Lewisham East (electoral division)

Lewisham East 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.

Lewisham East
Former electoral division
for the Greater London Council
DistrictLewisham
Electorate
  • 69,643 (1973)
  • 67,694 (1977)
  • 67,526 (1981)
Area1,350 hectares (13.5 km2)
Former electoral division
Created1973
Abolished1986
Member(s)1
Created fromLewisham

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 Lewisham formed the Lewisham 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 Lewisham East parliamentary constituency.[1]

It covered an area of 1,350 hectares (13.5 km2).

Elections

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The Lewisham East 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 69,643 and one Labour Party councillor was elected. The turnout was 43.5%. 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: Lewisham East
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour John Charles Henry 16,721
Conservative T. M. Aitken 8,913
Liberal L. Spicer 4,182
Communist Michael Power 461
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 67,694 and one Conservative Party councillor was elected. The turnout was 45.4%. The councillor was elected for a four-year term.

1977 Greater London Council election: Lewisham East
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Sonia Copland 13,760
Labour John Charles Henry 12,663
Liberal J. Spicer 1,923
National Front Michael T Ashmore 1,822
Communist Michael Power 365
National Party A. H. Whitmore 181
Turnout
Conservative gain from Labour 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 67,526 and one Labour Party councillor was elected. The turnout was 46.0%. 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: Lewisham East
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Paul Nigel Rossi 15,887
Conservative Jonathan Sayeed 10,758
Liberal John R. Hassall 3,005
NNF Stephen P. Greene 719
Abolition of Rates Fannie E. Saffery 272
Communist Michael Power 267
Workers Revolutionary Donovan H. S. Chapman 143
Turnout
Labour gain from Conservative 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 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: Lewisham". United Kingdom Election Results. Archived from the original on 5 March 2016. Retrieved 8 September 2023.
  6. ^ "The London Councillors Order 1976" (PDF). legislation.gov.uk. 17 February 1976. Retrieved 8 September 2023.