# 1979 Wirral Metropolitan Borough Council election

The 1979 Wirral Metropolitan Borough Council election took place on 3 May 1979 to elect members of Wirral Metropolitan Borough Council in England. This election was held on the same day as other local elections.
After the election, the composition of the council was:
| Party | Seats | ± |
| Conservative | 40 | 5 |
| Labour | 20 | 4 |
| Liberal | 6 | 1 |

## Election results
### Overall election result

Overall result compared with 1978.
Wirral Metropolitan Borough Council election results, 1979 :
| Party | Party | Candidates | Candidates | Candidates | Candidates | Candidates | Candidates | Votes | Votes | Votes |
| Party | Party | Stood | Elected | Gained | Unseated | Net | % of total | % | No. | Net % |
| | Conservative | 23 | 12 | 0 | 5 | 5 | 54.5 | 48.0 | 93,891 | 7.7 |
| | Labour | 23 | 9 | 4 | 0 | 4 | 40.9 | 36.2 | 70,639 | 7.8 |
| | Liberal | 17 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 4.5 | 15.6 | 30,430 | 0.2 |
| | National Front | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | | 0.0 | 0.2 | 368 | |
| | Communist | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | | 0.0 | 0.0 | 77 | 0.1 |

## Ward results
### Birkenhead
#### No. 1 (Argyle-Clifton-Holt)

Argyle-Clifton-Holt :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Arthur Smith | 2,867 | 59.2 | 6.5 |
| | Conservative | A. Adams | 1,092 | 22.5 | 1.0 |
| | Liberal | J. Smith | 887 | 18.3 | 4.1 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,775 | 36.7 | 6.4 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 7,259 | | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | | 66.8 | 34.4 |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | 3.2 | |

#### No. 2 (Bebington and Mersey)

Bebington and Mersey :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Walter Smith | 2,802 | 53.1 | 4.3 |
| | Conservative | D. Welsh | 1,679 | 31.8 | 13.6 |
| | Liberal | S. Evans | 716 | 13.6 | 7.7 |
| | Communist | J. Norris | 77 | 1.5 | New |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,123 | 21.3 | 17.9 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 7,556 | | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | | 69.8 | 37.2 |
| | Labour gain from Conservative | Labour gain from Conservative | Swing | 9.0 | |

#### No. 3 (Cathcart-Claughton-Cleveland)

Cathcart-Claughton-Cleveland :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | P. Liddell | 2,214 | 36.0 | 12.1 |
| | Liberal | A. Jones | 2,210 | 35.9 | 2.9 |
| | Conservative | B. Lloyd | 1,734 | 28.2 | 9.2 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 4 | 0.1 | N/A |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 8,641 | | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | | 71.3 | 30.5 |
| | Labour gain from Liberal | Labour gain from Liberal | Swing | 0.8 | |

#### No. 4 (Devonshire and Egerton)

Devonshire and Egerton :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Ronald Leaper | 3,454 | 39.0 | 6.1 |
| | Conservative | K. Allen | 2,815 | 31.8 | 11.5 |
| | Liberal | G. Quinn | 2,595 | 29.3 | 5.5 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 639 | 7.2 | N/A |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 11,925 | | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | | 74.3 | 39.7 |
| | Labour gain from Conservative | Labour gain from Conservative | Swing | 8.8 | |

#### No. 5 (Gilbrook and St James)

Gilbrook and St James :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Andrew Davies | 4,001 | 66.3 | 5.9 |
| | Conservative | K. Hughes | 1,225 | 20.3 | 1.8 |
| | Liberal | Alan Brighouse | 807 | 13.4 | 4.0 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 2,776 | 46.0 | 7.7 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 8,376 | | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | | 72.0 | 40.1 |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | 3.9 | |

#### No. 6 (Grange and Oxton)

Grange and Oxton (2) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | A. Halliday | 3,984 | 41.4 | 6.3 |
| | Liberal | Michael Cooke | 3,830 | – | – |
| | Conservative | R. Hodkinson | 3,241 | 33.7 | 3.1 |
| | Conservative | O. Donaldson | 3,089 | – | – |
| | Labour | J. Coates | 2,400 | 24.9 | 9.4 |
| | Labour | Barney Gilfoyle | 2,209 | – | – |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 743 | 7.7 | 3.2 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 13,242 | | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | | 72.7 | 32.1 |
| | Liberal gain from Conservative | Liberal gain from Conservative | Swing | 1.6 | |
| | Liberal gain from Conservative | Liberal gain from Conservative | Swing | – | |

#### No. 7 (Prenton)

Prenton :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | William Taylor | 6,056 | 52.3 | 12.9 |
| | Labour | W. Leslie | 5,531 | 47.7 | 12.9 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 525 | 4.6 | 25.8 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 15,422 | | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | | 75.0 | 45.3 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | 12.9 | |

#### No. 8 (Upton)

Upton :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Peter Corcoran | 8,387 | 54.9 | 14.8 |
| | Conservative | J. Roberts | 6,894 | 45.1 | 14.8 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,493 | 9.8 | N/A |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 21,661 | | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | | 70.5 | 45.4 |
| | Labour gain from Conservative | Labour gain from Conservative | Swing | 14.8 | |

### Wallasey
#### No. 9 (Leasowe)

Leasowe :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Ken Fox | 5,072 | 56.8 | 1.4 |
| | Conservative | M. Kemble | 2,786 | 31.2 | 9.7 |
| | Liberal | B. Thomas | 1,078 | 12.1 | 8.4 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 2,286 | 25.6 | 11.1 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 11,982 | | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | | 74.6 | 44.4 |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | 5.6 | |

#### No. 10 (Marlowe-Egremont-South Liscard)

Marlowe-Egremont-South-Liscard :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | John Hale | 4,252 | 45.2 | 14.4 |
| | Labour | G. Watkins | 3,660 | 38.9 | 4.7 |
| | Liberal | M. Canning | 1,250 | 13.3 | 7.0 |
| | National Front | F. Buckley | 245 | 2.6 | New |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 592 | 6.3 | 19.1 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 12,770 | | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | | 73.7 | 42.1 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | 9.6 | |

#### No. 11 (Moreton and Saughall Massie)

Moreton and Saughall Massie :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | David Williams | 2,769 | 43.8 | 9.5 |
| | Labour | Jim Edwards | 2,709 | 42.8 | 0.3 |
| | Liberal | E. Thomas | 849 | 13.4 | 9.3 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 60 | 0.9 | 9.9 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 8,168 | | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | | 77.5 | 40.9 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | 4.9 | |

#### No. 12 (New Brighton-Wallasey-Warren)

New Brighton-Wallasey-Warren :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | C. Whatling | 6,974 | 61.2 | 2.5 |
| | Liberal | N. Stribbling | 2,180 | 19.1 | 9.2 |
| | Labour | D. Mason | 2,115 | 18.6 | 10.6 |
| | National Front | J. Milns | 123 | 1.1 | New |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 4,794 | 42.1 | 6.7 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 14,454 | | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | | 78.8 | 33.4 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | 3.4 | |

#### No. 13 (North Liscard-Upper Brighton Street)

North Liscard-Upper Brighton Street :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | B. Nottage | 4,511 | 53.3 | 22.2 |
| | Labour | J. Fairbrother | 2,356 | 27.8 | 11.0 |
| | Liberal | G. Sharp | 1,604 | 18.9 | 11.2 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 2,155 | 25.4 | 33.3 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 11,546 | | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | | 73.4 | 43.0 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | 16.6 | |

#### No. 14 (Seacombe-Poulton-Somerville)

Seacombe-Poulton-Somerville :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | S. Wickham | 4,400 | 54.1 | 3.9 |
| | Conservative | G. Elliot | 2,463 | 30.3 | 2.8 |
| | Liberal | P. Mawdsley | 1,277 | 15.7 | 11.9 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,937 | 23.8 | 1.1 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 11,223 | | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | | 72.5 | 38.9 |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | 0.5 | |

### Bebington
#### No. 15 (Higher Bebington and Woodhey)

Higher Bebington and Woodhey :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | E. Pike | 5,567 | 67.3 | 3.9 |
| | Labour | P. Wallace | 2,704 | 32.7 | 12.7 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 2,863 | 34.6 | 16.6 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 10,181 | | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | | 81.2 | 35.9 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | 8.3 | |

#### No. 16 (Park-New Ferry-North Bromborough)

Park-New Ferry-North Bromborough :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Audrey Moore | 3,862 | 51.8 | 0.4 |
| | Conservative | A. Stacey | 3,600 | 48.2 | 0.4 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 262 | 3.6 | 0.8 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 9,828 | | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | | 75.9 | 35.3 |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | 0.4 | |

#### No. 17 (South Bromborough and Eastham)

South Bromborough and Eastham :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | David Allan | 4,087 | 36.0 | 8.7 |
| | Liberal | R. Palmer | 4,047 | 35.6 | 22.5 |
| | Labour | Ralph Dunning | 3,225 | 28.4 | 13.8 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 40 | 0.4 | N/A |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 13,985 | | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | | 81.2 | 35.3 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | 15.6 | |

#### No. 18 (Lower Bebington and Poulton)

Lower Bebington and Poulton :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Dorothy Goodfellow | 6,405 | 55.8 | 9.5 |
| | Liberal | Thomas Harney | 2,650 | 23.1 | 6.6 |
| | Labour | A. Woods | 2,432 | 21.2 | 3.0 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 3,755 | 32.7 | 14.3 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 14,163 | | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | | 81.1 | 41.8 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | 7.2 | |

### Hoylake
#### No. 19 (Caldy and Frankby)

Caldy and Frankby :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Reg Cumpstey | 6,454 | 61.6 | 12.9 |
| | Liberal | B. Crosbie | 2,406 | 22.9 | 11.0 |
| | Labour | C. Hiley | 1,624 | 15.5 | 5.9 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 4,048 | 38.6 | 24.0 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 13,589 | | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | | 77.2 | 42.4 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | 12.0 | |

#### No. 20 (Central-Hoose-Meols-Park)

Central-Hoose-Meols-Park :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | H. Thompson | 6,053 | 65.6 | 20.4 |
| | Liberal | F. Lewis | 1,890 | 20.5 | New |
| | Labour | David Jackson | 1,280 | 13.9 | 0.1 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 4,163 | 45.1 | 26.9 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 12,150 | | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | | 75.9 | 37.1 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | 13.5 | |

### Wirral
#### No. 21 (Barnston-Gayton-Heswall-Oldfield)

Barnston-Gayton-Heswall-Oldfield :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | V. Robertson | 7,783 | 86.2 | 4.9 |
| | Labour | W. Gamet | 1,244 | 13.8 | 4.9 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 6,539 | 72.4 | 9.9 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 11,581 | | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | | 77.9 | 41.3 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | 4.9 | |

#### No. 22 (Irby-Pensby-Thurstaston)

Irby-Pensby-Thurstaston :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | W. Leigh | 5,451 | 70.3 | 8.9 |
| | Labour | B. Cain | 2,300 | 29.7 | 8.9 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 3,151 | 40.7 | 17.7 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 10,048 | | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | | 77.1 | 45.5 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | 8.9 | |