# 1998 Barnsley Metropolitan Borough Council election

Elections to Barnsley Metropolitan Borough Council were held on 7 May 1998. One third of the council was up for election and the Labour party kept overall control of the council.

## Election result

Barnsley Metropolitan Borough Council Election Result 1998 :
| Party | Seats | Gains | Losses | Net gain/loss | Seats % | Votes % | Votes | +/− |
| Labour | 21 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 95.5 | 70.8 | 24,350 | +2.2 |
| Independent | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4.5 | 4.2 | 1,462 | -5.4 |
| Conservative | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 10.8 | 3,700 | -1.4 |
| Liberal Democrats | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7.7 | 2,657 | +7.7 |
| Socialist Labour | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4.7 | 1,613 | +4.7 |
| Green | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1.3 | 441 | -4.0 |
| Socialist Alternative | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.6 | 190 | -0.8 |
This resulted in the following composition of the council:
| Party | Party | Previous council | New council |
| | Labour | 63 | 63 |
| | Independent | 2 | 2 |
| | Conservatives | 1 | 1 |
| Total | Total | 66 | 66 | 66 |
| Working majority | Working majority | 60 | 60 |

## Ward results

+/- figures represent changes from the last time these wards were contested.
Ardsley :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | K Dyson | 777 | 69.3 | N/A |
| | Socialist Labour | S Logan | 129 | 11.5 | N/A |
| | Liberal Democrats | J Earnshaw | 119 | 10.6 | N/A |
| | Conservative | T Allerton | 96 | 8.6 | N/A |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 648 | 57.8 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,121 | 15.7 | N/A |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | N/A | |
Athersley :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | L Picken | 978 | 85.3 | N/A |
| | Liberal Democrats | R Arundel | 115 | 10.0 | N/A |
| | Socialist Labour | M Heppenstall | 54 | 4.7 | N/A |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 863 | 75.3 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,147 | 19.1 | N/A |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | N/A | |
Brierley :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | C Sykes | 953 | 69.3 | −15.3 |
| | Conservative | D Beaumont-Schofield | 247 | 18.0 | +2.5 |
| | Socialist Labour | J Yoxall | 176 | 12.8 | +12.8 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 706 | 51.3 | −17.9 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,376 | 19.7 | −3.4 |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | -8.9 | |
Central :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | M Wilby | 869 | 53.4 | N/A |
| | Liberal Democrats | I Guest | 578 | 35.5 | N/A |
| | Socialist Labour | S Yoxall | 108 | 6.6 | N/A |
| | Conservative | E Croft | 71 | 4.4 | N/A |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 291 | 17.9 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,626 | 19.3 | N/A |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | N/A | |
Cudworth :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | C Wraith | 1,321 | 83.1 | −5.2 |
| | Liberal Democrats | A Leonard | 114 | 7.2 | +7.2 |
| | Conservative | B Adams | 105 | 6.6 | +6.6 |
| | Socialist Labour | M Stannard | 50 | 3.1 | +3.1 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,207 | 75.9 | −0.7 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,590 | 21.4 | −1.8 |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | -6.2 | |
Darfield :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | T Dixon | 1,254 | 73.3 | N/A |
| | Liberal Democrats | T Arundel | 202 | 11.8 | N/A |
| | Conservative | P Stubbins | 202 | 11.8 | N/A |
| | Socialist Labour | E Mountain | 53 | 3.1 | N/A |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,052 | 61.5 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,711 | 22.0 | N/A |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | N/A | |
Darton :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | J Shepherd | 1,383 | 72.4 | N/A |
| | Conservative | J Smith | 401 | 21.0 | N/A |
| | Socialist Labour | S Robinson | 125 | 6.5 | N/A |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 982 | 51.4 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,909 | 18.2 | N/A |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | N/A | |
Dearne South :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | P Stuart | 1,388 | 75.9 | N/A |
| | Liberal Democrats | S Brook | 441 | 24.1 | N/A |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 947 | 51.8 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,829 | 21.4 | N/A |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | N/A | |
Dearne Thurnscoe :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | C Evans | 1,092 | 77.2 | N/A |
| | Liberal Democrats | L Mellor | 243 | 17.2 | N/A |
| | Conservative | G Wilkinson | 80 | 5.7 | N/A |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 849 | 60.0 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,415 | 18.2 | N/A |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | N/A | |
Dodworth :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | S Staples | 1,313 | 63.5 | −10.8 |
| | Green | D Jones | 441 | 21.3 | −4.4 |
| | Conservative | B Martin | 246 | 11.9 | +11.9 |
| | Socialist Labour | L Heppenstall | 69 | 3.3 | +3.3 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 872 | 42.2 | −6.5 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,069 | 20.3 | −3.9 |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | -3.2 | |
Hoyland East :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | M Brankin | 1,450 | 88.8 | N/A |
| | Socialist Labour | M Smith | 183 | 11.2 | N/A |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,267 | 77.6 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,633 | 20.9 | N/A |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | N/A | |
Hoyland West :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | J Andrews | 1,258 | 80.0 | N/A |
| | Conservative | H Jobling | 211 | 13.4 | N/A |
| | Socialist Labour | Arthur Scargill | 103 | 6.6 | N/A |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,047 | 66.6 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,572 | 24.0 | N/A |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | N/A | |
Monk Bretton :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | R Robinson | 1,111 | 77.0 | N/A |
| | Liberal Democrats | M Burgess | 172 | 11.9 | N/A |
| | Conservative | G Fisher | 97 | 6.7 | N/A |
| | Socialist Labour | J Morton | 62 | 4.3 | N/A |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 939 | 65.1 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,442 | 17.3 | N/A |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | N/A | |
North West :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | J Bostwick | 883 | 66.9 | −6.7 |
| | Conservative | C Carrington | 220 | 16.7 | −0.2 |
| | Liberal Democrats | J Ingram | 175 | 13.3 | +13.3 |
| | Socialist Labour | K Elbourne | 42 | 3.2 | +3.2 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 663 | 50.2 | −6.6 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,320 | 18.5 | −0.4 |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | -3.2 | |
Park :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | A Wade | 878 | 84.4 | N/A |
| | Conservative | N Norcross | 105 | 10.1 | N/A |
| | Socialist Labour | N Wragg | 57 | 5.5 | N/A |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 773 | 74.3 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,040 | 14.5 | N/A |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | N/A | |
Penistone East :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | M Headon | 1,214 | 60.9 | +11.1 |
| | Conservative | G Hill | 779 | 39.1 | +39.1 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 435 | 21.8 | +21.4 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,993 | 26.1 | −10.3 |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | -14.0 | |
Penistone West :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Independent | G Punt | 1,462 | 67.1 | +67.1 |
| | Labour | C Shaw | 716 | 32.9 | −3.7 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 746 | 34.2 | +28.4 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,178 | 25.4 | −8.8 |
| | Independent hold | Independent hold | Swing | +35.4 | |
Royston :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | G Kyte | 1,354 | 76.9 | N/A |
| | Liberal Democrats | A Hughes | 206 | 11.7 | N/A |
| | Conservative | J Wilson | 135 | 7.7 | N/A |
| | Socialist Labour | O Robinson | 65 | 3.7 | N/A |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,148 | 65.2 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,760 | 20.4 | N/A |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | N/A | |
South West :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | D Foster | 995 | 70.3 | −10.6 |
| | Conservative | J Carrington | 327 | 23.1 | +4.0 |
| | Socialist Labour | G Holt | 93 | 6.6 | +6.6 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 668 | 47.2 | −14.6 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,415 | 19.3 | −4.1 |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | -7.3 | |
Wombwell North :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | A Hall | 696 | 74.7 | N/A |
| | Liberal Democrats | C Stimson | 109 | 11.7 | N/A |
| | Socialist Alternative | M Forster | 66 | 7.1 | N/A |
| | Conservative | S Wilkinson | 61 | 6.5 | N/A |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 587 | 63.0 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 932 | 18.4 | N/A |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | N/A | |
Wombwell South :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | T Naylor | 1,245 | 72.9 | N/A |
| | Liberal Democrats | M Brown | 183 | 10.7 | N/A |
| | Conservative | N Grace | 156 | 9.1 | N/A |
| | Socialist Alternative | A Waller | 124 | 7.3 | N/A |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,062 | 62.2 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,708 | 21.5 | N/A |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | N/A | |
Worsborough :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | T Bristowe | 1,222 | 75.1 | −13.3 |
| | Socialist Labour | T Robinson | 244 | 15.0 | +15.0 |
| | Conservative | E Elders | 161 | 9.9 | +9.9 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 978 | 60.1 | −16.8 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,627 | 21.3 | −4.7 |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | -14.1 | |

## By-elections between 1998 and 1999

North West 18 February 1999 By-election :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | M Cawthorne | 446 | 60.1 | −6.8 |
| | Liberal Democrats | J Ingram | 125 | 16.8 | +3.5 |
| | Conservative | C Carrington | 124 | 16.7 | +0.0 |
| | Independent Labour | D Wood | 47 | 6.3 | +6.3 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 321 | 43.3 | 6.9 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 742 | 10.3 | −8.2 |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | -5.1 | |
South West 18 February 1999 By-election :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | R Hannaghan | 380 | 43.5 | −26.8 |
| | Conservative | J Wilson | 283 | 32.4 | +9.3 |
| | Liberal Democrats | D Hutton | 210 | 24.1 | +24.1 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 97 | 11.1 | −36.1 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 873 | 12.0 | −7.3 |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | -18.0 | |
Wombwell North 18 February 1999 By-election :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal Democrats | S Brook | 678 | 54.4 | +42.7 |
| | Labour | J Stowe | 516 | 41.4 | −33.3 |
| | Socialist Alternative | M Forster | 28 | 2.2 | −4.9 |
| | Conservative | N Grace | 25 | 2.0 | −4.5 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 162 | 13.0 | −50.0 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,247 | 24.0 | +5.6 |
| | Liberal Democrats gain from Labour | Liberal Democrats gain from Labour | Swing | +38.0 | |