Post by David J. Glanfield on Feb 20, 2021 12:10:29 GMT
The word landslide may be used too often for local elections but 1971 was definitely a landslide year for Labour. The Conservatives were defending wards won in their landslide of 1968 and strong performance in 1965 but Labour’s advance wiped out all those losses and more besides. The advance is comparable to the 1945 municipal elections and depending upon counting the gains method and candidature pattern may even surpass 1945. The Heath government was unpopular – rising unemployment and prices plus accession negotiations with the EEC, which were unpopular across a swathe of the electorate. Analysis by The Economist (May 22nd, 1971) suggested that the swing to Labour was based upon a growth in the Labour vote rather than decreases in the Tory vote. Turnout was up in practically every borough and district. The two-party swing (since 1970) was 11.5% to Labour and a stunning 26% since their 1968 nadir.
The elections began on Monday 10th May, 1971 and it was reported in the following day’s The Times that Labour had claimed 55 gains (and three losses) on the first day of UDC elections.
On the 12th May there was a short report in The Times that Conservative Central Office were claiming after two days of polling 97 losses and 14 gains compared to Labour’s 114 gains and five losses. Tories and allies still controlled 159 councils, Independents 173, Labour 118 and Liberals one. A further report in the paper advised that the Tories had suffered 46 lost sears in the Lancashire UDCs (losing Leyland and Failsworth to Labour) whereas Labour had 52 net gains (also taking control of Droylsden from no overall control and Kearsley from the Liberals).
The 13th May brought claims by Labour that they had captured three more Lancashire councils – Adlington, Billinge & Winstanley and Skelmersdale. To any observer it was clear than a strong trend towards Labour was happening across the country however the Conservatives were confident of retaining control of a majority of London boroughs (according to another report in The Times).
The headlines of the morning papers on Friday 14th May had the same message – Labour triumphs in London as Tories lose grip on the town halls (The Times), Labour joy as Manchester swings back (The Guardian), 1700 seats tumble to Labour (Daily Mail), Labour Go To Town (Daily Express).
Labour had gained control of county boroughs ranging from Dewsbury to Darlington, Blackburn to Burnley and Dudley to Oldham. Manchester had a full council election following a re-warding instigated by the Tories. Labour won 79 of the available 99 seats and control of the council.
The Guardian helpfully listed the number of gains across the boroughs (coverage was far far better half a century ago). Concentrating upon Yorkshire Labour gains totaled Leeds (17), Bradford (12), Halifax (8), Huddersfield (8), Brighouse (2), Ripon (2), Pontefract (2), Ossett (2), Scarborough (2), Spenborough (5), Dewsbury (4), Rotherham (3), Doncaster (9), Barnsley (2), Keighley (6), Batley (7) and Wakefield (6)...with more councils to poll.
By the Saturday the Conservatives were left controlling just ten London boroughs. They had not made a single gain nor Labour a single loss across the city such was the scale of Labour’s victories.
Labour were now claiming 518 net gains in the UDCs although the Tories put the figure at 262. (These figures rarely balanced because of the confusion of identified candidates and therefore seats actually lost or gained).
The final elections were held on Saturday 15th May and saw further Labour gains. By Monday Labour tallied that they had won control of 71 councils (17 London boroughs, 14 county boroughs, 10 boroughs and 30 UDCs) and gained over 2,800 seats. (Sadly there are no reliable figures but a ‘conservative’ estimate would give Labour over 2,000 gains).
The Times leader wrote that these elections were a defeat for the government but not their European policy (The Times was very pro-EEC) however they should not be seen as a guide to the outcome of the next general election.
Two unusual tales from the elections (there are probably many more) – Daily Mirror (Saturday 15th May) reported than the result in Carholme, Lincoln had been decided by a sixteenth of an inch. A voter had placed their X across both boxes but there was slightly more in the Labour box so the Tory conceded defeat.
In Evesham (The Times, Friday 14th May) an independent and Labour candidate had tied on 379 votes. The returning placed two papers in a ballot box (one marked). Both candidates agreed that whoever drew the marked paper would resign and a by-election would ensue. The independent ‘won’ and promptly resigned!
The elections began on Monday 10th May, 1971 and it was reported in the following day’s The Times that Labour had claimed 55 gains (and three losses) on the first day of UDC elections.
On the 12th May there was a short report in The Times that Conservative Central Office were claiming after two days of polling 97 losses and 14 gains compared to Labour’s 114 gains and five losses. Tories and allies still controlled 159 councils, Independents 173, Labour 118 and Liberals one. A further report in the paper advised that the Tories had suffered 46 lost sears in the Lancashire UDCs (losing Leyland and Failsworth to Labour) whereas Labour had 52 net gains (also taking control of Droylsden from no overall control and Kearsley from the Liberals).
The 13th May brought claims by Labour that they had captured three more Lancashire councils – Adlington, Billinge & Winstanley and Skelmersdale. To any observer it was clear than a strong trend towards Labour was happening across the country however the Conservatives were confident of retaining control of a majority of London boroughs (according to another report in The Times).
The headlines of the morning papers on Friday 14th May had the same message – Labour triumphs in London as Tories lose grip on the town halls (The Times), Labour joy as Manchester swings back (The Guardian), 1700 seats tumble to Labour (Daily Mail), Labour Go To Town (Daily Express).
Labour had gained control of county boroughs ranging from Dewsbury to Darlington, Blackburn to Burnley and Dudley to Oldham. Manchester had a full council election following a re-warding instigated by the Tories. Labour won 79 of the available 99 seats and control of the council.
The Guardian helpfully listed the number of gains across the boroughs (coverage was far far better half a century ago). Concentrating upon Yorkshire Labour gains totaled Leeds (17), Bradford (12), Halifax (8), Huddersfield (8), Brighouse (2), Ripon (2), Pontefract (2), Ossett (2), Scarborough (2), Spenborough (5), Dewsbury (4), Rotherham (3), Doncaster (9), Barnsley (2), Keighley (6), Batley (7) and Wakefield (6)...with more councils to poll.
By the Saturday the Conservatives were left controlling just ten London boroughs. They had not made a single gain nor Labour a single loss across the city such was the scale of Labour’s victories.
Labour were now claiming 518 net gains in the UDCs although the Tories put the figure at 262. (These figures rarely balanced because of the confusion of identified candidates and therefore seats actually lost or gained).
The final elections were held on Saturday 15th May and saw further Labour gains. By Monday Labour tallied that they had won control of 71 councils (17 London boroughs, 14 county boroughs, 10 boroughs and 30 UDCs) and gained over 2,800 seats. (Sadly there are no reliable figures but a ‘conservative’ estimate would give Labour over 2,000 gains).
The Times leader wrote that these elections were a defeat for the government but not their European policy (The Times was very pro-EEC) however they should not be seen as a guide to the outcome of the next general election.
Two unusual tales from the elections (there are probably many more) – Daily Mirror (Saturday 15th May) reported than the result in Carholme, Lincoln had been decided by a sixteenth of an inch. A voter had placed their X across both boxes but there was slightly more in the Labour box so the Tory conceded defeat.
In Evesham (The Times, Friday 14th May) an independent and Labour candidate had tied on 379 votes. The returning placed two papers in a ballot box (one marked). Both candidates agreed that whoever drew the marked paper would resign and a by-election would ensue. The independent ‘won’ and promptly resigned!