Eastbourne (UK Parliament constituency)

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. For the majority of its history, the constituency has been represented by Conservative MPs, but from the 1990s onwards became a marginal seat, or swing seat, and since 2024 has been represented by Josh Babarinde, a Liberal Democrat.

Constituency profile

The Eastbourne constituency is located in East Sussex. It covers the large town of Eastbourne and is coterminous with its borough. Eastbourne is a seaside resort town on England's south coast and is popular with tourists. The town is known for its Victorian architecture and was mostly developed in the late 19th century by William Cavendish, 7th Duke of Devonshire. The town has high levels of deprivation, particularly in the town centre and the northern suburbs, although the west of the town is wealthy. House prices are lower than the national average and considerably lower than the rest of South East England.

Compared to the country as a whole, residents of Eastbourne are generally older and have lower levels of education. They have low incomes and are less likely to work in professional occupations. White people made up 91% of the population at the 2021 census.

In 2015, the seat was won by Caroline Ansell by just 773 votes, 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 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%. This made 2024 the first election since the constituency's creation that a Conservative candidate was not within 10% of the winning vote.

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.

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