A map showing the wards of Merton since 2002

Merton London Borough Council in London, England is elected every four years; it has administrative control over the London Borough of Merton.

Since the last boundary changes in 2022, 57 councillors have been elected from 20 wards.[1]

History

Establishment

The thirty-two London boroughs were established in 1965 by the London Government Act 1963. They are the principal authorities in Greater London and have responsibilities including education, housing, planning, highways, social services, libraries, recreation, waste, environmental health and revenue collection. Some of the powers are shared with the Greater London Authority, which also manages passenger transport, police and fire.[2]

Political control

Since the foundation of the council, political control of the council has been held by the following parties:[3]

Party in controlYears
No overall control1964–1968
Conservative1968–1971
Labour1971–1974
Conservative1974–1989
No overall control[n 1]1989–1990
Labour1990–2006
No overall control2006–2014
Labour2014–present

Leadership

The leaders of the council since 1965 have been:[4][5]

CouncillorPartyFromTo
Vincent Talbot Conservative19651971
Dennis Hempstead Labour19711974
Vincent Talbot Conservative19741975
Allan Jones Conservative19751980
Harry Cowd Conservative19801988
John Elvidge Conservative19881990
Geoffrey Smith Labour19901991
Tony Colman Labour19911997
Mike Brunt Labour19971999
Philip Jones Labour19992000
Peter Holt Labour200025 Apr 2001
Andrew Judge Labour25 Apr 200124 May 2006
David Williams Conservative24 May 200626 May 2010
Stephen Alambritis Labour26 May 201018 Nov 2020
Mark Allison Labour18 Nov 20208 May 2022
Ross Garrod Labour25 May 2022

Local political parties

Longthornton and Tamworth Residents Association

Longthornton and Tamworth Residents Association

Longthornton and Tamworth Residents Association is a residents association in the Longthornton area, which lies in the triangle between Pollards Hill, Streatham Vale and Mitcham Eastfields.[6] Between 1964 and 1994, LTRA contested elections in Merton, initially in the Mitcham Central ward. After the borough's wards were redrawn in 1978 and the Mitcham Central ward abolished, the LTRA contested elections in the Longthornton ward.[7]

LTRA won between three and four seats in the elections between 1964 and 1978.[8] At the 1982 election, it was defeated by the Conservatives, who took all three seats in Longthornton.[9] It subsequently regained a seat at a by-election in March 1984 and retook all three seats in the 1986 election.[10] At the 1994 election, LTRA lost two seats to Labour. This was the last election that was contested by LTRA. By the time of the 1998 election, its last councillor no longer sat for the party.[7][11][12]

Merton Park Ward Residents Association

Merton Park Ward Residents Association
Merton Park Ward Independent Residents
LeaderEdward Foley
Founded1989 (1989)
Merton London Borough Council
2 / 57
Website
www.mertonpark.org.uk

Merton Park Ward Residents Association is a residents association in the Merton Park ward. The MPWRA has two councillors on Merton London Borough Council, and for this purpose is registered as the political party Merton Park Ward Independent Residents.[13]

The MPWRA was formed in 1989 in order to contest a by-election that October in the Merton Park ward, caused by the resignation of a Conservative councillor. The MPWRA opposed the proposed extension of the A24 relief road across a corner of the Merton Park Conservation Area, which required the demolition of several Victorian houses.[13][14] At the by-election, Bridget Smith was elected for the MPWRA; this hung the council.[14] In the following year's local elections, the MPWRA gained all three council seats of the Merton Park ward, becoming the third-largest party on the council.[13] The A24 relief road was not extended.[14]

The MPWRA held every seat in the ward in all subsequent elections, although the number of seats for the ward was reduced to two ahead of the 2022 elections.[1] After the 2010 elections, the MPWRA provided support for a minority Labour administration until Labour regained a majority at the 2014 elections.[15][16] Following seat gains for the Liberal Democrats on other wards at the 2018 elections, the MPWRA became the fourth-largest party on the council.[17]

Since its founding, the MPWRA has campaigned for the redevelopment of Nelson Hospital and the regeneration of Morden's town centre.[14] The MPWRA publishes a quarterly local publication known as Forum.[14]

Election Seats Votes Borough-wide result Councillors
# % in ward +/- % in borough Position Administration 1 2 3
1990[7] 3 5,567 51.1% n/a 3.1% Increase 3rd Labour Bridget Smith Dese Child Neville Beddoe
1994[18] 3 5,860 59.3% Increase8.2% 3.6% Steady 3rd Labour
1998[19] 3 4,415 52.4% Decrease6.9% 3.4% Steady 3rd Labour John Nelson Jones
2002[12] 3 4,334 54.1% Increase1.7% 3.4% Steady 3rd Labour Jillian Aston Peter Southgate
2006[20] 3 4,815 50.0% Decrease4.1% 3.0% Steady 3rd Conservative minority Karin Forbes Krysia Williams
2010[21] 3 7,572 53.0% Increase3.0% 2.9% Steady 3rd Labour minority John Sargeant
2014[22] 3 6,222 63.7% Increase10.7% 3.7% Steady 3rd Labour Edward Foley
2018[17] 3 5,898 56.7% Decrease7.0% 3.3% Decrease 4th Labour Dickie Wilkinson
2022[23] 2 5,898 59.9% Increase3.2% 2.1% Steady 4th Labour Stephen Mercer

Borough result maps

List of council elections

By-election results

1964-1968

There were no by-elections.[27]

1968-1971

Wimbledon North by-election, 4 July 1968[28]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Miss L. Hirst 1741
Liberal G. A. Bloxam 748
Labour A. C. W. Holmes 429
Turnout 27.9%
Mitcham West by-election, 15 October 1970[28]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour H. R. Veal 1235
Conservative P. E. Burcombe 540
Liberal P. H. E. Whiffin 208
Communist J. A. Court 56
Independent C. N. S. Killick 16
Turnout 21.8%

1971-1974

Wimbledon North by-election, 26 October 1972[29]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Miss M. J. Minto 1,898
Liberal Mrs L. A. Sawyer 766
Labour Mrs W. Daniels 695
Turnout 29.4%
Mitcham North by-election, 14 June 1973[29]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour T. L. Harris 1,324
Conservative F. H. Meakings 1,287
Liberal P. C. Spratling 1,105
Turnout 34.6%

1974-1978

Wimbledon South by-election, 19 September 1974[24]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Diana M. Harris 1,187
Labour Lester W. B. Augarde 1,119
Liberal Keith N. Searby 662
Air Road Public Safety White Resident William G. Boaks 13
Turnout 34.2
Conservative gain from Labour Swing
West Barnes by-election, 20 March 1975[24]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Vincent Talbot 1,781
Labour Shirley E. Cornish 786
Insurance Official David W. Cotton 293
Independent Grace L. Giddins 38
Air Road Public Safety White Resident William G. Boaks 4
Turnout 28.6
Conservative hold Swing
Mitcham Central by-election, 8 May 1975[24]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Longthornton and Tamworth Residents David J. Rogers 1,833
Labour Leslie A. Payne 1,248
Liberal Linda R. Pollard 463
Council Tenants & Residents Leonard Jenner 111
Air Road Public Safety White Resident William G. Boaks 12
Turnout 35.8
Longthornton and Tamworth Residents hold Swing
Cannon Hill by-election, 30 October 1975[24]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Peggy Rowell 1,955
Conservative Anthony M. Owen 1,710
Labour Philip M. Jones 765
Air Road Public Safety White Resident William G. Boaks 7
Turnout 45.5
Liberal gain from Conservative Swing
Wimbledon West by-election, 27 November 1975[24]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Sellen M. Somers 2,428
Liberal David W. G. Sawyer 1,203
Labour Christine M. Bickerstaff 303
Air Road Public Safety White Resident William G. Boaks 18
Turnout 36.1
Conservative hold Swing

1978-1982

Merton Park by-election, 8 May 1980[9]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative William J. Perry 1,513 55.7
Labour Patrick O'Sullivan 666 24.5
Liberal Andrew C. Trompeteler 449 16.5
National Front John R. Perryman 72 2.7
Public Safety, Democratic Monarchist, White Resident William G. Boaks 16 0.6
Turnout 42.2
Conservative hold Swing

The by-election was called following the death of Cllr. George Watt.

Ravensbury by-election, 22 October 1981[9]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Alliance Patricia M. Forster 1,300 41.9
Labour Nancy Bone 1,142 36.8
Conservative William P. Keen 661 21.3
Turnout 44.8
Alliance gain from Labour Swing

The by-election was called following the resignation of Cllr. William A. Hillhouse.

1982-1986

Lower Morden by-election, 23 June 1983[10]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Dennis V. Taylor 1,470 52.4
Alliance Edward B. Baillie 782 27.9
Labour Irene M. Miles 555 19.8
Turnout 40.7
Conservative hold Swing

The by-election was called following the resignation of Cllr. Peter J. Glasspool.

Longthornton by-election, 15 March 1984[10]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Longthornton and Tamworth Residents Terry E. Ellis 735 29.1
Conservative Colin F. Nixson 728 28.9
Labour Irene M. Miles 624 24.7
Alliance Michael Goldstone 435 17.2
Turnout 35.2
Longthornton and Tamworth Residents gain from Conservative Swing

The by-election was called following the death of Cllr. Michael L. Page.

Ravensbury by-election, 15 March 1984[10]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Paul B. Martin 1,674 55.6
Conservative Veronica J. Brooke 833 27.7
Alliance Edward B. Baillie 504 16.7
Turnout 44.0
Labour hold Swing

The by-election was called following the resignation of Cllr. Nancy Bone.

Lower Morden by-election, 14 June 1984[10]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Alan W. Hemsley 1,440 51.7
Labour Alvin W. Biddulph 718 25.8
Alliance Ronald A. Locke 628 22.5
Turnout 40.8
Conservative hold Swing

The by-election was called following the resignation of Cllr. Robert A. Dilley.

1986-1990

Pollards Hill by-election, 19 March 1987[30]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Barbara J. Mansfield 2,017 50.5
Labour Slim Flegg 1,223 30.6
Alliance Patricia E. Pearce 752 18.8
Turnout 62.3
Conservative hold Swing

The by-election was called following the death of Cllr. James B. Garwood.

Hillside by-election, 11 June 1987[30]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Stephen J. Ashcroft 2,653 53.8
Alliance Hugh M.G. Liversedge 1,706 34.6
Labour William Bailey 753 11.6
Turnout 74.2
Conservative hold Swing

The by-election was called following the death of Cllr. David Mason.

Cannon Hill by-election, 26 November 1987[30]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative John J. Ratcliffe 1,711 57.0
Labour Paula A. Burnett 990 33.0
Alliance Neil R. Rennie 300 10.0
Turnout 43.3
Conservative hold Swing

The by-election was called following the resignation of Cllr. David T. Williams.

Merton Park by-election, 19 October 1989[30]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Merton Park Residents Bridget G. Smith 1,436 41.7
Conservative James E. Smith 1206 35.0
Labour Patrick R. O'Sullivan 805 23.4
Turnout 52.9
Merton Park Residents gain from Conservative Swing

The by-election was called following the resignation of Cllr. Kathryn E. Nicholls. The result meant that the Conservatives lost their one-seat majority on the council, placing the council under no overall control until the next election. This was the first election ever contested by the Merton Park Ward Residents Association, which had run in opposition to the council's proposed extension of the A24 relief road.[31]

1990-1994

West Barnes by-election, 1 October 1992[32]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Michael F. Troy 1,250 41.1
Labour Steven G. Conquest 931 30.6
Liberal Democrats Alison L. Willott 558 18.4
Independent Resident Roger I. Logan 225 7.4
Green Jacqueline L. Barrow 76 2.5
Turnout 43.6
Conservative hold Swing

The by-election was called following the resignation of Cllr. Michael J. G. Menhinick.

1994-1998

Figge's Marsh by-election, 16 March 1995[33]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Andrew J. Judge 1,403 58.5
Conservative Selvin Brown 825 34.4
Liberal Democrats Marc J.-Y. Plessier 109 4.5
Green Rajeev K. Thacker 61 2.5
Turnout
Labour hold Swing

The by-election was called following the death of Cllr. David R. Proctor.

Durnsford by-election, 29 June 1995[33]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Joyce G. Paton 700 42.5
Conservative Jean A. Fortescue 552 33.5
Liberal Democrats Stephen K. Harbron 302 18.3
Green Rajeen K. Thacker 94 5.7
Turnout
Labour hold Swing

The by-election was called following the death of Cllr. Arthur M. Kennedy.

1998-2002

Lower Morden by-election, 15 June 2000[26]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Maurice H. Groves 1,033 59.9 +11.9
Labour Michael A. Fitzgerald 470 27.3 -8.1
Liberal Democrats Heather M. Hurst 148 8.6 -3.4
Green Giles T. Barrow 73 4.2 -0.4
Majority 563 32.6
Turnout 1,724 25.5
Conservative hold Swing

The by-election was called following the resignation of Cllr. Terence J. Daniels.

West Barnes by-election, 9 November 2000[26]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Gillian V. Lewis-Lavender 984 49.5 +24.3
Liberal Democrats Heather M. Hurst 723 36.4 -5.6
Labour Tony R. Giles 279 14.0 -14.3
Majority 261 13.1
Turnout 1,986 27.8
Conservative gain from Liberal Democrats Swing

The by-election was called following the resignation of Cllr. Jennifer Willott.

2002-2006

Ravensbury by-election, 6 March 2003[34]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Stephen Alambritis 1,014 46.4 -0.9
Conservative Barbara J. Mansfield 942 43.1 +15.0
UKIP Adrian K. J. Roberts 116 5.3 +5.3
Green Richard M. Evans 112 5.1 -4.8
Majority 72 3.3
Turnout 2,184 33.7
Labour hold Swing

The by-election was called following the resignation of Cllr. Tony Giles.

Lower Morden by-election, 10 June 2004[35]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Ronald W. Wilson 1,401 49.9 +4.3
Labour Terence J. Daniels 576 20.5 -2.1
UKIP Adrian K. J. Roberts 392 14.0 +1.3
Liberal Democrats Lina Akbar 262 9.3 -2.1
Green Giles T. Barrow 175 6.2 -1.5
Majority 825 29.4
Turnout 2,806 43.9
Conservative hold Swing

The by-election was called following the resignation of Cllr. Leslie D. Mutch.

2006-2010

There were no by-elections.[36]

2010-2014

Wimbledon Park by-election, 3 May 2012[37]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Ms. Linda Taylor 1,837 47.6
Labour Ms. Louise Deegan 931 24.1
Liberal Democrats Dave Busby 838 21.7
Green Richmond Crowhurst 253 6.6
Turnout 48.0
Conservative hold Swing

The by-election was called following the resignation of Cllr. Tariq M. Ahmad.

Colliers Wood by-election, 8 August 2013[37]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Ms. Caroline Cooper-Marbiah 1,685 72.2
Conservative Peter Lord 441 18.9
UKIP Shafqat Janjua 157 6.7
Liberal Democrats Phil Ling 52 2.2
Turnout 29.9
Labour hold Swing

The by-election was called following the death of Cllr. Gam Gurung.

2014-2018

St Helier by-election, 19 May 2016[38]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Jerome Neil 1,436 71.0 +11.5
Conservative Susan Edwards 282 13.9 -1.0
UKIP Richard Alexander Hilton 191 9.4 -10.2
Liberal Democrats Asif Ashraf 59 2.9 -3.1
Green John Charles Barraball 55 2.7 N/A
Majority 1,154 57.1
Turnout 2,030
Labour hold Swing

The by-election was triggered by the death of Cllr. Maxi Martin of the Labour Party.

St Helier by-election, 20 July 2017[39]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Kelly Braund 1,508 74.1 +3.1
Conservative Geraldine Kirby 318 15.6 +1.7
Liberal Democrats Geoff Cooper 98 4.8 +1.9
Green Phillipa Zielfa Maslin 61 3.0 +0.3
UKIP Bob Grahame 50 2.5 -6.9
Majority 1,190 58.4
Turnout 2,035 24.9
Labour hold Swing

The by-election was triggered by the resignation of Cllr. Imran Uddin of the Labour Party.

2018-2022

Cannon Hill by-election, 20 June 2019[40]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Democrats Jenifer Ann Gould 1,060 35.0 +24.3
Labour Ryan Barnett 876 28.9 -13.9
Conservative Michael Charles Joseph Paterson 867 28.6 -14.2
Green Susie O'Connor 158 5.2 +5.2
UKIP Andrew Thomas Mills 68 2.2 -1.4
Majority 184 6.1
Turnout 2,030 41.8
Liberal Democrats gain from Labour Swing +19.1

The by-election was triggered by the resignation of Cllr. Mark Kenny of the Labour Party.

St. Helier by-election, 6 May 2021[41]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Helena Dollimore 1,859 54.4
Conservative Isaac Kwaku Frimpong 907 26.6
Green Pippa Maslin 409 12.0
Liberal Democrats Simon John Jones 241 7.1
Majority 952
Turnout 3,416 41.4
Labour hold Swing

The by-election was triggered by the resignation of Cllr. Kelly Braund of the Labour Party.

References

Notes

  1. ↑ From 1986, the Conservatives had a one-seat majority on the Council, which they lost in a by-election in October 1989 to the Merton Park Ward Residents Association.
  2. ↑ The Lambeth, Merton and Wandsworth (London Borough Boundaries) Order 1993
  3. ↑ The Croydon, Merton and Sutton (London Borough Boundaries) Order 1993

References

  1. 1 2 3 "LGBCE | Merton | LGBCE Site". www.lgbce.org.uk. Retrieved 20 October 2021.
  2. ↑ "The essential guide to London local government | London Councils". www.londoncouncils.gov.uk. Retrieved 10 October 2021.
  3. ↑ "Local elections: Merton". BBC News Online. Retrieved 11 September 2009.
  4. ↑ "Council minutes". Merton Council. Retrieved 8 July 2022.
  5. ↑ "London Boroughs Political Almanac". London Councils. Retrieved 5 July 2022.
  6. ↑ "Group Details - Longthornton & Tamworth Residents' Association". Merton Voluntary Service Council. Retrieved 28 June 2018.
  7. 1 2 3 Rallings, Colin; Thrasher, Michael. London Borough of Merton Election Results 1964-2010 (PDF). Retrieved 28 June 2018.
  8. ↑ "London Borough of Merton - Results Summary following Full Council Elections 1964-2012" (PDF). Merton Electoral Services. Retrieved 28 June 2018.
  9. 1 2 3 "London Borough Council Elections 6 May 1982" (PDF). Retrieved 18 June 2018.
  10. 1 2 3 4 5 "London Borough Council Elections 8 May 1986" (PDF). Retrieved 18 June 2018.
  11. ↑ "London Borough of Merton Election Results - May 1998" (PDF). Merton Council. May 1998. Retrieved 8 June 2018.
  12. 1 2 "London Borough of Merton Election Results - May 2002" (PDF). Merton Council. May 2002. Retrieved 9 June 2018.
  13. 1 2 3 "Merton Park Ward Residents Association". mertonpark.org.uk. Archived from the original on 3 March 2016. Retrieved 31 May 2018.
  14. 1 2 3 4 5 "Forum Issue No. 40" (PDF). Autumn 2009. Archived from the original (PDF) on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 31 May 2018.
  15. ↑ "The particularities of Merton | Dave Hill". TheGuardian.com. 18 May 2014.
  16. ↑ "The Home Page".
  17. 1 2 "Merton Park Ward Election Results 2018". Merton Council. 3 May 2018. Retrieved 14 June 2018.
  18. ↑ Rallings, Colin; Thrasher, Michael. "London Borough of Merton Election Results 1964-2010" (PDF). Retrieved 14 June 2018.
  19. ↑ "Merton Council Elections 1998" (PDF). Merton Electoral Services. Retrieved 8 June 2018.
  20. ↑ "Merton Council Elections 2006" (PDF). Merton Electoral Services. 7 May 2010. Retrieved 8 June 2018.
  21. ↑ "Merton Council Election Results 2010". Local Elections Archive Project. Retrieved 14 June 2018.
  22. ↑ "Merton Council Election Results 2014". Local Elections Archive Project. Retrieved 14 June 2018.
  23. ↑ "Merton Park Ward Election Results 2022". Merton Council. 3 May 2018. Retrieved 3 January 2022.
  24. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "London Borough Council Elections 4 May 1978" (PDF). London Datastore. Greater London Council. Retrieved 25 February 2015.
  25. ↑ "Merton". BBC News Online. Retrieved 11 September 2009.
  26. 1 2 3 "London Borough Council Elections 2 May 2002" (PDF). London Datastore. Greater London Authority. Retrieved 25 February 2015.
  27. ↑ "London Borough Council Elections 9 May 1968" (PDF). London Datastore. Greater London Council. Retrieved 24 February 2015.
  28. 1 2 "London Borough Council Elections 13 May 1971" (PDF). London Datastore. Greater London Council. Retrieved 3 March 2015.
  29. 1 2 "London Borough Council Elections 2 May 1974" (PDF). London Datastore. Greater London Council. Retrieved 25 February 2015.
  30. 1 2 3 4 Minors, Michael; Grenham, Dennis. "London Borough Council Elections 3rd May 1990" (PDF). Retrieved 18 June 2018.
  31. ↑ "Forum Issue No. 40" (PDF). Autumn 2009. Archived from the original (PDF) on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 31 May 2018.
  32. ↑ "London Borough Council By-elections May 1990 to May 1994" (PDF). London Datastore. London Research Centre. Retrieved 8 March 2015.
  33. 1 2 "London Borough Council Elections 7 May 1998 including the Greater London Authority Referendum results" (PDF). London Datastore. London Research Centre. Retrieved 8 March 2015.
  34. ↑ "Ravensbury ward by-election - 6 March 2003" (PDF). Merton Council. Retrieved 11 September 2009.
  35. ↑ "Lower Morden by-election results". Merton Council. 11 June 2004. Archived from the original on 23 December 2012. Retrieved 11 September 2009.
  36. ↑ "London Borough Council Elections 6 May 2010" (PDF). London Datastore. Greater London Authority. Retrieved 7 March 2015.
  37. 1 2 "London Borough Council Elections 22 May 2014" (PDF). London Datastore. Greater London Authority. Retrieved 26 February 2015.
  38. ↑ "St Helier by-election results". Merton. 19 May 2016. Retrieved 4 December 2021.
  39. ↑ "Election results for St Helier Ward By-Election". Merton Council. 20 July 2017.
  40. ↑ "Election results for Cannon Hill Ward By-Election". Merton Council. 20 June 2019.
  41. ↑ "Election results for St Helier Ward By-election". Merton Council. 6 May 2021.
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