In 1955 she was first elected to the London County Council for her home seat of Hampstead, and took a special interest in the Education Committee.
[citation needed] Townsend was an unsuccessful candidate in the first Greater London Council election of 1964, being defeated in Camden.
When Christian morality campaigner Mary Whitehouse attacked a BBC sex education film, Townsend defended it.
Fighting for re-election in 1970, Townsend promoted the record of three years of Conservative ILEA by pointing to the success in reducing class sizes by employing more teachers.
However, there was a small swing to Labour, who regained control;[3] Townsend lost her seat in Camden but was elected as an Alderman to the GLC and co-opted to ILEA's Education Committee.