LABOUR GAINS

Dominion, Volume 22, Issue 35, 5 November 1928, Page 11

LABOUR GAINS

MUNICIPAL ELECTIONS IN ENGLAND AND WALES LITTLE GUIDE TO VOTING IN GENERAL ELECTION (British Official Wireless ) Rugby, November 2. Polling in the municipal elections in London and throughout England and Wales took place yesterday, and although the results are still far from complete, those at hand show considerable Labour gains, mainly at the expense of the Conservatives. Of the twenty-eight London boroughs in which contests took place fifteen results were announced last night, and the relative strength has remained substantially unchanged. Five of the fifteen boroughs for which results are announced already itave Labour majorities.

Up to an early hour this morning the total net Labour gains were 109. The net Conservative seats totalled 58 and the net Liberal losses 15.

In tlie provincial towns the Labour gains have so far resulted in putting Labour in a majority in Derby, Leeds, and Wendon. Elsewhdrc the Labour gains have merely served to strengthen their forces, which in only a few cases showed majorities. .Municipal elections are never a trustworthy view of the political trend of the country, and although the approach of the general Parliamentary elections imbued yesterday's polls with more than the usual political interest in party and local affairs, the general apathy of the public regarding municipal matters and the fact that Parliamentary elections are fought in widely different and much broader electorates discounts attempts to base political forecasts on yesterday’s results. RESULTS OUTSIDE LONDON AREA (Australian Press Assn.—United Service.) London, November 2. The final returns of the municipal elections in eighty of the largest cities and boroughs outside London show the following gains and losses: Conservatives, 15 gains, 80,losses; Liberals, 13 gains, 28 losses; Labour, 130 gains, 19 losses; Independents, 10 gains, 41 losses. THE LATEST FIGURES {Australian Press Assn.—United Service.) (Rec. November 4, 5.5 p.m.) London, November 3. Tlie latest gains and losses for the London boroughs only are as follow: — Municipal Reformers, 6 gains, 101 losses; Labour, 95 gains, .18 losses; Progressive. 33 gains, 16 losses; Independent, 1 gain, no losses. “FULL OF SIGNIFICANCE” LABOUR LEADERS’ OPINIONS. (Australian Press Assn —United Service) London, November 2. Mr. J. Ramsay MacDonald, Leader of the Political Labour Party describes the municipal elections as being magnificently encouraging. Mr. A. Henderson, M.P., says that in view of tlie approach of the general election. Labour’s wonderful victories are full of significance. Mr. Philip Snowden. M.P., says the results have followed the trend of the Parliamentary by-elections, and sliow that Labour is making remarkable headway, especially in the industrial centres. Conservative headquarters is of the opinion that the results are of no real political significance, as the elections were fought on purely local issues, while the general election is the concern of other matters with a new register. including an additional 5,000.000 women.

Sir William Bull, M.P., said: “It’s a jolly good job we’ve lost these seats, as it will show the apathy of tlie Conservatives and frighten people into increased anti-Labour activity.”