# 1968 Newham London Borough Council election

Elections to Newham London Borough Council were held on 9 May 1968. The whole council was up for election. Turnout was 22.8%.
Following the election, Labour had 30 councillors out of 60. Five Labour aldermen had been elected at the preceding election, with terms running until 1971. At the first council meeting following the election, five more Labour aldermen were elected, leaving the council in Labour hands again.

## Background

A total of 145 candidates stood in the election for the 60 seats being contested across 24 wards. 2 seats in one ward had only 2 candidates, thus they were both elected unopposed. Candidates included a full slate from the Labour party, while the Liberal and Conservative parties stood 20 and 27 respectively. Other candidates included 26 Residents & Ratepayers, 6 Communists and 4 Independents.

## Election result

Newham Local Election Result 1968 :
| Party | Seats | Gains | Losses | Net gain/loss | Seats % | Votes % |
| Labour | 30 | 1 | 21 | -20 | 50.0 | 40.5 |
| Other parties | 21 | 14 | 0 | +14 | 35.0 | 36.0 |
| Conservative | 6 | 6 | 0 | +6 | 10.0 | 17.2 |
| Liberal | 3 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 5.0 | 6.3 |

## Results by ward
### Beckton

Beckton (2) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | H.A. Taylor | 384 | 70.1 | −15.5 |
| | Labour | L.A. Wood | 358 | | N/A |
| | Communist | R.A. Offley | 164 | 29.9 | +22.5 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | | 14.1 | −6.0 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 4,253 | | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | | |

### Bemersyde

Bemersyde (2) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | F.H. Ferrier | 1,109 | 52.7 | −16.6 |
| | Labour | H. Bauckham | 1,101 | | N/A |
| | Residents | L.A. Slade | 995 | 47.3 | N/A |
| | Residents | J.J. Ling | 992 | | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | | 35.8 | +0.1 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 6,018 | | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | | |

### Canning Town & Grange

Canning Town and Grange (2) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | C.L. Bock | 0 | N/A | N/A |
| | Labour | D.A. Sherman | 0 | N/A | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 0 | N/A | N/A |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 6,208 | | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | | |

### Castle

Castle (2) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Residents | H.W. Hennem | 1,450 | 68.7 | +21.1 |
| | Residents | J.M. King | 1,447 | | N/A |
| | Labour | A.C. Smith | 458 | 21.7 | −28.9 |
| | Labour | A.R. Miller | 421 | | N/A |
| | National Front | J.B. Newham | 111 | 5.3 | N/A |
| | Independent | S.T. Conway | 52 | 2.5 | N/A |
| | Communist | F.C. Farmer | 39 | 1.8 | +0.0 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | | 36.7 | −3.3 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 5,601 | | |
| | Residents gain from Labour | Residents gain from Labour | Swing | | |
| | Residents gain from Labour | Residents gain from Labour | Swing | | |

### Central

Central (2) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Residents | M.B. Layton | 973 | 48.9 | N/A |
| | Residents | A. Macfarlane | 949 | | N/A |
| | Labour | J.R. Kent | 596 | 29.9 | −45.6 |
| | Labour | J.C. Taylor | 563 | | N/A |
| | Conservative | A.J. Retter | 421 | 21.2 | N/A |
| | Conservative | J.W. Retter | 393 | | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | | 33.3 | +8.5 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 6,098 | | |
| | Residents gain from Labour | Residents gain from Labour | Swing | | |
| | Residents gain from Labour | Residents gain from Labour | Swing | | |

### Custom House & Silvertown

Custom House and Silvertown (3) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | W. Dunlop | 626 | 72.7 | −3.0 |
| | Labour | T.W. Miller | 589 | | N/A |
| | Labour | P.F. Newman | 571 | | N/A |
| | Communist | T.F. Church | 235 | 27.3 | +23.6 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | | 11.2 | −10.8 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 8,418 | | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | | |

### Forest Gate

Forest Gate (3) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | T.W. Orrin | 1,107 | 48.5 | +32.2 |
| | Conservative | V.A. Shearman | 1,090 | | N/A |
| | Conservative | A.R. Summers | 1,070 | | N/A |
| | Labour | F.G. White | 782 | 34.3 | −24.7 |
| | Labour | T.H. Camp | 763 | | N/A |
| | Labour | S.W. Whitear | 739 | | N/A |
| | Liberal | W.F. Sargent | 394 | 17.3 | −5.1 |
| | Liberal | R.P. McCarthy | 376 | | N/A |
| | Liberal | E.L. Andrews | 336 | | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | | 26.4 | +0.6 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 9,086 | | |
| | Conservative gain from Labour | Conservative gain from Labour | Swing | | |
| | Conservative gain from Labour | Conservative gain from Labour | Swing | | |
| | Conservative gain from Labour | Conservative gain from Labour | Swing | | |

### Greatfield

Greatfield (3) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Residents | S.G. Ling | 2,667 | 76.5 | +27.4 |
| | Residents | M.J. Talbot | 2,615 | | N/A |
| | Residents | F.G. Hammond | 2,565 | | N/A |
| | Labour | M. Philpott | 817 | 23.5 | −19.9 |
| | Labour | P. Haggerty | 733 | | N/A |
| | Labour | I. Green | 692 | | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | | 39.4 | −10.0 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 8,993 | | |
| | Residents hold | Residents hold | Swing | | |
| | Residents hold | Residents hold | Swing | | |
| | Residents hold | Residents hold | Swing | | |

### Hudsons

Hudsons (3) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | M. Davidson | 791 | 62.3 | −21.0 |
| | Labour | J.E. Griffin | 775 | | N/A |
| | Labour | H.E. Fitzsimons | 764 | | N/A |
| | Conservative | P.W. Sims | 479 | 37.7 | N/A |
| | Conservative | E.K. Knight | 472 | | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | | 16.4 | −8.1 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 8,310 | | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | | |

### Kensington

Kensington (2) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Residents | E. Lonsdale | 1,410 | 76.8 | +23.2 |
| | Residents | H.J. Ringrow | 1,388 | | N/A |
| | Labour | D.M. Davey | 427 | 23.2 | −15.5 |
| | Labour | J. Cuffe | 409 | | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | | 31.1 | −13.9 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 5,993 | | |
| | Residents hold | Residents hold | Swing | | |
| | Residents hold | Residents hold | Swing | | |

### Little Ilford

Little Ilford (3) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Residents | M.E. Pedley | 940 | 49.8 | N/A |
| | Residents | C. Miranda | 929 | | N/A |
| | Residents | R.P. Anderson | 840 | | N/A |
| | Labour | W.E. Hurford | 648 | 34.3 | −39.5 |
| | Labour | H.F. Lugg | 631 | | N/A |
| | Labour | M.E. Helps | 614 | | N/A |
| | Liberal | S. Temple | 112 | 5.9 | −12.7 |
| | Liberal | S.G. Avis | 99 | | N/A |
| | Communist | L.E. Brown | 97 | 5.1 | −2.6 |
| | Independent | M. Flaherty | 92 | 4.9 | N/A |
| | Liberal | H. Mason | 85 | | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | | 23.8 | +0.4 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 7,826 | | |
| | Residents gain from Labour | Residents gain from Labour | Swing | | |
| | Residents gain from Labour | Residents gain from Labour | Swing | | |
| | Residents gain from Labour | Residents gain from Labour | Swing | | |

### Manor Park

Manor Park (3) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | C.A. Rugg | 1,577 | 65.5 | +35.0 |
| | Conservative | C.L. Retter | 1,544 | | N/A |
| | Conservative | B.C. Balcomb | 1,354 | | N/A |
| | Labour | R.C. Beadle | 831 | 34.5 | −10.7 |
| | Labour | W.M. Knight | 805 | | N/A |
| | Labour | R.R. Turville | 789 | | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | | 27.2 | −7.2 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 9,360 | | |
| | Conservative gain from Labour | Conservative gain from Labour | Swing | | |
| | Conservative gain from Labour | Conservative gain from Labour | Swing | | |
| | Conservative gain from Labour | Conservative gain from Labour | Swing | | |

### New Town

New Town (2) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | N.A. Chubb | 505 | 53.0 | −30.0 |
| | Liberal | J.W. Francis | 448 | 47.0 | +30.0 |
| | Labour | S. Hopwood | 442 | | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | | 16.7 | −4.5 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 5,757 | | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | | |
| | Liberal gain from Labour | Liberal gain from Labour | Swing | | |

### Ordnance

Ordnance (2) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | A.E. Gannon | 356 | 62.8 | −16.3 |
| | Labour | F.J. Radley | 350 | | N/A |
| | Liberal | K. McGrane | 211 | 37.2 | +16.3 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | | 11.3 | +10.7 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 5,234 | | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | | |

### Park

Park (3) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | A. Wolffe | 1,203 | 51.4 | −13.5 |
| | Labour | H. Ronan | 1,117 | | N/A |
| | Labour | K. Hasler | 1,092 | | N/A |
| | Conservative | R.J. Blake | 650 | 27.8 | N/A |
| | Conservative | G. Eldridge | 640 | | N/A |
| | Conservative | B.J. Hunt | 575 | | N/A |
| | Liberal | M. Hogan | 366 | 15.6 | −19.5 |
| | Liberal | A. Bijl-Jarvis | 364 | | N/A |
| | Liberal | J.W. Giles | 354 | | N/A |
| | Independent | A.C. O'Hanlon | 120 | 5.2 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | | 23.2 | −8.3 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 10,131 | | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | | |

### Plaistow

Plaistow (3) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Residents | M.L. Finch | 807 | 57.2 | N/A |
| | Residents | A. Elliott | 769 | | N/A |
| | Labour | P.K. O'Connell | 604 | 42.8 | −40.7 |
| | Labour | A. Bigg | 591 | | N/A |
| | Labour | K.M. Webb | 559 | | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | | 16.1 | +2.3 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 8,874 | | |
| | Residents gain from Labour | Residents gain from Labour | Swing | | |
| | Residents gain from Labour | Residents gain from Labour | Swing | | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | | |

### Plashet

Plashet (3) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | J.C. Carter | 1,318 | 52.7 | −10.3 |
| | Labour | A.F. Wilson | 1,279 | | N/A |
| | Labour | W. Watts | 1,160 | | N/A |
| | Conservative | R.T. Hunt | 649 | 26.0 | +18.1 |
| | Conservative | C.A. Knight | 636 | | N/A |
| | Conservative | V.R. Miller | 582 | | N/A |
| | Liberal | D.E. Watts | 390 | 15.6 | −13.5 |
| | Liberal | J.F. Watts | 300 | | N/A |
| | Liberal | J. Wren | 286 | | N/A |
| | Independent | M.R. Neighbour | 142 | 5.7 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | | 26.5 | −3.1 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 9,283 | | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | | |

### St Stephens

St Stephens (2) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Residents | J. Hucker | 1,347 | 70.2 | +21.2 |
| | Residents | R.J. Smith | 1,296 | | N/A |
| | Labour | W.H. Brown | 573 | 29.8 | −12.9 |
| | Labour | F.J. Dowling | 572 | | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | | 33.0 | −9.0 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 6,027 | | |
| | Residents hold | Residents hold | Swing | | |
| | Residents hold | Residents hold | Swing | | |

### South

South (3) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | H.J. Fisher | 1,263 | 51.8 | N/A |
| | Labour | T.A. Jenkinson | 1,199 | | N/A |
| | Labour | E. Daly | 1,162 | | N/A |
| | Conservative | R.F. Hunter | 706 | 29.0 | N/A |
| | Conservative | G.L. Crocker | 665 | | N/A |
| | Conservative | T.H. Beach | 651 | | N/A |
| | Residents | W. Bird | 468 | 19.2 | N/A |
| | Residents | A.M. Cameron | 456 | | N/A |
| | Residents | E.T. Keeffe | 431 | | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | | 25.7 | N/A |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 9,968 | | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | | |

### Stratford

Stratford (2) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | H.W. Doran | 440 | 53.1 | −21.3 |
| | Labour | E.G. Goodyer | 399 | | N/A |
| | Conservative | E.W. Orrin | 186 | 22.5 | N/A |
| | Conservative | M.E. Fitch | 182 | | N/A |
| | Communist | T.C. Bowers | 79 | 9.6 | N/A |
| | National Front | S. Wade | 73 | 8.8 | N/A |
| | Liberal | J.J. Linehan | 50 | 6.0 | −9.0 |
| | Liberal | S.F. Wrightson | 43 | | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | | 16.3 | −2.3 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 5,072 | | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | | |

### Upton

Upton (3) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | B.G. McCarthy | 837 | 36.2 | −11.7 |
| | Liberal | F.P. Penfold | 767 | | N/A |
| | Labour | E. Kebbell | 764 | 33.1 | −8.1 |
| | Labour | G.S. Figg | 763 | | N/A |
| | Liberal | E. Wren | 760 | | N/A |
| | Labour | S.H. Smith | 718 | | N/A |
| | Conservative | J.D. Inglis | 710 | 30.7 | +19.9 |
| | Conservative | W.L. Orrin | 676 | | N/A |
| | Conservative | C.W. Balcomb | 675 | | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | | 24.8 | −6.3 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 9,899 | | |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Swing | | |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Swing | | |
| | Labour gain from Liberal | Labour gain from Liberal | Swing | | |

### Wall End

Wall End (3) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Residents | J.S. Bailey | 1,666 | 48.7 | +16.2 |
| | Residents | G.L. Bendall | 1,654 | | N/A |
| | Residents | M. Lay | 1,618 | | N/A |
| | Labour | E.M. Devenay | 959 | 28.0 | −20.3 |
| | Labour | S.A. Elson | 863 | | N/A |
| | Labour | H.T. Philpott | 812 | | N/A |
| | Conservative | I. Little | 622 | 18.3 | N/A |
| | Conservative | M.H. Robinson | 612 | | N/A |
| | Conservative | R.P. Candler | 593 | | N/A |
| | Communist | D.A. Brett | 172 | 5.0 | −4.2 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | | 38.1 | +4.3 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 8,830 | | |
| | Residents gain from Labour | Residents gain from Labour | Swing | | |
| | Residents gain from Labour | Residents gain from Labour | Swing | | |
| | Residents gain from Labour | Residents gain from Labour | Swing | | |

### West Ham

West Ham (2) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | J.F. Andrews | 432 | 62.5 | −17.1 |
| | Labour | D.W. Lee | 427 | | N/A |
| | Liberal | J. Andrews | 259 | 37.5 | +22.4 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | | 11.9 | −6.9 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 6,003 | | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | | |

### Woodgrange

Woodgrange (2) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Residents | A.N. Knight | 1,256 | 70.4 | +39.7 |
| | Residents | G.W. Brown | 1,248 | | N/A |
| | Labour | D. Harris | 527 | 29.6 | −11.9 |
| | Labour | S.H. Mail | 499 | | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | | 30.9 | −5.4 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 5,892 | | |
| | Residents gain from Labour | Residents gain from Labour | Swing | | |
| | Residents gain from Labour | Residents gain from Labour | Swing | | |

## By-elections between 1968 and 1971
### West Ham

West Ham by-election, 6 February 1969 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | T. H. Camp | 613 | 44.9 | −17.6 |
| | Conservative | R. J. Blake | 275 | 20.2 | N/A |
| | Residents | J. P. Davis | 188 | 13.8 | N/A |
| | Liberal | J. W. Giles | 146 | 10.7 | −26.8 |
| | National Front | J. B. Newham | 142 | 10.4 | N/A |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 338 | 24.7 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | | 22.4 | +10.5 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | | | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | | |

### South

South by-election, 4 June 1970 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | J. C. Taylor | 1,164 | 74.9 | −6.4 |
| | Conservative | A. J. Retter | 373 | 24.0 | +5.3 |
| | National Front | W. T. Anderson | 17 | 1.1 | N/A |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 791 | 50.9 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | | 15.3 | −14.4 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | | | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | | |