Dagenham (electoral division)

Dagenham 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.

Dagenham
Former electoral division
for the Greater London Council
Map
Dagenham electoral division boundaries
District
Electorate
  • 69,484 (1973)
  • 68,905 (1977)
  • 68,147 (1981)
Major settlementsDagenham
Area2,043 hectares (20.43 km2)
Former electoral division
Created1973
Abolished1986
Member(s)1
Created fromBarking

History edit

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 Barking formed the Barking 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 Dagenham parliamentary constituency.[1]

It covered an area of 2,043 hectares (20.43 km2).

Elections edit

The Dagenham 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 edit

The fourth election to the GLC (and first using revised boundaries) was held on 12 April 1973. The electorate was 69,484 and one Labour Party councillor was elected. The turnout was 27.4%. 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: Dagenham
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Robert John Crane 13,753
Conservative T. A. Woodcock 2,149
Liberal G. D. Poole 1,994
Independent V. W. Cridland 564
Communist G. C. Wake 558
Turnout
Labour win (new seat)

1975 by-election edit

A by-election was held on 30 January 1975, caused by the death of Robert John Crane. The turnout was 15.1% and one Labour Party councillor was elected.

Dagenham by-election, 1975
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Harry Kay 6,563
Conservative F. P. J. Cruder 1,815
Liberal G. D. Poole 1,307
Independent Labour V. W. Cridland 424
Communist G. C. Wake 315
Independent W. Hibble 161
Turnout
Labour hold Swing

1977 election edit

The fifth election to the GLC (and second using revised boundaries) was held on 5 May 1977. The electorate was 68,905 and one Labour Party councillor was elected. The turnout was 36.6%. The councillor was elected for a four-year term.

1977 Greater London Council election: Dagenham
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Harry Kay 12,450
Conservative G. L. Hyams 8,761
National Front I. R. Newport 2,036
Liberal G. D. Poole 1,493
Communist F. J. Creamer 429
Turnout
Labour hold Swing

1981 election edit

The sixth and final election to the GLC (and third using revised boundaries) was held on 7 May 1981. The electorate was 68,147 and one Labour Party councillor was elected. The turnout was 36.4%. 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: Dagenham
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Harry Kay 15,134
Conservative Judith A. Warner 4,875
Liberal David C. Smith 3,508
National Front Ronald A. Ferrett 753
Communist Daniel Connor 259
Constitutional Movement Michael D. Sowerby 210
Turnout
Labour hold Swing

References edit

  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: Barking and Dagenham". United Kingdom Election Results. Archived from the original on 24 March 2016. Retrieved 29 August 2023.
  6. ^ "The London Councillors Order 1976" (PDF). legislation.gov.uk. 17 February 1976. Retrieved 25 July 2023.