1973 City of Bradford Metropolitan District Council election

The first elections to the newly created City of Bradford Metropolitan District Council were held on 10 May 1973, with the entirety of the 93 seat council - three seats for each of the 31 wards - up for vote. The Local Government Act 1972 stipulated that the elected members were to shadow and eventually take over from the predecessor corporation on 1 April 1974. The order in which the councillors were elected dictated their term serving, with third-place candidates serving two years and up for re-election in 1975, second-placed three years expiring in 1976 and 1st-placed five years until 1978.

As well as replacing the County Borough of Bradford, the new council included:

The election resulted in the Conservatives gaining control.[1][2]

Election result

Bradford Local Election Result 1973[1]
Party Seats Gains Losses Net gain/loss Seats % Votes % Votes +/−
  Conservative 53 0 0 0 57.0 42.8 52,999 N/A
  Labour 31 0 0 0 33.3 36.7 45,477 N/A
  Liberal 9 0 0 0 9.7 12.4 15,426 N/A
  British Campaign to Stop Immigration 0 0 0 0 0.0 5.1 6,363 N/A
  Independent 0 0 0 0 0.0 2.3 2,900 N/A
  Ind. Conservative 0 0 0 0 0.0 0.3 328 N/A
  Communist 0 0 0 0 0.0 0.3 326 N/A
  Social Credit 0 0 0 0 0.0 0.1 102 N/A

This result had the following consequences for the total number of seats on the Council after the elections:[2]

Party New council
Conservatives 53
Labour 31
Liberals 9
Total 93
Working majority  13 

Ward results

Allerton[1]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative G. Ripley 1,989 38.9 N/A
Conservative N. Walker 1,958
Conservative A. Pollard 1,944
Liberal E. Evans 1,406 27.5 N/A
Labour R. Hallam 1,314 25.7 N/A
Labour J. Ruscoe 1,247
Labour H. Purton 1,246
Liberal A. Roberts 1,211
Liberal A. McCallum 1,187
British Campaign to Stop Immigration R. Hemmingway 400 7.8 N/A
British Campaign to Stop Immigration M. Noble 321
British Campaign to Stop Immigration J. Holden 316
Majority 583 11.4 N/A
Turnout 5,109 N/A
Conservative win (new seat)
Conservative win (new seat)
Conservative win (new seat)
Baildon[1]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative A. Lightowler 2,602 40.6 N/A
Conservative D. Moore 2,423
Liberal F. Atkinson 2,338 36.5 N/A
Conservative O. Merser 2,215
Liberal J. Bywell 2,028
Liberal M. Greenwood 1,939
Labour J. Lambert 1,468 22.9 N/A
Labour B. Prince 1,417
Labour G. Tiplady 1,351
Majority 264 4.1 N/A
Turnout 6,408 N/A
Conservative win (new seat)
Conservative win (new seat)
Liberal win (new seat)
Bingley #25 (Denholme, Cullingworth, Bingley South & Wilsden)[1]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative E. Hall 2,616 70.1 N/A
Conservative M. Nelson 2,531
Conservative C. James 2,527
Labour J. Lough 1,115 29.9 N/A
Labour J. Tatham 1,107
Labour M. Priestley 1,071
Majority 1,501 40.2 N/A
Turnout 3,731 N/A
Conservative win (new seat)
Conservative win (new seat)
Conservative win (new seat)
Bingley #26 (Bingley Central, East, North & West)[1]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative A. Chapman 2,937 60.8 N/A
Conservative M. Carter 2,884
Conservative T. Shaw 2,884
Labour D. Mytom 1,896 39.2 N/A
Labour H. Rankin 1,620
Labour P. Wall 1,162
Majority 1,041 21.5 N/A
Turnout 4,833 N/A
Conservative win (new seat)
Conservative win (new seat)
Conservative win (new seat)
Bolton[1]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal J. Rogers 1,236 34.2 N/A
Liberal F. Sugden 1,209
Conservative T. Hall 1,198 33.2 N/A
Liberal D. Wright 1,182
Conservative J. Cook 1,166
Conservative S. Dalgleish 1,158
Labour E. Brown 851 23.5 N/A
Labour W. Bramhall 812
Labour A. Swindlehurst 787
Ind. Conservative H. Sissling 328 9.1 N/A
Majority 38 1.0 N/A
Turnout 3,613 N/A
Liberal win (new seat)
Liberal win (new seat)
Conservative win (new seat)
Bowling[1]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour A. Brown 1,164 59.4 N/A
Labour G. Moody 1,162
Labour D. Coughlin 1,136
Conservative B. Thresh 794 40.5 N/A
Conservative W. Stenhouse 792
Conservative E. Woodhead 755
Majority 370 18.9 N/A
Turnout 1,958 N/A
Labour win (new seat)
Labour win (new seat)
Labour win (new seat)
Bradford Moor[1]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour W. Johnson 1,546 43.0 N/A
Labour J. McKenna 1,399
Labour M. Thornton 1,344
Conservative J. Ambler 1,232 34.3 N/A
Conservative J. Rees 1,176
Conservative K. Warrilow 1,125
British Campaign to Stop Immigration G. Lupton 688 19.1 N/A
British Campaign to Stop Immigration O. Noble 622
British Campaign to Stop Immigration D. Regan 601
Communist W. Speck 129 3.6 N/A
Majority 314 8.7 N/A
Turnout 3,595 N/A
Labour win (new seat)
Labour win (new seat)
Labour win (new seat)
Clayton, Ambler Thorn & Queensbury[1]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative R. Goodwin 3,007 52.9 N/A
Conservative J. Hirst 2,749
Conservative A. Ormoncroyd 2,686
Labour C. Smith 1,941 34.2 N/A
Labour M. Hallam 1,641
Labour K. Ryalis 1,537
British Campaign to Stop Immigration S. Merrick 734 12.9 N/A
British Campaign to Stop Immigration A. Parkes 666
Majority 1,066 18.8 N/A
Turnout 5,682 N/A
Conservative win (new seat)
Conservative win (new seat)
Conservative win (new seat)
Eccleshill[1]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal M. Thackray 1,382 36.3 N/A
Liberal N. Todd 1,299
Liberal W. Sheffield 1,186
Conservative N. Hudson 1,148 30.2 N/A
Conservative W. Smith 1,138
Conservative B. Moore 1,107
Labour E. Birkhead 1,041 27.4 N/A
Labour L. Dunne 1,019
Labour P. Bowe 1,012
Independent C. Holland 231 6.1 N/A
Majority 234 6.1 N/A
Turnout 3,802 N/A
Liberal win (new seat)
Liberal win (new seat)
Liberal win (new seat)
Great Horton[1]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative A. Dennison 1,892 45.4 N/A
Conservative J. Horsfail 1,891
Conservative E. Johnson 1,890
Labour A. Hardman 1,683 40.4 N/A
Labour C. Richardson 1,607
Labour S. Bennett 1,546
British Campaign to Stop Immigration J. Merrick 588 14.1 N/A
British Campaign to Stop Immigration A. Charlesworth 432
British Campaign to Stop Immigration M. Lupton 405
Majority 209 5.0 N/A
Turnout 4,163 N/A
Conservative win (new seat)
Conservative win (new seat)
Conservative win (new seat)
Heaton[1]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative J. King 1,970 48.7 N/A
Conservative H. Lee 1,949
Conservative L. Hamer 1,926
Labour J. McElroy 882 21.8 N/A
Labour J. Bower 861
Labour B. Wright 796
Liberal G. Roberts 782 19.3 N/A
Liberal F. Toczek 659
Liberal B. Turner 622
British Campaign to Stop Immigration V. Browning 414 10.2 N/A
British Campaign to Stop Immigration J. Gough 413
British Campaign to Stop Immigration L. Knighton 357
Majority 1,088 26.9 N/A
Turnout 4,048 N/A
Conservative win (new seat)
Conservative win (new seat)
Conservative win (new seat)
Idle[1]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal P. Hockney 2,878 48.1 N/A
Liberal J. Rennison 2,525
Liberal A. Bagshaw 2,084
Conservative E. Garnett 1,435 24.0 N/A
Conservative T. Keighley 1,212
Labour S. Dunne 1,157 19.3 N/A
Labour K. Hemingway 1,149
Labour O. Hanson 1,125
Conservative R. Brook 1,040
British Campaign to Stop Immigration A. Webster 509 8.5 N/A
Majority 1,443 24.1 N/A
Turnout 5,979 N/A
Liberal win (new seat)
Liberal win (new seat)
Liberal win (new seat)
Ilkley #27 (Burley, Holme & Menston)[1]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative D. Smith 2,103 46.8 N/A
Conservative K. Elmsley 1,928
Conservative J. Spencer 1,903
Liberal C. Svensgaard 1,672 37.2 N/A
Liberal P. Normandale 1,644
Liberal F. Austick 1,525
Labour A. Fairburn 715 15.9 N/A
Labour D. Warwick 666
Labour M. Fulker 622
Majority 431 9.6 N/A
Turnout 4,490 N/A
Conservative win (new seat)
Conservative win (new seat)
Conservative win (new seat)
Ilkley #28 (Ben Rhydding, Ilkley North, South & West)[1]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative E. Wright 2,719 56.5 N/A
Conservative J. Lightband 2,556
Conservative H. Illingworth 2,511
Labour C. Dougherty 927 19.3 N/A
Labour J. Beattle 920
Liberal J. Hefferon 886 18.4 N/A
Labour E. Hutchinson 832
Liberal M. Laing 770
Majority 1,792 37.3 N/A
Turnout 4,808 N/A
Conservative win (new seat)
Conservative win (new seat)
Conservative win (new seat)
Keighley #20 (Haworth, Oakworth & Oxenhope)[1]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative P. Kemp 2,553 54.9 N/A
Conservative E. Harker 2,484
Conservative S. Midgley 2,435
Labour D. Hanson 2,100 45.1 N/A
Labour H. Binns 2,040
Labour K. Clark 2,027
Majority 453 9.7 N/A
Turnout 4,653 N/A
Conservative win (new seat)
Conservative win (new seat)
Conservative win (new seat)
Keighley #21: Keighley West & North West[1]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour T. Leech 2,335 44.8 N/A
Labour H. Peacock 2,289
Labour M. Dempster 2,243
Conservative A. Smith 1,996 32.3 N/A
Conservative J. Whitehead 1,918
Conservative A. Ogden 1,903
Liberal J. Arnold 886 17.0 N/A
Majority 339 6.5 N/A
Turnout 5,217 N/A
Labour win (new seat)
Labour win (new seat)
Labour win (new seat)
Keighley #22 (Keighley Central, East & South)[1]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour A. Rogers 2,735 68.1 N/A
Labour W. Clarkson 2,679
Labour E. Newby 2,713
Conservative J. Snowden 1,282 31.9 N/A
Conservative R. Clough 1,267
Conservative A. Moran 1,238
Majority 1,453 36.2 N/A
Turnout 4,017 N/A
Labour win (new seat)
Labour win (new seat)
Labour win (new seat)
Keighley #23 (Morton & Keighley North East)[1]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative B. Womersley 1,844 55.7 N/A
Conservative A. Trigg 1,818
Conservative H. Milton 1,762
Labour G. Werham 1,468 44.3 N/A
Labour F. Jeffrey 1,314
Labour E. Loud 1,263
Majority 376 11.4 N/A
Turnout 3,312 N/A
Conservative win (new seat)
Conservative win (new seat)
Conservative win (new seat)
Laisterdyke[1]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour H. Moran 1,162 61.7 N/A
Labour W. Anderson 1,071
Labour T. Wood 1,056
Conservative G. Farrar 459 24.4 N/A
Conservative R. Murray 417
Conservative C. York 376
British Campaign to Stop Immigration A. Cureton 263 14.0 N/A
British Campaign to Stop Immigration J. McDonald 263
British Campaign to Stop Immigration D. Pickles 248
Majority 703 37.3 N/A
Turnout 1,884 N/A
Labour win (new seat)
Labour win (new seat)
Labour win (new seat)
Little Horton[1]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour J. McKee 1,529 59.7 N/A
Labour T. Brown 1,513
Labour E. Capps 1,504
Conservative C. Hill 603 23.5 N/A
Conservative M. Whitehead 592
Conservative C. Harvey 582
British Campaign to Stop Immigration F. Boyes 431 16.8 N/A
British Campaign to Stop Immigration F. Coward 386
British Campaign to Stop Immigration J. Whelan 371
Majority 926 36.1 N/A
Turnout 2,563 N/A
Labour win (new seat)
Labour win (new seat)
Labour win (new seat)
Manningham[1]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative B. Curtis 1,139 31.7 N/A
Conservative M. Wood 1,123
Conservative R. Smith 1,094
Independent R. Sahid 1,033 28.7 N/A
Labour B. Rhodes 942 26.2 N/A
Labour H. Fielden 899
Labour C. Khan 863
British Campaign to Stop Immigration H. Gomersall 379 10.5 N/A
British Campaign to Stop Immigration J. Woodrow 342
British Campaign to Stop Immigration J. Tomilty 326
Social Credit J. Jennings 102 2.8 N/A
Majority 106 2.9 N/A
Turnout 3,595 N/A
Conservative win (new seat)
Conservative win (new seat)
Conservative win (new seat)
Odsal[1]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative D. Mellor 1,724 49.9 N/A
Conservative K. Carroll 1,707
Conservative C. Lang 1,561
Labour F. Bastow 1,472 42.6 N/A
Labour C. Garnett 1,463
Labour H. Parr 1,581
British Campaign to Stop Immigration J. Pearson 261 7.5 N/A
British Campaign to Stop Immigration R. Roberts 243
Majority 252 7.3 N/A
Turnout 3,457 N/A
Conservative win (new seat)
Conservative win (new seat)
Conservative win (new seat)
Shipley Central, North & East[1]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour N. Free 2,756 61.5 N/A
Labour E. Armitage 2,506
Labour F. Thornton 2,430
Conservative E. Holgate 1,530 34.1 N/A
Conservative W. Oldfield 1,281
Conservative B. Raper 1,255
Communist L. Sheilds 197 4.4 N/A
Majority 1,226 27.3 N/A
Turnout 4,483 N/A
Labour win (new seat)
Labour win (new seat)
Labour win (new seat)
Shipley South & West[1]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative S. Arthur 2,917 69.5 N/A
Conservative J. Evans 2,910
Conservative E. Mason 2,896
Labour E. Saville 1,277 30.4 N/A
Labour R. Wilkes 1,267
Labour S. Saville 1,229
Majority 1,640 39.1 N/A
Turnout 4,194 N/A
Conservative win (new seat)
Conservative win (new seat)
Conservative win (new seat)
Silsden #31 (Silsden, Addingham, Kildwick & Steeton with Eastburn)[1]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative J. Barker 2,357 35.1 N/A
Conservative A. Jerome 1,822
Conservative P. Pettit 1,762
Independent W. Cathey 1,636 24.3 N/A
Labour B. Thorne 1,449 21.6 N/A
Liberal D. Robinson 1,278 19.0 N/A
Labour A. Rye 1,263
Labour D. Watt 1,212
Liberal W. Spinks 923
Majority 721 10.7 N/A
Turnout 6,720 N/A
Conservative win (new seat)
Conservative win (new seat)
Conservative win (new seat)
Thornton[1]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative J. Foers 1,594 41.0 N/A
Conservative E. Kinder 1,506
Conservative J. Singleton 1,354
Labour H. Pickering 1,063 27.3 N/A
Labour L. Clarke 1,014
Labour L. Wassell 959
Liberal R. Taylor 682 17.5 N/A
British Campaign to Stop Immigration P. Barrows 550 14.1 N/A
British Campaign to Stop Immigration H. Scholes 432
British Campaign to Stop Immigration W. Thay 402
Majority 531 13.6 N/A
Turnout 3,889 N/A
Conservative win (new seat)
Conservative win (new seat)
Conservative win (new seat)
Tong[1]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour J. Senior 1,830 74.1 N/A
Labour T. Mahon 1,764
Labour D. Smith 1,735
Conservative P. Brear 640 25.9 N/A
Conservative G. Hobson 632
Majority 1,190 48.2 N/A
Turnout 2,470 N/A
Labour win (new seat)
Labour win (new seat)
Labour win (new seat)
Undercliffe[1]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative J. Coope 1,444 50.3 N/A
Labour E. Newby 1,424 49.7 N/A
Conservative H. Ibbotson 1,406
Conservative J. Mears 1,397
Labour R. Kitson 1,332
Labour L. Coughlin 1,300
Majority 20 0.7 N/A
Turnout 2,868 N/A
Conservative win (new seat)
Labour win (new seat)
Conservative win (new seat)
University[1]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour M. Hussain 1,196 48.6 N/A
Labour G. Rawnsley 1,130
Labour A. Bennett 1,067
Conservative R. Heaton 694 28.2 N/A
Conservative R. Robinson 680
Conservative Z. Wyszecki 647
British Campaign to Stop Immigration T. Brown 571 23.2 N/A
British Campaign to Stop Immigration R. Connop 541
British Campaign to Stop Immigration N. Ratcliffe 510
Majority 502 20.4 N/A
Turnout 2,461 N/A
Labour win (new seat)
Labour win (new seat)
Labour win (new seat)
Wibsey[1]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative F. Hillam 1,634 56.0 N/A
Conservative A. Hodgson 1,542
Conservative R. Gross 1,519
Labour B. Howell 998 34.2 N/A
Labour G. Clay 942
Labour F. Maden 935
British Campaign to Stop Immigration I. Jenkinson 288 9.9 N/A
British Campaign to Stop Immigration J. Stones 276
British Campaign to Stop Immigration J. Cusack 261
Majority 636 21.8 N/A
Turnout 2,920 N/A
Conservative win (new seat)
Conservative win (new seat)
Conservative win (new seat)
Wyke[1]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour B. Seal 2,043 67.8 N/A
Labour D. Birdsall 2,024
Labour L. Kearns 1,984
Conservative R. Eaton 968 32.1 N/A
Conservative M. Cook 916
Majority 1,075 35.7 N/A
Turnout 3,011 N/A
Labour win (new seat)
Labour win (new seat)
Labour win (new seat)

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z aa ab ac ad ae af ag "District results: Bradford". The Yorkshire Post. 11 May 1973. Scans
  2. ^ a b "Vote 2012: Bradford". BBC News Online. Retrieved 20 February 2013.