# 1955 Leeds City Council election

The 1955 Leeds municipal elections were held on Thursday 12 May 1955, with one third of the council up for election, as well as a vacancy in Wellington.
With the third consecutive election producing swings to them - this time a 2.1% swing - the Conservatives managed to top the poll and make gains from Labour for the first time since the 1951 election, echoing their national result. This, however, did not stop Labour winning a comfortable majority of the seats contested. The three gains were in Beeston, Westfield and Wortley - wards where Labour had gained from them following 1951. Party totals remained unchanged with the new division of aldermen effectively wiping out those three gains, as Labour were allotted - at Conservative expense - three more aldermen. Turnout rose marginally to a low figure of 39.4%.

## Election result

Leeds Local Election Result 1955 :
| Party | Seats | Gains | Losses | Net gain/loss | Seats % | Votes % | Votes | +/− |
| Labour | 17 | 0 | 3 | -3 | 58.6 | 46.2 | 64,820 | -3.7 |
| Conservative | 12 | 3 | 0 | +3 | 41.4 | 51.9 | 72,863 | +2.5 |
| Liberal | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 1.5 | 2,043 | +1.1 |
| Communist | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.4 | 539 | 0.0 |
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 | 54 | 14 | 51 | 17 |
| | Conservatives | 30 | 14 | 33 | 11 |
| Total | Total | 84 | 28 | 84 | 28 |
| Total | Total | 112 | 112 | 112 | 112 |
| Working majority | Working majority | 24 | 0 | 18 | 6 |
| Working majority | Working majority | 24 | 24 | 24 | 24 |

## Ward results

Allerton :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | H. Drake | 5,547 | 87.5 | +0.9 |
| | Labour | M. Rooney | 790 | 12.5 | −0.9 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 4,757 | 75.1 | +1.9 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 6,337 | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | +0.9 | |
Armley :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | K. Cohen | 2,970 | 54.4 | −3.0 |
| | Conservative | R. Beal | 2,126 | 38.9 | −3.7 |
| | Liberal | A. Powell | 367 | 6.7 | +6.7 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 844 | 15.4 | +0.6 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 5,463 | | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | +0.3 | |
Beeston :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | L. Snape | 3,881 | 54.1 | +1.1 |
| | Labour | H. Booth | 3,299 | 45.9 | −1.1 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 582 | 8.1 | +2.1 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 7,180 | | |
| | Conservative gain from Labour | Conservative gain from Labour | Swing | +1.1 | |
Blenheim :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | J. Wallbanks | 2,368 | 54.7 | −3.1 |
| | Conservative | W. Murphy | 1,958 | 45.3 | +3.1 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 410 | 9.5 | −6.2 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 4,326 | | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | -3.1 | |
Bramley :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Eric Atkinson | 3,012 | 47.8 | −5.6 |
| | Conservative | C. Dean | 2,571 | 40.8 | −5.7 |
| | Liberal | J. Walker | 713 | 11.3 | +11.3 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 441 | 7.0 | +0.1 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 6,296 | | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | +0.0 | |
Burmantofts :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | G. Lloyd | 2,428 | 63.1 | −3.3 |
| | Conservative | G. Howden | 1,422 | 36.9 | +3.3 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,006 | 26.1 | −6.6 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 3,850 | | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | -3.3 | |
City :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | E. Whitehead | 1,638 | 62.0 | −5.4 |
| | Conservative | J. Cape | 1,005 | 38.0 | +5.4 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 633 | 24.0 | −10.7 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,643 | | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | -5.4 | |
Cross Gates :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | F. Booth | 3,262 | 57.7 | −1.1 |
| | Conservative | J. Palmer | 2,394 | 42.3 | +1.1 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 868 | 15.3 | −2.2 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 5,656 | | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | -1.1 | |
East Hunslet :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | M. Fish | 2,870 | 73.3 | −3.5 |
| | Conservative | G. Hewdey | 1,044 | 26.7 | +3.5 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,826 | 46.7 | −7.0 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 3,914 | | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | -3.5 | |
Far Headingley :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | W. Hey | 4,665 | 83.5 | −0.4 |
| | Labour | F. Woolhouse | 922 | 16.5 | +0.4 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 3,743 | 67.0 | −0.7 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 5,587 | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | -0.4 | |
Halton :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | C. Watson | 4,371 | 78.8 | +2.7 |
| | Labour | J. Marshall | 1,175 | 21.2 | −2.7 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 3,196 | 57.6 | +5.3 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 5,546 | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | +2.7 | |
Harehills :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Lawrence Turnbull | 3,515 | 59.7 | +6.2 |
| | Labour | F. Howard | 2,375 | 40.3 | −6.2 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,140 | 19.4 | +12.4 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 5,890 | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | +6.2 | |
Holbeck :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | W. Jones | 2,508 | 65.8 | −2.8 |
| | Conservative | T. Nipe | 1,302 | 34.2 | +2.8 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,206 | 31.7 | −5.5 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 3,810 | | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | -2.8 | |
Hunslet Carr :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | J. Hodgkinson | 2,662 | 73.6 | −15.2 |
| | Conservative | J. Bailey | 810 | 22.4 | +22.4 |
| | Communist | J. Bellamy | 144 | 4.0 | −7.2 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,852 | 51.2 | −26.5 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 3,616 | | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | -18.8 | |
Hyde Park :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | F. Walker | 3,489 | 71.2 | +2.8 |
| | Labour | M. Schofield | 1,410 | 28.8 | −2.8 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 2,079 | 42.4 | +5.5 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 4,899 | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | +2.8 | |
Kirkstall :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Albert Smith | 3,160 | 56.0 | −5.1 |
| | Conservative | E. Lucas | 2,480 | 44.0 | +5.1 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 680 | 12.1 | −10.2 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 5,640 | | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | -5.1 | |
Meanwood :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | V. Cardno | 4,286 | 74.7 | +4.6 |
| | Labour | J. Hedley | 1,448 | 25.3 | −4.6 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 2,838 | 49.2 | +9.2 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 5,734 | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | +4.6 | |
Middleton :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Harold Watson | 2,586 | 77.6 | −3.6 |
| | Conservative | F. Stubley | 747 | 22.4 | +3.6 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,839 | 55.2 | −7.2 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 3,333 | | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | -3.6 | |
Moortown :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | John Watson | 4,733 | 76.8 | +0.2 |
| | Labour | E. Norris | 1,426 | 23.2 | −0.2 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 3,307 | 53.7 | +0.3 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 6,159 | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | +0.2 | |
Osmondthorpe :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | G. Addlestone | 2,809 | 71.8 | −5.6 |
| | Conservative | L. Ideson | 1,105 | 28.2 | +5.6 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,704 | 43.5 | −11.2 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 3,914 | | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | -5.6 | |
Potternewton :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Sydney Symmonds | 2,480 | 62.7 | −2.0 |
| | Labour | F. Watson | 1,307 | 33.0 | −2.3 |
| | Communist | S. Bloom | 170 | 4.3 | +4.3 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,173 | 29.6 | +0.2 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 3,957 | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | +0.1 | |
Richmond Hill :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | A. King | 2,202 | 78.9 | −1.3 |
| | Conservative | W. Clayton | 590 | 21.1 | +1.3 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,612 | 57.7 | −2.7 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,792 | | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | -1.3 | |
Roundhay :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Allan Bretherick | 4,782 | 71.8 | +7.3 |
| | Labour | P. Taylor | 1,877 | 28.2 | −7.3 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 2,905 | 43.6 | +14.6 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 6,659 | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | +7.3 | |
Stanningley :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | R. Waterman | 3,347 | 49.4 | −0.9 |
| | Conservative | T. Kilby | 2,832 | 41.8 | −7.8 |
| | Liberal | E. Burbridge | 592 | 8.7 | +8.7 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 515 | 7.6 | +6.9 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 6,771 | | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | +3.4 | |
Wellington :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | N. Barrett | 2,657 | 67.2 | −4.4 |
| | Labour | E. Youngman | 2,642 | | |
| | Conservative | S. Rostron | 699 | 17.7 | −6.0 |
| | Conservative | F. Richardson | 634 | | |
| | Liberal | Walter Holdsworth | 371 | 9.4 | +9.4 |
| | Communist | J. Wheatley | 225 | 5.7 | +0.9 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,943 | 49.5 | +1.6 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 3,952 | | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | +0.8 | |
Westfield :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | L. Lyons | 2,577 | 51.3 | +13.0 |
| | Labour | A. Malcolm | 2,442 | 48.7 | −2.2 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 135 | 2.7 | −9.8 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 5,019 | | |
| | Conservative gain from Labour | Conservative gain from Labour | Swing | +7.6 | |
Woodhouse :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Henry Vick | 2,729 | 56.9 | −3.8 |
| | Conservative | L. Francis | 2,066 | 43.1 | +3.8 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 663 | 13.8 | −7.7 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 4,795 | | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | -3.8 | |
Wortley :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | D. Wolstenholme | 3,386 | 51.9 | +1.4 |
| | Labour | Aimee Tong | 3,141 | 48.1 | −1.4 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 245 | 3.8 | +2.8 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 6,527 | | |
| | Conservative gain from Labour | Conservative gain from Labour | Swing | +1.4 | |