# 1960 Leeds City Council election

The 1960 Leeds municipal elections were held on 12 May 1960, with one third of the council set to be re-elected.
A large swing of 5.5% to the Conservatives allowed them their first election victory since 1951 - having won the most votes in several elections since then, but never amounting to a majority of seats. The Conservatives made their six gains from Labour in the wards of Beeston, Bramley, Harehills, Stanningley, Westfield, Woodhouse and Wortley, halving Labour's majority of councillors from 24 to 12.
Elsewhere, the Liberals managed a post-war first of beating Labour to second place in Allerton and Far Headingley, and the first Independent candidate standing since the war, Dennis Peddar, made negligible impact in Westfield. Turnout fell sharply for this election - by nearly a quarter from the previous year - to a new low of 27.5%.

## Election result

Leeds Local Election Result 1960 :
| Party | Seats | Gains | Losses | Net gain/loss | Seats % | Votes % | Votes | +/− |
| Conservative | 15 | 6 | 0 | +6 | 53.6 | 54.3 | 52,399 | +5.3 |
| Labour | 13 | 0 | 6 | -6 | 46.4 | 41.0 | 39,553 | -5.5 |
| Liberal | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 4.2 | 4,029 | +0.2 |
| Communist | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.5 | 500 | 0.0 |
| Independent | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.1 | 73 | +0.1 |
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 | 18 | 48 | 18 |
| | Conservatives | 30 | 10 | 36 | 10 |
| Total | Total | 84 | 28 | 84 | 28 |
| Total | Total | 112 | 112 | 112 | 112 |
| Working majority | Working majority | 24 | 8 | 12 | 8 |
| Working majority | Working majority | 32 | 32 | 20 | 20 |

## Ward results

Allerton :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | B. Lyons | 3,514 | 76.8 | −10.6 |
| | Liberal | Julius Blum | 674 | 14.7 | +14.7 |
| | Labour | A. Baum | 388 | 8.5 | −4.2 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 2,840 | 62.1 | −12.6 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 4,576 | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | -12.6 | |
Armley :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | S. Lee | 1,582 | 52.7 | −4.5 |
| | Conservative | R. Beal | 1,421 | 47.3 | +4.5 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 161 | 5.4 | −8.9 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 3,003 | | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | -4.5 | |
Beeston :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | J. Farrell | 3,004 | 50.0 | +3.4 |
| | Labour | A. Tallant | 2,573 | 42.8 | +0.2 |
| | Liberal | H. Linley | 433 | 7.2 | −3.5 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 431 | 7.2 | +3.2 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 6,010 | | |
| | Conservative gain from Labour | Conservative gain from Labour | Swing | +1.6 | |
Blenheim :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | B. Sedgley | 1,736 | 65.2 | +1.9 |
| | Conservative | J. Butterfield | 926 | 34.8 | −1.9 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 810 | 30.4 | +3.7 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,662 | | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | +1.9 | |
Bramley :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | C. Dean | 2,279 | 49.5 | +8.6 |
| | Labour | H. Battersby | 1,879 | 40.8 | −9.5 |
| | Liberal | Walter Holdsworth | 446 | 9.7 | +0.9 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 400 | 8.7 | −0.7 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 4,604 | | |
| | Conservative gain from Labour | Conservative gain from Labour | Swing | +9.0 | |
Burmantofts :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | F. Watson | 1,384 | 64.1 | −4.2 |
| | Conservative | D. Mowbray | 776 | 35.9 | +4.2 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 608 | 28.2 | −8.6 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,160 | | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | -4.2 | |
City :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | W. Stoner | 901 | 57.3 | −7.4 |
| | Conservative | B. Emmett | 672 | 42.7 | +7.4 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 229 | 14.6 | −14.7 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,573 | | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | -7.4 | |
Cross Gates :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | L. Jackson | 2,121 | 55.5 | −8.1 |
| | Conservative | G. Lockwood | 1,700 | 44.5 | +8.1 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 421 | 11.0 | −16.2 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 3,821 | | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | -8.1 | |
East Hunslet :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | E. Houghton | 1,313 | 65.3 | −9.3 |
| | Conservative | M. Green | 699 | 34.7 | +9.3 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 614 | 30.5 | −18.6 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,012 | | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | -9.3 | |
Far Headingley :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | S. Rostron | 3,374 | 62.6 | −2.5 |
| | Liberal | John Humphrey Morrish | 1,098 | 20.4 | +3.6 |
| | Labour | H. Swain | 917 | 17.0 | −1.1 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 2,276 | 42.2 | −4.8 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 5,389 | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | -3.0 | |
Halton :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | J. Brooksbank | 3,752 | 80.7 | +4.9 |
| | Labour | L. Wray | 897 | 19.3 | −4.9 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 2,855 | 61.4 | +9.9 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 4,649 | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | +4.9 | |
Harehills :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | J. Astle | 2,734 | 63.5 | +7.9 |
| | Labour | W. Todd | 1,569 | 36.5 | −7.9 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,165 | 27.1 | +15.8 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 4,303 | | |
| | Conservative gain from Labour | Conservative gain from Labour | Swing | +7.9 | |
Holbeck :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | T. Smith | 1,342 | 64.1 | +5.0 |
| | Conservative | B. Morland | 752 | 35.9 | +11.7 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 590 | 28.2 | −6.6 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,094 | | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | -3.3 | |
Hunslet Carr :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Harry Booth | 1,550 | 68.8 | −0.3 |
| | Conservative | A. Roberts | 704 | 31.2 | +11.4 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 846 | 37.5 | −11.8 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,254 | | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | -5.8 | |
Hyde Park :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Kenneth Davison | 2,095 | 70.6 | +6.7 |
| | Labour | L. Steele | 874 | 29.4 | −6.7 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,221 | 41.1 | +13.3 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,969 | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | +6.7 | |
Kirkstall :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | A. Happold | 2,251 | 51.8 | −6.3 |
| | Conservative | S. Codd | 2,092 | 48.2 | +6.3 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 159 | 3.7 | −12.6 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 4,343 | | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | -6.3 | |
Meanwood :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Alan Pedley | 2,989 | 77.9 | +4.7 |
| | Labour | A. Kirk | 846 | 22.1 | −4.7 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 2,143 | 55.9 | +9.3 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 3,835 | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | +4.7 | |
Middleton :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Arthur Brown | 1,405 | 72.1 | −4.7 |
| | Conservative | H. Alexander | 427 | 21.9 | +7.9 |
| | Communist | R. Wilkinson | 118 | 6.1 | +3.1 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 978 | 50.2 | −12.6 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,950 | | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | -6.3 | |
Moortown :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | S. Bolton | 3,714 | 80.9 | +4.0 |
| | Labour | D. Thomas | 879 | 19.1 | −4.0 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 2,835 | 61.7 | +8.0 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 4,593 | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | +4.0 | |
Osmondthorpe :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Douglas Gabb | 1,774 | 71.2 | −3.1 |
| | Conservative | A. Lunn | 719 | 28.8 | +3.1 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,055 | 42.3 | −6.3 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,493 | | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | -3.1 | |
Potternewton :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | D. Bradley | 1,691 | 70.1 | +4.3 |
| | Labour | Kevin Gould | 602 | 25.0 | −4.7 |
| | Communist | H. Fawcett | 118 | 4.9 | +0.4 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,089 | 45.2 | +9.0 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,411 | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | +4.5 | |
Richmond Hill :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | M. Rooney | 1,093 | 74.2 | −2.0 |
| | Conservative | H. Flockton | 381 | 25.8 | +2.0 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 712 | 48.3 | −4.0 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,474 | | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | -2.0 | |
Roundhay :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | G. Monkman | 3,362 | 79.1 | +8.8 |
| | Labour | D. Yelland | 888 | 20.9 | −8.8 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 2,474 | 58.2 | +17.5 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 4,250 | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | +8.8 | |
Stanningley :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | A. Vickers | 1,749 | 42.6 | +7.1 |
| | Labour | E. Coward | 1,621 | 39.5 | −6.4 |
| | Liberal | J. Grimshaw | 734 | 17.9 | −0.7 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 128 | 3.1 | −7.3 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 4,104 | | |
| | Conservative gain from Labour | Conservative gain from Labour | Swing | +6.7 | |
Wellington :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Aimee Tong | 1,862 | 72.4 | −1.7 |
| | Conservative | B. Pearce | 542 | 21.1 | +2.0 |
| | Communist | G. Hodgson | 169 | 6.6 | −0.4 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,320 | 51.3 | −3.7 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,573 | | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | -1.8 | |
Westfield :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | May Sexton | 1,576 | 44.1 | −4.1 |
| | Labour | H. Wiseman | 1,397 | 39.1 | −12.7 |
| | Liberal | E. Vasey | 530 | 14.8 | +14.8 |
| | Independent | Dennis Pedder | 73 | 2.0 | +2.0 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 179 | 5.0 | +1.4 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 3,576 | | |
| | Conservative gain from Labour | Conservative gain from Labour | Swing | +4.3 | |
Woodhouse :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | A. Chadwick | 1,686 | 48.6 | +9.6 |
| | Labour | R. Ellis | 1,572 | 45.3 | −2.5 |
| | Liberal | A. Oliver | 114 | 3.3 | −6.0 |
| | Communist | E. Meth | 95 | 2.7 | −1.0 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 114 | 3.3 | −5.5 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 3,467 | | |
| | Conservative gain from Labour | Conservative gain from Labour | Swing | +6.0 | |
Wortley :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Bertrand Mather | 3,069 | 56.8 | +5.5 |
| | Labour | J. Stephenson | 2,337 | 43.2 | −5.5 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 732 | 13.5 | +11.0 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 5,406 | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | +5.5 | |