Sea wall British politics

The "Sea Wall" refers to 108 UK coastal constituencies considered marginal in elections. Before the July 2024 general election, these seats were held by the Conservatives but were vulnerable to Labour, as indicated by opinion polls. The term overlaps with both "Red and Blue walls" used in media coverage of the 2024 election.

These seats are primarily located in England and Wales and are relatively deprived compared to the national average. Coastal residents earn lower wages on average, face high living costs, poor connectivity, and housing affordability issues. Many of these areas, such as Plymouth, Bournemouth, Southampton, and Portsmouth, have been battlegrounds between Labour and the Conservatives.

Research by the Fabian Society highlighted Labour's strong polling leads over the Conservatives in these areas, with 44% of voters stating they would never consider voting Conservative. Brexit has also impacted political support, with declining Conservative backing in coastal areas that voted Leave. For instance, Clacton constituency, known for electing a UKIP MP and being the most deprived area in England (Jaywick), saw Nigel Farage announce his candidacy for Reform UK in June 2024.

In the 2024 general election, Labour achieved significant gains in coastal areas, including Cornwall, Dorset, Somerset, the Isle of Wight, West Sussex, Kent, Norfolk, and Essex—winning regions they had never captured before. This shift proved pivotal in determining the election outcome.