Local elections were held in the United Kingdom in 1978. Elections took place in the London boroughs and metropolitan districts.
The main opposition Conservative Party gained 275 seats, bringing their number of councillors to 12,645. They gained Oldham and Havering from no overall control, and Ealing, Hillingdon, Wandsworth and Sandwell from Labour.
The governing Labour Party lost 461 seats, leaving them with 6,644 councillors. In addition to their losses to the Conservatives they also lost South Tyneside, Hammersmith and Fulham and Wolverhampton to no overall control.
The Liberal Party lost 163 seats in total, leaving them with 923 councillors.
Summary of results
England
London boroughs
In all 32 London boroughs the whole council was up for election.
‡ New ward boundaries
Metropolitan boroughs
All 36 metropolitan borough councils had one third of their seats up for election.
District councils
In 44 districts one third of the council was up for election.
These were the first councils which had passed a resolution under section 7 (4) (b) of the
Local Government Act 1972, requesting a system of elections by thirds. They could do so because they had had their new ward boundaries introduced at the 1976 elections.
Scotland
Regional councils
References
Local elections 2006. House of Commons Library Research Paper 06/26.Vote 1999 BBC NewsVote 2000 BBC News
{{United Kingdom elections
Local elections
In many parts of the world, local elections take place to select office-holders in local government, such as mayors and councillors. Elections to positions within a city or town are often known as "municipal elections". Their form and conduct vary ...