# 1973 Barnsley Metropolitan Borough Council election

The first elections to the newly created Barnsley Metropolitan Borough Council were held on 10 May 1973, with the entirety of the 60 seat council - three seats for each of the 20 wards - up for vote. The Local Government Act 1972 stipulated that the elected members were to shadow and eventually take over from the predecessor corporation on 1 April 1974. The order in which the councillors were elected dictated their term serving, with third-place candidates serving two years and up for re-election in 1975, second-placed three years expiring in 1976 and 1st-placed five years until 1978.
The election resulted in Labour gaining control of the council.

## Election result

Barnsley Metropolitan Borough Council Election Result 1973 :
| Party | Seats | Gains | Losses | Net gain/loss | Seats % | Votes % | Votes | +/− |
| Labour | 57 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 95.0 | 52.5 | 32,319 | N/A |
| Independent | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1.7 | 7.7 | 4,727 | N/A |
| Democratic Labour | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1.7 | 6.0 | 3,687 | N/A |
| Independent Labour | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1.7 | 5.0 | 3,062 | N/A |
| Conservative | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 9.7 | 5,977 | N/A |
| Liberal | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 9.2 | 5,679 | N/A |
| Citizens | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 3.4 | 2,090 | N/A |
| Residents | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 2.2 | 1,329 | N/A |
| Independent Socialist | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 1.4 | 850 | N/A |
| Socialist (GB) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 1.6 | 978 | N/A |
| Communist | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 1.4 | 844 | N/A |
This resulted in the following composition of the council:
| Party | Party | New council |
| | Labour | 57 |
| | Democratic Labour | 1 |
| | Independent | 1 |
| | Independent Labour | 1 |
| Total | Total | 60 |
| Working majority | Working majority | 54 |

## Ward results

Ardsley (7210) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Varley B. | 1,305 | 78.5 | N/A |
| | Labour | Galvin T. | 1,281 | | |
| | Labour | Burns J. | 1,188 | | |
| | Democratic Labour | Wilkinson G. | 358 | 21.5 | N/A |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 947 | 56.9 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,663 | 23.1 | N/A |
| | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) |
| | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) |
| | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) |
No. 1 (Barnsley: Carlton) (10165) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Brain H. | 1,670 | 75.8 | N/A |
| | Labour | Bright G. | 1,545 | | |
| | Labour | Dancer H. | 1,347 | | |
| | Communist | Greenfield N. | 269 | 12.2 | N/A |
| | Conservative | Carrington J. | 264 | 12.0 | N/A |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,401 | 63.6 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,203 | 21.7 | N/A |
| | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) |
| | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) |
| | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) |
No. 2 (Barnsley: East & North) (8770) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Williams A. | 1,833 | 59.0 | N/A |
| | Labour | Kaye F. | 1,779 | | |
| | Labour | Fisher R. | 1,772 | | |
| | Citizens | Williams R. | 879 | 28.3 | N/A |
| | Citizens | Acklam T. | 801 | | |
| | Citizens | Ware D. | 728 | | |
| | Conservative | Walker G. | 393 | 12.7 | N/A |
| | Conservative | Jones R. | 391 | | |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 954 | 30.7 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 3,105 | 35.4 | N/A |
| | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) |
| | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) |
| | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) |
No. 3 (Barnsley: Central-South-South East)(9807) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Lunn F. | 2,339 | 60.1 | N/A |
| | Labour | Warden R. | 2,015 | | |
| | Labour | Borrett K. | 1,928 | | |
| | Liberal | Dossett J. | 1,260 | 32.4 | N/A |
| | Liberal | Jepson G. | 1,214 | | |
| | Liberal | Copley M. | 1,176 | | |
| | Conservative | Mallison S. | 290 | 7.5 | N/A |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,079 | 27.7 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 3,889 | 39.7 | N/A |
| | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) |
| | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) |
| | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) |
No. 4 (Barnsley: South West and West) (7981) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Lindley T. | 1,623 | 51.7 | N/A |
| | Labour | Sinfield W. | 1,566 | | |
| | Labour | Butler A. | 1,484 | | |
| | Citizens | Blackburne E. | 1,211 | 38.6 | N/A |
| | Citizens | Shaw K. | 1,151 | | |
| | Citizens | Gibson M. | 1,066 | | |
| | Conservative | Oldfield H. | 304 | 9.7 | N/A |
| | Conservative | England G. | 291 | | |
| | Conservative | Winter S. | 221 | | |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 412 | 13.1 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 3,138 | 39.3 | N/A |
| | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) |
| | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) |
| | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) |
No. 5 (Barnsley: Monk Bretton) (10034) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Tracey M. | 1,604 | 72.2 | N/A |
| | Labour | Whyke G. | 1,530 | | |
| | Labour | Wilkie B. | 1,461 | | |
| | Conservative | Strange T. | 363 | 16.3 | N/A |
| | Independent Socialist | Cooke L. | 255 | 11.5 | N/A |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,241 | 55.9 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,222 | 22.1 | N/A |
| | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) |
| | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) |
| | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) |
No. 7 (Cudworth) (6146) :
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| Labour | Bateman B. | Unopposed | N/A | N/A |
| Labour | Glover M. | Unopposed | N/A | N/A |
| Labour | Rigby R. | Unopposed | N/A | N/A |
| Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) |
| Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) |
| Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) |
No. 8 (Darfield) (5716) :
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| Labour | Key B. | Unopposed | N/A | N/A |
| Labour | Brookes W. | Unopposed | N/A | N/A |
| Labour | Goddard B. | Unopposed | N/A | N/A |
| Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) |
| Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) |
| Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) |
No. 9 (Dodworth-Barugh-Higham-Gawber)(6400) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Mason G. | 1,762 | 61.1 | N/A |
| | Labour | Brown D. | 1,677 | | |
| | Labour | Woffenden J. | 1,666 | | |
| | Liberal | Crosby J. | 1,121 | 38.9 | N/A |
| | Liberal | Hodnett M. | 991 | | |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 641 | 22.2 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,883 | 45.0 | N/A |
| | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) |
| | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) |
| | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) |
No. 10 (Darton) (8518) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Booth D. | 1,457 | 38.2 | N/A |
| | Labour | Bretton W. | 1,411 | | |
| | Labour | Turner C. | 1,266 | | |
| | Independent | Skelton G. | 719 | 18.8 | N/A |
| | Independent Labour | Ledger V. | 662 | 17.3 | N/A |
| | Conservative | Bower J. | 590 | 15.5 | N/A |
| | Democratic Labour | Hesford K. | 390 | 10.2 | N/A |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 738 | 19.3 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 3,818 | 44.8 | N/A |
| | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) |
| | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) |
| | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) |
No. 11 (Dearne: Central & South) (9844) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Bedford J. | 2,227 | 69.5 | N/A |
| | Labour | Grayson J. | 2,164 | | |
| | Labour | Stanley J. | 2,038 | | |
| | Socialist (GB) | Doyle P. | 978 | 30.5 | N/A |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,249 | 39.0 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 3,205 | 32.6 | N/A |
| | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) |
| | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) |
| | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) |
No. 12 (Dearne: East & West) (7643) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Oldham J. | 1,648 | 57.9 | N/A |
| | Labour | Lloyd D. | 1,520 | | |
| | Labour | Young K. | 1,334 | | |
| | Communist | Riley P. | 575 | 20.2 | N/A |
| | Residents | Lamplough J. | 441 | 15.5 | N/A |
| | Residents | Imisson P. | 288 | | |
| | Residents | Wood H. | 198 | | |
| | Conservative | Crofts G. | 181 | 6.4 | N/A |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,073 | 37.7 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,845 | 37.2 | N/A |
| | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) |
| | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) |
| | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) |
No. 13 (Hoyland Nether) (11463) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Democratic Labour | Eadon D. | 2,939 | 41.1 | N/A |
| | Labour | McKay A. | 2,535 | 35.4 | N/A |
| | Labour | Ashmore J. | 2,270 | | |
| | Labour | Smith H. | 1,913 | | |
| | Independent Labour | Levitt L. | 1,677 | 23.5 | N/A |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 404 | 5.6 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 7,151 | 62.4 | N/A |
| | Democratic Labour win (new seat) | Democratic Labour win (new seat) | Democratic Labour win (new seat) | Democratic Labour win (new seat) | Democratic Labour win (new seat) |
| | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) |
| | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) |
No. 14 (Penistone) (6189) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Independent | Gledhill W. | 1,476 | 40.4 | N/A |
| | Labour | Murphy W. | 1,225 | 33.5 | N/A |
| | Labour | Ashton F. | 1,078 | | |
| | Labour | Fielding A. | 969 | | |
| | Conservative | Hincliffe T. | 955 | 26.1 | N/A |
| | Conservative | Atkinson J. | 840 | | |
| | Independent | Smythe R. | 831 | | |
| | Conservative | White A. | 721 | | |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 251 | 6.9 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 3,656 | 59.1 | N/A |
| | Independent win (new seat) | Independent win (new seat) | Independent win (new seat) | Independent win (new seat) | Independent win (new seat) |
| | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) |
| | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) |
No. 15 (Royston) (6344) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Ball T. | 1,527 | 31.8 | N/A |
| | Labour | Rispin K. | 1,348 | | |
| | Independent Labour | Parkes E. | 1,289 | 26.9 | N/A |
| | Labour | Moon F. | 1,102 | | |
| | Liberal | Whitehead E. | 1,092 | 22.8 | N/A |
| | Residents | Hawkes L. | 888 | 18.5 | N/A |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 238 | 5.0 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 4,796 | 75.6 | N/A |
| | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) |
| | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) |
| | Independent Labour win (new seat) | Independent Labour win (new seat) | Independent Labour win (new seat) | Independent Labour win (new seat) | Independent Labour win (new seat) |
No. 16 (Wombwell: Central-North-South East)(5293) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Fellows B. | 735 | 66.0 | N/A |
| | Labour | Jones C. | 711 | | |
| | Labour | Storey A. | 682 | | |
| | Independent Labour | Rose R. | 378 | 34.0 | N/A |
| | Independent Labour | Buckley R. | 329 | | |
| | Independent Labour | Shepherd C. | 273 | | |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 357 | 32.0 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,113 | 21.0 | N/A |
| | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) |
| | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) |
| | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) |
No. 17 (Wombwell: Hemingfield and SouthWest) (7785) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Wake J. | 1,699 | 69.9 | N/A |
| | Labour | Brookes H. | 1,627 | | |
| | Labour | Naylor T. | 1,548 | | |
| | Independent Labour | Wilkinson H. | 733 | 30.1 | N/A |
| | Independent Labour | McNally J. | 495 | | |
| | Independent Labour | Sanders J. | 424 | | |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 966 | 39.8 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,432 | 31.2 | N/A |
| | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) |
| | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) |
| | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) |
No. 18 (Worsbrough) (11229) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Bland J. | 3,183 | 63.7 | N/A |
| | Labour | Scholfield A. | 3,140 | | |
| | Labour | Smith W. | 3,127 | | |
| | Liberal | Vallance J. | 1,081 | 21.6 | N/A |
| | Conservative | Wigglesworth E. | 733 | 14.7 | N/A |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 2,102 | 42.1 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 4,997 | 44.5 | N/A |
| | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) |
| | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) |
| | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) |
No. 19 (Hemsworth Rural) (9031) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Nettleton H. | 2,336 | 52.7 | N/A |
| | Labour | Stacey N. | 2,282 | | |
| | Labour | Baines D. | 2,137 | | |
| | Independent | Newsome C. | 855 | 19.3 | N/A |
| | Conservative | Gardner W. | 650 | 14.7 | N/A |
| | Independent Socialist | Short J. | 595 | 13.4 | N/A |
| | Independent Socialist | Turner R. | 524 | | |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,481 | 33.4 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 4,436 | 49.1 | N/A |
| | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) |
| | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) |
| | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) |
No. 20 (Penistone Rural & Wortley) (7218) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Fish H. | 1,611 | 40.4 | N/A |
| | Labour | Ellis W. | 1,487 | | |
| | Labour | Hirst E. | 1,378 | | |
| | Conservative | Beever L. | 1,254 | 31.4 | N/A |
| | Liberal | Lees J. | 1,125 | 28.2 | N/A |
| | Conservative | Wade J. | 1,068 | | |
| | Liberal | Warburton J. | 1,035 | | |
| | Conservative | Harrison C. | 1,035 | | |
| | Liberal | Illingworth F. | 844 | | |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 357 | 8.9 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 3,990 | 55.3 | N/A |
| | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) |
| | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) |
| | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) |