# 1971 Sheffield City Council election

The 1971 Sheffield City Council elections were held on 14 May 1971, with one third up for vote. Since the previous election, a by-election in November for Burngreave seen the Liberals increase their representation to two, with a gain from Labour.
Immediately following last year's election, the allocation of fourteen retiring Alderman was decided, with Labour taking the overwhelming majority, strengthened by their election performance and the knowledge that if repeated it would lead to a landslide victory for them.
Labour leader Ironmongers' prediction of an aforementioned landslide played out in this election, with Labour making over a dozen gains, with all-but-one coming from their competitor the Conservatives - the other being a Liberal seat in Heeley won in a by-election in 1969. This left them with a record number of 80 seats, and a similarly record-breaking majority of 52.
With such heavy losses, numerous high-profile Conservative councillors lost their seat, not least of which was a contender for the group's leadership, Irvine Patnick.

## Election result

Sheffield Local Election Result 1971 :
| Party | Seats | Gains | Losses | Net gain/loss | Seats % | Votes % | Votes | +/− |
| Labour | 21 | 13 | 0 | +13 | 77.8 | 61.7 | 79,878 | +8.8 |
| Conservative | 6 | 0 | 12 | -12 | 22.2 | 32.8 | 42,528 | -11.5 |
| Liberal | 0 | 0 | 1 | -1 | 0.0 | 4.1 | 5,351 | +2.1 |
| Communist | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.8 | 1,109 | +0.2 |
| Independent Labour | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.3 | 433 | +0.3 |
| Independent Ex-Service | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.2 | 220 | +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 | 44 | 18 | 57 | 23 |
| | Conservatives | 35 | 9 | 23 | 4 |
| | Liberals | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| | Communists | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| | Independent Labour | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| | Independent Ex-Service | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Total | Total | 81 | 27 | 81 | 27 |
| Total | Total | 108 | 108 | 108 | 108 |
| Working majority | Working majority | 7 | 9 | 33 | 19 |
| Working majority | Working majority | 16 | 16 | 52 | 52 |

## Ward results

Attercliffe :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Harry Firth | 2,798 | 87.7 | +11.0 |
| | Conservative | Harold Mellor | 391 | 12.2 | −11.0 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 2,407 | 75.5 | +22.0 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 3,189 | | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | +11.0 | |
Beauchief :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Eric Crewe | 4,353 | 71.8 | −4.8 |
| | Labour | Terence Butler | 1,705 | 28.1 | +4.8 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 2,648 | 43.7 | −9.6 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 6,058 | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | -4.8 | |
Birley :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | John Marshall | 4,269 | 71.3 | +8.7 |
| | Conservative | Danny George | 1,720 | 28.7 | −8.7 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 2,549 | 42.5 | +17.4 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 5,989 | | |
| | Labour gain from Conservative | Labour gain from Conservative | Swing | +8.7 | |
Brightside :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | George Wilson | 3,132 | 83.0 | +15.2 |
| | Conservative | Kathleen Moore | 568 | 15.0 | −14.7 |
| | Communist | Reg Arundal | 72 | 1.9 | −0.5 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 2,564 | 68.0 | +30.0 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 3,772 | | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | +14.9 | |
Broomhill :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Graham Cheetham | 2,636 | 57.3 | −12.9 |
| | Labour | Peter Price | 1,560 | 33.9 | +4.0 |
| | Liberal | John Isard | 406 | 8.8 | +8.8 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,076 | 23.4 | −16.9 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 4,602 | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | -8.4 | |
Burngreave :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Charlotte Ellis | 2,426 | 43.4 | −7.2 |
| | Liberal | Malcolm Johnson | 2,200 | 39.4 | +11.9 |
| | Conservative | David Chapman | 475 | 8.5 | −12.5 |
| | Independent Labour | Michael Newton | 433 | 7.7 | +7.7 |
| | Communist | Roy Eccles | 49 | 0.9 | +0.0 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 226 | 4.0 | −19.2 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 5,583 | | |
| | Labour gain from Conservative | Labour gain from Conservative | Swing | -9.5 | |
Castle :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Marie Rodgers | 2,541 | 84.0 | +10.1 |
| | Liberal | Frank Mettam | 355 | 11.7 | +11.7 |
| | Communist | Edna Ashworth | 129 | 4.2 | +1.8 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 2,186 | 72.2 | +22.1 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 3,025 | | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | -0.8 | |
Darnall :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | John Cornwell | 3,811 | 79.6 | +10.6 |
| | Conservative | Michael Heath | 976 | 20.4 | −10.6 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 2,835 | 59.2 | +21.2 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 4,787 | | |
| | Labour gain from Conservative | Labour gain from Conservative | Swing | +10.6 | |
Dore :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Pat Santhouse | 3,744 | 63.3 | −12.8 |
| | Labour | Edward Ferrett | 1,802 | 30.5 | +6.6 |
| | Liberal | Ben Thorpe | 366 | 6.2 | +6.2 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,942 | 32.8 | −19.5 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 5,912 | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | -9.7 | |
Ecclesall :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | David Pinder | 3,575 | 70.9 | −8.9 |
| | Labour | Ivy Evison | 1,244 | 24.7 | +4.5 |
| | Independent Ex-Service | Geoffrey Widdison | 220 | 4.4 | +4.4 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 2,331 | 46.2 | −13.4 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 5,039 | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | -6.7 | |
Firth Park :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | John Morris | 3,260 | 70.4 | +7.5 |
| | Conservative | Madge Kerton | 1,090 | 23.5 | −11.8 |
| | Liberal | Cynthia Hepworth | 188 | 4.0 | +4.0 |
| | Communist | Barry Bracken | 89 | 1.9 | +0.2 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 2,170 | 46.9 | +19.4 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 4,627 | | |
| | Labour gain from Conservative | Labour gain from Conservative | Swing | +9.6 | |
Gleadless :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Roger Barton | 5,062 | 59.8 | +13.6 |
| | Conservative | Charles Davison | 3,055 | 36.1 | −10.0 |
| | Liberal | Dennis Boothroyd | 339 | 4.0 | −3.6 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 2,007 | 23.7 | +23.6 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 8,456 | | |
| | Labour gain from Conservative | Labour gain from Conservative | Swing | +11.8 | |
Hallam :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Cliff Godber | 3,146 | 58.3 | −15.2 |
| | Labour | Philip Moscrop | 1,792 | 33.2 | +6.8 |
| | Liberal | Jean Mason | 454 | 8.4 | +8.4 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,354 | 25.1 | −22.0 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 5,392 | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | -11.0 | |
Handsworth :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Annie Britton | 3,522 | 78.7 | +13.8 |
| | Conservative | Frank Brookes | 953 | 21.3 | −13.8 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 2,569 | 57.4 | +27.6 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 4,475 | | |
| | Labour gain from Conservative | Labour gain from Conservative | Swing | +13.8 | |
Heeley :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Alfred Mosforth | 4,193 | 60.7 | +9.0 |
| | Conservative | Rodger Outram | 2,234 | 32.3 | −13.7 |
| | Liberal | Michael Swain | 293 | 4.2 | +4.2 |
| | Communist | Martin Ashworth | 183 | 2.6 | +0.4 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,959 | 28.4 | +22.7 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 6,903 | | |
| | Labour gain from Liberal | Labour gain from Liberal | Swing | +11.3 | |
Hillsborough :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Alf Meade | 3,354 | 53.1 | +8.8 |
| | Conservative | Irvine Patnick | 2,674 | 42.3 | −13.4 |
| | Liberal | Martyn Atkinson | 290 | 4.6 | +4.6 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 680 | 10.7 | −0.7 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 6,318 | | |
| | Labour gain from Conservative | Labour gain from Conservative | Swing | +11.1 | |
Intake :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Mike Balty | 3,887 | 66.7 | +8.6 |
| | Conservative | Peter Hodson | 1,638 | 28.1 | −13.7 |
| | Liberal | Colin Andrews | 299 | 5.1 | +5.1 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 2,249 | 38.6 | +22.4 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 5,824 | | |
| | Labour gain from Conservative | Labour gain from Conservative | Swing | +11.1 | |
Manor :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | George Machin | 3,168 | 85.4 | +8.5 |
| | Conservative | Peter Huddart | 384 | 10.3 | −10.7 |
| | Communist | John Hukin | 155 | 4.2 | +2.2 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 2,784 | 75.1 | +19.3 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 3,707 | | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | +9.2 | |
Mosborough :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Harry Havenhand | 2,592 | 81.1 | +16.3 |
| | Conservative | Stan Titterington | 605 | 18.9 | −8.6 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,987 | 62.1 | +24.9 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 3,197 | | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | +12.4 | |
Nether Edge :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Lionel Farris | 2,829 | 64.8 | −7.1 |
| | Labour | Adam Pemberton | 1,537 | 35.2 | +9.6 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,292 | 29.6 | −16.8 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 4,366 | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | -8.3 | |
Nether Shire :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Tom Ratcliffe | 3,428 | 80.9 | +15.2 |
| | Conservative | Bryan Dick | 649 | 15.3 | −10.4 |
| | Communist | Ken Hattersley | 162 | 3.8 | +1.5 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 2,779 | 65.5 | +25.7 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 4,239 | | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | +12.8 | |
Netherthorpe :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Thomas Woodhead | 2,566 | 74.0 | +6.7 |
| | Conservative | Jean Grindrod | 837 | 24.1 | −8.5 |
| | Communist | Violet Gill | 65 | 1.9 | +1.9 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,729 | 49.8 | +15.2 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 3,468 | | |
| | Labour gain from Conservative | Labour gain from Conservative | Swing | +7.6 | |
Owlerton :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Mary Kirk | 3,506 | 81.6 | +13.7 |
| | Conservative | Patrick Fenoughty | 792 | 18.4 | −13.7 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 2,714 | 63.2 | +27.4 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 4,298 | | |
| | Labour gain from Conservative | Labour gain from Conservative | Swing | +13.7 | |
Park :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Philip Grisdale | 3,948 | 86.7 | +9.3 |
| | Conservative | Roger Wright | 489 | 10.7 | −9.4 |
| | Communist | George Matthews | 116 | 2.5 | +0.2 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 3,459 | 76.0 | +18.7 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 4,553 | | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | +9.3 | |
Sharrow :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | John Baxter | 2,756 | 70.6 | +10.2 |
| | Conservative | Colin Barnsley | 987 | 25.3 | −14.3 |
| | Liberal | Colin Wood | 161 | 4.1 | +4.1 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,769 | 45.3 | +24.5 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 3,904 | | |
| | Labour gain from Conservative | Labour gain from Conservative | Swing | +12.2 | |
Southey Green :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Francis O'Shaughnessy | 3,062 | 87.4 | +7.5 |
| | Conservative | Kenneth Whitehouse | 352 | 10.0 | −6.8 |
| | Communist | Ray Chambers | 89 | 2.5 | −0.7 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 2,710 | 77.4 | +14.3 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 3,503 | | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | +7.1 | |
Walkley :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Veronica Hardstaff | 2,957 | 68.2 | +12.9 |
| | Conservative | Stan Parnell | 1,376 | 31.8 | −12.9 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,581 | 36.5 | +25.8 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 4,333 | | |
| | Labour gain from Conservative | Labour gain from Conservative | Swing | +12.9 | |