Streatham (electoral division)

Streatham
Former electoral division for the Greater London Council
District	Lambeth
Electorate	57,924 (1973) 55,965 (1977) 52,078 (1981)
Major settlements	Streatham
Area	821 hectares (8.21 km2)
Former electoral division
Created	1973
Abolished	1986
Member(s)	1
Created from	Lambeth

Streatham 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 Streatham parliamentary constituency.

The area was in a long-term period of population decline that was yet to reverse. The electorate reduced from 57,924 in 1973 to 52,078 in 1981. It covered an area of 821 hectares (8.21 km²).

Elections

The Streatham 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 57,924 and one Conservative 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: Streatham

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Conservative	Diana Elizabeth Geddes	10,492
	Labour	Hugh H. Walker	9,426
	Liberal	Allan Mitchell	2,114
	Socialist (GB)	F. W. Simkins	120
	Independent	William George Boaks	57

1977 election

The fifth election to the GLC (and second using revised boundaries) was held on 5 May 1977. The electorate was 55,965 and one Conservative Party councillor was elected. The turnout was 40.7%. The councillor was elected for a four-year term.

1977 Greater London Council election: Streatham

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Conservative	Frederick W. Weyer	14,236
	Labour	D. J. Dahl	5,934
	Liberal	A. J. Mould	1,285
	National Front	Vera F. Lillington	1,041
	GLC Abolitionist Campaign	P. J. Moncrieff	224

1981 election

The sixth and final election to the GLC (and third using revised boundaries) was held on 7 May 1981. The electorate was 52,078 and one Conservative Party councillor was elected. The turnout was 47.9%. 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: Streatham

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Conservative	Frederick W. Weyer	13,340
	Labour	Michael Frederick Drake	7,259
	Liberal	Christine L. Headley	3,732
	National Front	John G. Wright	344
	Independent	M. C. Gowar	126
	Independent	William George Boaks	82

References

1. "Greater London Council Election" (PDF). 12 April 1973. Archived from the original (PDF) on 22 August 2013. Retrieved 17 September 2023.
2. "Greater London Council Election" (PDF). 5 May 1977. Archived from the original (PDF) on 22 August 2013. Retrieved 17 September 2023.
3. "Greater London Council Election" (PDF). 7 May 1981. Archived from the original (PDF) on 22 August 2013. Retrieved 17 September 2023.
4. Boothroyd, David. "Greater London Council Election results: Lambeth". United Kingdom Election Results. Archived from the original on 16 October 2020. Retrieved 17 September 2023.
5. "The London Councillors Order 1976" (PDF). legislation.gov.uk. 17 February 1976. Retrieved 17 September 2023.