# Hampstead (UK Parliament constituency)

Hampstead was a borough constituency, centered on the Hampstead area of North London. It returned one Member of Parliament (MP) to the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom, who was elected using the first-past-the-post voting system.
It was created for the 1885 general election, and abolished for the 1983 general election, when it was partly replaced by the new Hampstead and Highgate constituency.

## Boundaries

1885–1918: The parish of St John, Hampstead.
The parliamentary borough of Hampstead was created by the Redistribution of Seats Act 1885, and consisted of the civil parish of St John, Hampstead, Middlesex. The parish had previously formed part of the Parliamentary County of Middlesex. Hampstead lay within the area of the Metropolitan Board of Works, and in 1889 this became the County of London. In 1900 the county was divided into twenty-eight metropolitan boroughs, with the civil parish becoming the Metropolitan Borough of Hampstead.
Parliamentary constituencies were redrawn under the Representation of the People Act 1918, with boundaries in London realigned to those of the metropolitan boroughs. Accordingly, the Hampstead constituency was defined by the legislation as being identical in area to the metropolitan borough of the same name. When the next redistribution was carried out under the Representation of the People Act 1948, the term "parliamentary borough" was replaced with "borough constituency". The renamed Hampstead Borough Constituency continued with the same boundaries, with the changes coming into effect for the 1950 general election.
In 1965 both the County of London and the metropolitan boroughs were abolished. Hampstead became part of the larger London Borough of Camden. The changes were not reflected in parliamentary boundaries until 1970. The constituency was officially renamed "Camden, Hampstead Borough Constituency" and was defined as comprising seven wards of the London Borough, namely Adelaide, Belsize, Hampstead Town, Kilburn, Priory, Swiss Cottage and West End. The wards of the borough were altered in 1973, with Swiss Cottage ward replacing Hampstead Central in the constituency's definition. These boundaries were used until 1983, when the seat was abolished.

## Members of Parliament

| Election | Election | Member | Party |
| | 1885 | Sir Henry Holland | Conservative |
| | 1888 by-election | Edward Hoare | Conservative |
| | 1902 by-election | Thomas Milvain | Conservative |
| | 1905 by-election | John Fletcher | Conservative |
| | 1918 | George Balfour | Coalition Conservative |
| | 1922 | George Balfour | Conservative |
| | 1941 by-election | Charles Challen | Conservative |
| | 1950 | Henry Brooke | Conservative |
| | 1966 | Ben Whitaker | Labour |
| | 1970 | Geoffrey Finsberg | Conservative |
| 1983 | 1983 | constituency abolished: see Hampstead & Highgate | constituency abolished: see Hampstead & Highgate |

## Election results
### Elections in the 1880s

General election 1885: Hampstead :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Henry Holland | 2,785 | 59.0 | |
| | Liberal | John Campbell | 1,910 | 40.4 | |
| | Social Democratic Federation | Jack Williams | 27 | 0.6 | |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 875 | 18.6 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 4,722 | 79.0 | |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 5,981 | | |
| | Conservative win (new seat) | Conservative win (new seat) | Conservative win (new seat) | Conservative win (new seat) | Conservative win (new seat) |
General election 1886: Hampstead :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Henry Holland | 2,707 | 74.1 | +15.1 |
| | Liberal | William Ramsay Scott | 945 | 25.9 | −14.5 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,762 | 48.2 | +29.6 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 5,981 | 61.1 | −17.9 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 5,981 | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | +14.8 | |
Holland was appointed Vice-President of the Committee of the Council on Education, requiring a by-election.
By-election, 11 Aug 1886: Hampstead :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Henry Holland | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold |
Holland was elevated to the peerage, becoming Lord Knutsford, causing a by-election.
By-election, 28 Feb 1888: Hampstead :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Edward Brodie Hoare | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold |

### Elections in the 1890s

General election 1892: Hampstead :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Edward Brodie Hoare | 3,848 | 63.2 | −10.9 |
| | Liberal | John Castleman Swinburne-Hanham | 2,239 | 36.8 | +10.9 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,609 | 26.4 | −21.8 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 6,087 | 73.6 | +12.5 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 8,272 | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | −10.9 | |
General election 1895: Hampstead :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Edward Brodie Hoare | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold |

### Elections in the 1900s

General election 1900: Hampstead :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Edward Brodie Hoare | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold |
1902 Hampstead by-election :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Thomas Milvain | 3,843 | 64.5 | N/A |
| | Liberal | George Frederic Rowe | 2,118 | 35.5 | New |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,725 | 29.0 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 5,961 | 58.0 | N/A |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 10,280 | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | N/A | |
1905 Hampstead by-election :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | John Fletcher | 4,228 | 52.6 | N/A |
| | Liberal | George Frederic Rowe | 3,803 | 47.4 | N/A |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 425 | 5.2 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 8,028 | 71.1 | N/A |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 11,301 | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | N/A | |
General election 1906: Hampstead :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | John Fletcher | 4,934 | 52.5 | N/A |
| | Liberal | George Frederic Rowe | 4,461 | 47.5 | N/A |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 473 | 5.0 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 9,395 | 81.9 | N/A |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 11,467 | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | N/A | |

### Election in the 1910s

General election January 1910: Hampstead :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | John Fletcher | 6,228 | 61.2 | +8.7 |
| | Liberal | Frank George Howard | 3,949 | 38.8 | −8.7 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 2,279 | 22.4 | +17.4 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 10,177 | 84.5 | +2.6 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | +8.7 | |
General election December 1910: Hampstead :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | John Fletcher | 5,605 | 64.2 | +3.0 |
| | Liberal | Samuel Lammas Dore | 3,129 | 35.8 | −3.0 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 2,476 | 28.4 | +6.0 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 8,734 | 72.5 | −12.0 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | +3.0 | |
General election 1918: Hampstead :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| C | Unionist | George Balfour | 13,393 | 70.8 | +6.6 |
| | Labour | Skene Mackay | 3,646 | 19.3 | New |
| | National | John Harris Wrentmore | 1,881 | 9.9 | New |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 9,747 | 51.5 | +23.1 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 18,920 | 58.1 | +14.6 |
| | Unionist hold | Unionist hold | Swing | N/A | |
| C indicates candidate endorsed by the coalition government. ||||||

### Elections in the 1920s

General election 1922: Hampstead :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Unionist | George Balfour | 14,596 | 59.7 | −11.1 |
| | National Liberal | Albert Clavering | 5,582 | 22.9 | New |
| | Liberal | Lancelot Sackville Fletcher | 4,282 | 17.5 | New |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 9,014 | 36.8 | −14.7 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 24,460 | 63.1 | +5.0 |
| | Unionist hold | Unionist hold | Swing | N/A | |
General election 1923: Hampstead :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Unionist | George Balfour | 13,513 | 58.6 | −1.1 |
| | Liberal | Lancelot Sackville Fletcher | 9,538 | 41.4 | +23.9 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 3,975 | 17.2 | −19.6 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 23,051 | 58.0 | −5.1 |
| | Unionist hold | Unionist hold | Swing | -1.1 | |
General election 1924: Hampstead :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Unionist | George Balfour | 21,432 | 79.1 | +20.5 |
| | Labour | Charles Terry Hendin | 5,662 | 20.9 | New |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 15,770 | 58.2 | +41.0 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 27,094 | 67.2 | +9.2 |
| | Unionist hold | Unionist hold | Swing | N/A | |
General election 1929: Hampstead :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Unionist | George Balfour | 23,370 | 58.3 | −20.8 |
| | Labour | F. E. Dawkins | 8,473 | 21.1 | +0.2 |
| | Liberal | M. Leon Freedman | 8,273 | 20.6 | New |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 14,897 | 37.1 | −21.1 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 40,116 | 62.8 | −4.4 |
| | Unionist hold | Unionist hold | Swing | -10.5 | |

### Elections in the 1930s

General election 1931: Hampstead :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | George Balfour | 36,928 | 87.1 | +28.8 |
| | Labour | Harry Smith | 5,475 | 12.9 | −8.2 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 31,453 | 74.2 | +37.1 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 42,403 | 77.8 | +15.0 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | +18.5 | |
General election 1935: Hampstead :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | George Balfour | 28,334 | 73.2 | −13.9 |
| | Labour | Harry Smith | 6,987 | 18.0 | +5.1 |
| | Liberal | John L. Young | 3,396 | 8.8 | New |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 21,347 | 55.2 | −19.0 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 38,717 | 59.0 | −18.8 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | | |

### Elections in the 1940s

1941 Hampstead by-election :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Charles Challen | 7,630 | 67.4 | −5.8 |
| | National | Noel Pemberton Billing | 2,734 | 24.1 | New |
| | Independent Progressive | Reg Hipwell | 636 | 5.6 | New |
| | Independent | Arthur L. Dolland | 326 | 2.9 | New |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 4,896 | 43.3 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 11,326 | 17.3 | −41.7 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | N/A | |
General election 1945: Hampstead :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Charles Challen | 19,652 | 51.8 | −20.4 |
| | Labour | William Field | 18,294 | 48.2 | +30.2 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,358 | 3.6 | −51.6 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 37,946 | 68.4 | +9.4 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | N/A | |

### Elections in the 1950s

General election 1950: Hampstead :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Henry Brooke | 29,949 | 52.3 | +0.5 |
| | Labour | William F Hawkins | 17,373 | 30.3 | −17.9 |
| | Liberal | Wilfred Sydney Watson | 8,336 | 14.6 | New |
| | Communist | R Gore | 1,603 | 2.8 | New |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 12,576 | 22.0 | +16.4 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 57,261 | 80.5 | +12.1 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | +11.0 | |
General election 1951: Hampstead :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Henry Brooke | 31,346 | 55.1 | +2.8 |
| | Labour | Arthur Richardson | 19,240 | 33.8 | +3.5 |
| | Liberal | Wilfred Sydney Watson | 6,320 | 11.1 | −3.5 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 12,106 | 21.3 | −0.7 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 56,906 | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | -0.3 | |
General election 1955: Hampstead :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Henry Brooke | 28,226 | 55.9 | +0.8 |
| | Labour | Arthur Richardson | 16,040 | 31.8 | −2.0 |
| | Liberal | Harry Charles Seigal | 6,222 | 12.3 | +1.2 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 12,186 | 24.1 | +2.8 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 50,488 | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | +1.4 | |
General election 1959: Hampstead :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Henry Brooke | 25,506 | 53.4 | −2.5 |
| | Labour | David Pitt | 13,500 | 28.3 | −3.5 |
| | Liberal | Harry Charles Seigal | 8,759 | 18.3 | +6.0 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 12,006 | 25.1 | +1.0 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 47,765 | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | +0.5 | |

### Elections in the 1960s

General election 1964: Hampstead :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Henry Brooke | 19,888 | 43.3 | −10.1 |
| | Labour | John W T Cooper | 18,053 | 39.3 | +11.0 |
| | Liberal | Renee Soskin | 8,019 | 17.4 | −0.9 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,835 | 4.0 | −21.1 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 45,960 | 67.6 | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | -10.5 | |
General election 1966: Hampstead :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Benjamin Whitaker | 22,963 | 46.8 | +7.5 |
| | Conservative | Henry Brooke | 20,710 | 42.2 | −1.1 |
| | Liberal | Renee Soskin | 5,182 | 10.7 | −6.7 |
| | Socialist (GB) | Harry Baldwin | 211 | 0.4 | New |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 2,253 | 4.6 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 49,066 | 72.4 | +4.8 |
| | Labour gain from Conservative | Labour gain from Conservative | Swing | +4.3 | |

### Elections in the 1970s

General election 1970: Hampstead :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Geoffrey Finsberg | 21,264 | 46.63 | +4.4 |
| | Labour | Benjamin Whitaker | 20,790 | 45.59 | −1.2 |
| | Liberal | John Hans Rudolf Calmann | 3,550 | 7.78 | −2.9 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 474 | 1.04 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 45,604 | 63.68 | |
| | Conservative gain from Labour | Conservative gain from Labour | Swing | +2.8 | |
General election February 1974: Hampstead :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Geoffrey Finsberg | 19,536 | 43.28 | −3.3 |
| | Labour | Tony Clarke | 17,279 | 38.28 | −7.3 |
| | Liberal | Ronald Henry Longland | 8,323 | 18.44 | +10.6 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 2,257 | 5.00 | +4.0 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 44,958 | 70.71 | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | +2.0 | |
General election October 1974: Hampstead :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Geoffrey Finsberg | 18,139 | 44.88 | +1.6 |
| | Labour | Tony Clarke | 16,414 | 40.61 | +2.3 |
| | Liberal | Ronald Henry Longland | 5,566 | 13.77 | −4.6 |
| | Irish Civil Rights | Maureen Frances Teresa Maguire | 146 | 0.36 | New |
| | Socialist (GB) | Ralph Owen Critchfield | 118 | 0.29 | New |
| | Independent | Chandra Rao | 31 | 0.08 | New |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,725 | 4.27 | −0.7 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 40,414 | 63.06 | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | -0.3 | |
General election 1979: Hampstead :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Geoffrey Finsberg | 20,410 | 47.30 | +2.4 |
| | Labour | Ken Livingstone | 16,729 | 38.77 | −1.8 |
| | Liberal | David Radford | 5,753 | 13.33 | −0.5 |
| | National Front | Jean White | 255 | 0.59 | New |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 3,681 | 8.53 | +4.2 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 43,147 | 67.41 | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | +2.1 | |