Southwark (electoral division)

Southwark was an electoral division for the purposes of elections to the Greater London Council. The constituency elected four councillors for a three-year term in 1964, 1967 and 1970.

Southwark
Former electoral division for the Greater London Council
Southwark electoral division boundaries
District	London Borough of Southwark
Population	290,530 (1969 estimate)
Electorate	210,292 (1964) 199,510 (1967) 202,533 (1970)
Area	7,117.4 acres (28.803 km2)
Former electoral division
Created	1965
Abolished	1973
Member(s)	4
Replaced by	Bermondsey, Dulwich, Peckham

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 which therefore created a constituency called Southwark.^[1]

The electoral division was replaced from 1973 by the single-member electoral divisions of Bermondsey, Dulwich, Peckham.^[2]

Elections

The Southwark constituency was used for the Greater London Council elections in 1964,^[3] 1967^[4] and 1970.^[5] Four councillors were elected at each election using first-past-the-post voting.^[6]

1964 election

The first election was held on 9 April 1964, a year before the council came into its powers. The electorate was 210,292 and four Labour Party councillors were elected. With 70,675 people voting, the turnout was 33.6%. The councillors were elected for a three-year term.

1964 Greater London Council election: Southwark

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Labour	Reginald Eustace Goodwin	49,518
	Labour	Henry George Lamborn	49,480
	Labour	Edgar Ernest Reed	48,471
	Labour	Albert Edward Samuels	47,177
	Conservative	Toby Francis Henry Jessel	18,333
	Conservative	J. A. Prichard	17,568
	Conservative	A. P. R. Noble	17,401
	Conservative	J. G. L. M. Porter	17,148
	Communist	S. P. Bent	4,311
Turnout
	Labour win (new seat)
	Labour win (new seat)
	Labour win (new seat)
	Labour win (new seat)

1967 election

The second election was held on 13 April 1967. The electorate was 199,510 and four Labour Party councillors were elected. With 55,161 people voting, the turnout was 27.6%. The councillors were elected for a three-year term.

1967 Greater London Council election: Southwark

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Labour	Reginald Eustace Goodwin	29,651
	Labour	Henry G. Lamborn	28,772
	Labour	Rev. Harvey W. Hinds	28,667
	Labour	Edgar Ernest Reed	28,337
	Conservative	J. Gordon	18,291
	Conservative	T. C. Farmer	18,262
	Conservative	G. H. J. Nicholson	18,158
	Conservative	B. Phelps	18,003
	Liberal	S. Saltmarsh	3,389
	Liberal	Mrs. A. Bennett	3,315
	Communist	S. P. Bent	3,297
	Communist	P. J. Hicks	3,291
	Liberal	A. C. Stobie	3,285
	Liberal	J. F. Sutton	2,957
	Independent	W. Jenkinson	2,179
Turnout
	Labour hold		Swing
	Labour hold		Swing
	Labour hold		Swing
	Labour hold		Swing

1970 election

The third election was held on 9 April 1970. The electorate was 202,533 and four Labour Party councillors were elected. With 57,978 people voting, the turnout was 28.6%. The councillors were elected for a three-year term.

1970 Greater London Council election: Southwark

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Labour	Sir Reginald Goodwin	36,092
	Labour	Frederick James Francis	35,559
	Labour	Henry George Lamborn	35,128
	Labour	The Rev. Canon Harvey Hinds	34,759
	Conservative	J. Gordon	17,807
	Conservative	D. M. Lang	17,771
	Conservative	G. H. J. Nicholson	17,713
	Conservative	H. W. Wilson	17,643
	Communist	E. D. Hume	1,438
	Communist	E. L. Hodson	1,241
	Homes before Roads	A. J. Baxter	1,217
	Liberal	Mrs. B. M. Chance	1,192
	Liberal	C. R. Chance	1,120
	Liberal	Miss M. Pedley	1,104
	Homes before Roads	T. W. H. Capon	1,068
	Liberal	S. W. F. Saltmarsh	1,023
	Homes before Roads	Mrs. S. M. Tanner	997
	Homes before Roads	C. J. E. Harlow	917
	Independent	F. L. Guy	591
	Union Movement	D. R. M. Archer	357
Turnout
	Labour hold		Swing
	Labour hold		Swing
	Labour hold		Swing
	Labour hold		Swing

References

1. British Information Services (1970). British Record: Political and Economic Notes. To date elections, normally fought on traditional party lines, have been based on the London boroughs, each borough returning two or more councillors; after 1973 there will be single member electoral areas based on parliamentary constituencies.
2. "The Greater London (Electoral Areas) Order 1972" (PDF). legislation.gov.uk. 20 June 1972. Retrieved 20 November 2023.
3. "General Election of Greater London Councillors" (PDF). 9 April 1964. Archived from the original (PDF) on 22 August 2013. Retrieved 20 November 2023.
4. "General Election of Greater London Councillors" (PDF). 13 April 1967. Archived from the original (PDF) on 22 August 2013. Retrieved 20 November 2023.
5. "Greater London Council Election" (PDF). 9 April 1970. Archived from the original (PDF) on 22 August 2013. Retrieved 20 November 2023.
6. Boothroyd, David. "Greater London Council Election results: Southwark". United Kingdom Election Results. Archived from the original on 24 March 2016. Retrieved 20 November 2023.