Wandsworth Central (UK Parliament constituency)

UK former constituency infobox
Name = Wandsworth Central
Type = Borough
Year = 1918
Abolition = 1974
members = one

Wandsworth Central was a parliamentary constituency in the Wandsworth district of South London. It returned one Member of Parliament to the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom.

The constituency was created for the 1918 general election, and abolished for the February 1974 general election.

Boundaries

When the constituency was created, in 1918, it was a division of the Metropolitan Borough of Wandsworth. It was in a part of the County of London, which was located in the northern part of the historic county of Surrey.

In 1965 the area of the constituency became part of the London Borough of Wandsworth in Greater London.

1918-1950: During the 1885-1918 distribution of parliamentary seats, the area had been part of the Wandsworth constituency. In 1918 the Metropolitan Borough (a larger area than the Wandsworth constituency had been) was split into five divisions. In addition to Central these divisions were Balham and Tooting, Clapham, Putney and Streatham.

The Central constituency comprised the Fairfield and Springfield wards of the Metropolitan Borough, as they existed in 1918.

The constituency was surrounded by the River Thames to the north, Battersea South to the east, Balham and Tooting to the south-east and south, Wimbledon to the south-west and Putney to the west.

1950-1974: In the redistribution, which took effect with the United Kingdom general election, 1950, the Metropolitan Borough was re-arranged into four divisions. The Balham and Tooting constituency was the one which disappeared.

Tooting ward and part of Balham ward were included in the redrawn Central seat. Springfield ward remained from the old Central division. Fairfield ward was transferred to the Putney constituency. The rest of Balham ward remained in the Clapham constituency.

The effect of these changes was to combine the southern part of the old Central, with the former Balham and Tooting. This moved the boundaries of this constituency south and east from those in the previous distribution.

The constituency was surrounded by Battersea South to the north, Clapham to the north-east, Streatham to the east, Mitcham in the south, Wimbledon to the south-west and Putney to the north-west.

In the 1974 re-distribution, which was the first after the local government boundary changes in 1965, the London Borough (with significantly different boundaries from the old Metropolitan Borough) was divided into four seats. Those were Battersea North, Battersea South, Putney and Tooting. The Springfield and Tooting wards were included in the Tooting constituency, with the Balham ward being included in Battersea South.

Members of Parliament

Note:-
* ^a Church became associated with the National Labour Party shortly before the dissolution in 1931.

Election results

Swing is only calculated when the same two parties, as in the previous election, share first and second place. Votes for other candidates are ignored in the calculation of Butler swing. A positive swing is from Labour towards the Conservative candidate and a negative swing is from Conservative towards a Labour candidate.

Elections in the 1910s

;General election of 1918Election box begin
title=General Election 1918: Wandsworth CentralElection box candidate with party link
party = Conservative Party (UK)
candidate = Sir John Norton-Griffiths
votes = 7,771
percentage = 55.0
change = "N/A"Election box candidate with party link
party = Labour Party (UK)
candidate = G.P. Blizard
votes = 3,382
percentage = 23.9
change = "N/A"Election box candidate with party link
party = Coalition Liberal
candidate = Hon. Henry Guest
votes = 2,988
percentage = 21.1
change = "N/A"Election box majority
votes = 4,389
percentage = 31.1
change = "N/A"Election box turnout
votes = 14,141
percentage = 50.8
change = "N/A"Election box Registered electors
reg. electors = 27,825Election box gain with party link
winner = Conservative Party (UK)
loser = new seat
swing = "N/A"

Elections in the 1920s

;General election of 1922Election box begin
title=General Election 1922: Wandsworth CentralElection box candidate with party link
party = Conservative Party (UK)
candidate = Sir John Norton-Griffiths, Bt
votes = 12,470
percentage = 69.7
change = +14.7Election box candidate with party link
party = Labour Party (UK)
candidate = Lewis Silkin
votes = 5,420
percentage = 30.3
change = +6.4Election box majority
votes = 7,050
percentage = 39.4
change = +8.3Election box turnout
votes = 17,890
percentage = 61.4
change = +10.6Election box Registered electors
reg. electors = 29,154Election box hold with party link
winner = Conservative Party (UK)
swing = +0.03

;General election of 1923Election box begin
title=General Election 1923: Wandsworth CentralElection box candidate with party link
party = Conservative Party (UK)
candidate = Sir John Norton-Griffiths, Bt
votes = 8,774
percentage = 47.7
change = -22.0Election box candidate with party link
party = Labour Party (UK)
candidate = G.P. Blizard
votes = 5,294
percentage = 28.7
change = -1.6Election box candidate with party link
party = Liberal Party (UK)
candidate = E.M. Denny
votes = 4,357
percentage = 23.6
change = "N/A"Election box majority
votes = 3,480
percentage = 19.0
change = -20.4Election box turnout
votes = 18,425
percentage = 62.0
change = +0.6Election box Registered electors
reg. electors = 29,733Election box hold with party link
winner = Conservative Party (UK)
swing = -7.34

;General election of 1924Election box begin
title=General Election 1924: Wandsworth CentralElection box candidate with party link
party = Conservative Party (UK)
candidate = Sir Henry Jackson
votes = 13,234
percentage = 61.6
change = +13.9Election box candidate with party link
party = Labour Party (UK)
candidate = C. Latham
votes = 8,235
percentage = 38.4
change = +9.7Election box majority
votes = 4,999
percentage = 23.2
change = +4.2Election box turnout
votes = 21,469
percentage = 70.8
change = +8.8Election box Registered electors
reg. electors = 30,342Election box hold with party link
winner = Conservative Party (UK)
swing = -0.73

;General election of 1929Election box begin
title=General Election 1929: Wandsworth CentralElection box candidate with party link
party = Labour Party (UK)
candidate = Archibald George Church
votes = 11,404
percentage = 41.8
change = +3.4Election box candidate with party link
party = Conservative Party (UK)
candidate = Sir Henry Jackson
votes = 11,104
percentage = 40.7
change = -20.9Election box candidate with party link
party = Liberal Party (UK)
candidate = A.W. Duthie
votes = 4,784
percentage = 17.5
change = "N/A"Election box majority
votes = 300
percentage = 1.1
change = "N/A"Election box turnout
votes = 27,292
percentage = 69.5
change = -1.3Election box Registered electors
reg. electors = 39,258Election box gain with party link
winner = Labour Party (UK)
loser = Conservative Party (UK)
swing = -12.31

Elections in the 1930s

;General election of 1931Election box begin
title=General Election 1931: Wandsworth CentralElection box candidate with party link
party = Conservative Party (UK)
candidate = Sir Henry Jackson
votes = 19,159
percentage = 70.7
change = +30.0Election box candidate with party link
party = Labour Party (UK)
candidate = J.L. Cohen
votes = 7,512
percentage = 27.7
change = -14.1Election box candidate with party link
party = New Party (UK)
candidate = A.M. Diston
votes = 424
percentage = 1.6
change = "N/A"Election box majority
votes = 11,647
percentage = 43.0
change = "N/A"Election box turnout
votes = 26,895
percentage = 68.7
change = -0.8Election box Registered electors
reg. electors = 39,463Election box gain with party link
winner = Conservative Party (UK)
loser = Labour Party (UK)
swing = +22.50

;General election of 1935Election box begin
title=General Election 1935: Wandsworth CentralElection box candidate with party link
party = Conservative Party (UK)
candidate = Sir Henry Jackson, Bt
votes = 14,728
percentage = 58.6
change = -12.1Election box candidate with party link
party = Labour Party (UK)
candidate = F.W. Davies
votes = 10,405
percentage = 41.4
change = +13.7Election box majority
votes = 4,323
percentage = 17.2
change = -25.8Election box turnout
votes = 25,133
percentage = 65.0
change = -3.7Election box Registered electors
reg. electors = 38,664Election box hold with party link
winner = Conservative Party (UK)
swing = -13.23
* "Death of Jackson, 23 February 1937"

;By-election of 1937Election box begin
title=By-Election 29 April 1937: Wandsworth CentralElection box candidate with party link
party = Labour Party (UK)
candidate = Harry Louis Nathan
votes = 12,406
percentage = 51.0
change = +9.6Election box candidate with party link
party = Conservative Party (UK)
candidate = Roland Jennings
votes = 11,921
percentage = 49.0
change = -9.6Election box majority
votes = 485
percentage = 2.0
change = "N/A"Election box turnout
votes = 24,327
percentage = 63.2
change = -1.8Election box Registered electors
reg. electors = 38,478Election box gain with party link
winner = Labour Party (UK)
loser = Conservative Party (UK)
swing = -9.60

Elections in the 1940s

* "Creation of Nathan as the 1st Lord Nathan"

;By-election of 1940Election box begin
title=By-Election 22 June 1940: Wandsworth CentralElection box candidate with party link
party = Labour Party (UK)
candidate = Rt Hon. Ernest Bevin
votes = Unopposed
percentage = "N/A"
change = "N/A"Election box hold with party link
winner = Labour Party (UK)
swing = "N/A"
* "Note (1940): Bevin was the Minister of Labour and National Service at the time of his election. Under an agreement between the three parties comprising the wartime coalition, the parties which had not represented a seat when it became vacant would not contest the by-election."

;General election of 1945Election box begin
title=General Election 1945: Wandsworth CentralElection box candidate with party link
party = Labour Party (UK)
candidate = Rt Hon. Ernest Bevin
votes = 14,126
percentage = 61.2
change = "N/A"Election box candidate with party link
party = Conservative Party (UK)
candidate = John George Smyth
votes = 8,952
percentage = 38.8
change = "N/A"Election box majority
votes = 5,174
percentage = 22.4
change = "N/A"Election box turnout
votes = 23,078
percentage = 73.6
change = "N/A"Election box Registered electors
reg. electors = 31,349Election box hold with party link
winner = Labour Party (UK)
swing = "N/A"

Elections in the 1950s

* "There were major boundary changes, which came into effect, at the 1950 election (for details see the Boundaries section above)."

;General election of 1950Election box begin
title=General Election 1950: Wandsworth CentralElection box candidate with party link
party = Labour Party (UK)
candidate = Harold Richard Adams
votes = 27,582
percentage = 48.5
change = -12.7Election box candidate with party link
party = Conservative Party (UK)
candidate = Robert Grant Grant-Ferris
votes = 25,533
percentage = 45.0
change = +6.2Election box candidate with party link
party = Liberal Party (UK)
candidate = A.H. Rose
votes = 3,680
percentage = 6.5
change = "N/A"Election box majority
votes = 2,049
percentage = 3.5
change = -18.9Election box turnout
votes = 56,795
percentage = 82.1
change = +8.5Election box Registered electors
reg. electors = 69,206Election box hold with party link
winner = Labour Party (UK)
swing = +9.28

;General election of 1951Election box begin
title=General Election 1951: Wandsworth CentralElection box candidate with party link
party = Labour Party (UK)
candidate = Harold Richard Adams
votes = 28,844
percentage = 51.0
change = +2.5Election box candidate with party link
party = Conservative Party (UK)
candidate = Robert Grant Grant-Ferris
votes = 27,661
percentage = 49.0
change = +4.0Election box majority
votes = 1,183
percentage = 2.0
change = -1.5Election box turnout
votes = 56,505
percentage = 83.7
change = +1.6Election box Registered electors
reg. electors = 67,476Election box hold with party link
winner = Labour Party (UK)
swing = +0.88

;General election of 1955Election box begin
title=General Election 1955: Wandsworth CentralElection box candidate with party link
party = Conservative Party (UK)
candidate = Michael Henry Colin Hughes-Young
votes = 25,484
percentage = 51.1
change = +2.1Election box candidate with party link
party = Labour Party (UK)
candidate = Mrs A.P. Llewelyn Davies
votes = 24,391
percentage = 48.9
change = -2.1Election box majority
votes = 1,093
percentage = 2.0
change = "N/A"Election box turnout
votes = 49,875
percentage = 77.6
change = -6.1Election box Registered electors
reg. electors = 64,276Election box gain with party link
winner = Conservative Party (UK)
loser = Labour Party (UK)
swing = +2.14

;General election of 1959Election box begin
title=General Election 1959: Wandsworth CentralElection box candidate with party link
party = Conservative Party (UK)
candidate = Michael Henry Colin Hughes-Young
votes = 23,655
percentage = 47.7
change = -3.4Election box candidate with party link
party = Labour Party (UK)
candidate = Mrs A.P. Llewelyn Davies
votes = 21,683
percentage = 43.7
change = -5.2Election box candidate with party link
party = Liberal Party (UK)
candidate = R.A. Locke
votes = 4,287
percentage = 8.6
change = "N/A"Election box majority
votes = 1,972
percentage = 4.0
change = +1.8Election box turnout
votes = 49,625
percentage = 80.3
change = +2.7Election box Registered electors
reg. electors = 61,831Election box hold with party link
winner = Conservative Party (UK)
swing = +1.08

Elections in the 1960s

;General election of 1964Election box begin
title=General Election 1964: Wandsworth CentralElection box candidate with party link
party = Labour Party (UK)
candidate = Dr. David Leigh Kerr
votes = 20,581
percentage = 47.5
change = +3.8Election box candidate with party link
party = Conservative Party (UK)
candidate = Michael Henry Colin Hughes-Young
votes = 18,336
percentage = 42.4
change = -5.3Election box candidate with party link
party = Liberal Party (UK)
candidate = R.A. Locke
votes = 4,369
percentage = 10.1
change = +1.5Election box majority
votes = 2,245
percentage = 5.1
change = "N/A"Election box turnout
votes = 43,286
percentage = 74.2
change = -6.1Election box Registered electors
reg. electors = 58,338Election box gain with party link
winner = Labour Party (UK)
loser = Conservative Party (UK)
swing = -5.06

;General election of 1966Election box begin
title=General Election 1966: Wandsworth CentralElection box candidate with party link
party = Labour Party (UK)
candidate = Dr. David Leigh Kerr
votes = 22,159
percentage = 52.8
change = +5.3Election box candidate with party link
party = Conservative Party (UK)
candidate = B.M.D. Cassidy
votes = 16,331
percentage = 39.0
change = -3.4Election box candidate with party link
party = Liberal Party (UK)
candidate = M.R. Uziell-Hamilton
votes = 3,429
percentage = 8.2
change = -1.9Election box majority
votes = 5,828
percentage = 13.8
change = +8.7Election box turnout
votes = 41,919
percentage = 74.2
change = ..Election box Registered electors
reg. electors = 56,521Election box hold with party link
winner = Labour Party (UK)
swing = -4.69

Elections in the 1970s

;General election of 1970Election box begin
title=General Election 1970: Wandsworth CentralElection box candidate with party link
party = Labour Party (UK)
candidate = Thomas Michael Cox
votes = 19,776
percentage = 54.0
change = +1.2Election box candidate with party link
party = Conservative Party (UK)
candidate = Patricia McLaughlin
votes = 16,830
percentage = 46.0
change = +7.0Election box majority
votes = 2,946
percentage = 8.0
change = -5.8Election box turnout
votes = 36,606
percentage = 62.6
change = -11.6Election box Registered electors
reg. electors = 58,502Election box hold with party link
winner = Labour Party (UK)
swing = +3.55
* "Constituency abolished (1974}"

References

* "Boundaries of Parliamentary Constituencies 1885-1972", compiled and edited by F.W.S. Craig (Parliamentary Reference Publications 1972)
* "British Parliamentary Election Results 1918-1949", compiled and edited by F.W.S. Craig (Macmillan Press, revised edition 1977)
* "British Parliamentary Election Results 1950-1973", compiled and edited by F.W.S. Craig (Parliamentary Research Services 1983).
* "Who's Who of British Members of Parliament, Volume III 1919-1945", edited by M. Stenton and S. Lees (Harvester Press 1979)
* "Who's Who of British Members of Parliament, Volume IV 1945-1979", edited by M. Stenton and S. Lees (Harvester Press 1981)
*