Lewisham West (electoral division)

Lewisham West was an electoral division for the purposes of elections to the Greater London Council. The constituency elected one councillor for a four-year term in 1973, 1977 and 1981, with the final term extended for an extra year ahead of the abolition of the Greater London Council.

Lewisham West
Former electoral division
for the Greater London Council
DistrictLewisham
Electorate
  • 62,835 (1973)
  • 60,354 (1977)
  • 59,303 (1980)
  • 59,842 (1981)
  • 60,128 (1984)
Area1,151 hectares (11.51 km2)
Former electoral division
Created1973
Abolished1986
Member(s)1
Created fromLewisham

History

It was planned to use the same boundaries as the Westminster Parliament constituencies for election of councillors to the Greater London Council (GLC), as had been the practice for elections to the predecessor London County Council, but those that existed in 1965 crossed the Greater London boundary. Until new constituencies could be settled, the 32 London boroughs were used as electoral areas. The London Borough of Lewisham formed the Lewisham electoral division. This was used for the Greater London Council elections in 1964, 1967 and 1970.

The new constituencies were settled following the Second Periodic Review of Westminster constituencies and the new electoral division matched the boundaries of the Lewisham West parliamentary constituency.[1]

It covered an area of 1,151 hectares (11.51 km2).

Elections

The Lewisham West constituency was used for the Greater London Council elections in 1973,[2] 1977[3] and 1981.[4] One councillor was elected at each election using first-past-the-post voting.[5]

1973 election

The fourth election to the GLC (and first using revised boundaries) was held on 12 April 1973. The electorate was 62,835 and one Labour Party councillor was elected. The turnout was 41.7%. The councillor was elected for a three-year term. This was extended for an extra year in 1976 when the electoral cycle was switched to four-yearly.[6]

1973 Greater London Council election: Lewisham West
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour William Colbert Simson 13,930
Conservative Michael John Wheeler 11,667
Communist M. H. Robinson 621

1977 election

The fifth election to the GLC (and second using revised boundaries) was held on 5 May 1977. The electorate was 60,354 and one Conservative Party councillor was elected. The turnout was 48.4%. The councillor was elected for a four-year term.

1977 Greater London Council election: Lewisham West
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Roger Eden Hiskey 15,100
Labour William Colbert Simson 10,938
National Front Leigh J Taylor 1,202
Liberal J. D. Eagle 1,160
Communist M. H. Robinson 458
National Party Sydney G Avis 211
GLC Abolitionist Campaign B. M. Smoker 127

1980 by-election

A by-election was held on 24 April 1980, following the death of Roger Eden Hiskey. The electorate was 59,303 and one Labour Party councillor was elected. The turnout was 36.5%.

Lewisham West by-election, 1980
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Alan Lewis Herbert 11,004
Conservative Robin F. Pitt 9,322
Liberal Godfrey A. Payne 988
National Front Lynda L. Mirabita 361

1981 election

The sixth and final election to the GLC (and third using revised boundaries) was held on 7 May 1981. The electorate was 59,842 and one Labour Party councillor was elected. The turnout was 44.9%. The councillor was elected for a four-year term, extended by an extra year by the Local Government (Interim Provisions) Act 1984, ahead of the abolition of the council.

1981 Greater London Council election: Lewisham West
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Alan Lewis Herbert 12,984
Conservative Robin F. Pitt 10,709
Liberal Gwilym J. Savell 2,333
New National Front Ramon F. Hoy 511
Ecology Susan M. Kennedy 242
Constitutional Movement Susan C. McKenzie 100

1984 by-election

A by-election was held on 20 September 1984, following the resignation of Alan Lewis Herbert. The by-election coincided with others in Edmonton, Hayes and Harlington and Paddington.[7]

The electorate was 60,128 and one Labour Party councillor was elected. The turnout was 26.2%.[8]

Lewisham West by-election, 1984
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Alan Lewis Herbert 10,432
Liberal Julian M. Davies 4,715
Pro-Abolition Alliance Michael Moore 330
National Front John G. Wright 266

References
  1. "The Greater London (Electoral Areas) Order 1972" (PDF). legislation.gov.uk. 20 June 1972. Retrieved 19 September 2023.
  2. "Greater London Council Election" (PDF). 12 April 1973. Archived from the original (PDF) on 22 August 2013. Retrieved 8 September 2023.
  3. "Greater London Council Election" (PDF). 5 May 1977. Archived from the original (PDF) on 22 August 2013. Retrieved 8 September 2023.
  4. "Greater London Council Election" (PDF). 7 May 1981. Archived from the original (PDF) on 22 August 2013. Retrieved 8 September 2023.
  5. Boothroyd, David. "Greater London Council Election results: Lewisham". United Kingdom Election Results. Archived from the original on 5 March 2016. Retrieved 8 September 2023.
  6. "The London Councillors Order 1976" (PDF). legislation.gov.uk. 17 February 1976. Retrieved 8 September 2023.
  7. Clayton, Hugh (21 September 1984). "Livingstone poll win denounced as 'stunt'". The Times. No. 61942. London, England.
  8. "Appendix B By-elections for Greater London councillors, May 1981 to May 1986" (PDF). London Datastore. Retrieved 9 September 2023.
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