Finchley (electoral division)

Finchley 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.

Finchley
Former electoral division
for the Greater London Council
DistrictBarnet
Electorate
  • 54,962 (1973)
  • 56,321 (1975)
  • 55,844 (1977)
  • 55,018 (1981)
Area1,456 hectares (14.56 km2)
Former electoral division
Created1973
Abolished1986
Member(s)1
Created fromBarnet

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 Barnet formed the Barnet 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 Finchley parliamentary constituency.[1]

It covered an area of 1,456 hectares (14.56 km2).

Elections

The Finchley 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 54,962 and one Conservative Party councillor was elected. The turnout was 29.8%. 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: Finchley
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Jean Leslie Scott 8,008
Labour Albert Edward Tomlinson 5,183
Liberal Leonard W. Watkins 3,175

1975 by-election

A by-election was held on 15 May 1975, caused by the resignation of Jean Leslie Scott. The electorate was 56,321 and one Conservative Party councillor was elected. The turnout was 31.2%. Roland John Michael Freeman represented Westminster and the City of London from 1967 to 1970.

Finchley by-election, 1975
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Roland John Michael Freeman 9,804
Labour Michael L. Freeman 5,388
Liberal R. J. Eccles 1,636
National Front D. H. Fereday 760

1977 election

The fifth election to the GLC (and second using revised boundaries) was held on 5 May 1977. The electorate was 55,844 and one Conservative Party councillor was elected. The turnout was 43.2%. The councillor was elected for a four-year term.

1977 Greater London Council election: Finchley
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Roland John Michael Freeman 14,758
Labour A. J. Wall 6,228
Liberal Bruce A. Standing 2,095
National Front Philip A. Ruddock 1,066

1981 election

The sixth and final election to the GLC (and third using revised boundaries) was held on 7 May 1981. The electorate was 55,018 and one Conservative Party councillor was elected. The turnout was 41.9%. 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: Finchley
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Neville Beale 10,710
Labour Thomas McKendry 8,991
Liberal Christopher Perkin 2,702
Ecology Maureen T. Colmans 525
Abolish the GLC Andrew M. Moncreiff 113

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 23 July 2023.
  3. "Greater London Council Election" (PDF). 5 May 1977. Archived from the original (PDF) on 22 August 2013. Retrieved 23 July 2023.
  4. "Greater London Council Election" (PDF). 7 May 1981. Archived from the original (PDF) on 22 August 2013. Retrieved 23 July 2023.
  5. Boothroyd, David. "Greater London Council Election results: Barnet". United Kingdom Election Results. Archived from the original on 24 March 2016. Retrieved 29 August 2023.
  6. "The London Councillors Order 1976" (PDF). legislation.gov.uk. 17 February 1976. Retrieved 25 July 2023.
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