1979 Braintree District Council election
← 1976 3 May 1979 (1979-05-03) 1983 →
All 58 seats to Braintree District Council
30 seats needed for a majority
Turnout77.6% (Increase28.3%)
  First party Second party Third party
  Blank Blank Blank
Party Conservative Labour Independent
Last election 39 seats, 48.0% 8 seats, 34.0% 8 seats, 9.0%
Seats won 28 17 7
Seat change Decrease 11 Increase 9 Decrease 1
Popular vote 54,148 42,436 6,068
Percentage 46.5% 36.5% 5.2%
Swing Decrease 1.5% Increase 2.5% Decrease 3.8%
  Fourth party Fifth party Sixth party
  Blank Blank Blank
Party Liberal Residents Ind. Conservative
Last election 1 seat, 6.2% 1 seat, 2.4% 1 seat, 0.0%
Seats won 3 2 1
Seat change Increase 2 Increase 1 Steady
Popular vote 9,855 2,797 408
Percentage 8.5% 2.4% 0.4%
Swing Increase 2.3% Steady 0.0% N/A
Winner of each seat at the 1979 Braintree District Council election
Council control before election


Conservative

Council control after election


No overall control

The 1979 Braintree District Council election took place on 3 May 1979 to elect members of Braintree District Council in England.[1] This was on the same day as the 1979 UK general election and other local elections across the United Kingdom.

At the election, the Conservatives lost control of the council to no overall control despite remaining the largest party.

Summary

Election result

1979 Braintree District Council election
Party Seats Gains Losses Net gain/loss Seats % Votes % Votes +/−
  Conservative 28 1 2 Decrease 11 48.3 46.5 54,148 –1.5
  Labour 17 0 0 Increase 9 29.3 36.5 42,436 +2.5
  Independent 7 0 1 Decrease 1 12.1 5.2 6,068 –3.8
  Liberal 3 1 0 Increase 2 5.2 8.5 9,855 +2.3
  Residents 2 1 0 Increase 1 3.4 2.4 2,797 ±0.0
  Ind. Conservative 1 0 0 Steady 1.7 0.4 408 N/A
  Independent Liberal 0 0 0 Steady 0.0 0.4 484 +0.2
  Communist 0 0 0 Steady 0.0 0.1 173 –0.1

Ward results

Black Notley

Black Notley
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative E. Mills 821 75.3 +1.1
Labour D. Beardwell 270 24.7 –1.1
Majority 551 50.5 +2.0
Turnout 1,091 75.8 +32.8
Registered electors 1,412
Conservative hold Swing Increase1.1

Bocking North

Bocking North
Party Candidate Votes %
Labour A. Millam 1,569 49.7
Labour J. Hall 1,514 48.0
Conservative E. Davis 1,470 46.6
Labour C. Sheret 1,441 45.7
Conservative B. Steel 1,428 45.3
Conservative S. Brown 1,407 44.6
Turnout 3,155 75.0
Registered electors 4,207
Labour win (new seat)
Labour win (new seat)
Conservative win (new seat)

Bocking South

Bocking South
Party Candidate Votes %
Labour G. Warne 1,753 53.8
Labour A. Mackenzie 1,568 48.1
Labour R. Watson 1,548 47.5
Conservative A. Comfort 1,456 44.7
Conservative R. Perkin 1,408 43.2
Conservative T. Adcock 1,396 42.8
Turnout 3,260 75.1
Registered electors 4,341
Labour win (new seat)
Labour win (new seat)
Labour win (new seat)

Braintree Central

Braintree Central
Party Candidate Votes %
Labour G. Warren 1,683 53.4
Labour J. Perks 1,594 50.6
Labour M. Shirvington 1,560 49.5
Conservative B. Britten 1,363 43.2
Conservative D. Sayers 1,338 42.4
Conservative J. Moll 1,277 40.5
Turnout 3,152 73.9
Registered electors 4,265
Labour win (new seat)
Labour win (new seat)
Labour win (new seat)

Braintree East

Braintree East
Party Candidate Votes %
Conservative P. Gilthorpe 1,399 40.3
Conservative J. Amies 1,331 38.3
Conservative A. Plumb 1,310 37.7
Labour M. Oliver 1,097 31.6
Labour C. Oliver 1,079 31.1
Labour P. Woollard 1,004 28.9
Liberal R. Allen 875 25.2
Liberal K. Webb 820 23.6
Liberal I. Hamlin 814 23.5
Turnout 3,471 76.0
Registered electors 4,567
Conservative win (new seat)
Conservative win (new seat)
Conservative win (new seat)

Braintree West

Braintree West
Party Candidate Votes %
Liberal J. Ross 1,881 51.0
Liberal J. Bryan 1,654 44.8
Conservative S. Harper 1,482 40.2
Liberal P. Farnell 1,460 39.6
Conservative H. Everitt 1,350 36.6
Conservative C. Murcott 1,254 34.0
Labour M. Gore 563 15.3
Labour D. Green 487 13.2
Turnout 3,689 79.7
Registered electors 4,629
Liberal win (new seat)
Liberal win (new seat)
Conservative win (new seat)

Bumpstead

Bumpstead
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative S. Drapkin Unopposed
Registered electors 1,276
Conservative hold

Castle Headingham

Castle Headingham
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative P. Schwier 592 54.6 +9.2
Labour J. Lynch 493 45.4 +8.7
Majority 99 9.1 +0.4
Turnout 1,085 79.6 +13.8
Registered electors 1,334
Conservative hold Swing Increase0.3

No Independent Liberal candidate as previous (17.9%).

Coggeshall

Coggeshall
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Independent W. Drake 1,554 52.4 +18.5
Conservative D. Bellamy 1,438 48.5 +2.3
Conservative D. McMillan 1,397 47.1 –1.5
Conservative H. Portway 1,132 38.2 N/A
Liberal D. Sibley 897 30.3 –1.1
Labour A. McCracken 827 27.9 +1.1
Turnout 2,963 79.5 +31.5
Registered electors 3,727
Independent hold
Conservative hold
Conservative hold

Colne Engaine & Greenstead Green

Colne Engaine & Greenstead Green
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Ind. Conservative G. Courtauld Unopposed
Registered electors 1,314
Ind. Conservative hold

Cressing

Cressing
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal J. Chapman 357 38.2 N/A
Conservative E. Yockney 336 36.0 –13.9
Independent A. Allen 241 25.8 –2.6
Majority 21 2.2 N/A
Turnout 934 76.6 +30.5
Registered electors 1,212
Liberal gain from Conservative Swing N/A

No Labour candidate as previous (21.7%).

Earls Colne

Earls Colne
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Independent C. Holmes 995 54.8 N/A
Independent P. Taylor 628 34.6 –15.9
Independent Liberal R. Bird 484 26.7 N/A
Conservative T. Allsopp 425 23.4 N/A
Conservative M. Long 408 22.5 N/A
Labour M. Jarrett 316 17.4 N/A
Labour R. Turp 298 16.4 –6.9
Turnout 1,816 79.7 +22.4
Registered electors 2,278
Independent hold
Independent hold

Gosfield

Gosfield
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Independent D. Marlow Unopposed
Registered electors 1,060
Independent hold

Halstead Holy Trinity

Halstead Holy Trinity
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Residents E. McDowell 1,548 54.9 N/A
Labour R. Mayes 1,423 50.5 +8.1
Labour N. Bugbee 1,209 42.9 +11.2
Labour M. Finken 1,023 36.3 –2.3
Conservative C. Covell 1,018 36.1 –1.0
Conservative D. Thompson 921 32.7 N/A
Turnout 2,819 78.4 –26.1
Registered electors 3,596
Residents gain from Conservative
Labour hold
Labour hold

Halstead St. Andrew's

Halstead St. Andrew's
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Residents M. Gage 1,249 51.3 +20.9
Conservative O. Joyce 1,150 47.2 +13.8
Conservative J. Mitchell 727 29.9 –1.1
Labour K. Jones 677 27.8 +11.5
Labour J. Atherton 592 24.3 +8.2
Turnout 2,434 77.2 +22.2
Registered electors 3,153
Residents hold
Conservative hold

Hatfield Peverel

Hatfield Peverel
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative C. Leicester 1,467 64.6 +9.5
Conservative D. Claydon 1,404 61.8 +9.2
Labour O. Deane 713 31.4 +11.8
Labour J. Brooke 670 29.5 +13.3
Turnout 2,272 77.0 +22.2
Registered electors 2,950
Conservative hold
Conservative hold

No Independent candidate as previous (38.9%).

Kelvedon

Kelvedon
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative M. Edwards 1,233 51.3 +10.4
Conservative E. Clarke 1,171 48.7 +19.7
Independent J. De Denne Yule 1,083 45.0 +5.7
Conservative S. Gibbs 861 35.8 +8.2
Labour B. Sherratt 707 29.4 +9.6
Labour D. Rogers 693 28.8 +9.6
Labour R. Sherratt 690 28.7 N/A
Ind. Conservative P. Crowe 408 17.0 N/A
Turnout 2,405 80.3 +24.8
Registered electors 2,995
Conservative hold
Conservative gain from Independent
Independent hold

No Independent (Andrews, Kentish) candidates as previous (54.6%, 36.0%).

Panfield

Panfield
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative R. Chandler 735 74.8 +15.5
Labour B. Burden 247 25.2 –15.5
Majority 488 49.7 +31.1
Turnout 982 82.0 +22.3
Registered electors 1,205
Conservative hold Swing Increase15.5

Rayne

Rayne
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative C. Crossman 1,017 74.2 +8.8
Labour E. Hall 353 25.8 +11.2
Majority 664 48.5 +3.1
Turnout 1,370 79.4 +26.3
Registered electors 1,707
Conservative hold Swing Decrease1.2

No Liberal candidate as previous (20.0%).

Sible Headingham

Sible Headingham
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Independent G. Tanner Unopposed
Conservative H. Hall Unopposed
Registered electors 2,430
Independent hold
Conservative hold

Stour Valley Central

Stour Valley Central
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative K. Nott Unopposed
Registered electors 1,161
Conservative hold

Stour Valley North

Stour Valley North
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative C. Basham Unopposed
Registered electors 1,095
Conservative hold

Stour Valley South

Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative R. Clark Unopposed
Registered electors 1,457
Conservative hold

Terling

Terling
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative G. Isted 720 73.8 –4.2
Labour J. Ness 255 26.2 +4.2
Majority 465 47.7 –8.3
Turnout 975 76.7 +36.2
Registered electors 1,243
Conservative hold Swing Decrease4.2

Three Fields

Three Fields
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative R. Hawkins 1,183 57.6 –5.8
Conservative D. Platt 951 46.3 –11.4
Independent J. Finbow 825 40.1 N/A
Labour J. Dyson 627 30.5 –9.9
Turnout 2,055 79.0 +19.0
Registered electors 2,601
Conservative hold
Conservative hold

Upper Colne

Upper Colne
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative D. Johnson Unopposed
Registered electors 1,262
Conservative hold

Witham Central

Witham Central
Party Candidate Votes %
Independent H. Pitchforth 742 59.3
Conservative J. Mills 371 29.7
Labour L. Randall 138 11.0
Majority 371 29.7
Turnout 1,251 75.8
Registered electors 1,569
Independent win (new seat)

Witham Chipping Hill

Witham Chipping Hill
Party Candidate Votes %
Labour A. Slowman 1,091 51.8
Conservative K. Richards 1,007 47.8
Labour D. Sabin 891 42.3
Conservative J. Dowding 870 41.3
Turnout 2,107 77.5
Registered electors 2,719
Labour win (new seat)
Conservative win (new seat)

Witham North

Witham North
Party Candidate Votes %
Labour C. Edwards 1,402 51.7
Labour B. Boshell 1,335 49.2
Labour M. Fraser 1,290 47.5
Conservative A. Ager 1,183 43.6
Conservative T. Sheppard 1,150 42.4
Conservative D. Williams 1,056 38.9
Turnout 2,713 76.0
Registered electors 3,570
Labour win (new seat)
Labour win (new seat)
Labour win (new seat)

Witham Silver End & Rivenhall

Witham Silver End & Rivenhall
Party Candidate Votes %
Labour J. Evans 1,168 54.6
Labour J. Lyon 1,153 53.9
Conservative P. Cutmore 979 45.8
Conservative P. Digby 864 40.4
Turnout 2,139 80.6
Registered electors 2,654
Labour win (new seat)
Labour win (new seat)

Witham South

Witham South
Party Candidate Votes %
Conservative J. Cooke 1,170 39.6
Labour K. Boylan 1,140 38.6
Labour B. Boshell 1,123 38.0
Conservative B. Smith 1,109 37.5
Liberal D. Bigg 603 20.4
Liberal A. Bigg 494 16.7
Turnout 2,957 75.9
Registered electors 3,896
Conservative win (new seat)
Labour win (new seat)

Witham West

Witham West
Party Candidate Votes %
Conservative M. Lager 1,000 55.5
Conservative P. Gibbs 999 55.5
Labour R. Green 757 42.0
Communist F. Brown 173 9.6
Turnout 1,801 74.4
Registered electors 2,421
Conservative win (new seat)
Conservative win (new seat)

Yeldham

Yeldham
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative J. Yeldham 614 60.3 N/A
Labour T. Newton 405 39.7 N/A
Majority 209 20.5 N/A
Turnout 1,019 80.9 N/A
Registered electors 1,249
Conservative hold Swing N/A

References

  1. ^ "Braintree District Council Election Results 1973 to 2011" (PDF). Colin Rallings and Michael Thrasher. www.electionscentre.co.uk. Retrieved 1 January 2023.
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