title: 1978 Liverpool City Council election
text: # 1978 Liverpool City Council election
  
  Elections to Liverpool City Council were held on 4 May 1978. One third of the council was up for election and the John Hamilton of the Labour Party became Leader of the Council albeit without overall control.
  
  After the election, the composition of the council was:
  
  | Party | Seats | ± |
  | - | - | - |
  | Labour | 37 | -1 |
  | Liberal | 35 | -7 |
  | Conservative | 27 | +8 |
  
  ## Election result
  
  Liverpool Local Election Result 1978 :
  
  | Party | Seats | Gains | Losses | Net gain/loss | Seats % | Votes % | Votes |
  | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
  | Labour | 14 | 1 | 2 | -1 | 40% | 33% | 43,339 |
  | Conservative | 11 | 8 | 0 | +8 | 24% | 37% | 48,684 |
  | Liberal | 10 | 1 | 8 | -7 | 29% | 29% | 38,317 |
  | Communist | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0% | 0.46% | 606 |
  | Socialist Unity | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0% | 0.3% | 373 |
  | Independent Liberal | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0% | 0.1% | 112 |
  | Socialist Workers | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0% | 0.08% | 102 |
  | Workers Revolutionary | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0% | 0.03% | 39 |
  | Immigrant Party | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0% | 0.02% | 23 |
  
  ## Ward results
  
  * - Councillor seeking re-election
  
  $^{(PARTY)}$ - Party of former Councillor
  
  ### Abercromby, St. James
  
  Abercromby, St. James :
  
  | Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
  | - | - | - | - | - | - |
  | | Labour | E. Shields * | '1,571 | 51% | -14% |
  | | Liberal | Christopher Graham Davies | 988 | 32% | +22% |
  | | Conservative | M. E. Cheshire | 291 | 9% | +3% |
  | | Communist | R. O'Hara | 215 | 7% | -6% |
  | Majority | Majority | Majority | 583 | | |
  | Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 12,585 | | |
  | Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 3,065 | 24% | |
  | | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | | |
  
  ### Aigburth
  
  Aigburth :
  
  | Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
  | - | - | - | - | - | - |
  | | Conservative | F. Fawcett | 3,775 | 62% | +25% |
  | | Liberal | I. R. Porteous $^{(PARTY)}$ | 1,655 | 27% | -28% |
  | | Labour | F. Dunee | 656 | 11% | +2% |
  | Majority | Majority | Majority | 2,120 | | |
  | Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 14,821 | | |
  | Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 6,086 | 41% | |
  | | Conservative gain from Liberal | Conservative gain from Liberal | Swing | | |
  
  ### Allerton
  
  Allerton :
  
  | Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
  | - | - | - | - | - | - |
  | | Conservative | W. H. Fearenside | 2,561 | 65% | +18% |
  | | Liberal | J. B. Kaitiff $^{(PARTY)}$ | 754 | 19% | -23% |
  | | Labour | J. R. Brown | 637 | 16% | +7% |
  | Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,807 | | |
  | Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 10,886 | | |
  | Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 3,952 | 36% | |
  | | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | | |
  
  ### Anfield
  
  Anfield :
  
  | Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
  | - | - | - | - | - | - |
  | | Conservative | J. H. Brash | 1,782 | 43% | +19% |
  | | Labour | T. McManus | 1,406 | 34% | -2% |
  | | Liberal | Joseph Robert Wilmington * | 980 | 24% | -20% |
  | Majority | Majority | Majority | 376 | | |
  | Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 12,747 | | |
  | Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 4,168 | 33% | |
  | | Conservative gain from Liberal | Conservative gain from Liberal | Swing | | |
  
  ### Arundel
  
  Arundel :
  
  | Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
  | - | - | - | - | - | - |
  | | Conservative | R. S. Fairclough | 1,397 | 36% | +17% |
  | | Liberal | P. H. Hodgson $^{(PARTY)}$ | 1,269 | 33% | -27% |
  | | Labour | J. McLean | 1,028 | 27% | +6% |
  | | Communist | J. Kay | 145 | 4% | |
  | Majority | Majority | Majority | 128 | | |
  | Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 13,140 | | |
  | Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 3,839 | 29% | |
  | | Conservative gain from Liberal | Conservative gain from Liberal | Swing | | |
  
  ### Breckfield, St. Domingo
  
  Breckfield, St. Domingo :
  
  | Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
  | - | - | - | - | - | - |
  | | Liberal | David M.B. Croft $^{(PARTY)}$ | 2,490 | 64% | +10% |
  | | Labour | S. J. Gorman | 912 | 23% | -9% |
  | | Conservative | H. M. Rigby | 491 | 13% | -1% |
  | Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,578 | | |
  | Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 11,963 | | |
  | Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 3,893 | 33% | |
  | | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Swing | | |
  
  ### Broadgreen
  
  Broadgreen :
  
  | Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
  | - | - | - | - | - | - |
  | | Conservative | E. F. Pine | 1,869 | 42% | +28% |
  | | Liberal | Roger Johnston | 1,774 | 39% | -15% |
  | | Labour | P. Lloyd | 859 | 19% | -13% |
  | Majority | Majority | Majority | 95 | | |
  | Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 12,105 | | |
  | Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 4,502 | 37% | |
  | | Conservative gain from Liberal | Conservative gain from Liberal | Swing | | |
  
  ### Central, Everton, Netherfield
  
  Central, Everton, Netherfield :
  
  | Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
  | - | - | - | - | - | - |
  | | Labour | J. Parry * | 1,414 | 52% | -14% |
  | | Liberal | Cathy Hancox | 976 | 36% | +21% |
  | | Conservative | J. B. King | 319 | 12% | -7% |
  | Majority | Majority | Majority | 438 | | |
  | Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 11,812 | | |
  | Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,709 | 23% | |
  | | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | | |
  
  ### Childwall
  
  Childwall :
  
  | Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
  | - | - | - | - | - | - |
  | | Conservative | S. Airey | 4,263 | 62% | +24% |
  | | Labour | J. E. Roberts | 1,365 | 20% | +9% |
  | | Liberal | A. M. Loughney $^{(PARTY)}$ | 1,253 | 18% | -32% |
  | Majority | Majority | Majority | 2,898 | | |
  | Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 20,285 | | |
  | Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 6,881 | 34% | |
  | | Conservative gain from Liberal | Conservative gain from Liberal | Swing | | |
  
  ### Church
  
  Church :
  
  | Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
  | - | - | - | - | - | - |
  | | Liberal | Cyril Carr * | 2,870 | 45% | -17% |
  | | Conservative | R. F. Symington | 2,837 | 45% | +13% |
  | | Labour | M. J. Smith | 654 | 10% | +5% |
  | Majority | Majority | Majority | 33 | | |
  | Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 14,954 | | |
  | Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 6,361 | 43% | |
  | | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Swing | | |
  
  ### Clubmoor
  
  Clubmoor :
  
  | Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
  | - | - | - | - | - | - |
  | | Labour | A. Gamble | 1,333 | 36% | +3% |
  | | Liberal | John Bowen * | 1,177 | 32% | -13% |
  | | Conservative | W. Scott | 1,156 | 32% | +10% |
  | Majority | Majority | Majority | 156 | | |
  | Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 10,630 | | |
  | Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 3,666 | 34% | |
  | | Labour gain from Liberal | Labour gain from Liberal | Swing | | |
  
  ### County
  
  County :
  
  | Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
  | - | - | - | - | - | - |
  | | Liberal | Neil T. Cardwell | 1,805 | 42% | +15% |
  | | Labour | J. McLean * | 1,333 | 31% | -13% |
  | | Conservative | R. J. Keney | 1,175 | 27% | -2% |
  | Majority | Majority | Majority | 472 | | |
  | Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 11,911 | | |
  | Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 4,313 | 36% | |
  | | Liberal gain from Labour | Liberal gain from Labour | Swing | | |
  
  ### Croxteth
  
  Croxteth :
  
  | Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
  | - | - | - | - | - | - |
  | | Conservative | E. H. Fitzpatrick | 2,720 | 56% | +26% |
  | | Liberal | E. M. Clews $^{(PARTY)}$ | 1,164 | 24% | -34% |
  | | Labour | W. F. Burke | 942 | 20% | +8% |
  | Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,556 | | |
  | Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 12,525 | | |
  | Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 4,826 | 39% | |
  | | Conservative gain from Liberal | Conservative gain from Liberal | Swing | | |
  
  ### Dingle
  
  Dingle :
  
  | Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
  | - | - | - | - | - | - |
  | | Labour | M. Evans * | 1,105 | 62% | -2% |
  | | Conservative | J. A. Watson | 541 | 31% | +15% |
  | | Liberal | G. Temmee | 123 | 7% | -8% |
  | Majority | Majority | Majority | 564 | | |
  | Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 7,462 | | |
  | Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,769 | 24% | |
  | | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | | |
  
  ### Dovecot
  
  Dovecot :
  
  | Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
  | - | - | - | - | - |
  | | Labour | E. Burke * | 2,379 | 50% |
  | | Conservative | J. F. McMillan | 1,411 | 29% |
  | | Liberal | B. Morris | 995 | 21% |
  | Majority | Majority | Majority | 968 | |
  | Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 16,539 | |
  | Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 4,785 | 29% |
  | | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | |
  
  ### Fairfield
  
  Fairfield :
  
  | Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
  | - | - | - | - | - |
  | | Liberal | Graham Hulme $^{(PARTY)}$ | 1,684 | 50% |
  | | Conservative | N. Wilkinson | 834 | 25% |
  | | Labour | F. Gaier | 735 | 22% |
  | | Socialist Workers | A. S. Meehan | 102 | 3% |
  | Majority | Majority | Majority | 850 | |
  | Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 10,951 | |
  | Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 3,355 | 31% |
  | | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Swing | |
  
  ### Fazakerley
  
  Fazakerley :
  
  | Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
  | - | - | - | - | - |
  | | Conservative | A. Brown | 1,655 | 42% |
  | | Labour | A. Williams | 1,634 | 41% |
  | | Liberal | R. J. Cunningham | 664 | 17% |
  | Majority | Majority | Majority | 21 | |
  | Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 11,677 | |
  | Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 3,953 | 34% |
  | | Conservative gain from Labour | Conservative gain from Labour | Swing | |
  
  ### Gillmoss
  
  Gillmoss 2 seats :
  
  | Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
  | - | - | - | - | - |
  | | Labour | E. D. Roderick $^{(PARTY)}$ | 2,554 | 56% |
  | | Labour | P. J. Murphy | 2,372 | 52% |
  | | Conservative | A. Gore | 1,153 | 25% |
  | | Conservative | F. M. Kennedy | 1,107 | 24% |
  | | Liberal | E. Carroll | 839 | 18% |
  | | Liberal | J. Palfreyman | 338 | 7% |
  | Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,401 | |
  | Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 19,245 | |
  | Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 4,546 | 24% |
  | | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | |
  
  ### Granby, Prince's Park
  
  Granby, Prince's Park :
  
  | Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
  | - | - | - | - | - | - |
  | | Labour | Dr Cyril Taylor * | 2,110 | 60% | -6% |
  | | Liberal | Arthur Eric Damsell | 447 | 13% | |
  | | Conservative | O. Y. Hughes | 829 | 24% | -3% |
  | | Communist | E. Caddick | 103 | 3% | |
  | | Socialist Unity | E. P. Finnerty | 92 | 3% | |
  | | Workers Revolutionary | W. Hunter | 39 | 1% | |
  | | Immigrant Party | J. P. Murphy | 23 | 1% | |
  | Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,281 | | |
  | Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 12,903 | | |
  | Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 3,489 | 27% | |
  | | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | | |
  
  ### Kensington
  
  Kensington :
  
  | Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
  | - | - | - | - | - |
  | | Liberal | John R. Watton * | 1,582 | 68% |
  | | Labour | J. H. Stamper | 443 | 19% |
  | | Conservative | R. H. Mather | 310 | 13% |
  | Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,139 | |
  | Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 6,420 | |
  | Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,335 | 36% |
  | | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Swing | |
  
  ### Low Hill, Smithdown
  
  Low Hill, Smithdown :
  
  | Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
  | - | - | - | - | - | - |
  | | Liberal | David Alton * | 2,166 | 67% | -3% |
  | | Liberal | A. Clitherow $^{(PARTY)}$ | 1,789 | 55% | -15% |
  | | Labour | L. Gallagher | 825 | 26% | +2% |
  | | Labour | G. G. Pratt | 547 | 17% | -7% |
  | | Conservative | R. Meadows | 241 | 7% | +1% |
  | | Conservative | M. F. Meehan | 174 | 5% | -1% |
  | Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,341 | | |
  | Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 8,425 | | |
  | Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 3,232 | 38% | |
  | | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Swing | | |
  
  ### Melrose, Westminster
  
  Melrose, Westminster :
  
  | Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
  | - | - | - | - | - | - |
  | | Labour | F. J. Molloy $^{(PARTY)}$ | 1,307 | 47% | -16% |
  | | Liberal | J. Bradley | 1,265 | 45% | +32% |
  | | Conservative | E. M. Clein | 222 | 8% | -5% |
  | Majority | Majority | Majority | 42 | | |
  | Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 7,896 | | |
  | Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,794 | 35% | |
  | | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | | |
  
  ### Old Swan
  
  Old Swan :
  
  | Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
  | - | - | - | - | - |
  | | Liberal | Doreen Jones | 1,746 | 42% |
  | | Conservative | I. McFall | 1,410 | 34% |
  | | Labour | D. E. Krumbein | 947 | 23% |
  | | Communist | H. Mohin | 83 | 2% |
  | | Independent Liberal | W. J. McCullough | 112 | 3% |
  | Majority | Majority | Majority | 336 | |
  | Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 12,614 | |
  | Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 4,186 | 33% |
  | | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Swing | |
  
  ### Picton
  
  Picton :
  
  | Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
  | - | - | - | - | - |
  | | Liberal | Pam A. Bradley $^{(PARTY)}$ | 2,051 | 46% |
  | | Labour | J. Hughes | 1,345 | 30% |
  | | Conservative | J. McDermott | 955 | 22% |
  | | Communist | J. G. Volleamere | 60 | 1% |
  | Majority | Majority | Majority | 706 | |
  | Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 11,280 | |
  | Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 4,411 | 39% |
  | | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Swing | |
  
  ### Pirrie
  
  Pirrie :
  
  | Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
  | - | - | - | - | - | - |
  | | Labour | H. Dalton * | 2,815 | 57% | -10% |
  | | Conservative | W. T. Palmer | 1,739 | 35% | +2% |
  | | Liberal | J. Stephenson | 359 | 7% | |
  | Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,076 | | |
  | Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 15,937 | | |
  | Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 4,913 | 31% | |
  | | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | | |
  
  ### St. Mary's
  
  St. Mary's :
  
  | Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
  | - | - | - | - | - |
  | | Labour | S. R. Maddox * | 1,309 | 47% |
  | | Conservative | R. A. Parkes | 1,094 | 39% |
  | | Liberal | C. J. Lister | 372 | 13% |
  | Majority | Majority | Majority | 215 | |
  | Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 9,474 | |
  | Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,775 | 29% |
  | | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | |
  
  ### St. Michael's
  
  St. Michael's :
  
  | Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
  | - | - | - | - | - |
  | | Liberal | Trevor Jones * | 1,897 | 54% |
  | | Labour | D. R. Leach | 616 | 17% |
  | | Conservative | J. Cheshire | 1,017 | 29% |
  | Majority | Majority | Majority | 880 | |
  | Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 9,645 | |
  | Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 3,530 | 37% |
  | | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Swing | |
  
  ### Sandhills, Vauxhall
  
  Sandhills, Vauxhall :
  
  | Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
  | - | - | - | - | - |
  | | Labour | Paul Orr * | 1,783 | 78% |
  | | Socialist Unity | A. Thompson | 281 | 12% |
  | | Conservative | D. J. Lewis | 173 | 8% |
  | | Liberal | M. Decker | 56 | 2% |
  | Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,502 | |
  | Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 9,015 | |
  | Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,293 | 25% |
  | | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | |
  
  ### Speke
  
  Speke :
  
  | Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
  | - | - | - | - | - |
  | | Labour | G. J. Maudsley * | 1,878 | 61% |
  | | Conservative | C. W. Harpin | 983 | 32% |
  | | Liberal | I. McGuiness | 134 | 4% |
  | | Independent Labour | P. Moorhead | 105 | 3% |
  | Majority | Majority | Majority | 895 | |
  | Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 14,188 | |
  | Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 3,100 | 22% |
  | | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | |
  
  ### Tuebrook
  
  Tuebrook :
  
  | Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
  | - | - | - | - | - | - |
  | | Conservative | J. Irving | 1,541 | 38% | +14% |
  | | Labour | Derek Hatton | 1,450 | 36% | +6% |
  | | Liberal | C. Collins $^{(PARTY)}$ | 1,057 | 26% | -17% |
  | Majority | Majority | Majority | 91 | | |
  | Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 11,240 | | |
  | Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 4,048 | 36% | |
  | | Conservative gain from Liberal | Conservative gain from Liberal | Swing | | |
  
  ### Warbreck
  
  Warbreck :
  
  | Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
  | - | - | - | - | - | - |
  | | Conservative | R. B. Flude * | 1,781 | 45% | -8% |
  | | Liberal | E. J. Seddon | 1,170 | 30% | |
  | | Labour | W. H. Roberts | 1,009 | 25% | -22% |
  | Majority | Majority | Majority | 611 | | |
  | Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 11,722 | | |
  | Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 3,960 | 34% | |
  | | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | | |
  
  ### Woolton, East
  
  Woolton, East :
  
  | Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
  | - | - | - | - | - |
  | | Labour | H. Bryers $^{(PARTY)}$ | 2,080 | 57% |
  | | Conservative | S. Fitzsimmons | 1,204 | 33% |
  | | Liberal | R. F. Heywood | 359 | 10% |
  | Majority | Majority | Majority | 876 | |
  | Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 13,607 | |
  | Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 3,643 | 27% |
  | | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | |
  
  ### Woolton, West
  
  Woolton, West :
  
  | Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
  | - | - | - | - | - |
  | | Conservative | Ruth Dean | 5,011 | 74% |
  | | Labour | J. M. Lyon | 1,135 | 17% |
  | | Liberal | J. E. Parry | 635 | 9% |
  | Majority | Majority | Majority | 3,876 | |
  | Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 17,820 | |
  | Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 6,781 | 38% |
  | | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | |
  