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.
Constituency profile Old Bexley and Sidcup is a constituency in Greater London in England, covering the southern half of the Borough of Bexley. It includes the areas of Bexley, Sidcup, Blackfen and Welling.
This constituency covers a suburban area on the outskirts of London, around south-east of the city centre. Prior to the large-scale suburban development during the 1930s, the constituency was rural with large Georgian, Victorian and Edwardian properties. Today, the area is mostly affluent with many green spaces and large detached and semi-detached homes. The area is served by Southeastern rail but is not served by the Transport for London network like most of the city. House prices are generally lower than the London average but higher than the UK average.
Residents have a similar age profile to the rest of the country. They have high levels of income and, unlike the rest of London, very high rates of homeownership. The child poverty rate is less than half the UK-wide figure. Residents generally have average levels of education and a high proportion work in the education and construction sectors. The percentage claiming unemployment benefits is low. White people made up 80% of the population at the 2021 census. Asians were the largest ethnic minority group at 10%.
At the local borough council, all seats in the constituency were won by Conservatives. Voters in Old Bexley and Sidcup strongly supported leaving the European Union in the 2016 referendum; an estimated 62% voted in favour of Brexit compared to the UK-wide rate of 52%.
History 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.
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.
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.
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. The seat was left vacant following Brokenshire's death on 7 October 2021. until a by-election was held on 2 December which resulted in a Conservative hold.
Boundaries
Historic 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.
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 urther to the 2023 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.
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.
Members of Parliament ElectionMemberParty 1983 Edward Heath Conservative 2001 Derek Conway Conservative 2008 Independent 2010 James Brokenshire Conservative 2021 by-election Louie French Conservative
Elections
Elections in the 2020s
Elections in the 2010s
2019 notional result 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 0.4Turnout51,86769.8Electorate74,317
Elections in the 2000s
Elections in the 1990s
Elections in the 1980s
See also List of parliamentary constituencies in London
References
External links Politics Resources (Election results from 1922 onwards) Electoral Calculus (Election results from 1955 onwards) Old Bexley and Sidcup UK Parliament constituency (boundaries April 1997 – April 2010) at MapIt UK Old Bexley and Sidcup UK Parliament constituency (boundaries April 2010 – May 2024) at MapIt UK Old Bexley and Sidcup UK Parliament constituency (boundaries from June 2024) at MapIt UK