Wirral Metropolitan Borough Council elections are generally held three years out of every four, with a third of the council being elected each time. Wirral Metropolitan Borough Council, generally known as Wirral Council, is the local authority for the metropolitan borough of Wirral in Merseyside, England. Since the last boundary changes in 2004, 66 councillors have been elected from 22 wards. Political control The borough of Wirral was created under the Local Government Act 1972 as a metropolitan borough, with Merseyside County Council providing county-level services. The first election to the council was held in 1973, initially operating as a shadow authority before coming into its powers on 1 April 1974. Merseyside County Council was abolished in 1986 and Wirral became a unitary authority. Political control of the council since 1973 has been held by the following parties: Leadership The leaders of the council since 1973 have been: Council elections Since the first election in 1973, boundary changes have occurred in 1980 (where a third of the council were up for election) and in 2004 (where there was an all out election). 1973 Wirral Metropolitan Borough Council election 1975 Wirral Metropolitan Borough Council election 1976 Wirral Metropolitan Borough Council election 1978 Wirral Metropolitan Borough Council election 1979 Wirral Metropolitan Borough Council election 1980 Wirral Metropolitan Borough Council election 1982 Wirral Metropolitan Borough Council election 1983 Wirral Metropolitan Borough Council election 1984 Wirral Metropolitan Borough Council election 1986 Wirral Metropolitan Borough Council election 1987 Wirral Metropolitan Borough Council election 1988 Wirral Metropolitan Borough Council election 1990 Wirral Metropolitan Borough Council election 1991 Wirral Metropolitan Borough Council election 1992 Wirral Metropolitan Borough Council election 1994 Wirral Metropolitan Borough Council election 1995 Wirral Metropolitan Borough Council election 1996 Wirral Metropolitan Borough Council election 1998 Wirral Metropolitan Borough Council election 1999 Wirral Metropolitan Borough Council election 2000 Wirral Metropolitan Borough Council election 2002 Wirral Metropolitan Borough Council election 2003 Wirral Metropolitan Borough Council election 2004 Wirral Metropolitan Borough Council election 2006 Wirral Metropolitan Borough Council election 2007 Wirral Metropolitan Borough Council election 2008 Wirral Metropolitan Borough Council election 2010 Wirral Metropolitan Borough Council election 2011 Wirral Metropolitan Borough Council election 2012 Wirral Metropolitan Borough Council election 2014 Wirral Metropolitan Borough Council election 2015 Wirral Metropolitan Borough Council election 2016 Wirral Metropolitan Borough Council election 2018 Wirral Metropolitan Borough Council election 2019 Wirral Metropolitan Borough Council election 2021 Wirral Metropolitan Borough Council election 2022 Wirral