1970 Manchester City Council election

1970 Manchester City Council election
39 of 152 seats ; to Manchester City Council ; 77 seats needed for a majority
	Map of results of 1970 election
Leader of the Council before election; ; Conservative	Leader of the Council after election; ; Conservative

Last updated October 18, 2025

Elections to Manchester City Council were held on Thursday, 7 May 1970. One third of the councillors seats were up for election, with each successful candidate to serve a three-year term of office. The Conservative Party retained overall control of the council.^[1]^[2]

Election result

Party	Votes		Seats			Full Council
Conservative Party	64,782 (47.4%)	10.4	17 (43.6%)	17 / 39	11	86 (56.6%)	86 / 152
Labour Party	63,187 (46.2%)	10.7	22 (56.4%)	22 / 39	11	66 (43.4%)	66 / 152
Liberal Party	6,758 (4.9%)	0.9	0 (0.0%)	0 / 39		0 (0.0%)	0 / 152
Residents	1,324 (1.0%)	1.0	0 (0.0%)	0 / 39		0 (0.0%)	0 / 152
Communist	513 (0.4%)	0.3	0 (0.0%)	0 / 39		0 (0.0%)	0 / 152
Union Movement	180 (0.1%)	0.1	0 (0.0%)	0 / 39		0 (0.0%)	0 / 152

Full council

↓
66	86

Ward results

Alexandra Park

Alexandra Park
Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Conservative	M. Flynn*	3,059	57.7	−11.6
	Liberal	E. O. Tomlinson	1,255	23.7	+0.8
	Labour	K. McKeon	954	18.0	+8.3
	Residents	G. Edwards	38	0.6	N/A
Majority			1,804	34.0	−11.4
Turnout			5,306
	Conservative hold		Swing

All Saints'

All Saints'
Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Labour	T. Thomas*	1,044	70.9	+10.1
	Conservative	F. P. Heenan	418	28.4	−10.8
	Residents	E. T. Beach	11	0.7	N/A
Majority			626	42.5	+20.9
Turnout			1,473
	Labour hold		Swing

Ardwick

Ardwick
Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Labour	A. S. Goldstone	914	65.1	+13.2
	Conservative	D. Taylor*	491	34.9	−13.2
Majority			423	30.2	+26.4
Turnout			1,405
	Labour gain from Conservative		Swing

Baguley

Baguley
Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Labour	F. H. Price	3,494	54.0	+9.5
	Conservative	T. E. Murphy*	2,981	46.0	−9.5
Majority			513	8.0
Turnout			6,475
	Labour gain from Conservative		Swing

Barlow Moor

Barlow Moor
Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Conservative	C. M. Pugh*	1,645	47.2	−12.4
	Labour	W. A. Moody	988	28.4	+10.9
	Liberal	D. V. Jameson	834	23.9	+1.0
	Residents	J. Stretton	17	0.5	N/A
Majority			657	18.8	−17.9
Turnout			3,484
	Conservative hold		Swing

Benchill

Benchill
Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Labour	R. L. Griffiths	3,188	53.0	+15.0
	Conservative	Y. I. Emery	2,716	45.2	−14.4
	Communist	M. Taylor	107	1.8	−0.6
Majority			472	7.9
Turnout			6,011
	Labour gain from Conservative		Swing

Beswick

Beswick
Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Labour	J. Dean*	1,223	75.3	+7.8
	Conservative	E. M. Bevan	402	24.7	−7.8
Majority			821	50.6	+15.6
Turnout			1,625
	Labour hold		Swing

Blackley

Blackley
Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Conservative	W. Burrows*	2,073	46.8	−15.6
	Labour	D. Cox	1,836	41.5	+22.8
	Liberal	J. M. Ashley	520	11.7	−5.8
Majority			237	5.3	−38.4
Turnout			4,429
	Conservative hold		Swing

Bradford

Bradford
Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Labour	R. Massey*	1,821	60.6	+0.9
	Conservative	H. Horton	1,131	37.6	−2.7
	Communist	P. Maher	43	1.4	N/A
	Residents	J. Gidley	10	0.3	N/A
Majority			690	23.0	+3.6
Turnout			3,005
	Labour hold		Swing

Burnage

Burnage
Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Conservative	L. Howarth	3,026	59.8	−1.4
	Labour	S. H. Higgins	2,038	40.2	+16.5
Majority			988	19.6	−17.9
Turnout			5,064
	Conservative hold		Swing

Cheetham

Cheetham
Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Labour	D. G. Ford	1,068	51.3	+8.2
	Conservative	F. E. Meaden*	919	44.1	−7.6
	Communist	H. Ogden	62	3.0	−2.2
	Residents	I. Mackin	33	1.6	N/A
Majority			149	7.2
Turnout			2,082
	Labour gain from Conservative		Swing

Chorlton-cum-Hardy

Chorlton-cum-Hardy
Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Conservative	L. Sanders*	3,497	75.5	−7.5
	Labour	B. S. Jeuda	1,057	22.8	+5.8
	Residents	S. Nwagbara	76	1.7	N/A
Majority			2,440	52.7	−13.3
Turnout			4,630
	Conservative hold		Swing

Collegiate Church

Collegiate Church
Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Labour	J. Davis*	390	73.0	+6.1
	Conservative	E. A. M. Walmsley	132	24.7	−2.5
	Residents	L. H. F. Roberts	12	2.3	N/A
Majority			258	48.3	+8.6
Turnout			534
	Labour hold		Swing

Crumpsall

Crumpsall
Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Conservative	A. S. Daulby	3,223	52.7	−14.9
	Labour	J. E. Jackson	2,833	46.4	+14.0
	Residents	B. Campbell	56	0.9	N/A
Majority			390	6.3	−28.9
Turnout			6,112
	Conservative hold		Swing

Didsbury

Didsbury
Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Conservative	M. R. Crawford*	3,655	66.4	−5.1
	Labour	R. W. Ford	1,165	21.2	+9.5
	Liberal	J. R. Clements	681	12.4	−4.4
Majority			2,490	45.2	−9.5
Turnout			5,501
	Conservative hold		Swing

Gorton North

Gorton North
Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Labour	G. Conquest	3,082	65.1	+8.3
	Conservative	H. Griffiths	1,653	34.9	−8.3
Majority			1,429	30.2	+16.6
Turnout			4,745
	Labour hold		Swing

Gorton South

Gorton South
Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Labour	D. Barker	2,333	57.5	+8.3
	Conservative	D. E. Lindsey*	1,727	42.5	−8.3
Majority			606	15.0
Turnout			4,060
	Labour gain from Conservative		Swing

Harpurhey

Harpurhey
Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Conservative	J. Holden	962	45.3	−13.2
	Labour	S. N. M. Moxley	952	44.8	+3.3
	Liberal	R. Jackson	195	9.2	N/A
	Residents	L. George	15	0.7	N/A
Majority			10	0.5	−16.5
Turnout			2,124
	Conservative hold		Swing

Hugh Oldham

Hugh Oldham
Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Labour	A. Nicholson*	897	77.5	+22.0
	Conservative	D. A. Harding	171	14.8	−8.1
	Liberal	J. H. Colclough	90	7.7	−13.9
Majority			726	62.7	+30.1
Turnout			1,158
	Labour hold		Swing

Levenshulme

Levenshulme
Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Conservative	A. Williamson*	2,251	64.7	−11.8
	Labour	A. E. Jones	1,170	44.6	+10.1
	Residents	F. F. Kienzler	56	1.7	N/A
Majority			1,081	31.1	−21.9
Turnout			3,477
	Conservative hold		Swing

Lightbowne

Lightbowne
Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Conservative	N. A. Green*	2,116	43.9	−2.2
	Labour	W. Lister	2,013	41.8	+11.3
	Liberal	G. H. Wilkinson	665	13.8	−8.0
	Residents	T. Tennyson-Smith	23	0.5	N/A
Majority			103	2.1	−13.5
Turnout			4,817
	Conservative hold		Swing

Longsight

Longsight (2 vacancies)
Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Conservative	A. B. Deacy*	1,632	54.4	−23.1
	Conservative	F. Coombs	1,515	50.5	−27.0
	Labour	H. Graham	1,256	41.9	+28.2
	Labour	R. A. Reddington	1,133	37.8	+24.1
	Union Movement	G. S. Gee	97	3.2	−1.4
	Communist	H. Johnson	96	3.2	−1.1
	Residents	B. Palmer	38	1.3	N/A
Majority			259	8.6	−55.2
Turnout			3,000
	Conservative hold		Swing
	Conservative hold		Swing

Miles Platting

Miles Platting
Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Labour	D. Healey	1,455	63.2	−0.1
	Conservative	G. Fildes*	829	36.0	−0.7
	Residents	G. McKenzie-Jones	18	0.8	N/A
Majority			626	27.2	+0.6
Turnout			2,302
	Labour gain from Conservative		Swing

Moss Side East

Moss Side East
Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Labour	H. P. D. Paget	1,587	55.9	+15.6
	Conservative	S. Mottram*	1,221	43.0	−16.7
	Residents	C. N. Henry	33	1.1	N/A
Majority			366	12.9
Turnout			2,841
	Labour gain from Conservative		Swing

Moss Side West

Moss Side West
Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Conservative	J. Pollitt*	1,477	45.3	−30.1
	Labour	G. Honeyman	958	29.4	+9.7
	Residents	W. Woolery	767	23.5	N/A
	Communist	W. Woolery	45	1.4	−3.4
	Residents	R. Davies	16	0.5	N/A
Majority			519	15.9	−39.8
Turnout			3,263
	Conservative hold		Swing

Moston

Moston
Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Labour	J. T. Crawford	2,451	37.9	+6.1
	Conservative	T. W. R. Bamford*	2,431	43.7	−21.9
	Liberal	J. Lindsay	607	10.9	N/A
	Communist	R. Cole	69	1.2	N/A
	Residents	G. Nicholls	8	0.1	N/A
Majority			20	0.3
Turnout			5,566
	Labour gain from Conservative		Swing

New Cross

New Cross
Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Labour	R. Latham*	1,325	76.8	+10.6
	Conservative	R. E. Pysden	400	23.2	−10.6
Majority			925	53.6	+21.2
Turnout			1,725
	Labour hold		Swing

Newton Heath

Newton Heath
Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Labour	M. J. Taylor	2,220	60.4	+7.3
	Conservative	K. E. Goulding*	1,413	38.4	−5.9
	Communist	R. Fisher	44	1.2	−1.4
Majority			807	22.0	+13.2
Turnout			3,677
	Labour gain from Conservative		Swing

Northenden

Northenden
Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Conservative	G. Leigh*	3,657	54.1	−13.5
	Labour	H. Brown	2,712	40.2	+7.8
	Liberal	S. Rose	385	5.7	N/A
Majority			945	13.9	−21.4
Turnout			6,754
	Conservative hold		Swing

Old Moat

Old Moat
Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Conservative	T. F. Lavin	2,326	58.5	−15.9
	Labour	A. Roberts	1,651	41.5	+15.9
Majority			675	17.0	−31.8
Turnout			3,977
	Conservative hold		Swing

Openshaw

Openshaw
Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Labour	E. Grant*	2,110	64.9	+10.5
	Conservative	D. S. Knox-Crichton	1,093	33.6	−12.0
	Communist	K. M. Baylis	47	1.5	N/A
Majority			1,017	31.3	+22.5
Turnout			3,250
	Labour hold		Swing

Rusholme

Rusholme
Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Conservative	S. R. Tucker	2,074	60.8	−7.5
	Labour	J. Smith	942	27.6	+15.6
	Liberal	S. Lowe	380	11.2	−8.5
	Residents	D. Barnes	14	0.4	N/A
Majority			1,132	33.2	−15.4
Turnout			3,410
	Conservative hold		Swing

St. George's

St. George's
Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Labour	E. Mellor*	694	72.7	+14.0
	Conservative	J. H. Wood	169	17.7	−23.6
	Liberal	A. G. Lishman	83	8.7	N/A
	Residents	J. Carty	9	0.9	N/A
Majority			525	55.0	+37.6
Turnout			955
	Labour hold		Swing

St. Luke's

St. Luke's
Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Labour	W. Egerton	750	60.6	+6.9
	Conservative	M. Pierce*	461	37.2	−9.1
	Residents	P. Cuniffe	15	1.2	N/A
	Residents	G. Nevins	12	1.0	N/A
Majority			289	23.4	+16.0
Turnout			1,238
	Labour gain from Conservative		Swing

St. Mark's

St. Mark's
Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Labour	W. Shaw*	1,856	58.5	+11.0
	Conservative	R. E. Doweck	1,211	38.2	−7.6
	Union Movement	D. S. Lawson	83	2.6	−2.1
	Residents	A. W. King	20	0.7	−1.3
Majority			645	20.3	+18.6
Turnout			3,170
	Labour hold		Swing

St. Peter's

St. Peter's
Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Labour	F. J. Balcombe*	608	62.7	+40.7
	Conservative	J. R. Cawley	305	31.5	−46.5
	Liberal	I. Garrard	51	5.3	N/A
	Residents	L. Robertson	5	0.5	N/A
Majority			303	31.2
Turnout			969
	Labour gain from Conservative		Swing

Withington

Withington
Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Conservative	W. Crabtree*	2,209	51.5	−7.9
	Labour	G. Hall	1,048	24.4	+12.4
	Liberal	G. Fawdrey	1,012	23.6	−5.0
	Residents	W. Paton	22	0.5	N/A
Majority			1,161	27.1	−3.8
Turnout			4,291
	Conservative hold		Swing

Woodhouse Park

Woodhouse Park
Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Labour	W. Smith*	4,071	65.9	+12.2
	Conservative	G. Parry	2,111	34.1	−9.1
Majority			1,960	31.8	+21.3
Turnout			6,182
	Labour hold		Swing

Aldermanic election

By-elections between 1970 and 1971

References

↑ LABOUR: WE'RE ON ROAD BACK NOW, Manchester Evening News, May 8, 1970, p.16
↑ 11-seat swing to Labour in Manchester, The Guardian, May 8, 1970, p.7

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[1] LABOUR: WE'RE ON ROAD BACK NOW, Manchester Evening News, May 8, 1970, p.16

[2] 11-seat swing to Labour in Manchester, The Guardian, May 8, 1970, p.7

[1]

[2]

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

v t e (1969 ←) 1970 United Kingdom local elections (→ 1971)
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See also: UK General election