1981 English local election
1981 Lancashire County Council Election
← 1977
7 May 1981 (1981-05-07)
1985 →
All 99 seats on Lancashire County Council 50 seats needed for a majority
First party
Second party
Third party
Party
Labour
Conservative
Liberal
Last election
12 seats, 28.0 %
83 seats, 61.7 %
1 seat, 6.8 %
Seats after
53
38
6
Seat change
41
45
5
Popular vote
191,885
184,410
42,304
Percentage
44.4 %
42.7 %
9.8 %
Swing
16.4 ppt
19.0 ppt
3.0 ppt
Elections were held to Lancashire County Council as part of the wider 1981 United Kingdom local elections and under new division boundaries. Any multi-member wards were abolished and each of 99 wards returned one councillor in this election. The election saw a significant Labour recovery from the previous, along with a Conservative fall, leading Labour to gain control of the council for the first time in its history.
Results
1981 Lancashire County Council elections
Party
This election
Full council
This election
Seats
Net
Seats %
Other
Total
Total %
Votes
Votes %
+/−
Labour
53
41
53.5
53
53.5
191,885
44.4
16.4
Conservative
38
45
38.4
38
38.4
184,410
42.7
19.0
Liberal
6
5
6.1
6
6.1
42,304
9.8
3.0
Residents
2
2
2.0
2
2.0
8,347
1.9
1.7
Independent
0
0
0
0
3,824
0.9
0.2
Workers Revolutionary
0
NEW
0
0
0
473
0.1
NEW
Green
0
NEW
0
0
0
369
0.1
NEW
SDP
0
NEW
0
0
0
357
0.1
NEW
National Front
0
0
0
0
109
0.0
1.7
Communist
0
0
0
0
85
0.0
2.4
Ward Results
Accrington Central
Party
Candidate
Votes
%
±%
Labour
C. Westall
1,950
66.6
N/A'"`UNIQ−−ref−00000012−QINU`"'
Conservative
W. Parkinson
621
21.2
SDP
J. Pickup
357
12.2
Majority
1329
45.4
Accrington South
Party
Candidate
Votes
%
±%
Labour
D. Keeley
2,522
61.0
Conservative
M. Martin
1613
39.0
Majority
909
22.0
Alexandra & Victoria
Party
Candidate
Votes
%
±%
Labour
P. Hall
1,973
57.2
Conservative
K. Hancock
1476
42.8
Majority
497
14.4
Amounderness
Party
Candidate
Votes
%
±%
Conservative
E. Mallalieu
1,982
53.7
Labour
W. Jones
1227
33.2
Liberal
D. Penswick
484
13.1
Majority
755
20.4
Bacup
Party
Candidate
Votes
%
±%
Labour
P. Navin
2,471
56.4
Conservative
D. Wood
1911
43.6
Majority
560
12.8
Bank Top & Brookhouse
Party
Candidate
Votes
%
±%
Labour
L. Proos
3,161
84.0
Conservative
D. Harwood
604
16.0
Majority
2557
67.9
Billinge & Revidge
Party
Candidate
Votes
%
±%
Conservative
D. Murray
2,498
67.0
Labour
S. Harrington
1229
33.0
Majority
1269
34.0
Bispham & Ingthorpe
Party
Candidate
Votes
%
±%
Conservative
T. Percival
2,071
46.9
Labour
D. Wheeldon
1664
37.7
Liberal
M. Cotton
679
15.4
Majority
407
9.2
Brownhill & Pleckgate
Party
Candidate
Votes
%
±%
Labour
M. Higginson
2,071
43.1
Conservative
T. Marsden
1880
39.2
Liberal
F. Beetham
850
17.7
Majority
191
4.0
Brunswick & Claremont
Party
Candidate
Votes
%
±%
Labour
E. Kirton
2,561
61.6
Conservative
M. Smith
1596
38.4
Majority
965
23.2
Burnley Central East
Party
Candidate
Votes
%
±%
Labour
F. Booth
3,420
76.5
Conservative
L. Bullock
1051
23.5
Majority
2369
53.0
Burnley Central West
Party
Candidate
Votes
%
±%
Labour
J. Maekin
2,938
57.2
Conservative
M. Tate
2194
42.8
Majority
744
14.5
Burnley North East
Party
Candidate
Votes
%
±%
Labour
I. Cooney
2,809
52.5
Conservative
F. Brown
1514
28.3
Liberal
J. Davey
1030
19.2
Majority
1295
24.2
Burnley Rural
Party
Candidate
Votes
%
±%
Labour
C. Platt
2,469
53.3
Conservative
J. Wyld
2165
46.7
Majority
304
6.6
Burnley West
Party
Candidate
Votes
%
±%
Labour
J. Entwistle
2,883
53.1
Conservative
J. Brown
2546
46.9
Majority
337
6.2
Cathedral & Green Bank
Party
Candidate
Votes
%
±%
Labour
H. White
3,119
83.4
Conservative
M. Tappenden-Cousins
619
16.6
Majority
2500
66.9
Chorley East
Party
Candidate
Votes
%
±%
Labour
D. Yates
2,918
61.2
Conservative
A. Crompton
1348
28.3
Liberal
C. Jones
503
10.5
Majority
1570
32.9
Chorley North
Party
Candidate
Votes
%
±%
Conservative
J. Glynn
1,777
44.7
Labour
R. Hubbold
1486
37.4
Liberal
F. Wilson
708
17.8
Majority
291
7.3
Chorley Rural East
Party
Candidate
Votes
%
±%
Conservative
M. Case
2,362
49.3
Labour
J. Nuttall
1688
35.3
Liberal
R. Yates
583
12.2
Green
E. Coulston
155
3.2
Majority
674
14.1
Chorley Rural West
Party
Candidate
Votes
%
±%
Conservative
J. Moorcroft
2,734
61.0
Labour
L. Fishman
1750
39.0
Majority
984
21.9
Chorley West
Party
Candidate
Votes
%
±%
Labour
P. Deady
3,704
72.6
Conservative
S. Freeland
1395
27.4
Majority
2309
45.3
Church & Accrington North
Party
Candidate
Votes
%
±%
Labour
L. Dickinson
3,105
62.3
Conservative
H. Taylor
1879
37.7
Majority
1226
24.6
Cleveleys
Party
Candidate
Votes
%
±%
Conservative
F. Townend
2,346
64.9
Labour
S. Delaney
809
22.4
Liberal
J. Simpson
460
12.7
Majority
1537
42.5
Clifton & Marton
Party
Candidate
Votes
%
±%
Labour
J. Turton
2,401
54.2
Conservative
J. Metcalf
2029
45.8
Majority
372
8.4
Clitheroe
Party
Candidate
Votes
%
±%
Conservative
C. Chatburn
1,780
41.9
Labour
W. Maunders
1297
30.5
Liberal
C. Hopwood
1170
27.5
Majority
483
11.4
Colne
Party
Candidate
Votes
%
±%
Liberal
A. Greaves
2,739
48.1
Conservative
A. Fraser
1545
27.2
Labour
H. Simpson
1406
24.7
Majority
1194
21.0
Darwen South & Turton
Party
Candidate
Votes
%
±%
Liberal
C. Grills
2,229
57.4
Conservative
W. Birch
1654
42.6
Majority
575
14.8
Earcroft & West Rural
Party
Candidate
Votes
%
±%
Conservative
A. Bland
1,786
53.8
Labour
A. Emery
1536
46.2
Majority
250
7.5
Ewood & Higher Croft
Party
Candidate
Votes
%
±%
Labour
J. Bury
2,714
78.1
Conservative
P. Hough
762
21.9
Majority
1952
56.2
Foxhall & Talbot
Party
Candidate
Votes
%
±%
Labour
E. Allcock
1,493
46.3
Conservative
J. Battersby
1301
40.3
Liberal
C. Penswick
431
13.4
Majority
192
6.0
Fylde West
Party
Candidate
Votes
%
±%
Conservative
G. Bradley
1,997
57.1
Independent
G. Bamber
1034
29.6
Labour
L. Dixon
464
13.3
Majority
963
27.6
Garstang
Party
Candidate
Votes
%
±%
Conservative
M. Fitzherbert-Brockholes
2,728
68.9
Liberal
J. Busby
825
20.8
Labour
B. Moreland
406
10.3
Majority
1903
48.1
Great Harwood
Party
Candidate
Votes
%
±%
Labour
G. Slynn
2,433
56.1
Conservative
J. Hall
1904
43.9
Majority
529
12.2
Greenlands & Warbreck
Party
Candidate
Votes
%
±%
Conservative
R. Jacobs
1,842
45.9
Liberal
A. Heyworth
1117
27.8
Labour
J. Readman
951
23.7
Green
M. Palmer
105
2.6
Majority
725
18.1
Haslingden
Party
Candidate
Votes
%
±%
Labour
G. Hatton
3,346
54.4
Conservative
G. Woodcock
2805
45.6
Majority
541
8.8
Hawes Side & Tyldesley
Party
Candidate
Votes
%
±%
Labour
J. McCrae
2,090
52.8
Conservative
H. Hunt
1868
47.2
Majority
222
5.6
Hesketh
Party
Candidate
Votes
%
±%
Labour
J. Aspden
2,482
54.1
Conservative
E. Funk
1412
30.8
Liberal
J. Rogers
696
15.2
Majority
1070
23.3
Heysham
Party
Candidate
Votes
%
±%
Conservative
R. Quick
2,296
43.4
Labour
A. Garbett
2022
38.3
Liberal
H. Steel
967
18.3
Majority
274
5.2
Highfield & Stanley
Party
Candidate
Votes
%
±%
Labour
F. Jackson
1,907
51.4
Conservative
G. Heap
1800
48.6
Majority
107
2.9
Hillhouse
Party
Candidate
Votes
%
±%
Conservative
C. Ashworth
2,018
48.6
Labour
W. Goldsmith
1752
42.2
Liberal
N. Scullion
378
9.1
Majority
266
6.4
Lancaster City
Party
Candidate
Votes
%
±%
Labour
R. Clark
2,312
57.6
Conservative
D. Skyes
1699
42.4
Majority
613
15.3
Lancaster East
Party
Candidate
Votes
%
±%
Labour
R. Henig
3,221
69.7
Conservative
A. Morris
1401
30.3
Majority
1820
39.4
Lancaster Rural Central
Party
Candidate
Votes
%
±%
Conservative
W. Brown
2,223
56.4
Liberal
R. Fenton
1200
30.5
Labour
S. Robertson
516
13.1
Majority
1023
26.0
Lancaster Rural North
Party
Candidate
Votes
%
±%
Conservative
M. Bates
2,266
53.5
Liberal
P. Wooff
1130
26.7
Labour
R. Rye
837
19.8
Majority
1136
26.8
Lancaster Rural South
Party
Candidate
Votes
%
±%
Conservative
P. Entwistle
2,123
40.5
Liberal
D. Hardy
1603
30.6
Labour
J. Yates
1517
28.9
Majority
1136
26.8
Longridge
Party
Candidate
Votes
%
±%
Conservative
D. Coulston
3,080
72.7
Labour
D. Roebuck
1154
27.3
Majority
1926
45.5
Morecambe East
Party
Candidate
Votes
%
±%
Conservative
G. Robinson
2,833
65.5
Labour
J. O'Donnell
1492
34.5
Majority
1341
31.0
Morecambe West
Party
Candidate
Votes
%
±%
Labour
D. Stanley
2,139
51.9
Conservative
K. Brook
1985
48.1
Majority
154
3.7
Nelson
Party
Candidate
Votes
%
±%
Labour
J. French
3,499
63.4
Conservative
D. Rigby
1197
21.7
Liberal
P. Berry
823
14.9
Majority
2302
41.7
Ormskirk
Party
Candidate
Votes
%
±%
Conservative
H. Ballance
2,578
53.6
Labour
A. Williams
2234
46.4
Majority
344
7.1
Oswaldtwistle
Party
Candidate
Votes
%
±%
Labour
E. Neville
2,112
47.4
Conservative
T. Renshaw
1940
43.6
Independent
I. Marsden
401
9.0
Majority
172
3.9
Pendle East
Party
Candidate
Votes
%
±%
Liberal
W. Sargeant
2,004
47.0
Conservative
W. Blackham
1452
34.0
Labour
R. Dobney
809
19.0
Majority
552
12.9
Pendle South
Party
Candidate
Votes
%
±%
Labour
N. Taylor
3,034
51.3
Liberal
J. White
1568
26.5
Conservative
C. Kemp
1314
22.2
Majority
1466
24.8
Pendle West
Party
Candidate
Votes
%
±%
Conservative
K. Sumner-Clough
2,407
49.7
Labour
K. Shore
1675
34.6
Liberal
D. Hewitt
759
15.7
Majority
732
15.1
Preston Central East
Party
Candidate
Votes
%
±%
Labour
D. Nelson
3,374
72.0
Conservative
G. Wilkins
1311
28.0
Majority
2063
44.0
Preston Central West
Party
Candidate
Votes
%
±%
Labour
I. Short
2,081
44.0
Conservative
J. McGrath
2063
43.6
Liberal
J. Hanney
585
12.4
Majority
18
0.4
Preston East
Party
Candidate
Votes
%
±%
Labour
J. Farrington
3,558
76.7
Conservative
P. Worrall
1079
23.3
Majority
2479
53.5
Preston North
Party
Candidate
Votes
%
±%
Conservative
M. Horam
2,473
62.0
Liberal
B. Moore
872
21.9
Labour
A. Richardson
643
16.1
Majority
1601
40.1
Preston Rural East
Party
Candidate
Votes
%
±%
Conservative
T. Croft
3,441
75.6
Labour
Oldcorn H.
1108
24.4
Majority
2333
51.3
Preston Rural West
Party
Candidate
Votes
%
±%
Conservative
P. Clegg
2,066
48.1
Labour
H. Parker
1149
26.8
Liberal
J. Wright
1078
25.1
Majority
917
21.4
Preston South West
Party
Candidate
Votes
%
±%
Labour
F. McGrath
2,948
62.0
Conservative
E. Kerr
1016
21.4
Liberal
P. Hulse
794
16.7
Majority
1932
40.6
Preston West
Party
Candidate
Votes
%
±%
Labour
G. Higney
2,329
48.1
Conservative
A. Scarsbrook
1729
35.7
Liberal
A. Carmichael
786
16.2
Majority
600
12.4
Queens Park & Shadsworth
Party
Candidate
Votes
%
±%
Labour
E. Smith
2,439
70.6
Liberal
H. Dickinson
531
15.4
Conservative
A. Salmon
485
14.0
Majority
1908
55.2
Ribble Valley North East
Party
Candidate
Votes
%
±%
Conservative
J. Watson
3,163
74.4
Labour
A. Barton
1090
25.6
Majority
2073
48.7
Ribble Valley South West
Party
Candidate
Votes
%
±%
Conservative
G. Nickson
2,413
68.0
Labour
D. Alber
589
16.6
Independent
F. Ellis
546
15.4
Majority
1824
51.4
Rishton Clayton Altham
Party
Candidate
Votes
%
±%
Labour
S. Mercer
2,351
50.1
Conservative
P. Galbraith
2341
49.9
Majority
10
0.2
Rossendale East
Party
Candidate
Votes
%
±%
Labour
P. Coward
2,340
54.9
Conservative
A. King
1919
45.1
Majority
421
9.9
Rossendale West
Party
Candidate
Votes
%
±%
Labour
G. Bland
2,938
56.9
Conservative
M. Ingham
2227
43.1
Majority
711
13.8
Skelmersdale East
Party
Candidate
Votes
%
±%
Labour
J. Prunty
2,709
59.5
Conservative
T. Baxter
1761
38.7
Communist
T. Aldridge
85
1.9
Majority
948
20.8
Skelmersdale West
Party
Candidate
Votes
%
±%
Labour
C. Cheetham
2,690
81.8
Conservative
S. Huyton
598
18.2
Majority
2092
63.6
Skerton
Party
Candidate
Votes
%
±%
Labour
E. Jones
3,271
68.1
Conservative
J. Taylor
1531
31.9
Majority
1740
36.2
South Ribble Central
Party
Candidate
Votes
%
±%
Labour
M. Lyons
1,854
54.2
Conservative
R. Charnley
1568
45.8
Majority
286
8.4
South Ribble East
Party
Candidate
Votes
%
±%
Labour
T. Sharratt
2,029
53.3
Conservative
R. Welham
1781
46.7
Majority
248
6.5
South Ribble North
Party
Candidate
Votes
%
±%
Labour
G. Davies
2,501
52.8
Conservative
G. Woods
2232
47.2
Majority
269
5.7
South Ribble North West
Party
Candidate
Votes
%
±%
Conservative
W. Winn
2,987
68.7
Labour
D. King
1359
31.3
Majority
1628
37.5
South Ribble South West
Party
Candidate
Votes
%
±%
Labour
J. Haigh
3,448
67.2
Conservative
R. Smith
891
17.4
Liberal
D. Golden
795
15.5
Majority
2557
58.9
South Ribble West
Party
Candidate
Votes
%
±%
Conservative
J. Jenksinson
2,080
59.3
Liberal
M. Roper
982
28.0
Labour
G. Nicholson
446
12.7
Majority
1098
31.3
Squires Gate & Waterloo
Party
Candidate
Votes
%
±%
Conservative
D. Hanson
2,191
65.6
Labour
G. Cotton
1147
34.4
Majority
1044
31.3
Sudell & Sunnyhurst
Party
Candidate
Votes
%
±%
Liberal
P. Browne
1,719
44.3
Labour
G. Toole
1267
33.4
Conservative
R. Wood
808
21.3
Majority
452
11.9
West Craven
Party
Candidate
Votes
%
±%
Liberal
D. Whipp
2,904
42.4
Conservative
J. Maisey
2137
31.2
Labour
R. Macsween
1813
26.5
Majority
767
11.2
West Lancashire East
Party
Candidate
Votes
%
±%
Conservative
J. Aspinwall
3,165
62.7
Labour
R. Lennon
1881
37.3
Majority
1284
25.4
West Lancashire North
Party
Candidate
Votes
%
±%
Conservative
S. Taylor
2,899
73.1
Labour
P. Wynn
1066
26.9
Majority
1833
46.2
West Lancashire South
Party
Candidate
Votes
%
±%
Conservative
R. Kirby
2,889
77.6
Labour
B. Brown
833
22.4
Majority
2056
55.2
Whitworth
Party
Candidate
Votes
%
±%
Labour
E. Kershaw
2,120
51.5
Conservative
M. Crabtree
1998
48.5
Majority
122
3.0
Wyre Side
Party
Candidate
Votes
%
±%
Conservative
D. Elletson
2,523
56.1
Liberal
L. Moat
1574
35.0
Labour
H. Brooke
401
8.9
Majority
949
21.1
Notes
Includes alternate independent labels: Independent ratepayers' , independent social democrat , independent conservative .
As Ecology Party.
Boundary changes.
References
The County of Lancashire (Electoral Arrangements) Order 1981 S.I. 1981/43
External links
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