# 1966 Leeds City Council election

The 1966 Leeds municipal elections were held on Thursday 12 May 1966, with one third of the council up for election.
A 2.7% swing towards Labour allowed the party to defend half of their losses of the previous year, and win a majority of the seats up for election, despite still trailing the Conservatives by a significant number in votes. The three Tory gains were in the marginal wards of Beeston, Bramley and Wortley, adding to the gains they were enjoying around the country.
There was a sharp drop in turnout for the election - falling into the twenties for only the second time in post-war history - to 29.6%. Unlike the nadir of 1960 election, where the fall mostly came from the Labour vote, this year's drop chiefly hit Conservative support. None-the-less, the Labour vote received was close to their worst.
The Liberals managed to regain second place in Far Headingley and Wellington, although standing their lowest number of candidates since 1958 and receiving their lowest share since that year. The Communists' received their greatest share on a reduced vote, from their peak in the prior election and the British National Party participated after a five-year absence, fielding a sole candidate in Armley.

## Election result

Leeds Local Election Result 1966 :
| Party | Seats | Gains | Losses | Net gain/loss | Seats % | Votes % | Votes | +/− |
| Labour | 16 | 0 | 3 | -3 | 57.1 | 40.7 | 40,170 | +2.9 |
| Conservative | 12 | 3 | 0 | +3 | 42.8 | 53.7 | 52,921 | -2.4 |
| Liberal | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 3.8 | 3,767 | -0.8 |
| Communist | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 1.6 | 1,553 | +0.1 |
| British National | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.2 | 195 | +0.2 |
The result had the following consequences for the total number of seats on the council after the elections:
| Party | Party | Previous council | Previous council | New council | New council |
| Party | Party | Cllr | Ald | Cllr | Ald |
| | Labour | 49 | 19 | 46 | 19 |
| | Conservatives | 35 | 9 | 38 | 9 |
| Total | Total | 84 | 28 | 84 | 28 |
| Total | Total | 112 | 112 | 112 | 112 |
| Working majority | Working majority | 14 | 10 | 8 | 10 |
| Working majority | Working majority | 24 | 24 | 18 | 18 |

## Ward results

Allerton :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | J. Long | 4,388 | 83.0 | +4.2 |
| | Labour | J. Marshall | 899 | 17.0 | −4.2 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 3,489 | 66.0 | +8.4 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 5,287 | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | +4.2 | |
Armley :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | S. Lee | 1,635 | 53.3 | +0.7 |
| | Conservative | K. Beal | 1,235 | 40.3 | −7.1 |
| | British National | P. Stone | 195 | 6.4 | +6.4 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 400 | 13.0 | +7.9 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 3,065 | | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | +3.9 | |
Beeston :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | J. Farrell | 2,873 | 50.8 | −7.7 |
| | Labour | A. Beevers | 2,788 | 49.2 | +9.1 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 85 | 1.5 | −16.8 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 5,661 | | |
| | Conservative gain from Labour | Conservative gain from Labour | Swing | -8.4 | |
Blenheim :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Ernest Morris | 844 | 60.3 | +0.8 |
| | Conservative | R. Austwick | 555 | 39.7 | −0.8 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 289 | 20.7 | +1.6 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,399 | | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | +0.8 | |
Bramley :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | D. Armitage | 2,523 | 52.7 | −3.7 |
| | Labour | M. Chadwick | 2,264 | 47.3 | +3.7 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 259 | 5.4 | −7.4 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 4,787 | | |
| | Conservative gain from Labour | Conservative gain from Labour | Swing | -3.7 | |
Burmantofts :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | F. Watson | 1,413 | 57.2 | +1.1 |
| | Conservative | J. White | 1,058 | 42.8 | −1.1 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 355 | 14.4 | +2.2 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,471 | | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | +1.1 | |
City :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Jim Marshall | 696 | 65.4 | +3.8 |
| | Conservative | M. Baker | 368 | 34.6 | −3.8 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 328 | 30.8 | +7.6 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,064 | | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | +3.8 | |
Cross Gates :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | L. Jackson | 1,847 | 49.1 | −8.7 |
| | Conservative | R. Vaughan | 1,693 | 45.0 | +9.3 |
| | Communist | F. Sidebottom | 224 | 6.0 | −0.6 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 154 | 4.1 | −17.9 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 3,764 | | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | -9.0 | |
East Hunslet :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | E. Haughton | 1,070 | 64.0 | +0.9 |
| | Conservative | P. Wooler | 601 | 36.0 | −0.9 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 469 | 28.0 | +1.8 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,671 | | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | +0.9 | |
Far Headingley :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | G. Somers | 4,630 | 65.0 | −2.2 |
| | Liberal | J. Harris | 1,485 | 20.8 | +6.8 |
| | Labour | N. Jenner | 1,012 | 14.2 | −4.6 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 3,145 | 44.1 | −4.3 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 7,127 | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | -4.5 | |
Halton :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | J. Brooksbank | 3,978 | 77.4 | −1.0 |
| | Labour | D. Hamilton | 1,161 | 22.6 | +1.0 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 2,817 | 54.8 | −1.9 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 5,139 | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | -1.0 | |
Harehills :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | J. Astle | 2,380 | 60.9 | +2.0 |
| | Labour | H. Howlett | 1,525 | 39.1 | +3.6 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 855 | 21.9 | −1.5 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 3,905 | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | -0.8 | |
Holbeck :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | W. Smith | 1,326 | 61.8 | +6.8 |
| | Conservative | M. Waddington | 759 | 35.4 | −2.8 |
| | Communist | J. McCarthy | 59 | 2.8 | −4.0 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 567 | 26.4 | +9.6 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,144 | | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | +4.8 | |
Hunslet Carr :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Harry Booth | 1,427 | 67.0 | +9.1 |
| | Conservative | H. Lister | 630 | 29.6 | −8.1 |
| | Communist | E. Burwin | 73 | 3.4 | −1.0 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 797 | 37.4 | +17.1 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,130 | | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | +8.6 | |
Hyde Park :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Kenneth Davison | 2,030 | 57.8 | +1.9 |
| | Labour | M. Lawrence | 1,342 | 38.2 | +12.1 |
| | Communist | S. Walker | 143 | 4.1 | +1.5 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 688 | 19.6 | −10.2 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 3,515 | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | -5.1 | |
Kirkstall :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | D. Matthews | 2,864 | 54.4 | +8.2 |
| | Conservative | H. Newton | 2,251 | 42.8 | −7.6 |
| | Communist | B. Huffingley | 148 | 2.8 | −0.6 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 613 | 11.6 | 7.4 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 5,263 | | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | +7.9 | |
Meanwood :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Alan Pedley | 2,596 | 66.7 | −0.9 |
| | Labour | J. McPheat | 824 | 21.2 | −0.8 |
| | Liberal | Evelyn Mary Briggs | 470 | 12.1 | +1.6 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,772 | 45.6 | −0.1 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 3,890 | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | -0.0 | |
Middleton :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | J. Taylor | 1,872 | 79.1 | +4.4 |
| | Conservative | R. Heslet | 389 | 16.4 | −3.0 |
| | Communist | E. Moore | 106 | 4.5 | −1.4 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,483 | 62.7 | +7.4 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,367 | | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | +3.7 | |
Moortown :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | S. Bolton | 4,540 | 75.6 | +4.4 |
| | Labour | D. Chadwick | 1,082 | 18.0 | −1.1 |
| | Communist | P. Boyes | 384 | 6.4 | +3.9 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 3,458 | 57.6 | +5.5 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 6,006 | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | +2.7 | |
Osmondthorpe :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Douglas Gabb | 1,234 | 67.6 | +2.3 |
| | Conservative | E. Lewis | 592 | 32.4 | −2.3 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 642 | 35.2 | +4.7 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,826 | | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | +2.3 | |
Potternewton :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | D. Bradley | 1,676 | 59.8 | +3.6 |
| | Labour | Joyce Gould | 819 | 29.2 | −2.2 |
| | Liberal | Sydney Herbert Bexan | 259 | 9.2 | −1.3 |
| | Communist | R. Rawson | 49 | 1.7 | −0.1 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 857 | 30.6 | +5.8 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,803 | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | +2.9 | |
Richmond Hill :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | M. Rooney | 1,547 | 71.2 | +1.7 |
| | Conservative | E. Dean | 446 | 20.5 | −4.1 |
| | Communist | T. Johnson | 179 | 8.2 | +2.5 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,101 | 50.7 | +5.8 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,172 | | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | +2.9 | |
Roundhay :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | D. Wolstenholme | 3,793 | 78.5 | +1.1 |
| | Labour | D. Thomas | 1,037 | 21.5 | −1.1 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 2,756 | 57.1 | +2.3 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 4,830 | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | +1.1 | |
Stanningley :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Kevin Gould | 1,979 | 45.2 | +7.8 |
| | Conservative | A. Redmond | 1,739 | 39.8 | −5.4 |
| | Liberal | F. Robertson | 656 | 15.0 | −2.4 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 240 | 5.5 | −2.2 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 4,374 | | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | +6.6 | |
Wellington :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | A. Donohoe | 950 | 62.8 | +4.4 |
| | Liberal | G. Hoyland | 237 | 15.7 | −0.3 |
| | Conservative | D. Tiffany | 235 | 15.5 | −5.3 |
| | Communist | M. Rogers | 91 | 6.0 | +1.2 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 713 | 47.1 | +9.6 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,513 | | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | +2.3 | |
Westfield :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | J. Bell | 1,031 | 51.3 | +7.9 |
| | Conservative | A. Sexton | 978 | 48.7 | −7.9 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 53 | 2.6 | −10.6 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,009 | | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | +7.9 | |
Woodhouse :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | R. Ellis | 1,507 | 48.7 | +3.8 |
| | Conservative | D. Crawford | 1,493 | 48.2 | −3.5 |
| | Communist | A. Dale | 97 | 3.1 | −0.3 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 14 | 0.5 | −6.3 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 3,097 | | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | +3.6 | |
Wortley :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | F. Stubley | 2,492 | 46.8 | −4.6 |
| | Labour | J. Moynihan | 2,175 | 40.8 | +2.3 |
| | Liberal | Walter Holdsworth | 660 | 12.4 | +2.3 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 317 | 6.0 | −6.8 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 5,327 | | |
| | Conservative gain from Labour | Conservative gain from Labour | Swing | -3.4 | |