Kensington South (UK Parliament constituency)

Prior to 1885, the area was originally part of the Chelsea constituency. Following the Redistribution of Seats Act 1885, the new Kensington South seat was a single-member constituency consisting of all of the parliamentary borough of Kensington south of the Uxbridge Road.

Following boundary changes under the Representation of the People Act 1918, the constituency was defined as consisting of the Royal Borough of Kensington wards of Brompton, Earl's Court, Holland, Queen's Gate, and Redcliffe.

In the 1950 redistribution, Brompton ward was transferred to the Chelsea constituency. The constituency was thus now defined as consisting of the Royal Borough of Kensington wards of Earl's Court, Holland, Queen's Gate, and Redcliffe. It then remained unchanged until its abolition in 1974.

In 1965, under major local government boundary changes, the London County Council area was absorbed by the new Greater London Council, and the constituency was included in a new London Borough of Kensington and Chelsea. This did not affect parliamentary boundaries for another nine years, however.

In the 1974 redistribution, this constituency disappeared. Earl's Court and Redcliffe wards became part of the redrawn Chelsea constituency, while Holland and Queen's Gate wards became part of the new Kensington constituency.

{{Election box begin | title=General election 1885: Kensington, South}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link|

|party = Conservative Party (UK)

|candidate = Algernon Borthwick

|votes = 4,602

|percentage = 68.3

|change =

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link|

|party = Liberal Party (UK)

|candidate = Montagu Hughes Cookson

|votes = 2,138

|percentage = 31.7

|change =

}}

{{Election box majority|

|votes = 2,464

|percentage = 36.6

|change =

}}

{{Election box turnout|

|votes = 6,740

|percentage = 76.1

|change =

}}

{{Election box registered electors|

|reg. electors = 8,859

}}

{{Election box new seat win|

|winner = Conservative Party (UK)

}}

{{Election box end}}

{{Election box begin | title=General election 1886: Kensington, South}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link|

|party = Conservative Party (UK)

|candidate = Algernon Borthwick

|votes = 4,156

|percentage = 80.3

|change = +12.0

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link|

|party = Liberal Party (UK)

|candidate = Henry Fearnside Speed

|votes = 1,022

|percentage = 19.7

|change = -12.0

}}

{{Election box majority|

|votes = 3,134

|percentage = 60.6

|change = +24.0

}}

{{Election box turnout|

|votes = 5,178

|percentage = 58.4

|change = −17.7

}}

{{Election box registered electors|

|reg. electors = 8,859

}}

{{Election box hold with party link|

|winner = Conservative Party (UK)

|swing = +12.0

}}

{{Election box end}}

{{Election box begin | title=General election 1892: Kensington, South{{cite book|editor1-last=Craig|editor1-first=FWS|title=British Parliamentary Election Results: 1885-1918|date=1974|publisher=Macmillan Press|location=London|isbn=9781349022984}}

}}

{{Election box winning candidate unopposed with party link|

|party = Conservative Party (UK)

|candidate = Algernon Borthwick

}}

{{Election box hold with party link no swing|

|winner = Conservative Party (UK)

}}

{{Election box end}}

{{Election box begin | title=General election 1895: Kensington, South}}

{{Election box winning candidate unopposed with party link|

|party = Conservative Party (UK)

|candidate = Algernon Borthwick

}}

{{Election box hold with party link no swing|

|winner = Conservative Party (UK)

}}

{{Election box end}}

{{Election box begin | title=By-election: 28 November 1895

}}

{{Election box winning candidate unopposed with party link|

|party = Conservative Party (UK)

|candidate = Henry Percy

}}

{{Election box hold with party link no swing|

|winner = Conservative Party (UK)

}}

{{Election box end}}

{{Election box begin | title=General election 1900: Kensington, South{{cite book|editor1-last=Craig|editor1-first=FWS|title=British Parliamentary Election Results: 1885-1918|date=1974|publisher=Macmillan Press|location=London|isbn=9781349022984}}

}}

{{Election box winning candidate unopposed with party link|

|party = Conservative Party (UK)

|candidate = Henry Percy

}}

{{Election box hold with party link no swing|

|winner = Conservative Party (UK)

}}

{{Election box end}}

{{Election box begin | title=General election 1906: Kensington, South

}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link|

|party = Conservative Party (UK)

|candidate = Henry Percy

|votes = 4,835

|percentage = 74.9

|change = N/A

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link|

|party = Liberal Party (UK)

|candidate = Edward O'Malley

|votes = 1,624

|percentage = 25.1

|change = New

}}

{{Election box majority|

|votes = 3,211

|percentage = 49.8

|change = N/A

}}

{{Election box turnout|

|votes = 6,459

|percentage = 70.0

|change = N/A

}}

{{Election box registered electors|

|reg. electors = 9,223

}}

{{Election box hold with party link|

|winner = Conservative Party (UK)

|swing = N/A

}}

{{Election box end}}

{{Election box begin | title=General election January 1910: Kensington, South}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link|

|party = Conservative Party (UK)

|candidate = Claud Hamilton

|votes = 5,771

|percentage = 81.6

|change = +6.7

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link|

|party = Liberal Party (UK)

|candidate = George Stanford MacIlwaine

|votes = 1,301

|percentage = 18.4

|change = -6.7

}}

{{Election box majority|

|votes = 4,470

|percentage = 63.2

|change = +13.4

}}

{{Election box turnout|

|votes = 9,159

|percentage = 77.2

|change = +7.2

}}

{{Election box hold with party link|

|winner = Conservative Party (UK)

|swing =

}}

{{Election box end}}

{{Election box begin | title=General election December 1910: Kensington, South}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link|

|party = Conservative Party (UK)

|candidate = Claud Hamilton

|votes = 5,093

|percentage = 83.1

|change = +1.5

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link|

|party = Liberal Party (UK)

|candidate = George Rodhouse Reid

|votes = 1,033

|percentage = 16.9

|change = -1.5

}}

{{Election box majority|

|votes = 4,060

|percentage = 66.2

|change = +3.0

}}

{{Election box turnout|

|votes = 9,159

|percentage = 66.9

|change = -10.3

}}

{{Election box hold with party link|

|winner = Conservative Party (UK)

|swing =

}}

{{Election box end}}

{{Election box begin | title=General election 1918: Kensington South

}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link coalition 1918|

|party = Unionist Party (UK)

|candidate = William Davison

|votes = 10,693

|percentage = 66.8

|change = −16.3

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link|

|party = National Party (UK, 1917)

|candidate = Ernest Makins

|votes = 5,306

|percentage = 33.2

|change = New

}}

{{Election box majority|

|votes = 5,387

|percentage = 33.6

|change = −32.6

}}

{{Election box turnout|

|votes = 15,999

|percentage = 51.8

|change = −15.1

}}

{{Election box registered electors|

|reg. electors = 30,888

}}

{{Election box hold with party link|

|winner = Unionist Party (UK)

|swing = −16.3

}}

{{Election box end 1918}}

{{Election box begin | title=General election 1922: Kensington South}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link|

|party = Unionist Party (UK)

|candidate = William Davison

|votes = 15,760

|percentage = 76.0

|change = +9.2

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link|

|party = Independent (politician)

|candidate = * Ferdinand Cavendish-Bentinck

|votes = 4,964

|percentage = 24.0

|change = New

}}

{{Election box majority|

|votes = 10,796

|percentage = 52.0

|change = +18.4

}}

{{Election box turnout|

|votes = 20,724

|percentage = 58.1

|change = +6.3

}}

{{Election box registered electors|

|reg. electors = 35,684

}}

{{Election box hold with party link|

|winner = Unionist Party (UK)

|swing = +9.2

}}

{{Election box end}}

*Cavendish-Bentinck was incorrectly labelled by the media as a National Liberal but corrected this label as 'anti-Conservative'.

{{Election box begin | title=General election 1923: Kensington South }}

{{Election box winning candidate unopposed with party link|

|party = Unionist Party (UK)

|candidate = William Davison

}}

{{Election box hold with party link no swing|

|winner = Unionist Party (UK)

}}

{{Election box end}}

{{Election box begin | title=General election 1924: Kensington South }}

{{Election box winning candidate unopposed with party link|

|party = Unionist Party (UK)

|candidate = William Davison

}}

{{Election box hold with party link no swing|

|winner = Unionist Party (UK)

}}

{{Election box end}}

{{Election box begin | title=General election 1929: Kensington South}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link|

|party = Unionist Party (UK)

|candidate = William Davison

|votes = 28,049

|percentage = 66.9

|change =N/A

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link|

|party = Liberal Party (UK)

|candidate = Hugh Seely

|votes = 7,570

|percentage = 18.0

|change =New

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link|

|party = Independent Unionist

|candidate = Rayner Goddard

|votes = 6,354

|percentage = 15.1

|change =New

}}

{{Election box majority|

|votes = 20,479

|percentage = 48.9

|change =N/A

}}

{{Election box turnout|

|votes = 41,973

|percentage = 59.5

|change =N/A

}}

{{Election box registered electors|

|reg. electors = 70,593

}}

{{Election box hold with party link|

|winner = Unionist Party (UK)

|swing =N/A

}}

{{Election box end}}

{{Election box begin | title=General election 1931: Kensington South }}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link|

|party = Conservative Party (UK)

|candidate = William Davison

|votes = Unopposed

|percentage = N/A

|change = N/A

}}{{Election box hold with party link|

|winner = Conservative Party (UK)

|swing = N/A

}}

{{Election box end}}

{{Election box begin | title=General election 1935: Kensington South }}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link|

|party = Conservative Party (UK)

|candidate = William Davison

|votes = 38,297

|percentage = 88.9

|change = N/A

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link|

|party = Labour Party (UK)

|candidate = Charles Henry Hartwell

|votes = 4,779

|percentage = 11.1

|change = New

}}

{{Election box majority|

|votes = 33,518

|percentage = 77.8

|change = N/A

}}

{{Election box turnout|

|votes = 69,520

|percentage = 62.0

|change = N/A

}}

{{Election box hold with party link|

|winner = Conservative Party (UK)

|swing = N/A

}}

{{Election box end}}

{{Election box begin | title=General election 1945: Kensington South}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link|

|party = Conservative Party (UK)

|candidate = William Davison

|votes = 22,166

|percentage = 69.8

|change = -19.1

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link|

|party = Labour Party (UK)

|candidate = Patricia Strauss

|votes = 6,014

|percentage = 18.9

|change = +8.8

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link|

|party = Liberal Party (UK)

|candidate = Francis N Beaufort-Palmer

|votes = 3,586

|percentage = 11.3

|change = New

}}

{{Election box majority|

|votes = 16,152

|percentage = 50.9

|change = -26.9

}}

{{Election box turnout|

|votes = 46,727

|percentage = 67.9

|change = +5.9

}}

{{Election box hold with party link|

|winner = Conservative Party (UK)

|swing =

}}

{{Election box end}}

{{Election box begin | title=By-election, 20 November 1945

}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link|

|party = Conservative Party (UK)

|candidate = Richard Law

|votes = 15,846

|percentage = 81.7

|change = +11.9

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link|

|party = Liberal Party (UK)

|candidate = Lancelot Spicer

|votes = 3,559

|percentage = 18.3

|change = +7.0

}}

{{Election box majority|

|votes = 12,287

|percentage = 68.4

|change = +17.5

}}

{{Election box turnout|

|votes = 52,750

|percentage = 36.8

|change = -29.1

}}

{{Election box hold with party link|

|winner = Conservative Party (UK)

|swing =

}}

{{Election box end}}

{{Election box begin | title=General election 1950: Kensington South}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link|

|party = Conservative Party (UK)

|candidate = Patrick Spens

|votes = 32,870

|percentage = 73.1

|change = +3.3

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link|

|party = Labour Party (UK)

|candidate = Marcel Philip Picard

|votes = 8,002

|percentage = 17.8

|change = -1.1

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link|

|party = Liberal Party (UK)

|candidate = John Frankenburg

|votes = 4,079

|percentage = 9.1

|change = -2.2

}}

{{Election box majority|

|votes = 24,868

|percentage = 55.3

|change = +4.4

}}

{{Election box turnout|

|votes = 63,319

|percentage = 71.0

|change = +3.1

}}

{{Election box hold with party link|

|winner = Conservative Party (UK)

|swing =

}}

{{Election box end}}

{{Election box begin | title=General election 1951: Kensington South }}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link|

|party = Conservative Party (UK)

|candidate = Patrick Spens

|votes = 34,592

|percentage = 79.5

|change = +6.4

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link|

|party = Labour Party (UK)

|candidate = Michael Clynes Parker

|votes = 8,894

|percentage = 20.5

|change = +2.7

}}

{{Election box majority|

|votes = 25,698

|percentage = 59.0

|change = +5.7

}}

{{Election box turnout|

|votes = 63,419

|percentage = 68.6

|change = -2.4

}}

{{Election box hold with party link|

|winner = Conservative Party (UK)

|swing =

}}

{{Election box end}}

{{Election box begin | title=General election 1955: Kensington South }}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link|

|party = Conservative Party (UK)

|candidate = Patrick Spens

|votes = 32,051

|percentage = 82.5

|change = +3.0

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link|

|party = Labour Party (UK)

|candidate = Marjorie Macrae Crane

|votes = 6,804

|percentage = 17.5

|change = -3.0

}}

{{Election box majority|

|votes = 25,247

|percentage = 65.0

|change = +6.0

}}

{{Election box turnout|

|votes = 62,724

|percentage = 62.0

|change = -6.6

}}

{{Election box hold with party link|

|winner = Conservative Party (UK)

|swing =

}}

{{Election box end}}

{{Election box begin | title=General election 1959: Kensington South }}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link|

|party = Conservative Party (UK)

|candidate = William Roots

|votes = 26,606

|percentage = 74.3

|change = -8.2

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link|

|party = Liberal Party (UK)

|candidate = Gurth Hoyer-Millar

|votes = 4,666

|percentage = 13.0

|change = New

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link|

|party = Labour Party (UK)

|candidate = Ivor Richard

|votes = 4,525

|percentage = 12.6

|change = -4.9

}}

{{Election box majority|

|votes = 21,940

|percentage = 61.3

|change = -3.7

}}

{{Election box turnout|

|votes = 58,023

|percentage = 61.7

|change = -0.3

}}

{{Election box hold with party link|

|winner = Conservative Party (UK)

|swing =

}}

{{Election box end}}

{{Election box begin | title=General election 1964: Kensington South }}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link|

|party = Conservative Party (UK)

|candidate = William Roots

|votes = 21,668

|percentage = 68.0

|change = -3.3

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link|

|party = Labour Party (UK)

|candidate = Barrington J Stead

|votes = 5,300

|percentage = 16.6

|change = +4.0

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link|

|party = Liberal Party (UK)

|candidate = Anthony A W Dix

|votes = 4,916

|percentage = 15.4

|change = +2.4

}}

{{Election box majority|

|votes = 16,368

|percentage = 51.3

|change = -10.0

}}

{{Election box turnout|

|votes = 56,157

|percentage = 56.8

|change = -3.9

}}

{{Election box hold with party link|

|winner = Conservative Party (UK)

|swing =

}}

{{Election box end}}

{{Election box begin | title=General election 1966: Kensington South}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link|

|party = Conservative Party (UK)

|candidate = William Roots

|votes = 21,050

|percentage = 65.1

|change = -2.9

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link|

|party = Labour Party (UK)

|candidate = Jonathan V Rosenhead

|votes = 6,419

|percentage = 19.8

|change = +3.2

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link|

|party = Liberal Party (UK)

|candidate = Thomas Kellock

|votes = 4,871

|percentage = 15.1

|change = -0.3

}}

{{Election box majority|

|votes = 14,631

|percentage = 45.3

|change = -6.0

}}

{{Election box turnout|

|votes = 55,660

|percentage = 58.1

|change = +1.3

}}

{{Election box hold with party link|

|winner = Conservative Party (UK)

|swing =

}}

{{Election box end}}

{{Election box begin | title=By-election of 14 March 1968{{Cite web|url=http://www.by-elections.co.uk/68.html|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20090821022708/http://www.by-elections.co.uk/68.html|archive-date = 2009-08-21|title = By Elections - News website specialising in political pieces}}}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link|

|party = Conservative Party (UK)

|candidate = Brandon Rhys-Williams

|votes = 16,489

|percentage = 75.5

|change = +10.4

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link|

|party = Liberal Party (UK)

|candidate = Thomas Kellock

|votes = 2,742

|percentage = 12.6

|change = -2.5

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link|

|party = Labour Party (UK)

|candidate = Clive Bradley (executive)|Clive Bradley

|votes = 1,874

|percentage = 8.6

|change = -11.2

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link|

|party = Independent (politician)

|candidate = Sinclair Eustace

|votes = 675

|percentage = 3.1

|change = New

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link|

|party = Independent (politician)

|candidate = William Gold

|votes = 59

|percentage = 0.3

|change = New

}}

{{Election box majority|

|votes = 13,747

|percentage = 62.9

|change = +17.6

}}

{{Election box turnout|

|votes = 21,839

|percentage = 40.0

|change = -18.1

}}

{{Election box hold with party link|

|winner = Conservative Party (UK)

|swing =

}}

{{Election box end}}

{{Election box begin | title=General election 1970: Kensington South}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link|

|party = Conservative Party (UK)

|candidate = Brandon Rhys-Williams

|votes = 21,591

|percentage = 75.7

|change = +10.6

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link|

|party = Labour Party (UK)

|candidate = Faith M Bridges

|votes = 6,928

|percentage = 24.3

|change = +4.5

}}

{{Election box majority|

|votes = 14,663

|percentage = 51.4

|change = +6.1

}}

{{Election box turnout|

|votes = 57,182

|percentage = 49.9

|change = -8.2

}}

{{Election box hold with party link|

|winner = Conservative Party (UK)

|swing =

}}

{{Election box end}}

{{Reflist}}

• {{Rayment-hc|k|1|date=March 2012}}
• British Parliamentary Election Results 1885-1918, compiled and edited by F.W.S. Craig (Macmillan Press 1974)
• [https://archive.org/stream/debrettshouseo1886londuoft Debrett’s Illustrated Heraldic and Biographical House of Commons and the Judicial Bench 1886]
• [https://archive.org/stream/debrettshouseo1901londuoft Debrett’s House of Commons and the Judicial Bench 1901]
• [https://archive.org/stream/debrettshouseo1918londuoft Debrett’s House of Commons and the Judicial Bench 1918]

{{Historic constituencies in London

| 1832 = n

| 1868 = n

| 1885 = y

| 1918 = y

| 1950 = y

| 1955 = y

| 1974 = n

| 1983 = n

| 1997 = n

}}

Category:Parliamentary constituencies in London (historic)

Category:Constituencies of the Parliament of the United Kingdom established in 1885

Category:Constituencies of the Parliament of the United Kingdom disestablished in 1974