# 1988 Wirral Metropolitan Borough Council election

The 1988 Wirral Metropolitan Borough Council election took place on 5 May 1988 to elect members of Wirral Metropolitan Borough Council in England. This election was held on the same day as other local elections.
After the election, the composition of the council was:
| Party | Seats | ± |
| Labour | 32 | 5 |
| Conservative | 24 | 5 |
| SLD | 10 | |

## Election results
### Overall election result

Overall result compared with 1987.
Wirral Metropolitan Borough Council election results, 1988 :
| Party | Party | Candidates | Candidates | Candidates | Candidates | Candidates | Candidates | Votes | Votes | Votes |
| Party | Party | Stood | Elected | Gained | Unseated | Net | % of total | % | No. | Net % |
| | Labour | 22 | 13 | 5 | 0 | 5 | 59.1 | 41.9 | 47,974 | 8.9 |
| | Conservative | 22 | 7 | 0 | 5 | 5 | 31.8 | 41.9 | 47,921 | 0.2 |
| | SLD | 22 | 2 | 1 | 1 | | 9.1 | 13.5 | 15,451 | 8.8 |
| | Green | 18 | 0 | 0 | 0 | | 0.0 | 2.3 | 2,687 | 1.1 |
| | SDP | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | | 0.0 | 0.3 | 389 | N/A |

## Ward results
### Bebington

Bebington :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Brian Cummings | 3,008 | 54.2 | 1.6 |
| | Labour | A. Witter | 1,909 | 34.4 | 8.3 |
| | SLD | Kevin Turner | 351 | 6.3 | 10.1 |
| | Green | Garnette Bowler | 282 | 5.1 | 3.4 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,099 | 19.8 | 9.9 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 11,363 | | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | | 48.8 | 6.6 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | 5.0 | |

### Bidston

Bidston :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | J. Williams | 2,815 | 84.9 | 3.0 |
| | Conservative | W. Houldin | 281 | 8.5 | 0.9 |
| | SLD | Stephen Niblock | 141 | 4.3 | 4.4 |
| | Green | Robert Mitchell | 78 | 2.4 | New |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 2,534 | 76.4 | 3.9 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 9,256 | | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | | 35.8 | 4.5 |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | 2.0 | |

### Birkenhead

Birkenhead :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | William Lungley | 3,035 | 76.5 | 7.0 |
| | Conservative | D. Smith | 501 | 12.6 | 1.0 |
| | SLD | Stuart Kelly | 333 | 8.4 | 10.5 |
| | Green | A. Harrison | 98 | 2.5 | New |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 2,534 | 63.9 | 13.3 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 11,005 | | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | | 36.0 | 3.2 |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | 6.7 | |

### Bromborough

Bromborough :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | David Jackson | 2,898 | 58.1 | 10.2 |
| | Conservative | C. Molyneux | 1,638 | 32.8 | 5.1 |
| | SLD | Simon Holbrook | 364 | 7.3 | 6.9 |
| | Green | Perle Sheldricks | 87 | 1.7 | New |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,260 | 25.3 | 15.4 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 11,420 | | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | | 43.7 | 5.2 |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | 7.7 | |

### Clatterbridge

Clatterbridge :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Michael Moore | 3,851 | 61.5 | 2.5 |
| | Labour | M. Harper | 1,507 | 24.1 | 7.3 |
| | SLD | S. Dutton | 724 | 11.6 | 7.6 |
| | Green | S. Birchenough | 180 | 2.9 | New |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 2,344 | 37.4 | 7.3 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 14,078 | | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | | 44.5 | 7.2 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | 3.7 | |

### Claughton

Claughton :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | George Davies | 2,210 | 41.1 | 12.5 |
| | Conservative | Ian McKellar | 1,903 | 35.4 | 3.6 |
| | SLD | Anna Blumenthal | 1,114 | 20.7 | 17.0 |
| | Green | Pamela Mitchell | 146 | 2.7 | 0.8 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 307 | 5.7 | N/A |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 10,877 | | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | | 49.4 | 1.4 |
| | Labour gain from Conservative | Labour gain from Conservative | Swing | 7.4 | |

### Eastham

Eastham :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Andrew Dow | 1,896 | 34.5 | 9.4 |
| | SLD | D. Charles | 1,840 | 33.5 | 7.8 |
| | Conservative | Mary Jordan | 1,647 | 30.0 | 3.6 |
| | Green | Nigel Birchenough | 107 | 1.9 | New |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 56 | 1.0 | N/A |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 11,917 | | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | | 46.1 | 6.7 |
| | Labour gain from SLD | Labour gain from SLD | Swing | 4.4 | |

### Egerton

Egerton :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Alec Dunn | 3,062 | 66.2 | 13.8 |
| | Conservative | G. Francomb | 1,023 | 22.1 | 4.7 |
| | SLD | K. Hughes | 396 | 8.6 | 10.2 |
| | Green | David Pye | 143 | 3.1 | 1.1 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 2,039 | 44.1 | 18.5 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 11,474 | | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | | 40.3 | 3.4 |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | 9.3 | |

### Heswall

Heswall :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | M. Banks | 4,349 | 75.8 | 4.3 |
| | Labour | Michael Sullivan | 676 | 11.8 | 6.0 |
| | SLD | Robert Wilkins | 519 | 9.0 | 11.9 |
| | Green | J. Bruce | 195 | 3.4 | 1.7 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 3,673 | 64.0 | 13.4 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 13,362 | | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | | 43.0 | 9.1 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | 6.7 | |

### Hoylake

Hoylake :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Frank Jones | 3,891 | 69.7 | 9.5 |
| | Labour | S. Christie | 810 | 14.5 | 7.7 |
| | SLD | S. Welshman | 642 | 11.5 | 2.6 |
| | Green | A. Brett | 242 | 4.3 | 1.4 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 3,081 | 55.2 | 11.1 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 12,797 | | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | | 43.6 | 8.4 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | 5.6 | |

### Leasowe

Leasowe :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Jim Edwards | 2,805 | 69.0 | 8.0 |
| | Conservative | L. Kennedy | 1,100 | 27.0 | 1.3 |
| | SLD | Susanne Uriel | 162 | 4.0 | 6.8 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,705 | 42.0 | 9.3 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 9,865 | | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | | 41.2 | 0.8 |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | 4.7 | |

### Liscard

Liscard :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | E. Smith | 3,321 | 53.3 | 13.4 |
| | Conservative | M. Ebbs | 2,461 | 39.5 | 6.3 |
| | SLD | John Uriel | 449 | 7.2 | 7.1 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 860 | 13.8 | N/A |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 11,677 | | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | | 53.4 | 0.9 |
| | Labour gain from Conservative | Labour gain from Conservative | Swing | 9.9 | |

### Moreton

Moreton :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | John Clark | 2,665 | 53.2 | 10.1 |
| | Conservative | I. Walker | 2,048 | 40.9 | 0.3 |
| | SLD | B. Thomas | 223 | 4.4 | 11.3 |
| | Green | George Bowler | 76 | 1.5 | New |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 617 | 12.3 | 10.4 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 9,233 | | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | | 54.3 | 0.8 |
| | Labour gain from Conservative | Labour gain from Conservative | Swing | 5.2 | |

### New Brighton

New Brighton :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Colin Penfold | 2,438 | 44.1 | 11.3 |
| | Conservative | P. Buzzard | 2,404 | 43.5 | 0.2 |
| | SLD | L. Matthew | 337 | 6.1 | 17.5 |
| | SDP | R. Curphey | 224 | 4.1 | New |
| | Green | Allen Burton | 125 | 2.3 | New |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 34 | 0.6 | N/A |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 11,868 | | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | | 46.6 | 0.8 |
| | Labour gain from Conservative | Labour gain from Conservative | Swing | 5.8 | |

### Oxton

Oxton :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | SLD | Michael Cooke | 2,060 | 38.2 | 0.9 |
| | Conservative | Leonard Moore | 1,979 | 36.7 | 1.2 |
| | Labour | T. Kelly | 1,251 | 23.2 | 0.2 |
| | Green | A. Tebbs | 102 | 1.9 | 0.4 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 81 | 1.5 | 2.1 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 11,550 | | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | | 46.7 | 1.7 |
| | SLD hold | SLD hold | Swing | 1.1 | |

### Prenton

Prenton :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | SLD | Ray Pullen | 2,432 | 39.9 | 2.3 |
| | Conservative | A. Clement | 2,085 | 34.2 | 2.6 |
| | Labour | T. Collins | 1,452 | 23.9 | 4.6 |
| | Green | D. Pye | 119 | 2.0 | 0.3 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 347 | 5.7 | 0.2 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 12,462 | | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | | 48.9 | 6.2 |
| | SLD gain from Conservative | SLD gain from Conservative | Swing | 0.1 | |

### Royden

Royden :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Derek Robinson | 3,491 | 64.9 | 6.1 |
| | Labour | D. Hughes | 893 | 16.6 | 5.6 |
| | SLD | Peter Reisdorf | 809 | 15.0 | 1.1 |
| | Green | K. Cuthbertson | 185 | 3.4 | 0.4 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 2,598 | 48.3 | 5.6 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 12,790 | | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | | 42.0 | 8.2 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | 2.8 | |

### Seacombe

Seacombe :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | P. Clee | 3,841 | 75.9 | 13.8 |
| | Conservative | G. Allen | 887 | 17.5 | 3.9 |
| | SLD | H. Warner | 169 | 3.3 | 13.2 |
| | SDP | J. Williams | 165 | 3.3 | New |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 2,954 | 58.4 | 17.7 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 11,856 | | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | | 42.7 | 2.3 |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | 8.9 | |

### Thurstaston

Thurstaston :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Sid Dunn | 3,469 | 65.6 | 3.2 |
| | Labour | W. Gamet | 985 | 18.6 | 5.5 |
| | SLD | Charles Wall | 521 | 9.9 | 8.9 |
| | Green | David Burton | 314 | 5.9 | 0.2 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 2,484 | 47.0 | 3.3 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 12,653 | | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | | 41.8 | 7.3 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | 1.7 | |

### Tranmere

Tranmere :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | R. Davies | 2,893 | 79.1 | 11.8 |
| | Conservative | R. McGunigall | 494 | 13.5 | 1.0 |
| | SLD | C. Townsend | 176 | 4.8 | 11.7 |
| | Green | C. Rainsford | 95 | 2.6 | 0.9 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 2,399 | 65.6 | 14.8 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 10,529 | | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | | 34.7 | 3.8 |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | 7.4 | |

### Upton

Upton :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Keith Rimmer | 3,105 | 55.3 | 9.9 |
| | Conservative | Geoffrey Caton | 1,729 | 30.8 | 0.3 |
| | SLD | Elizabeth Brame | 664 | 11.8 | 10.9 |
| | Green | G. Osler | 113 | 2.0 | 0.6 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,376 | 24.5 | 9.6 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 12,731 | | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | | 44.1 | 6.8 |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | 4.8 | |

### Wallasey

Wallasey :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Kate Wood | 3,682 | 59.3 | 6.6 |
| | Labour | M. Mannin | 1,507 | 24.3 | 7.0 |
| | SLD | Moira Gallagher | 1,025 | 16.5 | 13.4 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 2,175 | 35.0 | 12.2 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 12,200 | | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | | 50.9 | 3.6 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | 6.1 | |

## Changes between 1988 and 1990

| Date | Ward | Name | Previous affiliation | New affiliation | Circumstance |
| October 1988 | Egerton | Alec Dunn | Labour | Independent Labour | Expelled. |
| October 1988 | Leasowe | Jim Edwards | Labour | Independent Labour | Expelled. |
| October 1988 | Leasowe | Ken Fox | Labour | Independent Labour | Expelled. |