Westminster (Liverpool ward)

Westminster
Westminster
	Westminster ward within Liverpool
Registered Electors	5,779 (1972 election)
Metropolitan borough	City of Liverpool;
Metropolitan county	Merseyside;
Region	North West;
Country	England
Sovereign state	United Kingdom
UK Parliament	Liverpool Kirkdale;
	List of places UK England Merseyside

Westminster ward was an electoral division of Liverpool City Council between 1953 and 1972. It sat between the Walton, Liverpool, Everton and Kirkdale districts of Liverpool, England.

Background

The ward was formed in 1953 and was merged with Melrose ward to form Melrose, Westminster ward in 1973. It elected three councillors to the Council.

1953 boundaries

The ward was part of the Liverpool Kirkdale Parliamentary constituency.^[1]

1973 election

Following the Local Government Act 1972 the ward boundaries of the council were altered. The number of wards was reduced from 40 to 33 and the aldermanic system was abolished. Westminster ward was merged with Melrose ward to form Melrose, Westminster ward.^[2]

Councillors

Election
1953	R.J. Alcock (Lab)	F. Murphy (Lab)	John Hamilton (Lab)
1954	R.J. Alcock (Lab)	F. Murphy (Lab)	John Hamilton (Lab)
1955	R.J. Alcock (Lab)	Eddie Burke (Lab)	Reginald McLaughlin (Con)^[a]
1956	R.J. Alcock (Lab)	Eddie Burke (Lab)	Harold Lee (Lab)
1957	R.J. Alcock (Lab)	Eddie Burke (Lab)	Harold Lee (Lab)
1958	R.J. Alcock (Lab)	Eddie Burke (Lab)	Harold Lee (Lab)
1959	R.J. Alcock (Lab)	Eddie Burke (Lab)	Harold Lee (Lab)
1960	James Gillin (Con)	Eddie Burke (Lab)	Harold Lee (Lab)
1961	James Gillin (Con)	Eddie Burke (Lab)	Harold Lee (Lab)
1962	James Gillin (Con)	Eddie Burke (Lab)	H. Carr (Lab)
1963	J. Dunn (Lab)	Eddie Burke (Lab)	H. Carr (Lab)
1964	J. Dunn (Lab)	Eddie Burke (Lab)	H. Carr (Lab)
1965	J. Dunn (Lab)	Eddie Burke (Lab)	William Gilbody (Con)
1966	James Gardner (Lab)	Eddie Burke (Lab)	William Gilbody (Con)
1967	James Gardner (Lab)	James Gillin (Con)	William Gilbody (Con)
1968	James Gardner (Lab)	James Gillin (Con)	William Gilbody (Con)
1969	James Wareing (Con)	James Gillin (Con)	William Gilbody (Con)
1970	James Wareing (Con)	James Gillin (Con)	William Gilbody (Con)
1971	James Wareing (Con)	James Gillin (Con)	William Lafferty (Lab)
1972	James Gardner (Lab)	James Gillin (Con)	William Lafferty (Lab)

indicates seat up for re-election after boundary changes.

indicates seat up for re-election.

indicates change in affiliation.

indicates seat up for re-election after casual vacancy.

Notes

a.^ Cllr John Hamilton (Labour, 1953) was elected as an Alderman on 23 May 1955 and vacated his seat as a Councillor.^[3]

Election results

Elections of the 1970s

Elections of the 1960s

Elections of the 1950s

Thursday 7 May 1959^[4]
Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Labour	*H. Lee*	1,693	54.97	12.39
	Conservative	J. Gillin	1,387	45.03	12.39
Majority			306	9.94	24.77
Turnout			3,080	38.01	2.82
Registered electors			8,104
	Labour hold		Swing	-12.39

Thursday 9 May 1958^[5]
Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Labour	*E. Burke*	1,921	67.36	7.09
	Conservative	R.M. Jones	931	32.64	7.09
Majority			990	34.71	14.17
Turnout			2,852	35.19	1.32
Registered electors			8,104
	Labour hold		Swing	+7.09

Thursday 9 May 1957^[6]
Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Labour	*R.J. Alcock*	1,840	60.27	2.65
	Conservative	R.M. Jones	1,213	39.73	2.65
Majority			627	20.54	5.29
Turnout			3,053	36.51	2.90
Registered electors			8,363
	Labour hold		Swing	+2.65

Thursday 10 May 1956^[7]
Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Labour	H. Lee	1,950	57.62	9.23
	Conservative	R.J. McLau	1,434	42.38	9.23
Majority			516	15.25	12.03
Turnout			3,384	39.41	3.59
Registered electors			8,586
	Labour gain from Conservative		Swing	+9.23

Westminster Ward By-election, 1955^[8]
Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Conservative	Reginald John McLaughlin	1,601	51.61	5.07
	Labour	Harold Lee	1,501	48.39	5.07
Majority			100	3.22	3.69
Turnout			3,102	35.82	13.45
Registered electors			8,661
	Conservative gain from Labour		Swing	5.07

Thursday 12 May 1955^[9]
Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Labour	Eddie Burke	2,281	53.46	6.32
	Conservative	E. Shaw	1,986	46.54	6.32
Majority			295	6.91	12.65
Turnout			4,267	49.27	2.96
Registered electors			8,661
	Labour hold		Swing	-6.32

Thursday 13 May 1954^[10]
Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Labour	*R.J. Alcock*	2,399	59.78	6.37
	Conservative	E. Shaw	1,614	40.22	6.37
Majority			785	19.56	12.73
Turnout			4,013	46.31	2.96
Registered electors			8,665
	Labour hold		Swing	+6.37

Thursday 7 May 1953^[11]
Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Labour	John Hamilton	2,300	53.41
	Labour	F. Murphy	2,296	53.32
	Labour	R.J. Alcock	2,219	51.53
	Conservative	E. Shaw	2,006	46.59
	Conservative	S.E. Goldsmith	1,867	43.36
	Conservative	A.G. Cleather	1,865	43.31
Majority			294	6.83
Turnout			4,306	49.27
Registered electors			8,739
	Labour win (new seat)
	Labour win (new seat)
	Labour win (new seat)

Notes

• italics - Denotes the sitting Councillor.
•bold - Denotes the winning candidate.

References

^ Craig, F.W.S., ed. (1972). Boundaries of parliamentary constituencies 1885-1972. Chichester, Sussex: Political Reference Publications. ISBN 0-900178-09-4.
^ The County of Merseyside (Electoral Divisions and Wards) Order 1973
^ Liverpool Daily Post, Tuesday 24 May 1955
^ Liverpool Daily Post 8 May 1959
^ Liverpool Daily Post 10 May 1957
^ Liverpool Daily Post 10 May 1957
^ Liverpool Daily Post 11 May 1956
^ Liverpool Daily Post 13 May 1955
^ Liverpool Daily Post 13 May 1955
^ Liverpool Daily Post 14 May 1954
^ Liverpool Daily Post 8 May 1953