Confirmed candidates
We now know who is standing to be the next MP for Hastings and Rye in the General Election on July 4. Nominations closed on Friday June 7, with eight candidates confirmed ahead of this week’s manifesto launches.
Hastings and Rye is regarded as a “bellwether” seat – for the last forty years it has returned an mp from the same party as the winner in the national vote. Conservative Sally-Ann Hart is defending a 4,043 majority from the 2019 vote.
In next week’s Rye News we will be publishing the priorities for Rye written by the candidates from the major parties.
Here’s the full list of who will be on the ballot.
Boundary changes this year have resulted in Peasmarsh joining the Hastings and Rye constituency, whilst Brede and Udimore are now part of Bexhill and Battle. Here former Conservative MP Huw Merriman has decided not to stand, with Keiran Mullan replacing him as the Tory candidate. The former Crewe and Nantwich MP faces a tough battle with Labour's Christine Bayliss, the deputy leader of Rother District Council.
Also in the news
A local councillor has been selected to represent the Conservatives against deputy Labour leader Angela Rayner. Lizzie Hacking, who is one of the Rother District Councillors representing the Eastern Rother ward, is standing in the Ashton-Under-Lyne constituency near Manchester. In 2019 Angela Rayner had a 4,263 majority.
Election timetable
Tuesday June 18 11.59pm - Deadline to apply for a vote
Friday June 21 – Candidates statements from the major parties published in Rye News
Thursday 27 June - Hastings Hustings at White Rock Theatre
Saturday June 29 – Rye Hustings at St Mary’s church at 7pm
Thursday July 4 – Election day with polling stations open at 7am. The count will begin straight after polls close at 10pm. The result of the Hastings and Rye constituency will be announced at some time on Friday morning.
Vote information
You can find your polling station here: https://www.rother.gov.uk/findmynearest
You will need proof of ID to vote in person, the official Electoral Commission guidance is here: https://www.electoralcommission.org.uk/voting-and-elections/voter-id
Image Credits: Rui Vieira CC .