1981 Merseyside County Council election explained
See main article: 1981 United Kingdom local elections.
| Election Name: | 1981 Merseyside County Council election |
| Country: | England |
| Flag Image: | Merseyside CoA.svg |
| Type: | parliamentary |
| Ongoing: | no |
| Previous Election: | 1977 Merseyside County Council election |
| Previous Year: | 1977 |
| Next Year: | Abolished 1986 |
| Seats For Election: | All 99 seats
to Merseyside County Council |
| Majority Seats: | 50 |
| Turnout: | 36.9% (1.3%)[1] |
| 3Blank: | Swing (pp)--> |
| Control of Council |
| Before Election: | Conservative |
| Posttitle: | Control of Council after election |
| After Election: | Labour |
| Party1: | Labour Party (UK) |
| Seats Before1: | 26 |
| Seats1: | 57 |
| Popular Vote1: | 190,757 |
| Percentage1: | 45.8% |
| Party2: | Conservative Party (UK) |
| Seats Before2: | 67 |
| Seats2: | 27 |
| Popular Vote2: | 122,050 |
| Percentage2: | 29.3% |
| Party3: | Liberal Party (UK) |
| Seats Before3: | 6 |
| Seats3: | 15 |
| Popular Vote3: | 100,218 |
| Percentage3: | 24.1% |
| Map Size: | 400px |
The 1981 Merseyside County Council election took place on 7 May to elect members of Merseyside County Council in England.[1] This was on the same day as other local elections.
Merseyside County Council was abolished in 1986.
Election results
Overall election result
Overall result compared with 1977.
| Merseyside County Council election, 1981 |
|---|
| Party | Candidates | Votes |
|---|
| Stood | Elected | Net | % of total | % | № | Net % |
|---|
| | 97 | 57 | 31 | 57.6 | 45.8 | 190,757 | 18.4 |
| | 99 | 27 | 40 | 27.3 | 29.3 | 122,050 | 25.8 |
|---|
| | 88 | 15 | 9 | 15.2 | 24.1 | 100,218 | 7.8 |
| | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.4 | 1,728 | N/A |
| | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.1 | 585 | New |
| | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.1 | 545 | 0.5 |
| | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.1 | 264 | New |
| | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 184 | 0.1 |
| | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 61 | 0.0 | |
[1]
Results by borough
Knowsley
| Merseyside County Council election, 1981 (Knowsley) |
|---|
| Party | Candidates | Votes |
|---|
| Stood | Elected | Net | % of total | % | № | Net % |
|---|
| | 11 | 10 | 3 | 90.9 | 68.5 | 27,110 | 23.7 |
| | 11 | 1 | 3 | 9.1 | 18.6 | 7,350 | 29.9 |
|---|
| | 9 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 13.0 | 5,136 | 9.6 |
|
[1]
Turnout: 31.9% (2.1%)
Liverpool
| Merseyside County Council election, 1981 (Liverpool) |
|---|
| Party | Candidates | Votes |
|---|
| Stood | Elected | Net | % of total | % | № | Net % |
|---|
| | 36 | 21 | 11 | 58.3 | 46.9 | 67,144 | 18.7 |
| | 36 | 8 | 5 | 22.2 | 30.9 | 44,273 | 7.4 |
| | 36 | 7 | 16 | 19.4 | 21.7 | 31,057 | 25.3 |
|---|
| | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.4 | 545 | 0.5 |
| | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 61 | 0.1 | |
[1]
Turnout: 37.1% (3.2%)
Sefton
| Merseyside County Council election, 1981 (Sefton) |
|---|
| Party | Candidates | Votes |
|---|
| Stood | Elected | Net | % of total | % | № | Net % |
|---|
| | 19 | 9 | 6 | 47.4 | 38.1 | 31,108 | 25.6 |
|---|
| | 17 | 6 | 3 | 31.6 | 34.4 | 28,070 | 14.2 |
| | 15 | 4 | 3 | 21.1 | 24.8 | 20,190 | 10.1 |
| | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 2.1 | 1,728 | N/A |
| | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.6 | 474 | New | |
[1]
Turnout: 36.6% (2.6)
St Helens
| Merseyside County Council election, 1981 (St Helens) |
|---|
| Party | Candidates | Votes |
|---|
| Stood | Elected | Net | % of total | % | № | Net % |
|---|
| | 11 | 9 | 6 | 81.8 | 56.8 | 28,191 | 20.4 |
| | 11 | 2 | 6 | 18.2 | 26.6 | 13,172 | 31.4 |
|---|
| | 8 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 16.2 | 8,061 | 10.6 |
| | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.4 | 184 | N/A | |
[1]
Turnout: 35.7% (1.6%)
Wirral
| Merseyside County Council election, 1981 (Wirral) |
|---|
| Party | Candidates | Votes |
|---|
| Stood | Elected | Net | % of total | % | № | Net % |
|---|
| | 22 | 11 | 8 | 50.0 | 39.2 | 40,242 | 18.1 |
| | 22 | 8 | 9 | 36.4 | 38.4 | 39,363 | 22.0 |
|---|
| | 20 | 3 | 1 | 13.6 | 22.0 | 22,558 | 4.0 |
| | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.3 | 264 | New |
| | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.1 | 111 | New | |
[1]
Turnout: 39.9% (1.9%)
Ward results
Results compared directly with the last local election in 1977.
Knowsley
Huyton With Roby No. 1 (Huyton Farm, Princess & Woolfall)
[2] [3]
Huyton With Roby No. 2 (Longview and Rupert Farm)
[2] [3]
Huyton With Roby No. 3 (St. Agnes, St. Bartholomews & Swanside)
[2] [3]
Huyton With Roby No. 4 (St. Gabriels & St. Michaels)
[2] [3]
Kirkby No. 1 (Central Kirkby and Minstead)
[2] [3]
Kirkby No. 2 (Cherryfield and Whitfield)
[2] [3]
Kirkby No. 3 (Northwood-Park-Tower Hill-Simonswood)
[2] [3]
Prescot
[2] [3]
Whiston No. 1 (Croton-Tarbock-Whiston)
[2] [3]
Whiston No. 3 (Halewood)
[2] [3]
Whiston No. 4 (Knowsley)
[2] [3]
Liverpool
Liverpool No.1 (Abercromby & St. James)
[2] [3]
Liverpool No.2 (Aigburth)
[2] [3]
Liverpool No.3 (Allerton)
[3]
Liverpool No.4 (Anfield)
[2] [3]
Liverpool No.5 (Arundel)
[2] [3]
Liverpool No.6 (Breckfield & St. Domingo)
[2] [3]
Liverpool No.7 (Broadgreen)
[2] [3]
Liverpool No.8 (Central & Everton)
[2] [3]
Liverpool No.9 (Childwall)
[2] [3]
Liverpool No.10 (Church)
[2] [3]
Liverpool No.11 (Clubmoor)
[2] [3]
Liverpool No.12 (County)
[2] [3]
Liverpool No.13 (Croxteth)
[2] [3]
Liverpool No.14 (Dingle)
[2] [3]
Liverpool No.15 (Dovecot)
[2] [3]
Liverpool No.16 (Fairfield)
[2] [3]
Liverpool No.17 (Fazakerley)
[2] [3]
Liverpool No.18 (Gillmoss)
[2] [3]
Liverpool No.19 (Granby & Princes Park)
[2] [3]
Liverpool No.20 (Kensington)
[2] [3]
Liverpool No.21 (Low Hill & Smithdown)
[2] [3]
Liverpool No.22 (Melrose & Westminster)
[2] [3]
Liverpool No.23 (Old Swan)
[2] [3]
Liverpool No.24 (Picton)
[2] [3]
Liverpool No.25 (Pirrie)
[2] [3]
Liverpool No.26 (St. Marys)
[2] [3]
Liverpool No.27 (St. Michaels)
[2] [3]
Liverpool No.28 (Sandhills & Vauxhall)
[2] [3]
Liverpool No.29 (Speke)
[2] [3]
Liverpool No.30 (Tuebrook)
[2] [3]
Liverpool No.31 (Warbreck)
[2] [3]
Liverpool No.32 (Woolton East)
[2] [3]
Liverpool No.33 (Woolton West)
[2] [3]
Sefton
Bootle No.1
[3]
Bootle No.2 (Linacre & Mersey)
[3]
Bootle No.3 (Netherton, Orrell & Sefton)
[3]
Crosby No.1 (Central, College & St. John's)
[3]
Crosby No.2 (Christ Church, St. Mary's & St. Thomas)
[3]
Crosby No.3
[3]
Crosby No.4
[3]
Formby
[3]
Litherland
[3]
Southport No.1 (Ainsdale, Birkdale & South)
[3]
Southport No.2
[3]
Southport No.3 (Birkdale West-Central-West)
[3]
Southport No.4 (Craven-Sussex-Talbot)
[3]
Southport No.5 (Hesketh & Scarisbrick)
[3]
Southport No.6 (Marine and Park)
[3]
West Lancashire No.1 (Aintree)
[3]
West Lancashire No.2
[3]
West Lancashire No.3
[3]
St. Helens
Haydock
[3]
Newton Le Willows
[3]
Rainford
[3]
St. Helens No.1 (Central and South Eccleston)
[3]
St. Helens No.2 (East Sutton)
[3]
St. Helens No.3 (Hardshaw and West Sutton)
[3]
St. Helens No.4 (Moss Bank and North Windle)
[3]
St. Helens No.5 (North Eccleston and South Windle)
[3]
St. Helens No.6 (Parr)
[3]
Whiston No.2 (Eccleston and Windle)
[3]
Whiston No. 5 (Rainhill and Bold)
[3]
Wirral
Bebington No.1 (Higher Bebington and Woodhey)
[3]
Bebington No.2 (Park, New Ferry, North Bromborough)
[3]
Wirral Bebington No.3 (South Bromborough and Eastham)
[3]
Bebington No. 4 (Lower Bebington & Poulton)
[3]
Birkenhead No.1 (Argyle-Clifton-Holt)
[3]
Birkenhead No.2 (Bebington and Mersey)
[3]
Birkenhead No. 3 (Cathcart-Claughton-Cleveland)
[3]
Birkenhead No.4 (Devonshire and Egerton)
[3]
Birkenhead No. 5 (Bidston)
[3]
Birkenhead No.6 (Oxton)
[3]
Birkenhead No. 7 (Prenton)
[3]
Birkenhead No.8 (Upton)
[3]
Hoylake No.1 (Royden)
[3]
Hoylake No.2 (Hoylake)
[3]
Wallasey No.1 (Leasowe))
[3]
Wallasey No.2 (Liscard)
[3]
Wallasey No.3 (Moreton)
[3]
[3]
[3]
[3]
[3]
Wirral No.2 (Irby, Pensby & Thurstaston)
[2] [3]
Notes and References
- Web site: Local Election Summaries 1981. The Elections Centre. 2 December 2018.
- Book: Rallings. Colin. Thrasher. Michael. Local Elections Handbook 1977. The Elections Centre. 5 December 2018.
- Web site: Merseyside Local Election Results Project - Dr. David Jeffery . 21 December 2023.
