David Amess's win here for the Conservatives in 1992 was, for many, the key sign that Labour had not won the election. By 1997, however, he had sought a new safer seat as Basildon fell to the landslide on a swing of almost 15% to Labour.
Basildon New Town is at the heart of working class Essex and is arguably the original home to ‘Essex Man’. Apart from Basildon itself, the constituency takes in other communities from the areas covered by both Basildon and Thurrock Councils.
There is a mixture of industrial and residential parts to the constituency, including some rural villages with some exclusive housing. The most well known company with a base here is Ford.
However, as the current MP, Angela Smith keenly points out, this is not an urban seat, since it has a large country park, numerous sites of special scientific interest, a rich and varied flora - including wetland species - and a number of farms.
The constituency lies 30 miles east of London, so is also popular with commuters: many travel into London using the A13, whilst others go by train on the Southend-Fenchurch Street service.