BBC Profile:
The three constituencies which have contributed to this new seat are currently represented by two Labour MPs (Basildon and Thurrock), and a Conservative (Billericay).

However, the seat is predominantly made up of wards from Basildon. Since its creation in 1974 Basildon has been a constituency that has reflected the political colour of the government of the day: from Labour's Eric Moonman who held the seat from 1974 to 1979, through the Conservatives Harvey Proctor (1979 to 1983) and David Amess (1983 to 1997), to the Labour incumbent Angela Evans Smith.

Indeed, Basildon has gained fame as a guide to British general election results. In 1992 the first indication that the Conservatives were going to hold on to the reins of government was the early announcement that David Amess had retained the seat. His majority was 2,646.

Angela Smith took the seat for Labour in 1997 with a majority of 13,280. Her majority has been reduced since then.

Given the electoral history of the old Basildon seat it is most probable that the seat in South Basildon and East Thurrock will depend heavily on the national fortunes of the major parties. 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.

Although this Essex seat covers much of the same area of East Thurrock that was contained within the old Basildon seat, it includes only the southern suburbs of Basildon, plus Pitsea, which

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BBC Profile:
The three constituencies which have contributed to this new seat are currently represented by two Labour MPs (Basildon and Thurrock), and a Conservative (Billericay).

However, the seat is predominantly made up of wards from Basildon. Since its creation in 1974 Basildon has been a constituency that has reflected the political colour of the government of the day: from Labour's Eric Moonman who held the seat from 1974 to 1979, through the Conservatives Harvey Proctor (1979 to 1983) and David Amess (1983 to 1997), to the Labour incumbent Angela Evans Smith.

Indeed, Basildon has gained fame as a guide to British general election results. In 1992 the first indication that the Conservatives were going to hold on to the reins of government was the early announcement that David Amess had retained the seat. His majority was 2,646.

Angela Smith took the seat for Labour in 1997 with a majority of 13,280. Her majority has been reduced since then.

Given the electoral history of the old Basildon seat it is most probable that the seat in South Basildon and East Thurrock will depend heavily on the national fortunes of the major parties. 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.

Although this Essex seat covers much of the same area of East Thurrock that was contained within the old Basildon seat, it includes only the southern suburbs of Basildon, plus Pitsea, which was formerly in the Billericay constituency.

Stanford-le-Hope is the major town. There is some farmland in the north, but the southern area is dominated by commercial and industrial activity on the northern bank of the Thames.

There is a concentrated area of commercial and industrial activity along the North Thames riverside, which includes the Coryton oil refinery area and the former Shell Haven refinery site, now being redeveloped.

Rallings & Thrasher Notional:
Lab 17,195 (40.66%)
C 16,290 (38.52%)
LD 4,469 (10.57%)
Others 2,565 (6.07%)
UKIP 1,109 (2.62%)
Green 662 (1.57%)

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