Merton London Borough Council election, 1990

Merton London Borough Council election, 1990
3 May 1990

All 57 council seats on
Merton London Borough Council
Turnout 53.7% (Increase3.9%)[1][2]

  First party Second party
 
Party Labour Conservative
Last election 25 seats, 35.7% 29 seats, 41.1%
Seats won 29[3] 22
Seat change Increase4 Decrease7
Popular vote 76,583 74,857
Percentage 42.2% 41.3%
Swing Increase6.5% Increase0.2%

  Third party Fourth party
 
Party Merton Park Residents Longthornton and Tamworth Residents
Last election New party 3 seats, 2.3%
Seats won 3 3
Seat change Increase3 Steady
Popular vote 5,567 3,822
Percentage 3.1% 2.1%
Swing n/a Decrease 0.2%

Council leader before election

John Elvidge
Conservative

Council leader after election

Geoff Smith
Labour

Elections for the London Borough of Merton were held on 3 May 1990 to elect members of Merton London Borough Council in London, England. This was on the same day as other local elections in England and Scotland.[1]

The whole council was up for election and the Labour Party gained overall control of the council from the Conservatives with a majority of one seat.[1][4]

Background

At the last election, the Conservatives had gained a majority of one seat. In October 1989, they lost a by-election in Merton Park to Bridget Smith of the Merton Park Ward Residents Association, which had contested the by-election in opposition to the proposed extension of the A24 relief road.[5][6] This by-election result hung the council, but the Conservatives continued to govern Merton as a minority administration.[6]

This was the first whole council election which was contested by the MPWRA.

Results

The Conservatives lost their one-seat overall majority of the council to Labour, who themselves gained a one-seat overall majority of the council. The Merton Park Ward Residents Association won all three seats in Merton Park from the Conservatives; they have since maintained these seats in subsequent elections.[4]

Merton Local Election Result 1990[1][n 1]
Party Seats Gains Losses Net gain/loss Seats % Votes % Votes +/−
  Labour 29 4 0 Increase4 50.9% 42.2% 76,583 Increase6.5%
  Conservative 22 0 7 Decrease7 38.6% 41.3% 74,857 Increase0.2%
  Merton Park Residents 3 3 0 Increase3 5.3% 3.1% 5,567 n/a
  Longthornton and Tamworth Residents 3 0 0 0 5.3% 2.1% 3,822 Decrease0.3%
  Liberal Democrat 0 0 0 0 0% 6.5% 11,741 n/a
  Green 0 0 0 0 0 2.8% 5,106 n/a
  West Barnes Independent Residents 0 0 0 0 0 1.5% 2,781 n/a
  Independent 0 0 0 0 0 0.5% 932 n/a

In Durnsford, incumbent Conservative councillor and future Conservative Prime Minister Theresa May topped the poll. This was the last election she contested in Merton.

Durnsford (2)[1]
Party Candidate Votes % ±
Conservative Theresa May 1,063 45.6%
Conservative Barry Edwards 1,049
Labour Arthur Kennedy 913 38.1%
Labour Nina Scowen 852
Liberal Democrat Susan Knibbs 317 12.4%
Liberal Democrat Philip Rumney 256
Green Keith Park 187 4.0%
Turnout 4,627
Conservative hold Swing
Conservative hold Swing

Notes and references

Notes

  1. The Liberal Democrat vote count includes three candidates who stood in Phipps Bridge under the description of "Liberal Democrat Focus Team".

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 Minors, Michael; Grenham, Dennis. London Borough Council Elections 3rd May 1990 (PDF). London Datastore. London Research Centre. ISBN 1852611154. Retrieved 29 March 2015.
  2. London Borough Council Elections 8 May 1986 (PDF). London Residuary Body - Research and Intelligence Unit. 1986.
  3. "Merton Council Elections 2002" (PDF). Merton Electoral Services. Retrieved 8 June 2018.
  4. 1 2 "Merton Council Election Results 1964-2012" (PDF). Merton Council. Retrieved 9 June 2018.
  5. "Merton Park Ward Residents Association". mertonpark.org.uk. Retrieved 31 May 2018.
  6. 1 2 "Forum Issue No. 40" (PDF). Autumn 2009. Retrieved 31 May 2018.


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