1979 Reading Borough Council election
← 1976 3 May 1979 (1979-05-03) 1983 →
49 seats (whole council)
25 seats needed for a majority
  First party Second party Third party
 
Con
Lab
Lib
Leader Deryck Morton Geoff Mander Geoff Salisbury
Party Conservative Labour Liberal
Seats before 24 13 12
Seats after 22 16 11
Seat change Decrease2 Increase3 Decrease1
Popular vote 123,224 86,591 68,404
Percentage 44.2 31.1 24.6

The 1979 Reading Borough Council election was held on 3 May 1979, alongside local elections across England and Wales and the general election. All 49 seats on Reading Borough Council were contested.

Prior to the election, the council had been under no overall control, with the Conservatives the largest party. Labour saw the biggest net increase in its seats, gaining three, but the council remained under no overall control with the Conservatives as the largest party. After the election the Conservatives had 22 seats (down from 24), Labour had 16 seats (up from 13), and the Liberals had 11 seats (down from 12).[1]

The party leaders on the council ahead of the election were Deryck Morton for the Conservatives, Geoff Mander for Labour, and Geoff Salisbury for the Liberals. Geoff Salisbury did not stand at the election, and the Liberals' former leader Jim Day became party leader again after the election, having spent the 1978–1979 civic year as mayor of Reading.[2][3] Deryck Morton was re-appointed to the council's most senior political role as chair of the policy committee after the election, effectively leading a Conservative minority administration.[4]

Results

Reading Borough Council Election, 1979
Party Seats Gains Losses Net gain/loss Seats % Votes % Votes +/−
  Conservative 22 1 3 -2 44.9% 44.2% 123,224
  Labour 16 3 0 +3 32.7% 31.1% 86,591
  Liberal 11 0 1 -1 22.4% 24.6% 68,404
  Independent 0 0% 0.1% 176
  Communist 0 0% 0.0% 139

Ward results

The results in each ward were as follows (candidates with an asterisk(*) were the previous incumbent standing for re-election, candidates with a dagger(†) were sitting councillors contesting different wards):[5][6][7][8][1]

Abbey Ward (two seats)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Graham Ransley Chapman 676
Labour Helen Ruth Kayes 649
Conservative Keith John Hardie 592
Conservative John Norman Pearson 566
Labour hold Swing
Labour gain from Conservative Swing
Battle Ward (two seats)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Antony William Page† 1,480
Labour Frances Margaret (Bunty) Nash 1,474
Conservative Roy Ernest Simmonds 1,043
Conservative Adel Hamza Fuad 1,009
Labour hold Swing
Labour hold Swing
Castle Ward (three seats)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Graham Anthony Rush* 1,848
Labour Moira Elizabeth Dickenson 1,705
Labour Ronald John Williams 1,694
Conservative Maurice Gordon Lidgley 1,658
Conservative Roy Tranter 1,657
Conservative Richard Charles Young 1,547
Communist Stanley Frederick Cooke 139
Labour hold Swing
Labour hold Swing
Labour hold Swing
Caversham Ward (three seats)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Ronald William Jewitt* 3,248
Conservative George Frank Robinson* 2,641
Conservative Frederick Llywelyn Pugh* 2,624
Labour Thomas Henry Clifton 1,329
Labour David Daniel Malvern 1,251
Labour Alexander Pravda 1,113
Liberal David Henry Oliphant 578
Liberal Jennifer Ann Lewis 516
Liberal David Michael Williams 440
Conservative hold Swing
Conservative hold Swing
Conservative hold Swing
Caversham Park Ward (two seats)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Hamish Macbeth 1,622
Conservative Geoffrey Alan Lowe* 1,544
Liberal Harold Arnold Stoddart* 1,437
Liberal Derek Michael Nathan 1,171
Conservative hold Swing
Conservative gain from Liberal Swing
Christchurch Ward (four seats)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Marian Jeanne Absolom* 2,741
Labour Peter Francis (Dave) Absolom 2,733
Labour Christopher John Goodall 2,527
Labour June Elizabeth Orton 2,389
Conservative Robert Douglas Cox* 2,053
Conservative Reginald Bishop* 2,015
Conservative Gladys Emily Matthews 1,857
Conservative Vivienne Joy Rose 1,722
Liberal Philip Ernest Gash 1,045
Liberal Elizabeth Margaret O'Rourke 910
Liberal Gladys Ilfreda Massam 896
Liberal David James Wilson 853
Labour hold Swing
Labour hold Swing
Labour gain from Conservative Swing
Labour gain from Conservative Swing
Katesgrove Ward (two seats)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Geoffrey Robert Mander* 1,801
Labour Margaret Stella Singh* 1,703
Conservative Christina Margaret Rowland 1,185
Conservative Vera Anne Sutton 1,107
Labour hold Swing
Labour hold Swing
Minster Ward (six seats)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Adelina Ethel Baker* 4,235
Conservative Joseph Edwin Slater 4,128
Conservative Simon Christopher Coombs* 4,056
Conservative Charles Frederick Sage* 4,040
Conservative Lynne Geraldine Bradley 4,033
Conservative Sydney Harry Harris 3,813
Labour William George Mander† 3,053
Labour Kenneth Alan Diment 3,008
Labour Douglas Ivor Buckley 2,929
Labour Alaster James Rutherford 2,797
Labour Frederick John Silverthorne 2,755
Labour Robert Mitchell 2,603
Liberal Christopher Bucke 1,448
Liberal David George Hobbs 1,416
Liberal Mary Laura Clark 1,400
Liberal Daphne Janet Holmes 1,340
Conservative hold Swing
Conservative hold Swing
Conservative hold Swing
Conservative hold Swing
Conservative hold Swing
Conservative hold Swing
Norcot Ward (six seats)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Leslie Basil Dunning* 3,376
Liberal Peter Beard* 3,290
Liberal Terence James Francis* 3,252
Liberal John Freeman* 3,233
Liberal Ann Joan Grant 3,134
Liberal Max Thomas Heydeman 2,957
Conservative Martin John Chapman 2,553
Conservative Cherry Lesley Clark 2,513
Conservative Mary Irwin 2,508
Conservative Geoffrey Gascoigne Lawrence† 2,477
Conservative Peter William Wells 2,364
Conservative Anthony James Markham 2,362
Labour Reginald Harry (Joe) Bristow† 2,352
Labour George Edward Cruse 2,266
Labour Frank Alfred Harris 2,234
Labour Peter John Ranson 2,206
Labour Helen Muriel Hathaway 2,125
Labour Paul Francis Schofield 2,029
Liberal hold Swing
Liberal hold Swing
Liberal hold Swing
Liberal hold Swing
Liberal hold Swing
Liberal hold Swing
Park Ward (three seats)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Douglas Alan Chilvers* 1,795
Conservative Stephen John Foley 1,727
Conservative Frank Neil Rowberry 1,671
Labour John Francis Ryan 1,605
Labour Joyclyn Alden (Joe) Williams 1,550
Labour Ian Warrick 1,528
Liberal Anthony Paul Dodd 1,048
Liberal David Paul Gasson 1,015
Liberal Charles William Looker 909
Conservative hold Swing
Conservative hold Swing
Conservative hold Swing
Redlands Ward (three seats)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative John Michael Oliver* 1,824
Conservative John Derrick Lawford* 1,805
Conservative Martin Charles Lower* 1,765
Labour Norman Barry Jones 1,123
Labour Peter Kenneth Jones 1,103
Labour Verina R. Jones 1,055
Liberal David Charles Johnson 1,051
Liberal Liam Gavin Grant 1,047
Liberal Suzette Milano 961
Conservative hold Swing
Conservative hold Swing
Conservative hold Swing
Thames Ward (five seats)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Geoffrey Walter Canning 5,845
Conservative Brian Anthony Fowles 5,704
Conservative Eric Gordon Davies* 5,687
Conservative Kathleen Lucy Sage* 5,638
Conservative Deryck Mitchell Morton* 5,270
Liberal Edgar Martyn Allies 1,994
Liberal Katherine Elizabeth Gwinnell 1,810
Liberal Jill Marianne Green 1,771
Labour Patricia Mary Mander 1,556
Liberal Margaret Imogen Pravda 1,529
Labour Michael William Johnson 1,446
Liberal Gary Paul Wilkins 1,368
Labour Gillian Angela Lidbetter 1,322
Labour Susan Barbara Malvern 1,285
Labour Graeme Francis St Clair 1,238
Conservative hold Swing
Conservative hold Swing
Conservative hold Swing
Conservative hold Swing
Conservative hold Swing
Tilehurst Ward (five seats)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Ronald James (Jim) Day* 4,499
Liberal Florence Teresa (Paddy) Day* 4,350
Liberal Janet Brenda Bond 3,651
Liberal George Henry Ford* 3,610
Liberal Teresa Macfarlane 3,406
Conservative Michael John Caseley 2,412
Conservative Clive Anthony (Robert) Coles 2,262
Conservative John Maxwell Coote 2,204
Conservative Terence Kelly 2,177
Conservative Gillian Glencairn Waite 2,054
Labour Jennifer Susan Cottee 1,438
Labour William Phillip Gothard 1,365
Labour Ann Joan Gothard 1,347
Labour Sylvia Mary Steele 1,330
Labour Eric Edgar Merry 1,323
Independent Maurice Reginald White 176
Liberal hold Swing
Liberal hold Swing
Liberal hold Swing
Liberal hold Swing
Liberal hold Swing
Whitley Ward (three seats)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Doris Ellen Lawrence* 2,662
Labour Michael Edward Orton* 2,524
Labour John Rees (Jack) Price* 2,321
Conservative Joan Eileen Cox 1,620
Conservative John Gordon Cleminson 1,565
Conservative Gerald Arthur Hughes 1,427
Liberal Richard Wilfred Church 585
Liberal Jean Valerie Parkin 569
Liberal Norman Arthur Edwards 539
Labour hold Swing
Labour hold Swing
Labour hold Swing

By-elections 1979–1983

Thames by-election 1980

Thames By-Election 24 January 1980
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Hamza Fuad 2,320 61.7 -3.1
Liberal Martyn Allies 944 25.1 +5.6
Labour Pat Mander 497 13.2 -2.5
Majority 1,376 36.6
Turnout 3,761 34
Conservative hold Swing

The Thames ward by-election in 1980 was triggered by the resignation of Conservative councillor Eric Davies.[9][10]

Christchurch and Redlands by-elections 1981

By-elections for the two wards of Christchurch and Redlands were held on 7 May 1981, alongside elections to Berkshire County Council. The Christchurch by-election was triggered by the resignation of Labour councillor Chris Goodall, and the Redlands by-election was triggered by the death of Conservative councillor John Lawford.[11][12][13]

Christchurch By-Election 7 May 1981
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Sandy Scaife 1,762 59.1
Liberal Felicity Kaplan 1,221 40.9
Majority 541 18.1
Turnout 2,983
Labour hold Swing
Redlands By-Election 7 May 1981
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Tony Markham 934 34.8 -11.1
Labour Jill Lake 894 33.3 +5.4
Liberal Richard Church 853 31.8 +5.7
Majority 40 1.5
Turnout 2,681
Conservative hold Swing -8.25

Abbey by-election 1981

Abbey By-Election 24 September 1981
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour John Silverthorne 437 47.4 -6.0
Conservative Norman Pearson 244 26.5 -20.2
SDP Howard Rodaway 241 26.1 n/a
Majority 193 20.9
Turnout 922
Labour hold Swing +7.1

The Abbey ward by-election in 1981 was triggered by the resignation of Labour councillor Graham Chapman.[14][15]

References

  1. ^ a b "Labour gains but it's still a 'hung council'". Evening Post. Reading. 8 May 1979. p. 4. Retrieved 7 April 2022.
  2. ^ "Ex-mayor is quitting council life". Evening Post. Reading. 17 March 1979. p. 3. Retrieved 7 April 2022.
  3. ^ "Officers names". Evening Post. Reading. 17 May 1979. p. 12. Retrieved 7 April 2022.
  4. ^ "Council meeting over in a flash - then comes scramble". Evening Post. Reading. 10 May 1979. p. 8. Retrieved 7 April 2022.
  5. ^ "Petition handed to council". Evening Post. Reading. 14 March 1979. p. 3. Retrieved 7 April 2022.
  6. ^ "A Communist takes on the big three". Evening Post. Reading. 11 April 1979. p. 3. Retrieved 7 April 2022.
  7. ^ "Here's how they line up in Reading elections". Evening Post. Reading. 24 April 1979. p. 4. Retrieved 7 April 2022.
  8. ^ "Reading Borough Council results". Evening Post. Reading. 5 May 1979. p. 2. Retrieved 7 April 2022.
  9. ^ "Housing chief 'hounded out' by socialists". Evening Post. Reading. 18 October 1979. p. 3. Retrieved 11 April 2022.
  10. ^ "Tories sweep to victory in Thames ward poll". Evening Post. Reading. 25 January 1980. p. 3. Retrieved 11 April 2022.
  11. ^ "Leading Tory dies suddenly at his home". Evening Post. Reading. 16 March 1981. p. 1. Retrieved 11 April 2022.
  12. ^ "Labour man quits to fight county seat". Evening Post. Reading. 11 March 1981. p. 9. Retrieved 11 April 2022.
  13. ^ "Close fight as Tories hold Redlands ward". Evening Post. Reading. 8 May 1981. p. 3. Retrieved 11 April 2022.
  14. ^ "SDP may stand in Reading council election". Evening Post. Reading. 3 August 1981. p. 1. Retrieved 18 April 2022.
  15. ^ "Joy for Labour as SDP slumps in election". Evening Post. Reading. 25 September 1981. p. 1. Retrieved 18 April 2022.
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