Elections to Manchester City Council were held on Thursday, 9 May 1968. 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.Triumphant Tories race into power at Salford, Manchester Evening News, May 10, 1968, p.18Tory majority in Manchester increase to 30, The Guardian, May 10, 1968, p.4
Election result
PartyVotesSeatsFull CouncilConservative Party82,538 (62.4%) 4.133 (80.5%) 1191 (59.9%)Labour Party38,785 (29.3%) 5.18 (19.5%) 11 61 (40.1%)Liberal Party9,465 (7.2%) 1.5 0 (0.0%) 0 (0.0%)Communist1,175 (0.9%) 0.10 (0.0%) 0 (0.0%)Union Movement183 (0.1%)0 (0.0%) 0 (0.0%)Residents63 (0.0%)N/A0 (0.0%) N/A0 (0.0%)
Full council
+ ↓ 61 91
Aldermen
+ ↓ 21 17
Councillors
+ ↓ 40 74
Ward results
Alexandra Park
All Saints'
Ardwick
Baguley
Barlow Moor
Benchill
Beswick
Blackley
Bradford
Burnage
Cheetham
Chorlton-cum-Hardy
Collegiate Church
Crumpsall
Didsbury
Gorton North
Gorton South
Harpurhey
Hugh Oldham
Levenshulme
Lightbowne
Longsight
Miles Platting
Moss Side East
Moss Side West
Moston
New Cross
Newton Heath
Northenden
Old Moat
Openshaw
Rusholme
St. George's
St. Luke's
St. Mark's
St. Peter's
Withington
Woodhouse Park
Aldermanic election
Aldermanic election, 31 July 1968
Caused by the resignation on 19 August 1968 of Alderman Chris Blackwell (Labour, elected as an alderman by the council on 7 April 1965).Alderman resigns, The Guardian, July 9, 1968, p.3 , The Guardian, April 8, 1965, p.20
In his place, Councillor Dr. Harry Pigott (Conservative, Lightbowne, elected 25 September 1952)TORIES REGAIN SEAT IN MANCHESTER, Manchester Guardian, September 26, 1952, p.9 was elected as an alderman by the council on 31 July 1968.Manchester keeps link with Russia, but jibs at Leningrad Square, Manchester Evening News, July 31, 1968, p.1
PartyAldermanWardTerm expires Conservative Dr. Harry Pigott Crumpsall 1973
Aldermanic election, 4 September 1968
Caused by the resignation on 19 August 1968 of Alderman Harold Quinney (Labour, elected as an alderman by the council on 2 June 1952).Former lord mayor resigns, The Guardian, August 19, 1968, p.7Alderman, Manchester Evening News, July 2, 1952, p.3
In his place, Councillor Dorothy Lee (Conservative, Didsbury, elected 7 May 1953)LABOUR SECURES CONTROL IN MANCHESTER, Manchester Guardian, May 8, 1953, p.10 was elected as an alderman by the council on 4 September 1968.Manchester keeps link with Russia, but jibs at Leningrad Square, The Guardian, September 5, 1968, p.18
PartyAldermanWardTerm expires Conservative Dorothy Lee St. Mark's 1970
By-elections between 1968 and 1969
Lightbowne, 26 September 1968
Caused by the election as an alderman of Councillor Dr. Harry Pigott (Conservative, Lightbowne, elected 25 September 1952)TORIES REGAIN SEAT IN MANCHESTER, Manchester Guardian, September 26, 1952, p.9 on 31 July 1968,Manchester keeps link with Russia, but jibs at Leningrad Square, Manchester Evening News, July 31, 1968, p.1 following the resignation on 19 August 1968 of Alderman Chris Blackwell (Labour, elected as an alderman by the council on 7 April 1965).Alderman resigns, The Guardian, July 9, 1968, p.3 , The Guardian, April 8, 1965, p.20
TORY WINS BY 9 VOTES, Manchester Evening News, September 27, 1968, p.17
Didsbury, 17 October 1968
Caused by the election as an alderman of Councillor Dorothy Lee (Conservative, Didsbury, elected 7 May 1953)LABOUR SECURES CONTROL IN MANCHESTER, Manchester Guardian, May 8, 1953, p.10LIBERAL SUCCESS IN WARD BY-ELECTION, Manchester Guardian, January 17, 1934, p.4 on 4 September 1968Manchester keeps link with Russia, but jibs at Leningrad Square, Manchester Guardian, September 5, 1968, p.18 following the resignation on 19 August 1968 of Alderman Harold Quinney (Labour, elected as an alderman by the council on 2 June 1952).Former lord mayor resigns, Manchester Guardian, August 19, 1968, p.7Alderman, Manchester Evening News, July 2, 1952, p.3
Didsbury held by Tories, The Guardian, October 17, 1968, p.4
By-elections, 24 October 1968
Two by-elections were held on 24 October 1968 to fill vacancies which had arisen in the city council.Labour win back lost seats, Manchester Evening News, October 25, 1968, p.17
Ardwick
Caused by the resignation of Councillor Frank Taylor (Labour, Ardwick, elected 13 May 1954)LABOUR TALKES FIVE TORY SEATS: WINS SIX NEW ONES, Manchester Guardian, May 14, 1954, p.4 on 19 September 1968.Labour men resign from city council, Manchester Evening News, September 19, 1968, p.3
Miles Platting
Caused by the resignation of Councillor Eric Hughes (Labour, Miles Platting, elected 12 May 1960)LIBERAL GAINS SEAT AT 17th ATTEMPT, The Guardian, May 13, 1960, p.12 on 19 September 1968.Labour men resign from city council, Manchester Evening News, September 19, 1968, p.3
Openshaw, 27 February 1969
Caused by the resignation of Councillor Peter Donoghue (Labour, Openshaw, elected 7 November 1963)NO CHANGE IN TWO MANCHESTER WARDS, The Guardian, November 8, 1963, p.18 on 23 January 1969. , Manchester Evening News, January 23, 1969, p.1
City win for Labour, Manchester Evening News, February 28, 1969, p.5
Baguley, 13 March 1969
Caused by the resignation of Councillor Ian Paley (Conservative, Baguley, elected 13 May 1965)Tories win nine Manchester seats, The Guardian, May 14, 1965, p.4 on 8 November 1968.WHAT DO YOU DO WHEN THE CHOICE IS: YOUR JOB OR YOUR PLACE ON THE CITY COUNCIL?, Manchester Evening News, November 8, 1968, p.6
TORIES HOLD SEAT, Manchester Evening News, March 14, 1969, p.5
References