# Bexhill and Battle (UK Parliament constituency)

Bexhill and Battle (/ˈbɛkshɪl/) 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

The constituency was created in 1983 as the replacement for the Rye parliamentary constituency. 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:
Further to the 2023 Periodic Review of Westminster constituencies which came into effect for the 2024 general election, the constituency is now composed of the following (as they existed on 1 December 2020):
* 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 the new constituency of Sussex Weald. Other minor changes to take account of revised ward boundaries.

## Members of Parliament

Rye prior to 1983
| Election | Member | Party |
| 1983 | Charles Wardle | Conservative |
| 2001 | Charles Wardle | Independent |
| 2001 | Gregory Barker | Conservative |
| 2015 | Huw Merriman | Conservative |
| 2024 | Kieran Mullan | Conservative |

## Elections
### Elections in the 2020s

General election 2024: Bexhill and Battle :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Kieran Mullan | 16,186 | 33.9 | −27.9 |
| | Labour | Christine Bayliss | 13,529 | 28.3 | +7.5 |
| | Reform UK | Ian Gribbin | 7,929 | 16.6 | N/A |
| | Liberal Democrats | Becky Jones | 3,473 | 7.3 | −6.1 |
| | Green | Jonathan Kent | 2,972 | 6.2 | +2.1 |
| | Independent | Abul Azad | 2,206 | 4.6 | N/A |
| | Independent | Jeff Newnham | 769 | 1.6 | N/A |
| | Party of Women | Julia Long | 332 | 0.7 | N/A |
| | Ind. Network | Nigel Jacklin | 210 | 0.4 | N/A |
| | UKIP | Colin Sullivan | 144 | 0.3 | N/A |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 2,657 | 5.6 | −38.5 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 47,750 | 66.4 | −3.8 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | −17.7 | |

### Elections in the 2010s

2019 notional result :
| Party | Party | Vote | % |
| | Conservative | 30,716 | 61.8 |
| | Labour | 10,332 | 20.8 |
| | Liberal Democrats | 6,658 | 13.4 |
| | Green | 2,031 | 4.1 |
| Turnout | Turnout | 49,737 | 70.2 |
| Electorate | Electorate | 70,869 |
General election 2019: Bexhill & Battle :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Huw Merriman | 37,590 | 63.6 | +1.6 |
| | Labour | Christine Bayliss | 11,531 | 19.5 | −5.2 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Martin Saunders | 7,280 | 12.3 | +4.8 |
| | Green | Jonathan Kent | 2,692 | 4.6 | +2.2 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 26,059 | 44.1 | +6.8 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 59,093 | 72.1 | −1.0 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | +3.4 | |
General election 2017: Bexhill & Battle :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Huw Merriman | 36,854 | 62.0 | +7.2 |
| | Labour | Christine Bayliss | 14,689 | 24.7 | +10.6 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Joel Kemp | 4,485 | 7.5 | −0.1 |
| | UKIP | Geoffrey Bastin | 2,006 | 3.4 | −15.0 |
| | Green | Jonathan Kent | 1,438 | 2.4 | −2.7 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 22,165 | 37.3 | +0.9 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 59,472 | 73.1 | +3.0 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | −1.7 | |
General election 2015: Bexhill and Battle :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Huw Merriman | 30,245 | 54.8 | +3.2 |
| | UKIP | Geoffrey Bastin | 10,170 | 18.4 | N/A |
| | Labour | Michelle Thew | 7,797 | 14.1 | +2.1 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Rachel Sadler | 4,199 | 7.6 | −20.4 |
| | Green | Jonathan Kent | 2,807 | 5.1 | N/A |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 20,075 | 36.4 | +12.8 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 55,218 | 70.1 | +1.2 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative 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 | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Gregory Barker | 28,147 | 51.6 | −2.6 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Mary Varrall | 15,267 | 28.0 | +5.3 |
| | Labour | James Royston | 6,524 | 12.0 | −5.9 |
| | Trust | Stuart Wheeler | 2,699 | 4.9 | N/A |
| | BNP | Neil Jackson | 1,950 | 3.6 | N/A |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 12,880 | 23.6 | −7.9 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 54,587 | 68.9 | +2.1 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | −4.0 | |

### Elections in the 2000s

General election 2005: Bexhill and Battle :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Gregory Barker | 24,629 | 52.6 | +4.5 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Mary Varrall | 11,180 | 23.9 | −0.8 |
| | Labour | Michael Jones | 8,457 | 18.1 | −1.3 |
| | UKIP | Anthony Smith | 2,568 | 5.5 | −2.3 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 13,449 | 28.7 | +5.3 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 46,834 | 67.2 | +2.3 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | +2.7 | |
General election 2001: Bexhill and Battle :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Gregory Barker | 21,555 | 48.1 | ±0.0 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Stephen Hardy | 11,052 | 24.7 | −0.8 |
| | Labour | Anne Moore-Williams | 8,702 | 19.4 | +1.3 |
| | UKIP | Nigel Farage | 3,474 | 7.8 | +6.2 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 10,503 | 23.4 | +0.8 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 44,783 | 64.9 | −9.6 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | +0.4 | |

### Elections in the 1990s

General election 1997: Bexhill and Battle :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Charles Wardle | 23,570 | 48.1 | −12.2 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Kathryn M. Field | 12,470 | 25.5 | −3.4 |
| | Labour | Robert D. Beckwith | 8,866 | 18.1 | +8.7 |
| | Referendum | Vanessa Thompson | 3,302 | 6.7 | N/A |
| | UKIP | John Pankhurst | 786 | 1.6 | N/A |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 11,100 | 22.6 | −8.8 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 48,994 | 74.5 | −4.6 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | −4.4 | |
General election 1992: Bexhill and Battle :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Charles Wardle | 31,380 | 60.3 | −6.2 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Susan M. Prochak | 15,023 | 28.9 | +3.1 |
| | Labour | Frank W. Taylor | 4,883 | 9.4 | +1.7 |
| | Green | Jonathan L. Prus | 594 | 1.1 | N/A |
| | Independent | Mary F. Smith | 190 | 0.4 | N/A |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 16,357 | 31.4 | −9.3 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 52,070 | 79.1 | +1.7 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | −4.6 | |

### Elections in the 1980s

General election 1987: Bexhill and Battle :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Charles Wardle | 33,570 | 66.5 | −0.8 |
| | SDP | Robert Kiernan | 13,051 | 25.8 | +2.3 |
| | Labour | Derek Watts | 3,903 | 7.7 | −0.3 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 20,519 | 40.7 | −3.1 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 50,524 | 77.4 | +4.5 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | −1.6 | |
General election 1983: Bexhill and Battle :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Charles Wardle | 30,329 | 67.3 | |
| | Liberal | Paul Smith | 10,583 | 23.5 | |
| | Labour | Ian Pearson | 3,587 | 8.0 | |
| | Ecology | Anne Rix | 538 | 1.2 | |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 19,746 | 43.8 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 45,037 | 72.9 | |
| | Conservative win (new seat) | Conservative win (new seat) | Conservative win (new seat) | Conservative win (new seat) | Conservative win (new seat) |