Belsize () is a

ward Ward may refer to: Division or unit * Hospital ward, a hospital division, floor, or room set aside for a particular class or group of patients, for example the psychiatric ward * Prison ward, a division of a penal institution such as a pris ...

in the

London Borough of Camden The London Borough of Camden () is a London boroughs, borough in Inner London, England. Camden Town Hall, on Euston Road, lies north of Charing Cross. The borough was established on 1 April 1965 from the former Metropolitan boroughs of the Cou ...

, in the United Kingdom. The ward covers most of

Belsize Park Belsize Park is a residential area of Hampstead in the London Borough of Camden, in the Inner London, inner North West London, north-west of London, England. The residential streets are lined with Georgian and Victorian villas and mews houses. ...

, between

Haverstock Hill Haverstock is an area of the London Borough of Camden: specifically the east of Belsize Park, north of Chalk Farm and west of Kentish Town. It is centred on Queens Crescent and Malden Road. Gospel Oak is to the north, Camden Town to the south. ...

Swiss Cottage Swiss Cottage is an area in the London Borough of Camden, England. It is centred on the junction of Avenue Road and Finchley Road and includes Swiss Cottage tube station. Swiss Cottage lies north-northwest of Charing Cross. The area was ...

, and

Primrose Hill Primrose Hill is a Grade II listed public park located north of Regent's Park in London, England, first opened to the public in 1842.Mills, A., ''Dictionary of London Place Names'', (2001) It was named after the natural hill in the centre of t ...

. 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. From

2010 The year saw a multitude of natural and environmental disasters such as the 2010 Haiti earthquake, the Deepwater Horizon oil spill, and the 2010 Chile earthquake. The 2009 swine flu pandemic, swine flu pandemic which began the previous year ...

, the ward was in the Hampstead and Kilburn constituency, having previously been in Hampstead and Highgate from

1983 1983 saw both the official beginning of the Internet and the first mobile cellular telephone call. Events January * January 1 – The migration of the ARPANET to TCP/IP is officially completed (this is considered to be the beginning of the ...

until 2010, and

Hampstead Hampstead () is an area in London, England, which lies northwest of Charing Cross, located mainly in the London Borough of Camden, with a small part in the London Borough of Barnet. It borders Highgate and Golders Green to the north, Belsiz ...

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

The ward underwent boundary changes for the 2022 election. A significant portion of the ward was transferred to the newly created

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 Conservatism is a cultural, social, and political philosophy and ideology that seeks to promote and preserve traditional institutions, customs, and values. The central tenets of conservatism may vary in relation to the culture and civiliza ...

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 A safe (also called a strongbox or coffer) is a secure lockable enclosure used for securing valuable objects against theft or fire. A safe is usually a hollow cuboid or cylinder, with one face being removable or hinged to form a door. The body ...

Conservative ward, while Belsize had been marginal between the Conservatives and the Liberal Democrats. Leader of the Liberal Democrat group

Luisa Porritt Luisa Manon Porritt (born 23 May 1987) is a British Liberal Democrat politician. She was elected as a Councillor for Belsize ward in Camden in 2018 and served as the leader of the Liberal Democrats on the council from 2020 to 2022. She also se ...

, who represented Belsize, stood down at the 2022 election, citing work commitments, while the ''

Camden New Journal The ''Camden New Journal'' is a British independent newspaper published in the London Borough of Camden. It was launched by editor Eric Gordon in 1982 following a two-year strike at its predecessor, the ''Camden Journal''. The newspaper was su ...

'' suggested that the new ward boundaries would favour the Conservatives.

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

(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.

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

2018 election

2014 election

2010 election

2009 by-election

The by-election was called following the resignation of Cllr Christopher J. Basson.

2006 election

2002 election

1978–2002

The last election on 7 May 1998 was held under the original ward boundaries.

1998 election

1994 election

1990 election

1986 election

1982 election

1980 by-election

The by-election was called following the resignation of Cllr Anthony Beaton.

1978 election

Pre 1978

Before 1978, under different boundaries, the ward was represented by four councillors.

1976 by-election

The by-election was called following the resignation of Cllr Richard Arthur.

1974 election

1971 election

1968 election

1964 election

References

{{Wards of Camden Wards of the London Borough of Camden 1965 establishments in England Belsize Park Constituencies established in 1965