Lewes is a constituency in East Sussex represented in the House of Commons of the UK Parliament since 2024 by James MacCleary, a Liberal Democrat.
Constituency profile Lewes is a rural constituency in East Sussex. It is named after the town of Lewes, although its largest town is Seaford which has a population of around 24,000. Other settlements in the constituency include the towns of Newhaven and Polegate and the villages of Willingdon, Stone Cross, Ringmer and Ditchling. Lewes is a traditional market town known for its 11th-century castle, Seaford is a seaside resort town and Newhaven is an important local port and ferry terminal with regular services to Dieppe in France. The constituency's towns are well-connected by rail to nearby Brighton and Eastbourne. The constituency has average levels of wealth; there is some deprivation in Newhaven whilst the rural parts of the constituency are generally affluent. On average, house prices are lower than the rest of South East England but higher than the national average.
The constituency has a large retired population giving it a high average age. Residents have high rates of homeownership and average levels of education, income and professional employment. The rate of child poverty is low and few residents claim unemployment benefits. A high proportion of residents work in the public sector. White people made up 95% of the population at the 2021 census. At the local council level, the coastal towns and the inland areas west of Lewes are mostly represented by Liberal Democrats, Lewes and the rural areas to its east elected Green Party councillors and the settlements just north of Eastbourne elected Conservatives and independents. An estimated 52% of voters in the constituency supported remaining in the European Union in the 2016 referendum, above the nationwide figure of 48%.
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.
Until 1885, Lewes was a Parliamentary Borough; until 1868, it was represented by two MPs in the House of Common. This was reduced to one by the Reform Act 1867. Under the Redistribution of Seats Act 1885, the seat was converted to a division of the county of Sussex.
From 1874 until 1997, the constituency's electorate returned only Conservative MPs. In the 1997 general election, the seat was won by Norman Baker for the Liberal Democrats. He retained the seat at the subsequent three elections until he was defeated at the 2015 general election by the Conservative's Maria Caulfield. She won again in 2017 and 2019, but was defeated at the 2024 general election by James MacCleary of the Liberal Democrats.
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; 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. Three small rural District of Lewes wards were included in the new 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).
Members of Parliament MPs 1295–1660 Constituency created 1295
ParliamentFirst memberSecond member 1295 Gervasius de Wolvehope Ricardus le Palmere 1297 No return 1298 Gervasius de Wolvehope Williemus Serverleg 1300/1 Reginaldus de Combe Rogerus Coppyng 1302 Gervasius de Wolvehope Ricardus le Palmere 1304/5 Galfridus de Wolvehope Walterus Nyng 1307 Robertus le Bynt Walterus le Fust 1309 Simon Tring Johannes Arnald 1311 Simon Tring Ricardus le Hurt 1313 (Jul) Willielmus de la Chapele Galfridus de Wolvehope 1313 (Sep) Simon Tring Johannes Gouman 1319 Willielmus Walewere Henricus de Rudham 1320 Thomas atte Novene Radulphus atte Lote 1322 (May) Philippus le Mareschal Thomas de Lofelde 1322 (Nov) Robertus le Spicer Ricardus le Poleter 1323 Willielmus Walewere Robertus le Spicer 1327No return 1328 Willielmus Darnel Johannes le Bake 1329/30 Walterus atte Markette Ricardus le Hurt 1330 Thomas Comyn Stephanus le Boche 1331/2 Thomas Comyn Johannes Scoteryld 1333/4 Robertus ? 1334–1347 No names known 1348 Ricardus Ploket Johannes Payn 1350 Willielmus Gardyner Willielmus Darnel 1354 Willielmus Darnel Willielmus Gardiner 1355 Willielmus Darnel Willielmus Gardiner 1357/8 Robertus atte Brouke Ricardus Crompe 1360 Thomas Lyndefelde Willielmus Bocher 1360/1 Ricardus Ferour de Lewes Thomas Lyndefeld 1362 Robertus Norton Willielmus Swon 1363 Willielmus Spicer Thomas Norays 1366 Willielmus Boteller Stephanus Holte 1368 Robertus de York Robertus Norton 1369 Robertus de York Jacobus Ferrour 1371 Henricus Werkeman 1372 Jacobus Ferour Thomas Norays 1373 Robertus de York Stephanus Holte 1376/7 Willielmus Spicer Jacobus Ferour 1378 Jacobus Ferour Johannes Shereve 1379/80 Robertus de York Johannes Peyntour 1381 Henricus Werkeman Robertus Norton 1382 Henricus Werkeman Thomas Norrys 1382/3 Stephanus Holte Johannes Goderyk 1383 Robertus de York Willielmus Spicer 1384 Thomas Norrys Willielmus Spicer 1385 Thomas Norris Stephen Holt 1388 (Feb) Stephen Holt Thomas Norris 1388 (Sep) Richard atte Gate Walter Gosselyn 1390 (Jan) 1390 (Nov) 1391 John Bedford Thomas Norris 1393 William Chepelond John Godeman 1394 1395 John Maryot John Sadeler 1397 (Jan) John Godeman John Plomer 1397 (Sep) John Godeman John Maryot 1399 William Chepelond John Maryot 1401 John Mason John Maryot 1402 Robert Bynt John Maryot 1404 (Jan) 1404 (Oct) 1406 Roger Forster William Green 1407 Roger Forster William Hyde 1410 1411 1413 (Feb) 1413 (May) Andrew Blake John Maryot 1414 (Apr) 1414 (Nov) John Hert Robert Lytcombe 1415 1416 (Mar) William Chepelond William Northampton 1416 (Oct) 1417 John Gosselyn John Parker 1419 Andrew Blake William Fagger 1420 John Gosselyn Thomas White 1421 (May) William Fagger William Northampton 1421 (Dec) Thomas White William Wodefold 1422 William Vaggere Andreas Mauffay 1423 William Wodefold Andreas Mafay 1425 William Fagger John Gosselyn 1425/6 William Penbrugge William Feret 1427 John Godeman Roger Forster 1429 Thomas White John Gosselyn 1430/1 John Rodys Richard Brasier 1432 Thomas White William Penbrygge 1433 John Rodys William Penbrygge 1435 Thomas White John Wody 1436/7 William Thwaytes John Hanmere 1441/2 Edward Mylle Giles Wodefold 1446/7 Robert Wodefold Thomas Best 1448/9 (Feb) Giles Wodefold William Godeman 1449 (Nov) John Southwell William Delve 1450 John Southwell John Beckwith 1452/3 John Parker John Southwell 1459 Richard Fairegoo Thomas Sherman 1460 John Beckwith Thomas Best 1467 Thomas Lewknor John Sherman 1472 Christopher Furnes William Cook 1477/8 William Cooke John Baker 1510–1523 No names known 1529 Sir Edward Bray John Batenore 1536 ? 1539 ? 1542 John Kyme ? 1545 ? 1547 Sir Walter Mildmay Sir Anthony Cooke 1553 (Mar) John Southcote Thomas Gravesend 1553 (Oct) Sir Henry Hussey George Darrell 1554 (Apr) Robert Gage George Darrell 1554 (Nov) John Stempe John Morley 1555 William Devenish Thomas Gravesend 1558 John Gage William Peterson 1558/9 George Goring I Thomas Saunder 1562/3 George Goring I William Cantrell 1571 William Morley Edward Fenner 1572 Edward Bellingham John Shirley 1584 Richard Browne Thomas Pelham 1586 Richard Browne Francis Alford 1588 Robert Sackville John Shirley 1593 Sir Henry Glemham George Goring II 1597 Sir Henry Glemham John Shirley 1601 George Goring II Goddard Pemberton, sat for Peterborough and replaced by Sir Percival Hart 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 James Rivers 1641 Herbert Morley Henry Shelley 1645 Herbert Morley Henry Shelley 1648 Herbert Morley Henry Shelley 1653Lewes 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 ElectionFirst memberFirst partySecond memberSecond party1660 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 1741Thomas Pelham 1743 Sir John Shelley Sir Francis Poole 1747 Thomas Sergison 1763 William Plumer 1766 Lord Edward Bentinck 1768 Thomas Hampden Whig Thomas Hay 1774Sir Thomas Miller, Bt 1780Henry Pelham Thomas Kemp 1796John Cressett-Pelham 1802 Henry Shelley Tory Lord Francis Osborne Tory1806 Thomas Kemp Whig1811Thomas Read Kemp Whig1812Sir George Shiffner Tory1816John Shelley Tory1826Thomas Read Kemp Whig1831Sir Charles Blunt, Bt Whig1837Henry FitzRoy Conservative1840Viscount Cantelupe Conservative1841 Summers Harford Radical Sir Howard Elphinstone Radical1842Henry FitzRoyConservative1847 Peelite Robert Perfect Whig1852 Henry BrandWhig1859 Liberal Liberal1860 John Blencowe Liberal1865 Lord Pelham Liberal1868Representation reduced to one
MPs since 1868