Merton
Former electoral division
for the Greater London Council
Merton electoral division boundaries
DistrictLondon Borough of Merton
Population183,570 (1969 estimate)
Electorate
  • 134,520 (1964)
  • 132,117 (1967)
  • 138,741 (1970)
Area9,379.2 acres (37.956 km2)
Former electoral division
Created1965
Abolished1973
Member(s)2
Replaced byMitcham and Morden and Wimbledon

Merton was an electoral division for the purposes of elections to the Greater London Council. The constituency elected two councillors for a three-year term in 1964, 1967 and 1970.

History

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 which therefore created a constituency called Merton.[1]

The electoral division was replaced from 1973 by the single-member electoral divisions of Mitcham and Morden and Wimbledon.[2]

Elections

The Merton constituency was used for the Greater London Council elections in 1964,[3] 1967[4] and 1970.[5] Two councillors were elected at each election using first-past-the-post voting.[6]

1964 election

The first election was held on 9 April 1964, a year before the council came into its powers. The electorate was 134,520 and two Conservative Party councillors were elected. With 69,148 people voting, the turnout was 51.4%. The councillors were elected for a three-year term.

1964 Greater London Council election: Merton
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Thomas William Scott 29,920
Conservative Frederick William Walker 29,895
Labour C. M. Waugh 28,752
Labour J. T. Pyne 27,108
Liberal E. M. Morrison 6,753
Liberal J. S. Rowlinson 6,676
Communist S. E. French 1,552
Union Movement D. Wheeler 1,409
Turnout
Conservative win (new seat)
Conservative win (new seat)

1967 election

The second election was held on 13 April 1967. The electorate was 132,117 and two Conservative Party councillors were elected. With 68,858 people voting, the turnout was 52.1%. The councillors were elected for a three-year term.

1967 Greater London Council election: Merton
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Thomas William Scott 38,941
Conservative Frederick William Walker 38,514
Labour E. W. Goodall 23,069
Labour P. F. Inman 22,128
Liberal R. A. Locke 4,963
Liberal J. S. Rowlinson 4,764
Communist S. E. French 1,227
Turnout
Conservative hold Swing
Conservative hold Swing

1970 election

The third election was held on 9 April 1970. The electorate was 138,741 and two Conservative Party councillors were elected. With 54,777 people voting, the turnout was 39.5%. The councillors were elected for a three-year term.

1970 Greater London Council election: Merton
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Frederick William Walker 31,467
Conservative Stanley Charles Bolton 31,205
Labour E. I. Marshall 18,845
Labour D. T. Miller 18,554
Liberal R. A. Locke 2,596
Liberal J. D. Norgate 2,253
Homes before Roads B. O'Sullivan 632
Communist S. E. French 624
Homes before Roads T. King 597
Union Movement R. Clare 315
Turnout
Conservative hold Swing
Conservative hold Swing

References

  1. ↑ British Information Services (1970). British Record: Political and Economic Notes. To date elections, normally fought on traditional party lines, have been based on the London boroughs, each borough returning two or more councillors; after 1973 there will be single member electoral areas based on parliamentary constituencies.
  2. ↑ "The Greater London (Electoral Areas) Order 1972" (PDF). legislation.gov.uk. 20 June 1972. Retrieved 10 October 2023.
  3. ↑ "General Election of Greater London Councillors" (PDF). 9 April 1964. Archived from the original (PDF) on 22 August 2013. Retrieved 10 October 2023.
  4. ↑ "General Election of Greater London Councillors" (PDF). 13 April 1967. Archived from the original (PDF) on 22 August 2013. Retrieved 10 October 2023.
  5. ↑ "Greater London Council Election" (PDF). 9 April 1970. Archived from the original (PDF) on 22 August 2013. Retrieved 10 October 2023.
  6. ↑ Boothroyd, David. "Greater London Council Election results: Merton". United Kingdom Election Results. Archived from the original on 24 March 2016. Retrieved 10 October 2023.
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