# 1973 Wigan Metropolitan Borough Council election

The 1973 Wigan Council elections for the First Wigan Metropolitan Borough Council were held on 10 May 1973, with the entirety of the 72 seat council - three seats for each of the 24 wards - up for vote. It was the first council election as the newly formed metropolitan borough under a new constitution. The Local Government Act 1972 stipulated that the elected members were to shadow and eventually take over from the predecessor corporation on 1 April 1974. The order in which the councillors were elected dictated their term serving, with third-place candidates serving two years and up for re-election in 1975, second-placed three years expiring in 1976 and 1st-placed five years until 1978.
Labour won an overwhelming majority of sixty six seats to the Conservative's five and one Independent. Nine seats - for wards 13, 17 and 21 collectively - went unopposed and overall turnout was 34.5%.

## Election result

Wigan Council Election Result 1973 :
| Party | Seats | Gains | Losses | Net gain/loss | Seats % | Votes % | Votes | +/− |
| Labour | 66 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 91.7 | 60.5 | 40,000 | N/A |
| Conservative | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6.9 | 28.4 | 18,793 | N/A |
| Independent | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1.4 | 8.1 | 5,363 | N/A |
| Independent Labour | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 1.4 | 942 | N/A |
| Own Occ. | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 1.3 | 862 | N/A |
| Communist | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.2 | 141 | N/A |
This result had the following consequences for the total number of seats on the Council after the elections:
| Party | Party | New council |
| | Labour | 66 |
| | Conservatives | 5 |
| | Independent | 1 |
| Total | Total | 72 |
| Working majority | Working majority | 60 |

## Ward results

Ward 1 (Lindsay-Scholes-Whelley) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | F. Connolly | 2,570 | 73.6 | N/A |
| | Labour | A. Coyle | 2,568 | | |
| | Labour | M. Pratt | 2,381 | | |
| | Conservative | C. Giles | 921 | 26.4 | N/A |
| | Conservative | R. Stockley | 775 | | |
| | Conservative | J. Lawson | 732 | | |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,460 | 47.2 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 3,491 | 38.6 | N/A |
| | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) |
| | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) |
| | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) |
Ward 2 (Poolstock-Worsley Mesnes) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | W. Brogan | 2,149 | 81.6 | N/A |
| | Labour | H. Milligan | 1,898 | | |
| | Labour | S. Townley | 1,873 | | |
| | Conservative | P. Harrison | 485 | 18.4 | N/A |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,664 | 63.2 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,634 | 27.5 | N/A |
| | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) |
| | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) |
| | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) |
Ward 3 (Gidlow-Swinley-Whitley) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | H. Dowling | 2,765 | 59.7 | N/A |
| | Conservative | G. Lewthwaite | 2,687 | | |
| | Conservative | W. Somers | 2,686 | | |
| | Labour | E. Maloney | 1,867 | 40.3 | N/A |
| | Labour | R. Baker | 1,840 | | |
| | Labour | H. Barker | 1,820 | | |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 898 | 19.4 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 4,632 | 39.4 | N/A |
| | Conservative win (new seat) | Conservative win (new seat) | Conservative win (new seat) | Conservative win (new seat) | Conservative win (new seat) |
| | Conservative win (new seat) | Conservative win (new seat) | Conservative win (new seat) | Conservative win (new seat) | Conservative win (new seat) |
| | Conservative win (new seat) | Conservative win (new seat) | Conservative win (new seat) | Conservative win (new seat) | Conservative win (new seat) |
Ward 4 (Beech Hill and Marsh Green) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | J. Presst | 2,393 | 80.5 | N/A |
| | Labour | E. Naylor | 2,380 | | |
| | Labour | J. Eckersley | 2,373 | | |
| | Conservative | W. France | 580 | 19.5 | N/A |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,813 | 61.0 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,973 | 31.5 | N/A |
| | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) |
| | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) |
| | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) |
Ward 5 (Highfield and Lamberhead) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | G. Barlow | 1,982 | 68.1 | N/A |
| | Labour | E. Maddocks | 1,961 | | |
| | Labour | J. Smith | 1,848 | | |
| | Conservative | J. Gaskell | 930 | 31.9 | N/A |
| | Conservative | L. Low | 817 | | |
| | Conservative | C. Boyle | 706 | | |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,052 | 36.1 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,912 | 30.6 | N/A |
| | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) |
| | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) |
| | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) |
Ward 6 (Newtown and Rose Hill) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | A. Peet | 1,806 | 81.6 | N/A |
| | Labour | J. Bridge | 1,710 | | |
| | Labour | M. Mulligan | 1,662 | | |
| | Conservative | J. Whittle | 407 | 18.4 | N/A |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,399 | 63.2 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,213 | 25.3 | N/A |
| | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) |
| | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) |
| | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) |
Ward 7 (Hope Carr) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | A. Roberts | 1,444 | 56.6 | N/A |
| | Labour | T. Hourigan | 1,423 | | |
| | Labour | J. Jones | 1,322 | | |
| | Conservative | J. Sinai | 1,108 | 43.4 | N/A |
| | Conservative | R. Goodwin | 1,085 | | |
| | Conservative | D. Angell | 1,011 | | |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 336 | 13.2 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,552 | 36.6 | N/A |
| | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) |
| | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) |
| | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) |
Ward 8 (St Pauls and St Peters) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | G. Macdonald | 1,387 | 74.5 | N/A |
| | Labour | P. Hull | 1,368 | | |
| | Labour | G. Bridge | 1,259 | | |
| | Conservative | M. Price | 333 | 17.9 | N/A |
| | Conservative | R. Boardman | 324 | | |
| | Conservative | D. Blyth | 267 | | |
| | Communist | J. Blackburn | 141 | 7.6 | N/A |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,054 | 56.6 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,861 | 21.8 | N/A |
| | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) |
| | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) |
| | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) |
Ward 9 (Etherstone and St Marys) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | E. Moore | 1,538 | 60.7 | N/A |
| | Labour | J. Riley | 1,522 | | |
| | Labour | W. Derbyshire | 1,455 | | |
| | Conservative | M. Howcroft | 994 | 39.3 | N/A |
| | Conservative | S. Simm | 972 | | |
| | Conservative | S. Johnson | 905 | | |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 544 | 21.5 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,532 | 27.0 | N/A |
| | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) |
| | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) |
| | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) |
Ward 10 (Lilford-St Josephs-St Thomas) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | H. Smith | 1,727 | 53.2 | N/A |
| | Labour | J. Murray | 1,714 | | |
| | Labour | J. Prytharch | 1,594 | | |
| | Conservative | M. Wood | 1,518 | 46.8 | N/A |
| | Conservative | H. Yates | 1,477 | | |
| | Conservative | K. Price | 1,459 | | |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 209 | 6.4 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 3,245 | 35.8 | N/A |
| | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) |
| | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) |
| | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) |
Ward 11 (Golborne St Thomas and Lowton) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | N. Holt | 2,918 | 73.7 | N/A |
| | Labour | T. Morgan | 2,852 | | |
| | Labour | E. Roberts | 2,826 | | |
| | Conservative | T. Thompson | 1,040 | 26.3 | N/A |
| | Conservative | D. Fryer | 979 | | |
| | Conservative | W. Kearns | 968 | | |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,878 | 47.4 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 3,958 | 39.4 | N/A |
| | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) |
| | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) |
| | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) |
Ward 12 (Golborne Heath Park and Ashton) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | J. Hilton | 2,272 | 74.2 | N/A |
| | Labour | E. Houghton | 2,183 | | |
| | Labour | A. Miller | 2,104 | | |
| | Independent | B. Doubledam | 788 | 25.8 | N/A |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,484 | 48.5 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 3,060 | 34.8 | N/A |
| | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) |
| | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) |
| | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) |
Ward 13 (Ashton-in-Makerfield North and West) :
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| Labour | G. Lockett | Unopposed | N/A | N/A |
| Labour | R. Lyons | Unopposed | N/A | N/A |
| Labour | A. Heckles | Unopposed | N/A | N/A |
| Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) |
| Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) |
| Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) |
Ward 14 (Ashton-in-Makerfield Central and East) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | S. Lea | 1,561 | 70.3 | N/A |
| | Labour | T. Jones | 1,492 | | |
| | Labour | G. Fairhurst | 1,475 | | |
| | Conservative | C. Kinrade | 658 | 29.7 | N/A |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 903 | 40.7 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,219 | 27.8 | N/A |
| | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) |
| | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) |
| | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) |
Ward 15 (Standish with Langtree and Shevington) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | G. Meadows | 1,780 | 33.3 | N/A |
| | Labour | J. Healey | 1,674 | | |
| | Independent | G. Dewhurst | 1,553 | 29.1 | N/A |
| | Labour | E. Garner | 1,503 | | |
| | Conservative | B. Maccarthy | 1,067 | 20.0 | N/A |
| | Conservative | F. Wareing | 1,038 | | |
| | Independent Labour | I. Cropper | 942 | 17.6 | N/A |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 227 | 4.2 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 5,342 | 50.9 | N/A |
| | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) |
| | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) |
| | Independent win (new seat) | Independent win (new seat) | Independent win (new seat) | Independent win (new seat) | Independent win (new seat) |
Ward 16 (Aspull) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | A. Singer | 2,526 | 64.6 | N/A |
| | Labour | W. Mason | 2,452 | | |
| | Labour | H. Lowe | 2,397 | | |
| | Conservative | J. Blackledge | 1,387 | 35.4 | N/A |
| | Conservative | D. Pardey | 1,381 | | |
| | Conservative | A. Turner | 1,189 | | |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,139 | 29.1 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 3,913 | 39.1 | N/A |
| | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) |
| | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) |
| | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) |
Ward 17 (Atherton North East) :
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| Labour | L. Sumner | Unopposed | N/A | N/A |
| Labour | J. Clarke | Unopposed | N/A | N/A |
| Labour | D. Skitt | Unopposed | N/A | N/A |
| Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) |
| Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) |
| Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) |
Ward 18 (Atherton South West) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | J. Sumner | 1,230 | 46.8 | N/A |
| | Conservative | M. Williams | 1,000 | 38.0 | N/A |
| | Labour | G. Horrabin | 920 | | |
| | Conservative | H. Sharland | 919 | | |
| | Labour | L. Seddon | 880 | | |
| | Conservative | E. Sweeney | 827 | | |
| | Independent | V. France | 400 | 15.2 | N/A |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 230 | 8.7 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,630 | 39.8 | N/A |
| | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) |
| | Conservative win (new seat) | Conservative win (new seat) | Conservative win (new seat) | Conservative win (new seat) | Conservative win (new seat) |
| | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) |
Ward 19 (Hindley Central and North) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | C. Priestley | 2,022 | 76.0 | N/A |
| | Labour | T. Isherwood | 2,011 | | |
| | Labour | A. Robinson | 1,895 | | |
| | Conservative | K. Dempsey | 637 | 24.0 | N/A |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,385 | 52.1 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,659 | 33.5 | N/A |
| | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) |
| | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) |
| | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) |
Ward 20 (Hindley South East and West) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | G. Harrison | 1,834 | 63.5 | N/A |
| | Labour | B. McAllister | 1,749 | | |
| | Labour | S. Hardy | 1,712 | | |
| | Conservative | J. Culshaw | 1,053 | 36.5 | N/A |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 781 | 27.1 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,887 | 29.2 | N/A |
| | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) |
| | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) |
| | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) |
Ward 21 (Ince-in-Makerfield) :
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| Labour | R. Taylor | Unopposed | N/A | N/A |
| Labour | A. Rowlandson | Unopposed | N/A | N/A |
| Labour | A. Banks | Unopposed | N/A | N/A |
| Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) |
| Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) |
| Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) |
Ward 22 (Orrell and Billinge) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | J. Whittle | 2,155 | 38.1 | N/A |
| | Labour | S. Waring | 1,931 | | |
| | Conservative | J. Simpkin | 1,910 | 33.8 | N/A |
| | Labour | L. Grime | 1,818 | | |
| | Conservative | F. Fairbairn | 1,705 | | |
| | Independent | A. Atherton | 1,587 | 28.1 | N/A |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 245 | 4.3 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 5,652 | 44.6 | N/A |
| | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) |
| | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) |
| | Conservative win (new seat) | Conservative win (new seat) | Conservative win (new seat) | Conservative win (new seat) | Conservative win (new seat) |
Ward 23 (Tyldesley - Shakerley) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | S. Little | 1,616 | 70.8 | N/A |
| | Labour | M. Devlin | 1,559 | | |
| | Labour | A. Wright | 1,509 | | |
| | Independent | J. Barnes | 666 | 29.2 | N/A |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 950 | 41.6 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,282 | 28.6 | N/A |
| | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) |
| | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) |
| | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) |
Ward 24 (Tyldesley - Astley Green and Blackmoor) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | R. Rawson | 1,223 | 49.8 | N/A |
| | Labour | F. Walker | 1,219 | | |
| | Labour | F. Hampson | 1,151 | | |
| | Own Occ. | F. Valentine | 862 | 35.1 | N/A |
| | Own Occ. | H. Pawsey | 853 | | |
| | Own Occ. | E. Myers | 742 | | |
| | Independent | J. Parry | 369 | 15.0 | N/A |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 361 | 14.7 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,454 | 34.3 | N/A |
| | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) |
| | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) |
| | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) |