Littlehampton Liberal History

Hello,

I am trying to build up a chronology of Liberal history in Littlehampton. They say that history is very subjective, I couldn't agree more, the winners write history. Peaks in Liberalism in Littlehampton can be put into four main time periods;-

1) The pre-war period of municipal growth

2) The Thorpe urban community politics of the 1970's

3) The SDP Liberal Alliance mould-breaking years 1982-7

4) The anti-Conservative resurgence of the early and mid 1990's

Please send me any information you think may be more accurate than is written here. Hopefully this page will develop over time, and will, hopefully display the full talent of Liberals that have graced Littlehampton in their time.

Mark Foster

1853

Littlehampton gains a 'local health board' and officially becomes a town

1894

The (Liberal) government creates 'Littlehampton Urban District Council' to replace the local health board.

1906

The Liberal party celebrates a landslide victory in the general election.

1923

In the 'free trade' general election of 1923, Liberal candidate Charles Mark Clement Rudkin becomes the MP for Chichester (which included Littlehampton). Unfortunately, there is another general election in 1924, and he loses the seat.

1971

Following the death of the popular constituency MP for Arundel and Shoreham, Henry Kirby (constituency containing Littlehampton) P.Bartram fought the Liberal corner in the ensuing by-election, coming a poor third.

1972

"Liberal on the council by one vote" is the headline of the Littlehampton Gazette reporting the historic win for the election of Graham Westcott onto the Urban District Council, beating Conservative Herbert Meakins in River ward

1973

Arun District Council is created to shadow the current authorities;- Littlehampton UDC, Bognor Regis UDC, Borough of Arundel as well as Chichester RDC and Worthing RDC.

In the first elections, no Liberals represent Littlehampton wards.

1974

Littlehampton Urban District Council ceases to exist and most of it's powers are tranferred to Arun District Council.

There are two general elections in 1974 for the newly created Arundel Constituency with John Kingsbury fighting the Liberal corner in both elections;- February and October.

Littlehampton Town Council is created to provide civic pride for the town of Littlehampton.

1976

Dr. James Walsh is elected councillor for Beach ward on both Town and District councils, beating Conservative town councillor Albert Moss.

1979

Combined Local and General election.

John Kingsbury stands for parliament for the Arundel constituency.

James Walsh is returned in Beach ward for both Arun District and Littlehampton Town Councils.

1981

The SDP is created in London by a group of Labour MP's, who are disaffected by Labour's lurch to the left following Thatcher's victory in the 1979 General election.

Local SDP Area Parties are formed, including Arun Area SDP.

1983

General Election.

The first national test for the SDP/Liberal Alliance. Dr. James Walsh stands for the Arundel constituency, the first time that John Kingsbury hasn't been the Liberal candidate since the seat was created in 1974.

1987

Local Elections - A great election for the Alliance, although SDP River ward by-election victor Tony Scott is defeated. The Alliance end up with four councillors including Dr. Walsh (Beach) and Margaret Saville (Wick).

The Tories, however keep a firm grip on both Arun and the Town council.

1988

Arun Area SDP merges with Arundel Constituency Liberal Association to form Arundel Local Party of the Social and Liberal Democrats. (After protracted debate, the new party is named the Liberal Democrats)

1989

Dr. James Walsh becomes the mayor of Littlehampton

1991

Local Elections - While Labour make a breakthrough in Littlehampton, Liberal Democrat fortunes hit their nadir, with just Dr. James Walsh being returned in Littlehampton. Conservative - 5 Labour - 5 Independent - 1 Liberal Democrat - 1 Others - 3

1992

Littlehampton's only Lib Dem councillor, Dr James Walsh stands for parliament for the Arundel constituency

1993

Dave Sax and others form the Littlehampton branch of the Liberal Democrats, the first Focus goes out in October, with huge feedback response.

1995

Local elections - The Tories are wiped out in Littlehampton, left with only one district councillor in Beach ward. The main winners are however Labour, taking control of the town council, but two Liberal Democrat councillors join Dr.Walsh on Littlehampton Town Council - Dave Sax (Central) and Wendy Sibley (Beach)

1997

Barbara Roberts

General election - Littlehampton Lib-Dem councillor Dr. James Walsh stands for parliament for the new Bognor Regis and Littlehampton seat.

County council elections - The Tories keep the Littlehampton Town division but Liberal Democrat Barbara Roberts beats Labour into third place

1999

Local elections - A night of near-misses for us, we're one vote short of winning another town council seat in Beach ward. Lose out on another town council seat by the 'draw-of-a-hat' in Central ward and miss out on a district council seat by two votes in Beach ward. We end up with three Lib-Dem councillors, Dr. Walsh (Beach), Mark Foster (Central) and Richard James (Beach).

Overall, the only seat to change hands in Littlehampton is one district council seat in Central ward from Labour to Tory.

2003

Dave Leggatt

Local Elections.

Very good set of elections, we end up with 5 town councillors, Dave Leggatt (Wick) David Jones (Wick) James Walsh (Beach) Nick Wiltshire (Beach) and Richard James (Beach).

Labour are reduced to 8 town councillors (an overall majority of 1)

2007

Election 2007

Town council - We hold our own, losing two sitting councillors in Wick with Toddington (David Jones and Dave Leggatt) losing the third seat in Beach to the Tories, left vacant by the retirement of Richard James, meanwhile picking up Ian Buckland (River), Dave Botting (Wick with Toddington), and Irene Richards (Brookfield). Entered the elections with FIVE, left with FIVE.

District Council - An historic day for Liberalism in Littlehampton, we double our representation to FOUR on Arun District Council on the 35th anniversary of the first Liberal councillor in Littlehampton.

Ian Buckland

Ian Buckland takes River ward from the deputy Mayor, Dave Botting gains Wick with Toddington and Nick Wiltshire retains the second Beach ward seat left vacant by the retirement of Liberal Democrat Richard James.

Dr. James Walsh becomes the mayor of Littlehampton