1985 United Kingdom local elections explained

Election Name:1985 United Kingdom local elections
Country:United Kingdom
Type:legislative
Previous Election:1984 United Kingdom local elections
Previous Year:1984
Next Election:1986 United Kingdom local elections
Next Year:1986
Seats For Election:All 39 non-metropolitan counties, 1 sui generis authority,
all 26 Northern Irish districts and all 8 Welsh counties
Election Date:2 May 1985 (England & Wales)
15 May 1985 (Northern Ireland)
1Blank:Councils
2Blank:Councils +/-
3Blank:Councillors
4Blank:Councillors +/-
Leader1:Margaret Thatcher
Leader Since1:11 February 1975
Party1:Conservative Party (UK)
Percentage1:32%
3Data1:10,191
4Data1: 202
Leader2:Neil Kinnock
Leader Since2:2 October 1983
Party2:Labour Party (UK)
Percentage2:39%
3Data2:8,746
4Data2: 124
Party3:SDP–Liberal Alliance
Percentage3:26%
3Data3:2,633
4Data3: 302
Map Size:300px

The 1985 United Kingdom local elections were held on Thursday 2 May 1985 in England and Wales, and Wednesday 15 May 1985 in Northern Ireland.[1] [2] [3] [4] Labour had the largest share of the vote in local council elections for the first time since 1981.

Both Conservatives and Labour lost some seats to the Liberal-SDP Alliance, who were rebuilding under the leadership of David Owen and enjoying strong showings — including a brief lead — in the opinion polls.

Summary of results

Alan Clark, writing in his diary for 11 May 1985, shortly after the election, stated:"Some stupid prick has done a 'projection' in one of the heavies showing that the SDP will have a massive overall majority in the House of Commons.."[5]

England

Non-metropolitan county councils

CouncilPrevious controlResultDetails
Avon gainDetails
Bedfordshire holdDetails
Berkshire gainDetails
Buckinghamshire holdDetails
Cambridgeshire gainDetails
Cheshire holdDetails
Cleveland holdDetails
Cornwall gainDetails
Cumbria gainDetails
Derbyshire holdDetails
Devon gainDetails
Dorset holdDetails
Durham holdDetails
East Sussex gainDetails
Essex gainDetails
Gloucestershire holdDetails
Hampshire gainDetails
Hereford and Worcester holdDetails
Hertfordshire gainDetails
Humberside gainDetails
Isle of Wight holdDetails
Kent holdDetails
Lancashire gainDetails
Leicestershire holdDetails
Lincolnshire holdDetails
Norfolk holdDetails
North Yorkshire gainDetails
Northamptonshire holdDetails
Northumberland gainDetails
Nottinghamshire holdDetails
Oxfordshire gainDetails
Shropshire holdDetails
Somerset gainDetails
Staffordshire holdDetails
Suffolk holdDetails
Surrey holdDetails
Warwickshire holdDetails
West Sussex holdDetails
Wiltshire gainDetails

‡ New electoral division boundaries

Sui generis

Northern Ireland

See main article: 1985 Northern Ireland local elections.

CouncilPrevious controlResultDetails
AntrimDetails
ArdsDetails
ArmaghDetails
BallymenaDetails
BallymoneyDetails
BanbridgeDetails
BelfastDetails
CarrickfergusDetails
CastlereaghDetails
ColeraineDetails
CookstownDetails
CraigavonDetails
DerryDetails
DownDetails
DungannonDetails
FermanaghDetails
Details
LimavadyDetails
LisburnDetails
MagherafeltDetails
MoyleDetails
Newry and MourneDetails
NewtownabbeyDetails
North DownDetails
OmaghDetails
StrabaneDetails

Wales

County councils

CouncilPrevious controlResultDetails
Clwyd holdDetails
Dyfed holdDetails
Gwent holdDetails
Gwynedd holdDetails
Mid Glamorgan holdDetails
Powys holdDetails
South Glamorgan holdDetails
West Glamorgan holdDetails

External links

Notes and References

  1. Book: Rallings. Colin. Thrasher. Michael. Local Elections Handbook 1985, Volume 1. The Elections Centre. 3 May 2016.
  2. Book: Rallings. Colin. Thrasher. Michael. Local Elections Handbook 1985, Volume 2. The Elections Centre. 3 May 2016.
  3. Book: Rallings. Colin. Thrasher. Michael. Local Elections Handbook 1985, Volume 3. The Elections Centre. 3 May 2016.
  4. Web site: Council compositions. The Elections Centre. 3 May 2016.
  5. Diaries, Alan Clark Phoenix 1994, pp 112