1961 Leeds City Council election

Last updated

The 1961 Leeds municipal elections were held on Thursday 11 May 1961, [1] with one third of the council and a vacancy in Cross Gates up for election. [2]

Contents

In contrast to the national picture, [1] the results in Leeds were a mirror-image of the previous year's election, with Labour enjoying a 5.5% swing [3] in their direction, enabling them to win the majority of seats - defending all but one. The sole seat that changed hands, was the Conservative's gain in Wortley - returning the ward to full Conservative representation after a decade of mixture. [2]

The Liberals, now including the unsuccessful Independent of the year before, retained their second place comfortably in Far Headingley and - by contrast - just three votes in Allerton. The Communists fielded a record of six candidates, gaining them their highest share on record, and highest vote since 1947. The BNP also entered their first ever candidate in Leeds, receiving 4% in Armley. [2]

In addition, the allocation of aldermen changed, in accordance to the long running agreement between Labour and the Conservatives that they should be divided up proportional to their councillors - roughly one alderman per three councillors - granting the Tories an extra two at Labour's expense. All of which resulted in Labour's majority amounting to fourteen. Turnout returned to the mid thirties (35.6%) where it had stabilised for the latter half of the former decade, until suffering a sharp drop at the last election. [3]

Election result

Leeds Local Election Result 1961
PartySeatsGainsLossesNet gain/lossSeats %Votes %Votes+/−
  Labour 1801-162.145.356,650+4.3
  Conservative 1110+137.948.560,692-5.8
  Liberal 00000.05.16,438+0.9
  Communist 00000.00.91,073+0.4
  British National 00000.00.1182+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
Labour48184716
Conservatives36103712
Total84288428
112112
Working majority 12   8  10   4 
 20  14 

Ward results

Allerton [2]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Conservative L. Bidgood4,21472.1-4.7
Liberal Julius Blum81714.0-0.8
Labour A. Baum81413.9+5.4
Majority3,39758.1-4.0
Turnout 5,845
Conservative hold Swing
Armley [2]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Labour K. Cohen2,45153.3+0.6
Conservative R. Beal1,96542.7-4.6
British National D. Hainsworth1824.0+4.0
Majority48610.6+5.2
Turnout 4,598
Labour hold Swing +2.6
Beeston [2]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Conservative L. Snape3,53853.3+3.3
Labour W. Prichard3,09846.7+3.9
Majority4406.6-0.6
Turnout 6,636
Conservative hold Swing -0.3
Blenheim [2]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Labour J. Wallbanks1,59060.2-5.0
Conservative J. Butterfield1,05139.8+5.0
Majority53920.4-10.0
Turnout 2,641
Labour hold Swing -5.0
Bramley [2]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Labour Eric Atkinson3,22552.6+11.8
Conservative H. Picking2,90347.4-2.1
Majority3225.3-3.4
Turnout 6,128
Labour hold Swing +6.9
Burmantofts [2]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Labour G. Lloyd2,37573.1+9.0
Conservative M. Bauchop87626.9-9.0
Majority1,49946.1+18.0
Turnout 3,251
Labour hold Swing +9.0
City [2]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Labour A. Tallant1,22461.5+4.3
Conservative D. Mowbray76538.5-4.3
Majority45923.1+8.5
Turnout 1,989
Labour hold Swing +4.3
Cross Gates [2]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Labour F. Booth3,64958.4+2.9
Labour E. Coward3,122
Conservative G. Lockwood2,25036.0-8.5
Conservative A. Lunn2,204
Communist B. Wilson3445.5+5.5
Majority87222.4+11.4
Turnout 6,243
Labour hold Swing
Labour hold Swing +5.7
East Hunslet [2]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Labour M. Fish2,16373.6+8.4
Conservative J. Birch77426.4-8.4
Majority1,38947.3+16.8
Turnout 2,937
Labour hold Swing +8.4
Far Headingley [2]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Conservative W. Hey4,14058.2-4.4
Liberal John Humphrey Morrish1,94227.3+6.9
Labour J. Moynihan1,02614.4-2.6
Majority2,19830.9-11.3
Turnout 7,108
Conservative hold Swing -5.6
Halton [2]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Conservative C. Watson3,69865.7-15.0
Labour L. Wray1,01818.1-1.2
Liberal C. Leatham91316.2+16.2
Majority2,68047.6-13.8
Turnout 5,629
Conservative hold Swing -6.9
Harehills [2]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Conservative Lawrence Turnbull3,03461.3-2.2
Labour W. Todd1,91538.7+2.2
Majority1,11922.6-4.5
Turnout 4,949
Conservative hold Swing -2.2
Holbeck [2]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Labour W. Jones1,81757.3-6.8
Conservative J. Robinson87427.6-8.3
Liberal H. Linley47815.1+15.1
Majority94329.8+1.6
Turnout 3,169
Labour hold Swing +0.7
Hunslet Carr [2]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Labour J. Hodkinson2,13067.1-1.7
Conservative M. Hayne69221.8-9.4
Liberal E. Pemberton35411.1+11.1
Majority1,43845.3+7.8
Turnout 3,176
Labour hold Swing +3.8
Hyde Park [2]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Conservative F. Hall2,38863.6-7.0
Labour L. Steele1,36836.4+7.0
Majority1,02027.2-13.9
Turnout 3,756
Conservative hold Swing -7.0
Kirkstall [2]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Labour Albert Smith3,22254.4+2.6
Conservative F. Lucas2,69945.6-2.6
Majority5238.8+5.1
Turnout 5,921
Labour hold Swing +2.6
Meanwood [2]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Conservative V. Cardno3,46376.1-1.8
Labour A. Kirk1,08723.9+1.8
Majority2,37652.2-3.7
Turnout 4,550
Conservative hold Swing -1.8
Middleton [2]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Labour A. Malcolm2,20873.3+1.2
Conservative D. Lodge63020.9-1.0
Communist R. Wilkinson1755.8-0.2
Majority1,57852.4+2.2
Turnout 3,013
Labour hold Swing +1.1
Moortown [2]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Conservative John Watson4,32975.6-5.3
Labour J. Taylor1,39824.4+5.3
Majority2,93151.2-10.5
Turnout 5,727
Conservative hold Swing -5.3
Osmondthorpe [2]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Labour G. Addlestone2,44373.4+2.2
Conservative A. Bell88726.6-2.2
Majority1,55646.7+4.4
Turnout 3,330
Labour hold Swing +2.2
Pottemewton [2]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Conservative Sydney Symmonds1,64058.5-11.7
Labour Kevin Gould70225.0+0.1
Liberal T. Longhorn36813.1+13.1
Communist H. Fawcett953.4-1.5
Majority93833.4-11.8
Turnout 2,805
Conservative hold Swing -5.9
Richmond Hill [2]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Labour A. King1,78176.3+2.1
Conservative H. Flockton45619.5-6.3
Communist E. Burwin984.2+4.2
Majority1,32556.7+8.4
Turnout 2,335
Labour hold Swing +4.2
Roundhay [2]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Conservative Allan Bretherick3,74475.6-3.5
Labour J. Stephenson1,20824.4+3.5
Majority2,53651.2-7.0
Turnout 4,952
Conservative hold Swing -3.5
Stanningley [2]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Labour H. Waterman3,06548.8+9.3
Conservative A. Rakusen2,25235.8-6.8
Liberal Dennis Pedder96715.4-2.5
Majority81312.9+9.8
Turnout 6,284
Labour hold Swing +8.0
Wellington [2]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Labour N. Barratt2,33774.5+2.2
Conservative B. Pearce59318.9-2.1
Communist G. Hodgson2056.5+0.0
Majority1,74455.6+4.3
Turnout 3,135
Labour hold Swing +2.1
Westfield [2]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Labour V. Whelan1,98649.0+9.9
Conservative F. Grainge1,46836.2-7.9
Liberal E. Vasey59914.8+0.0
Majority51812.8+7.8
Turnout 4,053
Labour hold Swing +8.9
Woodhouse [2]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Labour P. Taylor2,26251.5+6.2
Conservative F. Greene1,97344.9-3.7
Communist E. Meth1563.6+0.8
Majority2896.6+3.3
Turnout 4,391
Labour hold Swing +4.9
Wortley [2]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Conservative B. Emmett3,39652.4-4.4
Labour E. Morris3,08847.6+4.4
Majority3084.8-8.7
Turnout 6,484
Conservative gain from Labour Swing -4.4

Related Research Articles

Elections to the Borough Council in Slough, England, were held on 1 May 2008. This was the 123rd Slough general local authority election since Slough became a local government unit in 1863.

The 2007 council elections in Guildford saw the Conservatives retain control over Guildford Borough Council. Full results for each ward can be found at Guildford Council election, full results, 2007.

Middlesex County Council under the Local Government Act 1888 had to be returned by local elections every three years. Its first election was in January 1889, the year the council first met. The last was in 1961 as the 1964 elections instead were – as to 83 of 87 divisions – for the larger, in-waiting Greater London Council – 4 divisions went into other counties, on abolition. Three intra-war elections were never announced and formally cancelled but otherwise expected in 1916, 1940 and 1943.

An election for the Borough Council in Slough, England, was held on 6 May 2010. This was the 124th Slough general local authority election since Slough became a local government unit in 1863.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2011 Guildford Borough Council election</span>

The 2011 council elections in Guildford saw the Conservatives retain control over Guildford Borough Council with an increased majority of 20 seats. Full results for each ward can be found at Guildford Council election, full results, 2011.

The Leeds municipal election was held on 9 May 1968. Following extensive boundary changes, the whole council was up for election. The re-warding increased the number of wards by two, up to 32 wards, raising in-turn the councillor total by six, to 90, and the aldermen total up two to 30.

The Leeds municipal elections were held on 14 May 1971, with one third of the councillors up for vote including a double vacancy in Talbot.

The 1956 municipal elections for Leeds were held on Thursday 10 May 1956, with one third of the council and an extra vacancy in Hyde Park to be elected.

The 1960 Leeds municipal elections were held on 12 May 1960, with one third of the council set to be re-elected.

The Leeds municipal elections were held on Thursday 10 May 1962, with one third of the council to be elected.

The Leeds municipal elections were held on Thursday 9 May 1963, with one third of the council to be elected.

The municipal elections for Leeds were held on Thursday 7 May 1964, with one third of the council seats up for the election. Labour had gained a seat from the Conservatives in the interim.

The Leeds municipal elections were held on Thursday 11 May 1967, with one third of the council up for election as well as vacancies in the wards of Woodhouse and Wortley.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1980 Leeds City Council election</span>

The 1980 Leeds City Council election took place on 1 May 1980 to elect members of Leeds City Council in England.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1992 Leeds City Council election</span>

The Leeds City Council elections were held on Thursday, 7 May 1992, with one third of the council's seats up for election.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1995 Leeds City Council election</span> Local Government Election

The Leeds City Council elections were held on Thursday, 4 May 1995, with one third of the council up for election, alongside a vacancy in Roundhay.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2015 Guildford Borough Council election</span>

The 2015 Guildford Borough Council election took place on 7 May 2015 to elect members of Guildford Borough Council in England as one of the 2015 local elections, held simultaneously with the General Election.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2016 Exeter City Council election</span>

The 2016 Exeter City Council election took place on 5 May 2016, to elect members of Exeter City Council in England. Following boundary changes, the entire council was up for election, and all 13 wards were contested, each electing three councillors. The election was held concurrently with other local elections held in England on the 5 May.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2018 Cannock Chase District Council election</span>

Elections to Cannock Chase District Council took place on 3 May 2018 on the same day as other local elections in England. A third of the council was up for election, meaning a total of 13 councillors were elected from all but two of the council's wards.

Elections to North Ayrshire Council took place on 5 May 2022 on the same day as the 31 other Scottish local government elections. As with other Scottish council elections, it was held using single transferable vote (STV) – a form of proportional representation – in which multiple candidates are elected in each ward and voters rank candidates in order of preference.

References

  1. 1 2 "Britons Shift to the Right". The New York Times . 12 May 1961. Retrieved 18 October 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 31 "Municipal results: Leeds". The Yorkshire Post . 12 May 1961.
  3. 1 2 3 Sharpe, L.J. (1967). Voting in cities: the 1964 borough elections.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.