1953 Leeds City Council election

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The Leeds municipal elections were held on Thursday 7 May 1953, [1] with one third of the council as well as a vacancy in Richmond Hill to be elected. [2]

Contents

Winning control of Leeds was one of Labour's highlights in a night that seen them make gains across the country. [1] Whilst there was a swing away from Labour to the Conservatives of over four percent [3] from the previous year's high benchmark, Labour were able to repeat most of the gains they achieved the year before, with the two exceptions being Armley - a seat they already held - and Beeston, which the Tories managed to hold by sixty-six votes this time around. In total they gained seven seats, replacing the Tories slim majority of two with a majority of twelve. [2] Turnout continued its trend downwards with a post-war low of 41.4%. [3]

Election result

Leeds Local Election Result 1953
PartySeatsGainsLossesNet gain/lossSeats %Votes %Votes+/−
  Labour 1970+765.552.578,259-4.0%
  Conservative 1007-734.546.769,560+4.2%
  Liberal 00000.00.6923-0.2%
  Communist 00000.00.2294+0.1%

The result had the following consequences for the total number of seats on the council after the elections: [3]

PartyPrevious councilNew council
Cllr Ald CllrAld
Labour41144814
Conservatives43143614
Total84288428
112112
Working majority -2   0  12   0 
 -2  12 

Ward results

Allerton [2]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Conservative M. Mustill5,26085.2+1.3
Labour W. Stoner91714.8-1.3
Majority4,34370.3+2.6
Turnout 6,177
Conservative hold Swing +1.3
Armley [2]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Labour J. Hodgson3,81561.3-0.1
Conservative J. Longstaff2,40738.7+0.1
Majority1,40822.6-0.2
Turnout 6,222
Labour hold Swing -0.1
Beeston [2]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Conservative P. Woodward3,81050.4+1.5
Labour S. Binns3,74449.6-1.5
Majority660.9-1.2
Turnout 7,554
Conservative hold Swing +1.5
Blenheim [2]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Labour W. Merritt3,14456.9-0.6
Conservative K. Davison2,38643.1+0.6
Majority75813.7-1.2
Turnout 5,530
Labour gain from Conservative Swing -0.6
Bramley [2]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Labour W. Lord3,28553.4-6.6
Conservative B. Pearce2,86246.6+6.6
Majority4236.9-13.1
Turnout 6,147
Labour gain from Conservative Swing -6.6
Burmantofts [2]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Labour G. Murray2,83271.1-3.7
Conservative K. Platts1,15028.9+3.7
Majority1,68242.2-7.5
Turnout 3,982
Labour hold Swing -3.7
City [2]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Labour E. Stubbs2,44969.3+0.4
Conservative N. Kay1,08330.7-0.4
Majority1,36638.7+0.9
Turnout 3,532
Labour hold Swing +0.4
Cross Gates [2]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Labour A. Harrison3,18166.3-3.8
Conservative W. Tull1,61833.7+3.8
Majority1,56332.6-7.6
Turnout 4,799
Labour gain from Conservative Swing -3.8
East Hunslet [2]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Labour E. Kavanagh3,06475.1-7.6
Conservative G. Hewdey1,01724.9+7.6
Majority2,04750.2-15.1
Turnout 4,081
Labour hold Swing -7.6
Far Headingley [2]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Conservative G. Dovenor4,11282.1+3.1
Labour J. Bissell89717.9-3.1
Majority3,21564.2+6.2
Turnout 5,009
Conservative hold Swing +3.1
Halton [2]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Conservative P. Dodson3,93372.7+6.3
Labour A. Vickers1,47627.3-2.4
Majority2,45745.4+8.7
Turnout 5,409
Conservative hold Swing +4.3
Harehills [2]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Conservative B. Garden2,91853.6+2.4
Labour D. Gabb2,52946.4-2.4
Majority3897.1+4.7
Turnout 5,447
Conservative hold Swing +2.4
Holbeck [2]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Labour G. Bray3,54564.3-5.0
Conservative S. Ristron1,38425.1+1.6
Liberal K. Heald58210.6+3.4
Majority2,16139.2-6.7
Turnout 5,511
Labour hold Swing -3.3
Hunslet Carr [2]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Labour W. Parker3,40875.1-5.0
Conservative N. Cooke94220.8+3.9
Communist R. Wilkinson1854.1+1.2
Majority2,46654.4-8.9
Turnout 4,535
Labour hold Swing -4.4
Hyde Park [2]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Conservative H. Walmsley3,40263.4+3.4
Labour I. Calvert1,96536.6-3.4
Majority1,43726.8+6.8
Turnout 5,367
Conservative hold Swing +3.4
Kirkstall [2]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Labour D. Matthews4,44662.8-0.3
Conservative R. Neill2,62837.2+5.2
Majority1,81825.7-5.5
Turnout 7,074
Labour hold Swing -2.7
Meanwood [2]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Conservative F. Carter4,23169.0+0.9
Labour J. Hedley1,90031.0-0.9
Majority2,33138.0+1.7
Turnout 6,131
Conservative hold Swing +0.9
Middleton [2]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Labour S. Hand3,51085.3-4.4
Conservative F. Stubley60414.7+4.4
Majority2,90670.6-8.9
Turnout 4,114
Labour hold Swing -4.4
Moortown [2]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Conservative L. Henson4,17970.2-2.5
Labour R. Hyams1,77129.8+2.5
Majority2,40840.5-4.9
Turnout 2,408
Conservative hold Swing -2.5
Osmondthorpe [2]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Labour L. Walsh3,69079.5-3.5
Conservative D. Bradley95420.5+3.5
Majority2,73658.9-7.1
Turnout 4,644
Labour hold Swing -3.5
Pottemewton [2]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Conservative E. Coleman2,46061.3+5.6
Labour F. Howard1,55038.7-5.6
Majority91022.7+11.1
Turnout 4,010
Conservative hold Swing +5.6
Richmond Hill [2]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Labour W. Cain2,83880.0-5.0
Labour W. Fowler2,728
Conservative W. Clayton71020.0+5.0
Conservative H. Harwood585
Majority2,01860.0-10.0
Turnout 3,548
Labour hold Swing
Labour hold Swing -5.0
Roundhay [2]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Conservative H. Jowitt4,40966.6+7.3
Labour E. Morris2,20733.4-7.3
Majority2,20233.3+14.6
Turnout 6,616
Conservative hold Swing +7.3
Stanningley [2]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Labour P. Kennally3,05951.8-7.5
Conservative F. Ayres2,85048.2+7.5
Majority2093.5-15.1
Turnout 5,909
Labour gain from Conservative Swing -7.5
Wellington [2]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Labour J. Underwood3,46172.7-3.1
Conservative J. Palmer84817.8-0.2
Liberal Harry Burbridge3417.2+2.7
Communist F. Warburton1092.3+0.7
Majority2,61354.9-2.9
Turnout 4,759
Labour hold Swing -1.4
Westfield [2]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Labour Stan Cohen2,91656.7+1.7
Conservative G. Appleby2,22843.3-1.7
Majority68813.4+3.4
Turnout 5,144
Labour gain from Conservative Swing +1.7
Woodhouse [2]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Labour H. Bretherick3,45659.9-5.0
Conservative H. Stott2,31840.1+5.0
Majority1,13819.7-10.1
Turnout 5,774
Labour gain from Conservative Swing -5.0
Wortley [2]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Labour W. Smart3,20452.9-2.4
Conservative Charles Horner2,85747.1+2.4
Majority3475.7-4.8
Turnout 6,061
Labour gain from Conservative Swing -2.4

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References

  1. 1 2 "U.K. Labour Gains in Boroughs". The Sydney Morning Herald . 8 May 1953. Retrieved 15 August 2012.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 "Municipal results: Leeds". The Yorkshire Post . 8 May 1953.
  3. 1 2 3 Sharpe, L.J. (1967). Voting in cities: the 1964 borough elections.
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