1976 United Kingdom local elections

Last updated

1976 United Kingdom local elections
Flag of the United Kingdom.svg
  1975 6 May 1976 1977  

All 36 metropolitan boroughs, all 296 English districts and all 37 Welsh districts
 Majority partyMinority partyThird party
  Margaret Thatcher at White House (cropped).jpg Persconferentie na afloop Overleg van de 9 , Den Haag Callaghan (oa met Enge, Bestanddeelnr 928-9157 (crop).jpg No image.svg
Leader Margaret Thatcher James Callaghan Jeremy Thorpe
Party Conservative Labour Liberal
Leader since11 February 19755 April 197618 January 1967
Councillors8,0874,467827
Councillors +/-Increase2.svg 1,745Decrease2.svg 1,309Decrease2.svg 223

Local elections were held in the United Kingdom on 6 May 1976. Elections were for one third of the seats on Metropolitan borough councils and for all seats on Non-Metropolitan district councils in England; and for all seats on the Welsh district councils. [1] [2]

Contents

The elections were the first electoral test for the new Prime Minister James Callaghan, and were a major reverse for the ruling Labour Party. The opposition Conservative party made large gains of seats and control of councils at the expense of both Labour and the Liberal Party. [3] [4] [5] [6] [7] [8]

The Conservatives easily gained control of their principal target council, Birmingham. The new administration in the city pledged to reintroduce the sale of council houses, which had been stopped by the previous Labour-controlled council. [9] Control of another five metropolitan borough councils were gained by the Conservatives at Labour's expense. The party also gained numerous non-metropolitan districts, including large towns and cities such as Derby, Exeter, Ipswich, Leicester, Luton, Milton Keynes, Oxford, Peterborough and York.

Major English councils held by Labour included Manchester, Norwich, Nottingham and Stoke-on-Trent.

Break-away groups from the official Labour Party achieved success in two districts. The Lincoln Democratic Labour Association retained control of the city council. The association had been formed following the expulsion of local member of parliament, Dick Taverne from the party. [10] In Blyth Valley the Independent Labour Party gained nine seats from the official Labour candidates. The ILP were supporters of Eddie Milne, former MP for Blyth. Milne had been expelled from Labour in April 1974. [11] Labour lost control of North East Derbyshire, where all the party's seats in Clay Cross passed to Ratepayer candidates. The town had been the scene of a dispute between the former urban district council and the government over the Housing Finance Act.

The Liberals lost control of their only local authority, Liverpool City Council. Labour became the largest party on the council, which was under no overall control.

In Wales, the dominant position of Labour was overturned. Major Labour losses were Cardiff and Newport to the Conservatives, Swansea to Ratepayers and Merthyr Tydfil to Plaid Cymru. [12]

Summary of results

England

Metropolitan boroughs

DistrictCountyConservativeLabourLiberalIndependentOtherControlDetails
Barnsley South Yorkshire 139 (-4)5 (+3)0Ratepayers 11

Independent Labour 4 (+1)

Labour hold Details
Birmingham West Midlands 66 (+11)52 (-11)800Conservative gain from Labour Details
Bolton Greater Manchester 43 (+3)20 (-3)2 (-1)4 (+1)0Conservative hold Details
Bradford West Yorkshire 61 (+4)27 (-1)5 (-3)00Conservative hold Details
Bury Greater Manchester 36 (+8)11 (-5)1 (-3)00Conservative hold Details
Calderdale West Yorkshire34 (+6)13 (-5)4 (-1)00Conservative hold Details
Coventry West Midlands26 (+5)28 (-5)000Labour hold Details
Doncaster South Yorkshire17 (+2)35 (-5)04 (+1)Ratepayers 3 (+2)

Democratic Labour 1

Labour hold Details
Dudley West Midlands37 (+8)26 (-9)2 (+1)0Independent Socialist 1Conservative gain from Labour Details
Gateshead Tyne and Wear 13 (+2)59 (-4)4 (+1)1 (+1)Rent and Ratepayers 1Labour hold Details
Kirklees West Yorkshire38 (+10)25 (-11)9 (+2)0 (-1)0Conservative gain from Labour Details
Knowsley Merseyside 17 (+5)42 (-4)2 (-1)0Kirkby Householders Federation 2Labour hold Details
Leeds West Yorkshire50 (+7)38 (-3)8 (-4)00Conservative gain from NOC Details
Liverpool Merseyside17 (+3)4240 (-3)00NOC Details
Manchester Greater Manchester4554000Labour hold Details
Newcastle upon Tyne Tyne and Wear29 (+2)44 (-3)3 +120Labour hold Details
North Tyneside Tyne and Wear28 (+4)44 (-2)8 (-2)40Labour hold Details
Oldham Greater Manchester28 (+13)20 (-10)8 (-3)10Labour lose to NOC Details
Rochdale Greater Manchester31 (+7)19 (-8)10 (+1)00Conservative gain from NOC Details
Rotherham South Yorkshire645030Labour hold Details
St Helens Merseyside19 (+4)25 (-4)100Labour hold Details
Salford Greater Manchester24 (+3)38 (-4)20Tenants & Ratepayers 2 (+1)Labour Details
Sandwell West Midlands39 (+7)51 (-7)000Labour hold Details
Sefton Merseyside432131Ratepayers 1Conservative hold Details
Sheffield South Yorkshire22 (+2)63 (-3)5 (+1)00Labour Details
Solihull West Midlands34 (+4)12 (-1)1Independent Resident 4 (-3)0Conservative hold Details
South Tyneside Tyne and Wear434 (-1)30Progressive 24 (+1)Labour hold Details
Stockport Greater Manchester39 (+5)11 (-1)7 (-3)3 (-1)0Conservative hold Details
Sunderland Tyne and Wear26 (+3)49 (-3)210Labour hold Details
Tameside Greater Manchester29 (+5)22 (-5)20Independent Labour 1Conservative gain from Labour Details
Trafford Greater Manchester47 (+5)12 (-1)4 (-4)00Conservative hold Details
Wakefield West Yorkshire15 (+4)42 (-6)02Ratepayer 7 (+2)Labour hold Details
Walsall West Midlands2028 (-3)13 (+1)Ratepayers 7 (+2)

Independent Labour 1

Labour lose to NOC Details
Wigan Greater Manchester14 (+4)56 (-5)11 (+1)0Labour hold Details
Wirral Merseyside4218600Conservative hold Details
Wolverhampton West Midlands24 (+3)34 (-4)00Ratepayers 2 (+1)Labour hold Details
Totals1064 (+149)1199 (-141)154 (-19)30(0)68 (+10)

District councils

A

DistrictCountyConservativeLabourLiberalIndependentOtherControlDetails
Adur West Sussex 16 (+4)2 (-1)17 (-3)20Liberals lose to NOC Details
Allerdale Cumbria 10 (+5)23 (-3)023 (-2)0Conservative - Independent hold Details
Alnwick Northumberland 8 (+2)3 (-2)1 (+1)21 (-1)Independent Labour 0 (-1)

1 vacancy

Independent hold Details
Amber Valley Derbyshire 218 (-13)14 (+11)26 (+2)0Labour lose to NOC Details
Arun West Sussex51 (+17)1 (-3)5 (+1)2 (-9)Ratepayers 1 (-6)Conservative hold Details
Ashfield Nottinghamshire 22201Ratepayers 8Labour hold Details
Ashford Kent 30783Ratepayers 1
True Liberals 1
4 vacancies
Conservative hold Details
Aylesbury Vale Buckinghamshire 289218Ratepayers 1Independent lose to NOC Details

† New ward boundaries

B

DistrictCountyConservativeLabourLiberalIndependentOtherControlDetails
Babergh Suffolk 7110200Independent Details
Barrow-in-Furness Cumbria19 (+14)12 (-14)020Conservative gain from Labour Details
Basildon Essex 17 (+6)23 (-6)006Labour hold Details
Basingstoke Hampshire 3514190Conservative gain from NOC Details
Bassetlaw Nottinghamshire24 (+12)18 (-11)07 (-3)Ratepayers 2 (+2)Labour lose to NOC Details
Bath Avon 3513000Conservative gain from NOC Details
Beaconsfield Buckinghamshire32 (+7)0 (-2)0 (-3)55 (-2)Conservative hold Details
Berwick-upon-TweedNorthumberland033210Independent hold Details
Beverley Humberside 44 (+28)1 (-4)312 (-24)0Conservative gain from Independent Details
Blaby Leicestershire 21 (+7)01 (-4)12 (-4)Ratepayers 3 (+1)Conservative gain from Independent Details
Blackburn Lancashire 27 (+8)17 (-10)8 (-3)0Ratepayers 6 (+3)

National Party 2 (+2)

NOC Details
BlackpoolLancashire356300Conservative hold Details
Blyth Valley Northumberland6231212Independent Labour 11

5 vacancies

Labour hold Details
Bolsover Nottinghamshire4 (+3)25 (-4)07 (+1)0Labour hold Details
Boothferry Humberside 123019Ratepayers 1Independent hold Details
Boston Lincolnshire 13 (+3)3 (-2)3 (-1)13 (-1)Independent with Ratepayer support 2 (+1)NOC (Independent-Conservative) Details
Bournemouth Dorset 43 (+5)6 (-7)26 (+2)0Conservative hold Details
Bracknell Berkshire 27 (+14)3 (-12)1 (-2)00Conservative gain from Labour Details
Braintree Essex 39 (+19)8 (-14)1 (-2)0Ratepayers 10 (-3)Conservative gain from NOC Details
Breckland Norfolk 21 (+2)9 (-1)020 (-2)Ratepayers 1 (+1)NOC Details
Brentwood Lincolnshire 344100Conservative hold Details
Bridgnorth Salop 2 (+2)24 (+1)24 (-3)0Independent hold Details
Brighton East Sussex 44 (+12)15 (-12)000Conservative hold Details
Bristol Avon 34 (+9)47 (-9)300Labour hold Details
Broadland Norfolk 29 (+8)1 (-5)2 (+1)17 (-3)Ratepayers 0 (-1)Conservative gain from NOC Details
Bromsgrove Hereford and Worcester 32 (+7)8 (-5)00Ratepayers 2 (-2)Conservative hold Details
Broxbourne Hertfordshire 366000Conservative hold Details
Broxtowe Nottinghamshire 3711010Conservative hold Details
Burnley Lancashire 1239120Labour hold Details

† New ward boundaries

C

DistrictCountyConservativeLabourLiberalIndependentOtherControlDetails
Cambridge Cambridgeshire 24 (+13)16 (-10)2 (-3)00Conservative gain from Labour Details
Cannock Chase Staffordshire 1824000Labour hold Details
Canterbury Kent 46 (+9)1 (-6)01 (-2)2 (-1)Conservative hold Details
Caradon Cornwall 01 (+1)039 (-2)Mebyon Kernow 1 (+1)Independent hold Details
Carlisle Cumbria22 (+4)22 (-2)13 (-2)0Labour lose to NOC Details
Carrick Cornwall9 (+4)4 (-1)428 (-3)0Independent hold Details
Castle MorpethNorthumberland952150NOC Details
Castle Point Essex35 (+16)3 (-15)00 (-1)0Conservative gain from NOC Details
Charnwood Leicestershire42 (+8)13 (-1)2 (-3)1 (-4)0Conservative hold Details
ChelmsfordEssex463920Conservative hold Details
Cheltenham Gloucestershire 22 (+1)2 (-5)41Ratepayers Association 6 (+4)Conservative hold Details
Cherwell Oxfordshire 26 (+10)10 (-6)08 (-4)1 VacancyConservative gain from NOC Details
Chester Cheshire 44 (+3)10 (-5)2 (+1)1 (-3)Ratepayers 5 (+4)Conservative hold Details
Chesterfield Derbyshire14 (+6)36 (-7)21 (+1)Independent Labour 1Labour hold Details
Chester-le-Street Durham 022 (-2)65 (+2)0Labour hold Details
Chichester West Sussex33 (+18)01 (-5)11 (-11)Residents 5 (+2)Conservative hold Details
Chiltern Buckinghamshire 396140Conservative hold Details
Chorley Lancashire 331102Independent Labour 1Conservative gain from NOC Details
Christchurch Dorset 18 (+1)400 (-1)0Conservative hold Details
Cleethorpes Humberside 13 (+4)135 (-2)15 (-2)Ratepayers 1
Independent Socialist 1
NOC Details
Colchester Essex 391801Ratepayers 2Conservative gain from NOC Details
Congleton Cheshire 30527Ratepayers 1Conservative gain from NOC Details
Copeland Cumbria 15 (+6)22 (-10)07Tenants and Ratepayers Association 3 (+3)

Community Association 1 (+1)

Labour lose to NOC Details
Corby Northamptonshire 1610010Conservative gain from Labour Details
Cotswold Gloucestershire 4 (+3)0 (-1)041 (-2)0Independent hold Details
Craven North Yorkshire 21 (+7)2 (-3)5 (-4)6Independent Socialist 1Conservative gain from NOC Details
Crawley West Sussex 11 (+11)14 (-11)000Labour hold Details
Crewe Cheshire 28 (+21)24 (-9)0 (-2)4 (-14)Ratepayers and Residents 4 (+4)Labour lose to NOC Details

† New ward boundaries

D

DistrictCountyConservativeLabourLiberalIndependentOtherControlDetails
Dacorum Hertfordshire 38 (+11)21 (-10)0 (-1)30Conservative gain from Labour Details
Darlington Durham 30 (+22)15 (-13)0 (-8)4 (-1)0Conservative gain from Labour Details
Dartford Kent 2025000Labour hold Details
Daventry Northamptonshire24 (+8)2 (-6)09 (-2)0Conservative gain from NOC Details
Derby Derbyshire28 (+14)26 (-8)0 (-6)00Conservative gain from Labour Details
Derwentside Durham2 (+1)39 (-6)5 (+2)9 (+3)0Labour hold Details
Dover Kent36 (+5)17 (-5)020Conservative hold Details
Durham Durham034 (-7)10 (+3)16 (+3)Independent Labour 1 (+1)Labour hold Details

† New ward boundaries

E

DistrictCountyConservativeLabourLiberalIndependentOtherControlDetails
Easington Durham1 (+1)45 (-8)4 (+4)5 (+3)Independent Labour 5Labour hold Details
East Cambridgeshire Cambridgeshire3 (+2)1 (-1)029 (-1)Independent Socialist 1

Independent Conservative 2

Independent hold Details
East Devon Devon 44 (+31)1013 (-31)0Conservative gain from Independent Details
East Hampshire Hampshire31 (+14)0 (-5)011 (-9)0Conservative gain from NOC Details
East Hertfordshire Hertfordshire28 (+12)1 (-9)00 (-5)Ratepayers 8 (+2)Conservative gain from NOC Details
East Lindsey Lincolnshire10 (+5)12 (-2)45 (-3)0Independent hold Details
East Northamptonshire Northamptonshire28 (+8)6 (-9)03 (+1)0Conservative hold Details
East Staffordshire Staffordshire37 (+17)12 (-14)1 (+1)10 (-4)0Conservative gain from Conservative-Independent Details
EastbourneEast Sussex254100NOC Details
Eastleigh HampshireConservative gain Details
Eden Cumbria00026 (-5)Ratepayers 10 (+5)

1 vacancy

Independent hold Details
Ellesmere PortCheshire1722110Labour hold Details
ElmbridgeSurrey3673140Conservative hold Details
Epping Forest Essex53 (+7)1 (-9)05 (+2)0Conservative hold Details
Epsom and EwellSurrey0300Ratepayers 36Ratepayers hold Details
Erewash Derbyshire37 (+28)4 (-32)55 (+1)Independent Labour 3 (+3)Conservative gain from Labour Details
Exeter Devon24 (+7)9 (-2)6 (-4)1 (-1)0Conservative gain from NOC Details

† New ward boundaries

F

DistrictCountyConservativeLabourLiberalIndependentOtherControlDetails
FarehamHampshire2121210Conservative gain from NOC Details
FenlandCambridgeshire278140Conservative gain from NOC Details
Forest Heath Suffolk13 (+3)019 (-5)Ratepayers 2 (+2)Conservative gain from Independent Details
Forest of Dean Gloucestershire7 (+1)12226 (-1)0Independent hold Details
FyldeLancashire261411Others 7Conservative hold Details

† New ward boundaries

G

DistrictCountyConservativeLabourLiberalIndependentOtherControlDetails
GedlingNottinghamshire421000Independent Ratepayers 3Conservative hold Details
Gillingham Kent32 (+19)3 (-11)0 (-8)00Conservative gain from NOC Details
Glanford Humberside16 (+10)0 (-1)018 (-9)0Independent hold Details
Gloucester Gloucestershire26 (+6)6 (-7)1 (+1)00Conservative hold Details
Gosport Hampshire18 (+9)8 (-11)02Ratepayers 5 (+2)Conservative gain from Labour Details
Gravesham Kent26 (+9)17 (-9)010Conservative gain from Labour Details
Great Yarmouth Norfolk32 (+6)13 (-4)21 (-2)0Conservative hold Details
Grimsby Humberside23 (+9)13 (-7)5 (-2)10Conservative gain from NOC Details
GuildfordSurrey356220Conservative hold Details

† Ward boundary changes

H

DistrictCountyConservativeLabourLiberalIndependentOtherControlDetails
HaltonCheshire1726130Labour hold Details
Hambleton North Yorkshire401430Independent hold Details
Harborough Leicestershire31 (+2)1 (-2)1 (+1)4 (-1)0Conservative hold Details
HarlowEssex335400Labour hold Details
Harrogate North Yorkshire42 (+7)2 (-11)312 (+4)Whig 1Conservative hold Details
HartHampshire142016Ratepayers 3Independent lose to NOC Details
Hartlepool Cleveland 151702Ratepayers Association 13Labour lose to NOC Details
Hastings East Sussex20 (+8)8 (-3)4 (-5)10Conservative gain from NOC Details
HavantHampshire18930Ratepayers 12NOC Details
Hereford Hereford and Worcester8 (+8)4 (-5)7 (-1)4 (-2)Others 1NOC Details
HertsmereHertfordshire2510400Conservative gain from NOC Details
High Peak Derbyshire27 (+5)8 (-3)2 (-1)8 (-1)Ratepayers 1Conservative gain from Conservative-Independent Details
Hinckley and Bosworth Leicestershire 29 (+24)2 (-13)2 (-6)1 (-5)0Conservative gain from NOC Details
HoldernessHumberside400270Independent hold Details
Horsham West Sussex31 (+15)0 (-1)0 (-2)11 (-13)Ratepayers and Residents Association 1 (+1)Conservative gain from Independent Details
Hove East Sussex33 (+5)2 (-4)00Ratepayers 1 (-1)Conservative hold Details
HuntingdonCambridgeshire3210200Conservative gain from NOC Details
Hyndburn Lancashire3314100Conservative gain from NOC Details

† New ward boundaries

I

DistrictCountyConservativeLabourLiberalIndependentOtherControlDetails
Ipswich Suffolk26 (+13)21 (-13)000Conservative gain from Labour Details

K

DistrictCountyConservativeLabourLiberalIndependentOtherControlDetails
Kennet Wiltshire 922251 vacancyIndependent hold Details
Kerrier Cornwall931 (+1)28 (-2)1 (+1)Independent hold Details
Kettering Northamptonshire20 (+6)14 (-2)5 (-2)6 (-2)0NOC Details
Kingston upon Hull Humberside19 (+10)44 (-10)000Labour hold Details
KingswoodAvon2218340NOC Details

† New ward boundaries

L

DistrictCountyConservativeLabourLiberalIndependentOtherControlDetails
Lancaster Lancashire43 (+8)11 (-6)12 (-2)Ratepayers 3Conservative hold 1976 Lancaster City Council electionDetails
LangbaurghCleveland3319080Conservative gain from Labour Details
Leicester Leicestershire27 (+16)21 (-16)000Conservative gain from Labour Details
Leominster Hereford and Worcester3 (+1)2 (-1)2 (-1)28Independent Liberal 1 (+1)Independent hold Details
Lewes East Sussex37 (+10)6 (-4)04 (-6)Ratepayers 5Conservative hold Details
Lichfield Staffordshire46 (+24)4 (-20)06 (-4)0Conservative gain from NOC Details
Lincoln Lincolnshire13 (+7)0 (-3)00 (-4)Democratic Labour 17Democratic Labour hold Details
LutonBedfordshire3710100Conservative again from Labour Details

† New ward boundaries

M

DistrictCountyConservativeLabourLiberalIndependentOtherControlDetails
Macclesfield Cheshire34530Ratepayers and Independents 17

5 vacancies

Conservative gain from NOC Details
Maidstone Kent39 (+25)7 (-4)7 (-11)7 (-10)0Conservative gain from NOC Details
Maldon Essex20 (+6)11 (-3)9 (-2014 (-1)0Conservative gain from NOC Details
Malvern Hills Hereford and Worcester1233290Independent hold Details
Mansfield Nottinghamshire10 (+3)34 (-4)1 (+1)00Labour hold Details
Medina Isle of Wight 11 (+8)6 (-4)6 (+2)8 (-5)Ratepayers 2 (-1)NOC hold Details
Medway Kent45 (+22)11 (-20)03 (-2)0Conservative gain from Labour Details
Melton Leicestershire18 (+2)1 (-1)01 (-1)3

1 vacancy

Conservative hold Details
Mendip Somerset20 (+11)3 (-4)318 (-7)0NOC Details
Mid Bedfordshire Bedfordshire19 (+11)3 (-5)1 (-1)26 (-5)0Independent hold Details
Mid Suffolk Suffolk13 (+3)7 (-2)2 (-1)18 (-2)0Conservative-Independent hold Details
Mid Sussex West Sussex39 (+13)0 (-4)1 (-4)14 (-5)0Conservative gain from NOC Details
Middlesbrough Cleveland1738 (-1)01 (+1)0Labour hold Details
Milton KeynesBuckinghamshire3312010Conservative gain from Labour Details
Mole ValleySurrey18123Ratepayers 9NOC Details

† New ward boundaries

N

DistrictCountyConservativeLabourLiberalIndependentOtherControlDetails
New ForestHampshire30057Ratepayers 5Conservative gain from Independent Details
Newark Nottinghamshire29 (+9)17 (-11)03 (-1)Ratepayers 2 (+2)

Independent Labour 1 (+1)

Conservative gain from Labour Details
Newbury Berkshire30 (+18)115 (-8)11 (-10)0Conservative gain from NOC Details
Newcastle-under-Lyme Staffordshire20 (+4)29 (-3)2 (+1)12 (-2)0Labour lose to NOC Details
North Bedfordshire Bedfordshire 34 (+14)9 (-14)6 (+4)7 (-4)0Conservative gain from NOC Details
North Cornwall Cornwall003 (+2)39 (-2)2 vacanciesIndependent hold Details
North Devon Devon5 (+5)0 (-1)12 (-2)27 (-2)0Independent hold Details
North Dorset Dorset002 (-3)29 (+3)0Independent hold Details
North East Derbyshire Derbyshire15 (+5)19 (-14)09 (+1)Ratepayers 6 (+6)


Independent Labour 2 (+2)

Labour lose to NOC Details
North Hertfordshire Hertfordshire30 (+6)11 (-6)05 (-1)Ratepayers 2 (+1)Conservative gain from NOC Details
North Kesteven Lincolnshire4 (+3)2030 (-3)0Independent hold Details
North Norfolk Norfolk7 (+1)1 (-3)034 (-3)Ratepayers 5 (+5)Independent hold Details
North ShropshireShropshire221350Independent hold Details
North Warwickshire Warwickshire13 (+5)16 (-2)04 (-3)0Labour lose to NOC Details
North West Leicestershire Leicestershire13 (+5)10 (-6)0101 (+1)Labour lose to NOC Details
North Wiltshire Wiltshire37 (+12)5 (-3)3 (-5)5 (-4)0Conservative gain from NOC Details
North WoldsHumberside1002310Independent hold Details
Northampton Northamptonshire32 (+9)16 (-9)000Conservative gain from Labour Details
NorthavonAvon3914040Conservative hold Details
Norwich Norfolk12 (+1)36 (-1)000Labour hold Details
NottinghamNottinghamshire401400Ratepayers 1Labour hold Details
Nuneaton Warwickshire14 (+7)18 (-8)3 (+1)00Labour hold Details

O

DistrictCountyConservativeLabourLiberalIndependentOtherControlDetails
Oadby and Wigston Leicestershire25 (+5)1 (-2)4 (-3)00Conservative hold Details
OswestryShropshire323190
2 vacancies
Independent hold Details
Oxford Oxfordshire30 (+18)15 (-15)0 (-1)0 (-2)0Conservative gain from Labour Details

† New ward boundaries

P

DistrictCountyConservativeLabourLiberalIndependentOtherControlDetails
Pendle Lancashire2717610Conservative gain from NOC Details
Penwith Cornwall011380Independent hold Details
PeterboroughCambridgeshire2522100Conservative gain from Labour Details
Plymouth Devon39 (+2)27 (-2)000Conservative hold Details
Poole Dorset26 (+4)2 (-1)8 (-1)0Ratepayers 0 (-2)Conservative hold Details
Portsmouth Hampshire3114 (+1)0 (-1)3 (+1)Independent Conservative 0 (-1)Conservative hold Details
Preston Lancashire †4313100Conservative gain from Labour Details
Purbeck Dorset7 (+2)0 (-3)012 (-1)Ratepayers 2 (+2)Independent hold Details

† New ward boundaries

R

DistrictCountyConservativeLabourLiberalIndependentOtherControlDetails
Reading Berkshire21 (+5)14 (-2)11 (-3)0NOC Details
Redditch Hereford and Worcester16 (+10)7 (-12)02 (+2)0Conservative gain from Labour Details
Reigate and Banstead Surrey45 (+4)13 (-1)2 (-3)00Conservative hold Details
Restormel Cornwall006 (+4)32 (-4)0Independent hold Details
Ribble ValleyLancashire29206Independent Conservative 1Conservative hold Details
Richmondshire North Yorkshire000350Independent hold Details
RochfordEssex291280Conservative hold Details
RossendaleLancashire294300Conservative gain from NOC Details
Rother East Sussex14 (+4)4 (-1)0 (-1)20 (-2)Ratepayers 6 (-1)

Ecology Party 1 (+1)

NOC Details
Rugby Warwickshire22 (+7)18 (-7)12 (-1)Ratepayers 6 (+1)Conservative gain from NOC Details
RunnymedeSurrey317130Conservative hold Details
RushcliffeNottinghamshire48 (+6)302 (-1)Ratepayers 1Conservative hold Details
Rushmoor Hampshire30 (+8)5 (-4)4 (-3)0Cove Ratepayers Association 4 (-3)Conservative gain from NOC Details
Rutland Leicestershire010190Independent hold Details
Ryedale North Yorkshire5 (+1)1 (-3)037 (+2)0Independent Details

† New ward boundaries

S

DistrictCountyConservativeLabourLiberalIndependentOtherControlDetails
St Albans Hertfordshire45 (+12)6 (-8)1 (-6)2 (+2)0Conservative gain from NOC Details
St Edmundsbury Suffolk30 (+3)9 (-2)05 (-1)0Conservative hold Details
SalisburyWiltshire219717Ratepayers 4NOC Details
Scarborough North Yorkshire28 (+7)3 (-1)5 (-5)13 (-1)0Conservative gain from NOC Details
Scunthorpe Humberside13 (+8)27 (-8)000Labour hold Details
Sedgefield Durham136 (-7)1 (-1)15 (+8)0Labour hold Details
Sedgemoor Somerset25 (+6)12 (-2)1 (-2)10 (-2)0Conservative gain from NOC Details
Selby North Yorkshire197 (-1)022 (+1)0NOC Details
Sevenoaks Kent36 (+7)2 (-3)4 (-4)120 Details Conservative hold
Shepway Kent33 (+1)9 (-3)4 (+3)8 (-1)0Conservative hold Details
ShrewsburyShropshire2313570NOC Details
Slough Berkshire27 (+25)11 (-23)2 (-2)00Conservative gain from Labour Details
South BedfordshireBedfordshire405620Conservative gain from NOC Details
South CambridgeshireCambridgeshire463420Independent hold Details
South Derbyshire Derbyshire7 (+3)13 (-5)3 (+3)11 (-2)Ind Conservative 1 (+1)NOC gain from Labour Details
South Hams Devon3 (+1)0038 (-1)0Independent hold Details
South Herefordshire Hereford and Worcester00035 (-1)Ratepayers 1 (+1)Independent hold Details
South Holland Lincolnshire8 (+1)1 (-1)022 (-4)Ratepayers 4 (+4)Independent hold Details
South Kesteven Lincolnshire178 (-4)013 (-1)17 (+5)NOC Details
South Lakeland Cumbria14 (+5)46 (-3)30 (-2)0Independent hold Details
South Norfolk Norfolk23 (+17)0 (-7)2 (+1)21 (-12)Ind Conservative 1 (+1)NOC gain from Independent Details
South NorthamptonshireNorthamptonshire2011180NOC Details
South Oxfordshire Oxfordshire3574160Conservative gain from NOC Details
South RibbleLancashire449010Conservative hold Details
South ShropshireShropshire02233Ratepayers 3Independent hold Details
South Staffordshire Staffordshire265 (-4)1 (-1)15 (+5)Christian Action 2Conservative hold Details
South Wight Isle of Wight7 (+6)02 (+1)14 (-7)Ratepayers 1Independent hold Details
Southampton Hampshire2031000Labour Details
Essex29 (+5)4 (-9)6 (-5)00Conservative gain from NOC Details
Spelthorne Surrey45 (+6)7 (-6)000Conservative hold Details
Stafford Staffordshire15 (-1)134 (+3)25 (-2)0NOC Details
Staffordshire Moorlands StaffordshireConservative
& Independent 44
11100Conservative and Independent hold Details
Stevenage Hertfordshire6 (+3)28 (-3)000Labour hold Details
Stockton-on-Tees Cleveland31 (+4)25 (-7)04 (+3)0Conservative gain from Labour Details
Stoke-on-Trent Staffordshire20 (+11)49 (-11)300Labour hold Details
Stratford-on-Avon Warwickshire25 (+3)0 (-1)4 (-2)22 (-3)Ratepayers 3 (+3)Independent lose to NOC Details
Stroud Gloucestershire33 (+13)9 (-3)5 (-4)8 (-6)Independent Liberal 1Conservative gain from Conservative and Independent Details
Suffolk Coastal Suffolk38 (+16)3 (-3)1 (-4)13 (-7)0 (-2)Conservative gain from NOC Details
Surrey HeathSurrey312030Conservative hold Details
Swale Kent27 (+10)19 (-6)3 (-1)1 (-3)0Conservative gain from Labour Details

† New ward boundaries

T

DistrictCountyConservativeLabourLiberalIndependentOtherControlDetails
TamworthStaffordshire101300Independent Ratepayers 4Labour lose to NOC Details
TandridgeSurrey382110Conservative hold Details
Taunton Deane Somerset26 (+3)11 (-3)0110Conservative gain from NOC Details
Teesdale Durham04 (+2)025 (-2)0Independent hold Details
Teignbridge Devon7 (+7)1 (-7)3 (+2)45 (-2)Ratepayers 1Independent hold Details
TendringEssex39458Ratepayers 4Conservative hold Details
Test ValleyHampshire193117Ratepayers 1NOC Details
Gloucestershire211 (+1)222 (-5)5 (+5)NOC Details
ThamesdownWiltshire2221120Labour lose to NOC Details
Thanet Kent39 (+4)110 (-4)11Ratepayers Association 2Conservative hold Details
Three RiversHertfordshire3210500Conservative gain from NOC Details
Thurrock Essex11 (+7)25 (-7)030Labour hold Details
Tiverton Devon00 (-5)535 (+5)0Independent hold Details
Tonbridge and Malling Kent42 (+13)4 (-6)4 (-6)3 (-1)0Conservative hold Details
Torbay Devon34 (+3)0 (-4)00Ratepayers Association 2 (+1)Conservative hold Details
Torridge Devon2 (+1)27 (+1)25 (-2)0Independent hold Details
Tunbridge WellsKent364080Conservative hold Details
TynedaleNorthumberland8114231NOC Details

† New ward boundaries

U

DistrictCountyConservativeLabourLiberalIndependentOtherControlDetails
UttlesfordEssex293460Conservative hold Details

† New ward boundaries

V

DistrictCountyConservativeLabourLiberalIndependentOtherControlDetails
Vale of White Horse Oxfordshire40 (+11)4 (-4)1 (-2)3 (-5)0Conservative hold Details
Vale RoyalCheshire2514413Ratepayers 3NOC Details

† New ward boundaries

W

DistrictCountyConservativeLabourLiberalIndependentOtherControlDetails
WansbeckNorthumberland04320Independent Labour 1Labour hold Details
WansdykeAvon2513080Conservative gain from NOC Details
Warrington Cheshire39 (+7)10 (-3)0 (-3)2 (-1)0Conservative hold Details
Warwick Warwickshire41 (+15)14 (-11)3 (-4)00Conservative gain from NOC Details
WatfordHertfordshire1917000Conservative gain from Labour Details
Waveney Suffolk39 (+15)13 (-12)4 (-1)1 (-2)0Conservative gain from NOC Details
Waverley Surrey45 (+16)3 (+1)7 (-17)60Conservative gain from NOC Details
Wealden East Sussex41 (+19)0 (-1)0 (-3)15 (-15)0Conservative gain from NOC Details
Wear Valley Durham2 (+2)17 (-6)11 (+2)6 (+2)5Labour lose to NOC Details
Wellingborough Northamptonshire19 (+3)9 (-5)1 (+1)3 (+1)Ratepayers 1Conservative gain from NOC Details
Welwyn HatfieldHertfordshire2419000Conservative gain from Labour Details
West Derbyshire Derbyshire29 (+10)2 (-4)32 (-5)4 (-1)Conservative gain from NOC Details
West Devon Devon4 (+4)0026 (-4)0Independent hold Details
West Dorset Dorset2 (+2)1 (-1)7 (-2)45 (+1)0Independent hold Details
West LancashireLancashire3415150Conservative gain from NOC Details
West Lindsey Lincolnshire7 (+6)4 (-1)4 (-2)22 (-3)0Independent hold Details
West Norfolk Norfolk36 (+19)12 (-8)012 (-11)0Conservative gain from Independent-Conservative Details
West Oxfordshire Oxfordshire19 (+19)4 (-4)022 (-15)0Independent lose to NOC Details
West Somerset Somerset501251 vacancyIndependent hold Details
West Wiltshire Wiltshire19 (+6)7 (-3)1 (-1)15 (-2)0NOC Details
Weymouth and Portland Dorset20 (+3)13 (-9)04 (+4)Ratepayers 2 (+2)Conservative gain from Labour Details
Wimborne Dorset19 (+18)03 (-7)8 (-13)Ratepayers Association 3 (+2)Conservative gain from Independent Details
WinchesterHampshire244323Independent lose to NOC Details
Windsor and Maidenhead Berkshire55 (+2)0 (-3)1 (+1)30Conservative hold Details
WokingSurrey278000Conservative hold Details
Wokingham Berkshire36 (+10)08 (-4)8 (-6)0Conservative gain from NOC Details
Woodspring Avon50 (+11)7 (-3)0 (-4)4 (-4)0Conservative hold Details
Worcester Hereford and Worcester24 (+5)12 (-5)000Conservative hold Details
Worthing West Sussex26 (+4)0 (-1)10Ratepayers 3 (-3)Conservative hold Details
Wrekin Shropshire13 (+3)30 (-1)012 (-2)0Labour hold Details
Wychavon Hereford and Worcester8 (+4)4231 (-4)0Independent hold Details
Wycombe Buckinghamshire53 (+23)0 (-12)0 (-3)3 (-7)Ratepayers 3 (-1)Conservative Details
Wyre Lancashire49 (+4)0 (-2)2 (+1)3 (-4)Ratepayers 1 (+1)Conservative hold Details
Wyre Forest Hereford and Worcester28 (+14)7 (-12)9 (-2)10Conservative gain from NOC Details

† New ward boundaries

Y

DistrictCountyConservativeLabourLiberalIndependentOtherControlDetails
Yeovil Somerset2871240NOC Details
York North Yorkshire26 (+9)10 (-7)3 (-2)00Conservative gain from NOC Details

Totals

DistrictCountyConservativeLabourLiberalIndependentOtherControl
Total Council Seats 6812 (+1523)2843 (-1003)607 (-203)2838 (-406)441(+63)

Wales

District councils

DistrictCountyConservativeLabourLiberalPlaid CymruIndependentOtherControl
Aberconwy Gwynedd 6 (+3)23030 (-3)0Independent hold
Alyn and Deeside Clwyd 822 (-2)607Ratepayers 2 (+2)Labour lose to NOC
Afan West Glamorgan 011 (-10)001 (+1)Tenants Association 6 (+3)

Ratepayers 12 (+6)

Labour lose to NOC
Arfon Gwynedd05 (-3)013 (+8)23 (-5)0Independent hold
Blaenau Gwent Gwent 1265396Labour hold
Brecknock Powys 81610290Independent hold
Cardiff South Glamorgan 44 (+12)29 (-14)000Ratepayers 2 (+2)Conservative gain from Labour
Carmarthen Dyfed 061 (+1)029 (-1)0Independent hold
Ceredigion Dyfed03 (-1)7 (-1)2 (+1)30 (+1)1 vacancyIndependent hold
Colwyn Clwyd16 (+13)06 (-4)011 (-9)0Conservative gain from Independent
Cynon Valley Mid Glamorgan0023 (+1)9 (-3)2 (+1)Communist 1
Others 3
Labour hold
Delyn Clwyd2 (+1)15 (-1)1 (+1)2 (-1)16Ratepayers 4NOC
Dinefwr Dyfed013 (-3)02 (+2)17 (+1)0Independent gain from Labour
Dwyfor Gwynedd1006 (+1)22 (-1)0Independent hold
Glyndŵr Clwyd0300300Independent hold
Islwyn Gwent016 (-14)07 (+5)9 (+5)Ratepayers 6 (+2)

Independent Socialist 1 (+1)
Others 1 (+1)

Labour lose to NOC
Llanelli Dyfed024 (-5)2 (+2)1 (+1)6 (+2)0Labour hold
Lliw Valley West Glamorgan019 (-8)05 (+3)8 (+5)0Labour hold
Meirionnydd Gwynedd03 (-1)08 (+8)28 (-7)0Independent hold
Merthyr Tydfil Mid Glamorgan08 (-17)021 (+17)1Ratepayers 2 (-1)

Independent Labour 1 (+1)

Plaid Cymru gain from Labour
Monmouth Gwent30 (+1)7 (-1)0020Conservative hold
Montgomery Powys1131 (+1)44 (-1)1 vacancyIndependent hold
Neath West Glamorgan017 (-10)03 (+1)4Ratepayers 9 (+9)Labour hold
Newport Gwent26 (+18)22 (-14)0 (-2)03 (-2)0Conservative gain from Labour
Ogwr Mid Glamorgan13 (+8)29 (-14)113 (+1)Ratepayers 10 (+5)Labour hold
Preseli Dyfed0000430Independent hold
Radnor Powys0000310Independent hold
Rhondda Mid Glamorgan1 (+1)21 (-9)02 (+1)3 (+3)Ratepayers 5 (+4)
Communist 1
Labour hold
Rhuddlan Clwyd1 (-2)01133 (+3)0Independent hold
Rhymney Valley Mid Glamorgan019 (-15)023 (+15)2Ratepayers 4Labour lose to NOC
South Pembrokeshire Dyfed0000 (-1)31 (+1)0Independent hold
Swansea West Glamorgan117013Ratepayers 29Ratepayers gain from Labour
Taff-Ely Mid Glamorgan1 (+1)24 (-5)4 (+1)8 (+6)5 (-4)Tenants and Residents 3

Ratepayers 2 (+1)

Labour lose to NOC
Torfaen Gwent1240110Ratepayers 6

Communist 1

Labour hold
Vale of Glamorgan South Glamorgan33 (+14)10 (-14)0060Conservative gain from NOC
Wrexham Maelor Clwyd7 (+3)20 (-4)22 (+1)140Labour lose to NOC
Ynys Môn (Anglesey)Gwynedd0501 (+1)39 (-1)0Independent hold
Totals211 (+73)427 (-165)66 (-1)123 (+67)584 (-10)116 (+36)

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References

  1. Rallings, Colin; Thrasher, Michael. Local Elections Handbook 1976. The Elections Centre. Retrieved 3 May 2016.
  2. "Council compositions". The Elections Centre. Retrieved 3 May 2016.
  3. Tories seize cities but fail to achieve expected landslide, The Times, May 7, 1976
  4. Tories gain most in big towns: Liberals ousted in Liverpool, The Times, May 7, 1976
  5. Heavy Labour losses in district polls, The Times, May 8, 1976
  6. Conservatives control 17 metropolitan councils, The Times, May 8, 1976
  7. Another loss for Labour in local elections, The Times, May 11, 1976
  8. Protest on poll by Kent Conservatives, The Times, May 12, 1976
  9. Tory winners plan to sell council houses, The Times, May 8, 1976
  10. New recruiting drive by Taverne group, The Times, May 8, 1976
  11. Former MP views result as sign of personal following, The Times, May 8, 1976
  12. Labour beaten after decades of rule in Welsh heartlands, The Times, May 8, 1976