# 1979 Cardiff City Council election

The 1979 Cardiff City Council election was held on Thursday 3 May 1979 to elect councillors to Cardiff District Council (later to become known as Cardiff City Council) in Cardiff, Wales. It took place on the same day as other council elections in the United Kingdom.
The previous Cardiff City Council elections took place in 1976 and the next full elections took place in 1983.
The 1979 election saw the Conservative Party lose their majority to the Labour Party.

## Background

199 Candidates from 5 parties ran. 1 Independent also ran in the Riverside ward who was formerly of the Ratepayers Association. Despite being an incumbent Councillor he lost.
The Conservative Party ran a full slate of candidates. The Labour Party ran 69 candidates, Plaid Cymru ran 33 candidates and the Liberal Party ran 19 candidates.

## Results

Contests took place in all except two of the wards at this election.
Cardiff District Council election result 1979 :
| Party | Seats | Gains | Losses | Net gain/loss | Seats % | Votes | +/− |
| Labour | 41 | 13 | 0 | +13 | 54.7 | | |
| Conservative | 34 | 1 | 12 | -11 | 45.3 | | |
| Liberal | 0 | 0 | 0 | ±0.0 | 0.0 | | |
| Plaid Cymru | 0 | 0 | 0 | ±0.0 | 0.0 | | |
| Independent | 0 | 0 | 2 | -2 | 0.0 | 1,001 | N/A |
| Communist | 0 | 0 | 0 | ±0.0 | 0.0 | 128 | |

## Ward Results
### Adamsdown (3 seats)

Adamsdown :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | D. Evans | 2,440 | 68.4 | +8.5 |
| | Labour | J. Jones | 2,286 | | |
| | Labour | D. Ford | 2,229 | | |
| | Conservative | B. Jones | 1,129 | 31.6 | −8.5 |
| | Conservative | L. Quinn | 916 | | |
| | Conservative | D. Norman | 915 | | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | | 33.4 | +65.7 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 5,429 | | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | | |

### Canton (3 seats)

Canton :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Bella Brown* | 2,378 | 50.9 | −11.5 |
| | Labour | J. Donovan | 2,292 | 49.1 | +11.5 |
| | Labour | L. Davis | 2,007 | | |
| | Conservative | Trevor Tyrell | 1,984 | | |
| | Conservative | D. Davey | 1,888 | | |
| | Labour | T. Downey | 1,861 | | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | | 66.3 | +23.5 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 7,046 | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | | |
| | Labour gain from Conservative | Labour gain from Conservative | Swing | | |
| | Labour gain from Conservative | Labour gain from Conservative | Swing | | |

### Cathays (3 seats)

Cathays :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Derek Allinson | 3,185 | 47.0 | +16.6 |
| | Labour | John Charles Edwards | 2,964 | | |
| | Labour | J. Drysdale | 2,928 | | |
| | Conservative | M. Buckley | 2,511 | 37.1 | +8.9 |
| | Conservative | F. Moorcraft | 2,374 | | |
| | Conservative | P. Reynolds | 2,363 | | |
| | Liberal | G. Snell | 711 | 10.5 | −1.3 |
| | Liberal | D. Rees | 653 | | |
| | Liberal | J. Ball | 629 | | |
| | Plaid Cymru | T. O'Neill | 364 | 5.4 | −6.7 |
| | Plaid Cymru | B. George | 318 | | |
| | Plaid Cymru | G. Tilley | 308 | | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | | 75.9 | +36.4 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 8,917 | | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | | |
| | Labour gain from Conservative | Labour gain from Conservative | Swing | | |

### Central (3 seats)

Central :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | William Herbert | 1,683 | 37.5 | +10.6 |
| | Labour | M. Flynn | 1,631 | | |
| | Labour | C. Beach | 1,606 | | |
| | Conservative | D. Marles | 1,231 | 35.2 | ±0.0 |
| | Conservative | P. Lowes | 1,215 | | |
| | Conservative | J. Miles | 1,180 | | |
| | Liberal | S. Jones | 338 | 9.7 | +9.7 |
| | Plaid Cymru | R. Griffiths | 247 | 7.1 | −2.1 |
| | Liberal | G. Sagoo | 237 | | |
| | Plaid Cymru | P. Riley | | | |
| | Plaid Cymru | D. Hopkins | 193 | | |
| | Liberal | M. Ball | 37 | | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | | 63.1 | +15.2 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 5,545 | | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | | |
| | Labour gain from Conservative | Labour gain from Conservative | Swing | | |
| | Labour gain from Conservative | Labour gain from Conservative | Swing | | |

### Ely (6 seats)

Ely :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | William Carling | 6,230 | 70.1 | +17.1 |
| | Labour | A. Buttle | 5,855 | | |
| | Labour | David Seligman | 5,664 | | |
| | Labour | Charlie Gale | 5,356 | | |
| | Labour | N. Jenkins | 5,143 | | |
| | Labour | V. Sloman | 5,025 | | |
| | Conservative | R. Benson | 2,651 | 29.9 | −7.0 |
| | Conservative | J. Bushrod | 2,532 | | |
| | Conservative | W. Roberts | 2,469 | | |
| | Conservative | P. Fitzpatrick | 2,456 | | |
| | Conservative | S. Downes | 2,424 | | |
| | Conservative | M. Warren | 2,392 | | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | | 61.2 | +28.3 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 14,505 | | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | | |

### Gabalfa (3 seats)

Gabalfa :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Michael Parry | 4,157 | 55.1 | +12.1 |
| | Labour | P. Owen | 3,974 | | |
| | Labour | E. Matthewson | 3,597 | | |
| | Conservative | T. Merridew | 3,000 | 39.8 | +6.0 |
| | Conservative | C. Saunders | 2,831 | | |
| | Conservative | V. Kempton | 2,770 | | |
| | Plaid Cymru | L. Evans | 386 | 5.1 | −6.0 |
| | Plaid Cymru | B. Williams | 271 | | |
| | Plaid Cymru | C. Schoen | 213 | | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | | 76.1 | +27.1 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 9,911 | | |
| | Labour gain from Conservative | Labour gain from Conservative | Swing | | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | | |
| | Labour gain from Conservative | Labour gain from Conservative | Swing | | |

### Grangetown (3 seats)

Grangetown :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | J. P. O'Reilly | 2,529 | 57.0 | +6.9 |
| | Conservative | Gwendoline Judd | 2,335 | | |
| | Conservative | B. Moorcraft | 2,315 | | |
| | Labour | D. Lydiard | 2,289 | 45.3 | +2.3 |
| | Labour | P. Duddridge | 2,240 | | |
| | Labour | B. Mainsbridge | 2,216 | | |
| | Plaid Cymru | B. Hoolahan | 231 | 4.6 | N/A |
| | Plaid Cymru | I. Walters | 142 | | |
| | Plaid Cymru | M. Williams | 127 | | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | | 70.3 | +28.5 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 7,183 | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | | |

### Lisvane, Llanedeyrn and St Mellons (1 seat)

Lisvane, Llanedeyrn and St Mellons :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | T. H. Davies | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 0 | 0.0 | N/A |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 3,037 | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | | |

### Llandaff (3 seats)

Llandaff :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | H. Ferguson-James | 3,954 | 58.1 | −9.0 |
| | Conservative | M. Jones | 3,722 | | |
| | Conservative | J. Hermer | 3,677 | | |
| | Labour | C. Lewis | 1,960 | 28.8 | +12.9 |
| | Labour | G. Rhoden | 1,802 | | |
| | Plaid Cymru | G. Bowman | 896 | 13.2 | −6.9 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | | 49.1 | +26.1 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 9,054 | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | | |

### Llanishen (6 seats)

Llanishen :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | C. Milson | 5,952 | 35.4 | +13.3 |
| | Conservative | Ronald Watkiss | 5,814 | | |
| | Conservative | L. Smith | 5,813 | | |
| | Conservative | A. Lewis | 5,658 | | |
| | Conservative | D. Thomas | 5,636 | | |
| | Conservative | G. Tatham | 5,556 | | |
| | Labour | A. Brown | 3,402 | 11.3 | +16.5 |
| | Labour | A. Davies | 3,373 | | |
| | Labour | H. Howell | 3,301 | | |
| | Labour | B. Williams | 3,284 | | |
| | Labour | S. Jeans | 3,191 | | |
| | Labour | E. Williams | 2,029 | | |
| | Liberal | C. Pearcy | 2,015 | 16.5 | +3.9 |
| | Plaid Cymru | R. Edwards | 848 | 6.9 | −1.4 |
| | Plaid Cymru | S. Doyle | 820 | | |
| | Plaid Cymru | J. May | 722 | | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | | 90.5 | +12.4 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 13,504 | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | | |
| | Conservative gain from Ratepayers | Conservative gain from Ratepayers | Swing | | |

### Penylan (6 seats)

Penylan :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | A. Austin | 10,159 | 51.5 | −13.8 |
| | Conservative | R. Hennessy | 10,114 | | |
| | Conservative | Stefan Terlezki | 10,100 | | |
| | Conservative | M. Newman | 10,060 | | |
| | Conservative | A. John | 10,039 | | |
| | Conservative | A. Thomas | 9,402 | | |
| | Labour | G. Thomas | 5,317 | 26.9 | +12.9 |
| | Labour | S. Caesar | 4,953 | | |
| | Labour | M. Edwards | 4,921 | | |
| | Labour | P. Williams | 4,916 | | |
| | Labour | L. Green | 4,658 | | |
| | Liberal | P. Davies | 3,129 | 15.8 | +1.7 |
| | Liberal | J. Jones | 2,990 | | |
| | Liberal | D. Hill | 2,961 | | |
| | Liberal | P. Linsey | 2,735 | | |
| | Liberal | C. Mitchell | 2,548 | | |
| | Liberal | A. Reeves | 2,386 | | |
| | Plaid Cymru | E. Bush | 1,138 | 5.8 | −0.8 |
| | Plaid Cymru | B. Hughes | 1,084 | | |
| | Plaid Cymru | A. Couch | 1,077 | | |
| | Plaid Cymru | A. Morgan | 1,060 | | |
| | Plaid Cymru | C. Lake | 1,003 | | |
| | Plaid Cymru | I. Howells | 970 | | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | | 77.2 | +28.6 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 25,568 | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | | |

### Plasmawr (6 seats)

Plasmawr :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | D. O'Driscoll | 5,201 | 52.6 | +13.2 |
| | Labour | F. Tyrrell | 5,152 | | |
| | Labour | M. Phillips | 5,044 | | |
| | Labour | M. Longden | 4,965 | | |
| | Labour | D. Evans | 4,883 | | |
| | Labour | B. Shorten | 4,808 | | |
| | Conservative | B. Hall | 3,454 | 39.0 | +14.0 |
| | Conservative | D. Davies | 3,331 | | |
| | Conservative | A. Trott | 3,259 | | |
| | Conservative | W. Jones | 3,201 | | |
| | Conservative | H. Derrick | 3,141 | | |
| | Conservative | E. McAuliffe | 3,139 | | |
| | Plaid Cymru | D. Davies | 1,228 | 21.6 | −9.2 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | | 37.2 | +30.9 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 14,519 | | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | | |
| | Labour gain from Conservative | Labour gain from Conservative | Swing | | |
| | Labour gain from Conservative | Labour gain from Conservative | Swing | | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | | |
| | Labour gain from Conservative | Labour gain from Conservative | Swing | | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | | |

### Plasnewydd (3 seats)

Plasnewydd :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Olwen Watkin | 2,517 | 40.0 | −0.2 |
| | Conservative | S. James | 2,325 | | |
| | Conservative | D. J. Evans | 2,258 | | |
| | Labour | C. Richards | 2,097 | 33.3 | +7.6 |
| | Labour | C. Robinson | 1,848 | | |
| | Labour | S. Khan | 1,621 | | |
| | Liberal | G. German | 1,022 | 16.2 | +9.4 |
| | Liberal | P. Jarman | 719 | | |
| | Plaid Cymru | Owen John Thomas | 654 | 10.4 | −7.2 |
| | Liberal | P. Brightman | 629 | | |
| | Plaid Cymru | G. Rees | 377 | | |
| | Plaid Cymru | D. Bianchi | 325 | | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | | 75.2 | +29.0 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 8,368 | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | | |

### Radyr, St Fagans, Tongwynlais (2 seats)

Radyr, St Fagans, Tongwynlais :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | L. B. Clarke | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| | Conservative | G. W. Millard | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 0 | 0.0 | N/A |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 5,197 | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | | |

### Rhiwbina (3 seats)

Rhiwbina :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | William John A. Bain | 5,650 | 67.3 | +8.5 |
| | Conservative | G. Jones | 5,561 | | |
| | Conservative | G. Neale | 5,549 | | |
| | Labour | D. Rees | 1,934 | 11.8 | +11.2 |
| | Labour | E. Woolfe | 1,933 | | |
| | Labour | R. Woolfe | 1,779 | | |
| | Plaid Cymru | D. Davies | 817 | 14.7 | −5.0 |
| | Plaid Cymru | R. Williams | 611 | | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | | 80.1 | +25.4 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 10,493 | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | | |

### Riverside (3 seats)

Riverside :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | W. Walker | 2,231 | 40.9 | +22.0 |
| | Labour | J. McCarthy | 1,983 | | |
| | Labour | A. Verma | 1,830 | | |
| | Conservative | S. Doxsey | 1,814 | 33.3 | −6.3 |
| | Conservative | R. De Souza | 1,789 | | |
| | Conservative | F. McAndrews | 1,534 | | |
| | Independent | D. Mathias | 1,001 | 18.4 | N/A |
| | Plaid Cymru | G. Arthur | 405 | 7.4 | −1.6 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | | 72.9 | +18.5 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 7,476 | | |
| | Labour gain from Conservative | Labour gain from Conservative | Swing | | |
| | Labour gain from Ratepayers | Labour gain from Ratepayers | Swing | | |
| | Labour gain from Conservative | Labour gain from Conservative | Swing | | |

### Roath (3 seats)

Roath :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | N. Lloyd-Edwards | 4,677 | 62.7 | +3.7 |
| | Conservative | C. Hutchings | 4,563 | | |
| | Conservative | Gerald Brinks | 4,393 | | |
| | Labour | T. Tucker | 2,784 | 37.3 | +20.2 |
| | Labour | N. Davies | 2,426 | | |
| | Labour | R. Rees | 2,288 | | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | | 72.9 | +30.9 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 10,228 | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | | |

### Rumney (6 seats)

Rumney :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | M. Llewellyn | 8,581 | 52.7 | +11.7 |
| | Labour | B. Drew | 7,494 | | |
| | Labour | D. English | 7,435 | | |
| | Labour | Alun Michael | 7,403 | | |
| | Labour | John Randall Phillips | 7,348 | | |
| | Labour | John Reynolds | 7,281 | | |
| | Conservative | I. Davies | 4,752 | 31.5 | +4.1 |
| | Conservative | A. McCarthy | 4,705 | | |
| | Conservative | P. Thomas | 4,654 | | |
| | Conservative | M. Battista | 4,597 | | |
| | Conservative | T. Jose | 4,532 | | |
| | Conservative | P. Nicholson | 4,394 | | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | | 70.1 | +28.1 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 19,012 | | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | | |

### South (3 seats)

South :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Philip Dunleavy | 2,616 | 56.1 | +3.6 |
| | Labour | J. Smith | 2,510 | | |
| | Labour | P. H. Bowen | 2,312 | | |
| | Conservative | E. Williams | 1,475 | 43.9 | −10.3 |
| | Conservative | F. Arnold | 1,378 | | |
| | Conservative | K. Williams | 1,228 | | |
| | Plaid Cymru | E. Roberts | 165 | 3.8 | N/A |
| | Plaid Cymru | D. Harris | 149 | | |
| | Communist | S. Richards | 128 | 2.9 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | | 69.6 | +31.3 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 6,298 | | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | | |

### Splott (3 seats)

Splott :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | D. Ormonde | 3,393 | 64.5 | +22.6 |
| | Labour | E. Price | 3,027 | | |
| | Labour | J. Southern | 2,793 | | |
| | Conservative | A. Kelly | 1,866 | 35.5 | +6.8 |
| | Conservative | F. Chichester | 1,788 | | |
| | Conservative | R. James | 1,682 | | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | | 74.1 | +26.6 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 7,096 | | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | | |

### Whitchurch (3 seats)

Whitchurch :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | T. Davies | 4,413 | 53.8 | +3.5 |
| | Conservative | W. Griffiths | 4,359 | | |
| | Conservative | Victor Riley | 4,299 | | |
| | Labour | W. Davies | 2,374 | 28.9 | +9.4 |
| | Labour | T. Crews | 2,266 | | |
| | Labour | T. James | 2,151 | | |
| | Liberal | P. O'Brien | 1,021 | 12.4 | +0.9 |
| | Liberal | S. Soffa | 829 | | |
| | Liberal | C. Webb | 780 | | |
| | Plaid Cymru | H. Pritchard-Jones | 393 | 4.8 | −13.8 |
| | Plaid Cymru | I. Williams | 358 | | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | | 70.3 | +9.9 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 10,221 | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | | |