1970 Greater London Council election

← 1967

9 April 1970

1973 →

100 councillors
51 seats needed for a majority

	First party	Second party

Leader	Desmond Plummer	Reg Goodwin
Party	Conservative	Labour
Leader since	1964	1967
Leader's seat	Westminster and the City of London	Southwark
Seats won	65	35
Seat change	17	17
Popular vote	971,227	766,271
Percentage	50.6%	39.9%
Swing	2.1%	5.9%

Results by electoral division

Leader before election

Desmond Plummer
Conservative Party

Leader after election

Desmond Plummer
Conservative Party

The third election to the Greater London Council was held on 9 April 1970 and saw a Conservative victory with a reduced majority.

Electoral arrangements

New constituencies to be used for elections to Parliament and also for elections to the GLC had not yet been settled, so the London boroughs were used as multi-member 'first past the post' electoral areas. Westminster was joined with the City of London for this purpose. Each electoral area returned between 2 and 4 councillors. Polling day was 9 April 1970, except in Hammersmith where it was delayed until 27 April 1970 because of the death of a candidate.

Results

General election of councillors

The Conservative Party won a majority of seats at the election.

With an electorate of 5,524,384, there was a turnout of 35.2%. Labour recovered from its mauling three years previously, but did so primarily in working-class areas. Consequently, relatively few seats changed hands: Labour won back Camden, Greenwich, Hammersmith, Lewisham, Wandsworth, and one seat in Lambeth. The results did enable Labour to take back control of the Inner London Education Authority and were one of the factors used by Prime Minister Harold Wilson in deciding to call a general election soon after.

Among those who were first elected to the GLC in 1970 were Tony Banks (Labour, Hammersmith, later Minister for Sport) and Sir George Young (Conservative, Ealing, later a cabinet minister under John Major). The election is also significant as it was at a meeting in support of the Conservative candidates in Lambeth that John Major met Norma Johnson, who became his wife.

Party		Votes			Seats
Party		Number	%	+/-	Stood	Seats	%	+/-
	Conservative	971,227	50.6	2.1	100	65	65.0	17
	Labour	766,272	39.9	5.9	100	35	35.0	17
	Liberal	103,838	5.4	3.4	100	0	0.0
	Communist	33,869	1.8	1.3	40	0	0.0
	Homes before Roads	23,854	1.2	New	85	0	0.0
	Union Movement	10,432	0.6	0.2	32	0	0.0
	Independent	6,450	0.3	0.3	9	0	0.0
	Socialist (GB)	1,656	0.1	0.1	14	0	0.0
	Independent Liberal	1,250	0.1	New	1	0	0.0
	John Hampden New Freedom Party	552	0.0	0.0	1	0	0.0
	New Liberal	438	0.0	New	3	0	0.0
	Movement for People's Democracy	405	0.0	New	1	0	0.0
	All Night Party / Bread and Circuses Party / Campaign for Non-Political Social Awareness	177	0.0	New	5	0	0.0

These parties were created by a group of students standing in Haringey, who declared that they intended to make a mockery of the election.

Aldermanic election

In addition to the 100 councillors, there were sixteen aldermen elected by the council. Eight aldermen elected in 1967 continued to serve until 1973 and eight elected in 1964 retired before the 1970 election. Eight aldermen were elected by the council on 28 April 1970 to serve until 1976.

Aldermen elected in 1970, to retire in 1976:

Party		Alderman
	Conservative	Frank Lewis Abbott
	Conservative	Francis Ernest Herman Bennett
	Conservative	Leslie Freeman
	Labour	Arthur James Hichisson
	Conservative	Thomas Ponsonby
	Labour	Reginald Prentice
	Conservative	Lena Townsend
	Conservative	Gerard Folliott Vaughan

The aldermen divided 11 Conservative and 5 Labour, so that the Conservatives had 76 members to 40 for Labour following the aldermanic election.

By-elections 1970–1973

Further information: List of Greater London Council by-elections

No seats changed hands in by-elections during this term. The Conservatives retained Kensington and Chelsea on 2 December 1971 after the death of Seton Forbes-Cockell, and Barnet on 19 October 1972 after the death of Arthur Peacock. Labour retained Wandsworth on 15 June 1972 after the death of Sir Norman Prichard. No seats were vacant at the end of the term.

There were three aldermanic by-elections caused by the resignations of David Gilbert Baker (Conservative), Brian Caldwell Cook Batsford (Conservative) and Christopher John Chataway (Conservative) in 1970. Three replacement aldermen were elected on 28 April 1970 (coinciding with the normal election of alderman). Ewan Geddes Carr (Labour), Illtyd Harrington (Labour) and William Watts (Labour) were elected, to serve until 1973.

Three further aldermanic by-elections were caused by the resignations of Reginald Ernest Prentice (Labour) in 1971, Timothy Charles Farmer (Labour) in 1971 and Gerard Folliott Vaughan (Conservative) in 1972. Alfred Frederick Joseph Chorley (Labour) was elected by the council on 4 May 1971, to serve until 1976. Bernard James Perkins (Labour) was elected by the council on 19 October 1971, to serve until 1973. Gordon William Herbert Taylor (Conservative) was elected by the council on 3 October 1972, to serve until 1976.

Notes

The term was extended to seven years by the London Councillors Order 1976 and aldermen elected in 1970 served until 1977.
Resigned 29 March 1971
Resigned 18 September 1972
The term was extended to 1977 by the London Councillors Order 1976
The term was extended to 1977 by the London Councillors Order 1976

References

Boothroyd, David. "GLC Election Results Summaries". United Kingdom Election Results. Archived from the original on 1 September 2018. Retrieved 2 September 2023.
"Greater London Council Election" (PDF). London Datastore. 9 April 1970. Archived from the original (PDF) on 22 August 2013. Retrieved 2 September 2023.

v t e Greater London Council
Elections	1964 1967 1970 1973 1977 1981 By-elections
Members	Chairmen Committee chairs Members
Leaderships	Bill Fiske Desmond Plummer Reg Goodwin Horace Cutler Ken Livingstone
Electoral divisions (1965–1973)	Barking Barnet Bexley Brent Bromley Camden Croydon Ealing Enfield Greenwich Hackney Hammersmith Haringey Harrow Havering Hillingdon Hounslow Islington Kensington and Chelsea Kingston upon Thames Lambeth Lewisham Merton Newham Redbridge Richmond upon Thames Southwark Sutton Tower Hamlets Waltham Forest Wandsworth Westminster and the City of London
Electoral divisions (1973–1986)	Acton Barking Battersea North Battersea South Beckenham Bermondsey Bethnal Green and Bow Bexleyheath Brent East Brent North Brent South Brentford and Isleworth Carshalton Chelsea Chingford Chipping Barnet Chislehurst City of London and Westminster South Croydon Central Croydon North East Croydon North West Croydon South Dagenham Deptford Dulwich Ealing North Edmonton Enfield North Erith and Crayford Feltham and Heston Finchley Fulham Greenwich Hackney Central Hackney North and Stoke Newington Hackney South and Shoreditch Hammersmith North Hampstead Harrow Central Harrow East Harrow West Hayes and Harlington Hendon North Hendon South Holborn and St Pancras South Hornchurch Hornsey Ilford North Ilford South Islington Central Islington North Islington South and Finsbury Kensington Kingston upon Thames Lambeth Central Lewisham East Lewisham West Leyton Mitcham and Morden Newham North East Newham North West Newham South Norwood Orpington Paddington Peckham Putney Ravensbourne Richmond Romford Ruislip-Northwood St Marylebone St Pancras North Sidcup Southall Southgate Stepney and Poplar Streatham Surbiton Sutton and Cheam Tooting Tottenham Twickenham Upminster Uxbridge Vauxhall Walthamstow Wanstead and Woodford Wimbledon Wood Green Woolwich East Woolwich West
Relevant legislation	London Government Act 1963 London Cab Act 1968 Port of London Act 1970 Greater London Council (General Powers) Act 1972 London Cab Act 1973 Greater London Council (General Powers) Act 1974 London Regional Transport Act 1984 London Regional Transport (Amendment) Act 1985 Local Government Act 1985
Other topics	County Hall Inner London Education Authority London Transport Executive

v t e Elections and referendums in London
Mayor of London	2000 2004 2008 2012 2016 2021 2024
London Assembly	2000 2004 2008 2012 2016 2021 2024
Inner London Education Authority	1986
Greater London Council	1964 1967 1970 1973 1977 1981
London County Council	1889 1892 1895 1898 1901 1904 1907 1910 1913 1919 1922 1925 1928 1931 1934 1937 1946 1949 1952 1955 1958 1961
Borough councils	1964 1968 1971 1974 1978 1982 1986 1990 1994 1998 2002 2006 2010 2014 2018 2022
Referendums	1998
See also Elections in London Boroughs Middlesex County Council elections

v t e Council elections in Greater London
Barking and Dagenham	1964 1968 1971 1974 1978 1982 1986 1990 1994 1998 2002 2006 2010 2014 2018 2022
Barnet	1964 1968 1971 1974 1978 1982 1986 1990 1994 1998 2002 2006 2010 2014 2018 2022
Bexley	1964 1968 1971 1974 1978 1982 1986 1990 1994 1998 2002 2006 2010 2014 2018 2022
Brent	1964 1968 1971 1974 1978 1982 1986 1990 1994 1998 2002 2006 2010 2014 2018 2022
Bromley	1964 1968 1971 1974 1978 1982 1986 1990 1994 1998 2002 2006 2010 2014 2018 2022
Camden	1964 1968 1971 1974 1978 1982 1986 1990 1994 1998 2002 2006 2010 2014 2018 2022
City of London	2001 2005 2009 2013 2017 2022 2025
Croydon	1964 1968 1971 1974 1978 1982 1986 1990 1994 1998 2002 2006 2010 2014 2018 2022
Ealing	1964 1968 1971 1974 1978 1982 1986 1990 1994 1998 2002 2006 2010 2014 2018 2022
Enfield	1964 1968 1971 1974 1978 1982 1986 1990 1994 1998 2002 2006 2010 2014 2018 2022
Greenwich	1964 1968 1971 1974 1978 1982 1986 1990 1994 1998 2002 2006 2010 2014 2018 2022
Hackney	1964 1968 1971 1974 1978 1982 1986 1990 1994 1998 2002 2006 2010 2014 2018 2022
Hammersmith and Fulham	1964 1968 1971 1974 1978 1982 1986 1990 1994 1998 2002 2006 2010 2014 2018 2022
Haringey	1964 1968 1971 1974 1978 1982 1986 1990 1994 1998 2002 2006 2010 2014 2018 2022
Harrow	1964 1968 1971 1974 1978 1982 1986 1990 1994 1998 2002 2006 2010 2014 2018 2022
Havering	1964 1968 1971 1974 1978 1982 1986 1990 1994 1998 2002 2006 2010 2014 2018 2022
Hillingdon	1964 1968 1971 1974 1978 1982 1986 1990 1994 1998 2002 2006 2010 2014 2018 2022
Hounslow	1964 1968 1971 1974 1978 1982 1986 1990 1994 1998 2002 2006 2010 2014 2018 2022
Islington	1964 1968 1971 1974 1978 1982 1986 1990 1994 1998 2002 2006 2010 2014 2018 2022
Kensington and Chelsea	1964 1968 1971 1974 1978 1982 1986 1990 1994 1998 2002 2006 2010 2014 2018 2022
Kingston upon Thames	1964 1968 1971 1974 1978 1982 1986 1990 1994 1998 2002 2006 2010 2014 2018 2022
Lambeth	1964 1968 1971 1974 1978 1982 1986 1990 1994 1998 2002 2006 2010 2014 2018 2022
Lewisham	1964 1968 1971 1974 1978 1982 1986 1990 1994 1998 2002 2006 2010 2014 2018 2022
Merton	1964 1968 1971 1974 1978 1982 1986 1990 1994 1998 2002 2006 2010 2014 2018 2022
Newham	1964 1968 1971 1974 1978 1982 1986 1990 1994 1998 2002 2006 2010 2014 2018 2022
Redbridge	1964 1968 1971 1974 1978 1982 1986 1990 1994 1998 2002 2006 2010 2014 2018 2022
Richmond upon Thames	1964 1968 1971 1974 1978 1982 1986 1990 1994 1998 2002 2006 2010 2014 2018 2022
Southwark	1964 1968 1971 1974 1978 1982 1986 1990 1994 1998 2002 2006 2010 2014 2018 2022
Sutton	1964 1968 1971 1974 1978 1982 1986 1990 1994 1998 2002 2006 2010 2014 2018 2022
Tower Hamlets	1964 1968 1971 1974 1978 1982 1986 1990 1994 1998 2002 2006 2010 2014 2018 2022
Waltham Forest	1964 1968 1971 1974 1978 1982 1986 1990 1994 1998 2002 2006 2010 2014 2018 2022
Wandsworth	1964 1968 1971 1974 1978 1982 1986 1990 1994 1998 2002 2006 2010 2014 2018 2022
Westminster	1964 1968 1971 1974 1978 1982 1986 1990 1994 1998 2002 2006 2010 2014 2018 2022
Greater London	1964 1967 1970 1973 1977 1981
See also: London-wide elections Wards Boundary changes

v t e (1969 ←) 1970 United Kingdom local elections (→ 1971)
Unicameral area	Greater London
County councils (England)	Bedfordshire Berkshire Buckinghamshire Cambridgeshire and Isle of Ely Cheshire Cornwall Cumberland Derbyshire Devon Dorset Durham East Riding East Suffolk East Sussex Essex Gloucestershire Hampshire Herefordshire Hertfordshire Holland Huntingdon and Peterborough Isle of Wight Kent Kesteven Lancashire Leicestershire Lindsey Norfolk North Riding Northamptonshire Northumberland Nottinghamshire Oxfordshire Rutland Shropshire Somerset Staffordshire Surrey Warwickshire West Riding West Suffolk West Sussex Westmorland Wiltshire Worcestershire
County councils (Scotland)	Aberdeenshire Angus Argyllshire Ayrshire Banffshire Berwickshire Buteshire Caithness Clackmannanshire Dumfriesshire Dunbartonshire East Lothian Fife Inverness-shire Kincardineshire Kinross-shire Kirkcudbrightshire Lanarkshire Midlothian Moray Nairnshire Peeblesshire Perthshire Orkney Renfrewshire Ross and Cromarty Roxburghshire Selkirkshire Stirlingshire Sutherland West Lothian Wigtownshire Zetland
County councils (Wales}	Anglesey Brecknockshire Carnarvonshire Cardiganshire Carmarthenshire Denbighshire Flintshire Glamorganshire Merionethshire Monmouthshire Montgomeryshire Pembrokeshire Radnorshire
City corporations	Aberdeen Dundee Edinburgh Glasgow
County boroughs	Cardiff Newport Swansea
See also: UK General election

Categories: