| Election Name: | 1981 Cornwall County Council election[1] |
| Country: | Cornwall |
| Type: | Parliamentary |
| Ongoing: | no |
| Party Colour: | yes |
| Previous Election: | 1977 Cornwall County Council election |
| Previous Year: | 1977 |
| Next Election: | 1985 Cornwall County Council election |
| Next Year: | 1985 |
| Seats For Election: | All 79 seats of Cornwall County Council |
| Majority Seats: | 40 |
| Election Date: | 7 May 1981 |
| Party1: | Independent (politician) |
| Last Election1: | 64 seats, 67.5% |
| Seats1: | 43 |
| Seat Change1: | 21 |
| Popular Vote1: | 41,847 |
| Percentage1: | 42.7% |
| Swing1: | 24.8% |
| Party2: | Conservative Party (UK) |
| Last Election2: | 13 seats, 13.4% |
| Seats2: | 16 |
| Seat Change2: | 3 |
| Popular Vote2: | 17,924 |
| Percentage2: | 18.3% |
| Swing2: | 4.9% |
| Party3: | SDP-Liberal Alliance |
| Last Election3: | 0 seats, 4.0% |
| Seats3: | 12 |
| Seat Change3: | 12 |
| Popular Vote3: | 21,363 |
| Percentage3: | 21.8% |
| Swing3: | 17.8% |
| Party4: | Labour Party (UK) |
| Last Election4: | 1 seat, 6.2% |
| Seats4: | 6 |
| Seat Change4: | 5 |
| Popular Vote4: | 10,639 |
| Percentage4: | 10.9% |
| Swing4: | 4.7% |
| Party5: | Ecology Party |
| Last Election5: | 1 seat, 1.5% |
| Seats5: | 1 |
| Popular Vote5: | 791 |
| Percentage5: | 0.8% |
| Swing5: | 0.7% |
| Party6: | Voice of the People |
| Last Election6: | N/A |
| Seats6: | 1 |
| Seat Change6: | 1 |
| Popular Vote6: | 5,421 |
| Percentage6: | 5.5% |
| Council control | |
| Posttitle: | Council control after election |
| Before Election: | Independent |
| After Election: | Independent |
Elections to Cornwall County Council were held on 7 May 1981.[2]
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