Wanstead and Woodford was a constituency in North 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. The constituency existed from the 1964 general election until it was abolished in the 1997 general election.
History of results
Between 51.7% and 63.6% of voters in the constituency supported the Conservative candidate in general elections (no by-elections occurred during this period). The runner-up party alternated between Liberal and Labour candidates, with the Conservative majority over the runner-up ranging from 26.7% to 43%.
Boundaries 1964–1974: The constituency covered the area of the Municipal Borough of Wanstead and Woodford in Essex. From 1965 to 1974, this area fell under the London Borough of Redbridge for local government purposes.
1974–1983: The constituency comprised the following wards in the London Borough of Redbridge: Bridge, Clayhall, Snaresbrook, Wanstead, and Woodford.
1983–1997: The constituency included the London Borough of Redbridge wards of Bridge, Church End, Clayhall, Monkhams, Roding, Snaresbrook, and Wanstead.
Creation and successors This seat was defined by the Parliamentary Constituencies (Ilford and Woodford) Order 1960, which took effect at the next general election, held in 1964.The Parliamentary Constituencies (Ilford and Woodford) Order, 1960 (S.I. 1960 No. 454) This Order adjusted the boundaries of Ilford North, Ilford South, and Woodford (which was renamed Wanstead and Woodford), to align with the borough boundaries set in 1956.
This was the only boundary adjustment for any constituencies between the 1955 and February 1974 general elections.
Until 1974, the seat closely mirrored its predecessor, Woodford, with only minor boundary changes.
The constituency was dissolved in 1997 and divided to: Form parts of new constituencies: Chingford and Woodford Green (Church End and Monkhams wards) Leyton and Wanstead (Snaresbrook and Wanstead wards) Expand Ilford North, incorporating Bridge, Clayhall, and Roding wards.The Parliamentary Constituencies (England) Order 1995 (S.I. 1995 No. 1626)
Proposals to re-establish the seat were included in the Boundary Commission review published on 13 September 2011. If implemented, the new seat would consist of the wards Monkhams, Bridge, Church End, Roding, Snaresbrook, and Wanstead, with Clayhall rejoining, along with the addition of Cranbrook and Valentines in Redbridge, located east of the A406 trunk road.
Members of Parliament ElectionMemberParty 1964 Patrick Jenkin Conservative 1987 James Arbuthnot Conservative 1997 constituency abolished: see Chingford and Woodford Green, Ilford North & Leyton and Wanstead
Elections Elections in the 1960s
Elections in the 1970s
Elections in the 1980s
Elections in the 1990s
See also List of parliamentary constituencies in London
Notes and references