The Thoresby Society

 

1964 - 15th October

East
D. W. Healey (Labour) 29,480
J. A. Fawcett (Conservative) 21,474

North East
Sir K. Joseph (Conservative) 23,613
K. Gould (Labour) 15,288

North West
Sir D. Kaberry (Conservative) 29,859
D. B. Matthews (Labour) 18,862
R. H. J. Rhodes (Liberal) 8,728

South
M. Rees (Labour) 22,339
P. A. Woodward (Conservative) 12,123
B. Ramelson (Communist) 928

South East
A. M. Bacon (Labour) 16,672
J. E. Macdonald (Conservative) 7,964

West
T. C. Pannell (Labour) 22,968
I. M. Glover (Conservative) 15,697
D. Pedder (Liberal) 6,787

The Labour Party under Harold Wilson sensed that, after what they called ‘Thirteen years of Tory misrule’, it was time for a change at Westminster. It was generally felt that the Government had become increasingly unpopular and the Profumo Affair would also have some impact on the result. The opinion polls, however, varied enormously with Gallup forecasting a Labour majority of 23 to the Daily Express which forecast a Conservative majority of 60. In the end Labour won 317 votes against the Conservatives and supporters 304 and Liberals 9 thus gaining a majority of 4. Wilson’s rallying cry was, ‘The Britain that is going to be forged in the white heat of this revolution will be no place for restrictive practices or for outdated methods on either side of industry.’

During the campaign Sir Alec Douglas Home, the Prime Minister, visited Leeds but demonstrators in the city, said to be mainly CND and Young Socialists, prevented nine-tenths of his speech being heard. Denis Healey also speaking in the city argued that Britain must earn greatness by its own efforts and not go ‘cap in hand to the Americans’. In Leeds there was no change of seats but the Liberals did submit candidates in Leeds North West and Leeds West. There was an electorate of 339,551 with a 74% turnout. The largest constituency was still Leeds North West with 74,417 voters where the turnout was the highest in the city, 77.2%.