Bromley was a constituency represented in the House of Commons of the UK Parliament from 1918 to 1974. Its most famous Member of Parliament (MP) was Harold Macmillan, who held the seat from 1945 to 1964 and served as Prime Minister from 1957 to 1963.

Like all 20th-century such seats for geographic zones it elected one MP, using the first past the post system of election. It lay in Kent until 1965 and Greater London thereafter.

Boundaries and boundary changes DatesLocal authorityMapsWards1918–1945Municipal Borough of BromleyMunicipal Borough of BeckenhamPenge Urban DistrictThe Borough of Bromley, and the Urban Districts of Beckenham and Penge1945–1950Municipal Borough of BromleyParts of the Boroughs of Bromley and Beckenham, and the Urban District of Penge.1950–1974Municipal Borough of Bromley (before 1965)London Borough of Bromley (after 1965) The Borough of Bromley.

1918–1945 The constituency was formed primarily from the existing of constituency Sevenoaks

1945–1950 The constituency was subject to minor boundary changes.

1950–1974 The Urban Districts of Beckenham and Penge were transferred to the new constituency of Beckenham

Summary The seat overspan the town of Bromley. As with the rest of south-east London these areas were in the far northwest of the Historic County of Kent – and was in the last such parts to join London, joining Greater London in April 1965.

The seat was abolished in the redistribution which took effect in 1974, largely replaced by the seat of Ravensbourne. The London Borough of Bromley (a larger area than the previous Municipal Borough) was, as to Westminster representation, split into four seats.

History This constituency consisted largely of prosperous leafy suburbia and was one of the Conservatives' strongest seats. The character of the area was one of prosperous small businesses, rather than commuting professionals.

Before 1918 this area was mostly the northern part of the Sevenoaks constituency. The first MP for this seat was Henry William Forster, the former member for Sevenoaks. In 1919 he was created the 1st Baron Forster and became Governor-General of Australia in 1920.

The next three MPs were first elected at by-elections (in 1919, 1930 and 1945 respectively).

In 1945 the sitting member died between the day of the election and the declaration of the result, so the opportunity arose for one of the Conservative former ministers defeated in the general election to return to the House of Commons representing an extremely safe seat. Future Prime Minister Harold Macmillan was selected by the Conservative Party to fight the seat. He was perhaps the most famous MP for Bromley, serving from the 1945 by-election until his retirement in 1964, when he was succeeded by John Hunt. Hunt held the seat (renamed Ravensbourne in 1974) until 1997.

Members of Parliament ElectionMemberPartyNotes1918 Henry Forster ConservativeMember for Sevenoaks (1892–1918)Became ineligible following his elevation to the peerage as Baron Forster1919 by-election Cuthbert James Conservative Died in July 19301930 by-election Edward Campbell Conservative Died in July 19451945 by-election Harold Macmillan Conservative Member for Stockton-on-Tees (1924–1929, 1931–1945) Constituency split, half merged with part of Orpington to form Beckenham1950 Harold Macmillan Conservative Foreign Secretary (1955), Chancellor of the Exchequer (1955–1957), Prime Minister (1957–1963)1964 John Hunt Conservative Contested Ravensbourne following redistribution Feb 1974 Constituency abolished: see Ravensbourne

Election results Elections in the 1910s

Elections in the 1920s

Elections in the 1930s

Elections in the 1940s

Elections in the 1950s

Elections in the 1960s

Elections in the 1970s

References

Boundaries of Parliamentary Constituencies 1885–1972, compiled and edited by F.W.S. Craig (Parliamentary Reference Publications 1972) Who's Who of British Members of Parliament, Volume III 1919–1945, edited by M. Stenton and S. Lees (Harvester Press 1979) Who's Who of British Members of Parliament, Volume IV 1945–1979, edited by M. Stenton and S. Lees (Harvester Press 1981)

See also List of former United Kingdom Parliament constituencies