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 and Peacehaven constituency (formerly Brighton, Kemptown), and instead includes part of neighbouring Wealden District.
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.
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; and 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, and Seaford West; and the District of Wealden wards of Arlington, Lower Willingdon, Polegate Central, Polegate North, Polegate South & Willingdon Watermill, South Downs, Stone Cross, and Upper Willingdon.[3]
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.
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;
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.
^Fisher, David R. (2009). "Hastings". The History of Parliament. Retrieved 13 May 2018.
^"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.
^ abcdefCraig, F. W. S. (1983). British parliamentary election results 1918–1949 (3 ed.). Chichester: Parliamentary Research Services. ISBN0-900178-06-X.