# 1978 Wigan Metropolitan Borough Council election

Elections to Wigan Council were held on 4 May 1978, with one third of the council up for election as well as vacancies in Ward 2 and 17. Previous to the election, a Labour councillor in Ward 9 defected to become an Independent Labour, reducing Labour's majority to 38. This seat was up for vote and became the only Labour gain of the night, as they suffered five losses to the Conservatives, and their majority reduced to 30 - half of what it was in 1973. The election seen a first of all wards being contested, with turnout rising marginally to 34.7%.

## Election result

Wigan Local Election Result 1978 :
| Party | Seats | Gains | Losses | Net gain/loss | Seats % | Votes % | Votes | +/− |
| Labour | 19 | 1 | 5 | -4 | 73.1 | 54.3 | 42,687 | +3.0% |
| Conservative | 7 | 5 | 0 | +5 | 26.9 | 43.6 | 34,337 | +2.8% |
| Liberal | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 1.7 | 1,331 | -2.2% |
| Communist | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.2 | 147 | -0.2% |
| Independent Labour | 0 | 0 | 1 | -1 | 0.0 | 0.2 | 146 | +0.2% |
This result had the following consequences for the total number of seats on the Council after the elections:
| Party | Party | Previous council | New council |
| | Labour | 55 | 51 |
| | Conservatives | 14 | 19 |
| | Liberals | 1 | 1 |
| | Independent | 1 | 1 |
| | Independent Labour | 1 | 0 |
| Total | Total | 72 | 72 | 72 |
| Working majority | Working majority | 38 | 30 |

## Ward results

Ward 1 (Lindsay-Scholes-Whelley) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | W. Pendleton | 1,980 | 62.9 | −0.2 |
| | Conservative | C. Giles | 1,170 | 37.1 | +0.2 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 810 | 25.8 | −0.4 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 3,150 | 34.3 | +1.2 |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | -0.2 | |
Ward 2 (Poolstock-Worsley Mesnes) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | W. Brogan | 1,744 | 66.8 | +4.3 |
| | Labour | H. Antill | 1,587 | | |
| | Conservative | C. Rogers | 866 | 33.2 | +9.5 |
| | Conservative | R. Rogers | 837 | | |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 878 | 33.6 | −5.3 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,610 | 29.2 | +4.5 |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | -2.6 | |
Ward 3 (Gidlow-Swinley-Whitley) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | H. Dowling | 2,731 | 70.5 | +1.3 |
| | Labour | M. Pendleton | 1,143 | 29.5 | −1.3 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,588 | 41.0 | +2.6 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 3,874 | 34.2 | +0.8 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | +1.3 | |
Ward 4 (Beech Hill and Marsh Green) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | E. Naylor | 1,892 | 68.5 | N/A |
| | Conservative | A. Atherton | 869 | 31.5 | N/A |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,023 | 37.1 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,761 | 29.4 | N/A |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | N/A | |
Ward 5 (Highfield and Lamberhead) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | G. Barlow | 1,553 | 52.4 | −1.0 |
| | Conservative | A. Foster | 1,412 | 47.6 | +1.0 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 141 | 4.8 | −2.0 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,965 | 26.1 | −0.3 |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | -1.0 | |
Ward 6 (Newtown and Rose Hill) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | A. Peet | 1,591 | 66.5 | +4.5 |
| | Conservative | J. Lawson | 801 | 33.5 | +5.5 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 790 | 33.0 | −0.9 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,392 | 27.6 | +0.2 |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | -0.5 | |
Ward 7 (Hope Carr) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | R. Goodwin | 1,711 | 56.2 | −0.0 |
| | Labour | A. Roberts | 1,334 | 43.8 | +0.0 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 377 | 12.4 | −0.1 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 3,045 | 43.3 | −1.6 |
| | Conservative gain from Labour | Conservative gain from Labour | Swing | -0.0 | |
Ward 8 (St Pauls and St Peters) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | G. Macdonald | 1,542 | 62.6 | +3.8 |
| | Conservative | W. Lackenby | 830 | 33.7 | −3.4 |
| | Communist | H. Kedward | 90 | 3.7 | −0.4 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 712 | 28.9 | +7.1 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,462 | 27.2 | +1.4 |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | +3.6 | |
Ward 9 (Etherstone and St Marys) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | P. Smith | 1,386 | 46.6 | −4.9 |
| | Conservative | H. Davies | 1,385 | 46.6 | +1.1 |
| | Independent Labour | E. Moore | 146 | 4.9 | +4.9 |
| | Communist | K. James | 57 | 1.9 | −1.0 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1 | 0.0 | −6.0 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,974 | 33.0 | −2.3 |
| | Labour gain from Independent Labour | Labour gain from Independent Labour | Swing | -3.0 | |
Ward 10 (Lilford-St Josephs-St Thomas) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | G. Wyatt | 2,042 | 57.2 | +4.6 |
| | Labour | H. Smith | 1,528 | 42.8 | −1.2 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 514 | 14.4 | +5.8 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 3,570 | 40.3 | +0.2 |
| | Conservative gain from Labour | Conservative gain from Labour | Swing | +2.9 | |
Ward 11 (Golborne St Thomas and Lowton) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | N. Holt | 2,468 | 58.2 | −0.5 |
| | Conservative | T. Thompson | 1,776 | 41.8 | +0.5 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 692 | 16.3 | −1.0 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 4,244 | 40.7 | +1.0 |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | -0.5 | |
Ward 12 (Golborne Heath Park and Ashton) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | J. Hilton | 2,116 | 64.9 | −5.4 |
| | Conservative | J. Harrison | 1,146 | 35.1 | +5.4 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 970 | 29.7 | −10.7 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 3,262 | 36.7 | −1.2 |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | -5.4 | |
Ward 13 (Ashton-in-Makerfield North and West) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | A. Heckles | 1,695 | 62.8 | −4.8 |
| | Conservative | B. Smith | 1,003 | 37.2 | +37.2 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 692 | 25.6 | −9.6 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,698 | 35.5 | +3.5 |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | -21.0 | |
Ward 14 (Ashton-in-Makerfield Central and East) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | S. Lea | 1,645 | 56.7 | +4.2 |
| | Conservative | M. Ball | 1,257 | 43.3 | +14.3 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 388 | 13.4 | −10.1 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,902 | 32.5 | −5.4 |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | -5.0 | |
Ward 15 (Standish with Langtree and Shevington) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | G. Pullin | 1,981 | 39.8 | +4.4 |
| | Conservative | E. Howard | 1,911 | 38.4 | +9.7 |
| | Liberal | J. Pigot | 1,089 | 21.9 | +21.9 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 70 | 1.4 | +0.8 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 4,981 | 42.2 | +3.4 |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | -2.6 | |
Ward 16 (Aspull) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | J. Wild | 1,942 | 48.0 | +0.8 |
| | Labour | A. Singer | 1,860 | 46.0 | +6.3 |
| | Liberal | K. Mason | 242 | 6.0 | −7.1 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 82 | 2.0 | −1.4 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 4,044 | 41.7 | +7.5 |
| | Conservative gain from Labour | Conservative gain from Labour | Swing | -2.7 | |
Ward 17 (Atherton North East) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | J. Clarke | 2,590 | 72.1 | +5.6 |
| | Labour | W. Murphy | 2,115 | | |
| | Conservative | M. Sharland | 1,001 | 27.9 | −5.6 |
| | Conservative | B. France | 895 | | |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,589 | 44.2 | +11.2 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 3,591 | 34.1 | +0.6 |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | +5.6 | |
Ward 18 (Atherton South West) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | D. Williams | 1,435 | 52.5 | −6.8 |
| | Labour | J. Sumner | 1,296 | 47.5 | +6.8 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 139 | 5.1 | −13.6 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,731 | 42.1 | +4.4 |
| | Conservative gain from Labour | Conservative gain from Labour | Swing | -6.8 | |
Ward 19 (Hindley Central and North) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | C. Priestley | 1,558 | 68.5 | +1.8 |
| | Conservative | L. McGreal | 716 | 31.5 | −1.8 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 842 | 37.0 | +3.6 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,274 | 30.9 | +2.8 |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | +1.8 | |
Ward 20 (Hindley South East and West) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | G. Harrison | 1,720 | 55.8 | +6.0 |
| | Conservative | T. Whitfield | 1,361 | 44.2 | +5.2 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 359 | 11.7 | +0.8 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 3,081 | 28.3 | −1.7 |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | +0.4 | |
Ward 21 (Ince-in-Makerfield) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | R. Taylor | 2,553 | 71.7 | N/A |
| | Conservative | M. Jones | 1,006 | 28.3 | N/A |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,547 | 43.5 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 3,559 | 31.8 | N/A |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | N/A | |
Ward 22 (Orrell and Billinge) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | J. Hitchen | 2,723 | 55.3 | +11.2 |
| | Labour | J. Whittle | 2,201 | 44.7 | +9.6 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 522 | 10.6 | +1.5 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 4,924 | 35.7 | +3.2 |
| | Conservative gain from Labour | Conservative gain from Labour | Swing | +0.8 | |
Ward 23 (Tyldesley - Shakerley) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | S. Little | 1,744 | 51.9 | −1.8 |
| | Conservative | L. Knowles | 1,614 | 48.1 | +1.8 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 130 | 3.8 | −3.6 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 3,358 | 37.5 | −1.0 |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | -1.8 | |
Ward 24 (Tyldesley - Astley Green and Blackmoor) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | S. Emerton | 1,629 | 51.0 | −4.5 |
| | Labour | R. Rawson | 1,567 | 49.0 | +4.5 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 62 | 2.0 | −9.0 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 3,196 | 41.4 | −1.2 |
| | Conservative gain from Labour | Conservative gain from Labour | Swing | -4.5 | |