Compiled by EveryElectionResult.com's data team · Last updated 2026-08-30
Oldham East was won by Labour at the 1979 general election, with a majority of 4,632 votes over Conservative. This page covers every general election in Oldham East from 1950 to 1979.
Full Election History, 1950–1979
Election
Elected
Votes
Vote Share
Runner-up
Majority
Turnout
1950
Frank Fairhurst (Labour)
21,510
45.0%
William Richmond (Conservative)
393 (0.8 pts)
84.1%
1951
Ian Macdonald Horobin (Conservative)
24,621
52.2%
James Avery Joyce (Labour)
2,057 (4.4 pts)
82.8%
1955
Ian Macdonald Horobin (Conservative)
19,185
44.1%
Charles Mapp (Labour)
380 (0.9 pts)
77.7%
1959
Charles Mapp (Labour)
19,329
44.4%
Ian Macdonald Horobin (Conservative)
1,830 (4.2 pts)
79.8%
1964
Charles Mapp (Labour)
18,112
45.4%
Harold Anthony Nutting (Conservative)
3,931 (9.9 pts)
76.8%
1966
Charles Mapp (Labour)
18,431
50.5%
Paul Beard (Conservative)
5,635 (15.4 pts)
72.7%
1970
James Lamond (Labour)
17,020
51.1%
Hugh Patrick Holland (Conservative)
760 (2.3 pts)
65.2%
Feb 1974
James Lamond (Labour)
18,548
48.2%
Leith McGrandle (Conservative)
6,302 (16.4 pts)
76.4%
Oct 1974
James Lamond (Labour)
19,054
52.8%
Leith McGrandle (Conservative)
8,137 (22.5 pts)
71.2%
1979
James Lamond (Labour)
18,248
50.7%
Roy Edward Walker (Conservative)
4,632 (12.9 pts)
68.7%
Full Result Breakdown by Election
1950
Candidate
Party
Votes
Share
Elected
Frank Fairhurst
Labour
21,510
45.0%
Yes
William Richmond
Conservative
21,117
44.1%
No
Winifred Carrodus Kirkman
Liberal
5,206
10.9%
No
1951
Candidate
Party
Votes
Share
Elected
Ian Macdonald Horobin
Conservative
24,621
52.2%
Yes
James Avery Joyce
Labour
22,564
47.8%
No
1955
Candidate
Party
Votes
Share
Elected
Ian Macdonald Horobin
Conservative
19,185
44.1%
Yes
Charles Mapp
Labour
18,805
43.2%
No
Roy Francis Leslie
Liberal
5,506
12.7%
No
1959
Candidate
Party
Votes
Share
Elected
Charles Mapp
Labour
19,329
44.4%
Yes
Ian Macdonald Horobin
Conservative
17,499
40.2%
No
Dennis I Wrigley
Liberal
6,660
15.3%
No
1964
Candidate
Party
Votes
Share
Elected
Charles Mapp
Labour
18,112
45.4%
Yes
Harold Anthony Nutting
Conservative
14,181
35.6%
No
Muriel E Burton
Liberal
7,574
19.0%
No
1966
Candidate
Party
Votes
Share
Elected
Charles Mapp
Labour
18,431
50.5%
Yes
Paul Beard
Conservative
12,796
35.1%
No
Derek Mann
Liberal
5,262
14.4%
No
1970
Candidate
Party
Votes
Share
Elected
James Lamond
Labour
17,020
51.1%
Yes
Hugh Patrick Holland
Conservative
16,260
48.9%
No
Feb 1974
Candidate
Party
Votes
Share
Elected
James Lamond
Labour
18,548
48.2%
Yes
Leith McGrandle
Conservative
12,246
31.8%
No
Chris Hilyer
Liberal
7,667
19.9%
No
Oct 1974
Candidate
Party
Votes
Share
Elected
James Lamond
Labour
19,054
52.8%
Yes
Leith McGrandle
Conservative
10,917
30.2%
No
Chris Hilyer
Liberal
6,142
17.0%
No
1979
Candidate
Party
Votes
Share
Elected
James Lamond
Labour
18,248
50.7%
Yes
Roy Edward Walker
Conservative
13,616
37.8%
No
Chris Hilyer
Liberal
4,149
11.5%
No
Margin Over Time
Winning margin (percentage points) at each election, coloured by the winning party.
Trend
Oldham East has been contested at 10 general elections on record since 1950. Parties that have won a seat here over that span: Labour, Conservative.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who won Oldham East in the 1979 general election?
Labour won Oldham East in 1979 with 18,248 votes (50.7%), a majority of 4,632 votes over Conservative in second place.
Which parties have won Oldham East since 1950?
Since 1950, Oldham East has been won by: Conservative, Labour.
What was the closest result in Oldham East?
The closest result on record for Oldham East was 1950, when Labour beat Conservative by just 393 votes (0.8 percentage points).