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1980 City of Glasgow District Council election

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1980 City of Glasgow
District Council election

← 1977 1 May 1980 1984 →

All 72 seats to City of Glasgow District Council
37 seats needed for a majority
  First party Second party Third party
 
Party Labour Conservative Liberal
Last election 30 25 1
Seats won 58 11 3
Seat change Increase28 Decrease15 Increase2
Popular vote 139,471 55,816 14,712
Percentage 54.7% 21.9% 5.8%
Swing Increase19.6% Decrease6.8% Increase3.9%

Council Leader before election


No overall control

Elected Council Leader


Labour

The 1980 City of Glasgow District Council election took place on 1 May 1980, alongside elections to the councils of Scotland's various other districts. This was the third election to the City of Glasgow District Council.

Background

[edit]

The previous election, held in 1977, had seen Labour lose its majority on the council and while the party still had the largest number of councillors (30), the Labour group decided not to try retain power after rejecting the possibility of coalition deals with either the Conservatives or the SNP. This left the second placed Conservatives to form a minority administration, although they also refused to work with the SNP and prior to the first meeting of the council after the election it was uncertain what would happen.[1] Ultimately the Council met on 9 May 1977, SNP abstentions meant that Labour's nominee David Hodge was elected Lord Provost of Glasgow over the Conservatives Jack Richmond. Although the Conservatives had said that they would only form an administration if Richmond was elected as Lord Provost, after an internal vote among the Conservative group they decided that they would form an administration after all. However it was noted in The Glasgow Herald that many of the Conservatives policies, including the sale of council houses, were unlikely to be supported by the majority on the council.[2]

Ultimately, lacking support from other parties, the Conservative administration announced it would relinquish power in September 1979 after the Council rejected its plan to cut spending by up to £30 million pounds, paving the way for Labour to form a minority administration.[3] According to The Glasgow Herald the political uncertainty since the 1977 election meant "Glasgow District Council has gained an unenviable reputation for chaos and outrageous behaviour among its members."[4]

By the time of the election as a result of by-elections and other changes Labour held 32 seats to the Conservatives 22, the SNP's 14 and the Liberal Party's one. There were two independent councillors and one seat was vacant.[4] Ahead of the election, the Herald reported that Labour were confident of success, with the party hopeful of gaining up to 20 seats, which would give them a large majority.[4]

Outcome

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Labour won a decisive victory gaining 26 seats to give them a 44 seat majority over all other parties. The SNP lost all of their seats while the Conservatives lost 11 of the 22 seats they held. The Liberals gained two seats (one from the Conservatives and one from the SNP). The Glasgow Herald observed the result was even more spectacular for Labour than had been predicted and attributed this to voters wishing to see an end to "the City Chambers comedy show" of the last few years. It also attibuted the Labour gains from the Conservatives, which were reflected in other parts of Scotland, as a result of the unpopularity of Margaret Thatcher's government, which had been in power for one year.[5]

Several prominent Conservative and SNP councillors lost their seats including the SNP's Stewart Ewing, who had in 1977 defeated the Labour group leader, and the Conservative former housing convener Derek Wood.[5]

Aggregate results

[edit]
1980 City of Glasgow District Council election[6]
Party Seats Gains Losses Net gain/loss Seats % Votes % Votes +/−
  Labour 58 28 0 Increase28 80.6 54.7 139,471 Increase19.6
  Conservative 11 0 14 Decrease14 15.3 21.9 55,816 Decrease6.8
  Liberal 3 2 0 Increase2 4.2 5.8 14,712 Increase3.9
  SNP 0 0 16 Decrease16 0.0 15.9 40,639 Decrease16.8
  Communist 0 0 0 Steady0 0.0 0.9 2,325 Decrease0.7
  Independent 0 0 0 Steady0 0.0 0.2 436 New
  Other parties 0 0 0 Steady0 0.0 0.5 1,431

Ward results

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Ward 1: Tollcross[7]
Party Candidate Votes %
Labour M. Adam 2,416
Conservative Mary Tindley 979
SNP N. Logan 602
Majority 1,437
Turnout
Ward 2: Parkhead[7]
Party Candidate Votes %
Labour Susan Baird (Incumbent) 2,492
Conservative P.M Tindley 496
SNP Grace Logan 439
Majority 1,996
Turnout
Ward 3: Carntyne[7]
Party Candidate Votes %
Labour H. Macrae (Incumbent) 2,546
SNP A. Livingstone 567
Conservative B.S. Clarke 469
Majority 1,979
Turnout
Ward 4: Camlachie[7]
Party Candidate Votes %
Labour R. MacDonald 991
Local Independent Labour A. J. McTaggart (Incumbent) 209
SNP Margaret Humble 199
Conservative E. Griffith 193
Majority 782
Turnout
Ward 5: Easterhouse[7]
Party Candidate Votes %
Labour W. Milligan 2,282
SNP Patricia Kennedy (Incumbent) 958
Conservative Margaret Watt 112
Communist G. Cleland 68
Majority 1,324
Turnout
Labour gain from SNP
Ward 6: Garthamlock[7]
Party Candidate Votes %
Labour D. Murphy 2,993
SNP D. Whyteside 332
Ind Scot Nat E. Hendry (Incumbent) 332
Communist J. Jackson 184
Conservative Isobel Russell 169
Majority 2,617
Turnout
Labour gain from SNP
Ward 7: Wellhouse[7]
Party Candidate Votes %
Labour N. Stobo (Incumbent) 2,642
SNP W. Logan 339
Liberal E. Bennett 336
Conservative Violet Fletcher 129
Communist D. McGregor 82
Majority 2,303
Turnout
Ward 8: Queenslie[7]
Party Candidate Votes %
Labour W. Fay 2,312
SNP A. Hart 818
Conservative T. Steven 112
Majority 1,594
Turnout
Labour gain from SNP
Ward 9: Riddrie[7]
Party Candidate Votes %
Labour A. S. Livingstone 2,312
Conservative C. Gilbert (Incumbent) 1,573
SNP J. Cockburn 490
Communist J. Cockburn 61
Majority 445
Turnout
Labour gain from Conservative
Ward 10: Lethamhill[7]
Party Candidate Votes %
Labour D. Mason (Incumbent) 1,635
SNP A. Downie 395
Conservative Alison MacGregor 121
Majority 1,240
Turnout
Ward 11: City[7]
Party Candidate Votes %
Labour T. Ennis (Incumbent) 1,497
Conservative Mary Herman 345
Independent Elizabeth Hunter 78
Majority 1,152
Turnout
Ward 12: Townhead[7]
Party Candidate Votes %
Labour P. O'Rourke (Incumbent) 1,546
Conservative A. Harvey 173
Majority 1,373
Turnout
Ward 13: Calton[7]
Party Candidate Votes %
Labour J.T.G. McQueenie (Incumbent) 928
SNP Stephanie C. Shiels 96
Conservative R.H. Dickson 86
Communist W. Spraggen 39
Majority 832
Turnout
Ward 14: Dalmarnock[7]
Party Candidate Votes %
Labour J. Mullen (Incumbent) 1,814
Conservative J. G. Harris 207
Majority 1,607
Turnout
Ward 15: Balornock[7]
Party Candidate Votes %
Labour D. Crozier (Incumbent) 2,279
SNP C. Donaldson 463
Liberal J. Kearns 417
Communist J. Brown 68
Majority 1,816
Turnout
Ward 16: Robroyston[7]
Party Candidate Votes %
Labour J. Chatham (Incumbent) 2,542
SNP I.S. Hunter 485
Communist P.Taylor 38
Majority 2,057
Turnout
Ward 17: Cowlairs[7]
Party Candidate Votes %
Labour C. Moore (Incumbent) 488
SNP D.A. Shaw 163
Majority 325
Turnout
Ward 18: Petershill[7]
Party Candidate Votes %
Labour J. Henderson (Incumbent) 1,686
SNP W. J. Morton 368
Communist W. Moir 46
Majority 1,318
Turnout
Ward 19: Milnbank[7]
Party Candidate Votes %
Labour J. McLean (Incumbent) 2,092
Milnbank Progressive Conservative and Unionist J. J. Wallace 469
Communist I. Donnolly 51
Majority 1,623
Turnout
Ward 20: Dennistoun[7]
Party Candidate Votes %
Labour C. Brown 2,445
Conservative R. McKay (Incumbent) 2,209
SNP J. S. Winning 264
Communist W. Moir 49
Independent Scottish Labour D. McAleer 35
Majority 236
Turnout
Labour gain from Conservative
Ward 21: Summerston[7]
Party Candidate Votes %
Labour M. Buchanan 2,600
SNP S. M. Ewing (Incumbent) 1,812
Liberal Elspeth Attwooll 382
Conservative G. Paterson 256
Communist J. O'Rourke 59
Majority 788
Turnout
Labour gain from SNP
Ward 22: Wyndford[7]
Party Candidate Votes %
Labour R. Gray (Incumbent) 1,900
Conservative M. White 419
Liberal J. P. Kelly 280
Communist P. B. Smith 54
Majority 1,481
Turnout
Ward 23: Ruchill[7]
Party Candidate Votes %
Labour J. Gaffney 2,376
SNP Helen Gough 701
Communist M. Meers 70
Majority 1,675
Turnout
Ward 24: Milton[7]
Party Candidate Votes %
Labour A. McGarrity 2,297
SNP A. Sheer 703
Communist E. Graham 66
Majority 1,594
Turnout
Ward 25: Possilpark[7]
Party Candidate Votes %
Labour R. Innes (Incumbent) 2,862
Communist D. Shannon 123
Majority 2,739
Turnout
Ward 26: Cowcaddens[7]
Party Candidate Votes %
Labour Jean McFadden (Incumbent) 2,747
SNP T. Scouller 497
Liberal R. W. Stewart 206
Communist P. Murray 58
Majority 2,250
Turnout
Ward 27: Botanic Gardens[7]
Party Candidate Votes %
Conservative Mary Goldie (Incumbent) 944
Labour J. Lafferty 736
Communist Eirene Morrison 78
Majority 208
Turnout
Ward 28: Park[7]
Party Candidate Votes %
Labour D. Brown 1,461
Conservative Dorothy Henderson 1,099
Ecology J. F. Robins 242
Communist D. Laing 99
Majority 362
Turnout
Labour gain from Conservative
Ward 29: Kelvin[7]
Party Candidate Votes %
Labour D. Crawford (Incumbent) 727
Independent L. Hazra 332
Conservative J. Proctor 286
Independent Social Democrat B. Edwards 26
Majority 395
Turnout
Ward 30: Woodside[7]
Party Candidate Votes %
Labour P. Taylor 1,112
Conservative Elizabeth Rennie 497
Majority 615
Turnout
Labour gain from Conservative
Ward 31: Partick East [7]
Party Candidate Votes %
Labour T. Schuller 1,485
Conservative D. Wood (Incumbent) 1,030
SNP G. Mackellar 571
Communist C. Woolfson 99
Majority 455
Turnout
Labour gain from Conservative
Ward 32: Anderston [7]
Party Candidate Votes %
Labour R. McTaggart (Incumbent) 1,932
Conservative B. D. Cooklin 543
Communist A. Jackson 106
Majority 1,388
Turnout
Ward 33: Anniesland [7]
Party Candidate Votes %
Conservative W. Aitken (Incumbent) 2,440
Labour Patricia Chalmers 697
Liberal L. J. Clarke 497
SNP N. M. T. M. MacLeod 549
Majority 1,743
Turnout
Ward 34: Kelvinside [7]
Party Candidate Votes %
Conservative R. N. S. Logan (Incumbent) 2,389
Labour R. A. Mowbray 699
Liberal S. Donaldson 644
SNP G. Fairbrother 279
Majority 1,690
Turnout
Ward 35: Scotstoun [7]
Party Candidate Votes %
Labour W. R. Hattan 3,125
Conservative Winifred C. Childs 1,892
SNP J. Lang 608
Liberal R. Dunne 228
Majority 1,233
Turnout
Labour gain from Conservative
Ward 36: Partick West [7]
Party Candidate Votes %
Conservative A. H. Hodgins (Incumbent) 2,079
Labour A. Cowan 1,565
SNP J. Crawford 716
Liberal Joyce Polson 241
Majority 514
Turnout
Ward 37: Drumry[7]
Party Candidate Votes %
Labour Marjorie O'Neill 2,143
SNP Marion Crawford (Incumbent) 1,274
Communist A. Munro 72
Majority 869
Turnout
Labour gain from SNP
Ward 38: Summerhill[7]
Party Candidate Votes %
Labour D. P. Wiseman 2,148
SNP J. O'Brien (Incumbent) 1,093
Communist J. McCarry 129
Majority 1,055
Turnout
Labour gain from SNP
Ward 39: Blairdardle[7]
Party Candidate Votes %
Labour Catherine Fyfe 1,774
Conservative I. M. Lawson 1,011
SNP J. C. Whyte (Incumbent) 842
Majority 763
Turnout
Labour gain from SNP
Ward 40: Knightcliffe[7]
Party Candidate Votes %
Labour J. Kernaghan 2,085
SNP C. Darroch (Incumbent) 1,486
Conservative L. M. Turpie 550
Majority 599
Turnout
Labour gain from SNP
Ward 41: Yoker[7]
Party Candidate Votes %
Labour T. Lenehan 2,188
SNP D. McLean (Incumbent) 2,078
Conservative D. Gibson 351
Majority 110
Turnout
Labour gain from SNP
Ward 42: Knightswood [7]
Party Candidate Votes %
Labour C. J. Davison 2,035
SNP J. Bain (Incumbent) 1,482
Conservative Celia Anne Lawson 801
Communist L. D. Bain 138
Majority 553
Turnout
Labour gain from SNP
Ward 43: Gorbals [7]
Party Candidate Votes %
Labour J. Lavelle (Incumbent) 1,649
SNP D. H. Waddell 376
Conservative D. G. Milne 250
Communist A. D. Elliot 37
Majority 1,273
Turnout
Ward 44: Hutchesontown[7]
Party Candidate Votes %
Labour M. Moore 1,823
SLP J. Brown 541
SNP Josephine Docherty 204
Conservative F. Phillips 135
Communist J. Kay 70
Majority 1,282
Turnout
Labour gain from SNP
Ward 45: Crosshill [7]
Party Candidate Votes %
Conservative A. Green (Incumbent) 1,623
Labour S. Butt 1,482
SNP C. B. Campbell 939
Communist K. Haldane 64
Majority 141
Turnout
Ward 46: Prospecthill[7]
Party Candidate Votes %
Labour C. Toppin 2,317
SNP W. McGuinness (Incumbent) 1,635
Conservative D. I. Gennis 515
Communist J. McGoldrick 69
Majority 682
Turnout
Labour gain from SNP
Ward 47: Drumoyne[7]
Party Candidate Votes %
Labour J. Barr 2,194
Conservative J. H. Walker 505
SNP A. F. Butler 379
Majority 1,689
Turnout
Ward 48: Fairfield[7]
Party Candidate Votes %
Labour P. T. Keegan (Incumbent) 1,120
SNP S. Butler 205
Conservative G. W. McCaul 121
Communist J. Foster 57
Majority 915
Turnout
Ward 49: Ibrox[7]
Party Candidate Votes %
Labour A. Young 3,329
Conservative Margaret Turnbull 594
SNP A. Cullen 469
Majority 2,735
Turnout
Ward 50: Kingston[7]
Party Candidate Votes %
Labour B. Maan (Incumbent) 493
SNP J. Strang 255
Conservative L. Connolly 73
Majority 238
Turnout
Ward 51: Hillington[7]
Party Candidate Votes %
Labour M. Kelly (Incumbent) 4,059
Conservative Jean Nixon 1,346
SNP W. A. Houston 1,112
Majority 2,713
Turnout
Ward 52: Bellahouston[7]
Party Candidate Votes %
Labour J. F. Ross (Incumbent) 2,278
Conservative A. McIntyre 1,726
SNP K. Fee 639
Majority 552
Turnout
Ward 53: Cardonald[7]
Party Candidate Votes %
Labour R. Keenan 1,965
Conservative A. Mackenzie (Incumbent) 1,848
SNP Katherine McKillen 458
Majority 171
Turnout
Labour gain from Conservative
Ward 54: Crookston[7]
Party Candidate Votes %
Labour T. R. Hamilton (Incumbent) 3,370
SNP H. Brogan 854
Majority 2,156
Turnout
Ward 55: Pollockshields[7]
Party Candidate Votes %
Conservative J.A Dyer (Incumbent) 2,656
Labour E. Nolan 1,097
Liberal G. A. McKell 688
SNP Eirene Morrison 257
Communist J. Campbell 82
Majority 1,559
Turnout
Ward 56: Strathbungo[7]
Party Candidate Votes %
Conservative Jean Hamilton (Incumbent) 1,251
Labour B. Sweeney 1,090
SNP I. C. Murray 438
Majority 161
Turnout
Ward 57: Camphill[7]
Party Candidate Votes %
Conservative J. K. Richmond (Incumbent) 1,965
Labour J. Keating 1,008
SNP A. C. Yeoman 304
Majority 957
Turnout
Ward 58: Pollockshaws[7]
Party Candidate Votes %
Labour J. McNally 2,563
Conservative Helen Hodgins (Incumbent) 2,436
SNP A. J. Dornan 695
Scottish Independent Labour S. Walsh 39
Majority 127
Turnout
Labour gain from Conservative
Ward 59: Nitshill[7]
Party Candidate Votes %
Labour Rose McCloy 2,966
SNP Catherine McMunnigal 613
Conservative Catherine M. Mair 230
Majority 2,353
Turnout
Ward 60: Darnley[7]
Party Candidate Votes %
Labour J. McCarron 2,683
SNP F. Hannigan (Incumbent) 2,472
Conservative Jenny Taylor 289
Liberal A. S. Donnell 118
Scottish Independent Labour I. McIntyre 39
Majority 211
Turnout
Labour gain from SNP
Ward 61: Newlands[7]
Party Candidate Votes %
Conservative J. Young (Incumbent) 3,022
Labour T. Muir 908
Majority 2,114
Turnout
Ward 62: Mount Florida[7]
Party Candidate Votes %
Conservative D. S. Mason (Incumbent) 1,829
Labour C. O'Driscoll 1,184
SNP D. Robinson 416
Majority 645
Turnout
Ward 63: King's Park[7]
Party Candidate Votes %
Conservative M. Toshner (Incumbent) 1,771
Labour R. Meechan 1,071
Liberal B. Hamford 477
SNP W. Davidson 454
Majority 700
Turnout
Ward 64: Castlemilk[7]
Party Candidate Votes %
Labour G. Manson (Incumbent) 2,424
SNP W. Steven 596
Conservative Jean Walker 231
Communist W. Davidson 60
Majority 1828
Turnout
Ward 65: Linn[7]
Party Candidate Votes %
Labour P. Lally 1,847
Conservative L. Gourlay (Incumbent) 1,775
SNP J. P. Johnson 497
Majority 72
Turnout
Labour gain from Conservative
Ward 66: Cathkin[7]
Party Candidate Votes %
Labour Catherine Houston 1,692
SNP Brenda Y. Johnson (Incumbent) 1,010
Conservative Maisie M. Dean 167
Majority 682
Turnout
Labour gain from SNP
Ward 67: Rutherglen South[7]
Party Candidate Votes %
Liberal R. E. Brown (Incumbent) 3,538
Labour Margaret Robinson 1,231
SNP I MacAllister 240
Communist M. Dean 49
Majority 2,307
Turnout
Ward 68: Rutherglen North[7]
Party Candidate Votes %
Liberal Gretel Ross 2,099
Labour Anne McAvoy 1,850
Conservative Christine MacInnes 561
SNP F. R. MacLean (Incumbent) 400
Majority 249
Turnout
Liberal gain from SNP
Ward 69: Baillieston/Garrowhill[7]
Party Candidate Votes %
Labour Sarah Hatton 2,127
Conservative J. Reynolds (Incumbent) 1,558
SNP Jane Watt 552
Liberal Pauline Clark 260
Majority 569
Turnout
Labour gain from Conservative
Ward 70: Carmyle/Springboig[7]
Party Candidate Votes %
Labour C. McNicol 1,999
SNP J. Campbell (Incumbent) 1,128
Liberal D. Turner 859
Majority 871
Turnout
Labour gain from SNP
Ward 71: Cambuslang East[7]
Party Candidate Votes %
Labour R. McKenzie 2,740
Conservative D. Houston (Incumbent) 1,558
SNP J. Taylor 790
Liberal D. Cousins 600
Majority 1,182
Turnout
Labour gain from Conservative
Ward 72: Cambuslang West[7]
Party Candidate Votes %
Liberal M. Kibby 2,842
Labour J. Handibode 2,583
Conservative J. D. D. Taylor (Incumbent) 1,293
SNP G. Clark 539
Majority 259
Turnout
Liberal gain from Conservative

References

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  1. ^ MacCalman, John (6 May 1977). "Labour gives up power". The Glasgow Herald. p. 1. Retrieved 14 February 2022.
  2. ^ MacCalman, John (14 May 1977). "Tories rule Glasgow - thanks to one man". The Glasgow Herald. p. 1. Retrieved 10 February 2022.
  3. ^ MacCalman, John (14 September 1979). "Battle-weary Tories surrender Glasgow". The Glasgow Herald. p. 1. Retrieved 14 February 2022.
  4. ^ a b c MacCalman, John (30 April 1980). "Will sanity return to the marble halls?". The Glasgow Herald. p. 6. Retrieved 23 June 2022.
  5. ^ a b MacCalman, John (2 May 1980). "Labour blitz back to power with a 44-seat majority". The Glasgow Herald. p. 9. Retrieved 30 June 2022.
  6. ^ J. M. Bochel; D. T. Denver. "The Scottish District Elections 1980" (PDF). University of Dundee. pp. 86–87.
  7. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z aa ab ac ad ae af ag ah ai aj ak al am an ao ap aq ar as at au av aw ax ay az ba bb bc bd be bf bg bh bi bj bk bl bm bn bo bp bq br bs bt "Guide to the Scottish Results". The Glasgow Herald. 2 May 1980. p. 8. Retrieved 15 February 2022.