Hayes and Harlington (electoral division)

Hayes and Harlington
Former electoral division for the Greater London Council
Electorate	55,817 (1973) 55,848 (May 1977) 55,587 (Dec 1977) 56,693 (1981) 58,107 (1984)
Major settlements	Hayes and Harlington
Area	3,705 hectares (37.05 km2)
Former electoral division
Created	1973
Abolished	1986
Member(s)	1
Created from	Hillingdon

Hayes and Harlington 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 Hillingdon formed the Hillingdon 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 Hayes and Harlington parliamentary constituency.

It covered an area of 3,705 hectares (37.05 km²).

Elections

The Hayes and Harlington constituency was used for the Greater London Council elections in 1973, ^[1] 1977 ^[2] and 1981. ^[3] One councillor was elected at each election using first-past-the-post voting. ^[4]

1973 election

The fourth election to the GLC (and first using revised boundaries) was held on 12 April 1973. The electorate was 55,817 and one Labour Party councillor was elected. The turnout was 38.3%. 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. ^[5]

1973 Greater London Council election: Hayes and Harlington

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Labour	P. F. N. Russell	13,576
	Conservative	R. G. Hughes	5,637
	National Front	J. S. Fairhurst	1,821
	Communist	P. R. Pink	317

1977 election

The fifth election to the GLC (and second using revised boundaries) was held on 5 May 1977. The electorate was 55,848 and one Conservative Party councillor was elected. The turnout was 47.1%. The councillor was elected for a four-year term.

1977 Greater London Council election: Hayes and Harlington

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Conservative	Albert James Retter	12,740
	Labour	P. F. N. Russell	9,625
	Liberal	A. H. Rowland	2,077
	National Front	J. S. Fairhurst	1,410
	Communist	J. C. Mansfield	284
	National Party	F. Muter	122

1977 by-election

A by-election was held on 15 December 1977, following the death of Albert James Retter. The electorate was 55,587 and one Labour Party councillor was elected. The turnout was 24.0%.

Hayes and Harlington by-election, 1977

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Conservative	Arthur H. S. Hull	6,142
	Labour	P. F. N. Russell	6,055
	National Front	Peter Marsh	585
	Liberal	A. H. Rowland	522

1981 election

The sixth and final election to the GLC (and third using revised boundaries) was held on 7 May 1981. The electorate was 56,693 and one Labour Party councillor was elected. The turnout was 44.8%. 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: Hayes and Harlington

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Labour	John McDonnell	12,871
	Conservative	Arthur H. S. Hull	8,525
	Liberal	Alan H. Rowland	3,628
	Communist	John C. Mansfield	299

1984 by-election

A by-election was held on 20 September 1984, following the resignation of John McDonnell. The by-election coincided with others in Edmonton, Paddington and Lewisham West. ^[6]

The electorate was 58,107 and one Labour Party councillor was elected. The turnout was 28.3%. ^[7]

Hayes and Harlington by-election, 1984

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Labour	John McDonnell	11,279
	Alliance	Peter F. N. Russell	4,870
	National Front	Mark T. Spong	227

John McDonnell was elected MP for Hayes and Harlington in 1997.

References

1. "Greater London Council Election" (PDF). 12 April 1973. Archived from the original (PDF) on 22 August 2013. Retrieved 23 July 2023.
2. "Greater London Council Election" (PDF). 5 May 1977. Archived from the original (PDF) on 22 August 2013. Retrieved 23 July 2023.
3. "Greater London Council Election" (PDF). 7 May 1981. Archived from the original (PDF) on 22 August 2013. Retrieved 23 July 2023.
4. Boothroyd, David. "Greater London Council Election results: Hillingdon". United Kingdom Election Results. Archived from the original on 24 March 2016. Retrieved 28 August 2023.
5. "The London Councillors Order 1976" (PDF). legislation.gov.uk. 17 February 1976. Retrieved 25 July 2023.
6. Clayton, Hugh (21 September 1984). "Livingstone poll win denounced as 'stunt'". The Times. No. 61942. London, England.
7. "Appendix B By-elections for Greater London councillors, May 1981 to May 1986" (PDF). London Datastore. Retrieved 26 August 2023.