# 1975 Leeds City Council election

Elections to Leeds City Council were held on 1 May 1975. One third of the seats, as well as an extra vacancy in Aireborough, were up for election. Labour had gained a seat from a by-election in Burley in the interim, prompted by the arrest of incumbent Conservative Ray Forbes in connection with arms smuggling.
The election resulted in a substantial swing to the Conservatives, helping them gain six seats in total, with four from Labour (Burley, Kirkstall, Pudsey South and Wortley) and two from the Liberals (Horsforth and Otley). This established the Conservatives as the largest party on the council, but with the council remaining under no overall control.

## Election result

Leeds Local Election Result 1975 :
| Party | Seats | Gains | Losses | Net gain/loss | Seats % | Votes % | Votes | +/− |
| Conservative | 19 | 6 | 0 | +6 | 57.6 | 49.8 | 86,036 | +8.7% |
| Labour | 12 | 0 | 4 | -4 | 36.3 | 31.5 | 54,379 | -8.9% |
| Liberal | 2 | 0 | 2 | -2 | 6.1 | 17.5 | 30,196 | +1.2% |
| Independent | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.7 | 1,262 | -0.3% |
| Communist | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.4 | 660 | -0.3% |
| National Front | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 73 | -0.2% |
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 | 37 | 43 |
| | Labour | 45 | 41 |
| | Liberals | 14 | 12 |
| Total | Total | 96 | 96 | 96 |
| Working majority | Working majority | 0 | 0 |

## Ward results

Aireborough :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | R. Captwright | 5,610 | 61.3 | +8.4 |
| | Conservative | J. Hutchinson | 5,296 | | |
| | Labour | R. Oddy | 2,001 | 21.9 | −10.5 |
| | Labour | F. Harman | 1,987 | | |
| | Liberal | Jocelyn Cleasby | 1,535 | 16.8 | +2.1 |
| | Liberal | Alice Horsfall | 1,500 | | |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 3,295 | 39.5 | +18.9 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 9,146 | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | +9.4 | |
Armley and Castleton :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | B. Nelson | 2,360 | 37.5 | −22.9 |
| | Labour | Michael McGowan | 2,255 | 35.8 | +8.4 |
| | Conservative | A. Mathers | 1,583 | 25.2 | +14.7 |
| | Communist | P. Wilton | 93 | 1.5 | −0.2 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 105 | 1.7 | −31.3 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 6,291 | | |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Swing | -15.6 | |
Beeston and Holbeck :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | H. Booth | 2,718 | 47.6 | −6.8 |
| | Conservative | G. Hartley | 2,103 | 36.9 | +7.5 |
| | Liberal | J. Leighton | 884 | 15.5 | −0.7 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 615 | 10.8 | −14.3 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 5,705 | | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | -7.1 | |
Bramley :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | E. Millett | 1,650 | 52.8 | −1.1 |
| | Conservative | D. Mitchell | 1,476 | 47.2 | +24.2 |
| | Liberal | Joy Clayforth | | | |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 174 | 5.6 | −25.2 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | | | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | -12.6 | |
Burley :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | M. Sexton | 1,250 | 50.9 | +15.2 |
| | Labour | J. Roche | 879 | 35.8 | −3.5 |
| | Liberal | N. Mackie | 186 | 7.6 | −13.8 |
| | National Front | J. Duckenfield | 73 | 3.0 | +3.0 |
| | Communist | B. Stinson | 66 | 2.7 | −0.8 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 371 | 15.1 | +11.4 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,454 | | |
| | Conservative gain from Labour | Conservative gain from Labour | Swing | +9.3 | |
Burmantofts and Richmond Hill :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | R. Mulet | 2,620 | 48.1 | −17.3 |
| | Liberal | Margaret Clay | 1,527 | 28.0 | +28.0 |
| | Conservative | G. Dimmock | 1,220 | 22.4 | −3.8 |
| | Communist | B. Stockdale | 84 | 1.5 | −1.1 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,093 | 20.1 | −19.1 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 5,451 | | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | -22.6 | |
Chapel Allerton and Scott Hall :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | C. Thomas | 3,933 | 62.1 | −1.3 |
| | Labour | G. Bloom | 1,432 | 22.6 | −10.6 |
| | Liberal | J. Clay | 871 | 13.8 | +13.8 |
| | Communist | M. Tomplak | 96 | 1.5 | −1.8 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 2,501 | 39.5 | +9.3 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 6,332 | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | +4.6 | |
City and Woodhouse :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | E. Morris | 1,836 | 51.0 | −18.5 |
| | Conservative | T. Battersby | 1,023 | 28.4 | −2.0 |
| | Liberal | D. Selby | 608 | 16.9 | +16.9 |
| | Communist | M. Rodgers | 131 | 3.6 | +3.6 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 813 | 22.6 | −16.5 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 3,598 | | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | -8.2 | |
Cookridge and Weetwood :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | K. Loudon | 6,310 | 72.4 | +8.6 |
| | Labour | B. Selby | 1,269 | 14.6 | −13.9 |
| | Liberal | Dorothea Leser | 1,136 | 13.0 | +13.0 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 5,041 | 57.8 | +22.5 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 8,715 | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | +11.2 | |
Garforth #1 (Garforth North and Barwick) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | R. Hedley | 4,945 | 65.4 | +10.8 |
| | Labour | C. Say | 1,972 | 26.1 | −19.3 |
| | Liberal | N. Parnaby | 639 | 8.5 | +8.5 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 2,973 | 39.3 | +30.0 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 7,556 | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | +15.0 | |
Garforth #2 (Kippax and Swillington) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | G. Noakes | 2,565 | 80.5 | +16.7 |
| | Independent | P. Clements | 420 | 13.2 | +13.2 |
| | Conservative | C. Taylor | 202 | 6.3 | −19.0 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 2,145 | 67.3 | +28.9 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 3,187 | | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | +1.7 | |
Gipton and Whinmoor :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | A. Vollans | 2,597 | 47.3 | −7.8 |
| | Conservative | W. Buckland | 2,510 | 45.7 | +12.8 |
| | Liberal | Kathleen Pedder | 385 | 7.0 | −3.2 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 87 | 1.6 | −20.5 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 5,492 | | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | -10.3 | |
Halton :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | D. Wood | 4,042 | 72.3 | +2.6 |
| | Labour | A. Maher | 1,159 | 20.7 | −9.5 |
| | Liberal | R. Taylor | 389 | 7.0 | +7.0 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 2,883 | 51.6 | +12.1 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 5,590 | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | +6.0 | |
Harehills and Roundhay :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Peggy White | 4,766 | 67.4 | +2.5 |
| | Labour | M. Simmons | 1,668 | 23.6 | +2.1 |
| | Liberal | C. Farrer | 641 | 9.1 | −4.6 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 3,098 | 43.8 | +0.4 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 7,075 | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | +0.2 | |
Headingley :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | J. Searie | 2,230 | 54.7 | +9.9 |
| | Labour | I. Levy | 1,037 | 25.4 | −9.0 |
| | Liberal | P. Holmes | 812 | 19.9 | −0.9 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,193 | 29.2 | +18.9 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 4,079 | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | +9.4 | |
Horsforth :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | M. Frame | 3,736 | 52.6 | +11.5 |
| | Liberal | H. Stuttard | 2,633 | 37.1 | −9.0 |
| | Labour | F. Wadwell | 736 | 10.4 | −2.5 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,103 | 15.5 | +10.5 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 7,105 | | |
| | Conservative gain from Liberal | Conservative gain from Liberal | Swing | +10.2 | |
Hunslet East and West :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | M. Taylor | 2,528 | 48.1 | −7.6 |
| | Labour | Pat Fathers | 2,096 | 39.9 | +2.5 |
| | Conservative | R. Blackburn | 627 | 11.9 | +5.1 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 432 | 8.2 | −10.2 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 5,251 | | |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Swing | -5.0 | |
Kirkstall :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | J. Hamilton | 2,366 | 47.1 | +0.0 |
| | Labour | K. Fenwick | 2,279 | 45.4 | −4.2 |
| | Liberal | J. Stevens | 379 | 7.5 | +7.5 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 87 | 1.7 | −0.8 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 5,024 | | |
| | Conservative gain from Labour | Conservative gain from Labour | Swing | +2.1 | |
Middleton :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | G. Wood | 1,801 | 56.0 | −21.6 |
| | Conservative | C. Hallas | 808 | 25.1 | +9.0 |
| | Liberal | R. Heselwood | 513 | 15.9 | +15.9 |
| | Communist | D. Priscott | 95 | 3.0 | −3.3 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 993 | 30.9 | −30.6 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 3,217 | | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | -15.3 | |
Moortown :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | R. Challenor | 2,784 | 69.3 | +3.3 |
| | Labour | H. Gunnell | 771 | 19.2 | −14.8 |
| | Liberal | S. Waldenberg | 461 | 11.5 | +11.5 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 2,013 | 50.1 | +18.1 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 4,016 | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | +9.0 | |
Morley #1 (Morley North) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | R. Verity | 3,591 | 67.3 | +12.5 |
| | Labour | K. Smith | 1,744 | 32.7 | −12.5 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,847 | 34.6 | +24.9 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 5,335 | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | +12.5 | |
Morley #2 (Morley South) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | S. Welham | 1,878 | 42.5 | −21.4 |
| | Conservative | K. Gray | 1,563 | 35.8 | −0.7 |
| | Company Director | S. Whittaker | 634 | 14.3 | +14.3 |
| | Liberal | Margaret Batley | 346 | 7.8 | +7.8 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 315 | 7.1 | −20.7 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 4,421 | | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | -10.3 | |
Osmondthorpe :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | J. Pritchard | 1,506 | 53.1 | −16.2 |
| | Conservative | S. Nelmes | 1,164 | 41.0 | +10.3 |
| | Liberal | Pat Lawson | 168 | 5.9 | +5.9 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 342 | 12.1 | −26.5 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,838 | | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | -13.2 | |
Otley :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | S. Day | 3,550 | 46.8 | +5.7 |
| | Liberal | D. Whitley | 2,869 | 37.8 | −2.4 |
| | Labour | F. Emery | 1,167 | 15.4 | −3.3 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 681 | 9.0 | +8.1 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 7,586 | | |
| | Conservative gain from Liberal | Conservative gain from Liberal | Swing | +4.0 | |
Pudsey #1 (Pudsey North) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | C. Thompson | 3,279 | 50.7 | +16.4 |
| | Liberal | R. Hainsworth | 1,711 | 26.5 | −7.2 |
| | Labour | D. Trafford | 1,475 | 22.8 | −9.2 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,568 | 24.3 | +23.6 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 6,465 | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | +11.8 | |
Pudsey #2 (Pudsey South) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | P. Kersting | 2,964 | 46.0 | +22.5 |
| | Labour | J. Mann | 1,945 | 30.2 | −2.2 |
| | Liberal | B. Lester | 1,535 | 23.8 | −15.0 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,019 | 15.8 | +9.4 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 6,444 | | |
| | Conservative gain from Labour | Conservative gain from Labour | Swing | +12.3 | |
Rothwell :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | S. Arran | 2,587 | 41.1 | −24.1 |
| | Conservative | K. Bragan | 1,993 | 31.7 | −3.0 |
| | Liberal | P. Bower | 1,708 | 27.2 | +27.2 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 594 | 9.4 | −21.2 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 6,288 | | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | -10.5 | |
Seacroft :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | G. Mudie | 2,016 | 57.6 | −20.3 |
| | Conservative | R. Ivey | 1,388 | 39.7 | +21.7 |
| | Communist | A. Dale | 95 | 2.7 | −1.5 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 628 | 17.9 | −42.1 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 3,499 | | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | -21.0 | |
Stanningley :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | C. Myers | 1,573 | 42.6 | −11.8 |
| | Conservative | I. Benton | 1,312 | 35.5 | +7.1 |
| | Liberal | R. Keighley | 811 | 21.9 | +4.7 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 261 | 7.1 | −18.8 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 3,696 | | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | -9.4 | |
Talbot :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | R. Feldman | 3,249 | 70.8 | +10.8 |
| | Labour | D. Brown | 690 | 15.0 | +2.4 |
| | Liberal | J. Miles | 649 | 14.1 | −13.2 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 2,559 | 55.8 | +23.1 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 4,588 | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | +4.2 | |
Wetherby :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | W. Hill | 5,853 | 71.9 | +5.2 |
| | Liberal | D. Tunstall | 1,348 | 16.6 | +16.6 |
| | Labour | C. Brown | 732 | 9.0 | −14.7 |
| | Retired | J. Shackleton | 208 | 2.6 | −7.1 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 4,505 | 55.3 | +12.3 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 8,141 | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | -5.7 | |
Wortley :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | R. Robson | 2,606 | 53.2 | +11.1 |
| | Labour | P. Shires | 1,725 | 35.2 | −6.5 |
| | Liberal | Jeanette Bean | 564 | 11.5 | −4.6 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 881 | 18.0 | +17.5 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 4,895 | | |
| | Conservative gain from Labour | Conservative gain from Labour | Swing | +8.8 | |