1983 Cardiff City Council election

The 1983 Cardiff City Council election was held on Thursday 5 May 1983 to the district council known as Cardiff City Council, in Cardiff, South Glamorgan, Wales. It took place on the same day as other district council elections in Wales and England. The Conservative Party regained control of the council from the Labour Party.[1]

The previous Cardiff City Council took place in 1979 and the next full elections took place in 1987. [2]

Ward changes

This was the first election to be affected by the changes resulting from The City of Cardiff (Electoral Arrangements) Order 1982.[3] Boundaries were redrawn and the number of electoral wards increased from 21 to 26, with a reduction in the numbers of councillors elected per ward. New wards of Butetown, Caerau, Cyncoed, Fairwater, Heath, Lisvane and St Mellons, Llandaff North, Llanrumney, Pentwyn, Radyr & St Fagans, Trowbridge and Whitchurch & Tongwynlais were introduced. The number of councillors reduced overall from 75 to 65.[2]

Overview

Labour had been in control of the council for the previous four years, but at the 1983 election the Conservatives regained control. With 34 councillors, they had an overall majority of three.[1] Winning only three seats, the SDP-Liberal Alliance did not perform as well as they expected.[4]

Labour blamed the ward boundary changes for the outcome. The former Labour council leader, Cllr John Reynolds, suggested it was a good performance, considering the number of council seats available had been reduced particularly in Labour voting areas.[1] The Alliance failed to win seats in wards such as Gabalfa and blamed this on UK politics dominating the contest (with a possible general election on the horizon).[1] The new Conservative council leader, Cllt Ron Watkiss, pledged to use the Tory majority to put some of the council's services out to private contractors.[1]

The next designated next Lord Mayor, Olwen Watkin and her designated deputy, Stan James, came top of the poll in Plasnewydd. Alliance husband and wife team, Mike German and Georgette German, won seats in neighbouring wards.[4] Eileen Roberts, recently widowed by the death of Conservative MP Michael Roberts, won a council seat in Rhiwbina.[1]

Cardiff Council election result 1983[2]
Party Seats Gains Losses Net gain/loss Seats % Votes % Votes +/−
  Conservative 34 19 3 +16 52.3
  Labour 28 13 6 +7 43.0
  Alliance 3 3 0 +3 4.6
  Plaid Cymru 0 0 0 ±0.0 0.0 4,037
  Ecology 0 0 0 ±0.0 0.0 1,661 N/A
  Communist 0 0 0 ±0.0 0.0 214

Ward Results

Contests took place in all twenty six wards.[2](a)[5](b)

Adamsdown (2 seats)
Adamsdown[5][2]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour J. A. Phillips 1,063 61.8 N/A
Labour William P. Herbert * 1,062
Conservative W. Lewis 400 23.3 N/A
Conservative A. L. Kelly 391
Alliance A. Miles 178 10.3 N/A
Alliance H. Minor 173
Plaid Cymru Sian A. Edwards 79 4.6 N/A
Plaid Cymru Gwerfyl Arthur 47
Turnout 30.6 N/A
Registered electors 5,626
Labour hold Swing
Labour hold Swing

Butetown (1 seat)
Butetown[2]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Gaynor A. Legall 870 77.6 N/A
Conservative L. J. Day 251 22.4 N/A
Turnout 46.2 N/A
Registered electors 2,427
Labour win (new seat)

Caerau (2 seats)
Caerau[5][2]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour W. H. Carling o 1,462 54.6 N/A
Labour David J. Seligman o 1,237
Conservative A. H. Hinder 658 24.6 N/A
Conservative F. C. McAndrews 571
Alliance J. R. Blain 364 13.6 N/A
Ecology G. P. Jones 195 7.3 N/A
Turnout 35.7 N/A
Registered electors 7,501
Labour win (new seat)
Labour win (new seat)

Canton (3 seats)
Canton[2]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative A. S. Brown * 2,530 50.8 N/A
Conservative D. O. Davey 2,215
Conservative Trevor C. Tyrrell 2,170
Labour C. D. Eccles 1,637 32.9 N/A
Labour Mark Drakeford 1,600
Labour J. Winslade 1,549
Alliance M. Lawson 599 12.0 N/A
Alliance G. Shepherd 546
Alliance W. M. Smith 534
Plaid Cymru Keith Parry 212 4.3 N/A
Plaid Cymru Peter J. Keelan 147
Turnout 47.5 N/A
Registered electors 10,484
Conservative hold Swing
Conservative gain from Labour Swing
Conservative gain from Labour Swing

Cathays (3 seats)
Cathays[5][2]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Alliance Michael J. German 1,742 36.9 N/A
Alliance Fred J. Hornblow 1,639
Labour Derek R. Allinson * 1,531 32.4 N/A
Alliance D. W. T. Rees 1,524
Labour M. F. Harris 1,496
Labour W. C. Laing 1,335
Conservative F. Moorcraft 961 20.4 N/A
Conservative S. Phillips 909
Conservative E. Robinson 861
Plaid Cymru Owen John Thomas 261 5.5 N/A
Ecology K. J. Pearson 225 4.8
Turnout 45.7 N/A
Registered electors 10,321
Alliance gain from Labour Swing
Alliance gain from Labour Swing
Labour hold Swing

Cyncoed (3 seats)
Cyncoed[2]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative R. A. Hennessey o 2,977 62.1 N/A
Conservative A. John o 2,957
Conservative Stefan Terlezki o 2,926
Alliance J. A. Bryant 1,335 27.8 N/A
Alliance P. J. D. Bramall 1,308
Alliance G. S. Sagoo 1,556
Labour P. J. Williams 483 10.1 N/A
Labour A. R. Lipman 468
Labour M. J. Parkinson 460
Turnout 55.6 N/A
Registered electors 8,624
Conservative win (new seat)
Conservative win (new seat)
Conservative win (new seat)

Ely (3 seats)
Ely[2]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour A. Buttle * 2,083 66.9 N/A
Labour M. Buttle * 1,926
Labour Charlie Gale * 1,904
Conservative H. Derrick 1,031 33.1 N/A
Conservative B. Sullivan 1,007
Conservative J. Bushrod 980
Turnout 28.8 N/A
Registered electors 10,826
Labour hold Swing
Labour hold Swing
Labour hold Swing

Fairwater (3 seats)
Fairwater[5][2]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour T. J. Ward o 1,845 46.5 N/A
Labour M. J. Phillips o 1,807
Labour D. M. Evans o 1,685
Conservative B. Hall 1,452 36.6 N/A
Conservative M. A. Hallinan 1,324
Conservative F. B. Bowles 1,317
Alliance D. A. Griffin 669 16.9 N/A
Alliance Jacqueline A. Gasson 500
Turnout 38.7 N/A
Registered electors 10,253
Labour hold Swing
Labour hold Swing
Labour hold Swing

Gabalfa (1 seat)
Gabalfa[2]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour C. Hutchinson 929 40.0 N/A
Alliance H. J. O'Brien 766 32.9 N/A
Conservative J. R. Turner 630 27.1 N/A
Turnout 49.0 N/A
Registered electors 4,749
Labour hold Swing

Grangetown (3 seats)
Grangetown[5][2]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour John Smith o 2,221 52.9 N/A
Labour P. Bowen o 2,074
Labour C. Sheehan 2,032
Conservative J. P. O'Reilly * 1,978 47.1 N/A
Conservative G. E. Judd * 1,894
Conservative B. F. Moorcraft * 1,795
Turnout 45.7 N/A
Registered electors 9,182
Labour gain from Conservative Swing
Labour gain from Conservative Swing
Labour gain from Conservative Swing

Smith and Bowen were previously councillors for the South ward.

Heath (3 seats)
Heath[5][2]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative C. D. Milsom o 2,840 57.4 N/A
Conservative Ronald F. Watkiss o 2,830
Conservative T. D. Merridew 2,702
Alliance P. Eldon 822 16.6 N/A
Alliance P. H. Williams 732
Labour R. S. Hughes 702 14.2 N/A
Alliance E. Fitzgerald-Kuhl 685
Labour B. R. Jones 650
Labour E. Scheeres 629
Ecology M. J. Evans 344 7.0 N/A
Plaid Cymru H. M. Jones 241 4.9 N/A
Plaid Cymru E. A. Coyle 185
Turnout 9,357 52.9 N/A
Registered electors 9,182
Conservative win (new seat)
Conservative win (new seat)
Conservative win (new seat)

Milsom and Watkiss were previously councillors in the Llanishen ward.

Lisvane and St Mellons (1 seat)
Lisvane and St Mellons[2]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative T. H. Davies o 1,152 71.5 N/A
Alliance D. I. Harrison 260 16.1 N/A
Labour M. G. Picardie 199 12.4 N/A
Turnout 33.9 N/A
Registered electors 4,752
Conservative win (new seat)

Davies was the sitting councillor in the preceding ward of Lisvane, Llanedeyrn & St Mellons.

Llandaff (2 seats)
Llandaff[5][2]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative M. E. Jones * 1,828 57.0 N/A
Conservative Julius Hermer * 1,807
Alliance W. A. Slack 446 13.9 N/A
Labour R. W. Rees 359 11.2 N/A
Labour C. P. Byers 328
Ecology R. J. Rendell 299 9.3 N/A
Plaid Cymru D. Cadog 275 8.6 N/A
Turnout 47.6 N/A
Registered electors 6,739
Conservative hold Swing
Conservative hold Swing

Llandaff North (2 seats)
Llandaff North[2]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour M. D. Flynn o 1,576 44.7 N/A
Labour E. M. Matthewson o 1,433
Alliance M. J. Sheppard 1,014 28.8 N/A
Alliance T. O. Jenkins 920
Conservative D. C.Porter 866 24.6 N/A
Conservative M. E. W. Lindsay 824
Plaid Cymru T. O'Neill 67 1.9 N/A
Turnout 57.8 N/A
Registered electors 6,091
Labour win (new seat)
Labour win (new seat)


Llanishen (3 seats)
Llanishen[5][2]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative L. O. Smith * 1,999 45.3 N/A
Conservative A. J. Thomas * 1,904
Conservative C. M. Saunders 1,890
Labour T. James o 1,578 35.7 N/A
Labour A. Hobbs-Staff 1,550
Labour A. K. Verma o 1,506
Alliance T. J. Fitzgerald-Khul 707 16.0 N/A
Alliance J. D. Gough 705
Alliance S. M Adalja 599
Plaid Cymru A. Couch 130 2.9 N/A
Plaid Cymru D. Balch 110
Turnout 41.1 N/A
Registered electors 10,740
Conservative hold Swing
Conservative hold Swing
Conservative hold Swing

Representation reduced from six seats to three at this election.

Llanrumney (3 seats)
Llanrumney[2]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour M. B. Llewellyn o 1,901 44.8 N/A
Labour John R. Phillips o 1,711
Labour John A. Reynolds o 1,646
Alliance Vita V. Jones 1,297 30.6 N/A
Conservative E. R. McCarthy 1,041 24.6 N/A
Alliance K. Tobin 1,028
Conservative S. Woods 1,028
Alliance E. Morgan 1,010
Conservative S. Brown 987
Turnout 45.7 N/A
Registered electors 9,267
Labour win (new seat)
Labour win (new seat)
Labour win (new seat)

South Glamorgan councillor Vita Jones had recently defected from Labour to the SDP-Liberal Alliance.[4]

Pentwyn (3 seats)
Pentwyn[2]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative R. Lewis o 1,763 42.1 N/A
Conservative M. Newman o 1,746
Conservative W. J. Pursey 1,687
Labour S. J. Caesar 1,128 26.9 N/A
Labour R. Longworth 1,116
Labour S. G. Lewis 1,041
Alliance M. McMahon 1,030 24.6 N/A
Alliance M. Litchfield 1,024
Alliance F. A. J. Adams 985
Plaid Cymru A. Morgan 271 6.5 N/A
Turnout 35.8 N/A
Registered electors 11,701
Conservative win (new seat)
Conservative win (new seat)
Conservative win (new seat)

Plasnewydd (4 seats)
Plasnewydd[2]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Olwen M. Watkin * 2,227 36.4 N/A
Conservative S. A. James * 2,052
Conservative D. J. Evans * 1,969
Alliance Georgette O. J. German 1,819 29.7 N/A
Conservative R. C. Oldridge 1,743
Labour G. E. Jenkins 1,532 25.5 N/A
Labour M. Phelps 1,475
Alliance D. E. Hill 1,395
Alliance A. D. Powell 1,391
Labour J. Wilkinson 1,368
Alliance J. E. Randerson 1,346
Labour M. Walsh 1,346
Ecology P. Taylor 282 4.6 N/A
Plaid Cymru G. M. Rees 191 3.1 N/A
Plaid Cymru N. Hoyle 170
Plaid Cymru N. J. ap Glyn 162
Plaid Cymru C. H. Morgan 155
Communist R. Macmillan 74 1.2 N/A
Communist R. Spencer 72
Communist J. Warhurst 68
Turnout 50.9 N/A
Registered electors 12,039
Conservative hold Swing
Conservative hold Swing
Conservative hold Swing
Alliance win (new seat)

The number of seats available increased from three to four at this election.

Radyr & St Fagans (1 seat)
Radyr & St Fagans[2]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative L. Clarke o 1,156 55.1 N/A
Alliance Marion Drake 703 33.5 N/A
Labour B. Drew o 240 11.4 N/A
Turnout 54.3 N/A
Registered electors 3,869
Conservative win (new seat)

Clarke was the sitting councillor for Radyr St Fagans & Tongwynlais. Drew was a councillor in the Rumney ward.

Rhiwbina (3 seats)
Rhiwbina[2]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative E. J. Roberts 3,200 58.2 N/A
Conservative Gareth J. J. Neale * 3,117
Conservative Jeffrey P. Sainsbury 3,099
Alliance S. R. Crossley 1,303 23.7 N/A
Alliance G. M. James 1,037
Alliance P. M. O'Brien 1,032
Labour S. I. Walters 783 14.2 N/A
Labour J. R. Cocks 753
Labour R. T. Hill 665
Plaid Cymru L. R. Evans 211 3.8 N/A
Plaid Cymru J. A. M. Jones 153
Turnout 58.5 N/A
Registered electors 9,399
Conservative hold Swing
Conservative hold Swing
Conservative hold Swing

Riverside (3 seats)
Riverside[2]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour W. M. Walker * 1,699 43.4 N/A
Labour J. M. Southern * 1,660
Labour S. L. Essex 1,653
Conservative A. Johnson 1,301 33.2 N/A
Conservative M. Hughes 1,296
Conservative R. de Souza 1,272
Alliance D. Mathias 601 15.3 N/A
Alliance J. N. Roberts 469
Alliance D. Sura 418
Ecology A. S. Lukes 316 8.1 N/A
Turnout 41.7 N/A
Registered electors 9,400
Labour hold Swing
Labour hold Swing
Labour hold Swing

Roath (3 seats)
Roath[5][2]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative C. F. Hutchings * 2,498 60.2 N/A
Conservative N. Lloyd-Edwards * 2,477
Conservative G. M. Brinks * 2,457
Alliance L. W. Kelloway 861 20.7 N/A
Alliance S. J. Soffa 823
Alliance P. Callaghan 818
Labour I. S. Albrow 668 16.1 N/A
Labour N. M. Davies 663
Labour E. A. Screen 625
Plaid Cymru G. Adams 123 3.0 N/A
Plaid Cymru B. M. Smith 118
Plaid Cymru S. W. Evans 115
Turnout 42.1 N/A
Registered electors 9,852
Conservative hold Swing
Conservative hold Swing
Conservative hold Swing

Rumney (2 seats)
Rumney[2]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative J. B. Joslyn 1,677 53.4 N/A
Conservative L. D. Quinn 1,508
Labour P. H. Owen * 1,126 35.8 N/A
Labour M. Longden * 1,113
Alliance M. J. Morgan 340 10.8 N/A
Turnout 46.9 N/A
Registered electors 6,696
Conservative gain from Labour Swing
Conservative gain from Labour Swing

Splott (2 seats)
Splott[2]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour D. R. Ormonde * 1,860 55.0 N/A
Labour E. Price * 1,759
Conservative F. Chichester 820 24.2 N/A
Conservative R. D. James 751
Alliance P. M. Evans 603 7.8 N/A
Plaid Cymru S. Lake 100 3.0 N/A
Turnout 42.6 N/A
Registered electors 7,941
Labour hold Swing
Labour hold Swing

Trowbridge (2 seats)
Trowbridge[2]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour D. M. English o 1,120 76.2 N/A
Labour Alun E. Michael o 1,103
Conservative A. T. McCabe 350 23.8 N/A
Turnout 17.5 N/A
Registered electors 8,408
Labour win (new seat)
Labour win (new seat)

English and Michael were previously councillors in a larger Rumney ward.

Whitchurch & Tongwynlais (4 seats)
Whitchurch & Tongwynlais[2]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative W. H. Griffiths o 3,460 54.7 N/A
Conservative B. J. Griffiths 3,320
Conservative Timothy H. Davies o 3,294
Conservative Victor Riley o 3,221
Labour T. Crews 1,445 22.8 N/A
Labour D. Hutchinson 1,383
Labour J. Williams 1,291
Labour V. White 1,265
Alliance P. Hickey 1,141 18.0 N/A
Alliance H.Howell 999
Alliance A. Holder 993
Alliance S. Morton 933
Plaid Cymru Harri Pritchard-Jones 285 4.5 N/A
Plaid Cymru A. Jobbins 209
Turnout 54.6 N/A
Registered electors 11,600
Conservative win (new seat)
Conservative win (new seat)
Conservative win (new seat)
Conservative win (new seat)

(a) Elections Centre source also compares the percentage vote of the lead candidate for each party in the ward.
(b) South Wales Echo source also indicates existing councillors "but, because of boundary changes, not necessarily representing the ward being contested". It gives middle initials. It lists the 'green' candidates as "Ecology" and the 'Liberal/SDP' as "Alliance".

* existing councillor, for the same ward
o existing councillor, though because of boundary changes not for the same ward

References
  1. Michael Thomas (6 May 1983). "Cardiff is back in Tory hands". South Wales Echo. p. 1.
  2. "Cardiff Welsh District Council Election Results 1973-1991" (PDF). The Elections Centre (Plymouth University). Retrieved 27 June 2019.
  3. "The City of Cardiff (Electoral Arrangements) Order 1982" (PDF). legislation.gov.uk. The National Archives. 15 April 1982. Retrieved 27 June 2019.
  4. Michael Thomas (6 May 1983). "Cardiff could go 'private'". South Wales Echo. p. 6.
  5. "Election Results S. Glam. - Cardiff City Council". South Wales Echo. 6 May 1983. pp. 6–7.
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