1975 United Kingdom local elections


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. 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.

Summary of results

England

Metropolitan boroughs

DistrictCountyConservativeLabourLiberalIndependentOtherControl
BarnsleySouth Yorkshire048 1 1Ratepayers 6

Independent Labour 2

2 Vacancies		Labour hold
BirminghamWest Midlands55 63 8 00Labour hold
BoltonGreater Manchester42 23 3 10Conservative hold
BradfordWest Yorkshire57 28 8 00Conservative hold
BuryGreater Manchester28 16 4 00Conservative gain from NOC
CalderdaleWest Yorkshire28 18 500Conservative gain from Labour
CoventryWest Midlands21 33 030Labour hold
DoncasterSouth Yorkshire15 40 03 Democratic Labour 1
1 Vacancy		Labour hold
DudleyWest Midlands29 35 01Independent Socialist 1Labour hold
GatesheadTyne and Wear10 65 2 10Labour hold
KirkleesWest Yorkshire28 36 7 10Labour hold
KnowsleyMerseyside12 45 311 Labour hold
LeedsWest Yorkshire43 41 12 00NOC
LiverpoolMerseyside14 42 43 00NOC
ManchesterGreater Manchester4554000Labour hold
Newcastle upon TyneTyne and Wear27 47 2 2 0Labour hold
North TynesideTyne and Wear24 46 4 4 0Labour hold
OldhamGreater Manchester15 30 11 13 VacanciesLabour hold
RochdaleGreater Manchester22 28 10 00Labour lose to NOC
RotherhamSouth Yorkshire7 44 02 Ratepayers 1 Labour hold
St HelensMerseyside14 30 1 0Ratepayers 0 Labour hold
SalfordGreater Manchester20 44 10Tenants and Ratepayers 1 Labour
SandwellWest Midlands32 58 000Labour hold
SeftonMerseyside40 22 32Ratepayers 2 Conservative hold
SheffieldSouth Yorkshire20 66 4 00Labour hold
SolihullWest Midlands30 1227 0Conservative hold
South TynesideTyne and Wear5 35 3 0Progressives 23 Labour hold
StockportGreater Manchester34121040Conservative gain from NOC
SunderlandTyne and Wear23 52 1 0Independent Labour 1 Labour hold
TamesideGreater Manchester24 28 200Labour hold
TraffordGreater Manchester42 13 8 00Conservative hold
WakefieldWest Yorkshire11 45 01 Ratepayers 6

3 Vacancies		Labour
WalsallWest Midlands14 37 04 Ratepayers 5 Labour hold
WiganGreater Manchester10 61 01 0 Labour
WirralMerseyside36 21 9 00Conservative gain from NOC
WolverhamptonWest Midlands28 31 00Ratepayers 1 Labour hold