South East Essex was a parliamentary constituency in Essex in the East of England. It returned one Member of Parliament (MP) to the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom.
History South East Essex (formally the South Eastern division of Essex in its first incarnation) was one of eight single-member divisions of Essex (later classified as county constituencies) created by the Redistribution of Seats Act 1885, replacing the three two member divisions of East, South and West Essex.
The seat was reduced considerably in size under the Representation of the People Act 1918 and again in the interim redistribution carried out for the 1945 general election, before being abolished for the 1950 general election.
The constituency was re-established for the 1955 general election, and abolished again for the 1983 general election.
Boundaries and boundary changes
1885–1918
The Sessional Divisions of Dengie, Orsett, and Rochford; and The civil parishes of Rainham and Wennington.
Formed primarily from the abolished South Division of Essex, together with the southern part of the abolished East Division (Dengie peninsular). See below for areas covered.
1918–1945
The Urban Districts of Grays Thurrock, Shoeburyness, and Tilbury; The Rural Districts of Orsett and Rochford; and Part of the Rural District of Billericay.
Gained southernmost parts of Chelmsford Division of Essex, including Billericay. The area between River Crouch and River Blackwater (Dengie peninsular), including Burnham-on-Crouch, was transferred to Maldon and the westernmost area, including Rainham, to Romford. Parts comprising Southend-on-Sea County Borough created as a separate Parliamentary Borough.
1945–1950
The Urban Districts of Benfleet, Billericay, Canvey Island, and Rayleigh;
The Rural District of Rochford; and
Part of the County Borough of Southend-on-Sea.
The House of Commons (Redistribution of Seats) Act 1944 set up Boundaries Commissions to carry out periodic reviews of the distribution of parliamentary constituencies. It also authorised an initial review to subdivide abnormally large constituencies in time for the 1945 election. This was implemented by the Redistribution of Seats Order 1945 under which South East Essex was divided into two constituencies. As a consequence, the Urban District of Thurrock (created largely from amalgamating the Urban Districts of Grays Thurrock and Tilbury and the Rural District of Orsett) was formed as the new Thurrock Division of Essex. Other marginal changes resulting from changes to local authority boundaries.
Following the First Periodic Review of Westminster constituencies the seat was abolished. The bulk of the Division, comprising the Urban Districts of Benfleet, Billericay, Canvey Island and Rayleigh, formed the new County Constituency of Billericay. The Rural District of Rochford, and the parts of the County Borough of Southend-on-Sea (Shoeburyness), included in the new constituency of Southend East.
1955–1974
The Urban Districts of Benfleet, Canvey Island, and Rayleigh; and The Rural District of Rochford.
Re-established as a County Constituency. Benfleet, Canvey Island and Rayleigh were transferred back from Billericay, and Rochford from Southend East.
1974–1983
The Urban Districts of Benfleet, Canvey Island, and Rayleigh.
The Rural District of Rochford was now transferred to Maldon.
On abolition for the second time, Benfleet and Canvey Island (which now comprised the District of Castle Point) formed the new constituency of Castle Point. Rayleigh had been incorporated into the District of Rochford and was included in the new constituency of Rochford.
Areas covered Area1885191819451950195519741983Dengie peninsular, Burnham-on-CrouchSouth East EssexMaldon (part)South Colchester and Maldon (part)Southend-on-Sea - WestSouthend-on-SeaSouthend West - EastSouthend EastSouthend EastShoeburynessSouth East EssexSouth East EssexRochfordSouth East EssexMaldon (part)RochfordRayleighBillericaySouth East EssexSouth Benfleet, Canvey IslandCastle PointBillericay, WickfordChelmsford (part)Billericay (part)BasildonBillericayBasildonBasildonTilbury, Grays, OrsettSouth East EssexThurrockRainhamRomford (part)Hornchurch (part)
Members of Parliament
MPs 1885–1950 ElectionMemberParty1885 constituency created (South Essex divided) 1885 William Makins Conservative 1886 Carne Rasch Conservative 1900 Edward Tufnell Conservative 1906 Rowland Whitehead Liberal Jan. 1910 John Kirkwood Conservative 1912 by-election Rupert Guinness Unionist 1918 Frank Hilder Unionist 1923 Philip Hoffman Labour 1924 Herbert Looker Unionist 1929 Jack Oldfield Labour 1931 Victor Raikes Conservative 1945 Ray Gunter Labour1950 constituency abolished
MPs 1955–1983 ElectionMemberParty1955 constituency re-established 1955 Bernard Braine Conservative1983 constituency abolished
Elections Elections in the 1880s
Elections in the 1890s
Elections in the 1900s
Elections in the 1910s
General Election 1914–15:
Another General Election was required to take place before the end of 1915. The political parties had been making preparations for an election to take place and by July 1914, the following candidates had been selected; Unionist: Rupert Guinness Liberal:
Elections in the 1920s
Elections in the 1930s
Elections in the 1940s
Elections in the 1950s
Elections in the 1960s
Elections in the 1970s
References