Lewes is a constituency in East Sussex represented in the House of Commons of the UK Parliament since 2024 by James MacCleary, a Liberal Democrat.
Constituency profile
Lewes is a rural constituency in East Sussex. It is named after the town of Lewes, although its largest town is Seaford which has a population of around 24,000. Other settlements in the constituency include the towns of Newhaven and Polegate and the villages of Willingdon, Stone Cross, Ringmer and Ditchling. Lewes is a traditional market town known for its 11th-century castle, Seaford is a seaside resort town and Newhaven is an important local port and ferry terminal with regular services to Dieppe in France. The constituency's towns are well-connected by rail to nearby Brighton and Eastbourne. The constituency has average levels of wealth; there is some deprivation in Newhaven whilst the rural parts of the constituency are generally affluent. On average, house prices are lower than the rest of South East England but higher than the national average.
The constituency has a large retired population giving it a high average age. Residents have high rates of homeownership and average levels of education, income and professional employment. A high proportion of residents work in the public sector. White people made up 95% of the population at the 2021 census.
: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
{| class="wikitable"
|-
!Parliament!!First member!!Second member
|-
| 1295|| Gervasius de Wolvehope|| Ricardus le Palmere
|-
| 1297||colspan="2"| No return
|-
| 1388 (Sep)|| Richard atte Gate|| Walter Gosselyn
|-
| 1529|| Sir Edward Bray|| John Batenore
|-
| 1562/3|| George Goring I|| William Cantrell || James Rivers
|-
| 1641|| Herbert Morley|| Henry Shelley
|-
| 1645|| Herbert Morley|| Henry Shelley
|-
| 1648|| Herbert Morley|| Henry Shelley
|-
| 1653|| colspan="2"|Lewes not represented in Barebones Parliament
|-
| 1654|| Henry Shelley|| (one seat only)
|-
| 1656|| Anthony Stapley|| (one seat only)
|-
| 1659|| Herbert Morley|| Richard Boughton
|}
MPs 1660–1868
{| class="wikitable"
|-
!Election!!colspan="2"|First member!!First party!!colspan="2"|Second member
|style="color:inherit;background-color: " |
| Lord Francis Osborne
| Tory
|-
|1837
|rowspan="2" style="color:inherit;background-color: " |
|rowspan="2"|Henry FitzRoy
|rowspan="2"| Conservative
|-
|1840
|style="color:inherit;background-color: " |
|Viscount Cantelupe
| Conservative
|rowspan="2" style="color:inherit;background-color: " |
|rowspan="2"| Sir Howard Elphinstone
|rowspan="2"| Radical
|-
|1842
| style="color:inherit;background-color: " |
|rowspan="4"|Henry FitzRoy
|Conservative
|-
|1847
|rowspan="2" style="color:inherit;background-color: " |
|rowspan="2" | Peelite
|style="color:inherit;background-color: " |
| Robert Perfect
| Whig
|-
|1852
|style="color:inherit;background-color: " |
|rowspan="4"| Henry Brand
|Whig
|-
|1859
|style="color:inherit;background-color: " |
| Liberal
|rowspan="3" style="color:inherit;background-color: " |
|rowspan="3"| Liberal
|-
|1860
|style="color:inherit;background-color: " |
| John Blencowe
| Liberal
|-
|1865
|style="color:inherit;background-color: " |
| Lord Pelham
| Liberal
|-
|1868
|colspan="6" |Representation reduced to one
|}
MPs since 1868
{| class="wikitable"
|-
!colspan="2"|Election!!Member
Elections in the 2010s
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! colspan="4" | 2019 notional result
|-
! bgcolor="#DDDDFF" width="130px" colspan="2" | Party
! bgcolor="#DDDDFF" width="50px" | Vote
! bgcolor="#DDDDFF" width="30px" | %
|-
|
| Conservative ||align=right| 26,977 ||align=right| 48.5
|-
|
| Liberal Democrats ||align=right| 22,851 ||align=right| 41.1
|-
|
| Labour ||align=right| 3,930 ||align=right| 7.1
|-
|
| Green ||align=right| 1,587 ||align=right| 2.9
|-
|
| Brexit Party ||align=right| 122 ||align=right| 0.2
|-
|
| Others ||align=right| 113 ||align=right| 0.2
|-
|colspan="4" bgcolor="#EAECF0"|
|-
|colspan="2"|Turnout
|align=right|55,580
|align=right|74.0
|-
|colspan="2"|Electorate
|align=right|75,091
|}
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
Elections in the 1900s
Elections in the 1840s
Blunt's death caused a by-election.