# 1968 Havering London Borough Council election

The 1968 Havering Council election took place on 9 May 1968 to elect members of Havering London Borough Council in London, England. The whole council was up for election and the Conservative Party gained overall control of the council for the first time.

## Electoral arrangements

The election was originally scheduled for 1967, but the term of members due to go out in 1967 was extended for one year to prevent the London borough council elections taking place in the same year as the Greater London Council election. The election used the twenty wards from the previous election for a second time. Councillors were elected for three years with the next election scheduled for 1971.
Polling took place on 9 May 1968.

## Results
### General election of councillors

Gaining nineteen seats, the Conservative Party won overall control of the council for the first time. The Labour Party lost twenty seats and was only able to hold on to seven councillors in the Heaton, Hilldene and Gooshays wards covering the Harold Hill estate. Nineteen seats went from Labour to the Conservatives. One of the three seats in Hylands ward went from Labour to the Independent Residents. Holding on to a further twelve seats in Cranham, Hacton, Rainham and Upminster, the Independent Residents became the second largest group on the council.
Havering London Borough Council election result, 1968 :
| Party | Seats | Gains | Losses | Net gain/loss | Seats % | Votes % | Votes | +/− |
| Conservative | 35 | 19 | 0 | 19 | 63.6 | 53.7 | 98,040 | 23.9 |
| Ind. Residents | 13 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 16.9 | 19.0 | 23,586 | 0.4 |
| Labour | 7 | 0 | 20 | 20 | 12.7 | 22.1 | 40,307 | 27.0 |
| Liberal | 0 | 0 | 0 | | 0% | 3.7 | 6,800 | 3.5 |
| Independent | 0 | 0 | 0 | | 0.0 | 0.9 | 1,594 | New |
| Communist | 0 | 0 | 0 | | 0.0 | 0.6 | 1,172 | 0.4 |

### Aldermanic election

In addition to the 55 elected councillors, there were nine aldermen on the council. Five aldermen elected in 1964 continued to serve until 1971 and the other four retired before the 1968 election. Four aldermen were elected by the council in 1968 to serve until 1974. All four aldermen were for the Conservative Party.
Aldermen elected in 1968, to retire in 1974:
| Party | Alderman |
| Conservative | Evan Davies |
| Conservative | Sydney Legg |
| Conservative | Stanley Shute |
| Conservative | John Whale |
The aldermen divided six to the Conservatives, two Independent and one to Labour after the aldermanic election.

## Ward results
### Bedfords

Bedfords (2) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes |
| | Conservative | Evan Davies | 2,013 |
| | Conservative | Stanley Shute | 1,998 |
| | Labour | H. Packham | 333 |
| | Labour | A. Mills | 321 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing |

### Central

Central (3) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes |
| | Conservative | L. Ellis | 1,849 |
| | Conservative | W. Falk | 1,807 |
| | Conservative | W. Whittingham | 1,754 |
| | Labour | A. Thomas | 799 |
| | Labour | J. Stevenson | 750 |
| | Labour | K. Olsen | 721 |
| | Communist | C. Harper | 214 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | |
| | Conservative gain from Labour | Conservative gain from Labour | Swing |
| | Conservative gain from Labour | Conservative gain from Labour | Swing |
| | Conservative gain from Labour | Conservative gain from Labour | Swing |

### Collier Row

Collier Row (3) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes |
| | Conservative | J. Higgs | 2,146 |
| | Conservative | E. Joslin | 2,083 |
| | Conservative | D. Keery | 1,977 |
| | Labour | L. Mills | 1,265 |
| | Labour | W. Cole | 1,258 |
| | Labour | J. Selby | 1,200 |
| | Communist | H. Reeves | 188 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | |
| | Conservative gain from Labour | Conservative gain from Labour | Swing |
| | Conservative gain from Labour | Conservative gain from Labour | Swing |
| | Conservative gain from Labour | Conservative gain from Labour | Swing |

### Cranham

Cranham (3) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes |
| | Ind. Residents | W. Topp | 2,653 |
| | Ind. Residents | J. Squire | 2,628 |
| | Ind. Residents | Louisa Sinclair | 2,606 |
| | Conservative | R. Baker | 1,781 |
| | Conservative | L. Bonner | 1,749 |
| | Conservative | D. Cranna | 1,749 |
| | Labour | S. Jack | 478 |
| | Labour | E. Goggin | 474 |
| | Labour | N. Plant | 471 |
| | Liberal | W. Wallace | 216 |
| | Liberal | P. Atkinson | 215 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | |
| | Ind. Residents gain from Independent | Ind. Residents gain from Independent | Swing |
| | Ind. Residents gain from Independent | Ind. Residents gain from Independent | Swing |
| | Ind. Residents gain from Independent | Ind. Residents gain from Independent | Swing |

### Elm Park

Elm Park (3) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes |
| | Conservative | G. Bunch | 1,842 |
| | Conservative | B. Casey | 1,811 |
| | Conservative | N. Noyes | 1,804 |
| | Labour | J. Hoepelman | 1,244 |
| | Labour | Stanley Heath-Coleman | 1,240 |
| | Labour | G. Rowlands | 1,189 |
| | Liberal | I. Draper | 322 |
| | Liberal | S. Golledge | 300 |
| | Liberal | R. Barwick | 290 |
| | Communist | V. Faversham | 161 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | |
| | Conservative gain from Labour | Conservative gain from Labour | Swing |
| | Conservative gain from Labour | Conservative gain from Labour | Swing |
| | Conservative gain from Labour | Conservative gain from Labour | Swing |

### Emerson Park

Emerson Park (3) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes |
| | Conservative | R. Carnaby | 3,446 |
| | Conservative | E. Gallant | 3,392 |
| | Conservative | N. Kemble | 3,313 |
| | Liberal | P. Ratchford | 643 |
| | Liberal | J. Bastick | 614 |
| | Labour | B. Whitworth | 465 |
| | Labour | A. Mais | 439 |
| | Labour | R. Whitworth | 435 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing |

### Gidea Park

Gidea Park (2) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes |
| | Conservative | R. Clark | 2,108 |
| | Conservative | J. Johnston | 2,069 |
| | Independent | F. Chatfield | 213 |
| | Independent | L. Robertson | 206 |
| | Labour | A. Houghton | 174 |
| | Labour | A. Miles | 164 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing |

### Gooshays

Gooshays (3) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes |
| | Labour | Frank Coffin | 1,424 |
| | Labour | Reta Coffin | 1,367 |
| | Labour | I. Barber | 1,251 |
| | Conservative | H. Jefferies | 795 |
| | Conservative | C. Mawson | 795 |
| | Conservative | T. Rowswell | 766 |
| | Communist | W. French | 160 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing |

### Hacton

Hacton (3) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes |
| | Ind. Residents | N. Miles | 1,621 |
| | Ind. Residents | A. Davis | 1,591 |
| | Ind. Residents | N. Richards | 1,482 |
| | Conservative | L. Klein | 1,376 |
| | Conservative | S. New | 1,351 |
| | Conservative | S. Johnson | 1,332 |
| | Labour | A. Connor | 611 |
| | Labour | C. Connor | 608 |
| | Labour | V. Belcher | 554 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | |
| | Ind. Residents gain from Independent | Ind. Residents gain from Independent | Swing |
| | Ind. Residents gain from Independent | Ind. Residents gain from Independent | Swing |
| | Ind. Residents gain from Independent | Ind. Residents gain from Independent | Swing |

### Harold Wood

Harold Wood (3) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes |
| | Conservative | J. Smith | 2,789 |
| | Conservative | J. Frost | 2,715 |
| | Conservative | D. Owen | 2,659 |
| | Labour | D. Edwards | 1,005 |
| | Labour | G. Otter | 939 |
| | Labour | R. Smith | 818 |
| | Liberal | A. Stubbs | 460 |
| | Liberal | M. Chambers | 416 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing |

### Heath Park

Heath Park (3) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes |
| | Conservative | W. Smith | 3,441 |
| | Conservative | L. Hutton | 3,406 |
| | Conservative | K. Brown | 3,394 |
| | Independent | E. Bates | 557 |
| | Labour | W. Mills | 384 |
| | Labour | J. Holt | 355 |
| | Labour | S. Horler | 337 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing |

### Heaton

Heaton (2) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes |
| | Labour | Michael Ward | 955 |
| | Labour | D. Burn | 922 |
| | Conservative | C. Kemp | 709 |
| | Conservative | D. Cure | 683 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing |

### Hilldene

Hilldene (2) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes |
| | Labour | Arthur Latham | 1,088 |
| | Labour | Reg Whiting | 1,049 |
| | Conservative | P. Marsden | 572 |
| | Conservative | J. Barrance | 519 |
| | Communist | R. Cohen | 104 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing |

### Hylands

Hylands (3) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes |
| | Ind. Residents | R. Reid | 1,370 |
| | Conservative | T. Kemp | 1,362 |
| | Conservative | G. Panormo | 1,335 |
| | Ind. Residents | T. Dix | 1,316 |
| | Ind. Residents | D. Worker | 1,278 |
| | Conservative | B. Dawson | 1,265 |
| | Labour | E. Watson | 884 |
| | Labour | W. Hegarty | 862 |
| | Labour | K. Ince | 818 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | |
| | Ind. Residents gain from Labour | Ind. Residents gain from Labour | Swing |
| | Conservative gain from Labour | Conservative gain from Labour | Swing |
| | Conservative gain from Labour | Conservative gain from Labour | Swing |

### Mawney

Mawney (3) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes |
| | Conservative | J. Lucas | 2,199 |
| | Conservative | I. Harlock | 2,131 |
| | Conservative | A. Sharp | 2,119 |
| | Labour | R. Latham | 1,030 |
| | Labour | F. Carrick | 935 |
| | Labour | R. Kilby | 885 |
| | Communist | C. Bacon | 170 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | |
| | Conservative gain from Labour | Conservative gain from Labour | Swing |
| | Conservative gain from Labour | Conservative gain from Labour | Swing |
| | Conservative gain from Labour | Conservative gain from Labour | Swing |

### Oldchurch

Oldchurch (2) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes |
| | Conservative | S. Swift | 1,189 |
| | Conservative | W. Todd | 1,131 |
| | Labour | R. Baker | 558 |
| | Labour | T. Ward | 540 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | |
| | Conservative gain from Labour | Conservative gain from Labour | Swing |
| | Conservative gain from Labour | Conservative gain from Labour | Swing |

### Rainham

Rainham (3) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes |
| | Ind. Residents | H. Turner | 2,683 |
| | Ind. Residents | D. Poole | 2,643 |
| | Ind. Residents | L. Waterman | 2,504 |
| | Conservative | I. Lamont | 823 |
| | Labour | H. Bygate | 591 |
| | Labour | E. O'Donnell | 578 |
| | Labour | A. Bowers | 575 |
| | Communist | T. Stapleton | 175 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | |
| | Ind. Residents gain from Independent | Ind. Residents gain from Independent | Swing |
| | Ind. Residents gain from Independent | Ind. Residents gain from Independent | Swing |
| | Ind. Residents gain from Independent | Ind. Residents gain from Independent | Swing |

### St Andrew's

St Andrew's (3) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes |
| | Conservative | Sydney Legg | 2,716 |
| | Conservative | Edward Hoad | 2,685 |
| | Conservative | Albert James | 2,609 |
| | Liberal | B. Grant | 544 |
| | Liberal | M. Reeve | 542 |
| | Liberal | T. Rimmer | 531 |
| | Labour | G. Dodge | 481 |
| | Labour | G. Saunders | 477 |
| | Labour | D. Ramstead | 462 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing |

### South Hornchurch

South Hornchurch (3) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes |
| | Conservative | J. Collins | 1,095 |
| | Conservative | J. Smith | 1,092 |
| | Conservative | C. Sherman | 1,090 |
| | Labour | P. Ridley | 993 |
| | Labour | May Rudlin | 964 |
| | Ind. Residents | G. Reynolds | 912 |
| | Labour | A. Lesslie | 895 |
| | Ind. Residents | F. Banning | 738 |
| | Ind. Residents | R. Vickers | 735 |
| | Independent | L. Lowe | 323 |
| | Independent | L. Long | 295 |
| | Liberal | L. Blows | 207 |
| | Liberal | F. Tyson | 182 |
| | Liberal | J. South | 175 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | |
| | Conservative gain from Labour | Conservative gain from Labour | Swing |
| | Conservative gain from Labour | Conservative gain from Labour | Swing |
| | Conservative gain from Labour | Conservative gain from Labour | Swing |

### Upminster

Upminster (3) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes |
| | Ind. Residents | F. Everett | 2,631 |
| | Ind. Residents | R. Manning | 2,603 |
| | Ind. Residents | F. Morley | 2,592 |
| | Conservative | O. Collins | 1,755 |
| | Conservative | P. Ellis | 1,728 |
| | Conservative | R. Guest | 1,723 |
| | Labour | W. Mansfield | 264 |
| | Labour | H. Sparks | 216 |
| | Labour | A. Booton | 212 |
| | Liberal | A. Rabone | 167 |
| | Liberal | B. Thame | 162 |
| | Liberal | G. Burnett | 153 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | |
| | Ind. Residents gain from Independent | Ind. Residents gain from Independent | Swing |
| | Ind. Residents gain from Independent | Ind. Residents gain from Independent | Swing |
| | Ind. Residents gain from Independent | Ind. Residents gain from Independent | Swing |

## By-elections

The following by-elections took place between the 1968 and 1971 elections:
* 1968 Bedfords by-election
* 1968 Gidea Park by-election
* 1968 St Andrew's (Havering) by-election
* 1969 Collier Row by-election (Labour gain from Conservative)
* 1969 Hilldene by-election
* 1970 Heath Park by-election