First Periodic Review of Westminster constituencies explained
The First Periodic Review of Westminster constituencies was a review of constituency boundaries for the Westminster Parliament in the United Kingdom carried out by the Boundary Commissions created by the House of Commons (Redistribution of Seats) Act 1949. The Commissions reported in 1954 and their recommendations took effect for the 1955 general election. Legal action over the procedure for such reviews resulted in the passage of the House of Commons (Redistribution of Seats) Act 1958.[1]
Summary of changes
Although the review was carried out only 5 years after the major overhaul of constituency boundaries enacted by the Representation of the People Act 1948 (taking effect for the 1950 general election), there were a number of significant changes, with the total number of seats increasing from 625 to 630. There were 36 new constituencies created and 31 abolished, resulting in a net increase of 5 constituencies which were all in England (506 to 511), with the number of constituencies in Wales (36), Scotland (71) and Northern Ireland (12) remaining the same.
There were changes to a further 137 constituencies involving the transfer of local authorities or wards/parishes therein. There were also minor changes to 42 constituencies which involved bringing the constituency boundaries in line with local authority boundaries which had been altered. The bulk of the changes affected the large cities outside London (Birmingham, Bradford, Bristol, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Leeds, Liverpool, Manchester and Sheffield). There were only a few marginal changes in Wales and no changes in Northern Ireland.
During the period 1951 to 1953, 29 Statutory Instruments, affecting 66 constituencies, had been passed under the provisions of the House of Commons (Redistribution of Seats) Act 1949 to bring boundaries in line with those of local authorities.[2]
There was a considerable delay before the Second Periodic Review was completed and approved by Parliament and this did not come into effect until the February 1974 general election. The boundaries and constituencies introduced by the First Review were therefore in use for the general elections of 1955, 1959, 1964, 1966 and 1970.
List of constituencies created, abolished or altered
Source: Craig, F. W. S. (1972). Boundaries of Parliamentary Constituencies 1885-1972. Chichester: Political Reference Publications. . Pages 49 to 116.
BC denotes a Borough Constituency; CC denotes a County Constituency.
England
County | Seats1950-55 | Created | Abolished | Major changes | Minor changes | Seats1955-74 |
---|
Bedfordshire | 4 | | | | Bedford CCMid Bedfordshire CC | 4 |
Berkshire | 6 | Reading BC | Reading North BCReading South BC | Newbury CCWokingham CC | | 5 |
Buckinghamshire | 5 | | | | | 5 |
Cambridgeshire | 2 | | | | | 2 |
Cheshire | 15 | Nantwich CC | | Crewe CCKnutsford CC Northwich CC
| | 16 |
Cornwall | 5 | | | | | 5 |
Cumberland | 4 | | | | | 4 |
Derbyshire | 10 | | | South East Derbyshire CCDerby North BC Derby South BC
| | 10 |
Devon | 10 | | | Plymouth, Devonport BCPlymouth, Sutton BC | | 10 |
Dorset | 4 | | | | | 4 |
Durham | 18 | | | Jarrow CC(redesignated as a BC) Gateshead East BC
Gateshead West BC
| | 18 |
Essex | 24 | Chigwell CCSouth East Essex CC | | Billericay CCChelmsford CC Southend East BC
Southend West BC
Woodford BC
| | 26 |
Gloucestershire | 12 | Stroud CC | Stroud and Thornbury CC | Cirencester and Tewksbury CCSouth Gloucestershire CC Bristol Central BC
Bristol North East BC
Bristol North West BC
Bristol South BC
Bristol South East BC
Bristol West BC
| Gloucester BC | 12 |
Hampshire | 13 | Eastleigh CC | | Basingstoke CCNew Forest CC Petersfield CC
Winchester CC
Southampton, Itchen BC
Southampton, Test BC
| Portsmouth, Langstone BCPortsmouth South BC Portsmouth West BC
| 14 |
Herefordshire | 2 | | | | | 2 |
Hertfordshire | 7 | East Hertfordshire CC | | Barnet CCHertford CC Hitchin CC
St Albans CC
| | 8 |
Huntingdonshire | 1 | | | | | 1 |
Isle of Ely | 1 | | | | | 1 |
Isle of Wight | 1 | | | | | 1 |
Kent | 18 | Erith and Crayford BC | | Chislehurst CCGravesend CC Orpington CC
Dartford BC
(redesignated as a CC)
| Rochester and Chatham BC | 19 |
Lancashire | 64 | Blackburn BCManchester, Openshaw BC | Blackburn East BCBlackburn West BC Droylesden BC
Manchester, Clayton BC
| Chorley CCDarwen CC Ormskirk CC
Ashton-under-Lyne BC
Bootle BC
Crosby BC
Liverpool, Edge Hill BC
Liverpool, Exchange BC
Liverpool, Garston BC
Liverpool, Kirkdale BC
Liverpool, Walton BC
Liverpool, Wavertree BC
Liverpool, West Derby BC
Manchester, Ardwick BC
Manchester, Cheetham BC
Manchester, Exchange BC
Manchester, Gorton BC
Manchester, Withington BC
Manchester, Wythenshawe BC
| Huyton CCNewton CC Widnes CC
Liverpool, Scotland BC
Liverpool, Toxteth BC
Oldham East BC
Oldham West BC
St Helens BC
Warrington BC
| 62 |
Leicestershire | 8 | | | Harborough CCLeicester South East BC | Bosworth CCLoughborough CC | 8 |
Lincolnshire(Parts of Holland) | 1 | | | | | 1 |
Lincolnshire(Parts of Kesteven) and Rutlandshire
| 2 | | | | | 2 |
Lincolnshire(Parts of Lindsey) | 6 | | | | | 6 |
London | 43 | Barons Court BCFulham BC Hackney Central BC
| Fulham East BCFulham West BC Hammersmith South BC
Hackney South BC
| Bethnal Green BCHammersmith North BC Stoke Newington and
Hackney North BC
| Woolwich East BCWoolwich West BC | 42 |
Middlesex | 28 | Feltham BC | | Spelthorne CCHarrow Central BC Harrow East BC
Harrow West BC
Heston and Isleworth BC
| | 29 |
Norfolk | 8 | | | | | 8 |
Northamptonshire | 5 | | | | | 5 |
Northumberland | 10 | | | Newcastle upon Tyne Central BCNewcastle upon Tyne West BC | | 10 |
Nottinghamshire | 10 | Ashfield CCNottingham North BC Nottingham West BC
| Broxtowe CCNottingham East BC Nottingham North West BC
| Bassetlaw CCMansfield CC Newark CC
Rushcliffe CC
Nottingham Central BC
Nottingham South BC
| | 10 |
Oxfordshire | 3 | | | | | 3 |
Shropshire | 4 | | | | | 4 |
Somerset | 7 | | | | | 7 |
Staffordshire | 18 | Walsall North BCWalsall South BC | Walsall BC | Cannock CCLichfield and Tamworth CC Wednesbury BC
Wolverhampton North East BC
Wolverhampton South West BC
| Brierley Hill CCBilston BC Rowley Regis and Tipton BC
Stoke-on-Trent Central BC
Stoke-on-Trent North BC
Stoke-on-Trent South BC
| 19 |
Suffolk | 5 | | | | | 5 |
Surrey | 19 | Croydon North East BCCroydon North West BC Croydon South BC
Surbiton BC
| Croydon East BCCroydon North BC Croydon West BC
| Kingston upon Thames BCWimbledon BC | | 20 |
Sussex (East) | 7 | Rye CC | | Eastbourne CCEast Grinstead CC Lewes CC
Hastings BC
| Brighton, Kemptown BCBrighton, Pavilion BC | 8 |
Sussex (West) | 4 | | | | | 4 |
Warwickshire | 22 | Meriden CCBirmingham, All Saints BC Birmingham, Selly Oak BC
| Birmingham, Erdington BCBirmingham, King's Norton BC | Nuneaton CCSutton Coldfield CC (redesignated as a BC)
Birmingham, Aston BC
Birmingham, Handsworth BC
Birmingham, Ladywood BC
Birmingham, Northfield BC
Birmingham, Small Heath BC
Birmingham, Sparkbrook BC
Birmingham, Stechford BC
Birmingham, Yardley BC
| | 23 |
Westmorland | 1 | | | | | 1 |
Wiltshire | 5 | | | | | 5 |
Worcestershire | 6 | | | | Dudley BC | 6 |
Yorkshire(East Riding) | 6 | Haltemprice CCHowden CC Kingston upon Hull West BC
| Beverley CCKingston upon Hull, Haltemprice BC
Kingston upon Hull Central BC
| Bridlington BCKingston upon Hull East BC Kingston upon Hull North BC
| | 6 |
Yorkshire(North Riding) | 6 | | | | | 6 |
Yorkshire(West Riding) | 46 | Bradford West BCLeeds East BC | Bradford Central BCLeeds Central BC Leeds North BC
Sheffield, Neepsend BC
| Colne Valley CCHemsworth CC Penistone CC
Bradford East BC
Bradford North BC
Bradford South BC
Brighouse and Spenborough BC
Dewsbury BC
Huddersfield East BC
Huddersfield West BC
Leeds North East BC
Leeds North West BC
Leeds South East BC
Leeds West BC
Sheffield, Attercliffe BC
Sheffield, Brightside BC
Sheffield, Hallam BC
Sheffield, Heeley BC
Sheffield, Hillsborough BC
Sheffield, Park BC
| | 44 | |
Wales
Scotland
County | Seats1950-55 | Created | Abolished | Major changes | Minor changes | Seats1955-74 |
---|
Aberdeenshire | 4 | | | Aberdeenshire East CCAberdeenshire West CC | Aberdeen North BCAberdeen South BC | 4 |
Angus andKincardineshire | 4 | | | | | 4 |
Argyll | 1 | | | | | 1 |
Ayrshire and Bute | 5 | | | | Bute and North Ayrshire CCCentral Ayrshire CC | 5 |
Banffshire | 1 | | | | | 1 |
Berwickshire andEast Lothian | 1 | | | | | 1 |
Caithness andSutherland | 1 | | | | | 1 |
Dumfriesshire | 1 | | | | | 1 |
Dunbartonshire | 2 | | | | | 2 |
Fife | 4 | | | | | 4 |
Inverness-shire andRoss and Cromarty | 3 | | | | | 3 |
Kirkcudbrightshireand Wigtownshire | 1 | | | | | 1 |
Lanarkshire | 22 | Glasgow, Craigton BCGlasgow, Provan BC | Glasgow, Camlachie BCGlasgow, Tradeston BC | Glasgow, Bridgeton BCGlasgow Central BC Glasgow, Gorbals BC
Glasgow, Govan BC
Glasgow, Hillhead BC
Glasgow, Kelvingrove BC
Glasgow, Pollok BC
Glasgow, Scotstoun BC
Glasgow, Springburn BC
Glasgow, Woodside BC
| | 22 |
Midlothian | 7 | Midlothian CC | | Edinburgh Central BCEdinburgh North BC Edinburgh, Pentlands BC
Edinburgh West BC
| Edinburgh East BC | 8 |
Midlothian andPeeblesshire | 1 | | Midlothian and Peebles CC | | | - |
Moray and Nairnshire | 1 | | | | | 1 |
Orkney and Shetland | 1 | | | | | 1 |
Perthshire andKinross-shire | 2 | | | | | 2 |
Renfrewshire | 4 | | | | | 4 |
Roxburghshire andSelkirkshire | 1 | | Roxburgh and Selkirk CC | | | - |
Roxburghshire,Selkirkshire and Peebleshire
| - | Roxburgh, Selkirk and Peebles CC | | | | 1 |
Stirlingshire andClackmannanshire | 3 | | | | West Stirlingshire CCStirling and Falkirk Burghs BC | 3 |
West Lothian | 1 | | | | | 1 | |
Northern Ireland
County | Seats1950-55 | Created | Abolished | Major changes | Minor changes | Seats1955-74 |
---|
Antrim | 6 | | | | | 6 |
Armagh | 1 | | | | | 1 |
Down | 2 | | | | | 2 |
Fermanaghand Tyrone | 2 | | | | | 2 |
Londonderry | 1 | | | | | 1 | |
Details of major changes
Abbreviations
BC denotes a Borough Constituency; CC denotes a County Constituency.
CB - County borough; MB - Metropolitan borough; UD - Urban district; RD - Rural district
Berkshire (minus 1 seat, boundary changes)
Cheshire (plus 1 seat, boundary changes)
Derbyshire (boundary changes)
The parishes of Chaddesden and Littleover in Shardlow RD were transferred from South-East Derbyshire CC to Derby North BC and Derby South BC respectively.
Devon (boundary changes)
Durham (boundary changes)
East Sussex (plus 1 seat, boundary changes)
Essex (plus 2 seats, boundary changes)
- Woodford BC was divided in two, retaining Wanstead and Woodford MB, with Chigwell UD forming the bulk of the new seat of Chigwell CC, which also included Ongar RD, transferred from Chelmsford CC.
- South East Essex CC was re-established, comprising the three urban districts of Benfleet, Canvey Island and Rayleigh, which were previously part of Billericay CC, together with the Rochford RD, transferred from Southend East BC.
- Billericay was reconfigured, retaining Billericay UD and gaining Brentwood UD, which was transferred from Romford BC.
- Parts of Southend West BC transferred to Southend East.
Gloucestershire (seat and boundary changes)
Hampshire (plus 1 seat, boundary changes)
Hertfordshire (plus 1 seat, boundary changes)
Kent (plus 1 seat, boundary changes)
Lancashire (minus 2 seats, seat and boundary changes)
- Blackburn BC was created by the merger of the abolished seat of Blackburn East BC and parts of the abolished seat of Blackburn West BC. Remaining (western) parts of Blackburn West were transferred to Darwen CC.
- Withnell UD was transferred back from Darwen to Chorley CC.
- Droylesden BC was abolished and split up as follows: Droylesden UD to Ashton-under-Lyne BC; Audenshaw UD and Denton UD to Manchester, Gorton BC; and Failsworth UD to the new constituency of Manchester, Openshaw BC.
- Manchester, Clayton BC was abolished and split up as follows: Miles Platting to Manchester, Cheetham BC; Beswick to Manchester, Exchange BC; and Bradford and Newton Heath to the new constituency of Manchester, Openshaw.
- Other changes following a redistribution of wards in Manchester CB included the transfer of Rusholme from Manchester, Withington BC to Manchester, Ardwick BC; New Cross ward transferred from Manchester, Ardwick to Manchester, Exchange in exchange for St Luke's ward; Levenshulme from Manchester, Gorton BC to Manchester, Withington BC; Openshaw from Manchester, Gorton to the new constituency of Manchester, Openshaw; and Barlow Moor from Manchester, Wythenshawe BC to Manchester, Withington.
- Changes following a redistribution of wards in Liverpool CB included the transfer of West Wavertree from Liverpool, Wavertree BC to Liverpool, Edge Hill BC; Low Hill from Liverpool, Edge Hill to Liverpool, Exchange BC; Childwall from Liverpool, Garston BC to Liverpool, Wavertree; and Tuebrook from Liverpool, West Derby BC to Liverpool, Kirkdale BC.
- The parish of Aintree was transferred back from Liverpool, Walton BC to Ormskirk CC.
- Litherland UD was transferred from Bootle BC to Crosby CC.
Leicestershire (boundary change)
London (minus 1 seat, seat and boundary changes)
- Barons Court BC formed, comprising southern parts of the abolished seat of Hammersmith South BC (Broadway, Brook Green, Grove and Ravenscourt wards) and northern parts of the abolished seats of Fulham East BC (Barons Court and Lillie wards) and Fulham West BC (Margravine ward).
- Fulham BC re-established, comprising the remaining parts of the abolished seats of Fulham East (Sands End and Walham wards) and Fulham West (Hurlingham, Munster and Town wards).
- Hammersmith North BC gained the Addison, Olympia, and St Stephen's wards from the abolished seat of Hammersmith South.
- Hackney Central BC re-established, comprising the abolished seat of Hackney South BC, excluding southern parts which were transferred to Bethnal Green BC, together with south-eastern parts transferred from Stoke Newington and Hackney North BC.
Middlesex (plus 1 seat, boundary changes)
Northumberland (boundary change)
Nottinghamshire (seat and boundary changes)
Staffordshire (plus 1 seat, boundary changes)
Surrey (plus 1 seat, boundary changes)
Warwickshire (plus 1 seat, boundary changes)
- Major changes to the 13 constituencies within Birmingham CB, with only Birmingham, Edgbaston BC and Birmingham, Perry Barr BC remaining unchanged.
- Birmingham, Erdington BC abolished, with the Erdington ward being transferred to Sutton Coldfield CC (which was redesignated as Borough Constituency) and the remaining wards being included in the re-constituted seat of Birmingham, Aston BC.
- Birmingham, King's Norton BC abolished, with its three wards (Brandwood, King's Norton, and Moseley and King's Heath) being distributed to three different constituencies.
- Birmingham, All Saints BC created (All Saints', Rotton Park and Soho wards).
- Birmingham, Selly Oak BC created (Balsall Heath, Moseley and King's Heath, and Selly Oak wards).
- Birmingham, Aston BC gained Gravelly Hill and Stockland Green wards and lost Lozells and St Paul's wards (retaining Aston ward).
- Birmingham, Hall Green BC gained Brandwood ward and lost Sparkhill ward (retaining Hall Green and Springfield wards).
- Birmingham, Handsworth BC gained Lozells ward and lost Soho ward (retaining Handsworth and Sandwell wards).
- Birmingham, Ladywood BC gained Duddeston and St Paul's wards and lost All Saints' and Rotton Park wards (retaining Ladywood ward).
- Birmingham, Northfield BC gained King's Norton ward and lost Selly Oak ward (retaining Northfield and Weoley wards).
- Birmingham, Small Heath BC gained Deritend ward and lost Duddeston ward (retaining Saltley and Small Heath wards).
- Birmingham, Sparkbrook BC gained Fox Hollies and Sparkhill wards and lost Balsall Heath and Deritend wards (retaining Sparkbrook ward).
- Birmingham, Stechford BC lost Sheldon ward (retaining Stechford and Washwood Heath wards).
- Birmingham, Yardley BC gained Sheldon ward and lost Fox Hollies ward (retaining Acock's Green and Yardley wards).
- Meriden CC created, comprising Meriden RD and Tamworth RD, transferred from Sutton Coldfield, and Atherstone RD, transferred from Nuneaton CC.
Yorkshire, East Riding (seat and boundary changes)
Yorkshire, West Riding (minus 2 seats, boundary changes)
- Bradford Central BC abolished. Bradford Moor and North East wards transferred to Bradford North BC; Exchange and South wards to Bradford East BC, and Manningham ward to the new constituency of Bradford West BC.
- The new seat of Bradford West also included Allerton and Heaton wards, transferred from Bradford North BC, and Great Horton and Thornton wards from Bradford South BC.
- North Bierley East and West Bowling wards transferred from Bradford East to Bradford South, in exchange for Listerhills ward.
- Bradford South also gained Queensbury and Shelf UD from Brighouse and Spenborough BC.
- Hecknondwike UD transferred from Dewsbury BC to Brighouse and Spenborough.
- Leeds Central BC abolished. Most of the constituency included in the revised seat of Leeds South East BC, with Wellington ward transferred to Leeds West BC.
- Leeds East BC re-established. Formed from the majority of the existing seat of Leeds South East (Cross Gates, Halton and Osmondthorpe wards), together with parts of Leeds North East BC (Burmantofts and Harehills wards).
- Leeds North BC abolished. Most of the constituency was included in the revised seat of Leeds North East, with Moortown ward transferred to Leeds North West BC.
- Leeds North East substantially revised, retaining only the Potternewton ward, now combined with the wards which had formed the majority of the abolished constituency of Leeds North. Burmantofts and Harehills wards included in Leeds East and Richmond Hill ward included in the revised constituency of Leeds South East.
- Leeds North East substantially revised, retaining only the East Hunslet ward, now combined with Richmond Hill ward, transferred from Leeds North East, and wards which had formed the majority of the abolished constituency of Leeds Central. Cross Gates, Halton and Osmondthorpe wards included in the new constituency of Leeds East.
- Denby Dale UD transferred from Penistone CC to Colne Valley CC.
- Kirkburton UD transferred from Colne Valley to Huddersfield BC.
- Royston UD transferred from Hemsworth CC to Wakefield BC.
- Sheffield, Neepsend BC abolished. Northern parts transferred to Sheffield, Brightside BC; south-western parts to Sheffield, Hillsborough BC; and south-eastern parts to Sheffield, Park BC.
- Other changes due to redistribution of wards within Sheffield CB, including Tinsley ward from Sheffield Brightside to Sheffield, Attercliffe BC; Crookesmoor ward from Sheffield, Hillsborough to Sheffield, Hallam BC; and Sharrow ward from Sheffield, Park to Sheffield, Heeley BC.
Aberdeenshire (boundary change)
Lanarkshire (seat and boundary changes)
- Major changes to the 15 constituencies within the City of Glasgow with only Glasgow, Cathcart BC, Glasgow, Maryhill BC and Glasgow, Shettleston BC remaining unchanged.
- Glasgow, Camlachie BC abolished. The bulk of the seat (Dennistoun and Provan wards) formed the new constituency of Glasgow, Provan BC. The part of the Mile-End ward transferred to Glasgow, Bridgeton BC.
- Glasgow, Tradeston BC abolished and absorbed into Glasgow, Govan BC, with the exception of part of the Kingston ward which was transferred to Glasgow, Gorbals BC.
- Glasgow, Craigton BC formed, comprising southern parts of Glasgow, Govan (Craigton ward and part of the Fairfield ward) and part of the Pollokshields ward previously in Glasgow, Pollok BC.
- As a consequence of the above changes to Glasgow, Govan, this constituency was completely redrawn, with only part of the Fairfield ward and the part of the Govan ward retained.
- Glasgow Central BC gained Cowscaddens wards from Glasgow, Springburn BC and lost part of Exchange ward to Glasgow, Kelvingrove BC.
- Glasgow, Hillhead BC gained part of the Whiteinch ward from Glasgow, Scotstoun BC and lost the part of the Partick East ward to Glasgow, Woodside BC.
Midlothian (boundary changes)
Midlothian, Peeblesshire, Roxburghshire and Selkirkshire (seat and boundary changes)
Notes and References
- https://docs.google.com/viewer?a=v&q=cache:254IlF81NCwJ:www.parliament.uk/documents/commons/lib/research/briefings/snpc-05628.pdf+The+Rules+for+the+Redistribution+of+Seats+%E2%80%93+History+and+Reform+(SN/PC/05628,+28+July+2010)&hl=en&gl=uk&pid=bl&srcid=ADGEEShd3QeMe88u2MNxm_MN9P9YyHqL5227Ny-6TyLKgzkk_caGIBFoT5CHZoZsxoLwJXUHsmR5-QdkE0GPFEgnzX4WzO_44tgRoqkOeCnMdmjps3GQGTxdCooc4P7M7S976f5YuzPd&sig=AHIEtbQk1_SwhWJKez5edh6UGIchzFEN-w O Gay, The Rules for the Redistribution of Seats – History and Reform (SN/PC/05628, 28 July 2010), p. 4
- Book: Craig, Fred W. S.. Boundaries of parliamentary constituencies 1885-1972;. 1972. Political Reference Publications. 0900178094. Chichester. 539011.