Sidcup (electoral division)

Sidcup
Former electoral division for the Greater London Council
Electorate	49,470 (1973) 49,512 (1977) 50,770 (1981)
Major settlements	Sidcup
Area	2,103 hectares (21.03 km2)
Former electoral division
Created	1973
Abolished	1986
Member(s)	1
Created from	Bexley

Sidcup 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 Sidcup parliamentary constituency.

It covered an area of 2,103 hectares (21.03 km²).

Elections

The Sidcup 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.

1973 election

The fourth election to the GLC (and first using revised boundaries) was held on 12 April 1973. The electorate was 49,470 and one Conservative Party councillor was elected. The turnout was 45.2%. 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. ^[4]

1973 Greater London Council election: Sidcup

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Conservative	D. M. Fielding	10,844
	Labour	J. F. Spellar	7,217
	Liberal	L. W. Rogers	4,276

1977 election

The fifth election to the GLC (and second using revised boundaries) was held on 5 May 1977. The electorate was 49,512 one Conservative Party councillor was elected. The turnout was 48.3%. The councillor was elected for a four-year term.

1977 Greater London Council election: Sidcup

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Conservative	R. C. Gent	15,316
	Labour	W. M. N. Davies	5,649
	Liberal	E. Burraston	1,669
	National Front	M. L. Wynn	1,270

1981 election

The sixth and final election to the GLC (and third using revised boundaries) was held on 7 May 1981. The electorate was 50,770 and one Conservative Party councillor was elected. The turnout was 46.6%. 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: Sidcup

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Conservative	R. C. Gent	12,869
	Labour	Audrey M. Martin	7,190
	Liberal	G. V. Scott	3,596

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. "The London Councillors Order 1976" (PDF). legislation.gov.uk. 17 February 1976. Retrieved 25 July 2023.