1987 United Kingdom local elections
Local elections were held in the United Kingdom in 1987.[1][2][3] The projected share of the vote was Conservatives 38%, Labour 32%, Liberal-SDP Alliance 27%. It was the first time since 1983 that the Conservatives had enjoyed the largest share of the vote in local council elections.
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||
All 36 metropolitan boroughs, all 296 English districts and all 37 Welsh districts | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Soon after the elections, Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher called a general election which resulted in a second successive Conservative landslide, although Labour managed to cut the government's overall majority, while the Alliance endured another disappointing performance and was soon disbanded as the SDP and Liberals agreed on a merger the following year.
The number of councillors was somewhat reduced from the previous year. The Conservatives lost 75 seats, Labour lost 234 and the Liberal-SDP Alliance gained 669.
Summary of results
England
Metropolitan boroughs
All 36 metropolitan borough councils had one third of their seats up for election.
District councils
Whole council
In 180 districts the whole council was up for election.
Six of those districts - East Devon, Hinckley and Bosworth, Leicester, Mid Sussex, West Dorset and Woodspring - returned to whole councils elections having previously been elected by thirds.
In 5 districts there were new ward boundaries, following further electoral boundary reviews by the Local Government Boundary Commission for England.
‡ New ward boundaries
Third of council
In 116 districts one third of the council was up for election.
Wales
District councils
Council | Previous control | Result | Details | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Aberconwy | No overall control | No overall control hold | Details | ||
Alyn and Deeside | No overall control | Labour gain | Details | ||
Anglesey - Ynys Môn | Independent | Independent hold | Details | ||
Arfon | No overall control | No overall control hold | Details | ||
Blaenau Gwent | Labour | Labour hold | Details | ||
Brecknock | Independent | Independent hold | Details | ||
Cardiff | Conservative | No overall control gain | Details | ||
Carmarthen | Independent | Independent hold | Details | ||
Ceredigion | Independent | Independent hold | Details | ||
Colwyn | No overall control | No overall control hold | Details | ||
Cynon Valley | Labour | Labour hold | Details | ||
Delyn | No overall control | No overall control hold | Details | ||
Dinefwr | Labour | Labour hold | Details | ||
Dwyfor | Independent | Independent hold | Details | ||
Glyndŵr | Independent | Independent hold | Details | ||
Islwyn | Labour | Labour hold | Details | ||
Llanelli | Labour | Labour hold | Details | ||
Lliw Valley | Labour | Labour hold | Details | ||
Meirionnydd | Independent | Independent hold | Details | ||
Merthyr Tydfil | Labour | Labour hold | Details | ||
Monmouth | Conservative | Conservative hold | Details | ||
Montgomeryshire | Independent | Independent hold | Details | ||
Neath | Labour | Labour hold | Details | ||
Newport | Labour | Labour hold | Details | ||
Ogwr | No overall control | Labour gain | Details | ||
Port Talbot | Labour | Labour hold | Details | ||
Preseli Pembrokeshire | Independent | Independent hold | Details | ||
Radnor | Independent | Independent hold | Details | ||
Rhondda | Labour | Labour hold | Details | ||
Rhuddlan | Independent | Independent hold | Details | ||
Rhymney Valley | Labour | Labour hold | Details | ||
South Pembrokeshire | Independent | Independent hold | Details | ||
Swansea | Labour | Labour hold | Details | ||
Taff-Ely | Labour | Labour hold | Details | ||
Torfaen | Labour | Labour hold | Details | ||
Vale of Glamorgan | Conservative | Conservative hold | Details | ||
Wrexham Maelor | No overall control | Labour gain | Details |
References
- Rallings, Colin; Thrasher, Michael. Local Elections Handbook 1987, Volume 1. The Elections Centre. Retrieved 3 May 2016.
- Rallings, Colin; Thrasher, Michael. Local Elections Handbook 1987, Volume 2. The Elections Centre. Retrieved 3 May 2016.
- "Council compositions". The Elections Centre. Retrieved 3 May 2016.