BBC Profile:
Labour's Michael Foster became the first non-Conservative MP for the seat in 95 years in 1997 when he beat the incumbent Jacqui Lait by 2,560 votes on an 18.7% swing.

Foster, a locally-born solicitor, retained the seat at two subsequent elections, and currently has a 2,026-vote majority.

At the election, changes to the constituency's boundaries bring in Brede Valley from Bexhill and Battle. It loses Rother Levels ward to Bexhill and Battle, which had previously been shared between both seats. To find out what might have happened had this boundary change been in force at the last election, see a notional - or estimated - result below.

Alongside its eponymous towns of Hastings and Rye, this characterful and historic Sussex constituency takes in the smaller Cinque Port of Winchelsea.

As well as miles of coastline, the gently undulating countryside encompasses a series of small towns and villages, extending as far as the Kent border.

Some 2,000 people are employed locally in the call-centre industry alone, and there are a number of language schools teaching English to foreign visitors. The local fishing industry remains significant. Hastings still has the biggest beach-launched fleet in Europe.

Rye also has a thriving port, the fishing industry there being responsible for the employment of around 300 people either directly or indirectly.

The resort village of Camber Sands, with its caravans and miles of golden beach, is a particularly notable ce

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BBC Profile:
Labour's Michael Foster became the first non-Conservative MP for the seat in 95 years in 1997 when he beat the incumbent Jacqui Lait by 2,560 votes on an 18.7% swing.

Foster, a locally-born solicitor, retained the seat at two subsequent elections, and currently has a 2,026-vote majority.

At the election, changes to the constituency's boundaries bring in Brede Valley from Bexhill and Battle. It loses Rother Levels ward to Bexhill and Battle, which had previously been shared between both seats. To find out what might have happened had this boundary change been in force at the last election, see a notional - or estimated - result below.

Alongside its eponymous towns of Hastings and Rye, this characterful and historic Sussex constituency takes in the smaller Cinque Port of Winchelsea.

As well as miles of coastline, the gently undulating countryside encompasses a series of small towns and villages, extending as far as the Kent border.

Some 2,000 people are employed locally in the call-centre industry alone, and there are a number of language schools teaching English to foreign visitors. The local fishing industry remains significant. Hastings still has the biggest beach-launched fleet in Europe.

Rye also has a thriving port, the fishing industry there being responsible for the employment of around 300 people either directly or indirectly.

The resort village of Camber Sands, with its caravans and miles of golden beach, is a particularly notable centre of the constituency's tourist industry.

A new university facility in Hastings for art, design and IT students has brought income and youth to the town, as well as making use of buildings and bringing a new ambience to the town centre.

Rallings & Thrasher Notional:
Lab 18,519 (40.63%)
C 17,363 (38.09%)
LD 7,228 (15.86%)
UKIP 1,233 (2.71%)
Green 1,032 (2.26%)
Others 207 (0.45%)

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