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Southend West and Leigh (UK Parliament constituency) facts for kids

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Southend West and Leigh is a constituency in the House of Commons of the UK Parliament. In the 2024 general election the seat was won by David Burton-Sampson for Labour. It was previously held by Anna Firth who won the 2022 by-election, following the murder of the incumbent MP, David Amess.

Prior to the 2023 Periodic Review of Westminster constituencies, the constituency was known as Southend West up until the 2024 general election.

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".

The seat was represented by David Amess for 24 years, from 1997 to 15 October 2021, when he was murdered. 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.

Boundaries and boundary changes

1950–1955

  • The County Borough of Southend-on-Sea wards of Chalkwell, Eastwood, Leigh, Milton, Prittlewell, St Clements, Victoria, and Westborough.

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

1955–1983

  • The County Borough of Southend-on-Sea wards of Blenheim, Chalkwell, Eastwood, Leigh, Prittlewell, St Clement's, Southbourne, and Westborough.

Realignment of boundary with Southend East.

1983–2010

  • The Borough of Southend-on-Sea wards of Belfairs, Blenheim, Chalkwell, Eastwood, Leigh, Prittlewell, and Westborough.

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

2010–2024

  • The Borough of Southend-on-Sea wards of Belfairs, Blenheim Park, Chalkwell, Eastwood Park, Leigh, Prittlewell, St Laurence, Westborough, and West Leigh.

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

Current (Southend West and Leigh)

Further to the 2023 Periodic Review of Westminster constituencies, which came into effect for the 2024 general election, the constituency comprises the whole of the current Southend West seat with the addition of St Luke's ward from Rochford and Southend East.

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.

Members of Parliament

Southend prior to 1950

Election Member Party
1950 Sir Henry Channon Conservative
1959 by-election Paul Channon Conservative
1997 Sir David Amess Conservative
2022 by-election Anna Firth Conservative
2024 David Burton-Sampson Labour

Elections

Elections in the 2020s

General election 2024: Southend West and Leigh
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour David Burton-Sampson 16,739 35.6
Conservative Anna Firth 14,790 31.5
Reform UK Peter Little 8,273 17.6
Green Tilly Hogrebe 3,262 6.9
Liberal Democrats Stephen Cummins 3,174 6.8
Confelicity James Miller 262 0.6
Independent Tom Darwood 172 0.4
Heritage Lara Hurley 99 0.2
Independent Robert David John Francis 98 0.2
Majority 1,949
Turnout 46,968 62.5
Labour gain from Conservative Swing +7.5
2022 Southend West by-election
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Anna Firth 12,792 86.1 +26.9
UKIP Steve Laws 400 2.7 New
English Democrat Catherine Blaiklock 320 2.2 New
Independent Jayda Fransen 299 2.0 New
Heritage Ben Downton 236 1.6 New
Freedom Alliance Christopher Anderson 161 1.1 New
English Constitution Party Graham Moore 86 0.6 New
No description Olga Childs 52 0.3 New
Majority 12,280 82.7 +51.6
Turnout 15,942 24.0 -43.4
Rejected ballots 1,084
Registered electors 66,354
Conservative hold Swing N/A

Elections in the 2010s

General election 2019: Southend West
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative David Amess 27,555 59.2 +4.0
Labour Aston Line 13,096 28.1 -5.9
Liberal Democrats Nina Stimson 5,312 11.4 +6.9
Independent 77 Joseph 574 1.2 New
Majority 14,459 31.1 +9.9
Turnout 46,537 67.4 -2.3
Conservative hold Swing +4.9
General election 2017: Southend West
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative David Amess 26,046 55.2 +5.4
Labour Julian Ware-Lane 16,046 34.0 +15.7
Liberal Democrats Lucy Salek 2,110 4.5 -4.8
UKIP John Stansfield 1,666 3.5 -14.0
Green Dominic Ellis 831 1.8 -2.9
Southend Independent Association Tino Callaghan 305 0.6 New
Independent Jason Pilley 187 0.4 New
Majority 10,000 21.2 -10.3
Turnout 47,191 69.7 +3.1
Conservative hold Swing -5.2

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

General election 2015: Southend West
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative David Amess 22,175 49.8 +3.8
Labour Julian Ware-Lane 8,154 18.3 +4.9
UKIP Brian Otridge 7,803 17.5 +13.6
Liberal Democrats Paul Collins 4,129 9.3 -20.1
Green Jon Fuller 2,083 4.7 +3.2
English Democrat Jeremy Moss 165 0.4 -0.9
Majority 14,021 31.5 +14.8
Turnout 44,509 66.6 +1.5
Conservative hold Swing -0.5
General election 2010: Southend West
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative David Amess 20,086 46.1 -0.1
Liberal Democrats Peter Welch 12,816 29.4 +5.4
Labour Thomas Flynn 5,850 13.4 -9.2
UKIP Garry Cockrill 1,714 3.9 +0.5
BNP Tony Gladwin 1,333 3.1 New
Green Barry Bolton 644 1.5 New
Independent Vel (Marimutu Velmurgan) 617 1.4 New
English Democrat Terry Phillips 546 1.3 -0.5
Majority 7,270 16.7 -5.8
Turnout 43,606 65.1 +4.0
Conservative hold Swing −2.8

Elections in the 2000s

General election 2005: Southend West
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative David Amess 18,408 46.2 −0.1
Liberal Democrats Peter Wexham 9,449 23.7 −1.2
Labour Jan Etienne 9,072 22.8 −2.3
UKIP Carole Sampson 1,349 3.4 −0.3
Independent Marimutu Velmurgan 745 1.9 New
English Democrat Jeremy Moss 701 1.8 New
Max Power Party Dan Anslow 106 0.3 New
Majority 8,959 22.5 +1.3
Turnout 39,830 61.9 +3.9
Conservative hold Swing +0.5
General election 2001: Southend West
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative David Amess 17,313 46.3 +7.5
Labour Paul Fisher 9,372 25.1 +2.3
Liberal Democrats Richard de Ste Croix 9,319 24.9 -8.2
UKIP Brian Lee 1,371 3.7 +2.3
Majority 7,941 21.2 +15.5
Turnout 37,375 58.0 -12.0
Conservative hold Swing

Elections in the 1990s

General election 1997: Southend West
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative David Amess 18,029 38.8 -15.9
Liberal Democrats Nina Stimson 15,414 33.1 +2.2
Labour Alan Harley 10,600 22.8 +10.5
Referendum Charles Webster 1,734 3.7 New
UKIP Brian Lee 636 1.4 New
Natural Law Peter Warburton 101 0.2 -0.1
Majority 2,615 5.7 -18.1
Turnout 46,515 70.0 -7.8
Conservative hold Swing
General election 1992: Southend West
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Paul Channon 27,319 54.7 +0.3
Liberal Democrats Nina Stimson 15,417 30.9 -7.2
Labour Geoffrey Viney 6,139 12.3 +4.7
Liberal Alan Farmer 495 1.0 New
Green Chris Keene 451 0.9 New
Natural Law Peter Warburton 127 0.3 New
Majority 11,902 23.8 +7.5
Turnout 49,948 77.8 +2.5
Conservative hold Swing +3.8

Elections in the 1980s

General election 1987: Southend West
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Paul Channon 28,003 54.4 -0.1
Liberal Gavin Grant 19,603 38.1 +0.2
Labour Angela Smith 3,899 7.6 +0.0
Majority 8,400 16.3 -0.3
Turnout 51,505 75.3 +3.6
Conservative hold Swing -0.1
General election 1983: Southend West
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Paul Channon 26,360 54.5 -3.2
Liberal Gavin Grant 18,327 37.9 +13.2
Labour Joy Nisbet 3,675 7.6 -8.7
Majority 8,033 16.6 -16.4
Turnout 48,362 71.7 -4.6
Conservative hold Swing -8.2

Elections in the 1970s

General election 1979: Southend West
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Paul Channon 29,449 57.68
Liberal D Evans 12,585 24.65
Labour J Nisbet 8,341 16.34
National Front LJ McKeon 680 1.33 New
Majority 16,864 33.03
Turnout 51,055 76.25
Conservative hold Swing
General election October 1974: Southend West
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Paul Channon 23,480 47.59
Liberal W Greaves 16,409 33.26
Labour AN Wright 9,451 19.15
Majority 7,071 14.33
Turnout 49,340 73.16
Conservative hold Swing
General election February 1974: Southend West
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Paul Channon 25,040 46.68
Liberal W Greaves 19,885 37.07
Labour AN Wright 14,160 23.85
Majority 12,913 9.61
Turnout 59,085 77.23
Conservative hold Swing
General election 1970: Southend West
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Paul Channon 29,304 60.05
Labour M Burstin 12,419 25.45
Liberal JH Barnett 7,077 14.50
Majority 16,885 34.60
Turnout 48,800 70.70
Conservative hold Swing

Elections in the 1960s

General election 1966: Southend West
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Paul Channon 25,713 50.89
Labour M Burstin 13,856 27.42
Liberal Gurth Hoyer-Millar 10,958 21.69
Majority 11,857 23.47
Turnout 50,527 78.35
Conservative hold Swing
General election 1964: Southend West
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Paul Channon 25,555 50.58
Liberal Gurth Hoyer-Millar 14,548 28.79
Labour Rex Winsbury 10,423 20.63
Majority 11,007 21.79
Turnout 50,526 78.78
Conservative hold Swing

Elections in the 1950s

General election 1959: Southend West
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Paul Channon 27,612 58.2 -6.0
Liberal Heather Harvey 10,577 22.3 +7.3
Labour Anthony Pearson-Clarke 9,219 19.4 -1.4
Majority 17,035 35.9 -7.7
Turnout 47,408 77.7 +3.6
Conservative hold Swing
1959 Southend West by-election
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Paul Channon 14,493 55.6 -8.6
Liberal Heather Harvey 6,314 24.2 +9.2
Labour Anthony Pearson-Clarke 5,280 20.2 -0.6
Majority 5,166 31.4 -12.0
Turnout 26,087
Conservative hold Swing
General election 1955: Southend West
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Henry Channon 27,326 64.2 -4.9
Labour Victor G Marchesi 8,866 20.8 -10.1
Liberal Heather Harvey 6,375 15.0 New
Majority 18,460 43.4 +5.2
Turnout 42,567 74.1 -4.9
Conservative hold Swing
General election 1951: Southend West
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Henry Channon 39,287 69.1 +11.7
Labour Henry N Lyall 17,352 30.9 +5.0
Majority 21,755 38.2 +6.7
Turnout 56,639 79.0 -4.1
Conservative hold Swing
General election 1950: Southend West
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Henry Channon 34,100 57.4
Labour Eric Hutchison 15,345 25.9
Liberal John Scott 9,907 16.7
Majority 18,746 31.5
Turnout 59,352 83.1
Conservative win (new seat)

See also

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