1966 Leeds City Council election

Last updated

The 1966 Leeds municipal elections were held on Thursday 12 May 1966, [1] with one third of the council up for election.

Contents

A 2.7% swing towards Labour [2] allowed the party to defend half of their losses of the previous year, and win a majority of the seats up for election, despite still trailing the Conservatives by a significant number in votes. The three Tory gains were in the marginal wards of Beeston, Bramley and Wortley, adding to the gains they were enjoying around the country. [1] [3]

There was a sharp drop in turnout for the election - falling into the twenties for only the second time in post-war history - to 29.6%. [2] Unlike the nadir of 1960 election, where the fall mostly came from the Labour vote, this year's drop chiefly hit Conservative support. None-the-less, the Labour vote received was close to their worst. [3]

The Liberals managed to regain second place in Far Headingley and Wellington, although standing their lowest number of candidates since 1958 and receiving their lowest share since that year. The Communists' received their greatest share on a reduced vote, from their peak in the prior election and the British National Party participated after a five-year absence, fielding a sole candidate in Armley. [3]

Election result

Leeds Local Election Result 1966
PartySeatsGainsLossesNet gain/lossSeats %Votes %Votes+/−
  Labour 1603-357.140.740,170+2.9
  Conservative 1230+342.853.752,921-2.4
  Liberal 00000.03.83,767-0.8
  Communist 00000.01.61,553+0.1
  British National 00000.00.2195+0.2

The result had the following consequences for the total number of seats on the council after the elections: [4]

PartyPrevious councilNew council
Cllr Ald CllrAld
Labour49194619
Conservatives359389
Total84288428
112112
Working majority 14  10   8  10 
 24  18 

Ward results

Allerton [3]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Conservative J. Long4,38883.0+4.2
Labour J. Marshall89917.0-4.2
Majority3,48966.0+8.4
Turnout 5,287
Conservative hold Swing +4.2
Armley [3]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Labour S. Lee1,63553.3+0.7
Conservative K. Beal1,23540.3-7.1
British National P. Stone1956.4+6.4
Majority40013.0+7.9
Turnout 3,065
Labour hold Swing +3.9
Beeston [3]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Conservative J. Farrell2,87350.8-7.7
Labour A. Beevers2,78849.2+9.1
Majority851.5-16.8
Turnout 5,661
Conservative gain from Labour Swing -8.4
Blenheim [3]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Labour Ernest Morris84460.3+0.8
Conservative R. Austwick55539.7-0.8
Majority28920.7+1.6
Turnout 1,399
Labour hold Swing +0.8
Bramley [3]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Conservative D. Armitage2,52352.7-3.7
Labour M. Chadwick2,26447.3+3.7
Majority2595.4-7.4
Turnout 4,787
Conservative gain from Labour Swing -3.7
Burmantofts [3]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Labour F. Watson1,41357.2+1.1
Conservative J. White1,05842.8-1.1
Majority35514.4+2.2
Turnout 2,471
Labour hold Swing +1.1
City [3]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Labour Jim Marshall69665.4+3.8
Conservative M. Baker36834.6-3.8
Majority32830.8+7.6
Turnout 1,064
Labour hold Swing +3.8
Cross Gates [3]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Labour L. Jackson1,84749.1-8.7
Conservative R. Vaughan1,69345.0+9.3
Communist F. Sidebottom2246.0-0.6
Majority1544.1-17.9
Turnout 3,764
Labour hold Swing -9.0
East Hunslet [3]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Labour E. Haughton1,07064.0+0.9
Conservative P. Wooler60136.0-0.9
Majority46928.0+1.8
Turnout 1,671
Labour hold Swing +0.9
Far Headingley [3]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Conservative G. Somers4,63065.0-2.2
Liberal J. Harris1,48520.8+6.8
Labour N. Jenner1,01214.2-4.6
Majority3,14544.1-4.3
Turnout 7,127
Conservative hold Swing -4.5
Halton [3]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Conservative J. Brooksbank3,97877.4-1.0
Labour D. Hamilton1,16122.6+1.0
Majority2,81754.8-1.9
Turnout 5,139
Conservative hold Swing -1.0
Harehills [3]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Conservative J. Astle2,38060.9+2.0
Labour H. Howlett1,52539.1+3.6
Majority85521.9-1.5
Turnout 3,905
Conservative hold Swing -0.8
Holbeck [3]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Labour W. Smith1,32661.8+6.8
Conservative M. Waddington75935.4-2.8
Communist J. McCarthy592.8-4.0
Majority56726.4+9.6
Turnout 2,144
Labour hold Swing +4.8
Hunslet Carr [3]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Labour Harry Booth1,42767.0+9.1
Conservative H. Lister63029.6-8.1
Communist E. Burwin733.4-1.0
Majority79737.4+17.1
Turnout 2,130
Labour hold Swing +8.6
Hyde Park [3]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Conservative Kenneth Davison2,03057.8+1.9
Labour M. Lawrence1,34238.2+12.1
Communist S. Walker1434.1+1.5
Majority68819.6-10.2
Turnout 3,515
Conservative hold Swing -5.1
Kirkstall [3]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Labour D. Matthews2,86454.4+8.2
Conservative H. Newton2,25142.8-7.6
Communist B. Huffingley1482.8-0.6
Majority61311.67.4
Turnout 5,263
Labour hold Swing +7.9
Meanwood [3]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Conservative Alan Pedley2,59666.7-0.9
Labour J. McPheat82421.2-0.8
Liberal Evelyn Mary Briggs47012.1+1.6
Majority1,77245.6-0.1
Turnout 3,890
Conservative hold Swing -0.0
Middleton [3]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Labour J. Taylor1,87279.1+4.4
Conservative R. Heslet38916.4-3.0
Communist E. Moore1064.5-1.4
Majority1,48362.7+7.4
Turnout 2,367
Labour hold Swing +3.7
Moortown [3]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Conservative S. Bolton4,54075.6+4.4
Labour D. Chadwick1,08218.0-1.1
Communist P. Boyes3846.4+3.9
Majority3,45857.6+5.5
Turnout 6,006
Conservative hold Swing +2.7
Osmondthorpe [3]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Labour Douglas Gabb1,23467.6+2.3
Conservative E. Lewis59232.4-2.3
Majority64235.2+4.7
Turnout 1,826
Labour hold Swing +2.3
Pottemewton [3]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Conservative D. Bradley1,67659.8+3.6
Labour Joyce Gould 81929.2-2.2
Liberal Sydney Herbert Bexan2599.2-1.3
Communist R. Rawson491.7-0.1
Majority85730.6+5.8
Turnout 2,803
Conservative hold Swing +2.9
Richmond Hill [3]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Labour M. Rooney1,54771.2+1.7
Conservative E. Dean44620.5-4.1
Communist T. Johnson1798.2+2.5
Majority1,10150.7+5.8
Turnout 2,172
Labour hold Swing +2.9
Roundhay [3]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Conservative D. Wolstenholme3,79378.5+1.1
Labour D. Thomas1,03721.5-1.1
Majority2,75657.1+2.3
Turnout 4,830
Conservative hold Swing +1.1
Stanningley [3]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Labour Kevin Gould1,97945.2+7.8
Conservative A. Redmond1,73939.8-5.4
Liberal F. Robertson65615.0-2.4
Majority2405.5-2.2
Turnout 4,374
Labour hold Swing +6.6
Wellington [3]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Labour A. Donohoe95062.8+4.4
Liberal G. Hoyland23715.7-0.3
Conservative D. Tiffany23515.5-5.3
Communist M. Rogers916.0+1.2
Majority71347.1+9.6
Turnout 1,513
Labour hold Swing +2.3
Westfield [3]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Labour J. Bell1,03151.3+7.9
Conservative A. Sexton97848.7-7.9
Majority532.6-10.6
Turnout 2,009
Labour hold Swing +7.9
Woodhouse [3]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Labour R. Ellis1,50748.7+3.8
Conservative D. Crawford1,49348.2-3.5
Communist A. Dale973.1-0.3
Majority140.5-6.3
Turnout 3,097
Labour hold Swing +3.6
Wortley [3]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Conservative F. Stubley2,49246.8-4.6
Labour J. Moynihan2,17540.8+2.3
Liberal Walter Holdsworth66012.4+2.3
Majority3176.0-6.8
Turnout 5,327
Conservative gain from Labour Swing -3.4

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1970 United Kingdom general election</span>

The 1970 United Kingdom general election was held on Thursday 18 June 1970. It resulted in a surprise victory for the Conservative Party under leader Edward Heath, which defeated the governing Labour Party under Prime Minister Harold Wilson. The Liberal Party, under its new leader Jeremy Thorpe, lost half its seats. The Conservatives, including the Ulster Unionist Party (UUP), secured a majority of 30 seats. This general election was the first in which people could vote from the age of 18, after passage of the Representation of the People Act the previous year, and the first UK election where party, and not just candidate names were allowed to be put on the ballots.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2003 Wigan Metropolitan Borough Council election</span>

Elections to Wigan Borough Council were held on 1 May 2003 with one-third of the council was up for election. Prior to the election, there had been two vacancies in Leigh Central, with Labour winning a by-election in June and the seat being fought in this election filled unopposed by Barbara Jarvis.

The 2003 Worcester City Council election took place on 1 May 2003 to elect members of Worcester City Council in Worcestershire, England. One third of the council was up for election and the Conservative Party gained overall control of the council from no overall control.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2003 Leeds City Council election</span>

The Leeds City Council election took place on 1 May 2003 to elect members of City of Leeds Metropolitan Borough Council in West Yorkshire, England. One third of the council was up for election and the Labour party stayed in overall control of the council.

The 1999 Sandwell Metropolitan Borough Council election took place on 6 May 1999 to elect members of Sandwell Metropolitan Borough Council in the West Midlands, England. One third of the council was up for election and the Labour party stayed in overall control of the council.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2006 Sandwell Metropolitan Borough Council election</span>

The 2006 Sandwell Metropolitan Borough Council election took place on 4 May 2006 to elect members of Sandwell Metropolitan Borough Council in the West Midlands, England. One third of the council was up for election and the Labour Party stayed in overall control of the council.

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 election was held on 8 May 1969, with one third of the councillors up for election. The Conservative incumbent in Armley had defected to Independent Conservative in the interim and hoped to defend it as such.

The 1959 Leeds municipal elections were held on Thursday 7 May 1959, with one third of the seats and extra vacancies in East Hunslet and Stanningley up for election.

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

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

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

The 1965 municipal elections for Leeds were held on Thursday 13 May 1965, with one third of the council and an extra vacancy in Allerton to be elected.

The 1967 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.

The 1947 Leeds municipal elections were held on Saturday 1 November 1947, with one third of the seats, as well as a vacancy in Pottermewton, up for election. With no Liberal candidate this time, East Hunslet went unopposed.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1990 Leeds City Council election</span>

The Leeds City Council elections were held on Thursday, 4 May 1990, with one third of the council and two casual vacancies in Beeston and North to be elected. There had been a number of by-elections in the interim, resulting in two Labour gains in Armley and Burmantofts from the Social and Liberal Democrats and holds elsewhere.

<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">2018 Hammersmith and Fulham London Borough Council election</span> 2018 local election in England

The 2018 Hammersmith and Fulham Council election took place on 3 May 2018 to elect members of Hammersmith and Fulham Council in London.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2023 United Kingdom local elections</span> Elections to local councils and mayoralties

The 2023 United Kingdom local elections were held on Thursday, 4 May 2023 in England and on Thursday 18 May 2023 in Northern Ireland. These included district councils, unitary authorities, and directly elected mayors in England, and included all local councils in Northern Ireland. Notably, these elections were the first to be held under the Elections Act 2022, a new voter identification law that is controversial, meaning voters were required to show photo ID when attending a polling station.

References

  1. 1 2 "British Tories Gain in Cities". Toledo Blade . 13 May 1966. Retrieved 4 October 2012.
  2. 1 2 Sharpe, L.J. (1967). Voting in cities: the 1964 borough elections.
  3. 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 . 13 May 1966.
  4. ↑ Whitaker, Joseph (1966). Whitaker's Almanack 1966.
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.