1973 United Kingdom local elections

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1973 United Kingdom local elections
Flag of the United Kingdom.svg
  1972 12 April 1973 (England & Wales)
1 May 1973 (Scotland)
10 May 1973 (England & Wales)
30 May 1973 (Northern Ireland)
7 June 1973 (England)
1974  

1 Unicameral area, all 6 metropolitan counties, all 39 non-metropolitan counties,
all 36 metropolitan boroughs, all 296 English districts, 1 sui generis authority,
all 26 Northern Irish districts, all 8 Welsh counties and all 37 Welsh districts
 Majority partyMinority partyThird party
  Harold Wilson (1967).jpg Heathdod.JPG
Leader Harold Wilson Edward Heath Jeremy Thorpe
Party Labour Conservative Liberal
Leader since14 February 196327 July 196518 January 1967

1973 United Kingdom local elections - England and Wales.svg
Map of the results of the elections in England and Wales, showing party control by district (left) and county (right).

The first elections to the new local authorities established by the Local Government Act 1972 in England and Wales and the new Northern Ireland district councils created by the Local Government Act (Northern Ireland) 1972 took place in 1973. Elections to the existing Greater London Council also took place. [1]

Contents

England and Wales

The elections took place on three dates: [2]

Elections took place for all the seats on the councils. In the case of the new councils, they became shadow authorities, taking over from the existing local authorities on 1 April 1974. The elections for the new councils had been brought forward from an originally planned date in November 1973, to allow the councils more time to act as shadow authorities - the final dates were set in May 1972. [3] [4]

The April elections

The elections held on 12 April saw a very impressive performance by the Labour Party, which regained control of the Greater London Council and took control of all six of the new metropolitan county councils. In the rest of England, they won seven county councils, including two of the new "estuary" counties: Cleveland and Humberside. The party also won Gwent and the three Glamorgan county councils (West Glamorgan, Mid Glamorgan, South Glamorgan) in Wales.

The poor Conservative vote in London and the metropolitan counties was somewhat compensated by winning thirteen of the non-metropolitan counties. Failure to gain Essex or Hertfordshire were disappointments to the party, but taking control of Gloucestershire was a success. The party also failed to gain its only realistic Welsh prospect, South Glamorgan.

There were no great successes for the Liberal party, which found itself in third place in all the metropolitan counties. They did however gain representation on the GLC for the first time, winning two seats at Sutton and Cheam and Richmond upon Thames. This followed the previous year's by-election success in winning the Sutton and Cheam parliamentary seat from the Conservatives.

Independents won two English counties outright: Cornwall and the Isle of Wight. They also formed the largest grouping on a number of other councils, and entered agreements with the Conservatives in the running of some of these. In Wales, Independents controlled three mainly rural counties. [5] [6]

The May elections

The results of the elections in May saw an improvement in the performance by the Conservatives since the county council elections, and a slight fall back in the Labour vote. The Liberals had a notable success, becoming the largest group on Liverpool council.

The Conservatives took control of five metropolitan districts, gaining seats in areas where they had been beaten in the elections to the county councils. They also gained one Welsh district, Monmouth.

The Labour party declared it was pleased with the results, especially as opinion polls had shown them losing support. They took control of most of the metropolitan districts, making a clean sweep of councils in Tyne and Wear and South Yorkshire and important councils such as Birmingham, Coventry and Manchester. Labour also took control of most districts in South Wales including Cardiff. The party's organiser for Wales also pointed to the fact that official Labour candidates won rural seats in north and west Wales for the first time.

Apart from forming a minority administration in Liverpool, the Liberals were able to hold the balance of power at Leeds, Stockport and Wirral. They were however disappointed with their performance at Calderdale which was won by Labour. [7]

The June elections

In the June elections for 296 non-metropolitan districts, Labour won control of 71, the Conservatives 59, the Liberals 1, Democratic Labour 1, and Independents 67. 97 councils were under no overall control: in many of these councils Conservative and Independent groups formed an administration.

The Labour party won 4,327 seats, the Conservatives 4,286, Independents 3,534, and the Liberals 919; with the remaining 449 seats going to various other groupings.

It was a good result for the Liberal party who took control of Eastbourne and became the largest group on Adur, Newbury, Pendle and Waverley councils. The other two main parties also had notable successes: Labour considered control of Cambridge, Dacorum, Ipswich and Oxford to be good results; while the Conservatives celebrated taking Gloucester, Great Yarmouth, Lewes and Warrington councils. [8] [9]

The break-away Lincoln Democratic Labour Association won twenty of the thirty seats on Lincoln District council. The group were supporters of Dick Taverne, member of parliament for Lincoln who had been expelled from the Labour Party. Taverne had earlier in the year resigned his seat to force a by-election in protest against his expulsion, which he won against the official Labour candidate.

Results

Metropolitan county councils

Council Con Lab Lib Ind OthersControl
Greater Manchester 23691310 Labour
Merseyside 26531901 [lower-alpha 1] Labour
South Yorkshire 1382140 Labour
Tyne and Wear 2674130 Labour
West Midlands 2674400 Labour
West Yorkshire 25511110 Labour

Non-metropolitan county councils

Council Con Lab Lib Ind OthersControlDetails
Avon 3632230 No overall control Details
Bedfordshire 3239831 [lower-alpha 1] No overall control Details
Berkshire 42261350 No overall control (Conservative-Independent) Details
Buckinghamshire 36184120 Conservative Details
Cambridgeshire 28225130 No overall control Details
Cheshire 3129160 No overall control Details
Cleveland 3552020 Labour Details
Cornwall 310750 Independent Details
Cumbria 3138160 No overall control Details
Derbyshire 2660570 Labour Details
Devon 542011120 Conservative Details
Dorset 471311200 Conservative Details
Durham 256670 Labour Details
East Sussex 4819980 Conservative Details
Essex 4740550 No overall control (Conservative minority) Details
Gloucestershire 3118570 Conservative Details
Hampshire 44276200 No overall control (Conservative-Independent) Details
Hereford and Worcester 37308170 No overall control (Conservative-Independent) Details
Hertfordshire 3333321 [lower-alpha 2] No overall control Details
Humberside 3651372 [lower-alpha 3] Labour Details
Isle of Wight 667230 Independent Details
Kent 6331720 Conservative Details
Lancashire 5233731 [lower-alpha 2] Conservative Details
Leicestershire 4137780 No overall control (Conservative-Independent) Details
Lincolnshire 34103220 No overall control Details
Norfolk 5227040 Conservative Details
North Yorkshire 391212290 No overall control (Conservative-Independent) Details
Northamptonshire 3846342 [lower-alpha 3] Labour Details
Northumberland 10280210 No overall control Details
Nottinghamshire 3554000 Labour Details
Oxfordshire 36210100 Conservative Details
Salop 14163300 No overall control Details
Somerset 3572120 Conservative Details
Staffordshire 2847190 Labour Details
Suffolk 4729303 Conservative Details
Surrey 4612950 Conservative Details
Warwickshire 2721520 No overall control Details
West Sussex 52107131 [lower-alpha 2] Conservative Details
Wiltshire 40226110 Conservative Details
  1. Vacancy
  2. 1 2 3 Ratepayers
  3. 1 2 Vacancies

Welsh county councils

Council Con Lab Lib PC Ind OthersControl
Clwyd 112040301 [lower-alpha 1] No overall control
Dyfed 02981401 [lower-alpha 2] Independent
Gwent 12593112 [lower-alpha 2] Labour
Gwynedd 0406560 Independent
Mid Glamorgan 3632662 [lower-alpha 3] Labour
Powys        Independent
South Glamorgan 35420030 Labour
West Glamorgan 9522142 [lower-alpha 4] Labour
  1. Vacancy
  2. 1 2 Ratepayers
  3. Communist
  4. 1 Progressive Labour, 1 Ratepayers

Greater London Council

Council Con Lab Lib Control
Greater London 32582 Labour

Metropolitan districts

CouncilCounty Con Lab Lib Ind OthersControlDetails
Barnsley South Yorkshire 057012 [lower-alpha 1] Labour Details
Birmingham West Midlands 4473900 Labour Details
Bolton Greater Manchester 3531210 Conservative Details
Bradford West Yorkshire 5331900 Conservative Details
Bury Greater Manchester 2120700 No overall control Details
Calderdale West Yorkshire1828500 Labour Details
Coventry West Midlands1242000 Labour Details
Doncaster South Yorkshire1243041 [lower-alpha 2] Labour Details
Dudley West Midlands2440111 [lower-alpha 3] Labour Details
Gateshead Tyne and Wear 671001 [lower-alpha 4] Labour Details
Kirklees West Yorkshire1845810 Labour Details
Knowsley Merseyside 652401 [lower-alpha 5] Labour Details
Leeds West Yorkshire38441400 No overall control Details
Liverpool Merseyside9424800 No overall control (Liberal minority) Details
Manchester Greater Manchester4059000 Labour Details
Newcastle upon Tyne Tyne and Wear2351130 Labour Details
North Tyneside Tyne and Wear1948740 Labour Details
Oldham Greater Manchester642513 [lower-alpha 6] Labour Details
Rochdale Greater Manchester1437900 Labour Details
Rotherham South Yorkshire350010 Labour Details
St Helens Merseyside936000 Labour Details
Salford Greater Manchester1550100 Labour Details
Sandwell West Midlands2466000 Labour Details
Sefton Merseyside3724323 [lower-alpha 7] Conservative Details
Sheffield South Yorkshire1869300 Labour Details
Solihull West Midlands2812290 Conservative Details
South Tyneside Tyne and Wear3450018 [lower-alpha 8] Labour Details
Stockport Greater Manchester27161340 No overall control (Conservative-Independent) Details
Sunderland Tyne and Wear2156010 Labour Details
Tameside Greater Manchester1438200 Labour Details
Trafford Greater Manchester32161200 Conservative Details
Wakefield West Yorkshire658011 Labour Details
Walsall West Midlands1144023 [lower-alpha 7] Labour Details
Wigan Greater Manchester566010 Labour Details
Wirral Merseyside29241300 No overall control Details
Wolverhampton West Midlands2040000 Labour Details
  1. 1 Independent Labour, 1 Democratic Labour
  2. Democratic Labour
  3. Independent Labour
  4. Rent and Ratepayers
  5. Kirkby Householders Federation
  6. Vacancies
  7. 1 2 Ratepayers
  8. Progressive

Welsh districts

CouncilCounty Con Lab Lib PC Ind OthersControl
Aberconwy Gwynedd 4300340 Independent
Alyn-Dee Clwyd 9254070 Labour
Afan West Glamorgan 0210009 [lower-alpha 1] Labour
Arfon Gwynedd0805270 Independent
Blaenau Gwent Gwent 03131115 [lower-alpha 2] Labour
Brecknock Powys 41710290 Independent
Cardiff South Glamorgan 33420000 Labour
Carmarthen Dyfed 0700281 [lower-alpha 3] Independent
Ceredigion Dyfed0490300 Independent
Colwyn Clwyd10100220 Independent
Cynon Valley Mid Glamorgan02301203 Labour
Delyn Clwyd11102260 Independent
Dinefwr Dyfed01710131 [lower-alpha 4] Labour
Dwyfor Gwynedd0001280 Independent
Glyndŵr Clwyd0300300 Independent
Islwyn Gwent0300231 [lower-alpha 5] Labour
Llanelli Dyfed0290040 Labour
Lliw Valley West Glamorgan0270230 Labour
Meirionnydd Gwynedd0000390 Independent
Merthyr Tydfil Mid Glamorgan0250413 Labour
Monmouth Gwent2990010 Conservative
Montgomery Powys0230440 Independent
Neath West Glamorgan0240225 [lower-alpha 6] Labour
Newport Gwent8362050 Labour
Ogwr Mid Glamorgan6421134 [lower-alpha 7] Labour
Preseli Dyfed0000430 Independent
Radnor Powys0000310 Independent
Rhondda Mid Glamorgan0300102 [lower-alpha 8] Labour
Rhuddlan Clwyd9410220 Independent
Rhymney Valley Mid Glamorgan0380424 [lower-alpha 3] Labour
South Pembrokeshire Dyfed0001300 Independent
Swansea West Glamorgan12301035 [lower-alpha 9] Labour
Taff-Ely Mid Glamorgan0304274 [lower-alpha 3] Labour
Torfaen Gwent0360025 [lower-alpha 10] Labour
Vale of Glamorgan South Glamorgan152300110 No overall control (Conservative-Independent)
Wrexham Maelor Clwyd42421140 Labour
Ynys Môn (Anglesey)Gwynedd0400410 Independent
  1. 5 Ratepayers, 3 Tenants Association, 1 Unofficial Labour
  2. 7 Independent Labour, 7 Ratepayers, 1 Tenants and Residents
  3. 1 2 3 Ratepayers
  4. Independent Socialist
  5. Communist
  6. 1 Ratepayers, 4 vacancies
  7. 3 Ratepayers, 1 Independent Labour
  8. 1 Ratepayers, 1 Communist
  9. 3 Independent Ratepayers, 2 Ratepayers
  10. 3 Rent and Ratepayers, Communist 2

Non-metropolitan districts

Avon
Council Con Lab Lib Ind OthersControlDetails
Bath 1917900 No overall control Details
Bristol 2556300 Labour Details
Kingswood 4196610 No overall control Details
Northavon 2619113 [lower-alpha 1] No overall control Details
Wansdyke 12220110 No overall control (Conservative-Independent) Details
Woodspring 4010380 Conservative Details
  1. 1 Residents Association, 2 vacancies
Bedfordshire
Council Con Lab Lib Ind ControlDetails
Bedford 2022212 No overall control (Conservative-Independent) Details
Luton 123060 Labour Details
Mid Bedfordshire 58135 Independent Details
South Bedfordshire 171387 No overall control Details
Berkshire
Council Con Lab Lib Ind OthersControlDetails
Bracknell 917113 [lower-alpha 1] Labour Details
Newbury 10124220 No overall control Details
Reading 16161400 No overall control Details
Slough 234400 Labour Details
Windsor and Maidenhead 533030 Conservative Details
Wokingham 23013151 [lower-alpha 1] No overall control (Conservative-Independent) Details
Buckinghamshire
Council Con Lab Lib Ind OthersControlDetails
Aylesbury Vale 10121310 Independent Details
Beaconsfield 271392 Conservative Details
Chiltern 2611077 [lower-alpha 1] Conservative Details
Milton Keynes 827050 Labour Details
Wycombe 30123104 Conservative Details
  1. 4 Residents, 3 Ratepayers
Cambridgeshire
Council Con Lab Lib Ind OthersControlDetails
Cambridge 1126500 Labour Details
East Cambridgeshire 010331 [lower-alpha 1] Independent Details
Fenland 1880140 No overall control (Conservative-Independent) Details
Huntingdon 1590260 Independent Details
Peterborough 1928100 Labour Details
South Cambridgeshire 073430 Independent Details
  1. Vacancy
Cheshire
Council Con Lab Lib Ind OthersControlDetails
Chester 4315040 Conservative Details
Congleton 20121111 [lower-alpha 1] No overall control Details
Crewe 2352210 Labour Details
Ellesmere Port 1427010 Labour Details
Halton 830131 [lower-alpha 2] Labour Details
Macclesfield 251010125 [lower-alpha 1] No overall control Details
Vale Royal 10166250 No overall control (Independent-Conservative) Details
Warrington 3222330 Conservative Details
  1. 1 2 Ratepayers
  2. Moderate Party
Cleveland
Council Con Lab Ind ControlDetails
Hartlepool 15301 Labour Details
Langbaurgh 27325 No overall control Details
Middlesbrough 17390 Labour Details
Stockton-on-Tees 25332 Labour Details
Cornwall
Council Con Lab Lib Ind ControlDetails
Caradon 00041 Independent Details
Carrick 45432 Independent Details
Kerrier 53034 Independent Details
North Cornwall 00323 Independent Details
Penwith 01138 Independent Details
Restormel 00236 Independent Details
Cumbria
Council Con Lab Lib Ind OthersControlDetails
Allerdale 4250270 No overall control (Independent-Conservative) Details
Barrow-in-Furness 625020 Labour Details
Carlisle 12251100 Labour Details
Copeland 6300120 Labour Details
Eden 000370 Independent Details
South Lakeland 727371 [lower-alpha 1] Independent Details
  1. Independent Conservative
Derbyshire
Council Con Lab Lib Ind OthersControlDetails
Amber Valley 4323021 Labour Details
Bolsover 128043 Labour Details
Chesterfield 745200 Labour Details
Derby 1434600 Labour Details
Erewash 936540 Labour Details
High Peak 23112100 No overall control (Conservative-Independent) Details
North East Derbyshire 1032090 Labour Details
South Derbyshire 4180130 Labour Details
West Derbyshire 1854130 No overall control (Conservative-Independent) Details
Devon
Council Con Lab Lib Ind OthersControlDetails
East Devon 1413420 Independent Details
Exeter 1413610 No overall control
North Devon 0115280 Independent Details
Plymouth 3729000 Conservative Details
South Hams 200400 Independent Details
Teignbridge 070481 [lower-alpha 1] Independent Details
Tiverton 035320 Independent Details
Torbay 306000 Conservative Details
Torridge 016290 Independent Details
West Devon 000300 Independent Details
  1. Independent Trade Unionist
Dorset
Council Con Lab Lib Ind OthersControlDetails
Bournemouth 3814320 Conservative Details
Christchurch 104510 No overall control (Conservative-Independent) Details
North Dorset 004270 Independent Details
Poole 223920 Conservative Details
Purbeck 530130 Independent Details
West Dorset 029440 Independent Details
Weymouth and Portland 1821000 Labour Details
Wimborne 209211 [lower-alpha 1] Independent Details
  1. Vacancy
Durham
Council Con Lab Lib Ind OthersControlDetails
Chester-le-Street 023640 Labour Details
Darlington 828850 Labour Details
Derwentside 145533 Labour Details
Durham 0407140 Labour Details
Easington 056031 [lower-alpha 1] Labour Details
Sedgefield 140480 Labour Details
Teesdale 000290 Independent Details
Wear Valley 0219101 [lower-alpha 2] Labour Details
  1. Independent Labour
  2. People's Representative
East Sussex
Council Con Lab Lib Ind OthersControlDetails
Brighton 3128000 Conservative Details
Eastbourne 1041900 Liberal Details
Hastings 1211910 No overall control Details
Hove 246033 [lower-alpha 1] Conservative Details
Lewes 2610065 [lower-alpha 2] Conservative Details
Rother 951300 Independent Details
Wealden 2512235 No overall control (Conservative-Independent) Details
  1. Vacancies
  2. Ratepayers
Essex
Council Con Lab Lib Ind OthersControlDetails
Basildon 931006 Labour Details
Braintree 14191211 [lower-alpha 1] No overall control (Independent-Conservative) Details
Brentwood 2411120 Conservative Details
Castle Point 1920000 Labour Details
Chelmsford 3116850 Conservative Details
Colchester 2827140 No overall control (Conservative-Independent) Details
Epping Forest 4410050 Conservative Details
Harlow 038400 Labour Details
Maldon 943140 No overall control Details
Rochford 1912180 No overall control Details
Southend-on-Sea 24131100 No overall control Details
Tendring 31411113 [lower-alpha 1] Conservative Details
Thurrock 1333030 Labour Details
Uttlesford 2172120 No overall control (Conservative-Independent) Details
Gloucestershire
Council Con Lab Lib Ind OthersControlDetails
Cheltenham 217422 [lower-alpha 1] Conservative Details
Cotswold 120420 Independent Details
Forest of Dean 0211250 No overall control Details
Gloucester 2112000 Conservative Details
Stroud 1414 [lower-alpha 2] 8173 [lower-alpha 3] No overall control Details
Tewkesbury 2203260 Independent Details
  1. Ratepayers
  2. Including 2 Labour & Co-Operative
  3. Vacancies
Hampshire
Council Con Lab Lib Ind OthersControlDetails
Basingstoke 18143200 No overall control (Independent-Conservative) Details
Eastleigh 1320540 No overall control Details
Fareham 1625211 [lower-alpha 1] No overall control (Conservative-Ratepayers) Details
Gosport 919021 [lower-alpha 1] Labour Details
Hartley Wintney 700233 Independent Details
Havant 8810412 [lower-alpha 1] No overall control Details
New Forest 1215373 Independent Details
Petersfield 1660200 No overall control Details
Portsmouth 2817030 Conservative Details
Rushmoor 209707 [lower-alpha 1] No overall control Details
Southampton 2031000 Labour Details
Test Valley 1057210 No overall control Details
Winchester 1455252 [lower-alpha 2] No overall control (Conservative-Independent) Details
Hereford and Worcester
Council Con Lab Lib Ind OthersControlDetails
Bromsgrove 2513004 [lower-alpha 1] Conservative Details
Hereford 010833 [lower-alpha 2] No overall control Details
Leominster 120330 Independent Details
Malvern Hills 1211823 No overall control Details
Redditch 619000 No overall control Details
South Herefordshire 100350 Independent Details
Worcester 1818000 No overall control Details
Wychavon 1042290 Independent Details
Wyre Forest 3020912 [lower-alpha 1] No overall control Details
  1. 1 2 Ratepayers
  2. Independent Conservative
Hertfordshire
Council Con Lab Lib Ind OthersControlDetails
Broxbourne 2812000 Conservative Details
Dacorum 2633030 Labour Details
East Hertfordshire 16100166 No overall control (Conservative-Independent) Details
Hertsmere 25171300 No overall control Details
North Hertfordshire 2317071 [lower-alpha 1] No overall control Details
St Albans 3214710 Conservative Details
Stevenage 331000 Labour Details
Three Rivers 19121300 No overall control Details
Watford 921600 Labour Details
Welwyn Hatfield 1924000 Labour Details
Humberside
Council Con Lab Lib Ind OthersControlDetails
Beverley 1617360 Independent Details
Boothferry 450260 Independent Details
Cleethorpes 9146190 No overall control (Independent-Conservative) Details
Glanford 010330 Independent Details
Grimsby 1420710 No overall control Details
Holderness 000290 Independent Details
Kingston-upon-Hull 855000 Labour Details
North Wolds 321370 Independent Details
Scunthorpe 435001 [lower-alpha 1] Labour Details
  1. Independent Labour
Isle of Wight
Council Con Lab Lib Ind OthersControlDetails
Medina 3104133 [lower-alpha 1] No overall control Details
South Wight 101220 Independent Details
Kent
Council Con Lab Lib Ind OthersControlDetails
Ashford 2281040 No overall control (Conservative-Independent) Details
Canterbury 345253 [lower-alpha 1] Conservative Details
Dartford 1430000 Labour Details
Dover 2921050 Conservative Details
Gillingham 1314800 No overall control Details
Gravesham 1528001 [lower-alpha 1] Labour Details
Maidstone 13121997 No overall control Details
Medway 2232500 Labour Details
Sevenoaks 2866140 Conservative Details
Shepway 3312180 Conservative Details
Swale 1725350 No overall control Details
Thanet 33145110 Conservative Details
Tonbridge and Malling 3011840 Conservative Details
Tunbridge Wells 297290 Conservative Details
Lancashire
Council Con Lab Lib Ind OthersControlDetails
Blackburn 19271130 No overall control Details
Blackpool 4010330 Conservative Details
Burnley 1239120 Labour Details
Chorley 1721072 [lower-alpha 1] No overall control Details
Fylde 282249 Conservative Details
Hyndburn 2124300 No overall control Details
Lancaster 3218163 [lower-alpha 2] Conservative Details
Pendle 6192327 No overall control Details
Preston 1938000 Labour Details
Ribble Valley 301070 Conservative Details
Rossendale 1715400 No overall control Details
South Ribble 3016210 Conservative Details
West Lancashire 10233140 No overall control Details
Wyre 452080 Conservative Details
  1. Independent Labour
  2. Ratepayers
Leicestershire
Council Con Lab Lib Ind OthersControlDetails
Blaby 807200 Independent Details
Bosworth 4148130 No overall control Details
Charnwood 28145130 No overall control (Conservative-Independent) Details
Harborough 3728200 Conservative Details
Leicester 1137000 Labour Details
Melton 122064 No overall control Details
North West Leicestershire 8250100 Labour Details
Oadby and Wigston 187530 Conservative Details
Rutland 000200 Independent Details
Lincolnshire
Council Con Lab Lib Ind OthersControlDetails
Boston 955150 No overall control (Independent-Conservative) Details
East Lindsey 513544 [lower-alpha 1] Non Party Details
Lincoln 610320 [lower-alpha 2] Democratic Labour Details
North Kesteven 820270 Independent Details
South Holland 620270 Independent Details
South Kesteven 13120921 No overall control Details
West Lindsey 156250 Independent Details
  1. 2 Independent Conservative, 42 others
  2. Democratic Labour
Norfolk
Council Con Lab Lib Ind OthersControlDetails
Breckland 19100211 [lower-alpha 1] No overall control (Independent-Conservative) Details
Broadland 1960240 No overall control (Independent-Conservative) Details
Great Yarmouth 2617230 Conservative Details
Norwich 1137000 Labour Details
Pastonacres 640370 Independent Details
South Norfolk 671330 Independent Details
West Norfolk 14220240 No overall control (Independent-Conservative) Details
  1. Independent Conservative
North Yorkshire
Council Con Lab Lib Ind OthersControlDetails
Craven 146960 No overall control (Conservative-Independent) Details
Hambleton 411420 Independent Details
Harrogate 3521571 [lower-alpha 1] Conservative Details
Richmondshire 000350 Independent Details
Ryedale 050400 Independent Details
Scarborough 15511161 [lower-alpha 1] No overall control Details
Selby 1670201 [lower-alpha 1] Independent Details
York 1717500 No overall control Details
  1. 1 2 3 Vacancy
Northamptonshire
Council Con Lab Lib Ind OthersControlDetails
Corby 129021 [lower-alpha 1] Labour Details
Daventry 1690100 No overall control (Conservative-Independent) Details
East Northamptonshire 5140017 No overall control Details
Kettering 1416780 No overall control Details
Northampton 2325000 Labour Details
South Northamptonshire 1522170 No overall control (Independent-Conservative) Details
Wellingborough 1413051 [lower-alpha 2] No overall control Details
  1. Independent Socialist
  2. Ratepayers
Northumberland
Council Con Lab Lib Ind OthersControlDetails
Alnwick 040240 Independent Details
Berwick-upon-Tweed 020260 Independent Details
Blyth Valley 52912122 Labour Details
Castle Morpeth 1172131 [lower-alpha 1] No overall control (Independent-Conservative) Details
Tynedale 4103253 Independent Details
Wansbeck 044010 Labour Details
Nottinghamshire
Council Con Lab Ind OthersControlDetails
Ashfield 15220 Labour Details
Bassetlaw 1129101 Labour Details
Broxtowe 242011 [lower-alpha 1] Conservative Details
Gedling 321904 [lower-alpha 2] Conservative Details
Mansfield 73800 Labour Details
Newark 202930 Labour Details
Nottingham 104400 Labour Details
Rushcliffe 42331 Conservative Details
  1. Socialist Independent
  2. Independent Ratepayers
Oxfordshire
Council Con Lab Lib Ind OthersControlDetails
Cherwell 15160140 No overall control (Conservative-Independent) Details
Oxford 1230300 Labour Details
Vale of White Horse 2783100 Conservative Details
Wallingford 2597201 [lower-alpha 1] No overall control (Conservative-Independent) Details
West Oxfordshire 171351 [lower-alpha 2] Independent Details
  1. Progressive Independent
  2. Independent Liberal
Salop
Council Con Lab Lib Ind OthersControlDetails
Bridgnorth 001310 Independent Details
North Shropshire 012360 Independent Details
Oswestry 013180 Independent Details
Shrewsbury 12157110 No overall control Details
South Shropshire 001350 Independent Details
Wrekin 8320141 [lower-alpha 1] Labour Details
  1. Independent Labour
Somerset
Council Con Lab Lib Ind OthersControlDetails
Mendip 1172231 [lower-alpha 1] Independent Details
Sedgemoor 19143120 No overall control Details
Taunton Deane 21140130 No overall control Details
West Somerset 311270 Independent Details
Yeovil 2082300 No overall control (Independent-Conservative) Details
  1. Vacancy
Staffordshire
Council Con Lab Lib Ind OthersControlDetails
Cannock Chase 136000 Labour Details
East Staffordshire 22240140 No overall control (Conservative-Independent) Details
Lichfield 17250111 [lower-alpha 1] No overall control Details
Newcastle-under-Lyme 15312140 No overall control Details
South Staffordshire 2281152 No overall control (Conservative-Independent) Details
Stafford 18150231 [lower-alpha 2] No overall control Details
Staffordshire Moorlands 12142260 No overall control (Independent minority) Details
Stoke-on-Trent 860310 Labour Details
Tamworth 018060 Labour Details
  1. Ratepayers
  2. Independent Labour
Suffolk
Council Con Lab Lib Ind OthersControlDetails
Babergh 7110200 Independent Details
Forest Heath 1200310 [lower-alpha 1] No overall control (Conservative-Independent) Details
Ipswich 1136000 Labour Details
Mid Suffolk 691240 Independent Details
St Edmundsbury 2611061 [lower-alpha 2] Conservative Details
Suffolk Coastal 2790181 [lower-alpha 2] No overall control Details
Waveney 2227520 No overall control Details
  1. 9 others, 1 vacancy
  2. 1 2 Independent Conservative
Surrey
Council Con Lab Lib Ind OthersControlDetails
Elmbridge 3975014 [lower-alpha 1] Conservative Details
Epsom and Ewell 030037 [lower-alpha 1] Ratepayers Details
Guildford 296520 Conservative Details
Mole Valley 163599 [lower-alpha 2] No overall control Details
Reigate and Banstead 2915420 Conservative Details
Runnymede 2315020 Conservative Details
Spelthorne 3913000 Conservative Details
Surrey Heath 350010 Conservative Details
Tandridge 2631030 Conservative Details
Waverley 2822560 No overall control Details
Woking 1912100 Conservative Details
Warwickshire
Council Con Lab Lib Ind OthersControlDetails
North Warwickshire 819042 [lower-alpha 1] Labour Details
Nuneaton 726200 Labour Details
Rugby 2218323 [lower-alpha 1] No overall control Details
Stratford-on-Avon 1525320 Independent Details
Warwick 2625700 No overall control Details
West Sussex
Council Con Lab Lib Ind OthersControlDetails
Adur 1361604 [lower-alpha 1] No overall control Details
Arun 334451 Conservative Details
Chichester 1816223 [lower-alpha 2] No overall control Details
Crawley 525011 [lower-alpha 3] Labour Details
Horsham 1802230 Independent Details
Mid Sussex 2535210 No overall control (Conservative-Independent) Details
Worthing 1710120 Conservative Details
  1. Shoreham Beach Residents Association
  2. Residents
  3. Ratepayers
Wiltshire
Council Con Lab Lib Ind OthersControlDetails
Kennet 702280 Independent Details
North Wiltshire 2447110 Conservative Details
Salisbury 16138174 [lower-alpha 1] No overall control Details
Thamesdown 1826020 Labour Details
West Wiltshire 13102170 No overall control (Independent-Conservative) Details
  1. 2 Ratepayers, 2 vacancies

Future elections

The next county council elections took place in 1977.

Future elections to Metropolitan District councils were to be by thirds, with the one third of seats being elected in 1975.

The next election of non-metropolitan district councils and Welsh district councils was to in 1976. [10]

Northern Ireland

Local government in Northern Ireland was reorganised in 1973 by the Local Government (Boundaries) Act (Northern Ireland) 1971 and the Local Government Act (Northern Ireland) 1972. The county councils, county borough and municipal borough corporations and urban and rural district councils were replaced by twenty-six Local Government districts. Elections took place for all the seats on the district councils on 30 May, and the councils came into their power in 1 October. [11] [12] [13] [14]

DistrictOfficial
Unionist
Democratic
Unionist
Vanguard
Unionist
Loyalist
Coalition
Independent
Unionist
SDLPRepublican
Clubs
Nationalist
and Unity
Parties
AllianceNorthern Ireland
Labour Party
OthersControl
Antrim 8110110020Independent 2NOC (Unionist)
Ards 11001100021Independent 1Official Unionist
Armagh 10200141010Independent 1NOC (Unionist)
Ballymena 9510000010Independent 2

Non-Party 3

NOC (Unionist)
Ballymoney 4102200001Independent 1
Non-Party 5
NOC
Banbridge 8000310000Independent 3NOC (Unionist)
Belfast 25210272082Unionist Loyalist 2NOC (Unionist)
Carrickfergus 5000000010Unionist Loyalist 5

Loyalist 1
Non-Party 1

NOC (Unionist)
Castlereagh 8001200050Unionist Loyalist 2
Independent 1
NOC (Unionist)
Coleraine 12000210030Independent 1
Non-party 1
Official Unionist
Cookstown 7001131000Independent 1
Non-Party 1
NOC (Unionist)
Craigavon 7323320040Independent 1NOC (Unionist)
Down 8010080020Independent 1NOC
Dungannon 11000050Unity 2
Republican 2
000Official Unionist
Fermanagh 5000340Unity 400Independent 1
Unionist Unity 2
Non-Party 1
NOC
Larne 1008000030Independent 2
Non-Party 1
Loyalist
Limavady 0000040020United Unionists 8
Independent 1
United Unionists
Lisburn 144100100300Official Unionist
Londonderry 000United Loyalists 90101Nationalist 3000NOC (Nationalist)
Magherafelt 401United Loyalist 1061000Independent 1NOC
Moyle 4000120000Independent 5
Non-Party 4
NOC
Newry and Mourne 30000132000Non-Party 6
Independent 2
NOC
Newtownabbey 9300Unionist 3
United Loyalist 1
Loyalist 1
000310NOC (Unionist)
North Down 900Loyalist 30007000NOC
Omagh 6000Unionist Unity 240Nationalist 1
Official Republican 1
003 Non-Party CommunityNOC
Strabane 600Unionist Coalition 1040000Independent 2NOC

Scotland

Local elections were also held in Scotland in 1973. At the time of the election, Scotland was the only part of the UK in which local government had yet to be reformed, with the Local Government (Scotland) Act 1973 only receiving Royal Assent in October 1973. The election saw Labour maintaining their control of Aberdeen, Glasgow, and Dundee, although failing to make gains in Edinburgh.

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References

  1. Rallings, Colin; Thrasher, Michael. Local Elections Handbook 1973. The Elections Centre. Retrieved 3 May 2016.
  2. "Council compositions". The Elections Centre. Retrieved 3 May 2016.
  3. "Councils offered five more months before changes". The Times . 18 February 1972.
  4. "Election dates in 1973 for new local councils". The Times . 26 May 1972.
  5. "Labour sweep to victory in London and all six of the metropolitan counties". The Times . 13 April 1973.
  6. "Labour take over metropolitan counties and 11 other councils". The Times . 14 April 1973.
  7. "Three major parties find cause for satisfaction in local election results despite low poll". The Times . 14 May 1973.
  8. "Final poll result may lie with Independents". The Times . 8 June 1973.
  9. "Liberals capture Eastbourne and exceed ambition to win 1,000 local government seats". The Times . 8 June 1973.
  10. Local Government Act 1972, sections 7 and 26
  11. Damkat, Ivo (29 October 2003). "The 1973 Local Government Elections". www.ark.ac.uk. Economic and Social Research Council.
  12. "Big Roman Catholic turnout in poll despite threats". The Times . 31 May 1973.
  13. "Party accused over Ulster poll". The Times . 31 May 1973.
  14. "Unionist supporters elect many hard-line men in Ulster local government poll". The Times . 2 June 1973.