Lewisham local elections

The London Borough of Lewisham is a London borough, in the United Kingdom, established in 1964. Elections are held every four years using a plurality bloc vote electoral system for the councillors and the supplementary vote electoral system for the elected mayor.

Civic Mayors and Chairs of the Council

-
valign="top" | 1994 council


-
valign="top" | 1982 council


-
valign="top" | 1971 council

Leaders of the Council

"'1998 Council:
Labour 61; Lib Dem 4; Conservative 2

"'1994 Council:
Labour 63; Lib Dem 3; Conservative 1

"'1990 Council:
Labour 58; Conservative 6; Lib Dem 3

"'1986 Council:
Labour 50; Conservative 17

"'1982 Council:
Labour 43; Conservative 24

"'1978 Council:
Labour 44; Conservative 23

By-elections in the 1998 council

(winning party shown)

8 Nov 2001 - Bellingham (Labour)

8 Feb 2001 - Marlowe (Labour)

23 Nov 2000 - Pepys (Socialist)

15 Jul 1999 - Churchdown (Labour)

10 Jun 1999 - Pepys (Socialist)

8 Apr 1999 - Downham (Lib Dem)

25 Nov 1998 - Grinling Gibbons (Labour)

Election results 1964-1974

Between 1964 and 1974 the council was elected on wards created before the borough was created: 18 councillors in 6 wards from the Metropolitan Borough of Deptford and 42 councillors in 17 wards from the Metropolitan Borough of Lewisham. The election of the first council in 1964 constituted the practical creation of the London Borough of Lewisham. It operated in 'shadow' form and did not take over administration of services until a year later. Whilst the term of a council at that time was three years, the Government extended the life of all the London Boroughs in order to de-synchronize the timetabling of elections with those of the Greater London Council.

However, the 1968 council elections were a disaster for the Labour Party who were in national government at the time, and this was reflected in this borough - the three year period 1968-1971 remains the only time in the borough's existence that Labour has not formed the administration. Non-Labour governance didn't take - the 1971 election saw the Conservative Party unable to defend its gains, as - now in national government itself - it was crushed in turn.

1974 Council:
Labour 49; Conservative 11

1971 Council:
Labour 55; Conservative 5

1968 Council:
Conservative 41; Labour 19

1964 Council:
Labour 45; Conservative 15