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Croydon Central (electoral division)

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Croydon Central
Former electoral division
for the Greater London Council
Map
Croydon Central electoral division boundaries
DistrictCroydon
Electorate
  • 66,479 (1973)
  • 67,070 (1977)
  • 67,107 (1980)
  • 66,585 (1981)
Area2,604 hectares (26.04 km2)
Former electoral division
Created1973
Abolished1986
Member(s)1
Created fromCroydon

Croydon Central 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.

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 Croydon formed the Croydon 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 Croydon Central parliamentary constituency.[1]

It covered an area of 2,604 hectares (26.04 km2).

Elections

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The Croydon Central 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 66,479 and one Labour Party councillor was elected. The turnout was 42.3%. 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: Croydon Central
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour David Frank White 13,029
Conservative Sonia Copland 10,914
Liberal Roy A. Lightwing 3,965
Independent J. T. E. A. Waddell 241
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 67,070 and one Conservative Party councillor was elected. The turnout was 46.2%. The councillor was elected for a four-year term.

1977 Greater London Council election: Croydon Central
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Gordon William Herbert Taylor 17,964
Labour Co-op D. F. White 10,340
Liberal Roy A. Lightwing 1,713
National Front P. W. Moss 687
National Party W. H. Porter 299
Turnout
Conservative gain from Labour Swing

1980 by-election

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A by-election was held on 20 March 1980, following the resignation of Gordon William Herbert Taylor. The by-election coincided with one in Croydon North East. The electorate was 67,107 and one Conservative Party councillor was elected. The turnout was 28.4%.

Croydon Central by-election, 1980
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Robert Gurth Hughes 9,345
Labour A. Ebsworth 7,768
Liberal J. P. Johnson 1,659
National Front K. Field 280
Turnout
Conservative hold 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 66,585 and one Conservative Party councillor was elected. The turnout was 43.9%. 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: Croydon Central
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Robert Gurth Hughes 14,058
Labour John K.P. Evers 11,231
Liberal Patrick S. Ryan 3,947
Turnout
Conservative hold 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 1 September 2023.
  3. ^ "Greater London Council Election" (PDF). 5 May 1977. Archived from the original (PDF) on 22 August 2013. Retrieved 1 September 2023.
  4. ^ "Greater London Council Election" (PDF). 7 May 1981. Archived from the original (PDF) on 22 August 2013. Retrieved 1 September 2023.
  5. ^ Boothroyd, David. "Greater London Council Election results: Croydon". United Kingdom Election Results. Archived from the original on 24 March 2016. Retrieved 1 September 2023.
  6. ^ "The London Councillors Order 1976" (PDF). legislation.gov.uk. 17 February 1976. Retrieved 1 September 2023.