1968 Leeds City Council election

The Leeds municipal election was held on 9 May 1968.[1] Following extensive boundary changes, the whole council was up for election. The re-warding increased the number of wards by two, up to 32 wards, raising in-turn the councillor total by six, to 90, and the aldermen total up two to 30.[2][3]

In total ten wards were abolished, twelve created and eighteen remained.

The election followed national patterns[1] of the Conservatives inflicting resounding defeats upon the Labour party, winning representation in all but five wards with a crushing 75 seats at the hand of their highest vote since 1951 and a record vote share.[2] Labour representation was confined to City, East Hunslet, Holbeck and Middleton (although coming within a straw for the third seat in Whinmoor) as they picked up their lowest post-war vote and vote share. The Labour collapse also seen the smaller party make gains, as the Liberals won representation on the council for the first time in the post-war period[4] via comfortably winning the three newly created Castleton seats and the Communists, who fielded a full-slate for the first and only time, more than tripled their previous records in both vote share and vote figure.[2]

As a result, the Conservatives gained control of the council for the first time since 1952, with a whopping majority of 80.[4]

Election result
Leeds Local Election Result 1968
Party Seats Gains Losses Net gain/loss Seats % Votes % Votes +/−
  Conservative 75 0 0 0 83.3 61.3 77,221 N/A
  Labour 12 0 0 0 13.3 27.9 35,200 N/A
  Liberal 3 0 0 0 3.3 4.5 5,672 N/A
  Communist 0 0 0 0 0.0 6.1 7,664 N/A
  Independent Labour 0 0 0 0 0.0 0.1 176 N/A
  National Front 0 0 0 0 0.0 0.1 115 N/A

The result had the following consequences for the total number of seats on the Council after the elections:[3]

Party Previous council New council
Cllr Ald Cllr Ald
Conservatives 43 9 75 25
Labour 41 19 12 5
Liberals 0 0 3 0
Total 84 28 90 30
112 120
Working majority   2   -10   60   20 
 -8   80 

Ward results
Armley[2]
Party Candidate Votes % ±
Conservative B. Stockwell 2,767 54.3 N/A
Conservative H. Stephenson 2,765
Conservative G. Atkinson 2,711
Labour J. Bissell 1,879 36.9 N/A
Labour K. Cohen 1,859
Labour S. Lee 1,656
Communist P. Wilton 451 8.8 N/A
Majority 832 17.4 N/A
Turnout 5,097 N/A
Conservative win (new seat)
Conservative win (new seat)
Conservative win (new seat)
Beeston[2]
Party Candidate Votes % ±
Conservative J. Farrell 3,208 66.3 N/A
Conservative L. Snape 3,196
Conservative A. Hartley 3,180
Labour F. Beevers 1,455 30.1 N/A
Labour Harold Watson 1,276
Labour G. Wood 1,257
Communist E. Moore 172 3.6 N/A
Majority 1,725 36.3 N/A
Turnout 4,835 N/A
Conservative win (new seat)
Conservative win (new seat)
Conservative win (new seat)
Bramley[2]
Party Candidate Votes % ±
Conservative J. Hart 2,892 57.2 N/A
Conservative D. Armitage 2,730
Conservative M. Robinson 2,697
Labour Eric Atkinson 1,782 35.2 N/A
Labour M. Chadwick 1,537
Labour E. Donohoe 1,306
Communist C. Moore 383 7.6 N/A
Majority 915 21.9 N/A
Turnout 5,057 N/A
Conservative win (new seat)
Conservative win (new seat)
Conservative win (new seat)
Burley[2]
Party Candidate Votes % ±
Conservative P. Brown 2,318 61.9 N/A
Conservative M. Davies 2,284
Conservative D. Ramsden 2,256
Labour V. Whelan 1,197 32.0 N/A
Labour H. Waterman 1,170
Labour K. Beaumont 1,136
Communist T. Flynn 230 6.1 N/A
Majority 1,059 29.9 N/A
Turnout 3,745 N/A
Conservative win (new seat)
Conservative win (new seat)
Conservative win (new seat)
Burmantofts[2]
Party Candidate Votes % ±
Conservative H. Flockton 2,206 49.8 N/A
Conservative M. Baker 2,064
Conservative Christine Thomas 2,026
Labour Doreen Jenner 1,906 43.0 N/A
Labour J. Moynihan 1,683
Labour J. Klineberg 1,664
Communist F. Stockdale 322 7.3 N/A
Majority 120 6.8 N/A
Turnout 4,434 N/A
Conservative win (new seat)
Conservative win (new seat)
Conservative win (new seat)
Castleton[2]
Party Candidate Votes % ±
Liberal M. Renard 1,634 45.6 N/A
Liberal M. Meadowcroft 1,383
Liberal C. Tucker 1,305
Labour N. Barrett 932 26.0 N/A
Labour J. Underwood 929
Labour A. Donohoe 928
Conservative C. Mathers 787 22.0 N/A
Conservative B. Pearce 693
Conservative M. Thresh 640
Communist J. Garscadden 231 6.4 N/A
Majority 373 19.6 N/A
Turnout 3,584 N/A
Liberal win (new seat)
Liberal win (new seat)
Liberal win (new seat)
Chapel Allerton[2]
Party Candidate Votes % ±
Conservative L. Bellow 4,163 85.2 N/A
Conservative J. Long 4,063
Conservative Sydney Symmonds 3,927
Labour L. Hammond 544 11.1 N/A
Labour J. Moran 307
Labour C. Say 277
Communist L. Morris 182 3.7 N/A
Majority 3,383 74.0 N/A
Turnout 4,889 N/A
Conservative win (new seat)
Conservative win (new seat)
Conservative win (new seat)
City[2]
Party Candidate Votes % ±
Labour W. Merritt 1,494 48.8 N/A
Labour Ernest Morris 1,432
Labour J. Wallbanks 1,400
Conservative A. Hislop 1,364 44.5 N/A
Conservative J. Cumberland 1,352
Conservative J. Baines 1,303
Communist T. Johnson 204 6.7 N/A
Majority 36 4.2 N/A
Turnout 3,062 N/A
Labour win (new seat)
Labour win (new seat)
Labour win (new seat)
Cookridge[2]
Party Candidate Votes % ±
Conservative Keith Loudon 3,721 73.6 N/A
Conservative J. Lund 3,696
Conservative D. Jenkins 3,689
Liberal J. Davies 628 12.4 N/A
Liberal D. Shearing 552
Liberal B. Williams 535
Labour J. McMurray 503 10.0 N/A
Labour J. Roche 469
Labour H. Bretherick 429
Communist M. Monkman 202 4.0 N/A
Majority 3,061 61.2 N/A
Turnout 5,054 N/A
Conservative win (new seat)
Conservative win (new seat)
Conservative win (new seat)
East Hunslet[2]
Party Candidate Votes % ±
Labour E. Haughton 1,592 62.0 N/A
Labour W. Pepper 1,526
Labour W. Parker 1,516
Conservative I. Holmes 770 30.0 N/A
Conservative E. Feather 743
Conservative M. Howdill 629
Communist D. Priscott 204 8.0 N/A
Majority 746 32.0 N/A
Turnout 2,566 N/A
Labour win (new seat)
Labour win (new seat)
Labour win (new seat)
Gipton[2]
Party Candidate Votes % ±
Conservative A. Wood 2,375 55.4 N/A
Conservative W. Buckland 2,368
Conservative M. Suttenstall 2,317
Labour F. Watson 1,633 38.1 N/A
Labour D. Thomas 1,545
Labour J. Anson 1,442
Communist S. Jones 278 6.5 N/A
Majority 684 17.3 N/A
Turnout 4,286 N/A
Conservative win (new seat)
Conservative win (new seat)
Conservative win (new seat)
Halton[2]
Party Candidate Votes % ±
Conservative S. Tomlinson 4,537 81.6 N/A
Conservative R. Vaughan 4,534
Conservative Martin Dodgson 4,464
Labour W. Spence 654 11.8 N/A
Labour Arthur Brown 506
Labour B. Shearay 473
Communist M. Johnson 372 6.7 N/A
Majority 3,810 69.8 N/A
Turnout 5,563 N/A
Conservative win (new seat)
Conservative win (new seat)
Conservative win (new seat)
Harehills[2]
Party Candidate Votes % ±
Conservative Patrick Crotty 2,388 79.8 N/A
Conservative J. White 2,377
Conservative J. Astle 2,357
Labour D. Wilson 395 13.2 N/A
Labour O. Winship 340
Labour W. Veritty 235
Communist M. Tomplak 209 7.0 N/A
Majority 1,962 66.6 N/A
Turnout 2,992 N/A
Conservative win (new seat)
Conservative win (new seat)
Conservative win (new seat)
Headingley[2]
Party Candidate Votes % ±
Conservative P. Godwin 3,749 71.7 N/A
Conservative T. Bennett 3,690
Conservative T. Kirkby 3,657
Liberal J. Gibson 658 12.6 N/A
Labour D. Jennings 563 10.8 N/A
Labour J. McPheat 496
Labour Albert Smith 474
Liberal W. Trickett 458
Liberal A. Wren 424
Communist S. Walker 260 5.0 N/A
Majority 2,999 59.1 N/A
Turnout 5,230 N/A
Conservative win (new seat)
Conservative win (new seat)
Conservative win (new seat)
Holbeck[2]
Party Candidate Votes % ±
Labour A. Beevers 1,548 54.9 N/A
Labour W. Jones 1,476
Labour T. Smith 1,431
Conservative J. Bateman 984 34.9 N/A
Conservative B. Rawson 951
Conservative A. Cummings 943
Communist E. Burwin 286 10.1 N/A
Majority 447 20.0 N/A
Turnout 2,818 N/A
Labour win (new seat)
Labour win (new seat)
Labour win (new seat)
Kirkstall[2]
Party Candidate Votes % ±
Conservative T. Beevers 3,532 61.5 N/A
Conservative R. Robertson 3,394
Conservative J. Horrocks 3,380
Labour D. Matthews 1,898 33.0 N/A
Labour C. Collings 1,815
Labour Joyce Gould 1,814
Communist J. McDerrmott 317 5.5 N/A
Majority 1,482 28.4 N/A
Turnout 5,747 N/A
Conservative win (new seat)
Conservative win (new seat)
Conservative win (new seat)
Middleton[2]
Party Candidate Votes % ±
Labour J. Taylor 1,604 55.4 N/A
Labour S. Binns 1,521
Labour A. Malcolm 1,446
Conservative B. Cresswell 969 33.5 N/A
Conservative J. Challenor 964
Conservative J. Johnson 885
Communist D. Priscott 320 11.1 N/A
Majority 477 21.9 N/A
Turnout 2,893 N/A
Labour win (new seat)
Labour win (new seat)
Labour win (new seat)
Moortown[2]
Party Candidate Votes % ±
Conservative R. Challenor 3,488 74.5 N/A
Conservative Kenneth Davison 3,444
Conservative A. Redmond 3,414
Liberal E. Nevies 543 11.6 N/A
Liberal C. Rowlands 492
Labour B. Foxard 468 10.0 N/A
Liberal D. Senior 464
Labour C. Green 384
Labour J. Hodkinson 337
Communist T. Kelly 180 3.8 N/A
Majority 2,871 62.9 N/A
Turnout 4,679 N/A
Conservative win (new seat)
Conservative win (new seat)
Conservative win (new seat)
Osmondthorpe[2]
Party Candidate Votes % ±
Conservative F. Brown 1,694 46.2 N/A
Conservative Doreen Wood 1,610
Conservative P. Lee 1,592
Labour Douglas Gabb 1,586 43.3 N/A
Labour P. Addlestone 1,543
Labour W. Prichard 1,487
Communist W. Rumbelow 385 10.5 N/A
Majority 6 2.9 N/A
Turnout 3,665 N/A
Conservative win (new seat)
Conservative win (new seat)
Conservative win (new seat)
Richmond Hill[2]
Party Candidate Votes % ±
Conservative S. Gill 2,024 55.2 N/A
Conservative D. Eastham 1,973
Conservative H. Levery 1,962
Labour J. Mathers 1,350 36.8 N/A
Labour Stan Cohen 1,336
Labour M. Fish 1,288
Communist P. Fawcett 295 8.0 N/A
Majority 612 18.4 N/A
Turnout 3,669 N/A
Conservative win (new seat)
Conservative win (new seat)
Conservative win (new seat)
Roundhay[2]
Party Candidate Votes % ±
Conservative G. Lax 4,067 87.8 N/A
Conservative D. Wolstenholme 4,058
Conservative A. Johnson 3,927
Labour R. Gillinson 333 7.2 N/A
Labour M. Brett 331
Labour E. Kavanagh 287
Communist C. MacRae 234 5.0 N/A
Majority 3,594 80.6 N/A
Turnout 4,634 N/A
Conservative win (new seat)
Conservative win (new seat)
Conservative win (new seat)
Scott Hall[2]
Party Candidate Votes % ±
Conservative D. Altman 1,435 50.7 N/A
Conservative J. Kruthhoffer 1,409
Conservative V. Darnton 1,384
Labour G. Gloom 927 32.8 N/A
Labour R. Ellis 909
Labour R. Sedler 845
Liberal Dennis Pedder 281 9.9 N/A
Liberal A. Ingham 255
Liberal R. Whitelock 221
Communist A. Dale 185 6.5 N/A
Majority 457 18.0 N/A
Turnout 2,828 N/A
Conservative win (new seat)
Conservative win (new seat)
Conservative win (new seat)
Seacroft[2]
Party Candidate Votes % ±
Conservative D. Ball 1,823 46.6 N/A
Conservative M. Freegard 1,774
Conservative E. McQuire 1,763
Labour F. Booth 1,731 44.2 N/A
Labour L. Jackson 1,691
Labour E. Coward 1,608
Communist H. Besser 359 9.2 N/A
Majority 32 2.4 N/A
Turnout 3,913 N/A
Conservative win (new seat)
Conservative win (new seat)
Conservative win (new seat)
Stanningley[2]
Party Candidate Votes % ±
Conservative K. Knapton 2,224 46.5 N/A
Conservative A. Vickers 2,207
Conservative I. Benton 2,039
Labour Kevin Gould 1,851 38.7 N/A
Labour F. Davis 1,795
Labour Arthur Vollans 1,697
Liberal F. Robertson 487 10.2 N/A
Liberal A. Fleet 478
Liberal J. Lavery 458
Communist F. Sidebottom 220 4.6 N/A
Majority 188 7.8 N/A
Turnout 4,782 N/A
Conservative win (new seat)
Conservative win (new seat)
Conservative win (new seat)
Talbot[2]
Party Candidate Votes % ±
Conservative L. Bidgood 4,249 87.1 N/A
Conservative D. Bradley 4,187
Conservative P. Brayshay 4,181
Labour P. King 469 9.6 N/A
Labour Joshua Walsh 451
Labour M. Rooney 418
Communist R. Dolan 163 3.3 N/A
Majority 3,712 77.4 N/A
Turnout 4,881 N/A
Conservative win (new seat)
Conservative win (new seat)
Conservative win (new seat)
Weetwood[2]
Party Candidate Votes % ±
Conservative R. Hall 4,551 76.3 N/A
Conservative F. Hall 4,459
Conservative G. Somers 4,432
Liberal W. Beaumont 896 15.0 N/A
Liberal D. Austwick 858
Liberal J. Grant 823
Labour S. Hand 231 3.9 N/A
Labour R. Pullan 203
Labour V. Veritty 201
Communist M. Kettle 174 2.9 N/A
National Front P. Stone 115 1.9 N/A
Majority 3,536 61.3 N/A
Turnout 5,967 N/A
Conservative win (new seat)
Conservative win (new seat)
Conservative win (new seat)
West Hunslet[2]
Party Candidate Votes % ±
Conservative P. Bennett 1,766 55.8 N/A
Conservative K. Crosby 1,741
Conservative W. Waddington 1,736
Labour A. Tallant 1,122 35.5 N/A
Labour Bernard Atha 1,105
Labour Harry Booth 1,094
Independent Labour A. Betts 176 5.6 N/A
Independent Labour M. Wilson 129
Independent Labour D. Kennally 127
Communist J. McCarthy 99 3.1 N/A
Majority 614 20.4 N/A
Turnout 3,163 N/A
Conservative win (new seat)
Conservative win (new seat)
Conservative win (new seat)
Whinmoor[2]
Party Candidate Votes % ±
Conservative P. Clokie 1,479 48.9 N/A
Conservative V. McNair 1,427
Conservative Peggy White 1,348
Labour M. Lawrence 1,348 44.5 N/A
Labour J. Clore 1,345
Labour Jim Marshall 1,212
Communist J. Scawthorn 199 6.6 N/A
Majority 0 4.3 N/A
Turnout 3,026 N/A
Conservative win (new seat)
Conservative win (new seat)
Conservative win (new seat)
Woodhouse[2]
Party Candidate Votes % ±
Conservative A. Sexton 2,484 62.4 N/A
Conservative May Sexton 2,458
Conservative P. Fingret 2,365
Labour P. Taylor 1,121 28.2 N/A
Labour V. Zermansky 966
Labour A. Baum 961
Communist M. Moore 377 9.5 N/A
Majority 1,244 34.2 N/A
Turnout 3,982 N/A
Conservative win (new seat)
Conservative win (new seat)
Conservative win (new seat)
Wortley[2]
Party Candidate Votes % ±
Conservative R. Treeman 3,207 64.1 N/A
Conservative R. Beal 3,115
Conservative F. Stubley 3,114
Labour W. Thurlow 1,084 21.6 N/A
Labour T. Cooke 1,012
Labour W. Window 962
Liberal J. Saxton 545 10.9 N/A
Liberal W. Holdsworth 464
Liberal J. Crawshaw 452
Communist G. McGowan 171 3.4 N/A
Majority 20,30 42.4 N/A
Turnout 5,007 N/A
Conservative win (new seat)
Conservative win (new seat)
Conservative win (new seat)

References
  1. "British Markets in Nervous State". The New York Times. 13 May 1968. Retrieved 19 October 2012.
  2. "Municipal results: Leeds". The Yorkshire Post. 10 May 1968.
  3. Whitaker, Joseph (1968). Whitaker's Almanack 1968.
  4. Sharpe, L.J. (1967). Voting in cities: the 1964 borough elections.
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