Leyton (electoral division)

Leyton 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.

Leyton
Former electoral division
for the Greater London Council
Map
Leyton electoral division boundaries
DistrictWaltham Forest
Electorate
  • 64,685 (1973)
  • 61,268 (1977)
  • 58,702 (1981)
Major settlementsLeyton
Area1,050 hectares (10.5 km2)
Former electoral division
Created1973
Abolished1986
Member(s)1
Created fromWaltham Forest

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 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 Leyton parliamentary constituency.[1]

It covered an area of 1,050 hectares (10.5 km2).

Elections

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The Leyton 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 64,685 and one Labour Party councillor was elected. The turnout was 28.4%. 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: Leyton
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour John James Walsh 11,240
Conservative G. P. A. Waller 6,485
Communist John Arthur Courcouf 646
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 61,268 and one Conservative Party councillor was elected. The turnout was 37.3%. The councillor was elected for a four-year term.

1977 Greater London Council election: Leyton
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Waldemar Thor Neilson-Hansen 9,577
Labour John James Walsh 9,386
National Front N. A. Lyons 2,386
Liberal John G Williams 1,171
Communist John Arthur Courcouf 340
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 58,702 and one Labour Party councillor was elected. The turnout was 39.2%. 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: Leyton
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Peter John Dawe 12,953
Conservative Waldemar Thor Neilson-Hansen 6,008
Liberal Robert F. Sullivan 3,071
National Front Colin R. Coward 734
Communist John Arthur Courcouf 242
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: 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.