Lewes (UK Parliament constituency)

Constituency profile

The constituency includes the town of Lewes, most of the Lewes District, including the coastal towns of Seaford and Newhaven, Polegate and Alfriston all in outer parts of the London Commuter Belt, though with a high number of people who have retired from across the country. The constituency excludes the District of Lewes District wards of East Saltdean and Telscombe Cliffs, Peacehaven East, Peacehaven North, and Peacehaven West (which since 1997 have been in the Brighton Kemptown and Peacehaven constituency (formerly Brighton, Kemptown), and instead includes part of neighbouring Wealden District.

History

The constituency of Lewes has existed since commoners were first summoned to Parliament in 1295, the Model Parliament. This is the county town, though less significant in population today, far surpassed by the City of Brighton and Hove — it has nonetheless been continuously represented since that date.

Until 1885, Lewes was a Parliamentary Borough; until 1868, it was represented by two MPs in the House of Common. This was reduced to one by the Reform Act 1867. Under the Redistribution of Seats Act 1885, the seat was converted to a division of the county of Sussex.

From 1874 until 1997, the constituency's electorate returned only Conservative MPs. In the 1997 general election, the seat was won by Norman Baker for the Liberal Democrats. He retained the seat at the subsequent three elections until he was defeated at the 2015 general election by the Conservative's Maria Caulfield. She won again in 2017 and 2019, but was defeated at the 2024 general election by James MacCleary of the Liberal Democrats.

Boundaries

1885–1918: The Borough of Brighton, the Sessional Divisions of Hove and Worthing, and parts of the Sessional Divisions of Lewes and Steyning.

1918–1950: The Borough of Lewes, the Urban Districts of Newhaven, Portslade-by-Sea, and Seaford, and the Rural Districts of Chailey, Newhaven, and Steyning East.

1950–1955: The Borough of Lewes, the Urban Districts of Burgess Hill, Newhaven, and Seaford, the Rural District of Chailey, and parts of the Rural Districts of Cuckfield and Hailsham.

1955–1974: The Borough of Lewes, the Urban Districts of Burgess Hill, Newhaven, and Seaford, the Rural District of Chailey, and part of the Rural District of Cuckfield.

1974–1983: The Borough of Lewes, the Urban Districts of Newhaven and Seaford, the Rural District of Chailey, and part of the Rural District of Hailsham.

1983–1997: The District of Lewes, and the District of Wealden wards of Alfriston, Arlington, and East Dean.

1997–2010: The District of Lewes wards of Barcombe, Chailey, Ditchling, Hamsey, Kingston, Lewes Bridge, Lewes Castle, Lewes Priory, Newhaven Denton, Newhaven Meeching, Newhaven Valley, Newick, Ouse Valley, Plumpton, Ringmer, Seaford Central, Seaford East, Seaford North, Seaford West, and Wivelsfield.

2010–2024: The District of Lewes wards of Barcombe and Hamsey, Chailey and Wivelsfield, Ditchling and Westmeston, Kingston, Lewes Bridge, Lewes Castle, Lewes Priory, Newhaven Denton and Meeching, Newhaven Valley, Newick, Ouse Valley and Ringmer, Plumpton, Streat, East Chiltington and St John Without, Seaford Central, Seaford East, Seaford North, Seaford South, and Seaford West; and the District of Wealden wards of Alfriston, Arlington, East Dean, Polegate North, and Polegate South.

2024–present: The District of Lewes wards of Ditchling & Westmeston, Kingston, Lewes Bridge, Lewes Castle, Lewes Priory, Newhaven North, Newhaven South, Ouse Valley & Ringmer, Plumpton, Streat, East Chiltington & St John, Seaford Central, Seaford East, Seaford North, Seaford South, and Seaford West; and the District of Wealden wards of Arlington, Lower Willingdon, Polegate Central, Polegate North, Polegate South & Willingdon Watermill, South Downs, Stone Cross, and Upper Willingdon. :Three small rural District of Lewes wards were included in the new constituency of East Grinstead and Uckfield, offset by the addition of parts of the District of Wealden, including the communities of Willingdon (from Eastbourne) and Stone Cross (from Bexhill and Battle).

Members of Parliament

MPs 1295–1660

• Constituency created 1295

MPs 1660–1868

MPs since 1868

Elections since 1918

Elections in the 2020s

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

New constituency boundaries.

Elections in the 1960s

Elections in the 1950s

Election in the 1940s

Elections in the 1930s

Elections in the 1920s

|reg. electors = 40,291 |reg. electors = 28,517 |reg. electors = 27,361 |reg. electors = 27,361 |reg. electors = 25,801

Elections in the 1910s

|reg. electors = 22,500

Election results 1868–1918

Elections in the 1860s

|reg. electors = 1,350

Elections in the 1870s

|reg. electors = 1,430

Elections in the 1880s

|reg. electors = 1,459

|reg. electors = 10,586

Elections in the 1890s

|reg. electors = 11,832

Elections in the 1900s

|reg. electors = 15,560

Elections in the 1910s

|reg. electors = 17,277 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: William Campion
• Liberal:

Election results 1832–1868

Elections in the 1830s

|reg. electors = 878

|reg. electors = 761

Kemp resigned, causing a by-election.

|reg. electors = 7842

|reg. electors = 842

Elections in the 1840s

Blunt's death caused a by-election.

|reg. electors = 881

|reg. electors = 881

On petition, Harford was unseated, due to bribery and corruption, and Fitzroy was declared elected on 21 March 1842. Fitzroy was then appointed a Civil Lord of the Admiralty, requiring a by-election.

Elphinstone resigned by accepting the office of Steward of the Chiltern Hundreds, causing a by-election.

|reg. electors = 866

Elections in the 1850s

|reg. electors = 713

Brand was appointed a Lord Commissioner of the Treasury, requiring a by-election.

|reg. electors = 724

|reg. electors = 697

FitzRoy was appointed First Commissioner of Works, requiring a by-election.

Elections in the 1860s

FitzRoy's death caused a by-election.

|reg. electors = 676

Elections before 1832

|reg. electors = 784

|reg. electors =

Notes

References

Sources

• The Parliamentary History of the Borough of Lewes 1295–1885
• Election result, 2005 (BBC)
• Election results, 1997–2001 (BBC)
• Election results, 1997–2001 (Election Demon)
• Election results, 1983–1992 (Election Demon)
• Election results, 1992–2005 (Guardian)
• Election results, 1951–2001 (Keele University)
• F. W. S. Craig. British Parliamentary Election Results 1950–1973. ()

References

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41. British Parliamentary Election Results 1885–1918, FWS Craig
42. The Liberal Year Book, 1907
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