Lewes (UK Parliament constituency)

UK constituency infobox
Name = Lewes
Map1 = Lewes
Map2 = EastSussex
Type = County
Year = 1295
Entity = East Sussex
County = East Sussex
EP = South East England
MP = Norman Baker
Party = Liberal Democrat

Lewes is a constituency located in East Sussex and centred on the town of Lewes. It is represented in the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. It was a safe Conservative seat until 1997, but the Liberal Democrats have gained a strong foothold.

Boundaries

The constituency is centred around the town of Lewes, for which it is named after. However, the constituency also covers most of the Lewes district and parts of the Wealden district.

History

The constituency of Lewes has existed since Commoners were first summoned to Parliament in 1295. It is notable for the fact that between 1874 and 1997 it elected only Conservative Members of Parliament (MPs). This run was brought to an end by the election of the current MP, a Liberal Democrat.

Members of Parliament

MPs 1295-1660

* "Constituency created" (1295)

MPs 1660-1868

1868-present

Election results

Election box begin
title=General Election 2005: LewesElection box candidate with party link
party = Liberal Democrats (UK)
candidate = Norman Baker
votes = 24,376
percentage = 52.4
change = -3.9Election box candidate with party link
party = Conservative Party (UK)
candidate = Rory Love
votes = 15,902
percentage = 34.2
change = -0.7Election box candidate with party link
party = Labour Party (UK)
candidate = Richard Black
votes = 4,169
percentage = 9.0
change = +1.7Election box candidate with party link
party = Green Party of England and Wales
candidate = Susan Murray
votes = 1,071
percentage = 2.3
change = +2.3Election box candidate with party link
party = United Kingdom Independence Party
candidate = John Petley
votes = 1,034
percentage = 2.2
change = +0.8Election box majority
votes = 8,474
percentage = 18.2
change = Election box turnout
votes = 46,552
percentage = 69.4
change = 0.9Election box hold with party link
winner = Liberal Democrats (UK)
swing = -1.6

Election box begin
title=General Election 2001: LewesElection box candidate with party link
party = Liberal Democrats (UK)
candidate = Norman Baker
votes = 25,588
percentage = 56.3
change = +13.1Election box candidate with party link
party = Conservative Party (UK)
candidate = Simon Sinnatt
votes = 15,878
percentage = 34.9
change = -5.6Election box candidate with party link
party = Labour Party (UK)
candidate = Paul Richards
votes = 3,317
percentage = 7.3
change = -3.3Election box candidate with party link
party = United Kingdom Independence Party
candidate = John Harvey
votes = 650
percentage = 1.4
change = +0.9Election box majority
votes = 9,710
percentage = 21.4
change =Election box turnout
votes = 45,433
percentage = 68.5
change = -7.9Election box hold with party link
winner = Liberal Democrats (UK)
swing =

Election box begin
title=General Election 1997: LewesElection box candidate with party link
party = Liberal Democrats (UK)
candidate = Norman Baker
votes = 21,250
percentage = 43.2
change = +4.1Election box candidate with party link
party = Conservative Party (UK)
candidate = Tim Rathbone
votes = 19,950
percentage = 40.6
change = -10.8Election box candidate with party link
party = Labour Party (UK)
candidate = Mark Patton
votes = 5,232
percentage = 10.6
change = +2.4Election box candidate with party link
party = Referendum Party
candidate = Lucille Butler
votes = 2,481
percentage = 5.0
change = "N/A"Election box candidate with party link
party = United Kingdom Independence Party
candidate = John Harvey
votes = 256
percentage = 0.5
change = "N/A"Election box majority
votes = 1,300
percentage = 2.6
change =Election box turnout
votes = 49,169
percentage = 76.4
change = Election box gain with party link
winner = Liberal Democrats (UK)
loser = Conservative Party (UK)
swing =

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.

Election box begin
title=General Election 1992: LewesElection box candidate with party link
party = Conservative Party (UK)
candidate = Tim Rathbone
votes = 33,042
percentage = 54.6
change = -2.2Election box candidate with party link
party = Liberal Democrats (UK)
candidate = Norman Baker
votes = 20,867
percentage = 34.5
change = +1.8Election box candidate with party link
party = Labour Party (UK)
candidate = Alison Chapman
votes = 5,758
percentage = 9.5
change = +0.7Election box candidate with party link
party = Green Party of England and Wales
candidate = A. E. Beaumont
votes = 719
percentage = 1.2
change = -0.5Election box candidate with party link
party = Natural Law Party
candidate = N. F. Clinch
votes = 87
percentage = 0.2
change = "N/A"Election box majority
votes = 12,175
percentage = 20.1
change =Election box turnout
votes = 60,473
percentage = 81.8
change = Election box hold with party link
winner = Conservative Party (UK)
swing =

Election box begin
title=General Election 1987: LewesElection box candidate with party link
party = Conservative Party (UK)
candidate = Tim Rathbone
votes = 32,016
percentage = 56.8
change = -1.8Election box candidate for alliance
party = SDP-Liberal Alliance
side = Liberal Party (UK)
candidate = David Bellotti
votes = 18,396
percentage = 32.7
change = +2.0Election box candidate with party link
party = Labour Party (UK)
candidate = R. P. Taylor
votes = 4,973
percentage = 8.8
change = +0.3Election box candidate with party link
party = Green Party of England and Wales
candidate = A. G. P. Sherwood
votes = 970
percentage = 1.7
change = -0.7Election box majority
votes = 13,620
percentage = 24.1
change =Election box turnout
votes = 56,355
percentage = 77.0
change = Election box hold with party link
winner = Conservative Party (UK)
swing =

Election box begin
title=General Election 1983: LewesElection box candidate with party link
party = Conservative Party (UK)
candidate = Tim Rathbone
votes = 29,261
percentage = 58.4
change = Election box candidate for alliance
party = SDP-Liberal Alliance
side = Liberal Party (UK)
candidate = David Bellotti
votes = 15,357
percentage = 30.7
change = Election box candidate with party link
party = Labour Party (UK)
candidate = S. D. Sander
votes = 4,244
percentage = 8.5
change = Election box candidate with party link
party = Ecology Party
candidate = R. P. C. Mutter
votes = 1,221
percentage = 2.4
change = Election box majority
votes = 13,904
percentage = 27.7
change =Election box turnout
votes = 50,083
percentage = 74.3
change = Election box hold with party link
winner = Conservative Party (UK)
swing =

Election box begin
title=General Election 1979: LewesElection box candidate with party link
party = Conservative Party (UK)
candidate = Tim Rathbone
votes = 33,992
percentage = 58.42
change = Election box candidate with party link
party = Liberal Party (UK)
candidate = G. Hook
votes = 12,279
percentage = 21.10
change = Election box candidate with party link
party = Labour Party (UK)
candidate = T. Forrester
votes = 11,152
percentage = 19.17
change = Election box candidate with party link
party = National Front (UK)
candidate = B. Webb
votes = 764
percentage = 1.31
change = Election box majority
votes = 21,713
percentage = 37.32
change =Election box turnout
votes = 58,187
percentage = 76.32
change = Election box hold with party link
winner = Conservative Party (UK)
swing =

Election box begin
title=General Election October 1974: LewesElection box candidate with party link
party = Conservative Party (UK)
candidate = Tim Rathbone
votes = 27,588
percentage = 51.87
change = Election box candidate with party link
party = Liberal Party (UK)
candidate = G. Hook
votes = 13,741
percentage = 25.84
change = Election box candidate with party link
party = Labour Party (UK)
candidate = J. F. Little
votes = 11,857
percentage = 22.29
change = Election box majority
votes = 13,847
percentage = 26.04
change =Election box turnout
votes = 53,186
percentage = 73.81
change = Election box hold with party link
winner = Conservative Party (UK)
swing =

New constituency boundaries.Election box begin
title=General Election February 1974: Lewes

Election box candidate with party link
party = Conservative Party (UK)
candidate = Tim Rathbone
votes = 30,423
percentage = 52.94
change = Election box candidate with party link
party = Liberal Party (UK)
candidate = M. Holt
votes = 16,166
percentage = 28.13
change = Election box candidate with party link
party = Labour Party (UK)
candidate = J. F. Little
votes = 10,875
percentage = 18.92
change = Election box majority
votes = 14,257
percentage = 24.81
change =Election box turnout
votes = 57,464
percentage = 80.30
change = Election box hold with party link
winner = Conservative Party (UK)
swing =

Election box begin
title=General Election 1970: LewesElection box candidate with party link
party = Conservative Party (UK)
candidate = Tufton Victor Hamilton Beamish
votes = 33,592
percentage = 58.34
change = Election box candidate with party link
party = Labour Party (UK)
candidate = Q. Barry
votes = 14,904
percentage = 25.88
change = Election box candidate with party link
party = Liberal Party (UK)
candidate = M. Holt
votes = 9,083
percentage = 15.77
change = Election box majority
votes = 18,688
percentage = 32.46
change =Election box turnout
votes = 57,579
percentage = 72.79
change = Election box hold with party link
winner = Conservative Party (UK)
swing =

Election box begin
title=General Election 1966: LewesElection box candidate with party link
party = Conservative Party (UK)
candidate = Tufton Victor Hamilton Beamish
votes = 27,529
percentage = 53.44
change = Election box candidate with party link
party = Labour Party (UK)
candidate = R. E. Manley
votes = 14,561
percentage = 28.32
change = Election box candidate with party link
party = Liberal Party (UK)
candidate = G. A. Dowden
votes = 9,328
percentage = 18.14
change = Election box majority
votes = 12,968
percentage = 25.22
change =Election box turnout
votes = 51,418
percentage = 76.27
change = Election box hold with party link
winner = Conservative Party (UK)
swing =

Election box begin
title=General Election 1964: LewesElection box candidate with party link
party = Conservative Party (UK)
candidate = Tufton Victor Hamilton Beamish
votes = 26,818
percentage = 55.30
change = Election box candidate with party link
party = Labour Party (UK)
candidate = R. E. Fitch
votes = 12,757
percentage = 26.30
change = Election box candidate with party link
party = Liberal Party (UK)
candidate = G. A. Dowden
votes = 8,924
percentage = 18.40
change = Election box majority
votes = 14,061
percentage = 28.99
change =Election box turnout
votes = 48,499
percentage = 76.43
change = Election box hold with party link
winner = Conservative Party (UK)
swing =

Election box begin
title=General Election 1959: LewesElection box candidate with party link
party = Conservative Party (UK)
candidate = Tufton Victor Hamilton Beamish
votes = 29,642
percentage = 69.41
change = Election box candidate with party link
party = Labour Party (UK)
candidate = W. Reay
votes = 13,065
percentage = 30.59
change = Election box majority
votes = 16,577
percentage = 38.82
change =Election box turnout
votes = 42,707
percentage = 75.80
change = Election box hold with party link
winner = Conservative Party (UK)
swing =

Election box begin
title=General Election 1955: LewesElection box candidate with party link
party = Conservative Party (UK)
candidate = Tufton Victor Hamilton Beamish
votes = 24,938
percentage = 66.80
change = Election box candidate with party link
party = Labour Party (UK)
candidate = J. L. Eley
votes = 12,392
percentage = 33.20
change = Election box majority
votes = 12,546
percentage = 33.61
change =Election box turnout
votes = 37,330
percentage = 74.83
change = Election box hold with party link
winner = Conservative Party (UK)
swing =

Election box begin
title=General Election 1951: LewesElection box candidate with party link
party = Conservative Party (UK)
candidate = Tufton Victor Hamilton Beamish
votes = 34,345
percentage = 66.78
change = Election box candidate with party link
party = Labour Party (UK)
candidate = A. W. Briggs
votes = 17,082
percentage = 33.22
change = Election box majority
votes = 17,263
percentage = 33.57
change =Election box turnout
votes = 51,478
percentage = 78.26
change = Election box hold with party link
winner = Conservative Party (UK)
swing =

ources

* [http://www.angeltowns.com/town/peerage/lcommons2.htm Historical List of MPs]
* [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/shared/vote2005/html/367.stm Election result, 2005] (BBC)
* [http://news.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/static/vote2001/results_constituencies/constituencies/367.stm Election results, 1997 - 2001] (BBC)
* [http://www.election.demon.co.uk/1997EC3.html Election results, 1997 - 2001] (Election Demon)
* [http://www.election.demon.co.uk/1983EC.html Election results, 1983 - 1992] (Election Demon)
* [http://politics.guardian.co.uk/hoc/constituency/history/0,9571,-1078,00.html Election results, 1992 - 2005] (Guardian)
* [http://www.psr.keele.ac.uk/area/uk/edates.htm Election results, 1951 - 2001] (Keele University)
*F. W. S. Craig. "British Parliamentary Election Results 1950-1973". (ISBN 0-900178-07-8)

ee also

*List of Parliamentary constituencies in East Sussex