Compiled by EveryElectionResult.com's data team · Last updated 2026-08-30
Heywood and Royton was won by Labour at the 1979 general election, with a majority of 2,287 votes over Conservative. This page covers every general election in Heywood and Royton from 1950 to 1979.
Full Election History, 1950–1979
Election
Elected
Votes
Vote Share
Runner-up
Majority
Turnout
1950
Harold Sutcliffe (Conservative)
23,518
44.0%
Charles Hurley (Labour)
2,036 (3.8 pts)
88.0%
1951
Harold Sutcliffe (Conservative)
28,086
53.8%
Charles Hurley (Labour)
4,003 (7.7 pts)
85.1%
1955
John Anthony Leavey (Conservative)
25,824
53.3%
Alan Lever Tillotson (Labour)
3,210 (6.6 pts)
81.8%
1959
John Anthony Leavey (Conservative)
19,742
40.3%
Harry Nevin (Labour)
2,154 (4.4 pts)
84.7%
1964
Joel Barnett (Labour)
20,174
40.8%
John Anthony Leavey (Conservative)
816 (1.7 pts)
82.8%
1966
Joel Barnett (Labour)
24,701
48.9%
David Waddington (Conservative)
5,653 (11.2 pts)
79.6%
1970
Joel Barnett (Labour)
25,081
45.7%
Ian MacGregor (Conservative)
903 (1.7 pts)
76.2%
Feb 1974
Joel Barnett (Labour)
28,216
44.3%
Ian MacGregor (Conservative)
7,162 (11.2 pts)
82.6%
Oct 1974
Joel Barnett (Labour)
27,206
45.7%
Peter Morgan (Conservative)
7,899 (13.3 pts)
76.6%
1979
Joel Barnett (Labour)
28,489
45.2%
Peter Morgan (Conservative)
2,287 (3.6 pts)
76.6%
Full Result Breakdown by Election
1950
Candidate
Party
Votes
Share
Elected
Harold Sutcliffe
Conservative
23,518
44.0%
Yes
Charles Hurley
Labour
21,482
40.2%
No
William Hibbert Watkinson
Liberal
8,404
15.7%
No
1951
Candidate
Party
Votes
Share
Elected
Harold Sutcliffe
Conservative
28,086
53.8%
Yes
Charles Hurley
Labour
24,083
46.2%
No
1955
Candidate
Party
Votes
Share
Elected
John Anthony Leavey
Conservative
25,824
53.3%
Yes
Alan Lever Tillotson
Labour
22,614
46.7%
No
1959
Candidate
Party
Votes
Share
Elected
John Anthony Leavey
Conservative
19,742
40.3%
Yes
Harry Nevin
Labour
17,588
35.9%
No
Geoffrey Eugene MacPherson
Liberal
11,713
23.9%
No
1964
Candidate
Party
Votes
Share
Elected
Joel Barnett
Labour
20,174
40.8%
Yes
John Anthony Leavey
Conservative
19,358
39.1%
No
Wilfred Eric Critchley
Liberal
9,914
20.1%
No
1966
Candidate
Party
Votes
Share
Elected
Joel Barnett
Labour
24,701
48.9%
Yes
David Waddington
Conservative
19,048
37.7%
No
James Clarney
Liberal
6,732
13.3%
No
1970
Candidate
Party
Votes
Share
Elected
Joel Barnett
Labour
25,081
45.7%
Yes
Ian MacGregor
Conservative
24,178
44.1%
No
Francis Beetham
Liberal
5,620
10.2%
No
Feb 1974
Candidate
Party
Votes
Share
Elected
Joel Barnett
Labour
28,216
44.3%
Yes
Ian MacGregor
Conservative
21,054
33.1%
No
Vivian Bingham
Liberal
14,392
22.6%
No
Oct 1974
Candidate
Party
Votes
Share
Elected
Joel Barnett
Labour
27,206
45.7%
Yes
Peter Morgan
Conservative
19,307
32.5%
No
Vivian Bingham
Liberal
12,969
21.8%
No
1979
Candidate
Party
Votes
Share
Elected
Joel Barnett
Labour
28,489
45.2%
Yes
Peter Morgan
Conservative
26,202
41.6%
No
Michael Frederick Hewitt
Liberal
7,644
12.1%
No
Raymond Marsh
National Front
641
1.0%
No
Margin Over Time
Winning margin (percentage points) at each election, coloured by the winning party.
Trend
Heywood and Royton has been contested at 10 general elections on record since 1950. Parties that have won a seat here over that span: Conservative, Labour.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who won Heywood and Royton in the 1979 general election?
Labour won Heywood and Royton in 1979 with 28,489 votes (45.2%), a majority of 2,287 votes over Conservative in second place.
Which parties have won Heywood and Royton since 1950?
Since 1950, Heywood and Royton has been won by: Conservative, Labour.
What was the closest result in Heywood and Royton?
The closest result on record for Heywood and Royton was 1964, when Labour beat Conservative by just 816 votes (1.7 percentage points).