Battersea South was a parliamentary constituency, originally in the County of London and later in Greater London. It returned one Member of Parliament (MP) to the House of Commons of the UK Parliament (using first-past-the-post voting).
It was created for the 1918 general election, when the former Battersea constituency was divided in two and the Clapham constituency was reduced in size, losing both of its Battersea wards of the four in total. Battersea South was abolished for the 1983 general election, when the bulk of its territory was reunited with Battersea North to form a new Battersea seat. The south of its area formed a new Tooting seat.
Boundaries
DatesLocal authorityMapsWards1918–1950Metropolitan Borough of BatterseaBolingbroke, Broomwood, St John, Shaftesbury, and Winstanley1950–1974Metropolitan Borough of Battersea (before 1965)London Borough of Wandsworth (after 1965)Bolingbroke, Broomwood, Lavender, Nightingale, St John, Shaftesbury, Stormont, and Thornton1974–1983London Borough of WandsworthBalham, Earlsfield, Fairfield, Nightingale, and Northcote
The seat was created by the Representation of the People Act 1918. When seats were redistributed by the Representation of the People Act 1948 the boundaries of the constituency were altered to contain only four wards, and Winstanley ward was transferred to Battersea North.Representation of the People Act 1948, (1948, C.65), Schedule 1 However the wards of the borough were redrawn in 1949 prior to the next general election in 1950.Battersea (Wards) Order 1949 (S.I. 1949/552) Accordingly, changes were made under the House of Commons (Redistribution of Seats) Act 1949. Of the 16 new wards, eight were included in each of the Battersea North and South constituencies.The House of Commons (Redistribution of Seats) (No. 2) Order, 1949 (S.I. 1949 No. 1440)F A Youngs Jr., Guide to the Local Administrative Units of England, Vol I: Southern England, London, 1979
In 1965 Battersea became part of the London Borough of Wandsworth. This, however made no immediate change to the parliamentary constituencies. It was not until the general election of February 1974 that the constituency boundaries were altered.The Parliamentary Constituencies (England) Order 1970 (1970 No. 1674) The Shaftesbury and St John's wards were transferred to Battersea North, while the redrawn constituency incorporated areas previously in the Clapham and Putney seats. These boundaries were used until abolition.
In 1966, 11.6% of the constituency was born in the New Commonwealth.
The constituency was abolished in 1983. Most of its area (Balham, Fairfield and Northcote wards) went to the recreated Battersea seat, with part (Earlsfield and Nightingale wards) passing to Tooting.
Members of Parliament ElectionMemberPartyNotes 1918 Viscount Curzon ConservativeBecame ineligible following his succeeding to the peerage as Earl Howe 1929 by-election William Bennett Labour 1931 Sir Harry Selley Conservative 1945 Caroline Ganley Labour Co-operative 1951 Ernest Partridge Conservative 1964 Ernie Perry Labour 1979 Alf Dubs Contested Battersea following redistribution1983 constituency abolished: see Battersea
Election results Elections in the 1970s
1970 notional result Party Vote % Conservative 16,600 48.4 Labour 15,300 44.6 Liberal 2,400 7.0Turnout34,30063.8Electorate53,724
Elections in the 1960s
Elections in the 1950s
Election in the 1940s
Election in the 1930s
Election in the 1920s
Election in the 1910s
Jenkin was supported by and possibly the nominee of the local National Federation of Discharged and Demobilized Sailors and Soldiers branch.
References