# 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. The seat has been represented since 2024 by Josh Babarinde, a Liberal Democrat.

## Constituency profile

The constituency contains urban and suburban developments, with its boundaries since 2024 matching those of Eastbourne Borough Council. Eastbourne itself is on the edge of the London Commuter Belt and is a coastal resort town. The Eastbourne seat has narrowed at every Boundary Commission Periodic Review, as the population of the core town has grown, having previously included neighbouring towns such as Willingdon, East Dean, and Polegate.
Chris Hanretty, the Professor of Politics at Royal Holloway, estimated that Eastbourne voted 57.6% to 42.4% in favour of leaving the European Union during the 2016 referendum.

## History
### Origin

This seat was created by the Redistribution of Seats Act 1885. This zone had been in the East Sussex constituency, which in turn had been created with two seats by the Reform Act 1832 as a division of the 13th century-founded Sussex parliamentary county which had two seats (returned two knights of the shire).

### From safe seat to marginal seat

With the exception of the landslide Liberal victory in 1906, the seat returned Conservative Party candidates at every election from its creation in 1885 until 1987. The seat in the 1930s saw three unopposed candidates: in 1932, March 1935 and November 1935. The large rural vote within the seat, until boundary changes in 1983, resulted in strong Conservative support – rural English voters tended to be richer and more right-wing (anti-socialist, pro-Empire before 1960s, pro-Established Church and pro-defence) compared to other voters.
The seat was first won by the Liberal Democrats at the 1990 by-election. Although it was recaptured by the Conservatives at the subsequent general election in 1992 and held until 2010, it became a marginal, or swing seat, from 1990 onwards, being closely fought for between the two locally dominant parties. In the nine elections from 1990 to 2019, the winning majority was never more than 10%, and the seat has changed hands between the Conservative and Liberal Democrat candidates at each of the five elections from 2010 to 2024 inclusive.

### Recent results

A Liberal Democrat, Stephen Lloyd, regained the seat at the 2010 general election, in a vote which saw Eastbourne return the sixth-lowest Labour share of the vote of the 631 candidates who stood at the election, with only 4.8%. In 2015, the seat was won by Caroline Ansell, 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 the 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%.

## 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.
In order to bring its electorate within the permitted range, the parts within the District of Wealden were transferred to the Lewes constituency.

## Members of Parliament

East Sussex prior to 1885
| Election | Member | Party |
| 1885 | Edward Field | Conservative |
| 1900 | Sir Lindsay Hogg | Conservative |
| 1906 | Hubert Beaumont | Liberal |
| January 1910 | Rupert Gwynne | Conservative |
| 1924 | Sir George Lloyd | Conservative |
| 1925 by-election | Sir Reginald Hall | Conservative |
| 1929 | Edward Marjoribanks | Conservative |
| 1932 by-election | John Slater | Conservative |
| 1935 by-election | Sir Charles Taylor | Conservative |
| February 1974 | Ian Gow | Conservative |
| 1990 by-election | David Bellotti | Liberal Democrats |
| 1992 | Nigel Waterson | Conservative |
| 2010 | Stephen Lloyd | Liberal Democrats |
| 2015 | Caroline Ansell | Conservative |
| 2017 | Stephen Lloyd | Liberal Democrats |
| December 2018 | Stephen Lloyd | Independent |
| September 2019 | Stephen Lloyd | Liberal Democrats |
| 2019 | Caroline Ansell | Conservative |
| 2024 | Josh Babarinde | Liberal Democrats |

### By-elections

* 1925 Eastbourne by-election (Con, hold), following the resignation of the Conservative MP Sir George Ambrose Lloyd
* 1932 Eastbourne by-election (Con, hold), following the death of the Conservative MP Edward Marjoribanks
* 1935 Eastbourne by-election (Con, hold), following the death of the Conservative MP John Slater
* 1990 Eastbourne by-election (LD, gain), following the assassination of the Conservative MP Ian Gow by members of the Provisional IRA.

## Election results
### Elections in the 2020s

General election 2024: Eastbourne :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal Democrats | Josh Babarinde | 23,742 | 52.1 | +9.2 |
| | Conservative | Caroline Ansell | 11,538 | 25.3 | −21.8 |
| | Reform UK | Mark Ashdown | 6,061 | 13.3 | +10.6 |
| | Labour | Paul Richards | 2,689 | 5.9 | −1.0 |
| | Green | Mike Munson | 1,424 | 3.1 | N/A |
| | UKIP | Ian Garbutt | 154 | 0.3 | N/A |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 12,204 | 26.8 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 45,608 | 62.8 | −7.1 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 72,592 | | |
| | Liberal Democrats gain from Conservative | Liberal Democrats gain from Conservative | Swing | 15.5 | |

### Elections in the 2010s

2019 notional result :
| Party | Party | Vote | % |
| | Conservative | 24,137 | 47.1 |
| | Liberal Democrats | 21,969 | 42.9 |
| | Labour | 3,560 | 6.9 |
| | Brexit Party | 1,408 | 2.7 |
| | Others | 185 | 0.4 |
| Turnout | Turnout | 51,259 | 69.9 |
| Electorate | Electorate | 73,322 |
General election 2019: Eastbourne :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Caroline Ansell | 26,951 | 48.9 | +4.8 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Stephen Lloyd | 22,620 | 41.0 | −5.9 |
| | Labour | Jake Lambert | 3,848 | 7.0 | −1.1 |
| | Brexit Party | Stephen Gander | 1,530 | 2.8 | N/A |
| | Independent | Ken Pollock | 185 | 0.3 | N/A |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 4,331 | 7.9 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 55,134 | 69.5 | −3.4 |
| | Conservative gain from Liberal Democrats | Conservative gain from Liberal Democrats | Swing | +5.3 | |
General election 2017: Eastbourne :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal Democrats | Stephen Lloyd | 26,924 | 46.9 | +8.7 |
| | Conservative | Caroline Ansell | 25,315 | 44.1 | +4.5 |
| | Labour | Jake Lambert | 4,671 | 8.1 | +0.3 |
| | Green | Alex Hough | 510 | 0.9 | −1.7 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,609 | 2.8 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 57,420 | 72.9 | +5.3 |
| | Liberal Democrats gain from Conservative | Liberal Democrats gain from Conservative | Swing | +2.1 | |
General election 2015: Eastbourne :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Caroline Ansell | 20,934 | 39.6 | −1.1 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Stephen Lloyd | 20,201 | 38.2 | −9.1 |
| | UKIP | Nigel Jones | 6,139 | 11.6 | +9.1 |
| | Labour | Jake Lambert | 4,143 | 7.8 | +3.0 |
| | Green | Andrew Durling | 1,351 | 2.6 | N/A |
| | Independent | Paul Howard | 139 | 0.3 | N/A |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 733 | 1.4 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 52,907 | 67.6 | +0.6 |
| | Conservative gain from Liberal Democrats | Conservative gain from Liberal Democrats | Swing | +4.0 | |
General election 2010: Eastbourne :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal Democrats | Stephen Lloyd | 24,658 | 47.3 | +5.6 |
| | Conservative | Nigel Waterson | 21,223 | 40.7 | −2.3 |
| | Labour | Dave Brinson | 2,497 | 4.8 | −6.0 |
| | Independent | Stephen Shing | 1,327 | 2.5 | N/A |
| | UKIP | Roger Needham | 1,305 | 2.5 | ±0.0 |
| | BNP | Colin Poulter | 939 | 1.8 | N/A |
| | Independent | Michael Baldry | 101 | 0.2 | N/A |
| | Independent | Keith Gell | 74 | 0.1 | N/A |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 3,435 | 6.6 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 52,124 | 67.0 | +3.8 |
| | Liberal Democrats gain from Conservative | Liberal Democrats gain from Conservative | Swing | +4.0 | |

### Elections in the 2000s

General election 2005: Eastbourne :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Nigel Waterson | 21,033 | 43.5 | −0.6 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Stephen Lloyd | 19,909 | 41.1 | +1.8 |
| | Labour | Andrew Jones | 5,268 | 10.9 | −2.4 |
| | UKIP | Andrew Meggs | 1,233 | 2.5 | +0.5 |
| | Green | Clive Gross | 949 | 2.0 | N/A |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,124 | 2.4 | −2.4 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 48,392 | 64.8 | +5.2 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | -1.2 | |
General election 2001: Eastbourne :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Nigel Waterson | 19,738 | 44.1 | +2.0 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Chris Berry | 17,584 | 39.3 | +1.0 |
| | Labour | Gillian Roles | 5,967 | 13.3 | +0.8 |
| | UKIP | Barry Jones | 907 | 2.0 | N/A |
| | Liberal | Theresia Williamson | 574 | 1.3 | −0.1 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 2,154 | 4.8 | +1.0 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 44,770 | 59.6 | −13.2 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | +1.5 | |

### Elections in the 1990s

General election 1997: Eastbourne :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Nigel Waterson | 22,183 | 42.1 | −10.9 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Chris Berry | 20,189 | 38.3 | −2.9 |
| | Labour | David Lines | 6,576 | 12.5 | +7.8 |
| | Referendum | Trevor Lowe | 2,724 | 5.2 | N/A |
| | Liberal | Theresia Williamson | 741 | 1.4 | N/A |
| | Natural Law | John Dawkins | 254 | 0.5 | N/A |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,994 | 3.8 | −5.1 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 52,667 | 72.8 | −8.1 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | -4.0 | |
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.
General election 1992: Eastbourne :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Nigel Waterson | 31,792 | 51.6 | −8.3 |
| | Liberal Democrats | David Bellotti | 26,311 | 42.7 | +13.0 |
| | Labour | Ivan A. Gibbons | 2,834 | 4.6 | −4.2 |
| | Green | David Aherne | 391 | 0.6 | −0.9 |
| | Liberal | MT Williamson | 296 | 0.5 | −29.3 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 5,481 | 8.9 | −21.3 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 61,624 | 80.9 | +5.3 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | −10.7 | |
By-election 1990: Eastbourne :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal Democrats | David Bellotti | 23,415 | 50.8 | +21.1 |
| | Conservative | Richard Hickmet | 18,865 | 41.0 | −18.9 |
| | Labour | Charlotte Atkins | 2,308 | 5.0 | −3.8 |
| | Green | David Aherne | 553 | 1.2 | −0.4 |
| | Liberal | Theresia Williamson | 526 | 1.1 | N/A |
| | Corrective Party | Lady Whiplash | 216 | 0.5 | N/A |
| | National Front | John McAuley | 154 | 0.3 | N/A |
| | Ironside Party | Eric Page | 35 | 0.1 | N/A |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 4,550 | 9.8 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 46,072 | 60.7 | −14.9 |
| | Liberal Democrats gain from Conservative | Liberal Democrats gain from Conservative | Swing | +20.0 | |

### Elections in the 1980s

General election 1987: Eastbourne :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Ian Gow | 33,587 | 59.9 | +0.8 |
| | Liberal | Peter Driver | 16,664 | 29.7 | −4.1 |
| | Labour | Ash Patel | 4,928 | 8.8 | +1.7 |
| | Green | Ruth Addison | 867 | 1.6 | N/A |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 16,923 | 30.2 | +4.9 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 56,046 | 75.6 | +2.6 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | +2.5 | |
General election 1983: Eastbourne :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Ian Gow | 31,501 | 59.1 | −3.9 |
| | Liberal | Peter Driver | 18,015 | 33.8 | +15.0 |
| | Labour | Charles Clark | 3,790 | 7.1 | −10.1 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 13,486 | 25.3 | −19.0 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 53,306 | 73.0 | −3.7 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | -9.5 | |

### Elections in the 1970s

General election 1979: Eastbourne :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Ian Gow | 37,168 | 63.1 | +8.4 |
| | Liberal | David Bellotti | 11,084 | 18.8 | −7.1 |
| | Labour | Len Caine | 10,166 | 17.2 | −2.3 |
| | National Front | C Mitchell | 533 | 0.9 | N/A |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 26,084 | 44.3 | +15.5 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 58,951 | 76.7 | +2.2 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | +7.8 | |
General election October 1974: Eastbourne :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Ian Gow | 30,442 | 54.7 | +3.6 |
| | Liberal | Gurth Hoyer-Millar | 14,417 | 25.9 | −13.2 |
| | Labour | Len Caine | 10,830 | 19.5 | +9.9 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 16,025 | 28.8 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 55,689 | 74.55 | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | +8.4 | |
General election February 1974: Eastbourne :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Conservative | Ian Gow | 31,462 | 51.3 |
| | Liberal | Stephen Terrell | 23,987 | 39.1 |
| | Labour | David Dawson | 5,874 | 9.6 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 7,475 | 12.19 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 61,323 | 82.60 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | |
General election 1970: Eastbourne :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Conservative | Charles Taylor | 30,296 | 48.8 |
| | Liberal | Stephen Terrell | 23,308 | 37.6 |
| | Labour | Cyril George Abley | 8,475 | 13.7 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 6,988 | 11.2 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 62,079 | 73.67 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | – |

### Elections in the 1960s

General election 1966: Eastbourne :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Charles Taylor | 26,039 | 46.26 | |
| | Liberal | Stephen Terrell | 16,746 | 29.75 | |
| | Labour | John Harold High | 12,620 | 22.42 | |
| | Independent | Vernon Hubert Petty | 883 | 1.57 | N/A |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 9,293 | 16.51 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 56,288 | 77.24 | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | | |
General election 1964: Eastbourne :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Conservative | Charles Taylor | 26,410 | 49.01 |
| | Liberal | Stephen Terrell | 15,441 | 28.66 |
| | Labour Co-op | Joan E. M. Baker | 12,034 | 22.33 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 10,969 | 20.35 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 53,885 | 76.70 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | |

### Elections in the 1950s

General election 1959: Eastbourne :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Charles Taylor | 27,874 | 57.28 | |
| | Labour | Anthony Albert Dumont | 11,837 | 24.32 | |
| | Liberal | Ronald Gardner-Thorpe | 8,955 | 18.40 | N/A |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 16,037 | 32.96 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 48,666 | 77.28 | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | | |
General election 1955: Eastbourne :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Conservative | Charles Taylor | 29,779 | 65.68 |
| | Labour | John A. Lewis | 15,561 | 34.32 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 14,218 | 31.36 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 45,340 | 75.81 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | |
General election 1951: Eastbourne :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Conservative | Charles Taylor | 39,278 | 67.15 |
| | Labour | Christopher Attlee | 19,217 | 32.85 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 20,061 | 34.30 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 58,495 | 81.93 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | |
General election 1950: Eastbourne :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Conservative | Charles Taylor | 35,425 | 59.54 |
| | Labour | Reginald Groves | 18,304 | 30.77 |
| | Liberal | Cecil Herbert Louis Douglas-Bate | 5,766 | 9.69 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 17,121 | 28.77 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 59,495 | 85.08 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | |

### Election in the 1940s

General election 1945: Eastbourne :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Charles Taylor | 18,173 | 53.24 | N/A |
| | Labour | Duncan Newman Smith | 12,637 | 37.02 | N/A |
| | Liberal | John Stafford Gowland | 2,797 | 8.19 | N/A |
| | Independent National | Reg Hipwell | 524 | 1.54 | N/A |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 5,536 | 16.22 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 34,131 | 77.35 | N/A |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold |

### Elections in the 1930s

General election 1935: Eastbourne :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Charles Taylor | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold |
1935 Eastbourne by-election :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Charles Taylor | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold |
1932 Eastbourne by-election :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | John Slater | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold |
General election 1931: Eastbourne :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Conservative | Edward Marjoribanks | 31,240 | 85.31 |
| | Labour | A.J. Marshall | 5,379 | 14.69 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 25,861 | 70.62 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 36,619 | 71.86 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | |

### Elections in the 1920s

1929 general election: Eastbourne :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Unionist | Edward Marjoribanks | 18,157 | 49.9 | −8.5 |
| | Labour | Richard S Chatfield | 8,204 | 22.5 | +5.6 |
| | Liberal | Clive Stuart Saxon Burt | 7,812 | 21.4 | −3.3 |
| | Ind. Unionist | P E Hurst | 2,277 | 6.2 | N/A |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 9,953 | 27.4 | −6.3 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 36,450 | 74.5 | +13.7 |
| | Unionist hold | Unionist hold | Swing | -7.0 | |
1925 Eastbourne by-election :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Unionist | Reginald Hall | 12,741 | 58.4 | −9.5 |
| | Liberal | Harcourt Johnstone | 5,386 | 24.7 | +8.6 |
| | Labour | Thomas Williams | 3,696 | 16.9 | +0.9 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 7,355 | 33.7 | −18.1 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 21,823 | 60.7 | −14.9 |
| | Unionist hold | Unionist hold | Swing | -9.0 | |
1924 general election: Eastbourne :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Unionist | George Lloyd | 17,533 | 67.9 | +14.1 |
| | Liberal | Joseph James Davies | 4,168 | 16.1 | −30.1 |
| | Labour | D J Davis | 4,138 | 16.0 | N/A |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 13,365 | 51.8 | +44.2 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 25,839 | 77.6 | +0.6 |
| | Unionist hold | Unionist hold | Swing | +22.1 | |
General election 1923: Eastbourne :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Unionist | Rupert Gwynne | 13,276 | 53.8 | −6.7 |
| | Liberal | Thomas Wiles | 11,396 | 46.2 | +6.7 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,880 | 7.6 | −13.4 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 24,672 | 77.0 | −0.2 |
| | Unionist hold | Unionist hold | Swing | -6.7 | |
General election 1922: Eastbourne :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Unionist | Rupert Gwynne | 14,601 | 60.5 | −3.1 |
| | Liberal | Edward Duke | 9,550 | 39.5 | +29.1 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 5,051 | 21.0 | −16.6 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 24,151 | 77.2 | |
| | Unionist hold | Unionist hold | Swing | -16.1 | |

### Elections in the 1910s

General election 1918: Eastbourne :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| C | Unionist | Rupert Gwynne | 11,357 | 63.6 | +5.3 |
| | Labour | Thomas Burleigh Hasdell | 4,641 | 26.0 | N/A |
| | Liberal | Alfred John Callaghan | 1,852 | 10.4 | −31.3 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 6,716 | 37.6 | +21.0 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 17,850 | 59.8 | −23.4 |
| | Unionist hold | Unionist hold | Swing | +18.3 | |
| C indicates candidate endorsed by the coalition government. ||||||
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: Rupert Gwynne
* Liberal:
General election December 1910: Eastbourne :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Rupert Gwynne | 6,873 | 58.3 | −0.7 |
| | Liberal | Hector Morison | 4,920 | 41.7 | +0.7 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,953 | 16.6 | −1.4 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 11,793 | 83.2 | −7.1 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 14,172 | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | −0.7 | |
General election January 1910: Eastbourne :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Rupert Gwynne | 7,553 | 59.0 | +11.8 |
| | Liberal | Hector Morison | 5,249 | 41.0 | −11.8 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 2,304 | 18.0 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 12,802 | 90.3 | +3.3 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 14,172 | | |
| | Conservative gain from Liberal | Conservative gain from Liberal | Swing | +11.8 | |

### Elections in the 1900s

General election 1906: Eastbourne :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | Hubert Beaumont | 5,933 | 52.8 | +6.6 |
| | Conservative | Lindsay Hogg | 5,303 | 47.2 | −6.6 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 630 | 5.6 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 11,236 | 87.0 | +5.2 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 12,913 | | |
| | Liberal gain from Conservative | Liberal gain from Conservative | Swing | +6.6 | |
General election 1900: Eastbourne :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Lindsay Hogg | 4,948 | 53.8 | +3.4 |
| | Liberal | Thomas Seymour Brand | 4,254 | 46.2 | −3.4 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 694 | 7.6 | +6.8 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 9,202 | 81.8 | +4.0 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 11,248 | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | +3.4 | |

### Elections in the 1890s

General election 1895: Eastbourne :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Edward Field | 4,139 | 50.4 | −2.0 |
| | Liberal | Thomas Seymour Brand | 4,079 | 49.6 | +2.0 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 60 | 0.8 | −4.0 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 8,218 | 77.8 | +0.9 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 10,563 | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | −2.0 | |
General election 1892: Eastbourne :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Edward Field | 4,037 | 52.4 | −7.7 |
| | Liberal | Thomas Seymour Brand | 3,674 | 47.6 | +7.7 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 363 | 4.8 | −15.4 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 7,711 | 76.9 | +3.3 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 10,029 | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | −7.7 | |

### Elections in the 1880s

General election 1886: Eastbourne :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Edward Field | 3,760 | 60.1 | +9.6 |
| | Liberal | James Clifton Brown | 2,501 | 39.9 | −9.6 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,259 | 20.2 | +19.2 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 6,261 | 73.6 | −9.4 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 8,504 | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | +9.6 | |
General election 1885: Eastbourne :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Edward Field | 3,561 | 50.5 | |
| | Liberal | George Ambrose Wallis | 3,497 | 49.5 | |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 64 | 1.0 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 7,058 | 83.0 | |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 8,504 | | |
| | Conservative win (new seat) | Conservative win (new seat) | Conservative win (new seat) | Conservative win (new seat) | Conservative win (new seat) |