Finsbury Central (UK Parliament constituency) facts for kids

Finsbury Central was a special area in Central London, specifically the Clerkenwell district. This area was known as a parliamentary constituency. A constituency is like a voting district. People living in Finsbury Central would vote for one person to represent them in the UK Parliament. This person is called a Member of Parliament (MP). The MP would then work in the House of Commons to speak for the people of Finsbury Central. They were chosen using a system called "first past the post," which means the candidate with the most votes wins.

History of Finsbury Central

This constituency was created in 1885. Before that, the area was part of a larger constituency called Finsbury, which had two MPs. The government decided to split it into smaller parts with the Redistribution of Seats Act 1885. This change happened just before the 1885 general election.

Finsbury Central existed for about 33 years. It was removed in 1918, just before the 1918 general election. At that time, a new single-member constituency, also called Finsbury, took its place.

Where Was Finsbury Central?

Finsbury Central in London 1885-1918

When Finsbury Central was created in 1885, it was part of the parliamentary borough of Finsbury. This area was in the historic county of Middlesex, just north of the City of London. The law that created the constituency, the Redistribution of Seats Act 1885, said it would include the parish of St James and St John, Clerkenwell.

Most of the constituency was in the Clerkenwell district. However, there was a small part of it that was separate, located in Muswell Hill. About 5% of the people in Finsbury Central lived in this detached Muswell Hill area. These two areas were connected for historical reasons. Long ago, a group called the Knights of St John owned a lot of land in Clerkenwell, and they also had a deer park in Muswell Hill.

Over time, local government boundaries changed. In 1889, Clerkenwell became part of the new County of London, no longer part of Middlesex. Later, in 1900, the local councils in London were updated. The old local boards in Clerkenwell were replaced by the Metropolitan Borough of Finsbury. These local government changes did not affect the parliamentary boundaries until Finsbury Central was abolished in 1918.

Members of Parliament for Finsbury Central

An MP is a person elected by the people in a constituency to represent them in the House of Commons. They speak for their area, help make laws, and hold the government accountable. Here are the MPs who represented Finsbury Central during its existence:

Images for kids

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  Dadabhai Naoroji, an MP for Finsbury Central.

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  William Massey-Mainwaring, another MP for Finsbury Central.

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  Joseph Benson, a candidate in the 1900 election.

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  Edward Goulding, a candidate in the 1906 election.

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  W. C. Steadman, an MP for Finsbury Central.