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1976 United Kingdom local elections

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1976 United Kingdom local elections
← 1975 6 May 1976 1977 →
All 36 metropolitan boroughs, all 296 English districts and all 37 Welsh districts
  Majority party Minority party Third party
 
Leader Margaret Thatcher James Callaghan Jeremy Thorpe
Party Conservative Labour Liberal
Leader since 11 February 1975 5 April 1976 18 January 1967
Councillors 8,087 4,467 827
Councillors +/- Increase 1,745 Decrease 1,309 Decrease 223

Local elections were held in the United Kingdom on 6 May 1976. Elections were for one third of the seats on Metropolitan borough councils and for all seats on Non-Metropolitan district councils in England; and for all seats on the Welsh district councils.[1][2]

The elections were the first electoral test for the new Prime Minister James Callaghan, and were a major reverse for the ruling Labour Party. The opposition Conservative party made large gains of seats and control of councils at the expense of both Labour and the Liberal Party.[3][4][5][6][7][8]

The Conservatives easily gained control of their principal target council, Birmingham. The new administration in the city pledged to reintroduce the sale of council houses, which had been stopped by the previous Labour-controlled council.[9] Control of another five metropolitan borough councils were gained by the Conservatives at Labour's expense. The party also gained numerous non-metropolitan districts, including large towns and cities such as Derby, Exeter, Ipswich, Leicester, Luton, Milton Keynes, Oxford, Peterborough and York.

Major English councils held by Labour included Manchester, Norwich, Nottingham and Stoke-on-Trent.

Break-away groups from the official Labour Party achieved success in two districts. The Lincoln Democratic Labour Association retained control of the city council. The association had been formed following the expulsion of local member of parliament, Dick Taverne from the party.[10] In Blyth Valley the Independent Labour Party gained nine seats from the official Labour candidates. The ILP were supporters of Eddie Milne, former MP for Blyth. Milne had been expelled from Labour in April 1974.[11] Labour lost control of North East Derbyshire, where all the party's seats in Clay Cross passed to Ratepayer candidates. The town had been the scene of a dispute between the former urban district council and the government over the Housing Finance Act. The Ecology Party won its first elected representation on Rother District Council.

The Liberals lost control of their only local authority, Liverpool City Council. Labour became the largest party on the council, which was under no overall control.

In Wales, the dominant position of Labour was overturned. Major Labour losses were Cardiff and Newport to the Conservatives, Swansea to Ratepayers and Merthyr Tydfil to Plaid Cymru.[12]

Summary of results

[edit]

England

[edit]

Metropolitan boroughs

[edit]
District County Conservative Labour Liberal Independent Other Control Details
Barnsley South Yorkshire 1 39 (-4) 5 (+3) 0 Ratepayers 11

Independent Labour 4 (+1)

Labour hold Details
Birmingham West Midlands 66 (+11) 52 (-11) 8 0 0 Conservative gain from Labour Details
Bolton Greater Manchester 43 (+3) 20 (-3) 2 (-1) 4 (+1) 0 Conservative hold Details
Bradford West Yorkshire 61 (+4) 27 (-1) 5 (-3) 0 0 Conservative hold Details
Bury Greater Manchester 36 (+8) 11 (-5) 1 (-3) 0 0 Conservative hold Details
Calderdale West Yorkshire 34 (+6) 13 (-5) 4 (-1) 0 0 Conservative hold Details
Coventry West Midlands 26 (+5) 28 (-5) 0 0 0 Labour hold Details
Doncaster South Yorkshire 17 (+2) 35 (-5) 0 4 (+1) Ratepayers 3 (+2)

Democratic Labour 1

Labour hold Details
Dudley West Midlands 37 (+8) 26 (-9) 2 (+1) 0 Independent Socialist 1 Conservative gain from Labour Details
Gateshead Tyne and Wear 13 (+2) 59 (-4) 4 (+1) 1 (+1) Rent and Ratepayers 1 Labour hold Details
Kirklees West Yorkshire 38 (+10) 25 (-11) 9 (+2) 0 (-1) 0 Conservative gain from Labour Details
Knowsley Merseyside 17 (+5) 42 (-4) 2 (-1) 0 Kirkby Householders Federation 2 Labour hold Details
Leeds West Yorkshire 50 (+7) 38 (-3) 8 (-4) 0 0 Conservative gain from NOC Details
Liverpool Merseyside 17 (+3) 42 40 (-3) 0 0 NOC Details
Manchester Greater Manchester 45 54 0 0 0 Labour hold Details
Newcastle upon Tyne Tyne and Wear 29 (+2) 44 (-3) 3 +1 2 0 Labour hold Details
North Tyneside Tyne and Wear 28 (+4) 44 (-2) 8 (-2) 4 0 Labour hold Details
Oldham Greater Manchester 28 (+13) 20 (-10) 8 (-3) 1 0 Labour lose to NOC Details
Rochdale Greater Manchester 31 (+7) 19 (-8) 10 (+1) 0 0 Conservative gain from NOC Details
Rotherham South Yorkshire 6 45 0 3 0 Labour hold Details
St Helens Merseyside 19 (+4) 25 (-4) 1 0 0 Labour hold Details
Salford Greater Manchester 24 (+3) 38 (-4) 2 0 Tenants & Ratepayers 2 (+1) Labour Details
Sandwell West Midlands 39 (+7) 51 (-7) 0 0 0 Labour hold Details
Sefton Merseyside 43 21 3 1 Ratepayers 1 Conservative hold Details
Sheffield South Yorkshire 22 (+2) 63 (-3) 5 (+1) 0 0 Labour Details
Solihull West Midlands 34 (+4) 12 (-1) 1 Independent Resident 4 (-3) 0 Conservative hold Details
South Tyneside Tyne and Wear 4 34 (-1) 3 0 Progressive 24 (+1) Labour hold Details
Stockport Greater Manchester 39 (+5) 11 (-1) 7 (-3) 3 (-1) 0 Conservative hold Details
Sunderland Tyne and Wear 26 (+3) 49 (-3) 2 1 0 Labour hold Details
Tameside Greater Manchester 29 (+5) 22 (-5) 2 0 Independent Labour 1 Conservative gain from Labour Details
Trafford Greater Manchester 47 (+5) 12 (-1) 4 (-4) 0 0 Conservative hold Details
Wakefield West Yorkshire 15 (+4) 42 (-6) 0 2 Ratepayer 7 (+2) Labour hold Details
Walsall West Midlands 20 28 (-3) 1 3 (+1) Ratepayers 7 (+2)

Independent Labour 1

Labour lose to NOC Details
Wigan Greater Manchester 14 (+4) 56 (-5) 1 1 (+1) 0 Labour hold Details
Wirral Merseyside 42 18 6 0 0 Conservative hold Details
Wolverhampton West Midlands 24 (+3) 34 (-4) 0 0 Ratepayers 2 (+1) Labour hold Details
Totals 1064 (+149) 1199 (-141) 154 (-19) 30(0) 68 (+10)

District councils

[edit]

A

[edit]
District County Conservative Labour Liberal Independent Other Control Details
Adur West Sussex 16 (+4) 2 (-1) 17 (-3) 2 0 Liberals lose to NOC Details
Allerdale Cumbria 10 (+5) 23 (-3) 0 23 (-2) 0 Conservative - Independent hold Details
Alnwick Northumberland 8 (+2) 3 (-2) 1 (+1) 21 (-1) Independent Labour 0 (-1)

1 vacancy

Independent hold Details
Amber Valley Derbyshire 2 18 (-13) 14 (+11) 26 (+2) 0 Labour lose to NOC Details
Arun West Sussex 51 (+17) 1 (-3) 5 (+1) 2 (-9) Ratepayers 1 (-6) Conservative hold Details
Ashfield† Nottinghamshire 2 22 0 1 Ratepayers 8 Labour hold Details
Ashford† Kent 30 7 8 3 Ratepayers 1
True Liberals 1
4 vacancies 		Conservative hold Details
Aylesbury Vale† Buckinghamshire 28 9 2 18 Ratepayers 1 Independent lose to NOC Details

† New ward boundaries

B

[edit]
District County Conservative Labour Liberal Independent Other Control Details
Babergh Suffolk 7 11 0 20 0 Independent Details
Barrow-in-Furness Cumbria 19 (+14) 12 (-14) 0 2 0 Conservative gain from Labour Details
Basildon Essex 17 (+6) 23 (-6) 0 0 6 Labour hold Details
Basingstoke† Hampshire 35 14 1 9 0 Conservative gain from NOC Details
Bassetlaw Nottinghamshire 24 (+12) 18 (-11) 0 7 (-3) Ratepayers 2 (+2) Labour lose to NOC Details
Bath† Avon 35 13 0 0 0 Conservative gain from NOC Details
Beaconsfield Buckinghamshire 32 (+7) 0 (-2) 0 (-3) 5 5 (-2) Conservative hold Details
Berwick-upon-Tweed† Northumberland 0 3 3 21 0 Independent hold Details
Beverley Humberside 44 (+28) 1 (-4) 3 12 (-24) 0 Conservative gain from Independent Details
Blaby Leicestershire 21 (+7) 0 1 (-4) 12 (-4) Ratepayers 3 (+1) Conservative gain from Independent Details
Blackburn Lancashire 27 (+8) 17 (-10) 8 (-3) 0 Ratepayers 6 (+3)

National Party 2 (+2)

NOC Details
Blackpool† Lancashire 35 6 3 0 0 Conservative hold Details
Blyth Valley Northumberland 6 23 12 12 Independent Labour 11

5 vacancies

Labour hold Details
Bolsover Nottinghamshire 4 (+3) 25 (-4) 0 7 (+1) 0 Labour hold Details
Boothferry† Humberside 12 3 0 19 Ratepayers 1 Independent hold Details
Boston Lincolnshire 13 (+3) 3 (-2) 3 (-1) 13 (-1) Independent with Ratepayer support 2 (+1) NOC (Independent-Conservative) Details
Bournemouth Dorset 43 (+5) 6 (-7) 2 6 (+2) 0 Conservative hold Details
Bracknell Berkshire 27 (+14) 3 (-12) 1 (-2) 0 0 Conservative gain from Labour Details
Braintree Essex 39 (+19) 8 (-14) 1 (-2) 0 Ratepayers 10 (-3) Conservative gain from NOC Details
Breckland Norfolk 21 (+2) 9 (-1) 0 20 (-2) Ratepayers 1 (+1) NOC Details
Brentwood† Lincolnshire 34 4 1 0 0 Conservative hold Details
Bridgnorth Salop 2 (+2) 2 4 (+1) 24 (-3) 0 Independent hold Details
Brighton East Sussex 44 (+12) 15 (-12) 0 0 0 Conservative hold Details
Bristol Avon 34 (+9) 47 (-9) 3 0 0 Labour hold Details
Broadland Norfolk 29 (+8) 1 (-5) 2 (+1) 17 (-3) Ratepayers 0 (-1) Conservative gain from NOC Details
Bromsgrove Hereford and Worcester 32 (+7) 8 (-5) 0 0 Ratepayers 2 (-2) Conservative hold Details
Broxbourne† Hertfordshire 36 6 0 0 0 Conservative hold Details
Broxtowe † Nottinghamshire 37 11 0 1 0 Conservative hold Details
Burnley† Lancashire 12 39 1 2 0 Labour hold Details

† New ward boundaries

C

[edit]
District County Conservative Labour Liberal Independent Other Control Details
Cambridge Cambridgeshire 24 (+13) 16 (-10) 2 (-3) 0 0 Conservative gain from Labour Details
Cannock Chase† Staffordshire 18 24 0 0 0 Labour hold Details
Canterbury Kent 46 (+9) 1 (-6) 0 1 (-2) 2 (-1) Conservative hold Details
Caradon Cornwall 0 1 (+1) 0 39 (-2) Mebyon Kernow 1 (+1) Independent hold Details
Carlisle Cumbria 22 (+4) 22 (-2) 1 3 (-2) 0 Labour lose to NOC Details
Carrick Cornwall 9 (+4) 4 (-1) 4 28 (-3) 0 Independent hold Details
Castle Morpeth† Northumberland 9 5 2 15 0 NOC Details
Castle Point Essex 35 (+16) 3 (-15) 0 0 (-1) 0 Conservative gain from NOC Details
Charnwood Leicestershire 42 (+8) 13 (-1) 2 (-3) 1 (-4) 0 Conservative hold Details
Chelmsford† Essex 46 3 9 2 0 Conservative hold Details
Cheltenham Gloucestershire 22 (+1) 2 (-5) 4 1 Ratepayers Association 6 (+4) Conservative hold Details
Cherwell Oxfordshire 26 (+10) 10 (-6) 0 8 (-4) 1 Vacancy Conservative gain from NOC Details
Chester Cheshire 44 (+3) 10 (-5) 2 (+1) 1 (-3) Ratepayers 5 (+4) Conservative hold Details
Chesterfield Derbyshire 14 (+6) 36 (-7) 2 1 (+1) Independent Labour 1 Labour hold Details
Chester-le-Street Durham 0 22 (-2) 6 5 (+2) 0 Labour hold Details
Chichester West Sussex 33 (+18) 0 1 (-5) 11 (-11) Residents 5 (+2) Conservative hold Details
Chiltern† Buckinghamshire 39 6 1 4 0 Conservative hold Details
Chorley† Lancashire 33 11 0 2 Independent Labour 1 Conservative gain from NOC Details
Christchurch Dorset 18 (+1) 4 0 0 (-1) 0 Conservative hold Details
Cleethorpes Humberside 13 (+4) 13 5 (-2) 15 (-2) Ratepayers 1
Independent Socialist 1 		NOC Details
Colchester Essex 39 18 0 1 Ratepayers 2 Conservative gain from NOC Details
Congleton Cheshire 30 5 2 7 Ratepayers 1 Conservative gain from NOC Details
Copeland Cumbria 15 (+6) 22 (-10) 0 7 Tenants and Ratepayers Association 3 (+3)

Community Association 1 (+1)

Labour lose to NOC Details
Corby† Northamptonshire 16 10 0 1 0 Conservative gain from Labour Details
Cotswold Gloucestershire 4 (+3) 0 (-1) 0 41 (-2) 0 Independent hold Details
Craven North Yorkshire 21 (+7) 2 (-3) 5 (-4) 6 Independent Socialist 1 Conservative gain from NOC Details
Crawley West Sussex 11 (+11) 14 (-11) 0 0 0 Labour hold Details
Crewe Cheshire 28 (+21) 24 (-9) 0 (-2) 4 (-14) Ratepayers and Residents 4 (+4) Labour lose to NOC Details

† New ward boundaries

D

[edit]
District County Conservative Labour Liberal Independent Other Control Details
Dacorum Hertfordshire 38 (+11) 21 (-10) 0 (-1) 3 0 Conservative gain from Labour Details
Darlington Durham 30 (+22) 15 (-13) 0 (-8) 4 (-1) 0 Conservative gain from Labour Details
Dartford† Kent 20 25 0 0 0 Labour hold Details
Daventry Northamptonshire 24 (+8) 2 (-6) 0 9 (-2) 0 Conservative gain from NOC Details
Derby Derbyshire 28 (+14) 26 (-8) 0 (-6) 0 0 Conservative gain from Labour Details
Derwentside Durham 2 (+1) 39 (-6) 5 (+2) 9 (+3) 0 Labour hold Details
Dover Kent 36 (+5) 17 (-5) 0 2 0 Conservative hold Details
Durham Durham 0 34 (-7) 10 (+3) 16 (+3) Independent Labour 1 (+1) Labour hold Details

† New ward boundaries

E

[edit]
District County Conservative Labour Liberal Independent Other Control Details
Easington Durham 1 (+1) 45 (-8) 4 (+4) 5 (+3) Independent Labour 5 Labour hold Details
East Cambridgeshire Cambridgeshire 3 (+2) 1 (-1) 0 29 (-1) Independent Socialist 1

Independent Conservative 2

Independent hold Details
East Devon Devon 44 (+31) 1 0 13 (-31) 0 Conservative gain from Independent Details
East Hampshire Hampshire 31 (+14) 0 (-5) 0 11 (-9) 0 Conservative gain from NOC Details
East Hertfordshire Hertfordshire 28 (+12) 1 (-9) 0 0 (-5) Ratepayers 8 (+2) Conservative gain from NOC Details
East Lindsey Lincolnshire 10 (+5) 1 2 (-2) 45 (-3) 0 Independent hold Details
East Northamptonshire Northamptonshire 28 (+8) 6 (-9) 0 3 (+1) 0 Conservative hold Details
East Staffordshire Staffordshire 37 (+17) 12 (-14) 1 (+1) 10 (-4) 0 Conservative gain from Conservative-Independent Details
Eastbourne† East Sussex 25 4 1 0 0 NOC Details
Eastleigh Hampshire Conservative gain Details
Eden Cumbria 0 0 0 26 (-5) Ratepayers 10 (+5)

1 vacancy

Independent hold Details
Ellesmere Port† Cheshire 17 22 1 1 0 Labour hold Details
Elmbridge† Surrey 36 7 3 14 0 Conservative hold Details
Epping Forest Essex 53 (+7) 1 (-9) 0 5 (+2) 0 Conservative hold Details
Epsom and Ewell† Surrey 0 3 0 0 Ratepayers 36 Ratepayers hold Details
Erewash Derbyshire 37 (+28) 4 (-32) 5 5 (+1) Independent Labour 3 (+3) Conservative gain from Labour Details
Exeter Devon 24 (+7) 9 (-2) 6 (-4) 1 (-1) 0 Conservative gain from NOC Details

† New ward boundaries

F

[edit]
District County Conservative Labour Liberal Independent Other Control Details
Fareham† Hampshire 21 2 1 2 10 Conservative gain from NOC Details
Fenland† Cambridgeshire 27 8 1 4 0 Conservative gain from NOC Details
Forest Heath Suffolk 13 (+3) 0 1 9 (-5) Ratepayers 2 (+2) Conservative gain from Independent Details
Forest of Dean Gloucestershire 7 (+1) 12 2 26 (-1) 0 Independent hold Details
Fylde† Lancashire 26 1 4 11 Others 7 Conservative hold Details

† New ward boundaries

G

[edit]
District County Conservative Labour Liberal Independent Other Control Details
Gedling† Nottinghamshire 42 10 0 0 Independent Ratepayers 3 Conservative hold Details
Gillingham Kent 32 (+19) 3 (-11) 0 (-8) 0 0 Conservative gain from NOC Details
Glanford Humberside 16 (+10) 0 (-1) 0 18 (-9) 0 Independent hold Details
Gloucester Gloucestershire 26 (+6) 6 (-7) 1 (+1) 0 0 Conservative hold Details
Gosport Hampshire 18 (+9) 8 (-11) 0 2 Ratepayers 5 (+2) Conservative gain from Labour Details
Gravesham Kent 26 (+9) 17 (-9) 0 1 0 Conservative gain from Labour Details
Great Yarmouth Norfolk 32 (+6) 13 (-4) 2 1 (-2) 0 Conservative hold Details
Grimsby Humberside 23 (+9) 13 (-7) 5 (-2) 1 0 Conservative gain from NOC Details
Guildford† Surrey 35 6 2 2 0 Conservative hold Details

† Ward boundary changes

H

[edit]
District County Conservative Labour Liberal Independent Other Control Details
Halton† Cheshire 17 26 1 3 0 Labour hold Details
Hambleton North Yorkshire 4 0 1 43 0 Independent hold Details
Harborough Leicestershire 31 (+2) 1 (-2) 1 (+1) 4 (-1) 0 Conservative hold Details
Harlow† Essex 3 35 4 0 0 Labour hold Details
Harrogate North Yorkshire 42 (+7) 2 (-11) 3 12 (+4) Whig 1 Conservative hold Details
Hart† Hampshire 14 2 0 16 Ratepayers 3 Independent lose to NOC Details
Hartlepool† Cleveland 15 17 0 2 Ratepayers Association 13 Labour lose to NOC Details
Hastings East Sussex 20 (+8) 8 (-3) 4 (-5) 1 0 Conservative gain from NOC Details
Havant† Hampshire 18 9 3 0 Ratepayers 12 NOC Details
Hereford Hereford and Worcester 8 (+8) 4 (-5) 7 (-1) 4 (-2) Others 1 NOC Details
Hertsmere† Hertfordshire 25 10 4 0 0 Conservative gain from NOC Details
High Peak Derbyshire 27 (+5) 8 (-3) 2 (-1) 8 (-1) Ratepayers 1 Conservative gain from Conservative-Independent Details
Hinckley and Bosworth Leicestershire 29 (+24) 2 (-13) 2 (-6) 1 (-5) 0 Conservative gain from NOC Details
Holderness† Humberside 4 0 0 27 0 Independent hold Details
Horsham West Sussex 31 (+15) 0 (-1) 0 (-2) 11 (-13) Ratepayers and Residents Association 1 (+1) Conservative gain from Independent Details
Hove East Sussex 33 (+5) 2 (-4) 0 0 Ratepayers 1 (-1) Conservative hold Details
Huntingdon† Cambridgeshire 32 1 0 20 0 Conservative gain from NOC Details
Hyndburn Lancashire 33 14 1 0 0 Conservative gain from NOC Details

† New ward boundaries

I

[edit]
District County Conservative Labour Liberal Independent Other Control Details
Ipswich Suffolk 26 (+13) 21 (-13) 0 0 0 Conservative gain from Labour Details

K

[edit]
District County Conservative Labour Liberal Independent Other Control Details
Kennet† Wiltshire 9 2 2 25 1 vacancy Independent hold Details
Kerrier Cornwall 9 3 1 (+1) 28 (-2) 1 (+1) Independent hold Details
Kettering Northamptonshire 20 (+6) 14 (-2) 5 (-2) 6 (-2) 0 NOC Details
Kingston upon Hull Humberside 19 (+10) 44 (-10) 0 0 0 Labour hold Details
Kingswood† Avon 22 18 3 4 0 NOC Details

† New ward boundaries

L

[edit]
District County Conservative Labour Liberal Independent Other Control Details
Lancaster Lancashire 43 (+8) 11 (-6) 1 2 (-2) Ratepayers 3 Conservative hold 1976 Lancaster City Council electionDetails
Langbaurgh† Cleveland 33 19 0 8 0 Conservative gain from Labour Details
Leicester Leicestershire 27 (+16) 21 (-16) 0 0 0 Conservative gain from Labour Details
Leominster Hereford and Worcester 3 (+1) 2 (-1) 2 (-1) 28 Independent Liberal 1 (+1) Independent hold Details
Lewes East Sussex 37 (+10) 6 (-4) 0 4 (-6) Ratepayers 5 Conservative hold Details
Lichfield Staffordshire 46 (+24) 4 (-20) 0 6 (-4) 0 Conservative gain from NOC Details
Lincoln Lincolnshire 13 (+7) 0 (-3) 0 0 (-4) Democratic Labour 17 Democratic Labour hold Details
Luton† Bedfordshire 37 10 1 0 0 Conservative again from Labour Details

† New ward boundaries

M

[edit]
District County Conservative Labour Liberal Independent Other Control Details
Macclesfield Cheshire 34 5 3 0 Ratepayers and Independents 17

5 vacancies

Conservative gain from NOC Details
Maidstone Kent 39 (+25) 7 (-4) 7 (-11) 7 (-10) 0 Conservative gain from NOC Details
Maldon Essex 20 (+6) 11 (-3) 9 (-20 14 (-1) 0 Conservative gain from NOC Details
Malvern Hills Hereford and Worcester 12 3 3 29 0 Independent hold Details
Mansfield Nottinghamshire 10 (+3) 34 (-4) 1 (+1) 0 0 Labour hold Details
Medina Isle of Wight 11 (+8) 6 (-4) 6 (+2) 8 (-5) Ratepayers 2 (-1) NOC hold Details
Medway Kent 45 (+22) 11 (-20) 0 3 (-2) 0 Conservative gain from Labour Details
Melton Leicestershire 18 (+2) 1 (-1) 0 1 (-1) 3

1 vacancy

Conservative hold Details
Mendip Somerset 20 (+11) 3 (-4) 3 18 (-7) 0 NOC Details
Mid Bedfordshire Bedfordshire 19 (+11) 3 (-5) 1 (-1) 26 (-5) 0 Independent hold Details
Mid Suffolk Suffolk 13 (+3) 7 (-2) 2 (-1) 18 (-2) 0 Conservative-Independent hold Details
Mid Sussex West Sussex 39 (+13) 0 (-4) 1 (-4) 14 (-5) 0 Conservative gain from NOC Details
Middlesbrough Cleveland 17 38 (-1) 0 1 (+1) 0 Labour hold Details
Milton Keynes† Buckinghamshire 33 12 0 1 0 Conservative gain from Labour Details
Mole Valley† Surrey 18 1 2 3 Ratepayers 9 NOC Details

† New ward boundaries

N

[edit]
District County Conservative Labour Liberal Independent Other Control Details
New Forest† Hampshire 30 0 5 7 Ratepayers 5 Conservative gain from Independent Details
Newark Nottinghamshire 29 (+9) 17 (-11) 0 3 (-1) Ratepayers 2 (+2)

Independent Labour 1 (+1)

Conservative gain from Labour Details
Newbury Berkshire 30 (+18) 1 15 (-8) 11 (-10) 0 Conservative gain from NOC Details
Newcastle-under-Lyme Staffordshire 20 (+4) 29 (-3) 2 (+1) 12 (-2) 0 Labour lose to NOC Details
North Bedfordshire Bedfordshire 34 (+14) 9 (-14) 6 (+4) 7 (-4) 0 Conservative gain from NOC Details
North Cornwall Cornwall 0 0 3 (+2) 39 (-2) 2 vacancies Independent hold Details
North Devon Devon 5 (+5) 0 (-1) 12 (-2) 27 (-2) 0 Independent hold Details
North Dorset Dorset 0 0 2 (-3) 29 (+3) 0 Independent hold Details
North East Derbyshire Derbyshire 15 (+5) 19 (-14) 0 9 (+1) Ratepayers 6 (+6)


Independent Labour 2 (+2)

Labour lose to NOC Details
North Hertfordshire Hertfordshire 30 (+6) 11 (-6) 0 5 (-1) Ratepayers 2 (+1) Conservative gain from NOC Details
North Kesteven Lincolnshire 4 (+3) 2 0 30 (-3) 0 Independent hold Details
North Norfolk Norfolk 7 (+1) 1 (-3) 0 34 (-3) Ratepayers 5 (+5) Independent hold Details
North Shropshire† Shropshire 2 2 1 35 0 Independent hold Details
North Warwickshire Warwickshire 13 (+5) 16 (-2) 0 4 (-3) 0 Labour lose to NOC Details
North West Leicestershire Leicestershire 13 (+5) 10 (-6) 0 10 1 (+1) Labour lose to NOC Details
North Wiltshire Wiltshire 37 (+12) 5 (-3) 3 (-5) 5 (-4) 0 Conservative gain from NOC Details
North Wolds† Humberside 10 0 2 31 0 Independent hold Details
Northampton Northamptonshire 32 (+9) 16 (-9) 0 0 0 Conservative gain from Labour Details
Northavon† Avon 39 14 0 4 0 Conservative hold Details
Norwich Norfolk 12 (+1) 36 (-1) 0 0 0 Labour hold Details
Nottingham† Nottinghamshire 40 14 0 0 Ratepayers 1 Labour hold Details
Nuneaton Warwickshire 14 (+7) 18 (-8) 3 (+1) 0 0 Labour hold Details

O

[edit]
District County Conservative Labour Liberal Independent Other Control Details
Oadby and Wigston Leicestershire 25 (+5) 1 (-2) 4 (-3) 0 0 Conservative hold Details
Oswestry† Shropshire 3 2 3 19 0
2 vacancies 		Independent hold Details
Oxford Oxfordshire 30 (+18) 15 (-15) 0 (-1) 0 (-2) 0 Conservative gain from Labour Details

† New ward boundaries

P

[edit]
District County Conservative Labour Liberal Independent Other Control Details
Pendle Lancashire 27 17 6 1 0 Conservative gain from NOC Details
Penwith Cornwall 0 1 1 38 0 Independent hold Details
Peterborough† Cambridgeshire 25 22 1 0 0 Conservative gain from Labour Details
Plymouth Devon 39 (+2) 27 (-2) 0 0 0 Conservative hold Details
Poole Dorset 26 (+4) 2 (-1) 8 (-1) 0 Ratepayers 0 (-2) Conservative hold Details
Portsmouth Hampshire 31 14 (+1) 0 (-1) 3 (+1) Independent Conservative 0 (-1) Conservative hold Details
Preston Lancashire † 43 13 1 0 0 Conservative gain from Labour Details
Purbeck Dorset 7 (+2) 0 (-3) 0 12 (-1) Ratepayers 2 (+2) Independent hold Details

† New ward boundaries

R

[edit]
District County Conservative Labour Liberal Independent Other Control Details
Reading Berkshire 21 (+5) 14 (-2) 11 (-3) 0 NOC Details
Redditch Hereford and Worcester 16 (+10) 7 (-12) 0 2 (+2) 0 Conservative gain from Labour Details
Reigate and Banstead Surrey 45 (+4) 13 (-1) 2 (-3) 0 0 Conservative hold Details
Restormel Cornwall 0 0 6 (+4) 32 (-4) 0 Independent hold Details
Ribble Valley † Lancashire 29 2 0 6 Independent Conservative 1 Conservative hold Details
Richmondshire North Yorkshire 0 0 0 35 0 Independent hold Details
Rochford † Essex 29 1 2 8 0 Conservative hold Details
Rossendale † Lancashire 29 4 3 0 0 Conservative gain from NOC Details
Rother East Sussex 14 (+4) 4 (-1) 0 (-1) 20 (-2) Ratepayers 6 (-1)

Ecology Party 1 (+1)

NOC Details
Rugby Warwickshire 22 (+7) 18 (-7) 1 2 (-1) Ratepayers 6 (+1) Conservative gain from NOC Details
Runnymede † Surrey 31 7 1 3 0 Conservative hold Details
Rushcliffe † Nottinghamshire 48 (+6) 3 0 2 (-1) Ratepayers 1 Conservative hold Details
Rushmoor Hampshire 30 (+8) 5 (-4) 4 (-3) 0 Cove Ratepayers Association 4 (-3) Conservative gain from NOC Details
Rutland Leicestershire 0 1 0 19 0 Independent hold Details
Ryedale North Yorkshire 5 (+1) 1 (-3) 0 37 (+2) 0 Independent Details

† New ward boundaries

S

[edit]
District County Conservative Labour Liberal Independent Other Control Details
St Albans Hertfordshire 45 (+12) 6 (-8) 1 (-6) 2 (+2) 0 Conservative gain from NOC Details
St Edmundsbury Suffolk 30 (+3) 9 (-2) 0 5 (-1) 0 Conservative hold Details
Salisbury † Wiltshire 21 9 7 17 Ratepayers 4 NOC Details
Scarborough North Yorkshire 28 (+7) 3 (-1) 5 (-5) 13 (-1) 0 Conservative gain from NOC Details
Scunthorpe Humberside 13 (+8) 27 (-8) 0 0 0 Labour hold Details
Sedgefield Durham 1 36 (-7) 1 (-1) 15 (+8) 0 Labour hold Details
Sedgemoor Somerset 25 (+6) 12 (-2) 1 (-2) 10 (-2) 0 Conservative gain from NOC Details
Selby North Yorkshire 19 7 (-1) 0 22 (+1) 0 NOC Details
Sevenoaks Kent 36 (+7) 2 (-3) 4 (-4) 12 0 Details Conservative hold
Shepway Kent 33 (+1) 9 (-3) 4 (+3) 8 (-1) 0 Conservative hold Details
Shrewsbury † Shropshire 23 13 5 7 0 NOC Details
Slough Berkshire 27 (+25) 11 (-23) 2 (-2) 0 0 Conservative gain from Labour Details
South Bedfordshire † Bedfordshire 40 5 6 2 0 Conservative gain from NOC Details
South Cambridgeshire † Cambridgeshire 4 6 3 42 0 Independent hold Details
South Derbyshire Derbyshire 7 (+3) 13 (-5) 3 (+3) 11 (-2) Ind Conservative 1 (+1) NOC gain from Labour Details
South Hams Devon 3 (+1) 0 0 38 (-1) 0 Independent hold Details
South Herefordshire Hereford and Worcester 0 0 0 35 (-1) Ratepayers 1 (+1) Independent hold Details
South Holland Lincolnshire 8 (+1) 1 (-1) 0 22 (-4) Ratepayers 4 (+4) Independent hold Details
South Kesteven Lincolnshire 17 8 (-4) 0 13 (-1) 17 (+5) NOC Details
South Lakeland Cumbria 14 (+5) 4 6 (-3) 30 (-2) 0 Independent hold Details
South Norfolk Norfolk 23 (+17) 0 (-7) 2 (+1) 21 (-12) Ind Conservative 1 (+1) NOC gain from Independent Details
South Northamptonshire † Northamptonshire 20 1 1 18 0 NOC Details
South Oxfordshire Oxfordshire 35 7 4 16 0 Conservative gain from NOC Details
South Ribble † Lancashire 44 9 0 1 0 Conservative hold Details
South Shropshire † Shropshire 0 2 2 33 Ratepayers 3 Independent hold Details
South Staffordshire Staffordshire 26 5 (-4) 1 (-1) 15 (+5) Christian Action 2 Conservative hold Details
South Wight Isle of Wight 7 (+6) 0 2 (+1) 14 (-7) Ratepayers 1 Independent hold Details
Southampton Hampshire 20 31 0 0 0 Labour Details
Essex 29 (+5) 4 (-9) 6 (-5) 0 0 Conservative gain from NOC Details
Spelthorne Surrey 45 (+6) 7 (-6) 0 0 0 Conservative hold Details
Stafford Staffordshire 15 (-1) 13 4 (+3) 25 (-2) 0 NOC Details
Staffordshire Moorlands Staffordshire Conservative
& Independent 44 		11 1 0 0 Conservative and Independent hold Details
Stevenage Hertfordshire 6 (+3) 28 (-3) 0 0 0 Labour hold Details
Stockton-on-Tees Cleveland 31 (+4) 25 (-7) 0 4 (+3) 0 Conservative gain from Labour Details
Stoke-on-Trent Staffordshire 20 (+11) 49 (-11) 3 0 0 Labour hold Details
Stratford-on-Avon Warwickshire 25 (+3) 0 (-1) 4 (-2) 22 (-3) Ratepayers 3 (+3) Independent lose to NOC Details
Stroud Gloucestershire 33 (+13) 9 (-3) 5 (-4) 8 (-6) Independent Liberal 1 Conservative gain from Conservative and Independent Details
Suffolk Coastal Suffolk 38 (+16) 3 (-3) 1 (-4) 13 (-7) 0 (-2) Conservative gain from NOC Details
Surrey Heath † Surrey 31 2 0 3 0 Conservative hold Details
Swale Kent 27 (+10) 19 (-6) 3 (-1) 1 (-3) 0 Conservative gain from Labour Details

† New ward boundaries

T

[edit]
District County Conservative Labour Liberal Independent Other Control Details
Tamworth † Staffordshire 10 13 0 0 Independent Ratepayers 4 Labour lose to NOC Details
Tandridge † Surrey 38 2 1 1 0 Conservative hold Details
Taunton Deane Somerset 26 (+3) 11 (-3) 0 11 0 Conservative gain from NOC Details
Teesdale Durham 0 4 (+2) 0 25 (-2) 0 Independent hold Details
Teignbridge Devon 7 (+7) 1 (-7) 3 (+2) 45 (-2) Ratepayers 1 Independent hold Details
Tendring † Essex 39 4 5 8 Ratepayers 4 Conservative hold Details
Test Valley † Hampshire 19 3 1 17 Ratepayers 1 NOC Details
Gloucestershire 21 1 (+1) 2 22 (-5) 5 (+5) NOC Details
Thamesdown † Wiltshire 22 21 1 2 0 Labour lose to NOC Details
Thanet Kent 39 (+4) 11 0 (-4) 11 Ratepayers Association 2 Conservative hold Details
Three Rivers † Hertfordshire 32 10 5 0 0 Conservative gain from NOC Details
Thurrock Essex 11 (+7) 25 (-7) 0 3 0 Labour hold Details
Tiverton Devon 0 0 (-5) 5 35 (+5) 0 Independent hold Details
Tonbridge and Malling Kent 42 (+13) 4 (-6) 4 (-6) 3 (-1) 0 Conservative hold Details
Torbay Devon 34 (+3) 0 (-4) 0 0 Ratepayers Association 2 (+1) Conservative hold Details
Torridge Devon 2 (+1) 2 7 (+1) 25 (-2) 0 Independent hold Details
Tunbridge Wells † Kent 36 4 0 8 0 Conservative hold Details
Tynedale † Northumberland 8 11 4 23 1 NOC Details

† New ward boundaries

U

[edit]
District County Conservative Labour Liberal Independent Other Control Details
Uttlesford † Essex 29 3 4 6 0 Conservative hold Details

† New ward boundaries

V

[edit]
District County Conservative Labour Liberal Independent Other Control Details
Vale of White Horse Oxfordshire 40 (+11) 4 (-4) 1 (-2) 3 (-5) 0 Conservative hold Details
Vale Royal † Cheshire 25 14 4 13 Ratepayers 3 NOC Details

† New ward boundaries

W

[edit]
District County Conservative Labour Liberal Independent Other Control Details
Wansbeck † Northumberland 0 43 2 0 Independent Labour 1 Labour hold Details
Wansdyke † Avon 25 13 0 8 0 Conservative gain from NOC Details
Warrington Cheshire 39 (+7) 10 (-3) 0 (-3) 2 (-1) 0 Conservative hold Details
Warwick Warwickshire 41 (+15) 14 (-11) 3 (-4) 0 0 Conservative gain from NOC Details
Watford † Hertfordshire 19 17 0 0 0 Conservative gain from Labour Details
Waveney Suffolk 39 (+15) 13 (-12) 4 (-1) 1 (-2) 0 Conservative gain from NOC Details
Waverley Surrey 45 (+16) 3 (+1) 7 (-17) 6 0 Conservative gain from NOC Details
Wealden East Sussex 41 (+19) 0 (-1) 0 (-3) 15 (-15) 0 Conservative gain from NOC Details
Wear Valley Durham 2 (+2) 17 (-6) 11 (+2) 6 (+2) 5 Labour lose to NOC Details
Wellingborough Northamptonshire 19 (+3) 9 (-5) 1 (+1) 3 (+1) Ratepayers 1 Conservative gain from NOC Details
Welwyn Hatfield † Hertfordshire 24 19 0 0 0 Conservative gain from Labour Details
West Derbyshire Derbyshire 29 (+10) 2 (-4) 3 2 (-5) 4 (-1) Conservative gain from NOC Details
West Devon Devon 4 (+4) 0 0 26 (-4) 0 Independent hold Details
West Dorset Dorset 2 (+2) 1 (-1) 7 (-2) 45 (+1) 0 Independent hold Details
West Lancashire † Lancashire 34 15 1 5 0 Conservative gain from NOC Details
West Lindsey Lincolnshire 7 (+6) 4 (-1) 4 (-2) 22 (-3) 0 Independent hold Details
West Norfolk Norfolk 36 (+19) 12 (-8) 0 12 (-11) 0 Conservative gain from Independent-Conservative Details
West Oxfordshire Oxfordshire 19 (+19) 4 (-4) 0 22 (-15) 0 Independent lose to NOC Details
West Somerset Somerset 5 0 1 25 1 vacancy Independent hold Details
West Wiltshire Wiltshire 19 (+6) 7 (-3) 1 (-1) 15 (-2) 0 NOC Details
Weymouth and Portland Dorset 20 (+3) 13 (-9) 0 4 (+4) Ratepayers 2 (+2) Conservative gain from Labour Details
Wimborne Dorset 19 (+18) 0 3 (-7) 8 (-13) Ratepayers Association 3 (+2) Conservative gain from Independent Details
Winchester † Hampshire 24 4 3 23 Independent lose to NOC Details
Windsor and Maidenhead Berkshire 55 (+2) 0 (-3) 1 (+1) 3 0 Conservative hold Details
Woking † Surrey 27 8 0 0 0 Conservative hold Details
Wokingham Berkshire 36 (+10) 0 8 (-4) 8 (-6) 0 Conservative gain from NOC Details
Woodspring Avon 50 (+11) 7 (-3) 0 (-4) 4 (-4) 0 Conservative hold Details
Worcester Hereford and Worcester 24 (+5) 12 (-5) 0 0 0 Conservative hold Details
Worthing West Sussex 26 (+4) 0 (-1) 1 0 Ratepayers 3 (-3) Conservative hold Details
Wrekin Shropshire 13 (+3) 30 (-1) 0 12 (-2) 0 Labour hold Details
Wychavon Hereford and Worcester 8 (+4) 4 2 31 (-4) 0 Independent hold Details
Wycombe Buckinghamshire 53 (+23) 0 (-12) 0 (-3) 3 (-7) Ratepayers 3 (-1) Conservative Details
Wyre Lancashire 49 (+4) 0 (-2) 2 (+1) 3 (-4) Ratepayers 1 (+1) Conservative hold Details
Wyre Forest Hereford and Worcester 28 (+14) 7 (-12) 9 (-2) 1 0 Conservative gain from NOC Details

† New ward boundaries

Y

[edit]
District County Conservative Labour Liberal Independent Other Control Details
Yeovil Somerset 28 7 1 24 0 NOC Details
York North Yorkshire 26 (+9) 10 (-7) 3 (-2) 0 0 Conservative gain from NOC Details

Totals

[edit]
District County Conservative Labour Liberal Independent Other Control
Total Council Seats 6812 (+1523) 2843 (-1003) 607 (-203) 2838 (-406) 441(+63)

Wales

[edit]

District councils

[edit]
District County Conservative Labour Liberal Plaid Cymru Independent Other Control
Aberconwy Gwynedd 6 (+3) 2 3 0 30 (-3) 0 Independent hold
Alyn and Deeside Clwyd 8 22 (-2) 6 0 7 Ratepayers 2 (+2) Labour lose to NOC
Afan West Glamorgan 0 11 (-10) 0 0 1 (+1) Tenants Association 6 (+3)

Ratepayers 12 (+6)

Labour lose to NOC
Arfon Gwynedd 0 5 (-3) 0 13 (+8) 23 (-5) 0 Independent hold
Blaenau Gwent Gwent 1 26 5 3 9 6 Labour hold
Brecknock Powys 8 16 1 0 29 0 Independent hold
Cardiff South Glamorgan 44 (+12) 29 (-14) 0 0 0 Ratepayers 2 (+2) Conservative gain from Labour
Carmarthen Dyfed 0 6 1 (+1) 0 29 (-1) 0 Independent hold
Ceredigion Dyfed 0 3 (-1) 7 (-1) 2 (+1) 30 (+1) 1 vacancy Independent hold
Colwyn Clwyd 16 (+13) 0 6 (-4) 0 11 (-9) 0 Conservative gain from Independent
Cynon Valley Mid Glamorgan 0 0 23 (+1) 9 (-3) 2 (+1) Communist 1
Others 3 		Labour hold
Delyn Clwyd 2 (+1) 15 (-1) 1 (+1) 2 (-1) 16 Ratepayers 4 NOC
Dinefwr Dyfed 0 13 (-3) 0 2 (+2) 17 (+1) 0 Independent gain from Labour
Dwyfor Gwynedd 1 0 0 6 (+1) 22 (-1) 0 Independent hold
Glyndŵr Clwyd 0 3 0 0 30 0 Independent hold
Islwyn Gwent 0 16 (-14) 0 7 (+5) 9 (+5) Ratepayers 6 (+2)

Independent Socialist 1 (+1)
Others 1 (+1)

Labour lose to NOC
Llanelli Dyfed 0 24 (-5) 2 (+2) 1 (+1) 6 (+2) 0 Labour hold
Lliw Valley West Glamorgan 0 19 (-8) 0 5 (+3) 8 (+5) 0 Labour hold
Meirionnydd Gwynedd 0 3 (-1) 0 8 (+8) 28 (-7) 0 Independent hold
Merthyr Tydfil Mid Glamorgan 0 8 (-17) 0 21 (+17) 1 Ratepayers 2 (-1)

Independent Labour 1 (+1)

Plaid Cymru gain from Labour
Monmouth Gwent 30 (+1) 7 (-1) 0 0 2 0 Conservative hold
Montgomery Powys 1 1 3 1 (+1) 44 (-1) 1 vacancy Independent hold
Neath West Glamorgan 0 17 (-10) 0 3 (+1) 4 Ratepayers 9 (+9) Labour hold
Newport Gwent 26 (+18) 22 (-14) 0 (-2) 0 3 (-2) 0 Conservative gain from Labour
Ogwr Mid Glamorgan 13 (+8) 29 (-14) 1 1 3 (+1) Ratepayers 10 (+5) Labour hold
Preseli Dyfed 0 0 0 0 43 0 Independent hold
Radnor Powys 0 0 0 0 31 0 Independent hold
Rhondda Mid Glamorgan 1 (+1) 21 (-9) 0 2 (+1) 3 (+3) Ratepayers 5 (+4)
Communist 1 		Labour hold
Rhuddlan Clwyd 1 (-2) 0 1 1 33 (+3) 0 Independent hold
Rhymney Valley Mid Glamorgan 0 19 (-15) 0 23 (+15) 2 Ratepayers 4 Labour lose to NOC
South Pembrokeshire Dyfed 0 0 0 0 (-1) 31 (+1) 0 Independent hold
Swansea West Glamorgan 11 7 0 1 3 Ratepayers 29 Ratepayers gain from Labour
Taff-Ely Mid Glamorgan 1 (+1) 24 (-5) 4 (+1) 8 (+6) 5 (-4) Tenants and Residents 3

Ratepayers 2 (+1)

Labour lose to NOC
Torfaen Gwent 1 24 0 1 10 Ratepayers 6

Communist 1

Labour hold
Vale of Glamorgan South Glamorgan 33 (+14) 10 (-14) 0 0 6 0 Conservative gain from NOC
Wrexham Maelor Clwyd 7 (+3) 20 (-4) 2 2 (+1) 14 0 Labour lose to NOC
Ynys Môn (Anglesey) Gwynedd 0 5 0 1 (+1) 39 (-1) 0 Independent hold
Totals 211 (+73) 427 (-165) 66 (-1) 123 (+67) 584 (-10) 116 (+36)

References

[edit]
  1. ^ Rallings, Colin; Thrasher, Michael. Local Elections Handbook 1976. The Elections Centre. Retrieved 3 May 2016.
  2. ^ "Council compositions". The Elections Centre. Retrieved 3 May 2016.
  3. ^ Tories seize cities but fail to achieve expected landslide, The Times, May 7, 1976
  4. ^ Tories gain most in big towns: Liberals ousted in Liverpool, The Times, May 7, 1976
  5. ^ Heavy Labour losses in district polls, The Times, May 8, 1976
  6. ^ Conservatives control 17 metropolitan councils, The Times, May 8, 1976
  7. ^ Another loss for Labour in local elections, The Times, May 11, 1976
  8. ^ Protest on poll by Kent Conservatives, The Times, May 12, 1976
  9. ^ Tory winners plan to sell council houses, The Times, May 8, 1976
  10. ^ New recruiting drive by Taverne group, The Times, May 8, 1976
  11. ^ Former MP views result as sign of personal following, The Times, May 8, 1976
  12. ^ Labour beaten after decades of rule in Welsh heartlands, The Times, May 8, 1976
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