1981 Lancashire County Council election

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1981 Lancashire County Council Election
Flag of Lancashire.svg
  1977 7 May 1981 (1981-05-07)1985 

All 99 seats on Lancashire County Council
50 seats needed for a majority
 First partySecond partyThird party
  No image wide.svg No image wide.svg No image wide.svg
Party Labour Conservative Liberal
Last election12 seats, 28.0 %83 seats, 61.7 %1 seat, 6.8 %
Seats after53386
Seat changeIncrease2.svg 41Decrease2.svg 45Increase2.svg 5
Popular vote191,885184,41042,304
Percentage44.4 %42.7 %9.8 %
SwingIncrease2.svg 16.4 pptDecrease2.svg 19.0 pptIncrease2.svg 3.0 ppt

Leader before election


Conservative

Elected Leader


Labour

Elections were held to Lancashire County Council as part of the wider 1981 United Kingdom local elections and under new division boundaries. [1] Any multi-member wards were abolished and each of 99 wards returned one councillor in this election. The election saw a significant Labour recovery from the previous, along with a Conservative fall, leading Labour to gain control of the council for the first time in its history.

Contents

Results

1981 Lancashire County Council elections
PartyThis electionFull councilThis election
SeatsNetSeats %OtherTotalTotal %VotesVotes %+/−
  Labour 53Increase2.svg 4153.55353.5191,88544.4Increase2.svg 16.4
  Conservative 38Decrease2.svg 4538.43838.4184,41042.7Decrease2.svg 19.0
  Liberal 6Increase2.svg 56.166.142,3049.8Increase2.svg 3.0
  Residents 2Increase2.svg 22.022.08,3471.9Increase2.svg 1.7
  Independent 0Steady2.svg0003,824 [n 1] 0.9Decrease2.svg 0.2
  Workers Revolutionary 0NEW0004730.1NEW
  Green 0NEW000369 [n 2] 0.1NEW
  SDP 0NEW0003570.1NEW
  National Front 0Steady2.svg0001090.0Decrease2.svg 1.7
  Communist 0Steady2.svg000850.0Decrease2.svg 2.4
53
38
6
2
PartySeats
Labour 53
Conservatives 38
Liberals 6
Residents 2

Ward Results

Accrington Central
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Labour C. Westall 1,950 66.6 N/A [n 3]
Conservative W. Parkinson62121.2
SDP J. Pickup35712.2
Majority132945.4
Accrington South
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Labour D. Keeley 2,522 61.0
Conservative M. Martin161339.0
Majority90922.0
Alexandra & Victoria
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Labour P. Hall 1,973 57.2
Conservative K. Hancock147642.8
Majority49714.4
Amounderness
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Conservative E. Mallalieu 1,982 53.7
Labour W. Jones122733.2
Liberal D. Penswick48413.1
Majority75520.4
Anchorsholme & Norbreck
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Conservative L. Broughton 2,382 52.1
Labour R. Lewis91420.0
Liberal O. Driver84818.6
Residents association J. Berry4249.3
Majority146832.1
Bacup
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Labour P. Navin 2,471 56.4
Conservative D. Wood191143.6
Majority56012.8
Bank Top & Brookhouse
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Labour L. Proos 3,161 84.0
Conservative D. Harwood60416.0
Majority255767.9
Billinge & Revidge
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Conservative D. Murray 2,498 67.0
Labour S. Harrington122933.0
Majority126934.0
Bispham & Ingthorpe
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Conservative T. Percival 2,071 46.9
Labour D. Wheeldon166437.7
Liberal M. Cotton67915.4
Majority4079.2
Brownhill & Pleckgate
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Labour M. Higginson 2,071 43.1
Conservative T. Marsden188039.2
Liberal F. Beetham85017.7
Majority1914.0
Brunswick & Claremont
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Labour E. Kirton 2,561 61.6
Conservative M. Smith159638.4
Majority96523.2
Burnley Central East
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Labour F. Booth 3,420 76.5
Conservative L. Bullock105123.5
Majority236953.0
Burnley Central West
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Labour J. Maekin 2,938 57.2
Conservative M. Tate219442.8
Majority74414.5
Burnley North East
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Labour I. Cooney 2,809 52.5
Conservative F. Brown151428.3
Liberal J. Davey103019.2
Majority129524.2
Burnley Rural
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Labour C. Platt 2,469 53.3
Conservative J. Wyld216546.7
Majority3046.6
Burnley South West
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Labour J. Keller 2,850 63.9
Conservative J. Howarth78117.5
Liberal S. Parksinson76517.1
Workers Revolutionary R. Waring651.5
Majority206946.4
Burnley West
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Labour J. Entwistle 2,883 53.1
Conservative J. Brown254646.9
Majority3376.2
Cathedral & Green Bank
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Labour H. White 3,119 83.4
Conservative M. Tappenden-Cousins61916.6
Majority250066.9
Chorley East
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Labour D. Yates 2,918 61.2
Conservative A. Crompton134828.3
Liberal C. Jones50310.5
Majority157032.9
Chorley North
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Conservative J. Glynn 1,777 44.7
Labour R. Hubbold148637.4
Liberal F. Wilson70817.8
Majority2917.3
Chorley Rural East
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Conservative M. Case 2,362 49.3
Labour J. Nuttall168835.3
Liberal R. Yates58312.2
Green E. Coulston1553.2
Majority67414.1
Chorley Rural North
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Conservative A. Ambrose 2,647 54.5
Labour F. Higson185938.3
Independent ratepayer G. Butler3487.2
Majority7887.2
Chorley Rural West
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Conservative J. Moorcroft 2,734 61.0
Labour L. Fishman175039.0
Majority98421.9
Chorley West
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Labour P. Deady 3,704 72.6
Conservative S. Freeland139527.4
Majority230945.3
Church & Accrington North
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Labour L. Dickinson 3,105 62.3
Conservative H. Taylor187937.7
Majority122624.6
Cleveleys
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Conservative F. Townend 2,346 64.9
Labour S. Delaney80922.4
Liberal J. Simpson46012.7
Majority153742.5
Clifton & Marton
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Labour J. Turton 2,401 54.2
Conservative J. Metcalf202945.8
Majority3728.4
Clitheroe
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Conservative C. Chatburn 1,780 41.9
Labour W. Maunders129730.5
Liberal C. Hopwood117027.5
Majority48311.4
Colne
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Liberal A. Greaves 2,739 48.1
Conservative A. Fraser154527.2
Labour H. Simpson140624.7
Majority119421.0
Darwen South & Turton
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Liberal C. Grills 2,229 57.4
Conservative W. Birch165442.6
Majority57514.8
Earcroft & West Rural
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Conservative A. Bland 1,786 53.8
Labour A. Emery153646.2
Majority2507.5
Ewood & Higher Croft
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Labour J. Bury 2,714 78.1
Conservative P. Hough76221.9
Majority195256.2
Foxhall & Talbot
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Labour E. Allcock 1,493 46.3
Conservative J. Battersby130140.3
Liberal C. Penswick43113.4
Majority1926.0
Fylde East
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Conservative R. Spencer 2,117 52.4
Residents association J. Payne110327.3
Labour P. Simpson82120.3
Majority101425.1
Fylde West
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Conservative G. Bradley 1,997 57.1
Independent G. Bamber103429.6
Labour L. Dixon46413.3
Majority96327.6
Garstang
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Conservative M. Fitzherbert-Brockholes 2,728 68.9
Liberal J. Busby82520.8
Labour B. Moreland40610.3
Majority190348.1
Great Harwood
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Labour G. Slynn 2,433 56.1
Conservative J. Hall190443.9
Majority52912.2
Greenlands & Warbreck
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Conservative R. Jacobs 1,842 45.9
Liberal A. Heyworth111727.8
Labour J. Readman95123.7
Green M. Palmer1052.6
Majority72518.1
Haslingden
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Labour G. Hatton 3,346 54.4
Conservative G. Woodcock280545.6
Majority5418.8
Hawes Side & Tyldesley
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Labour J. McCrae 2,090 52.8
Conservative H. Hunt186847.2
Majority2225.6
Hesketh
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Labour J. Aspden 2,482 54.1
Conservative E. Funk141230.8
Liberal J. Rogers69615.2
Majority107023.3
Heysham
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Conservative R. Quick 2,296 43.4
Labour A. Garbett202238.3
Liberal H. Steel96718.3
Majority2745.2
Highfield & Stanley
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Labour F. Jackson 1,907 51.4
Conservative G. Heap180048.6
Majority1072.9
Hillhouse
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Conservative C. Ashworth 2,018 48.6
Labour W. Goldsmith175242.2
Liberal N. Scullion3789.1
Majority2666.4
Lancaster City
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Labour R. Clark 2,312 57.6
Conservative D. Skyes169942.4
Majority61315.3
Lancaster East
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Labour R. Henig 3,221 69.7
Conservative A. Morris140130.3
Majority182039.4
Lancaster Rural Central
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Conservative W. Brown 2,223 56.4
Liberal R. Fenton120030.5
Labour S. Robertson51613.1
Majority102326.0
Lancaster Rural North
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Conservative M. Bates 2,266 53.5
Liberal P. Wooff113026.7
Labour R. Rye83719.8
Majority113626.8
Lancaster Rural South
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Conservative P. Entwistle 2,123 40.5
Liberal D. Hardy160330.6
Labour J. Yates151728.9
Majority113626.8
Layton & Park
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Labour S. Wright 2,172 49.0
Conservative M. Laye145132.8
Liberal B. Morris69715.7
National Front A. Hanson1092.5
Majority72116.3
Longridge
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Conservative D. Coulston 3,080 72.7
Labour D. Roebuck115427.3
Majority192645.5
Lytham
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Residents association J. Wilding 1,941 43.8
Conservative G. Caldwell177140.0
Labour N. Horridge72116.3
Majority1703.8
Marine
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Labour N. Walsh 1,974 48.9
Conservative K. Storey133833.2
Independent social democrat S. Bate72217.9
Majority63615.8
Morecambe East
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Conservative G. Robinson 2,833 65.5
Labour J. O'Donnell149234.5
Majority134131.0
Morecambe West
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Labour D. Stanley 2,139 51.9
Conservative K. Brook198548.1
Majority1543.7
Nelson
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Labour J. French 3,499 63.4
Conservative D. Rigby119721.7
Liberal P. Berry82314.9
Majority230241.7
Ormskirk
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Conservative H. Ballance 2,578 53.6
Labour A. Williams223446.4
Majority3447.1
Oswaldtwistle
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Labour E. Neville 2,112 47.4
Conservative T. Renshaw194043.6
Independent I. Marsden4019.0
Majority1723.9
Pendle East
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Liberal W. Sargeant 2,004 47.0
Conservative W. Blackham145234.0
Labour R. Dobney80919.0
Majority55212.9
Pendle South
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Labour N. Taylor 3,034 51.3
Liberal J. White156826.5
Conservative C. Kemp131422.2
Majority146624.8
Pendle West
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Conservative K. Sumner-Clough 2,407 49.7
Labour K. Shore167534.6
Liberal D. Hewitt75915.7
Majority73215.1
Poulton-Le-Fylde
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Conservative V. Scrine 2,763 58.6
Labour M. Wheatley124226.4
Independent conservative F. Lofthouse70715.0
Majority152132.3
Preston Central East
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Labour D. Nelson 3,374 72.0
Conservative G. Wilkins131128.0
Majority206344.0
Preston Central West
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Labour I. Short 2,081 44.0
Conservative J. McGrath206343.6
Liberal J. Hanney58512.4
Majority180.4
Preston East
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Labour J. Farrington 3,558 76.7
Conservative P. Worrall107923.3
Majority247953.5
Preston North
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Conservative M. Horam 2,473 62.0
Liberal B. Moore87221.9
Labour A. Richardson64316.1
Majority160140.1
Preston Rural East
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Conservative T. Croft 3,441 75.6
Labour Oldcorn H.110824.4
Majority233351.3
Preston Rural West
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Conservative P. Clegg 2,066 48.1
Labour H. Parker114926.8
Liberal J. Wright107825.1
Majority91721.4
Preston South
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Labour J. Wegg 3,216 75.3
Conservative J. Bosson91021.3
Workers Revolutionary V. Stephens1463.4
Majority230654.0
Preston South West
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Labour F. McGrath 2,948 62.0
Conservative E. Kerr101621.4
Liberal P. Hulse79416.7
Majority193240.6
Preston West
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Labour G. Higney 2,329 48.1
Conservative A. Scarsbrook172935.7
Liberal A. Carmichael78616.2
Majority60012.4
Queens Park & Shadsworth
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Labour E. Smith 2,439 70.6
Liberal H. Dickinson53115.4
Conservative A. Salmon48514.0
Majority190855.2
Ribble Valley North East
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Conservative J. Watson 3,163 74.4
Labour A. Barton109025.6
Majority207348.7
Ribble Valley South West
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Conservative G. Nickson 2,413 68.0
Labour D. Alber58916.6
Independent F. Ellis54615.4
Majority182451.4
Rishton Clayton Altham
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Labour S. Mercer 2,351 50.1
Conservative P. Galbraith234149.9
Majority100.2
Rossendale East
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Labour P. Coward 2,340 54.9
Conservative A. King191945.1
Majority4219.9
Rossendale West
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Labour G. Bland 2,938 56.9
Conservative M. Ingham222743.1
Majority71113.8
Skelmersdale Central
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Labour L. Ellman 2,556 90.7
Workers Revolutionary J. Simons2629.3
Majority229481.4
Skelmersdale East
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Labour J. Prunty 2,709 59.5
Conservative T. Baxter176138.7
Communist T. Aldridge851.9
Majority94820.8
Skelmersdale West
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Labour C. Cheetham 2,690 81.8
Conservative S. Huyton59818.2
Majority209263.6
Skerton
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Labour E. Jones 3,271 68.1
Conservative J. Taylor153131.9
Majority174036.2
South Ribble Central
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Labour M. Lyons 1,854 54.2
Conservative R. Charnley156845.8
Majority2868.4
South Ribble East
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Labour T. Sharratt 2,029 53.3
Conservative R. Welham178146.7
Majority2486.5
South Ribble North
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Labour G. Davies 2,501 52.8
Conservative G. Woods223247.2
Majority2695.7
South Ribble North West
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Conservative W. Winn 2,987 68.7
Labour D. King135931.3
Majority162837.5
South Ribble South
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Liberal N. Orrell 2,438 46.6
Labour L. Day146728.0
Conservative W. Jackson126324.1
Independent W. Lamb661.3
Majority97118.6
South Ribble South
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Liberal N. Orrell 2,438 46.6
Labour L. Day146728.0
Conservative W. Jackson126324.1
Independent W. Lamb661.3
Majority97118.6
South Ribble South West
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Labour J. Haigh 3,448 67.2
Conservative R. Smith89117.4
Liberal D. Golden79515.5
Majority255758.9
South Ribble West
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Conservative J. Jenksinson 2,080 59.3
Liberal M. Roper98228.0
Labour G. Nicholson44612.7
Majority109831.3
Squires Gate & Waterloo
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Conservative D. Hanson 2,191 65.6
Labour G. Cotton114734.4
Majority104431.3
St Annes North
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Residents association J. Lane 2,897 58.1
Conservative J. Gouldbourn156531.4
Labour A. Calder3336.7
Green G. Dawson1092.2
National Front W. Smith801.6
Majority133226.7
St Annes South
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Conservative T. Carter 2,003 44.6
Residents association J. Parkinson198244.1
Labour B. Cowap50611.3
Majority310.5
Sudell & Sunnyhurst
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Liberal P. Browne 1,719 44.3
Labour G. Toole126733.4
Conservative R. Wood80821.3
Majority45211.9
West Craven
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Liberal D. Whipp 2,904 42.4
Conservative J. Maisey213731.2
Labour R. Macsween181326.5
Majority76711.2
West Lancashire East
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Conservative J. Aspinwall 3,165 62.7
Labour R. Lennon188137.3
Majority128425.4
West Lancashire North
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Conservative S. Taylor 2,899 73.1
Labour P. Wynn106626.9
Majority183346.2
West Lancashire South
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Conservative R. Kirby 2,889 77.6
Labour B. Brown83322.4
Majority205655.2
Whitworth
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Labour E. Kershaw 2,120 51.5
Conservative M. Crabtree199848.5
Majority1223.0
Wyre Side
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Conservative D. Elletson 2,523 56.1
Liberal L. Moat157435.0
Labour H. Brooke4018.9
Majority94921.1

Notes

  1. Includes alternate independent labels: Independent ratepayers', independent social democrat, independent conservative.
  2. As Ecology Party.
  3. Boundary changes.

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References

  1. The County of Lancashire (Electoral Arrangements) Order 1981 S.I. 1981/43