St Marylebone (electoral division)

St Marylebone 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.

St Marylebone
Former electoral division
for the Greater London Council
Map
St Marylebone electoral division boundaries
DistrictWestminster
Electorate
  • 44,215 (1973)
  • 41,377 (1977)
  • 38,826 (1981)
Major settlementsMarylebone
Area595 hectares (5.95 km2)
Former electoral division
Created1973
Abolished1986
Member(s)1
Created fromWestminster and the City of London

History

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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 City of Westminster was joined with the City of London for this purpose, creating a constituency called Westminster and the City of London. 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 St Marylebone parliamentary constituency.[1]

The area was in a long-term period of population decline that was yet to reverse. The electorate reduced from 44,215 in 1973 to 38,826 in 1981. It covered an area of 595 hectares (5.95 km2).

Elections

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The St Marylebone 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

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The fourth election to the GLC (and first using revised boundaries) was held on 12 April 1973. The electorate was 44,215 and one Conservative Party councillor was elected. The turnout was 31.1%. 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: St Marylebone
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Desmond Plummer 7,930
Labour J. Gordon 4,971
Unofficial Conservative P. Darvas 485
Communist L. R. Temple 276
Socialist (GB) R. A. Weidberg 84
Turnout
Conservative win (new seat)

1976 by-election

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A by-election was held on 8 April 1976, following the resignation of Desmond Plummer. One Conservative Party councillor was elected. The turnout was 22.5%.

St Marylebone by-election, 1976
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Herbert Henry Sandford 6,080
Labour D. Miles 2,854
Liberal Bates, J.H. 428
Socialist (GB) J. D'Arcy 96
Turnout
Conservative hold Swing

1977 election

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The fifth election to the GLC (and second using revised boundaries) was held on 5 May 1977. The electorate was 41,377 and one Conservative Party councillor was elected. The turnout was 37.1%. The councillor was elected for a four-year term.

1977 Greater London Council election: St Marylebone
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Herbert Henry Sandford 10,359
Labour Ian J C Peddie 3,468
Liberal P R Vandekar 645
National Front Charles Elrick 372
Ecology Jonathon Espie Porritt 298
Socialist (GB) James D'Arcy 102
Co-operative Housing B D Lake 67
Majority
Turnout
Conservative hold Swing

1981 election

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The sixth and final election to the GLC (and third using revised boundaries) was held on 7 May 1981. The electorate was 38,826 and one Conservative Party councillor was elected. The turnout was 37.4%. 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: St Marylebone
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Herbert Henry Sandford 8,183
Labour Co-op Jean Merriton 4,573
Liberal Penelope E. Baker 1,305
Ecology Audrey B. Hickey 408
Turnout
Conservative hold Swing

References

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  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: Cities of London and Westminster". United Kingdom Election Results. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 17 September 2023.
  6. ^ "The London Councillors Order 1976" (PDF). legislation.gov.uk. 17 February 1976. Retrieved 25 July 2023.