1938 Manchester City Council election

1938 Manchester City Council election

←  1937 1 November 1938 (1938-11-01) 1945  →
36 of 144 seats on Manchester City Council 73 seats needed for a majority
First party Second party Third party   Party Conservative Labour Liberal Last election 16 seats, 42.7% 14 seats, 43.9% 4 seats, 10.8% Seats before 63 52 21 Seats won 18 14 3 Seats after 67 51 19 Seat change 4 1 2 Popular vote 54,910 49,825 7,875 Percentage 46.7% 42.4% 6.7% Swing 4.0% 1.5% 4.1%   Fourth party   Party Independent Last election 1 seats, 1.5% Seats before 4 Seats won 1 Seats after 5 Seat change 1 Popular vote 1,625 Percentage 1.4% Swing 0.1%
Map of results of 1938 election
Leader of the Council before election No overall control Leader of the Council after election No overall control

Elections to Manchester City Council were held on Tuesday, 1 November 1938. One third of the councillors seats were up for election, with each successful candidate to serve a three-year term of office.

Annual local elections were suspended from 1939 to 1945. Under the Local Elections and Register of Electors (Temporary Provisions) Act 1939 the term of office of all members of the council was extended by one year and casual vacancies among members of the council were filled by the choice of the council rather than by election. Local Elections and Register of Electors Acts of 1940, 1941, 1942, 1943, and 1944 each further extended the term of office of all members of the council by a year.

The council remained under no overall control. ^{[1] [2]}

Election result

Party		Votes			Seats			Full Council
Conservative Party		54,910 (46.7%)		4.0	18 (50.0%)	18 / 36	1	67 (46.5%)	67 / 144
Labour Party		49,825 (42.4%)		1.5	14 (38.9%)	14 / 36	1	51 (35.1%)	51 / 144
Liberal Party		7,875 (6.7%)		4.1	3 (8.3%)	3 / 36	2	19 (13.2%)	19 / 144
Independent		1,625 (1.4%)		0.1	1 (2.8%)	1 / 36	1	5 (3.5%)	5 / 144
Independent Labour		1,418 (1.2%)		1.2	0 (0.0%)	0 / 36	2	1 (0.7%)	1 / 144
Residents		1,220 (1.0%)		0.1	0 (0.0%)	0 / 36		1 (0.7%)	1 / 144
British Union of Fascists		640 (0.5%)		N/A	0 (0.0%)	0 / 36	N/A	0 (0.0%)	0 / 144

Full council

↓

1

51

19

1

5

67

Aldermen

↓

1

10

9

1

15

Councillors

↓

41

10

1

4

52

Ward results

All Saints'

All Saints'

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Conservative	R. S. Harper*	1,817	64.6	+3.6
	Labour	E. A. Gower	968	34.4	−4.6
	British Union of Fascists	M. E. Pye	23	0.9	N/A
	Residents	L. Whittington	3	0.1	N/A
Majority			849	30.2	+8.2
Turnout			2,811
	Conservative hold		Swing

Ardwick

Ardwick

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Conservative	J. Dook	2,080	55.1	+2.1
	Labour	J. M. Wharton*	1,648	43.6	−3.4
	Independent	F. G. Hunt	48	1.3	N/A
Majority			432	11.5	+5.5
Turnout			3,776
	Conservative gain from Labour		Swing

Beswick

Beswick

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Labour	H. Baldwin*	uncontested
	Labour hold		Swing

Blackley

Blackley

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Conservative	S. Fitton*	2,628	57.8	N/A
	Labour	C. C. Lamb	1,919	42.2	+5.0
Majority			709	15.6
Turnout			4,547
	Conservative hold		Swing

Bradford

Bradford

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Labour	E. E. Beavan*	uncontested
	Labour hold		Swing

Cheetham

Cheetham

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Conservative	H. Lomax*	2,085	47.2	+2.2
	Liberal	S. Needoff	1,333	30.2	−0.8
	Labour	B. J. Gershman	998	22.6	−1.4
Majority			752	17.0	+3.0
Turnout			4,416
	Conservative hold		Swing

Chorlton-cum-Hardy

Chorlton-cum-Hardy

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Conservative	H. Strange	5,632	74.9	+1.1
	Labour	C. W. Jones	1,889	25.1	−1.1
Majority			3,743	49.8	+2.2
Turnout			7,521
	Conservative hold		Swing

Collegiate Church

Collegiate Church

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Independent	A. Levy	1,337	48.5	N/A
	Liberal	A. S. Moss*	1,091	39.6	N/A
	Labour	T. J. Hill	329	11.9	−35.1
Majority			246	8.9
Turnout			2,757
	Independent gain from Liberal		Swing

Collyhurst

Collyhurst

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Labour	W. Johnston*	1,709	87.6	+22+3
	British Union of Fascists	F. Fowden	242	12.4	N/A
Majority			1,467	75.2	+44.6
Turnout			1,951
	Labour hold		Swing

Crumpsall

Crumpsall

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Liberal	S. Meadowcroft*	2,969	69.0	N/A
	Labour	R. B. Prain	1,336	31.0	−2.0
Majority			1,633	38.0
Turnout			4,305
	Liberal hold		Swing

Didsbury

Didsbury

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Conservative	W. White*	3,529	68.3	−4.9
	Labour	T. Knowles	1,637	31.7	+4.9
Majority			1,892	36.6	−9.8
Turnout			5,166
	Conservative hold		Swing

Exchange

Exchange

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

Gorton North

Gorton North

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Labour	S. H. Hitchburn*	uncontested
	Labour hold		Swing

Gorton South

Gorton South

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Labour	T. H. Adams*	3,643	93.9	+21.2
	British Union of Fascists	J. Simmonds	236	6.1	N/A
Majority			3,407	87.8	+42.4
Turnout			3,879
	Labour hold		Swing

Harpurhey

Harpurhey

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Conservative	E. Shaw	2,155	50.4	+0.8
	Labour	J. Howard*	2,125	49.6	−0.8
Majority			30	0.8
Turnout			4,280
	Conservative gain from Labour		Swing

Levenshulme

Levenshulme

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Conservative	H. M. Emery*	2,640	62.2	N/A
	Labour	B. de Courcey Ireland	1,602	37.8	+0.6
Majority			1,038	24.4
Turnout			4,242
	Conservative hold		Swing

Longsight

Longsight

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Conservative	W. P. Jackson*	3,031	59.3	+2.3
	Labour	F. Walker	2,084	40.7	−2.3
Majority			947	18.6	+4.6
Turnout			5,115
	Conservative hold		Swing

Medlock Street

Medlock Street

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Labour	J. Gorman*	1,742	51.7	−2.6
	Conservative	A. Lees	1,566	46.5	+0.8
	Residents	A. Robinson	60	1.8	N/A
Majority			176	5.2	−3.4
Turnout			3,368
	Labour hold		Swing

Miles Platting

Miles Platting

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Labour	E. J. Howarth*	2,349	52.6	N/A
	Conservative	T. A. Harrop	2,114	47.4	N/A
Majority			235	5.2	N/A
Turnout			4,463
	Labour hold		Swing

Moss Side East

Moss Side East

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Conservative	J. E. Pheasey*	1,240	37.7	+4.1
	Labour	W. Griffiths	1,164	35.4	+5.0
	Residents	A. M. Edwards	884	26.9	−9.1
Majority			76	2.3
Turnout			3,288
	Conservative hold		Swing

Moss Side West

Moss Side West

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Liberal	H. Quinney*	1,763	60.2	N/A
	Labour	E. C. Gates	925	31.6	−5.5
	Residents	G. H. F. Earnshaw	240	8.2	N/A
Majority			838	28.6
Turnout			2,928
	Liberal hold		Swing

Moston

Moston

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Labour	F. Gregson*	3,315	53.6	N/A
	Conservative	W. Hadfield	2,871	46.4	N/A
Majority			444	7.2	N/A
Turnout			6,186
	Labour hold		Swing

New Cross

New Cross

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Labour	M. Knight	1,462	35.4	−32.1
	Independent Labour	W. Hallows*	1,418	34.3	N/A
	Conservative	B. H. Breeze	1,253	30.3	−2.2
Majority			44	1.1	−33.9
Turnout			4,133
	Labour gain from Independent Labour		Swing

Newton Heath

Newton Heath

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Labour	A. Stevenson*	3,086	53.6	−2.7
	Conservative	F. M. Grime	2,671	46.4	+2.7
Majority			415	7.2	−5.4
Turnout			5,757
	Labour hold		Swing

Openshaw

Openshaw

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Labour	W. H. Oldfield	uncontested
	Labour hold		Swing

Oxford

Oxford

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Conservative	C. B. Walker*	uncontested
	Conservative hold		Swing

Rusholme

Rusholme

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Conservative	A. T. Barratt*	2,590	65.6	−2.3
	Labour	W. E. Harrison	1,357	34.4	+2.3
Majority			1,233	31.2	−15.8
Turnout			3,947
	Conservative hold		Swing

St. Ann's

St. Ann's

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Conservative	R. A. Larmuth*	uncontested
	Conservative hold		Swing

St. Clement's

St. Clement's

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Conservative	J. E. Fitzsimons*	uncontested
	Conservative hold		Swing

St. George's

St. George's

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Conservative	J. H. Kearns	2,267	53.4	+2.4
	Labour	J. G. Clapham*	1,840	43.3	−5.7
	British Union of Fascists	B. Talbot	139	3.3	N/A
Majority			427	10.1	+8.1
Turnout			4,246
	Conservative gain from Labour		Swing

St. John's

St. John's

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Liberal	M. A. Gibbons*	uncontested
	Liberal hold		Swing

St. Luke's

St. Luke's

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Conservative	J. Sharp	1,562	43.7	N/A
	Labour	W. Gallacher	1,262	35.3	−4.2
	Liberal	G. E. Jones	719	20.1	−40.4
	Residents	F. Vincent-Wain	33	0.9	N/A
Majority			300	8.4
Turnout			3,576
	Conservative gain from Liberal		Swing

St. Mark's

St. Mark's

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Labour	C. Wood*	uncontested
	Labour hold		Swing

St. Michael's

St. Michael's

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Labour	M. F. Griffin	1,362	46.4	−15.6
	Conservative	E. Elliott	1,333	45.4	+7.4
	Independent	F. Oates	240	8.2	N/A
Majority			29	1.0	−23.0
Turnout			2,935
	Labour gain from Independent Labour		Swing

Withington

Withington

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Conservative	J. S. Hill*	5,492	60.7	+21.7
	Labour	C. S. Hammersley	3,552	39.3	+13.2
Majority			1,940	21.4	+17.3
Turnout			9,044
	Conservative hold		Swing

Wythenshawe

Wythenshawe

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Labour	E. A. Yarwood	4,522	50.9	+4.0
	Conservative	H. Bentley*	4,354	49.1	−4.0
Majority			168	1.8
Turnout			8,876
	Labour gain from Conservative		Swing

Aldermanic elections

Aldermanic election, 15 February 1939

Caused by the death on 27 January 1939 of Alderman John Jones (Conservative, elected as an alderman by the council on 1 May 1912). ^{[3] [4]}

In his place, Councillor Leonard Cox (Labour, Beswick, elected 1 November 1921) ^[5] was elected as an alderman by the council on 15 February 1939. ^[6]

Party		Alderman	Ward	Term expires
	Labour	Leonard Cox	Longsight	1940

Aldermaic election, 26 July 1939

Caused by the death on 2 July 1939 of Alderman John Elliott (Conservative, elected as an alderman by the council on 5 September 1934). ^{[7] [8]}

In his place, Councillor Reginald Ashley Larmuth (Conservative, St. Ann's, elected 8 May 1922) ^[9] was elected as an alderman by the council on 26 July 1939. ^[10]

Party		Alderman	Ward	Term expires
	Conservative	Reginald Ashley Larmuth	Bradford	1943

Aldermanic elections, 9 November 1939

Caused by the resignation on 9 November 1939 of Alderman Reginald Ashley Larmuth (Conservative, elected as an alderman by the council on 26 July 1939). ^[11]

In his place, Councillor Harry Thorneycroft (Labour, Beswick, elected 2 July 1923) ^[12] was elected as an alderman by the council on 9 November 1939. ^[13]

Party		Alderman	Ward	Term expires
	Labour	Harry Thorneycroft	Bradford	1949

Caused by the resignation on 9 November 1939 of Alderman George Oddy (Liberal, elected as an alderman by the council on 9 November 1927). ^[14]

In his place, Councillor Thomas Ackroyd (Liberal, St. Luke's, elected 15 August 1923) ^[15] was elected as an alderman by the council on 9 November 1939. ^[16]

Party		Alderman	Ward	Term expires
	Liberal	Thomas Ackroyd	Medlock Street	1946

Aldermanic election, 7 February 1940

Caused by the death on 26 January 1940 of Alderman J. Harold Birley (Conservative, elected as an alderman by the council on 6 June 1928). ^{[17] [18]}

In his place, Councillor Charles Wood (Labour, St. Mark's, elected 1 November 1923) ^[19] was elected as an alderman by the council on 7 February 1940. ^[20]

Party		Alderman	Ward	Term expires
	Labour	Charles Wood	Moss Side East	1949

Aldermanic election, 21 February 1940

Caused by the death on 4 February 1940 of Alderman Lt. Col. George Westcott (Conservative, elected as an alderman by the council on 29 October 1931). ^{[21] [22]}

In his place, Councillor William Phillip Jackson (Conservative, Longsight, elected 1 November 1923) ^[23] was elected as an alderman by the council on 21 February 1940. ^[24]

Party		Alderman	Ward	Term expires
	Conservative	William Phillip Jackson	St. John's	1949

Aldermanic election, 2 October 1940

Caused by the resignation on 27 September 1940 of Alderman H. D. Judson (Independent, elected as an alderman by the council on 29 October 1931). ^{[25] [26]}

In his place, Councillor Ellis Green (Conservative, St. Ann's, elected 19 February 1924) ^[27] was elected as an alderman by the council on 2 October 1940. ^[28]

Party		Alderman	Ward	Term expires
	Conservative	Ellis Green	Harpurhey	1946

Aldermanic election, 4 December 1940

Caused by the death on 19 November 1940 of Alderman Richard Stephenson Harper (Conservative, elected as an alderman by the council on 6 June 1928). ^{[29] [30]}

In his place, Councillor Robert Griffith Edwards (Liberal, Rusholme, elected 1 November 1924) ^[31] was elected as an alderman by the council on 4 December 1940. ^[32]

Party		Alderman	Ward	Term expires
	Liberal	Robert Griffith Edwards	Moston	1946

Aldermanic election, 5 February 1941

Caused by the death on 1 January 1941 of Alderman Hermann Goldschmidt (Liberal, elected as an alderman by the council on 13 June 1906). ^{[33] [34]}

In his place, Councillor Thomas Walker (Labour, Gorton North, elected 1 November 1924) ^[35] was elected as an alderman by the council on 5 February 1941. ^[36]

Party		Alderman	Ward	Term expires
	Labour	Thomas Walker	Oxford	1949

Aldermanic election, 4 February 1942

Caused by the death on 14 January 1942 of Alderman Frederick Todd (Conservative, elected as an alderman by the council on 9 November 1922). ^{[37] [38]}

In his place, Councillor John Septimus Hill (Conservative, Withington, elected 1 November 1926) ^[39] was elected as an alderman by the council on 4 February 1942. ^[40]

Party		Alderman	Ward	Term expires
	Conservative	John Septimus Hill	Crumpsall	1949

Aldermanic election, 4 March 1942

Caused by the death on 14 February 1942 of Alderman Sir John Mathewson Watson (Liberal, elected as an alderman by the council on 3 January 1934). ^{[41] [42]}

In his place, Councillor Cyril Roylance de la Wyche (Liberal, Levenshulme, elected 7 July 1927) ^[43] was elected as an alderman by the council on 4 March 1942. ^[44]

Party		Alderman	Ward	Term expires
	Liberal	Cyril Roylance de la Wyche	Newton Heath	1946

Aldermanic election, 3 June 1942

Caused by the death on 30 April 1942 of Alderman James Bowie (Liberal, elected as an alderman by the council on 17 March 1920). ^{[45] [46]}

In his place, Councillor Sarah Laski (Liberal, Cheetham, elected 20 August 1929) ^[47] was elected as an alderman by the council on 4 March 1942. ^[48]

Party		Alderman	Ward	Term expires
	Liberal	Sarah Laski	St. Clement's	1949

By-elections between 1938 and 1939

Collegiate Church, 14 December 1938

Caused by the resignation of Councillor Alexander Levy (Independent, Collegiate Church, elected 1 November 1938) ^[49] on 25 November 1938. ^[50]

Collegiate Church

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Liberal	A. S. Moss	1,263	63.7	+24.1
	Independent	P. Smith	454	22.9	N/A
	Labour	T. J. Hill	266	13.4	+1.5
Majority			809	40.8
Turnout			1,983
	Liberal gain from Independent		Swing

^[51]

References

1. THREE CONSERVATIVE GAINS IN MANCHESTER, Manchester Guardian, November 2, 1938, p.13
2. THIS IS WHAT YOUR XXXs DID, Manchester Evening News, November 2, 1938, p.7
3. OBITUARY, Manchester Guardian, January 28, 1939, p.7
4. MANCHESTER COUNCIL, Manchester Guardian, May 2, 1912, p.4
5. MANCHESTER, Manchester Guardian, November 2, 1921, p.7
6. NEW ALDERMAN, Manchester Evening News, February 10, 1939, p.11
7. CITY ALDERMAN'S DEATH, Manchester Guardian, July 3, 1939, p.11
8. SLUM CLEARANCE COMPENSATION, Manchester Guardian, September 6, 1934, p.11
9. , Manchester Guardian, May 17, 1922, p.9
10. MANCHESTER CITY COUNCIL REJECTS DEEP SHELTERS, Manchester Guardian, July 27, 1939, p.11
11. MANCHESTER CITY COUNCIL REJECTS DEEP SHELTERS, Manchester Guardian, July 27, 1939, p.11
12. BESWICK WARD NOMINATIONS, Manchester Evening News, June 23, 1923, p.5
13. NEW LORD MAYOR, Manchester Evening News, November 10, 1939, p.8
14. MANCHESTER'S LORD MAYOR'S IDEALS, Manchester Guardian, November 10, 1927, p.13
15. COUNCILLOR T. R. ACKROYD, Manchester Evening News, August 16, 1923, p.7
16. NEW LORD MAYOR, Manchester Evening News, November 10, 1939, p.8
17. OBITUARY, Manchester Guardian, January 27, 1940, p.4
18. NEW ALDERMEN, Manchester Evening News, June 6, 1928, p.5
19. NET GAIN TO LABOUR IN MANCHESTER, Manchester Guardian, November 2, 1923, p.14
20. MATERNITY HOSPITAL SCHEME POSTPONED, Manchester Guardian, February 8, 1940, p.3
21. OBITUARY, Manchester Guardian, February 5, 1940, p.10
22. MANCHESTER CITY COUNCIL, Manchester Guardian, October 30, 1931, p.3
23. NET GAIN TO LABOUR IN MANCHESTER, Manchester Guardian, November 2, 1923, p.14
24. MANCHESTER RATE TO BE 17/4, Manchester Guardian, February 22, 1940, p.3
25. MANCHESTER ALDERMAN RESIGNS, Manchester Guardian, September 28, 1940, p.3
26. MANCHESTER CITY COUNCIL, Manchester Guardian, October 30, 1931, p.3
27. ST. ANN'S WARD ELECTION, Manchester Guardian, February 20, 1924, p.25
28. MANCHESTER'S NEXT LORD MAYOR, Manchester Guardian, October 3, 1940, p.8
29. ALDERMAN R. S. HARPER, Manchester Guardian, November 20, 1940, p.10
30. NEW ALDERMEN, Manchester Evening News, June 6, 1928, p.5
31. MUNICIPAL ELECTION RESULTS, Manchester Guardian, November 3, 1924, p.10
32. CONSERVATIVE "DOMINATION" OF COUNCIL, Manchester Guardian, December 5, 1940, p.2
33. OBITUARY, Manchester Guardian, January 4, 1941, p.8
34. MANCHESTER COUNCIL, Manchester Guardian, June 14, 1906, p.4
35. MUNICIPAL ELECTION RESULTS, Manchester Guardian, November 3, 1924, p.10
36. Ex-railwayman "on Scrap Heap" is New Alderman, Manchester Evening News, February 5, 1941, p.3
37. MR. FREDERICK TODD, Manchester Guardian, January 15, 1942, p.6
38. LORD MAYOR'S DAY IN MANCHESTER, Manchester Guardian, November 10, 1922, p.17
39. THE MUNICIPAL ELECTION RESULTS, Manchester Guardian, November 2, 1926, p.12
40. WOMEN MUNITION WORKERS: CARE OF THEIR CHILDREN, Manchester Guardian, February 5, 1942, p.3
41. OBITUARY, Manchester Guardian, February 16, 1942, p.3
42. , Manchester Guardian, January 4, 1934, p.8
43. MUNICIPAL BY-ELECTIONS, Manchester Guardian, July 8, 1927, p.13
44. Nominated as New Alderman, Manchester Evening News, February 27, 1942, p.3
45. OBITUARY, Manchester Guardian, May 1, 1942, p.6
46. PERPETUAL RENTS, Manchester Guardian, March 17, 1920, p.6
47. MUNICIPAL CONTEST IN MANCHESTER, Manchester Guardian, August 21, 1929, p.11
48. , Manchester Guardian, June 4, 1942, p.6
49. THREE CONSERVATIVE GAINS IN MANCHESTER, Manchester Guardian, November 2, 1938, p.13
50. CITY COUNCIL SHOCK, Manchester Evening News, November 26, 1938, p.1
51. MR. A. MOSS REJOINS THE COUNCIL, Manchester Guardian, December 15, 1938, p.13