Local elections to Greater Manchester County Council, a Metropolitan County Council encompassing Greater Manchester, were held on 12 April 1973. This was the first election held for the authority, having been established by operation of the Local Government Act 1972. The whole council was up for election, with each successful candidate to serve a four-year term of office, expiring in 1977. Following the election the Labour Party gained overall control of the council.LEFT, RIGHT & CENTRE, Manchester Evening News, April 13, 1973, p.21Labour sweeps to victory in new counties, The Guardian, April 13, 1973, p.1
Election result
Overall result
PartyVotesSeatsLabour Party318,580 (45.0%)69 (65.1%)Conservative Party273,024 (38.5%)24 (22.6%)Liberal Party108,309 (15.3%)13 (12.3%)Communist Party4,286 (0.6%)0 (0.0%)Anti-Immigration2,327 (0.3%)0 (0.0%)Independent1,424 (0.2%)0 (0.0%)Independent Socialist468 (0.1%)0 (0.0%)Democratic Socialist177 (0.0%)0 (0.0%)
+ ↓ 69 13 24
Results by borough
Bolton
PartyVotesSeatsLabour Party33,693 (46.7%)7 (70.0%)Conservative Party31,125 (43.1%)3 (30.0%)Liberal Party7,151 (9.9%)0 (0.0%)Democratic Socialist177 (0.2%)0 (0.0%)
Bury
PartyVotesSeatsLabour Party23,464 (48.4%)4 (66.7%)Conservative Party20,383 (42.0%)1 (16.7%)Liberal Party4,630 (9.6%)1 (16.7%)
Manchester
PartyVotesSeatsLabour Party58,572 (48.0%)10 (50.0%)Conservative Party54,654 (44.8%)10 (50.0%)Liberal Party7,300 (6.0%)0 (0.0%)Communist Party811 (0.7%)0 (0.0%)Anti-Immigration587 (0.5%)0 (0.0%)Independent155 (0.1%)0 (0.0%)
Oldham
PartyVotesSeatsLabour Party27,508 (43.9%)7 (77.8%)Liberal Party16,441 (26.2%)2 (22.2%)Conservative Party18,318 (29.2%)0 (0.0%)Communist Party392 (0.6%)0 (0.0%)
Rochdale
PartyVotesSeatsLabour Party25,832 (47.7%)4 (57.1%)Conservative Party19,527 (36.0%)2 (28.6%)Liberal Party6,652 (12.3%)1 (14.3%)Anti-Immigration1,740 (3.2%)0 (0.0%)Communist Party448 (0.8%)0 (0.0%)
Salford
PartyVotesSeatsLabour Party37,164 (55.3%)10 (83.3%)Conservative Party24,501 (36.4%)2 (16.7%)Liberal Party3,887 (5.8%)0 (0.0%)Communist Party1,694 (2.5%)0 (0.0%)
Stockport
PartyVotesSeatsLiberal Party38,954 (39.6%) 6 (54.5%)Labour Party23,109 (23.5%)3 (27.3%)Conservative Party36,389 (37.0%)2 (18.2%)
Tameside
PartyVotesSeatsLabour Party29,483 (53.4%)8 (88.9%)Conservative Party20,533 (37.2%)1 (11.1%)Liberal Party5,161 (9.4%)0 (0.0%)
Trafford
PartyVotesSeatsConservative Party30,904 (42.8%)3 (33.3%)Labour Party22,251 (30.8%)3 (33.3%)Liberal Party18,133 (25.1%)3 (33.3%)Communist Party941 (1.3%)0 (0.0%)
Wigan
PartyVotesSeatsLabour Party37,504 (67.1%)13 (100.0%)Conservative Party16,690 (29.8%)0 (0.0%)Independent1,269 (2.3%)0 (0.0%)Independent Socialist468 (0.8%)0 (0.0%)
Ward results
Bolton
Bolton No.1
Bolton No.2
Bolton No.3
Bolton No.4
Bolton No.5
Farnworth
Horwich
Kearsley
Turton
Westhoughton
Bury
Bury No.1
Bury No.2
Prestwich
Radcliffe
Ramsbottom
Whitefield
Manchester
Manchester No.1
Manchester No.2
Manchester No.3
Manchester No.4
Manchester No.5
Manchester No.6
Manchester No.7
Manchester No.8
Manchester No.9
Manchester No.10
Manchester No.11
Manchester No.12
Manchester No.13
Manchester No.14
Manchester No.15
Manchester No.16
Manchester No.17
Manchester No.18
Manchester No.19
Manchester No.20
Oldham
Chadderton
Crompton
Failsworth
Oldham No.1
Oldham No.2
Oldham No.3
Oldham No.4
Royton
Saddleworth
Rochdale
Heywood
Middleton North West
Middleton South East
Rochdale No.1
Rochdale No.2
Rochdale No.3
Rochdale No.4
Salford
Eccles
Eccles-Patricroft
Irlam
Pendlebury
Salford No.1
Salford No.2
Salford No.3
Salford No.4
Salford No.5
Swinton
Worsley No.1
Worsley No.2
Stockport
Bredbury & Romiley
Cheadle & Gatley No.1
Cheadle & Gatley No.2
Hazel Grove & Bramhall No.1
Hazel Grove & Bramhall No.2
Marple
Stockport No.1
Stockport No.2
Stockport No.3
Stockport No.4
Stockport No.5
Tameside
Ashton-under-Lyne No.1
Ashton-under-Lyne No.2
Audenshaw
Denton
Droylesden
Dukinfield
Hyde No.1
Hyde No.2
Stalybridge
Trafford
Altrincham No.1
Altrincham No.2
Hale
Sale No.1
Sale No.2
Stretford
Stretford-Old Trafford
Urmston No.1
Urmston No.2
Wigan
Ashton-in-Makerfield
Atherton
Golborne
Hindley
Ince-in-Makerfield
Leigh East
Leigh West
Orrell
Standish-Langtree
Tyldesley
Wigan
References