1984 United Kingdom local elections

← 1983 3 May 1984 1985 →
All 36 metropolitan boroughs, 123 out of 296 English districts and all 53 Scottish districts
Majority party Minority party Third party   Leader Margaret Thatcher Neil Kinnock David Steel and David Owen Party Conservative Labour Alliance Leader since 11 February 1975 2 October 1983 7 July 1976 and 21 June 1983 Percentage 38% 37% 21% Councillors 10,393 8,870 2,331 Councillors +/- 164 88 160

Local elections were held in the United Kingdom in 1984.^[1][2] There was a slight reversal in the Conservative government's fortunes, but the party remained ahead. The projected share of the vote was Conservatives 38%, Labour 37%, Liberal-SDP Alliance 21%.

Labour gained 88 seats, bringing their number of councillors to 8,870 in the first elections under the leadership of Neil Kinnock who had succeeded Michael Foot the previous autumn.

The Conservatives lost 164 seats, leaving them with 10,393 councillors.

The SDP-Liberal Alliance, now led by David Owen, gained 160 seats and finished with 2,331 councillors.

Three parliamentary by-elections were also held on the same day in the Cynon Valley, Stafford and South West Surrey constituencies. Labour held Cynon Valley, and the Conservatives held Stafford and South West Surrey.

Summary of results

England

Metropolitan boroughs

All 36 metropolitan borough councils had one third of their seats up for election.

District councils

In 123 districts one third of the council was up for election.

A further 20 councils had passed a resolution under section 7 (4) (b) of the Local Government Act 1972, requesting a system of elections by thirds. They could do so because they had had their new ward boundaries introduced at the 1983 elections.

Scotland

District councils