1937 London County Council election

The Labour Party had gained control of the council for the first time in 1934. It campaigned on its record of three years running the council, and also called for a Metropolitan Green Belt, the completion of slum clearance, a scheme to beautify the South Bank, and the provision of more school playing fields. The party ran candidates for every seat other than the four in the City of London. The Conservatives, running as the Municipal Reform Party, hoped to regain control of council, believing that their defeat in 1934 was due to complacency and a low turnout. In the two Bethnal Green seats, the party was not opposed by the Municipal Reformers or their allies. The National Liberal Party ran candidates as the "Municipal Progressive Party", or in some cases as "Liberal Progressive and Ratepayers' candidates". They ran in coalition with the Municipal Reform Party, and the Manchester Guardian argued that their platform was entirely conservative, and that in Lambeth North they would split the liberal vote, making a Liberal Party victory less likely. ==Results==

Labour gained ten seats: one in Fulham East, one in Islington North, one in Wandsworth Central, both in Kensington North and Stoke Newington, and three additional seats in the St Pancras constituencies. The Municipal Reformers gained one seat in Fulham West, one in Peckham and both seats in Woolwich West. Both the Liberal Party and Municipal Progressives were disappointed not to come close to winning any seats. The British Union of Fascists were also far off winning a seat, but performed better than expected, particularly in Bethnal Green North East. Turnout in the election was 42.6%, the highest for many years, and it reached 56.8% in Woolwich West. The Municipal Reformers were surprised that this did not result in gains for them. ==References==