# 1976 City of Bradford Metropolitan District Council election

Elections to City of Bradford Metropolitan District Council were held on 6 May 1976, with one third of council up for election as well as vacancies in Bolton and Thornton. The election resulted in the Conservatives retaining control with voter turnout at 39.7%.

## Election result

Bradford Local Election Result 1976 :
| Party | Seats | Gains | Losses | Net gain/loss | Seats % | Votes % | Votes | +/− |
| Conservative | 22 | 5 | 1 | +4 | 66.7 | 48.4 | 62,607 | -2.8% |
| Labour | 10 | 1 | 2 | -1 | 30.3 | 34.2 | 44,177 | +2.8% |
| Liberal | 1 | 0 | 3 | -3 | 3.0 | 7.9 | 10,163 | -3.9% |
| National Front | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 7.3 | 9,399 | +6.1% |
| Ratepayers & Residents Association | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 1.7 | 2,151 | -0.4% |
| Ind. Conservative | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.3 | 392 | +0.3% |
| Communist | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.2 | 213 | -0.0% |
| British National | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.1 | 125 | +0.1% |
| Social Credit | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 74 | -0.1% |
This result had the following consequences for the total number of seats on the council after the elections:
| Party | Party | Previous council | New council |
| | Conservatives | 57 | 61 |
| | Labour | 28 | 27 |
| | Liberals | 8 | 5 |
| Total | Total | 93 | 93 | 93 |
| Working majority | Working majority | 21 | 29 |

## Ward results

Allerton :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | N. Walker | 2,819 | 52.0 | −6.8 |
| | Labour | J. Whiteside | 1,852 | 34.1 | +5.0 |
| | National Front | D. Regan | 402 | 7.4 | +7.4 |
| | Liberal | A. Roberts | 350 | 6.4 | −5.7 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 967 | 17.8 | −11.8 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 5,423 | 41.2 | +5.1 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | -5.9 | |
Baildon :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | D. Moore | 2,727 | 52.9 | +16.4 |
| | Liberal | K. Greenwood | 1,502 | 29.1 | −16.3 |
| | Labour | D. Foster | 926 | 18.0 | −0.1 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,225 | 23.8 | +14.8 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 5,155 | 45.8 | −1.9 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | +16.3 | |
Bingley: Central, East, North & West :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | M. Carter | 3,379 | 61.6 | +7.9 |
| | Labour | S. Barlow | 1,107 | 20.2 | −1.3 |
| | Liberal | P. Blaine | 999 | 18.2 | −6.6 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 2,272 | 41.4 | +12.6 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 5,485 | 45.6 | +4.6 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | +4.6 | |
Bolton :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | F. Lee | 1,822 | 42.2 | −6.4 |
| | Conservative | E. Wooler | 1,480 | | |
| | Labour | E. Brown | 1,205 | 27.9 | +0.9 |
| | Liberal | W. Sheffield | 787 | 18.2 | −6.0 |
| | Liberal | F. Sugden | 694 | | |
| | National Front | E. Barszak | 500 | 11.6 | +11.6 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 342 | 14.3 | −7.3 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 4,314 | 37.3 | +4.1 |
| | Conservative gain from Liberal | Conservative gain from Liberal | Swing | | |
| | Conservative gain from Liberal | Conservative gain from Liberal | Swing | -3.6 | |
Bowling :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | R. Kitson | 1,104 | 46.0 | +1.9 |
| | Conservative | P. Kitchingman | 875 | 36.4 | −2.7 |
| | National Front | J. Dawson | 422 | 17.6 | +17.6 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 229 | 9.5 | +4.6 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,401 | 32.1 | +7.1 |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | +2.3 | |
Bradford Moor :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | J. McKenna | 2,344 | 46.8 | +11.8 |
| | Conservative | J. Ambler | 1,649 | 32.9 | −3.4 |
| | National Front | J. Merrick | 1,018 | 20.3 | +20.3 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 695 | 13.9 | +12.5 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 5,011 | 45.9 | +12.3 |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | +7.6 | |
Clayton, Ambler Thorn & Queensbury :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | J. Hirst | 3,460 | 55.9 | −10.9 |
| | Labour | C. Smith | 2,056 | 33.2 | +3.7 |
| | National Front | S. Merrick | 514 | 8.3 | +8.3 |
| | Communist | J. Baruch | 160 | 2.6 | −1.0 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,404 | 22.7 | −14.6 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 6,190 | 38.5 | +7.5 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | -7.3 | |
Craven: Silsden, Addingham, Kildwick & Steeton with Eastburn :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | A. Jerome | 3,228 | 72.1 | +16.1 |
| | Labour | R. Walton | 1,249 | 27.9 | +10.5 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,979 | 44.2 | +12.6 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 4,477 | 48.5 | +2.6 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | +2.8 | |
Denholme, Cullingworth, Bingley South & Wilsden :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | N. Nelson | 3,271 | 79.8 | +21.1 |
| | Labour | P. Wall | 829 | 20.2 | +1.1 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 2,442 | 59.6 | +23.0 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 4,100 | 40.0 | −0.1 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | +10.0 | |
Eccleshill :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | H. Smith | 1,619 | 40.4 | −2.8 |
| | Labour | G. Midwood | 1,397 | 34.9 | +5.5 |
| | Liberal | N. Todd | 600 | 15.0 | −8.2 |
| | National Front | K. Farrow | 388 | 9.7 | +5.5 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 222 | 5.5 | −8.4 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 4,004 | 38.3 | +5.3 |
| | Conservative gain from Liberal | Conservative gain from Liberal | Swing | -4.1 | |
Great Horton :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | H. Oromndroyd | 2,279 | 52.5 | −2.0 |
| | Labour | D. Bowers | 1,591 | 36.6 | +5.3 |
| | National Front | W. Thay | 473 | 10.9 | +10.9 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 688 | 15.8 | −7.3 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 4,343 | 42.5 | +4.2 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | -3.6 | |
Haworth, Oakworth & Oxenhope :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | W. Proom | 2,941 | 66.4 | −2.1 |
| | Labour | H. Binns | 1,485 | 33.5 | +2.1 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,456 | 32.9 | −4.3 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 4,426 | 38.0 | +5.6 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | -2.1 | |
Heaton :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | R. Bateson | 2,737 | 59.2 | −14.9 |
| | Labour | B. Longbottom | 1,150 | 24.9 | −0.9 |
| | National Front | A. Cureton | 431 | 9.3 | +9.3 |
| | Liberal | R. Barton | 302 | 6.5 | +6.5 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,587 | 34.3 | −14.0 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 4,620 | 42.5 | +8.8 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | -7.0 | |
Idle :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | J. Rennison | 1,622 | 34.6 | −0.2 |
| | Conservative | H. Worsley | 1,521 | 32.5 | +7.9 |
| | Labour | K. Hemingway | 1,156 | 24.7 | +2.9 |
| | National Front | S. Matson | 383 | 8.2 | +5.9 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 101 | 2.2 | −8.1 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 4,682 | 40.5 | +3.0 |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Swing | -4.0 | |
Ilkley: Ben Rhydding, Ilkley North, South & West :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | J. Lightbank | 2,244 | 51.1 | +3.6 |
| | Ratepayers & Residents Association | G. Ingle | 2,151 | 48.9 | +6.4 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 93 | 2.1 | −2.9 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 4,395 | 46.5 | +3.5 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | -1.4 | |
Ilkley: Burley, Holme & Menston :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | K. Emsley | 2,531 | 64.5 | +11.2 |
| | Liberal | C. Svensgaard | 891 | 22.7 | −12.8 |
| | Labour | C. Hunter | 500 | 12.7 | +1.7 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,640 | 41.8 | +24.0 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 3,922 | 53.9 | +0.4 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | +12.0 | |
Keighley: Keighley Central, East & South :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | E. Newby | 2,044 | 46.7 | +2.7 |
| | Conservative | H. Harrison | 1,770 | 40.4 | +4.4 |
| | National Front | G. Wright | 288 | 6.6 | +0.4 |
| | Liberal | M. Arnold | 276 | 6.3 | −7.5 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 274 | 6.3 | −1.6 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 4,378 | 40.9 | +4.8 |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | -0.8 | |
Keighley: Morton & Keighley North East :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | A. Trigg | 2,023 | 65.3 | +1.2 |
| | Labour | K. Clark | 822 | 26.5 | −0.8 |
| | National Front | S. Wood | 255 | 8.2 | −0.4 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,201 | 38.7 | +2.0 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 3,100 | 41.1 | +7.9 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | +1.0 | |
Keighley: North West & West :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | P. Gilmour | 2,375 | 46.2 | −6.3 |
| | Labour | B. Thorne | 2,138 | 41.5 | −0.3 |
| | National Front | A. Fairey | 321 | 6.2 | +0.6 |
| | Liberal | J. Arnold | 311 | 6.0 | +6.0 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 237 | 4.6 | −6.0 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 5,145 | 44.3 | +8.1 |
| | Conservative gain from Labour | Conservative gain from Labour | Swing | -3.0 | |
Laisterdyke :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | L. Coughlin | 1,393 | 57.3 | −3.2 |
| | Conservative | R. Robinson | 711 | 29.3 | −10.2 |
| | National Front | C. Murgatroyd | 325 | 13.4 | +13.4 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 682 | 28.1 | +7.0 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,429 | 32.5 | +10.8 |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | +3.5 | |
Little Horton :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | T. Brown | 1,880 | 57.6 | +3.2 |
| | Conservative | A. Townsend | 1,018 | 31.2 | −14.4 |
| | National Front | T. Cranston | 365 | 11.2 | +11.2 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 862 | 26.4 | +17.7 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 3,263 | 29.3 | +4.3 |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | +8.8 | |
Manningham :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | F. Sunderland | 1,883 | 49.2 | +15.2 |
| | Conservative | M. Wood | 1,449 | 37.9 | −15.0 |
| | National Front | L. Ramsden | 418 | 10.9 | +10.9 |
| | Social Credit | J. Jennings | 74 | 1.9 | −1.3 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 434 | 11.3 | −7.5 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 3,824 | 34.5 | +6.8 |
| | Labour gain from Conservative | Labour gain from Conservative | Swing | +15.1 | |
Odsal :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | K. Caroll | 2,292 | 54.2 | −1.8 |
| | Labour | M. Thornton | 1,564 | 37.0 | −7.1 |
| | National Front | F. Harris | 376 | 8.9 | +8.9 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 728 | 17.2 | +5.3 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 4,232 | 40.9 | +10.0 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | +2.6 | |
Shipley: Central, North & East :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | E. Saville | 1,924 | 49.7 | −12.6 |
| | Conservative | M. Holling | 1,489 | 38.5 | +2.4 |
| | Liberal | M. Stapylton | 403 | 10.4 | +10.4 |
| | Communist | L. Shields | 53 | 1.4 | −0.1 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 435 | 11.2 | −15.0 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 3,869 | 35.2 | +1.8 |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | -7.5 | |
Shipley: South & West :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | J. Evans | 3,242 | 70.3 | −0.3 |
| | Labour | F. Bastow | 1,370 | 29.7 | +9.3 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,872 | 40.6 | −9.6 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 4,612 | 46.2 | +1.9 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | -4.8 | |
Thornton :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | E. Kinder | 2,336 | 47.8 | −5.4 |
| | Conservative | G. Chapman | 2,276 | | |
| | Labour | F. Longstaff | 1,153 | 23.6 | −0.4 |
| | Liberal | R. Taylor | 611 | 12.5 | −10.3 |
| | National Front | D. Brook | 397 | 8.1 | +8.1 |
| | Ind. Conservative | P. Townsend | 392 | 8.0 | +8.0 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,123 | 24.2 | −4.9 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 4,889 | 41.8 | +8.2 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | -2.5 | |
Tong :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | T. Mahon | 2,082 | 62.6 | +0.9 |
| | Conservative | L. Heginbotham | 807 | 24.2 | −14.1 |
| | National Front | S. Collins | 314 | 9.4 | +9.4 |
| | British National | R. Shears | 125 | 3.8 | +3.8 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,275 | 38.3 | +15.1 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 3,328 | 27.2 | +8.2 |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | +7.5 | |
Undercliffe :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | W. Boyce | 1,419 | 40.1 | −3.9 |
| | Labour | G. Goodyear | 1,330 | 37.6 | +3.3 |
| | National Front | D. Matson | 446 | 12.6 | +8.3 |
| | Liberal | E. McElveen | 345 | 9.7 | −7.6 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 89 | 2.5 | −7.2 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 3,540 | 40.8 | +8.9 |
| | Conservative gain from Labour | Conservative gain from Labour | Swing | -3.6 | |
University :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | G. Rawnsley | 1,370 | 42.4 | −8.5 |
| | Conservative | T. Dines | 757 | 23.5 | −16.8 |
| | Liberal | M. Sheikh | 723 | 22.4 | +22.4 |
| | National Front | N. Ratcliffe | 377 | 11.7 | +2.9 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 613 | 19.0 | +8.3 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 3,227 | 39.6 | +12.2 |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | +4.1 | |
Wibsey :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | A. Hodgson | 1,817 | 47.6 | −18.8 |
| | Labour | T. Baines | 1,149 | 30.1 | −3.5 |
| | Liberal | A. Barker | 441 | 11.5 | +11.5 |
| | National Front | D. Brown | 411 | 10.8 | +10.8 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 668 | 17.5 | −15.4 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 3,818 | 36.5 | +9.3 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | -7.6 | |
Wyke :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | D. Birdall | 2,124 | 78.7 | +30.7 |
| | National Front | G. Lupton | 575 | 21.3 | +21.3 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,549 | 57.4 | +53.4 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,699 | 23.7 | −1.6 |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | +4.7 | |