrey Williams* | 2,520 | 30.9 | −13.2 |
| | Labour | Liv Roe | 2,052 | 25.2 | +8.7 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,066 | 13.1 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 8,158 | 73.3 | +32.5 |
| | Conservative gain from Liberal Democrats | Conservative gain from Liberal Democrats | Swing | 8.9 | |
Basildon Fryerns :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | William Archibald* | 4,427 | 66.4 | −1.6 |
| | Conservative | Sandra Elliott | 1,610 | 24.1 | +1.6 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Terry Marsh | 631 | 9.5 | ±0.0 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 2,817 | 42.2 | +3.3 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 6,668 | 68.6 | +29.5 |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | 1.6 | |
Basildon Gloucester Park :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Anthony Wright | 4,935 | 61.0 | −4.3 |
| | Conservative | Andrew Elliott | 2,105 | 26.0 | +0.3 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Michael Dickinson | 1,056 | 13.0 | +4.0 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 2,830 | 35.0 | −4.6 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 8,096 | 71.9 | +30.0 |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | 2.3 | |
Basildon Laindon :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Rachel Liebeschuetz* | 3,679 | 56.1 | −1.5 |
| | Conservative | David Walsh | 1,930 | 29.4 | −2.0 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Vivien Howard | 950 | 14.5 | +3.5 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,749 | 26.7 | +0.5 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 6,559 | 65.5 | +29.4 |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | 0.3 | |
Basildon Pitsea :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Keith Bobbin | 5,791 | 54.3 | −3.2 |
| | Conservative | Jacqueline Blake | 3,381 | 31.7 | −1.4 |
| | Liberal Democrats | David Birch | 1,369 | 12.8 | +3.4 |
| | Socialist Alliance | David Murray | 120 | 1.1 | N/A |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 2,410 | 22.6 | −1.8 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 10,661 | 63.5 | +29.1 |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | 0.9 | |
Basildon Vange :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Swatantra Nandanwar | 4,668 | 57.2 | −4.6 |
| | Conservative | Stephen Hillier | 2,213 | 27.1 | −0.9 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Mark Hersom | 1,285 | 15.7 | +5.5 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 2,455 | 30.1 | −3.7 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 8,166 | 64.6 | +27.6 |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | 1.9 | |
Basildon Westley Heights :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Brinley Jones* | 3,958 | 40.8 | +0.1 |
| | Labour | Susanna Caira-Neeson | 3,458 | 35.7 | −2.1 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Joseph White | 2,275 | 23.5 | +2.0 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 500 | 5.2 | +2.3 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 9,691 | 76.4 | +32.7 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | 1.1 | |
Billericay North :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Angela Watkinson | 5,338 | 51.3 | −10.5 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Ronald Dowden | 3,598 | 34.6 | +7.4 |
| | Labour | Margaret Viney | 1,473 | 14.2 | +3.2 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,740 | 16.7 | −17.8 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 10,409 | 75.5 | +42.1 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | 9.0 | |
Billericay South :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Kay Twitchen* | 4,287 | 43.3 | +2.8 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Geoffrey Taylor | 3,694 | 37.3 | −0.7 |
| | Labour | Geoffrey Viney | 1,930 | 19.5 | +3.4 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 593 | 6.0 | +3.5 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 9,911 | 75.7 | +37.2 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | 1.8 | |
Wickford :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Iris Pummell* | 4,736 | 46.0 | −2.6 |
| | Labour | Ian Hancock | 2,923 | 28.4 | +10.0 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Lesley Pattison | 2,643 | 25.7 | −7.3 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,813 | 17.6 | +2.0 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 10,302 | 72.3 | +25.0 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | 6.3 | |

### Braintree

District Summary :
| Party | Party | Seats | Votes | % | +/- |
| | Labour | 4 | 26,705 | 37.2 | –3.0 |
| | Conservative | 2 | 26,812 | 37.3 | +2.1 |
| | Liberal Democrats | 1 | 15,388 | 21.4 | –0.7 |
| | Green | 0 | 2,909 | 4.1 | +1.5 |
| Total | Total | 7 | 71,814 | 74.6 | +35.6 |
Division results
Bocking :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Frederick Card* | 3,925 | 42.4 | −1.9 |
| | Conservative | Simon Walsh | 3,412 | 36.8 | +2.0 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Anthony Meadows | 1,584 | 17.1 | −1.3 |
| | Green | Wendy Partridge | 340 | 3.7 | +1.2 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 513 | 5.5 | −4.0 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 9,261 | 70.1 | +26.1 |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | 2.0 | |
Braintree East :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Elwyn Bishop* | 4,682 | 40.6 | −6.0 |
| | Conservative | Nigel Edey | 4,553 | 39.5 | +3.1 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Lesley Beckett | 1,967 | 17.1 | +3.1 |
| | Green | Susan Ransome | 332 | 2.9 | −0.1 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 129 | 1.1 | −9.0 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 11,534 | 79.3 | +36.4 |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | 4.6 | |
Braintree West :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal Democrats | Douglas Rice* | 3,837 | 33.4 | −11.8 |
| | Conservative | Roger Wacey | 3,714 | 32.3 | +4.6 |
| | Labour | Robert Miller | 3,630 | 31.6 | +7.2 |
| | Green | Nelson Brunton | 318 | 2.8 | ±0.0 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 123 | 1.1 | −16.4 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 11,499 | 75.0 | +34.6 |
| | Liberal Democrats hold | Liberal Democrats hold | Swing | 8.2 | |
Halstead :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Joseph Pike* | 4,153 | 40.2 | +1.5 |
| | Labour | John Kotz | 3,355 | 32.4 | −5.9 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Oliver Forder | 2,393 | 23.1 | +0.1 |
| | Green | Lyn Peacock | 442 | 4.3 | N/A |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 798 | 7.7 | +7.3 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 10,343 | 73.6 | +36.0 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | 3.7 | |
Hedingham :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Geoffrey Waterer* | 4,311 | 44.8 | −1.4 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Trevor Ellis | 2,529 | 26.3 | +0.7 |
| | Labour | Edward Snarey | 2,458 | 25.6 | −2.6 |
| | Green | Kevin Peterson | 319 | 3.3 | N/A |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,782 | 18.5 | +0.5 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 9,617 | 77.1 | +38.5 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | 1.1 | |
Witham Northern :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Joan Lyon* | 4,845 | 47.3 | −10.2 |
| | Conservative | Dennis Willetts | 3,090 | 30.2 | +5.3 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Roy Cavinder | 1,503 | 14.7 | +2.9 |
| | Green | James Abbott | 802 | 7.8 | +1.9 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,755 | 17.1 | −15.5 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 10,240 | 73.2 | +38.7 |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | 7.8 | |
Witham Southern :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | John Gyford* | 3,810 | 40.9 | −1.8 |
| | Conservative | Michael Lager | 3,579 | 38.4 | −0.6 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Christine May | 1,575 | 16.9 | +5.1 |
| | Green | Philip Hughes | 356 | 3.8 | −0.2 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 231 | 2.5 | −1.3 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 9,320 | 73.3 | +38.3 |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | 0.6 | |

### Brentwood

Brentwood District Summary :
| Party | Party | Seats | +/- | Votes | % | +/- |
| | Conservative | 4 | 4 | 18,258 | 43.8 | +7.9 |
| | Liberal Democrats | 1 | 4 | 15,046 | 36.1 | –15.5 |
| | Labour | 0 | | 7,965 | 19.1 | +9.4 |
| | Green | 0 | | 400 | 1.0 | –1.9 |
| Total | Total | 5 | | 41,669 | 74.9 | +34.5 |
Division results
Brentwood Central :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal Democrats | Edgar Davis* | 2,941 | 42.8 | −16.1 |
| | Conservative | Francis Kenny | 2,532 | 36.9 | +6.7 |
| | Labour | Martin Coule | 1,393 | 20.3 | +12.8 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 409 | 14.8 | −13.9 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 6,866 | 75.4 | +33.2 |
| | Liberal Democrats hold | Liberal Democrats hold | Swing | 11.4 | |
Brentwood Hutton :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | John Roberts | 4,511 | 48.7 | +5.1 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Richard Davies | 3,139 | 33.9 | −10.0 |
| | Labour | Charles Bisson | 1,611 | 17.4 | +7.4 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,372 | 14.8 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 9,261 | 75.4 | +40.5 |
| | Conservative gain from Liberal Democrats | Conservative gain from Liberal Democrats | Swing | 7.6 | |
Brentwood North :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Judith Gray | 3,186 | 45.5 | +7.3 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Norman Spencer | 2,615 | 37.3 | −15.4 |
| | Labour | Rosalind Brown | 1,201 | 17.2 | +10.1 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 571 | 8.2 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 7,002 | 74.7 | +36.3 |
| | Conservative gain from Liberal Democrats | Conservative gain from Liberal Democrats | Swing | 11.4 | |
Brentwood Rural :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Alison Enkel | 4,230 | 43.1 | +10.5 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Derek Hardy* | 3,879 | 39.5 | −18.6 |
| | Labour | Paul Bartley | 1,303 | 13.3 | +7.0 |
| | Green | Carolyn Bartley | 400 | 4.1 | +1.1 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 351 | 3.6 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 9,812 | 76.8 | +32.7 |
| | Conservative gain from Liberal Democrats | Conservative gain from Liberal Democrats | Swing | 14.6 | |
Brentwood South :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Lionel Lee* | 3,799 | 43.5 | +7.8 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Cyril Robins | 2,472 | 28.3 | −15.9 |
| | Labour | Deborah Richardson | 2,457 | 28.2 | +11.2 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,327 | 15.2 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 8,728 | 75.5 | +33.0 |
| | Conservative gain from Liberal Democrats | Conservative gain from Liberal Democrats | Swing | 11.9 | |

### Castle Point

Castle Point District Summary :
| Party | Party | Seats | +/- | Votes | % | +/- |
| | Conservative | 4 | 2 | 21,761 | 45.1 | +11.8 |
| | Labour | 2 | 1 | 19,413 | 40.3 | +6.1 |
| | Liberal Democrats | 0 | 1 | 6,957 | 14.4 | –18.0 |
| | Socialist Alliance | 0 | | 100 | 0.2 | N/A |
| Total | Total | 6 | | 48,231 | 70.9 | +33.2 |
Division results
Benfleet :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Jillian Reeves* | 3,483 | 48.0 | +12.1 |
| | Labour | Brian Wilson | 2,760 | 38.0 | +8.7 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Stephen Howe | 1,014 | 14.0 | −20.8 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 723 | 10.0 | +8.9 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 7,257 | 73.8 | +38.1 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | 1.7 | |
Canvey Island East :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Dennis Williams | 4,682 | 48.1 | +7.4 |
| | Conservative | Christopher Freeman | 3,833 | 39.4 | +5.8 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Barry Newman | 1,218 | 12.5 | −13.1 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 849 | 8.7 | +1.6 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 9,733 | 66.1 | +30.6 |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | 0.8 | |
Canvey Island West :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Raymond Howard* | 4,778 | 51.5 | +7.5 |
| | Labour | James David | 3,725 | 40.2 | +1.4 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Roger Terry | 670 | 7.2 | −10.0 |
| | Socialist Alliance | Robert Chapman | 100 | 1.1 | N/A |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,053 | 11.4 | +6.2 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 9,273 | 67.6 | +31.4 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | 3.1 | |
Great Tarpots :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Alfred Goldsworthy | 3,468 | 43.5 | −2.6 |
| | Conservative | John Greenwood | 3,301 | 41.4 | +13.4 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Barry King | 1,201 | 15.1 | −10.9 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 167 | 2.1 | −16.0 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 7,970 | 73.0 | +36.3 |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | 8.0 | |
Hadleigh :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Ronald Williams | 3,043 | 45.0 | +16.5 |
| | Labour | Roy English | 2,070 | 30.6 | +19.6 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Michael Baker* | 1,648 | 24.4 | −36.2 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 973 | 14.4 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 6,761 | 74.6 | +28.0 |
| | Conservative gain from Liberal Democrats | Conservative gain from Liberal Democrats | Swing | 1.6 | |
Thundersley :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | William Dick* | 3,323 | 45.9 | +18.2 |
| | Labour | Guy Shearwood | 2,708 | 37.4 | +0.1 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Thomas Pile | 1,206 | 16.7 | −18.3 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 615 | 8.5 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 7,237 | 73.8 | +35.4 |
| | Conservative gain from Labour | Conservative gain from Labour | Swing | 9.1 | |

### Chelmsford

Chelmsford District Summary :
| Party | Party | Seats | +/- | Votes | % | +/- |
| | Conservative | 4 | 1 | 35,355 | 39.0 | +1.8 |
| | Liberal Democrats | 4 | 1 | 31,366 | 34.6 | –8.6 |
| | Labour | 1 | | 20,208 | 22.3 | +3.5 |
| | Green | 0 | | 2,320 | 2.6 | +1.8 |
| | Independent | 0 | | 1,383 | 1.5 | N/A |
| Total | Total | 9 | | 90,632 | 74.6 | +34.4 |
Division results
Broomfield & Writtle :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Wendy Cole | 2,574 | 33.0 | −5.3 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Phillip Evans* | 2,417 | 31.0 | −9.1 |
| | Labour | Barry Grainger | 1,387 | 17.8 | −1.1 |
| | Independent | Delmas Ashford | 1,261 | 16.2 | N/A |
| | Green | Paulene Gaywood | 168 | 2.2 | −0.5 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 157 | 2.0 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 7,807 | 75.0 | +33.5 |
| | Conservative gain from Liberal Democrats | Conservative gain from Liberal Democrats | Swing | 1.9 | |
Chelmsford East :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal Democrats | Ian Gale | 3,727 | 39.6 | −9.9 |
| | Conservative | John Candler | 3,401 | 36.1 | −2.2 |
| | Labour | Michael Bloomsbury | 2,016 | 21.4 | +9.2 |
| | Green | Nicholas Scales | 156 | 1.7 | N/A |
| | Independent | Stephen Stratton | 122 | 1.3 | N/A |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 326 | 3.5 | −7.8 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 9,422 | 76.6 | +31.2 |
| | Liberal Democrats hold | Liberal Democrats hold | Swing | 3.9 | |
Chelmsford North :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal Democrats | Thomas Smith-Hughes* | 3,429 | 38.2 | −1.3 |
| | Conservative | Kathleen Pauley | 2,716 | 30.3 | +2.5 |
| | Labour | William Horslen | 2,680 | 29.9 | −2.9 |
| | Green | Angela Thomson | 145 | 1.6 | N/A |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 713 | 7.9 | +1.2 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 8,970 | 76.6 | +25.6 |
| | Liberal Democrats hold | Liberal Democrats hold | Swing | 1.9 | |
Chelmsford South :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal Democrats | George Allen* | 4,000 | 45.4 | −11.4 |
| | Conservative | Vernon Makin | 2,926 | 33.2 | +2.5 |
| | Labour | David Howell | 1,674 | 19.0 | +6.4 |
| | Green | Beryl Lankester | 202 | 2.3 | N/A |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,074 | 12.2 | −13.9 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 8,802 | 76.9 | +32.5 |
| | Liberal Democrats hold | Liberal Democrats hold | Swing | 7.0 | |
Chelmsford West :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Neil Spurgeon* | 2,573 | 35.5 | −1.0 |
| | Liberal Democrats | John Hunnable | 2,561 | 35.3 | +5.2 |
| | Conservative | Duncan Lumley | 2,120 | 29.2 | −4.2 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 12 | 0.2 | −2.9 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 7,254 | 71.5 | +21.4 |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | 3.1 | |
Great Baddow :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal Democrats | Joan Beard* | 3,761 | 47.6 | −15.5 |
| | Conservative | Norman Hume | 2,451 | 31.0 | +6.2 |
| | Labour | Fredrick Burden | 1,549 | 19.6 | +7.5 |
| | Green | Joyce Shiner | 146 | 1.8 | N/A |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,310 | 16.6 | −21.7 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 7,907 | 75.3 | +32.2 |
| | Liberal Democrats hold | Liberal Democrats hold | Swing | 10.9 | |
Springfield :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Peter Martin* | 6,646 | 43.4 | +2.1 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Graham Pooley | 5,256 | 34.3 | −6.7 |
| | Labour | Roderick Essery | 2,819 | 18.4 | +4.8 |
| | Green | Eleanor Burgess | 591 | 3.9 | −0.2 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,390 | 9.1 | +8.8 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 15,312 | 74.6 | +41.0 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | 4.4 | |
Stock :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Paul White* | 5,258 | 49.3 | +0.5 |
| | Labour | Derek Rice | 2,631 | 24.7 | +5.2 |
| | Liberal Democrats | James Hutchon | 2,404 | 22.5 | −9.2 |
| | Green | Robert Kenney | 368 | 3.5 | N/A |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 2,627 | 24.6 | +7.5 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 10,661 | 74.9 | +41.3 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | 2.4 | |
Woodham Ferrers & Danbury :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Eileen Mickleborough* | 7,263 | 50.1 | +1.4 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Richard Phillips | 3,811 | 26.3 | −12.6 |
| | Labour | Carole Sampson | 2,879 | 19.9 | +7.5 |
| | Green | Colin Budgey | 544 | 3.8 | N/A |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 3,452 | 23.8 | +14.0 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 14,497 | 71.9 | +39.8 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | 7.0 | |

### Colchester

Colchester District Summary :
| Party | Party | Seats | Votes | % | +/- |
| | Liberal Democrats | 5 | 27,697 | 33.7 | –10.6 |
| | Conservative | 3 | 28,144 | 34.2 | +2.2 |
| | Labour | 1 | 23,875 | 29.0 | +6.7 |
| | Independent | 0 | 2,147 | 2.6 | N/A |
| | Green | 0 | 367 | 0.4 | –1.0 |
| Total | Total | 9 | 82,230 | 70.1 | +35.2 |
Division results
Constable :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Anthony Clover* | 3,916 | 45.8 | −2.3 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Andrew Phillips | 2,844 | 33.3 | −6.5 |
| | Labour | Julie Young | 1,783 | 20.9 | +8.8 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,072 | 12.5 | +4.1 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 8,543 | 76.8 | +37.1 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | +2.1 | |
Drury :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal Democrats | Robert Yates* | 3,945 | 39.8 | −14.7 |
| | Conservative | Jeremy Lucas | 3,865 | 38.9 | +2.8 |
| | Labour | Roy Moules | 2,115 | 21.3 | +11.8 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 80 | 0.8 | −17.5 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 9,925 | 74.4 | +29.5 |
| | Liberal Democrats hold | Liberal Democrats hold | Swing | −8.7 | |
Maypole :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal Democrats | Patricia Pascoe* | 3,149 | 41.5 | −14.8 |
| | Labour | Christopher Pearson* | 2,654 | 35.0 | +7.7 |
| | Conservative | Richard Lamberth | 1,783 | 23.5 | +7.1 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 495 | 6.5 | −22.5 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 7,586 | 63.9 | +36.8 |
| | Liberal Democrats hold | Liberal Democrats hold | Swing | −11.3 | |
Mersea and Stanway :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Christopher Manning-Press* | 5,193 | 44.3 | +0.1 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Terence Brady | 3,973 | 33.9 | −6.5 |
| | Labour | Ian Yates | 2,556 | 21.8 | +9.2 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,220 | 10.4 | +6.6 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 11,722 | 74.7 | +39.9 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | +3.3 | |
No Green candidate as previous (−2.8).
Old Heath :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal Democrats | Margaret Fisher* | 3,806 | 43.4 | −7.8 |
| | Labour | Sally Pygott | 3,092 | 35.2 | +1.0 |
| | Conservative | Ian McCord | 1,879 | 21.4 | +9.4 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 714 | 8.1 | −8.8 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 8,777 | 67.5 | +29.4 |
| | Liberal Democrats hold | Liberal Democrats hold | Swing | −4.4 | |
No Green candidate as previous (−2.6).
Park :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal Democrats | Kenneth Jones* | 3,141 | 36.4 | −10.4 |
| | Conservative | Nigel Chapman | 2,876 | 33.3 | −1.0 |
| | Labour | Kim Naish | 2,611 | 30.3 | +11.4 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 265 | 3.1 | −13.8 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 8,628 | 66.6 | +28.5 |
| | Liberal Democrats hold | Liberal Democrats hold | Swing | −4.7 | |
Parsons Heath :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal Democrats | Edward Crunden* | 4,413 | 42.1 | −11.1 |
| | Conservative | Derek Smith | 3,062 | 29.2 | +6.9 |
| | Labour | Anthony Constable | 3,005 | 28.7 | +4.2 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,351 | 12.9 | −15.8 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 10,480 | 69.3 | +32.5 |
| | Liberal Democrats hold | Liberal Democrats hold | Swing | −9.0 | |
Tiptree :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Edmund Peel* | 3,526 | 40.0 | −4.0 |
| | Labour | Tania Rogers | 2,783 | 31.5 | +5.6 |
| | Independent | Stuart Beckwith | 2,147 | 24.3 | New |
| | Green | Cheryl Gerrard | 367 | 4.2 | −0.5 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 743 | 8.5 | −9.5 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 8,823 | 73.1 | +43.6 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | −4.8 | |
No Liberal Democrat candidate as previous (−25.2).
Wivenhoe St Andrew :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Brian Stapleton* | 3,276 | 42.3 | −7.8 |
| | Liberal Democrats | John Gray | 2,426 | 31.3 | +14.0 |
| | Conservative | Jane Girdlestone | 2,044 | 26.4 | −2.5 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 850 | 11.0 | −10.2 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 7,746 | 63.4 | +37.2 |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | −10.9 | |
No Green candidate as previous (−3.7).

### Epping Forest

Epping Forest District Summary :
| Party | Party | Seats | +/- | Votes | % | +/- |
| | Conservative | 5 | 1 | 29,056 | 43.3 | +2.2 |
| | Labour | 1 | 1 | 19,769 | 29.4 | –1.4 |
| | Liberal Democrats | 1 | | 13,296 | 19.8 | –7.5 |
| | Loughton Residents | 1 | 1 | 5,040 | 7.5 | N/A |
| Total | Total | 8 | | 67,161 | 72.1 | +39.3 |
Division results
Buckhurst Hill :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal Democrats | Stephen Robinson* | 3,342 | 43.1 | −16.7 |
| | Conservative | Richard Watts | 2,850 | 36.7 | +11.1 |
| | Labour | Alan Larner | 1,571 | 20.2 | +11.1 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 492 | 6.3 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 7,763 | 72.9 | |
| | Liberal Democrats hold | Liberal Democrats hold | Swing | 13.9 | |
Chigwell :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Michael Tomkins | 3,851 | 57.3 | −1.3 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Jack Fuller | 1,556 | 23.2 | −5.6 |
| | Labour | Paul Bostock | 1,309 | 19.5 | +6.9 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 2,295 | 34.2 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 6,716 | 70.6 | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | 2.2 | |
Epping :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Dennis Ramshaw* | 4,042 | 45.8 | +2.5 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Nicholas Macy | 2,446 | 27.7 | −7.0 |
| | Labour | Sidney Miller | 2,340 | 26.5 | +4.5 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,596 | 18.1 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 8,828 | 72.1 | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | 4.8 | |
Loughton St. Johns :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Gillian Huckle | 2,570 | 37.0 | −18.4 |
| | Loughton Residents | Dorothy Paddon | 2,146 | 30.9 | +30.9 |
| | Conservative | Stephen Metcalfe | 1,772 | 25.5 | −4.5 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Christopher Spence | 452 | 6.5 | −8.1 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 424 | 6.1 | −19.2 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 6,940 | 69.7 | +41.6 |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | 24.7 | |
Loughton St. Marys :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Loughton Residents | Christopher Harper | 2,894 | 36.9 | +36.9 |
| | Labour | Stanley Goodwin* | 2,552 | 32.5 | −12.6 |
| | Conservative | James Brokenshire | 1,952 | 24.9 | −10.7 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Lucille Thompson | 446 | 5.7 | −13.6 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 342 | 4.4 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 7,844 | 73.6 | +39.5 |
| | Loughton Residents gain from Labour | Loughton Residents gain from Labour | Swing | 24.8 | |
North Weald & Nazeing :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Ian Abbey* | 4,645 | 56.6 | −3.9 |
| | Labour | Graham Smith | 2,292 | 27.9 | +7.8 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Colin Bagnall | 1,265 | 15.4 | −4.0 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 2,443 | 28.7 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 8,202 | 74.9 | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | 5.9 | |
Ongar :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Gerard McEwan* | 4,941 | 47.7 | +6.5 |
| | Labour | Ronald Barnes | 2,887 | 27.9 | +5.7 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Douglas Kelly | 2,520 | 24.4 | −12.1 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 2,054 | 19.8 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 10,348 | 75.5 | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | 0.4 | |
Waltham Abbey :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Elizabeth Webster | 5,003 | 47.6 | +4.3 |
| | Labour | George Farren | 4,248 | 40.4 | −16.3 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Patricia Brooks | 1,269 | 12.1 | N/A |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 755 | 7.2 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 10,520 | 67.7 | |
| | Conservative gain from Labour | Conservative gain from Labour | Swing | 10.3 | |

### Harlow

Harlow District Summary :
| Party | Party | Seats | Votes | % | +/- |
| | Labour | 5 | 22,591 | 53.9 | +2.0 |
| | Conservative | 0 | 12,189 | 29.1 | –2.0 |
| | Liberal Democrats | 0 | 6,696 | 16.0 | –1.0 |
| | Green | 0 | 420 | 1.0 | N/A |
| Total | Total | 5 | 41,896 | 73.9 | +34.4 |
Division results
Great Parndon :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Mervyn Juliff* | 4,631 | 51.5 | +6.7 |
| | Conservative | Ronald Cross | 3,133 | 34.8 | −5.2 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Irene Lee | 1,227 | 13.6 | −1.6 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,498 | 16.7 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 8,991 | 72.8 | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | 6.0 | |
Harlow & Mark Hall :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Paul Stzumpf* | 3,969 | 51.3 | +1.4 |
| | Conservative | Trevor McArdle | 2,367 | 30.6 | −6.3 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Gareth Higgins | 1,196 | 15.5 | +1.9 |
| | Green | Arthur Powell | 203 | 2.3 | N/A |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,602 | 20.7 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 7,749 | 74.7 | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | 3.9 | |
Harlow Common :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Anthony Duncan | 4,577 | 48.8 | −3.1 |
| | Conservative | Simon Carter | 2,706 | 28.8 | +7.0 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Lorna Spenceley | 1,886 | 20.1 | −6.2 |
| | Green | Malcolm Powell | 217 | 2.3 | N/A |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,871 | 19.9 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 9,336 | 73.0 | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | 5.1 | |
Little Parndon :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Edith Morris* | 4,249 | 59.0 | +5.2 |
| | Conservative | David Roberts | 1,833 | 25.5 | −3.7 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Stanley Ward | 1,119 | 15.5 | −1.5 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 2,416 | 33.6 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 7,201 | 73.6 | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | 4.5 | |
Netteswellbury :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Paul Belfairs | 5,165 | 60.2 | −0.3 |
| | Conservative | Michael Garnett | 2,150 | 25.0 | −0.6 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Sheila Herbert | 1,268 | 14.8 | +0.5 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 3,015 | 35.1 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 8,583 | 75.3 | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | 0.2 | |

### Maldon

Maldon District Summary :
| Party | Party | Seats | Votes | % | +/- |
| | Conservative | 3 | 13,532 | 42.5 | –5.1 |
| | Labour | 0 | 7,856 | 24.7 | –1.4 |
| | Liberal Democrats | 0 | 7,531 | 23.6 | +12.9 |
| | Independent | 0 | 1,597 | 5.0 | +1.0 |
| | Green | 0 | 1,351 | 4.2 | –7.4 |
| Total | Total | 3 | 31,867 | 74.0 | +41.5 |
Division results
Maldon :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Elizabeth Dines | 3,847 | 36.8 | −11.5 |
| | Labour | Alison Lamb | 2,716 | 26.0 | −4.6 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Graham Jones | 1,992 | 19.0 | N/A |
| | Independent | Brian Mead | 1,597 | 15.3 | N/A |
| | Green | Juliet Harpur | 309 | 3.0 | −6.0 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,131 | 10.8 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 10,461 | 75.0 | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | 3.5 | |
Southminster :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Robert Boyce | 5,100 | 46.6 | −0.6 |
| | Labour | Terence Quinlan | 3,307 | 30.2 | −1.1 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Alan Weeks | 2,004 | 18.3 | N/A |
| | Green | Michael Cole | 523 | 4.8 | −16.7 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 983 | 16.4 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 10,124 | 71.7 | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | 0.3 | |
Tollesbury :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Rodney Bass | 4,585 | 43.8 | −3.4 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Patricia Mead | 3,535 | 33.8 | +3.4 |
| | Labour | Paul Rew | 1,833 | 17.5 | +0.4 |
| | Green | Jonathan King | 519 | 5.0 | −0.3 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,050 | 10.0 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 10,472 | 75.5 | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | 3.4 | |

### Rochford

Rochford District Summary :
| Party | Party | Seats | +/- | Votes | % | +/- |
| | Conservative | 2 | 1 | 18,023 | 40.8 | +8.2 |
| | Liberal Democrats | 2 | 1 | 13,756 | 31.1 | –15.2 |
| | Labour | 1 | | 12,425 | 28.1 | +7.1 |
| Total | Total | 5 | | 44,204 | 73.1 | +37.3 |
Division results
Rayleigh North :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal Democrats | Richard Boyd* | 3,728 | 43.7 | −27.2 |
| | Conservative | Terry Fawell | 3,176 | 37.2 | +15.2 |
| | Labour | David Sutton | 1,625 | 19.1 | +12.0 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 552 | 6.5 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 8,529 | 75.1 | |
| | Liberal Democrats hold | Liberal Democrats hold | Swing | 21.2 | |
Rayleigh South :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal Democrats | James Gordon* | 3,469 | 39.1 | −22.8 |
| | Conservative | Peter Webster | 3,364 | 37.9 | +9.3 |
| | Labour | David Rossi | 2,046 | 23.0 | +13.5 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 105 | 1.2 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 8,879 | 73.0 | |
| | Liberal Democrats hold | Liberal Democrats hold | Swing | 16.1 | |
Rochford North :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Tracey Chapman | 3,794 | 39.9 | +6.4 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Paula Smith* | 3,265 | 34.3 | −20.7 |
| | Labour | David Weir | 2,447 | 25.7 | +14.2 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 529 | 5.6 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 9,506 | 72.9 | |
| | Conservative gain from Liberal Democrats | Conservative gain from Liberal Democrats | Swing | 13.6 | |
Rochford South :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Graham Fox* | 3,315 | 42.1 | −5.9 |
| | Conservative | Roy Pearson | 3,248 | 41.2 | +4.1 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Peter Stanton | 1,311 | 16.6 | +1.7 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 67 | 0.9 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 7,874 | 71.1 | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | 5.0 | |
Rochford West :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Elizabeth Hart* | 4,441 | 47.2 | +4.0 |
| | Labour | Christopher Morgan | 2,992 | 31.8 | −0.8 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Mary Nudd | 1,983 | 21.1 | −3.1 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,449 | 15.4 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 9,416 | 73.4 | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | 2.4 | |

### Tendring

Tendring District Summary :
| Party | Party | Seats | +/- | Votes | % | +/- |
| | Conservative | 4 | | 26,250 | 35.7 | +1.9 |
| | Labour | 3 | 2 | 27,694 | 37.6 | +5.2 |
| | Liberal Democrats | 1 | 1 | 18,048 | 24.5 | –2.1 |
| | Independent | 0 | 1 | 1,598 | 2.2 | –5.0 |
| Total | Total | 8 | | 73,590 | 70.5 | +34.4 |
Division results
Brightlingsea :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Derek Robinson | 3,115 | 34.6 | +13.3 |
| | Labour | Cornelius Olivier | 2,954 | 32.8 | −2.0 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Thomas Dale* | 2,941 | 32.6 | −11.3 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 161 | 1.8 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 9,010 | 73.2 | |
| | Conservative gain from Liberal Democrats | Conservative gain from Liberal Democrats | Swing | 7.7 | |
Clacton East :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Catherine Jessop* | 3,960 | 44.1 | −2.3 |
| | Labour | David Bolton | 3,137 | 34.9 | +6.4 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Derek Harper | 1,886 | 21.9 | −4.1 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 823 | 9.2 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 8,983 | 69.5 | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | 4.4 | |
Clacton North :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Clive Baker | 3,606 | 36.8 | +11.0 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Michael Bargent* | 3,223 | 32.9 | −16.3 |
| | Conservative | Audrey Owens | 2,961 | 30.2 | +5.3 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 383 | 3.9 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 9,790 | 67.2 | |
| | Labour gain from Liberal Democrats | Labour gain from Liberal Democrats | Swing | 13.7 | |
Clacton West :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Roy Smith* | 5,008 | 54.8 | −10.2 |
| | Conservative | Martyn Hughes | 2,756 | 30.2 | +5.5 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Peter Miller | 1,375 | 15.0 | +4.7 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 2,252 | 24.6 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 9,139 | 64.2 | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | 7.9 | |
Frinton & Walton :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | David Rex* | 6,042 | 54.5 | −1.0 |
| | Labour | Brian Theadom | 3,116 | 28.1 | +3.2 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Jeffrey Bray | 1,922 | 17.3 | −2.3 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 2,926 | 26.4 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 11,080 | 72.4 | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | 2.1 | |
Harwich :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Leslie Double | 4,645 | 53.7 | +35.9 |
| | Conservative | Eric Yallop | 2,338 | 27.0 | +9.2 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Rosemary Smith | 1,669 | 19.3 | +11.5 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 2,307 | 26.7 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 8,652 | 71.1 | |
| | Labour gain from Independent | Labour gain from Independent | Swing | 13.4 | |
Tendring Rural East :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Charles Lumber* | 3,232 | 40.3 | −2.1 |
| | Labour | William Mixter | 2,626 | 32.8 | −0.9 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Mark De Roy | 2,160 | 26.9 | +3.0 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 606 | 7.6 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 8,018 | 73.0 | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | 0.6 | |
Tendring Rural West :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal Democrats | Kevin Hawkins | 2,872 | 32.2 | −1.5 |
| | Labour | Gregory Morgan | 2,602 | 29.2 | −0.7 |
| | Conservative | Rosalind Tovell | 1,846 | 20.7 | −15.7 |
| | Independent | Douglas Pallett | 1,598 | 17.9 | N/A |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 270 | 3.0 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 8,918 | 74.8 | |
| | Liberal Democrats gain from Conservative | Liberal Democrats gain from Conservative | Swing | 0.4 | |

### Uttlesford

Uttlesford District Summary :
| Party | Party | Seats | +/- | Votes | % | +/- |
| | Conservative | 4 | 3 | 17,507 | 43.8 | +3.0 |
| | Liberal Democrats | 0 | 3 | 13,380 | 33.5 | –10.2 |
| | Labour | 0 | | 8,211 | 20.5 | +4.9 |
| | Independent | 0 | | 653 | 1.6 | N/A |
| | Green | 0 | | 212 | 0.5 | N/A |
| Total | Total | 4 | | 39,963 | 75.5 | +35.1 |
Division results
Dunmow :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | David Westcott* | 4,604 | 50.2 | +0.9 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Geoffrey Powers | 2,805 | 30.6 | −6.0 |
| | Labour | William McCarthy | 1,766 | 19.2 | +5.2 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,799 | 19.6 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 9,175 | 75.4 | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | 3.5 | |
Saffron Walden :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Robert Chambers | 4,290 | 35.9 | +2.4 |
| | Labour | Russell Green | 3,450 | 28.9 | +1.6 |
| | Liberal Democrats | John Lefever* | 3,334 | 27.9 | −11.3 |
| | Independent | Raymond Tyler | 653 | 5.5 | N/A |
| | Green | Gerald Lucy | 212 | 1.8 | N/A |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 840 | 7.0 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 11,939 | 76.4 | |
| | Conservative gain from Liberal Democrats | Conservative gain from Liberal Democrats | Swing | 0.4 | |
Stansted :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Richard Wallace | 4,298 | 43.4 | +3.9 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Melvin Caton* | 4,020 | 40.6 | −13.0 |
| | Labour | Adam Pounds | 1,579 | 16.0 | +9.1 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 278 | 2.8 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 9,897 | 75.0 | |
| | Conservative gain from Liberal Democrats | Conservative gain from Liberal Democrats | Swing | 8.5 | |
Thaxted :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | John Whitehead | 4,315 | 48.2 | +4.1 |
| | Liberal Democrats | David Morgan | 3,221 | 36.0 | −8.8 |
| | Labour | Gordon Murray | 1,416 | 15.8 | +4.6 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,095 | 12.2 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 8,952 | 75.1 | |
| | Conservative gain from Liberal Democrats | Conservative gain from Liberal Democrats | Swing | 6.5 | |

## By-elections
### Southend

Thorpe :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Daphne White | 4,125 | 56.6 | −4.6 |
| | Labour | Heather Searle | 1,915 | 26.3 | +6.5 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Derek Holliday | 1,251 | 17.2 | −2.0 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 2,210 | 30.3 | −11.1 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 7,291 | 63.8 | +36.7 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | 5.5 | |