Local elections were held in the United Kingdom in 1974, during the life of the minority Labour government of Harold Wilson.

[1][2] The number of councillors was increased, enabling all of the three largest parties to make net gains in council seats.

One borough, Havering, was in no overall control, having been a Labour council after the 1971 local elections.

In Scotland these were the first elections for the new Regional and District councils, with people voting twice.

The Scottish National Party did not do particularly well compared with their performance in the two general elections that year.