Wimbledon (electoral division)

Wimbledon 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.

Wimbledon
Former electoral division
for the Greater London Council
DistrictMerton
Electorate
  • 70,902 (1973)
  • 68,395 (1977)
  • 64,759 (1981)
Area2,073 hectares (20.73 km2)
Former electoral division
Created1973
Abolished1986
Member(s)1
Created fromMerton

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 Merton formed the Merton 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 Wimbledon parliamentary constituency.[1]

It covered an area of 2,073 hectares (20.73 km2).

Elections

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The Wimbledon 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 70,902 and one Conservative Party councillor was elected. The turnout was 40.7%. 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: Wimbledon
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Stanley Charles Bolton 14,056
Labour K. Bill 8,389
Liberal P. C. Spratling 6,419
Turnout
Conservative 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 68,395 and one Conservative Party councillor was elected. The turnout was 47.6%. The councillor was elected for a four-year term.

1977 Greater London Council election: Wimbledon
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Stanley Charles Bolton 20,891
Labour Rock B. Tansey 7,610
Liberal R. A. Locke 2,794
National Front G. Renelt 783
GLC Abolitionist Campaign J. H. Brewer 301
Independent C. J. Ward 152
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 64,759 and one Conservative Party councillor was elected. The turnout was 48.5%. 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: Wimbledon
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Stanley Charles Bolton 16,548
Labour Rock B. Tansey 9,645
Liberal Andrew C. Trompeteler 3,889
Ecology Anthony Jones 781
National Front Mark T. Spong 376
Independent Frank Barnett 162
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 9 September 2023.
  3. ^ "Greater London Council Election" (PDF). 5 May 1977. Archived from the original (PDF) on 22 August 2013. Retrieved 9 September 2023.
  4. ^ "Greater London Council Election" (PDF). 7 May 1981. Archived from the original (PDF) on 22 August 2013. Retrieved 9 September 2023.
  5. ^ Boothroyd, David. "Greater London Council Election results: Merton". United Kingdom Election Results. Archived from the original on 24 March 2016. Retrieved 15 September 2023.
  6. ^ "The London Councillors Order 1976" (PDF). legislation.gov.uk. 17 February 1976. Retrieved 9 September 2023.