People across the UK will be heading to the polls on 4 July
Hastings & Rye is a key battleground in the South East
The result in Hastings has reflected the national result for 40 years
The BBC's Lucinda Adam speaks to people in this "bellwether" seat
Local resident Deirdra Whelan says "something has got to change"
The BBC's Charlotte Wright says each area has unique concerns
Image source, House of Commons LibraryThe new boundaries will come into effect at the general election
Constituency boundaries have changed following a review in 2023.
The image below shows the new boundaries for Hastings & Rye, plus Bexhill and Battle, in the upcoming election.
The green outlines where the new boundaries will be.
The purple shaded area shows the existing Hastings & Rye constituency.
How things looked in Hastings and Rye at the 2019 general election
In 2019, the Conservatives won Hastings and Rye with 49.6% of the votes, ahead of Labour with 42.1%.
The Liberal Democrats received 7.3%, and independent candidate Paul Crosland gained 1% of the votes.
Overall, there was a voter turnout in Hastings and Rye of 67.4%.
In 2017, the general election was even tighter in the constituency as the Conservatives held the seat with 46.9% of the votes, compared to Labour's 46.2% - a difference of just 346 votes.
Image source, Conservative PartyThe Conservative Party wants to ban water company executives from having bonuses when they have committed a serious criminal breach.
Conservative candidate for Hastings and Rye Sally-Ann Hart said: “I voted to clean up our rivers and seas to deliver clean and plentiful water, and ensure that water companies comply with legal targets to reduce sewage discharges with the largest investment programme in water company history.
“I will continue to demand that action is taken and seek a guarantee from Southern Water that they meet their responsibilities and legal duties while delivering proper compensation and investment in our water infrastructure.”
Image source, Charlotte Wright/BBCThe tattoo artist said she had been saving to buy a property
Tattoo artist Alexis Camburn, owner of Two Snakes Tattoo, said the gentrification of Hastings had pushed up house prices.
The 41-year-old said she had been saving to buy a home but cannot afford a mortgage.
“All of a sudden, locals can’t actually afford to live here.
"I was born in this town and I run a successful business and I can’t afford a mortgage,” she said.
Image source, Charlotte Wright/BBCWilliam Stevens runs a cafe on the beach in St Leonards
William Stevens, who owns Goat Ledge cafe in St Leonards, said housing was a concern as it has been "dominated" by an "elite few" who see properties as a business opportunity.
He is also worried about businesses.
"I get frustrated because we’re being told, for example, that migration is a big issue... when actually our local high streets have been completely overrun by enormous corporate chains," he said.
And he worries about the environment.
"What could be more important than what’s going on here with the sewage and all sorts of ecological crisis that are being neglected?” he said.
Image source, Getty ImagesPolling stations will open at 07:00 BST on 4 July
All eligible voters will need to make sure they are registered by 23:59 BST on Tuesday.
If you want to vote by post, then you need to submit an application before 17:00 on Wednesday, 19 June.
If you’d rather vote by proxy you need to be registered by 17:00 on Tuesday, 26 June. The person voting for you must be registered too.
If you are a student, you can be registered at both your home and term-time addresses but you can only vote in one place.
Polling stations are open between 07:00 and 22:00 on Thursday, 4 July.
You'll need a valid form of photo ID to vote in person at a general election but you do not need to show your polling card.
There are 22 acceptable forms of ID, external.
We want to know your views on the upcoming election and the issues that matter most to you. Please get in touch with the BBC South East team by messaging us on WhatsApp on 08081 002250, Facebook, external, X, external, or by emailing southeastnews@bbc.co.uk.
BBC political reporter Lucinda Adam looks at why the political history of Hastings makes it so interesting and speaks to residents about the issues important to them.
The concerns voiced in the town are as colourful and varied as its inhabitants
Image source, Getty ImagesSouthern Water said it was "working hard" to make improvements in Hastings.
A spokesperson said: "We’re doing this collaboratively through working closely with the local council and passionate citizen science groups.
“We've provided them water quality testing equipment and training as part of this.
“The picture in Hastings is actually one of real improvement as the Pelham Beach rating has gone from sufficient in 2019 to being good consistently over the last three years.
“Our goal is for our collaborative approach to enhance this further.”
Image source, Helena DollimoreLabour candidate Helena Dollimore said the party would give Ofwat, the water regulator, the powers to block any payment of bonuses to water bosses. And bosses who oversee repeated law breaking would face criminal charges.
“Labour will get tough on failing water companies and put them under special measures,” she said.
“We will ban bonuses for water bosses while they continue to fail.
“We will introduce independent monitoring on every outlet and automatic unlimited fines.”
Charlotte Wright
Political Editor, BBC South East
Hastings and Rye is a key battleground in the South East at this election.
The constituency has been Conservative-run since 2010. But it has, at times, been one of the most marginal seats in the South East.
In 2017, the former home secretary, Amber Rudd, won it for the Tories with a majority of just 346.
Before 2010, it was held by Labour and the party has been trying to win it back ever since.
The party leaders have changed since the last election, and so too have the constituency boundaries, but the polls suggest this year could be the year Labour win it back.
Image source, Charlotte Wright/BBCLocal resident Deirdra Whelan said it was a "disaster" when the town had water supply issues
Sea swimmer Deirdra Whelan said sewage and maintenance of the town's infrastructure was a "big deal".
About 32,500 Southern Water customers in Hastings and St Leonards had their supplies disrupted at the start of May after a pipe burst.
Ms Whelan said: "We had no water for the whole of the first bank holiday in May. Hotels had to cancel bookings. It was a disaster.
"We had no water for four days [and] the town’s been flooded twice in 10 months. Something has got to change."
She is also worried about the cost of living.
"Everybody’s struggling. The cost of living is going through the roof, the energy bills, food... I just don’t know how people are managing," she said.
Image source, Jacob Panons/BBCHuma Caglayan is a barmaid in Hastings
Huma Caglayan, 20, is voting in her first general election next month.
The barmaid said being a first-time voter was "good but nerve-wracking".
Ms Caglayan explained that she wanted to see more done to benefit the environment, and for people with physical disabilities and special educational needs.
These are the dates you need to be aware of ahead of the election on 4 July.
Here are the candidates that residents can vote for in Hastings and Rye at the upcoming General Election on 4 July:
Image source, Getty ImagesThe Hastings and Rye seat was last held by Sally-Ann Hart of the Conservative Party, from December 2019 until 30 May this year, when the dissolution of Parliament took place.
It is seen as a "bellwether" seat, a reliable indicator of who will form the next government, as the local result has reflected the national result for 40 years.
The Conservatives are defending a slim majority of just 4,043 votes here.
In 2019, there was a 67.4% turnout and the Conservatives held the seat.
This time around, the constituency boundary is changing. It currently spreads north to Westfield, Brede and Udimore - which will soon belong to Bexhill and Battle. The new Hastings and Rye patch will also include Peasmarsh.
More than 95% of the current constituency is included in the new area, while almost 5% joins Bexhill and Battle.
Hello and thank you for joining us on our live page.
We will shortly begin coverage of our visit to Hastings, where we speak to residents and businesses about the issues affecting them as we approach the General Election on 4 July.
As well as speaking to those living in the town, we will also hear from the candidates themselves and share analysis from BBC South East's political correspondents.
We also want you to get involved by sharing your thoughts on the upcoming election by messaging us on WhatsApp on 08081 002250, Facebook, external, X, external, or by emailing southeastnews@bbc.co.uk., external