Bexhill and Battle (UK Parliament constituency)

Bexhill and Battle () is a constituency in East Sussex represented in the House of Commons of the UK Parliament since 2024 by Kieran Mullan of the Conservative Party.

Constituency profile

The constituency is predominantly rural, like Wealden to the west. The main towns are the shingle-beach resort of Bexhill-on-Sea and the historic town of Battle. Electoral Calculus describes the seat as "Strong Right" characterised by retired, socially conservative voters who strongly supported Brexit.

Notable representatives

The seat's first MP, Charles Wardle, served as a junior Home Office minister in the government of John Major; Wardle had the Conservative whip removed shortly before the 2001 general election. The seat was held by Gregory Barker from 2001 until 2015; Barker was a junior minister at the Department for Energy and Climate Change between the formation of the Conservative-Liberal Democrat coalition after the 2010 general election and the major government reshuffle of July 2014, when he resigned and announced his intention to retire from Parliament at the next general election.

Political history

At the 2015 general election, Huw Merriman was elected, and was re-elected in the 2017 general election. The closest it came to a non-Conservative victory was in 2001, when Barker, in the first of his three successful campaigns, was returned by a margin of 10,503 votes.

In June 2016, an estimated 57.7% of local adults voting in the EU membership referendum chose to leave the European Union instead of to remain. This was matched in two January 2018 votes in Parliament by its MP.

Boundaries

1983–2010:

• The District of Rother wards of Ashburnham, Battle, Beckley and Peasmarsh, Bodiam and Ewhurst, Brede and Udimore, Burwash, Catsfield and Crowhurst, Central, Collington, Etchingham and Hurst Green, Northiam, Old Town, Sackville, St Mark's, St Michael's, St Stephen's, Salehurst, Sedlescombe and Whatlington, Sidley, Ticehurst, and Westfield
• The District of Wealden wards of Herstmonceux, Ninfield, and Pevensey and Westham.

2010–2024:

• The District of Rother wards of Battle Town, Central, Collington, Crowhurst, Darwell, Ewhurst and Sedlescombe, Kewhurst, Old Town, Rother Levels, Sackville, St Mark's, St Michael's, St Stephen's, Salehurst, Sidley, and Ticehurst and Etchingham
• The District of Wealden wards of Cross In Hand/Five Ashes, Heathfield East, Heathfield North and Central, Herstmonceux, Ninfield and Hooe with Wartling, and Pevensey and Westham.

2024–present:

• The District of Rother wards of: Bexhill Central; Bexhill Collington; Bexhill Kewhurst; Bexhill Old Town & Worsham; Bexhill Pebsham & St. Michaels; Bexhill Sackville; Bexhill St. Marks; Bexhill St. Stephens; Bexhill Sidley; Brede & Udimore; Burwash & the Weald; Catsfield & Crowhurst; Hurst Green & Ticehurst; North Battle, Netherfield & Whatlington; Northern Rother; Robertsbridge; Sedlescombe & Westfield; South Battle & Telham.
• The District of Wealden wards of: Herstmonceux & Pevensey Levels; Pevensey Bay.

To bring the electorate within the permitted range, western areas, including the town of Heathfield, were transferred to Sussex Weald. Other minor changes.

Members of Parliament

Eastbourne and Rye prior to 1983

Election	Member	Party
1983	Charles Wardle
2001
2001	Gregory Barker
2015	Huw Merriman
2024	Kieran Mullan

Elections

Elections in the 2020s

General election 2024: Bexhill and Battle

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
		Kieran Mullan		33.9
		Christine Bayliss	13,529	28.3
		Ian Gribbin	7,929	16.6
		Becky Jones	3,473	7.3
		Jonathan Kent	2,972	6.2
		Abul Azad	2,206	4.6
		Jeff Newnham	769	1.6
		Julia Long	332	0.7
		Nigel Jacklin	210	0.4
		Colin Sullivan	144	0.3
Majority			2,657	5.6
Turnout			47,750	66.4
	hold		Swing	17.7

Elections in the 2010s

2019 notional result
Party		Vote	%
	Conservative	30,716	61.8
	Labour	10,332	20.8
	Liberal Democrats	6,658	13.4
	Green	2,031	4.1
Turnout		49,737	70.2
Electorate		70,869

General election 2019: Bexhill & Battle

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
		Huw Merriman		63.6
		Christine Bayliss	11,531	19.5
		Martin Saunders	7,280	12.3
		Jonathan Kent	2,692	4.6
Majority			26,059	44.1
Turnout			59,093	72.1
	hold		Swing	+3.4

General election 2017: Bexhill & Battle

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
		Huw Merriman		62.0
		Christine Bayliss	14,689	24.7
		Joel Kemp	4,485	7.5
		Geoffrey Bastin	2,006	3.4
		Jonathan Kent	1,438	2.4
Majority			22,165	37.3
Turnout			59,472	73.1
	hold		Swing	−1.7

General election 2015: Bexhill and Battle

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
		Huw Merriman		54.8
		Geoffrey Bastin	10,170	18.4
		Michelle Thew	7,797	14.1
		Rachel Sadler	4,199	7.6
		Jonathan Kent	2,807	5.1
Majority			20,075	36.4
Turnout			55,218	70.1
	hold		Swing	N/A

This constituency underwent boundary changes between the 2005 and 2010 general elections and thus change in share of vote is based on a notional calculation.

General election 2010: Bexhill and Battle

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
		Gregory Barker		51.6
		Mary Varrall	15,267	28.0
		James Royston	6,524	12.0
		Stuart Wheeler	2,699	4.9
		Neil Jackson	1,950	3.6
Majority			12,880	23.6
Turnout			54,587	68.9
	hold		Swing	−4.0

Elections in the 2000s

General election 2005: Bexhill and Battle

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
		Gregory Barker		52.6
		Mary Varrall	11,180	23.9
		Michael Jones	8,457	18.1
		Anthony Smith	2,568	5.5
Majority			13,449	28.7
Turnout			46,834	67.2
	hold		Swing	+2.7

General election 2001: Bexhill and Battle

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
		Gregory Barker		48.1
		Stephen Hardy	11,052	24.7
		Anne Moore-Williams	8,702	19.4
		Nigel Farage	3,474	7.8
Majority			10,503	23.4
Turnout			44,783	64.9
	hold		Swing	+0.4

Elections in the 1990s

General election 1997: Bexhill and Battle

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
		Charles Wardle		48.1
		Kathryn M. Field	12,470	25.5
		Robert D. Beckwith	8,866	18.1
		Vanessa Thompson	3,302	6.7
		John Pankhurst	786	1.6
Majority			11,100	22.6
Turnout			48,994	74.5
	hold		Swing	−4.4

General election 1992: Bexhill and Battle

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
		Charles Wardle		60.3
		Susan M. Prochak	15,023	28.9
		Frank W. Taylor	4,883	9.4
		Jonathan L. Prus	594	1.1
		Mary F. Smith	190	0.4
Majority			16,357	31.4
Turnout			52,070	79.1
	hold		Swing	−4.6

Elections in the 1980s

General election 1987: Bexhill and Battle

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
		Charles Wardle		66.5
		Robert Kiernan	13,051	25.8
		Derek Watts	3,903	7.7
Majority			20,519	40.7
Turnout			50,524	77.4
	hold		Swing	−1.6

General election 1983: Bexhill and Battle

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
		Charles Wardle		67.3
		Paul Smith	10,583	23.5
		Ian Pearson	3,587	8.0
		Anne Rix	538	1.2
Majority			19,746	43.8
Turnout			45,037	72.9
	win (new seat)

See also

• List of parliamentary constituencies in East Sussex
• List of parliamentary constituencies in the South East England (region)

Sources

• Election result, 2005 (BBC)
• Election results, 1997 – 2001 (BBC)
• Election results, 1997 – 2001 (Election Demon)
• Election results, 1983 – 1992 (Election Demon) (Result is incorrect for 1992)
• Election results, 1992 – 2005 (Guardian)

External links

• Bexhill and Battle UK Parliament constituency (boundaries April 2010 – May 2024) at MapIt UK
• Bexhill and Battle UK Parliament constituency (boundaries from June 2024) at MapIt UK