Lewisham West was a borough constituency in south-east London represented in the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. It elected one Member of Parliament (MP) by the first past the post system of election from 1918, until it was abolished for the 2010 general election.

History

Aside from a Labour gain in 1945 after the party's landslide general election victory, Lewisham West was a fairly safe Conservative seat from its creation in 1918, but from 1966 until 1992, it became a classic bellwether seat, being won by whichever party won the General Election (with the exception of 1979). However, long-term demographic trends turned the seat away from being a Labour-Conservative marginal into a safe Labour seat. Partly this occurred because of a strong increase in the number of ethnic minority residents. At the same time, the communities of Catford, Sydenham and Forest Hill became much less leafy and suburban over 30 years. The large council estate of Bellingham was a Labour stronghold, as other areas of the seat became increasingly safe for Labour, whereas in the past they were not.

Boundaries 1918–1950: The Metropolitan Borough of Lewisham wards of Brockley, Forest Hill, and Sydenham, and parts of the wards of Catford and Lewisham Village.

1950–1974: The Metropolitan Borough of Lewisham wards of Brockley, Forest Hill, Honor Oak Park, Sydenham East, and Sydenham West.

1974–1983: The London Borough of Lewisham wards of Bellingham, Culverley, Forest Hill, Honor Oak Park, Rushey Green, Sydenham East, and Sydenham West.

1983–2010: The London Borough of Lewisham wards of Bellingham, Catford, Forest Hill, Horniman, Perry Hill, Rushey Green, St Andrew, Sydenham East, and Sydenham West.

Lewisham West constituency covered the south-western part of the London Borough of Lewisham, being largely based on the communities of Catford, Sydenham, Forest Hill and Bellingham.

Boundary review Following their review of parliamentary representation in South London, the Boundary Commission for England created a new constituency of Lewisham West and Penge, using electoral wards from Bromley and Lewisham.

Members of Parliament ElectionMemberParty 1918 Edward Feetham Coates Coalition Conservative 1921 by-election Philip Dawson Conservative 1938 by-election Henry Brooke Conservative 1945 Arthur Skeffington Labour 1950 Henry Price Conservative 1964 Patrick McNair-Wilson Conservative 1966 James Dickens Labour 1970 John Gummer Conservative Feb 1974 Christopher Price Labour 1983 John Maples Conservative 1992 Jim Dowd Labour2010 constituency abolished: see Lewisham West and Penge

Elections Elections in the 2000s

Elections in the 1990s

Elections in the 1980s

Elections in the 1970s 1979 notional result Party Vote % Labour 21,871 46.1 Conservative 21,004 44.3 Liberal 3,583 7.6 Others 991 2.1Turnout47,449Electorate

1970 notional result Party Vote % Conservative 22,200 50.3 Labour 21,900 49.7Turnout44,10067.3Electorate65,499

Elections in the 1960s

Elections in the 1950s

Elections in the 1940s

Elections in the 1930s

Elections in the 1920s

Elections in the 1910s

See also List of parliamentary constituencies in London

Notes and references

Sources

External links Lewisham West UK Parliament constituency (boundaries April 1997 – April 2010) at MapIt UK