# 1961 Leeds City Council election

The 1961 Leeds municipal elections were held on Thursday 11 May 1961, with one third of the council and a vacancy in Cross Gates up for election.
In contrast to the national picture, the results in Leeds were a mirror-image of the previous year's election, with Labour enjoying a 5.5% swing in their direction, enabling them to win the majority of seats - defending all but one. The sole seat that changed hands, was the Conservative's gain in Wortley - returning the ward to full Conservative representation after a decade of mixture.
The Liberals, now including the unsuccessful Independent of the year before, retained their second place comfortably in Far Headingley and - by contrast - just three votes in Allerton. The Communists fielded a record of six candidates, gaining them their highest share on record, and highest vote since 1947. The BNP also entered their first ever candidate in Leeds, receiving 4% in Armley.
In addition, the allocation of aldermen changed, in accordance to the long running agreement between Labour and the Conservatives that they should be divided up proportional to their councillors - roughly one alderman per three councillors - granting the Tories an extra two at Labour's expense. All of which resulted in Labour's majority amounting to fourteen. Turnout returned to the mid thirties (35.6%) where it had stabilised for the latter half of the former decade, until suffering a sharp drop at the last election.

## Election result

Leeds Local Election Result 1961 :
| Party | Seats | Gains | Losses | Net gain/loss | Seats % | Votes % | Votes | +/− |
| Labour | 18 | 0 | 1 | -1 | 62.1 | 45.3 | 56,650 | +4.3 |
| Conservative | 11 | 1 | 0 | +1 | 37.9 | 48.5 | 60,692 | -5.8 |
| Liberal | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 5.1 | 6,438 | +0.9 |
| Communist | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.9 | 1,073 | +0.4 |
| British National | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.1 | 182 | +0.1 |
The result had the following consequences for the total number of seats on the council after the elections:
| Party | Party | Previous council | Previous council | New council | New council |
| Party | Party | Cllr | Ald | Cllr | Ald |
| | Labour | 48 | 18 | 47 | 16 |
| | Conservatives | 36 | 10 | 37 | 12 |
| Total | Total | 84 | 28 | 84 | 28 |
| Total | Total | 112 | 112 | 112 | 112 |
| Working majority | Working majority | 12 | 8 | 10 | 4 |
| Working majority | Working majority | 20 | 20 | 14 | 14 |

## Ward results

Allerton :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | L. Bidgood | 4,214 | 72.1 | −4.7 |
| | Liberal | Julius Blum | 817 | 14.0 | −0.8 |
| | Labour | A. Baum | 814 | 13.9 | +5.4 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 3,397 | 58.1 | −4.0 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 5,845 | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | | |
Armley :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | K. Cohen | 2,451 | 53.3 | +0.6 |
| | Conservative | R. Beal | 1,965 | 42.7 | −4.6 |
| | British National | D. Hainsworth | 182 | 4.0 | +4.0 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 486 | 10.6 | +5.2 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 4,598 | | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | +2.6 | |
Beeston :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | L. Snape | 3,538 | 53.3 | +3.3 |
| | Labour | W. Prichard | 3,098 | 46.7 | +3.9 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 440 | 6.6 | −0.6 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 6,636 | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | -0.3 | |
Blenheim :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | J. Wallbanks | 1,590 | 60.2 | −5.0 |
| | Conservative | J. Butterfield | 1,051 | 39.8 | +5.0 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 539 | 20.4 | −10.0 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,641 | | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | -5.0 | |
Bramley :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Eric Atkinson | 3,225 | 52.6 | +11.8 |
| | Conservative | H. Picking | 2,903 | 47.4 | −2.1 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 322 | 5.3 | −3.4 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 6,128 | | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | +6.9 | |
Burmantofts :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | G. Lloyd | 2,375 | 73.1 | +9.0 |
| | Conservative | M. Bauchop | 876 | 26.9 | −9.0 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,499 | 46.1 | +18.0 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 3,251 | | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | +9.0 | |
City :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | A. Tallant | 1,224 | 61.5 | +4.3 |
| | Conservative | D. Mowbray | 765 | 38.5 | −4.3 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 459 | 23.1 | +8.5 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,989 | | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | +4.3 | |
Cross Gates :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | F. Booth | 3,649 | 58.4 | +2.9 |
| | Labour | E. Coward | 3,122 | | |
| | Conservative | G. Lockwood | 2,250 | 36.0 | −8.5 |
| | Conservative | A. Lunn | 2,204 | | |
| | Communist | B. Wilson | 344 | 5.5 | +5.5 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 872 | 22.4 | +11.4 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 6,243 | | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | +5.7 | |
East Hunslet :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | M. Fish | 2,163 | 73.6 | +8.4 |
| | Conservative | J. Birch | 774 | 26.4 | −8.4 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,389 | 47.3 | +16.8 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,937 | | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | +8.4 | |
Far Headingley :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | W. Hey | 4,140 | 58.2 | −4.4 |
| | Liberal | John Humphrey Morrish | 1,942 | 27.3 | +6.9 |
| | Labour | J. Moynihan | 1,026 | 14.4 | −2.6 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 2,198 | 30.9 | −11.3 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 7,108 | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | -5.6 | |
Halton :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | C. Watson | 3,698 | 65.7 | −15.0 |
| | Labour | L. Wray | 1,018 | 18.1 | −1.2 |
| | Liberal | C. Leatham | 913 | 16.2 | +16.2 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 2,680 | 47.6 | −13.8 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 5,629 | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | -6.9 | |
Harehills :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Lawrence Turnbull | 3,034 | 61.3 | −2.2 |
| | Labour | W. Todd | 1,915 | 38.7 | +2.2 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,119 | 22.6 | −4.5 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 4,949 | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | -2.2 | |
Holbeck :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | W. Jones | 1,817 | 57.3 | −6.8 |
| | Conservative | J. Robinson | 874 | 27.6 | −8.3 |
| | Liberal | H. Linley | 478 | 15.1 | +15.1 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 943 | 29.8 | +1.6 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 3,169 | | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | +0.7 | |
Hunslet Carr :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | J. Hodkinson | 2,130 | 67.1 | −1.7 |
| | Conservative | M. Hayne | 692 | 21.8 | −9.4 |
| | Liberal | E. Pemberton | 354 | 11.1 | +11.1 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,438 | 45.3 | +7.8 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 3,176 | | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | +3.8 | |
Hyde Park :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | F. Hall | 2,388 | 63.6 | −7.0 |
| | Labour | L. Steele | 1,368 | 36.4 | +7.0 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,020 | 27.2 | −13.9 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 3,756 | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | -7.0 | |
Kirkstall :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Albert Smith | 3,222 | 54.4 | +2.6 |
| | Conservative | F. Lucas | 2,699 | 45.6 | −2.6 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 523 | 8.8 | +5.1 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 5,921 | | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | +2.6 | |
Meanwood :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | V. Cardno | 3,463 | 76.1 | −1.8 |
| | Labour | A. Kirk | 1,087 | 23.9 | +1.8 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 2,376 | 52.2 | −3.7 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 4,550 | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | -1.8 | |
Middleton :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | A. Malcolm | 2,208 | 73.3 | +1.2 |
| | Conservative | D. Lodge | 630 | 20.9 | −1.0 |
| | Communist | R. Wilkinson | 175 | 5.8 | −0.2 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,578 | 52.4 | +2.2 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 3,013 | | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | +1.1 | |
Moortown :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | John Watson | 4,329 | 75.6 | −5.3 |
| | Labour | J. Taylor | 1,398 | 24.4 | +5.3 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 2,931 | 51.2 | −10.5 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 5,727 | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | -5.3 | |
Osmondthorpe :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | G. Addlestone | 2,443 | 73.4 | +2.2 |
| | Conservative | A. Bell | 887 | 26.6 | −2.2 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,556 | 46.7 | +4.4 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 3,330 | | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | +2.2 | |
Potternewton :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Sydney Symmonds | 1,640 | 58.5 | −11.7 |
| | Labour | Kevin Gould | 702 | 25.0 | +0.1 |
| | Liberal | T. Longhorn | 368 | 13.1 | +13.1 |
| | Communist | H. Fawcett | 95 | 3.4 | −1.5 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 938 | 33.4 | −11.8 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,805 | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | -5.9 | |
Richmond Hill :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | A. King | 1,781 | 76.3 | +2.1 |
| | Conservative | H. Flockton | 456 | 19.5 | −6.3 |
| | Communist | E. Burwin | 98 | 4.2 | +4.2 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,325 | 56.7 | +8.4 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,335 | | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | +4.2 | |
Roundhay :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Allan Bretherick | 3,744 | 75.6 | −3.5 |
| | Labour | J. Stephenson | 1,208 | 24.4 | +3.5 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 2,536 | 51.2 | −7.0 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 4,952 | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | -3.5 | |
Stanningley :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | H. Waterman | 3,065 | 48.8 | +9.3 |
| | Conservative | A. Rakusen | 2,252 | 35.8 | −6.8 |
| | Liberal | Dennis Pedder | 967 | 15.4 | −2.5 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 813 | 12.9 | +9.8 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 6,284 | | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | +8.0 | |
Wellington :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | N. Barratt | 2,337 | 74.5 | +2.2 |
| | Conservative | B. Pearce | 593 | 18.9 | −2.1 |
| | Communist | G. Hodgson | 205 | 6.5 | +0.0 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,744 | 55.6 | +4.3 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 3,135 | | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | +2.1 | |
Westfield :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | V. Whelan | 1,986 | 49.0 | +9.9 |
| | Conservative | F. Grainge | 1,468 | 36.2 | −7.9 |
| | Liberal | E. Vasey | 599 | 14.8 | +0.0 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 518 | 12.8 | +7.8 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 4,053 | | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | +8.9 | |
Woodhouse :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | P. Taylor | 2,262 | 51.5 | +6.2 |
| | Conservative | F. Greene | 1,973 | 44.9 | −3.7 |
| | Communist | E. Meth | 156 | 3.6 | +0.8 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 289 | 6.6 | +3.3 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 4,391 | | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | +4.9 | |
Wortley :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | B. Emmett | 3,396 | 52.4 | −4.4 |
| | Labour | E. Morris | 3,088 | 47.6 | +4.4 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 308 | 4.8 | −8.7 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 6,484 | | |
| | Conservative gain from Labour | Conservative gain from Labour | Swing | -4.4 | |