1977 Scottish local elections

1977 Scottish local elections

← 1974 3 May 1977 1978 →

All 53 district councils
  First party Second party
  James Callaghan Margaret Thatcher
Leader James Callaghan Margaret Thatcher
Party Labour Conservative
Leader since 5 April 1976 11 February 1975
Seats won 282 259
Seat change Decrease 146 Increase 18
Percentage 31.6% 27.2%
Swing Decrease6.8 Increase0.4

  Third party Fourth party
  David Steel
Leader William Wolfe David Steel
Party SNP Liberal
Leader since 1969 1976
Seats won 170 62
Seat change Increase108 Increase45
Percentage 24.2% 4.0%
Swing Increase11.8 Decrease1.0

Colours denote the winning party with outright control

Elections for the Scottish district councils were held in 1977.

These were the second elections held to the 53 district councils established by the Local Government (Scotland) Act 1973. The previous elections had been held in 1974 with the authorities acting as "shadow" councils until May 1975.[1] The elections took place when the Labour government of James Callaghan was extremely unpopular, with a subsequent collapse in the party's vote.

  1. ^ Faux, Ronald (5 May 1977). "SNP seizes 107 seats". The Times. pp. 1, 4.