Ronald Brown was elected in 1974 as a representative of the Labour Party but defected from the Opposition to join the fledgling Social Democratic Party (SDP) in 1981, at a time when Labour wished for Common Market withdrawal and the removal of keeping a nuclear deterrent during the Cold War. Brown held the seat as an SDP member until 1983, when he was defeated by Labour Party candidate Brian Sedgemore. Sedgemore announced his retirement from parliament at the 2005 election; but on 26 April 2005, after Parliament had been dissolved and he was no longer the sitting MP, defected to the Liberal Democrats, the successors to the SDP, shortly before the week of the election.[2] The Liberal Democrats were unable to capitalise on the defection, their candidate only gaining the second largest gain in votes of the candidates competing.
In the 2016 referendum to leave the European Union, the constituency voted remain by 77.9%. This was the ninth highest support for remain for a constituency.[3]
Election Record
All elections since the seat's creation have been won by the Labour candidate, including the incumbent, Meg Hillier, with substantial majorities, making it a Labour stronghold. The 2015 result ranked the seat the 16th safest of the party's 232 seats (by majority percentage) and fifth safest in the capital.[4]
1974–1983: The London Borough of Hackney wards of Dalston, De Beauvoir, Haggerston, Moorfields, Queensbridge, Victoria, and Wenlock.
1983–2010: The London Borough of Hackney wards of Chatham, Dalston, De Beauvoir, Haggerston, Homerton, King's Park, Moorfields, Queensbridge, Victoria, Wenlock, Westdown, and Wick.
2010–2024: The London Borough of Hackney wards of Chatham, De Beauvoir, Hackney Central, Haggerston, Hoxton, King's Park, Queensbridge, Victoria, and Wick.
Following a local government boundary review which became effective in 2014,[5] the contents of the seat were:
The London Borough of Hackney wards of De Beauvoir, Hackney Central, Hackney Wick, Haggerston, Homerton, Hoxton East & Shoreditch, Hoxton West, King's Park, Lea Bridge (small part), London Fields (most), and Victoria.
The London Borough of Hackney wards of: Dalston; Hackney Central; Hackney Wick; Haggerston; Homerton; Hoxton East & Shoreditch; Hoxton West; London Fields; Victoria.[6]
Both Brown and Roberts were official candidates of their respective local parties and both supported the Alliance between the Liberals and the SDP; however, Brown was given endorsement by both national parties.
^"The 2023 Review of Parliamentary Constituency Boundaries in England – Volume two: Constituency names, designations and composition – London". Boundary Commission for England. Retrieved 21 June 2024.
^Loyal Bennite and political loner Michael White, The Guardian 27 April 2005 accessed 14 July 2009
^"Revised estimates of leave vote in Westminster constituencies". Retrieved 26 October 2016.
^"Labour Members of Parliament 2015". UK Political.info. Archived from the original on 29 September 2018.
^LGBCE. "Hackney | LGBCE". www.lgbce.org.uk. Retrieved 21 December 2023.
^"The Parliamentary Constituencies Order 2023". Schedule 1 Part 3 London region.
^Leigh Rayment's Historical List of MPs – Constituencies beginning with "H" (part 1)
^"Statement of Person Nominated and Notice of Poll: Hackney South and Shoreditch Constituency". Hackney Council. 7 June 2024.
^"Hackney South and Shoreditch - General election results 2024". BBC News.
^"Notional results for a UK general election on 12 December 2019". Rallings & Thrasher, Professor David Denver (Scotland), Nicholas Whyte (NI) for Sky News, PA, BBC News and ITV News. UK Parliament. Retrieved 11 July 2024.
^"General election 12 December 2019 | Hackney Council". hackney.gov.uk. Retrieved 19 November 2019.
^"Hackney South & Shoreditch parliamentary constituency". BBC News.
^"House Of Commons Library 2017 Election report" (PDF).
^"Election Data 2015". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 17 October 2015. Retrieved 17 October 2015.
