# 1996 Wirral Metropolitan Borough Council election

The 1996 Wirral Metropolitan Borough Council election took place on 2 May 1996 to elect members of Wirral Metropolitan Borough Council in England. This election was held on the same day as other local elections.
After the election, the composition of the council was:
| Party | Seats | ± |
| Labour | 41 | 5 |
| Conservative | 16 | 6 |
| Liberal Democrats | 9 | 1 |

## Election results
### Overall election result

Overall result compared with 1995.
Wirral Metropolitan Borough Council election results, 1996 :
| Party | Party | Candidates | Candidates | Candidates | Candidates | Candidates | Candidates | Votes | Votes | Votes |
| Party | Party | Stood | Elected | Gained | Unseated | Net | % of total | % | No. | Net % |
| | Labour | 22 | 13 | 5 | 0 | 5 | 59.1 | 48.9 | 41,521 | 4.6 |
| | Conservative | 20 | 6 | 0 | 6 | 6 | 27.3 | 30.2 | 25,611 | 4.4 |
| | Liberal Democrats | 22 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 13.6 | 20.1 | 17,066 | |
| | Green | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | | 0.0 | 0.7 | 555 | 0.1 |
| | Independent | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | | 0.0 | 0.2 | 161 | N/A |

## Ward results
### Bebington

Bebington :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Keith Williams | 2,171 | 47.7 | 4.9 |
| | Conservative | Brian Cummings | 1,940 | 42.6 | 2.5 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Kevin Turner | 363 | 8.0 | 0.7 |
| | Green | Ann Jones | 77 | 1.7 | New |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 231 | 5.1 | 7.4 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 10,555 | | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | | 43.1 | 4.5 |
| | Labour gain from Conservative | Labour gain from Conservative | Swing | 3.7 | |

### Bidston

Bidston :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | J. Williams | 1,713 | 88.4 | 2.2 |
| | Liberal Democrats | John Tomlinson | 224 | 11.6 | 6.8 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,489 | 76.9 | 8.9 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 8,211 | | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | | 23.6 | 7.8 |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | 4.5 | |

### Birkenhead

Birkenhead :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | D. Gower | 2,228 | 88.0 | 0.3 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Michael Redfern | 303 | 12.0 | 5.9 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,925 | 76.1 | 6.1 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 10,211 | | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | | 24.8 | 5.9 |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | 3.1 | |

### Bromborough

Bromborough :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | David Jackson | 2,401 | 65.1 | 8.1 |
| | Conservative | K. Roberts | 658 | 17.9 | 1.7 |
| | Liberal Democrats | M. Bolton | 384 | 10.4 | 0.2 |
| | Independent | J. Rohan | 161 | 4.4 | New |
| | Green | J. Jones | 82 | 2.2 | New |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,743 | 47.3 | 9.7 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 10,752 | | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | | 34.3 | 2.0 |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | 4.9 | |

### Clatterbridge

Clatterbridge :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Michael Moore | 2,478 | 45.1 | 7.2 |
| | Labour | L. Flanagan | 2,066 | 37.6 | 5.2 |
| | Liberal Democrats | W. Walsh | 947 | 17.2 | 2.1 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 412 | 7.5 | N/A |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 13,713 | | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | | 40.0 | 1.5 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | 6.2 | |

### Claughton

Claughton :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | George Davies | 2,007 | 51.7 | 1.9 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Stuart Kelly | 1,237 | 31.8 | 5.3 |
| | Conservative | P. Greening-Jackson | 560 | 14.4 | 2.9 |
| | Green | George Bowler | 80 | 2.1 | 0.5 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 770 | 19.8 | 7.1 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 10,359 | | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | | 37.5 | 4.3 |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | 3.6 | |

### Eastham

Eastham :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal Democrats | Phillip Gilchrist | 2,805 | 65.1 | 6.3 |
| | Labour | A. McGuiness | 1,059 | 24.6 | 5.2 |
| | Conservative | S. Hutchence | 444 | 10.3 | 1.1 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,746 | 40.5 | 11.4 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 11,170 | | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | | 38.6 | 3.1 |
| | Liberal Democrats hold | Liberal Democrats hold | Swing | 5.8 | |

### Egerton

Egerton :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Andrew Dow | 2,290 | 75.3 | 1.5 |
| | Conservative | H. Jackson-Payne | 407 | 13.4 | 1.1 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Philip Lloyd | 238 | 7.8 | 0.9 |
| | Green | Joyce Hogg | 107 | 3.5 | 1.3 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,883 | 61.9 | 2.6 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 10,554 | | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | | 28.8 | 5.9 |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | 1.3 | |

### Heswall

Heswall :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | T. Price | 2,820 | 60.3 | 4.3 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Edward Norton | 1,040 | 22.2 | 2.5 |
| | Labour | C. Murphy | 820 | 17.5 | 6.8 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,780 | 38.0 | 6.2 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 13,119 | | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | | 35.7 | 2.9 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | 3.2 | |

### Hoylake

Hoylake :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Hilary Jones | 2,433 | 55.5 | 2.1 |
| | Labour | Alan Milne | 1,218 | 27.8 | 3.5 |
| | Liberal Democrats | A. Richards | 733 | 16.7 | 1.4 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,215 | 27.7 | 5.6 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 12,232 | | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | | 35.8 | 2.2 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | 2.8 | |

### Leasowe

Leasowe :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Ronald Abbey | 2,169 | 77.1 | 4.8 |
| | Conservative | Ian Lewis | 418 | 14.8 | 4.7 |
| | Liberal Democrats | C. Robertson | 228 | 8.1 | 0.1 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,751 | 62.2 | 9.6 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 9,345 | | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | | 30.1 | 3.6 |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | 4.8 | |

### Liscard

Liscard :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Denis Knowles | 2,421 | 64.6 | 7.3 |
| | Conservative | M. Ebbs | 883 | 23.6 | New |
| | Liberal Democrats | M. Todd | 444 | 11.8 | 16.3 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,538 | 41.0 | 2.7 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 11,087 | | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | | 33.8 | 2.9 |
| | Labour gain from Conservative | Labour gain from Conservative | Swing | 1.4 | |

### Moreton

Moreton :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Ann McLachlan | 2,148 | 60.5 | 2.1 |
| | Conservative | Vic Borg | 1,177 | 33.1 | 1.6 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Susanne Uriel | 228 | 6.4 | 0.5 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 971 | 27.3 | 3.6 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 9,583 | | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | | 37.1 | 7.8 |
| | Labour gain from Conservative | Labour gain from Conservative | Swing | 1.9 | |

### New Brighton

New Brighton :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Vincent McGee | 2,132 | 59.3 | 3.1 |
| | Conservative | H. Tooke | 1,038 | 28.9 | 4.0 |
| | Liberal Democrats | John Codling | 424 | 11.8 | 0.9 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,094 | 30.4 | 7.1 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 11,289 | | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | | 31.8 | 4.4 |
| | Labour gain from Conservative | Labour gain from Conservative | Swing | 3.6 | |

### Oxton

Oxton :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal Democrats | Alec Dunn | 2,221 | 56.3 | 3.0 |
| | Labour | Pauline Cocker | 1,123 | 28.5 | 2.3 |
| | Conservative | Cyrus Ferguson | 524 | 13.3 | 0.8 |
| | Green | Garnette Bowler | 75 | 1.9 | 0.2 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,098 | 27.8 | 5.3 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 11,261 | | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | | 35.0 | 4.9 |
| | Liberal Democrats hold | Liberal Democrats hold | Swing | 2.7 | |

### Prenton

Prenton :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal Democrats | Margaret Bridson | 2,300 | 47.8 | 1.6 |
| | Labour | Ray Pullen | 1,595 | 33.2 | 2.6 |
| | Conservative | J. Thomas | 912 | 19.0 | 1.0 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 705 | 14.7 | 4.3 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 11,399 | | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | | 42.2 | 1.3 |
| | Liberal Democrats gain from Conservative | Liberal Democrats gain from Conservative | Swing | 2.1 | |

### Royden

Royden :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Derek Robinson | 2,280 | 50.1 | 4.7 |
| | Labour | R. Pennington | 1,307 | 28.7 | 3.6 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Peter Reisdorf | 966 | 21.2 | 1.2 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 973 | 21.4 | 8.2 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 10,963 | | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | | 41.5 | 3.9 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | 4.2 | |

### Seacombe

Seacombe :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | P. Clee | 2,564 | 82.7 | 0.8 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Moira Gallagher | 297 | 9.6 | 3.9 |
| | Conservative | Patricia Jones | 240 | 7.7 | 0.5 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 2,267 | 73.1 | 2.2 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 10,963 | | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | | 28.3 | 5.6 |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | 1.1 | |

### Thurstaston

Thurstaston (ward) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Sid Dunn | 2,454 | 51.1 | 4.9 |
| | Labour | A. Beer | 1,849 | 38.5 | 1.1 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Charles Wall | 495 | 10.3 | 3.9 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 605 | 12.6 | 6.1 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 12,228 | | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | | 39.1 | 3.0 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | 3.0 | |

### Tranmere

Tranmere :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Moira McLaughlin | 1,824 | 79.9 | 3.8 |
| | Conservative | C. Bowditch | 174 | 7.6 | 1.3 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Stephen Blaylock | 151 | 6.6 | 0.5 |
| | Green | Catherine Page | 134 | 5.9 | 2.0 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,650 | 72.3 | 5.2 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 9,509 | | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | | 24.0 | 6.3 |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | 2.6 | |

### Upton

Upton :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | A. Bell | 2,579 | 58.3 | 6.3 |
| | Conservative | L. Turnbull | 1,350 | 30.5 | 6.4 |
| | Liberal Democrats | N. Sherwen | 492 | 11.1 | 0.2 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,229 | 27.8 | 12.8 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 12,466 | | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | | 35.5 | 2.0 |
| | Labour gain from Conservative | Labour gain from Conservative | Swing | 6.4 | |

### Wallasey

Wallasey :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Kate Wood | 2,421 | 50.4 | 10.6 |
| | Labour | Geoffrey Caton | 1,837 | 38.2 | 6.4 |
| | Liberal Democrats | John Uriel | 546 | 11.4 | 4.2 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 584 | 12.2 | N/A |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 11,690 | | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | | 41.1 | 2.4 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | 8.5 | |

## Changes between 1996 and 1998
### Wallasey by-election 1997

By-election, 13 March 1997: Wallasey :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Lesley Rennie | 1,781 | 47.3 | 3.1 |
| | Labour | Elizabeth McArdle | 1,490 | 39.5 | 1.3 |
| | Liberal Democrats | John Uriel | 443 | 11.8 | 0.4 |
| | Green | George Bowler | 54 | 1.4 | New |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 291 | 7.7 | 4.5 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | | 32.2 | 8.9 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | 2.2 | |

### Other changes

| Date | Ward | Name | Previous affiliation | Previous affiliation | New affiliation | New affiliation | Circumstance |
| ? | Prenton | Ed Cunniffe | | Liberal Democrats | | Ind. Lib Dem | Resigned. |