# 1988 Hamilton District Council election

Elections to Hamilton District Council were held on 5 May 1988, on the same day as the other Scottish local government elections. This was the fifth election to the district council following the local government reforms in the 1970s.
The election used the 20 wards created by the Initial Statutory Reviews of Electoral Arrangements in 1980. Each ward elected one councillor using first-past-the-post voting.
Despite losing two seats and their vote share falling by 10.2%, Labour maintained control of the district council as they won 15 of the 20 seats – taking 54.7% of the popular vote. In March 1988, the Social Democratic Party and the Liberal Party merged and the newly formed Scottish Social and Liberal Democrats (SSLD) matched the result of the SDP–Liberal Alliance at the previous election as they returned two councillors. The remaining seats were won by the Scottish National Party (SNP) – who gained one seat and had come second in the popular vote – and the Conservatives.

## Results

1988 Hamilton District Council election result :
| Party | Party | Seats | Gains | Losses | Net gain/loss | Seats % | Votes % | Votes | +/− |
| | Labour | 15 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 75.0 | 54.7 | 21,235 | 10.2 |
| | SSLD | 2 | 1 | 1 | | 10.0 | 7.8 | 3,031 | 8.6 |
| | SNP | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 10.0 | 19.9 | 7,700 | 11.9 |
| | Conservative | 1 | 0 | 0 | | 10.0 | 10.0 | 3,861 | 0.7 |
| | Independent Labour | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 10.0 | 6.6 | 2,592 | New |
| | Tenants' Association | 0 | 0 | 0 | | 0.0 | 1.1 | 448 | New |
| Total | Total | 20 | | | | | | 38,867 | |
Source:

## Ward results
### Hillhouse

Hillhouse :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | R. Newberry | 1,200 | 78.5 | 4.2 |
| | SNP | J. Randalls | 276 | 18.1 | 11.8 |
| | Conservative | H. MacKie | 50 | 3.3 | 0.3 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 924 | 60.4 | 14.4 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,526 | 43.4 | 1.5 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 3,525 | | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | 4.2 | |
Source:

### Udston

Udston :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | R. Scott | 1,499 | 74.2 | 3.2 |
| | SNP | J. Pollock | 512 | 25.4 | 12.5 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 987 | 48.8 | 15.7 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,011 | 49.4 | 3.7 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 4,084 | | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | 3.2 | |
Source:

### Wellhall North

Wellhall North :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | SSLD | I. Blackstock | 720 | 36.3 | 28.4 |
| | Labour | S. Dallas | 418 | 21.1 | 22.0 |
| | Independent Labour | B. McKinnon | 372 | 18.7 | New |
| | SNP | W. Stevenson | 277 | 14.0 | 7.3 |
| | Conservative | D. Thomas | 195 | 9.8 | 3.0 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 302 | 15.2 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,982 | 44.5 | 3.5 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 4,464 | | |
| | SSLD gain from Labour | SSLD gain from Labour | Swing | 25.2 | |
Source:

### Central

Central :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | T. Murphy | 981 | 51.7 | 0.6 |
| | Conservative | W. Irving | 527 | 27.8 | 1.5 |
| | SSLD | J. Clarke | 378 | 19.9 | 7.0 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 454 | 23.9 | 2.1 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,886 | 43.6 | 3.8 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 4,353 | | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | 0.6 | |
Source:

### Burnbank

Burnbank :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | I. McKillop | 1,140 | 57.7 | 29.2 |
| | Tenants' Association | E. Kerr | 448 | 22.7 | New |
| | SNP | G. Gebbie | 302 | 15.3 | New |
| | Conservative | R. Wilkie | 83 | 4.2 | 8.3 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 692 | 35.0 | 39.4 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,973 | 47.3 | 7.8 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 4,176 | | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | 29.2 | |
Source:

### Ferniegair

Ferniegair :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | M. Mitchell | 759 | 41.1 | 1.4 |
| | Labour | I. Donnelly | 632 | 34.2 | 0.4 |
| | SNP | E. Hamilton | 449 | 24.3 | 17.9 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 127 | 6.9 | 1.0 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,840 | 47.4 | 0.5 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 3,896 | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | 0.5 | |
Source:

### Fairhill

Fairhill :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | N. Cochrane | 1,176 | 62.8 | 21.1 |
| | SNP | Y. Dear | 595 | 31.8 | New |
| | Conservative | M. Murray | 98 | 5.2 | 10.4 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 581 | 31.0 | 37.3 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,863 | 48.5 | 4.2 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 3,863 | | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | 21.1 | |
Source:

### Woodhead

Woodhead :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | J. Lowe | 1,457 | 73.3 | 10.1 |
| | SNP | S. Buchanan | 523 | 26.3 | 16.3 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 934 | 47.0 | 26.4 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,526 | 45.0 | 0.2 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 4,424 | | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | 10.1 | |
Source:

### Low Waters

Low Waters :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | P. Grenfell | 836 | 41.6 | 3.5 |
| | Conservative | A. Kegg | 592 | 29.5 | 1.8 |
| | SNP | N. Dear | 576 | 28.7 | 20.2 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 244 | 12.1 | 5.3 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,004 | 49.6 | 0.1 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 4,051 | | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | 2.6 | |
Source:

### Cadzow

Cadzow :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | SNP | J. Smith | 915 | 47.8 | 30.9 |
| | Labour | G. Smith | 878 | 45.8 | 36.8 |
| | Conservative | A. Aitchison | 122 | 6.4 | New |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 37 | 2.0 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,915 | 51.4 | 4.8 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 3,728 | | |
| | SNP gain from Labour | SNP gain from Labour | Swing | 33.8 | |
Source:

### Dalserf

Dalserf :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | M. Ahmed | 913 | 52.1 | 16.2 |
| | Independent Labour | J. Millward | 365 | 20.8 | New |
| | SNP | R. Wilson | 252 | 14.4 | 1.7 |
| | Conservative | A. Aitchison | 221 | 12.6 | New |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 548 | 31.3 | 20.9 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,751 | 52.7 | 16.4 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 3,321 | | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | 16.2 | |
Source:

### Larkhall East

Larkhall East :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | R. Ferguson | 973 | 58.3 | 9.2 |
| | SNP | M. Miller | 686 | 41.1 | 9.2 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 287 | 17.2 | 18.3 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,659 | 46.6 | 5.9 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 3,582 | | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | 9.2 | |
Source:

### Larkhall North

Larkhall North :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | T. McCabe | 1,163 | 66.2 | 11.5 |
| | SNP | R. Forbes | 576 | 32.8 | 11.4 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 587 | 33.4 | 22.9 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,739 | 46.2 | 8.0 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 3,800 | | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | 11.4 | |
Source:

### Larkhall South

Larkhall South :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | S. Casserly | 1,204 | 72.6 | 9.5 |
| | SNP | M. Miller | 453 | 27.3 | 9.7 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 751 | 45.3 | 19.2 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,657 | 50.7 | 4.7 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 3,275 | | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | 9.6 | |
Source:

### Stonehouse

Stonehouse :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | R. Gibb | 1,305 | 66.0 | 5.8 |
| | Conservative | A. Haston | 407 | 20.6 | New |
| | SNP | R. Clark | 265 | 13.4 | 7.5 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 898 | 45.4 | 19.0 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,977 | 50.0 | 5.3 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 3,953 | | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | 5.8 | |
Source:

### Uddingston

Uddingston :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | SSLD | T. Maxwell | 1,060 | 49.5 | 7.1 |
| | Labour | C. Begley | 801 | 37.4 | 8.9 |
| | Conservative | G. Prince | 277 | 12.9 | 1.7 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 259 | 12.1 | 16.0 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,138 | 53.9 | 1.7 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 3,974 | | |
| | SSLD hold | SSLD hold | Swing | 7.1 | |
Source:

### Bothwell

Bothwell :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | M. Rooney | 1,060 | 41.2 | 3.8 |
| | SSLD | M. Radcliffe | 873 | 34.0 | 20.1 |
| | Conservative | E. Bath | 393 | 15.3 | 7.0 |
| | SNP | C. Sutherland | 242 | 9.4 | New |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 187 | 7.2 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,568 | 55.1 | 0.8 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 4,664 | | |
| | Labour gain from Liberal | Labour gain from Liberal | Swing | 11.9 | |
Source:

### High Blantyre

High Blantyre :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | J. Swinburne | 1,199 | 58.0 | 34.0 |
| | Independent Labour | M. Martin | 524 | 25.4 | New |
| | SNP | I. Campbell | 339 | 16.4 | New |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 675 | 32.6 | 51.7 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,062 | 53.5 | 11.1 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 3,867 | | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | 34.0 | |
Source:

### Blantyre

Blantyre :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Independent Labour | M. Tremble | 1,331 | 57.4 | New |
| | Labour | J. Handibode | 837 | 36.1 | 42.1 |
| | Conservative | L. McIntosh | 137 | 5.9 | 2.7 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 494 | 21.3 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,305 | 50.6 | 7.4 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 4,575 | | |
| | Independent Labour gain from Labour | Independent Labour gain from Labour | Swing | 49.7 | |
Source:

### Stonefield

Stonefield :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Labour | H. Dunsmuir | 1,563 | 77.0 |
| | SNP | T. Muir | 462 | 22.7 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,101 | 54.3 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,025 | 45.6 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 4,454 | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Labour hold | Labour hold |
Source: