# 1978 Liverpool City Council election

4
Elections to Liverpool City Council were held on 4 May 1978. One third of the council was up for election and John Hamilton of the Labour Party became Leader of the Council albeit without overall control.
After the election, the composition of the council was:
| Party | Seats | ± |
| Labour | 37 | -1 |
| Liberal | 35 | -7 |
| Conservative | 27 | +8 |

## Election result

Liverpool Local Election Result 1978 :
| Party | Seats | Gains | Losses | Net gain/loss | Seats % | Votes % | Votes |
| Labour | 14 | 1 | 2 | -1 | 40% | 33% | 43,339 |
| Conservative | 11 | 8 | 0 | +8 | 24% | 37% | 48,684 |
| Liberal | 10 | 1 | 8 | -7 | 29% | 29% | 38,317 |
| Communist | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0% | 0.46% | 606 |
| Socialist Unity | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0% | 0.3% | 373 |
| Independent Liberal | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0% | 0.1% | 112 |
| Socialist Workers | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0% | 0.08% | 102 |
| Workers Revolutionary | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0% | 0.03% | 39 |
| Immigrant Party | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0% | 0.02% | 23 |

## Ward results

* - Councillor seeking re-election
$^{(PARTY)}$ - Party of former Councillor

### Abercromby, St. James

Abercromby, St. James :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | E. Shields * | '1,571 | 51% | −14% |
| | Liberal | Christopher Graham Davies | 988 | 32% | +22% |
| | Conservative | M. E. Cheshire | 291 | 9% | +3% |
| | Communist | R. O'Hara | 215 | 7% | −6% |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 583 | | |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 12,585 | | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 3,065 | 24% | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | | |

### Aigburth

Aigburth :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | F. Fawcett | 3,775 | 62% | +25% |
| | Liberal | I. R. Porteous $^{(PARTY)}$ | 1,655 | 27% | −28% |
| | Labour | F. Dunee | 656 | 11% | +2% |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 2,120 | | |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 14,821 | | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 6,086 | 41% | |
| | Conservative gain from Liberal | Conservative gain from Liberal | Swing | | |

### Allerton

Allerton :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | W. H. Fearenside | 2,561 | 65% | +18% |
| | Liberal | J. B. Kaitiff $^{(PARTY)}$ | 754 | 19% | −23% |
| | Labour | J. R. Brown | 637 | 16% | +7% |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,807 | | |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 10,886 | | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 3,952 | 36% | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | | |

### Anfield

Anfield :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | J. H. Brash | 1,782 | 43% | +19% |
| | Labour | T. McManus | 1,406 | 34% | −2% |
| | Liberal | Joseph Robert Wilmington * | 980 | 24% | −20% |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 376 | | |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 12,747 | | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 4,168 | 33% | |
| | Conservative gain from Liberal | Conservative gain from Liberal | Swing | | |

### Arundel

Arundel :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | R. S. Fairclough | 1,397 | 36% | +17% |
| | Liberal | P. H. Hodgson $^{(PARTY)}$ | 1,269 | 33% | −27% |
| | Labour | J. McLean | 1,028 | 27% | +6% |
| | Communist | J. Kay | 145 | 4% | |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 128 | | |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 13,140 | | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 3,839 | 29% | |
| | Conservative gain from Liberal | Conservative gain from Liberal | Swing | | |

### Breckfield, St. Domingo

Breckfield, St. Domingo :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | David M.B. Croft $^{(PARTY)}$ | 2,490 | 64% | +10% |
| | Labour | S. J. Gorman | 912 | 23% | −9% |
| | Conservative | H. M. Rigby | 491 | 13% | −1% |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,578 | | |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 11,963 | | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 3,893 | 33% | |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Swing | | |

### Broadgreen

Broadgreen :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | E. F. Pine | 1,869 | 42% | +28% |
| | Liberal | Roger Johnston | 1,774 | 39% | −15% |
| | Labour | P. Lloyd | 859 | 19% | −13% |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 95 | | |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 12,105 | | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 4,502 | 37% | |
| | Conservative gain from Liberal | Conservative gain from Liberal | Swing | | |

### Central, Everton, Netherfield

Central, Everton, Netherfield :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | J. Parry * | 1,414 | 52% | −14% |
| | Liberal | Cathy Hancox | 976 | 36% | +21% |
| | Conservative | J. B. King | 319 | 12% | −7% |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 438 | | |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 11,812 | | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,709 | 23% | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | | |

### Childwall

Childwall :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | S. Airey | 4,263 | 62% | +24% |
| | Labour | J. E. Roberts | 1,365 | 20% | +9% |
| | Liberal | A. M. Loughney $^{(PARTY)}$ | 1,253 | 18% | −32% |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 2,898 | | |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 20,285 | | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 6,881 | 34% | |
| | Conservative gain from Liberal | Conservative gain from Liberal | Swing | | |

### Church

Church :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | Cyril Carr * | 2,870 | 45% | −17% |
| | Conservative | R. F. Symington | 2,837 | 45% | +13% |
| | Labour | M. J. Smith | 654 | 10% | +5% |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 33 | | |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 14,954 | | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 6,361 | 43% | |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Swing | | |

### Clubmoor

Clubmoor :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | A. Gamble | 1,333 | 36% | +3% |
| | Liberal | John Bowen * | 1,177 | 32% | −13% |
| | Conservative | W. Scott | 1,156 | 32% | +10% |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 156 | | |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 10,630 | | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 3,666 | 34% | |
| | Labour gain from Liberal | Labour gain from Liberal | Swing | | |

### County

County :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | Neil T. Cardwell | 1,805 | 42% | +15% |
| | Labour | J. McLean * | 1,333 | 31% | −13% |
| | Conservative | R. J. Keney | 1,175 | 27% | −2% |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 472 | | |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 11,911 | | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 4,313 | 36% | |
| | Liberal gain from Labour | Liberal gain from Labour | Swing | | |

### Croxteth

Croxteth :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | E. H. Fitzpatrick | 2,720 | 56% | +26% |
| | Liberal | E. M. Clews $^{(PARTY)}$ | 1,164 | 24% | −34% |
| | Labour | W. F. Burke | 942 | 20% | +8% |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,556 | | |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 12,525 | | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 4,826 | 39% | |
| | Conservative gain from Liberal | Conservative gain from Liberal | Swing | | |

### Dingle

Dingle :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | M. Evans * | 1,105 | 62% | −2% |
| | Conservative | J. A. Watson | 541 | 31% | +15% |
| | Liberal | G. Temmee | 123 | 7% | −8% |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 564 | | |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 7,462 | | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,769 | 24% | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | | |

### Dovecot

Dovecot :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Labour | E. Burke * | 2,379 | 50% |
| | Conservative | J. F. McMillan | 1,411 | 29% |
| | Liberal | B. Morris | 995 | 21% |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 968 | |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 16,539 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 4,785 | 29% |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | |

### Fairfield

Fairfield :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Liberal | Graham Hulme $^{(PARTY)}$ | 1,684 | 50% |
| | Conservative | N. Wilkinson | 834 | 25% |
| | Labour | F. Gaier | 735 | 22% |
| | Socialist Workers | A. S. Meehan | 102 | 3% |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 850 | |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 10,951 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 3,355 | 31% |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Swing | |

### Fazakerley

Fazakerley :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Conservative | A. Brown | 1,655 | 42% |
| | Labour | A. Williams | 1,634 | 41% |
| | Liberal | R. J. Cunningham | 664 | 17% |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 21 | |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 11,677 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 3,953 | 34% |
| | Conservative gain from Labour | Conservative gain from Labour | Swing | |

### Gillmoss

Gillmoss 2 seats :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Labour | E. D. Roderick $^{(PARTY)}$ | 2,554 | 56% |
| | Labour | P. J. Murphy | 2,372 | 52% |
| | Conservative | A. Gore | 1,153 | 25% |
| | Conservative | F. M. Kennedy | 1,107 | 24% |
| | Liberal | E. Carroll | 839 | 18% |
| | Liberal | J. Palfreyman | 338 | 7% |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,401 | |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 19,245 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 4,546 | 24% |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | |

### Granby, Prince's Park

Granby, Prince's Park :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Dr Cyril Taylor * | 2,110 | 60% | −6% |
| | Liberal | Arthur Eric Damsell | 447 | 13% | |
| | Conservative | O. Y. Hughes | 829 | 24% | −3% |
| | Communist | E. Caddick | 103 | 3% | |
| | Socialist Unity | E. P. Finnerty | 92 | 3% | |
| | Workers Revolutionary | W. Hunter | 39 | 1% | |
| | Immigrant Party | J. P. Murphy | 23 | 1% | |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,281 | | |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 12,903 | | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 3,489 | 27% | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | | |

### Kensington

Kensington :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Liberal | John R. Watton * | 1,582 | 68% |
| | Labour | J. H. Stamper | 443 | 19% |
| | Conservative | R. H. Mather | 310 | 13% |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,139 | |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 6,420 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,335 | 36% |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Swing | |

### Low Hill, Smithdown

Low Hill, Smithdown :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | David Alton * | 2,166 | 67% | −3% |
| | Liberal | A. Clitherow $^{(PARTY)}$ | 1,789 | 55% | −15% |
| | Labour | L. Gallagher | 825 | 26% | +2% |
| | Labour | G. G. Pratt | 547 | 17% | −7% |
| | Conservative | R. Meadows | 241 | 7% | +1% |
| | Conservative | M. F. Meehan | 174 | 5% | −1% |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,341 | | |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 8,425 | | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 3,232 | 38% | |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Swing | | |

### Melrose, Westminster

Melrose, Westminster :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | F. J. Molloy $^{(PARTY)}$ | 1,307 | 47% | −16% |
| | Liberal | J. Bradley | 1,265 | 45% | +32% |
| | Conservative | E. M. Clein | 222 | 8% | −5% |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 42 | | |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 7,896 | | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,794 | 35% | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | | |

### Old Swan

Old Swan :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Liberal | Doreen Jones | 1,746 | 42% |
| | Conservative | I. McFall | 1,410 | 34% |
| | Labour | D. E. Krumbein | 947 | 23% |
| | Communist | H. Mohin | 83 | 2% |
| | Independent Liberal | W. J. McCullough | 112 | 3% |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 336 | |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 12,614 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 4,186 | 33% |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Swing | |

### Picton

Picton :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Liberal | Pam A. Bradley $^{(PARTY)}$ | 2,051 | 46% |
| | Labour | J. Hughes | 1,345 | 30% |
| | Conservative | J. McDermott | 955 | 22% |
| | Communist | J. G. Volleamere | 60 | 1% |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 706 | |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 11,280 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 4,411 | 39% |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Swing | |

### Pirrie

Pirrie :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | H. Dalton * | 2,815 | 57% | −10% |
| | Conservative | W. T. Palmer | 1,739 | 35% | +2% |
| | Liberal | J. Stephenson | 359 | 7% | |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,076 | | |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 15,937 | | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 4,913 | 31% | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | | |

### St. Mary's

St. Mary's :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Labour | S. R. Maddox * | 1,309 | 47% |
| | Conservative | R. A. Parkes | 1,094 | 39% |
| | Liberal | C. J. Lister | 372 | 13% |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 215 | |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 9,474 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,775 | 29% |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | |

### St. Michael's

St. Michael's :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Liberal | Trevor Jones * | 1,897 | 54% |
| | Labour | D. R. Leach | 616 | 17% |
| | Conservative | J. Cheshire | 1,017 | 29% |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 880 | |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 9,645 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 3,530 | 37% |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Swing | |

### Sandhills, Vauxhall

Sandhills, Vauxhall :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Labour | Paul Orr * | 1,783 | 78% |
| | Socialist Unity | A. Thompson | 281 | 12% |
| | Conservative | D. J. Lewis | 173 | 8% |
| | Liberal | M. Decker | 56 | 2% |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,502 | |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 9,015 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,293 | 25% |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | |

### Speke

Speke :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Labour | G. J. Maudsley * | 1,878 | 61% |
| | Conservative | C. W. Harpin | 983 | 32% |
| | Liberal | I. McGuiness | 134 | 4% |
| | Independent Labour | P. Moorhead | 105 | 3% |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 895 | |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 14,188 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 3,100 | 22% |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | |

### Tuebrook

Tuebrook :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | J. Irving | 1,541 | 38% | +14% |
| | Labour | Derek Hatton | 1,450 | 36% | +6% |
| | Liberal | C. Collins $^{(PARTY)}$ | 1,057 | 26% | −17% |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 91 | | |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 11,240 | | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 4,048 | 36% | |
| | Conservative gain from Liberal | Conservative gain from Liberal | Swing | | |

### Warbreck

Warbreck :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | R. B. Flude * | 1,781 | 45% | −8% |
| | Liberal | E. J. Seddon | 1,170 | 30% | |
| | Labour | W. H. Roberts | 1,009 | 25% | −22% |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 611 | | |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 11,722 | | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 3,960 | 34% | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | | |

### Woolton, East

Woolton, East :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Labour | H. Bryers $^{(PARTY)}$ | 2,080 | 57% |
| | Conservative | S. Fitzsimmons | 1,204 | 33% |
| | Liberal | R. F. Heywood | 359 | 10% |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 876 | |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 13,607 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 3,643 | 27% |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | |

### Woolton, West

Woolton, West :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Conservative | Ruth Dean | 5,011 | 74% |
| | Labour | J. M. Lyon | 1,135 | 17% |
| | Liberal | J. E. Parry | 635 | 9% |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 3,876 | |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 17,820 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 6,781 | 38% |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | |