For similarly named constituencies, see Southwark constituency .
Southwark in London, 1868–85
Southwark in London, 1950–74
Southwark ( SUDH -ərk[1] constituency centred on the Southwark district of South London . It returned two Members of Parliament to the House of Commons of the English Parliament from 1295 to 1707, to the Parliament of Great Britain from 1707 to 1800, and to the UK Parliament until its first abolition for the 1885 general election . A seat of the same name, covering a smaller area than the last form of the earlier seat in the west of the original and beyond its boundaries to the southwest, was created in 1950 and abolished in 1974.
In its last creation the seat's broad electorate heavily supported the three successive Labour candidates, who won Southwark with a majority of greater than 36% of the votes cast at its eight elections – an extremely safe seat .
Creation, boundaries, abolition [ ] First creation – or Southwark dual-member constituency The constituency was created in 1295 as a parliamentary borough (also known as burgh) when its electorate was restricted to the owners of certain properties in its main streets of its burgage, returning two 'burgesses' as they were sometimes called. Its electorate was expanded to a more standard franchise in 1832. In 1833 the electorate was 4,775 adult males and this had risen to 23,472 by 1880.[2]
The Redistribution of Seats Act 1885 replaced the two-member constituency with the seats West Southwark, Rotherhithe and Bermondsey.[3]
Second creation – or Southwark seat A seat taking the old constituency name was established for the 1950 general election . Its boundaries were unaltered in the 1955 corrective review and it was abolished for the February 1974 general election .
Members of Parliament [ ] MPs 1295–1640 [ ] MPs 1640–1885 [ ] MPs 1950–1974 [ ] Election results [ ] Elections in the 1830s [ ] Harris' death caused a by-election.
: Southwark[16]
Party
Candidate
Votes
%
Whig Charles Calvert 1,066
62.4
−2.6
Tory
Thomas Farncomb
643
37.6
New
Majority
423
24.8
+19.1
Turnout
1,709
Whig hold
Swing
N/A
Harvey was appointed a registrar of Metropolitan Public Carriages, causing a by-election.
Elections in the 1840s [ ] Harvey resigned after being appointed a Commissioner of Police for the City of London, causing a by-election.
: Southwark[37] [16]
Party
Candidate
Votes
%
Whig Benjamin Wood 2,059
57.3
+16.2
Conservative
John Walter[40]
1,535
42.7
+24.7
Majority
524
14.6
+14.3
Turnout
3,594
71.2
+18.3
Registered electors
5,047
Whig gain from Radical
Swing
−4.3
Wood's death caused a by-election.
: Southwark[37]
Party
Candidate
Votes
%
Radical William Molesworth 1,943
55.9
New
Conservative
Jeremiah Pilcher[41]
1,182
34.0
New
Radical
Edward Miall [42] 352
10.1
New
Majority
761
21.9
N/A
Turnout
3,477
65.0
N/A
Registered electors
5,353
Radical gain from Whig
Swing
N/A
Elections in the 1850s [ ] Molesworth was appointed First Commissioner of Works and Public Buildings , requiring a by-election.
Molesworth was appointed Secretary of State for the Colonies , requiring a by-election.
Molesworth's death caused a by-election.
General election 1859 : Southwark (2 seats)[37]
Party
Candidate
Votes
%
Liberal Charles Napier 4,446
38.9
−0.5
Liberal John Locke 4,255
37.2
+1.2
Liberal
Apsley Pellatt
2,730
23.9
−0.8
Majority
1,525
13.3
+2.0
Turnout
5,716 (est)
53.9 (est)
+4.1
Registered electors
10,606
Liberal hold
Liberal hold
Elections in the 1860s [ ] Napier's death caused a by-election.
: Southwark[37]
Party
Candidate
Votes
%
Liberal Austen Henry Layard 4,572
57.5
N/A
Liberal
George Scovell[44]
3,377
42.5
N/A
Majority
1,195
15.0
+1.7
Turnout
7,949
70.5
+16.6
Registered electors
11,278
Liberal hold
Swing
N/A
Locke was appointed Recorder of Brighton , requiring a by-election.
: Southwark[37]
Party
Candidate
Votes
%
Liberal John Locke Unopposed
Liberal hold
General election 1865 : Southwark (2 seats)[37]
Party
Candidate
Votes
%
Liberal John Locke Unopposed
Liberal Austen Henry Layard Unopposed
Registered electors
11,631
Liberal hold
Liberal hold
General election 1868 : Southwark (2 seats)[37]
Party
Candidate
Votes
%
Liberal John Locke 6,027
41.8
N/A
Liberal Austen Henry Layard 5,908
40.9
N/A
Conservative
William Cotton
2,495
17.3
New
Majority
3,413
23.6
N/A
Turnout
8,463 (est)
47.8 (est)
N/A
Registered electors
17,703
Liberal hold
Swing
N/A
Liberal hold
Swing
N/A
Layard was appointed First Commissioner of Works and Public Buildings , requiring a by-election.
: Southwark[37]
Party
Candidate
Votes
%
Liberal Austen Henry Layard Unopposed
Liberal hold
Elections in the 1870s [ ] Layard resigned after being appointed British ambassador to Spain .
By-election, 17 Feb 1870 : Southwark (1 seat)[37]
Party
Candidate
Votes
%
Conservative Marcus Beresford 4,686
38.9
+21.6
Lib-Lab
George Odger
4,382
36.4
New
Liberal
Sydney Waterlow
2,966
24.6
−58.1
Majority
304
2.5
N/A
Turnout
12,034
68.0
+20.2
Registered electors
17,703
Conservative gain from Liberal
Swing
+39.9
General election 1874 : Southwark (2 seats)[37]
Party
Candidate
Votes
%
Liberal John Locke 5,901
32.4
−9.4
Conservative Marcus Beresford 5,716
31.3
+14.0
Lib-Lab
George Odger
3,496
19.2
N/A
Liberal
Andrew Dunn[45]
3,121
17.1
−23.8
Turnout
11,975 (est)
58.6 (est)
+10.8
Registered electors
23,472
Majority
185
1.1
−22.5
Liberal hold
Swing
−8.2
Majority
2,220
12.2
N/A
Conservative gain from Liberal
Swing
+15.3
Elections in the 1880s [ ] Locke's death caused a by-election.
By-election, 14 Feb 1880 : Southwark (1 seat)[37] [46]
Party
Candidate
Votes
%
Conservative Edward Clarke 7,683
50.2
+18.9
Liberal
Andrew Dunn
6,830
44.6
−4.9
Lib-Lab
George Shipton
799
5.2
−14.0
Majority
853
5.6
N/A
Turnout
15,312
65.2
+6.6
Registered electors
23,472
Conservative gain from Liberal
Swing
+11.9
General election 1880 : Southwark (2 seats)[37]
Party
Candidate
Votes
%
Liberal Arthur Cohen 9,693
27.7
−4.7
Liberal Thorold Rogers 9,521
27.2
+10.1
Conservative
Edward Clarke
8,163
23.3
+7.6
Conservative
Mark Cattley[47]
7,674
21.9
+6.2
Majority
1,358
3.9
+2.8
Turnout
17,526 (est)
74.7 (est)
+16.1
Registered electors
23,472
Liberal hold
Swing
−5.5
Liberal gain from Conservative
Swing
+1.3
Elections in the 1950s [ ]
General election 1950 : Southwark
Party
Candidate
Votes
%
Labour
George Isaacs
35,049
68.27
Conservative
James Greenwood (MP)
12,671
24.68
Liberal
Lionel Fowler
2,950
5.75
Communist
Spencer John Bent
668
1.30
Majority
22,378
43.59
Turnout
51,338
73.98
Labour win (new seat)
General election 1951 : Southwark
Party
Candidate
Votes
%
Labour
George Isaacs
36,586
72.28
Conservative
James Greenwood (MP)
14,032
27.72
Majority
22,554
44.56
Turnout
50,618
72.32
Labour hold
Swing
General election 1955 : Southwark
Party
Candidate
Votes
%
Labour
George Isaacs
28,174
70.30
Conservative
James Greenwood(MP)
10,944
27.31
Communist
Spencer John Bent
959
2.39
New
Majority
17,230
42.99
Turnout
40,077
60.18
Labour hold
Swing
General election 1959 : Southwark
Party
Candidate
Votes
%
Labour
Ray Gunter
25,036
63.99
Conservative
James Greenwood (MP)
12,696
32.45
Communist
Spencer John Bent
1,395
3.57
Majority
12,340
31.54
Turnout
39,127
63.37
Labour hold
Swing
Elections in the 1960s [ ]
General election 1964 : Southwark
Party
Candidate
Votes
%
Labour
Ray Gunter
22,426
68.82
Conservative
Anthony Paul R Noble
8,563
26.28
Communist
Spencer John Bent
1,599
4.91
Majority
13,863
42.54
Turnout
32,588
55.86
Labour hold
Swing
General election 1966 : Southwark
Party
Candidate
Votes
%
Labour
Ray Gunter
21,855
73.55
Conservative
Anthony Paul Noble
6,454
21.72
Communist
Spencer John Bent
1,404
4.73
Majority
15,401
51.83
Turnout
29,713
54.03
Labour hold
Swing
Elections in the 1970s [ ]
General election 1970 : Southwark
Party
Candidate
Votes
%
Labour
Ray Gunter
16,834
67.33
Conservative
Jeffrey Gordon
7,040
28.16
Communist
Earle Hume
1,128
4.51
Majority
9,794
39.17
Turnout
25,002
48.19
Labour hold
Swing
1972 Southwark by-election
Party
Candidate
Votes
%
Labour
Harry Lamborn
12,108
79.33
+12.00
Conservative
Jeffrey Gordon
2,756
18.06
-10.10
Independent
Brian McDermott
398
2.61
New
Majority
9,352
61.27
Turnout
15,262
Labour hold
Swing
References [ ]
^ "Southwark", in The Columbia Lippincott Gazetteer of the World (1952), New York: Columbia University Press.
^ F.W.S. Craig (ed.), British Parliamentary Election Results 1832–1885 (London: The Macmillan Press Ltd, 1977)
^ "The public general acts : Great Britain, Incorporated Council of Law Reporting for England and Wales : Free Download, Borrow, and Streaming : Internet Archive" . Internet Archive . 10 June 2020. Retrieved 13 May 2021 .^ Jump up to: a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w "History of Parliament" . History of Parliament Trust. Retrieved 21 November 2011 .^ Jump up to: a b c d e f g h i j k l m "History of Parliament" . History of Parliament Trust. Retrieved 21 November 2011 .^ Jump up to: a b c d e f g h i j "History of Parliament" . History of Parliament Trust. Retrieved 21 November 2011 .^ Died January 1645; the writ to fill both vacancies was issued in August 1645
^ On petition, Halsey was found not to have been duly elected, and a new election was held
^ Created a baronet, August 1715
^ The by-election in January 1724 was caused by death of George Meggott
^ The by-election in January 1730 was caused by death of Edmund Halsey
^ The by-election in June 1743 was caused by death of Thomas Inwen
^ Mawbey was created a baronet in July 1765^ The by-election in December 1765 was caused by death of
^ The by-election in December 1782 was caused by death of Nathaniel Polhill
^ Jump up to: a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x Stooks Smith, Henry (1845). The Parliaments of England, from 1st George I., to the Present Time. Vol II: Oxfordshire to Wales Inclusive ^ The by-election in June 1784 was caused by death of
^ Jump up to: a b 's election in May 1796 was declared void in November 1796; a by-election was held at which he was re-elected but he was found to be ineligible to sit and Tierney was declared elected in his place
^ The by-election in February 1815 was caused by death of Henry Thornton
^ The by-election in November 1830 was caused by death of
^ Spencer, Howard (2009). "BROUGHAM, William (1795–1886), of 12 Old Buildings, Lincoln's Inn, Mdx" . The History of Parliament . ^ Spencer, Howard. "Southwark" . The History of Parliament . Retrieved 4 April 2018 . ^ Fisher, David R. (2009). "HARVEY, Daniel Whittle (1786–1863), of Feering House, Kelvedon, Essex and 7 Great George Street, Mdx" . The History of Parliament . ^ The was caused by the resignation of Daniel Whittle Harvey
^ "Southwark" Dublin Morning Register . 27 January 1840. p. 2 – via British Newspaper Archive .^ "Southwark Election" Cambridge Independent Press . 25 January 1840. p. 2 – via British Newspaper Archive .^ The was caused by the death of Benjamin Wood
^ "Newcastle Journal" British Newspaper Archive .^ "The Elections—Sunderland and Southwark" Coventry Herald . 5 September 1845. p. 4 – via British Newspaper Archive .^ Jump up to: a b Steele, E. D. (1991). "At home". Palmerston and Liberalism, 1855–1865 . Cambridge University Press . pp. 72, 118. ISBN 9780521400459 ^ Weinstein, Benjamin (2011). Liberalism and Local Government in Early Victorian London ISBN 9780861933129 ^ Hicks, Geoff; Charmley, John; Grosvenor, Bendor, eds. (2012). "The Second Derby Government" . Documents on Conservative Foreign Policy, 1852–1878 . Cambridge University Press . p. 112. ISBN 9781107035928 ^ Hawkins, Angus (2015). "Shooting Niagara" . Victorian Political Culture: 'habits of Heart and Mind' (Illustrated ed.). Oxford University Press . p. 259. ISBN 9780198728481 ^ The was caused by the death of Sir Charles Napier
^ The by-election in February 1870 was caused by the resignation of Austen Henry Layard
^ The by-election in December 1880 was caused by the death of John Locke
^ Jump up to: a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w Craig, F. W. S. , ed. (1977). British Parliamentary Election Results 1832–1885 (e-book) (1st ed.). London: Macmillan Press. pp. 16–17. ISBN 978-1-349-02349-3 ^ "London and Suburbs Elections" Cobbett's Weekly Political Register . 15 December 1832 – via British Newspaper Archive .^ "Southwark" Morning Post . 10 December 1832. p. 2 – via British Newspaper Archive .^ "Southwark Election" Evening Mail . 20 January 1840. p. 6 – via British Newspaper Archive .^ "Southwark Election" Globe . 2 September 1845. p. 1 – via British Newspaper Archive .^ "Belfast Commercial Chronicle" British Newspaper Archive .^ "Election Intelligence" Reynold's Weekly Newspaper British Newspaper Archive .^ "Scovell" Morning Advertiser British Newspaper Archive .^ "Southwark Election" Daily Telegraph & Courier British Newspaper Archive .^ "For the representation of Southwark" Illustrated London News British Newspaper Archive .^ "General Election" . John Bull
Sources [ ] Robert Beatson, A Chronological Register of Both Houses of Parliament (London: Longman, Hurst, Res & Orme, 1807) A Chronological Register of Both Houses of the British Parliament, from the Union in 1708, to the Third Parliament of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, in 1807
D Brunton & D H Pennington, Members of the Long Parliament (London: George Allen & Unwin, 1954)
Cobbett's Parliamentary history of England, from the Norman Conquest in 1066 to the year 1803 (London: Thomas Hansard, 1808) Digital Bodleian F W S Craig, British Parliamentary Election Results 1832–1885 (2nd edition, Aldershot: Parliamentary Research Services, 1989)
Leigh Rayment's Historical List of MPs – Constituencies beginning with "S" (part 4) show 1832 1868 1950 1955
1955-1974 + into the
show Authority control General National libraries
listen) SUDH-ərk)[1] was a constituency centred on the Southwark district of South London. It returned two Members of Parliament to the House of Commons of the English Parliament from 1295 to 1707, to the Parliament of Great Britain from 1707 to 1800, and to the UK Parliament until its first abolition for the 1885 general election. A seat of the same name, covering a smaller area than the last form of the earlier seat in the west of the original and beyond its boundaries to the southwest, was created in 1950 and abolished in 1974.
