Basildon and Billericay () is a constituency 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. He was previously the MP for North West Durham from 2019 to 2024.
Constituency profile The constituency is located in Essex and covers most of the Borough of Basildon local government district. It contains the town of Billericay, most of the town of Basildon and the rural areas that lie between them.
Basildon is a new town built after World War II to accommodate the London overspill, whilst Billericay is a historic market town.p120 The Story of Billericay, Charles Phillips Residents of the constituency have a similar ethnic makeup and level of wealth compared to the rest of the country, but are less likely to be degree-educated. At the most recent borough council election in 2024, voters in Basildon elected mostly Labour Party councillors whilst Billericay and the rural areas of the constituency elected Conservatives. Voters in Basildon and Billericay voted strongly in favour of leaving the European Union in the 2016 referendum, with an estimated 67% supporting Brexit.
History 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
2010–2024 The Borough of Basildon wards of Billericay East, Billericay West, Burstead, Crouch, Fryerns, Laindon Park, Lee Chapel North and St Martin's.
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 Further to the 2023 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 (as it existed on 1 December 2020) from South Basildon and East Thurrock.
Following a local government boundary review in Basildon which came into effect in May 2024, the constituency now comprises the following from the 2024 general election:
The Borough of Basildon wards or part wards of: Billericay East; Billericay West; Burstead; Castledon & Crouch (part); Fryerns; Laindon Park; Lee Chapel North; St Martin's; and small parts of Nethermayne and Pitsea South East.
Members of Parliament 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. 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.
ElectionMemberParty 2010 John Baron Conservative2024Richard HoldenConservative
Elections
Elections in the 2020s
Elections in the 2010s 2019 notional result 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 1.1Turnout46,85360.9Electorate 76,993
* Served as an MP in the 2005–2010 parliament 2005 notional result Party Vote % Conservative 16,454 42.1 Labour 12,866 32.9 Others 4,901 12.5 Liberal Democrats 4,831 12.4Turnout39,05260.2Electorate64,873
See also South Basildon and East Thurrock constituency List of parliamentary constituencies in Essex
Notes
References
External links Basildon and Billericay UK Parliament constituency (boundaries April 2010 – May 2024) at MapIt UK Basildon and Billericay UK Parliament constituency (boundaries from June 2024) at MapIt UK