East of England · England · 72,673Boundary · 2023

South Basildon & East Thurrock

Follow⇄ Compare
Dispatch
Apr 2026

A marginal seat — won by just 98 votes (0.3%) in 2024. Covers Basildon, Stanford-le-Hope and Chadwell St Mary. Population 98,832.

Sitting as an independent after leaving Reform UK under a cloud, James McMurdock has faced a parliamentary standards investigation into allegations that he failed to register business interests and claimed substantial Covid loans through businesses with no employees or overdue accounts. BBC and Thurrock Gazette coverage from July 2025 rated the story as seriously damaging to constituent confidence, and a prior criminal conviction for assaulting a former partner -- concealed during his election campaign -- had already prompted his self-suspension from the Reform whip. He has since voted consistently against the Labour government, opposing the NI rise on employer pension contributions, emissions trading scheme extensions, and changes to the Employment Rights Bill, while backing Lords amendments on victims' rights and private prosecution financing.

McMurdock's voting participation stands at 46% -- well below the Commons average -- and his 59.2% alignment with the independent majority reflects a broadly right-leaning, pro-business pattern. He scores 100% on anti-tax-increase, pro-business, pro-small-business-protection, and pro-lords-scrutiny votes, while sitting at just 5% alignment on workers' rights and 4% on progressive taxation. His speech activity spans economy and jobs, local government, fiscal policy, and housing, with 59 contributions across 37 debates -- though his last recorded speech was in early March 2026. He holds no committee positions.

223
Commons votes
This parliament
£31k
Median income
HMRC · 2024
72.7k
Electorate
2024 GE

Ref took this seat from Con after 4 consecutive elections.

Current Member of Parliament

James McMurdock

James McMurdock

Independent

James McMurdock is the Independent MP for South Basildon and East Thurrock, and has been an MP continually since 4 July 2024.

Notable Votes

Vote on Amendment 9, proposed by Dr Al Pinkerton (Lib Dem), to the Diego Garcia Military Base and British Indian Ocean Territory Bill. The amendment sought to strengthen protections for Chagossians' rights in the treaty, including establishing a legally binding right to return and a binding resettlement programme, on the grounds that the current treaty fails to rectify the historical injustice of their displacement.

MP voted YesAgainst party majorityLikely whipped

MPs voted on a 'reasoned amendment' to the Football Governance Bill at its Second Reading — a procedural motion by the opposition (Conservatives) to block the bill from progressing, arguing it was flawed or unnecessary. The bill, which had already passed through the Lords, aims to establish an independent regulator for English football.

MP voted YesAgainst party majorityLikely whipped

MPs voted on whether to give the Football Governance Bill a Second Reading, advancing legislation that would establish an independent regulator for English football to improve financial sustainability and protect clubs from mismanagement.

MP voted NoAgainst party majorityLikely whipped

Sign up free to read the full briefing on James McMurdock.

Sign up free

Voting at a Glance

A marginal seat — won by just 98 votes (0.3%) in 2024. Covers Basildon, Stanford-le-Hope and Chadwell St Mary. Population 98,832.

2024 General Election

§ 06This week in Westminster.Live · today’s sittingOrder Paper · refreshed daily

McMurdock’s scheduled Commons activity this week — whipped divisions, oral questions, debates — drawn from the House of Commons Order Paper.

§ 07The record, at a glance.223 divisions voted

Two readings of the same data. Issue volume shows where McMurdock has cast the most ballots — a proxy for engagement, not direction. Notable votes are the moments where the whip was free or where they broke ranks.

Issue volume
Top issues by total divisions voted · cumulative this Parliament
Taxation
67
Economy
43
Employment
26
Crime & Policing
25
Education
23
Housing
20
Notable votes
Free votes and rebellions — moments the MP’s own judgment matters more than the whip
Diego Garcia Military Base and British Indian Ocean Territory Bill Committee: Amendment 920 Oct 2025
Aye
Football Governance Bills [Lords]: Reasoned Amendment to Second Reading28 Apr 2025
Aye
Football Governance Bills [Lords]: Second Reading28 Apr 2025
No
§ 08The local picture.7 wards

Constituencies are not uniform. Below — the local council make-up, key facts worth knowing, and the neighbouring seats on either side.

WardCouncillorVotesParty
Chadwell St MaryNgozi Alike1,133Labour P
Corringham FobbingJohn Robert Fox684Independ
East TilburySue Sammons725Independ
OrsettDavid Day657Conserva
Stanford East Corringham TownRoy Robert Jones809Independ
Stanford Le Hope WestRoss James Byrne656Independ
The HomesteadsClifford John Holloway731Labour P
Population (2021 Census)
98,832
Electorate 72,673 · 2024 register
Median income
£30,600
HMRC SPI 2024
Households renting privately
14.7%
England average 20.0%
Schools
31
26 primary · 5 secondary
Next · dig deeperEvery division, question, speech and committee record

Mine the full
record → Data view

Filter divisions, search written questions, read every speech since the election. Sortable, searchable, downloadable.

More constituency data is being added, including local issue analysis and historical trends. Learn about our methodology. View data sources & attribution.