Elections to the Manchester City Council were held on Thursday, 10 May 1973. Due to the Local Government Act 1972, which replaced the city corporation with a metropolitan borough, all 99 councillors seats were up for election. In all wards, each first-placed candidate was set to serve a five-year term, expiring in 1978, second-placed candidates were set to serve a three-year term, expiring in 1976, and third-placed candidates were to serve a two-year term, expiring in 1975.
The Labour Party retained overall control of the council..
Election result
PartyVotesSeatsLabour Party145,798 (47.2%) 4.659 (59.6%) 15Conservative Party141,541 (45.9%) 1.340 (40.4%) 15Liberal Party14,037 (4.5%) 1.8 0 (0.0%) Residents4,449 (1.4%) 1.30 (0.0%)Communist1,094 (0.4%) 0.1 0 (0.0%) Independent Liberal865 (0.3%) N/A 0 (0.0%) N/AIndependent539 (0.2%) 0 (0.0%) Anti-Immigration368 (0.1%)N/A0 (0.0%)N/A
+ ↓ 59 40
Ward results
Alexandra
Ardwick
Baguley
Barlow Moor
Beswick
Blackley
Bradford
Brooklands
Burnage
Charlestown
Cheetham
Chorlton
Collegiate Church
Crossacres
Crumpsall
Didsbury
Gorton North
Gorton South
Harpurhey
Hulme
Levenshulme
Lightbowne
Lloyd Street
Longsight
Miles Platting
Moss Side
Moston
Newton Heath
Northenden
Old Moat
Rusholme
Withington
Woodhouse Park
By-elections between 1973 and 1975
By-elections, 27 June 1974
Two by-elections were held on 27 June 1974 to fill vacancies which had arisen in the city council.Increased Labour vote in 3 seats, Manchester Evening News, June 28, 1974, p.9
Beswick
Caused by the resignation of Councillor Joe Dean M.P. (Labour, Beswick, elected 12 May 1960)LIBERAL GAINS SEAT AT 17th ATTEMPT, The Guardian, May 13, 1960, p.12 on 23 May 1974.MPs quit as City councillors, Manchester Evening News, May 23, 1974, p.5
Blackley
Caused by the death of Councillor Arthur Johnson (Labour, Blackley, elected 13 May 1971)Tories toppled in twin cities landslide, Manchester Evening News, May 14, 1971, p.16 on 9 May 1974,Former Labour organiser dies, Manchester Evening News, May 9, 1974, p.20 and by the resignation of Councillor Frank Hatton M.P. (Labour, Blackley, elected 13 May 1954)LABOUR TAKES FIVE TORY SEATS, WINS SIX NEW ONES, Manchester Guardian, May 14, 1954, p.4 on 23 May 1974.MPs quit as City councillors, Manchester Evening News, May 23, 1974, p.5
Harpurhey, 25 July 1974
Caused by the death of Councillor Andrew Nicholson (Labour, Harpurhey, elected 7 March 1963)Labour victory in 14p.c. poll, Manchester Evening News, March 8, 1963, p.19 on 26 June 1974.3 fight for seat, Manchester Evening News, July 4, 1974, p.11
Labour win by-election, Manchester Evening News, July 26, 1974, p.11
References