Southend West (UK Parliament constituency)

Last updated

Southend West
Borough constituency
for the House of Commons
SouthendWest2007Constituency.svg
Boundary of Southend West in Essex
EnglandEssex.svg
Location of Essex within England
County Essex
Electorate 66,780 (December 2010) [1]
Major settlements Southend-on-Sea, Leigh-on-Sea, Westcliff-on-Sea
Current constituency
Created 1950
Member of Parliament Anna Firth (Conservative)
SeatsOne
Created from Southend

Southend West is a constituency [n 1] in the House of Commons of the UK Parliament. The seat is currently held by Anna Firth who won the 2022 by-election, [2] following the murder of the incumbent MP, David Amess. [3] [n 2]

Contents

Under the 2023 Periodic Review of Westminster constituencies, the constituency is to be renamed Southend West and Leigh - to be first contested at the next general election. [4]

History

The constituency was created for the 1950 general election under the Representation of the People Act 1948, when the Parliamentary Borough of Southend-on-Sea was split in two.

Since creation, the seat has been held every election by the Conservative Party, with majorities ranging from 5.7% during the Labour Landslide of 1997 to 43.4% in 1955. It has historically been seen by pundits as a safe Conservative seat.

Because four members of the Guinness family have held the seat (or its predecessor, Southend) it has been dubbed in political analyses in the media as "Guinness-on-Sea". [5]

The seat was represented by David Amess for 24 years, from 1997 to 15 October 2021, when he was murdered. [3] Amess was previously the MP for Basildon from 1983. A by-election was held to elect a replacement MP. In a similar vein to the subsequent by-election following the murder of Labour MP Jo Cox in 2016, all major contender parties stated they would not field candidates in opposition to the Conservative nominee. [6]

Boundaries and boundary changes

1950–1955

Formed primarily from western parts of the abolished Parliamentary Borough of Southend-on-Sea.

1955–1983

Realignment of boundary with Southend East.

1983–2010

Marginal changes following the redistribution of wards in the Borough of Southend-on-Sea.

2010–present

Southend West (UK Parliament constituency)
Map of boundaries 2010-2024

Further marginal changes were due to a redistribution of local authority wards.

The constituency comprises a small part of the west of Southend-on-Sea, and includes Leigh-on-Sea and Westcliff-on-Sea. It is bounded to the north and east by Rochford and Southend East, to the north by Rayleigh and Wickford, to the west by Castle Point, and to the south by the very end of the Thames estuary.

Proposed

Southend West (UK Parliament constituency)
Map of boundaries from 2024

Further to the 2023 Periodic Review of Westminster constituencies, enacted by the Parliamentary Constituencies Order 2023, the Southend West and Leigh constituency will comprise the whole of the current Southend West seat with the addition of St Luke's ward from Rochford and Southend East). [11]

Members of Parliament

ElectionMember [12] Party
1950 Sir Henry Channon Conservative
1959 by-election Paul Channon Conservative
1997 Sir David Amess Conservative
2022 by-election Anna Firth Conservative

Elections

Elections in the 2020s

General election 2024: Southend West and Leigh
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Labour David Burton-Sampson [13]
Conservative Anna Firth [14]
Green Tilly Hogrebe [15]
Confelicity James Miller [16]
Majority
Turnout
2022 Southend West by-election [17] [18] [19] [20]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Conservative Anna Firth 12,792 86.1 +26.9
Psychedelic MovementJason Pilley5123.4New
UKIP Steve Laws4002.7New
English Democrat Catherine Blaiklock 3202.2New
Independent Jayda Fransen 2992.0New
Heritage Ben Downton2361.6New
Freedom AllianceChristopher Anderson1611.1New
English ConstitutionGraham Moore860.6New
No description Olga Childs520.3New
Majority12,28082.7+51.6
Turnout 15,94224.0-43.4
Rejected ballots1,084
Registered electors 66,354
Conservative hold Swing N/A

Elections in the 2010s

General election 2019: Southend West [21]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Conservative David Amess 27,555 59.2 +4.0
Labour Aston Line13,09628.1-5.9
Liberal Democrats Nina Stimson5,31211.4+6.9
Independent 77 Joseph5741.2New
Majority14,45931.1+9.9
Turnout 46,53767.4-2.3
Conservative hold Swing +4.9
General election 2017: Southend West [22]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Conservative David Amess 26,046 55.2 +5.4
Labour Julian Ware-Lane16,04634.0+15.7
Liberal Democrats Lucy Salek2,1104.5-4.8
UKIP John Stansfield1,6663.5-14.0
Green Dominic Ellis8311.8-2.9
Southend Independent AssociationTino Callaghan3050.6New
Independent Jason Pilley1870.4New
Majority10,00021.2-10.3
Turnout 47,19169.7+3.1
Conservative hold Swing -5.2

Jack Monroe had previously been standing [23] for the National Health Action Party, before withdrawing their candidacy on 11 May 2017, citing death threats and concern for their health. [24] [25]

General election 2015: Southend West [26]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Conservative David Amess 22,175 49.8 +3.8
Labour Julian Ware-Lane8,15418.3+4.9
UKIP Brian Otridge [27] 7,80317.5+13.6
Liberal Democrats Paul Collins [28] 4,1299.3-20.1
Green Jon Fuller [29] 2,0834.7+3.2
English Democrat Jeremy Moss1650.4-0.9
Majority14,02131.5+14.8
Turnout 44,50966.6+1.5
Conservative hold Swing -0.5
General election 2010: Southend West [30]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Conservative David Amess 20,086 46.1 -0.1
Liberal Democrats Peter Welch [31] 12,81629.4+5.4
Labour Thomas Flynn [32] 5,85013.4-9.2
UKIP Garry Cockrill [33] 1,7143.9+0.5
BNP Tony Gladwin1,3333.1New
Green Barry Bolton [34] 6441.5New
Independent Vel (Marimutu Velmurgan)6171.4New
English Democrat Terry Phillips [35] 5461.3-0.5
Majority7,27016.7-5.8
Turnout 43,60665.1+4.0
Conservative hold Swing −2.8

Elections in the 2000s

General election 2005: Southend West [36]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Conservative David Amess 18,408 46.2 −0.1
Liberal Democrats Peter Wexham9,44923.7−1.2
Labour Jan Etienne9,07222.8−2.3
UKIP Carole Sampson1,3493.4−0.3
Independent Marimutu Velmurgan7451.9New
English Democrat Jeremy Moss7011.8New
Max Power PartyDan Anslow1060.3New
Majority8,95922.5+1.3
Turnout 39,83061.9+3.9
Conservative hold Swing +0.5
General election 2001: Southend West [37]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Conservative David Amess 17,313 46.3 +7.5
Labour Paul Fisher9,37225.1+2.3
Liberal Democrats Richard de Ste Croix9,31924.9-8.2
UKIP Brian Lee1,3713.7+2.3
Majority7,94121.2+15.5
Turnout 37,37558.0-12.0
Conservative hold Swing

Elections in the 1990s

General election 1997: Southend West [38]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Conservative David Amess 18,029 38.8 -15.9
Liberal Democrats Nina Stimson15,41433.1+2.2
Labour Alan Harley10,60022.8+10.5
Referendum Charles Webster1,7343.7New
UKIP Brian Lee6361.4New
Natural Law Peter Warburton1010.2-0.1
Majority2,6155.7-18.1
Turnout 46,51570.0-7.8
Conservative hold Swing
General election 1992: Southend West [39] [40]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Conservative Paul Channon 27,319 54.7 +0.3
Liberal Democrats Nina Stimson15,41730.9-7.2
Labour Geoffrey Viney6,13912.3+4.7
Liberal Alan Farmer4951.0New
Green Chris Keene4510.9New
Natural Law Peter Warburton1270.3New
Majority11,90223.8+7.5
Turnout 49,94877.8+2.5
Conservative hold Swing +3.8

Elections in the 1980s

General election 1987: Southend West [41]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Conservative Paul Channon 28,003 54.4 -0.1
Liberal Gavin Grant 19,60338.1+0.2
Labour Co-op Angela Smith 3,8997.6+0.0
Majority8,40016.3-0.3
Turnout 51,50575.3+3.6
Conservative hold Swing -0.1
General election 1983: Southend West [42]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Conservative Paul Channon 26,360 54.5 -3.2
Liberal Gavin Grant 18,32737.9+13.2
Labour Joy Nisbet3,6757.6-8.7
Majority8,03316.6-16.4
Turnout 48,36271.7-4.6
Conservative hold Swing -8.2

Elections in the 1970s

General election 1979: Southend West
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Conservative Paul Channon 29,44957.68
Liberal D Evans12,58524.65
Labour J Nisbet8,34116.34
National Front LJ McKeon6801.33New
Majority16,86433.03
Turnout 51,05576.25
Conservative hold Swing
General election October 1974: Southend West
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Conservative Paul Channon 23,48047.59
Liberal W Greaves16,40933.26
Labour AN Wright9,45119.15
Majority7,07114.33
Turnout 49,34073.16
Conservative hold Swing
General election February 1974: Southend West
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Conservative Paul Channon 25,04046.68
Liberal W Greaves19,88537.07
Labour AN Wright14,16023.85
Majority12,9139.61
Turnout 59,08577.23
Conservative hold Swing
General election 1970: Southend West
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Conservative Paul Channon 29,30460.05
Labour M Burstin12,41925.45
Liberal JH Barnett7,07714.50
Majority16,88534.60
Turnout 48,80070.70
Conservative hold Swing

Elections in the 1960s

General election 1966: Southend West
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Conservative Paul Channon 25,71350.89
Labour M Burstin13,85627.42
Liberal Gurth Hoyer-Millar 10,95821.69
Majority11,85723.47
Turnout 50,52778.35
Conservative hold Swing
General election 1964: Southend West
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Conservative Paul Channon 25,55550.58
Liberal Gurth Hoyer-Millar 14,54828.79
Labour Rex Winsbury 10,42320.63
Majority11,00721.79
Turnout 50,52678.78
Conservative hold Swing

Elections in the 1950s

General election 1959: Southend West
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Conservative Paul Channon 27,612 58.2 -6.0
Liberal Heather Harvey 10,57722.3+7.3
Labour Anthony Pearson-Clarke9,21919.4-1.4
Majority17,03535.9-7.7
Turnout 47,40877.7+3.6
Conservative hold Swing
1959 Southend West by-election
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Conservative Paul Channon 14,493 55.6 -8.6
Liberal Heather Harvey 6,31424.2+9.2
Labour Anthony Pearson-Clarke5,28020.2-0.6
Majority5,16631.4-12.0
Turnout 26,087
Conservative hold Swing
General election 1955: Southend West
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Conservative Henry Channon 27,326 64.2 -4.9
Labour Victor G Marchesi8,86620.8-10.1
Liberal Heather Harvey 6,37515.0New
Majority18,46043.4+5.2
Turnout 42,56774.1-4.9
Conservative hold Swing
General election 1951: Southend West [43]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Conservative Henry Channon 39,287 69.1 +11.7
Labour Henry N Lyall17,35230.9+5.0
Majority21,75538.2+6.7
Turnout 56,63979.0-4.1
Conservative hold Swing
General election 1950: Southend West [44]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Conservative Henry Channon 34,100 57.4
Labour Co-op Eric Hutchison15,34525.9
Liberal John Scott9,90716.7
Majority18,74631.5
Turnout 59,35283.1
Conservative win (new seat)

See also

Notes

  1. A borough constituency (for the purposes of election expenses and type of returning officer)
  2. As with all constituencies, the constituency elects one Member of Parliament (MP) by the first past the post system of election at least every five years.

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References

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51°33′N0°40′E / 51.55°N 0.66°E / 51.55; 0.66