1968 Leeds City Council election

Last updated

The 1968 Leeds municipal election was held on 9 May 1968. [1] 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. [2] [3]

Contents

In total ten wards were abolished, twelve created and eighteen remained.

The election followed national patterns [1] of the Conservatives inflicting resounding defeats upon the Labour party, winning representation in all but five wards with a crushing 75 seats at the hand of their highest vote since 1951 and a record vote share. [2] Labour representation was confined to City, East Hunslet, Holbeck and Middleton (although coming within a straw for the third seat in Whinmoor) as they picked up their lowest post-war vote and vote share. The Labour collapse also seen the smaller party make gains, as the Liberals won representation on the council for the first time in the post-war period [4] via comfortably winning the three newly created Castleton seats and the Communists, who fielded a full-slate for the first and only time, more than tripled their previous records in both vote share and vote figure. [2]

As a result, the Conservatives gained control of the council for the first time since 1952, with a whopping majority of 80. [4]

Election result

Leeds local election result 1968
PartySeatsGainsLossesNet gain/lossSeats %Votes %Votes+/−
  Conservative 7500083.361.377,221N/A
  Labour 1200013.327.935,200N/A
  Liberal 30003.34.55,672N/A
  Communist 00000.06.17,664N/A
  Independent Labour 00000.00.1176N/A
  National Front 00000.00.1115N/A

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
Conservatives4397525
Labour4119125
Liberals0030
Total84289030
112120
Working majority  2  -10  60  20 
 -8  80 

Ward results

Armley [2]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Conservative B. Stockwell2,76754.3N/A
Conservative H. Stephenson2,765
Conservative G. Atkinson2,711
Labour J. Bissell1,87936.9N/A
Labour K. Cohen1,859
Labour S. Lee1,656
Communist P. Wilton4518.8N/A
Majority 83217.4N/A
Turnout 5,097N/A
Conservative win (new seat)
Conservative win (new seat)
Conservative win (new seat)
Beeston [2]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Conservative J. Farrell3,20866.3N/A
Conservative L. Snape3,196
Conservative A. Hartley3,180
Labour F. Beevers1,45530.1N/A
Labour Harold Watson1,276
Labour G. Wood1,257
Communist E. Moore1723.6N/A
Majority 1,72536.3N/A
Turnout 4,835N/A
Conservative win (new seat)
Conservative win (new seat)
Conservative win (new seat)
Bramley [2]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Conservative J. Hart2,89257.2N/A
Conservative D. Armitage2,730
Conservative M. Robinson2,697
Labour Eric Atkinson1,78235.2N/A
Labour M. Chadwick1,537
Labour E. Donohoe1,306
Communist C. Moore3837.6N/A
Majority 91522.0N/A
Turnout 5,057N/A
Conservative win (new seat)
Conservative win (new seat)
Conservative win (new seat)
Burley [2]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Conservative P. Brown2,31861.9N/A
Conservative M. Davies2,284
Conservative D. Ramsden2,256
Labour V. Whelan1,19732.0N/A
Labour H. Waterman1,170
Labour K. Beaumont1,136
Communist T. Flynn2306.1N/A
Majority 1,05929.9N/A
Turnout 3,745N/A
Conservative win (new seat)
Conservative win (new seat)
Conservative win (new seat)
Burmantofts [2]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Conservative H. Flockton2,20649.8N/A
Conservative M. Baker2,064
Conservative Christine Thomas2,026
Labour Doreen Jenner1,90643.0N/A
Labour J. Moynihan1,683
Labour J. Klineberg1,664
Communist F. Stockdale3227.3N/A
Majority 1206.8N/A
Turnout 4,434N/A
Conservative win (new seat)
Conservative win (new seat)
Conservative win (new seat)
Castleton [2]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Liberal M. Renard1,63445.6N/A
Liberal Michael Meadowcroft 1,383
Liberal C. Tucker1,305
Labour N. Barrett93226.0N/A
Labour J. Underwood929
Labour A. Donohoe928
Conservative C. Mathers78722.0N/A
Conservative B. Pearce693
Conservative M. Thresh640
Communist J. Garscadden2316.4N/A
Majority 37319.6N/A
Turnout 3,584N/A
Liberal win (new seat)
Liberal win (new seat)
Liberal win (new seat)
Chapel Allerton [2]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Conservative L. Bellow4,16385.2N/A
Conservative J. Long4,063
Conservative Sydney Symmonds3,927
Labour L. Hammond54411.1N/A
Labour J. Moran307
Labour C. Say277
Communist L. Morris1823.7N/A
Majority 3,38373.9N/A
Turnout 4,889N/A
Conservative win (new seat)
Conservative win (new seat)
Conservative win (new seat)
City [2]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Labour W. Merritt1,49448.8N/A
Labour Ernest Morris1,432
Labour J. Wallbanks1,400
Conservative A. Hislop1,36444.5N/A
Conservative J. Cumberland1,352
Conservative J. Baines1,303
Communist T. Johnson2046.7N/A
Majority 364.2N/A
Turnout 3,062N/A
Labour win (new seat)
Labour win (new seat)
Labour win (new seat)
Cookridge [2]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Conservative Keith Loudon3,72173.6N/A
Conservative J. Lund3,696
Conservative D. Jenkins3,689
Liberal J. Davies62812.4N/A
Liberal D. Shearing552
Liberal B. Williams535
Labour J. McMurray50310.0N/A
Labour J. Roche469
Labour H. Bretherick429
Communist M. Monkman2024.0N/A
Majority 3,06161.2N/A
Turnout 5,054N/A
Conservative win (new seat)
Conservative win (new seat)
Conservative win (new seat)
East Hunslet [2]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Labour E. Haughton1,59262.0N/A
Labour W. Pepper1,526
Labour W. Parker1,516
Conservative I. Holmes77030.0N/A
Conservative E. Feather743
Conservative M. Howdill629
Communist D. Priscott2048.0N/A
Majority 74632.0N/A
Turnout 2,566N/A
Labour win (new seat)
Labour win (new seat)
Labour win (new seat)
Gipton [2]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Conservative A. Wood2,37555.4N/A
Conservative W. Buckland2,368
Conservative M. Suttenstall2,317
Labour F. Watson1,63338.1N/A
Labour D. Thomas1,545
Labour J. Anson1,442
Communist S. Jones2786.5N/A
Majority 68417.3N/A
Turnout 4,286N/A
Conservative win (new seat)
Conservative win (new seat)
Conservative win (new seat)
Halton [2]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Conservative S. Tomlinson4,53781.6N/A
Conservative R. Vaughan4,534
Conservative Martin Dodgson4,464
Labour W. Spence65411.8N/A
Labour Arthur Brown506
Labour B. Shearay473
Communist M. Johnson3726.7N/A
Majority 3,81069.8N/A
Turnout 5,563N/A
Conservative win (new seat)
Conservative win (new seat)
Conservative win (new seat)
Harehills [2]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Conservative Patrick Crotty2,38879.8N/A
Conservative J. White2,377
Conservative J. Astle2,357
Labour D. Wilson39513.2N/A
Labour O. Winship340
Labour W. Veritty235
Communist M. Tomplak2097.0N/A
Majority 1,96266.6N/A
Turnout 2,992N/A
Conservative win (new seat)
Conservative win (new seat)
Conservative win (new seat)
Headingley [2]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Conservative P. Godwin3,74971.7N/A
Conservative T. Bennett3,690
Conservative T. Kirkby3,657
Liberal J. Gibson65812.6N/A
Labour D. Jennings56310.8N/A
Labour J. McPheat496
Labour Albert Smith474
Liberal W. Trickett458
Liberal A. Wren424
Communist S. Walker2605.0N/A
Majority 2,99959.1N/A
Turnout 5,230N/A
Conservative win (new seat)
Conservative win (new seat)
Conservative win (new seat)
Holbeck [2]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Labour A. Beevers1,54854.9N/A
Labour W. Jones1,476
Labour T. Smith1,431
Conservative J. Bateman98434.9N/A
Conservative B. Rawson951
Conservative A. Cummings943
Communist E. Burwin28610.1N/A
Majority 44720.0N/A
Turnout 2,818N/A
Labour win (new seat)
Labour win (new seat)
Labour win (new seat)
Kirkstall [2]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Conservative T. Beevers3,53261.5N/A
Conservative R. Robertson3,394
Conservative J. Horrocks3,380
Labour D. Matthews1,89833.0N/A
Labour C. Collings1,815
Labour Joyce Gould 1,814
Communist J. McDermott3175.5N/A
Majority 1,48228.4N/A
Turnout 5,747N/A
Conservative win (new seat)
Conservative win (new seat)
Conservative win (new seat)
Middleton [2]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Labour J. Taylor1,60455.4N/A
Labour S. Binns1,521
Labour A. Malcolm1,446
Conservative B. Cresswell96933.5N/A
Conservative J. Challenor964
Conservative J. Johnson885
Communist D. Priscott32011.1N/A
Majority 47721.9N/A
Turnout 2,893N/A
Labour win (new seat)
Labour win (new seat)
Labour win (new seat)
Moortown [2]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Conservative R. Challenor3,48874.5N/A
Conservative Kenneth Davison3,444
Conservative A. Redmond3,414
Liberal E. Nevies54311.6N/A
Liberal C. Rowlands492
Labour B. Foxard46810.0N/A
Liberal Deryck Ernest Senior464
Labour C. Green384
Labour J. Hodkinson337
Communist T. Kelly1803.8N/A
Majority 2,87162.9N/A
Turnout 4,679N/A
Conservative win (new seat)
Conservative win (new seat)
Conservative win (new seat)
Osmondthorpe [2]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Conservative F. Brown1,69446.2N/A
Conservative Doreen Wood1,610
Conservative P. Lee1,592
Labour Douglas Gabb1,58643.3N/A
Labour P. Addlestone1,543
Labour W. Prichard1,487
Communist W. Rumbelow38510.5N/A
Majority 62.9N/A
Turnout 3,665N/A
Conservative win (new seat)
Conservative win (new seat)
Conservative win (new seat)
Richmond Hill [2]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Conservative S. Gill2,02455.2N/A
Conservative D. Eastham1,973
Conservative H. Levery1,962
Labour J. Mathers1,35036.8N/A
Labour Stan Cohen 1,336
Labour M. Fish1,288
Communist P. Fawcett2958.0N/A
Majority 61218.4N/A
Turnout 3,669N/A
Conservative win (new seat)
Conservative win (new seat)
Conservative win (new seat)
Roundhay [2]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Conservative G. Lax4,06787.8N/A
Conservative D. Wolstenholme4,058
Conservative A. Johnson3,927
Labour R. Gillinson3337.2N/A
Labour M. Brett331
Labour E. Kavanagh287
Communist C. MacRae2345.0N/A
Majority 3,59480.6N/A
Turnout 4,634N/A
Conservative win (new seat)
Conservative win (new seat)
Conservative win (new seat)
Scott Hall [2]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Conservative D. Altman1,43550.7N/A
Conservative J. Kruthhoffer1,409
Conservative V. Darnton1,384
Labour G. Gloom92732.8N/A
Labour R. Ellis909
Labour R. Sedler845
Liberal Dennis Pedder2819.9N/A
Liberal Albert Ingham255
Liberal R. Whitelock221
Communist A. Dale1856.5N/A
Majority 45718.0N/A
Turnout 2,828N/A
Conservative win (new seat)
Conservative win (new seat)
Conservative win (new seat)
Seacroft [2]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Conservative D. Ball1,82346.6N/A
Conservative M. Freegard1,774
Conservative E. McQuire1,763
Labour F. Booth1,73144.2N/A
Labour L. Jackson1,691
Labour E. Coward1,608
Communist H. Besser3599.2N/A
Majority 322.4N/A
Turnout 3,913N/A
Conservative win (new seat)
Conservative win (new seat)
Conservative win (new seat)
Stanningley [2]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Conservative K. Knapton2,22446.5N/A
Conservative A. Vickers2,207
Conservative I. Benton2,039
Labour Kevin Gould1,85138.7N/A
Labour F. Davis1,795
Labour Arthur Vollans1,697
Liberal F. Robertson48710.2N/A
Liberal A. Fleet478
Liberal J. Lavery458
Communist F. Sidebottom2204.6N/A
Majority 1887.8N/A
Turnout 4,782N/A
Conservative win (new seat)
Conservative win (new seat)
Conservative win (new seat)
Talbot [2]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Conservative L. Bidgood4,24987.1N/A
Conservative D. Bradley4,187
Conservative P. Brayshay4,181
Labour P. King4699.6N/A
Labour Joshua Walsh451
Labour M. Rooney418
Communist R. Dolan1633.3N/A
Majority 3,71277.4N/A
Turnout 4,881N/A
Conservative win (new seat)
Conservative win (new seat)
Conservative win (new seat)
Weetwood [2]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Conservative R. Hall4,55176.3N/A
Conservative F. Hall4,459
Conservative G. Somers4,432
Liberal W. Beaumont89615.0N/A
Liberal David Austwick 858
Liberal J. Grant823
Labour S. Hand2313.9N/A
Labour R. Pullan203
Labour V. Veritty201
Communist M. Kettle1742.9N/A
National Front P. Stone1151.9N/A
Majority 3,53661.3N/A
Turnout 5,967N/A
Conservative win (new seat)
Conservative win (new seat)
Conservative win (new seat)
West Hunslet [2]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Conservative P. Bennett1,76655.8N/A
Conservative K. Crosby1,741
Conservative W. Waddington1,736
Labour A. Tallant1,12235.5N/A
Labour Bernard Atha1,105
Labour Harry Booth1,094
Independent Labour A. Betts1765.6N/A
Independent Labour M. Wilson129
Independent Labour D. Kennally127
Communist J. McCarthy993.1N/A
Majority 61420.4N/A
Turnout 3,163N/A
Conservative win (new seat)
Conservative win (new seat)
Conservative win (new seat)
Whinmoor [2]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Conservative P. Clokie1,47948.9N/A
Conservative V. McNair1,427
Conservative Peggy White1,348
Labour M. Lawrence1,34844.5N/A
Labour J. Clore1,345
Labour Jim Marshall1,212
Communist J. Scawthorn1996.6N/A
Majority 04.3N/A
Turnout 3,026N/A
Conservative win (new seat)
Conservative win (new seat)
Conservative win (new seat)
Woodhouse [2]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Conservative A. Sexton2,48462.4N/A
Conservative May Sexton2,458
Conservative P. Fingret2,365
Labour P. Taylor1,12128.2N/A
Labour V. Zermansky966
Labour A. Baum961
Communist M. Moore3779.5N/A
Majority 1,24434.2N/A
Turnout 3,982N/A
Conservative win (new seat)
Conservative win (new seat)
Conservative win (new seat)
Wortley [2]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Conservative R. Treeman3,20764.1N/A
Conservative R. Beal3,115
Conservative F. Stubley3,114
Labour W. Thurlow1,08421.6N/A
Labour T. Cooke1,012
Labour W. Window962
Liberal J. Saxton54510.9N/A
Liberal Walter Holdsworth464
Liberal J. Crawshaw452
Communist G. McGowan1713.4N/A
Majority 20,3042.4N/A
Turnout 5,007N/A
Conservative win (new seat)
Conservative win (new seat)
Conservative win (new seat)

References

  1. 1 2 "British Markets in Nervous State". The New York Times . 13 May 1968. Retrieved 19 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 32 33 "Municipal results: Leeds". The Yorkshire Post . 10 May 1968.
  3. 1 2 Whitaker, Joseph (1968). Whitaker's Almanack 1968.
  4. 1 2 Sharpe, L.J. (1967). Voting in cities: the 1964 borough elections.