Hackney South (UK Parliament constituency) facts for kids

Hackney South was a special area in London that elected one person to the House of Commons. This person is called a Member of Parliament (MP). The House of Commons is where laws are made for the United Kingdom.

Hackney South was part of "The Metropolis," which is what London was called back then. Later, it became part of the County of London. Over its history, nine different MPs represented Hackney South. Only two of them, Horatio Bottomley and Herbert Morrison, were elected more than once.

A Look Back: History of Hackney South

This special area was created in 1885. Before that, the larger area of Hackney elected two MPs. But a new law, the Redistribution of Seats Act 1885, split Hackney into three smaller parts, and Hackney South was one of them.

The very first election for Hackney South happened in 1885. This area continued to elect an MP until 1955, when it was changed again.

Where Was Hackney South? Understanding its Boundaries

The exact borders of Hackney South changed a few times over the years. These changes happened because new laws were passed to update how voting areas were drawn.

Hackney South: 1885 to 1918

When Hackney South was first created in 1885, its borders included specific parts of Hackney Parish. These were:

• The No. 7 or South Hackney area.
• The No. 6 or Homerton area.
• A part of the No. 5 or Hackney area, specifically the southern section near Everning Road and Clapton Roads.

Hackney South: 1918 to 1950

In 1918, a new law called the Representation of the People Act 1918 changed many voting areas across Great Britain. In London, these areas were redrawn using the new Metropolitan Boroughs that had been set up in 1900.

Hackney South was then defined to include:

• Homerton Ward.
• South Hackney Ward.
• A part of Clapton Park Ward, specifically the southern section.

Hackney South: 1950 to 1955

Another law in 1948, the Representation of the People Act, changed the areas again. This time, the Hackney area and Stoke Newington were combined to form two new voting areas.

Hackney South became larger. It included most of the Metropolitan Borough of Hackney, except for five specific areas: Leaside, Maury, Southwold, Springfield, and Stamford.

Why Hackney South Changed Again

After a review of voting areas, Hackney South was eventually removed as a separate constituency. Most of its area became part of a new voting area called Hackney Central. Some other parts joined the Bethnal Green constituency. This happened in 1955.

Who Represented Hackney South? Members of Parliament

Here are the people who were elected as Members of Parliament for Hackney South:

Elections: A Quick Look at the Voting

Elections were held regularly in Hackney South to choose its MP. Different political parties, like the Liberal Party, Conservative Party, and Labour Party, put forward candidates.

In the early years, the Liberal Party often won the elections in Hackney South. However, over time, the Conservative Party and later the Labour Party also saw success. For example, Herbert Morrison was a very successful Labour MP for Hackney South, winning multiple times.

The last election for Hackney South was in 1951, and Herbert Butler from the Labour Party won. After that, the constituency was abolished in 1955.

Images for kids

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  Hackney South in London 1885–1918

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  Hackney South in London 1918–1950

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  Hackney South in London 1950–1955

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  A map showing the wards of Hackney Metropolitan Borough as they appeared in 1916.

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  Andrew Scoble

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  Thomas Herbert Robertson

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  John Fletcher Moulton

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  Hector Morison

More Information

• Leigh Rayment's Historical List of MPs – Constituencies beginning with "H" (part 1)