1981 West Midlands County Council election

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1981 West Midlands County Council election
Flag of the West Midlands County.svg
 19777 May 1981Abolished 

104 seats to the West Midlands County Council
52 seats needed for a majority
Turnout36.6% (Steady2.svg)
 First partySecond partyThird party
 
Party Labour Conservative Liberal
Last election18 seats, 31.382 seats, 58.7%3 seats, 4.3%
Seats won74255
Seat changeIncrease2.svg56Decrease2.svg57Increase2.svg2
Percentage50.0%36.7%9.8%
SwingIncrease2.svg18.7%Decrease2.svg22.0%Increase2.svg5.5%

West Midlands County Council election, 1981 (by Metropolitan Borough).svg
1981 metropolitan council election results in West midlands.

Council control before election

Conservative

Council control after election

Labour

Local elections to the West Midlands County Council, a Metropolitan County Council encompassing the West Midlands, were held on 7 May 1981, resulting in large swings to Labour, giving them control of the council.

Contents

This was the last election to the West Midlands County Council, after metropolitan county councils were scrapped on 31 March 1986 under the Local Government Act 1985 by the Conservative government of Margaret Thatcher. The councils' abolition followed several high profile clashes between mostly Labour metropolitan county councils and the Conservative government over issues, including spending and rates charges.

Results

West Midlands County Council election, 1981 [1]
PartySeatsGainsLossesNet gain/lossSeats %Votes %Votes+/−
  Labour 7450.0Increase2.svg18.7
  Conservative 2536.7Decrease2.svg22.0
  Liberal 59.8Increase2.svg5.5
  Independent 00.5Decrease2.svg0.1
  Green 00.4Increase2.svg0.3
  Other parties 02.5Decrease2.svg2.5

Council composition

After the election the composition of the council was:

74255
LabourConservativeLiberal

Borough summary

Results of the West Midlands County Council election, 1981
by Metropolitan Borough
Borough %
Cllrs
 %
Cllrs
 %
Cllrs
 %
Cllrs
 %
Cllrs
 %
Cllrs
Total
Cllrs
Labour Conservative Liberal Green IndependentOthers
Birmingham 49.73035.0912.430.800.102.0042
Coventry 49.3937.1312.300.000.001.4012
Dudley 57.2940.221.700.700.000.2011
Sandwell 60.5928.919.920.000.000.7012
Solihull 31.8246.1512.600.500.009.007
Walsall 44.1735.0310.300.003.806.8010
Wolverhampton 53.0842.123.400.000.700.908
Total50.07436.7259.850.500.402.50104

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References