title: 1988 Colchester Borough Council election
text: # 1988 Colchester Borough Council election
  
  Elections to Colchester Borough Council were held on 5 May 1988 alongside other local elections across the United Kingdom.
  
  This was the first Colchester local election contested by the newly formed Liberal Democrats following the merger of the SDP and Liberal Party.
  
  At the election, the Liberal Democrats emerged as the largest party on the council for the first time since its creation in 1973.
  
  ## Summary
  
  1988 Colchester Borough Council election :
  
  | Party | Party | This election | This election | This election | Full council | Full council | Full council | This election | This election | This election |
  | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
  | Party | Party | Seats | Net | Seats % | Other | Total | Total % | Votes | Votes % | +/− |
  | | Liberal Democrats | 7 | 2 | 35.0 | 17 | 24 | 40.0 | 12,424 | 32.5 | –4.3 |
  | | Conservative | 9 | 1 | 45.0 | 14 | 23 | 38.3 | 15,190 | 39.7 | ±0.0 |
  | | Labour | 3 | 1 | 15.0 | 6 | 9 | 15.0 | 9,590 | 25.1 | +4.7 |
  | | Tiptree Residents | 1 | | 5.0 | 2 | 3 | 5.0 | 1,042 | 2.7 | –0.2 |
  | | Independent | 0 | | 0.0 | 1 | 1 | 1.7 | 0 | 0.0 | –0.2 |
  
  ## Ward results
  
  ### Berechurch
  
  Berechurch :
  
  | Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
  | - | - | - | - | - | - |
  | | Liberal Democrats | John William Stevens* | 1,140 | 41.8 | -3.2 |
  | | Labour | G. Prior | 984 | 36.0 | +2.4 |
  | | Conservative | E. Parsons | 606 | 22.2 | +0.8 |
  | Majority | Majority | Majority | 156 | 5.8 | -5.6 |
  | Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,730 | 44.8 | -4.6 |
  | Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 6,090 | | |
  | | Liberal Democrats hold | Liberal Democrats hold | Swing | 2.8 | |
  
  ### Castle
  
  Castle :
  
  | Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
  | - | - | - | - | - | - |
  | | Liberal Democrats | R. Cole* | 947 | 38.5 | -5.3 |
  | | Conservative | E. Humphreys | 896 | 36.4 | +1.7 |
  | | Labour | H. Winter | 617 | 25.1 | +3.6 |
  | Majority | Majority | Majority | 51 | 2.1 | -7.0 |
  | Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,460 | 47.9 | -11.4 |
  | Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 5,136 | | |
  | | Liberal Democrats gain from Conservative | Liberal Democrats gain from Conservative | Swing | 3.5 | |
  
  ### Dedham
  
  Dedham :
  
  | Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
  | - | - | - | - | - | - |
  | | Liberal Democrats | G. Williams | 485 | 53.9 | +17.7 |
  | | Conservative | G. Spray | 390 | 43.4 | -15.0 |
  | | Labour | S. Worgan | 24 | 2.7 | -2.7 |
  | Majority | Majority | Majority | 95 | 10.5 | N/A |
  | Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 899 | 58.8 | +1.8 |
  | Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 1,529 | | |
  | | Liberal Democrats gain from Conservative | Liberal Democrats gain from Conservative | Swing | 16.4 | |
  
  ### East Donyland
  
  East Donyland :
  
  | Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
  | - | - | - | - | - | - |
  | | Conservative | J. Sanderson* | 551 | 56.9 | +4.7 |
  | | Labour | B. Wilding | 302 | 31.2 | +6.7 |
  | | Liberal Democrats | Barry Woodward | 115 | 11.9 | -11.4 |
  | Majority | Majority | Majority | 249 | 25.7 | +3.6 |
  | Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 968 | 56.5 | -0.5 |
  | Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 1,713 | | |
  | | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | 1.0 | |
  
  ### Fordham
  
  Fordham :
  
  | Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
  | - | - | - | - | - | - |
  | | Conservative | D. Cannon* | 449 | 66.1 | +1.1 |
  | | Labour | A. Sullivan | 127 | 18.7 | -1.2 |
  | | Liberal Democrats | G. Chase | 103 | 15.2 | +0.1 |
  | Majority | Majority | Majority | 322 | 47.4 | |
  | Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 679 | 48.3 | |
  | Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 1,405 | | |
  | | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | 1.2 | |
  
  ### Harbour
  
  Harbour :
  
  | Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
  | - | - | - | - | - | - |
  | | Labour | J. Bird* | 1,135 | 52.5 | +18.1 |
  | | Conservative | Mike Coyne | 518 | 24.0 | -2.3 |
  | | Liberal Democrats | Patricia Blandon | 461 | 21.3 | -15.1 |
  | Majority | Majority | Majority | 617 | 28.5 | N/A |
  | Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,114 | 38.3 | -10.1 |
  | Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 5,652 | | |
  | | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | 10.2 | |
  
  ### Lexden
  
  Lexden :
  
  | Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
  | - | - | - | - | - | - |
  | | Conservative | Sonia Lewis | 1,188 | 50.2 | +7.3 |
  | | Liberal Democrats | B. Williamson | 1,056 | 44.6 | -7.7 |
  | | Labour | J. Crawford | 123 | 5.2 | +0.4 |
  | Majority | Majority | Majority | 132 | 5.6 | N/A |
  | Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,367 | 54.7 | -4.2 |
  | Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 4,327 | | |
  | | Conservative gain from Liberal Democrats | Conservative gain from Liberal Democrats | Swing | 7.5 | |
  
  ### Marks Tey
  
  Marks Tey :
  
  | Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
  | - | - | - | - | - | - |
  | | Conservative | R. Gower | 454 | 49.8 | -14.0 |
  | | Liberal Democrats | G. Ambridge | 268 | 29.4 | N/A |
  | | Labour | Maureen Lee | 190 | 20.8 | -15.4 |
  | Majority | Majority | Majority | 186 | 20.4 | -7.1 |
  | Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 912 | 43.8 | +14.3 |
  | Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 2,082 | | |
  | | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | N/A | |
  
  ### Mile End
  
  Mile End :
  
  | Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
  | - | - | - | - | - | - |
  | | Conservative | P. Borges* | 884 | 58.4 | +6.5 |
  | | Liberal Democrats | E. Reid | 376 | 24.9 | -9.1 |
  | | Labour | A. Hayden-Case | 253 | 16.7 | +2.6 |
  | Majority | Majority | Majority | 508 | 33.5 | +15.6 |
  | Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,513 | 37.8 | -7.1 |
  | Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 4,005 | | |
  | | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | 7.8 | |
  
  ### New Town
  
  New Town :
  
  | Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
  | - | - | - | - | - | - |
  | | Liberal Democrats | Bob Russell* | 1,373 | 68.2 | +13.0 |
  | | Labour | Sandra Benedetti | 417 | 20.7 | -6.1 |
  | | Conservative | J. Clarke | 223 | 11.1 | -6.9 |
  | Majority | Majority | Majority | 956 | 47.5 | +19.1 |
  | Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,013 | 43.8 | +3.1 |
  | Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 4,595 | | |
  | | Liberal Democrats hold | Liberal Democrats hold | Swing | 9.6 | |
  
  ### Prettygate
  
  Prettygate :
  
  | Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
  | - | - | - | - | - | - |
  | | Liberal Democrats | Martin Hunt* | 1,295 | 50.7 | +4.0 |
  | | Conservative | R. Stevenson | 1,001 | 39.2 | -2.4 |
  | | Labour | G. Thompson | 256 | 10.0 | -1.6 |
  | Majority | Majority | Majority | 294 | 11.5 | +6.4 |
  | Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,512 | 50.7 | -7.3 |
  | Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 5,029 | | |
  | | Liberal Democrats hold | Liberal Democrats hold | Swing | 3.2 | |
  
  ### Shrub End
  
  Shrub End :
  
  | Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
  | - | - | - | - | - | - |
  | | Liberal Democrats | S. Cawley* | 1,047 | 49.7 | -8.6 |
  | | Labour | Frank Wilkin | 588 | 27.9 | +4.6 |
  | | Conservative | E. Winney | 470 | 22.3 | +3.9 |
  | Majority | Majority | Majority | 459 | 21.8 | -13.2 |
  | Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,105 | 33.0 | -3.4 |
  | Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 6,381 | | |
  | | Liberal Democrats hold | Liberal Democrats hold | Swing | 6.6 | |
  
  ### St. Andrew's
  
  St. Andrew's :
  
  | Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
  | - | - | - | - | - | - |
  | | Labour | P. Truscott | 1,294 | 52.6 | +8.1 |
  | | Conservative | E. Paice | 746 | 30.3 | +2.4 |
  | | Liberal Democrats | J. Muffett | 421 | 17.1 | -10.6 |
  | Majority | Majority | Majority | 548 | 22.3 | +5.7 |
  | Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,461 | 27.3 | -2.6 |
  | Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 9,019 | | |
  | | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | 2.9 | |
  
  ### St. Anne's
  
  St. Anne's :
  
  | Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
  | - | - | - | - | - | - |
  | | Labour | Mary Frank* | 922 | 41.6 | +16.7 |
  | | Conservative | G. Gawthrop | 702 | 31.7 | -3.2 |
  | | Liberal Democrats | M. Sheehan | 592 | 26.7 | -13.5 |
  | Majority | Majority | Majority | 220 | 9.9 | N/A |
  | Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,216 | 45.8 | -4.8 |
  | Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 4,843 | | |
  | | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | 10.0 | |
  
  ### St. John's
  
  St. John's :
  
  | Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
  | - | - | - | - | - | - |
  | | Conservative | D. Smith* | 1,120 | 51.7 | +7.2 |
  | | Liberal Democrats | L. Clubb | 821 | 37.9 | -9.6 |
  | | Labour | K. Hindle | 224 | 10.3 | +2.3 |
  | Majority | Majority | Majority | 299 | 13.8 | N/A |
  | Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,165 | 39.4 | -10.4 |
  | Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 5,497 | | |
  | | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | 8.4 | |
  
  ### St. Mary's
  
  St. Mary's :
  
  | Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
  | - | - | - | - | - | - |
  | | Conservative | J. Brooks* | 1,209 | 59.2 | +8.0 |
  | | Liberal Democrats | R. Watkins | 426 | 20.9 | -11.8 |
  | | Labour | R. Turp | 407 | 19.9 | +3.9 |
  | Majority | Majority | Majority | 783 | 38.3 | +19.8 |
  | Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,042 | 41.0 | -8.6 |
  | Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 4,986 | | |
  | | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | 9.9 | |
  
  ### Stanway
  
  Stanway :
  
  | Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
  | - | - | - | - | - | - |
  | | Liberal Democrats | Colin Sykes | 968 | 44.0 | +2.5 |
  | | Conservative | B. Chafer* | 887 | 40.3 | -6.6 |
  | | Labour | Tim Young | 346 | 15.7 | +4.1 |
  | Majority | Majority | Majority | 81 | 3.7 | N/A |
  | Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,201 | 41.3 | -2.7 |
  | Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 5,333 | | |
  | | Liberal Democrats gain from Conservative | Liberal Democrats gain from Conservative | Swing | 4.6 | |
  
  ### Tiptree
  
  Tiptree :
  
  | Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
  | - | - | - | - | - | - |
  | | Tiptree Residents | E. Bird* | 1,042 | 66.3 | +0.9 |
  | | Conservative | E. Peel | 385 | 24.5 | +0.5 |
  | | Labour | Lucy Wood | 145 | 9.2 | -1.4 |
  | Majority | Majority | Majority | 657 | 41.8 | +0.4 |
  | Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,572 | 25.5 | -5.9 |
  | Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 6,161 | | |
  | | Tiptree Residents hold | Tiptree Residents hold | Swing | 0.2 | |
  
  ### West Mersea
  
  West Mersea :
  
  | Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
  | - | - | - | - | - | - |
  | | Conservative | M. Kimberley | 1,337 | 73.4 | +8.8 |
  | | Liberal Democrats | A. Stevens | 345 | 18.9 | -10.4 |
  | | Labour | C. McGowan-Griffin | 139 | 7.6 | +1.5 |
  | Majority | Majority | Majority | 992 | 54.5 | +19.2 |
  | Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,821 | 34.1 | -10.9 |
  | Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 5,341 | | |
  | | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | 9.6 | |
  
  ### Wivenhoe
  
  Wivenhoe :
  
  | Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
  | - | - | - | - | - | - |
  | | Conservative | D. Adams | 1,174 | 47.8 | -0.9 |
  | | Labour | Robert Newman | 1,097 | 44.7 | +3.4 |
  | | Liberal Democrats | R. Wilson | 185 | 7.5 | -2.5 |
  | Majority | Majority | Majority | 77 | 3.1 | -4.3 |
  | Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,456 | 40.5 | -3.1 |
  | Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 6,058 | | |
  | | Conservative gain from Labour | Conservative gain from Labour | Swing | 2.2 | |
  