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1987 Cardiff City Council election

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The 1987 Cardiff City Council election was held on Thursday 7 May 1987 to the district council known as Cardiff City Council, in Cardiff, South Glamorgan, Wales. It took place on the same day as other district council elections in Wales and England. The Conservative Party lost control of the council, though the Labour Party were unable to regain an overall majority.[1]

The previous Cardiff City Council election took place in 1983 and the next full elections took place in 1991.[2]

Overview

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Prior to the elections the Conservatives had a majority of three on the council. National opinion polls showed Labour was gaining in popularity, particularly on local issues. In Cardiff the Conservatives were also facing a challenge from the SDP-Liberal Alliance.[3]

All 65 council seats were up for election, in 26 electoral wards. The Conservatives lost ten seats overall, while Labour increased their representation by one. The Alliance won nine additional seats, particularly in the centre of the city, within the boundaries of the Cardiff Central constituency.[1] Labour became the largest party, though four short of having a majority. The Labour group leader, John Reynolds, pledged to run a minority administration.[1] A coalition was later agreed between Labour, the Conservatives and the Alliance, with Alliance leader Mike German serving as co-leader alongside Labour's Alun Michael from 1987 until 1991.[4][5][6][7][8]

Prominent councillors who lost their seats included former Lord Mayor, Olwen Watkin; the council's finance chairman, Roy Hennessy; and Tony John, chairman of Cardiff Bus.[1] In the Gabalfa ward a police investigation was launched into alleged voting irregularities after the winning Labour councillor, David Hutchinson, had increased his majority to four times more than his 1983 result.[9]

Cardiff Council election result 1987[2]
Party Seats Gains Losses Net gain/loss Seats % Votes % Votes +/−
  Labour 29 1 0 +1 44.6
  Conservative 24 0 -10 -10 36.9
  Alliance 12 9 0 +9 18.5
  Green 0 0 0 ±0.0 0.0
  Plaid Cymru 0 0 0 ±0.0 0.0
  Communist 0 0 0 ±0.0 0.0
  Independent Socialist 0 0 0 ±0.0 0.0 81 N/A

Ward Results

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Contests were held in all twenty-six wards:[2](a)[10](b)

Adamsdown (2 seats)

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Adamsdown[2]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Jon Owen Jones 1,196 57.6 +4.2
Labour W. Herbert * 1,188
Alliance P. Callaghan 407 19.6 +9.3
Conservative D. Munton 372 17.9 −5.4
Conservative J. Munton 350
Alliance J. Berkoles 327
Plaid Cymru Sian Edwards 102 4.9 +0.3
Turnout 36.8 +6.2
Registered electors 5,637
Labour hold Swing
Labour hold Swing

Butetown (1 seat)

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Butetown[2]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Gaynor Legall* 700 66.4 −11.2
Conservative W. Dickens 269 25.5 +3.1
Alliance J. Smith 85 8.1 N/A
Turnout 43.3 +7.6
Registered electors 2,432
Labour hold Swing

Caerau (2 seats)

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Caerau[2]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour W. Carling 1,633 46.9 −7.7
Labour David Seligman * 1,502
Alliance Jacqui Gasson 1,136 32.6 +19.0
Alliance J. Williams 980
Conservative C. Trigg 593 17.0 −7.6
Conservative R. Trigg 587
Green G. Jones 119 3.4 −3.9
Turnout 46.3 +10.6
Registered electors 7,516
Labour hold Swing
Labour hold Swing

Canton (3 seats)

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Canton[2]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative D. Davey * 2,248 39.4 −11.4
Conservative Trevor C. Tyrrell * 2,235
Conservative I. Jones 2,203
Labour G. Williams 2,005 35.2 +2.3
Labour J. Southern 1,948
Labour R. Hughes 1,885
Alliance A. Wigley 827 14.5 +2.5
Alliance V. Fox 826
Alliance J. Denny 824
Green Vivien Turner 384 6.7 N/A
Plaid Cymru C. ap Henri 240 4.2 −0.1
Turnout 54.3 +6.8
Registered electors 10,505
Conservative hold Swing
Conservative hold Swing
Conservative hold Swing

Cathays (3 seats)

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Cathays[2]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Alliance Michael German * 1,992 37.6 +0.7
Labour Derek Allinson * 1,984 36.9 +4.5
Alliance Fred Hornblow * 1,887
Labour A. Baker 1,687
Alliance M. Sparkes 1,684
Labour C. Champion 1,683
Conservative N. Hutton 866 16.4 −4.0
Conservative E. Morgan 779
Conservative S. Phillips 749
Green C. von Rhuland 314 5.9 +1.1
Plaid Cymru R. Adlam 168 3.2 −2.3
Plaid Cymru M. Williams 152
Plaid Cymru B. Smith 148
Turnout 51.2 +5.5
Registered electors 10,342
Alliance hold Swing
Labour hold Swing
Alliance hold Swing

Cyncoed (3 seats)

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Cyncoed[2]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Alliance Jenny Randerson * 3,055 50.7 +22.9
Alliance N. Lewis 2,797
Alliance T. Pickets 2,708
Conservative Roy Hennesey * 2,629 43.5 +18.6
Conservative Anthony John * 2,518
Conservative L. Jones 2,458
Labour G. Jenkins 347 5.8 −4.3
Labour L. Davis 303
Labour H. Ernest 299
Turnout 69.7 +14.1
Registered electors 8,641
Alliance gain from Conservative Swing
Alliance gain from Conservative Swing
Alliance gain from Conservative Swing

Ely (3 seats)

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Ely[2]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour A. Buttle * 2,361 58.8 +11.1
Labour M. Buttle * 2,316
Labour Charlie Gale * 2,207
Conservative A. Clark 842 21.0 −12.1
Conservative J. Courtis 819
Alliance C. Howe 810 20.2 N/A
Alliance N. Reid 791
Conservative A. Mullins 788
Alliance M. Arcos 762
Turnout 37.0 +8.2
Registered electors 10,848
Labour hold Swing
Labour hold Swing
Labour hold Swing

Fairwater (3 seats)

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Fairwater[2]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Maxwell Phillips * 2,224 40.1 −6.8
Labour T. Ward * 2,161
Labour D. Evans * 2,086
Alliance M. Davies 1,608 29.0 N/A
Conservative C. Ward 1,522 27.4 −5.7
Conservative K. Gillard 1,433
Conservative D. Norman 1,405
Alliance J. Duffield 866
Alliance J. Sully 802
Plaid Cymru P. Keelan 199 3.6 N/A
Turnout 54.0 +15.3
Registered electors 10,274
Labour hold Swing
Labour hold Swing
Labour hold Swing

Gabalfa (1 seat)

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Gabalfa[2]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour C. David Hutchinson * 1,296 51.7 +11.7
Conservative R. Bevan 574 22.9 −4.2
Alliance V. Pearcey 565 22.5 −10.4
Green N. Thorne 71 2.8 N/A
Turnout 52.7 +3.7
Registered electors 4,759
Labour hold Swing

Grangetown (3 seats)

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Grangetown[2]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour John Smith * 2,213 47.4 −5.5
Labour Joan Gallagher 2,144
Labour Lynda Thorne 2,110
Conservative J. O'Reilly * 1,885 40.4 −6.7
Conservative L. Quinn 1,741
Conservative F. Arnold 1,574
Alliance D. Lewis 568 12.2 N/A
Alliance M. Jones 541
Alliance P. Verma 529
Turnout 50.7 +5.0
Registered electors 9,201
Labour hold Swing
Labour hold Swing
Labour hold Swing

Heath (3 seats)

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Heath[2]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative R. Watkiss * 2,757 53.0 −4.4
Conservative C. Milsom * 2,747
Conservative T. Merridew * 2,655
Alliance P. Capron 1,211 23.3 +6.7
Alliance W. Monkley 1,188
Alliance E. Fitzgerald-Kuhl 1,103
Labour F. Hughes 816 15.7 +1.5
Labour P. Hambleton 806
Labour E. Scheeres 751
Green M. Evans 421 8.1 +1.1
Turnout 55.5 +2.6
Registered electors 9,736
Conservative hold Swing
Conservative hold Swing
Conservative hold Swing

Lisvane and St Mellons (1 seat)

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Lisvane and St Mellons[2](b)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative J. Richards 1,328 56.9 −14.6
Alliance E. Richards 807 34.6 +18.5
Labour M. Walsh 197 8.4 −4.0
Turnout 49.0 +15.1
Registered electors 4,762
Conservative hold Swing

Llandaff (2 seats)

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Llandaff[2]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Julius Hermer * 1,906 50.4 −6.6
Conservative M. Jones * 1,846
Alliance D. Marshall 1,108 29.3 +15.4
Alliance W. Slack 1,037
Labour C. Bettinson 836 13.3 +2.1
Labour N. Couper 775
Plaid Cymru G. Jones 267 7.1 −1.5
Turnout 56.0 +8.4
Registered electors 6,753
Conservative hold Swing
Conservative hold Swing

Llandaff North (2 seats)

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Llandaff North[2]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour M. Flynn * 1,616 56.0 +11.3
Labour E. Matthewson * 1,484
Conservative J. Marshall 679 23.5 −1.1
Conservative K. Gunney 678
Alliance E. Chamberlain 468 16.2 −12.6
Alliance G. Hallett 435
Green R. Rendell 123 4.3 N/A
Turnout 47.3 −10.5
Registered electors 6,103
Labour hold Swing
Labour hold Swing

Llanishen (3 seats)

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Llanishen[2]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative P. Tatham 2,308 40.0 −5.3
Conservative A. Gretton 2,272
Conservative A. Thomas * 2,228
Labour C. Davies 1,758 30.5 −5.2
Alliance W. Matthews 1,706 29.6 +13.6
Labour B. Jones 1,665
Labour W. Laing 1,662
Alliance E. Warlow 1,662
Alliance A. Capron 1,661
Turnout 53.6 +8.3
Registered electors 10,762
Conservative hold Swing
Conservative hold Swing
Conservative hold Swing

Llanrumney (3 seats)

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Llanrumney[2]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour M. Llewellyn * 2,184 51.3 +6.5
Labour John Phillips * 2,029
Labour John Reynolds * 2,001
Alliance E. Morgan 1,085 25.5 −5.1
Alliance H. Coughlan 1,062
Alliance S. Chamberlain 1,046
Conservative S. Woods 887 23.2 −1.4
Conservative M. Glover 877
Conservative A. McCarthy 856
Turnout 45.8 +0.1
Registered electors 9,286
Labour hold Swing
Labour hold Swing
Labour hold Swing

Pentwyn (3 seats)

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Pentwyn[2]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Alliance T. Briley 1,755 36.8 +12.2
Alliance K. Holman 1,717
Alliance P. Ribton 1,686
Conservative M. Newman * 1,474 30.9 −11.1
Conservative R. Lewis * 1,469
Conservative W. Pursey 1,416
Labour S. Melia 1,310 27.5 +0.6
Labour G. Mawn 1,284
Labour M. Peterson 1,266
Plaid Cymru A. Morgan 148 3.1 −3.4
Plaid Cymru D. Balch 108
Plaid Cymru R. Williams 98
Independent Socialist P. Jones 81 1.7 N/A
Turnout 40.7 +4.9
Registered electors 11,725
Alliance gain from Conservative Swing
Alliance gain from Conservative Swing
Alliance gain from Conservative Swing

Plasnewydd (4 seats)

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Plasnewydd[2](c)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Alliance Georgette O. J. German * 2,377 36.4 +6.7
Alliance G. Harris 1,904
Labour P. Armitage 1,766 27.0 +1.5
Alliance Freda Salway 1,757
Labour E. Screen 1,718
Alliance G. Wooley 1,685
Labour P. Mitchell 1,631
Labour D. Thornton 1,591
Conservative Olwen Watkin * 1,569 24.0 −12.4
Conservative S. James * 1,472
Conservative D. Evans 1,374
Conservative T. Harris 1,209
Green P. Taylor 456 7.0 +2.4
Plaid Cymru N. ap Glyn 208 3.2 +0.1
Plaid Cymru D. Bevan 203
Communist R. Macmillan 156 2.4 +1.2
Communist R. Spencer 125
Turnout 56.9 +6.0
Registered electors 12,063
Alliance gain from Conservative Swing
Alliance gain from Conservative Swing
Labour gain from Conservative Swing
Alliance hold Swing

Radyr & St Fagans (1 seat)

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Radyr & St Fagans[2]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative L. Clarke * 1,342 51.6 −3.5
Alliance P. Robinson 956 36.8 +3.3
Labour R. Hughes 303 11.6 +0.2
Turnout 67.1 +12.8
Registered electors 3,877
Conservative hold Swing

Rhiwbina (3 seats)

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Rhiwbina[2](d)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Gareth Neale * 2,955 50.6 −7.6
Conservative K. Heselton 2,846
Conservative Jeffrey Sainsbury * 2,769
Alliance H. Haines 1,624 27.8 +4.1
Alliance J. Brent 1,623
Alliance G. Power 1,605
Labour S. Williams 744 12.7 −1.5
Labour D. Bethel 729
Labour R. Hill 688
Green G. Unwin 522 8.9 N/A
Turnout 62.1 +3.6
Registered electors 9,418
Conservative hold Swing
Conservative hold Swing
Conservative hold Swing

Riverside (3 seats)

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Riverside[2]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Jane Davidson 2,274 47.6 +4.2
Labour Sue Essex * 2,144
Labour J. Wilson 1,912
Conservative S. Clarke 1,124 23.5 −9.7
Conservative R. Griffiths 1,119
Conservative A. Renwick 1,093
Alliance E. Lawrie 579 12.1 −3.2
Alliance L. Keward 562
Alliance J. Bayley 549
Green S. Scanlon 471 9.9 +1.8
Plaid Cymru N. Hodges 327 6.8 N/A
Turnout 50.7 +9.0
Registered electors 9,419
Labour hold Swing
Labour hold Swing
Labour hold Swing

Roath (3 seats)

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Roath[2][10](e)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Alliance C. Kelloway 2,229 43.4 +22.7
Conservative G. Brinks * 2,176 42.4 −17.8
Conservative D. Williams 2,115
Conservative B. Hill 2,099
Alliance S. Soffa 2,015
Alliance V. Lane 2,004
Labour D. Parsons 728 15.2 −0.9
Labour N. Butler 714
Labour M. Harries 678
Turnout 72.4 +30.3
Registered electors 9,872
Alliance gain from Conservative Swing
Conservative hold Swing
Conservative hold Swing

Rumney (2 seats)

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Rumney[2]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative B. Joslyn * 1,742 47.7 −5.7
Conservative G. Lowder 1,641
Labour D. Bevan 1,489 40.8 +5.0
Labour M. Payne 1,346
Alliance D. Walker 420 11.5 +0.7
Alliance C. Al-Ubaidi 361
Turnout 54.4 +7.5
Registered electors 6,710
Conservative hold Swing
Conservative hold Swing

Splott (2 seats)

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Splott[2]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Geoffrey Mungham 2,373 62.7 +7.7
Labour D. Ormonde 2,369
Conservative A. Fox 842 22.2 −2.0
Conservative G. Porter 779
Alliance S. Ahmad 289 7.6 −0.2
Alliance C. Minor 287
Plaid Cymru E. Jones 282 7.4 +4.4
Turnout 47.6 +5.0
Registered electors 7,957
Labour hold Swing
Labour hold Swing

Trowbridge (2 seats)

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Trowbridge[2]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour D. English * 1,628 62.7 −14.5
Labour Alun Michael * 1,614
Conservative J. McCarthy 603 23.2 −0.6
Conservative W. Sellwood 534
Alliance M. Morgan 364 14.0 N/A
Alliance J. Cuff 343
Turnout 30.8 +13.3
Registered electors 8,425
Labour hold Swing
Labour hold Swing

Whitchurch & Tongwynlais (4 seats)

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Whitchurch & Tongwynlais[2]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative W. Griffiths * 3,142 44.8 −9.9
Conservative Brian Griffiths * 2,929
Conservative Timothy Davies * 2,911
Conservative Victor Riley * 2,664
Labour D. Hutchinson 2,040 29.1 +6.3
Labour T. James 2,034
Labour R. Morrisey 1,866
Alliance T. Jenkins 1,830 26.1 +8.1
Labour A. Paskell 1,819
Alliance M. Jones 1,817
Alliance R. Haines 1,728
Alliance R. Phillips 1,650
Turnout 60.3 +5.7
Registered electors 11,623
Conservative hold Swing
Conservative hold Swing
Conservative hold Swing
Conservative hold Swing

(a) Elections Centre source also indicates whether candidate is female; compares the percentage vote of the lead candidate for each party in the ward
(b) South Wales Echo source also indicates 'retiring' ward councillors. It fails to include the Lisvane & St Mellons ward results.
(c) South Wales Echo lists Plasnewydd candidates G. Harris as Alliance and D. Evans as Conservative (which gives 4 candidates for each of these parties). Vote percentages shown reflect this.
(d) The Elections Centre source muddles the Conservative J. Sainsbury and Green Party's G. Unwin.
(e) The Elections Centre source wrongly identifies the Alliance candidate S. Soffa as a Liberal. Vote percentages shown correct this.

* pre-existing 'retiring' ward councillors at this election

References

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  1. ^ a b c d Michael Thomas (8 May 1987). "Tories lose city control, but council hung". South Wales Echo. pp. 1–2.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z aa ab ac "Cardiff Welsh District Council Election Results 1973-1991" (PDF). The Elections Centre (Plymouth University). Retrieved 30 May 2019.
  3. ^ "Labour hopes of taking Cardiff boosted by poll". South Wales Echo. 7 May 1987. pp. 1–2.
  4. ^ "CV: Michael German". BBC News. 6 April 1999. Retrieved 5 June 2024.
  5. ^ "Lib-Dem's Mike German to step down in October". Wales Online. 8 May 2008. Retrieved 5 June 2024.
  6. ^ Povey, Tomos (10 July 2019). "Lord Mike German and wife Veronica look back on their political achievements". South Wales Argus. Retrieved 5 June 2024.
  7. ^ Nelson, Dean; Smith, Andy; Fraser, Douglas (9 May 1999). "Labour mauled by the beast of nationalism". The Guardian. Retrieved 5 June 2024.
  8. ^ "Michael keeps his options open". BBC News. 9 May 1999. Retrieved 5 June 2024.
  9. ^ "Probe after city poll". South Wales Echo. 8 May 1987. p. 1.
  10. ^ a b "Overnight local election results - Cardiff City Council". South Wales Echo. 8 May 1987. p. 8.