1953 Manchester City Council election

1953 Manchester City Council election
← 1952 7 May 1953 1954 →
36 of 144 seats ; to Manchester City Council; 73 seats needed for a majority
	Map of results of 1953 election
Leader of the Council before election; ; No overall control	Leader of the Council after election ; ; Labour

Elections to Manchester City Council were held on Thursday, 7 May 1953. 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 gained overall control of the council from no overall control.

Election result

Party	Votes		Seats			Full Council
Labour Party	105,916 (50.9%)	3.9	21 (58.3%)	21 / 36	4	74 (51.4%)	74 / 144
Conservative Party	98,104 (47.2%)	3.4	15 (41.7%)	15 / 36	4	66 (45.8%)	66 / 144
Liberal Party	2,520 (1.2%)	0.1	0 (0.0%)	0 / 36		4 (2.8%)	4 / 144
Independent	976 (0.5%)	0.4	0 (0.0%)	0 / 36		0 (0.0%)	0 / 144
Communist	368 (0.2%)	0.1	0 (0.0%)	0 / 36		0 (0.0%)	0 / 144

Full council

↓
74	4	66

Aldermen

↓
16	4	16

Councillors

↓
58	50

Ward results

Alexandra Park

Alexandra Park
Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Conservative	H. Ward*	4,434	75.9	+4.3
	Labour	I. Atkinson	1,406	24.1	−4.7
Majority			3,028	51.8	+9.3
Turnout			5,840
	Conservative hold		Swing

All Saints'

All Saints'
Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Labour	J. H. Parish	2,816	61.2	−2.9
	Conservative	A. Thornhill*	1,787	38.8	+2.9
Majority			1,029	22.4	−5.8
Turnout			4,603
	Labour gain from Conservative		Swing

Ardwick

Ardwick
Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Labour	V. Wilson*	3,502	60.9	0
	Conservative	L. Hogg	2,248	39.1	0
Majority			1,254	21.8	0
Turnout			5,750
	Labour hold		Swing

Barlow Moor

Barlow Moor
Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Conservative	A. Hooley*	2,331	63.3	+6.2
	Labour	F. O'Rourke	1,354	36.7	−6.2
Majority			977	26.6	+12.4
Turnout			3,685
	Conservative hold		Swing

Beswick

Beswick
Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Labour	H. Baldwin*	3,499	76.4	+0.8
	Conservative	H. Broderick	1,083	23.6	−0.8
Majority			2,416	52.8	+1.6
Turnout			4,582
	Labour hold		Swing

Blackley

Blackley
Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Conservative	J. A. Lynch*	4,672	56.2	+6.0
	Labour	E. Dell	3,639	43.8	−6.0
Majority			1,033	12.4	+12.0
Turnout			8,311
	Conservative hold		Swing

Bradford

Bradford
Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Labour	G. McCall	4,291	71.6	−0.7
	Conservative	J. Andrews	1,705	28.4	+0.7
Majority			2,586	43.2	−1.4
Turnout			5,996
	Labour hold		Swing

Burnage

Burnage
Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Conservative	L. W. Biggs*	4,220	59.1	+3.0
	Labour	L. L. Hanbridge	2,918	40.9	−3.0
Majority			1,302	18.2	+6.0
Turnout			7,138
	Conservative hold		Swing

Cheetham

Cheetham
Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Labour	M. P. Pariser*	2,455	48.9	−14.1
	Conservative	E. Mawdsley	1,634	32.5	−4.5
	Liberal	S. Needoff	935	18.6	N/A
Majority			821	16.4	−9.6
Turnout			5,024
	Labour hold		Swing

Chorlton-cum-Hardy

Chorlton-cum-Hardy
Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Conservative	G. W. G. Fitzsimons*	4,471	79.3	+5.6
	Labour	C. E. Bedgood	1,166	20.7	−5.6
Majority			3,305	58.6	+11.2
Turnout			5,637
	Conservative hold		Swing

Collegiate Church

Collegiate Church
Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Labour	E. Mendell*	2,760	78.1	−2.5
	Conservative	R. E. Talbot	591	16.7	+0.7
	Communist	M. I. Druck	184	5.2	+1.8
Majority			2,169	61.4	−3.2
Turnout			3,535
	Labour hold		Swing

Crumpsall

Crumpsall
Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Conservative	R. Collier*	4,189	58.5	+4.1
	Labour	E. Mellor	2,972	41.5	−4.1
Majority			1,217	17.0	+8.2
Turnout			7,161
	Conservative hold		Swing

Didsbury

Didsbury
Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Conservative	D. K. Lee*	4,265	79.9	+2.8
	Labour	A. Gregory	1,075	20.1	−2.8
Majority			3,190	59.8	+5.6
Turnout			5,340
	Conservative hold		Swing

Gorton North

Gorton North
Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Labour	F. Siddall*	4,692	70.3	−4.0
	Conservative	A. P. Osborn	1,801	27.0	+4.0
	Communist	J. Kay	184	2.7	0
Majority			2,891	43.3	−8.0
Turnout			6,677
	Labour hold		Swing

Gorton South

Gorton South
Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Labour	J. Sutton*	3,020	64.6	−4.7
	Conservative	L. J. Naden	1,657	35.4	+4.7
Majority			1,363	29.2	−9.4
Turnout			4,677
	Labour hold		Swing

Harpurhey

Harpurhey
Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Labour	E. Grant*	3,617	54.4	−7.2
	Conservative	P. H. Craig	3,038	45.6	+7.2
Majority			579	8.8	−14.4
Turnout			6,655
	Labour hold		Swing

Levenshulme

Levenshulme
Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Conservative	R. A. Fieldhouse*	3,115	48.0	−9.1
	Labour	F. Hatton	2,371	36.6	−6.3
	Liberal	G. P. Robinson	1,001	15.4	N/A
Majority			744	11.4	−2.8
Turnout			6,487
	Conservative hold		Swing

Lightbowne

Lightbowne
Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Conservative	H. Piggott*	4,742	56.1	+9.8
	Labour	G. Halstead	3,709	43.9	−3.0
Majority			1,033	12.2	+11.6
Turnout			8,451
	Conservative hold		Swing

Longsight

Longsight
Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Conservative	H. Sharp*	3,161	55.1	+1.8
	Labour	J. Davis	1,996	35.8	−2.2
	Liberal	F. N. Wedlock	584	10.1	+0.4
Majority			1,265	20.3	+4.0
Turnout			5,741
	Conservative hold		Swing

Miles Platting

Miles Platting
Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Labour	W. C. Chadwick*	2,840	70.3	−2.6
	Conservative	M. V. Sparks	1,200	29.7	+2.6
Majority			1,640	40.6	−5.2
Turnout			4,040
	Labour hold		Swing

Moss Side East

Moss Side East
Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Labour	P. V. Wood	2,661	48.6	−10.4
	Conservative	G. J. Playford*	2,235	40.9	−0.1
	Independent	C. Cuffin	575	10.5	N/A
Majority			426	7.7	−10.3
Turnout			5,471
	Labour gain from Conservative		Swing

Moss Side West

Moss Side West
Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Labour	B. Lawson	2,833	50.2	−1.4
	Conservative	C. Brewster*	2,813	49.8	+2.8
Majority			20	0.4	−4.2
Turnout			5,646
	Labour gain from Conservative		Swing

Moston

Moston
Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Labour	W. M. McGuirk*	4,033	53.1	−7.2
	Conservative	W. H. T. Quick	3,560	46.9	+7.2
Majority			473	6.2	−14.4
Turnout			7,603
	Labour hold		Swing

New Cross

New Cross
Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Labour	W. Murray*	2,580	65.8	−0.8
	Conservative	E. Griffiths	1,339	34.2	+4.2
Majority			1,241	31.6	−5.0
Turnout			3,919
	Labour hold		Swing

Newton Heath

Newton Heath
Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Labour	J. Bates	3,375	66.8	−2.8
	Conservative	W. H. Priestnall	1,679	33.2	+2.8
Majority			1,696	33.6	−5.6
Turnout			5,054
	Labour hold		Swing

Newtown

Newtown
Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Labour	J. B. Ogden*	3,091	77.0	−4.7
	Conservative	A. Gregory	925	23.0	+4.7
Majority			2,166	54.0	−9.4
Turnout			4,016
	Labour hold		Swing

Northenden

Northenden
Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Conservative	T. C. Hewlett*	4,432	60.4	+13.8
	Labour	W. Gallagher	2,904	39.6	−1.2
Majority			1,528	20.8	+15.0
Turnout			7,336
	Conservative hold		Swing

Old Moat

Old Moat
Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Conservative	W. Sharp*	3,366	63.6	+5.8
	Labour	W. A. Dove	1,928	36.4	−5.8
Majority			1,438	27.2	+11.6
Turnout			5,294
	Conservative hold		Swing

Openshaw

Openshaw
Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Labour	T. Nally*	4,295	70.6	−3.9
	Conservative	L. Lescure	1,788	29.4	+3.9
Majority			2,507	41.2	−7.8
Turnout			6,083
	Labour hold		Swing

Rusholme

Rusholme
Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Conservative	R. C. Rodgers*	3,832	70.0	+4.9
	Labour	B. Conlan	1,640	30.0	−4.9
Majority			2,192	40.0	+9.8
Turnout			5,472
	Conservative hold		Swing

St. George's

St. George's
Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Labour	G. Mann	3,273	65.0	−6.1
	Conservative	H. Spencer	1,763	35.0	+6.1
Majority			1,510	30.0	−12.2
Turnout			5,036
	Labour hold		Swing

St. Luke's

St. Luke's
Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Labour	F. P. Evans	2,755	50.5	−6.6
	Conservative	W. E. A. Yates*	2,698	49.5	+2.4
Majority			57	1.0	−3.0
Turnout			5,453
	Labour gain from Conservative		Swing

St. Mark's

St. Mark's
Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Labour	J. W. Ellershaw*	3,709	67.4	−0.1
	Conservative	E. A. Leggett	1,791	32.6	+0.1
Majority			1,918	34.8	−0.2
Turnout			5,500
	Labour hold		Swing

St. Peter's

St. Peter's
Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Conservative	H. D. Parks*	1,886	63.5	0
	Labour	H. W. Bliss	1,083	36.5	0
Majority			803	27.0	0
Turnout			2,969
	Conservative hold		Swing

Withington

Withington
Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Conservative	W. H. Scholfield*	3,689	80.4	+12.5
	Labour	R. L. Griffiths	899	19.6	+0.6
Majority			2,790	60.8	+11.9
Turnout			4,588
	Conservative hold		Swing

Wythenshawe

Wythenshawe
Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Labour	H. S. Gatley*	8,759	63.3	−6.7
	Conservative	A. Williamson	4,684	33.8	+3.8
	Independent	F. Frost	401	2.9	N/A
Majority			4,075	29.5	−10.5
Turnout			13,844
	Labour hold		Swing

By-elections between 1953 and 1954

Moss Side East, 2 July 1953

Caused by the election as an alderman of Councillor John Edward Pheasey (Conservative, Moss Side East, elected 15 May 1934) on 29 April 1953 following the death on 18 April 1953 of Alderman Harold White (Conservative, elected as an alderman by the council on 6 October 1937).

Moss Side East
Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Labour	E. Dell	2,629	51.5	+2.9
	Conservative	G. J. Playford	2,107	41.3	+0.4
	Independent	C. Cuffin	424	8.2	−2.3
Majority			522	10.2	+2.5
Turnout			5,160
	Labour gain from Conservative		Swing

Gorton North, 10 December 1953

Caused by the death of Councillor Charles Bentley (Labour, Gorton North, elected 4 October 1944) on 1 September 1953.

Gorton North
Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Labour	P. Roddy	3,183	69.4	−0.9
	Conservative	C. N. Clarke	1,292	28.2	+1.2
	Communist	J. Kay	114	2.4	−0.3
Majority			1,891	41.2	−2.1
Turnout			4,589
	Labour hold		Swing

References

↑ Labour will restore school cuts, Manchester Evening News, May 8, 1953, p.1
↑ LABOUR SECURES CONTROL IN MANCHESTER, Manchester Guardian, May 8, 1953, p.10
↑ MUNICIPAL BY-ELECTION IN MANCHESTER, Manchester Guardian, May 16, 1934, p.13
↑ Alderman, Manchester Evening News, April 29, 1953, p.4
↑ ALDERMAN G. H. WHITE, Manchester Guardian, April 20, 1953, p.12
↑ £900 FLATS PLAN FOR HULME NOT TO PROCEED, Manchester Evening News, October 6, 1937, p.9
↑ LABOUR HOLDS SEAT, Manchester Guardian, July 3, 1953, p.12
↑ LORD-MAYOR ELECT, Manchester Guardian, 5 October 1944, p.3
↑ DEATHS, Manchester Evening News, 24 September 1953, p.7
↑ LABOUR VICTORY ENDS NEIGHBOURS' "FEUD", Manchester Guardian, 11 December 1953, p.14

[1] Labour will restore school cuts, Manchester Evening News, May 8, 1953, p.1

[2] LABOUR SECURES CONTROL IN MANCHESTER, Manchester Guardian, May 8, 1953, p.10

[3] MUNICIPAL BY-ELECTION IN MANCHESTER, Manchester Guardian, May 16, 1934, p.13

[4] Alderman, Manchester Evening News, April 29, 1953, p.4

[5] ALDERMAN G. H. WHITE, Manchester Guardian, April 20, 1953, p.12

[6] £900 FLATS PLAN FOR HULME NOT TO PROCEED, Manchester Evening News, October 6, 1937, p.9

[7] LABOUR HOLDS SEAT, Manchester Guardian, July 3, 1953, p.12

[8] LORD-MAYOR ELECT, Manchester Guardian, 5 October 1944, p.3

[9] DEATHS, Manchester Evening News, 24 September 1953, p.7

[10] LABOUR VICTORY ENDS NEIGHBOURS' "FEUD", Manchester Guardian, 11 December 1953, p.14

v t e Council elections in Greater Manchester
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Bolton	1973 1975 1976 1978 1979 1980 1982 1983 1984 1986 1987 1988 1990 1991 1992 1994 1995 1996 1998 1999 2000 2002 2003 2004 2006 2007 2008 2010 2011 2012 2014 2015 2016 2018 2019 2021 2022 2023 2024 2026
Bury	1973 1975 1976 1978 1979 1980 1982 1983 1984 1986 1987 1988 1990 1991 1992 1994 1995 1996 1998 1999 2000 2002 2003 2004 2006 2007 2008 2010 2011 2012 2014 2015 2016 2018 2019 2021 2022 2023 2024 2026
Manchester	1838 1839 1840 1841 1842 1843 1844 1845 1846 1847 1848 1849 1850 1851 1852 1853 1854 1855 1856 1857 1858 1859 1860 1861 1862 1863 1864 1865 1866 1867 1868 1869 1870 1871 1872 1873 1874 1875 1876 1877 1878 1879 1880 1881 1882 1883 1884 1885 1886 1887 1888 1889 1890 1891 1892 1893 1894 1895 1896 1897 1898 1899 1900 1901 1902 1903 1904 1905 1906 1907 1908 1909 1910 1911 1912 1913 1914 1919 1920 1921 1922 1923 1924 1925 1926 1927 1928 1929 1930 1931 1932 1933 1934 1935 1936 1937 1938 1945 1946 1947 1949 1950 1951 1952 1953 1954 1955 1956 1957 1958 1959 1960 1961 1962 1963 1964 1965 1966 1967 1968 1969 1970 1971 1972 1973 1975 1976 1978 1979 1980 1982 1983 1984 1986 1987 1988 1990 1991 1992 1994 1995 1996 1998 1999 2000 2002 2003 2004 2006 2007 2008 2010 2011 2012 2014 2015 2016 2018 2019 2021 2022 2023 2024 2026
Oldham	1973 1975 1976 1978 1979 1980 1982 1983 1984 1986 1987 1988 1990 1991 1992 1994 1995 1996 1998 1999 2000 2002 2003 2004 2006 2007 2008 2010 2011 2012 2014 2015 2016 2018 2019 2021 2022 2023 2024 2026
Rochdale	1973 1975 1976 1978 1979 1980 1982 1983 1984 1986 1987 1988 1990 1991 1992 1994 1995 1996 1998 1999 2000 2002 2003 2004 2006 2007 2008 2010 2011 2012 2014 2015 2016 2018 2019 2021 2022 2023 2024 2026
Salford	1844 May 1845 November 1845 1846 1847 1848 1849 1850 1851 1852 1853 1854 1855 1856 1857 1858 1859 1860 1861 1862 1863 1864 1865 1866 1867 1868 1869 1870 1871 1872 1873 1874 1875 1876 1877 1878 1879 1880 1881 1882 1883 1884 1885 1886 1887 1888 1889 1890 1891 1892 1893 1894 1895 1896 1897 1898 1899 1900 1901 1902 1903 1904 1905 1906 1907 1908 1909 1910 1911 1912 1913 1914 1919 1920 1921 1922 1923 1924 1925 1926 1927 1928 1929 1930 1931 1932 1933 1934 1935 1936 1937 1938 1945 1946 1947 1949 1950 1951 1952 1953 1954 1955 1956 1957 1958 1959 1960 1961 1962 1963 1964 1965 1966 1967 1968 1969 1970 1971 1972 1973 1975 1976 1978 1979 1980 1982 1983 1984 1986 1987 1988 1990 1991 1992 1994 1995 1996 1998 1999 2000 2002 2003 2004 2006 2007 2008 2010 2011 2012 2014 2015 2016 2018 2019 2021 2022 2023 2024 2026
Stockport	1973 1975 1976 1978 1979 1980 1982 1983 1984 1986 1987 1988 1990 1991 1992 1994 1995 1996 1998 1999 2000 2002 2003 2004 2006 2007 2008 2010 2011 2012 2014 2015 2016 2018 2019 2021 2022 2023 2024 2026
Tameside	1973 1975 1976 1978 1979 1980 1982 1983 1984 1986 1987 1988 1990 1991 1992 1994 1995 1996 1998 1999 2000 2002 2003 2004 2006 2007 2008 2010 2011 2012 2014 2015 2016 2018 2019 2021 2022 2023 2024 2026
Trafford	1973 1975 1976 1978 1979 1980 1982 1983 1984 1986 1987 1988 1990 1991 1992 1994 1995 1996 1998 1999 2000 2002 2003 2004 2006 2007 2008 2010 2011 2012 2014 2015 2016 2018 2019 2021 2022 2023 2024 2026
Wigan	1973 1975 1976 1978 1979 1980 1982 1983 1984 1986 1987 1988 1990 1991 1992 1994 1995 1996 1998 1999 2000 2002 2003 2004 2006 2007 2008 2010 2011 2012 2014 2015 2016 2018 2019 2021 2022 2023 2024 2026
County Council	1973 1977 1981
See also: Wards Boundary changes

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