Wigan Metropolitan Borough Council election, 1996

Last updated
Map of the results of the 1996 Wigan council election. Wigan92.png
Map of the results of the 1996 Wigan council election.

Elections to Wigan council were held on Thursday, 2 May 1996, with an extra vacancy in Abram to be filled. Going into the election there were noticeably fewer candidates than usual, with the total candidate number and the five uncontested wards only narrowly lower than the all-time lows set at the 1990 election. This was mainly caused by the lack of any minor party candidates, and the Liberal Democrat slate dropping by half upon the previous election, to seven - their scarcest outing since their lowest ebb throughout their merger in 1990, but more reminiscent of their patchy participation of the seventies. Turnout had been consistently poor in recent elections, and this election continued the downward trend, dropping below a quarter of the electorate for the second time (the first being the all-time low set in 1992) to 24.2%.

Liberal Democrats (UK) Political party in the United Kingdom

The Liberal Democrats are a liberal political party in the United Kingdom. It is currently led by Vince Cable. They have 11 Members of Parliament in the House of Commons, 96 members of the House of Lords, one member of the European Parliament, five Members of the Scottish Parliament and one member in the Welsh Assembly and London Assembly. At the height of its influence, the party formed a coalition government with the Conservative Party from 2010 to 2015 with its leader Nick Clegg serving as Deputy Prime Minister.

Contents

Labour once again surpassed their vote share high, this time recording a zenith of over three-quarters of votes cast, but simultaneously attained their third lowest vote figure in history (1975 and 1992 being lower). The Conservatives managed to increase modestly upon their rock-bottom standing of the previous year, but on accumulated votes they failed to surpass anything other than their nadir. The Lib Dems figure reflected their seventies-style participation, with their vote share reduced to single figures for the first since 1980, and their lowest vote figure since 1978.

The Labour Party is a centre-left political party in the United Kingdom that has been described as an alliance of social democrats, democratic socialists and trade unionists. The party's platform emphasises greater state intervention, social justice and strengthening workers' rights.

Conservative Party (UK) Political party in the United Kingdom

The Conservative Party, officially the Conservative and Unionist Party, is a centre-right political party in the United Kingdom. The governing party since 2010, it is the largest in the House of Commons, with 313 Members of Parliament, and also has 249 members of the House of Lords, 18 members of the European Parliament, 31 Members of the Scottish Parliament, 12 members of the Welsh Assembly, eight members of the London Assembly and 8,916 local councillors.

Following Labour's overwhelming victories scored in recent years, both the Liberal Democrats and the Conservatives were looking at a wipe-out, or near that for the Lib Dems, if they couldn't vastly improve upon recent performances. The Conservatives, long confined to the ward of Swinley, failed to improve their vote meaningfully and were handily defeated, ending their 23-year representation on the council. The Lib Dems were facing a similarly arduous task, and in their former-bastion of Langtree actually suffered a swing away from them. However, they managed a sizeable swing of 14.4% in Beech Hill to hold on to their second seat in the council by a mere 34 vote majority. This left Labour with the largest majority since the council's creation of 66. [1]

Election result

Wigan Local Election Result 1996
PartySeatsGainsLossesNet gain/lossSeats %Votes %Votes+/−
  Labour 24 3 0 +3 96.0 75.4 33,824 +2.6%
  Liberal Democrat 1 0 2 -2 4.0 9.8 4,408 -4.9%
  Conservative 0 0 1 -1 0.0 14.8 6,627 +4.6%

This result had the following consequences for the total number of seats on the Council after the elections:

PartyPrevious councilNew council
Labour 66 69
Liberal Democrats 4 2
Independent Labour 1 1
Conservatives 1 0
Total 72 72
Working majority 60  66 

Ward results

Abram [1]
PartyCandidateVotes%±
Labour A. Bennett 1,416 90.6 -0.1
Labour E. Smethurst 1,243
Conservative A. Eccles 147 9.4 +0.1
Majority 1,096 81.2 -0.3
Turnout 1,563 16.7 -3.6
Labour hold Swing
Labour hold Swing -0.1
Ashton-Golborne [1]
PartyCandidateVotes%±
Labour P. Kirkwood 1,827 79.9 +3.1
Conservative M. Winstanley 459 20.1 +5.4
Majority 1,368 59.8 -2.3
Turnout 2,286 23.4 -2.8
Labour hold Swing -1.1
Aspull-Standish [1]
PartyCandidateVotes%±
Labour C. Ready 2,027 66.4 +17.4
Liberal Democrat T. Beswick 577 18.9 -23.5
Conservative J. Davies 449 14.7 +6.0
Majority 1,450 49.5 +40.9
Turnout 3,053 27.1 -4.9
Labour gain from Liberal Democrat Swing +20.4
Atherton [1]
PartyCandidateVotes%±
Labour J. Clarke 1,914 85.4N/A
Conservative R. Oxley 328 14.6N/A
Majority 1,586 70.7N/A
Turnout 2,242 25.1N/A
Labour hold Swing N/A
Bedford-Astley [1]
PartyCandidateVotes%±
Labour J. Jones 1,283 64.6 -3.7
Liberal Democrat R. Bleakley 703 35.4 +12.2
Majority 580 29.2 -15.9
Turnout 1,986 23.2 -3.7
Labour hold Swing -7.9
Beech Hill [1]
PartyCandidateVotes%±
Liberal Democrat J. McGarty 1,445 48.8 +14.6
Labour J. Dewey 1,411 47.7 -14.2
Conservative J. Cartwright 103 3.5 -0.4
Majority 34 1.1 -26.5
Turnout 2,959 33.7 +2.1
Liberal Democrat hold Swing +14.4
Bryn [1]
PartyCandidateVotes%±
Labour M. Millington 1,969 86.5 -1.0
Conservative M. Green 307 13.5 +1.0
Majority 1,662 73.0 -2.0
Turnout 2,276 23.0 -4.8
Labour hold Swing -1.0
Hindley [1]
PartyCandidateVotes%±
Labour A. Robinson UnopposedN/AN/A
Labour hold Swing N/A
Hindley Green [1]
PartyCandidateVotes%±
Labour S. Murphy 1,733 82.2 +1.2
Conservative C. Butterworth 375 17.8 +8.5
Majority 1,358 64.4 -6.8
Turnout 2,108 18.8 -1.9
Labour hold Swing -3.6
Hindsford [1]
PartyCandidateVotes%±
Labour W. Smith UnopposedN/AN/A
Labour hold Swing N/A
Hope Carr [1]
PartyCandidateVotes%±
Labour B. Jarvis 1,780 59.6 +2.5
Liberal Democrat P. Hough 649 21.7 -11.7
Conservative D. Morris 558 18.7 +9.2
Majority 1,131 37.8 +14.2
Turnout 2,987 29.9 -2.6
Labour hold Swing +7.1
Ince [1]
PartyCandidateVotes%±
Labour K. Baldwin 1,643 92.6N/A
Conservative C. Duffy 131 7.4N/A
Majority 1,512 85.2N/A
Turnout 1,774 22.8N/A
Labour hold Swing N/A
Langtree [1]
PartyCandidateVotes%±
Labour D. Brown 1,983 68.2 +5.1
Liberal Democrat J. Barrington 612 21.0 -6.7
Conservative F. Parkinson 313 10.7 +1.6
Majority 1,371 47.1 +11.9
Turnout 2,908 25.2 -3.4
Labour gain from Liberal Democrat Swing +5.9
Leigh Central [1]
PartyCandidateVotes%±
Labour J. Hession UnopposedN/AN/A
Labour hold Swing N/A
Leigh East [1]
PartyCandidateVotes%±
Labour S. Kennedy 1,733 82.6 +11.6
Conservative A. Oxley 364 17.3 +7.8
Majority 1,369 62.3 +13.6
Turnout 2,097 20.5 -5.2
Labour hold Swing +1.9
Lightshaw [1]
PartyCandidateVotes%±
Labour D. Kelly 2,616 82.5 -0.8
Conservative J. Gorse 553 17.4 +0.8
Majority 2,063 65.1 -1.6
Turnout 3,169 28.5 -3.3
Labour hold Swing -0.8
Newtown [1]
PartyCandidateVotes%±
Labour M. Coghlin 1,596 85.9 -4.9
Conservative W. Maddocks 152 8.2 +8.2
Liberal Democrat J. Beswick 110 5.9 -3.2
Majority 1,444 77.7 -4.0
Turnout 1,858 21.2 -1.7
Labour hold Swing -6.5
Norley [1]
PartyCandidateVotes%±
Labour B. Bourne UnopposedN/AN/A
Labour hold Swing N/A
Orrell [1]
PartyCandidateVotes%±
Labour E. Swift 1,698 71.0 -2.8
Conservative F. Rylance 694 29.0 +2.8
Majority 1,004 42.0 -5.5
Turnout 2,392 25.9 -0.8
Labour hold Swing -2.8
Swinley [1]
PartyCandidateVotes%±
Labour G. Walsh 1,692 58.8 -1.0
Conservative E. Cartwright 875 30.4 +1.3
Liberal Democrat A. Robinson 312 10.8 -0.3
Majority 817 28.4 -2.3
Turnout 2,879 32.4 +2.1
Labour gain from Conservative Swing -1.1
Tyldesley East [1]
PartyCandidateVotes%±
Labour A. Stephenson UnopposedN/AN/A
Labour hold Swing N/A
Whelley [1]
PartyCandidateVotes%±
Labour A. Coyle 1,664 89.0 -1.9
Conservative T. Sharpe 205 11.0 +1.9
Majority 1,459 78.1 -3.8
Turnout 1,869 23.2 -2.0
Labour hold Swing -1.9
Winstanley [1]
PartyCandidateVotes%±
Labour R. Winkworth 1,991 83.6 -2.8
Conservative G. Whiston 389 16.3 +2.8
Majority 1,602 67.3 -5.5
Turnout 2,380 20.0 -2.7
Labour hold Swing -2.8
Worsley Mesnes [1]
PartyCandidateVotes%±
Labour W. Brogan 1,848 89.1 -1.2
Conservative A. Sutton 225 10.8 +1.2
Majority 1,623 78.3 -2.3
Turnout 2,073 21.0 -0.2
Labour hold Swing -1.2

By-elections between 1996 and 1998

Aspull Standish By-Election 13 March 1997 [2]
PartyCandidateVotes%±
Labour G. Davies 1,287 70.2 +3.8
Conservative 275 15.0 +0.3
Liberal Democrat 270 14.7 -4.2
Majority 1,012 55.2 +5.7
Turnout 1,832 16.0 -11.1
Labour hold Swing +1.7
Ince By-Election 26 June 1997 [2]
PartyCandidateVotes%±
Labour J. Hurst 685 92.1 -0.5
Conservative 59 7.9 +0.5
Majority 626 84.2 -1.0
Turnout 744 9.6 -13.2
Labour hold Swing -0.5
Hope Carr By-Election 6 November 1997 [2]
PartyCandidateVotes%±
Labour C. Hale 1,045 49.7 -9.9
Green Chris Maile 636 30.2 +30.2
Conservative 321 15.3 -3.4
Liberal Democrat 102 4.8 -16.9
Majority 409 19.5 -18.3
Turnout 2,104 21.0 -8.9
Labour hold Swing -20.0

Related Research Articles

2004 Hartlepool by-election

On 23 July 2004, the Member of Parliament for Hartlepool, in England, Peter Mandelson (Labour), was nominated as the United Kingdom's new European Commissioner. On 8 September, he accepted the office of Steward of the Manor of Northstead, thereby disqualifying himself from Parliament, and causing a by election. Polling took place on 30 September.

1998 Wigan Metropolitan Borough Council election

Elections to Wigan Council were held on 7 May 1998. One third of the council was up for election. Following the previous election there had been three by-elections held—in Aspull-Standish, Ince and Hope Carr—with all three successfully defended by Labour.

1999 Wigan Metropolitan Borough Council election

Elections to Wigan Council were held on 6 May 1999. One-third of the council was up for election. Prior to the election, the Liberal Democrats had gained the seat being fought in Beech Hill from Labour in a by-election, and long-time Labour councillor for Atherton, Jack Sumner, had defected to independent.

2000 Wigan Metropolitan Borough Council election

Elections to Wigan Council were held on 4 May 2000. One-third of the council was up for election, as well as an extra vacancy in Norley - both of which were uncontested. Since the election, there had been a by-election in which the Liberal Democrats gained the seat being fought in Hindsford from Labour.

2002 Wigan Metropolitan Borough Council election

Elections to Wigan Council were held on 2 May 2002, with one-third of the council to be re-elected. There had been a number of by-elections in the gap year, with a Labour gain from the Liberal Democrats in Hindsford, effectively cancelling out an earlier loss to them in Atherton. A Labour hold in Hope Carr in-between left both parties unchanged going into the election.

2003 Wigan Metropolitan Borough Council election

Elections to Wigan Council were held on 1 May 2003 with one-third of the council was up for election. Prior to the election, there had been two vacancies in Leigh Central, with Labour winning a by-election in June and the seat being fought in this election filled unopposed by Barbara Jarvis.

2006 St Albans City and District Council election

The 2006 St Albans City and District Council election took place on 4 May 2006 to elect members of St Albans District Council in Hertfordshire, England. One third of the council was up for election and the Liberal Democrats gained overall control of the council from no overall control.

2007 St Albans City and District Council election

The 2007 St Albans City and District Council election took place on 3 May 2007 to elect members of St Albans District Council in Hertfordshire, England. One third of the council was up for election and the Liberal Democrats lost overall control of the council to no overall control.

The 1999 Southend-on-Sea Council election took place on 6 May 1999 to elect members of Southend-on-Sea Unitary Council in Essex, England. One third of the council was up for election and the council stayed under no overall control.

2008 Rushmoor Borough Council election

The 2008 Rushmoor Council election took place on 1 May 2008 to elect members of Rushmoor Borough Council in Hampshire, England. One third of the council was up for election and the Conservative party stayed in overall control of the council.

2008 Pendle Borough Council election

The 2008 Pendle Borough Council election took place on 1 May 2008 to elect members of Pendle Borough Council in Lancashire, England. One third of the council was up for election and the Liberal Democrats lost overall control of the council to no overall control.

The 2011 council elections in Guildford saw the Conservatives retain control over Guildford Borough Council with an increased majority of 20 seats. Full results for each ward can be found at Guildford Council election, full results, 2011.

1988 Wigan Metropolitan Borough Council election

Elections to the Wigan council were held on Thursday, 5 May 1988, with one third of the seats up for election as well as an extra vacancy in Beech Hill. Following the previous election, two by-elections had taken place, with the Labour Party successfully defending their seats in Ince and Newtown. This year's election seen an improvement in participation, with all wards fought and five parties contesting in some form, by way of the Greens fielding their first ever slate of four candidates and the return of long-time Communist contender H. Kedward in Leigh Central. Despite this, the number of candidates contesting actually fell by five from the previous year's 64, as the turbulent new merger of the old SDP-Liberal Alliance, Social and Liberal Democrats, fielded just half the number of candidates they'd managed in 1987 and, at 11, the lowest since 1980.

1991 Wigan Metropolitan Borough Council election

Elections to the Wigan council were held on Thursday, 2 May 1991, with one third scheduled for re-election. Like the last election, this seen a wider variety of party candidates than most previous, but only marginally improved upon the nadir of the year before in terms of candidates, with four wards uncontested, Conservatives fighting just above one half of the seats and the Liberal Democrats just under - although the Lib Dems near doubled last year's total, both were historically disappointing. Minor party participation consisted of three Independent Labour candidates - including a former Beech Hill Labour councillor - two Liberals, a return of an Independent in Hindley Green and one remaining Green - their lowest fielded when participating - in Atherton.

1992 Wigan Metropolitan Borough Council election

Elections to the Wigan council were held on Thursday, 7 May 1992, with one third of the seats set for re-election. Before the election the Labour Party had successfully retained their seats in three by-elections for the wards of Aspull-Standish, Leigh Central and Norley. The two elections directly preceding 1992's were markedly poor in participation, in contrast this year all wards were fought with the Conservative's and Lib Dem's return to fighting over three quarters of the wards each. Despite this, the election obtained the indisputably worst turnout in the council's near-twenty-year history, at a meagre 23.6%, losing just shy of 12,000 votes from the previous election. The elections were fought one month after the 1992 general election with heavy implications on the results - the most obvious of which is the nationally defeated Labour's loss of 8,000 votes from one year before, and consequently obtaining their worst vote figure in sixteen years. Neither the Conservatives rise - nor the Lib Dem's loss - of around 2,000 each, were significantly removed from recent results or accounted for such a loss, suggesting the slump in turnout were mostly the part of dismayed Labour voters. Seat changes were restricted to two Lib Dems gains from Labour, with one in the Labour-Lib Dem battleground of Aspull-Standish, returning the balance of councillor's in the latter's favour by two to one, and regaining one of their losses in the favourable territory of Langtree.

1994 Wigan Metropolitan Borough Council election

Elections to the Wigan council were held on Thursday, 5 May 1994, with one third of the seats up for election. Prior to the election, Labour had defended their seats in two by-elections for Abram and Hindley. The election suffered from a mixture of a poor contesting rate and low voter turnout. The number of candidates contesting was just 50, the lowest since 1975, with four wards going unopposed, and Lib Dems back to fighting a half of the seats, and the Conservatives less than two-thirds. The only other opposition standing were three Independent Labour candidates, one of which was the previous - but since deselected - Labour incumbent for the seat being fought in Worsley Mesnes. Voter turnout rose from the previous election's nadir, but at 30.4%, still well below average.

1995 Wigan Metropolitan Borough Council election

Elections were held on Thursday, 4 May 1995, with one third of the seats set for re-election, with an extra vacancy in Leigh East. Ahead of this election Labour had gained the seat being fought in Beech Hill from the Liberal Democrats, and defended a seat in Worsley Mesnes in by-elections. The major parties marginally increased their number of candidates upon last year's totals, whereas the number of Independent Labour candidates fighting returned to just the incumbent in Hindley. Having been the only party opposing Labour in Atherton, the Independent Labour absence there meant that went uncontested this time round, alongside two of last year's unopposed wards, Ince and Leigh Central. In total unopposed wards were reduced from the previous year's four to three. Turnout fell to 26.4%, the second lowest in the council's history, only surpassing the 1992 nadir.

1992 Leeds City Council election

The Leeds City Council elections were held on Thursday, 7 May 1992, with one third of the council's seats up for election.

1994 Leeds City Council election

The Leeds City Council elections were held on Thursday, 5 May 1994, with one third of the council up for election, alongside a vacancy in the University ward.

2018 Sunderland City Council election

The 2018 Sunderland City Council election took place on 3 May 2018 to elect members of Sunderland City Council in England. The election took place on the same day as other local elections.

References