City of Bradford Metropolitan District Council election, 1976

Elections to City of Bradford Metropolitan District Council were held on 6 May 1976, with one third of council up for election as well as vacancies in Bolton and Thornton. The election resulted in the Conservatives retaining control with voter turnout at 39.7%.[1][2][3]

Election result

Bradford Local Election Result 1976[1][3]
Party Seats Gains Losses Net gain/loss Seats % Votes % Votes +/−
  Conservative 22 5 1 +4 66.7 48.4 62,607 -2.8%
  Labour 10 1 2 -1 30.3 34.2 44,177 +2.8%
  Liberal 1 0 3 -3 3.0 7.9 10,163 -3.9%
  National Front 0 0 0 0 0.0 7.3 9,399 +6.1%
  Ratepayers & Residents Association 0 0 0 0 0.0 1.7 2,151 -0.4%
  Independent Conservative 0 0 0 0 0.0 0.3 392 +0.3%
  Communist 0 0 0 0 0.0 0.2 213 -0.0%
British National 0 0 0 0 0.0 0.1 125 +0.1%
  Social Credit 0 0 0 0 0.0 0.0 74 -0.1%

This result had the following consequences for the total number of seats on the council after the elections:

Party Previous council New council
Conservatives 57 61
Labour 28 27
Liberals 8 5
Total 93 93
Working majority   21    29 

Ward results

Allerton[1][3]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative N. Walker 2,819 52.0 -6.8
Labour J. Whiteside 1,852 34.1 +5.0
National Front D. Regan 402 7.4 +7.4
Liberal A. Roberts 350 6.4 -5.7
Majority 967 17.8 -11.8
Turnout 5,423 41.2 +5.1
Conservative hold Swing -5.9
Baildon[1][3]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative D. Moore 2,727 52.9 +16.4
Liberal K. Greenwood 1,502 29.1 -16.3
Labour D. Foster 926 18.0 -0.1
Majority 1,225 23.8 +14.8
Turnout 5,155 45.8 -1.9
Conservative hold Swing +16.3
Bingley: Central, East, North & West[1][3]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative M. Carter 3,379 61.6 +7.9
Labour S. Barlow 1,107 20.2 -1.3
Liberal P. Blaine 999 18.2 -6.6
Majority 2,272 41.4 +12.6
Turnout 5,485 45.6 +4.6
Conservative hold Swing +4.6
Bolton[1][3]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative F. Lee 1,822 42.2 -6.4
Conservative E. Wooler 1,480
Labour E. Brown 1,205 27.9 +0.9
Liberal W. Sheffield 787 18.2 -6.0
Liberal F. Sugden 694
National Front E. Barszak 500 11.6 +11.6
Majority 342 14.3 -7.3
Turnout 4,314 37.3 +4.1
Conservative gain from Liberal Swing
Conservative gain from Liberal Swing -3.6
Bowling[1][3]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour R. Kitson 1,104 46.0 +1.9
Conservative P. Kitchingman 875 36.4 -2.7
National Front J. Dawson 422 17.6 +17.6
Majority 229 9.5 +4.6
Turnout 2,401 32.1 +7.1
Labour hold Swing +2.3
Bradford Moor[1][3]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour J. McKenna 2,344 46.8 +11.8
Conservative J. Ambler 1,649 32.9 -3.4
National Front J. Merrick 1,018 20.3 +20.3
Majority 695 13.9 +12.5
Turnout 5,011 45.9 +12.3
Labour hold Swing +7.6
Clayton, Ambler Thorn & Queensbury[1][3]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative J. Hirst 3,460 55.9 -10.9
Labour C. Smith 2,056 33.2 +3.7
National Front S. Merrick 514 8.3 +8.3
Communist J. Baruch 160 2.6 -1.0
Majority 1,404 22.7 -14.6
Turnout 6,190 38.5 +7.5
Conservative hold Swing -7.3
Craven: Silsden, Addingham, Kildwick & Steeton with Eastburn[1][3]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative A. Jerome 3,228 72.1 +16.1
Labour R. Walton 1,249 27.9 +10.5
Majority 1,979 44.2 +12.6
Turnout 4,477 48.5 +2.6
Conservative hold Swing +2.8
Denholme, Cullingworth, Bingley South & Wilsden[1][3]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative N. Nelson 3,271 79.8 +21.1
Labour P. Wall 829 20.2 +1.1
Majority 2,442 59.6 +23.0
Turnout 4,100 40.0 -0.1
Conservative hold Swing +10.0
Eccleshill[1][3]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative H. Smith 1,619 40.4 -2.8
Labour G. Midwood 1,397 34.9 +5.5
Liberal N. Todd 600 15.0 -8.2
National Front K. Farrow 388 9.7 +5.5
Majority 222 5.5 -8.4
Turnout 4,004 38.3 +5.3
Conservative gain from Liberal Swing -4.1
Great Horton[1][3]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative H. Oromndroyd 2,279 52.5 -2.0
Labour D. Bowers 1,591 36.6 +5.3
National Front W. Thay 473 10.9 +10.9
Majority 688 15.8 -7.3
Turnout 4,343 42.5 +4.2
Conservative hold Swing -3.6
Haworth, Oakworth & Oxenhope[1][3]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative W. Proom 2,941 66.4 -2.1
Labour H. Binns 1,485 33.5 +2.1
Majority 1,456 32.9 -4.3
Turnout 4,426 38.0 +5.6
Conservative hold Swing -2.1
Heaton[1][3]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative R. Bateson 2,737 59.2 -14.9
Labour B. Longbottom 1,150 24.9 -0.9
National Front A. Cureton 431 9.3 +9.3
Liberal R. Barton 302 6.5 +6.5
Majority 1,587 34.3 -14.0
Turnout 4,620 42.5 +8.8
Conservative hold Swing -7.0
Idle[1][3]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal J. Rennison 1,622 34.6 -0.2
Conservative H. Worsley 1,521 32.5 +7.9
Labour K. Hemingway 1,156 24.7 +2.9
National Front S. Matson 383 8.2 +5.9
Majority 101 2.2 -8.1
Turnout 4,682 40.5 +3.0
Liberal hold Swing -4.0
Ilkley: Ben Rhydding, Ilkley North, South & West[1][3]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative J. Lightbank 2,244 51.1 +3.6
Ratepayers & Residents Association G. Ingle 2,151 48.9 +6.4
Majority 93 2.1 -2.9
Turnout 4,395 46.5 +3.5
Conservative hold Swing -1.4
Ilkley: Burley, Holme & Menston[1][3]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative K. Emsley 2,531 64.5 +11.2
Liberal C. Svensgaard 891 22.7 -12.8
Labour C. Hunter 500 12.7 +1.7
Majority 1,640 41.8 +24.0
Turnout 3,922 53.9 +0.4
Conservative hold Swing +12.0
Keighley: Keighley Central, East & South[1][3]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour E. Newby 2,044 46.7 +2.7
Conservative H. Harrison 1,770 40.4 +4.4
National Front G. Wright 288 6.6 +0.4
Liberal M. Arnold 276 6.3 -7.5
Majority 274 6.3 -1.6
Turnout 4,378 40.9 +4.8
Labour hold Swing -0.8
Keighley: Morton & Keighley North East[1][3]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative A. Trigg 2,023 65.3 +1.2
Labour K. Clark 822 26.5 -0.8
National Front S. Wood 255 8.2 -0.4
Majority 1,201 38.7 +2.0
Turnout 3,100 41.1 +7.9
Conservative hold Swing +1.0
Keighley: North West & West[1][3]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative P. Gilmour 2,375 46.2 -6.3
Labour B. Thorne 2,138 41.5 -0.3
National Front A. Fairey 321 6.2 +0.6
Liberal J. Arnold 311 6.0 +6.0
Majority 237 4.6 -6.0
Turnout 5,145 44.3 +8.1
Conservative gain from Labour Swing -3.0
Laisterdyke[1][3]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour L. Coughlin 1,393 57.3 -3.2
Conservative R. Robinson 711 29.3 -10.2
National Front C. Murgatroyd 325 13.4 +13.4
Majority 682 28.1 +7.0
Turnout 2,429 32.5 +10.8
Labour hold Swing +3.5
Little Horton[1][3]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour T. Brown 1,880 57.6 +3.2
Conservative A. Townsend 1,018 31.2 -14.4
National Front T. Cranston 365 11.2 +11.2
Majority 862 26.4 +17.7
Turnout 3,263 29.3 +4.3
Labour hold Swing +8.8
Manningham[1][3]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour F. Sunderland 1,883 49.2 +15.2
Conservative M. Wood 1,449 37.9 -15.0
National Front L. Ramsden 418 10.9 +10.9
Social Credit J. Jennings 74 1.9 -1.3
Majority 434 11.3 -7.5
Turnout 3,824 34.5 +6.8
Labour gain from Conservative Swing +15.1
Odsal[1][3]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative K. Caroll 2,292 54.2 -1.8
Labour M. Thornton 1,564 37.0 -7.1
National Front F. Harris 376 8.9 +8.9
Majority 728 17.2 +5.3
Turnout 4,232 40.9 +10.0
Conservative hold Swing +2.6
Shipley: Central, North & East[1][3]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour E. Saville 1,924 49.7 -12.6
Conservative M. Holling 1,489 38.5 +2.4
Liberal M. Stapylton 403 10.4 +10.4
Communist L. Shields 53 1.4 -0.1
Majority 435 11.2 -15.0
Turnout 3,869 35.2 +1.8
Labour hold Swing -7.5
Shipley: South & West[1][3]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative J. Evans 3,242 70.3 -0.3
Labour F. Bastow 1,370 29.7 +9.3
Majority 1,872 40.6 -9.6
Turnout 4,612 46.2 +1.9
Conservative hold Swing -4.8
Thornton[1][3]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative E. Kinder 2,336 47.8 -5.4
Conservative G. Chapman 2,276
Labour F. Longstaff 1,153 23.6 -0.4
Liberal R. Taylor 611 12.5 -10.3
National Front D. Brook 397 8.1 +8.1
Independent Conservative P. Townsend 392 8.0 +8.0
Majority 1,123 24.2 -4.9
Turnout 4,889 41.8 +8.2
Conservative hold Swing
Conservative hold Swing -2.5
Tong[1][3]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour T. Mahon 2,082 62.6 +0.9
Conservative L. Heginbotham 807 24.2 -14.1
National Front S. Collins 314 9.4 +9.4
British National R. Shears 125 3.8 +3.8
Majority 1,275 38.3 +15.1
Turnout 3,328 27.2 +8.2
Labour hold Swing +7.5
Undercliffe[1][3]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative W. Boyce 1,419 40.1 -3.9
Labour G. Goodyear 1,330 37.6 +3.3
National Front D. Matson 446 12.6 +8.3
Liberal E. McElveen 345 9.7 -7.6
Majority 89 2.5 -7.2
Turnout 3,540 40.8 +8.9
Conservative gain from Labour Swing -3.6
University[1][3]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour G. Rawnsley 1,370 42.4 -8.5
Conservative T. Dines 757 23.5 -16.8
Liberal M. Sheikh 723 22.4 +22.4
National Front N. Ratcliffe 377 11.7 +2.9
Majority 613 19.0 +8.3
Turnout 3,227 39.6 +12.2
Labour hold Swing +4.1
Wibsey[1][3]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative A. Hodgson 1,817 47.6 -18.8
Labour T. Baines 1,149 30.1 -3.5
Liberal A. Barker 441 11.5 +11.5
National Front D. Brown 411 10.8 +10.8
Majority 668 17.5 -15.4
Turnout 3,818 36.5 +9.3
Conservative hold Swing -7.6
Wyke[1][3]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour D. Birdall 2,124 78.7 +30.7
National Front G. Lupton 575 21.3 +21.3
Majority 1,549 57.4 +53.4
Turnout 2,699 23.7 -1.6
Labour hold Swing +4.7

References