1985 Dorset County Council election

Elections to Dorset County Council were held on Thursday, 2 May 1985. The whole council was up for election with the number of members to be elected reducing from 91 to 77. The result was that the Conservatives retained their control, winning 42 seats, a loss of 11. The Alliance of Liberals and SDP gained 10 seats to finish with 16. Labour lost 7 seats to finish with 4. 5 others were elected, down 6.[1]

Election result by division

Source:[2]

Members of the old council *

North Dorset (11 seats)

Blackmore Vale
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal G. 'Joe' Rose 1,498 48.7 n/a
Conservative G Pitt-Rivers* 1,434 46.6 −30.8
Labour D Wardleworth 147 4.8 −17.8
Majority 2.1
Turnout 50.0 +6.8
Liberal gain from Conservative Swing +39.7
Blandford
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Barrie Cooper 1,237 49.1 n/a
Conservative F Nightingale* 893 35.5 −5.1
Labour Hadyn White 389 15.4 n/a
Majority 13.7
Turnout 39.6 +4.4
Liberal gain from Conservative Swing +27.1
Colehill
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative B Morden 1,439 51.8
Liberal P Bartlett 1,133 40.8
Labour R Pitman 204 7.3
Majority 11.0
Turnout 39.0
Conservative hold Swing
Cranborne Chase
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Alan Humphries 1,242 51.4
Conservative H Swatridge 1,047 43.3
Labour J Allen 127 5.3
Majority 8.1
Turnout 43.8
Liberal hold Swing
Gillingham
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative R Bircumshaw 1,478 55.8
SDP D Lawrence 960 36.2
Labour J Hanley 213 8.0
Majority 2.6
Turnout 44.6
Conservative hold Swing
Hambledon
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative C Mitchell* 1,352 47.7
Liberal P Hamilton 1,279 45.2 n/a
Labour W Kingswell 201 7.1 n/a
Majority 2.6 n/a
Turnout 44.9 n/a
Conservative hold Swing n/a
Corfe Mullen
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
SDP S Goss-Custard 1,370 48.0 +16.6
Conservative M Guarella* 1,225 43.0 −25.6
Labour L Shooter 257 9.0 n/a
Majority 5.1 42.2
Turnout 40.6 +5.2
SDP gain from Conservative Swing +21.1
Lytchett
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative C Lees 1,377 49.9
Liberal M Wilkins 987 35.8
Labour D Barker 395 14.3
Majority 14.1
Turnout 37.2
Conservative hold Swing
Minster
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
SDP P Hymers 1,306 48.6
Conservative A Wright* 1,117 41.6
Labour G White 265 9.9
Majority 7.0
Turnout 41.6
SDP gain from Conservative Swing
Shaftesbury
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative G Hine 1,540 49.9 +5.6
Liberal Audrey Perry* 1,325 42.9 −12.8
Labour K Davies 221 7.2 n/a
Majority 7.0 18.5
Turnout 45.8 −5.7
Conservative gain from Liberal Swing +9.2
Winterborne
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative D Jones* 1,430 54.2
SDP L Dean 861 32.7 n/a
Labour J Fox 346 13.1 n/a
Majority 21.6 n/a
Turnout 39.8 n/a
Conservative hold Swing n/a

References

  1. ^ Rallings, Colin; Thrasher, Michael (1985). Local Elections Handbook 1985: The 1985 Local Election Results. Vol. 1. Plymouth: The Elections Centre. p. 218.
  2. ^ https://www.electionscentre.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2015/06/Dorset-County.pdf