BRITISH POLITICS

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LX, Issue 18236, 3 November 1933, Page 11

BRITISH POLITICS

MUNICIPAL ELECTIONS LABOR’S MANY CAINS (Elec. Tel. Copyright—United Press Assn.) (Received Nov. 3, 3 p.m.) LONDON, Nov. 2. The final results of the municipal elections show that Labor gained many seats, mainly at the expense of the Conservatives. Taking the 346 councils in England and Wales as a whole, Labor secured a net gain of 176 seats, while the loss to the Conservatives was 106. Labor, however, controls only 25 boroughs, 13 of which were captured at.this election. Thus, whereas the Labor leaders are delighted with the success of their candidates, there is disappointment at. the not result. Labor at'Oldham gained five seats and lost two to a Conservative and a Liberal. Mr Herbert Smith, (he miners’ leader, was defeated at Barnsley. Labor regained control of Sheffield wlpch it lost last. year. The Manchester Guardian says that the swing to Labor at the municipal elections is stronger than had been anticipated. It was especially marked in Yorkshire and the north-east, and confirms the view that East. Fulham wgs no flash in the pan. The Daily Herald declares that the electors have struck a blow for better housing and social services. In considering the party gains and losses, it is important to remember that, owing to the enormous number of seats involved, exceptionally heavy' gains are required to alter the control of the various councils. The Labor gains this year, for instance, although substantial, do not anything like compensate for the heavy losses of the two previous years. Last year Labor lost over 466 seats, and the year before 80 seats. Prior to that they had increased their strength year after year, but even with this year’s gains they hold fewer seats than in 1028.