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Old Bexley and Sidcup (UK Parliament constituency)

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Old Bexley and Sidcup is a constituency in Greater London represented in the House of Commons of the UK Parliament since its 1983 creation. Its first Member of Parliament (MP) was former Prime Minister Edward Heath, who previously represented Bexley (1950–1974) and Sidcup (1974–1983). The seat has been held since a 2021 by-election by Louie French of the Conservative Party, following the death of incumbent James Brokenshire.

Old Bexley and Sidcup
Borough constituency
for the House of Commons
Outline map
Boundary of Old Bexley and Sidcup in Greater London
CountyGreater London
Electorate74,317 (2023)[1]
Major settlementsBexley, Sidcup, part of Welling
Current constituency
Created1983
Member of ParliamentLouie French (Conservative Party)
SeatsOne
Created fromBexleyheath (part) and Sidcup

History and profile

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The seat was created in 1983 by combining a small part of the abolished seat of Bexleyheath, chiefly Old Bexley, with the abolished seat of Sidcup.

On 29 January 2008 the Conservative Party withdrew the whip from the constituency's MP, Derek Conway, following alleged misuse of funds revealed by the MPs expenses controversy, who declined to resign as MP and became an Independent. He retired from national politics in 2010.

Sir Edward Heath (Prime Minister of the United Kingdom 1970–1974) held this area (also referring to its main predecessor seats, Bexley and Sidcup) from 1950 until 2001 when he retired at the age of 84, at the time the longest-serving MP in the Commons, known as the Father of the House.

Political overview

The seat has been won at general elections since creation by the Conservative Party candidate. The 1997 New Labour landslide saw the party's majority fall to its lowest level of 7% of the vote. Its greatest level has to date been 41.5% of the vote — in 1987.

In 2010 the seat was won by the Conservative candidate James Brokenshire, who had transferred to this seat and approved by his local party when his former seat of Hornchurch was abolished in boundary changes. His 2015 result made the seat the 105th safest of the Conservative Party's 331 seats by percentage of majority.[2] The seat was left vacant following Brokenshire's death on 7 October 2021.[3][4] until a by-election was held on 2 December which resulted in a Conservative hold.

Boundaries

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Historic

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1983–1997: The London Borough of Bexley wards of Blackfen, Blendon and Penhill, Cray, Lamorbey, St Mary's, Sidcup East, and Sidcup West.

1997–2010: The London Borough of Bexley wards of Blackfen, Blendon and Penhill, Cray, Danson, East Wickham, Falconwood, Lamorbey, St Mary's, Sidcup East, and Sidcup West.

 
Wards of the Old Bexley and Sidcup constituency (green) within the London Borough of Bexley (yellow and green) from the 2010 general election

2010–2024: The London Borough of Bexley wards of Blackfen and Lamorbey, Blendon and Penhill, East Wickham, Falconwood and Welling, Longlands, St Mary's, and Sidcup.

As its name suggests, the seat covers the Bexley and Sidcup areas; it formerly included Danson Park which owing to more development in the south was moved to the Bexleyheath and Crayford constituency.

Current

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The new boundaries of the Old Bexley and Sidcup constituency (green) within the London Borough of Bexley (yellow) to be used from the 2024 general election.
 
Old Bexley and Sidcup from 2024

Further to the 2023 Periodic Review of Westminster constituencies, which came into effect for the 2024 general election, the constituency is composed of:

  • The London Borough of Bexley wards of: Blackfen & Lamorbey; Blendon & Penhill; East Wickham; Falconwood & Welling; Longlands; St. Mary’s & St. James; Sidcup.[5]

The revised contents take into account the local government boundary review for Bexley which became effective in May 2018. Boundaries were extended slightly by adding the parts of the expanded East Wickham and Falconwood & Welling wards previously in Bexleyheath and Crayford.

Constituency profile

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Old Bexley and Sidcup has average incomes among the highest of all constituencies,[6] a high proportion of semi-detached and detached homes[7] and low unemployment[8] with a lower than average dependency on social housing.[6]

The constituency generally consists of middle-class and lower middle-class outer London suburbia, served by the Dartford Loop and Bexleyheath commuter railway lines to Central London. Sidcup has been largely developed to neat garden suburb-inspired building schemes for most homes.

Members of Parliament

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Election Member[9] Party
1983 Sir Edward Heath Conservative
2001 Derek Conway Conservative
2008 Independent
2010 James Brokenshire Conservative
2021 by-election Louie French Conservative

Elections

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Old Bexley and Sidcup election history

Elections in the 2020s

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General election 2024: Old Bexley and Sidcup[10]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Louie French 17,910 37.6 –26.3
Labour Edward Jones 14,362 30.2 +6.3
Reform UK Maxine Fothergill 10,384 21.8 N/A
Green Brad Davies 2,601 5.5 +2.0
Liberal Democrats Adrian Hyyrylainen-Trett 1,927 4.0 –4.3
Rejoin EU Laurent Williams 251 0.5 N/A
Independent Andrew Still 198 0.4 N/A
Majority 3,548 7.4 –32.6
Turnout 47,633 65.9 –3.9
Registered electors 72,290
Conservative hold Swing  16.3
By-election 2021: Old Bexley and Sidcup[11]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Louie French 11,189 51.5 –13.0
Labour Daniel Francis 6,711 30.9 +7.4
Reform UK Richard Tice 1,432 6.6 N/A
Green Jonathan Rooks 830 3.8 +0.6
Liberal Democrats Simone Reynolds 647 3.0 –5.3
English Democrat Elaine Cheeseman 271 1.3 N/A
UKIP John Poynton 184 0.8 N/A
Rejoin EU Richard Hewison 151 0.7 N/A
Heritage David Kurten 116 0.5 N/A
CPA Carol Valinejad 108 0.5  
Monster Raving Loony Mad Mike Young 94 0.4 N/A
Majority 4,478 20.6 –20.4
Turnout 21,733 33.5 –36.3
Registered electors 64,831
Conservative hold Swing –10.2

Elections in the 2010s

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2019 notional result[12]
Party Vote %
Conservative 33,158 63.9
Labour 12,389 23.9
Liberal Democrats 4,303 8.3
Green 1,791 3.5
Others 226 0.4
Turnout 51,867 69.8
Electorate 74,317
General election 2019: Old Bexley and Sidcup[13]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative James Brokenshire 29,786 64.5 +3.1
Labour Dave Tingle 10,834 23.5 −5.8
Liberal Democrats Simone Reynolds 3,822 8.3 +5.0
Green Matt Browne 1,477 3.2 +1.5
CPA Carol Valinejad 226 0.5 +0.3
Majority 18,952 41.0 +8.8
Turnout 46,145 69.8 −3.0
Registered electors 66,104
Conservative hold Swing +4.4
General election 2017: Old Bexley and Sidcup[14][15]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative James Brokenshire 29,545 61.5 +8.7
Labour Danny Hackett 14,079 29.3 +10.3
UKIP Freddy Vachha 1,619 3.4 −14.9
Liberal Democrats Drew Heffernan 1,572 3.3 −0.2
Green Derek Moran 820 1.7 −1.2
BNP Michael Jones 324 0.7 +0.2
CPA Chinwe Nwadikeduruibe 83 0.2 N/A
Majority 15,466 32.2 −1.6
Turnout 48,042 72.8 +2.0
Registered electors 66,005
Conservative hold Swing -0.8
General election 2015: Old Bexley and Sidcup[16][17][18]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative James Brokenshire 24,682 52.8 −1.3
Labour Ibby Mehmet 8,879 19.0 −0.3
UKIP Catherine Reilly 8,528 18.2 +14.9
Liberal Democrats Jennifer Keen 1,644 3.5 −11.9
Green Derek Moran 1,336 2.9 +2.0
NHA Bob Gill 1,216 2.6 N/A
Christian Laurence Williams 245 0.5 N/A
BNP Nicola Finch 218 0.5 −4.2
Majority 15,803 33.8 −1.1
Turnout 46,748 70.8 +1.5
Registered electors 66,035
Conservative hold Swing -0.5
General election 2010: Old Bexley and Sidcup[19]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative James Brokenshire 24,625 54.1 +4.1
Labour Rick Everitt 8,768 19.3 −8.7
Liberal Democrats Duncan Borrowman 6,996 15.4 +1.5
BNP John Brooks 2,132 4.7 +1.8
UKIP David Coburn 1,532 3.4 −1.2
English Democrat Elaine Cheeseman 520 1.1 N/A
Independents to save Queen Mary’s Hospital John Hemming-Clark 393 0.9 N/A
Green Jonathan Rooks 371 0.8 N/A
Monster Raving Loony Napoleon Dynamite 155 0.3 N/A
Majority 15,857 34.9 +12.6
Turnout 45,492 69.3 +4.0
Registered electors 65,699
Conservative hold Swing +6.4

Elections in the 2000s

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General election 2005: Old Bexley and Sidcup[20]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Derek Conway 22,191 49.8 +4.4
Labour Gavin Moore 12,271 27.5 −10.0
Liberal Democrats Nick O'Hare 6,564 14.7 +1.0
UKIP Michael Barnbrook 2,015 4.5 +1.1
BNP Claire Sayers 1,227 2.8 N/A
Independent Gregory Peters 304 0.7 N/A
Majority 9,920 22.3 +14.4
Turnout 44,572 65.3 +3.2
Registered electors 68,226
Conservative hold Swing +7.2
General election 2001: Old Bexley and Sidcup[21]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Derek Conway 19,130 45.4 +3.3
Labour Jim Dickson 15,785 37.5 +2.4
Liberal Democrats Belinda Ford 5,792 13.7 −2.4
UKIP Janice Cronin 1,426 3.4 +2.4
Majority 3,345 7.9 +0.9
Turnout 42,133 62.1 −13.4
Registered electors 67,841
Conservative hold Swing +0.5

Elections in the 1990s

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General election 1997: Old Bexley and Sidcup[22][23]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Edward Heath 21,608 42.1 ―18.3
Labour Richard Justham 18,039 35.1 +13.5
Liberal Democrats Iain King 8,284 16.1 +0.2
Referendum Brian Reading 2,457 4.8 N/A
UKIP C. Bullen 489 1.0 N/A
BNP Valerie Tyndall 415 0.8 N/A
Natural Law Robert Stephens 99 0.2 ―0.2
Majority 3,569 7.0 ―31.8
Turnout 51,391 75.5 ―6.5
Registered electors 68,079
Conservative hold Swing ―14.1
General election 1992: Old Bexley and Sidcup[24]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Edward Heath 24,450 60.3 ―1.8
Labour Donna Brierly 8,751 21.6 +4.3
Liberal Democrats David J. Nicolle 6,438 15.9 ―4.7
Independent Barry Rose 733 1.8 N/A
Natural Law Robert Stephens 148 0.4 N/A
Majority 15,699 38.7 ―2.8
Turnout 40,520 81.9 +4.8
Registered electors 49,449
Conservative hold Swing ―1.4

Elections in the 1980s

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General election 1987: Old Bexley and Sidcup[25]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Edward Heath 24,350 62.1 +1.9
Liberal Thomas Pearce 8,076 20.6 ―5.4
Labour Howard Stoate 6,762 17.3 +3.6
Majority 16,274 41.5 +7.3
Turnout 39,188 77.1 +2.9
Registered electors 50,831
Conservative hold Swing +3.7
General election 1983: Old Bexley and Sidcup[26]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Edward Heath 22,442 60.2
Liberal Peter Vickers 9,704 26.0
Labour Chris Kiff 5,116 13.7
Majority 12,738 34.2
Turnout 37,262 74.2
Registered electors 50,255
Conservative win (new seat)

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "The 2023 Review of Parliamentary Constituency Boundaries in England – Volume two: Constituency names, designations and composition – London". Boundary Commission for England. Retrieved 22 June 2024.
  2. ^ "Conservative Members of Parliament 2015". UK Political.info. Archived from the original on 8 June 2017. Retrieved 12 February 2017.
  3. ^ "Former Northern Ireland Secretary James Brokenshire dies, aged 53". BBC News. 8 October 2021. Archived from the original on 8 October 2021. Retrieved 8 October 2021.
  4. ^ @JBrokenshire (8 October 2021). "Statement by the Brokenshire Family" (Tweet). Archived from the original on 8 October 2021. Retrieved 8 October 2021 – via Twitter.
  5. ^ "The Parliamentary Constituencies Order 2023". Schedule 1 Part 3 London region.
  6. ^ a b "Local statistics - Office for National Statistics". neighbourhood.statistics.gov.uk.
  7. ^ "2011 census interactive maps". Archived from the original on 29 January 2016.
  8. ^ Unemployment claimants by constituency The Guardian
  9. ^ Leigh Rayment's Historical List of MPs – Constituencies beginning with "O"
  10. ^ "Results of Old Bexley and Sidcup". Sky News. Retrieved 5 July 2024.
  11. ^ "Old Bexley and Sidcup: Tories hold safe London seat at by-election". BBC News. 3 December 2021. Archived from the original on 3 December 2021. Retrieved 3 December 2021.
  12. ^ "Notional results for a UK general election on 12 December 2019". Rallings & Thrasher, Professor David Denver (Scotland), Nicholas Whyte (NI) for Sky News, PA, BBC News and ITV News. UK Parliament. Retrieved 11 July 2024.
  13. ^ "Old Bexley & Sidcup Parliamentary constituency". BBC News. BBC. Retrieved 23 November 2019.
  14. ^ "Old Bexley & Sidcup parliamentary constituency". BBC News.
  15. ^ "General Election 2017: results and analysis" (PDF). House of Commons Library. 29 January 2019. Retrieved 7 July 2021.
  16. ^ "Election Data 2015". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 17 October 2015. Retrieved 17 October 2015.
  17. ^ "Election results for Old Bexley and Sidcup, 7 May 2015". 7 May 2015.
  18. ^ "Old Bexley & Sidcup parliamentary constituency - Election 2017" – via www.bbc.co.uk.
  19. ^ "Election Data 2010". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 26 July 2013. Retrieved 17 October 2015.
  20. ^ "Election Data 2005". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
  21. ^ "Election Data 2001". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
  22. ^ "Election Data 1997". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
  23. ^ "Old Bexley & Sidcup [Archive]". Archived from the original on 6 June 2012.
  24. ^ "Election Data 1992". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
  25. ^ "Election Data 1987". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
  26. ^ "Election Data 1983". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
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Parliament of the United Kingdom
Preceded by Constituency represented by the father of the House
1992–2001 		Succeeded by

51°26′20″N 0°07′12″E / 51.439°N 0.120°E / 51.439; 0.120

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