Barnet (UK Parliament constituency)
Encyclopedia
Barnet was a parliamentary constituency
in what is now the London Borough of Barnet
, which returned one Member of Parliament
to the House of Commons
of the Parliament of the United Kingdom
.
and abolished for the February 1974 general election
.
was increased from five to six. Previously the area had been part of the St Albans
seat. This was one of the English constituencies divided as an emergency measure, before the general review of parliamentary constituencies due later in the decade, because its electorate exceeded 100,000 voters.
Initially, the constituency consisted of three local government areas: Barnet Urban District
, East Barnet Urban District
and Elstree Rural District
. The constituency was enlarged in 1950 by the addition of Hatfield Rural District transferred from the St Albans parliamentary seat. In 1955 the number of county constituencies in Hertfordshire was increased from six to seven, and the Barnet constituency reverted to its original boundaries, with Hatfield Rural District being transferred to the Hertford
constituency.
In 1965 the Barnet and East Barnet urban districts were transferred to Greater London
, becoming part of the London Borough of Barnet
, while Elstree Rural District remained part of Hertfordshire. This did not effect parliamentary boundaries for nine years, however.
When seats were next redistributed, with effect from the February 1974 general election
, the Greater London parts of the old constituency moved to the new seat of Chipping Barnet
. The Elstree Rural District was transferred to South Hertfordshire.
United Kingdom constituencies
In the United Kingdom , each of the electoral areas or divisions called constituencies elects one or more members to a parliament or assembly.Within the United Kingdom there are now five bodies with members elected by constituencies:...
in what is now the London Borough of Barnet
London Borough of Barnet
The London Borough of Barnet is a London borough in North London and forms part of Outer London. It has a population of 331,500 and covers . It borders Hertfordshire to the north and five other London boroughs: Harrow and Brent to the west, Camden and Haringey to the south-east and Enfield to the...
, which returned one Member of Parliament
Member of Parliament
A Member of Parliament is a representative of the voters to a :parliament. In many countries with bicameral parliaments, the term applies specifically to members of the lower house, as upper houses often have a different title, such as senate, and thus also have different titles for its members,...
to the House of Commons
British House of Commons
The House of Commons is the lower house of the Parliament of the United Kingdom, which also comprises the Sovereign and the House of Lords . Both Commons and Lords meet in the Palace of Westminster. The Commons is a democratically elected body, consisting of 650 members , who are known as Members...
of the Parliament of the United Kingdom
Parliament of the United Kingdom
The Parliament of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland is the supreme legislative body in the United Kingdom, British Crown dependencies and British overseas territories, located in London...
.
History
The constituency was created for the 1945 general electionUnited Kingdom general election, 1945
The United Kingdom general election of 1945 was a general election held on 5 July 1945, with polls in some constituencies delayed until 12 July and in Nelson and Colne until 19 July, due to local wakes weeks. The results were counted and declared on 26 July, due in part to the time it took to...
and abolished for the February 1974 general election
United Kingdom general election, February 1974
The United Kingdom's general election of February 1974 was held on the 28th of that month. It was the first of two United Kingdom general elections held that year, and the first election since the Second World War not to produce an overall majority in the House of Commons for the winning party,...
.
Boundaries
The constituency was created in 1945 when the number of parliamentary constituencies in HertfordshireHertfordshire
Hertfordshire is a ceremonial and non-metropolitan county in the East region of England. The county town is Hertford.The county is one of the Home Counties and lies inland, bordered by Greater London , Buckinghamshire , Bedfordshire , Cambridgeshire and...
was increased from five to six. Previously the area had been part of the St Albans
St Albans (UK Parliament constituency)
St Albans is a parliamentary constituency represented in the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. Established in 1885, it is a county constituency in Hertfordshire, and elects one Member of Parliament by the first past the post system of election.From 1554 to 1852 there was a...
seat. This was one of the English constituencies divided as an emergency measure, before the general review of parliamentary constituencies due later in the decade, because its electorate exceeded 100,000 voters.
Initially, the constituency consisted of three local government areas: Barnet Urban District
Barnet Urban District
Barnet was a local government district in south Hertfordshire from 1863 to 1965 around the town of Barnet.-Creation:Barnet Local Government District was created on September 25, 1863 under the Local Government Act 1858, and was governed by a local board...
, East Barnet Urban District
East Barnet Urban District
East Barnet was a local government district in south Hertfordshire from 1863 to 1965 around the town of East Barnet.The district was created under the Local Government Act 1858 on September 25, 1863, as East Barnet Valley Local Government District. The district was governed by a local board...
and Elstree Rural District
Elstree Rural District
Elstree was a rural district in Hertfordshire, England from 1894 to 1974.It was formed under the Local Government Act 1894 as Barnet Rural District, as successor to the Barnet rural sanitary district...
. The constituency was enlarged in 1950 by the addition of Hatfield Rural District transferred from the St Albans parliamentary seat. In 1955 the number of county constituencies in Hertfordshire was increased from six to seven, and the Barnet constituency reverted to its original boundaries, with Hatfield Rural District being transferred to the Hertford
Hertford (UK Parliament constituency)
Hertford was the name of a parliamentary constituency in Hertfordshire, which elected Members of Parliament from 1298 until 1974. It was represented in the House of Commons of England from 1298 to 1707, then of the House of Commons of Great Britain from 1707 to 1800, and finally in the House of...
constituency.
In 1965 the Barnet and East Barnet urban districts were transferred to Greater London
Greater London
Greater London is the top-level administrative division of England covering London. It was created in 1965 and spans the City of London, including Middle Temple and Inner Temple, and the 32 London boroughs. This territory is coterminate with the London Government Office Region and the London...
, becoming part of the London Borough of Barnet
London Borough of Barnet
The London Borough of Barnet is a London borough in North London and forms part of Outer London. It has a population of 331,500 and covers . It borders Hertfordshire to the north and five other London boroughs: Harrow and Brent to the west, Camden and Haringey to the south-east and Enfield to the...
, while Elstree Rural District remained part of Hertfordshire. This did not effect parliamentary boundaries for nine years, however.
When seats were next redistributed, with effect from the February 1974 general election
United Kingdom general election, February 1974
The United Kingdom's general election of February 1974 was held on the 28th of that month. It was the first of two United Kingdom general elections held that year, and the first election since the Second World War not to produce an overall majority in the House of Commons for the winning party,...
, the Greater London parts of the old constituency moved to the new seat of Chipping Barnet
Chipping Barnet (UK Parliament constituency)
- Elections in the 2000s:- References :...
. The Elstree Rural District was transferred to South Hertfordshire.
Members of Parliament
| Election | Member | Party | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1945 United Kingdom general election, 1945 The United Kingdom general election of 1945 was a general election held on 5 July 1945, with polls in some constituencies delayed until 12 July and in Nelson and Colne until 19 July, due to local wakes weeks. The results were counted and declared on 26 July, due in part to the time it took to... |
Stephen Taylor Stephen Taylor, Baron Taylor Stephen James Lake Taylor, Baron Taylor was a British physician, civil servant, politician and educator.... |
Labour Labour Party (UK) The Labour Party is a centre-left democratic socialist party in the United Kingdom. It surpassed the Liberal Party in general elections during the early 1920s, forming minority governments under Ramsay MacDonald in 1924 and 1929-1931. The party was in a wartime coalition from 1940 to 1945, after... |
|
| 1950 United Kingdom general election, 1950 The 1950 United Kingdom general election was the first general election ever after a full term of a Labour government. Despite polling over one and a half million votes more than the Conservatives, the election, held on 23 February 1950 resulted in Labour receiving a slim majority of just five... |
Reginald Maudling Reginald Maudling Reginald Maudling was a British politician who held several Cabinet posts, including Chancellor of the Exchequer. He had been spoken of as a prospective Conservative leader since 1955, and was twice seriously considered for the post; he was Edward Heath's chief rival in 1965... |
Conservative Conservative Party (UK) The Conservative Party, formally the Conservative and Unionist Party, is a centre-right political party in the United Kingdom that adheres to the philosophies of conservatism and British unionism. It is the largest political party in the UK, and is currently the largest single party in the House... |
|
| Feb 1974 United Kingdom general election, February 1974 The United Kingdom's general election of February 1974 was held on the 28th of that month. It was the first of two United Kingdom general elections held that year, and the first election since the Second World War not to produce an overall majority in the House of Commons for the winning party,... |
constituency abolished | ||