# 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

From 1966 until 1992, Lewisham West was a classic bellwether seat, being won by whichever party won the General Election (with the exception of 1979). However, long-term demographic trends have since turned the seat away from being a Labour-Conservative marginal into a safe Labour seat. Partly this has 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 have become much less leafy and suburban over the past 30 years. The large council estate of Bellingham has always been a Labour stronghold, and the other areas of the seat can also now be regarded as quite 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.

## Members of Parliament

| Election | Member | Party |
| 1918 | Edward Feetham Coates | Coalition Conservative |
| 1921 by-election | Philip Dawson | Conservative |
| 1938 by-election | Henry Brooke | Conservative |
| 1945 | Arthur Skeffington | Labour |
| 1950 | Henry Price | Conservative |
| 1964 | Patrick McNair-Wilson | Conservative |
| 1966 | James Dickens | Labour |
| 1970 | John Gummer | Conservative |
| Feb 1974 | Christopher Price | Labour |
| 1983 | John Maples | Conservative |
| 1992 | Jim Dowd | Labour |
| 2010 | constituency abolished: see Lewisham West and Penge | constituency abolished: see Lewisham West and Penge |

## Elections
### Elections in the 2000s

General election 2005: Lewisham West :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Jim Dowd | 16,611 | 52.0 | –9.0 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Alex Feakes | 6,679 | 20.9 | +7.5 |
| | Conservative | Evett McAnuff | 6,396 | 20.0 | –2.3 |
| | Green | Nick Long | 1,464 | 4.6 | New |
| | UKIP | Jens Winton | 773 | 2.4 | +0.8 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 9,932 | 31.1 | –7.6 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 31,923 | 54.7 | +4.2 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 58,349 | | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | –8.2 | |
General election 2001: Lewisham West :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Jim Dowd | 18,816 | 61.1 | –0.9 |
| | Conservative | Gareth Johnson | 6,896 | 22.4 | –1.5 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Richard Thomas | 4,146 | 13.5 | +3.7 |
| | UKIP | Frederick Pearson | 485 | 1.6 | New |
| | Independent | Nick Long | 472 | 1.5 | New |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 11,920 | 38.7 | +0.6 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 30,815 | 50.6 | –13.5 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 60,947 | | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | +0.3 | |

### Elections in the 1990s

General election 1997: Lewisham West :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Jim Dowd | 23,273 | 62.0 | +15.0 |
| | Conservative | Clare Whelan | 8,956 | 23.8 | −19.0 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Kathy McGrath | 3,672 | 9.8 | −0.1 |
| | Referendum | Anthony Leese | 1,098 | 2.9 | New |
| | Socialist Labour | Nick Long | 398 | 1.1 | New |
| | Liberal | Elizabeth Oram | 167 | 0.4 | New |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 14,317 | 38.1 | +33.9 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 37,564 | 64.0 | −9.1 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 58,659 | | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | +17.0 | |
General election 1992: Lewisham West :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Jim Dowd | 20,378 | 47.0 | +9.1 |
| | Conservative | John Maples | 18,569 | 42.8 | −3.4 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Mrs E Neale | 4,295 | 9.9 | −6.0 |
| | Anti-Federalist League | P Coulam | 125 | 0.3 | New |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,809 | 4.2 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 43,367 | 73.0 | +0.8 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 59,317 | | |
| | Labour gain from Conservative | Labour gain from Conservative | Swing | +6.2 | |

### Elections in the 1980s

General election 1987: Lewisham West :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | John Maples | 20,995 | 46.2 | +2.2 |
| | Labour | Jim Dowd | 17,223 | 37.9 | –0.5 |
| | Liberal | Sarah Titley | 7,247 | 15.9 | –0.9 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 3,772 | 8.3 | +2.6 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 45,465 | 72.2 | +1.9 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 62,923 | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | +1.3 | |
General election 1983: Lewisham West :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | John Maples | 19,521 | 44.0 | –0.2 |
| | Labour | Christopher Price | 17,015 | 38.4 | –7.7 |
| | Liberal | Hugh Mooney | 7,470 | 16.8 | +9.3 |
| | BNP | R. F. Hoy | 336 | 0.8 | New |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 2,506 | 5.7 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 44,342 | 70.3 | |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 63,043 | | |
| | Conservative gain from Labour | Conservative gain from Labour | Swing | +3.7 | |

### Elections in the 1970s

1979 notional result :
| Party | Party | Vote | % |
| | Labour | 21,871 | 46.1 |
| | Conservative | 21,004 | 44.3 |
| | Liberal | 3,583 | 7.6 |
| | Others | 991 | 2.1 |
| Turnout | Turnout | 47,449 | |
| Electorate | Electorate | |
General election 1979: Lewisham West :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Christopher Price | 20,932 | 46.4 | –1.8 |
| | Conservative | Noel Kemp | 19,882 | 44.1 | +8.5 |
| | Liberal | Godfrey Payne | 3,350 | 7.4 | –6.2 |
| | National Front | Peter Williams | 901 | 2.0 | –0.5 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,050 | 2.3 | –10.3 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 45,065 | 76.0 | +5.9 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 59,292 | | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | –5.2 | |
General election October 1974: Lewisham West :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Christopher Price | 21,102 | 48.2 | +5.0 |
| | Conservative | M. Marshall | 15,573 | 35.6 | –2.7 |
| | Liberal | J.D. Eagle | 5,952 | 13.6 | –2.7 |
| | National Front | P. Williams | 1,114 | 2.5 | +0.5 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 5,529 | 12.6 | +7.7 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 43,741 | 70.1 | –8.8 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 62,435 | | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | +3.9 | |
General election February 1974: Lewisham West :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Christopher Price | 21,118 | 43.3 | –6.4 |
| | Conservative | John Gummer | 18,716 | 38.4 | –12.0 |
| | Liberal | J.D. Eagle | 7,974 | 16.3 | New |
| | National Front | P. Williams | 1,000 | 2.0 | New |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 2,402 | 4.9 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 48,808 | 78.9 | +11.6 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 61,866 | | |
| | Labour gain from Conservative | Labour gain from Conservative | Swing | +2.8 | |
1970 notional result :
| Party | Party | Vote | % |
| | Conservative | 22,200 | 50.3 |
| | Labour | 21,900 | 49.7 |
| Turnout | Turnout | 44,100 | 67.3 |
| Electorate | Electorate | 65,499 |
General election 1970: Lewisham West :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | John Gummer | 19,676 | 51.0 | |
| | Labour | James Dickens | 18,916 | 49.0 | |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 760 | 2.0 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 38,592 | 68.1 | |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | | | |
| | Conservative gain from Labour | Conservative gain from Labour | Swing | | |

### Elections in the 1960s

General election 1966: Lewisham West :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | James Dickens | 21,018 | 52.54 | |
| | Conservative | Patrick McNair-Wilson | 18,984 | 47.46 | |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 2,034 | 5.08 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 40,002 | 75.68 | |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | | | |
| | Labour gain from Conservative | Labour gain from Conservative | Swing | | |
General election 1964: Lewisham West :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Conservative | Patrick McNair-Wilson | 18,167 | 44.78 |
| | Labour | Joan Lestor | 17,281 | 42.59 |
| | Liberal | Alan B Mountain | 5,123 | 12.63 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 886 | 2.19 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 40,571 | 74.82 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | |

### Elections in the 1950s

General election 1959: Lewisham West :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Henry Price | 22,466 | 51.74 | |
| | Labour | Richard C Edmonds | 16,233 | 37.39 | |
| | Liberal | Trevor Smith | 4,721 | 10.87 | New |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 6,233 | 14.35 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 38,689 | 80.30 | |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | | |
General election 1955: Lewisham West :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Conservative | Henry Price | 24,066 | 54.94 |
| | Labour | Tom Sargant | 19,741 | 45.06 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 4,325 | 9.88 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 43,807 | 79.57 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | |
General election 1951: Lewisham West :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Conservative | Henry Price | 25,449 | 52.73 |
| | Labour | Arthur Skeffington | 22,813 | 47.27 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 2,636 | 5.46 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 48,262 | 85.85 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | |
General election 1950: Lewisham West :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Henry Price | 23,628 | 49.23 | |
| | Labour | Arthur Skeffington | 21,433 | 44.65 | |
| | Liberal | Alfred Pritchard | 2,939 | 6.12 | New |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 2,195 | 4.58 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 45,061 | 85.70 | |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | | | |
| | Conservative gain from Labour | Conservative gain from Labour | Swing | | |

### Elections in the 1940s

General election 1945: Lewisham West :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Arthur Skeffington | 20,008 | 53.35 | |
| | Conservative | Henry Brooke | 17,492 | 46.65 | |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 2,516 | 6.70 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 37,500 | 73.65 | |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | | | |
| | Labour gain from Conservative | Labour gain from Conservative | Swing | | |

### Elections in the 1930s

1938 Lewisham West by-election :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Henry Brooke | 22,587 | 57.1 | −7.6 |
| | Labour | Arthur Skeffington | 16,939 | 42.9 | +7.6 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 5,648 | 14.2 | −15.2 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 39,526 | 58.0 | −5.9 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | | |
General election 1935: Lewisham West :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Sir Philip Dawson | 27,173 | 64.7 | −12.8 |
| | Labour | Michael Stewart | 14,803 | 35.3 | +12.8 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 12,370 | 29.4 | −25.6 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 41,976 | 63.9 | −5.3 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | | |
General election 1931: Lewisham West :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Sir Philip Dawson | 34,289 | 77.5 | +28.4 |
| | Labour | Michael Stewart | 9,956 | 22.5 | −3.4 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 24,333 | 55.0 | +31.8 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 44,245 | 69.2 | −0.1 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | | |

### Elections in the 1920s

General election 1929: Lewisham West :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Unionist | Philip Dawson | 20,830 | 49.1 | −10.2 |
| | Labour | Catherine Wadham | 10,958 | 25.9 | +5.5 |
| | Liberal | Arthur Roberts | 10,590 | 25.0 | +4.7 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 9,872 | 23.2 | −15.7 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 42,378 | 69.3 | −6.2 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 61,191 | | |
| | Unionist hold | Unionist hold | Swing | −7.9 | |
General election 1924: Lewisham West :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Unionist | Philip Dawson | 19,723 | 59.3 | +8.4 |
| | Labour | Barbara Drake | 6,781 | 20.4 | New |
| | Liberal | Barrett O'Malley | 6,756 | 20.3 | −28.8 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 12,942 | 38.9 | +37.1 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 33,260 | 75.5 | +18.5 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 44,078 | | |
| | Unionist hold | Unionist hold | Swing | +18.6 | |
General election 1923: Lewisham West :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Unionist | Philip Dawson | 12,448 | 50.9 | −14.8 |
| | Liberal | Barrett O'Malley | 12,009 | 49.1 | +14.8 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 439 | 1.8 | −29.6 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 24,457 | 57.0 | −1.1 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 42,940 | | |
| | Unionist hold | Unionist hold | Swing | −14.8 | |
General election 1922: Lewisham West :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Unionist | Philip Dawson | 16,216 | 65.7 | N/A |
| | Liberal | Barrett O'Malley | 8,469 | 34.3 | N/A |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 7,747 | 31.4 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 24,685 | 58.1 | N/A |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 42,455 | | |
| | Unionist hold | Unionist hold | Swing | N/A | |
1921 Lewisham West by-election :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Unionist | Philip Dawson | 9,427 | 39.0 | N/A |
| | Anti-Waste League | Walter Windham | 8,580 | 35.4 | New |
| | Liberal | Frank Raffety | 6,211 | 25.6 | New |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 847 | 3.6 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 24,218 | 59.2 | N/A |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 40,919 | | |
| | Unionist hold | Unionist hold | Swing | N/A | |

### Elections in the 1910s

General election 1918: Lewisham West :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| C | Unionist | Sir Edward Coates | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| | Unionist win (new seat) | Unionist win (new seat) | Unionist win (new seat) | Unionist win (new seat) |
| C indicates candidate endorsed by the coalition government. |||||