# Bexleyheath (UK Parliament constituency)

Bexleyheath was a parliamentary constituency in south-east London, which returned one Member of Parliament (MP) to the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom.
It was created for the February 1974 general election, and abolished for the 1997 general election.

## History

This safe Conservative seat was represented for its entire existence by Sir Cyril Townsend.

## Boundaries

1974–1983: The London Borough of Bexley wards of Brampton, Christchurch, Danson, East Wickham, Falconwood, St Michael's, and Upton.
1983–1997: The London Borough of Bexley wards of Barnehurst, Barnehurst North, Brampton, Christchurch, Danson, East Wickham, Falconwood, St Michael's, and Upton.
This constituency in the London Borough of Bexley was centred on the district of Bexleyheath. It was split in 1997 when the Boundary Commission for England recommended an extra seat for the paired boroughs of Bexley and Greenwich. It was largely replaced by the new constituency of Bexleyheath and Crayford, with about a third of the constituency being added to the existing Old Bexley and Sidcup constituency.

## Members of Parliament

| Election | Election | Member | Party |
| | Feb 1974 | Cyril Townsend | Conservative |
| | 1997 | constituency abolished: see Bexleyheath and Crayford & Old Bexley and Sidcup | constituency abolished: see Bexleyheath and Crayford & Old Bexley and Sidcup |

## Election results
### Elections in the 1970s

General election February 1974: Bexleyheath :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Cyril Townsend | 18,541 | 43.3 | |
| | Labour Co-op | John Cartwright | 14,675 | 34.3 | |
| | Liberal | W. Pickard | 9,575 | 22.4 | |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 3,866 | 9.0 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 42,791 | 84.6 | |
| | Conservative win (new seat) | Conservative win (new seat) | Conservative win (new seat) | Conservative win (new seat) | Conservative win (new seat) |
General election October 1974: Bexleyheath :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Cyril Townsend | 17,399 | 43.8 | +0.5 |
| | Labour | J. Stanyer | 15,412 | 38.8 | +4.5 |
| | Liberal | W. Pickard | 6,882 | 17.3 | −5.1 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,987 | 5.0 | −4.0 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 39,693 | 77.8 | −6.8 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | −2.0 | |
General election 1979: Bexleyheath :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Cyril Townsend | 21,888 | 53.7 | +9.9 |
| | Labour | Richard Blackwell | 13,342 | 32.7 | −6.1 |
| | Liberal | John Crowhurst | 4,782 | 11.7 | −5.6 |
| | National Front | Alan Wilkens | 749 | 1.8 | New |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 8,546 | 21.0 | +16.0 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 40,761 | 80.1 | +2.3 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | +8.0 | |

### Elections in the 1980s

General election 1983: Bexleyheath :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Cyril Townsend | 23,411 | 53.1 | −1.1 |
| | Liberal | Barry Standen | 13,153 | 29.8 | +18.4 |
| | Labour | Andrew Erlam | 7,560 | 17.1 | −15.5 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 10,258 | 23.3 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 44,124 | 74.5 | −5.6 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | −9.8 | |
General election 1987: Bexleyheath :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Cyril Townsend | 24,866 | 53.7 | +0.6 |
| | Liberal | Barry Standen | 13,179 | 28.5 | −1.3 |
| | Labour | James Little | 8,218 | 17.8 | +0.7 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 11,687 | 25.2 | +1.9 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 46,263 | 77.8 | +3.3 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | +1.0 | |

### Elections in the 1990s

General election 1992: Bexleyheath :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Cyril Townsend | 25,606 | 54.0 | +0.3 |
| | Labour | John Browning | 11,520 | 24.3 | +6.5 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Wendy Chaplin | 10,107 | 21.3 | −7.2 |
| | Independent | Roger W.C. Cundy | 170 | 0.4 | New |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 14,086 | 29.7 | +4.5 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 47,403 | 82.2 | +4.4 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | −3.1 | |