# Darwin (ward)

Darwin is an electoral ward in the London Borough of Bromley. The ward has existed since the creation of the borough on 1 April 1965 and was first used in the 1964 elections. It returns one councillor to Bromley London Borough Council. To date, the ward has only been represented by the Conservative Party. The ward covers the most rural part of the borough consisting a number of hamlets. It is the largest electoral ward in Greater London. As originally created in 1965 it included Downe, Cudham, Luxted, Single Street, Berry's Green, Horns Green and Knockholt. Leaves Green, Pratt's Bottom and South Street have also formed part of the ward at certain times. Since 2022 it has covered an area of 32.74 square kilometres (12.64 sq mi). The ward is named after Charles Darwin who had a home in the village of Downe.

## List of councillors

| Term | Councillor | Party |
| 1964–1967 | Arthur Ferris | Conservative |
| 1967–1971 | Christopher Knox-Johnston | Conservative |
| 1971–1975 | Richard Knox-Johnston | Conservative |
| 1975–1978 | Marion Roe | Conservative |
| 1978–1982 | Anthony Komedera | Conservative |
| 1982–2010 | Peter Bloomfield | Conservative |
| 2010–2022 | Richard Scoates | Conservative |
| 2022–present | Jonathan Andrews | Conservative |

## Bromley council elections since 2022

There was a revision of ward boundaries in Bromley in 2022. Pratt's Bottom was added back to the ward and in the north the boundary was moved closer to Farnborough.

### 2022 election

The election took place on 5 May 2022.
2022 Bromley London Borough Council election: Darwin :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Jonathan Andrews | 920 | 56.4 | |
| | Independent | Julian Grainger | 326 | 20.0 | |
| | Labour | Jeff Slee | 162 | 9.9 | |
| | Liberal Democrats | John Loosemore | 128 | 7.9 | |
| | Green | Jan Wilson | 89 | 5.5 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,630 | 36 | |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 4,241 | | |
| | Conservative win (new boundaries) | Conservative win (new boundaries) | Conservative win (new boundaries) | Conservative win (new boundaries) | Conservative win (new boundaries) |

## 2002–2022 Bromley council elections

There was a revision of ward boundaries in Bromley in 2002. Pratt's Bottom was taken out of the ward and more of South Street was included.

### 2018 election

The election took place on 3 May 2018.
2018 Bromley London Borough Council election: Darwin :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Conservative | Richard Scoates | 1,201 | 72.8 |
| | Labour | Frank Evans | 185 | 11.2 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Millicent Brooks | 133 | 8.1 |
| | Green | Jan Wilson | 130 | 7.9 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,016 | 61.6 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,649 | 40.1 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | |

### 2014 election

The election took place on 22 May 2014.
2014 Bromley London Borough Council election: Darwin :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Conservative | Richard Scoates | 987 | 51.2 |
| | UKIP | Eric Hayward | 681 | 35.3 |
| | Labour | John Evans | 105 | 5.4 |
| | Green | Eileen Galloway | 89 | 4.6 |
| | Liberal Democrats | William Ritchie | 45 | 2.3 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 306 | 15.9 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,927 | 38.7 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | |

### 2010 election

The election on 6 May 2010 took place on the same day as the United Kingdom general election.
2010 Bromley London Borough Council election: Darwin :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes |
| | Conservative | Richard Scoates | 1,362 |
| | Independent | Peter Bloomfield | 1,295 |
| | UKIP | Mick Greenhough | 299 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing |

### 2006 election

The election took place on 4 May 2006.
2006 Bromley London Borough Council election: Darwin :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Conservative | Peter Bloomfield | 1,327 | 77.4 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Caroline De Vivo | 294 | 17.1 |
| | Labour | John Lewis | 94 | 5.5 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | | 46.7 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | |

### 2002 election

The election took place on 2 May 2002.
2002 Bromley London Borough Council election: Darwin :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Peter Bloomfield | 1,313 | | |
| | Liberal Democrats | Michael Chamarette | 245 | | |
| | Labour | Joyce Galley | 47 | | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | | | |
| | Conservative win (new boundaries) | Conservative win (new boundaries) | Conservative win (new boundaries) | Conservative win (new boundaries) | Conservative win (new boundaries) |

## 1994–2002 Bromley council elections

The boundaries of the ward were subject to minor changes on 1 April 1994.

### 1998 election

The election took place on 7 May 1998.
1998 Bromley London Borough Council election: Darwin :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Conservative | Peter Bloomfield | 1,268 | |
| | Labour | John Lewis | 210 | |
| | Liberal Democrats | Christine Sperling | 208 | |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | | 62.8 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | | 50.2 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | |

### 1994 election

The election took place on 5 May 1994.
1994 Bromley London Borough Council election: Darwin :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Peter Bloomfield | 1,191 | 69.2 | |
| | Liberal Democrats | Richard Stillwell | 300 | 17.4 | |
| | Labour | Joyce Galley | 230 | 13.4 | |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | | 51.8 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | | 53.0 | |
| | Conservative win (new boundaries) | Conservative win (new boundaries) | Conservative win (new boundaries) | Conservative win (new boundaries) | Conservative win (new boundaries) |

## 1978–1994 Bromley council elections

There was a revision of ward boundaries in Bromley in 1978. The ward gained Leaves Green, Pratt's Bottom and part of South Street.

### 1990 election

The election took place on 3 May 1990.
1990 Bromley London Borough Council election: Darwin :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Conservative | Peter Bloomfield | 1,343 | 73.1 |
| | Labour | Sylvia Whitlock | 273 | 14.9 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Malcolm Westbrook | 220 | 12.0 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | | 58.3 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | | 54.1 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | |

### 1986 election

The election took place on 8 May 1986.
1986 Bromley London Borough Council election: Darwin :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Peter Bloomfield | 1,252 | 69.7 | +2.1 |
| | Liberal | Derek Goldsmith | 397 | 22.1 | −3.7 |
| | Labour | Martin Synan | 148 | 8.2 | +1.5 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | | 47.6 | +5.8 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | | 50.3 | −6.3 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | +2.95 | |

### 1982 election

The election took place on 6 May 1982.
1982 Bromley London Borough Council election: Darwin :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Peter Bloomfield | 1,316 | 67.6 | −6.3 |
| | Liberal | Derek Goldsmith | 502 | 25.8 | +10.7 |
| | Labour | John Willman | 130 | 6.7 | −4.3 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | | 41.8 | −17.0 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | | 56.6 | +3.0 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | -8.5 | |

### 1978 election

The election took place on 4 May 1978.
1978 Bromley London Borough Council election: Darwin :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Anthony Komedera | 1,325 | 73.9 | n/a |
| | Liberal | Patrick McNally | 270 | 15.1 | n/a |
| | Labour | John Goffee | 198 | 11.0 | n/a |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | | 58.8 | n/a |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | | 53.6 | n/a |
| | Conservative win (new boundaries) | Conservative win (new boundaries) | Conservative win (new boundaries) | Conservative win (new boundaries) | Conservative win (new boundaries) |

## 1969–1978 Bromley council elections

The boundaries of the ward were adjusted on 1 April 1969. Knockholt (population 1,257 in 1971) was removed from the ward.

### 1975 by-election

A by-election took place on 2 October 1975.
1975 Darwin by-election :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Conservative | Marion Roe | 828 | |
| | Liberal | Derek Goldsmith | 551 | |
| | Labour | Keith Galley | 93 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | | 52.0 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | |

### 1974 election

The election took place on 2 May 1974.
1974 Bromley London Borough Council election: Darwin :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes |
| | Conservative | Richard Knox-Johnston | 989 |
| | Liberal | Derek Goldsmith | 589 |
| | Labour | John Goffe | 153 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing |

### 1971 election

The election took place on 13 May 1971.
1971 Bromley London Borough Council election: Darwin :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Richard Knox-Johnston | 989 | | |
| | Liberal | R. Townsend | 758 | | |
| | Labour | G. Cox | 103 | | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | | | |
| | Conservative win (new boundaries) | Conservative win (new boundaries) | Conservative win (new boundaries) | Conservative win (new boundaries) | Conservative win (new boundaries) |

## 1964–1969 Bromley council elections

The ward was first used for the 1964 election to Bromley London Borough Council. It included the most rural part of the borough including the villages and hamlets of Downe, Cudham, Luxted, Single Street, Berry's Green, Horns Green and Knockholt.

### 1968 election

The election took place on 9 May 1968.
1968 Bromley London Borough Council election: Darwin :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes |
| | Conservative | Christopher Knox-Johnston | 1,007 |
| | Liberal | Joyce Carter | 622 |
| | Labour | G. Cox | 38 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing |

### 1967 by-election

A by-election took place on 11 May 1967.
1967 Darwin by-election :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Conservative | Christopher Knox-Johnston | 809 | 49.7 |
| | Liberal | Joyce Cater | 775 | 47.6 |
| | Labour | Gustav White | 43 | 2.6 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | |

### 1964 election

The election took place on 7 May 1964.
1964 Bromley London Borough Council election: Darwin :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Arthur Ferris | 782 | | |
| | Liberal | Joseph Bray | 673 | | |
| | Labour | G. Cox | 93 | | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,551 | 62.8 | |
| | Conservative win (new seat) | Conservative win (new seat) | Conservative win (new seat) | Conservative win (new seat) | Conservative win (new seat) |