1934 London County Council election

1934 local election in England March 2020 March 2020 1934 London County Council election United Kingdom LCC arms 1914.png parliamentary no yes 1931 London County Council election 1931 1937 London County Council election 1937 8 March 1934 Councillors 150x150px Herbert Morrison 1933 Alderman Labour Party (UK) 35 69 34 MR Harold Webbe 1934 Municipal Reform Party 83 55 28 An election to the County Council of London took place on 8 March 1934. The council was elected by First Past the Post with each elector having two votes in the two-member seats. The Labour Party made large gains from the Municipal Reform Party, and for the first time won control of the council. Campaign The Municipal Reform Party had run the council for 27 years, and ran on its record in government.Electing the LCC The Times 8 March 1934 In Finsbury, the party supported two independent "National Municipal" candidates.LCC election The Times 1 March 1934 One of these candidates Michael Franklin belonged to the National Labour Organisation, the pro-National Government splinter party led by Ramsay MacDonald. The Labour Party had never been the largest party on the council, and had lost ground at the previous election, in 1931. Its manifesto prioritised the construction of more housing, particularly in locations within the County of London or immediately surrounding it, and the reduction of municipal rents.LCC election campaign The Times 20 February 1934 It contested all seats except for those in the City of London and Kensington South, where the Municipal Reform candidates were elected unopposed, and St Marylebone where the Independent Labour Party stood instead. The Liberal Party fielded only 26 candidates, ten of whom were not opposed by the Municipal Reform Party. The Times claimed that the party was a "spent force" in the capital, and that its best hope was to retain its six seats, which it might achieve only because of the assistance of the Municipal Reformers. Percy Harris, spokesperson for the Liberals, claimed that Labour had no chance of defeating its six sitting councillors. He proposed more housing, replanning of the London road network, and moving Covent Garden Market to the banks of the River Thames. The Manchester Guardian described the election as difficult to predict, but noted that the Municipal Reformers were expecting to win, but with a reduced majority, while Labour believed they would win more seats and had a chance of taking control of the council.London County Council fight Manchester Guardian 8 March 1934 The Times predicted close contests in Battersea North, Camberwell North West, Fulham West, Greenwich, Hammersmith North, Hackney South, Kennington, Lambeth North, Mile End, Peckham, and three of the Islington constituencies. Results Labour won a substantial victory, taking control of the council for the first time, while the Liberal Party was entirely wiped out. Among the defeated politicians was Harold Webbe, acting leader of the Municipal Reform Party. The party blamed its defeat on voter apathy.New LCC The Times 10 March 1934Notable members defeated Manchester Guardian 9 March 1934 Turnout in the election was approximately 33%. Party Voteshttp://www.electionscentre.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/Twentieth-Century-Local-Election-Results-Volume-3.pdf London County Council Elections 1889 - 1961 Council 12 May 2019 SeatsNumber % Stood Seats % Labour Party (UK) 341,390 50.9 116 69 55.6 Municipal Reform Party 291,563 43.5 106 55 44.4 Liberal Party (UK) 44,139 24 0 0.0 Communist Party of Great Britain 8,770 18 0 0.0 People's Party 7,340 2 0 0.0 National Municipal 6,439 2 0 0.0 Independent Labour Party 4,509 4 0 0.0 Independent (politician) 159 1 0 0.0 References Category:1934 elections in the United Kingdom County Council election London Category:London County Council elections Category:March 1934 in the United Kingdom