Before (end of 1996) (55 seats, Elections Centre)
Labour 35 · Conservative 20 · Other 0 · Liberal Democrats 0
After (end of 1997) (55 seats, Elections Centre)
Labour 35 · Conservative 20 · Liberal Democrats 0 · Other 0
Ward results
Ormskirk1 seat · turnout 74.2%
| John Fillis | Labour | 5,046 |
| J Senior | Conservative | 3,489 |
| M Winstanley | Liberal Democrats | 1,455 |
| W Ayliffe | Nlp | 84 |
Skelmersdale Central1 seat · turnout 69.0%
| W Roberts | Labour | 6,490 |
| G Birrell | Conservative | 840 |
| D. Walker | Nlp | 188 |
Skelmersdale East1 seat · turnout 75.2%
| F. McKenna | Labour | 5,492 |
| D. Swiffen | Conservative | 2,551 |
| W Hite | Nlp | 214 |
Skelmersdale West1 seat · turnout 75.3%
| C. Cheetham | Labour | 7,097 |
| C Alty | Conservative | 1,196 |
| J Collins | Nlp | 487 |
West Lancashire East1 seat · turnout 76.7%
| R. Shepherd | Conservative | 4,991 |
| C. Dereli | Labour | 4,890 |
| C. Hite | Nlp | 192 |
West Lancashire North1 seat · turnout 72.7%
| R. Hodge | Conservative | 5,370 |
| C Gains | Labour | 3,108 |
| M Merryfield | Liberal Democrats | 1,190 |
| D. Grice | Nlp | 85 |
West Lancashire South1 seat · turnout 74.7%
| C Baily | Conservative | 4,811 |
| J. Hodson | Labour | 2,837 |
| T Brotheridge | Nlp | 182 |