Paddington (electoral division)

Paddington 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. Ken Livingstone, the leader of the Greater London Council from 1981 to 1986, was elected from the division in 1981 and at a by-election in 1984.

Paddington
Former electoral division
for the Greater London Council
DistrictWestminster
Electorate
  • 60,436 (1973)
  • 56,406 (1977)
  • 54,168 (1981)
  • 53,700 (1984)
Major settlementsPaddington
Area521 hectares (5.21 km2)
Former electoral division
Created1973
Abolished1986
Member(s)1
Created fromWestminster and the City of London

History

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 City of Westminster was joined with the City of London for this purpose, creating a constituency called Westminster and the City of London. 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 Paddington parliamentary constituency.[1]

The area was in a long-term period of population decline that was yet to reverse. The electorate reduced from 60,436 in 1973 to 53,700 in 1984. It covered an area of 521 hectares (5.21 km2).

Elections

The Paddington 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] Ken Livingstone, who was elected from the constituency in 1981, was Leader of the Greater London Council from 1981 to 1986. He was previously elected to represent Norwood in 1973 and Hackney North and Stoke Newington in 1977.

1973 election

The fourth election to the GLC (and first using revised boundaries) was held on 12 April 1973. The electorate was 60,436 and one Labour Party councillor was elected. The turnout was 33.1%. 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: Paddington
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour J. Merriton 11,085
Conservative H. H. Sandford 7,101
Liberal J. H. Gover 1,609
Independent D. J. B. Morgan 172

1977 election

The fifth election to the GLC (and second using revised boundaries) was held on 5 May 1977. The electorate was 56,406 and one Conservative Party councillor was elected. The turnout was 39.7%. The councillor was elected for a four-year term.

1977 Greater London Council election: Paddington
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative P. M. Kirwan 11,437
Labour J. Merriton 8,990
National Front R. A. Martin 879
Liberal Z. G. Kronbergs 712
GLC Abolitionist Campaign H. M. Lye 284

1981 election

The sixth and final election to the GLC (and third using revised boundaries) was held on 7 May 1981. The electorate was 54,168 and one Labour Party councillor was elected. The turnout was 43.8%. 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: Paddington
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Kenneth Robert Livingstone 11,864
Conservative Patricia Mary Kirwan 8,467
Social Democratic Alliance James Spillius 1,845
Liberal Alastair John Brett 1,135
National Front William T. Acton 237
Save London Action Group David P. Green 109

1984 by-election

A by-election was held on 20 September 1984, following the resignation of Ken Livingstone. The by-election coincided with others in Edmonton, Hayes and Harlington and Lewisham West.

The electorate was 53,700 and one Labour Party councillor was elected.[7] The turnout was 29.6%.[8]

Paddington by-election, 1984
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Kenneth Robert Livingstone 12,414
Liberal Stephen J Harris 2,729
Conservative, Anti-Common Market R. Simmerson 287
Abolish the GLC S. Banks 226
National Front Roger L Denny 123
Reform schools G. Clerick 55
Gaitskellite Labour P. Nealton 45

References
  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: Cities of London and Westminster". United Kingdom Election Results. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 17 September 2023.
  6. "The London Councillors Order 1976" (PDF). legislation.gov.uk. 17 February 1976. Retrieved 25 July 2023.
  7. "Appendix B By-elections for Greater London councillors, May 1981 to May 1986" (PDF). London Datastore. Retrieved 26 August 2023.
  8. Clayton, Hugh (21 September 1984). "Livingstone poll win denounced as 'stunt'". The Times. No. 61942. London, England.
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