Vauxhall (electoral division)

(Redirected from 1985 Vauxhall by-election)

Vauxhall 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.

Vauxhall
Former electoral division
for the Greater London Council
DistrictLambeth
Electorate
  • 48,264 (1973)
  • 43,027 (1977)
  • 39,065 (1980)
  • 38,976 (1981)
  • 38,328 (1985)
Major settlementsVauxhall
Area572 hectares (5.72 km2)
Former electoral division
Created1973
Abolished1986
Member(s)1
Created fromLambeth

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 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 Vauxhall parliamentary constituency.[1]

The area was in a long-term period of population decline that was yet to reverse. The electorate reduced from 48,264 in 1973 to 38,328 in 1985. It covered an area of 572 hectares (5.72 km2).

Elections

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The Vauxhall 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 48,264 and one Labour Party councillor was elected. The turnout was 30.5%. 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: Vauxhall
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Ewan Geddes Carr 10,821
Conservative Peter James Bottomley 3,396
Communist J. A. Henry 365
Socialist (GB) M. E. Sansum 121
Turnout
Labour win (new seat)

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 43,027 and one Labour Party councillor was elected. The turnout was 33.6%. The councillor was elected for a four-year term.

1977 Greater London Council election: Vauxhall
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Ewan Geddes Carr 6,935
Conservative Clive W. Jones 5,868
National Front Colin P. K. Skeats 875
Liberal William F. Brown 538
GLC Abolitionist Campaign D. T. Riley 155
Turnout
Labour hold Swing

1980 by-election

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A by-election was held on 21 February 1980, following the death of E. G. Carr. The electorate was 39,065 and one Labour Party councillor was elected. The turnout was 21.9%.

Vauxhall by-election, 1980
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Brinley H. Davies 5,277
Conservative John Cradock Maples 2,608
Liberal John R. Hassall 333
National Front Vernon C. Atkinson 319
Turnout
Labour 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 38,976 and one Labour Party councillor was elected. The turnout was 39.0%. 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: Vauxhall
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Brinley H. Davies 7,383
Conservative Richard M. S. O'Sullivan 4,177
Social Democratic Alliance David M. Mason 2,262
Liberal John W. Parton 830
National Front Vernon C. Atkinson 508
Turnout
Labour hold Swing

1985 by-election

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A by-election was held on 11 July 1985, following the resignation of Brinley H. Davies. The by-election coincided with others in Putney and Romford. The electorate was 38,328 and one Alliance councillor was elected. The turnout was 24.7%.[7]

Vauxhall by-election, 1985
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Alliance Michael William Tuffrey 4,600
Labour Lorna M. Boreland 4,212
National Front John G. Wright 253
Pro-Abolition Alliance Simon H. Fawthrop 113
Communist David J. S. Cook 110
Revolutionary Communist Jean Smith 93
Turnout
Alliance gain from Labour 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 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.
  7. ^ "Appendix B By-elections for Greater London councillors, May 1981 to May 1986" (PDF). London Datastore. Retrieved 17 September 2023.