1971 Leeds City Council election
The Leeds municipal elections were held on 14 May 1971,[1] with one third of the councillors up for vote including a double vacancy in Talbot.[2]
Reflecting national patterns,[1] the results were a near mirror-image of the 1968 results, as Labour achieved their highest vote share since 1945, and their greatest number of votes since 1953. It was the Conservatives who sunk to a low-point this time around, setting post-war record lows in both vote percentages and actual votes. However, with the defeat being less severe and the entirety of the council not being elected this time, the Conservatives held on to control with the superior number of aldermen allotted to them the previous year.[2] Overall turnout across the city was 37.8%.[3]
Starting from such a shrunken base following their overwhelming defeat in 1968, Labour gained over half of seats up for election, as well as holding the seats in the four wards they won previously (City, East Hunslet, Holbeck and Middleton). Labour gained seventeen in total, with all but Castleton from the Conservatives: Armley, Beeston, Bramley, Burley, Burmantofts, Castleton, Gipton, Harehills, Kirkstall, Osmondthorpe, Richmond Hill, Scott Hall, Seacroft, Stanningley, Whinmoor, Woodhouse and Wortley. Castleton was gained from the Liberals, who repeated their success in West Hunslet for the third year running and gained from the Conservatives, leaving their total unchanged.[2]
Election result
Party | Seats | Gains | Losses | Net gain/loss | Seats % | Votes % | Votes | +/− | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Labour | 21 | 17 | 0 | +17 | 67.7 | 56.9 | 76,350 | +14.8% | |
Conservative | 9 | 0 | 17 | -17 | 29.0 | 36.4 | 48,893 | -10.6% | |
Liberal | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 3.2 | 6.0 | 8,016 | -3.8% | |
Communist | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.7 | 965 | -0.2% |
The result had the following consequences for the total number of seats on the Council after the elections:
Party | Previous council | New council | |||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Cllr | Ald | Cllr | Ald | ||
style="background-color: Template:Conservative Party (UK)/meta/color; width: 3px;" | | Conservatives | 62 | 16 | 45 | 16 |
style="background-color: Template:Labour Party (UK)/meta/color; width: 3px;" | | Labour | 23 | 14 | 40 | 14 |
style="background-color: Template:Liberal Party (UK)/meta/color; width: 3px;" | | Liberals | 5 | 0 | 5 | 0 |
Total | 90 | 30 | 90 | 30 | |
120 | 120 | ||||
Working majority | 34 | 2 | 0 | 2 | |
36 | 2 |
Ward results
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Labour | C. Buttery | 3,147 | 56.2 | +23.6 | |
Conservative | B. Stockwell | 1,734 | 31.0 | −5.4 | |
Liberal | G. Ashton | 678 | 12.1 | −14.8 | |
Communist | P. Wilton | 43 | 0.8 | −0.1 | |
Majority | 1,413 | 25.2 | +21.4 | ||
Turnout | 5,602 | ||||
Labour gain from Conservative | Swing | +14.5 |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Labour | Harry Booth | 3,151 | 56.7 | +17.5 | |
Conservative | J. Farrell | 2,161 | 38.9 | −11.9 | |
Liberal | E. Webster | 249 | 4.5 | −5.5 | |
Majority | 990 | 17.8 | +6.2 | ||
Turnout | 5,561 | ||||
Labour gain from Conservative | Swing | +14.7 |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Labour | Denise Atkinson | 4,013 | 67.1 | +16.9 | |
Conservative | J. Hart | 1,972 | 32.9 | −10.0 | |
Majority | 2,041 | 34.1 | +26.9 | ||
Turnout | 5,985 | ||||
Labour gain from Conservative | Swing | +13.4 |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Labour | J. Sully | 2,700 | 61.4 | +13.3 | |
Conservative | A. Rimmer | 1,615 | 36.8 | −12.9 | |
Communist | T. Flynn | 79 | 1.8 | −0.4 | |
Majority | 1,085 | 24.7 | +23.2 | ||
Turnout | 4,394 | ||||
Labour gain from Conservative | Swing | +13.1 |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Labour | R. Millett | 3,579 | 73.9 | +18.0 | |
Conservative | H. Flockton | 1,185 | 24.5 | −9.0 | |
Communist | F. Stockdale | 78 | 1.6 | +0.8 | |
Majority | 2,394 | 49.4 | +27.0 | ||
Turnout | 4,842 | ||||
Labour gain from Conservative | Swing | +13.5 |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Labour | R. Sedler | 2,096 | 48.9 | +12.3 | |
Liberal | M. Begard | 1,952 | 45.5 | −8.2 | |
Conservative | H. Stockwell | 191 | 4.5 | −4.2 | |
Communist | K. Robinson | 47 | 1.1 | +0.1 | |
Majority | 144 | 3.4 | −13.7 | ||
Turnout | 4,286 | ||||
Labour gain from Liberal | Swing | +10.2 |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Conservative | P. Sparling | 2,527 | 71.1 | −11.2 | |
Labour | B. Selby | 685 | 19.3 | +7.7 | |
Liberal | R. Whitelock | 341 | 9.6 | +3.5 | |
Majority | 1,842 | 51.8 | −19.0 | ||
Turnout | 3,553 | ||||
Conservative hold | Swing | -9.4 |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Labour | W. Merritt | 2,226 | 85.8 | +20.0 | |
Conservative | W. Annan | 369 | 14.2 | −14.5 | |
Majority | 1,857 | 71.6 | +34.6 | ||
Turnout | 2,595 | ||||
Labour hold | Swing | +17.2 |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Conservative | Keith Loudon | 2,465 | 49.7 | −9.8 | |
Labour | G. Bowesley | 1,776 | 35.8 | +13.7 | |
Liberal | E. Finkle | 719 | 14.5 | −3.9 | |
Majority | 689 | 13.9 | −23.5 | ||
Turnout | 4,960 | ||||
Conservative hold | Swing | -11.7 |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Labour | L. Haughton | 2,555 | 84.1 | +17.5 | |
Conservative | B. Cresswell | 288 | 9.5 | −3.6 | |
Liberal | H. Fearnley | 194 | 6.4 | −13.9 | |
Majority | 2,267 | 74.6 | +28.3 | ||
Turnout | 3,037 | ||||
Labour hold | Swing | +10.5 |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Labour | H. Waterman | 3,037 | 64.4 | +13.4 | |
Conservative | W. Buckland | 1,527 | 32.4 | −12.7 | |
Liberal | K. Pedder | 92 | 2.0 | −0.7 | |
Communist | J. Bellamy | 61 | 1.3 | +0.0 | |
Majority | 1,510 | 32.0 | +26.0 | ||
Turnout | 4,717 | ||||
Labour gain from Conservative | Swing | +13.0 |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Conservative | S. Tomlinson | 3,185 | 65.9 | −10.6 | |
Labour | J. Moran | 1,651 | 34.1 | +11.7 | |
Majority | 1,534 | 31.7 | −22.3 | ||
Turnout | 4,836 | ||||
Conservative hold | Swing | -11.1 |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Labour | G. Wood | 1,603 | 48.0 | +18.2 | |
Conservative | J. Moran | 1,583 | 47.4 | −17.5 | |
Liberal | D. Thorpe | 156 | 4.7 | −0.6 | |
Majority | 20 | 0.6 | −34.5 | ||
Turnout | 3,342 | ||||
Labour gain from Conservative | Swing | +17.8 |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Conservative | P. Goodwin | 2,397 | 59.4 | −12.0 | |
Labour | J. Chartres | 1,641 | 40.6 | +12.0 | |
Majority | 756 | 18.7 | −24.1 | ||
Turnout | 4,038 | ||||
Conservative hold | Swing | -12.0 |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Labour | A. Beevers | 2,637 | 83.1 | +23.0 | |
Conservative | N. Skin | 366 | 11.5 | −1.1 | |
Liberal | R. Newby | 172 | 5.4 | −22.0 | |
Majority | 2,271 | 71.5 | +38.9 | ||
Turnout | 3,175 | ||||
Labour hold | Swing | +12.0 |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Labour | W. Stafford | 4,052 | 60.2 | +16.8 | |
Conservative | T. Beevers | 2,594 | 38.5 | −11.7 | |
Communist | J. Sidebottom | 87 | 1.3 | −0.5 | |
Majority | 1,458 | 21.7 | +14.9 | ||
Turnout | 6,733 | ||||
Labour gain from Conservative | Swing | +14.2 |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Labour | J. Taylor | 3,521 | 83.9 | +20.7 | |
Conservative | P. Johnson | 372 | 8.9 | −5.2 | |
Liberal | L. Ellis | 181 | 4.3 | −15.9 | |
Communist | D. Prescott | 122 | 2.9 | +0.5 | |
Majority | 3,149 | 75.0 | +32.0 | ||
Turnout | 4,196 | ||||
Labour hold | Swing | +12.9 |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Conservative | R. Challenor | 2,323 | 52.1 | −16.5 | |
Labour | A. Baum | 1,687 | 37.9 | +14.6 | |
Liberal | S. Waldenburg | 446 | 10.0 | +1.9 | |
Majority | 636 | 14.3 | −31.1 | ||
Turnout | 4,456 | ||||
Conservative hold | Swing | -15.5 |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Labour | D. Hamilton | 3,660 | 75.3 | +13.7 | |
Conservative | Doreen Wood | 1,201 | 24.7 | −12.4 | |
Majority | 2,459 | 50.6 | +26.1 | ||
Turnout | 4,861 | ||||
Labour gain from Conservative | Swing | +13.0 |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Labour | V. Whelan | 3,151 | 78.1 | +20.8 | |
Conservative | S. Gill | 818 | 20.3 | −18.4 | |
Communist | P. Fawcett | 65 | 1.6 | +0.2 | |
Majority | 2,333 | 57.8 | +39.1 | ||
Turnout | 4,034 | ||||
Labour gain from Conservative | Swing | +19.6 |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Conservative | G. Lax | 2,885 | 78.3 | −7.0 | |
Labour | C. Green | 800 | 21.7 | +7.0 | |
Majority | 2,085 | 56.6 | −14.1 | ||
Turnout | 3,685 | ||||
Conservative hold | Swing | -7.0 |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Labour | G. Bloom | 2,586 | 67.9 | +19.1 | |
Conservative | E. Lindins | 1,153 | 30.3 | −16.6 | |
Communist | M. Tomplak | 69 | 1.8 | −2.5 | |
Majority | 1,433 | 37.6 | +35.7 | ||
Turnout | 3,808 | ||||
Labour gain from Conservative | Swing | +17.8 |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Labour | George Mudie | 5,115 | 78.6 | +9.3 | |
Conservative | D. Ball | 1,328 | 20.4 | −9.5 | |
Communist | A. Dale | 67 | 1.0 | +0.2 | |
Majority | 3,787 | 58.2 | +18.9 | ||
Turnout | 6,510 | ||||
Labour gain from Conservative | Swing | +9.4 |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Labour | Christina Myers | 3,366 | 69.1 | +14.7 | |
Conservative | K. Knapton | 1,431 | 29.4 | −7.4 | |
Communist | F. Sidebottom | 77 | 1.6 | +0.7 | |
Majority | 1,935 | 39.7 | +22.2 | ||
Turnout | 4,874 | ||||
Labour gain from Conservative | Swing | +11.0 |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Conservative | J. Sherwin | 2,692 | 70.5 | −11.0 | |
Conservative | Ronnie Feldman | 2,645 | |||
Labour | A. Barnard | 902 | 23.6 | +5.1 | |
Labour | J. Morgan | 897 | |||
Liberal | C. Thompson | 225 | 5.9 | +5.9 | |
Liberal | G. Braham | 209 | |||
Majority | 1,743 | 46.9 | −16.1 | ||
Turnout | 3,819 | ||||
Conservative hold | Swing | ||||
Conservative hold | Swing | -8.0 |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Conservative | R. Hall | 3,607 | 81.4 | +3.5 | |
Labour | J. Underwood | 825 | 18.6 | +8.9 | |
Majority | 2,782 | 62.8 | −3.9 | ||
Turnout | 4,432 | ||||
Conservative hold | Swing | -2.7 |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Liberal | David Austick | 2,201 | 52.1 | +10.7 | |
Labour | J. Hodkinson | 1,492 | 35.3 | +4.6 | |
Conservative | D. Nicholls | 533 | 12.6 | −15.3 | |
Majority | 709 | 16.8 | +6.1 | ||
Turnout | 4,226 | ||||
Liberal gain from Conservative | Swing | +3.0 |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Labour | L. Jackson | 3,181 | 75.8 | +16.5 | |
Conservative | C. Clark | 970 | 23.1 | −15.5 | |
Communist | H. Besser | 46 | 1.1 | −1.0 | |
Majority | 2,211 | 52.7 | +32.0 | ||
Turnout | 4,197 | ||||
Labour gain from Conservative | Swing | +16.0 |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Labour | I. Levy | 2,171 | 57.7 | +13.4 | |
Conservative | May Sexton | 1,465 | 39.0 | −13.4 | |
Communist | L. Morris | 124 | 3.3 | −0.1 | |
Majority | 706 | 18.8 | +10.7 | ||
Turnout | 3,760 | ||||
Labour gain from Conservative | Swing | +13.4 |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Labour | W. Thurlow | 3,344 | 58.6 | +12.1 | |
Conservative | J. Kirwan | 1,956 | 34.3 | −10.2 | |
Liberal | R. Buxton | 410 | 7.2 | −1.9 | |
Majority | 1,388 | 24.3 | +22.4 | ||
Turnout | 5,710 | ||||
Labour gain from Conservative | Swing | +11.1 |
References
- ^ a b "British Laborites Sweep Local Voting". The New York Times. 15 May 1971. Retrieved 21 October 2012.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z aa ab ac ad ae af ag "Municipal results: Leeds". The Yorkshire Post. 15 May 1971.
- ^ "Labour sweeps in with 20 majority in Leeds". The Yorkshire Post. 6 May 1972. Scan here