Middlesex County Council was the principal local government body in the administrative county of Middlesex, England from 1889 to 1965.
The county council consisted of elected councillors and co-opted county aldermen. The entire body of county councillors was elected every three years. Aldermen were additional members, there being a ratio of one alderman to three councillors. Aldermen had a six-year term of office, and one half of their number were elected by the councillors immediately after the triennial elections.
Elections were cancelled during the First and Second World Wars.
Contents |
The first elections were held in January 1889. The Times noted that, in contrast to most counties where a large of number of seats were uncontested, there were to be contests in nearly every electoral division.[1][2]
The first meeting of the "provisional" county council was held on 14 February 1889 at Westminster Town Hall. Although the council did not use political labels, among the aldermen elected were three peers (the Earls of Aberdeen Jersey and Strafford) and three members of parliament William Ambrose, Henry Bowles and Frederick Dixon-Hartland who were members of the parliamentary Conservative Party.
The provisional council appointed an Apportionment Committee which was to liase with the London County Council over the division of properties and responsibilities between the two bodies.[3] It was decided to seek the retention of Middlesex Guildhall, Westminster, as the headquarters of the county council.[3] The justices of the peace for Middlesex met to consider county business for the last time on 28 March 1889 at the Sessions House, Clerkenwell.[4] The Sessions House duly passed to the London County Council, and Middlesex County Council came into official existence on 1 April 1889.
The triennial elections were suspended for the duration of the First World War, and when polling was held on 8 March 1919 there was a vigorous campaign centred on the issue of the Sunday opening of cinemas. The Cinematograph Exhibitors Association supported 16 candidates, including members of the Labour Party, who gained their first seats on the council.[5] The 1922 and 1925 elections were, for the most part, not run on party lines. The Times noted that it was "impossible to separate the candidates into different classes, and the contests are run much more upon local considerations than any widespread policy labelled throughout the county".[6] The size of the council was increased in that year to from 80 members (60 councillors and 20 aldermen) to 98 (74 councillors and 24 aldermen).[6] The majority of the members of the county council continued to not bear party labels. In 1928 the majority of the council were described as "Moderate", with Labour forming an opposition.[7] Labour continued to make advances at the 1931 election, and this led to the formation of a Middlesex Municipal Association "representative of all anti-Socialist members". The association was supported by the various Conservative Party organisations of the county although it was not officially affiliated to the party.[8]
The size of the council was increased at the 1934 and 1937 elections.[9][10]
| Election | Size of council (Councillors + Aldermen) |
Middlesex Municipal Alliance |
Labour Party | Independent | Other |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1934 | 75 + 25 | 44 + 22 | 22 + 0 | 8 + 3 | Vacant 1 |
| 1937 | 80 + 25 | 50 + 18 | 21 + 7 | 9 | 0 |
The boundaries of the electoral divisions were altered for the elections held on 3 April 1952, and the number of councillors reduced to 87 in number from 90. The Conservatives retained control with 46 seats (a loss of 9) to Labour's 41 (a gain of 10). The only incumbent Independent was defeated.[11] At the aldermanic elections, the Conservatives took 11 out of 14, to secure a majority of 28, against protests by the Labour group.[12]
| Electoral division | Party[11] | |
|---|---|---|
| Acton North East | Labour gain | |
| Acton South East | Labour hold | |
| Acton West | Labour gain | |
| Brentford & Chiswick East | Conservative (new seat) | |
| Brentford & Chiswick West | Labour (new seat) | |
| Ealing Central | Conservative hold | |
| Ealing East | Conservative (new seat) | |
| Ealing North | Labour (new seat) | |
| Ealing North East | Conservative (new seat) | |
| Ealing North West | Labour hold | |
| Ealing South | Conservative (new seat) | |
| Ealing West | Labour hold | |
| Edmonton North East | Labour hold | |
| Edmonton North West | Labour hold | |
| Edmonton South East | Labour hold | |
| Edmonton South West | Labour hold | |
| Enfield Central | Conservative hold | |
| Enfield North East | Labour hold | |
| Enfield South East | Labour hold | |
| Enfield West | Conservative hold | |
| Feltham North | Labour (new seat) | |
| Feltham South | Labour (new seat) | |
| Finchley East | Conservative hold | |
| Finchley North | Conservative hold | |
| Finchley West | Conservative hold | |
| Friern Barnet | Conservative hold | |
| Harrow Central | Labour hold | |
| Harrow East | Labour hold | |
| Harrow East Central | Conservative hold | |
| Harrow North East | Conservative hold | |
| Harrow South | Conservative hold | |
| Harrow South West | Conservative hold | |
| Harrow West Central | Conservative hold | |
| Hayes & Harlington North | Labour hold | |
| Hayes & Harlington South | Labour hold | |
| Hendon Central | Conservative (new seat) | |
| Hendon East | Conservative (new seat) | |
| Hendon North | Conservative hold | |
| Hendon North West | Conservative (new seat) | |
| Hendon South | Conservative (new seat) | |
| Hendon West | Labour (new seat) | |
| Heston & Cranford | Labour (new seat) | |
| Hornsey Central | Labour hold | |
| Hornsey Highgate | Conservative hold | |
| Hornsey Muswell Hill | Conservative hold | |
| Hornsey Stroud Green | Conservative hold | |
| Hounslow Central | Labour gain | |
| Hounslow West | Labour (new seat) | |
| Isleworth | Conservative (new seat) | |
| Potters Bar | Conservative hold | |
| Ruislip-Northwood North West | Conservative hold | |
| Ruislip-Northwood South East | Conservative hold | |
| Southall North | Labour (new seat) | |
| Southall South | Labour (new seat) | |
| Southgate North | Conservative hold | |
| Southgate South | Conservative hold | |
| Staines North West | Labour (new seat) | |
| Staines South East | Conservative (new seat) | |
| Sunbury | Conservative hold | |
| Tottenham East | Labour (new seat) | |
| Tottenham North | Labour (new seat) | |
| Tottenham South East | Labour (new seat) | |
| Tottenham South West | Labour (new seat) | |
| Tottenham West | Labour (new seat) | |
| Twickenham East | Conservative hold | |
| Twickenham Hampton | Conservative hold | |
| Twickenham Teddington | Conservative hold | |
| Twickenham West | Conservative hold | |
| Uxbridge North | Labour gain | |
| Uxbridge South | Labour gain | |
| Wembley East | Conservative hold | |
| Wembley North East | Labour gain | |
| Wembley North West | Conservative hold | |
| Wembley South | Labour gain | |
| Wembley West | Conservative hold | |
| Willesden Church End | Labour (new seat) | |
| Willesden Cricklewood | Conservative (new seat) | |
| Willesden Green | Labour (new seat) | |
| Willesden Harlesden | Labour (new seat) | |
| Willesden Kensal Green | Labour (new seat) | |
| Willesden Kilburn | Labour (new seat) | |
| Willesden Mapesbury | Conservative (new seat) | |
| Wood Green East | Labour gain | |
| Wood Green West | Conservative gain | |
| Yiewsley & West Drayton | Labour gain | |
The boundaries of the electoral divisions were altered for the elections held on 31 March 1955, with the number of councillors remaining at 87. The Conservatives increased their majority on the council, winning 52 seats, against Labour's 35. Three Conservatives were elected unopposed.[13]
| Electoral division | Party[13] | |
|---|---|---|
| Acton North East | Labour hold | |
| Acton South East | Labour hold | |
| Acton West | Labour hold | |
| Brentford & Chiswick East | Conservative hold | |
| Brentford & Chiswick West | Conservative gain | |
| Ealing Central | Conservative hold | |
| Ealing East | Conservative hold | |
| Ealing North | Labour hold | |
| Ealing North East | Conservative hold | |
| Ealing North West | Labour hold | |
| Ealing South | Conservative hold | |
| Ealing West | Labour hold | |
| Edmonton North East | Labour hold | |
| Edmonton North West | Conservative hold | |
| Edmonton South East | Labour hold | |
| Edmonton South West | Labour hold | |
| Enfield North East | Labour hold (new boundaries) | |
| Enfield North West | Conservative (new seat) | |
| Enfield South East | Labour hold (new boundaries) | |
| Enfield South West | Labour (new seat) | |
| Feltham North | Labour hold | |
| Feltham South | Labour hold | |
| Finchley East | Conservative hold | |
| Finchley North | Conservative hold | |
| Finchley West | Conservative hold | |
| Friern Barnet | Conservative hold | |
| Harrow Central | Labour hold | |
| Harrow East | Labour hold | |
| Harrow East Central | Conservative hold | |
| Harrow North East | Conservative hold | |
| Harrow South | Conservative hold | |
| Harrow South West | Conservative hold | |
| Harrow West Central | Conservative hold | |
| Hayes & Harlington North | Labour hold | |
| Hayes & Harlington South | Labour hold | |
| Hendon Central | Conservative hold | |
| Hendon East | Conservative hold | |
| Hendon North | Conservative hold | |
| Hendon North West | Conservative hold | |
| Hendon South | Conservative hold | |
| Hendon West | Labour hold | |
| Heston & Cranford | Conservative gain | |
| Hornsey Central | Labour hold | |
| Hornsey Highgate | Conservative hold | |
| Hornsey Muswell Hill | Conservative hold | |
| Hornsey Stroud Green | Conservative hold | |
| Hounslow Central | Conservative gain | |
| Hounslow West | Labour hold | |
| Isleworth | Conservative hold | |
| Potters Bar | Conservative hold | |
| Ruislip-Northwood North West | Conservative hold (new boundaries) | |
| Ruislip-Northwood South East | Conservative hold (new boundaries) | |
| Southall North | Labour hold | |
| Southall South | Labour hold | |
| Southgate Middle | Conservative hold (new boundaries) | |
| Southgate North | Conservative hold | |
| Southgate South | Conservative hold | |
| Staines North West | Conservative gain | |
| Staines South East | Conservative hold | |
| Sunbury | Conservative hold | |
| Tottenham East | Labour hold | |
| Tottenham North | Labour hold | |
| Tottenham South East | Labour hold | |
| Tottenham South West | Labour hold | |
| Tottenham West | Labour hold | |
| Twickenham East | Conservative hold | |
| Twickenham Hampton | Conservative hold | |
| Twickenham Teddington | Conservative hold | |
| Twickenham West | Conservative hold | |
| Uxbridge North | Conservative hold | |
| Uxbridge South | Labour hold | |
| Wembley East | Conservative hold | |
| Wembley North East | Labour gain | |
| Wembley North West | Conservative hold | |
| Wembley South | Labour hold | |
| Wembley West | Conservative hold | |
| Willesden Church End | Labour hold | |
| Willesden Cricklewood | Conservative hold | |
| Willesden Green | Labour hold | |
| Willesden Harlesden | Labour hold | |
| Willesden Kensal Green | Conservative gain | |
| Willesden Kilburn | Labour hold | |
| Willesden Mapesbury | Conservative hold | |
| Wood Green East | Labour hold | |
| Wood Green West | Conservative hold | |
| Yiewsley & West Drayton | Labour hold | |
In the county council elections held on 16 April 1958, Labour regained control from the Conservatives.[14]
| Electoral division | Party[14] | |
|---|---|---|
| Acton North East | Labour hold | |
| Acton South East | Labour hold | |
| Acton West | Labour hold | |
| Brentford & Chiswick East | Labour gain | |
| Brentford & Chiswick West | Labour hold | |
| Ealing Central | Conservative hold | |
| Ealing East | Conservative hold | |
| Ealing North | Labour hold | |
| Ealing North East | Conservative hold | |
| Ealing North West | Labour hold | |
| Ealing South | Conservative hold | |
| Ealing West | Labour hold | |
| Edmonton North East | Labour hold | |
| Edmonton North West | Conservative hold | |
| Edmonton South East | Labour hold | |
| Edmonton South West | Labour hold | |
| Enfield North East | Labour hold | |
| Enfield North West | Conservative hold | |
| Enfield South East | Labour hold | |
| Enfield South West | Conservative hold | |
| Feltham North | Labour hold | |
| Feltham South | Labour hold | |
| Finchley East | Liberal gain | |
| Finchley North | Conservative hold | |
| Finchley West | Conservative hold | |
| Friern Barnet | Conservative hold | |
| Harrow Central | Labour hold | |
| Harrow East | Labour hold | |
| Harrow East Central | Conservative hold | |
| Harrow North East | Labour gain | |
| Harrow North West | Conservative (NEW SEAT???) | |
| Harrow South | Conservative hold | |
| Harrow South West | Labour gain | |
| Harrow West Central | Conservative hold | |
| Hayes & Harlington North | Labour hold | |
| Hayes & Harlington South | Labour hold | |
| Hendon Central | Conservative hold | |
| Hendon East | Conservative hold | |
| Hendon North | Conservative hold | |
| Hendon North West | Conservative hold | |
| Hendon South | Conservative hold | |
| Hendon West | Labour hold | |
| Heston & Cranford | Labour gain | |
| Hornsey Central | Labour hold | |
| Hornsey Highgate | Conservative hold | |
| Hornsey Muswell Hill | Conservative hold | |
| Hornsey Stroud Green | Labour hold | |
| Hounslow Central | Labour gain | |
| Hounslow West | Labour hold | |
| Isleworth | Conservative hold | |
| Potters Bar | Conservative hold | |
| Ruislip-Northwood North West | Conservative hold | |
| Ruislip-Northwood South East | Labour gain | |
| Southall North | Labour hold | |
| Southall South | Labour hold | |
| Southgate Middle | Conservative hold | |
| Southgate North | Conservative hold | |
| Southgate South | Conservative hold | |
| Staines North West | Labour gain | |
| Staines South East | Conservative hold | |
| Sunbury | Conservative hold | |
| Tottenham East | Labour hold | |
| Tottenham North | Labour hold | |
| Tottenham South East | Labour hold | |
| Tottenham South West | Labour hold | |
| Tottenham West | Labour hold | |
| Twickenham East | Conservative hold | |
| Twickenham Hampton | Conservative hold | |
| Twickenham Teddington | Conservative hold | |
| Twickenham West | Labour gain | |
| Uxbridge North | Conservative hold | |
| Uxbridge South | Labour hold | |
| Wembley East | Conservative hold | |
| Wembley North East | Labour gain | |
| Wembley North West | Conservative hold | |
| Wembley South | Labour hold | |
| Wembley West | Conservative hold | |
| Willesden Church End | Labour hold | |
| Willesden Cricklewood | Conservative hold | |
| Willesden Green | Labour hold | |
| Willesden Harlesden | Labour hold | |
| Willesden Kensal Green | Labour gain | |
| Willesden Kilburn | Labour hold | |
| Willesden Mapesbury | Conservative hold | |
| Wood Green East | Labour hold | |
| Wood Green West | Conservative hold | |
| Yiewsley & West Drayton | Labour hold | |
Elections were held on 13 April 1961, and the Conservatives were returned to power. They were successful in having 55 councillors, elected gaining 15 seats from Labour and taking the only Liberal seat at East Finchley.[15] These were to be the final elections to the county council: under the London Government Act 1963 the elections due in 1964 were cancelled, with the elections to the shadow Greater London Council being held instead.
| Electoral division | Party[16] | |
|---|---|---|
| Acton North East | Labour hold | |
| Acton South East | Labour hold | |
| Acton West | Conservative gain | |
| Brentford & Chiswick East | Conservative gain | |
| Brentford & Chiswick West | Conservative gain | |
| Ealing Central | Conservative hold | |
| Ealing East | Conservative hold | |
| Ealing North | Labour hold | |
| Ealing North East | Conservative hold | |
| Ealing North West | Labour hold | |
| Ealing South | Conservative hold | |
| Ealing West | Labour hold | |
| Edmonton North East | Labour hold | |
| Edmonton North West | Conservative hold | |
| Edmonton South East | Labour hold | |
| Edmonton South West | Labour hold | |
| Enfield North East | Labour hold | |
| Enfield North West | Conservative hold | |
| Enfield South East | Labour hold | |
| Enfield South West | Conservative hold | |
| Feltham North | Labour hold | |
| Feltham South | Labour hold | |
| Finchley East | Conseravtive gain | |
| Finchley North | Conservative hold | |
| Finchley West | Conservative hold | |
| Friern Barnet | Conservative hold | |
| Harrow Central | Labour hold | |
| Harrow East | Labour hold | |
| Harrow East Central | Conservative hold | |
| Harrow North East | Conservative gain | |
| Harrow North West | Conservative hold | |
| Harrow South | Conservative hold | |
| Harrow South West | Conservative gain | |
| Harrow West Central | Conservative hold | |
| Hayes & Harlington North | Labour hold | |
| Hayes & Harlington South | Labour hold | |
| Hendon Central | Conservative hold | |
| Hendon East | Conservative hold | |
| Hendon North | Conservative hold | |
| Hendon North West | Conservative hold | |
| Hendon South | Conservative hold | |
| Hendon West | Labour hold | |
| Heston & Cranford | Conservative gain | |
| Hornsey Central | Conservative gain | |
| Hornsey Highgate | Conservative hold | |
| Hornsey Muswell Hill | Conservative hold | |
| Hornsey Stroud Green | Conservative gain | |
| Hounslow Central | Conservative gain | |
| Hounslow West | Conservative gain | |
| Isleworth | Conservative hold | |
| Potters Bar | Conservative hold | |
| Ruislip-Northwood North West | Conservative hold | |
| Ruislip-Northwood South East | Conservative gain | |
| Southall North | Labour hold | |
| Southall South | Labour hold | |
| Southgate Middle | Conservative hold | |
| Southgate North | Conservative hold | |
| Southgate South | Conservative hold | |
| Staines North West | Conservative gain | |
| Staines South East | Conservative hold | |
| Sunbury | Conservative hold | |
| Tottenham East | Labour hold | |
| Tottenham North | Labour hold | |
| Tottenham South East | Labour hold | |
| Tottenham South West | Labour hold | |
| Tottenham West | Labour hold | |
| Twickenham East | Conservative hold | |
| Twickenham Hampton | Conservative hold | |
| Twickenham Teddington | Conservative hold | |
| Twickenham West | Conservative gain | |
| Uxbridge North | Conservative hold | |
| Uxbridge South | Labour hold | |
| Wembley East | Conservative hold | |
| Wembley North East | Conservative gain | |
| Wembley North West | Conservative hold | |
| Wembley South | Labour hold | |
| Wembley West | Conservative hold | |
| Willesden Church End | Labour hold | |
| Willesden Cricklewood | Conservative hold | |
| Willesden Green | Labour hold | |
| Willesden Harlesden | Labour hold | |
| Willesden Kensal Green | Conservative gain | |
| Willesden Kilburn | Labour hold | |
| Willesden Mapesbury | Conservative hold | |
| Wood Green East | Labour hold | |
| Wood Green West | Conservative hold | |
| Yiewsley & West Drayton | Labour hold | |