Lewisham West (UK Parliament constituency)

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

right|thumb|260px|Lewisham West in London 1918-50

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right|thumb|260px|Lewisham West in London 1950-74

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.