Lewes

Boundary changes: minor. Loses part of Chiddingly and East Hoathly to Wealden and part of Willingdon to Eastbourne. Gains part of East Dean from Eastbourne.

Profile: A large, sprawling rural seat covering much of the countryside to the North of Brighton, the South Downs and the valley of the river Ouse. Lewes itself is the small picturesque county town of East Sussex, best known for its extensive and sometimes controversial Guy Fawkes Night celebrations, where effigies of Pope Paul V and contemporary figures, such as Osama bin Laden, are burnt. At the southern end of the constituency is the more Labour inclined ferry port of Newhaven and the seaside resort of Seaford.

The seat returned Conservative MPs for over a century until it was won by Norman Baker in 1997. Since then it has become a safe Liberal Democrat stronghold.

Current MP: Norman Baker(Liberal Democrat) born 1957, Aberdeen. Educated at Royal Liberty School and Royal Holloway College. Former English teacher. Former Lewes District councillor and East Sussex County Councillor. Leader of Lewes Council from 1991-1997. Contested Lewes 1992. First elected as MP for Lewes in 1997. A trenchant backbench inquisitor and campaigning MP, Baker stood down as Lib Dem Environment Spokesman in 2006 to concentrate on campaigning for a full investigation into the death of Dr David Kelly. He returned as Lib Dem shadow transport secretary in 2007 (more information at They work for you)

2010 election candidates:
Jason Sugarman (Conservative) born 1969. Educated at Brighton College and Durham University. Barrister specialising in criminal law. Lewes District councillor from 1995-2003. Contested Dudley South in 2001.
Hratche Koundarjian (Labour) Born London. Educated at Sussex University. Works in public affairs.
Norman Baker(Liberal Democrat) born 1957, Aberdeen. Educated at Royal Liberty School and Royal Holloway College. Former English teacher. Former Lewes District councillor and East Sussex County Councillor. Leader of Lewes Council from 1991-1997. Contested Lewes 1992. First elected as MP for Lewes in 1997. A trenchant backbench inquisitor and campaigning MP, Baker stood down as Lib Dem Environment Spokesman in 2006 to concentrate on campaigning for a full investigation into the death of Dr David Kelly. He returned as Lib Dem shadow transport secretary in 2007 (more information at They work for you)
Susan Murray (Green)
Peter Charlton (UKIP)
David Lloyd (BNP)
Ondrej Soucek (Independent)