# 1969 Sheffield City Council election

The 1969 Sheffield City Council elections were held on 8 May 1969, with one third of the council - plus a double vacancy in Park - up for election. The previous year's historic win by the Conservatives, and their gaining control of the council was ended with these elections, with Labour successfully holding or gaining back seats in wards they lost in the last year's defeat. The previous year's substantial Tory leads in vote figures and seat numbers belied how narrowly won those numerous gains were, with even a tiny swing to Labour destined to return them.
Labour's win and regaining control of the council was in sharp contrast to the national picture, which seen a repeat of the preceding years' heavy losses to the Conservatives with further losses of their heartlands to Tory control. Sheffield joined Stoke as the only cities left controlled by Labour, with last year's survivor Hull falling this year. Nationally Labour managed just 23 gains, with Sheffield accounting for over a fifth of them.
Given this environment, the Labour response was naturally overjoyed; the Sheffield Brightside MP Eddie Griffiths reacted "I literally had tears in my eyes when I heard the results. I was more excited about these results than by my own election". The Labour group's leader Ald Ron Ironmonger attributed this to their campaigning effort and the electorate voting on a local mindset "[we've] struggled so hard for this. We took this really seriously - we haven't fought a campaign like this for years. I think the victory is due to the good sense of the Sheffield people, and I am proud of them tonight. They have judged the election on the city's own affairs as we asked them to. We are certainly wiser men after a year in opposition. There is no doubt about that."
The Conservative grouping leader Ald Harrold Hebblethwaite responded "Obviously I am very disappointed at this result and I find it quite surprising, though one has always understood that Sheffield is a city on its own, and can never be relied on to follow a national trend. The great pity of it is that Walkley we certainly lost due to the intervention of an Independent, and Sharrow by a Liberal intervention - though obviously we cannot say that as regards Firth Park and Handsworth".
Hebblethwaite accepted that the Rent Rebate scheme had played a large part in last year's results, but qualified "nevertheless I am certain the public have been somewhat confused about the issues this year. Twelve months is not enough time for any party to settle down in control and get its policies under way". Of such policies Labour were to reintroduce the closed-shop clause in Corporation employment which the Tories had dropped and accept the 30 places at Sheffield Girl's High School, which were now too late to reverse.
Overall turnout was up narrowly on the previous year's, to 33.2%

## Election result

Sheffield Local Election Result 1969 :
| Party | Seats | Gains | Losses | Net gain/loss | Seats % | Votes % | Votes | +/− |
| Labour | 18 | 5 | 0 | +5 | 64.3 | 42.4 | 52,082 | +6.4 |
| Conservative | 10 | 0 | 5 | -5 | 35.7 | 52.8 | 64,862 | -4.6 |
| Liberal | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 1.7 | 2,092 | -0.4 |
| Communist | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 1.7 | 2,065 | -0.7 |
| Other | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 1.4 | 1,800 | -0.7 |
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 | 34 | 18 | 39 | 18 |
| | Conservatives | 47 | 9 | 42 | 9 |
| | Liberals | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| | Communists | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Total | Total | 81 | 27 | 81 | 27 |
| Total | Total | 108 | 108 | 108 | 108 |
| Working majority | Working majority | 13 | -9 | -3 | 9 |
| Working majority | Working majority | 4 | 4 | 6 | 6 |

## Ward results

Attercliffe :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Norman Eldred | 2,089 | 71.0 | +4.6 |
| | Conservative | Harold Mellor | 852 | 29.0 | −4.6 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,237 | 42.0 | +9.2 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,941 | 19.0 | −2.2 |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | +4.6 | |
Beauchief :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | C. White | 6,001 | 82.2 | −0.7 |
| | Labour | Annie Britton | 1,296 | 17.7 | +0.7 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 4,705 | 64.5 | −1.4 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 7,297 | 50.6 | −2.5 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | -0.7 | |
Birley :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | John Yeardley | 2,438 | 49.7 | +8.7 |
| | Conservative | Pauline Minns | 2,211 | 45.1 | −9.0 |
| | Independent | Laurence Gillatt | 251 | 5.2 | +0.4 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 227 | 4.6 | −8.4 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 4,900 | 32.3 | +1.1 |
| | Labour gain from Conservative | Labour gain from Conservative | Swing | +8.8 | |
Brightside :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Henry Sturrock | 1,966 | 55.2 | +2.5 |
| | Conservative | Kathleene Moore | 1,319 | 37.0 | +0.8 |
| | | J. Robinson | 165 | 4.6 | +4.6 |
| | Independent Communist | R. Wilkinson | 109 | 3.0 | +3.0 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 647 | 18.2 | +1.6 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 3,559 | 27.6 | +0.5 |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | +0.8 | |
Broomhill :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | A. Smith | 3,154 | 77.3 | +11.0 |
| | Labour | R. Thackeray | 690 | 16.9 | −1.7 |
| | | D. Morris | 233 | 5.8 | +5.8 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 2,464 | 60.4 | +12.7 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 4,077 | 31.1 | −2.0 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | +6.3 | |
Burngreave :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | John Pate | 2,346 | 55.9 | +13.6 |
| | Conservative | Cliff Godber | 1,695 | 40.4 | −9.3 |
| | Communist | A. March | 153 | 3.6 | −1.0 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 651 | 15.5 | +8.1 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 4,194 | 31.6 | +4.3 |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | +11.4 | |
Castle :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Peter Horton | 2,088 | 67.5 | +13.5 |
| | Conservative | L. Chambers | 788 | 25.5 | −8.5 |
| | Communist | Edna Ashworth | 216 | 7.0 | +1.6 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,300 | 42.0 | +22.1 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 3,092 | 27.5 | −1.4 |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | +11.0 | |
Darnall :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | William Owen | 2,902 | 59.0 | +9.9 |
| | Conservative | Roger Outram | 2,014 | 41.0 | −9.9 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 888 | 18.0 | +16.3 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 4,916 | 32.8 | +2.4 |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | +9.9 | |
Dore :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Thornton Lambert | 4,983 | 79.7 | −0.6 |
| | Labour | Marie Rodgers | 1,272 | 20.3 | +0.6 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 3,711 | 59.4 | −1.2 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 6,255 | 47.7 | −1.0 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | -0.6 | |
Ecclesall :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Edith Edeson | 4,341 | 83.9 | +5.7 |
| | Labour | James Pearson | 835 | 16.1 | +5.9 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 3,506 | 67.7 | −0.1 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 5,176 | 35.5 | −7.2 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | -0.1 | |
Firth Park :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Albert Morris | 2,147 | 43.7 | +4.4 |
| | Conservative | Andrew Oxley | 1,944 | 39.5 | −6.5 |
| | Liberal | Francis Butler | 670 | 13.6 | +3.6 |
| | Communist | Barry Bracken | 155 | 3.1 | −1.5 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 203 | 4.1 | −2.6 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 4,916 | 34.5 | +1.7 |
| | Labour gain from Conservative | Labour gain from Conservative | Swing | +5.4 | |
Gleadless :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | David Heslop | 3,898 | 57.1 | −6.7 |
| | Labour | Phillip Grisdale | 2,347 | 34.8 | +3.9 |
| | Liberal | Dennis Boothroyd | 581 | 8.5 | +2.7 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,551 | 22.7 | −10.6 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 6,826 | 44.5 | −2.0 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | -5.3 | |
Hallam :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Gordon Wragg | 3,755 | 70.4 | −9.1 |
| | Labour | Harry Hall | 954 | 17.9 | −2.5 |
| | Liberal | Jean Mason | 622 | 11.7 | +11.7 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 2,801 | 52.5 | −6.6 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 5,331 | 38.5 | −1.0 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | -3.3 | |
Handsworth :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | George Nicholls | 2,563 | 55.8 | +6.2 |
| | Conservative | Jack Kerton | 2,031 | 44.2 | −6.2 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 532 | 11.6 | +10.6 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 4,594 | 36.1 | +3.4 |
| | Labour gain from Conservative | Labour gain from Conservative | Swing | +6.2 | |
Heeley :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Peter Earl | 3,377 | 56.4 | −1.3 |
| | Labour | Alfred Wood | 2,193 | 36.7 | +0.5 |
| | Communist | J. Turton | 411 | 6.9 | +0.8 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,184 | 19.8 | −1.8 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 5,981 | 37.3 | −3.2 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | -0.9 | |
Hillsborough :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Constance Dodson | 3,500 | 64.7 | −3.7 |
| | Labour | William Meade | 1,912 | 35.3 | +3.7 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,588 | 29.3 | −7.3 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 5,412 | 36.8 | −6.0 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | -3.6 | |
Intake :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Marvyn Moore | 2,613 | 52.9 | −4.4 |
| | Labour | Arnold Wood | 2,329 | 47.1 | +4.4 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 284 | 5.7 | −8.7 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 4,942 | 31.3 | −1.3 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | -4.4 | |
Manor :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Dora Fitter | 2,027 | 59.6 | +10.3 |
| | Conservative | D. Russell | 1,156 | 34.0 | −5.0 |
| | Communist | John Hukin | 219 | 6.4 | −5.3 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 871 | 25.6 | +15.2 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 3,402 | 24.8 | −1.0 |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | +7.6 | |
Mosborough :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Mary Foulds | 2,078 | 62.8 | +13.4 |
| | Conservative | Eric Vawser | 1,230 | 37.2 | −13.4 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 848 | 25.6 | +24.5 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 3,308 | 38.0 | +4.4 |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | +13.4 | |
Nether Edge :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Ivan Harrington | 4,085 | 79.9 | −2.9 |
| | Labour | Charlotte Ellis | 1,029 | 20.1 | +2.9 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 3,056 | 59.7 | −5.8 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 5,114 | 36.8 | −3.0 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | -2.9 | |
Nether Shire :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Charles Moseley | 2,221 | 52.1 | +12.6 |
| | Conservative | Hazel Black | 1,766 | 41.4 | +4.7 |
| | Communist | Ken Hattersley | 278 | 6.5 | +1.1 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 455 | 10.7 | +7.9 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 4,265 | 34.5 | −4.9 |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | +3.9 | |
Netherthorpe :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Doris Mulhearn | 1,994 | 57.6 | +11.8 |
| | Conservative | E. Dawson | 1,309 | 37.8 | −8.0 |
| | Communist | Roy Barrett | 156 | 4.5 | −3.8 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 685 | 19.8 | +19.7 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 3,459 | 31.5 | +2.6 |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | +9.9 | |
Owlerton :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Jack Watson | 2,257 | 62.0 | +18.4 |
| | Conservative | Zena Thompson | 1,385 | 38.0 | −7.8 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 872 | 23.9 | +21.7 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 3,642 | 25.2 | +2.7 |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | +13.1 | |
Park :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Charles Knowles | 2,466 | 64.7 | +17.7 |
| | Labour | Peter Jones | 2,458 | | |
| | Conservative | June Harris | 1,091 | 28.6 | −2.5 |
| | Conservative | Peter Huddart | 1,021 | | |
| | Communist | Cyril Morton | 253 | 6.6 | +1.9 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,375 | 36.1 | +20.3 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 3,810 | 23.2 | −1.6 |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | +10.1 | |
Sharrow :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Ethal Evans | 1,991 | 47.9 | +3.8 |
| | Conservative | David Pinder | 1,824 | 43.8 | −7.7 |
| | Liberal | Colin Wood | 219 | 5.3 | +5.3 |
| | National Front | George Clark | 125 | 3.0 | −1.5 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 167 | 4.0 | −3.5 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 4,159 | 37.2 | −2.1 |
| | Labour gain from Conservative | Labour gain from Conservative | Swing | +5.7 | |
Southey Green :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Winifred Golding | 1,866 | 65.2 | +13.1 |
| | Conservative | Charles Hughes | 772 | 27.0 | −7.4 |
| | Communist | Gordon Ashberry | 224 | 7.8 | −5.7 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,094 | 38.2 | +20.5 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,862 | 21.2 | +0.2 |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | +10.2 | |
Walkley :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Bernard Kidd | 1,786 | 39.9 | −0.8 |
| | Conservative | Leslie Hesp | 1,768 | 39.5 | −9.3 |
| | | G. Green | 773 | 17.3 | +17.3 |
| | National Front | Alan Holmes | 144 | 3.2 | −2.1 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 18 | 0.4 | −7.7 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 4,471 | 31.5 | +0.0 |
| | Labour gain from Conservative | Labour gain from Conservative | Swing | +4.2 | |