Local Elections 1996
Local Elections 1996 was held on 2 May 1996. 3,077 seats were filled across 2,622 wards and divisions in 232 councils, from 9,058 candidates. The Labour Party won 1,771, Liberal Democrats won 650 and Conservative Party won 525.
- Date
- 2 May 1996
- Seats filled
- 3,077
- Candidates
- 9,058
- Councils
- 232
| Party | Candidates | Seats won | Votes | Vote share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| The Labour Party | 2,971 | 1,771 | 3,067,226 | 47.2% |
| Liberal Democrats | 2,384 | 650 | 1,449,811 | 22.3% |
| Conservative Party | 2,768 | 525 | 1,716,976 | 26.4% |
| Independent | 304 | 96 | 114,524 | 1.8% |
| RES | 30 | 15 | 15,031 | 0.2% |
| LIB | 74 | 6 | 21,479 | 0.3% |
| Green Party | 287 | 5 | 54,583 | 0.8% |
| RATE | 5 | 3 | 5,214 | 0.1% |
| Ind Lab | 59 | 2 | 26,051 | 0.4% |
| Ind Con | 36 | 2 | 7,779 | 0.1% |
| PABAG | 2 | 1 | 1,890 | 0.0% |
| Prog | 3 | 1 | 1,253 | 0.0% |
| MILT Lab | 51 | 0 | 10,317 | 0.2% |
| Residents | 6 | 0 | 1,269 | 0.0% |
| Ind LD | 6 | 0 | 1,168 | 0.0% |
| UK Ind | 13 | 0 | 1,121 | 0.0% |
| Other | 2 | 0 | 962 | 0.0% |
| Nlp | 21 | 0 | 858 | 0.0% |
| SDP | 3 | 0 | 855 | 0.0% |
| FAN | 10 | 0 | 623 | 0.0% |
| Scottish National Party | 2 | 0 | 587 | 0.0% |
| ND | 3 | 0 | 587 | 0.0% |
| Progressive Party (London, 1889-1945) | 3 | 0 | 520 | 0.0% |
| BNP | 3 | 0 | 446 | 0.0% |
| Plaid Cymru - The Party of Wales | 1 | 0 | 300 | 0.0% |
| MK | 1 | 0 | 282 | 0.0% |
| NF | 2 | 0 | 163 | 0.0% |
| SOC | 2 | 0 | 158 | 0.0% |
| IND GRN | 1 | 0 | 139 | 0.0% |
| COMM | 3 | 0 | 104 | 0.0% |
| UK Independence Party (UKIP) | 1 | 0 | 69 | 0.0% |
| MRLP | 1 | 0 | 37 | 0.0% |
| Council | Wards / divisions | Seats filled | Largest party | Its seats |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Adur | 12 | 13 | Liberal Democrats | 8 |
| Amber Valley | 3 | 3 | Labour | 3 |
| Amber Valley | 11 | 11 | Labour | 11 |
| Barnsley | 22 | 22 | Labour | 20 |
| Barrow-in-Furness | 12 | 13 | Labour | 10 |
| Basildon | 14 | 15 | Labour | 9 |
| Basingstoke and Deane | 19 | 19 | Conservative | 9 |
| Bassetlaw | 5 | 5 | Labour | 3 |
| Bassetlaw | 12 | 13 | Labour | 10 |
| Bedford | 9 | 9 | Labour | 5 |
| Bedford | 7 | 7 | Liberal Democrats | 3 |
| Bedfordshire | 2 | 2 | Liberal Democrats | 2 |
| Birmingham | 39 | 39 | Labour | 27 |
| Blackburn | 12 | 14 | Labour | 12 |
| Blackburn with Darwen | 8 | 8 | Conservative | 5 |
| Bolton | 20 | 20 | Labour | 16 |
| Bournemouth | 19 | 57 | Liberal Democrats | 28 |
| Bournemouth, Christchurch & Poole | 1 | 3 | Conservative | 3 |
| Bradford | 30 | 30 | Labour | 23 |
| Brentwood | 12 | 13 | Liberal Democrats | 7 |
| Brighton & Hove | 26 | 78 | Labour | 54 |
| Bristol, City of | 1 | 1 | Labour | 1 |
| Broadland | 16 | 16 | Labour | 7 |
| Broxbourne | 14 | 14 | Conservative | 10 |
| Burnley | 16 | 16 | Labour | 13 |
| Bury | 16 | 16 | Labour | 13 |
| Calderdale | 18 | 18 | Labour | 13 |
| Cambridge | 14 | 16 | Labour | 9 |
| Cannock Chase | 14 | 16 | Labour | 15 |
| Canterbury | 1 | 1 | Liberal Democrats | 1 |
| Carlisle | 8 | 8 | Labour | 4 |
| Carlisle | 9 | 10 | Labour | 9 |
| Cheltenham | 13 | 14 | Liberal Democrats | 10 |
| Cherwell | 17 | 17 | Labour | 10 |
| Chester | 9 | 9 | Labour | 5 |
| Chichester | 1 | 1 | Conservative | 1 |
| Chiltern | 1 | 3 | Liberal Democrats | 3 |
| Chorley | 15 | 15 | Labour | 11 |
| City of Chester | 11 | 11 | Labour | 4 |
| Colchester | 7 | 7 | Liberal Democrats | 5 |
| Colchester | 8 | 8 | Labour | 4 |
| Colchester Borough Council | 4 | 4 | Liberal Democrats | 2 |
| Congleton | 12 | 12 | Liberal Democrats | 6 |
| Congleton | 3 | 3 | Liberal Democrats | 2 |
| Copeland | 1 | 1 | Labour | 1 |
| Coventry | 18 | 18 | Labour | 17 |
| Craven | 11 | 11 | Liberal Democrats | 4 |
| Crawley | 11 | 14 | Labour | 12 |
| Crewe and Nantwich | 19 | 19 | Labour | 14 |
| Dacorum | 1 | 1 | Labour | 1 |
| Darlington | 25 | 52 | Labour | 36 |
| Daventry | 12 | 12 | Conservative | 8 |
| Derby | 20 | 44 | Labour | 39 |
| Derbyshire | 1 | 1 | Labour | 1 |
| Doncaster | 21 | 21 | Labour | 19 |
| Dorset | 2 | 4 | Conservative | 3 |
| Dover | 1 | 1 | Labour | 1 |
| Dudley | 24 | 25 | Labour | 21 |
| Eastbourne | 10 | 10 | Liberal Democrats | 6 |
| Eastleigh | 11 | 11 | Liberal Democrats | 8 |
| Eastleigh | 3 | 3 | Conservative | 2 |
| Ellesmere Port and Neston | 14 | 15 | Labour | 12 |
| Elmbridge | 18 | 18 | Conservative | 8 |
| Epping Forest | 20 | 21 | Labour | 6 |
| Essex | 2 | 2 | Conservative | 1 |
| Exeter | 12 | 13 | Labour | 9 |
| Fareham | 14 | 14 | Conservative | 7 |
| Fife | 1 | 1 | Labour | 1 |
| Gateshead | 13 | 13 | Labour | 11 |
| Gateshead | 9 | 9 | Labour | 5 |
| Gillingham | 5 | 5 | Liberal Democrats | 4 |
| Gillingham Borough Council | 9 | 9 | Liberal Democrats | 6 |
| Gloucester | 10 | 10 | Labour | 7 |
| Gloucester | 1 | 1 | Labour | 1 |
| Gloucestershire | 1 | 1 | Conservative | 1 |
| Gosport | 9 | 9 | Liberal Democrats | 4 |
| Great Yarmouth | 9 | 9 | Labour | 6 |
| Great Yarmouth | 7 | 7 | Labour | 5 |
| Halton | 18 | 19 | Labour | 16 |
| Hampshire | 6 | 6 | Conservative | 4 |
| Harlow | 14 | 16 | Labour | 15 |
| Harrogate | 19 | 19 | Liberal Democrats | 12 |
| Hart | 10 | 10 | Conservative | 5 |
| Hartlepool | 10 | 10 | Labour | 9 |
| Hartlepool | 5 | 5 | Labour | 4 |
| Hastings | 11 | 11 | Liberal Democrats | 6 |
| Havant | 12 | 12 | Conservative | 4 |
| Hereford | 9 | 9 | Liberal Democrats | 7 |
| Hertsmere | 13 | 13 | Labour | 7 |
| Huntingdon | 13 | 14 | Conservative | 11 |
| Huntingdonshire | 4 | 4 | Conservative | 3 |
| Hyndburn | 8 | 8 | Labour | 7 |
| Hyndburn | 8 | 8 | Labour | 7 |
| Ipswich | 15 | 17 | Labour | 14 |
| Kensington and Chelsea | 1 | 1 | Conservative | 1 |
| Kirklees | 24 | 24 | Labour | 15 |
| Knowsley | 22 | 22 | Labour | 21 |
| Lancashire | 3 | 3 | Labour | 2 |
| Leeds | 33 | 34 | Labour | 28 |
| Leicester | 28 | 56 | Labour | 41 |
| Leominster | 12 | 12 | Independent | 3 |
| Lincoln | 11 | 11 | Labour | 11 |
| Liverpool | 33 | 34 | Liberal Democrats | 17 |
| Luton | 8 | 24 | Labour | 18 |
| Luton Borough Council | 9 | 27 | Labour | 21 |
| Macclesfield | 7 | 7 | Conservative | 7 |
| Macclesfield | 13 | 13 | Conservative | 7 |
| Maidstone | 19 | 20 | Labour | 8 |
| Manchester | 33 | 35 | Labour | 29 |
| Mid Suffolk | 1 | 1 | Labour | 1 |
| Milton Keynes | 24 | 51 | Labour | 30 |
| Mole Valley | 12 | 13 | Liberal Democrats | 6 |
| Mole Valley | 2 | 2 | Conservative | 2 |
| Newbury | 1 | 1 | Liberal Democrats | 1 |
| Newcastle Upon Tyne | 26 | 28 | Labour | 23 |
| Newcastle-under-Lyme | 17 | 17 | Labour | 13 |
| North Ayrshire | 1 | 1 | Conservative | 1 |
| North Bedfordshire | 2 | 2 | Conservative | 1 |
| North Hertfordshire | 17 | 18 | Labour | 11 |
| North Somerset | 1 | 1 | Liberal Democrats | 1 |
| North Tyneside | 10 | 11 | Labour | 8 |
| North Tyneside | 10 | 10 | Labour | 7 |
| Northampton | 1 | 1 | Labour | 1 |
| Northamptonshire | 1 | 1 | Liberal Democrats | 1 |
| Norwich | 16 | 19 | Labour | 14 |
| Nuneaton and Bedworth | 14 | 16 | Labour | 16 |
| Oldham | 20 | 20 | Labour | 13 |
| Oxford | 17 | 17 | Labour | 12 |
| Oxfordshire | 4 | 4 | Liberal Democrats | 2 |
| Pendle | 7 | 8 | Labour | 5 |
| Pendle | 9 | 9 | Labour | 4 |
| Penwith | 11 | 11 | Labour | 4 |
| Peterborough | 16 | 17 | Labour | 10 |
| Plymouth | 1 | 1 | Labour | 1 |
| Poole | 1 | 3 | Conservative | 3 |
| Poole | 3 | 9 | Liberal Democrats | 7 |
| Poole | 6 | 18 | Liberal Democrats | 13 |
| Poole Borough Council | 3 | 9 | Conservative | 6 |
| Portsmouth | 13 | 39 | Labour | 21 |
| Preston | 19 | 19 | Labour | 11 |
| Purbeck | 7 | 7 | Liberal Democrats | 4 |
| Reading | 15 | 15 | Labour | 12 |
| Redditch | 9 | 9 | Labour | 7 |
| Reigate & Banstead | 16 | 18 | Conservative | 6 |
| Rochdale | 20 | 20 | Labour | 13 |
| Rochford | 13 | 13 | Liberal Democrats | 6 |
| Rossendale | 11 | 11 | Labour | 9 |
| Rotherham | 10 | 10 | Labour | 10 |
| Rotherham | 12 | 12 | Labour | 12 |
| Rugby | 12 | 12 | Labour | 7 |
| Rugby | 4 | 4 | Independent | 2 |
| Runnymede | 11 | 11 | Conservative | 7 |
| Rushmoor | 15 | 15 | Liberal Democrats | 6 |
| Rutland | 16 | 20 | Independent | 11 |
| Salford | 17 | 17 | Labour | 17 |
| Salford | 3 | 3 | Labour | 3 |
| Sandwell | 24 | 25 | Labour | 22 |
| Sefton | 23 | 23 | Labour | 11 |
| Sheffield | 29 | 30 | Labour | 17 |
| Shrewsbury and Atcham | 16 | 16 | Labour | 8 |
| Shropshire | 1 | 1 | Labour | 1 |
| Slough | 13 | 13 | Labour | 12 |
| Solihull | 4 | 4 | Labour | 2 |
| Solihull | 13 | 13 | Conservative | 5 |
| South Bedfordshire | 18 | 19 | Labour | 10 |
| South Cambridgeshire | 18 | 20 | Conservative | 6 |
| South Herefordshire | 13 | 13 | Independent | 8 |
| South Lakeland | 17 | 17 | Conservative | 6 |
| South Northamptonshire | 1 | 1 | Liberal Democrats | 1 |
| South Tyneside | 20 | 20 | Labour | 17 |
| Southampton | 15 | 45 | Labour | 29 |
| Southend-On-Sea | 13 | 13 | Liberal Democrats | 6 |
| Southwark | 1 | 1 | Labour | 1 |
| St Albans | 19 | 19 | Liberal Democrats | 10 |
| St. Helens | 18 | 20 | Labour | 15 |
| Staffordshire | 1 | 1 | Labour | 1 |
| Stevenage | 8 | 8 | Labour | 7 |
| Stevenage | 5 | 5 | Labour | 5 |
| Stockport | 9 | 9 | Liberal Democrats | 5 |
| Stockport | 12 | 12 | Liberal Democrats | 6 |
| Stoke On Trent | 20 | 60 | Labour | 60 |
| Stratford on Avon Borough Council | 4 | 4 | Liberal Democrats | 2 |
| Stratford-on-Avon | 7 | 7 | Conservative | 4 |
| Stratford-On-Avon | 8 | 8 | Conservative | 5 |
| Stroud | 18 | 20 | Labour | 12 |
| Suffolk | 2 | 3 | Labour | 3 |
| Sunderland | 25 | 25 | Labour | 22 |
| Surrey | 7 | 7 | Liberal Democrats | 3 |
| Swale | 16 | 17 | Labour | 7 |
| Swindon | 8 | 24 | Labour | 17 |
| Tameside | 19 | 19 | Labour | 17 |
| Tamworth | 1 | 1 | Labour | 1 |
| Tamworth | 8 | 8 | Labour | 7 |
| Tamworth Borough Council | 1 | 1 | Labour | 1 |
| Tandridge | 13 | 13 | Conservative | 7 |
| Taunton Deane | 1 | 1 | Liberal Democrats | 1 |
| Thamesdown | 13 | 30 | Labour | 24 |
| Three Rivers | 16 | 16 | Liberal Democrats | 7 |
| Thurrock | 7 | 7 | Labour | 7 |
| Thurrock | 6 | 8 | Labour | 8 |
| Trafford | 22 | 21 | Conservative | 10 |
| Tunbridge Wells | 4 | 4 | Liberal Democrats | 2 |
| Tunbridge Wells | 12 | 13 | Conservative | 7 |
| Vale of Glamorgan | 1 | 1 | Labour | 1 |
| Wakefield | 21 | 21 | Labour | 20 |
| Wales | 1 | 1 | Labour | 1 |
| Walsall | 20 | 20 | Labour | 10 |
| Watford | 11 | 11 | Labour | 7 |
| Watford Borough Council | 1 | 1 | Liberal Democrats | 1 |
| Waveney | 6 | 6 | Labour | 6 |
| Waveney | 9 | 9 | Labour | 7 |
| Welwyn Hatfield | 13 | 14 | Labour | 10 |
| Welwyn Hatfield | 2 | 2 | Labour | 2 |
| West Lancashire | 17 | 17 | Labour | 11 |
| West Lindsey | 13 | 12 | Liberal Democrats | 6 |
| West Oxfordshire | 13 | 13 | Independent | 5 |
| West Sussex | 3 | 3 | Conservative | 1 |
| Weymouth and Portland | 11 | 11 | Liberal Democrats | 5 |
| Wigan | 24 | 25 | Labour | 24 |
| Wiltshire | 1 | 1 | Labour | 1 |
| Winchester | 16 | 16 | Liberal Democrats | 7 |
| Winchester | 2 | 2 | Independent | 1 |
| Wirral | 22 | 22 | Labour | 13 |
| Woking | 12 | 12 | Liberal Democrats | 6 |
| Wokingham | 18 | 18 | Conservative | 9 |
| Wolverhampton | 20 | 20 | Labour | 15 |
| Worcester | 13 | 13 | Labour | 8 |
| Worcestershire | 1 | 1 | Conservative | 1 |
| Worthing | 12 | 13 | Liberal Democrats | 8 |
| Wycombe | 1 | 1 | Liberal Democrats | 1 |
| Wyre Forest | 3 | 3 | Labour | 2 |
| Wyre Forest | 10 | 10 | Labour | 7 |