# 1978 Leeds City Council election

Elections to Leeds City Council were held on 4 May 1978, with one third of the council up for election, as well as an extra vacancy in Wetherby. Prior to the election, the Hunslet East and West incumbent, Dennis Peddar, had defected from the Liberals to Independent, and fought this election as such.
The election seen a returning swing to Labour, although gains and losses were spread fairly equitably, with Labour narrowly gaining from the Conservatives in Wortley and comfortably from the Independent in Hunslet East and West, but losing Burmantofts and Richmond Hill to the Liberals. The Conservative gain from the Liberals in Pudsey South left the two parties' totals unchanged. This resulted in the Conservatives retaining control of the council, with an unaltered majority of four.

## Election result

Leeds Local Election Result 1978 :
| Party | Seats | Gains | Losses | Net gain/loss | Seats % | Votes % | Votes | +/− |
| Conservative | 15 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 45.4 | 43.8 | 86,707 | -4.3% |
| Labour | 15 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 45.4 | 40.5 | 80,070 | +6.6% |
| Liberal | 3 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 9.1 | 12.2 | 24,057 | -3.2% |
| Ecology | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 1.2 | 2,422 | +1.1% |
| National Front | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 1.1 | 2,185 | +0.2% |
| Independent | 0 | 0 | 1 | -1 | 0.0 | 0.7 | 1,425 | +0.6% |
| Communist | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.5 | 913 | +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 |
| | Conservatives | 50 | 50 |
| | Labour | 38 | 39 |
| | Liberals | 7 | 7 |
| | Independent | 1 | 0 |
| Total | Total | 96 | 96 | 96 |
| Working majority | Working majority | 4 | 4 |

## Ward results

Aireborough :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | W. Hudson | 5,202 | 56.6 | +0.2 |
| | Labour | M. Dunn | 2,429 | 26.4 | −0.4 |
| | Liberal | J. Brown | 1,556 | 16.9 | +0.1 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 2,773 | 30.2 | +0.6 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 9,187 | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | +0.3 | |
Armley and Castleton :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | M. Meadowcroft | 3,007 | 45.0 | +4.5 |
| | Labour | C. Buttery | 2,122 | 31.8 | −1.3 |
| | Conservative | C. Mathers | 1,339 | 20.0 | −1.6 |
| | National Front | M. Spink | 87 | 1.3 | +0.5 |
| | Ecology | J. Garrett | 74 | 1.1 | +1.1 |
| | Communist | J. Hodgson | 54 | 0.8 | −0.2 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 885 | 13.2 | +5.8 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 6,683 | | |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Swing | +2.9 | |
Beeston and Holbeck :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | A. Beevers | 4,409 | 61.7 | +11.6 |
| | Conservative | E. Lucas | 2,574 | 36.0 | −3.3 |
| | National Front | E. Thomas | 161 | 2.3 | +2.3 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,835 | 25.7 | +14.8 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 7,144 | | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | +7.4 | |
Bramley :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | E. Atkinson | 2,764 | 53.9 | +2.6 |
| | Conservative | W. Broadbent | 1,339 | 26.1 | −9.2 |
| | Liberal | D. Selby | 910 | 17.8 | +4.5 |
| | National Front | S. Smith | 60 | 1.2 | +1.2 |
| | Communist | J. Light | 52 | 1.0 | +1.0 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,425 | 27.8 | +11.8 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 5,125 | | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | +5.9 | |
Burley :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | L. Cohen | 1,811 | 54.2 | +14.5 |
| | Conservative | A. Sexton | 1,307 | 39.1 | −12.5 |
| | Ecology | K. Baxter | 133 | 4.0 | +4.0 |
| | Communist | B. Jackson | 57 | 1.7 | −0.8 |
| | National Front | C. Whitehead | 36 | 1.1 | −0.2 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 504 | 15.1 | +3.2 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 3,344 | | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | +13.5 | |
Burmantofts and Richmond Hill :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | M. Clay | 3,901 | 50.5 | +16.1 |
| | Labour | Michael McGowan | 2,729 | 35.3 | −4.0 |
| | Conservative | R. Simpson | 897 | 11.6 | −7.5 |
| | National Front | S. Rigby | 119 | 1.5 | −1.1 |
| | Communist | M. Monkman | 84 | 1.1 | −0.5 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,172 | 15.2 | +10.2 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 7,730 | | |
| | Liberal gain from Labour | Liberal gain from Labour | Swing | +10.0 | |
Chapel Allerton and Scott Hall :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | P. Sparling | 4,039 | 51.6 | −11.5 |
| | Labour | J. Kerwin-Davey | 2,984 | 38.1 | +10.3 |
| | Liberal | D. Thorpe | 495 | 6.3 | −2.8 |
| | National Front | P. Jackson | 148 | 1.9 | +1.9 |
| | Communist | L. Willoughby | 108 | 1.4 | +1.4 |
| | Ecology | T. Bernstein | 54 | 0.7 | +0.7 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,055 | 13.5 | −21.8 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 7,828 | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | -10.9 | |
City and Woodhouse :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | W. Merritt | 2,644 | 64.3 | +12.1 |
| | Conservative | C. Hudson | 1,093 | 26.6 | −2.7 |
| | Liberal | A. Ali | 177 | 4.3 | −10.4 |
| | Communist | J. Rodgers | 130 | 3.2 | −0.7 |
| | National Front | A. Rhodes | 69 | 1.7 | +1.7 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,551 | 37.7 | +14.8 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 4,113 | | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | +7.4 | |
Cookridge and Weetwood :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Ralph David Hall | 6,201 | 64.5 | −8.3 |
| | Labour | John Illingworth | 2,091 | 21.7 | +3.3 |
| | Liberal | David Gazey | 1,132 | 11.8 | +2.9 |
| | Ecology | P. Lewenz | 197 | 2.0 | +2.0 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 4,110 | 42.7 | −11.6 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 9,621 | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | -5.8 | |
Garforth North and Barwick :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | B. Rowley | 4,487 | 60.5 | −4.0 |
| | Labour | H. Martin | 2,451 | 33.0 | +1.3 |
| | Ecology | D. Corry | 483 | 6.5 | +6.5 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 2,036 | 27.5 | −5.3 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 7,421 | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | -2.6 | |
Gipton and Whinmoor :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | R. Dixon | 4,265 | 62.3 | +12.4 |
| | Conservative | W. Buckland | 2,363 | 34.5 | −11.2 |
| | National Front | B. Spink | 137 | 2.0 | −2.4 |
| | Communist | G. Thompson | 82 | 1.2 | +1.2 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,902 | 27.8 | +23.6 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 6,847 | | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | +11.8 | |
Halton :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | M. Dodgson | 4,034 | 70.1 | −1.2 |
| | Labour | D. Brown | 1,586 | 27.6 | +1.5 |
| | National Front | C. Dewar | 134 | 2.3 | −0.3 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 2,448 | 42.5 | −2.8 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 5,754 | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | -1.3 | |
Harehills and Roundhay :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | P. Crotty | 4,139 | 54.6 | −14.4 |
| | Labour | M. Lyons | 2,821 | 37.2 | +10.5 |
| | Liberal | H. Bevans | 396 | 5.2 | +5.2 |
| | Ecology | A. Andrew | 118 | 1.6 | +1.6 |
| | National Front | C. Dewar | 105 | 1.4 | −2.9 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,318 | 17.4 | −24.9 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 7,579 | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | -12.4 | |
Headingley :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | E. Clark | 2,240 | 45.1 | −11.3 |
| | Labour | E. Whelan | 1,645 | 33.1 | +6.9 |
| | Liberal | D. Rolfe | 692 | 13.9 | +0.7 |
| | Communist | B. Cooper | 210 | 4.2 | −0.1 |
| | Ecology | K. Rushworth | 185 | 3.7 | +3.7 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 595 | 12.0 | −18.2 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 4,972 | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | -9.1 | |
Horsforth :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | M. Crossfield | 3,413 | 44.1 | +11.8 |
| | Conservative | B. Pickard | 3,201 | 41.4 | −9.0 |
| | Labour | T. Watson | 864 | 11.2 | −2.6 |
| | Ecology | D. Darnborough | 262 | 3.4 | +3.4 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 212 | 2.7 | −15.3 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 7,740 | | |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Swing | +10.4 | |
Hunslet East and West :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | G. Driver | 3,035 | 49.9 | +6.9 |
| | Independent | D. Pedder | 1,425 | 23.4 | +23.4 |
| | Liberal | J. Finnigan | 795 | 13.1 | −31.3 |
| | Conservative | R. Tetley | 670 | 11.0 | +2.4 |
| | National Front | N. Griffiths | 462 | 2.7 | −0.6 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,610 | 26.4 | +24.9 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 6,087 | | |
| | Labour gain from Independent | Labour gain from Independent | Swing | -8.2 | |
Kippax and Swillington :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | K. Smith | 3,219 | 59.0 | +5.4 |
| | Conservative | B. King | 2,234 | 41.0 | −0.8 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 985 | 18.0 | +6.2 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 5,453 | | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | +3.1 | |
Kirkstall :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Elizabeth Nash | 3,373 | 56.8 | +6.0 |
| | Conservative | T. Battersby | 2,327 | 39.2 | −5.1 |
| | Liberal | Laurence Keates | 239 | 4.0 | +4.0 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,046 | 17.6 | +11.1 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 5,939 | | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | +5.5 | |
Middleton :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | J. Taylor | 3,156 | 77.4 | +17.6 |
| | Conservative | N. Landers | 789 | 19.3 | −6.0 |
| | Communist | R. Ward | 82 | 2.0 | −0.4 |
| | National Front | R. Buck | 52 | 1.3 | +1.3 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 2,367 | 58.0 | +23.6 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 4,079 | | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | +11.8 | |
Moortown :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | A. Redmond | 2,926 | 62.9 | −2.6 |
| | Labour | I. Levy | 1,567 | 33.7 | +11.5 |
| | Ecology | S. Waldenberg | 160 | 3.4 | −0.3 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,359 | 29.2 | −14.1 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 4,653 | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | -7.0 | |
Morley North :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | B. Barker | 3,209 | 50.7 | +0.1 |
| | Labour | B. North | 3,119 | 49.3 | +21.3 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 90 | 1.4 | −21.3 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 6,328 | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | -10.6 | |
Morley South :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | B. Haydn | 3,310 | 62.3 | +12.4 |
| | Conservative | C. Rover | 1,999 | 37.7 | −12.4 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,311 | 24.7 | +24.5 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 5,309 | | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | +12.4 | |
Osmondthorpe :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | D. Gabb | 2,399 | 66.7 | +11.7 |
| | Conservative | D. Zucker | 1,087 | 30.2 | −5.1 |
| | National Front | L. Fella | 113 | 3.1 | −2.1 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,312 | 36.5 | +16.9 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 3,599 | | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | +8.4 | |
Otley and Wharfedale :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | F. Atkinson | 3,937 | 50.1 | +5.6 |
| | Liberal | J. Spencer | 2,910 | 37.0 | −7.1 |
| | Labour | I. Swain | 960 | 12.2 | +1.4 |
| | Communist | A. Oddy | 54 | 0.7 | +0.0 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,027 | 13.1 | +12.8 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 7,861 | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | +6.3 | |
Pudsey North :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | A. Carter | 3,724 | 59.2 | +13.7 |
| | Labour | P. Burrill | 1,756 | 27.9 | +4.9 |
| | Liberal | S. Hollingworth | 812 | 12.9 | −18.5 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,968 | 31.3 | +17.2 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 6,292 | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | +4.4 | |
Pudsey South :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | L. Fletcher | 2,475 | 43.0 | −2.3 |
| | Liberal | G. Wilson | 2,065 | 35.9 | +5.3 |
| | Labour | W. Thurlow | 1,211 | 21.1 | −3.0 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 410 | 7.1 | −7.6 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 5,751 | | |
| | Conservative gain from Liberal | Conservative gain from Liberal | Swing | -3.8 | |
Rothwell :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | R. Lund | 4,939 | 62.4 | +18.3 |
| | Conservative | R. Harvey | 2,781 | 35.1 | +6.5 |
| | National Front | J. Duckenfield | 194 | 2.5 | +2.5 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 2,158 | 27.3 | +11.8 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 7,914 | | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | | |
Seacroft :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | I. Adams | 3,303 | 70.4 | +12.7 |
| | Conservative | D. Townsley | 1,256 | 26.8 | −10.4 |
| | National Front | C. Cannon | 135 | 2.9 | −0.4 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 2,047 | 43.6 | +23.1 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 4,694 | | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | +11.5 | |
Stanningley :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | A. Miller | 2,699 | 60.2 | +8.2 |
| | Conservative | I. Benton | 1,392 | 31.1 | −4.0 |
| | Liberal | F. Upton | 316 | 7.0 | −5.9 |
| | National Front | M. Gibson | 76 | 1.7 | +1.7 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,307 | 29.1 | +12.2 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 4,483 | | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | +6.1 | |
Talbot :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | I. Bellow | 3,687 | 69.4 | −2.4 |
| | Labour | B. Walker | 1,061 | 20.0 | +2.7 |
| | Liberal | M. Phillips | 320 | 6.0 | −4.9 |
| | Ecology | S. Parkin | 201 | 3.8 | +3.8 |
| | National Front | L. Spink | 46 | 0.9 | +0.9 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 2,626 | 49.4 | −5.0 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 5,315 | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | -4.0 | |
Wetherby :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | D. Hudson | 5,419 | 71.5 | −3.2 |
| | Conservative | J. Grange | 5,311 | | |
| | Labour | J. Taylor | 963 | 12.7 | −1.3 |
| | Labour | M. Moynihan | 808 | | |
| | Liberal | J. Scott | 641 | 8.5 | −2.8 |
| | Ecology | M. Sellers | 555 | 7.3 | +7.3 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 4,456 | 58.8 | −1.8 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 7,578 | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | -0.9 | |
Wortley :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | P. Fathers | 2,385 | 44.5 | +3.8 |
| | Conservative | F. Stubley | 2,340 | 43.7 | −3.5 |
| | Liberal | W. Moss | 519 | 9.7 | −2.4 |
| | National Front | A. Smith | 112 | 2.1 | +2.1 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 45 | 0.8 | −5.7 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 5,356 | | |
| | Labour gain from Conservative | Labour gain from Conservative | Swing | +3.6 | |