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Eastbourne
Borough constituency for the House of Commons
Interactive map of boundaries from 2024
Boundary of Eastbourne in South East England
County	East Sussex
Electorate	73,322 (2023)
Major settlements	Eastbourne
Current constituency
Created	1885
Member of Parliament	Josh Babarinde (Liberal Democrats)
Seats	One
Created from	East Sussex

Eastbourne is a constituency for the House of Commons of the UK Parliament. It was created as one of nine in Sussex in 1885, since when it has reduced in geographic size reflecting the growth of its main settlement, Eastbourne. The seat has been represented since 2024 by Josh Babarinde, a Liberal Democrat.

Constituency profile

The constituency contains urban and suburban developments, with its boundaries since 2024 matching those of Eastbourne Borough Council. Eastbourne itself is on the edge of the London Commuter Belt and is a coastal resort town. The Eastbourne seat has narrowed at every Boundary Commission Periodic Review, as the population of the core town has grown, having previously included neighbouring towns such as Willingdon, East Dean, and Polegate.

Chris Hanretty, the Professor of Politics at Royal Holloway, estimated that Eastbourne voted 57.6% to 42.4% in favour of leaving the European Union during the 2016 referendum.

History

Origin

This seat was created by the Redistribution of Seats Act 1885. This zone had been in the East Sussex constituency, which in turn had been created with two seats by the Reform Act 1832 as a division of the 13th century-founded Sussex parliamentary county which had two seats (returned two knights of the shire).

From safe seat to marginal seat

With the exception of the landslide Liberal victory in 1906, the seat returned Conservative Party candidates at every election from its creation in 1885 until 1987. The seat in the 1930s saw three unopposed candidates: in 1932, March 1935 and November 1935. The large rural vote within the seat, until boundary changes in 1983, resulted in strong Conservative support – rural English voters tended to be richer and more right-wing (anti-socialist, pro-Empire before 1960s, pro-Established Church and pro-defence) compared to other voters.

The seat was first won by the Liberal Democrats at the 1990 by-election. Although it was recaptured by the Conservatives at the subsequent general election in 1992 and held until 2010, it became a marginal, or swing seat, from 1990 onwards, being closely fought for between the two locally dominant parties. In the nine elections from 1990 to 2019, the winning majority was never more than 10%, and the seat has changed hands between the Conservative and Liberal Democrat candidates at each of the five elections from 2010 to 2024 inclusive.

Recent results

A Liberal Democrat, Stephen Lloyd, regained the seat at the 2010 general election, in a vote which saw Eastbourne return the sixth-lowest Labour share of the vote of the 631 candidates who stood at the election, with only 4.8%. In 2015, the seat was won by Caroline Ansell, making it the 9th most marginal of the Conservative Party's 331 seats, by share of the vote. Ansell held the seat from 2015 to 2017 and again from 2019 to 2024, in both cases beating the Lloyd, who held it from 2010 to 2015 and again from 2017 to 2019.

In 2024, the seat was once again recaptured for the Liberal Democrats by Josh Babarinde, this time with a healthy majority of 26.8%.

Boundaries

Historic

1885–1918: The Corporate Towns of Pevensey and Seaford, the Sessional Divisions of Hailsham and Uckfield (except the parishes of East Hoathly and Waldron), and part of the Sessional Division of Lewes.

1918–1950: The Borough of Eastbourne, the Rural District of Eastbourne, and in the Rural District of Hailsham the parishes of Arlington, Chalvington, Chiddingly, Hailsham, Hellingly, Laughton, and Ripe.

1950–1955: The Boroughs of Eastbourne and Bexhill, and in the Rural District of Hailsham the parishes of East Dean, Friston, Hooe, Jevington, Ninfield, Pevensey, Polegate, Wartling, Westham, and Willingdon.

1955–1974: The Borough of Eastbourne, and part of the Rural District of Hailsham.

1974–1983: The Borough of Eastbourne, and in the Rural District of Hailsham the parishes of East Dean, Friston, Jevington, Pevensey, Polegate, Westdean, Westham, and Willingdon.

1983–1997: The Borough of Eastbourne, and the District of Wealden wards of Polegate North, Polegate South, and Willingdon.

1997–2010: As prior, substituting East Dean for the Polegate wards.

2010–2024: As prior, less East Dean.

Current

Further to the 2023 Periodic Review of Westminster constituencies which came into effect for the 2024 general election, the boundaries of the constituency are now coterminous with the Borough of Eastbourne.

In order to bring its electorate within the permitted range, the parts within the District of Wealden were transferred to the Lewes constituency.

Members of Parliament

East Sussex prior to 1885

By-elections

• 1925 Eastbourne by-election (Con, hold), following the resignation of the Conservative MP Sir George Ambrose Lloyd
• 1932 Eastbourne by-election (Con, hold), following the death of the Conservative MP Edward Marjoribanks
• 1935 Eastbourne by-election (Con, hold), following the death of the Conservative MP John Slater
• 1990 Eastbourne by-election (LD, gain), following the assassination of the Conservative MP Ian Gow by members of the Provisional IRA.

Election results

Elections in the 2020s

General election 2024: Eastbourne

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Liberal Democrats	Josh Babarinde	23,742	52.1	+9.2
	Conservative	Caroline Ansell	11,538	25.3	−21.8
	Reform UK	Mark Ashdown	6,061	13.3	+10.6
	Labour	Paul Richards	2,689	5.9	−1.0
	Green	Mike Munson	1,424	3.1	N/A
	UKIP	Ian Garbutt	154	0.3	N/A
Majority			12,204	26.8	N/A
Turnout			45,608	62.8	−7.1
Registered electors			72,592
	Liberal Democrats gain from Conservative		Swing	15.5

Elections in the 2010s

Elections in the 2000s

Elections in the 1990s

This constituency underwent boundary changes between the 1992 and 1997 general elections and thus change in share of vote is based on a notional calculation.

Elections in the 1980s

Elections in the 1970s

Elections in the 1960s

Elections in the 1950s

Election in the 1940s

Elections in the 1930s

Elections in the 1920s

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 Gwynne
• Liberal:

Elections in the 1900s

Elections in the 1890s

Elections in the 1880s

See also

• List of parliamentary constituencies in East Sussex
• List of parliamentary constituencies in the South East England (region)
• Boundary Commissions (United Kingdom)
• Sixth Periodic Review of Westminster constituencies

Notes

1. A borough constituency having first been the alternative form, a county constituency, for the sole modern purposes of election expenses and type of returning officer.
2. As with all constituencies, the constituency elects one Member of Parliament (MP) by the first past the post system of election at least every five years.

References

1. "The 2023 Review of Parliamentary Constituency Boundaries in England – Volume two: Constituency names, designations and composition – South East". Boundary Commission for England. Retrieved 24 June 2024.
2. ^ "The Parliamentary Constituencies Order 2023". Schedule 1 Part 6 South East region.
3. "Ward level results from the EU referendum". Medium. 6 February 2017. Retrieved 22 February 2017.
4. "Electoral Commission – Previous UK general elections". www.electoralcommission.org.uk.
5. "Conservative Members of Parliament 2015". UK Political.info. Archived from the original on 8 June 2017. Retrieved 12 February 2017.
6. Leigh Rayment's Historical List of MPs – Constituencies beginning with "E" (part 1)
7. "Notice of Poll, Statement of Persons Nominated and Situation of Polling Stations – Eastbourne Constituency – 4th July 2024" (PDF). Eastbourne Borough Council. 7 June 2024. Retrieved 8 June 2024.
8. "Notional results for a UK general election on 12 December 2019". Rallings & Thrasher, Professor David Denver (Scotland), Nicholas Whyte (NI) for Sky News, PA, BBC News and ITV News. UK Parliament. Retrieved 11 July 2024.
9. "UK Parliamentary election: Eastbourne constituency Statement of Persons Nominated and Notice of Poll" (PDF). 14 November 2019. Archived (PDF) from the original on 16 November 2019. Retrieved 24 July 2021.
10. "The Conservative candidates running to be MPs". 27 April 2017.
11. "BBC Election Results". 9 June 2017. Retrieved 9 June 2017.
12. "Election Data 2015". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 17 October 2015. Retrieved 17 October 2015.
13. "Eastbourne parliamentary constituency – Election 2017" – via www.bbc.co.uk.
14. "Election Data 2010". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 26 July 2013. Retrieved 17 October 2015.
15. "Eastborne election results". BBC. 20 April 2010. Retrieved 20 April 2010.
16. "Election Data 2005". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
17. "Election Data 2001". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
18. "Election Data 1997". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
19. "Election Data 1992". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
20. "Politics Resources". Election 1992. Politics Resources. 9 April 1992. Archived from the original on 24 July 2011. Retrieved 6 December 2010.
21. "Election Data 1987". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
22. "Election Data 1983". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
23. ^ F W S Craig, British Parliamentary Election Results 1918–1949; Political Reference Publications, Glasgow 1949
24. ^ Craig, F. W. S. (1983). British parliamentary election results 1918–1949 (3 ed.). Chichester: Parliamentary Research Services. ISBN 0-900178-06-X.
25. ^ Debrett's House of Commons & Judicial Bench, 1916
26. ^ Craig, FWS, ed. (1974). British Parliamentary Election Results: 1885–1918. London: Macmillan Press. ISBN 9781349022984.
27. ^ The Liberal Year Book, 1907
28. ^ Debrett's House of Commons & Judicial Bench, 1901
29. "Meeting of the Council". Eastbourne Gazette. 23 June 1886. p. 8. Retrieved 25 November 2017 – via British Newspaper Archive.
30. Debrett's House of Commons & Judicial Bench, 1886

Sources

• Election result, 2005 (BBC)
• Election results, 1997–2001 (BBC)
• Election results, 1997–2001 (Election Demon)
• Election results, 1983–1992 Archived 19 August 2000 at the Wayback Machine
• Election results, 1992–2005 Archived 29 August 2012 at the Wayback Machine (Guardian)
• Election results, 1950–2001 Archived 5 May 2004 at the Wayback Machine (Keele University)
• The Times House of Commons 1945. 1945. {{cite book}}: |work= ignored (help)
• Iain Dale, ed. (2003). The Times House of Commons 1929, 1931, 1935. Politico's (reprint). ISBN 1-84275-033-X.
• Craig, F. W. S. (1983) . British parliamentary election results 1918–1949 (3rd ed.). Chichester: Parliamentary Research Services. ISBN 0-900178-06-X.

External links

• Eastbourne UK Parliament constituency (boundaries April 1997 – April 2010) at MapIt UK
• Eastbourne UK Parliament constituency (boundaries April 2010 – May 2024) at MapIt UK
• Eastbourne UK Parliament constituency (boundaries from June 2024) at MapIt UK

50°47′N 0°16′E / 50.78°N 0.27°E / 50.78; 0.27

• Parliamentary constituencies in East Sussex
• Politics of Eastbourne
• Constituencies of the Parliament of the United Kingdom established in 1885