Dagenham (electoral division) explained

Dagenham
Constituency Type:electoral division
Parl Name:Greater London Council
Towns:Dagenham
Year:1973
Abolished:1986
Members:1
Previous:Barking
Area:2043hectare

Dagenham 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

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 Barking formed the Barking 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 Dagenham parliamentary constituency.[1]

It covered an area of 2043hectare.

Elections

The Dagenham 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

The fourth election to the GLC (and first using revised boundaries) was held on 12 April 1973. The electorate was 69,484 and one Labour Party councillor was elected. The turnout was 27.4%. 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]

1975 by-election

A by-election was held on 30 January 1975, caused by the death of Robert John Crane. The turnout was 15.1% and one Labour Party councillor was elected.

1977 election

The fifth election to the GLC (and second using revised boundaries) was held on 5 May 1977. The electorate was 68,905 and one Labour Party councillor was elected. The turnout was 36.6%. The councillor was elected for a four-year term.

1981 election

The sixth and final election to the GLC (and third using revised boundaries) was held on 7 May 1981. The electorate was 68,147 and one Labour Party councillor was elected. The turnout was 36.4%. 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.

Notes and References

  1. Web site: The Greater London (Electoral Areas) Order 1972 . legislation.gov.uk . 19 September 2023 . 20 June 1972.
  2. Web site: Greater London Council Election . 12 April 1973 . 23 July 2023 . dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20130822164806/http://data.london.gov.uk/documents/GLCE_1973-4-12.pdf . 22 August 2013.
  3. Web site: Greater London Council Election . 5 May 1977 . 23 July 2023 . dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20130822160411/http://data.london.gov.uk/documents/GLCE_1977-5-5.pdf . 22 August 2013 .
  4. Web site: Greater London Council Election . 7 May 1981 . 23 July 2023 . dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20130822145946/http://data.london.gov.uk/documents/GLCE_1981-5-7.pdf . 22 August 2013 .
  5. Web site: Boothroyd . David . Greater London Council Election results: Barking and Dagenham . United Kingdom Election Results . 29 August 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20160324185151/http://www.election.demon.co.uk/glc/glcbd.html . 24 March 2016.
  6. Web site: The London Councillors Order 1976 . legislation.gov.uk . 25 July 2023 . 17 February 1976.