Lab took this seat from Con after 3 consecutive elections.
MP News Approval i
+66
Pam Cox
Labour PartyPam Cox is the Labour MP for Colchester, and has been an MP continually since 4 July 2024.
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Sign up freeCoverage of Colchester has been mixed for Pam across 40 recent articles.
Positive coverage
“Colchester college to receive £2M upgrade to facilities” — The Gazette
Represented by Lab since 2024. Covers Colchester and Berechurch. Population 117,649, notably young (median age 35 vs 41 nationally).
Release of Colchester Council election candidate list delayed
The Gazette · 9 Apr 2026
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Sign up freeMedian Income▼
£29,000
per year (HMRC 2022-23)
Mean Income▼
£37,400
per year (HMRC 2022-23)
Businesses▼
3,615
VAT/PAYE registered (ONS 2024)
Schools▼
50
33 primary, 10 secondary, 7 other
Total Income Tax▼
£314m
from 54,000 taxpayers
Median Tax▼
£2,960
per taxpayer / year
Mean Tax
£5,850
per taxpayer / year
Source: HMRC Survey of Personal Incomes, tax year 2022-23. Allocated by taxpayer residence. Covers income tax only — excludes NI, VAT, and capital gains. Sample-based estimate (~8% confidence interval).
Attainment 8▼
50.3
average score (DfE)
GCSE Pass Rate▼
68.2%
5+ GCSEs 9-4 (DfE)
1 city, 1 town — 115,532 total population
Source: ONS Built-Up Areas (Census 2021) + data.police.uk — crime rates are per 1,000 population (last 3 months)
Source: data.police.uk — street-level crime data aggregated from LSOA to constituency
10 councillors across 9 wards · Last elections: May 2024
| Ward | Party | Councillor | Elected |
|---|---|---|---|
| Berechurch | Labour Party | Dave Harris | May 2024 |
| Castle | Green Party of England and Wales | Kemal Cufoglu | May 2024 |
| Greenstead | Labour Party | Elizabeth Alake-Akinyemi | May 2024 |
| Labour Party | Julie Ann Young | May 2024 | |
| Highwoods | Liberal Democrats | Simon Appleton | May 2024 |
| Mile End | Liberal Democrats | Martin Goss | May 2024 |
| New Town Christ Church | Labour Party | Pam Cox | May 2024 |
| Prettygate | Conservative and Unionist Party | Sue Lissimore | May 2024 |
| Shrub End | Labour Party | Claire Leah Osborne | May 2024 |
| St Annes St Johns | Liberal Democrats | Catherine Spindler | May 2024 |
Source: DCLEAPIL v1.0 by Jason Leman, LEAP (Andrew Teale) & Democracy Club. CC BY-SA 4.0. Data last refreshed: 1 Apr 2026.
| Candidate | Party | Votes | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lab | 18,804 | 41.9% | |
| Con | 10,554 | 23.5% | |
| Ref | 6,664 | 14.8% | |
| LD | 6,393 | 14.2% | |
| Green | 2,414 | 5.4% | |
| Ind | 74 | 0.2% |
| Candidate | Party | Votes | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
✓ Won 2017 GEWon 2015 GE | Con | 26,917 | 50.4% |
| Lab | 17,494 | 32.8% | |
| LD | 7,432 | 13.9% | |
| Green | 1,530 | 2.9% |
| Candidate | Party | Votes | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
✓ Won 2019 GEWon 2015 GE | Con | 24,565 | 45.9% |
| Lab | 18,888 | 35.3% | |
Won 2010 GE | LD | 9,087 | 17.0% |
| Green | 828 | 1.6% | |
| Ind | 177 | 0.3% |
| Candidate | Party | Votes | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
✓ Won 2019 GEWon 2017 GE | Con | 18,919 | 38.9% |
Won 2010 GE | LD | 13,344 | 27.5% |
| Lab | 7,852 | 16.2% | |
| Ind | 5,870 | 12.1% | |
| Green | 2,499 | 5.1% | |
| Ind | 109 | 0.2% |
| Candidate | Party | Votes | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| LD | 22,151 | 48.0% | |
Won 2019 GEWon 2017 GEWon 2015 GE | Con | 15,169 | 32.9% |
| Lab | 5,680 | 12.3% | |
| Ind | 1,350 | 2.9% | |
| Ind | 705 | 1.5% | |
| Green | 694 | 1.5% | |
| Ind | 335 | 0.7% | |
| Ind | 35 | 0.1% | |
| Ind | 20 | 0.0% |
Pam Cox appeared in 3 national articles across 4 topics (10 Apr 2026 – 14 Apr 2026)
Positive (+0.57)Ranked #51 of 286 MPs mentioned in national coverage
Cox is positively associated with securing investment for her constituency and supporting local economic development through backing the college's achievement.
Cox actively championed the local investment and credited the Labour government's backing for young people and regional development, demonstrating constituency advocacy.
Cox is portrayed positively as actively championing both national government action and local community initiatives to tackle knife crime, demonstrating responsive leadership on a constituent safety issue.
19 articles hidden as not sufficiently relevant to this constituency
Colchester Council postponed the release of its local election candidate list by one day to May 8 to synchronize with Essex County Council's publication. The local elections are scheduled for May 7, with 17 council seats and 9 county seats available in the Colchester area.
A new Union Flag has been donated to Colchester Town Hall in memory of the late Lady Audrey Russell, former Mayoress (1986-87), replacing a flag donated 40 years earlier. The flag is displayed in the Mayoral Suite with a plaque honouring Lady Audrey, presented by her husband Sir Bob Russell, the current High Steward of Colchester.
Colchester United Women secured their place in the Eastern Region League Division One South for next season despite losing 4-2 to Wormley Rovers in their final league game. The team finished seventh and will now prepare for the Essex Women's Trophy Final, aiming for a third successive trophy win.
Escape Hunt, an escape room and outdoor puzzle game venue, has opened in Colchester on Culver Street East, offering five themed escape rooms and city-based puzzle hunts. The venue targets families, groups, and corporate clients with activities ranging from £24 per person, providing new entertainment options for the local area.
A Colchester man received a £70 parking fine at Colchester Hospital despite being told parking was free, due to a system error. The fine was eventually cancelled after councillor intervention, but the incident highlights broader frustrations with inadequate parking and the hospital's operator Group Nexus.
The Fat Cat pub in Colchester has introduced a £30 deposit requirement for bookings of two or more people following a significant increase in no-shows (9 on March 29, 12 on Easter Sunday). The change reflects the challenges small hospitality businesses face in managing table planning and food costs when customers fail to arrive.
The Rotary Club of Colchester Forum completed an 81-mile charity walk raising £5,240 for WaterAid and other charities. The cheque was presented at the Jumbo tower, connecting the fundraising to North Essex Heritage's restoration project of this Victorian water tower that historically provided clean water to Colchester.
The Mayor of Colchester is hosting a variety show on April 12 featuring local and national talent, including magician Michael J Fitch and Britain's Got Talent semi-finalists Kinetix. The event raises funds for five local charities including Colchester Foodbank and Open Road.
The article speculates on progress towards a takeover of Colchester United FC, noting that while formal negotiations have stalled since February, recent comments by head coach Danny Cowley about 'good things around the corner' suggest activity may be happening behind the scenes. The piece discusses the club's structural challenges and suggests a takeover could be necessary to fund squad investment.
A new inclusive playground at Castle Park in Colchester was officially opened by the Mayor, with local schoolchildren from St Thomas More's School participating in the ceremony. The playground was designed with community input and is accessible to children of all abilities.
Colchester Council has acknowledged an administrative error where residents in Highwoods were sent incorrect polling cards for the wrong Essex County Council division, following boundary changes. The council has vowed to contact affected residents directly to correct the information and ensure no one loses their vote.
Colchester Institute is receiving over £2 million in government funding as part of a £307 million national investment into college facilities across England. MP Pam Cox claims credit for securing the investment and commits to working with the college on how the funds are allocated to support young people's education and future opportunities.
A new independent veterinary practice, The Colchester Vets, will open in Charter Court in August 2024, run by experienced surgeons Dr Joanna Rodak and Dr Chris Goetschel. The practice will offer surgery, dentistry, diagnostics, preventative care, and home visits, with recruitment underway for multiple positions.
Colchester has experienced multiple 'brothel' graffiti attacks over the past year, with the latest incident on East Bay and Brook Street targeting four houses and an Airbnb with red paint and a phone number. While Essex Police are investigating, the force does not believe the local attacks are connected to similar red paint incidents occurring across the UK, though some national reports have linked such vandalism to organised crime.
Pint of Science, the world's largest public science festival, is returning to Colchester from May 18-20 with over 20 scientists presenting talks, demonstrations, and live experiments across multiple venues. The event offers accessible science engagement in a casual pub setting, featuring programmes on Planet Earth, Colchester's history, and technology.
A listicle highlighting five highly-rated restaurants in the Colchester area known for serving traditional beef roasts, based on TripAdvisor reviews. The article features a mix of countryside pubs and award-winning establishments.
Police have released new CCTV footage of Vitoria Barreto, a 30-year-old Brazilian academic missing since March 3 after visiting Essex University in Colchester. The footage traces her movements through Wivenhoe and Brightlingsea, with the final confirmed sighting at a boatyard on March 4, and police are appealing for public information to help locate her.
Colchester campaign groups are participating in a National Day of Action on April 18 to protest against planned housing developments on green spaces, including 2,000 homes proposed in fields around Bullock Wood. Multiple local organizations will hold events featuring human chains, protests, and community activities to demonstrate opposition to what they view as unnecessary destruction of environmentally important areas.
Autism Anglia is calling on Colchester businesses and public buildings to participate in World Autism Awareness Day on April 2 by lighting up in pink and purple as part of their '#ShineYourOwnLight' initiative. Last year, local venues including the Colchester Mercury Theatre participated in the campaign to show support for autistic people and their families.
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