First_Periodic_Review_of_Westminster_constituencies

First Periodic Review of Westminster constituencies

First Periodic Review of Westminster constituencies

1950s review of UK electoral boundaries


The First Periodic Review of Westminster constituencies was a review of constituency boundaries for the Westminster Parliament in the United Kingdom carried out by the Boundary Commissions created by the House of Commons (Redistribution of Seats) Act 1949. The Commissions reported in 1954 and their recommendations took effect for the 1955 general election. Legal action over the procedure for such reviews resulted in the passage of the House of Commons (Redistribution of Seats) Act 1958.[1]

Summary of changes

Although the review was carried out only 5 years after the major overhaul of constituency boundaries enacted by the Representation of the People Act 1948 (taking effect for the 1950 general election), there were a number of significant changes, with the total number of seats increasing from 625 to 630. There were 36 new constituencies created and 31 abolished, resulting in a net increase of 5 constituencies which were all in England (506 to 511), with the number of constituencies in Wales (36), Scotland (71) and Northern Ireland (12) remaining the same.

There were changes to a further 137 constituencies involving the transfer of local authorities or wards/parishes therein. There were also minor changes to 42 constituencies which involved bringing the constituency boundaries in line with local authority boundaries which had been altered. The bulk of the changes affected the large cities outside London (Birmingham, Bradford, Bristol, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Leeds, Liverpool, Manchester and Sheffield). There were only a few marginal changes in Wales and no changes in Northern Ireland.

During the period 1951 to 1953, 29 Statutory Instruments, affecting 66 constituencies, had been passed under the provisions of the House of Commons (Redistribution of Seats) Act 1949 to bring boundaries in line with those of local authorities.[2]

There was a considerable delay before the Second Periodic Review was completed and approved by Parliament and this did not come into effect until the February 1974 general election. The boundaries and constituencies introduced by the First Review were therefore in use for the general elections of 1955, 1959, 1964, 1966 and 1970.

List of constituencies created, abolished or altered

Source: Craig, F. W. S. (1972). Boundaries of Parliamentary Constituencies 1885-1972. Chichester: Political Reference Publications. ISBN 0-900178-09-4. Pages 49 to 116.

BC denotes a Borough Constituency; CC denotes a County Constituency.

England

More information County, Seats 1950-55 ...

Wales

More information County, Seats 1950-55 ...

Scotland

More information County, Seats 1950-55 ...

Northern Ireland

More information County, Seats 1950-55 ...

Details of major changes

Abbreviations

BC denotes a Borough Constituency; CC denotes a County Constituency.

CB - County borough; MB - Metropolitan borough; UD - Urban district; RD - Rural district

Berkshire (minus 1 seat, boundary changes)

Cheshire (plus 1 seat, boundary changes)

Derbyshire (boundary changes)

The parishes of Chaddesden and Littleover in Shardlow RD were transferred from South-East Derbyshire CC to Derby North BC and Derby South BC respectively.

Devon (boundary changes)

Durham (boundary changes)

East Sussex (plus 1 seat, boundary changes)

Essex (plus 2 seats, boundary changes)

Gloucestershire (seat and boundary changes)

Hampshire (plus 1 seat, boundary changes)

Hertfordshire (plus 1 seat, boundary changes)

Kent (plus 1 seat, boundary changes)

Lancashire (minus 2 seats, seat and boundary changes)

Leicestershire (boundary change)

London (minus 1 seat, seat and boundary changes)

Middlesex (plus 1 seat, boundary changes)

Northumberland (boundary change)

Nottinghamshire (seat and boundary changes)

Staffordshire (plus 1 seat, boundary changes)

Surrey (plus 1 seat, boundary changes)

Warwickshire (plus 1 seat, boundary changes)

Yorkshire, East Riding (seat and boundary changes)

Yorkshire, West Riding (minus 2 seats, boundary changes)

Aberdeenshire (boundary change)

Lanarkshire (seat and boundary changes)

Midlothian (boundary changes)

Midlothian, Peeblesshire, Roxburghshire and Selkirkshire (seat and boundary changes)


References

  1. Craig, Fred W. S. (1972). Boundaries of parliamentary constituencies 1885-1972;. Chichester: Political Reference Publications. ISBN 0900178094. OCLC 539011.

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