1975 United Kingdom local elections

1975 United Kingdom local elections
← 1974 1 May 1975 1976 →
All 36 metropolitan boroughs
  Majority party Minority party Third party
 
Leader Margaret Thatcher Harold Wilson Jeremy Thorpe
Party Conservative Labour Liberal
Leader since 11 February 1975 14 February 1963 18 January 1967
Councillors +/- Increase 199 Decrease 206 Decrease 10

Local elections took place for one third of the seats of the thirty-six metropolitan boroughs on 1 May 1975. The seats had previously been contested in May 1973, when the Labour Party had achieved great success.[1][2] In the 1975 elections the Conservative Party made widespread gains, with a net gain of 199 seats and Labour had a net loss of 206. The Liberal Party had a net loss of 10 seats, and Independents a loss of 5. "Others", including Ratepayers, Independent Labour councillors and Progressives made net gains of 22.

The Conservatives gained control of Bury, Stockport and Wirral from no overall control; and Calderdale form Labour. They also became the largest party on Leeds city council.

Labour retained control of Birmingham by the mayor's casting vote.

The Liberals failed to gain overall control of Liverpool, and losing seats, but remaining the largest party on the council by a single seat.[3]

  1. ^ Rallings, Colin; Thrasher, Michael. Local Elections Handbook 1975. The Elections Centre. Retrieved 3 May 2016.
  2. ^ "Council compositions". The Elections Centre. Retrieved 3 May 2016.
  3. ^ Tories capture 199 seats in 'big cities' poll triumph, May Day blow to Labour as the Tories make many gains in district council elections, The Times, 2 May 1975