1947 Manchester City Council election

1947 Manchester City Council election
← 1946 1 November 1947 1949 →
36 of 144 seats ; to Manchester City Council; 73 seats needed for a majority
	Map of results of 1947 election
Leader of the Council before election; ; Labour	Leader of the Council after election ; ; No overall control

Elections to Manchester City Council were held on Saturday, 1 November 1947. One third of the councillors seats were up for election, with each successful candidate to serve a three-year term of office. The Labour Party lost overall control of the council.^[1]^[2]

Election result

Party	Votes		Seats			Full Council
Labour Party	119,674 (41.9%)	3.7	13 (36.1%)	13 / 36	5	71 (49.3%)	71 / 144
Conservative Party	150,599 (52.7%)	11.2	23 (63.9%)	23 / 36	6	64 (44.4%)	64 / 144
Liberal Party	13,027 (4.5%)	5.7	0 (0.0%)	0 / 36	1	9 (6.3%)	9 / 144
Communist	2,376 (0.8%)	0.6	0 (0.0%)	0 / 36		0 (0.0%)	0 / 144
Independent	54 (0.0%)	0.6	0 (0.0%)	0 / 36		0 (0.0%)	0 / 144

Full council

↓
71	9	64

Aldermen

↓
16	8	12

Councillors

↓
55	1	52

Ward results

All Saints'

All Saints'
Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Conservative	R. S. Harper*	2,668	55.5	+4.4
	Labour	J. Lenten	2,135	44.5	−0.1
Majority			533	11.0	+4.5
Turnout			4,803
	Conservative hold		Swing

Ardwick

Ardwick
Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Conservative	P. Buckley*	3,917	55.0	+6.2
	Labour	J. Singleton	3,200	45.0	−6.2
Majority			717	10.0
Turnout			7,117
	Conservative hold		Swing

Beswick

Beswick
Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Labour	T. W. Farrell*	4,845	58.0	−10.2
	Conservative	G. Bryant	3,511	42.0	+10.2
Majority			1,334	16.0	−20.4
Turnout			8,356
	Labour hold		Swing

Blackley

Blackley
Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Conservative	P. Chadwick	6,763	51.4	N/A
	Labour	R. B. Prain*	5,206	39.6	+1.4
	Liberal	P. Critchley	1,182	9.0	−52.8
Majority			1,557	11.8
Turnout			13,151
	Conservative gain from Labour		Swing

Bradford

Bradford
Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Labour	E. E. Beavan*	5,276	56.2	−7.1
	Conservative	W. Rose	4,119	43.8	+7.1
Majority			1,157	12.4	−14.2
Turnout			9,395
	Labour hold		Swing

Cheetham

Cheetham
Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Labour	F. H. A. Micklewright*	3,822	44.5	+6.0
	Conservative	H. Green	3,365	39.2	+7.5
	Liberal	S. Needoff	1,032	12.0	−7.3
	Communist	M. I. Druck	371	4.3	−6.2
Majority			457	5.3	−1.5
Turnout			8,590
	Labour hold		Swing

Chorlton-cum-Hardy

Chorlton-cum-Hardy
Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Conservative	R. Turley*	12,999	65.8	+8.3
	Labour	D. Molloy	4,633	23.5	−4.4
	Liberal	J. T. Chapman	2,114	10.7	−3.9
Majority			8,366	42.3	+12.6
Turnout			19,746
	Conservative hold		Swing

Collegiate Church

Collegiate Church
Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Labour	R. Finkel*	1,342	46.8	−8.3
	Conservative	G. W. G. Fitzsimons	1,311	45.8	N/A
	Communist	M. Jenkins	212	7.4	−2.0
Majority			31	1.0	−28.4
Turnout			2,865
	Labour hold		Swing

Collyhurst

Collyhurst
Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Labour	M. Tylecote*	2,393	54.0	−6.4
	Conservative	W. H. Cox	1,899	42.9	+10.9
	Communist	S. Wild	138	3.1	−4.5
Majority			494	11.1	−17.3
Turnout			4,430
	Labour hold		Swing

Crumpsall

Crumpsall
Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Conservative	A. Clapham	5,805	55.4	+9.2
	Labour	C. Lynch	2,794	26.6	−7.4
	Liberal	R. F. Read	1,566	14.9	−1.0
	Communist	S. Waring	321	3.1	−0.8
Majority			3,011	28.8	+16.7
Turnout			10,486
	Conservative hold		Swing

Didsbury

Didsbury
Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Conservative	W. White*	8,652	63.7	+10.4
	Labour	B. Lawson	2,872	21.2	−5.7
	Liberal	W. Fleetwood	1,768	13.0	−5.4
	Communist	R. H. Hartman	285	2.1	+0.7
Majority			5,780	42.5	+16.1
Turnout			13,577
	Conservative hold		Swing

Exchange

Exchange
Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Conservative	J. W. Coe*	uncontested
	Conservative hold		Swing

Gorton North

Gorton North
Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Labour	C. Bentley*	5,304	55.6	−11.3
	Conservative	J. P. Traynor	4,231	44.4	+18.4
Majority			1,073	11.2	−29.7
Turnout			9,535
	Labour hold		Swing

Gorton South

Gorton South
Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Labour	E. Kirkman*	5,914	57.7	−10.6
	Conservative	G. J. Playford	4,344	42.3	+17.0
Majority			1,570	15.4	−27.6
Turnout			10,258
	Labour hold		Swing

Harpurhey

Harpurhey
Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Conservative	J. Chatterton	4,282	51.6	+8.3
	Labour	C. Blackwell	3,871	46.6	−1.7
	Communist	T. Royle	152	1.8	−0.8
Majority			411	5.0
Turnout			8,305
	Conservative hold		Swing

Levenshulme

Levenshulme
Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Conservative	O. Lodge*	4,979	50.6	+13.6
	Labour	S. Freeman	3,214	32.7	+3.8
	Liberal	C. R. de la Wyche	1,642	16.7	−11.3
Majority			1,765	17.9	+9.8
Turnout			9,835
	Conservative hold		Swing

Longsight

Longsight
Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Conservative	E. Elliott*	6,861	60.5	+8.2
	Labour	F. Donlon	4,483	39.5	−3.9
Majority			2,378	21.0	+12.1
Turnout			11,344
	Conservative hold		Swing

Medlock Street

Medlock Street
Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Conservative	A. Lees	2,474	50.4	+9.9
	Labour	A. Harvey*	2,218	45.2	−4.3
	Communist	L. B. Johnson	160	3.3	−2.3
	Independent	J. Gillespie	54	1.1	N/A
Majority			256	5.2
Turnout			4,906
	Conservative gain from Labour		Swing

Miles Platting

Miles Platting
Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Labour	E. J. Howarth*	3,357	57.2	−3.2
	Conservative	J. Priestley	2,512	42.8	+3.2
Majority			845	14.4	−6.4
Turnout			5,869
	Labour hold		Swing

Moss Side East

Moss Side East
Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Conservative	J. E. Pheasey*	3,249	53.3	+18.0
	Labour	A. McAdam	2,476	40.6	+1.1
	Liberal	R. Frere	369	6.1	N/A
Majority			773	12.7
Turnout			6,094
	Conservative hold		Swing

Moss Side West

Moss Side West
Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Conservative	R. H. W. Owen	4,641	57.1	+13.9
	Labour	H. Quinney*	3,088	38.0	−2.3
	Liberal	G. Escott	394	4.9	−3.2
Majority			1,553	19.1	+16.2
Turnout			8,123
	Conservative gain from Labour		Swing

Moston

Moston
Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Conservative	M. Dunn*	6,414	48.9	+7.8
	Labour	R. J. Latham	5,713	43.5	−6.7
	Liberal	J. H. Cully	1,001	7.6	−1.2
Majority			701	5.4	−3.7
Turnout			13,128
	Conservative hold		Swing

New Cross

New Cross
Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Labour	M. Knight*	2,350	58.3	−13.6
	Conservative	A. Nixon	1,682	41.7	+13.6
Majority			668	16.6	−27.2
Turnout			4,032
	Labour hold		Swing

Newton Heath

Newton Heath
Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Labour	J. Hellier*	4,582	52.6	−6.7
	Conservative	W. H. Priestnall	4,122	47.4	+6.7
Majority			460	5.2	−13.4
Turnout			8,704
	Labour hold		Swing

Openshaw

Openshaw
Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Labour	S. Jolly	4,206	58.4	−11.1
	Conservative	T. Sparrow	2,728	37.9	+13.2
	Communist	T. Rowlandson	268	3.7	−2.1
Majority			1,478	20.5	−24.3
Turnout			7,202
	Labour hold		Swing

Oxford

Oxford
Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Conservative	S. A. Gradwell*	uncontested
	Conservative hold		Swing

Rusholme

Rusholme
Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Conservative	A. T. Barratt*	6,696	68.7	+3.3
	Labour	E. Wood	3,057	31.3	−3.3
Majority			3,639	37.4	+6.6
Turnout			9,753
	Conservative hold		Swing

St. Ann's

St. Ann's
Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Conservative	H. Marshall*	uncontested
	Conservative hold		Swing

St. Clement's

St. Clement's
Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Conservative	N. Beer	387	67.7	−5.1
	Labour	H. McRoy	95	16.6	−8.5
	Liberal	J. E. McManus	90	15.7	N/A
Majority			292	51.1	+3.4
Turnout			572
	Conservative gain from Liberal		Swing

St. George's

St. George's
Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Conservative	J. H. Kearns*	3,218	53.4	+10.5
	Labour	J. Dawson	2,805	46.6	−10.5
Majority			413	6.8
Turnout			6,023
	Conservative hold		Swing

St. John's

St. John's
Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Conservative	H. Harker*	726	82.7	+20.3
	Labour	J. Fern	152	17.3	+3.8
Majority			574	65.4	+27.1
Turnout			878
	Conservative hold		Swing

St. Luke's

St. Luke's
Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Conservative	A. Holberry	4,209	58.9	+9.5
	Labour	J. H. Alsop*	2,943	41.1	−1.3
Majority			1,266	17.8	+10.8
Turnout			7,152
	Conservative gain from Labour		Swing

St. Mark's

St. Mark's
Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Labour	H. Eastwood*	3,812	56.0	−6.0
	Conservative	W. Sharp	3,000	44.0	+9.2
Majority			812	12.0	−15.2
Turnout			6,812
	Labour hold		Swing

St. Michael's

St. Michael's
Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Labour	M. F. Griffin*	2,667	67.3	−12.7
	Conservative	J. Judge	1,295	32.7	N/A
Majority			1,372	34.6	−25.4
Turnout			3,962
	Labour hold		Swing

Withington

Withington
Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Conservative	H. Bentley*	13,817	61.7	+7.3
	Labour	F. H. Robinson	6,712	30.0	−5.3
	Liberal	A. J. Higson	1,869	8.3	−2.0
Majority			7,105	31.7	+12.6
Turnout			22,398
	Conservative hold		Swing

Wythenshawe

Wythenshawe
Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Conservative	A. I. Oliver	9,723	53.0	+7.7
	Labour	E. A. Yarwood*	8,137	44.4	−5.3
	Communist	W. Prince	469	2.6	−2.4
Majority			1,586	8.6
Turnout			18,329
	Conservative gain from Labour		Swing

Aldermanic elections

Aldermanic election, 5 May 1948

Caused by the death on 18 April 1948 of Alderman Cyril Roylance de la Wyche (Liberal, elected as an alderman by the council on 4 March 1942).^[3]^[4]

In his place, Councillor S. P. Dawson (Conservative, Didsbury, elected 1 November 1928)^[5] was elected as an alderman by the council on 5 May 1948.^[6]

Party		Alderman	Ward	Term expires
	Conservative	S. P. Dawson	Newton Heath	1949

Aldermanic election, 2 February 1949

Caused by the death on 24 January 1949 of Alderman John Septimus Hill (Conservative, elected as an alderman by the council on 4 February 1942).^[7]^[8]

In his place, Councillor William Somerville (Conservative, Chorlton-cum-Hardy, elected 20 December 1928)^[9] was elected as an alderman by the council on 2 February 1949.^[10]

Party		Alderman	Ward	Term expires
	Conservative	William Somerville	Levenshulme	1952

Aldermanic election, 2 March 1949

Caused by the resignation on 15 February 1949 of Alderman Dr. Emrys Lloyd Jones (Labour, elected as an alderman by the council on 5 September 1945).^[11]^[12]

In his place, Councillor Leslie Lever (Labour, New Cross, elected 8 November 1932)^[13] was elected as an alderman by the council on 2 March 1949.^[14]

Party		Alderman	Ward	Term expires
	Labour	Leslie Lever		1949

By-elections between 1947 and 1949

Miles Platting, 5 February 1948

Caused by the death of Councillor W. F. Irvine (Labour, Miles Platting, elected 1 November 1945)^[15] on 22 December 1947.^[16]

Miles Platting
Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Labour	H. Quinney	2,628	52.4	−4.8
	Conservative	J. Priestley	2,390	47.6	+4.8
Majority			238	4.8	−9.6
Turnout			5,018
	Labour hold		Swing

^[17]

Didsbury, 3 June 1948

Caused by the election as an alderman of Councillor S. P. Dawson (Conservative, Didsbury, elected 1 November 1928)^[18] on 5 May 1948,^[19] following the death on 18 April 1948 of Alderman Cyril Roylance de la Wyche (Liberal, elected as an alderman by the council on 4 March 1942).^[20]^[21]

Didsbury
Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Conservative	G. C. Hilditch	4,208	66.9	+3.2
	Liberal	G. Escott	1,837	29.2	+16.2
	Communist	R. H. Hartman	242	3.9	+1.8
Majority			2,371	37.7	−4.8
Turnout			6,287
	Conservative hold		Swing

^[22]

Chorlton-cum-Hardy, 10 March 1949

Caused by the election as an alderman of Councillor William Somerville (Conservative, Chorlton-cum-Hardy, elected 20 December 1928)^[23] on 2 February 1949,^[24] following the death on 24 January 1949 of Alderman John Septimus Hill (Conservative, elected as an alderman by the council on 4 February 1942).^[25]^[26]

Chorlton-cum-Hardy
Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Conservative	G. W. G. Fitzsimons	7,036	66.1	+0.3
	Labour	W. M. Parkinson	2,584	24.3	+0.8
	Independent Liberal	J. T. Chapman	1,031	9.6	N/A
Majority			4,452	41.8	−0.5
Turnout			10,651
	Conservative hold		Swing

^[27]

References

↑ Labour shocked - but won't give up plans, Manchester Evening News, 3 November 1947, p.1
↑ LABOUR LOSES CLEAR MAJORITY IN MANCHESTER, Manchester Guardian, 3 November 1947, p.6
↑ ALDERMAN DE LA WYCHE, Manchester Guardian, April 19, 1948, p.3
↑ Nominated as New Alderman, Manchester Evening News, February 27, 1942, p.3
↑ MANCHESTER MUNICIPAL ELECTIONS, Manchester Guardian, November 2, 1928, p.12
↑ DISCIPLINE IN FIRE BRIGADE, Manchester Guardian, May 6, 1948, p.6
↑ OBITUARY, Manchester Guardian, January 25, 1949, p.3
↑ WOMEN MUNITION WORKERS: CARE OF THEIR CHILDREN, Manchester Guardian, February 5, 1942, p.3
↑ CHORLTON ELECTION RESULT, Manchester Guardian, December 21, 1928, p.13
↑ New Alderman, Manchester Evening News, February 2, 1949, p.3
↑ , Manchester Guardian, February 16, 1949, p.8
↑ REQUEST TO RESTRAIN STAFFS WHO WISH TO LEAVE, Manchester Guardian, September 6, 1945, p.2
↑ BIG POLL IN NEW CROSS BY-ELECTION, Manchester Guardian, November 9, 1932, p.4
↑ CIVIC AID TO THE HALLE ORCHESTRA CRITICISED, Manchester Guardian, March 3, 1949, p.8
↑ "Rawtenstall, Blackburn, and Oldham All Go Labour". Manchester Evening News. 2 November 1945. p. 6.
↑ COUNCILLOR W. F. IRVINE, Manchester Guardian, 23 December 1947, p.6
↑ , Manchester Guardian, 6 February 1948, p.6
↑ MANCHESTER MUNICIPAL ELECTIONS, Manchester Guardian, November 2, 1928, p.12
↑ DISCIPLINE IN FIRE BRIGADE, Manchester Guardian, May 6, 1948, p.6
↑ ALDERMAN DE LA WYCHE, Manchester Guardian, April 19, 1948, p.3
↑ Nominated as New Alderman, Manchester Evening News, February 27, 1942, p.3
↑ , Manchester Guardian, 4 June 1948, p.8
↑ CHORLTON ELECTION RESULT, Manchester Guardian, December 21, 1928, p.13
↑ New Alderman, Manchester Evening News, February 2, 1949, p.3
↑ OBITUARY, Manchester Guardian, January 25, 1949, p.3
↑ WOMEN MUNITION WORKERS: CARE OF THEIR CHILDREN, Manchester Guardian, February 5, 1942, p.3
↑ Holds the seat, Manchester Evening News, March 11, 1949, p.5

[1] Labour shocked - but won't give up plans, Manchester Evening News, 3 November 1947, p.1

[2] LABOUR LOSES CLEAR MAJORITY IN MANCHESTER, Manchester Guardian, 3 November 1947, p.6

[3] ALDERMAN DE LA WYCHE, Manchester Guardian, April 19, 1948, p.3

[4] Nominated as New Alderman, Manchester Evening News, February 27, 1942, p.3

[5] MANCHESTER MUNICIPAL ELECTIONS, Manchester Guardian, November 2, 1928, p.12

[6] DISCIPLINE IN FIRE BRIGADE, Manchester Guardian, May 6, 1948, p.6

[7] OBITUARY, Manchester Guardian, January 25, 1949, p.3

[8] WOMEN MUNITION WORKERS: CARE OF THEIR CHILDREN, Manchester Guardian, February 5, 1942, p.3

[9] CHORLTON ELECTION RESULT, Manchester Guardian, December 21, 1928, p.13

[10] New Alderman, Manchester Evening News, February 2, 1949, p.3

[11] , Manchester Guardian, February 16, 1949, p.8

[12] REQUEST TO RESTRAIN STAFFS WHO WISH TO LEAVE, Manchester Guardian, September 6, 1945, p.2

[13] BIG POLL IN NEW CROSS BY-ELECTION, Manchester Guardian, November 9, 1932, p.4

[14] CIVIC AID TO THE HALLE ORCHESTRA CRITICISED, Manchester Guardian, March 3, 1949, p.8

[15] "Rawtenstall, Blackburn, and Oldham All Go Labour". Manchester Evening News. 2 November 1945. p. 6.

[16] COUNCILLOR W. F. IRVINE, Manchester Guardian, 23 December 1947, p.6

[17] , Manchester Guardian, 6 February 1948, p.6

[18] MANCHESTER MUNICIPAL ELECTIONS, Manchester Guardian, November 2, 1928, p.12

[19] DISCIPLINE IN FIRE BRIGADE, Manchester Guardian, May 6, 1948, p.6

[20] ALDERMAN DE LA WYCHE, Manchester Guardian, April 19, 1948, p.3

[21] Nominated as New Alderman, Manchester Evening News, February 27, 1942, p.3

[22] , Manchester Guardian, 4 June 1948, p.8

[23] CHORLTON ELECTION RESULT, Manchester Guardian, December 21, 1928, p.13

[24] New Alderman, Manchester Evening News, February 2, 1949, p.3

[25] OBITUARY, Manchester Guardian, January 25, 1949, p.3

[26] WOMEN MUNITION WORKERS: CARE OF THEIR CHILDREN, Manchester Guardian, February 5, 1942, p.3

[27] Holds the seat, Manchester Evening News, March 11, 1949, p.5

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