Battleground Anglia: Rochford & Southend East

The Conservatives won the Rochford & Southend East constituency in Essex at the 2010 Election with a majority of more than 11,000 votes. Credit: ITV News Anglia

This constituency combines part of the residential district of Rochford with the eastern part of the Essex seaside resort of Southend-on-Sea, including the town centre.

Also included is Great Wakering, along with the sparsely populated coastal marshland area between the River Roach and the mouth of the Thames.

There are excellent rail connections with London Liverpool Street and Fenchurch Street, and Southend has its own airport which was expanded in recent years.

  • Conservative majority in 2010: 11,050

  • Rochford and Southend East is Labour target 21 of 66 seats in the Anglia region

  • Labour would need a swing of 13% to win in 2015 and the Lib Dems would need a 14% swing

Southend East has been held by the Conservatives since the seat was created in 1950.

James Duddridge has been the local MP since 2005 winning the seat after Sir Teddy Taylor stepped down.

The seat includes the eight eastern wards of the Southend Borough Council area plus three wards from the Rochford district. Southend council had a Tory majority from 2000-2012 but is now hung. UKIP have 5 council seats. Rochford Council has been Conservative run since 2002

Candidates in 2015

  • Simon Cross - Green

  • James Duddridge - Conservative

  • Ian Gilbert - Labour

  • Peter Gwizdala - Liberal Democrats

  • Floyd Waterworth - UKIP