Labour Triumphs In Local Elections

Press, Volume CII, Issue 30128, 11 May 1963, Page 11

Labour Triumphs In Local Elections

(N.Z .P.A .-Reuter—Copyright)

LONDON, May 10.

The Labour Party resoundingly defeated Conservatives and other anti*Socialists in Britain’s town council elections yesterday.

Labour had a net gain of 541 seats and wrested control of councils in about 30 important towns and cities. The Con* servatives suffered a net loss of 548 seats, the Liberals a net gain of 80, and Independents a net loss of 72.

Jubilant Socialists hailed the result as a heartening pointer to their chances of gaining power in the next General Election, which is expected within a year at the latest.

The elections involved a iotal of 2973 seats —one-third of the membership of the 400 t< wn councils balloting. The councils are totally re-elect-ed in a three-year cycle. The result of the voting in

one centre has yet to be announced.

Labour’s runaway victory more than recouped the 472seat loss it suffered in the 1960 town council elections, when the vacancies filled yesterday were last contested. Labour’s success was not confined to the capture of control in many places. It also increased the party's representation over a wide range of councils

The Labour Party’s general secretary, Mr Len Williams, said of the result: “According to an eminent political statistician, a gain of this dimension would mean a Labour majority of 90 to 130 (Parliamentary) seats in a general election.” One of the main Socialist achievements was the capture of control in Liverpool Other big cities where Labour w<n control included Bradford. Nottingham, Bristol and Bolton.

The Liberal Party, which has recently been enjoying ai. electoral resurgence, scored only a moderate success The results were an acute disappointment to many Government supporters, who had

hoped the Conservative Party's fortunes were beginning to recover after a protracted “bad patch.” Municipal elections are a doubtful guide as to how the nation would vote in a general election, but a good showing now would have had considerable prestige value for the Government.

Labour's big score yesterday followed substantial gains of seats in urban, rural district, and other council elections this week

From these contests, plus lie results of Scottish borough elections. Labour to date has made an additional gain of more than 100 seats

This means that the party, with further balloting still to come, has already more than recouped its total loss of some 600 seats in the 1960 elections.