1968 Hammersmith London Borough Council election

1968 Hammersmith Borough Council election
All 60 seats to Hammersmith and Fulham London Borough Council ; 31 seats needed for a majority
Turnout	39.1% (7.1%)
Council control before election; ; Labour	Council control after election; ; Conservative

Last updated March 07, 2023

The 1968 Hammersmith Council election took place on 9 May 1968 to elect members of Hammersmith London Borough Council in London, England. The whole council was up for election and the Conservative Party gained overall control of the council.^[1]

Background

These took place at the height of the unpopularity of the Labour Government. In Hammersmith from 52 Labour, 7 Conservative and 1 Liberal councillors at the commencement of the election the Conservatives, masterminded by John Putnam and Seton Forbes-Cockell (both of whom were elected Aldermen), won in every ward except White City, with two sitting Labour Councillors in Margravine and one in Sherbrooke elected in split votes.

It is generally accepted that the Conservative Party in Hammersmith have never had as talented a group as in 1968. Of the newly elected councillors David Ashby and Patrick Ground went on to Parliament, Ben Patterson to the European Parliament, Christopher Horne fought and lost twice. Jack Rose, a popular local GP, was for many years the Chairman of the British branch of Gamblers Anonymous. The business experience of Stuart Leishman, Kim Howe, John Akerman, Paul Dwyer, Peter Fane and Sir George Bull, together with the above mentioned Aldermen led to a business renaissance in the borough, which was cut short by Ted Heath's appalling unpopularity in 1971, and the excellent organisation of Labour agent Leslie Hilliard CBE, which led to all but two - one of whom Reg Simmerson promptly resigned from the party - being defeated.

Sir Samuel Salmon, the Chairman of J Lyons and Co , then a major local employer, Seton Forbes-Cockell and Gordon Field - the last after an abrasive and divisive election - served as Mayors from 1968-1971; William Smith and John Putman subsequently returned to the Council and were also elected Mayors.

Others were not so successful; bankrupt builder John Duff disappeared within months of the election; ILEA representative Simon de Voghelaere faced similar financial trouble, and Nick Bryce-Smith subsequently became involved in the Bradstock Insurance scandal.

In April 1987 Joan Caruana, Mayor of Hammersmith, hosted a gathering attended by 44 former members, officers and others connected with the 1968-71 council; it was the last public appearance of Lord Stewart of Fulham.

Election result

The Conservatives reversed the 1964 result winning 54 of the 60 seats, with 58% of the votes cast.^[2]

Ward results

Addison

Addison (3)
Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Conservative	Arthur Belsham	1,244	62.7%
	Conservative	Eleanor Belsham	1,223
	Conservative	Douglas Ward	1,192
	Labour	Ms P Alsten	708	35.7%
	Labour	P Martin	693
	Labour	A Braggins	693
	Communist	H Goulding	96	1.6%
Turnout				35.9%
	Conservative gain from Labour		Swing
	Conservative gain from Labour		Swing
	Conservative gain from Labour		Swing

Avonmore

Avonmore (2)
Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Conservative	Harold Branton Brightley	1,622	78.6%
	Conservative	Reg Simmerson	1,609
	Labour	I McCourt	443	21.4%
	Labour	F Foes	435
Turnout				39.9%
	Conservative hold		Swing
	Conservative hold		Swing

Broadway

Broadway (3)
Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Conservative	Sir George Bull	1,128	40.9%
	Conservative	Elizabeth Goodden	1,038
	Conservative	John Pearce Gould	1,020
	Liberal	Simon Knott	962	29.5%
	Labour	George Simpson	793	29.6%
	Labour	Mrs M Clarke	780
	Labour	C Howard	736
	Liberal	E Warren	683
	Liberal	R Groves	656
Turnout				44.5%
	Conservative gain from Liberal		Swing
	Conservative gain from Labour		Swing
	Conservative gain from Labour		Swing

Brook Green

Brook Green (3)
Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Conservative	Gavin Tait	1,533	64.7%
	Conservative	Gordon Field	1,521
	Conservative	Leslie Heading	1,520
	Labour	J Headington	845	35.3%
	Labour	R Philpot	845
	Labour	R Bowles	821
Turnout				39.6%
	Conservative hold		Swing
	Conservative hold		Swing
	Conservative hold		Swing

Colehill

Colehill (2)
Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Conservative	Kim Howe	1,056	58.4%
	Conservative	Molly Porter	1,021
	Labour	Mrs George Dimmick	705	39.4%
	Labour	George Dimmick	696
	Communist	G Hicks	78	2.2%
Turnout				40.3%
	Conservative gain from Labour		Swing
	Conservative gain from Labour		Swing

College Park & Old Oak

College Park & Old Oak (3)
Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Conservative	Rodney Bowler	937	53.6%
	Conservative	Francis Cherry	934
	Conservative	Kathy Boughton	911
	Labour	Frank Ing	818	46.4%
	Labour	M Silverman	799
	Labour	H Perlin	790
Turnout				30.2%
	Conservative gain from Labour		Swing
	Conservative gain from Labour		Swing
	Conservative gain from Labour		Swing

Coningham

Coningham (3)
Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Conservative	Irene York	852	55.5%
	Conservative	Henry Hammond	848
	Conservative	Tony Barker	840
	Labour	E Freeman	683	44.5%
	Labour	L Freeman	679
	Labour	M Havelka	676
Turnout				33.5%
	Conservative gain from Labour		Swing
	Conservative gain from Labour		Swing
	Conservative gain from Labour		Swing

Crabtree

Crabtree (3)
Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Conservative	Christopher Horne	2,223	64.7%
	Conservative	David Ashby	2,216
	Conservative	Delphine Joseph	2,209
	Labour	Frank Banfield	1235	35.3%
	Labour	Elizabeth Sears	1197
	Labour	J Evans	1190
Turnout				44.8%
	Conservative gain from Labour		Swing
	Conservative gain from Labour		Swing
	Conservative gain from Labour		Swing

Gibbs Green

Gibbs Green (3)
Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Conservative	Margot James	1,769	69.9%
	Conservative	Cyril Arnold	1,760
	Conservative	Ben Patterson	1,760
	Labour	Collinson G.A.	780	30.1%
	Labour	Moodie E. Mrs	762
	Labour	Perlin p. Mrs	735
Turnout				38.3%
	Conservative gain from Labour		Swing
	Conservative gain from Labour		Swing
	Conservative gain from Labour		Swing

Grove

Grove (3)
Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Conservative	Christopher Gibbons	1,433	58.4%
	Conservative	George Boyce	1,422
	Conservative	Stuart Godwin	1,420
	Labour	Gosling E. R	1026	41.6%
	Labour	Keppel F. E.	1012
	Labour	Morris T.	1010
Turnout				34.4%
	Conservative gain from Labour		Swing
	Conservative gain from Labour		Swing
	Conservative gain from Labour		Swing

Halford

Halford (3)
Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Conservative	Griffin W. E	1,197	54.9%
	Conservative	Jarvis M, M. Mrs	1,163
	Conservative	Commander Nigel Parkinson	1,154
	Labour	Dyer H. E.	942	43.2%
	Labour	Beckett J. C.	916
	Labour	Lashley R. T.	907
	Communist	Robson P. T.	117	1.8%
Turnout				38.0%
	Conservative gain from Labour		Swing
	Conservative gain from Labour		Swing
	Conservative gain from Labour		Swing

Margravine

Margravine (3)
Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Labour	Jack Ireland	1,099	50.6%
	Labour	Eric Hill	1,087
	Conservative	Roger Holroyd	1,067	49.4%
	Conservative	Wearmouth W. H.	1041
	Labour	Stanley L. W.	1040
	Conservative	Emanuel I. M. Miss	1039
Turnout				37.5%
	Labour hold		Swing
	Labour hold		Swing
	Conservative gain from Labour		Swing

Parsons Green

Parsons Green (3)
Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Conservative	John Akerman	1,865	63.7%
	Conservative	Patrick Ground	1,858
	Conservative	Ann Paltridge	1,846
	Labour	Duff H.D.	1028	34.7%
	Labour	King D. T.	1012
	Labour	Little B. Mrs	995
	Communist	Birch C.B.	145	1.7%
Turnout				43.0%
	Conservative gain from Labour		Swing
	Conservative gain from Labour		Swing
	Conservative gain from Labour		Swing

St Stephen's

St Stephen's (3)
Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Conservative	Nick Bryce-Smith	970	59.5%
	Conservative	John Duff	942
	Conservative	Gabrielle Falkiner	931
	Labour	Jones L.S.	653	40.5%
	Labour	Brooker D, P,	646
	Labour	Hunt E.R.	634
Turnout				34.3%
	Conservative gain from Labour		Swing
	Conservative gain from Labour		Swing
	Conservative gain from Labour		Swing

Sandford

Sandford (3)
Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Conservative	Ernie Ibbott	1,282	50.8%
	Conservative	Terence Moody	1,238
	Conservative	Sheira Trehearne	1,224
	Labour	Browning J. M.	1148	45.9%
	Labour	Cooper P. M. Miss	1127
	Labour	Barton P.J.	1109
	Communist	Boulton V. I.	238	3.2%
Turnout				38.0%
	Conservative gain from Labour		Swing
	Conservative gain from Labour		Swing
	Conservative gain from Labour		Swing

Sherbrooke

Sherbrooke (2)
Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Conservative	Jennifer Jane Godwin-Austen	830	49.5%
	Labour	Matthews S. A.	816	49.2%
	Labour	Hall M.A.	810
	Conservative	Burland W. J.	807
	Communist	Ritchie T.A. Mrs	42	1.3%
Turnout				38.6%
	Conservative gain from Labour		Swing
	Labour hold		Swing

Starch Green

Starch Green (3)
Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Conservative	William Smith	1,849	68.7%
	Conservative	Perry P.C	1,841
	Conservative	Myra Sexton	1,832
	Labour	Johnson R. M. Mrs	850	31.3%
	Labour	Bull J.C.	834
	Labour	Coventry W. A.	834
Turnout				44.4%
	Conservative gain from Labour		Swing
	Conservative gain from Labour		Swing
	Conservative hold		Swing

Sulivan

Sulivan (3)
Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Conservative	Christine Wagner	1,681	56.0%
	Conservative	Caroline Ground	1,664
	Conservative	Simon De Voghelaere	1,650
	Labour	Liardet C. J. Mrs	1334	44.0%
	Labour	Powell A. F.	1316
	Labour	Wheeler T.	1271
Turnout				43.2%
	Conservative gain from Labour		Swing
	Conservative gain from Labour		Swing
	Conservative gain from Labour		Swing

Town

Town (3)
Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Conservative	Paul Dwyer	1,735	61.5%
	Conservative	Peter Lilley	1,696
	Conservative	Peter Fane	1,688
	Labour	Gray I.	1107	38.5%
	Labour	Cox T.M.	1085
	Labour	Champion T. H.	1019
Turnout				46.5%
	Conservative gain from Labour		Swing
	Conservative gain from Labour		Swing
	Conservative gain from Labour		Swing

White City

White City (3)
Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Labour	Powell B. T.	850	46.3%
	Labour	Dr David Murrey	821
	Labour	Randolph Beresford	805
	Conservative	Sands C. T.	610	34.1%
	Conservative	Puckle A. C.	607
	Conservative	Lockey R.S.	604
	Liberal	Clark R.J.	330	18.1%
	Liberal	Coombes V. E. Mrs	323
	Liberal	Playle J.	316
	Communist	Gould J.	81	1.5%
Turnout				30.5%
	Labour hold		Swing
	Labour hold		Swing
	Labour hold		Swing

Wormholt

Wormholt (3)
Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Conservative	Dr Jack Rose	1,141	53.9%
	Conservative	Derek Carter	1,126
	Conservative	Arthur Simpson	1,060
	Labour	Ingram A.A.	973	46.1%
	Labour	Breeze A. G.	943
	Labour	Martin A. J.	933
Turnout				38.0%
	Conservative gain from Labour		Swing
	Conservative gain from Labour		Swing
	Conservative gain from Labour		Swing

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References

↑ "London Borough Council Elections 9 May 1968" (PDF). London Datastore. Greater London Council. Retrieved 29 March 2015.
↑ "London Borough Council Elections 13 May 1971" (PDF). London Datastore. London County Council.

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[London_1968_election-1] "London Borough Council Elections 9 May 1968" (PDF). London Datastore. Greater London Council. Retrieved 29 March 2015.

[2] "London Borough Council Elections 13 May 1971" (PDF). London Datastore. London County Council.

[1]

[2]

v t e Elections and referendums in London
Mayor of London	2000 2004 2008 2012 2016 2021 2024
London Assembly	2000 2004 2008 2012 2016 2021 2024
Inner London Education Authority	1986
Greater London Council	1964 1967 1970 1973 1977 1981
London County Council	1889 1892 1895 1898 1901 1904 1907 1910 1913 1919 1922 1925 1928 1931 1934 1937 1946 1949 1952 1955 1958 1961
Borough Councils	1964 1968 1971 1974 1978 1982 1986 1990 1994 1998 2002 2006 2010 2014 2018 2022
Referendums	1998
See also Elections in London Boroughs Middlesex County Council elections

v t e Council elections in Greater London
Barking and Dagenham	1964 1968 1971 1974 1978 1982 1986 1990 1994 1998 2002 2006 2010 2014 2018 2022
Barnet	1964 1968 1971 1974 1978 1982 1986 1990 1994 1998 2002 2006 2010 2014 2018 2022
Bexley	1964 1968 1971 1974 1978 1982 1986 1990 1994 1998 2002 2006 2010 2014 2018 2022
Brent	1964 1968 1971 1974 1978 1982 1986 1990 1994 1998 2002 2006 2010 2014 2018 2022
Bromley	1964 1968 1971 1974 1978 1982 1986 1990 1994 1998 2002 2006 2010 2014 2018 2022
Camden	1964 1968 1971 1974 1978 1982 1986 1990 1994 1998 2002 2006 2010 2014 2018 2022
City of London	2001 2005 2009 2013 2017 2022
Croydon	1964 1968 1971 1974 1978 1982 1986 1990 1994 1998 2002 2006 2010 2014 2018 2022
Ealing	1964 1968 1971 1974 1978 1982 1986 1990 1994 1998 2002 2006 2010 2014 2018 2022
Enfield	1964 1968 1971 1974 1978 1982 1986 1990 1994 1998 2002 2006 2010 2014 2018 2022
Greenwich	1964 1968 1971 1974 1978 1982 1986 1990 1994 1998 2002 2006 2010 2014 2018 2022
Hackney	1964 1968 1971 1974 1978 1982 1986 1990 1994 1998 2002 2006 2010 2014 2018 2022
Hammersmith and Fulham	1964 1968 1971 1974 1978 1982 1986 1990 1994 1998 2002 2006 2010 2014 2018 2022
Haringey	1964 1968 1971 1974 1978 1982 1986 1990 1994 1998 2002 2006 2010 2014 2018 2022
Harrow	1964 1968 1971 1974 1978 1982 1986 1990 1994 1998 2002 2006 2010 2014 2018 2022
Havering	1964 1968 1971 1974 1978 1982 1986 1990 1994 1998 2002 2006 2010 2014 2018 2022
Hillingdon	1964 1968 1971 1974 1978 1982 1986 1990 1994 1998 2002 2006 2010 2014 2018 2022
Hounslow	1964 1968 1971 1974 1978 1982 1986 1990 1994 1998 2002 2006 2010 2014 2018 2022
Islington	1964 1968 1971 1974 1978 1982 1986 1990 1994 1998 2002 2006 2010 2014 2018 2022
Kensington and Chelsea	1964 1968 1971 1974 1978 1982 1986 1990 1994 1998 2002 2006 2010 2014 2018 2022
Kingston upon Thames	1964 1968 1971 1974 1978 1982 1986 1990 1994 1998 2002 2006 2010 2014 2018 2022
Lambeth	1964 1968 1971 1974 1978 1982 1986 1990 1994 1998 2002 2006 2010 2014 2018 2022
Lewisham	1964 1968 1971 1974 1978 1982 1986 1990 1994 1998 2002 2006 2010 2014 2018 2022
Merton	1964 1968 1971 1974 1978 1982 1986 1990 1994 1998 2002 2006 2010 2014 2018 2022
Newham	1964 1968 1971 1974 1978 1982 1986 1990 1994 1998 2002 2006 2010 2014 2018 2022
Redbridge	1964 1968 1971 1974 1978 1982 1986 1990 1994 1998 2002 2006 2010 2014 2018 2022
Richmond upon Thames	1964 1968 1971 1974 1978 1982 1986 1990 1994 1998 2002 2006 2010 2014 2018 2022
Southwark	1964 1968 1971 1974 1978 1982 1986 1990 1994 1998 2002 2006 2010 2014 2018 2022
Sutton	1964 1968 1971 1974 1978 1982 1986 1990 1994 1998 2002 2006 2010 2014 2018 2022
Tower Hamlets	1964 1968 1971 1974 1978 1982 1986 1990 1994 1998 2002 2006 2010 2014 2018 2022
Waltham Forest	1964 1968 1971 1974 1978 1982 1986 1990 1994 1998 2002 2006 2010 2014 2018 2022
Wandsworth	1964 1968 1971 1974 1978 1982 1986 1990 1994 1998 2002 2006 2010 2014 2018 2022
Westminster	1964 1968 1971 1974 1978 1982 1986 1990 1994 1998 2002 2006 2010 2014 2018 2022
Greater London	1964 1967 1970 1973 1977 1981
See also: London-wide elections Wards Boundary changes

v t e (1967 ←) 1968 United Kingdom local elections (→ 1969)
London boroughs	Barking Barnet Bexley Brent Bromley Camden Croydon Ealing Enfield Greenwich Hackney Hammersmith Haringey Harrow Havering Hillingdon Hounslow Islington Kensington and Chelsea Kingston upon Thames Lambeth Lewisham Merton Newham Redbridge Richmond upon Thames Southwark Sutton Tower Hamlets Waltham Forest Wandsworth Westminster
County boroughs	Cardiff Leeds Liverpool Merthyr Tydfil Newport Sheffield Swansea
City corporations	Aberdeen Dundee Edinburgh Glasgow
Elections in the London boroughs were due in May 1967, but were postponed one year by the London Government Act 1967.