The constituency is predominantly rural, like Wealden to the west. The main towns are the shingle-beach resort of Bexhill-on-Sea and the historic town of Battle. Electoral Calculus describes the seat as "Strong Right" characterised by retired, socially conservative voters who strongly supported Brexit.[4]
At the 2015 general election, Huw Merriman was elected, and was re-elected in the 2017 general election. The closest it came to a non-Conservative victory was in 2001, when Barker, in the first of his three successful campaigns, was returned by a margin of 10,503 votes.
The District of Rother wards of Ashburnham, Battle, Beckley and Peasmarsh, Bodiam and Ewhurst, Brede and Udimore, Burwash, Catsfield and Crowhurst, Central, Collington, Etchingham and Hurst Green, Northiam, Old Town, Sackville, St Mark's, St Michael's, St Stephen's, Salehurst, Sedlescombe and Whatlington, Sidley, Ticehurst, and Westfield
The District of Wealden wards of Herstmonceux, Ninfield, and Pevensey and Westham.
2010–2024:
The District of Rother wards of Battle Town, Central, Collington, Crowhurst, Darwell, Ewhurst and Sedlescombe, Kewhurst, Old Town, Rother Levels, Sackville, St Mark's, St Michael's, St Stephen's, Salehurst, Sidley, and Ticehurst and Etchingham
The District of Wealden wards of Cross In Hand/Five Ashes, Heathfield East, Heathfield North and Central, Herstmonceux, Ninfield and Hooe with Wartling, and Pevensey and Westham.
2024–present:
The District of Rother wards of: Bexhill Central; Bexhill Collington; Bexhill Kewhurst; Bexhill Old Town & Worsham; Bexhill Pebsham & St. Michaels; Bexhill Sackville; Bexhill St. Marks; Bexhill St. Stephens; Bexhill Sidley; Brede & Udimore; Burwash & the Weald; Catsfield & Crowhurst; Hurst Green & Ticehurst; North Battle, Netherfield & Whatlington; Northern Rother; Robertsbridge; Sedlescombe & Westfield; South Battle & Telham.
The District of Wealden wards of: Herstmonceux & Pevensey Levels; Pevensey Bay.[7]
To bring the electorate within the permitted range, western areas, including the town of Heathfield, were transferred to Sussex Weald. Other minor changes.
^"Bexhill and Battle: Usual Resident Population, 2011". Neighbourhood Statistics. Office for National Statistics. Archived from the original on 30 January 2015. Retrieved 29 January 2015.
^"The 2023 Review of Parliamentary Constituency Boundaries in England – Volume two: Constituency names, designations and composition – South East". Boundary Commission for England. Retrieved 22 June 2024.
^"'Bexhill and Battle', June 1983 up to May 1997". ElectionWeb Project. Cognitive Computing Limited. Archived from the original on 11 March 2016. Retrieved 10 March 2016.
^"As it happened: PM reshuffles cabinet". 14 July 2014. Archived from the original on 15 July 2014. Retrieved 21 June 2018 – via www.bbc.co.uk.
^TheyWorkForYou (17 January 2018). "European Union (Withdrawal) Bill — Reject Third Reading — Membership of the European Union: Recent Votes". TheyWorkForYou. Archived from the original on 21 December 2021. Retrieved 21 February 2022.
^"The Parliamentary Constituencies Order 2023". Schedule 1 Part 6 South East region.
^Leigh Rayment's Historical List of MPs – Constituencies beginning with "B" (part 3)
^Ford, Lorna (7 June 2024). "Election of a Member of Parliament for Bexhill and Battle" (PDF). Retrieved 8 June 2024 – via Rother District Council.
^"Bexhill & Battle Parliamentary constituency". BBC News. BBC. Archived from the original on 11 April 2019. Retrieved 26 November 2019.
^"Election Data 2015". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 17 October 2015. Retrieved 17 October 2015.
^"Cllr Huw Merriman is selected for Bexhill and Battle". Conservative Home. Archived from the original on 19 May 2021. Retrieved 21 February 2022.
^ a b c"BEXHILL & BATTLE 2015". electionresults.blogspot.co.uk. Archived from the original on 27 April 2015. Retrieved 24 November 2014.
^"Election Data 2010". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 26 July 2013. Retrieved 17 October 2015.
^"BBC News – Election 2010 – Constituency – Bexhill & Battle". news.bbc.co.uk. Archived from the original on 4 September 2017. Retrieved 29 May 2010.
^"Election Data 2005". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
^"Election Data 2001". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
^"Election Data 1997". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
^"Election Data 1992". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
^"Politics Resources". Election 1992. Politics Resources. 9 April 1992. Archived from the original on 24 July 2011. Retrieved 6 December 2010.
^"Election Data 1987". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
^"Election Data 1983". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
Sources
Election result, 2005 (BBC)
Election results, 1997 – 2001 (BBC)
Election results, 1997 – 2001 Archived 2020-01-21 at the Wayback Machine (Election Demon)
Election results, 1983 – 1992 (Election Demon) (Result is incorrect for 1992)
Election results, 1992 – 2005 (Guardian)
External links
Bexhill and Battle UK Parliament constituency (boundaries April 2010 – May 2024) at MapIt UK
Bexhill and Battle UK Parliament constituency (boundaries from June 2024) at MapIt UK