West Ham South (UK Parliament constituency) facts for kids

West Ham South was a special area in the United Kingdom that elected one person to represent it in the UK Parliament. This person is called a Member of Parliament (MP). The area was part of what is now Greater London, but it used to be in Essex. People voted for their MP using a system called "first-past-the-post." This means the candidate with the most votes wins.

What Was West Ham South?

A parliamentary constituency is like a voting district. It's an area where people live who get to vote for their representative in Parliament. West Ham South was one of these districts.

Where Was West Ham South Located?

From 1950 to 1974, the West Ham South area included several parts of the County Borough of West Ham. These parts were called wards, like Beckton Road, Canning Town, Plaistow, and Silvertown. These areas are now part of Newham, a borough in East London.

A Look at Its History

The West Ham South constituency existed at two different times. It was first created in 1885 for a general election. A general election is when people across the country vote for their MPs.

First Time Around: 1885 to 1918

West Ham South was around for about 33 years. It was set up by a law called the Redistribution of Seats Act 1885. This law changed how voting areas were drawn. The constituency was then removed before the 1918 general election.

Second Time Around: 1950 to 1974

The constituency was brought back in 1950 for another general election. It lasted for 24 more years. It was finally removed again before the general election in February 1974. After this, parts of the area became part of a new constituency called Newham South.

People Who Represented West Ham South

The people who were elected as MPs for West Ham South played an important role. They spoke up for the people in their area in Parliament.

MPs from 1885 to 1918

Here are the MPs who represented West Ham South during its first period:

MPs from 1950 to 1974

Here is the MP who represented West Ham South during its second period:

Images for kids

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  Keir Hardie was an MP for West Ham South.

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  Will Thorne also served as an MP for this area.

See also

• West Ham North, 1918–1950