The 1960 Leeds municipal elections were held on 12 May 1960, with one third of the council set to be re-elected.[1]
A large swing of 5.5%[2] to the Conservatives allowed them their first election victory since 1951 - having won the most votes in several elections since then, but never amounting to a majority of seats.[1] The Conservatives made their six gains from Labour in the wards of Beeston, Bramley, Harehills, Stanningley, Westfield, Woodhouse and Wortley, halving Labour's majority of councillors from 24 to 12.[1][2]
Elsewhere, the Liberals managed a post-war first of beating Labour to second place in Allerton and Far Headingley, and the first Independent candidate standing since the war, Dennis Peddar, made negligible impact in Westfield.[1] Turnout fell sharply for this election - by nearly a quarter from the previous year - to a new low of 27.5%.[2]
Election result
Leeds Local Election Result 1960 Party | Seats | Gains | Losses | Net gain/loss | Seats % | Votes % | Votes | +/− |
| Conservative | 15 | 6 | 0 | +6 | 53.6 | 54.3 | 52,399 | +5.3 |
| Labour | 13 | 0 | 6 | -6 | 46.4 | 41.0 | 39,553 | -5.5 |
| Liberal | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 4.2 | 4,029 | +0.2 |
| Communist | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.5 | 500 | 0.0 |
| Independent | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.1 | 73 | +0.1 |
The result had the following consequences for the total number of seats on the council after the elections:[2]
Party | Previous council | New council |
Cllr | Ald | Cllr | Ald |
| Labour | 54 | 18 | 48 | 18 |
| Conservatives | 30 | 10 | 36 | 10 |
Total | 84 | 28 | 84 | 28 |
112 | 112 |
Working majority | 24 | 8 | 12 | 8 |
32 | 20 |
Ward results
Allerton[1] Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| Conservative | B. Lyons | 3,514 | 76.8 | -10.6 |
| Liberal | Julius Blum | 674 | 14.7 | +14.7 |
| Labour | A. Baum | 388 | 8.5 | -4.2 |
Majority | 2,840 | 62.1 | -12.6 |
Turnout | 4,576 | | |
| Conservative hold | Swing | -12.6 | |
Armley[1] Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| Labour | S. Lee | 1,582 | 52.7 | -4.5 |
| Conservative | R. Beal | 1,421 | 47.3 | +4.5 |
Majority | 161 | 5.4 | -8.9 |
Turnout | 3,003 | | |
| Labour hold | Swing | -4.5 | |
Beeston[1] Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| Conservative | J. Farrell | 3,004 | 50.0 | +3.4 |
| Labour | A. Tallant | 2,573 | 42.8 | +0.2 |
| Liberal | H. Linley | 433 | 7.2 | -3.5 |
Majority | 431 | 7.2 | +3.2 |
Turnout | 6,010 | | |
| Conservative gain from Labour | Swing | +1.6 | |
Blenheim[1] Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| Labour | B. Sedgley | 1,736 | 65.2 | +1.9 |
| Conservative | J. Butterfield | 926 | 34.8 | -1.9 |
Majority | 810 | 30.4 | +3.7 |
Turnout | 2,662 | | |
| Labour hold | Swing | +1.9 | |
Bramley[1] Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| Conservative | C. Dean | 2,279 | 49.5 | +8.6 |
| Labour | H. Battersby | 1,879 | 40.8 | -9.5 |
| Liberal | Walter Holdsworth | 446 | 9.7 | +0.9 |
Majority | 400 | 8.7 | -0.7 |
Turnout | 4,604 | | |
| Conservative gain from Labour | Swing | +9.0 | |
Burmantofts[1] Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| Labour | F. Watson | 1,384 | 64.1 | -4.2 |
| Conservative | D. Mowbray | 776 | 35.9 | +4.2 |
Majority | 608 | 28.2 | -8.6 |
Turnout | 2,160 | | |
| Labour hold | Swing | -4.2 | |
City[1] Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| Labour | W. Stoner | 901 | 57.3 | -7.4 |
| Conservative | B. Emmett | 672 | 42.7 | +7.4 |
Majority | 229 | 14.6 | -14.7 |
Turnout | 1,573 | | |
| Labour hold | Swing | -7.4 | |
Cross Gates[1] Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| Labour | L. Jackson | 2,121 | 55.5 | -8.1 |
| Conservative | G. Lockwood | 1,700 | 44.5 | +8.1 |
Majority | 421 | 11.0 | -16.2 |
Turnout | 3,821 | | |
| Labour hold | Swing | -8.1 | |
East Hunslet[1] Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| Labour | E. Houghton | 1,313 | 65.3 | -9.3 |
| Conservative | M. Green | 699 | 34.7 | +9.3 |
Majority | 614 | 30.5 | -18.6 |
Turnout | 2,012 | | |
| Labour hold | Swing | -9.3 | |
Far Headingley[1] Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| Conservative | S. Rostron | 3,374 | 62.6 | -2.5 |
| Liberal | John Humphrey Morrish | 1,098 | 20.4 | +3.6 |
| Labour | H. Swain | 917 | 17.0 | -1.1 |
Majority | 2,276 | 42.2 | -4.8 |
Turnout | 5,389 | | |
| Conservative hold | Swing | -3.0 | |
Halton[1] Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| Conservative | J. Brooksbank | 3,752 | 80.7 | +4.9 |
| Labour | L. Wray | 897 | 19.3 | -4.9 |
Majority | 2,855 | 61.4 | +9.9 |
Turnout | 4,649 | | |
| Conservative hold | Swing | +4.9 | |
Harehills[1] Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| Conservative | J. Astle | 2,734 | 63.5 | +7.9 |
| Labour | W. Todd | 1,569 | 36.5 | -7.9 |
Majority | 1,165 | 27.1 | +15.8 |
Turnout | 4,303 | | |
| Conservative gain from Labour | Swing | +7.9 | |
Holbeck[1] Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| Labour | T. Smith | 1,342 | 64.1 | +5.0 |
| Conservative | B. Morland | 752 | 35.9 | +11.7 |
Majority | 590 | 28.2 | -6.6 |
Turnout | 2,094 | | |
| Labour hold | Swing | -3.3 | |
Hunslet Carr[1] Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| Labour | Harry Booth | 1,550 | 68.8 | -0.3 |
| Conservative | A. Roberts | 704 | 31.2 | +11.4 |
Majority | 846 | 37.5 | -11.8 |
Turnout | 2,254 | | |
| Labour hold | Swing | -5.8 | |
Hyde Park[1] Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| Conservative | Kenneth Davison | 2,095 | 70.6 | +6.7 |
| Labour | L. Steele | 874 | 29.4 | -6.7 |
Majority | 1,221 | 41.1 | +13.3 |
Turnout | 2,969 | | |
| Conservative hold | Swing | +6.7 | |
Kirkstall[1] Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| Labour | A. Happold | 2,251 | 51.8 | -6.3 |
| Conservative | S. Codd | 2,092 | 48.2 | +6.3 |
Majority | 159 | 3.7 | -12.6 |
Turnout | 4,343 | | |
| Labour hold | Swing | -6.3 | |
Meanwood[1] Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| Conservative | Alan Pedley | 2,989 | 77.9 | +4.7 |
| Labour | A. Kirk | 846 | 22.1 | -4.7 |
Majority | 2,143 | 55.9 | +9.3 |
Turnout | 3,835 | | |
| Conservative hold | Swing | +4.7 | |
Middleton[1] Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| Labour | Arthur Brown | 1,405 | 72.1 | -4.7 |
| Conservative | H. Alexander | 427 | 21.9 | +7.9 |
| Communist | R. Wilkinson | 118 | 6.1 | +3.1 |
Majority | 978 | 50.2 | -12.6 |
Turnout | 1,950 | | |
| Labour hold | Swing | -6.3 | |
Moortown[1] Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| Conservative | S. Bolton | 3,714 | 80.9 | +4.0 |
| Labour | D. Thomas | 879 | 19.1 | -4.0 |
Majority | 2,835 | 61.7 | +8.0 |
Turnout | 4,593 | | |
| Conservative hold | Swing | +4.0 | |
Osmondthorpe[1] Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| Labour | Douglas Gabb | 1,774 | 71.2 | -3.1 |
| Conservative | A. Lunn | 719 | 28.8 | +3.1 |
Majority | 1,055 | 42.3 | -6.3 |
Turnout | 2,493 | | |
| Labour hold | Swing | -3.1 | |
Pottemewton[1] Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| Conservative | D. Bradley | 1,691 | 70.1 | +4.3 |
| Labour | Kevin Gould | 602 | 25.0 | -4.7 |
| Communist | H. Fawcett | 118 | 4.9 | +0.4 |
Majority | 1,089 | 45.2 | +9.0 |
Turnout | 2,411 | | |
| Conservative hold | Swing | +4.5 | |
Richmond Hill[1] Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| Labour | M. Rooney | 1,093 | 74.2 | -2.0 |
| Conservative | H. Flockton | 381 | 25.8 | +2.0 |
Majority | 712 | 48.3 | -4.0 |
Turnout | 1,474 | | |
| Labour hold | Swing | -2.0 | |
Roundhay[1] Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| Conservative | G. Monkman | 3,362 | 79.1 | +8.8 |
| Labour | D. Yelland | 888 | 20.9 | -8.8 |
Majority | 2,474 | 58.2 | +17.5 |
Turnout | 4,250 | | |
| Conservative hold | Swing | +8.8 | |
Stanningley[1] Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| Conservative | A. Vickers | 1,749 | 42.6 | +7.1 |
| Labour | E. Coward | 1,621 | 39.5 | -6.4 |
| Liberal | J. Grimshaw | 734 | 17.9 | -0.7 |
Majority | 128 | 3.1 | -7.3 |
Turnout | 4,104 | | |
| Conservative gain from Labour | Swing | +6.7 | |
Wellington[1] Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| Labour | Aimee Tong | 1,862 | 72.4 | -1.7 |
| Conservative | B. Pearce | 542 | 21.1 | +2.0 |
| Communist | G. Hodgson | 169 | 6.6 | -0.4 |
Majority | 1,320 | 51.3 | -3.7 |
Turnout | 2,573 | | |
| Labour hold | Swing | -1.8 | |
Westfield[1] Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| Conservative | May Sexton | 1,576 | 44.1 | -4.1 |
| Labour | H. Wiseman | 1,397 | 39.1 | -12.7 |
| Liberal | E. Vasey | 530 | 14.8 | +14.8 |
| Independent | Dennis Pedder | 73 | 2.0 | +2.0 |
Majority | 179 | 5.0 | +1.4 |
Turnout | 3,576 | | |
| Conservative gain from Labour | Swing | +4.3 | |
Woodhouse[1] Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| Conservative | A. Chadwick | 1,686 | 48.6 | +9.6 |
| Labour | R. Ellis | 1,572 | 45.3 | -2.5 |
| Liberal | A. Oliver | 114 | 3.3 | -6.0 |
| Communist | E. Meth | 95 | 2.7 | -1.0 |
Majority | 114 | 3.3 | -5.5 |
Turnout | 3,467 | | |
| Conservative gain from Labour | Swing | +6.0 | |
Wortley[1] Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| Conservative | Bertrand Mather | 3,069 | 56.8 | +5.5 |
| Labour | J. Stephenson | 2,337 | 43.2 | -5.5 |
Majority | 732 | 13.5 | +11.0 |
Turnout | 5,406 | | |
| Conservative hold | Swing | +5.5 | |
References
- ^ 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 "Municipal results: Leeds". The Yorkshire Post. 13 May 1960.
- ^ a b c d Sharpe, L.J. (1967). Voting in cities: the 1964 borough elections.