1953 Leeds City Council election

The Leeds municipal elections were held on Thursday 7 May 1953,[1] with one third of the council as well as a vacancy in Richmond Hill to be elected.[2]

Winning control of Leeds was one of Labour's highlights in a night that seen them make gains across the country.[1] Whilst there was a swing away from Labour to the Conservatives of over four percent[3] from the previous year's high benchmark, Labour were able to repeat most of the gains they achieved the year before, with the two exceptions being Armley - a seat they already held - and Beeston, which the Tories managed to hold by sixty-six votes this time around. In total they gained seven seats, replacing the Tories slim majority of two with a majority of twelve.[2] Turnout continued its trend downwards with a post-war low of 41.4%.[3]

Election result
Leeds Local Election Result 1953
Party Seats Gains Losses Net gain/loss Seats % Votes % Votes +/−
  Labour 19 7 0 +7 65.5 52.5 78,259 -4.0%
  Conservative 10 0 7 -7 34.5 46.7 69,560 +4.2%
  Liberal 0 0 0 0 0.0 0.6 923 -0.2%
  Communist 0 0 0 0 0.0 0.2 294 +0.1%

The result had the following consequences for the total number of seats on the council after the elections:[3]

Party Previous council New council
Cllr Ald Cllr Ald
Labour 41 14 48 14
Conservatives 43 14 36 14
Total 84 28 84 28
112 112
Working majority  -2    0   12    0 
 -2   12 

Ward results
Allerton[2]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative M. Mustill 5,260 85.2 +1.3
Labour W. Stoner 917 14.8 -1.3
Majority 4,343 70.3 +2.6
Turnout 6,177
Conservative hold Swing +1.3
Armley[2]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour J. Hodgson 3,815 61.3 -0.1
Conservative J. Longstaff 2,407 38.7 +0.1
Majority 1,408 22.6 -0.2
Turnout 6,222
Labour hold Swing -0.1
Beeston[2]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative P. Woodward 3,810 50.4 +1.5
Labour S. Binns 3,744 49.6 -1.5
Majority 66 0.9 -1.2
Turnout 7,554
Conservative hold Swing +1.5
Blenheim[2]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour W. Merritt 3,144 56.9 -0.6
Conservative K. Davison 2,386 43.1 +0.6
Majority 758 13.7 -1.2
Turnout 5,530
Labour gain from Conservative Swing -0.6
Bramley[2]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour W. Lord 3,285 53.4 -6.6
Conservative B. Pearce 2,862 46.6 +6.6
Majority 423 6.9 -13.1
Turnout 6,147
Labour gain from Conservative Swing -6.6
Burmantofts[2]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour G. Murray 2,832 71.1 -3.7
Conservative K. Platts 1,150 28.9 +3.7
Majority 1,682 42.2 -7.5
Turnout 3,982
Labour hold Swing -3.7
City[2]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour E. Stubbs 2,449 69.3 +0.4
Conservative N. Kay 1,083 30.7 -0.4
Majority 1,366 38.7 +0.9
Turnout 3,532
Labour hold Swing +0.4
Cross Gates[2]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour A. Harrison 3,181 66.3 -3.8
Conservative W. Tull 1,618 33.7 +3.8
Majority 1,563 32.6 -7.6
Turnout 4,799
Labour gain from Conservative Swing -3.8
East Hunslet[2]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour E. Kavanagh 3,064 75.1 -7.6
Conservative G. Hewdey 1,017 24.9 +7.6
Majority 2,047 50.2 -15.1
Turnout 4,081
Labour hold Swing -7.6
Far Headingley[2]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative G. Dovenor 4,112 82.1 +3.1
Labour J. Bissell 897 17.9 -3.1
Majority 3,215 64.2 +6.2
Turnout 5,009
Conservative hold Swing +3.1
Halton[2]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative P. Dodson 3,933 72.7 +6.3
Labour A. Vickers 1,476 27.3 -2.4
Majority 2,457 45.4 +8.7
Turnout 5,409
Conservative hold Swing +4.3
Harehills[2]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative B. Garden 2,918 53.6 +2.4
Labour D. Gabb 2,529 46.4 -2.4
Majority 389 7.1 +4.7
Turnout 5,447
Conservative hold Swing +2.4
Holbeck[2]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour G. Bray 3,545 64.3 -5.0
Conservative S. Ristron 1,384 25.1 +1.6
Liberal K. Heald 582 10.6 +3.4
Majority 2,161 39.2 -6.7
Turnout 5,511
Labour hold Swing -3.3
Hunslet Carr[2]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour W. Parker 3,408 75.1 -5.0
Conservative N. Cooke 942 20.8 +3.9
Communist R. Wilkinson 185 4.1 +1.2
Majority 2,466 54.4 -8.9
Turnout 4,535
Labour hold Swing -4.4
Hyde Park[2]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative H. Walmsley 3,402 63.4 +3.4
Labour I. Calvert 1,965 36.6 -3.4
Majority 1,437 26.8 +6.8
Turnout 5,367
Conservative hold Swing +3.4
Kirkstall[2]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour D. Matthews 4,446 62.8 -0.3
Conservative R. Neill 2,628 37.2 +5.2
Majority 1,818 25.7 -5.5
Turnout 7,074
Labour hold Swing -2.7
Meanwood[2]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative F. Carter 4,231 69.0 +0.9
Labour J. Hedley 1,900 31.0 -0.9
Majority 2,331 38.0 +1.7
Turnout 6,131
Conservative hold Swing +0.9
Middleton[2]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour S. Hand 3,510 85.3 -4.4
Conservative F. Stubley 604 14.7 +4.4
Majority 2,906 70.6 -8.9
Turnout 4,114
Labour hold Swing -4.4
Moortown[2]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative L. Henson 4,179 70.2 -2.5
Labour R. Hyams 1,771 29.8 +2.5
Majority 2,408 40.5 -4.9
Turnout 2,408
Conservative hold Swing -2.5
Osmondthorpe[2]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour L. Walsh 3,690 79.5 -3.5
Conservative D. Bradley 954 20.5 +3.5
Majority 2,736 58.9 -7.1
Turnout 4,644
Labour hold Swing -3.5
Pottemewton[2]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative E. Coleman 2,460 61.3 +5.6
Labour F. Howard 1,550 38.7 -5.6
Majority 910 22.7 +11.1
Turnout 4,010
Conservative hold Swing +5.6
Richmond Hill[2]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour W. Cain 2,838 80.0 -5.0
Labour W. Fowler 2,728
Conservative W. Clayton 710 20.0 +5.0
Conservative H. Harwood 585
Majority 2,018 60.0 -10.0
Turnout 3,548
Labour hold Swing
Labour hold Swing -5.0
Roundhay[2]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative H. Jowitt 4,409 66.6 +7.3
Labour E. Morris 2,207 33.4 -7.3
Majority 2,202 33.3 +14.6
Turnout 6,616
Conservative hold Swing +7.3
Stanningley[2]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour P. Kennally 3,059 51.8 -7.5
Conservative F. Ayres 2,850 48.2 +7.5
Majority 209 3.5 -15.1
Turnout 5,909
Labour gain from Conservative Swing -7.5
Wellington[2]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour J. Underwood 3,461 72.7 -3.1
Conservative J. Palmer 848 17.8 -0.2
Liberal Harry Burbridge 341 7.2 +2.7
Communist F. Warburton 109 2.3 +0.7
Majority 2,613 54.9 -2.9
Turnout 4,759
Labour hold Swing -1.4
Westfield[2]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Stan Cohen 2,916 56.7 +1.7
Conservative G. Appleby 2,228 43.3 -1.7
Majority 688 13.4 +3.4
Turnout 5,144
Labour gain from Conservative Swing +1.7
Woodhouse[2]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour H. Bretherick 3,456 59.9 -5.0
Conservative H. Stott 2,318 40.1 +5.0
Majority 1,138 19.7 -10.1
Turnout 5,774
Labour gain from Conservative Swing -5.0
Wortley[2]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour W. Smart 3,204 52.9 -2.4
Conservative Charles Horner 2,857 47.1 +2.4
Majority 347 5.7 -4.8
Turnout 6,061
Labour gain from Conservative Swing -2.4

References
  1. "U.K. Labour Gains in Boroughs". The Sydney Morning Herald. 8 May 1953. Retrieved 15 August 2012.
  2. "Municipal results: Leeds". The Yorkshire Post. 8 May 1953.
  3. Sharpe, L.J. (1967). Voting in cities: the 1964 borough elections.
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