Horace Cutler Conservative Ken Livingstone Labour The sixth election to the Greater London Council (GLC) was held on 7 May 1981.

Following the election Andrew McIntosh the leader of the Labour Group was replaced by Ken Livingstone, a member of the party's left-wing.

The GLC was elected from 92 single-member electoral divisions which were identical with the Parliamentary constituencies in Greater London.

[1] The leader of the Labour GLC group Andrew McIntosh led the party into the election.

Within 24 hours of the result, however, McIntosh's leadership was toppled by Ken Livingstone; a member of the party's left-wing.