1979 Welwyn Hatfield District Council election

The 1979 Welwyn Hatfield District Council election took place on 3 May 1979 to elect members of Welwyn Hatfield District Council in England. This was on the same day as the 1979 general election and other local elections. Due to this, the turnout for the council elections was unusually high at over 80% of the local population. A third of the council's seats were up for election.

1979 Welwyn Hatfield District Council election

3 May 1979 (1979-05-03)
15 out of 43 seats to Welwyn Hatfield District Council 22 seats needed for a majority
Turnout	58,725, 82.6%
First party Second party Third party   Party Labour Conservative Liberal Last election 20 seats, 46.9% 23 seats, 50.2% 0 seats, 2.9% Seats before 20 23 0 Seats after 22 21 0 Seat change 2 2 Popular vote 26,447 30,138 2,140 Percentage 45.0% 51.3% 3.6% Swing 1.9 1.1 0.7
Council composition following the election.

At the election, the Labour Party regained control of the council that they had lost following the 1976 election despite their share of the popular vote falling. Their majority was the bare minimum needed however, but Labour would go on to increase it to a healthier amount in the next year's election.

Summary

Election result

1979 Welwyn Hatfield District Council election
Party		This election			Full council			This election
		Seats	Net	Seats %	Other	Total	Total %	Votes	Votes %	+/−
	Labour	8	2	53.3	14	22	51.2	26,447	45.0	–1.9
	Conservative	7	2	46.7	14	21	48.8	30,138	51.3	+1.1
	Liberal	0		0.0	0	0	0.0	2,140	3.6	+0.7