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.[2] This election was held on the same day as other local elections.
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| 23 of 66 seats (One Third and one by-election) to Wirral Metropolitan Borough Council 34 seats needed for a majority | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Turnout | 75.3% (  39.7%)[1] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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|  Map of results of 1979 election | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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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 | Candidates | Votes | |||||||||||||
| 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
    
    
No. 1 (Argyle-Clifton-Holt)
    
| 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 | 1,775 | 36.7 |  6.4 | ||
| Registered electors | 7,259 | ||||
| Turnout | 66.8 |  34.4 | |||
| Labour hold | Swing |  3.2 | |||
No. 2 (Bebington and Mersey)
    
| 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 | 1,123 | 21.3 |  17.9 | ||
| Registered electors | 7,556 | ||||
| Turnout | 69.8 |  37.2 | |||
| Labour gain from Conservative | Swing |  9.0 | |||
No. 3 (Cathcart-Claughton-Cleveland)
    
| 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 | 4 | 0.1 | N/A | ||
| Registered electors | 8,641 | ||||
| Turnout | 71.3 |  30.5 | |||
| Labour gain from Liberal | Swing |  0.8 | |||
No. 4 (Devonshire and Egerton)
    
| 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 | 639 | 7.2 | N/A | ||
| Registered electors | 11,925 | ||||
| Turnout | 74.3 |  39.7 | |||
| Labour gain from Conservative | Swing |  8.8 | |||
No. 5 (Gilbrook and St James)
    
| 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 | 2,776 | 46.0 |  7.7 | ||
| Registered electors | 8,376 | ||||
| Turnout | 72.0 |  40.1 | |||
| Labour hold | Swing |  3.9 | |||
No. 6 (Grange and Oxton)
    
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Liberal | A. Halliday [n 2] | 3,984 | 41.4 |  6.3 | |
| Liberal | Michael Cooke [n 3] | 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 | 743 | 7.7 |  3.2 | ||
| Registered electors | 13,242 | ||||
| Turnout | 72.7 |  32.1 | |||
| Liberal gain from Conservative | Swing |  1.6 | |||
| Liberal gain from Conservative | Swing | – | |||
No. 7 (Prenton)
    
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Conservative | William Taylor | 6,056 | 52.3 |  12.9 | |
| Labour | W. Leslie | 5,531 | 47.7 |  12.9 | |
| Majority | 525 | 4.6 |  25.8 | ||
| Registered electors | 15,422 | ||||
| Turnout | 75.0 |  45.3 | |||
| Conservative hold | Swing |  12.9 | |||
No. 8 (Upton)
    
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Labour | Peter Corcoran | 8,387 | 54.9 |  14.8 | |
| Conservative | J. Roberts | 6,894 | 45.1 |  14.8 | |
| Majority | 1,493 | 9.8 | N/A | ||
| Registered electors | 21,661 | ||||
| Turnout | 70.5 |  45.4 | |||
| Labour gain from Conservative | Swing |  14.8 | |||
No. 9 (Leasowe)
    
| 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 | 2,286 | 25.6 |  11.1 | ||
| Registered electors | 11,982 | ||||
| Turnout | 74.6 |  44.4 | |||
| Labour hold | Swing |  5.6 | |||
No. 10 (Marlowe-Egremont-South Liscard)
    
| 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 | 592 | 6.3 |  19.1 | ||
| Registered electors | 12,770 | ||||
| Turnout | 73.7 |  42.1 | |||
| Conservative hold | Swing |  9.6 | |||
No. 11 (Moreton and Saughall Massie)
    
| 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 | 60 | 0.9 |  9.9 | ||
| Registered electors | 8,168 | ||||
| Turnout | 77.5 |  40.9 | |||
| Conservative hold | Swing |  4.9 | |||
No. 12 (New Brighton-Wallasey-Warren)
    
| 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 | 4,794 | 42.1 |  6.7 | ||
| Registered electors | 14,454 | ||||
| Turnout | 78.8 |  33.4 | |||
| Conservative hold | Swing |  3.4 | |||
No. 13 (North Liscard-Upper Brighton Street)
    
| 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 | 2,155 | 25.4 |  33.3 | ||
| Registered electors | 11,546 | ||||
| Turnout | 73.4 |  43.0 | |||
| Conservative hold | Swing |  16.6 | |||
No. 14 (Seacombe-Poulton-Somerville)
    
| 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 | 1,937 | 23.8 |  1.1 | ||
| Registered electors | 11,223 | ||||
| Turnout | 72.5 |  38.9 | |||
| Labour hold | Swing |  0.5 | |||
No. 15 (Higher Bebington and Woodhey)
    
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Conservative | E. Pike | 5,567 | 67.3 |  3.9 | |
| Labour | P. Wallace | 2,704 | 32.7 |  12.7 | |
| Majority | 2,863 | 34.6 |  16.6 | ||
| Registered electors | 10,181 | ||||
| Turnout | 81.2 |  35.9 | |||
| Conservative hold | Swing |  8.3 | |||
No. 16 (Park-New Ferry-North Bromborough)
    
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Labour | Audrey Moore | 3,862 | 51.8 |  0.4 | |
| Conservative | A. Stacey | 3,600 | 48.2 |  0.4 | |
| Majority | 262 | 3.6 |  0.8 | ||
| Registered electors | 9,828 | ||||
| Turnout | 75.9 |  35.3 | |||
| Labour hold | Swing |  0.4 | |||
No. 17 (South Bromborough and Eastham)
    
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Conservative | D. Allan | 4,087 | 36.0 |  8.7 | |
| Liberal | R. Palmer | 4,047 | 35.6 |  22.5 | |
| Labour | R. Dunning | 3,225 | 28.4 |  13.8 | |
| Majority | 40 | 0.4 | N/A | ||
| Registered electors | 13,985 | ||||
| Turnout | 81.2 |  35.3 | |||
| Conservative hold | Swing |  15.6 | |||
No. 18 (Lower Bebington and Poulton)
    
| 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 | 3,755 | 32.7 |  14.3 | ||
| Registered electors | 14,163 | ||||
| Turnout | 81.1 |  41.8 | |||
| Conservative hold | Swing |  7.2 | |||
No. 19 (Caldy and Frankby)
    
| 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 | 4,048 | 38.6 |  24.0 | ||
| Registered electors | 13,589 | ||||
| Turnout | 77.2 |  42.4 | |||
| Conservative hold | Swing |  12.0 | |||
No. 20 (Central-Hoose-Meols-Park)
    
| 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 | 4,163 | 45.1 |  26.9 | ||
| Registered electors | 12,150 | ||||
| Turnout | 75.9 |  37.1 | |||
| Conservative hold | Swing |  13.5 | |||
No. 21 (Barnston-Gayton-Heswall-Oldfield)
    
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Conservative | V. Robertson | 7,783 | 86.2 |  4.9 | |
| Labour | W. Gamet | 1,244 | 13.8 |  4.9 | |
| Majority | 6,539 | 72.4 |  9.9 | ||
| Registered electors | 11,581 | ||||
| Turnout | 77.9 |  41.3 | |||
| Conservative hold | Swing |  4.9 | |||
No. 22 (Irby-Pensby-Thurstaston)
    
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Conservative | W. Leigh | 5,451 | 70.3 |  8.9 | |
| Labour | B. Cain | 2,300 | 29.7 |  8.9 | |
| Majority | 3,151 | 40.7 |  17.7 | ||
| Registered electors | 10,048 | ||||
| Turnout | 77.1 |  45.5 | |||
| Conservative hold | Swing |  8.9 | |||
Notes
    
• italics denote the sitting councillor • bold denotes the winning candidate
- % of total refers to % of wards won.
- Elected to serve a 4-year term.
- Elected to serve a 1-year term.
References
    
- "Local Election Summaries 1979". The Elections Centre. Retrieved 15 December 2018.
- "Metropolitan Borough of Wirral Election Results 1973-2012 (Pg. 4 and 5)" (PDF). The Elections Centre. Retrieved 15 December 2018.
- "Council compositions". The Elections Centre. Retrieved 27 July 2018.
- "Councillor Walter Smith". Wirral Metropolitan Borough Council.
- "Councillor Alan Brighouse". Wirral Metropolitan Borough Council.
- "Councillor John Hale". Wirral Metropolitan Borough Council.
- "Councillor Tom Harney". Wirral Metropolitan Borough Council.
Mellows-Facer, Adam (10 May 2006). "Local election 2006". parliament.uk. Retrieved 29 December 2018.
"BBC NEWS VOTE 2003 WIRRAL". BBC News. 1 May 2003. Retrieved 29 December 2018.
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