Elections to Wiltshire County Council were held on 2 May 1985. The whole council of seventy-five members was up for election and the result was that the Conservatives lost their majority, winning only thirty seats, resulting in no overall control. The Liberals gained seats, winning seventeen, the Social Democrats won eight seats, the first time they had been represented in the council, while Labour had losses, finishing like the Liberals with seventeen members. Three Independents, including one Ratepayer, were also elected. In an editorial on 4 May headed "Local Lessons", The Times commented that "The Conservatives predominate as the single largest party in the counties still. Generalizations from such elections are always flawed by local factors. Intra-party disputes help explain the loss of Conservative seats in Wiltshire". Following the elections, an informal agreement between the leader of the Liberal group, Jack Ainslie, and the leader of the Labour members, Mary Salisbury, led to the formation of a minority SDP–Liberal Alliance administration. Salisbury commented to The Times "Where the Liberals put forward what seem to be measures which are beneficial to the people of Wiltshire, we will support them." Election result |} Results by divisions Aldbourne and Ramsbury Alderbury Amesbury Bedwyn Blunsdon Box Bradford on Avon North Bradford on Avon South Bremhill and Calne Without Brinkworth Calne Chippenham Park Chippenham Sheldon Chippenham Town Collingbourne Corsham Cricklade Devizes Devizes South and Cannings Downton Durrington Highworth Holt Idmiston Kington Laverstock Lavington Malmesbury Marlborough Melksham Melksham Without Mere References External links Colin Rallings, Michael Thrasher, Wiltshire County Council election Results 1973–2005 at electionscentre.co.uk 1985 1985 English local elections 20th century in Wiltshire