Erith and Crayford (electoral division)

Erith and Crayford
Former electoral division for the Greater London Council
District	Bexley
Electorate	59,410 (1973) 61,395 (1977) 63,260 (1981)
Major settlements	Crayford, Erith
Area	2,583 hectares (25.83 km2)
Former electoral division
Created	1973
Abolished	1986
Member(s)	1
Created from	Bexley

Erith and Crayford 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.

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 Bexley formed the Bexley 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 Erith and Crayford parliamentary constituency. ^[1]

It covered an area of 2,583 hectares (25.83 km²).

Elections

The Erith and Crayford 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 59,410 and one Labour Party councillor was elected. The turnout was 38.5%. 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: Erith and Crayford

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Labour	F. W. Archer	14,168
	Conservative	E. D. Josiffe	8,717
Turnout
	Labour win (new seat)

1977 election

The fifth election to the GLC (and second using revised boundaries) was held on 5 May 1977. The electorate was 61,395 one Conservative Party councillor was elected. The turnout was 45.1%. The councillor was elected for a four-year term.

1977 Greater London Council election: Erith and Crayford

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Conservative	R. Town	13,129
	Labour	F. W. Archer	11,296
	Liberal	I. J. C. Goodwin	1,692
	National Front	O. Hawke	1,594
Turnout
	Conservative gain from Labour		Swing

1981 election

The sixth and final election to the GLC (and third using revised boundaries) was held on 7 May 1981. The electorate was 63,260 and one Labour Party councillor was elected. The turnout was 45.6%. 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: Erith and Crayford

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Labour	Elgar Handy	15,085
	Conservative	Peter R. C. Davies	10,239
	Liberal	Sidney William Frank Saltmarsh	2,983
	NFCM	Owen Hawke	559
Turnout
	Labour gain from Conservative		Swing

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: Bexley". 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.