Lewes (UK Parliament constituency)

Lewes is a constituency^{[n 1]} in East Sussex represented in the House of Commons of the UK Parliament since 2024 by James MacCleary, a Liberal Democrat.

Lewes
County constituency for the House of Commons
Boundaries since 2024
Boundary of Lewes in South East England
County	East Sussex
Electorate	75,091 (2023)[1]
Major settlements	Lewes Newhaven Seaford
Current constituency
Created	1295
Member of Parliament	James MacCleary (Liberal Democrats)

Constituency profile

The constituency includes the town of Lewes, most of the Lewes District, including the coastal towns of Seaford and Newhaven, Polegate and Alfriston all in outer parts of the London Commuter Belt, though with a high number of people who have retired from across the country.^[2] The constituency excludes the District of Lewes District wards of East Saltdean and Telscombe Cliffs, Peacehaven East, Peacehaven North, and Peacehaven West (which since 1997 have been in the Brighton, Kemptown (UK Parliament constituency), and instead includes part of neighbouring Wealden District.

Boundaries

Map of 2010–2024 boundaries

1885–1918: The Borough of Brighton, the Sessional Divisions of Hove and Worthing, and parts of the Sessional Divisions of Lewes and Steyning.

1918–1950: The Borough of Lewes, the Urban Districts of Newhaven, Portslade-by-Sea, and Seaford, and the Rural Districts of Chailey, Newhaven, and Steyning East.

1950–1955: The Borough of Lewes, the Urban Districts of Burgess Hill, Newhaven, and Seaford, the Rural District of Chailey, and parts of the Rural Districts of Cuckfield and Hailsham.

1955–1974: The Borough of Lewes, the Urban Districts of Burgess Hill, Newhaven, and Seaford, the Rural District of Chailey, and part of the Rural District of Cuckfield.

1974–1983: The Borough of Lewes, the Urban Districts of Newhaven and Seaford, the Rural District of Chailey, and part of the Rural District of Hailsham.

1983–1997: The District of Lewes, and the District of Wealden wards of Alfriston, Arlington, and East Dean.

1997–2010: The District of Lewes wards of Barcombe, Chailey, Ditchling, Hamsey, Kingston, Lewes Bridge, Lewes Castle, Lewes Priory, Newhaven Denton, Newhaven Meeching, Newhaven Valley, Newick, Ouse Valley, Plumpton, Ringmer, Seaford Central, Seaford East, Seaford North, Seaford West, and Wivelsfield.

2010–2024: The District of Lewes wards of Barcombe and Hamsey, Chailey and Wivelsfield, Ditchling and Westmeston, Kingston, Lewes Bridge, Lewes Castle, Lewes Priory, Newhaven Denton and Meeching, Newhaven Valley, Newick, Ouse Valley and Ringmer, Plumpton, Streat, East Chiltington and St John Without, Seaford Central, Seaford East, Seaford North, Seaford South, and Seaford West. With the District of Wealden wards of Alfriston, Arlington, East Dean, Polegate North, and Polegate South.

2024–present: The District of Lewes wards of: Ditchling & Westmeston; Kingston; Lewes Bridge; Lewes Castle; Lewes Priory; Newhaven North; Newhaven South; Ouse Valley & Ringmer; Plumpton, Streat, East Chiltington & St. John; Seaford Central; Seaford East; Seaford North; Seaford South; Seaford West; and the District of Wealden wards of: Arlington; Lower Willingdon; Polegate Central; Polegate North; Polegate South & Willingdon Watermill; South Downs; Stone Cross; Upper Willingdon.^[3]

Further to the 2023 Periodic Review of Westminster constituencies, enacted by the Parliamentary Constituencies Order 2023, changes from the 2024 United Kingdom general election described as following:

Three small rural District of Lewes wards will be included in the newly created 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).

History

The constituency of Lewes has existed since commoners were first summoned to Parliament in 1295, the Model Parliament. This is the county town, though less significant in population today, far surpassed by the City of Brighton and Hove — it has nonetheless been continuously represented since that date.

From 1874 the constituency's electorate in elections sent only Conservative MPs except between 1997 and 2015.

Members of Parliament

MPs 1295–1660

• Constituency created 1295

Parliament	First member	Second member
1295	Gervasius de Wolvehope	Ricardus le Palmere[4]
1297	No return[4]
1298	Gervasius de Wolvehope	Williemus Serverleg[4]
1300/1	Reginaldus de Combe	Rogerus Coppyng[4]
1302	Gervasius de Wolvehope	Ricardus le Palmere[4]
1304/5	Galfridus de Wolvehope	Walterus Nyng[4]
1307	Robertus le Bynt	Walterus le Fust[4]
1309	Simon Tring	Johannes Arnald[4]
1311	Simon Tring	Ricardus le Hurt[4]
1313 (Jul)	Willielmus de la Chapele	Galfridus de Wolvehope[4]
1313 (Sep)	Simon Tring	Johannes Gouman[4]
1319	Willielmus Walewere	Henricus de Rudham[4]
1320	Thomas atte Novene	Radulphus atte Lote[4]
1322 (May)	Philippus le Mareschal	Thomas de Lofelde[4]
1322 (Nov)	Robertus le Spicer	Ricardus le Poleter[4]
1323	Willielmus Walewere	Robertus le Spicer[4]
1327	No return[4]
1328	Willielmus Darnel	Johannes le Bake[4]
1329/30	Walterus atte Markette	Ricardus le Hurt[4]
1330	Thomas Comyn	Stephanus le Boche[4]
1331/2	Thomas Comyn	Johannes Scoteryld[4]
1333/4	Robertus ?[4]
1334–1347	No names known[4]
1348	Ricardus Ploket	Johannes Payn[4]
1350	Willielmus Gardyner	Willielmus Darnel[4]
1354	Willielmus Darnel	Willielmus Gardiner[4]
1355	Willielmus Darnel	Willielmus Gardiner[4]
1357/8	Robertus atte Brouke	Ricardus Crompe[4]
1360	Thomas Lyndefelde	Willielmus Bocher[4]
1360/1	Ricardus Ferour de Lewes	Thomas Lyndefeld[4]
1362	Robertus Norton	Willielmus Swon[4]
1363	Willielmus Spicer	Thomas Norays[4]
1366	Willielmus Boteller	Stephanus Holte[4]
1368	Robertus de York	Robertus Norton[4]
1369	Robertus de York	Jacobus Ferrour[4]
1371	Henricus Werkeman[4]
1372	Jacobus Ferour	Thomas Norays[4]
1373	Robertus de York	Stephanus Holte[4]
1376/7	Willielmus Spicer	Jacobus Ferour[4]
1378	Jacobus Ferour	Johannes Shereve[4]
1379/80	Robertus de York	Johannes Peyntour[4]
1381	Henricus Werkeman	Robertus Norton[4]
1382	Henricus Werkeman	Thomas Norrys[4]
1382/3	Stephanus Holte	Johannes Goderyk[4]
1383	Robertus de York	Willielmus Spicer[4]
1384	Thomas Norrys	Willielmus Spicer[4]
1385	Thomas Norris	Stephen Holt[4]
1388 (Feb)	Stephen Holt	Thomas Norris[5]
1388 (Sep)	Richard atte Gate	Walter Gosselyn[5]
1390 (Jan)
1390 (Nov)
1391	John Bedford	Thomas Norris[5]
1393	William Chepelond	John Godeman[5]
1394
1395	John Maryot	John Sadeler[5]
1397 (Jan)	John Godeman	John Plomer[5]
1397 (Sep)	John Godeman	John Maryot[5]
1399	William Chepelond	John Maryot[5]
1401	John Mason	John Maryot[5]
1402	Robert Bynt	John Maryot[5]
1404 (Jan)
1404 (Oct)
1406	Roger Forster	William Green[5]
1407	Roger Forster	William Hyde[5]
1410
1411
1413 (Feb)
1413 (May)	Andrew Blake	John Maryot[5]
1414 (Apr)
1414 (Nov)	John Hert	Robert Lytcombe[5]
1415
1416 (Mar)	William Chepelond	William Northampton[5]
1416 (Oct)
1417	John Gosselyn	John Parker[5]
1419	Andrew Blake	William Fagger[5]
1420	John Gosselyn	Thomas White[5]
1421 (May)	William Fagger	William Northampton[5]
1421 (Dec)	Thomas White	William Wodefold[5]
1422	William Vaggere	Andreas Mauffay[4]
1423	William Wodefold	Andreas Mafay[4]
1425	William Fagger	John Gosselyn[4]
1425/6	William Penbrugge	William Feret[4]
1427	John Godeman	Roger Forster[4]
1429	Thomas White	John Gosselyn[4]
1430/1	John Rodys	Richard Brasier[4]
1432	Thomas White	William Penbrygge[4]
1433	John Rodys	William Penbrygge[4]
1435	Thomas White	John Wody[4]
1436/7	William Thwaytes	John Hanmere[4]
1441/2	Edward Mylle	Giles Wodefold[4]
1446/7	Robert Wodefold	Thomas Best[4]
1448/9 (Feb)	Giles Wodefold	William Godeman[4]
1449 (Nov)	John Southwell	William Delve[4]
1450	John Southwell	John Beckwith[4]
1452/3	John Parker	John Southwell[4]
1459	Richard Fairegoo	Thomas Sherman[4]
1460	John Beckwith	Thomas Best[4]
1467	Thomas Lewknor	John Sherman[4]
1472	Christopher Furnes	William Cook[4]
1477/8	William Cooke	John Baker[4]
1510–1523	No names known[6]
1529	Sir Edward Bray	John Batenore[6]
1536	?
1539	?
1542	John Kyme	?[6]
1545	?
1547	Sir Walter Mildmay	Sir Anthony Cooke[6]
1553 (Mar)	John Southcote	Thomas Gravesend[6]
1553 (Oct)	Sir Henry Hussey	George Darrell[6]
1554 (Apr)	Robert Gage	George Darrell[6]
1554 (Nov)	John Stempe	John Morley[6]
1555	William Devenish	Thomas Gravesend[6]
1558	John Gage	William Peterson[6]
1558/9	George Goring I	Thomas Saunder[7]
1562/3	George Goring I	William Cantrell[7]
1571	William Morley	Edward Fenner[7]
1572	Edward Bellingham	John Shirley[7]
1584	Richard Browne	Thomas Pelham[7]
1586	Richard Browne	Francis Alford[7]
1588	Robert Sackville	John Shirley[7]
1593	Sir Henry Glemham	George Goring II[7]
1597	Sir Henry Glemham	John Shirley[7]
1601	George Goring II	Goddard Pemberton, sat for Peterborough and replaced by Sir Percival Hart[7]
1604	John Shirley	Sir Henry Nevill
1614	Christopher Neville	Richard Amhurst
1621	Sir George Goring	Richard Amhurst
1624	Sir George Goring	Christopher Neville
1625	Sir George Goring	Sir George Rivers
1626	Sir George Goring	Sir George Rivers
Feb 1628	Anthony Stapley	Sir George Goring
Jul 1628	Anthony Stapley	Jerome Weston
1629–1640	No Parliaments summoned
1640 (Apr)	Anthony Stapley, sat for Sussex replaced by Herbert Morley[8]	James Rivers
1641	Herbert Morley	Henry Shelley
1645	Herbert Morley	Henry Shelley
1648	Herbert Morley	Henry Shelley
1653	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

Election	1st Member[9]		1st Party	2nd Member[9]		2nd Party
1660		Nizel Rivers			Sir John Stapley
1661		Sir Thomas Woodcock
Feb 1679		William Morley			Richard Bridger
Aug 1679		Thomas Pelham
1695					Henry Pelham
Jan 1701					Sir Thomas Trevor
Nov 1701					Henry Pelham
Jul 1702					Richard Payne
Nov 1702		Sir Nicholas Pelham
1705		Thomas Pelham
May 1708					Peter Gott
Dec 1708					Samuel Gott
1710					Peter Gott
1712					John Morley Trevor
1719					Philip Yorke
1722					Henry Pelham
1726					Sir Nicholas Pelham
1727					Thomas Pelham
1738					John Trevor
1741		Thomas Pelham
1743		Sir John Shelley			Sir Francis Poole
1747		Thomas Sergison
1763					William Plumer
1766		Lord Edward Bentinck
1768		Thomas Hampden	Whig		Thomas Hay
1774		Sir Thomas Miller, Bt
1780		Henry Pelham			Thomas Kemp
1796		John Cressett-Pelham
1802		Henry Shelley	Tory[10]		Lord Francis Osborne	Tory[10]
1806					Thomas Kemp	Whig[10]
1811					Thomas Read Kemp	Whig[10]
1812		Sir George Shiffner	Tory[10]
1816					John Shelley	Tory[10]
1826		Thomas Read Kemp	Whig[10]
1831					Sir Charles Blunt, Bt	Whig[10][11][12]
1837		Henry FitzRoy	Conservative[10][11]
1840					Viscount Cantelupe	Conservative[10]
1841		Summers Harford	Radical[13][14]		Sir Howard Elphinstone	Radical[13][15][16][17][18][19]
1842		Henry FitzRoy	Conservative
1847			Peelite[20][21][22][23][24]		Robert Perfect	Whig[25][26]
1852					Henry Brand	Whig[20]
1859			Liberal			Liberal
1860		John Blencowe	Liberal
1865		Lord Pelham	Liberal
1868	Representation reduced to one

MPs since 1868

Election		Member[9]	Party
	1868	Walter Pelham	Liberal
	1874	William Christie	Conservative
	1885	Sir Henry Aubrey-Fletcher	Conservative
	1910 by-election	William Campion	Conservative
	1924 by-election	Tufton Percy Hamilton Beamish	Conservative
	1931	John Loder	Conservative
	1936 by-election	Tufton Percy Hamilton Beamish	Conservative
	1945	Tufton Victor Hamilton Beamish	Conservative
	February 1974	Tim Rathbone	Conservative
	1997	Norman Baker	Liberal Democrat
	2015	Maria Caulfield	Conservative
	2024	James MacCleary	Liberal Democrat

Elections since 1918

Elections in the 2020s

General election 2024: Lewes^[27]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Liberal Democrats	James MacCleary	26,895	50.6	+9.5
	Conservative	Maria Caulfield	14,271	26.8	−21.7
	Reform UK	Bernard Brown	6,335	11.9	+11.7
	Labour	Danny Sweeney	3,574	6.7	−0.4
	Green	Paul Keene	1,869	3.5	+0.6
	SDP	Rowena Mary Easton	229	0.4	N/A
Majority			12,624	23.8	N/A
Turnout			53,173	69.8	–4.2
Registered electors			76,166
	Liberal Democrats gain from Conservative		Swing	15.6

Elections in the 2010s

2019 notional result[28]
Party		Vote	%
	Conservative	26,977	48.5
	Liberal Democrats	22,851	41.1
	Labour	3,930	7.1
	Green	1,587	2.9
	Brexit Party	122	0.2
	Others	113	0.2
Turnout		55,580	74.0
Electorate		75,091

Results of UK House of Commons seat Lewes, from 2005 to 2017.

General election 2019: Lewes^[29]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Conservative	Maria Caulfield	26,268	47.9	−1.6
	Liberal Democrats	Oli Henman	23,811	43.4	+4.1
	Labour	Kate Chappell	3,206	5.8	−5.4
	Green	Johnny Denis	1,453	2.6	N/A
	Independent	Paul Cragg	113	0.2	N/A
Majority			2,457	4.5	−5.7
Turnout			54,851	76.7	+0.3
	Conservative hold		Swing	−2.8

General election 2017: Lewes

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Conservative	Maria Caulfield	26,820	49.5	+11.5
	Liberal Democrats	Kelly-Marie Blundell	21,312	39.3	+3.4
	Labour	Daniel Chapman	6,060	11.2	+1.3
Majority			5,508	10.2	+8.1
Turnout			54,328	76.4	+3.7
	Conservative hold		Swing	+4.0

See also: Opinion polling in United Kingdom constituencies, 2010–15 § Lewes

General election 2015: Lewes^[30]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Conservative	Maria Caulfield	19,206	38.0	+1.3
	Liberal Democrats	Norman Baker	18,123	35.9	−16.1
	UKIP	Ray Finch	5,427	10.7	+7.3
	Labour	Lloyd Russell-Moyle	5,000	9.9	+4.9
	Green	Alfie Stirling	2,784	5.5	+4.0
Majority			1,083	2.1	N/A
Turnout			50,540	72.7	−0.2
	Conservative gain from Liberal Democrats		Swing	+8.7

General election 2010: Lewes^[31]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Liberal Democrats	Norman Baker	26,048	52.0	−0.5
	Conservative	Jason Sugarman	18,401	36.7	+2.1
	Labour	Hratche Koundarjian	2,508	5.0	−4.3
	UKIP	Peter Charlton	1,728	3.4	+1.2
	Green	Susan Murray	729	1.5	−0.8
	BNP	David Lloyd	594	1.2	N/A
	Independent	Ondrej Soucek	80	0.2	N/A
Majority			7,647	15.3	−2.9
Turnout			50,088	72.9	+3.1
	Liberal Democrats hold		Swing	−0.8

Elections in the 2000s

General election 2005: Lewes^[32]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Liberal Democrats	Norman Baker	24,376	52.4	−3.9
	Conservative	Rory Love	15,902	34.2	−0.7
	Labour	Richard Black	4,169	9.0	+1.7
	Green	Susan Murray	1,071	2.3	N/A
	UKIP	John Petley	1,034	2.2	+0.8
Majority			8,474	18.2	−3.2
Turnout			46,552	69.4	+0.9
	Liberal Democrats hold		Swing	−1.6

General election 2001: Lewes^[33]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Liberal Democrats	Norman Baker	25,588	56.3	+13.1
	Conservative	Simon Sinnatt	15,878	34.9	−5.7
	Labour	Paul Richards	3,317	7.3	−3.3
	UKIP	John Harvey	650	1.4	+0.9
Majority			9,710	21.4	+18.8
Turnout			45,433	68.5	−7.9
	Liberal Democrats hold		Swing

Elections in the 1990s

General election 1997: Lewes^[34]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Liberal Democrats	Norman Baker	21,250	43.2	+4.1
	Conservative	Tim Rathbone	19,950	40.6	−10.8
	Labour	Mark Patton	5,232	10.6	+2.4
	Referendum	Lucille Butler	2,481	5.0	N/A
	UKIP	John Harvey	256	0.5	N/A
Majority			1,300	2.6	N/A
Turnout			49,169	76.4	−5.4
	Liberal Democrats gain from Conservative		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.

General election 1992: Lewes^[35][36]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Conservative	Tim Rathbone	33,042	54.6	−2.2
	Liberal Democrats	Norman Baker	20,867	34.5	+1.8
	Labour	Alison Chapman	5,758	9.5	+0.7
	Green	A. E. Beaumont	719	1.2	−0.5
	Natural Law	N. F. Clinch	87	0.2	N/A
Majority			12,175	20.1	−4.0
Turnout			60,473	81.8	+4.8
	Conservative hold		Swing	−2.0

Elections in the 1980s

General election 1987: Lewes^[37]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Conservative	Tim Rathbone	32,016	56.8	−1.6
	Alliance	David Bellotti	18,396	32.7	+2.0
	Labour	Ralph Taylor	4,973	8.8	+0.3
	Green	Andrew Sherwood	970	1.7	−0.7
Majority			13,620	24.1	−3.6
Turnout			56,355	77.0	+2.7
	Conservative hold		Swing

General election 1983: Lewes^[38]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Conservative	Tim Rathbone	29,261	58.4
	Alliance	David Bellotti	15,357	30.7
	Labour	Debbie Sander	4,244	8.5
	Ecology	Reginald Mutter	1,221	2.4	N/A
Majority			13,904	27.7
Turnout			50,083	74.3
	Conservative hold		Swing

Elections in the 1970s

General election 1979: Lewes

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Conservative	Tim Rathbone	33,992	58.42
	Liberal	G. Hook	12,279	21.10
	Labour	Tom Forrester	11,152	19.17
	National Front	B. Webb	764	1.31	N/A
Majority			21,713	37.32
Turnout			58,187	76.32
	Conservative hold		Swing

General election October 1974: Lewes

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Conservative	Tim Rathbone	27,588	51.87
	Liberal	G. Hook	13,741	25.84
	Labour Co-op	James Little	11,857	22.29
Majority			13,847	26.03
Turnout			53,186	73.81
	Conservative hold		Swing

New constituency boundaries.

General election February 1974: Lewes

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Conservative	Tim Rathbone	30,423	52.94
	Liberal	Malcolm Holt	16,166	28.13
	Labour Co-op	James Little	10,875	18.92
Majority			14,257	24.81
Turnout			57,464	80.30
	Conservative hold		Swing

General election 1970: Lewes

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Conservative	Tufton Beamish	33,592	58.34
	Labour	Quintin Barry	14,904	25.88
	Liberal	Malcolm Holt	9,083	15.77
Majority			18,688	32.46
Turnout			57,579	72.79
	Conservative hold		Swing

Elections in the 1960s

General election 1966: Lewes

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Conservative	Tufton Beamish	27,529	53.44
	Labour	Roy Ellison Manley	14,561	28.32
	Liberal	Gerald Arthur Dowden	9,328	18.14
Majority			12,968	25.12
Turnout			51,418	76.27
	Conservative hold		Swing

General election 1964: Lewes

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Conservative	Tufton Beamish	26,818	55.30
	Labour	Reginald Edgar Fitch	12,757	26.30
	Liberal	Gerald Arthur Dowden	8,924	18.40	N/A
Majority			14,061	29.00
Turnout			48,499	76.43
	Conservative hold		Swing

Elections in the 1950s

General election 1959: Lewes

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Conservative	Tufton Beamish	29,642	69.41
	Labour	William Reay	13,065	30.59
Majority			16,577	38.82
Turnout			42,707	75.80
	Conservative hold		Swing

General election 1955: Lewes

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Conservative	Tufton Beamish	24,938	66.80
	Labour	John Lloyd-Eley	12,392	33.20
Majority			12,546	33.60
Turnout			37,330	74.83
	Conservative hold		Swing

General election 1951: Lewes

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Conservative	Tufton Beamish	34,345	66.78
	Labour	Albert William Briggs	17,082	33.22
Majority			17,263	33.56
Turnout			51,478	78.26
	Conservative hold		Swing

General election 1950: Lewes

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Conservative	Tufton Beamish	30,430	58.50
	Labour	Albert William Briggs	15,023	28.88
	Liberal	Florinda Kingdon-Ward	6,565	12.62
Majority			15,407	29.62
Turnout			52,018	80.99
	Conservative hold		Swing

Election in the 1940s

General election 1945: Lewes

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Conservative	Tufton Beamish	26,176	51.26
	Labour Co-op	Albert Oram	18,511	36.25
	Liberal	Peter Cadogan	6,374	12.48	N/A
Majority			7,665	15.01
Turnout			51,061	71.87
	Conservative hold		Swing

Elections in the 1930s

1936 Lewes by-election

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Conservative	Tufton Percy Hamilton Beamish	14,646	65.96
	Labour	Alban Gordon	7,557	34.04
Majority			7,089	31.92
Turnout			22,203
	Conservative hold		Swing

General election 1935: Lewes

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Conservative	John Loder	24,644	70.01
	Labour	Frank Rivers Hancock	10,559	29.99
Majority			14,085	40.02
Turnout			35,203	64.41
	Conservative hold		Swing

General election 1931: Lewes

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Conservative	John Loder	25,181	81.29
	Labour	Frank Rivers Hancock	5,795	18.71
Majority			19,386	62.58
Turnout			30,976	70.87
	Conservative hold		Swing

Elections in the 1920s

General election 1929: Lewes ^[39]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Unionist	Tufton Beamish	15,230	53.7	−19.0
	Labour	Alban Gordon	7,698	27.1	−0.2
	Liberal	Henry Plunket Woodgate	5,452	19.2	N/A
Majority			7,532	26.6	−18.8
Turnout			28,380	70.4	+5.7
Registered electors			40,291
	Unionist hold		Swing	−9.4

General election 1924: Lewes ^[39]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Unionist	Tufton Beamish	13,399	72.7	+13.1
	Labour	Basil Hall	5,043	27.3	−13.1
Majority			8,356	45.4	+26.2
Turnout			18,442	64.7	+6.6
Registered electors			28,517
	Unionist hold		Swing	+13.1

1924 Lewes by-election^[39]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Unionist	Tufton Beamish	9,584	52.0	−7.6
	Labour	Basil Hall	6,112	33.2	−7.2
	Liberal	Howard Williams	2,718	14.8	N/A
Majority			3,472	18.8	−0.4
Turnout			18,414	67.3	+9.2
Registered electors			27,361
	Unionist hold		Swing	−0.2

General election 1923: Lewes^[39]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Unionist	William Campion	9,474	59.6	−8.4
	Labour	Basil Hall	6,422	40.4	+8.4
Majority			3,052	19.2	−16.8
Turnout			15,896	58.1	−6.5
Registered electors			27,361
	Unionist hold		Swing	−8.4

General election 1922: Lewes ^[39]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Unionist	William Campion	11,345	68.0	+5.2
	Labour	Hugh Millier Black	5,328	32.0	−1.6
Majority			6,017	36.0	+6.8
Turnout			16,673	64.6	+9.5
Registered electors			25,801
	Unionist hold		Swing	+3.4

Elections in the 1910s

General election 1918: Lewes ^[39]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
C	Unionist	William Campion	7,792	62.8	N/A
	Labour	Tom Pargeter	4,164	33.6	N/A
	Independent and Silver Badge	Albert Edward Gardiner	452	3.6	N/A
Majority			3,628	29.2	N/A
Turnout			12,408	55.1	N/A
Registered electors			22,500
	Unionist hold		Swing	N/A
C indicates candidate endorsed by the coalition government.

Election results 1868–1918

Elections in the 1860s

General election 1868: Lewes ^[40]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Liberal	Walter Pelham	601	50.6	−4.7
	Conservative	William Christie	587	49.4	+4.7
Majority			14	1.2	−1.5
Turnout			1,188	88.0	+1.2
Registered electors			1,350
	Liberal hold		Swing	−4.7

Elections in the 1870s

General election 1874: Lewes ^[40]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Conservative	William Christie	772	60.7	+11.3
	Liberal	Arthur Cohen	500	39.3	−11.3
Majority			272	21.4	N/A
Turnout			1,272	89.0	+1.0
Registered electors			1,430
	Conservative gain from Liberal		Swing	+11.3

Elections in the 1880s

General election 1880: Lewes ^[40]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Conservative	William Christie	717	55.3	−5.4
	Liberal	William Codrington	580	44.7	+5.4
Majority			137	10.6	−10.8
Turnout			1,297	88.9	−0.1
Registered electors			1,459
	Conservative hold		Swing	−5.4

General election 1885: Lewes ^[41][42][43]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Conservative	Henry Fletcher	5,312	62.5	+7.2
	Liberal	William Egerton Hubbard	3,181	37.5	−7.2
Majority			2,131	25.0	+14.4
Turnout			8,493	80.2	−8.7
Registered electors			10,586
	Conservative hold		Swing	+7.2

General election 1886: Lewes ^[41][42]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Conservative	Henry Fletcher	Unopposed
	Conservative hold

Elections in the 1890s

General election 1892: Lewes ^[41][42]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Conservative	Henry Fletcher	5,621	70.8	N/A
	Liberal	Henry Prince	2,322	29.2	New
Majority			3,299	41.6	N/A
Turnout			7,943	67.1	N/A
Registered electors			11,832
	Conservative hold		Swing	N/A

General election 1895: Lewes ^[41][42][44]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Conservative	Henry Fletcher	Unopposed
	Conservative hold

Elections in the 1900s

General election 1900: Lewes ^[41][42][44]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Conservative	Henry Fletcher	Unopposed
	Conservative hold

Morison

General election 1906: Lewes ^[41][42]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Conservative	Henry Fletcher	7,172	56.8	N/A
	Liberal	Hector Morison	5,458	43.2	New
Majority			1,714	13.6	N/A
Turnout			12,630	81.2	N/A
Registered electors			15,560
	Conservative hold		Swing	N/A

Elections in the 1910s

General election January 1910: Lewes ^[41][45]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Conservative	Henry Fletcher	9,168	66.7	+9.9
	Liberal	Basil Williams	4,572	33.3	−9.9
Majority			4,596	33.4	+19.8
Turnout			13,740	79.5	−1.7
Registered electors			17,277
	Conservative hold		Swing	+9.9

1910 Lewes by-election^[41][45]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Conservative	William Campion	Unopposed
	Conservative hold

General election December 1910: Lewes ^[41][45]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Conservative	William Campion	Unopposed
	Conservative hold

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: William Campion
• Liberal:

Election results 1832–1868

Elections in the 1830s

General election 1832: Lewes ^[10][40]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Whig	Thomas Read Kemp	Unopposed
	Whig	Charles Blunt	Unopposed
Registered electors			878
	Whig hold
	Whig hold

General election 1835: Lewes ^[10][40]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Whig	Charles Blunt	511	40.8
	Whig	Thomas Read Kemp	382	30.5
	Conservative	Henry FitzRoy	359	28.7
Majority			23	1.8
Turnout			715	94.0
Registered electors			761
	Whig hold
	Whig hold

Kemp resigned, causing a by-election.

By-election, 21 April 1837: Lewes ^[10][40]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Conservative	Henry FitzRoy	397	51.7	+23.0
	Whig	John Easthope	371	48.3	−23.0
Majority			26	3.4	N/A
Turnout			768	91.2	−2.8
Registered electors			7,842
	Conservative gain from Whig		Swing	+23.0

General election 1837: Lewes ^[10][40][46]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Whig	Charles Blunt	413	26.6	−14.2
	Conservative	Henry FitzRoy	401	25.8	+11.5
	Whig	Thomas Brand	398	25.6	−4.9
	Conservative	William Lyon	343	22.1	+7.8
Turnout			788	93.6	−0.4
Registered electors			842
Majority			12	0.8	−1.0
	Whig hold		Swing	−11.9
Majority			3	0.2	N/A
	Conservative gain from Whig		Swing	+10.5

Elections in the 1840s

Blunt's death caused a by-election.

By-election, 9 March 1840: Lewes ^[10][40]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Conservative	George West	Unopposed
Registered electors			881
	Conservative gain from Whig

General election 1841: Lewes ^[40]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Radical	Summers Harford	411	25.4	N/A
	Radical	Howard Elphinstone	409	25.3	N/A
	Conservative	Henry FitzRoy	407	25.2	−0.6
	Conservative	George West	388	24.0	+1.9
Majority			2	0.1	N/A
Turnout			810	91.9	−1.7
Registered electors			881
	Radical gain from Whig		Swing
	Radical gain from Conservative		Swing

On petition, Harford was unseated, due to bribery and corruption,^[47] and Fitzroy was declared elected on 21 March 1842. Fitzroy was then appointed a Civil Lord of the Admiralty, requiring a by-election.

By-election, 17 February 1845: Lewes ^[40]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Conservative	Henry FitzRoy	Unopposed
	Conservative gain from Radical

Elphinstone resigned by accepting the office of Steward of the Chiltern Hundreds, causing a by-election.

By-election, 17 March 1847: Lewes ^[40]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Whig	Robert Perfect	Unopposed
	Whig gain from Radical

General election 1847: Lewes ^[40]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Peelite	Henry FitzRoy	457	37.8	+12.6
	Whig	Robert Perfect	402	33.3	N/A
	Conservative	John Bellingham Godfrey Hudson[48]	207	17.1	N/A
	Conservative	Henry Loftus	143	11.8	−12.2
Turnout			605 (est)	69.8 (est)	−22.1
Registered electors			866
Majority			55	4.5	N/A
	Peelite gain from Radical		Swing
Majority			195	16.2	N/A
	Whig gain from Radical		Swing

Elections in the 1850s

General election 1852: Lewes ^[40]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Whig	Henry Brand	Unopposed
	Peelite	Henry FitzRoy	Unopposed
Registered electors			713
	Whig hold
	Peelite hold

Brand was appointed a Lord Commissioner of the Treasury, requiring a by-election.

By-election, 5 April 1855: Lewes ^[40]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Whig	Henry Brand	Unopposed
	Whig hold

General election 1857: Lewes ^[40]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Whig	Henry Brand	Unopposed
	Peelite	Henry FitzRoy	Unopposed
Registered electors			724
	Whig hold
	Peelite hold

General election 1859: Lewes ^[40]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Liberal	Henry FitzRoy	339	31.8	N/A
	Liberal	Henry Brand	338	31.7	N/A
	Conservative	Richard Amphlett	200	18.8	N/A
	Conservative	Charles Blunt	189	17.7	N/A
Majority			138	12.9	N/A
Turnout			533 (est)	76.5 (est)	N/A
Registered electors			697
	Liberal hold		Swing	N/A
	Liberal hold		Swing	N/A

FitzRoy was appointed First Commissioner of Works and Public Buildings, requiring a by-election.

By-election, 27 June 1859: Lewes ^[40]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Liberal	Henry FitzRoy	Unopposed
	Liberal hold

Elections in the 1860s

FitzRoy's death caused a by-election.

By-election, 16 January 1860: Lewes ^[40]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Liberal	John Blencowe	Unopposed
	Liberal hold

General election 1865: Lewes ^[40]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Liberal	Henry Brand	325	27.7	−4.1
	Liberal	Walter Pelham	324	27.6	−4.1
	Conservative	William Christie	292	24.9	+6.1
	Conservative	Sir Alfred Slade, 3rd Baronet	232	19.8	+2.1
Majority			32	2.7	−10.2
Turnout			587 (est)	86.8 (est)	+10.3
Registered electors			676
	Liberal hold		Swing	−4.1
	Liberal hold		Swing	−4.1

Elections before 1832

General election 1831: Lewes ^[10][49]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Whig	Thomas Read Kemp	Unopposed
	Whig	Charles Blunt	Unopposed
Registered electors			784
	Whig hold
	Whig gain from Tory

General election 1830: Lewes ^[10][49]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Whig	Thomas Read Kemp	479	42.6
	Tory	John Shelley	372	33.1
	Whig	Alexander Donovan	274	24.4
Turnout			626	c. 79.8
Registered electors			c. 784
Majority			107	9.5
	Whig hold		Swing
Majority			98	8.7
	Tory hold		Swing

See also

• List of parliamentary constituencies in East Sussex
• List of parliamentary constituencies in the South East England (region)

Notes

1. A county constituency (for the purposes of election expenses and type of returning officer)

References

1. "The 2023 Review of Parliamentary Constituency Boundaries in England – Volume two: Constituency names, designations and composition – South East". Boundary Commission for England. Retrieved 25 June 2024.
2. "Local statistics - Office for National Statistics". neighbourhood.statistics.gov.uk.
3. "The Parliamentary Constituencies Order 2023". Schedule 1 Part 6 South East region.
4. "Lewes Parliament 1295–1885" (PDF). Retrieved 30 October 2011.
5. "History of Parliament". History of Parliament Trust. Retrieved 30 October 2011.
6. "History of Parliament". History of Parliament Trust. Retrieved 30 October 2011.
7. "History of Parliament". History of Parliament Trust. Retrieved 30 October 2011.
8. Archives, The National. "The Discovery Service".
9. Leigh Rayment's Historical List of MPs – Constituencies beginning with "L" (part 2)
10. Stooks Smith, Henry (1845). The Parliaments of England, from 1st George I., to the Present Time. Vol II: Oxfordshire to Wales Inclusive. London: Simpkin, Marshall, & Co. pp. 85–87. Retrieved 20 November 2018 – via Google Books.
11. Mosse, Richard Bartholomew (1837). The Parliamentary Guide: a concise history of the Members of both Houses, etc. London: A. H. Baily & Co. p. 164. Retrieved 17 May 2018.
12. Churton, Edward (1838). The Assembled Commons or Parliamentary Biographer: 1838. pp. 34–35. Retrieved 20 November 2018 – via Google Books.
13. "General Election". Morning Post. 26 June 1841. pp. 2–3. Retrieved 17 May 2018 – via British Newspaper Archive.
14. "UK Parliamentary Elections 1832–1895". Brighton History. 1 May 2017. Retrieved 17 May 2018.
15. "Arguments for the Ballot". The Examiner. 23 December 1832. pp. 7–8. Retrieved 13 May 2018 – via British Newspaper Archive.
16. Fisher, David R. (2009). "Hastings". The History of Parliament. Retrieved 13 May 2018.
17. "The Approaching Revolution". The Royal lady's magazine, and archives of the court of St. James's. Horticultural Journal. 1831. p. 283. Retrieved 13 May 2018.
18. Dod, Charles Roger; Dod, Robert Phipps (1847). Dod's Parliamentary Companion, Volume 15. Dod's Parliamentary Companion. p. 176. Retrieved 15 April 2018.
19. The Spectator, Volume 7. F. C. Westley. 1834. p. 316. Retrieved 13 May 2018.
20. "Election Intelligence". The Observer. 22 March 1852. p. 6. Retrieved 17 May 2018.
21. "The Elections". London Daily News. 7 July 1852. pp. 2–3. Retrieved 17 May 2018 – via British Newspaper Archive.
22. "Lewes". Evening Mail. 7 July 1852. p. 5. Retrieved 17 May 2018 – via British Newspaper Archive.
23. "Members Returned to Serve in the New Parliament". Sheffield Independent. 10 July 1852. p. 6. Retrieved 17 May 2018 – via British Newspaper Archive.
24. "Lewes". Morning Advertiser. 30 July 1847. p. 3. Retrieved 17 May 2018 – via British Newspaper Archive.
25. "Political Notabilia". Gloucestershire Chronicle. 20 March 1847. p. 4. Retrieved 17 May 2018 – via British Newspaper Archive.
26. "Provincial News". Sheffield Independent. 27 March 1847. p. 3. Retrieved 17 May 2018 – via British Newspaper Archive.
27. "Statement of Persons Nominated and Notice of Poll" (PDF). Lewes and Eastbourne Councils.
28. "Notional results for a UK general election on 12 December 2019". Rallings & Thrasher, Professor David Denver (Scotland), Nicholas Whyte (NI) for Sky News, PA, BBC News and ITV News. UK Parliament. Retrieved 11 July 2024.
29. "Lewes Parliamentary constituency". BBC News. BBC. Retrieved 26 November 2019.
30. "Election Data 2015". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 17 October 2015. Retrieved 17 October 2015.
31. "Election Data 2010". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 26 July 2013. Retrieved 17 October 2015.
32. "Election Data 2005". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
33. "Election Data 2001". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
34. "Election Data 1997". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
35. "Election Data 1992". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
36. "Politics Resources". Election 1992. Politics Resources. 9 April 1992. Archived from the original on 24 July 2011. Retrieved 6 December 2010.
37. "Election Data 1987". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
38. "Election Data 1983". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
39. Craig, F. W. S. (1983). British parliamentary election results 1918–1949 (3 ed.). Chichester: Parliamentary Research Services. ISBN 0-900178-06-X.
40. Craig, F. W. S., ed. (1977). British Parliamentary Election Results 1832-1885 (e-book) (1st ed.). London: Macmillan Press. ISBN 978-1-349-02349-3.^{[page needed]}
41. British Parliamentary Election Results 1885–1918, FWS Craig
42. The Liberal Year Book, 1907
43. Debrett's House of Commons & Judicial Bench, 1886
44. Debrett's House of Commons & Judicial Bench, 1901
45. Debrett's House of Commons & Judicial Bench, 1916
46. "Elections Fixed". London Courier and Evening Gazette. 25 July 1837. p. 3. Retrieved 16 April 2020 – via British Newspaper Archive.
47. "Election Petitions". The Examiner. 19 March 1842. p. 7. Retrieved 20 November 2018 – via British Newspaper Archive.
48. "Sussex Provincial News". Sussex Advertiser. 3 August 1847. pp. 7–8. Retrieved 20 November 2018 – via British Newspaper Archive.
49. Jenkins, Terry; Spencer, Howard. "Lewes". The History of Parliament. Retrieved 16 April 2020.

Sources

• The Parliamentary History of the Borough of Lewes 1295–1885
• Election result, 2005 (BBC)
• Election results, 1997–2001 (BBC)
• Election results, 1997–2001 (Election Demon)
• Election results, 1983–1992 (Election Demon)
• Election results, 1992–2005 (Guardian)
• Election results, 1951–2001 (Keele University)
• F. W. S. Craig. British Parliamentary Election Results 1950–1973. (ISBN 0-900178-07-8)

External links

• Lewes UK Parliament constituency (boundaries April 1997 – April 2010) at MapIt UK
• Lewes UK Parliament constituency (boundaries April 2010 – May 2024) at MapIt UK
• Lewes UK Parliament constituency (boundaries from June 2024) at MapIt UK

50.85°N 0.06°E / 50.85; 0.06