Walthamstow
Borough constituency
for the House of Commons
Outline map
Boundary of Walthamstow in
CountyGreater London
Electorate64,482 (December 2010)[1]
Current constituency
Created1974 (1974)
Member of ParliamentStella Creasy (Labour Co-op)
SeatsOne
Created fromWalthamstow East
Walthamstow West
1885–1918
SeatsOne
Type of constituencyCounty constituency
Created fromSouth Essex
Replaced byWalthamstow East and Walthamstow West, Leyton East, Leyton West, and Epping

Walthamstow (Contemp. and Cons. RP: /wɔːlθəmstəʊ/, Est. Eng.: /woːwfm̩stɐʏ/) is a constituency[n 1] in Greater London created in 1974 and represented in the House of Commons of the UK Parliament since 2010 by Stella Creasy, a member of the Labour and Co-operative Party, in political union with the Labour Party.[n 2]

An earlier version of the constituency existed covering a significantly different area (1885–1918) and was among the vast majority by that time returning one member to the House of Commons.

Boundaries

Map
Map of current boundaries

1885–1918

Walthamstow in Essex, 1885–1918

The South-Western or Walthamstow Division of the parliamentary county of Essex was created by the Redistribution of Seats Act 1885, when the existing seat of South Essex was divided into three single-member constituencies.

The constituency consisted of the three civil parishes of Leyton, Woodford and Walthamstow. The area lay on the periphery of the London conurbation and became increasingly suburban over its existence.

The seat was abolished under the Representation of the People Act 1918. Two new constituencies were created with Walthamstow Urban District divided between Walthamstow East and Walthamstow West.[2]

1974 – date

1974–1983: The London Borough of Waltham Forest wards of Higham Hill, High Street, Hoe Street, St James Street, and Wood Street.

1983–1997: As above plus Lloyd Park.

1997–2010: As above plus Chapel End and Lea Bridge.

2010–present: The London Borough of Waltham Forest wards of Chapel End, Higham Hill, High Street, Hoe Street, Lea Bridge, Markhouse, William Morris, and Wood Street.

Proposed

Further to the 2023 Periodic Review of Westminster constituencies, enacted by the Parliamentary Constituencies Order 2023, the composition of the constituency from the next general election, due by January 2025, will be unchanged.[3]

History

The seat has been represented by the Labour Party since 1992, before which it was won on a marginal majority in 1987 by a Conservative, having until then (since its 1974 recreation as a seat) been served by one Labour MP, Eric Deakins.

In 2015, Creasy's re-election saw Walthamstow become Labours' second-safest London seat, and tenth-safest nationally.[4]

Prominent frontbenchers

Stella Creasy, the present member, was the Shadow Minister for Crime Prevention.

Constituency profile

The seat is the part of Outer London closest to Stratford, with its international rail connections, major city shopping centre and London's Olympic Park. To the East the seat borders Walthamstow Forest and Gilbert's Slade, thin sections of Epping Forest, and to the West, the Lea Valley. The eponymous district had as its open space feature a greyhound racing track, which has been redeveloped into a modernist housing and green space scheme. Workless claimants, registered jobseekers, were in November 2012 significantly higher than the national average of 3.8% and Greater London average of 4%, at 7.2% of the population based on a statistical compilation by The Guardian.[5]

Members of Parliament

Year Member[6] Party
1885 Edward Buxton Liberal
1886 William Makins Conservative
1892 Edmund Widdrington Byrne Conservative
1897 Sam Woods Liberal
1900 David John Morgan Conservative
1906 John Simon Liberal
1918 Constituency abolished
Feb 1974 Constituency recreated
Feb 1974 Eric Deakins Labour
1987 Hugo Summerson Conservative
1992 Neil Gerrard Labour
2010 Stella Creasy Labour Co-op

Election results

Elections in the 2010s

General election 2019: Walthamstow[7]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Co-op Stella Creasy 36,784 76.1 ―4.5
Conservative Shade Adoh 5,922 12.3 ―1.8
Liberal Democrats Meera Chadha 2,874 5.9 +3.0
Green Andrew Johns 1,733 3.6 +1.1
Brexit Party Paul Campbell 768 1.6 New
CPA Deborah Longe 254 0.5 New
Majority 30,862 63.8 ―2.7
Turnout 48,355 68.8 ―2.0
Registered electors 70,268
Labour Co-op hold Swing ―1.3
General election 2017: Walthamstow[8][9]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Co-op Stella Creasy 38,793 80.6 +11.7
Conservative Molly Samuel 6,776 14.1 +0.7
Liberal Democrats Ukonu Obasi 1,384 2.9 ―1.1
Green Andrew Johns 1,190 2.5 ―3.9
Majority 32,017 66.5 +11.0
Turnout 48,143 70.8 +8.4
Registered electors 67,957
Labour Co-op hold Swing +5.5
General election 2015: Walthamstow[10][11][12]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Co-op Stella Creasy 28,779 68.9 +17.1
Conservative Molly Samuel 5,584 13.4 ―0.6
Green Michael Gold 2,661 6.4 +4.5
UKIP Paul Hillman 2,507 6.0 +4.0
Liberal Democrats Stephen Cheung 1,661 4.0 ―24.7
TUSC Nancy Taaffe 394 0.9 +0.2
Independent Ellie Merton 129 0.3 New
Workers Revolutionary Jonty Leff 81 0.2 New
Majority 23,195 55.5 +32.4
Turnout 41,796 62.4 ―1.0
Registered electors 67,015
Labour Co-op hold Swing +8.8
General election 2010: Walthamstow[13][14]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Co-op Stella Creasy 21,252 51.8 +1.5
Liberal Democrats Farid Ahmed 11,774 28.7 +1.6
Conservative Andy Hemsted 5,734 14.0 ―4.2
UKIP Judith Chisholm-Benli 823 2.0 ―0.4
Green Daniel Perrett 767 1.9 New
TUSC Nancy Taaffe 279 0.7 New
Christian Ashar Mall 248 0.6 New
Independent Paul Warburton 117 0.3 New
Majority 9,478 23.1 ―0.1
Turnout 40,994 63.4 +8.8
Registered electors 64,625
Labour Co-op hold Swing ―0.0

Elections in the 2000s

General election 2005: Walthamstow[15]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Neil Gerrard 17,323 50.3 ―11.9
Liberal Democrats Farid Ahmed 9,330 27.1 +12.5
Conservative Jane Wright 6,254 18.2 +0.1
UKIP Robert Brock 810 2.4 +1.5
Socialist Alternative Nancy Taaffe 727 2.1 ―0.2
Majority 7,993 23.2 ―20.9
Turnout 34,444 54.6 +1.1
Registered electors 63,079
Labour hold Swing ―12.2
General election 2001: Walthamstow[16]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Neil Gerrard 21,402 62.2 ―0.9
Conservative Nicholas Smith 6,221 18.1 ―2.2
Liberal Democrats Peter Dunphy 5,024 14.6 +0.9
Socialist Alternative Simon Donovan 806 2.3 New
BNP William Phillips 389 1.1 New
UKIP Gerda Mayer 298 0.9 New
ProLife Alliance Barbara Duffy 289 0.8 New
Majority 15,181 44.1 +1.3
Turnout 34,429 53.5 ―9.3
Registered electors 64,403
Labour hold Swing +0.6

Elections in the 1990s

General election 1997: Walthamstow[16]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Neil Gerrard 25,287 63.1 +17.4
Conservative Jill Andrew 8,138 20.3 ―16.9
Liberal Democrats Jane Jackson 5,491 13.7 ―0.8
Referendum George Hargreaves 1,139 2.8 New
Majority 17,149 42.8 +34.3
Turnout 40,055 62.8 ―9.6
Registered electors 63,818
Labour hold Swing +17.9
General election 1992: Walthamstow[17]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Neil Gerrard 16,251 45.7 +11.0
Conservative Hugo Summerson 13,229 37.2 ―1.8
Liberal Democrats Peter Leighton 5,142 14.5 New
Liberal Vernon Wilkinson 241 0.7 New
Majority 3,022 8.5 N/A
Turnout 34,863 72.4 0.0
Registered electors 49,140
Labour gain from Conservative Swing +6.4

Elections in the 1980s

General election 1987: Walthamstow[18]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Hugo Summerson 13,748 39.0 +3.1
Labour Eric Deakins 12,236 34.7 ―5.1
SDP Peter Leighton 8,852 25.1 +3.5
Independent Zafar Iqnal Malik 396 1.1 New
Majority 1,512 4.3 N/A
Turnout 35,232 72.4 +3.6
Registered electors 48,691
Conservative gain from Labour Swing +4.1
General election 1983: Walthamstow[19]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Eric Deakins 13,241 39.8 ―10.4
Conservative Alan Amos 11,936 35.9 ―1.8
SDP Peter Leighton 7,192 21.6 New
National Front P. Mitchell 444 1.3 ―1.9
Ecology Stephen Lambert 424 1.3 New
Majority 1,305 3.9 ―8.6
Turnout 33,237 68.8 ―2.5
Registered electors 48,324
Labour hold Swing ―4.3

Elections in the 1970s

General election 1979: Walthamstow[20]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Eric Deakins 17,651 50.2 ―4.9
Conservative Stephen Eyres[21] 13,248 37.7 +13.4
Liberal Mervyn Peter O'Flanagan 3,117 8.9 ―6.1
National Front George Flaxton[21] 1,119 3.2 ―2.3
Majority 4,403 12.5 ―18.3
Turnout 35,135 71.3 +5.1
Registered electors 49,315
Labour hold Swing ―9.2
General election October 1974: Walthamstow[22]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Eric Deakins 19,088 55.1 +4.4
Conservative D. Arnold 8,424 24.3 ―4.0
Liberal Mervyn Peter O'Flanagan 5,199 15.0 ―6.0
National Front R. Adde 1,911 5.5 New
Majority 10,664 30.8 +8.3
Turnout 34,622 66.2 ―8.7
Registered electors 52,280
Labour hold Swing +4.2
General election February 1974: Walthamstow[23]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Eric Deakins 19,726 50.7
Conservative PS Gill 10,992 28.3
Liberal Mervyn Peter O'Flanagan 8,157 21.0
Majority 8,374 22.5
Turnout 38,875 74.9
Registered electors 51,907
Labour win (new seat)

Elections in the 1910s

General Election 1914–15: Another General Election was required to take place before the end of 1915. The political parties had been making preparations for an election to take place and by the July 1914, the following candidates had been selected;

Bellairs
General election December 1910: Walthamstow[24]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal John Simon 16,998 56.1 +2.8
Liberal Unionist Carlyon Bellairs 13,275 43.9 ―2.8
Majority 3,723 12.2 +5.6
Turnout 30,273 77.4 ―7.6
Registered electors 39,117
Liberal hold Swing +1.6
Simon
1910 Walthamstow by-election[24]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal John Simon 16,673 54.5 +1.2
Conservative Stanley Johnson 13,907 45.5 ―1.2
Majority 2,766 9.0 +2.4
Turnout 30,580 78.2 ―6.8
Registered electors 39,117
Liberal hold Swing +1.2
General election January 1910: Walthamstow[24]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal John Simon 17,726 53.3 ―4.2
Conservative Stanley Johnson 15,531 46.7 +4.2
Majority 2,195 6.6 ―8.4
Turnout 33,257 85.0 +11.1
Registered electors 39,117
Liberal hold Swing ―4.2

Elections in the 1900s

General election 1906: Walthamstow[24]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal John Simon 15,011 57.5 +14.7
Conservative William Isaac Shard 11,074 42.5 ―14.7
Majority 3,937 15.0 29.4
Turnout 26,085 73.9 +3.0
Registered electors 35,321
Liberal gain from Conservative Swing +14.7
Woods
General election 1900: Walthamstow[24][25][26]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative David Morgan 9,807 57.2 ―3.1
Lib-Lab Sam Woods 7,342 42.8 +3.1
Majority 2,465 14.4 ―6.2
Turnout 17,149 70.9 +6.7
Registered electors 24,187
Conservative hold Swing ―3.1

Elections in the 1890s

Dewar
1897 Walthamstow by-election[24][25][26]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Lib-Lab Sam Woods 6,518 51.1 +11.4
Conservative Thomas Dewar 6,239 48.9 ―11.4
Majority 279 2.2 N/A
Turnout 12,757 64.3 +0.1
Registered electors 19,845
Lib-Lab gain from Conservative Swing +11.4
General election 1895: Walthamstow[24][25][26]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Edmund Byrne 6,876 60.3 +5.1
Liberal Arthur Pollen 4,523 39.7 ―5.1
Majority 2,353 20.6 +10.2
Turnout 11,399 64.2 ―8.1
Registered electors 17,747
Conservative hold Swing +5.1
General election 1892: Walthamstow[24]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Edmund Byrne 6,115 55.2 ―7.6
Liberal Walter Basden Whittingham 4,965 44.8 +7.6
Majority 1,150 10.4 ―15.2
Turnout 11,080 72.3 +9.1
Registered electors 15,323
Conservative hold Swing ―7.6

Elections in the 1880s

Spicer
General election 1886: Walthamstow[24]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative William Makins 4,461 62.8 +13.8
Liberal Albert Spicer 2,639 37.2 ―13.8
Majority 1,822 25.6 N/A
Turnout 7,000 63.2 ―11.8
Registered electors 11,233
Conservative hold Swing +13.8
General election 1885: Walthamstow[24]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Edward Buxton 4,300 51.0
Conservative Thomas Charles Baring 4,125 49.0
Majority 175 2.0
Turnout 8,425 75.0
Registered electors 11,233
Liberal win (new seat)

See also

Notes

  1. ^ A borough constituency (for the purposes of election expenses and type of returning officer).
  2. ^ As with all constituencies, the constituency elects one Member of Parliament (MP) by the first past the post system of election at least every five years.

References

Specific
  1. ^ "Electorate Figures – Boundary Commission for England". 2011 Electorate Figures. Boundary Commission for England. 4 March 2011. Archived from the original on 6 November 2010. Retrieved 13 March 2011.
  2. ^ Leyton was divided into two seats: Leyton East and Leyton West, while Wanstead was included in the Epping constituency. (Youngs, p. 727)
  3. ^ "The Parliamentary Constituencies Order 2023". Schedule 1 Part 3 London region.
  4. ^ "Labour Members of Parliament 2015". UK Political.info. Archived from the original on 29 September 2018.
  5. ^ Unemployment claimants by constituency The Guardian
  6. ^ Leigh Rayment's Historical List of MPs – Constituencies beginning with "W" (part 1)
  7. ^ "Walthamstow Parliamentary constituency". BBC News. BBC. Retrieved 23 November 2019.
  8. ^ "Walthamstow parliamentary constituency". BBC News.
  9. ^ "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 25 February 2018. Retrieved 25 February 2018.((cite web)): CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  10. ^ "Election Data 2015". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 17 October 2015. Retrieved 17 October 2015.
  11. ^ "London Green Party | 2015 General Election". Archived from the original on 25 April 2015. Retrieved 29 June 2017.
  12. ^ "TUSC parliamentary candidates in May 2015" (PDF). Trade Unionist and Socialist Coalition. 4 February 2015. Archived (PDF) from the original on 7 February 2015. Retrieved 6 February 2015.
  13. ^ "Walthamstow". Election 2010. BBC. Retrieved 7 May 2010.
  14. ^ "UK General Election results May 2010". Richard Kimber's Political Science Resources. Retrieved 2 September 2012.
  15. ^ "UK General Election results May 2005". Richard Kimber's Political Science Resources. Retrieved 2 September 2012.
  16. ^ a b "UK General Election results 1997 & 2001: Walthamstow". Richard Kimber's Political Science Resources. Retrieved 2 September 2012.
  17. ^ "UK General Election results April 1992". Richard Kimber's Political Science Resources. Retrieved 2 September 2012.
  18. ^ "UK General Election results June 1987". Richard Kimber's Political Science Resources. Retrieved 2 September 2012.
  19. ^ "UK General Election results June 1983". Richard Kimber's Political Science Resources. Retrieved 2 September 2012.
  20. ^ "UK General Election results May 1979". Richard Kimber's Political Science Resources. Retrieved 2 September 2012.
  21. ^ a b Election Expenses. Parliament of the United Kingdom. 1980. p. 21. ISBN 0102374805.
  22. ^ "UK General Election results October 1974". Richard Kimber's Political Science Resources. Retrieved 2 September 2012.
  23. ^ "UK General Election results February 1974". Richard Kimber's Political Science Resources. Retrieved 2 September 2012.
  24. ^ a b c d e f g h i j Craig, F. W. S., ed. (1974). British Parliamentary Election Results: 1885–1918. London: Macmillan Press. p. 282. ISBN 9781349022984.
  25. ^ a b c The Liberal Year Book, 1907
  26. ^ a b c Debrett's House of Commons & Judicial Bench, 1901
General

External links

Parliament of the United Kingdom Preceded byEssex South UK Parliament constituency 1885 – 1918 Succeeded byWalthamstow East UK Parliament constituency 1885 – 1918 Succeeded byWalthamstow West Preceded byWalthamstow East UK Parliament constituency 1974 – present Incumbent Preceded byWalthamstow West UK Parliament constituency 1974 – present
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