ColinJ
Labour
Living in the Past
Posts: 2,126
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Post by ColinJ on Apr 12, 2016 17:02:43 GMT
When did local elections generally stop being held in November and moved to May? Urban and Rural Districts, from their inception in the 1890s, always had their elections in the spring, as did county councils. I think it was the boroughs and county boroughs that had their elections in November until the late 1940s. I'm sure someone can be more precise. |
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J.G.Harston
Lib Dem
Leave-voting Brexit-supporting Liberal Democrat
Posts: 14,759 
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Post by J.G.Harston on Apr 12, 2016 20:03:30 GMT
When did local elections generally stop being held in November and moved to May? Urban and Rural Districts, from their inception in the 1890s, always had their elections in the spring, as did county councils. I think it was the boroughs and county boroughs that had their elections in November until the late 1940s. I'm sure someone can be more precise. 1947/8. The November 1947 elections never happened, the next elections were in May 1948. Urban and District councils voted on the second Wednesday (sic) of May until their final pre-abolition elections in 1972. The 1973 elections never happened, instead there were elections for the replacement district councils that were to take over on 1st April 1974. There was a transition period where non-mets had their next elections in 1976 and 1979, then settled into their 4-yearly cycle with the next election in 1983. I just happen to have come back from the library going through the Whitby election results for the early 1970s.  "NO BIG BROTHER FROM MERGED COUNCIL" Newly-elected councillors warn of distance from centre of power. KEEP POLITICS OUT OF LOCAL GOVERNMENT. Dismay as newly-elected Independents join the Conservative Group on new county council. "North Riding was always non-political, this is a fundamental change in local government." WARNING AS TURNOUT DROPS TO 52% Concerns that too many seats are uncontested. etc etc. |
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Post by hullenedge on Apr 15, 2016 15:51:19 GMT
The November 1947 elections did happen. November 1948 was rescheduled for May 1949. There was cross-party agreement for some years to move polling day away from the cold dark autumn days.
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Deleted
Deleted Member
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Post by Deleted on Apr 15, 2016 21:56:27 GMT
They were cancelled between November 1939 and November 1944, weren't they? I don't know about 1914-8.
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Post by finsobruce on Apr 15, 2016 22:10:32 GMT
They were cancelled between November 1939 and November 1944, weren't they? I don't know about 1914-8. I think the Elections Registration Act of 1915 put a stop to them (elections having taken place that year) and introduced co-option instead. Returned in 1919. |
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Post by Davıd Boothroyd on Apr 15, 2016 22:14:20 GMT
They were cancelled between November 1939 and November 1944, weren't they? I don't know about 1914-8. Initially local elections continued. It was not until the Elections and Registration Act 1915 (5&6 Geo. V c. 76) was rushed through at the end of July 1915 (introduced 22 July, Royal Assent was only a week later on 29 July) that local elections were stopped. There was procedure to appoint replacements in the case of casual vacancies, which was the model for the Second World War legislation. Subsequent Acts extended the suspension of local elections until the end of the War. |
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Post by hullenedge on Apr 15, 2016 22:42:03 GMT
David is correct. The 1914 borough and 1915 district elections were not stopped but there were few contests. The legislation must have stopped the elections scheduled for 1st November 1918 but after that date contests were permitted. There was a by-election in Halifax CB on 13th November 1918. Labour gained a Liberal seat. The nominations must have been submitted before the armistice. The register was 'swollen' by the newly enfranchised women (but not the first women to vote). The Labour victor said that he owed his victory to his female voters.
I recall that co-opted councillors (1915-1918) were not necessarily the same allegiance of those they replaced.
The local co-options from 1939-45 were sometimes controversial...
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Deleted
Deleted Member
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Post by Deleted on Apr 24, 2016 21:32:35 GMT
Were county council elections always held triennially (every three years) between 1889 and 1973 in England, Wales and Scotland except for during the war years?
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Post by Davıd Boothroyd on Apr 24, 2016 22:00:48 GMT
Were county council elections always held triennially (every three years) between 1889 and 1973 in England, Wales and Scotland except for during the war years? Yes. Three years was the standard term of office of councillors until the 1974 reforms. |
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Post by David Ashforth on Apr 30, 2016 16:57:29 GMT
Probably of interest to no one but if you're in the Barnsley area on Tuesday 17th May: Darfield Urban District Council, 1896-1974.
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Deleted
Deleted Member
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Post by Deleted on May 1, 2016 9:52:42 GMT
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Post by hullenedge on May 1, 2016 11:22:12 GMT
Two Fascist candidates in Leeds (Burmantofts and Armley) for the 1937 locals. They didn't win (106 and 74 votes).
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Post by David Ashforth on May 2, 2016 10:32:57 GMT
These Municipal Year Books show the members of each council but unfortunately not their composition. 189719071911 |
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Post by hullenedge on May 2, 2016 20:41:53 GMT
I think that it was considered vulgar to quote council composition in the old MYBs...if they ever asked. Also plenty of councillors defined themselves as 'independent' on municipal matters although holding strong views on national affairs.
Not convinced these figures are accurate but Labour's net performance in the English/Welsh boroughs from 1945 to 1972 (chose Labour because more likely to declare allegiance and less likely to join an electoral pact) rounded to the nearest ten:-
1945 +1250, 1946 +140, 1947 -640, 1949 -720, 1950 -80, 1951 no change, 1952 +640, 1953 +360, 1954 +510, 1955 -350, 1956 +210, 1957 +200, 1958 +300, 1959 -210 1960 -460, 1961 -220, 1962 +260, 1963 +540, 1964 +250, 1965 -380, 1966 -170, 1967 -590, 1968 -1240, 1969 -620, 1970 +440, 1971 +1830 and 1972 +970.
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Deleted
Deleted Member
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Post by Deleted on May 3, 2016 16:53:42 GMT
Does anyone know at what time of year Scottish county council elections were held before 1952, or did it vary? And in which years they were held? I am aware they used to be held triennially on the second Tuesday of May (the Tuesday after the burgh elections) between 1952 and the final elections in 1973.
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Post by hullenedge on May 3, 2016 20:46:56 GMT
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Deleted
Deleted Member
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Post by Deleted on May 3, 2016 21:57:22 GMT
Thanks. Whatever possessed them to hold elections at such daft times of the year, I wonder?
I've been compiling an index of Glasgow Herald local election results articles onto a shareable Google spreadsheet as it happens, with page numbers. I'm planning to post it here when I'm happy with it. I've worked back to 1911 so far and am planning to go back to 1889 at least. It gets harder on the eyes the further back you go as there are fewer illustrations, just column after column of tiny print. The quality of the articles for English and Welsh elections does vary considerably - the best ones seem to be those from the 1930s. It's always worth searching two or three days after the polling days for any late results.
I noticed a few things: that English and Welsh county elections appeared to be held simultaneously with the LCC elections; however this doesn't appear to be the case before 1937 as there appears to be no mention of them before then (I got the dates for the London elections from here.). I guess they varied from county to county. A thought occurs that the Scottish burgh election dates coincided with American elections; one wonders whether that's just a coincidence or not bearing in mind the old colonial link. A further thought occurs: why the hell couldn't all these elections have been held on the same day!? |
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Post by hullenedge on Jul 28, 2016 14:17:56 GMT
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Deleted
Deleted Member
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Post by Deleted on Jul 28, 2016 14:23:06 GMT
The memorable year when the Conservatives took control of Hackney - and made an awful hash of it, as a high proportion of their new councillors were bemused old ladies who had only agreed to stand as paper candidates. |
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Post by finsobruce on Jul 28, 2016 14:27:26 GMT
The memorable year when the Conservatives took control of Hackney - and made an awful hash of it, as a high proportion of their new councillors were bemused old ladies who had only agreed to stand as paper candidates. The same was true in a lot of London boroughs... |
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"NO BIG BROTHER FROM MERGED COUNCIL" Newly-elected councillors warn of distance from centre of power. KEEP POLITICS OUT OF LOCAL GOVERNMENT. Dismay as newly-elected Independents join the Conservative Group on new county council. "North Riding was always non-political, this is a fundamental change in local government." WARNING AS TURNOUT DROPS TO 52% Concerns that too many seats are uncontested. etc etc.
