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
9 May 1968
All 60 seats to Hammersmith and Fulham London Borough Council
31 seats needed for a majority
Turnout39.1% (7.1%)
  First party Second party Third party
 
Party Conservative Labour Liberal
Seats before 6 54 0
Seats won 54 6 0
Seat change 48 48 0
Percentage 58.2% 38.9% 2.3%
Swing 24.3% 23.8% 0.4%
Council control before election


Labour

 Council control after election


Conservative

Background

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 for 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 later after an abrasive and divisive election - served as Mayors from 1968-1971; 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

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

Ward results

Addison
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
Crabtree (3)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Christopher Horne 2,203 64.7%
Conservative David Ashby 2,216
Conservative Delphine Joseph 2,209
Labour Frank Banfield 1235 35.3%
Labour Elizabeth Sears 1197
Labour J Evans 1190
Turnout 44.8%
Conservative gain from Labour Swing
Conservative gain from Labour Swing
Conservative gain from Labour Swing

Gibbs Green
Gibbs Green (3)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative James M. Mrs 1,769 69.9%
Conservative Arnold C.E 1,760
Conservative Patterson G. B. 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
Grove (3)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Gibbons C. 1,433 58.4%
Conservative Boyce G.A. 1,422
Conservative Godwin S.R. 1,420
Labour Gosling E. R 1026 41.6%
Labour Keppel F. E. 1012
Labour Morris T. 1010
Turnout 34.4%
Conservative gain from Labour Swing
Conservative gain from Labour Swing
Conservative gain from Labour Swing

Halford
Halford (3)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Griffin W. E 1,197 54.9%
Conservative Jarvis M, M. Mrs 1,163
Conservative Parkinson N. G. Cdr 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
Margravine (3)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Ireland J.J. 1,099 50.6%
Labour Hill E.L. 1,087
Conservative Holroyd R. 1,067 49.4%
Conservative Wearmouth W. H. 1041
Labour Stanley L. W. 1040
Conservative Emanuel I. M. Miss 1039
Turnout 37.5%
Labour hold Swing
Labour hold Swing
Conservative gain from Labour Swing

Parsons Green
Parsons Green (3)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Akerman J. F. 1,865 63.7%
Conservative Ground R. 1,858
Conservative Paltridge A. Miss 1,846
Labour Duff H.D. 1028 34.7%
Labour King D. T. 1012
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
St Stephen's (3)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Bryce-Smith N. 970 59.5%
Conservative Duff J. 942
Conservative Falkiner G. M. Mrs 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
Sandford (3)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Ibbott E. C. 1,282 50.8%
Conservative Moody T. 1,238
Conservative Trehearne S. Mrs 1,224
Labour Browning J. M. 1148 45.9%
Labour Cooper P. M. Miss 1127
Labour Barton P.J. 1109
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
Sherbrooke (2)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Godwin-Austen J.J. Mrs 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
Starch Green (3)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Smith W.C. 1,849 68.7%
Conservative Perry P.C 1,841
Conservative Sexton M. E. Mrs 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
Sulivan (3)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Wagner C. M. Miss 1,681 56.0%
Conservative Ground C. Mrs 1,664
Conservative De Voghelaere S. H. 1,650
Labour Liardet C. J. Mrs 1334 44.0%
Labour Powell A. F. 1316
Labour Wheeler T. 1271
Turnout 43.2%
Conservative gain from Labour Swing
Conservative gain from Labour Swing
Conservative gain from Labour Swing

Town
Town (3)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Dwyer P.G. 1,735 61.5%
Conservative Lilley S. F. 1,696
Conservative Fane P.W. 1,688
Labour Gray I. 1107 38.5%
Labour Cox T.M. 1085
Labour Champion T. H. 1019
Turnout 46.5%
Conservative gain from Labour Swing
Conservative gain from Labour Swing
Conservative gain from Labour Swing

White City
White City (3)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Powell B. T. 850 46.3%
Labour Murrey D.R. 821
Labour Beresford R. 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
Wormholt (3)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Rose J.H. Dr 1,141 53.9%
Conservative Carter D. 1,126
Conservative Simpson A.W. 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
  1. "London Borough Council Elections 9 May 1968" (PDF). London Datastore. Greater London Council. Retrieved 29 March 2015.
  2. https://londondatastore-upload.s3.amazonaws.com/docs/LBCE_1971-5-13.pdf
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