1978 Lothian Regional Council election

1978 Lothian Regional Council election

2 May 1978
All 49 seats to Lothian Regional Council 25 seats needed for a majority seats needed for a majority
First party Second party Third party   Lab Con SNP Party Labour Conservative SNP Last election 24 seats, 39.9% 19 seats, 34.3% 3 seats, 11.6% Seats won 26 18 3 Seat change 2 1 Popular vote 100,455 82,841 50,692 Percentage 40.33% 33.2% 20.3% Swing 0.4pp 1.1pp 8.7pp   Fourth party Fifth party   Lib Ind Party Liberal Independent Last election 1 seat, 9.0% 1 seat, 3.5% Seats won 1 1 Seat change Popular vote 10,601 3,709 Percentage 4.3% 1.5% Swing 4.7pp 2.0pp
Council composition following election

The second election to Lothian Regional Council was held on 2 May 1978 and saw Labour gaining a majority of the council's 49 seats amidst a Labour surge across Scotland. Stephen Maxwell, the SNP's vice-chairman, was a prominent victim of the Labour gains, losing his seat of Slateford/Hailes.

Aggregate results

Lothian Regional election, 1978

Party		Seats	Gains	Losses	Net gain/loss	Seats %	Votes %	Votes	+/−
	Labour	26				53.06	40.3	100,455
	Conservative	18				36.73	33.2	82,841
	SNP	3				6.12	20.3	50,692
	Liberal	1				2.04	4.3	10,601
	Independent	1				2.04	1.5	3,709
	Communist	0				0.00	0.4	940

Ward results

20th, Slateford/Hailes

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Labour	J. P. Mulvey	2,272	39.23
	SNP	S. Maxwell	2,134	36.84
	Conservative	D. Pountain	1,386	23.93
Majority			138	2.39
Turnout			5,792
	Labour gain from SNP