# 1974 Barking London Borough Council election

The 1974 Barking Borough Council election took place on 2 May 1974 to elect members of Barking London Borough Council in London, England. The whole council was up for election and the Labour Party stayed in overall control of the council.

## Background

100 Candidates across 7 parties ran. Labour was the only party that ran a full slate of candidates. The Conservative Party ran 25 candidates and the Liberal Party ran 11 candidates.

## Results

Labour comfortably maintained its majority holding all of its seats. The Residents Association held all 4 of its Councillors. Labour won 45 councillors to the Residents Association 4.

## Results by ward
### Abbey

Abbey (4 seats) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Jean Bruce | 1,959 | 55.7 | −0.2 |
| | Labour | Horace Howie | 1,956 | | N/A |
| | Labour | J Longden | 1,899 | | N/A |
| | Labour | A Puddefoot | 1,891 | | N/A |
| | Liberal | Alan Beadle | 926 | 26.4 | +17.6 |
| | Liberal | Martin Taylor | 905 | | N/A |
| | Liberal | D Keenan | 820 | | N/A |
| | Liberal | M Staines | 817 | | N/A |
| | Conservative | C Martin | 629 | 17.9 | −4.5 |
| | Conservative | A Gray | 623 | | N/A |
| | Conservative | J Barnett | 594 | | N/A |
| | Conservative | W Williamson | 575 | | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | | 31.8 | −4.2 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 10,691 | | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | | |

### Cambell

Cambell (4 seats) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Joseph Butler | 1,884 | 90.2 | −2.8 |
| | Labour | Sidney Cole | 1,877 | | N/A |
| | Labour | D Jones | 1,788 | | N/A |
| | Labour | James Jones | 1,679 | | N/A |
| | Conservative | B Williamson | 205 | 9.8 | +2.8 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | | 20.9 | −6.4 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 8,849 | | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | | |

### Chadwell Heath

Chadwell Heath (4 seats) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Residents | D Grandison | 1,783 | 54.9 | +1.2 |
| | Residents | Cyril Ayres | 1,763 | | N/A |
| | Residents | Peggy Miller | 1,733 | | N/A |
| | Residents | Joan Harper | 1,698 | | N/A |
| | Labour | F Coomber | 898 | 27.7 | −13.9 |
| | Labour | L Henstock | 872 | | N/A |
| | Labour | J O'Donogue | 841 | | N/A |
| | Labour | J Tweed | 817 | | N/A |
| | Conservative | G Hyams | 413 | 12.7 | N/A |
| | Conservative | L Hyams | 360 | | N/A |
| | Communist | D Connor | 151 | 4.7 | −0.1 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | | 29.9 | −0.9 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 9,459 | | |
| | Residents hold | Residents hold | Swing | | |
| | Residents hold | Residents hold | Swing | | |
| | Residents hold | Residents hold | Swing | | |
| | Residents hold | Residents hold | Swing | | |

### Eastbrook

Eastbrook (4 seats) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Frederick Tibble | 1,824 | 80.3 | −5.3 |
| | Labour | Leonard Collins | 1,812 | | N/A |
| | Labour | Arthur Biles | 1,791 | | N/A |
| | Labour | J Lawrence | 1,772 | | N/A |
| | Conservative | Reginald Johnson | 301 | 13.2 | +5.7 |
| | Conservative | William Maule | 222 | | N/A |
| | Communist | J Carter | 147 | 6.5 | −0.5 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | | 19.3 | −6.6 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 10,177 | | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | | |

### Fanshawe

Fanshawe (4 seats) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Frederick Jones | 1,823 | 81.3 | −5.2 |
| | Labour | M Eales | 1,736 | | N/A |
| | Labour | B Walker | 1,681 | | N/A |
| | Labour | Ernest Turner | 1,651 | | N/A |
| | Communist | K Madden | 233 | 10.4 | +1.8 |
| | Conservative | M Whiter | 187 | 8.3 | +3.4 |
| | Conservative | W Whiter | 168 | | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | | 19.6 | −10.0 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 9,553 | | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | | |

### Gascoigne

Gascoigne (4 seats) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Eric Harris | 2,640 | 82.8 | −8.3 |
| | Labour | C Godfrey | 2,591 | | N/A |
| | Labour | George Shaw | 2,536 | | N/A |
| | Labour | Douglas Waters | 2,536 | | N/A |
| | Conservative | R Reed | 335 | 10.5 | +1.6 |
| | Communist | Frederick Creamer | 215 | 6.7 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | | 26.4 | −9.5 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 10,277 | | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | | |

### Heath

Heath (5 seats) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Charles Fairbrass | 2,020 | 70.3 | −8.5 |
| | Labour | J Thomas | 1,947 | | N/A |
| | Labour | Brian Wilkins | 1,890 | | N/A |
| | Labour | K Darby | 1,794 | | N/A |
| | Labour | Thomas Reynolds | 1,668 | | N/A |
| | Conservative | Ada Horrell | 682 | 23.7 | −7.0 |
| | Conservative | Sydney Horrell | 659 | | N/A |
| | Communist | Helena Ott | 173 | 6.0 | +1.4 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | | 17.3 | −8.0 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 12,548 | | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | | |

### Longbridge

Longbridge (4 seats) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | John Cavanagh | 1,649 | 49.2 | −12.5 |
| | Labour | Marie Cole | 1,560 | | N/A |
| | Labour | Michael O'Shea | 1,463 | | N/A |
| | Labour | M Ness | 1,361 | | N/A |
| | Conservative | C Pool | 1,067 | 31.8 | −6.5 |
| | Conservative | V Pool | 998 | | N/A |
| | Conservative | Dennis Barnett | 958 | | N/A |
| | Conservative | Edward Reed | 947 | | N/A |
| | Liberal | G Vernon | 635 | 18.9 | N/A |
| | Liberal | R Keenan | 615 | | N/A |
| | Liberal | D Felton | 611 | | N/A |
| | Liberal | J James | 609 | | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | | 29.1 | −3.1 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 10,724 | | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | | |

### Manor

Manor (4 seats) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Maud Ball | 796 | 80.8 | −6.6 |
| | Labour | Eric Mansell | 648 | | N/A |
| | Labour | M Arnold | 623 | | N/A |
| | Labour | M Preston | 519 | | N/A |
| | Conservative | R Pool | 189 | 19.2 | +6.6 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | | 7.5 | −21.0 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 9,230 | | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | | |

### River

River (4 seats) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | James Morton | 1,516 | 80.9 | −1.3 |
| | Labour | P Bradley | 1,508 | | N/A |
| | Labour | Edith Bradley | 1,504 | | N/A |
| | Labour | Ernest White | 1,380 | | N/A |
| | Conservative | V Nainby | 236 | 12.6 | ±0.0 |
| | Conservative | J Patterson | 208 | | N/A |
| | Communist | G Wake | 122 | 6.5 | +1.2 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | | 19.4 | −5.4 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 8,322 | | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | | |

### Valence

Valence (4 seats) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | George Brooker | 1,773 | 70.4 | −12.3 |
| | Labour | John Davis | 1,622 | | N/A |
| | Labour | C Whitelock | 1,581 | | N/A |
| | Labour | R Wilkins | 1,580 | | N/A |
| | Conservative | S Barnard | 259 | 10.3 | −3.3 |
| | Ind. Labour Party | V Cridland | 244 | 9.7 | N/A |
| | Communist | A Brooks | 241 | 9.6 | +3.2 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | | 18.7 | −8.1 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 9,770 | | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | | |

### Village

Village (4 seats) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Vic Rusha | 1,652 | 64.4 | −16.7 |
| | Labour | L Bryant | 1,610 | | N/A |
| | Labour | Matthew Spencer | 1,595 | | N/A |
| | Labour | Harry Tindell | 1,544 | | N/A |
| | Liberal | G Poole | 421 | 16.4 | N/A |
| | Liberal | P Northover | 318 | | N/A |
| | Liberal | G Andrews | 301 | | N/A |
| | Conservative | W Russell | 257 | 10.0 | −3.0 |
| | Conservative | W Whiter | 235 | | N/A |
| | Conservative | A Wilkens | 213 | | N/A |
| | Free Socialist | W Metcalfe | 122 | 4.8 | N/A |
| | Communist | T Keyworth | 114 | 4.4 | −1.5 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | | 21.6 | −3.8 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 9,694 | | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | | |

## By-elections between 1974 and 1978

There were no by-elections.