# 1984 Leeds City Council election

The 1984 Leeds City Council elections were held on Thursday, 3 May 1984, with one third of the council to be elected. In the interim there had been a by-election in Armley to replace the incumbent councillor Michael Meadowcroft after he was elected the Leeds West MP, resulting in an Alliance hold.
The Conservative's downward trend continued after the previous year's respite to a new party low, resulting in a 3% swing to Labour. In contrast, the Alliance support stabilised after the prior year's fall to retain a healthy proportion of their initial 1982 surge. Despite the swing towards them, Labour finished the night with a net loss, as the Alliance won the only remaining Burmantofts seat they did not hold from them. The Alliance also gained in Moortown, winning their first seat in the ward from the Conservatives - who lost another in Pudsey South to their former incumbent turn Independent, achieving the feat of first elected Independent onto the council.

## Election result

Leeds Local Election Result 1984 :
| Party | Seats | Gains | Losses | Net gain/loss | Seats % | Votes % | Votes | +/− |
| Labour | 19 | 0 | 1 | -1 | 57.6 | 42.7 | 91,314 | +2.6 |
| Conservative | 9 | 1 | 2 | -1 | 27.3 | 33.0 | 70,431 | -3.3 |
| Alliance | 4 | 2 | 1 | +1 | 12.1 | 22.6 | 48,335 | -0.4 |
| Independent | 1 | 1 | 0 | +1 | 3.0 | 1.3 | 2,770 | +1.1 |
| Ecology | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.2 | 531 | +0.1 |
| Communist | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.1 | 308 | -0.1 |
This result has the following consequences for the total number of seats on the council after the elections:
| Party | Party | Previous council | New council |
| | Labour | 54 | 53 |
| | Conservatives | 34 | 33 |
| | Alliance | 11 | 12 |
| | Independent | 0 | 1 |
| Total | Total | 99 | 99 | 99 |
| Working majority | Working majority | 9 | 7 |

## Ward results

Aireborough :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | W. Hudson | 3,515 | 42.7 | −0.5 |
| | Labour | M. Dunn | 2,550 | 31.0 | +3.4 |
| | Alliance (Liberal) | M. Cooksey | 2,167 | 26.3 | −2.9 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 965 | 11.7 | −2.3 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 8,232 | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | -1.9 | |
Armley :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Alliance (Liberal) | Sandy Melville | 3,328 | 55.9 | +10.1 |
| | Labour | J. Appleyard | 1,756 | 29.5 | −3.3 |
| | Conservative | H. Hinchliffe | 872 | 14.6 | −6.0 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,572 | 26.4 | +13.4 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 5,956 | | |
| | Alliance hold | Alliance hold | Swing | +6.7 | |
Barwick & Kippax :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | F. Flatters | 3,802 | 50.3 | +0.8 |
| | Conservative | J. Tweddle | 2,971 | 39.3 | −0.5 |
| | Alliance (SDP) | N. Snowdon | 793 | 10.5 | −0.2 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 831 | 11.0 | +1.3 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 7,566 | | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | +0.6 | |
Beeston :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | A. Beevers | 3,102 | 62.6 | +8.3 |
| | Conservative | W. Birch | 1,400 | 28.3 | −4.2 |
| | Alliance (SDP) | L. Shaffner | 417 | 8.4 | −4.8 |
| | Independent | A. Ali | 35 | 0.7 | +0.7 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,702 | 34.4 | +12.5 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 4,954 | | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | +6.2 | |
Bramley :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | A. Siantonas | 2,939 | 53.2 | +1.5 |
| | Alliance (Liberal) | C. Pearson | 1,856 | 33.6 | +2.5 |
| | Conservative | P. Netzel | 731 | 13.2 | −4.0 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,083 | 19.6 | −1.0 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 5,526 | | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | -0.5 | |
Burmantofts :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Alliance (Liberal) | N. Mackie | 3,730 | 50.5 | +4.9 |
| | Labour | S. Armitage | 3,244 | 43.9 | +1.4 |
| | Conservative | S. Temple | 416 | 5.6 | −4.6 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 486 | 6.6 | +3.4 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 7,390 | | |
| | Alliance gain from Labour | Alliance gain from Labour | Swing | +1.7 | |
Chapel Allerton :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | J. Frankland | 3,555 | 59.8 | −0.3 |
| | Conservative | J. Moore | 1,590 | 26.8 | −0.1 |
| | Alliance (Liberal) | C. Smith | 717 | 12.1 | −1.0 |
| | Communist | J. Rodgers | 78 | 1.3 | +1.3 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,965 | 33.1 | −0.1 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 5,940 | | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | -0.1 | |
City & Holbeck :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | B. Sanderson | 3,354 | 69.2 | +4.8 |
| | Alliance (Liberal) | K. Hawkins | 959 | 19.8 | −0.7 |
| | Conservative | H. Woodhead | 534 | 11.0 | −4.1 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 2,395 | 49.4 | +5.5 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 4,847 | | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | +2.7 | |
Cookridge :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | K. Loudon | 3,619 | 48.7 | −7.2 |
| | Alliance (Liberal) | P. Kelley | 2,241 | 30.2 | +4.5 |
| | Labour | C. Ashley | 1,569 | 21.1 | +2.7 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,387 | 18.5 | −11.8 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 7,429 | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | -5.8 | |
Garforth & Swillington :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | G. Moakes | 4,235 | 51.6 | +7.5 |
| | Conservative | N. May | 3,070 | 37.4 | −5.3 |
| | Alliance (SDP) | P. Wilson | 896 | 10.9 | −2.2 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,165 | 14.2 | +12.9 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 8,201 | | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | +6.4 | |
Halton :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | M. Dodgson | 3,823 | 53.2 | −6.0 |
| | Labour | E. McGee | 2,504 | 34.9 | +9.8 |
| | Alliance (SDP) | D. Mortimer | 855 | 11.9 | −3.8 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,319 | 18.4 | −15.8 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 7,182 | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | -7.9 | |
Harehills :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | L. Cohen | 3,252 | 64.2 | −0.9 |
| | Conservative | M. Cohen | 1,194 | 23.6 | +0.8 |
| | Alliance (Liberal) | J. Foster | 623 | 12.3 | +0.2 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 2,058 | 40.6 | −1.7 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 5,069 | | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | -0.8 | |
Headingley :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | A. Larsen | 3,480 | 56.8 | +3.2 |
| | Conservative | D. Flowers | 1,688 | 27.5 | −4.7 |
| | Alliance (SDP) | K. Lee | 691 | 11.3 | −0.8 |
| | Ecology | G. Rainford | 213 | 3.5 | +3.5 |
| | Communist | I. Dixon | 58 | 0.9 | −1.1 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,792 | 29.2 | +7.8 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 6,130 | | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | +3.9 | |
Horsforth :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Alliance (Liberal) | S. Cooksey | 4,037 | 48.9 | +4.9 |
| | Conservative | J. Stevens | 3,451 | 41.8 | −4.0 |
| | Labour | L. Smith | 762 | 9.2 | −0.9 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 586 | 7.1 | +5.3 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 8,250 | | |
| | Alliance hold | Alliance hold | Swing | +4.4 | |
Hunslet :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | G. Driver | 3,379 | 82.8 | −0.7 |
| | Alliance (Liberal) | S. Gillen | 369 | 9.0 | +2.2 |
| | Conservative | H. Lavery | 333 | 8.2 | −1.5 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 3,010 | 73.8 | −0.1 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 4,081 | | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | -1.4 | |
Kirkstall :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | E. Nash | 3,418 | 54.9 | −1.3 |
| | Conservative | A. Walkington | 1,415 | 22.7 | −4.5 |
| | Alliance (Liberal) | P. Meadowcroft | 1,322 | 21.3 | +5.9 |
| | Communist | B. Jackson | 66 | 1.1 | −0.1 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 2,003 | 32.2 | +3.2 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 6,221 | | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | +1.6 | |
Middleton :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | J. Kitchen | 2,946 | 74.8 | +1.0 |
| | Conservative | A. Larvin | 612 | 15.5 | −1.5 |
| | Alliance (Liberal) | D. Howard | 381 | 9.7 | +0.5 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 2,334 | 59.3 | +2.6 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 3,939 | | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | +1.2 | |
Moortown :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Alliance (SDP) | M. Harris | 3,355 | 45.0 | +10.3 |
| | Conservative | C. Thomas | 2,967 | 39.8 | −8.0 |
| | Labour | C. Dews | 1,129 | 15.2 | −2.3 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 388 | 5.2 | −7.9 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 7,451 | | |
| | Alliance gain from Conservative | Alliance gain from Conservative | Swing | +9.1 | |
Morley North :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | P. Jones | 3,521 | 51.1 | +9.3 |
| | Conservative | R. Halpin | 2,845 | 41.3 | −5.2 |
| | Alliance (Liberal) | E. Ayres | 527 | 7.6 | −4.0 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 676 | 9.8 | +5.1 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 6,893 | | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | +7.2 | |
Morley South :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | B. North | 3,723 | 60.9 | +10.7 |
| | Conservative | A. Grayson | 1,682 | 27.5 | −4.5 |
| | Alliance (Liberal) | H. Smith | 709 | 11.6 | +1.7 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 2,041 | 33.4 | +15.3 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 6,114 | | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | +7.6 | |
North :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | A. O'Brien | 3,128 | 51.6 | −9.9 |
| | Alliance (SDP) | G. Shaffner | 1,681 | 27.7 | +6.0 |
| | Labour | J. Langan | 1,255 | 20.7 | +3.8 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,447 | 23.9 | −15.9 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 6,064 | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | -7.9 | |
Otley & Wharfedale :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | C. Hindle | 4,108 | 43.6 | +5.7 |
| | Alliance (Liberal) | H. Morgan | 3,871 | 41.1 | −10.2 |
| | Labour | M. Attwood | 1,303 | 13.8 | +5.3 |
| | Ecology | A. Laurence | 138 | 1.5 | −0.8 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 237 | 2.5 | −10.8 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 9,420 | | |
| | Conservative gain from Alliance | Conservative gain from Alliance | Swing | +7.9 | |
Pudsey North :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | A. Carter | 4,402 | 51.1 | +1.0 |
| | Labour | J. Hodgson | 3,188 | 37.0 | +6.6 |
| | Alliance (SDP) | J. Stott | 1,021 | 11.9 | −7.6 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,214 | 14.1 | −5.6 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 8,611 | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | -2.8 | |
Pudsey South :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Independent | P. Kersting | 2,735 | 36.7 | +36.7 |
| | Labour | R. Lewis | 2,340 | 31.4 | −8.0 |
| | Conservative | H. Gill | 1,582 | 21.2 | −15.4 |
| | Alliance (Liberal) | A. Booker | 791 | 10.6 | −13.4 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 395 | 5.3 | +2.5 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 7,448 | | |
| | Independent gain from Conservative | Independent gain from Conservative | Swing | | |
Richmond Hill :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | M. Lyons | 3,853 | 56.2 | +5.9 |
| | Alliance (Liberal) | K. Norman | 2,618 | 38.2 | −2.9 |
| | Conservative | D. Boynton | 381 | 5.6 | −1.8 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,235 | 18.0 | +8.8 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 6,852 | | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | +4.4 | |
Rothwell :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | R. Lund | 3,871 | 68.3 | +9.3 |
| | Conservative | M. Dalton | 1,234 | 21.8 | −5.5 |
| | Alliance (SDP) | S. Browning | 564 | 9.9 | −3.0 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 2,637 | 46.5 | +14.7 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 5,669 | | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | +7.4 | |
Roundhay :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | P. Crotty | 4,045 | 61.0 | −2.5 |
| | Alliance (Liberal) | L. Thackray | 1,358 | 20.5 | +0.4 |
| | Labour | F. Hamilton | 1,230 | 18.5 | +2.1 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 2,687 | 40.5 | −2.9 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 6,633 | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | -1.4 | |
Seacroft :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | George Mudie | 3,459 | 72.0 | +4.1 |
| | Conservative | B. Caro | 963 | 20.0 | −0.9 |
| | Alliance (SDP) | S. Richmond | 381 | 7.9 | −3.2 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 2,496 | 52.0 | +5.1 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 4,803 | | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | +2.5 | |
University :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | W. Kilgallon | 3,149 | 70.7 | +4.7 |
| | Conservative | M. Killick | 639 | 14.4 | −4.1 |
| | Alliance (Liberal) | J. Staines | 558 | 12.5 | −1.0 |
| | Communist | R. Honey | 106 | 2.4 | +0.4 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 2,510 | 56.4 | +8.9 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 4,452 | | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | +4.4 | |
Weetwood :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | A. Lodge | 2,955 | 41.1 | −4.9 |
| | Labour | J. Page | 2,759 | 38.3 | +3.9 |
| | Alliance (SDP) | J. MacArthur | 1,301 | 18.1 | −1.5 |
| | Ecology | C. Nash | 180 | 2.5 | +2.5 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 196 | 2.7 | −8.8 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 7,195 | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | -4.4 | |
Wetherby :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | H. Gardiner | 4,624 | 70.3 | +1.5 |
| | Alliance (Liberal) | T. Burgess | 1,129 | 17.2 | −3.3 |
| | Labour | R. Bishop | 820 | 12.5 | +1.7 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 3,495 | 53.2 | +4.9 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 6,573 | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | +2.4 | |
Whinmoor :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | F. Stringer | 2,992 | 53.5 | +5.2 |
| | Conservative | J. Howard | 1,977 | 35.4 | −1.4 |
| | Alliance (SDP) | M. Lance | 620 | 11.1 | −3.7 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,015 | 18.2 | +6.6 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 5,589 | | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | +3.3 | |
Wortley :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | W. Thurlow | 2,875 | 41.0 | −2.5 |
| | Alliance (Liberal) | A. Gilchrist | 2,469 | 35.2 | +7.5 |
| | Conservative | A. Stephenson | 1,665 | 23.8 | −5.1 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 406 | 5.8 | −8.8 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 7,009 | | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | -5.0 | |

## By-elections between 1984 and 1986

Beeston by-election 27 September 1984 replacing Michael McGowan (resigned) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Jon Trickett | 1,784 | 55.5 | −7.1 |
| | Conservative | John Birch | 909 | 28.3 | −0.0 |
| | Alliance (SDP) | Terence Ayres | 519 | 16.2 | +7.8 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 875 | 27.2 | −7.2 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 3,212 | 23.0 | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | -3.5 | |