# Southwark (UK Parliament constituency)

Southwark (/ˈsʌðərk/ SUDH-ərk) was a constituency centred on the Southwark district of South London. It returned two Members of Parliament to the House of Commons of the English Parliament from 1295 to 1707, to the Parliament of Great Britain from 1707 to 1800, and to the UK Parliament until its first abolition for the 1885 general election. A seat of the same name, covering a smaller area than the last form of the earlier seat in the west of the original and beyond its boundaries to the southwest, was created in 1950 and abolished in 1974.
In its last creation the seat's broad electorate heavily supported the three successive Labour candidates, who won Southwark with a majority of greater than 36% of the votes cast at its eight elections – an extremely safe seat.

## Creation, boundaries, abolition
### First creation – or Southwark dual-member constituency

The constituency was created in 1295 as a parliamentary borough (also known as burgh) when its electorate was restricted to the owners of certain properties in its main streets of its burgage, returning two 'burgesses' as they were sometimes called. Its electorate was expanded to a more standard franchise in 1832. In 1833 the electorate was 4,775 adult males and this had risen to 23,472 by 1880.
The Redistribution of Seats Act 1885 replaced the two-member constituency with the seats West Southwark, Rotherhithe and Bermondsey.

### Second creation – or Southwark seat

A seat taking the old constituency name was established for the 1950 general election. Its boundaries were unaltered in the 1955 corrective review and it was abolished for the February 1974 general election.

## Members of Parliament
### MPs 1295–1640

| Parliament | First member | Second member |
| 1386 | Henry Thymelby | William Beeche |
| 1388 (Feb) | John Northampton | William Porter |
| 1388 (Sep) | Roger Chandler | Richard atte Vine |
| 1390 (Jan) | William Wintringham | John Mucking |
| 1390 (Nov) |
| 1391 | William Spalding | Walter Segrave |
| 1393 | John Solas | Thomas Solas |
| 1394 |
| 1395 | John Solas | John Mucking |
| 1397 (Jan) | Thomas atte Gill | John Mucking |
| 1397 (Sep) | William Derby | John Mucking |
| 1399 | Ralph Spalding | John Parker |
| 1401 |
| 1402 | John Gofaire | John Mucking |
| 1404 (Jan) |
| 1404 (Oct) |
| 1406 | John Baker | Thomas Spencer |
| 1407 | Thomas Colman | John Deken |
| 1410 | |
| 1411 | |
| 1413 (Feb) |
| 1413 (May) | William Horton | Thomas Spencer |
| 1414 (Apr) | John William | John Welles |
| 1414 (Nov) | John Solas | William Kirton |
| 1415 | William Redstone | Thomas Spencer |
| 1416 (Mar) | John Solas | John Mucking |
| 1416 (Oct) |
| 1417 | William Kirton | John Deken |
| 1419 | Robert William | John Welles |
| 1420 | William Kirton | John Deken |
| 1421 (May) | William Redstone | John Deken |
| 1421 (Dec) | Thomas Dewy | Thomas Lucas |
| 1510–1523 | No names known | No names known |
| 1529 | Sir John Shilston, died 1530 | Robert Acton |
| 1536 | Thomas Bulla | ? |
| 1539 | Sir Richard Long | Robert Acton |
| 1542 | Robert Acton | Thomas Bulla |
| 1545 | ? | William Gyllam |
| 1547 | Sir John Gates, repl. by Jan 1552 by John Sayer | Richard Fulmerston |
| 1553 (Mar) | John Eston | John Sayer |
| 1553 (Oct) | Humphrey Colet | John Sayer |
| 1554 (Apr) | John Eston | John Sayer |
| 1554 (Nov) | John Eston | John Sayer |
| 1555 | John Eston | Humphrey Colet |
| 1558 | John Eston | Robert Freeman |
| 1559 | John Eston | Robert Freeman |
| 1562–3 | Thomas Cure | Oliffe Burr |
| 1571 | Thomas Cure | William Wilson |
| 1572 | Oliffe Burr | Thomas Way |
| 1584 | Thomas Way | Richard Hutton |
| 1586 | Thomas Cure | Richard Hutton |
| 1588–9 | Richard Hutton | William Pratt |
| 1593 | Hugh Browker | Richard Hutton |
| 1597 | Edmund Bowyer | Richard Hutton |
| 1601 | Mathew Dale | Zachariah Locke |
| 1604–1611 | Sir George Rivers | William Counden |
| 1614 | Edward Coxe | Richard Yarward |
| 1621 | Richard Yarward | Robert Bromfield |
| 1624 | Richard Yarward | Robert Bromfield |
| 1625 | Richard Yarward | William Coxe |
| 1626 | Richard Yarward | William Coxe |
| 1628 | Richard Yarward | William Coxe |
| 1629–1640 | No Parliaments summoned | No Parliaments summoned |

### MPs 1640–1885

| Election | First Member | First Member | First Party | Second Member | Second Member | Second Party |
| April 1640 | | Robert Holborne | | | Richard Tuffnell | | |
| November 1640 | | Edward Bagshawe | Royalist | | John White | Parliamentarian |
| January 1644 | Bagshawe disabled from sitting – seat vacant | Bagshawe disabled from sitting – seat vacant | Bagshawe disabled from sitting – seat vacant | | | | John White | Parliamentarian |
| 1645 | | George Thomson | | | George Snelling | |
| 1653 | Southwark was unrepresented in the Barebones Parliament | Southwark was unrepresented in the Barebones Parliament | Southwark was unrepresented in the Barebones Parliament | Southwark was unrepresented in the Barebones Parliament | Southwark was unrepresented in the Barebones Parliament | Southwark was unrepresented in the Barebones Parliament |
| 1654 | | Samuel Highland | | | Robert Warcup | |
| 1656 | | Samuel Highland | | | Peter De La Noy | |
| January 1659 | | George Thomson | | | Andrew Brewer | |
| April 1660 | | John Langham | | | Sir Thomas Bludworth | |
| 1661 | | George Moore | | | Sir Thomas Bludworth | |
| 1666 | | Sir Thomas Clarges | | | Sir Thomas Bludworth | |
| 1679 | | Sir Richard How | | | Peter Rich | |
| 1685 | | Sir Peter Daniel | | | Anthony Bowyer | |
| 1689 | | John Arnold | | | Sir Peter Rich | |
| 1690 | | John Arnold | | | Anthony Bowyer | |
| 1695 | | Sir Charles Cox | Whig | | Anthony Bowyer | |
| 1698 | | Sir Charles Cox | Whig | | John Cholmley | Whig |
| January 1712 | | Sir Charles Cox | Whig | | Edmund Halsey | |
| February 1712 | | Sir Charles Cox | Whig | | Sir George Matthews | |
| 1713 | | John Lade | Tory | | Fisher Tench | Whig |
| 1722 | | George Meggott | | | Edmund Halsey | Whig |
| 1724 by-election | | John Lade | Tory | | Edmund Halsey | Whig |
| 1727 | | Sir Joseph Eyles | Whig | | Edmund Halsey | Whig |
| 1730 by-election | | Sir Joseph Eyles | Whig | | Thomas Inwen | |
| 1734 | | George Heathcote | Tory | | Thomas Inwen | |
| 1741 | | Ralph Thrale | | | Thomas Inwen | |
| 1743 by-election | | Ralph Thrale | | | Alexander Hume | |
| 1747 | | William Belchier | | | Alexander Hume | |
| 1754 | | William Belchier | | | William Hammond | |
| 1761 | | Joseph Mawbey | | | Alexander Hume | |
| 1765 by-election | | Joseph Mawbey | | | Henry Thrale | Pro-Government Chathamite/Northite |
| 1774 | | Nathaniel Polhill | Radical | | Henry Thrale | Pro-Government Chathamite/Northite |
| 1780 | | Nathaniel Polhill | Radical | | Sir Richard Hotham | |
| 1782 by-election | | Henry Thornton | Tory | | Sir Richard Hotham | |
| April 1784 | | Henry Thornton | Tory | | Sir Barnard Turner | Independent |
| June 1784 by-election | | Henry Thornton | Tory | | Paul Le Mesurier | Tory |
| May 1796 | | Henry Thornton | Tory | | George Woodford Thellusson | Tory |
| December 1796 by-election | | Henry Thornton | Tory | | George Tierney | Whig |
| 1806 | | Henry Thornton | Tory | | Sir Thomas Turton, Bt | Tory |
| 1812 | | Henry Thornton | Tory | | Charles Calvert | Whig |
| 1815 by-election | | Charles Barclay | Tory | | Charles Calvert | Whig |
| 1818 | | Sir Robert Wilson | Radical | | Charles Calvert | Whig |
| Aug 1830 | | Sir Robert Wilson | Radical | | John Rawlinson Harris | Whig |
| Nov 1830 by-election | | Sir Robert Wilson | Radical | | Charles Calvert | Whig |
| 1831 | | William Brougham | Whig | | Charles Calvert | Whig |
| 1832 | | William Brougham | Whig | | John Humphery | Whig |
| 1835 | | Daniel Whittle Harvey | Radical | | John Humphery | Whig |
| 1840 by-election | | Benjamin Wood | Whig | | John Humphery | Whig |
| 1845 by-election | | Sir William Molesworth | Radical | | John Humphery | Whig |
| 1852 | | Sir William Molesworth | Radical | | Apsley Pellatt | Radical |
| 1855 by-election | | Sir Charles Napier | Radical | | Apsley Pellatt | Radical |
| 1857 | | Sir Charles Napier | Radical | | John Locke | Radical |
| 1859 | | Sir Charles Napier | Liberal | | John Locke | Liberal |
| 1860 by-election | | Austen Henry Layard | Liberal | | John Locke | Liberal |
| 1870 by-election | | Marcus Beresford | Conservative | | John Locke | Liberal |
| 1880 by-election | | Marcus Beresford | Conservative | | Edward Clarke | Conservative |
| 1880 | | Arthur Cohen | Liberal | | Thorold Rogers | Liberal |
| 1885 | constituency abolished: creating all of Bermondsey, Rotherhithe and Southwark West | constituency abolished: creating all of Bermondsey, Rotherhithe and Southwark West | constituency abolished: creating all of Bermondsey, Rotherhithe and Southwark West | constituency abolished: creating all of Bermondsey, Rotherhithe and Southwark West | constituency abolished: creating all of Bermondsey, Rotherhithe and Southwark West | constituency abolished: creating all of Bermondsey, Rotherhithe and Southwark West |

### MPs 1950–1974

| Election | Election | Member | Party |
| | 1950 | George Isaacs | Labour |
| | 1959 | Ray Gunter | Labour |
| | 1972 by-election | Harry Lamborn | Labour |
| Feb 1974 | Feb 1974 | constituency abolished | constituency abolished |

## Election results
### Elections in the 1830s

General election 1830: Southwark :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Whig | John Rawlinson Harris | 1,664 | 40.7 |
| | Radical | Robert Wilson | 1,434 | 35.0 |
| | Whig | Charles Calvert | 995 | 24.3 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 230 | 5.7 |
| | Whig hold | Whig hold | Swing | |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 439 | 10.7 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,635 | |
| | Radical hold | Radical hold | Swing | |
Harris' death caused a by-election.
By-election November 1830: Southwark :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Whig | Charles Calvert | 1,066 | 62.4 | −2.6 |
| | Tory | Thomas Farncomb | 643 | 37.6 | New |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 423 | 24.8 | +19.1 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,709 | | |
| | Whig hold | Whig hold | Swing | | |
General election 1831: Southwark :
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| Whig | Charles Calvert | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| Whig | William Brougham | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| Whig hold | Whig hold | Whig hold | Whig hold | Whig hold |
| Whig gain from Radical | Whig gain from Radical | Whig gain from Radical | Whig gain from Radical | Whig gain from Radical |
General election 1832: Southwark :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Whig | William Brougham | 2,264 | 45.2 | N/A |
| | Whig | John Humphery | 1,708 | 34.1 | N/A |
| | Whig | Lancelot Baugh Allen | 1,040 | 20.8 | N/A |
| | Radical | Thomas Lamie Murray | 0 | 0.0 | New |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 668 | 13.3 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,810 | 58.8 | N/A |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 4,775 | | |
| | Whig hold | Whig hold | Swing | N/A | |
| | Whig hold | Whig hold | Swing | N/A | |
General election 1835: Southwark :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Whig | John Humphery | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| | Radical | Daniel Whittle Harvey | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 5,249 | | |
| | Whig hold | Whig hold | Whig hold | Whig hold | Whig hold |
| | Radical gain from Whig | Radical gain from Whig | Radical gain from Whig | Radical gain from Whig | Radical gain from Whig |
General election 1837: Southwark :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Whig | John Humphery | 1,941 | 41.1 | N/A |
| | Radical | Daniel Whittle Harvey | 1,927 | 40.9 | N/A |
| | Conservative | John Richards | 847 | 18.0 | New |
| | Conservative | Benjamin Harrison | 2 | 0.0 | New |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,898 | 52.9 | N/A |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 5,477 | | |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 14 | 0.2 | N/A |
| | Whig hold | Whig hold | Swing | N/A | |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,080 | 22.9 | N/A |
| | Radical hold | Radical hold | Swing | N/A | |
Harvey was appointed a registrar of Metropolitan Public Carriages, causing a by-election.
By-election, 27 February 1839: Southwark :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Radical | Daniel Whittle Harvey | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| | Radical hold | Radical hold | Radical hold | Radical hold | Radical hold |

### Elections in the 1840s

Harvey resigned after being appointed a Commissioner of Police for the City of London, causing a by-election.
By-election, 24 January 1840: Southwark :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Whig | Benjamin Wood | 2,059 | 57.3 | +16.2 |
| | Conservative | John Walter | 1,535 | 42.7 | +24.7 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 524 | 14.6 | +14.3 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 3,594 | 71.2 | +18.3 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 5,047 | | |
| | Whig gain from Radical | Whig gain from Radical | Swing | −4.3 | |
General election 1841: Southwark (2 seats) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Whig | John Humphery | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| | Whig | Benjamin Wood | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 5,124 | | |
| | Whig hold | Whig hold | Whig hold | Whig hold | Whig hold |
| | Whig hold | Whig hold | Whig hold | Whig hold | Whig hold |
Wood's death caused a by-election.
By-election, 12 September 1845: Southwark :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Radical | William Molesworth | 1,943 | 55.9 | N/A |
| | Conservative | Jeremiah Pilcher | 1,182 | 34.0 | New |
| | Radical | Edward Miall | 352 | 10.1 | N/A |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 761 | 21.9 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 3,477 | 65.0 | N/A |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 5,353 | | |
| | Radical gain from Whig | Radical gain from Whig | Swing | N/A | |
General election 1847: Southwark (2 seats) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Whig | John Humphery | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| | Radical | William Molesworth | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 7,989 | | |
| | Whig hold | Whig hold | Whig hold | Whig hold | Whig hold |
| | Radical gain from Whig | Radical gain from Whig | Radical gain from Whig | Radical gain from Whig | Radical gain from Whig |

### Elections in the 1850s

General election 1852: Southwark (2 seats) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Radical | William Molesworth | 3,941 | 36.7 | N/A |
| | Radical | Apsley Pellatt | 3,887 | 36.2 | N/A |
| | Radical | George Scovell | 2,909 | 27.1 | N/A |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 978 | 9.1 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 5,369 (est) | 56.8 (est) | N/A |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 9,458 | | |
| | Radical hold | Radical hold | Radical hold | Radical hold | Radical hold |
| | Radical gain from Whig | Radical gain from Whig | Radical gain from Whig | Radical gain from Whig | Radical gain from Whig |
Molesworth was appointed First Commissioner of Works and Public Buildings, requiring a by-election.
By-election, 1 January 1853: Southwark :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Radical | William Molesworth | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| | Radical hold | Radical hold | Radical hold | Radical hold | Radical hold |
Molesworth was appointed Secretary of State for the Colonies, requiring a by-election.
By-election, 27 July 1855: Southwark :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Radical | William Molesworth | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| | Radical hold | Radical hold | Radical hold | Radical hold | Radical hold |
Molesworth's death caused a by-election.
By-election, 20 November 1855: Southwark :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Radical | Charles Napier | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| | Radical hold | Radical hold | Radical hold | Radical hold | Radical hold |
General election 1857: Southwark (2 seats) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Radical | Charles Napier | 3,991 | 39.4 | +2.7 |
| | Radical | John Locke | 3,647 | 36.0 | N/A |
| | Radical | Apsley Pellatt | 2,499 | 24.7 | −11.5 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,148 | 11.3 | +2.2 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 5,069 (est) | 49.8 (est) | −7.0 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 10,170 | | |
| | Radical hold | Radical hold | Radical hold | Radical hold | Radical hold |
| | Radical hold | Radical hold | Radical hold | Radical hold | Radical hold |
General election 1859: Southwark (2 seats) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | Charles Napier | 4,446 | 38.9 | −0.5 |
| | Liberal | John Locke | 4,255 | 37.2 | +1.2 |
| | Liberal | Apsley Pellatt | 2,730 | 23.9 | −0.8 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,525 | 13.3 | +2.0 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 5,716 (est) | 53.9 (est) | +4.1 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 10,606 | | |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Liberal hold |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Liberal hold |

### Elections in the 1860s

Napier's death caused a by-election.
By-election, 12 December 1860: Southwark :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | Austen Henry Layard | 4,572 | 57.5 | N/A |
| | Liberal | George Scovell | 3,377 | 42.5 | N/A |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,195 | 15.0 | +1.7 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 7,949 | 70.5 | +16.6 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 11,278 | | |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Swing | N/A | |
Locke was appointed Recorder of Brighton, requiring a by-election.
By-election, 24 April 1861: Southwark :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | John Locke | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Liberal hold |
General election 1865: Southwark (2 seats) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | John Locke | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| | Liberal | Austen Henry Layard | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 11,631 | | |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Liberal hold |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Liberal hold |
General election 1868: Southwark (2 seats) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | John Locke | 6,027 | 41.8 | N/A |
| | Liberal | Austen Henry Layard | 5,908 | 40.9 | N/A |
| | Conservative | William Cotton | 2,495 | 17.3 | New |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 3,413 | 23.6 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 8,463 (est) | 47.8 (est) | N/A |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 17,703 | | |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Swing | N/A | |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Swing | N/A | |
Layard was appointed First Commissioner of Works and Public Buildings, requiring a by-election.
By-election, 21 December 1868: Southwark :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | Austen Henry Layard | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Liberal hold |

### Elections in the 1870s

Layard resigned after being appointed British ambassador to Spain.
By-election, 17 Feb 1870: Southwark (1 seat) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Marcus Beresford | 4,686 | 38.9 | +21.6 |
| | Lib-Lab | George Odger | 4,382 | 36.4 | New |
| | Liberal | Sydney Waterlow | 2,966 | 24.6 | −58.1 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 304 | 2.5 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 12,034 | 68.0 | +20.2 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 17,703 | | |
| | Conservative gain from Liberal | Conservative gain from Liberal | Swing | +39.9 | |
General election 1874: Southwark (2 seats) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | John Locke | 5,901 | 32.4 | −9.4 |
| | Conservative | Marcus Beresford | 5,716 | 31.3 | +14.0 |
| | Lib-Lab | George Odger | 3,496 | 19.2 | N/A |
| | Liberal | Andrew Dunn | 3,121 | 17.1 | −23.8 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 11,975 (est) | 58.6 (est) | +10.8 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 23,472 | | |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 185 | 1.1 | −22.5 |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Swing | −8.2 | |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 2,595 | 14.2 | N/A |
| | Conservative gain from Liberal | Conservative gain from Liberal | Swing | +15.3 | |

### Elections in the 1880s

Locke's death caused a by-election.
By-election, 14 Feb 1880: Southwark (1 seat) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Edward Clarke | 7,683 | 50.2 | +18.9 |
| | Liberal | Andrew Dunn | 6,830 | 44.6 | −4.9 |
| | Lib-Lab | George Shipton | 799 | 5.2 | −14.0 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 853 | 5.6 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 15,312 | 65.2 | +6.6 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 23,472 | | |
| | Conservative gain from Liberal | Conservative gain from Liberal | Swing | +11.9 | |
General election 1880: Southwark (2 seats) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | Arthur Cohen | 9,693 | 27.7 | −4.7 |
| | Liberal | Thorold Rogers | 9,521 | 27.2 | +10.1 |
| | Conservative | Edward Clarke | 8,163 | 23.3 | +7.6 |
| | Conservative | Mark Cattley | 7,674 | 21.9 | +6.2 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,358 | 3.9 | +2.8 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 17,526 (est) | 74.7 (est) | +16.1 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 23,472 | | |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Swing | −5.5 | |
| | Liberal gain from Conservative | Liberal gain from Conservative | Swing | +1.3 | |

### Elections in the 1950s

General election 1950: Southwark :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | George Isaacs | 35,049 | 68.27 | |
| | Conservative | James Greenwood (MP) | 12,671 | 24.68 | |
| | Liberal | Lionel Fowler | 2,950 | 5.75 | |
| | Communist | Spencer John Bent | 668 | 1.30 | |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 22,378 | 43.59 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 51,338 | 73.98 | |
| | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) |
General election 1951: Southwark :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Labour | George Isaacs | 36,586 | 72.28 |
| | Conservative | James Greenwood (MP) | 14,032 | 27.72 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 22,554 | 44.56 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 50,618 | 72.32 |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | |
General election 1955: Southwark :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | George Isaacs | 28,174 | 70.30 | |
| | Conservative | James Greenwood (MP) | 10,944 | 27.31 | |
| | Communist | Spencer John Bent | 959 | 2.39 | New |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 17,230 | 42.99 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 40,077 | 60.18 | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | | |
General election 1959: Southwark :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Labour | Ray Gunter | 25,036 | 63.99 |
| | Conservative | James Greenwood (MP) | 12,696 | 32.45 |
| | Communist | Spencer John Bent | 1,395 | 3.57 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 12,340 | 31.54 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 39,127 | 63.37 |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | |

### Elections in the 1960s

General election 1964: Southwark :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Labour | Ray Gunter | 22,426 | 68.82 |
| | Conservative | Anthony Paul R Noble | 8,563 | 26.28 |
| | Communist | Spencer John Bent | 1,599 | 4.91 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 13,863 | 42.54 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 32,588 | 55.86 |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | |
General election 1966: Southwark :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Labour | Ray Gunter | 21,855 | 73.55 |
| | Conservative | Anthony Paul Noble | 6,454 | 21.72 |
| | Communist | Spencer John Bent | 1,404 | 4.73 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 15,401 | 51.83 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 29,713 | 54.03 |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | |

### Elections in the 1970s

General election 1970: Southwark :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Labour | Ray Gunter | 16,834 | 67.33 |
| | Conservative | Jeffrey Gordon | 7,040 | 28.16 |
| | Communist | Earle Hume | 1,128 | 4.51 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 9,794 | 39.17 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 25,002 | 48.19 |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | |
1972 Southwark by-election :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Harry Lamborn | 12,108 | 79.33 | +12.00 |
| | Conservative | Jeffrey Gordon | 2,756 | 18.06 | −10.10 |
| | Independent | Brian McDermott | 398 | 2.61 | New |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 9,352 | 61.27 | +22.10 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 15,262 | | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | | |