Belsize
Belsize
ward for Camden Council
County Greater London
Electorate 8,999
Current ward
Created 1965(1965)
Councillor Tom Simon (Liberal Democrats ) Councillor Judy Dixey (Liberal Democrats ) Councillor Matthew Kirk (Liberal Democrats ) Number of councillors Three
UK Parliament constituency Hampstead and Highgate Belsize (/ˈbɛlsaɪz/) is a ward in the London Borough of Camden , in the United Kingdom. The ward covers most of Belsize Park , between Haverstock Hill , Swiss Cottage , and Primrose Hill .
The ward has existed since the creation of the borough on 1 April 1965 and was first used in the 1964 elections . The ward was redrawn in May 1978, May 2002, and May 2022. The ward is in the Hampstead and Highgate constituency. From 2010 to 2024 it was in Hampstead and Kilburn , having previously been in Hampstead and Highgate from 1983 until 2010, and Hampstead prior to 1983. In 2018, the ward had an electorate of 8,999. The Boundary Commission projects the electorate to rise to 9,097 by 2025.
The ward currently returns three councillors to Camden Council, with an election every four years. At the last election in May 2022 , all three candidates from the Liberal Democrats were elected to represent the ward.
History Boundaries of Belsize from 2002 to 2022 The ward underwent boundary changes for the 2022 election . A significant portion of the ward was transferred to the newly created Primrose Hill ward, and significant portions of the existing Hampstead Town and Frognal and Fitzjohns wards were transferred to Belsize.
At the 2022 election, leader of the Conservative group on Camden London Borough Council Oliver Cooper stood as a candidate in Belsize, having previously represented Hampstead Town. Hampstead Town had been a safe Conservative ward, while Belsize had been marginal between the Conservatives and the Liberal Democrats . Leader of the Liberal Democrat group Luisa Porritt , who represented Belsize, stood down at the 2022 election, citing work commitments, while the Camden New Journal
Councillors Notable former councillors include Opposition Leaders Claire-Louise Leyland (2010–18), Piers Wauchope (2002–06), Judith Barnes (1986–98), and Tony Kerpel (1978–86); MEP Luisa Porritt (2018–22); future Council Leader Richard Arthur (1974–78); and former Leader Martin Morton (1976–78).
1978–2022 Three councillors have represented Belsize ward since 1978. Currently, all three councillors from the Liberal Democrats represent the ward.
Term Councillor Party 2018–present Tom Simon Liberal Democrats 2022–present Judy Dixey Liberal Democrats 2022–present Matthew Kirk Liberal Democrats
1964–1978 Four councillors represented Belsize ward, from its creation in 1964, until 1978.
Election results The last election was held in May 2022. Candidates seeking re-election are marked with an asterisk (*). Councillors seeking re-election for a different ward are marked with a cross (†).
2002–2018 2022 election 2022 council election: Belsize Party Candidate Votes % ±% Liberal Democrats Tom Simon* 1,494 Liberal Democrats Judy Dixey 1,445 Liberal Democrats Matthew Kirk 1,317 Conservative Oliver Cooper †1,124 Conservative Steve Adams* 1,106 Conservative Aarti Joshi 953 Labour Issy Waite 705 Labour Shaheen Ahmed Chowdhury 692 Labour Peter Ptashko 644 Turnout 38.4 Liberal Democrats win (new seat)Liberal Democrats win (new seat)Liberal Democrats win (new seat)
2018 election 2018 council election: Belsize Party Candidate Votes % ±% Liberal Democrats Tom Simon 1,250 11.6 0.9 Conservative Steve Adams 1,201 11.2 2.0 Liberal Democrats Luisa Porritt 1,179 11.0 2.8 Conservative Leila Roy* 1,170 10.9 1.6 Conservative Kirsty Roberts 1,162 10.8 0.2 Liberal Democrats Benjamin Samuel Newman 1,127 10.5 3.2 Labour James Jordan Calmus 1,067 10.0 0.2 Labour Sucharita Sethi 996 9.3 0.8 Labour Momota Khatoon 971 9.1 1.4 Green Sara Katchi 238 2.2 0.8 Green Phyl Eyres 223 2.1 0.8 Independent Nigel Rumble 123 1.1 1.1 Majority 9 0.08 Turnout 10,707 42.5 4.2 Liberal Democrats gain from Conservative Swing Conservative hold Swing Liberal Democrats gain from Conservative Swing
2014 election 2014 council election: Belsize Party Candidate Votes % ±% Conservative Jonny Bucknell* 1,219 13.2 Conservative Claire-Louise Leyland *1,157 12.5 Conservative Leila Roy 1,016 11.0 Liberal Democrats Tom Simon* 992 10.7 Labour Madeleine Jennings 939 10.2 Labour James McGowan 782 8.5 Liberal Democrats Bradley Hillier-Smith 760 8.2 Labour Harunur Rashid 709 7.7 Liberal Democrats Lawrence Joseph Nicholson 678 7.3 Green Rowan St Clair 275 3.0 Green Darren Robert Murphy 269 2.9 Green Stuart Temple Taylor 243 2.6 Independent Nigel Rumble 199 2.2 Majority 24 0.3 Turnout 9,238 38.3 Conservative hold Swing Conservative hold Swing Conservative gain from Liberal Democrats Swing
2010 election 2010 council election: Belsize Party Candidate Votes % ±% Conservative Jonny Bucknell 1,969 36.1 −1.0 Conservative Claire-Louise Leyland 1,969 36.1 −0.1 Liberal Democrats Tom Simon* 1,949 35.7 −5.1 Conservative Nigel Rumble 1,897 34.8 −0.9 Liberal Democrats Anne Ward 1,746 32.0 −8.5 Liberal Democrats Paul Perkins 1,727 31.7 −6.4 Labour Samantha Gunasekera 1,094 20.1 +6.2 Labour Sada Deshmukh 1,051 19.3 +5.1 Labour Luca Salice 1,027 18.8 +6.5 Green Anya Courts 410 7.5 −0.3 Green Sophie North 372 6.8 −1.6 Green Francesca Richards-Spiller 325 6.0 −0.2 BNP Derek Collins 90 1.7 N/A Turnout 5,454 62.3 +24.0 Conservative gain from Liberal Democrats Swing Conservative gain from Liberal Democrats Swing Liberal Democrats hold Swing
2009 by-election Belsize by-election, 2 April 2009 Party Candidate Votes % ±% Liberal Democrats Tom Simon 1,136 46.0 +5.4 Conservative Gary Bernadout 952 38.6 +1.7 Labour Sean Birch 270 10.9 −3.2 Green Naomi Aptowitzer 109 4.4 −3.9 Majority 184 7.5 Turnout 2,467 29.8 Liberal Democrats hold Swing
The by-election was called following the resignation of Cllr Christopher J. Basson.
2006 election 2006 council election: Belsize Party Candidate Votes % ±% Liberal Democrats Alexis Rowell 1,358 40.8 +22.7 Liberal Democrats Christopher Basson 1,349 40.5 +24.0 Liberal Democrats Arthur Graves 1,268 38.1 +21.8 Conservative Jonathan Bucknell* 1,233 37.1 −3.0 Conservative Piers Wauchope *1,205 36.2 −2.5 Conservative Sheila Gunn* 1,187 35.7 −3.4 Labour Sadashivrao Deshmukh 471 14.2 −13.4 Labour Matthew McGregor 462 13.9 −15.8 Labour Jenny Westaway 410 12.3 −14.3 Green Jane Ennis 278 8.4 −2.2 Green Anya Courts 260 7.8 −1.3 Green Adam Spanier 207 6.2 −2.2 Turnout 9,688 38.3 Liberal Democrats gain from Conservative Swing Liberal Democrats gain from Conservative Swing Liberal Democrats gain from Conservative Swing
2002 election 2002 council election: Belsize Party Candidate Votes % ±% Conservative Jonny Bucknell 1,041 40.1 Conservative Sheila Gunn 1,016 39.1 Conservative Piers Wauchope 1,005 38.7 Labour Aileen Hammond* 770 29.7 Labour Sadashivrao Deshmukh 716 27.6 Labour Patricia Nightingale 691 26.6 Liberal Democrats Pauline Marriott 469 18.1 Liberal Democrats Ardon Lyon 429 16.5 Liberal Democrats Dudley Miles 423 16.3 Green Phyllis Eyres 274 10.6 Green Jack Price 236 9.1 Green Maeve Tornero 219 8.4 Turnout 7,289
1978–2002 The last election on 7 May 1998 was held under the original ward boundaries.
1998 election 1998 council election: Belsize Party Candidate Votes % ±% Conservative Ewan Cameron 760 Conservative Huntly Spence 731 Labour Aileen Hammond 711 Conservative Jonathan Bucknell 705 Labour David Taggart 650 Labour Jake Sumner 624 Liberal Democrats Pauline Marriott 587 Liberal Democrats Dudley Miles 522 Liberal Democrats Ronald Watts 455 Green Phyllis Eyres 290 Turnout 6,035 35.2 Conservative hold Swing Conservative hold Swing Labour hold Swing
1994 election 1994 council election: Belsize Party Candidate Votes % ±% Conservative Judith Barnes* 920 Labour Judith Pattison 884 Conservative Joy Silver 859 Conservative Huntly Spence* 840 Labour Peter Singer 804 Labour John Saynor 797 Liberal Democrats Pauline Marriott 544 Liberal Democrats Diana Brown 511 Liberal Democrats James Iddon-Bowen 481 Green Kamal Al-Moosa 262 Turnout 43.8% Conservative hold Swing Labour gain from Conservative Swing Conservative hold Swing
1990 election 1990 council election: Belsize Party Candidate Votes % ±% Conservative Judith Barnes* 1,159 Conservative Cathleen Mainds 1,124 Conservative Huntly Spence* 1,109 Labour Judith Pattison 971 Labour Michael Rice 952 Labour Deborah Sacks 928 Green Conchita Vasey 393 Liberal Democrats Anne Box 329 Liberal Democrats Pauline Marriott 324 Liberal Democrats Ardon Lyon 310 Turnout Conservative hold Swing Conservative hold Swing Conservative hold Swing
1986 election 1986 council election: Belsize Party Candidate Votes % ±% Conservative Colin Glover 1,055 Conservative Huntly Spence* 1,039 Conservative Judith Barnes 1,005 Labour Margaret McPhee 888 Labour Malcolm Bull 875 Labour Ramendra Bhattacharyya 841 Alliance David Davies 818 Alliance Pauline Marriott 788 Alliance Dudley Miles 756 Green Philippa Draper 236 Turnout Conservative hold Swing Conservative hold Swing Conservative hold Swing
1982 election 1982 council election: Belsize Party Candidate Votes % ±% Conservative Tony Kerpel *1,411 Conservative Huntly Spence 1,381 Conservative Gerald Swyer 1,335 Alliance Margaret Little 761 Alliance Robert Heyland 751 Alliance Clive Agran 730 Labour Alan Griffiths 703 Labour Anthea Muir 678 Labour Roy Mathias 670 Ecology Lesley Sargent 102 Ecology Steven Margolis 85 Turnout Conservative hold Swing Conservative hold Swing Conservative hold Swing
1980 by-election Belsize by-election, 17 April 1980 Party Candidate Votes % ±% Conservative Cathleen Mainds 1,235 Labour Allen Mathias 785 Liberal Andrew Bridgwater 288 Turnout Conservative hold Swing
The by-election was called following the resignation of Cllr Anthony Beaton.
1978 election 1978 council election: Belsize Party Candidate Votes % ±% Conservative Anthony Beaton 1,712 Conservative Tony Kerpel 1,667 Conservative Michael Brahams 1,641 Labour Roy Mathias 981 Labour Arthur Soutter 979 Labour Verghese Varkki 924 Liberal Anne Box 306 Liberal Hilary Hawkins 275 Turnout Conservative win (new seat)Conservative win (new seat)Conservative win (new seat)
Pre 1978 Before 1978, under different boundaries, the ward was represented by four councillors.
1976 by-election Belsize by-election, 25 March 1976 Party Candidate Votes % ±% Conservative Martin Morton 2,196 Labour David F. Walker 1,455 Liberal Mary E. De La Mahotiere 251 Turnout 37.5 Conservative gain from Labour Swing
The by-election was called following the resignation of Cllr Richard Arthur .
1974 election 1974 council election: Belsize Party Candidate Votes % ±% Labour Richard Arthur 2,010 43.1 Labour David Mills 1,951 Labour Richard Ford 1,915 Labour Bernard Taylor* 1,898 Conservative Julian Harrison 1,847 39.6 Conservative Arthur Roome 1,815 Conservative Timothy Coghlan 1,801 Conservative Peter Grosz 1,773 Liberal Margaret Darvall 539 11.6 Liberal Richard Franklin 465 Communist Hubert Bevan 264 5.7 Turnout Labour hold Swing Labour hold Swing Labour hold Swing Labour hold Swing
1971 election 1971 council election: Belsize Party Candidate Votes % ±% Labour Jill Gibson 2,225 Labour John Lipetz 2,132 Labour Bernard Taylor 2,130 Labour Irving Kuczynski 2,128 Conservative Norman Oatway* 1,955 Conservative Irene Burnett* 1,943 Conservative Julian Harrison* 1,923 Conservative Peter Hilton 1,885 Liberal Margaret Darvall 352 Liberal Mary De La Mahotiere 313 Communist Hubert Bevan 292 Liberal John Swain 282 Association of Independents John Davies 92 Association of Independents Anthony Cunnew 74 Association of Independents Mary Davies 60 Turnout Labour gain from Conservative Swing Labour gain from Conservative Swing Labour gain from Conservative Swing Labour gain from Conservative Swing
1968 election 1968 council election: Belsize Party Candidate Votes % ±% Conservative Kenneth Evans 2,355 56.9 Conservative Irene Burnett 2,346 Conservative Norman Oatway* 2,345 Conservative Julian Harrison 2,328 Labour Edwin Lichtenstein 1,330 31.8 Labour Joseph Hughes 1,322 Labour William Kellock 1,308 Labour Arthur Soutter 1,279 Liberal Tristram Adams 488 11.3 Liberal Margaret Darvall 472 Liberal Angela Whitelegge 448 Liberal Gerald Dowden 445 Turnout 37.6 Conservative hold Swing Conservative hold Swing Conservative hold Swing Conservative hold Swing
1964 election 1964 council election: Belsize Party Candidate Votes % ±% Conservative Norman Oatway 2,045 Conservative Stanley Duncan 2,028 Conservative Alexandrina Burnett 2,015 Conservative Leslie Room 2,009 Labour Lyndal Evans 1,651 Labour Sheila Oakes 1,649 Labour Bernard Taylor 1,616 Labour Arthur Soutter 1,585 Liberal Margaret Darvall 585 Liberal Percy Brian Anderson 575 Liberal G. H. Willett 571 Liberal Doris Watson 564 Communist Timothy Webb 146 Turnout 4,311 39.6 Conservative win (new seat)Conservative win (new seat)Conservative win (new seat)Conservative win (new seat)
