Greenwich (UK Parliament constituency)

Greenwich
Former Borough constituency
for the House of Commons
County Greater London
1832–1885
Number of members Two
Replaced by Deptford, Greenwich, Lewisham and Woolwich
Created from Kent
1885–1997
Number of members One
Replaced by Greenwich & Woolwich
Created from Greenwich

Greenwich was a parliamentary constituency in South-East London, which returned Members of Parliament to the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom from 1832 to 1997 by the first past the post system.

History

From 1832 until 1885 it was a two-member constituency, but its representation was reduced to one Member of Parliament under the Redistribution of Seats Act 1885. For the 1997 general election, it was merged with part of the former Woolwich constituency to form the Greenwich and Woolwich seat.

Greenwich in the Metropolitan Board of Works area, showing boundaries used from 1885 to 1918.
Greenwich in the parliamentary County of London from 1918 to 1949.
Greenwich in the parliamentary County of London from 1950 to 1974.

Its history is dominated by the area's strong maritime tradition. Its most prominent claim to fame was as the seat of William Ewart Gladstone between 1868 and 1880, and it also achieved prominence in the 1987 Greenwich by-election, when the SDP won a surprise victory.

Boundaries

1918-1974: The Metropolitan Borough of Greenwich.

1974-1983: The London Borough of Greenwich wards of Blackheath, Charlton, Eastcombe, Hornfair, Kidbrooke, Marsh, Park, Trafalgar, Vanbrugh, and West.

1983-1997: The London Borough of Greenwich wards of Blackheath, Charlton, Ferrier, Hornfair, Kidbrooke, Rectory Field, St Alfege, Trafalgar, Vanbrugh, and West.

Between 1983 and 1997, the constituency formed the western part of the Royal Borough of Greenwich.

Members of Parliament

MPs 1832–1885

Election1st Member1st Party2nd Member2nd Party
1832 constituency created with two members
1832 James Whitley Deans Dundas Liberal Edward George Barnard Liberal
1835 John Angerstein Liberal
1837 Matthias Wolverley Attwood Conservative
1841 James Whitley Deans Dundas Liberal
1851 by-election David Salomons Liberal
1852 by-election Houston Stewart Liberal
1852 Peter Rolt Conservative Montague Chambers Liberal
Feb 1857 by-election Sir William John Codrington Liberal
Mar. 1857 John Townsend Liberal
Feb. 1859 by-election David Salomons Liberal
1859 William Angerstein Liberal
1865 Sir Charles Tilston Bright Liberal
1868 William Ewart Gladstone Liberal
1873 by-election Sir Thomas William Boord Conservative
1880 Baron Henry de Worms Conservative
1885 Representation reduced to one member

MPs since 1885

ElectionMemberParty
1885 Sir Thomas William Boord Conservative
1895 Lord Hugh Cecil Conservative
1906 Richard Stephens Jackson Liberal
Jan 1910 Ion Hamilton Benn Conservative
1922 George Hopwood Hume Conservative
1923 Edward Timothy Palmer Labour
1924 Sir George Hopwood Hume Conservative
1929 Edward Timothy Palmer Labour
1931 Sir George Hopwood Hume Conservative
1945 Joseph Reeves Labour
1959 Richard Marsh Labour
1971 by-election Guy Barnett Labour
1987 by-election Rosie Barnes Social Democratic
1992 Nick Raynsford Labour
1997 constituency abolished

Elections

Elections in the 1990s

The swing for Rosie Barnes below is shown relative to her own performance in 1987. This is reasonable as the Liberal Democrats did not put up their own candidate in 1992.

General Election 1992: Greenwich[1]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Nick Raynsford 14,630 41.0 +6.2
Independent Social Democrat Rosie Barnes 13,273 37.2 −3.4
Conservative Alison McNair 6,960 19.5 −3.8
Green Robert McCracken 483 1.4 +0.4
Fellowship Ronald Mallone 147 0.4 +0.3
Independent Malcolm Hardee 103 0.3 +0.3
Natural Law John Small 70 0.2 +0.2
Majority 1,357 3.8 −1.9
Turnout 35,666 74.6 +1.2
Labour gain from Social Democratic Swing +4.8

Elections in the 1980s

The 1987 election swings are relative to the 1983 election, not the 1987 by-election.

General Election 1987: Greenwich
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Social Democratic Rosie Barnes 15,149 40.6 +15.5
Labour Deirdre Frances Mary Wood 13,008 34.9 −3.3
Conservative John Gordon Antcliffe 8,695 23.3 −11.5
Green J. Thomas 346 0.9 +0.9
Fellowship Ronald Mallone 59 0.2 −0.5
Communist Patricia Clinton 58 0.2 −0.2
Majority 2,141 5.7 +2.3
Turnout 37315 73.4 +5.7
Social Democratic gain from Labour Swing +9.4
Greenwich by-election, 1987
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Social Democratic Rosie Barnes 18,287 53.0 +27.9
Labour Deirdre Frances Mary Wood 11,676 33.8 −4.4
Conservative John Gordon Antcliffe 3,852 11.2 −23.6
Green Graham Bell 264 0.8 N/A
Rainbow Dream Ticket Malcolm Hardee 124 0.3 N/A
BNP Ian Dell 116 0.3 −0.4
National Front Joe Pearce 103 0.3 N/A
Revolutionary Communist Kate Marshall 91 0.3 N/A
Majority 6,611 19.2 +15.7
Turnout 68.2
Social Democratic gain from Labour Swing +16.2
General Election 1983: Greenwich
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Guy Barnett 13,361 38.2 −13.9
Conservative Arthur Rolfe 12,150 34.8 +1.5
Social Democratic T. Ford 8,783 25.1 N/A
BNP Ian Dell 259 0.7 N/A
Fellowship Ronald Mallone 242 0.7 −0.6
Communist F. Hooks 149 0.4 N/A
Majority 1,211 3.5 −15.3
Turnout 67.7 −2.9
Labour hold Swing

Elections in the 1970s

General Election 3 May 1979:

constituency of
Composed of the wards of
Electorate , Turnout %,

Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour
Conservative
Liberal
Majority
Turnout
General Election 10 October 1974:

constituency of
Composed of the wards of
Electorate , Turnout %,

Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour
Conservative
Liberal
Majority
Turnout
General Election 28 February 1974:

constituency of
Composed of the wards of
Electorate , Turnout %,

Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour
Conservative
Liberal
Majority
Turnout
Greenwich by-election, 1971
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Guy Barnett 14,671 66.73 +10.98
Conservative J Stuart Thom 6,150 27.97 -7.39
Fellowship Ronald Mallone 792 3.60 N/A
Independent Conservative Reginald Simmerson 285 1.30 N/A
Independent David Davies 89 0.40 N/A
Turnout 21,987
Labour hold Swing
General Election 1970: Greenwich
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Richard Marsh 20,804 55.75
Conservative J Stuart Thom 13,195 35.36
Liberal P. Wylan 3,319 8.89
Majority 7,609 20.39
Turnout 37,318 65.66
Labour hold Swing

Elections in the 1960s

General Election 31 March 1966:

constituency of
Composed of the wards of
Electorate 55,477, Turnout %,

Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Richard William Marsh
Conservative John Selwyn Gummer
Majority
Turnout
General Election 15 October 1964:

constituency of
Composed of the wards of
Electorate , Turnout %,

Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Richard William Marsh
Conservative John Selwyn Gummer
Liberal
Majority
Turnout

Elections in the 1950s

General Election 8 October 1959:

constituency of
Composed of the wards of
Electorate , Turnout %,

Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative
Labour
Liberal
Majority
Turnout
General Election 26 May 1955:

constituency of
Composed of the wards of
Electorate 61,314 Turnout %,

Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Joseph Reeves 26,423
Conservative WF Rhodes 18,484
Majority
Turnout
General Election 25 October 1951:

constituency of
Composed of the wards of
Electorate , Turnout %,

Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour
Conservative
Majority
Turnout
General Election 23 February 1950:

Borough Constituency of Greenwich
Composed of the Metropolitan Borough of Greenwich
Electorate 61,198, Turnout 83.0%,

Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Joseph Reeves 29,379 57.9
Conservative Alfred Ronald Dashwood Gilbey 18,255 36.0
Liberal Leslie Maurice Dale 3,148 6.2
Majority 11,124 21.9
Turnout

Elections in the 1940s

General Election 5 to 19 July 1945:

constituency of
Composed of the wards of
Electorate , Turnout %,

Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour
Conservative
Liberal
Majority
Turnout

Elections in the 1930s

General Election 14 November 1935:

constituency of Greenwich
Composed of the wards of
Electorate 63,385, Turnout %,

Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Sir George Hopwood Hume 22,526
Labour Edward Timothy Palmer 20,436
Majority
Turnout
General Election 27 October 1931:[2]

Parliamentary Borough of Greenwich
Composed of the Metropolitan Borough of Greenwich
Electorate 63,385, Turnout %,

Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Sir George Hopwood Hume 29,278 65.0 +26.9
Labour Edward Timothy Palmer 13,722 30.5 -15.8
Communist Mrs K Duncan 2,024 4.5 N/A
Majority 15,556 34.6
Turnout 45,024 71.0
Conservative gain from Labour

Elections in the 1920s

General Election 30 May 1929:[3]

Parliamentary Borough of Greenwich
Composed of the Metropolitan Borough of Greenwich
Electorate 62,342, Turnout 70.4%,

Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Edward Timothy Palmer 20,328 46.3 -2.2
Conservative Sir George Hopwood Hume 16,710 38.1 -13.4
Liberal W P Campbell 6,870 15.6 N/A
Majority 3,618 8.2
Turnout 43,908 70.4
Labour gain from Conservative
General Election 29 October 1924:[4]

Parliamentary Borough of Greenwich
Composed of the Metropolitan Borough of Greenwich
Electorate 47,716, Turnout 75.2%,

Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Sir George Hopwood Hume 18,473 51.5
Labour Edward Timothy Palmer 17,409 48.5
Majority 1,064 3.0
Turnout 35,882 75.2
Conservative gain from Labour
General Election 6 December 1923:

constituency of
Composed of the wards of
Electorate 46,741 Turnout %,

Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Edward Timothy Palmer 12,314
Conservative George Hopwood Hume 10,746
Liberal Charles Garfield Lott Du Cann 5,806
Majority
Turnout
George Hopwood Hume
General Election 15 November 1922:[5]

constituency of Greenwich
Composed of the Metropolitan Borough of Greenwich
Electorate 46,005

Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative George Hopwood Hume 16,933 61 -8.3
Labour Edward Timothy Palmer 10,861 39.0 +8.3
Majority 6,072 21.8 -16.7
Turnout 27,794 60.4

Elections in the 1910s

General Election 14 December 1918:

Parliamentary Borough of Greenwich
Composed of the Metropolitan Borough of Greenwich
Electorate 43,750, Turnout %,

Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Ion Hamilton Benn 14,576
Labour James Bermingham 6,471
Majority 8,105
Turnout
Conservative hold Swing
December 1910 General Election: Greenwich
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Ion Hamilton Benn 5697 57.9 2.6
Liberal Hon. John William Harris 4146 42.1 -2.6
Majority 1,551
Turnout 13,153 74.8
Conservative hold Swing
January 1910 General Election: Greenwich
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Ion Hamilton Benn 6,284 55.3 33.5
Liberal Richard Stephens Jackson 5,083 44.7 -0.6
Majority 1,201
Turnout 13,153 86.4
Conservative gain from Liberal Swing

Elections in the 1900s

R.S. Jackson
1906 General Election: Greenwich
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Richard Stephens Jackson 4,906 45.3 6.3
Independent Conservative Ion Hamilton Benn 3,565 32.9
Conservative Lord Hugh Cecil 2,356 21.8 -39.2
Majority 1,341
Turnout 13,049 83.0
Liberal gain from Conservative Swing
1900 General Election: Greenwich
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Lord Hugh Cecil 5,454 61.0 3.6
Liberal Richard Stephens Jackson 3,484 39.0 -3.6
Majority 1,970
Turnout 12,247 73.0
Conservative hold Swing

Elections in the 1890s

1895 General Election: Greenwich
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Lord Hugh Cecil 4,802 57.4 5.4
Liberal George Crispe Whiteley 3,564 42.6 -5.4
Majority 1,238
Turnout 10,899 76.8
Conservative hold Swing
1892 General Election: Greenwich
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Thomas William Boord 4,200 52.0 -3.9
Liberal George Crispe Whiteley 3,877 48.0 3.9
Majority 323
Turnout 10,256 78.8
Conservative hold Swing

Elections in the 1880s

1886 General Election: Greenwich
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Thomas William Boord 3240 55.9 3.1
Liberal George Crispe Whiteley 2551 44.1 -3.1
Majority 689
Turnout 8,632 67.1
Conservative hold Swing
1885 General Election: Greenwich
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Thomas William Boord 3,317 52.8
Liberal Dr. Herbert Watney 2,961 47.2
Majority 356
Turnout 8,632 72.7
Conservative gain from new seat Swing

References

  1. ↑ "Politics Resources". Election 1992. Politics Resources. 9 April 1992. Retrieved 6 December 2010.
  2. ↑ "General Election Results 1931". The Times. 29 October 1931. p. i.
  3. ↑ "General Election 1929, Results in Detail". The Times. 1 June 1929. p. i.
  4. ↑ "General Election 1924, Results in Detail". The Times. 31 October 1924. p. i.
  5. ↑ "The General Election. First Returns., Polls In The Boroughs., Heavy Voting". The Times. 16 November 1922. p. 7.
Parliament of the United Kingdom
Preceded by
Buckinghamshire		 Constituency represented by the Prime Minister
1868–1874 		Succeeded by
Buckinghamshire