The 1968 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 22.0 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 Michael 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 73.9 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 Deryck Ernest 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 Albert 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 David 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 Walter 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. ^ a b "British Markets in Nervous State". The New York Times. 13 May 1968. Retrieved 19 October 2012.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z aa ab ac ad ae af ag "Municipal results: Leeds". The Yorkshire Post. 10 May 1968.
  3. ^ a b Whitaker, Joseph (1968). Whitaker's Almanack 1968.
  4. ^ a b Sharpe, L.J. (1967). Voting in cities: the 1964 borough elections.
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