1931 London County Council election

The Municipal Reform Party had run the council since 1907.{{cite news |title=LCC Elections: Relief administration an issue |work=Manchester Guardian |date=27 February 1931}} The party campaigned on its record in government, contending that it had run the council economically, keeping rates low. Since the previous election, the council had gained the power to administer welfare benefits, and the Municipal Reformers argued that the Labour Party would practice "Poplarism" and be overly generous.{{cite news |title=LCC Election: parties and their policies |work=The Times |date=3 January 1931}} The party stood 106 candidates, and won the seats in City of London, Kensington South, Paddington South, Westminster Abbey and Westminster St George's without facing a contest.{{cite news |title=LCC Election: full list of the nominations |work=The Times |date=26 February 1931}}

The Labour Party argued that welfare was administered in a harsh and cruel manner. It also contended that the Municipal Reform Party had not constructed houses for workers, and supported a government scheme for a board with oversight of traffic control in the city. The Manchester Guardian noted that Labour did not expect to take control of the council, as it was losing ground nationally. Other than the uncontested seats, the party stood everywhere except Chelsea and Hampstead, while it had only a single candidate in Stoke Newington.{{cite news |title=Electing the LCC: socialist bid for power |work=The Times |date=5 March 1931}}

The Liberal Party released a pamphlet putting forward ideas on housing, education, traffic, and the rating of land values. The Municipal Reform Party and the Liberal Party had a limited pact, with the two jointly backing anti-socialist candidates in Hackney South and the three divisions of Southwark. In the two divisions of Bethnal Green, and in Lambeth North, the Municipal Reformers backed the Liberal candidates.{{cite news |title=LCC Elections: pacts in several divisions |work=Manchester Guardian |date=20 February 1931}} The Times noted that the Liberals were planning a much smaller campaign than in 1928, due to their losses that year, and a shortage of funds.{{cite news |title=LCC Elections: Municipal Reform vs Socialism |work=The Times |date=12 February 1931}} The party stood only 27 candidates, down from 82 in 1928.

The Communist Party of Great Britain stood 14 candidates, and also backed six "Organised Unemployed" candidates in the three Southwark constituencies.

The Times noted that "rarely has an election of such importance caused so few changes". The Municipal Reformers made limited gains, taking the Liberal seat in Hackney Central, and Labour seats in Hammersmith North, Islington South, Kennington, Peckham and St Pancras South East.{{cite news |title=The New LCC: Municipal Reform gains |work=The Times |date=6 March 1931}} Labour's vote fell, but the party gained seats in Islington East and Mile End, while the Liberal Party gained seats from Labour in Lambeth North.{{cite news |title=The New LCC |work=The Times |date=7 March 1931}}{{cite news |title=LCC Election: seven seats lost by Labour |work=The Times |date=7 March 1931}} The Communist Party of Great Britain performed poorly. Former Member of Parliament Shapurji Saklatvala took only 728 votes for the party in Battersea North.{{cite news |title=LCC Election Results |work=Manchester Guardian |date=6 March 1931}}

The numbers of seats won by each party matched exactly the results of the 1925 London County Council election.

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{{London County Council}}

{{London elections}}

{{United Kingdom local elections, 1931}}

Category:1931 elections in the United Kingdom

County Council election

Category:1931 English local elections

Category:London County Council elections

Category:March 1931 in the United Kingdom