1968 Hammersmith London Borough Council election

The 1968 Hammersmith Council election took place on 9 May 1968 to elect members of Hammersmith London Borough Council in London, England. The whole council was up for election and the Conservative Party gained overall control of the council.[1]

1968 Hammersmith Borough Council election
← 1964 9 May 1968 1971 →

All 60 seats to Hammersmith and Fulham London Borough Council
31 seats needed for a majority
Turnout39.1% (Increase7.1%)
  First party Second party Third party
  Blank Blank Blank
Party Conservative Labour Liberal
Seats before 6 54 0
Seats won 54 6 0
Seat change Increase48 Decrease48 Steady0
Percentage 58.2% 38.9% 2.3%
Swing Increase24.3% Decrease23.8% Decrease0.4%

Council control before election


Labour

Council control after election


Conservative

Background

edit

These took place at the height of the unpopularity of the Labour Government. In Hammersmith from 52 Labour, 7 Conservative and 1 Liberal councillors at the commencement of the election the Conservatives, masterminded by John Putnam and Seton Forbes-Cockell (both of whom were elected Aldermen), won in every ward except White City, with two sitting Labour Councillors in Margravine and one in Sherbrooke elected in split votes.

It is generally accepted that the Conservative Party in Hammersmith have never had as talented a group as in 1968. Of the newly elected councillors David Ashby and Patrick Ground went on to Parliament, Ben Patterson to the European Parliament, Christopher Horne fought and lost twice. Jack Rose, a popular local GP, was for many years the Chairman of the British branch of Gamblers Anonymous. The business experience of Stuart Leishman, Kim Howe, John Akerman, Paul Dwyer, Peter Fane and Sir George Bull, together with the above mentioned Aldermen led to a business renaissance in the borough, which was cut short by Ted Heath's appalling unpopularity in 1971, and the excellent organisation of Labour agent Leslie Hilliard CBE, which led to all but two - one of whom Reg Simmerson promptly resigned from the party - being defeated.

Sir Samuel Salmon, the Chairman of J Lyons and Co , then a major local employer, Seton Forbes-Cockell and Gordon Field - the last after an abrasive and divisive election - served as Mayors from 1968 to 1971; William Smith and John Putman subsequently returned to the Council and were also elected Mayors.

Others were not so successful; bankrupt builder John Duff disappeared within months of the election; ILEA representative Simon de Voghelaere faced similar financial trouble, and Nick Bryce-Smith subsequently became involved in the Bradstock Insurance scandal.

In April 1987 Joan Caruana, Mayor of Hammersmith, hosted a gathering attended by 44 former members, officers and others connected with the 1968-71 council; it was the last public appearance of Lord Stewart of Fulham.

Election result

edit

The Conservatives reversed the 1964 result winning 54 of the 60 seats, with 58% of the votes cast.[2]

Ward results

edit

Addison

edit
Addison (3)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Arthur Belsham 1,244 62.7%
Conservative Eleanor Belsham 1,223
Conservative Douglas Ward 1,192
Labour Ms P Alsten 708 35.7%
Labour P Martin 693
Labour A Braggins 693
Communist H Goulding 96 1.6%
Turnout 35.9%
Conservative gain from Labour Swing
Conservative gain from Labour Swing
Conservative gain from Labour Swing

Avonmore

edit
Avonmore (2)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Harold Branton Brightley 1,622 78.6%
Conservative Reg Simmerson 1,609
Labour I McCourt 443 21.4%
Labour F Foes 435
Turnout 39.9%
Conservative hold Swing
Conservative hold Swing

Broadway

edit
Broadway (3)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Sir George Bull 1,128 40.9%
Conservative Elizabeth Goodden 1,038
Conservative John Pearce Gould 1,020
Liberal Simon Knott 962 29.5%
Labour George Simpson 793 29.6%
Labour Mrs M Clarke 780
Labour C Howard 736
Liberal E Warren 683
Liberal R Groves 656
Turnout 44.5%
Conservative gain from Liberal Swing
Conservative gain from Labour Swing
Conservative gain from Labour Swing

Brook Green

edit
Brook Green (3)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Gavin Tait 1,533 64.7%
Conservative Gordon Field 1,521
Conservative Leslie Heading 1,520
Labour J Headington 845 35.3%
Labour R Philpot 845
Labour R Bowles 821
Turnout 39.6%
Conservative hold Swing
Conservative hold Swing
Conservative hold Swing

Colehill

edit
Colehill (2)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Kim Howe 1,056 58.4%
Conservative Molly Porter 1,021
Labour Mrs George Dimmick 705 39.4%
Labour George Dimmick 696
Communist G Hicks 78 2.2%
Turnout 40.3%
Conservative gain from Labour Swing
Conservative gain from Labour Swing

College Park & Old Oak

edit
College Park & Old Oak (3)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Rodney Bowler 937 53.6%
Conservative Francis Cherry 934
Conservative Kathy Boughton 911
Labour Frank Ing 818 46.4%
Labour M Silverman 799
Labour H Perlin 790
Turnout 30.2%
Conservative gain from Labour Swing
Conservative gain from Labour Swing
Conservative gain from Labour Swing

Coningham

edit
Coningham (3)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Irene York 852 55.5%
Conservative Henry Hammond 848
Conservative Tony Barker 840
Labour E Freeman 683 44.5%
Labour L Freeman 679
Labour M Havelka 676
Turnout 33.5%
Conservative gain from Labour Swing
Conservative gain from Labour Swing
Conservative gain from Labour Swing

Crabtree

edit
Crabtree (3)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Christopher Horne 2,223 64.7%
Conservative David Ashby 2,216
Conservative Delphine Joseph 2,209
Labour Frank Banfield 1,235 35.3%
Labour Elizabeth Sears 1,197
Labour J Evans 1,190
Turnout 44.8%
Conservative gain from Labour Swing
Conservative gain from Labour Swing
Conservative gain from Labour Swing

Gibbs Green

edit
Gibbs Green (3)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Margot James 1,769 69.9%
Conservative Cyril Arnold 1,760
Conservative Ben Patterson 1,760
Labour Collinson G.A. 780 30.1%
Labour Moodie E. Mrs 762
Labour Perlin p. Mrs 735
Turnout 38.3%
Conservative gain from Labour Swing
Conservative gain from Labour Swing
Conservative gain from Labour Swing

Grove

edit
Grove (3)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Christopher Gibbons 1,433 58.4%
Conservative George Boyce 1,422
Conservative Stuart Godwin 1,420
Labour Gosling E. R 1,026 41.6%
Labour Keppel F. E. 1,012
Labour Morris T. 1,010
Turnout 34.4%
Conservative gain from Labour Swing
Conservative gain from Labour Swing
Conservative gain from Labour Swing

Halford

edit
Halford (3)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Griffin W. E 1,197 54.9%
Conservative Jarvis M, M. Mrs 1,163
Conservative Commander Nigel Parkinson 1,154
Labour Dyer H. E. 942 43.2%
Labour Beckett J. C. 916
Labour Lashley R. T. 907
Communist Robson P. T. 117 1.8%
Turnout 38.0%
Conservative gain from Labour Swing
Conservative gain from Labour Swing
Conservative gain from Labour Swing

Margravine

edit
Margravine (3)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Jack Ireland 1,099 50.6%
Labour Eric Hill 1,087
Conservative Roger Holroyd 1,067 49.4%
Conservative Wearmouth W. H. 1,041
Labour Stanley L. W. 1,040
Conservative Emanuel I. M. Miss 1,039
Turnout 37.5%
Labour hold Swing
Labour hold Swing
Conservative gain from Labour Swing

Parsons Green

edit
Parsons Green (3)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative John Akerman 1,865 63.7%
Conservative Patrick Ground 1,858
Conservative Ann Paltridge 1,846
Labour Duff H.D. 1,028 34.7%
Labour King D. T. 1,012
Labour Little B. Mrs 995
Communist Birch C.B. 145 1.7%
Turnout 43.0%
Conservative gain from Labour Swing
Conservative gain from Labour Swing
Conservative gain from Labour Swing

St Stephen's

edit
St Stephen's (3)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Nick Bryce-Smith 970 59.5%
Conservative John Duff 942
Conservative Gabrielle Falkiner 931
Labour Jones L.S. 653 40.5%
Labour Brooker D, P, 646
Labour Hunt E.R. 634
Turnout 34.3%
Conservative gain from Labour Swing
Conservative gain from Labour Swing
Conservative gain from Labour Swing

Sandford

edit
Sandford (3)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Ernie Ibbott 1,282 50.8%
Conservative Terence Moody 1,238
Conservative Sheira Trehearne 1,224
Labour Browning J. M. 1,148 45.9%
Labour Cooper P. M. Miss 1,127
Labour Barton P.J. 1,109
Communist Boulton V. I. 238 3.2%
Turnout 38.0%
Conservative gain from Labour Swing
Conservative gain from Labour Swing
Conservative gain from Labour Swing

Sherbrooke

edit
Sherbrooke (2)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Jennifer Jane Godwin-Austen 830 49.5%
Labour Matthews S. A. 816 49.2%
Labour Hall M.A. 810
Conservative Burland W. J. 807
Communist Ritchie T.A. Mrs 42 1.3%
Turnout 38.6%
Conservative gain from Labour Swing
Labour hold Swing

Starch Green

edit
Starch Green (3)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative William Smith 1,849 68.7%
Conservative Perry P.C 1,841
Conservative Myra Sexton 1,832
Labour Johnson R. M. Mrs 850 31.3%
Labour Bull J.C. 834
Labour Coventry W. A. 834
Turnout 44.4%
Conservative gain from Labour Swing
Conservative gain from Labour Swing
Conservative hold Swing

Sulivan

edit
Sulivan (3)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Christine Wagner 1,681 56.0%
Conservative Caroline Ground 1,664
Conservative Simon De Voghelaere 1,650
Labour Liardet C. J. Mrs 1,334 44.0%
Labour Powell A. F. 1,316
Labour Wheeler T. 1,271
Turnout 43.2%
Conservative gain from Labour Swing
Conservative gain from Labour Swing
Conservative gain from Labour Swing

Town

edit
Town (3)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Paul Dwyer 1,735 61.5%
Conservative Peter Lilley 1,696
Conservative Peter Fane 1,688
Labour Gray I. 1,107 38.5%
Labour Cox T.M. 1,085
Labour Champion T. H. 1,019
Turnout 46.5%
Conservative gain from Labour Swing
Conservative gain from Labour Swing
Conservative gain from Labour Swing

White City

edit
White City (3)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Powell B. T. 850 46.3%
Labour Dr David Murrey 821
Labour Randolph Beresford 805
Conservative Sands C. T. 610 34.1%
Conservative Puckle A. C. 607
Conservative Lockey R.S. 604
Liberal Clark R.J. 330 18.1%
Liberal Coombes V. E. Mrs 323
Liberal Playle J. 316
Communist Gould J. 81 1.5%
Turnout 30.5%
Labour hold Swing
Labour hold Swing
Labour hold Swing

Wormholt

edit
Wormholt (3)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Dr Jack Rose 1,141 53.9%
Conservative Derek Carter 1,126
Conservative Arthur Simpson 1,060
Labour Ingram A.A. 973 46.1%
Labour Breeze A. G. 943
Labour Martin A. J. 933
Turnout 38.0%
Conservative gain from Labour Swing
Conservative gain from Labour Swing
Conservative gain from Labour Swing

References

edit
  1. ^ "London Borough Council Elections 9 May 1968" (PDF). London Datastore. Greater London Council. Retrieved 29 March 2015.
  2. ^ "London Borough Council Elections 13 May 1971" (PDF). London Datastore. London County Council.