# 1995 Leeds City Council election

The 1995 Leeds City Council elections were held on Thursday, 4 May 1995, with one third of the council up for election, alongside a vacancy in Roundhay.
Labour won another victory over the opposition parties, winning a record number of wards as the Labour gains extended further into Conservative heartland. A disastrous result for the Tories saw them fall even further from the record lows they set the year before, losing Cookridge, North and Roundhay for the first time - with Wetherby their sole defence. Labour gained eight in total, securing second councillors in the previously reliable Conservative wards of Aireborough, Halton, Pudsey North and Weetwood. As a result, Labour represented over three-quarters of the council with a formidable majority of 51.
Having overtaken the Conservative vote the previous year, the Lib Dems fell behind again, but unlike the Conservatives were able to defend their three seats. As such, the holding up of the Labour's vote from strong figure achieved the year before was enough to win them their greatest share, amidst a poor turnout of 32.5%.
Elsewhere, the Greens firmed up their second place in Wortley and increased their slate to cover half of the wards, whilst the Liberals fielded one fewer to match the number of Independents - all three of which making little impact. The leftist splinters from Labour, Militant Labour, and the now-defunct CPGB, Communist Party of Britain also fielded a first candidate each.

## Election result

Leeds Local Election Result 1995 :
| Party | Seats | Gains | Losses | Net gain/loss | Seats % | Votes % | Votes | +/− |
| Labour | 30 | 8 | 0 | +8 | 88.2 | 59.0 | 103,585 | +7.7 |
| Liberal Democrats | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 8.8 | 18.4 | 32,340 | -5.7 |
| Conservative | 1 | 0 | 8 | -8 | 2.9 | 19.4 | 34,137 | -2.6 |
| Green | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 2.3 | 3,964 | +0.4 |
| Liberal | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.4 | 739 | -0.3 |
| Militant Labour | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.2 | 368 | +0.2 |
| Independent | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.2 | 354 | +0.2 |
| Communist | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 57 | +0.0 |
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 | 67 | 75 |
| | Conservative | 23 | 15 |
| | Liberal Democrat | 8 | 8 |
| | Independent | 1 | 1 |
| Total | Total | 99 | 99 | 99 |
| Working majority | Working majority | 35 | 51 |

## Ward results

Aireborough :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | M. Dunn | 3,939 | 50.5 | +3.2 |
| | Conservative | M. Atkinson | 2,971 | 38.1 | +8.7 |
| | Liberal Democrats | D. Gowland | 896 | 11.5 | −11.9 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 968 | 12.4 | −5.4 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 7,806 | | |
| | Labour gain from Conservative | Labour gain from Conservative | Swing | -2.7 | |
Armley :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | P. Paley | 3,085 | 70.3 | +9.3 |
| | Conservative | Glenn Broadbent | 429 | 9.8 | −1.9 |
| | Liberal | George Lawson | 426 | 9.7 | −5.2 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Andrew Davies | 285 | 6.5 | −5.9 |
| | Green | Quentin Cooper | 164 | 3.7 | +3.7 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 2,656 | 60.5 | +14.4 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 4,389 | | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | +5.6 | |
Barwick & Kippax :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | M. Monks | 4,742 | 71.2 | +7.0 |
| | Conservative | Christopher Ward | 1,267 | 19.0 | −3.3 |
| | Liberal Democrats | David Lindley | 650 | 9.8 | −3.7 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 3,475 | 52.2 | +10.3 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 6,659 | | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | +5.1 | |
Beeston :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | P. Bellwood | 2,654 | 77.1 | +7.0 |
| | Conservative | H. Woodhead | 412 | 12.0 | −3.7 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Stephen Sadler | 328 | 9.5 | −4.7 |
| | Green | Tania Jackson | 50 | 1.5 | +1.5 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 2,242 | 65.1 | +10.7 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 3,444 | | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | +5.3 | |
Bramley :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | A. Ross | 3,335 | 79.1 | +6.7 |
| | Conservative | R. Netzel | 340 | 8.1 | −1.3 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Nigel Amor | 306 | 7.3 | −4.9 |
| | Liberal | Elizabeth Bee | 234 | 5.6 | −0.6 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 2,995 | 71.1 | +10.8 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 4,215 | | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | +4.0 | |
Burmantofts :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Patrick Hennigan | 2,878 | 64.9 | +10.1 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Alan Kimber | 1,392 | 31.4 | −10.5 |
| | Conservative | Graham Castle | 164 | 3.7 | +0.4 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,486 | 33.5 | +20.6 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 4,434 | | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | +10.3 | |
Chapel Allerton :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Norma Hutchinson | 3,500 | 73.6 | +7.6 |
| | Conservative | I. Baxter | 621 | 13.1 | −2.6 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Ian Findlay | 430 | 9.0 | −2.9 |
| | Green | C. Ni Bhean | 147 | 3.1 | −3.3 |
| | Communist | S. Nolan | 57 | 1.2 | +1.2 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 2,879 | 60.5 | +10.2 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 4,755 | | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | +5.1 | |
City & Holbeck :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | I. Coulthard | 2,735 | 77.0 | +2.8 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Pauline Bardon | 363 | 10.2 | +2.3 |
| | Conservative | David Boynton | 254 | 7.1 | −1.9 |
| | Green | D. Blakemore | 201 | 5.7 | +1.4 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 2,372 | 66.8 | +1.6 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 3,553 | | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | +0.2 | |
Cookridge :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | A. Procter | 2,551 | 40.8 | +11.1 |
| | Conservative | A. Wheatley | 2,484 | 39.7 | −1.3 |
| | Liberal Democrats | David Pratt | 1,218 | 19.5 | −9.7 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 67 | 1.1 | −10.2 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 6,253 | | |
| | Labour gain from Conservative | Labour gain from Conservative | Swing | +6.2 | |
Garforth & Swillington :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | S. Haines | 5,056 | 72.9 | +7.2 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Ian Dowling | 984 | 14.2 | −1.8 |
| | Conservative | Jack Stott | 895 | 12.9 | −5.4 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 4,072 | 58.7 | +11.3 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 6,935 | | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | +4.5 | |
Halton :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | D. McGee | 3,734 | 57.8 | +7.5 |
| | Conservative | William Hyde | 1,995 | 30.9 | −2.4 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Andrew Appleyard | 568 | 8.8 | −7.6 |
| | Green | David Harbud | 162 | 2.5 | +2.5 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,739 | 26.9 | +9.8 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 6,459 | | |
| | Labour gain from Conservative | Labour gain from Conservative | Swing | +4.9 | |
Harehills :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | J. Clare | 3,070 | 81.0 | +13.1 |
| | Conservative | T. Gerrard | 293 | 7.7 | −4.3 |
| | Liberal Democrats | R. Senior | 286 | 7.5 | −7.9 |
| | Green | M. Elliot | 140 | 3.7 | −0.9 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 2,777 | 73.3 | +20.8 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 3,789 | | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | +8.7 | |
Headingley :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | P. Moxon | 3,071 | 68.8 | +9.1 |
| | Liberal Democrats | B. Thompson | 621 | 13.9 | −6.6 |
| | Conservative | A. Hainsworth | 464 | 10.4 | −2.0 |
| | Green | P. Alexander | 306 | 6.9 | −0.6 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 2,450 | 54.9 | +15.7 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 4,462 | | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | +7.8 | |
Horsforth :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal Democrats | B. Cleasby | 2,794 | 43.6 | −11.6 |
| | Labour | R. Haggerty | 1,977 | 30.9 | +12.2 |
| | Conservative | R. Whitehead | 1,558 | 24.3 | −1.8 |
| | Independent | A. Gale | 79 | 1.2 | +1.2 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 817 | 12.7 | −16.4 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 6,408 | | |
| | Liberal Democrats hold | Liberal Democrats hold | Swing | -11.9 | |
Hunslet :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | J. Erskine | 2,708 | 85.7 | +4.0 |
| | Liberal Democrats | G. Melnick | 191 | 6.0 | −3.7 |
| | Conservative | J. Eastwood | 170 | 5.4 | −3.2 |
| | Green | G. Duncan | 91 | 2.9 | +2.9 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 2,517 | 79.7 | +7.8 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 3,160 | | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | +3.8 | |
Kirkstall :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | J. Illingworth | 3,400 | 77.3 | +7.8 |
| | Green | A. Mander | 416 | 9.5 | +9.5 |
| | Liberal Democrats | D. Freeman | 256 | 5.8 | −6.6 |
| | Conservative | F. McKimmings | 248 | 5.6 | −2.0 |
| | Liberal | N. Nowosielski | 79 | 1.8 | +1.8 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 2,984 | 67.8 | +10.7 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 4,399 | | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | -0.8 | |
Middleton :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | R. Finnigan | 3,162 | 83.3 | +5.7 |
| | Conservative | S. McBarron | 302 | 8.0 | −2.4 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Q. Brown | 227 | 6.0 | −6.1 |
| | Green | A. Blackburn | 107 | 2.8 | +2.8 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 2,860 | 75.3 | +9.8 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 3,798 | | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | +4.0 | |
Moortown :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal Democrats | C. Brett | 2,932 | 49.6 | −8.2 |
| | Labour | M. Hughes | 1,871 | 31.6 | +10.7 |
| | Conservative | J. Dagwell | 989 | 16.7 | −4.6 |
| | Independent | H. Alexander | 123 | 2.1 | +2.1 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,061 | 17.9 | −18.6 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 5,915 | | |
| | Liberal Democrats hold | Liberal Democrats hold | Swing | -9.4 | |
Morley North :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | P. Jones | 3,782 | 66.4 | +9.0 |
| | Conservative | J. Galek | 1,142 | 20.0 | −8.4 |
| | Liberal Democrats | M. Betteridge | 509 | 8.9 | −5.2 |
| | Green | T. Sykes | 264 | 4.6 | +4.6 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 2,640 | 46.3 | +17.4 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 5,697 | | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | +8.7 | |
Morley South :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | R. Mitchell | 3,509 | 63.4 | +5.4 |
| | Liberal Democrats | T. Leadley | 1,283 | 23.2 | −4.5 |
| | Conservative | A. Grayson | 741 | 13.4 | −0.9 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 2,226 | 40.2 | +9.9 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 5,533 | | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | +4.9 | |
North :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | J. Sully | 2,047 | 35.2 | +8.2 |
| | Conservative | R. Feldman | 1,956 | 33.6 | −5.2 |
| | Liberal Democrats | S. Umpleby | 1,721 | 29.6 | −2.4 |
| | Green | P. Harris | 90 | 1.5 | −0.6 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 91 | 1.6 | −5.2 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 5,814 | | |
| | Labour gain from Conservative | Labour gain from Conservative | Swing | +6.7 | |
Otley & Wharfedale :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal Democrats | G. Kirkland | 3,295 | 40.8 | +1.6 |
| | Labour | J. Eveleigh | 2,753 | 34.1 | +6.1 |
| | Conservative | J. Bird | 2,022 | 25.1 | −6.4 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 542 | 6.7 | −1.1 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 8,070 | | |
| | Liberal Democrats hold | Liberal Democrats hold | Swing | -2.2 | |
Pudsey North :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | T. Spamer | 3,601 | 51.3 | +8.6 |
| | Conservative | I. Favell | 2,391 | 34.1 | +3.4 |
| | Liberal Democrats | R. Cam | 1,029 | 14.7 | −12.0 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,210 | 17.2 | +5.1 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 7,021 | | |
| | Labour gain from Conservative | Labour gain from Conservative | Swing | +2.6 | |
Pudsey South :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | J. Jarosz | 3,397 | 56.5 | +9.8 |
| | Liberal Democrats | R. Keighley | 1,821 | 30.3 | −9.7 |
| | Conservative | G. Winnard | 797 | 13.3 | −0.1 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,576 | 26.2 | +19.5 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 6,015 | | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | +9.7 | |
Richmond Hill :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | M. Simmons | 3,095 | 84.7 | +6.9 |
| | Liberal Democrats | K. Norman | 385 | 10.5 | −3.9 |
| | Conservative | W. Birch | 176 | 4.8 | −3.0 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 2,710 | 74.1 | +10.8 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 3,656 | | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | +5.4 | |
Rothwell :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | B. Walker | 3,481 | 72.8 | +7.8 |
| | Liberal Democrats | M. Galdas | 780 | 16.3 | −3.0 |
| | Conservative | R. Heeson | 521 | 10.9 | −4.9 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 2,701 | 56.5 | +10.8 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 4,782 | | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | +5.4 | |
Roundhay :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | D. Lewis | 2,839 | 43.8 | +12.1 |
| | Labour | J. White | 2,765 | | |
| | Conservative | M. Burnell | 2,186 | 33.7 | −5.3 |
| | Conservative | J. Suttenstall | 2,148 | | |
| | Liberal Democrats | J. Sefton | 1,193 | 18.4 | −8.1 |
| | Liberal Democrats | W. Pickard | 1,057 | | |
| | Green | A. Ketchin | 260 | 4.0 | +1.3 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 653 | 10.1 | +2.8 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 6,478 | | |
| | Labour gain from Conservative | Labour gain from Conservative | Swing | | |
| | Labour gain from Conservative | Labour gain from Conservative | Swing | +8.7 | |
Seacroft :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | D. Gabb | 3,298 | 85.4 | +1.8 |
| | Liberal Democrats | S. Fisher | 299 | 7.7 | −1.4 |
| | Conservative | R. Jones | 266 | 6.9 | −0.4 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 2,999 | 77.6 | +3.1 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 3,863 | | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | +1.6 | |
University :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | G. Harper | 2,522 | 69.8 | +6.2 |
| | Militant Labour | C. Hill | 368 | 10.2 | +10.2 |
| | Liberal Democrats | A. Norman | 279 | 7.7 | −6.4 |
| | Conservative | R. Winfield | 241 | 6.7 | −2.5 |
| | Green | A. Begg | 205 | 5.7 | −7.5 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 2,154 | 63.5 | +14.1 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 3,615 | | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | -2.0 | |
Weetwood :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | G. Platt | 2,837 | 42.8 | +2.4 |
| | Liberal Democrats | J. Ewens | 2,500 | 37.7 | +3.0 |
| | Conservative | D. Boulton | 1,134 | 17.1 | −7.7 |
| | Green | C. Nash | 153 | 2.3 | +2.3 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 337 | 5.1 | −0.5 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 6,624 | | |
| | Labour gain from Conservative | Labour gain from Conservative | Swing | -0.3 | |
Wetherby :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | D. Hudson | 3,518 | 46.4 | −3.8 |
| | Labour | R. Steel | 2,407 | 31.7 | +11.3 |
| | Liberal Democrats | P. Boughton | 1,662 | 21.9 | −7.5 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,111 | 14.6 | −6.2 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 7,587 | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | -7.5 | |
Whinmoor :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | E. Pickard | 3,149 | 71.0 | +7.2 |
| | Conservative | W. Hanbury | 728 | 16.4 | −5.0 |
| | Liberal Democrats | G. Roberts | 405 | 9.1 | −5.6 |
| | Independent | A. Thorpe | 152 | 3.4 | +3.4 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 2,421 | 54.6 | +12.2 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 4,434 | | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | +6.1 | |
Wortley :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | F. Hamilton | 3,400 | 61.6 | +4.1 |
| | Green | D. Blackburn | 1,208 | 21.9 | +2.1 |
| | Conservative | M. Best | 462 | 8.4 | −3.2 |
| | Liberal Democrats | D. Brayshaw | 452 | 8.2 | −3.0 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 2,192 | 39.7 | +2.0 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 5,522 | | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | +1.0 | |

## By-elections between 1995 and 1996

Richmond Hill by-election 26 October 1995 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Michael Lyons | 1,792 | 84.2 | −0.5 |
| | Liberal Democrats | | 233 | 10.9 | +0.4 |
| | Conservative | | 103 | 4.8 | +0.0 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,559 | 73.3 | −0.8 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,128 | 15.0 | −10.8 |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | -0.4 | |