Eastbourne
Notional 2005 Results:
Conservative: 20255 (43.1%)
Liberal Democrat: 19500 (41.5%)
Labour: 5099 (10.9%)
Other: 2138 (4.6%)
Majority: 755 (1.6%)
Actual 2005 result
Conservative: 21033 (43.5%)
Labour: 5268 (10.9%)
Liberal Democrat: 19909 (41.1%)
Green: 949 (2%)
UKIP: 1233 (2.5%)
Majority: 1124 (2.3%)
2001 Result
Conservative: 19738 (44.1%)
Labour: 5967 (13.3%)
Liberal Democrat: 17584 (39.3%)
UKIP: 907 (2%)
Other: 574 (1.3%)
Majority: 2154 (4.8%)
1997 Result
Conservative: 22183 (42.1%)
Labour: 6576 (12.5%)
Liberal Democrat: 20189 (38.3%)
Referendum: 2724 (5.2%)
Other: 995 (1.9%)
Majority: 1994 (3.8%)
Boundary changes:
Profile:
Outgoing MP: Nigel Waterson(Conservative) (more information at They work for you)
Candidates: Nigel Waterson(Conservative) (more information at They work for you)Dave Brinson (Labour) Stephen Lloyd (Liberal Democrat) Roger Needham (UKIP)
2001 Census Demographics
Total 2001 Population: 96851
Male: 46.4%
Female: 53.6%
Under 18: 19.9%
Over 60: 30.6%
Born outside UK: 7.8%
White: 96.8%
Black: 0.4%
Asian: 0.9%
Mixed: 1%
Other: 0.9%
Christian: 73.4%
Muslim: 0.9%
Full time students: 4.5%
Graduates 16-74: 16.7%
No Qualifications 16-74: 28.5%
Owner-Occupied: 70.3%
Social Housing: 15% (Council: 9.1%, Housing Ass.: 5.9%)
Privately Rented: 11.9%
Homes without central heating and/or private bathroom: 8%
It did actually pass second reading.
I caught some of the debate on that bill on BBC Parliament yesterday and thought it an excellent idea.
I find this seat a tough one to call. On the one hand we have recent creditable Lib Dem performances in local elections and, the facts of the local paper report posted further up this thread. Clearly the contents of Milly Skriczka’s letter of resignation, which appear in the report, are embarrassing.
On the other we have the fact that the coming GE will see a national shift in support to the Conservatives, and that last time round the Lib Dems made very little progress here. If they failed to make ground last time, when the national situation was particularly conducive to them doing so, I don’t really see why they should be expected to do enough this time round.
I reckon the odds quoted above summarise the situation pretty accurately.
I was pleased to see some frontbench support for the bill.
Gillian Merron, for the Government, though clearly needs a lot of persuading.
There may be some practical difficulties – but in my view they are perfectly resolveable, and in one important way, no bad thing, as it actually forces us all to think about the true requirements of the people in care to improve their lives. I strongly support it.