Parliamentary constituencies in London

Following the abandonment of the Sixth Periodic Review (the 2018 review), the Boundary Commission for England formally launched the 2023 Review on 5 January 2021. The Commission calculated that the number of seats to be allocated to the London region will increase by 2 from 73 to 75.^[2] Initial proposals were published on 8 June 2021 and, following two periods of public consultation, revised proposals were published on 8 November 2022. The final proposals were published on 28 June 2023.

Under the proposals, an additional constituency named Stratford and Bow would be created, covering parts of the boroughs of Newham and Tower Hamlets and straddling the River Lea and, in the south of the city, there would be a new constituency named Streatham and Croydon North, covering parts of the boroughs of Croydon and Lambeth. Elsewhere, changes to boundaries result in a number of name changes. Only Walthamstow, Islington North and Tooting would remain entirely unchanged, with a further seven unchanged except to realign constituency boundaries with local government ward boundaries.^[3]

Prior to 1832, the metropolitan area of London was represented by the parliamentary boroughs of City of London (four MPs), Westminster and Southwark (two MPs each). The remainder of the metropolitan area was covered by the historical counties of Middlesex and Surrey.

The Reform Act 1832 gave representation in the London metropolitan area to seven parliamentary boroughs, known as the metropolitan boroughs,^[4] with the formation of four additional boroughs, each electing two MPs. In addition, Greenwich was formed as a separate borough from the counties of Kent and Surrey.

The Reform Act 1867 expanded the metropolitan area to include the new borough of Chelsea, and Tower Hamlets was divided into the two boroughs of Hackney and Tower Hamlets.

The Redistribution of Seats Act 1885 extended the area of parliamentary boroughs to the Metropolitan Board of Works area. With the exception of the City of London, whose representation was reduced from four to two MPs, each borough, or division thereof, was represented by one MP. This act increased the number of MPs representing London from 22 to 59.^[5]

The County of London was created in 1889 in succession to the Metropolitan Board of Works. In 1900, the county was divided into 28 boroughs (plus the City of London) and the outer boundary was adjusted. However, the old constituency boundaries remained in place until 1918.

For representation by party, see sections 1885 to 1900 and 1900 to 1918.

Under the Representation of the People Act 1918 the parliamentary boroughs corresponded to the metropolitan boroughs created in 1900, with each borough, or division thereof, being represented by one MP. The City of London continued to be represented by two MPs despite the very small size of its electorate. The number of MPs was increased from 59 to 62.^[6]

For representation by party, see sections 1918 to 1931 and 1931 to 1950.

Under the Representation of the People Act 1948, which came into effect for the 1950 general election, the county of London was divided into 43 borough constituencies.^[7]

Under the First Periodic Review of Westminster constituencies, effective for the 1955 general election, there were limited changes in London, with a reduction of one constituency across the boroughs of Fulham and Hammersmith.^[8]

For representation by party, see section 1950 to 1974.

Despite Greater London being created in 1965, the old constituency boundaries remained in place until 1974, awaiting the implementation of the Second Periodic Review of Westminster constituencies. From 1965 to 1974, Outer London included the following constituencies or parts of constituencies.

When Greater London was created in 1965 the existing constituencies crossed county boundaries. The constituency review reported in 1969, and was implemented for the February 1974 election. All 92 constituencies were contained within Greater London and each were within a single London borough, with the exception of the City of London and Westminster South. They were all borough constituencies.^[9] The constituencies were also used as electoral divisions for the Greater London Council from 1973 to 1986.

For representation by party, see sections North West, North East, South West and South East.

The constituencies were redrawn for the 1983 election. All 84 constituencies were contained within Greater London and each were within a single London borough, with the exception of the City of London and Westminster South. They were all borough constituencies.^[10]

For representation by party, see sections North West, North East, South West and South East.

The constituencies were redrawn for the 1997 election. All 74 constituencies were contained within Greater London. Constituencies crossed borough boundaries between Bexley and Greenwich; Ealing, and Hammersmith and Fulham; Kensington and Chelsea, Westminster and the City of London; Kingston upon Thames and Richmond upon Thames; Lambeth and Southwark; Newham and Tower Hamlets; and Redbridge and Waltham Forest. They were all borough constituencies. ^[11]

For representation by party, see sections North West, North East, South West and South East.

The constituencies were redrawn for the 2010 election. All 73 constituencies are contained within Greater London. Constituencies cross borough boundaries between Barking and Dagenham, and Havering; Brent and Camden; Harrow and Hillingdon; Kensington and Chelsea, and Hammersmith and Fulham; Redbridge and Waltham Forest; Bexley and Greenwich; Bromley and Lewisham; Kingston upon Thames and Richmond upon Thames; Lambeth and Southwark; and Westminster and the City of London. They are all borough constituencies.^[12]

For representation by party, see sections North West, North East, South West and South East.

A cell marked → (with a different colour background to the preceding cell) indicates that the previous MP continued to sit under a new party name.

  Conservative   Liberal   Liberal-Labour   Liberal Unionist

  Conservative   Labour   Liberal   Liberal-Labour   Liberal Unionist   National Party

  Coalition Liberal (1918–22) / National Liberal (1922–23)   Communist   Conservative   Empire Free Trade Crusade   Independent   Independent Conservative   Labour   Liberal   National Labour

  Communist   Conservative   Independent Labour   Independent Liberal   Labour   Labour Independent Group   Liberal   National Government   National Labour   National Liberal (1931–68)

  Conservative   Labour   Speaker

The boroughs of Hillingdon, Harrow, Brent, Ealing, Barnet, Camden, Hammersmith & Fulham, Kensington & Chelsea and Westminster, and the City of London.

  Conservative   Labour   Social Democratic   Speaker

  Conservative   Independent   Labour   Liberal Democrats

The boroughs of Barking & Dagenham, Enfield, Hackney, Haringey, Havering, Islington, Newham, Redbridge, Tower Hamlets and Waltham Forest.

  Conservative   Independent Labour   Labour   Social Democratic

  Change UK   Conservative   Independent   Labour   Liberal Democrats   Respect

The boroughs of Croydon, Hounslow, Kingston, Merton, Richmond, Sutton and Wandsworth.

  Conservative   Labour   Liberal   Social Democratic   Speaker

  Conservative   Independent   Labour   Liberal Democrats

The boroughs of Bexley, Bromley, Greenwich, Lambeth, Lewisham and Southwark.

  Conservative   Labour   Liberal   Social Democratic

  Change UK   Conservative   Independent   Labour   Liberal   Liberal Democrats   Social Democratic (1983–88)   Continuing Social Democratic (1988–90)

The number of votes cast for each political party who fielded candidates in constituencies in the London region in the 2024 general election were as follows:^[13]

Primary data source: House of Commons research briefing – General election results from 1918 to 2019

Key:

• CON – Conservative Party, including National Liberal Party up to 1966
• LAB – Labour Party, including Labour and Co-operative Party
• LIB – Liberal Party up to 1979; SDP–Liberal Alliance 1983 & 1987; Liberal Democrats from 1992
• UKIP – UK Independence Party 2010 to 2017 (included in Other up to 2005 and from 2019)
• REF – Reform UK (2019 – Brexit Party)
• GRN – Green Party of England and Wales (included in Other up to 2005)

Key:

• CON – Conservative Party, including National Liberal Party up to 1966
• LAB – Labour Party, including Labour and Co-operative Party
• LIB – Liberal Party up to 1979; SDP–Liberal Alliance 1983 & 1987; Liberal Democrats from 1992
• OTH – 1945 – (1) Communist Party; (2) Independent Labour (Denis Pritt); 2005 – Respect (George Galloway); 2024 – Independent (Jeremy Corbyn)

•  
  1885
•  
  1886
•  
  1892
•  
  1895
•  
  1900
•  
  1906
•  
  Jan 1910
•  
  Dec 1910

•  
  1918
•  
  1922
•  
  1923
•  
  1924
•  
  1929
•  
  1931
•  
  1935
•  
  1945

•  
  1950
•  
  1951
•  
  1955
•  
  1959
•  
  1964
•  
  1966
•  
  1970

•  
  Feb 1974
•  
  Oct 1974
•  
  1979
•  
  1983
•  
  1987
•  
  1992
•  
  1997
•  
  2001
•  
  2005
•  
  2010
•  
  2015
•  
  2017
•  
  2019
•  
  2024

These are maps of the results of the last 14 general elections in London.

• Red represents seats won by MPs from the Labour Party.
• Blue represents seats won by MPs from the Conservative Party.
• Amber represents seats won by MPs from the Liberal Democrats.
• Green (in 2005) represents the seat won by the sole MP from the Respect Party, George Galloway.
• Yellow (in 1983 and 1987) represents the seat won by the sole MP from the Liberal Party, Simon Hughes, who continued to be an MP of the Liberal Democrats.
• Purple represents the two seats won by MPs from the Social Democratic Party. They were John Cartwright (formerly Labour), and Rosie Barnes.
• Grey (in 2024) represents seats won by Independent politicians (Jeremy Corbyn).

• Constituencies of the Parliament of the United Kingdom
• List of electoral divisions in Greater London
• List of electoral wards in Greater London
• List of London Assembly constituencies