Basildon and Billericay (UK Parliament constituency)

Basildon and Billericay (/ˈbæzɪldən ...ˈbɪlərɪki/) is a constituency[n 1] in Essex represented in the House of Commons of the UK Parliament. Since the 2024 general election it has been represented by Richard Holden, a Conservative.[n 2]

Basildon and Billericay
Borough constituency
for the House of Commons
Map
Boundaries since 2024
Map of constituency
Boundary of Basildon and Billericay in the East of England
CountyEssex
Population89,687 (2011 census)[1]
Electorate76,993 (2023)[2]
Major settlementsBasildon, Billericay, Great Burstead
Current constituency
Created2010
Member of ParliamentRichard Holden (Conservative)
SeatsOne
Created fromBasildon, Billericay

History

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The seat was created for the 2010 general election following a review of the Parliamentary representation of Essex by the Boundary Commission for England. It combined parts of the separate, now abolished, Basildon and Billericay constituencies.

It has been held throughout its existence by the Conservative Party and, until the 2024 general election, with large majorities.

Boundaries

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2010–2024

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The Borough of Basildon wards of Billericay East, Billericay West, Burstead, Crouch, Fryerns, Laindon Park, Lee Chapel North and St Martin's.[3]

The seat merged about half of the previous constituency of Billericay with smaller parts of the former Basildon constituency – mostly around the centre of Basildon.

The Billericay constituency lost Wickford to the new Rayleigh and Wickford constituency, and Pitsea to the South Basildon and East Thurrock seat, which also included the remainder of the Basildon seat.

Current

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Further to the 2023 Periodic Review of Westminster constituencies, which came into effect for the 2024 general election, the composition of the constituency was expanded with the transfer in of the Vange ward from South Basildon and East Thurrock.[4]

Members of Parliament

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The MP until the dissolution of parliament in May 2024 was the Conservative John Baron, who had held the seat since its creation, but announced in October 2023 that he would be stepping down.[5] His party's choice of the national chairman as its candidate to succeed him was controversially made just 48 hours before the deadline from a shortlist of one, to the anger of the local association.[6]

Election Member[7] Party
2010 John Baron Conservative
2024 Richard Holden Conservative

Elections

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Election Results in the UK Parliamentary Constituency of Basildon and Billericay

Elections in the 2020s

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General election 2024: Basildon and Billericay[8]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Richard Holden 12,905 30.6 −35.3
Labour Alex Harrison 12,885 30.6 +9.0
Reform UK Stephen Conlay 11,354 27.0 N/A
Liberal Democrats Edward Sainsbury 2,292 5.4 −3.0
Green Stewart Goshawk 2,123 5.0 +2.0
British Democrats Christopher Bateman 373 0.9 N/A
TUSC Dave Murray 192 0.4 N/A
Majority 20 0.04 –44.3
Turnout 43,124 56.1 –6.1
Registered electors 76,873
Conservative hold Swing −22.2

Elections in the 2010s

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2019 general election notional result[9]
Party Vote %
Conservative 30,867 65.9
Labour 10,118 21.6
Liberal Democrats 3,947 8.4
Green 1,395 3.0
Others 526 1.1
Turnout 46,853 60.9
Electorate 76,993
General election 2019: Basildon and Billericay[10]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative John Baron 29,590 67.1 +6.1
Labour Andrew Gordon 9,178 20.8 −10.3
Liberal Democrats Edward Sainsbury 3,741 8.5 +5.1
Green Stewart Goshawk 1,395 3.2 New
SDP Simon Breedon 224 0.5 New
Majority 20,412 46.3 +16.4
Turnout 44,128 63.1 −1.9
Conservative hold Swing +8.2
General election 2017: Basildon and Billericay[11]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative John Baron 27,381 61.0 +8.3
Labour Kayte Block 13,981 31.1 +7.4
UKIP Tina Hughes 2,008 4.5 −15.3
Liberal Democrats Antonia Harrison 1,548 3.4 −0.4
Majority 13,400 29.9 +0.9
Turnout 44,918 65.0 +2.1
Conservative hold Swing +0.4
General election 2015: Basildon and Billericay[12][13]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative John Baron 22,668 52.7 −0.1
Labour Gavin Callaghan 10,186 23.7 +0.7
UKIP George Konstantinidis 8,538 19.8 +16.0
Liberal Democrats Martin Thompson 1,636 3.8 −11.9
Majority 12,482 29.0 −0.8
Turnout 43,028 62.9 −0.7
Conservative hold Swing −0.4
General election 2010: Basildon and Billericay[14][15]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative John Baron* 21,922 52.8 +6.8
Labour Allan Davies 9,584 23.0 −11.8
Liberal Democrats Mike Hibbs 6,538 15.7 +2.5
BNP Irene Bateman 1,934 4.6 +1.1
UKIP Alan Broad 1,591 3.8 +1.4
Majority 12,338 29.8 +18.6
Turnout 41,629 63.6 +1.3
Conservative hold Swing +9.3
* Served as an MP in the 2005–2010 parliament

See also

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Notes

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  1. ^ A borough constituency (for the purposes of election expenses and type of returning officer)
  2. ^ As with all constituencies, the constituency elects one Member of Parliament (MP) by the first past the post system of election at least every five years.

References

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  1. ^ "Usual Resident Population, 2011". Neighbourhood Statistics. Office for National Statistics. Retrieved 27 January 2015.
  2. ^ "The 2023 Review of Parliamentary Constituency Boundaries in England – Volume two: Constituency names, designations and composition – Eastern". Boundary Commission for England. Retrieved 26 June 2024.
  3. ^ "The Parliamentary Constituencies (England) Order 2007". www.legislation.gov.uk. Retrieved 11 September 2019.
  4. ^ "The Parliamentary Constituencies Order 2023". Schedule I Part 2 Eastern region.
  5. ^ "'It's been an honour and privilege': Basildon MP set to step down after 23 years". Echo. 25 October 2023. Retrieved 9 June 2024.
  6. ^ Maddox, David (5 June 2024). "Chaos as Tory chairman put on a shortlist of one to ensure he gets a seat". Independent. Retrieved 9 June 2024.
  7. ^ Leigh Rayment's Historical List of MPs – Constituencies beginning with "B" (part 1)
  8. ^ https://www.basildon.gov.uk/media/12071/Basildon-Council-Statement-of-Persons-Nominated-Notice-of-Poll-and-Situation-of-Polling-Stations-Basildon-Billericay-Constituency-July-2024/pdf/SOPN_NOP_SPS_-_B_B_Cons_-_July_2024_atagojl0fce6.pdf[dead link]
  9. ^ "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.
  10. ^ https://www.basildon.gov.uk/media/9824/Basildon-Council-Statement-of-Persons-Nominated-Notice-of-Poll-and-Situation-of-Polling-Stations-Basildon-and-Billericay-Dec-2019/pdf/Basildon_Council_-_Statement_of_Persons_Nominated__Notice_of_Poll_and_Situation_of_Polling_Stations_.pdf?m=637093446198270000 [dead link]
  11. ^ "Basildon & Billericay parliamentary constituency - Election 2017". BBC News. Retrieved 9 June 2017.
  12. ^ "Election Data 2015". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 17 October 2015. Retrieved 17 October 2015.
  13. ^ "Basildon & Billericay parliamentary constituency - Election 2017" – via www.bbc.com.
  14. ^ "Election Data 2010". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 26 July 2013. Retrieved 17 October 2015.
  15. ^ "BBC News - Election 2010 - Constituency - Basildon & Billericay". news.bbc.co.uk.
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51°36′N 0°26′E / 51.60°N 0.44°E / 51.60; 0.44