Walthamstow (electoral division)

Walthamstow 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.

Walthamstow
Former electoral division
for the Greater London Council
Map
Walthamstow electoral division boundaries
DistrictWaltham Forest
Electorate
  • 57,410 (1973)
  • 50,247 (1977)
  • 48,565 (1981)
Major settlementsWalthamstow
Area1,182 hectares (11.82 km2)
Former electoral division
Created1973
Abolished1986
Member(s)1
Created fromWaltham Forest

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 Waltham Forest formed the Waltham Forest 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 Walthamstow parliamentary constituency.[1]

It covered an area of 1,182 hectares (11.82 km2).

Elections edit

The Walthamstow 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 57,410 and one Labour Party councillor was elected. The turnout was 29.0%. 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: Walthamstow
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Robin Ainsworth Raine Young 9,545
Conservative Phillip Charles Desmond Williams 4,381
Liberal Martin D Silverston 2,724
Turnout
Labour win (new seat)

1977 election edit

The fifth election to the GLC (and second using revised boundaries) was held on 5 May 1977. The electorate was 50,247 and one Labour Party councillor was elected. The turnout was 40.7%. The councillor was elected for a four-year term.

1977 Greater London Council election: Walthamstow
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Robin Ainsworth Raine Young 8,627
Conservative Gerald A King 8,235
National Front James R Childs 2,297
Liberal Mervin P O'Flanagan 1,302
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 48,565 and one Labour Party councillor was elected. The turnout was 43.3%. 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: Walthamstow
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Paul Yaw Boateng 9,749
Conservative Mark A. L. Batchelor 5,293
Social Democratic Alliance Peter L. Leighton 3,068
Liberal Robert J. Wheatley 1,572
National Front George J. F. Flaxton 824
Ecology Jean Denise Lambert 544
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 8 September 2023.
  3. ^ "Greater London Council Election" (PDF). 5 May 1977. Archived from the original (PDF) on 22 August 2013. Retrieved 8 September 2023.
  4. ^ "Greater London Council Election" (PDF). 7 May 1981. Archived from the original (PDF) on 22 August 2013. Retrieved 8 September 2023.
  5. ^ Boothroyd, David. "Greater London Council Election results: Waltham Forest". United Kingdom Election Results. Archived from the original on 24 March 2016. Retrieved 8 September 2023.
  6. ^ "The London Councillors Order 1976" (PDF). legislation.gov.uk. 17 February 1976. Retrieved 8 September 2023.