Lambeth Central (electoral division)

Lambeth Central
Former electoral division for the Greater London Council
Lambeth Central electoral division boundaries
District	Lambeth
Electorate	47,968 (1973) 46,761 (1977) 41,415 (1981)
Major settlements	Clapham
Area	533 hectares (5.33 km2)
Former electoral division
Created	1973
Abolished	1986
Member(s)	1
Created from	Lambeth

Lambeth Central 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 Lambeth formed the Lambeth 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 Lambeth Central parliamentary constituency. ^[1]

The area was in a long-term period of population decline that was yet to reverse. The electorate reduced from 47,968 in 1973 to 41,415 in 1981. It covered an area of 533 hectares (5.33 km²).

Elections

The Lambeth Central 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 47,968 and one Labour Party councillor was elected. The turnout was 27.8%. 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: Lambeth Central

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Labour	Anna Lloyd Grieves	9,231
	Conservative	John L. Pritchard	2,707
	Liberal	J. T. Kane	1,026
	Anti-Motorway, Support Community Involvement in Planning	C. G. Jackson	143
	Socialist (GB)	H. G. Baldwin	115
	Lambeth Residents for Democratic Local Government	G. W. Solomon	103

1977 election

The fifth election to the GLC (and second using revised boundaries) was held on 5 May 1977. The electorate was 46,761 and one Labour Party councillor was elected. The turnout was 31.4%. The councillor was elected for a four-year term.

1977 Greater London Council election: Lambeth Central

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Labour	Anna Lloyd Grieves	7,155
	Conservative	Raymond G. Hatter	5,485
	National Front	Kathleen Mott	760
	Liberal	William A. J. Bennett	652
	International Marxist	Piers Richard Corbyn	219
	Communist	S. G. Hope	204
	Socialist (GB)	H. G. Baldwin	101
	Independent	William George Boaks	51

1981 election

The sixth and final election to the GLC (and third using revised boundaries) was held on 7 May 1981. The electorate was 41,415 and one Labour Party councillor was elected. The turnout was 39.7%. 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: Lambeth Central

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Labour	Paul D. Moore	8,349
	Conservative	D. S. Mills	4,788
	Social Democratic Alliance	Roger G. Fox	1,737
	Liberal	C. J. Sadowski	865
	National Front	R. L. Denny	321
	Communist	J. E. Styles	178
	Revolutionary Communist	K. Green	116

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 17 September 2023.
3. "Greater London Council Election" (PDF). 5 May 1977. Archived from the original (PDF) on 22 August 2013. Retrieved 17 September 2023.
4. "Greater London Council Election" (PDF). 7 May 1981. Archived from the original (PDF) on 22 August 2013. Retrieved 17 September 2023.
5. Boothroyd, David. "Greater London Council Election results: Lambeth". United Kingdom Election Results. Archived from the original on 16 October 2020. Retrieved 17 September 2023.
6. "The London Councillors Order 1976" (PDF). legislation.gov.uk. 17 February 1976. Retrieved 17 September 2023.