The1952Leeds municipal elections were held on Thursday 8 May 1952, with one third of the council to be elected.
Along with the rest of the country,[1] Leeds saw a sharp swing from theConservatives toLabour with a swing of over 15%,[2] resulting in Labour receiving their highest post-war vote and making nine gains (alongside a gain in the interim) to whittle the Tory majority down to just two. Labour's nine gains were in the wards ofArmley,Beeston,Blenheim,Bramley,Cross Gates,Stanningley, Westfield,Woodhouse, andWortley. They also narrowly missed out on gainingHarehills. With the exception of a close-run victory in Beeston, the remarkably large swing made the Labour gains fairly comfortable. Turnout fell by two percent from theprevious year, to 43.9%.[2][3]
| Party | Seats | Gains | Losses | Net gain/loss | Seats % | Votes % | Votes | +/− | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Labour | 19 | 9 | 0 | +9 | 67.8 | 56.5 | 87,821 | +16.7 | |
| Conservative | 9 | 0 | 9 | -9 | 32.1 | 42.5 | 66,018 | -13.3 | |
| Liberal | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.8 | 1,213 | -3.2 | |
| Communist | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.1 | 236 | -0.3 | |
The result had the following consequences for the total number of seats on the council after the elections:[2]
| Party | Previous council | New council | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cllr | Ald | Cllr | Ald | ||
| Conservatives | 52 | 18 | 43 | 14 | |
| Labour | 32 | 10 | 41 | 14 | |
| Total | 84 | 28 | 84 | 28 | |
| 112 | 112 | ||||
| Working majority | 20 | 8 | 2 | 0 | |
| 28 | 2 | ||||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Conservative | H. Drake | 5,101 | 83.8 | +5.3 | |
| Labour | J. Shakleton | 984 | 16.2 | +4.5 | |
| Majority | 4,117 | 67.7 | +0.8 | ||
| Turnout | 6,085 | ||||
| Conservativehold | Swing | +0.4 | |||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Labour | K. Cohen | 4,136 | 61.4 | +16.9 | |
| Conservative | J. North | 2,600 | 38.6 | −7.6 | |
| Majority | 1,536 | 22.8 | +21.1 | ||
| Turnout | 6,736 | ||||
| Labourgain fromConservative | Swing | +12.2 | |||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Labour | H. Wright | 3,884 | 51.1 | +14.1 | |
| Conservative | B. Bolton | 3,722 | 48.9 | −5.9 | |
| Majority | 162 | 2.1 | −15.7 | ||
| Turnout | 7,606 | ||||
| Labourgain fromConservative | Swing | +10.0 | |||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Labour | J. Wallbanks | 3,204 | 57.5 | +12.5 | |
| Conservative | J. Butterfield | 2,373 | 42.5 | −12.5 | |
| Majority | 831 | 14.9 | +4.8 | ||
| Turnout | 5,577 | ||||
| Labourgain fromConservative | Swing | +12.5 | |||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Labour | Eric Atkinson | 3,904 | 60.0 | +19.5 | |
| Conservative | H. Womersley | 2,600 | 40.0 | −6.3 | |
| Majority | 1,304 | 20.0 | +14.3 | ||
| Turnout | 6,504 | ||||
| Labourgain fromConservative | Swing | +12.9 | |||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Labour | W. Jackson | 3,327 | 74.8 | +18.4 | |
| Conservative | J. Sizer | 1,119 | 25.2 | −18.4 | |
| Majority | 2,208 | 49.7 | +36.8 | ||
| Turnout | 4,446 | ||||
| Labourhold | Swing | +18.4 | |||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Labour | E. Whitehead | 2,694 | 68.9 | +13.5 | |
| Conservative | N. Kay | 1,216 | 31.1 | −13.5 | |
| Majority | 1,478 | 37.8 | +26.9 | ||
| Turnout | 3,910 | ||||
| Labourhold | Swing | +13.5 | |||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Labour | F. Booth | 3,342 | 70.1 | +21.5 | |
| Conservative | A. Ingram | 1,427 | 29.9 | −21.5 | |
| Majority | 1,915 | 40.2 | +37.3 | ||
| Turnout | 4,769 | ||||
| Labourgain fromConservative | Swing | +21.5 | |||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Labour | M. Fish | 3,884 | 82.7 | +21.8 | |
| Conservative | G. Hewdy | 814 | 17.3 | −21.8 | |
| Majority | 3,070 | 65.3 | +43.5 | ||
| Turnout | 4,698 | ||||
| Labourhold | Swing | +21.8 | |||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Conservative | W. Hey | 3,725 | 79.0 | −5.4 | |
| Labour | W. Lord | 989 | 21.0 | +5.4 | |
| Majority | 2,736 | 58.0 | −10.9 | ||
| Turnout | 4,714 | ||||
| Conservativehold | Swing | -5.4 | |||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Conservative | C. Watson | 3,405 | 66.4 | −9.3 | |
| Labour | A. Harrison | 1,522 | 29.7 | +5.5 | |
| Liberal | Victor Louis Raymond Delepine | 198 | 3.9 | +3.9 | |
| Majority | 1,883 | 36.7 | −14.8 | ||
| Turnout | 5,125 | ||||
| Conservativehold | Swing | -7.4 | |||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Conservative | Lawrence Turnbull | 3,011 | 51.2 | −14.8 | |
| Labour | G. Lloyd | 2,869 | 48.8 | +14.8 | |
| Majority | 142 | 2.4 | −29.7 | ||
| Turnout | 5,880 | ||||
| Conservativehold | Swing | -14.8 | |||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Labour | W. Jones | 4,072 | 69.4 | +17.7 | |
| Conservative | J. Farrell | 1,379 | 23.5 | −15.6 | |
| Liberal | K. Heald | 420 | 7.2 | −2.1 | |
| Majority | 2,693 | 45.9 | +33.4 | ||
| Turnout | 5,871 | ||||
| Labourhold | Swing | +16.6 | |||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Labour | E. Hodkinson | 4,195 | 80.2 | +22.6 | |
| Conservative | T. Snape | 885 | 16.9 | −13.6 | |
| Communist | J. Roche | 153 | 2.9 | +2.9 | |
| Majority | 3,310 | 63.3 | +36.2 | ||
| Turnout | 5,233 | ||||
| Labourhold | Swing | +18.1 | |||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Conservative | F. Walker | 3,398 | 60.0 | −4.3 | |
| Labour | B. Cohen | 2,263 | 40.0 | +16.9 | |
| Majority | 1,135 | 20.0 | −21.2 | ||
| Turnout | 5,661 | ||||
| Conservativehold | Swing | -10.6 | |||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Labour | Albert Smith | 4,734 | 63.2 | +16.9 | |
| Conservative | F. Cowell | 2,398 | 32.0 | −11.1 | |
| Liberal | A. Powell | 362 | 4.8 | −5.7 | |
| Majority | 2,336 | 31.2 | +28.0 | ||
| Turnout | 7,494 | ||||
| Labourhold | Swing | +14.0 | |||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Conservative | V. Cardno | 3,804 | 68.2 | −9.6 | |
| Labour | K. Davy | 1,777 | 31.8 | +9.6 | |
| Majority | 2,027 | 36.3 | −19.2 | ||
| Turnout | 5,581 | ||||
| Conservativehold | Swing | -9.6 | |||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Labour | Harold Watson | 4,190 | 89.7 | +20.3 | |
| Conservative | P. Clew | 479 | 10.3 | −20.3 | |
| Majority | 3,711 | 79.5 | +40.6 | ||
| Turnout | 4,669 | ||||
| Labourhold | Swing | +20.3 | |||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Conservative | John Watson | 3,703 | 72.7 | −5.8 | |
| Labour | S. Lee | 1,390 | 27.3 | +5.8 | |
| Majority | 2,313 | 45.4 | −11.6 | ||
| Turnout | 5,093 | ||||
| Conservativehold | Swing | -11.6 | |||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Labour | F. Potter | 4,151 | 83.0 | +16.8 | |
| Conservative | W. Brownridge | 851 | 17.0 | −16.8 | |
| Majority | 3,300 | 66.0 | +33.6 | ||
| Turnout | 5,002 | ||||
| Labourhold | Swing | +16.8 | |||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Conservative | T. Driver | 2,199 | 55.8 | −8.2 | |
| Labour | A. Sharp | 1,743 | 44.2 | +15.5 | |
| Majority | 456 | 11.6 | −23.7 | ||
| Turnout | 3,942 | ||||
| Conservativehold | Swing | -11.8 | |||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Labour | A. King | 3,478 | 85.0 | +17.2 | |
| Conservative | W. Clayton | 613 | 15.0 | −17.2 | |
| Majority | 2,865 | 70.0 | +34.4 | ||
| Turnout | 4,091 | ||||
| Labourhold | Swing | +17.2 | |||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Conservative | Allan Bretherick | 4,185 | 59.3 | −14.5 | |
| Labour | E. Morris | 2,869 | 40.7 | +14.5 | |
| Majority | 1,316 | 18.7 | −28.9 | ||
| Turnout | 7,054 | ||||
| Conservativehold | Swing | -14.5 | |||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Labour | R. Waterman | 3,893 | 59.3 | +15.5 | |
| Conservative | T. Kirkby | 2,670 | 40.7 | −15.5 | |
| Majority | 1,223 | 18.6 | +6.3 | ||
| Turnout | 6,563 | ||||
| Labourgain fromConservative | Swing | +15.5 | |||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Labour | E. Youngman | 3,938 | 75.8 | +16.6 | |
| Conservative | J. Palmer | 938 | 18.1 | −15.5 | |
| Liberal | Harry Burbridge | 233 | 4.5 | +4.5 | |
| Communist | B. Kline | 83 | 1.6 | −5.6 | |
| Majority | 3,000 | 57.8 | +32.1 | ||
| Turnout | 5,192 | ||||
| Labourhold | Swing | +16.0 | |||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Labour | A. Malcolm | 2,834 | 55.0 | +16.3 | |
| Conservative | R. Neill | 2,319 | 45.0 | −16.3 | |
| Majority | 515 | 10.0 | −12.7 | ||
| Turnout | 5,153 | ||||
| Labourgain fromConservative | Swing | +16.3 | |||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Labour | Henry Vick | 3,850 | 64.9 | +20.8 | |
| Conservative | B. Gardner | 2,082 | 35.1 | −20.8 | |
| Majority | 1,768 | 29.8 | +17.9 | ||
| Turnout | 5,932 | ||||
| Labourgain fromConservative | Swing | +20.8 | |||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Labour | Aimee Tong | 3,705 | 55.2 | +15.8 | |
| Conservative | Mary Dowling | 3,002 | 44.8 | −7.2 | |
| Majority | 703 | 10.5 | −2.0 | ||
| Turnout | 6,707 | ||||
| Labourgain fromConservative | Swing | +11.5 | |||