Westminster was a parliamentary constituency in the Parliament of England to 1707, the Parliament of Great Britain 1707–1800 and the Parliament of the United Kingdom from 1801. It returned two members to 1885 and one thereafter.
The constituency was first known to have been represented in Parliament in 1545 and continued to exist until the redistribution of seats in 1918. The constituency's most famous former representatives are Charles James Fox and John Stuart Mill.
Boundaries and boundary changes
Westminster in the Metropolitan area from 1868 to 1885.
Westminster in the Metropolitan area, showing boundaries used from 1885 to 1918.
The City of Westminster is a district of Inner London. Its southern boundary is on the north bank of the River Thames. It is located to the west of the City of London, to the south of Holborn and St. Pancras and to the east of Kensington and Chelsea.
Before 1545 the area which became this borough constituency was represented as part of the county constituency of Middlesex. Until 1885 the constituency had two representatives.
In the 1885 redistribution of seats the Westminster area (within the expanded boundaries of what became the Metropolitan Borough of Westminster which was created in 1900) was divided into three single-member seats. The south-eastern part, including the traditional heart of Westminster and such important centres of power as the Houses of Parliament and the seat of government in Whitehall, continued to be a constituency called Westminster. The official definition of the areas included was "the Westminster district and Close of the Collegiate Church of St Peter". In the north-east was the constituency of Strand and to the west that of St George's, Hanover Square.
In the 1918 redistribution the Metropolitan Borough was divided into two single member constituencies, Westminster St George's in the west and Westminster Abbey in the east. The Abbey division incorporated the area of the 1885–1918 Westminster constituency.
History
This was a prestigious constituency, because it represented the centre of British government and had such a large electorate that it was independent of the control of a patron.
Before the Reform Act 1832 the right to vote was held by the male inhabitants paying Scot and Lot (a kind of local property tax). This was an extensive franchise, by the standards of that era. Westminster had the largest electorate of any borough in the Kingdom. Only the largest county constituency of Yorkshire had more voters. Sedgwick estimated the electorate at about 8,000 in the first half of the eighteenth century. Namier and Brooke estimated that there were about 12,000 voters later in the century. The large size of the electorate made contested elections immensely expensive.
In the sixteenth century the Church officials associated with Westminster Abbey had a large influence in the area, but as the community became bigger that became less important. The Court (or His Majesty's Treasury) had some legitimate influence (by the standards of the age), because of the royal residences and government offices in the borough. The use of public funds to bribe the electorate was not unknown, during close elections (see the comments about the cost of the 1780 and 1784 contests below). Local landowners who were prepared to stir up ill-will by threatening to evict or raise the rents of tenants voting the wrong way, could also affect the result.
Unlawful means were sometimes used to make sure that the right candidates were elected. In 1722 the election of two Tories was declared void because of rioting which prevented some Whigs voting. In 1741 a Whig returning officer called upon the assistance of some troops to close the poll before the Tory candidates could catch up to the Whig votes.
The House of Commons declared the 1741 election void with the ringing resolution that "the presence of a regular body of armed soldiers at an election of members to sit in Parliament, is a high infringement of the liberties of the subject, a manifest violation of the freedom of election and an open defiance of the laws and constitution of this kingdom".
By the eighteenth century it was normal for the members to be Irish peers, the sons of peers or baronets, as it was thought appropriate for them to be of high social standing so as to be worthy to represent the seat.
The Treasury spent the enormous sums of more than £8,000 in 1780 and £9,000 in 1784, in unsuccessful attempts to defeat the opposition Whig leader Charles James Fox. So expensive were these contests that for the next general election in 1790, the government and opposition leaders reached a formal agreement for each to have one member returned unopposed. However, in the event a second Whig candidate did appear, but the Tory (the famous Admiral Lord Hood) and Fox were re-elected without too much difficulty.
The last MP for this constituency, William Burdett-Coutts, was connected with a family prominent in City of Westminster politics since the eighteenth century. He himself was born in the United States in 1851, his grandparents on both sides having been British subjects. After he married Baroness Burdett-Coutts in 1881 he changed his surname from Bartlett to Burdett-Coutts. He represented the area from 1885 until 1918 and continued to sit for the Abbey division until his death in 1921.
Lists of Members of Parliament
Preliminary note: The English civil year started on 25 March until 1752 (Scotland having changed to 1 January in 1600). The years used in this article have been converted to the new style where necessary. It should be noted that old style dates would be a year earlier than the new style for days between 1 January and 24 March. No attempt has been made to compensate for the eleven days which did not occur in September 1752 in both England and Scotland as well as other British controlled territories (when the day after 2 September was 14 September), so as to bring the British Empire fully in line with the Gregorian calendar.
Members of Parliament 1545–1660
Some of the members elected during this period have been identified. The year first given is for the initial meeting of the Parliament, with the month added where there was more than one Parliament in the year. If a second year is given this is a date of dissolution. Early Parliaments sometimes only existed for a few days or weeks, so dissolutions in the same year as the first meeting are not recorded in this list If a specific date of election is known this is recorded in italic brackets. The Roman numerals in brackets, following some names, are those used to distinguish different politicians of the same name in 'The House of Commons' 1509–1558 and 1558–1603.
Members of Parliament 1660–1918
Key to parties: C Conservative from 1832, L Liberal from 1832, NP Non Partisan candidate (no party or no party identified), T Tory to 1832, W Whig to 1832.
| From | To | Name (Party) | Born | Died |
| | 1660 | 1660 | Gilbert Gerard (NP) | c. 1618 | 5 November 1683 |
| | 1660 | 1660 | Thomas Clarges (NP) | c. 1618 | 4 October 1695 |
| | 1661 | 1679 | Sir Philip Warwick (NP) | 24 December 1609 | 15 January 1683 |
| | 1661 | 1679 | Sir Richard Everard (NP) | c. 1625 | 29 August 1694 |
| | 1679 | 1679 | Sir Stephen Fox (NP) | 27 March 1627 | 28 October 1716 |
| | 1679 | 1685 | Sir William Pulteney (NP) | 25 March 1624 | 6 September 1691 |
| | 1679 | 1680 | Francis Wythens (NP) | c. 1635 | 9 May 1704 |
| | 1680 | 1685 | Sir William Waller (NP) | c. 1639 | 18 July 1699 |
| | 1685 | 1686 | Charles Bonython (T) | c. 1653 | 30 April 1705 |
| | 1685 | 1686 | Michael Arnold (T) | ... | 31 August 1690 |
| | 1689 | 1691 | Sir William Pulteney (W) | 25 March 1624 | 6 September 1691 |
| | 1689 | 1690 | Hon. Philip Howard (W) | 5 March 1629 | September 1717 |
| | 1690 | 1695 | Sir Walter Clarges, Bt (T) | 4 July 1653 | March 1706 |
| | 1691 | 1698 | Sir Stephen Fox (NP) | 27 March 1627 | 28 October 1716 |
| | 1695 | 1701 | Charles Montagu (NP) | 16 April 1661 | 19 May 1715 |
| | 1698 | 1702 | James Vernon (NP) | 1 April 1646 | 31 January 1727 |
| | 1701 | 1701 | Sir Thomas Crosse (T) | 29 November 1664 | 27 May 1738 |
| | 1701 | 1702 | Sir Henry Colt (NP) | c. 1646 | 25 April 1731 |
| | 1702 | 1705 | Sir Walter Clarges, Bt (T) | 4 July 1653 | March 1706 |
| | 1702 | 1705 | Sir Thomas Crosse (T) | 29 November 1664 | 27 May 1738 |
| | 1705 | 1710 | Henry Boyle (NP) | 12 July 1669 | 14 March 1725 |
| | 1705 | 1708 | Sir Henry Colt (NP) | c. 1646 | 25 April 1731 |
| | 1708 | 1715 | Thomas Medlycott (NP) | 22 May 1662 | July 1738 |
| | 1710 | 1722 | Sir Thomas Crosse, Bt (T) | 29 November 1664 | 27 May 1738 |
| | 1715 | 1722 | Hon. Edward Wortley-Montagu (W) | 8 February 1678 | 22 January 1761 |
| | 1722 | 1722 | Archibald Hutcheson (T) | c. 1659 | 12 August 1740 |
| | 1722 | 1722 | John Cotton (T) | 22 October 1671 | December 1736 |
| | 1722 | 1727 | Charles Montagu (W) | after 1695 | 29 May 1759 |
| | 1722 | 1727 | 1st Baron Carpenter (W) | 10 February 1657 | 10 February 1732 |
| | 1727 | 1734 | Lord Charles Cavendish (W) | after 1700 | 28 April 1783 |
| | 1727 | 1741 | William Clayton (1st Baron Sundon) (W) | 9 November 1671 | 29 April 1752 |
| | 1734 | 1741 | Sir Charles Wager (W) | c. 1666 | 24 May 1743 |
| | 1741 | 1747 | Viscount Perceval (T) | 24 February 1711 | 20 December 1770 |
| | 1741 | 1747 | Charles Edwin (T) | c. 1699 | 29 June 1756 |
| | 1747 | 1754 | Viscount Trentham (W) | 4 August 1721 | 26 October 1803 |
| | 1747 | 1752 | Sir Peter Warren (W) | c. 1703 | 29 July 1752 |
| | 1753 | 1762 | Hon. Edward Cornwallis (W,NP) | 22 February 1713 | 14 January 1776 |
| | 1754 | 1761 | Sir John Crosse, Bt (NP) | c. 1700 | 12 March 1762 |
| | 1761 | 1763 | Viscount Pulteney (NP) | c. 1731 | 11 February 1763 |
| | 1762 | 1770 | Hon. Edwin Sandys (NP) | 18 April 1726 | 11 March 1797 |
| | 1763 | 1776 | Baron Warkworth (Earl Percy) (NP) | 14 August 1742 | 10 July 1817 |
| | 1770 | 1774 | Sir Robert Bernard, Bt (NP) | c. 1739 | 2 January 1789 |
| | 1774 | 1780 | Lord Thomas Pelham-Clinton (NP) | 1 July 1752 | 18 May 1795 |
| | 1776 | 1779 | Viscount Petersham (NP) | 20 March 1753 | 15 September 1829 |
| | 1779 | 1780 | Viscount Malden (NP) | 13 November 1757 | 23 April 1839 |
| | 1780 | 1782 | Sir George Brydges Rodney, Bt (W) | 13 February 1719 | 24 May 1792 |
| | 1780 | 1784 | Rt. Hon. Charles James Fox (W) | 24 January 1749 | 13 September 1806 |
| | 1782 | 1784 | Sir Cecil Wray, Bt (W) | 3 September 1734 | 10 January 1805 |
| | 1784 | 1788 | Samuel Hood (T) | 12 December 1724 | 27 January 1816 |
| | 1784 | 1806 | Rt. Hon. Charles James Fox (W) | 24 January 1749 | 13 September 1806 |
| | 1788 | 1790 | Lord John Townshend (W) | 19 January 1757 | 25 February 1833 |
| | 1790 | 1796 | Samuel Hood (T) | 12 December 1724 | 27 January 1816 |
| | 1796 | 1806 | Sir Alan Gardner, Bt (1st Baron Gardner) (T) | 12 April 1742 | 1 January 1809 |
| | 1806 | 1806 | Earl Percy (W) | 20 April 1785 | 11 February 1847 |
| | 1806 | 1807 | Sir Samuel Hood (T) | 27 November 1762 | 24 December 1814 |
| | 1806 | 1807 | Richard Brinsley Sheridan (W) | 30 October 1751 | 7 July 1816 |
| | 1807 | 1837 | Sir Francis Burdett, Bt (W,L,C) | 25 January 1770 | 23 January 1844 |
| | 1807 | 1818 | Lord Cochrane (W) | 14 December 1775 | 31 October 1860 |
| | 1818 | 1818 | Sir Samuel Romilly (W) | 1 March 1757 | 2 November 1818 |
| | 1819 | 1820 | Hon. George Lamb (T) | 11 July 1784 | 2 January 1834 |
| | 1820 | 1833 | Sir John Cam Hobhouse, Bt (W,L) | 27 June 1786 | 3 June 1869 |
| | 1833 | 1841 | George de Lacy Evans (L) | 1787 | 9 January 1870 |
| | 1837 | 1847 | John Temple Leader (L) | 7 May 1810 | 1903 |
| | 1841 | 1846 | Hon. Henry John Rous (C) | 23 January 1795 | 19 June 1877 |
| | 1846 | 1865 | Sir George de Lacy Evans (L) | 1787 | 9 January 1870 |
| | 1847 | 1852 | Charles Lushington (L) | 14 April 1785 | 23 September 1866 |
| | 1852 | 1865 | Sir John Shelley, Bt (L) | 18 March 1808 | 26 January 1867 |
| | 1865 | 1874 | Hon. Robert Wellesley Grosvenor (L) | 25 January 1834 | 13 November 1914 |
| | 1865 | 1868 | John Stuart Mill (NP) | 20 May 1806 | 8 May 1873 |
| | 1868 | 1885 | William Henry Smith (C) | 24 June 1825 | 6 October 1891 |
| | 1874 | 1882 | Sir Charles Russell, Bt (C) | 22 June 1826 | 14 April 1883 |
| | 1882 | 1885 | Lord Algernon Percy (C) | 2 October 1851 | 28 December 1933 |
| | 1885 | 1918 | William L.A.B. Burdett-Coutts (C) | 1851 | 28 July 1921 |
- Constituency abolished (1918)
Fictional Member of Parliament
Westminster was the constituency of fraudulent businessman Augustus Melmotte, who gained election as a Conservative, in Anthony Trollope's satirical novel, The Way We Live Now (published 1875).
Elections
General notes
In multi-member elections the bloc voting system was used. Voters could cast a vote for one or two candidates, as they chose. The leading candidates with the largest number of votes were elected.
In by-elections and all elections after 1885, to fill a single seat, the first past the post system applied.
After 1832, when registration of voters was introduced, a turnout figure is given for contested elections. In two-member elections, when the exact number of participating voters is unknown, this is calculated by dividing the number of votes by two. To the extent that electors did not use both their votes this will be an underestimate of turnout.
Where a party had more than one candidate in one or both of a pair of successive elections change is calculated for each individual candidate, otherwise change is based on the party vote. Change figures at by-elections are from the preceding general election or the last intervening by-election. Change figures at general elections are from the last general election.
Candidates for whom no party has been identified are classified as Non Partisan. The candidate might have been associated with a party or faction in Parliament or consider himself to belong to a particular political tradition. Political parties before the nineteenth century were not as cohesive or organised as they later became. Contemporary commentators (even the reputed leaders of parties or factions) in the eighteenth century did not necessarily agree who the party supporters were. The traditional parties, which had arisen in the late seventeenth century, became increasingly irrelevant to politics in the eighteenth century (particularly after 1760), although for some contests in some constituencies party labels were still used. It was only towards the end of the century that party labels began to acquire some meaning again, although this process was by no means complete for several more generations.
Sources: The results for elections before 1790 were taken from the History of Parliament Trust publications on the House of Commons. The results from 1790 until the UK general election, 1832 are based on Stooks Smith and from 1832 onwards on Craig. Where Stooks Smith gives additional information to the other sources this is indicated in a note.
Dates of Westminster general and by-elections 1660–1918
- -2 Apr 1660 GE
- -- Apr 1661 GE
- 27 Feb 1679 GE
- 19 Sep 1679 GE
- 15 Nov 1680 BE
- 10 Feb 1681 GE
- 23 Mar 1685 GE
- 21 Jan 1689 GE
- 13 Mar 1690 GE
- -9 Nov 1691 BE
- 29 Oct 1695 GE
- 22 Jul 1698 GE
- 21 Jan 1701 GE
- -9 Dec 1701 GE
- -6 Aug 1702 GE
- 30 May 1705 GE
- -7 Jul 1708 GE
- -9 Oct 1710 GE
- -- --- 1713 GE
- 24 Jan 1715 GE
- 27 Mar 1722 GE (1)
- -3 Dec 1722 BE
|
- 15 Aug 1727 GE
- 22 Apr 1734 GE
- -8 May 1741 GE (1)
- 31 Dec 1741 BE
- -1 Jul 1747 GE
- 15 May 1750 BE
- 16 Jan 1753 BE
- 20 Apr 1754 GE
- 25 Mar 1761 GE
- 27 Apr 1762 BE
- 15 Mar 1763 BE
- 16 Mar 1768 GE
- 30 Apr 1770 BE
- 26 Oct 1774 GE
- 17 Dec 1776 BE
- 20 Apr 1779 BE
- 10 Oct 1780 GE
- -3 Apr 1782 BE
- 12 Jun 1782 BE
- -7 Apr 1783 BE
- 17 May 1784 GE
- -4 Aug 1788 BE
|
- -2 Jul 1790 GE
- 13 Jun 1796 GE
- 15 Jul 1802 GE
- 13 Feb 1806 BE
- -7 Oct 1806 BE
- 19 Nov 1806 GE
- 23 May 1807 GE
- -8 Oct 1812 GE
- -5 Jul 1814 (2)
- 16 Jul 1814 BE
- -4 Jul 1818 GE
- -3 Mar 1819 BE
- 25 Mar 1820 GE
- -- --- 1826 GE
- -- --- 1830 GE
- -- --- 1831 GE
- -- Feb 1832 BE
- -- --- 1832 GE
- -4 Apr 1833 BE
- 11 May 1833 BE
- -- --- 1835 GE
- 12 May 1837 BE
- 27 Jul 1837 GE
|
- -1 Jul 1841 GE
- 19 Feb 1846 BE
- 30 Jul 1847 GE
- -9 Jul 1852 GE
- -- --- 1857 GE
- -- --- 1859 GE
- 12 Jul 1865 GE
- 18 Nov 1868 GE
- -7 Feb 1874 GE
- 11 Aug 1877 BE
- -- --- 1880 GE
- 10 Feb 1882 BE
- 29 Jun 1885 BE
- 26 Nov 1885 GE
- -- --- 1886 GE
- -- --- 1892 GE
- -- --- 1895 GE
- -- --- 1900 GE
- -- --- 1906 GE
- -- Jan 1910 GE
- -- Dec 1910 GE
|
Notes:
- (1) Election declared void
- (2) Date of expulsion from the House of Lord Cochrane
Election results (Parliament of England) 1660–1690
- Note (1661): Vote totals unavailable
- Note (February 1679): Vote totals unavailable
- Note (September 1679): Vote totals unavailable
- On petition Wythens was unseated and Sir William Waller seated on 15 November 1680
- Note (1681): Vote totals unavailable
- Note (1689): Vote totals unavailable. Matthews and Dewey are described by Henning as radical candidates, but should not be confused with the followers of John Wilkes in the late eighteenth century or the radicals of the nineteenth century.
Election results (Parliament of Great Britain) 1715–1800
- 1st Baron Molesworth (W) was proposed but withdrew before the poll.
- Election declared void 6 November 1722.
- Clayton created an Irish peer as 1st Baron Sundon 2 June 1735
- Election declared void 22 December 1741.
- After a scrutiny the member returned was unchanged and vote totals were amended to Trentham 4,103; Vandeput 3,933.
- Death of Warren 29 July 1752
- Death of Pulteney 11 February 1763
| By-Election 30 April 1770: Westminster |
| Party |
Candidate |
Votes |
% |
±% |
|
Non Partisan |
Sir Robert Bernard, Bt |
Unopposed |
N/A |
N/A |
|
Non Partisan hold |
Swing |
N/A |
|
- Succession of Percy to his mother's title, as 3rd Baron Percy on 5 December 1776
- Pelham-Clinton was known by the courtesy title of Earl of Lincoln, following the death of his brother in 1779
| By-Election 12 June 1782: Westminster |
| Party |
Candidate |
Votes |
% |
±% |
|
Whig |
Sir Cecil Wray, Bt |
Unopposed |
N/A |
N/A |
|
Whig hold |
Swing |
N/A |
|
- Note (1784): Poll 40 days; 12,301 voted. After a scrutiny the members returned were unchanged and vote totals were amended to the figures as above. Original votes Hood 6,694; Fox 6,234; Wray 5,998. (Source: Stooks Smith)
- Hood and Fox were declared elected 4 March 1785
- Appointment of Hood as a Commissioner of the Admiralty 16 July 1788
- Note (1788): Poll 15 days. (Source: Stooks Smith)
- Note (1790): Poll 15 days. Mr Tooke proposed himself. (Source: Stooks Smith)
Election results (Parliament of the United Kingdom)
- Death of Fox 13 September 1806
| By-Election 7 October 1806: Westminster |
| Party |
Candidate |
Votes |
% |
±% |
|
Whig |
Earl Percy |
Unopposed |
N/A |
N/A |
|
Whig hold |
Swing |
N/A |
|
- Note (1806): Poll 15 days; 10,277 voted. (Source: Stooks Smith)
- Note (1807): Poll 15 days; 8,622 voted. (Source: Stooks Smith)
- Expulsion of Cochrane from the House of Commons, after being convicted of conspiracy, 5 July 1814
- Note (1818): Poll 15 days; 10,277 voted. (Source: Stooks Smith)
- Death of Romilly 2 November 1818
- Note (1819): Poll 15 days. (Source: Stooks Smith)
- Note (1820): Poll 15 days; 9,280 voted. (Source: Stooks Smith)
- Note (1832): 4,453 voted. Burdett and Hobhouse were classified as Whigs and Evans as a Radical. (Source: Stooks Smith)
- Appointment of Hobhouse as Chief Secretary for Ireland
- Note (1833 April): Hobhouse was classified as a Whig. (Source: Stooks Smith)
- Resignation of Hobhouse after he left the Ministry in opposition to the House and Window taxes.
- Note (1833 May): Evans was classified as a Radical, Hobhouse as a Whig and Escott as a Tory. (Source: Stooks Smith)
- Note (1835): 4,254 voted. Burdett was classified as a Whig, Evans as a Radical and Cochrane as a Tory. (Source: Stooks Smith)
- Resignation of Burdett to seek re-election on changing parties.
- Note (1837): Burdett was classified as a Tory and Leader as a Radical. (Source: Stooks Smith)
- Note (1837): 6,350 voted. Leader and Evans were classified as Radicals and Murray as a Tory. (Source: Stooks Smith)
- Note (1841): 14,254 registered (Craig's figure above used for the turnout calculation); 6,596 voted. Leader and Evans were classified as Radicals (pink and white colours) and Rous as a Tory (blue colour). (Source: Stooks Smith)
- Appointment of Rous as a Lord Commissioner of the Admiralty
- Note (1846): Evans was classified as a Radical and Rous as a Tory. (Source: Stooks Smith)
- Note (1847): 14,125 registered (Craig's figure above used for the turnout calculation); 7,185 voted. Evans was classified as a Radical, Lushington and Cochrane as Whigs and Rous as a Tory. (Source: Stooks Smith)
- Note (1852): In earlier elections Evans and Coningham were classified as Radicals, Shelley as a Whig and Mandeville as a Tory. (Source: Stooks Smith)
- Note (1857): In earlier elections Evans was classified as a Radical and Shelley as a Whig. (Source: Stooks Smith)
- Note (1859): In earlier elections Evans was classified as a Radical and Shelley as a Whig. (Source: Stooks Smith)
- Constituency reduced to one seat and boundaries changed in the redistribution of 1885
- Positive swing is Liberal to Conservative
- Constituency abolished in the redistribution of 1918
See also
References
- Boundaries of Parliamentary Constituencies 1885–1972, compiled and edited by F.W.S. Craig (Political Reference Publications 1972)
- British Parliamentary Election Results 1832–1885, compiled and edited by F.W.S. Craig (The Macmillan Press 1977)
- British Parliamentary Election Results 1885–1918, compiled and edited by F.W.S. Craig (The Macmillan Press 1974)
- The House of Commons 1509–1558, by S.T. Bindoff (Secker & Warburg 1982)
- The House of Commons 1558–1603, by P.W. Hasler (HMSO 1981)
- The House of Commons 1660–1690, by Basil Duke Henning (Secker & Warburg 1983)
- The House of Commons 1715–1754, by Romney Sedgwick (HMSO 1970)
- The House of Commons 1754–1790, by Sir Lewis Namier and John Brooke (HMSO 1964)
- The House of Commons 1790–1820, by R.G. Thorne (Secker & Warburg 1986)
- The Parliaments of England by Henry Stooks Smith (1st edition published in three volumes 1844–50), second edition edited (in one volume) by F.W.S. Craig (Political Reference Publications 1973)
- Who's Who of British Members of Parliament: Volume I 1832–1885, edited by M. Stenton (The Harvester Press 1976)
- Leigh Rayment's Historical List of MPs – Constituencies beginning with "W" (part 3)