Hampstead Town (ward)

Hampstead Town is a ward in the London Borough of Camden, in the United Kingdom. It covers most of Hampstead Village, the western half of Hampstead Heath, North End and the Vale of Health. The more residential Frognal ward covers much of the rest of Hampstead.

The ward has existed since the creation of the borough on 1 April 1965 and was first used in the 1964 elections. The boundaries were redrawn in May 1971, May 1978, May 2002 and May 2022. In the most recent set of changes, the southernmost area of the ward was transferred to Belsize and Gospel Oak wards, and the number of councillors was reduced from three to two. The ward's current boundaries have been in effect since the 2022 election, and the ward's three polling stations are at Burgh House, Fitzjohn's Primary School and Keats Community Library. In 2018, the ward had an electorate of 6,214. The Boundary Commission projects the electorate to rise to 6,328 in 2025.

The ward has historically been represented by either Conservative or Liberal Democrat councillors. The first Liberal Democrat councillors, Margaret Little and John Dickie, were elected in May 1994. Dickie, however, had taken the Labour whip by December 1995, to the surprise of the Liberal Democrat group leader, Flick Rea, who called for him to stand down. He continued as a councillor for the ward until the 1998 election, when he was elected as a Labour councillor in Grafton. In May 2022, Adrian Cohen became the ward's first elected Labour councillor. However, Cohen announced 21 days after the election that he would not be taking up his seat on the council, forcing a by-election to be held on 7 July 2022. Former Liberal Democrat councillor Linda Chung was elected in Cohen's place.

The ward's notable councillors have included two Conservative leaders of the opposition, Alan Greengross (1974–1978) and Oliver Cooper (2015–2022), Archie Macdonald, former Liberal MP for Roxburgh and Selkirk and Labour councillor Adrian Cohen, who founded the London Jewish Forum.

List of councillors
The ward was initially represented by three councillors. This increased to four between 1971 to 1978, before being reduced to two between 1978 and 2002. From 2002 to 2022, the ward was represented by three councillors. This reverted to two councillor representation from 2022, as a result of boundary changes.

Camden council elections since 2022
There was a revision of ward boundaries in Camden in 2022. Hampstead Town lost territory to the south to Belsize and Gospel Oak wards. Councillors representing Hampstead Town decreased from three to two.

2022 by-election
The by-election took place on 7 July 2022, following the resignation of Adrian Cohen.

2022 election
The election took place on 5 May 2022.

2002–2022 Camden council elections
There was a revision of ward boundaries in Camden in 2002. Councillors representing Hampstead Town increased from two to three.

2018 election
The election took place on 3 May 2018.

2015 by-election
The by-election took place on 7 May 2015, following the resignation of Simon Marcus.

2014 election
The election took place on 22 May 2014.

2012 by-election
The by-election took place on 27 September 2012, following the resignation of Kirsty Roberts.

2010 election
The election on 6 May 2010 took place on the same day as the United Kingdom general election.

2008 by-election
The by-election was held on 25 September 2008, following the resignation of Mike Greene.

2006 election
The election took place on 4 May 2006.

2002 election
The election took place on 2 May 2002.

1978–2002 Camden council elections
There was a revision of ward boundaries in Camden in 1978. Councillors representing Hampstead Town decreased from four to two.

1998 election
The election took place on 7 May 1998.

1994 election
The election took place on 5 May 1994.

1990 election
The election took place on 3 May 1990.

1989 by-election
The by-election took place on 26 January 1989, following the resignation of Selina Gee.

1986 election
The election took place on 8 May 1986.

1982 election
The election took place on 6 May 1982.

1978 election
The election took place on 4 May 1978.

1971–1978 Camden council elections
There was a revision of ward boundaries in Camden in 1971. Councillors representing Hampstead Town increased from three to four.

1976 by-election
The by-election took place on 15 July 1976, following the resignation of Archie Macdonald.

1974 election
The election took place on 2 May 1974.

1971 election
The election took place on 13 May 1971.

1968 election
The election took place on 9 May 1968.

1964 election
The election took place on 7 May 1964.