Elections to Manchester City Council were held on Thursday, 12 May 1955. One third of the councillors seats were up for election, with each successful candidate to serve a three-year term of office. The Labour Party retained overall control of the council.LABOUR LOSES FOUR SEATS AS CITY SWINGS RIGHT, Manchester Evening News, May 13, 1955, p.6MANCHESTER TORIES TAKE FOUR SEATS FROM LABOUR, Manchester Guardian, May 13, 1955, p.4
Election result
PartyVotesSeatsFull CouncilLabour Party 88,311 (47.2%) 6.620 (52.6%) 4 85 (55.9%)Conservative Party 95,234 (50.8%) 6.518 (47.4%) 463 (41.4%)Liberal Party 2,901 (1.5%) 0.2 0 (0.0%) 4 (2.6%)Communist 848 (0.5%) 0.20 (0.0%) 0 (0.0%)
Full council
+ ↓ 85 4 63
Aldermen
+ ↓ 19 4 15
Councillors
+ ↓ 66 48
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 elections
Aldermanic election, 6 July 1955
Caused by the resignation on 8 June 1955 of Alderman Frank Gregson (Labour, elected as an alderman by the council on 4 December 1946).Alderman quits, Manchester Evening News, June 8, 1955, p.1TRANSPORT CHAIRMAN DEPOSED, Manchester Guardian, December 5, 1946, p.3
In his place, Councillor Hannah Baldwin (Labour, Beswick, elected 21 January 1937) , Manchester Guardian, January 14, 1937, p.11 was elected as an alderman by the council on 6 July 1955.TATTERED TEMPERS OF THE CITY FATHERS, Manchester Evening News, July 30, 1952, p.6
PartyAldermanWardTerm expires Labour Hannah Baldwin Withington 1961
Aldermanic elections, 4 January 1956
Caused by the death on 15 December 1955 of Alderman Sir Miles Mitchell (Liberal, elected as an alderman by the council on 24 June 1927).OBITUARY, Manchester Guardian, December 16, 1955, p.4NEW CITY ALDERMEN, Manchester Guardian, June 25, 1927, p.15
In his place, Councillor Elizabeth Yarwood (Labour, Gorton South, elected 12 May 1949; previously 1938-47)STRUGGLE LIKELY OVER MANCHESTER ALDERMEN, Manchester Evening News, May 13, 1949, p.1 was elected as an alderman by the council on 4 January 1956.CITY LEFT HOLDING THE BILL?, Manchester Guardian, January 5, 1956, p.14
PartyAldermanWardTerm expires Labour Elizabeth Yarwood Hugh Oldham 1958
Caused by the death on 22 December 1955 of Alderman Tom Larrad (Labour, elected as an alderman by the council on 5 September 1951).OBITUARY, Manchester Guardian, December 23, 1955, p.2Mr. Larrad an Alderman, Manchester Evening News, September 5, 1951, p.5
In his place, Councillor Tom Nally (Labour, Openshaw, elected 1 November 1937)INDEPENDENTS GAIN MOST IN MANCHESTER, Manchester Guardian, November 2, 1937, p.13 was elected as an alderman by the council on 4 January 1956.CITY LEFT HOLDING THE BILL?, Manchester Guardian, January 5, 1956, p.14
PartyAldermanWardTerm expires Labour Tom Nally Levenshulme 1958
Aldermanic election, 1 February 1956
Caused by the resignation on 24 January 1956 of Alderman John Edward Pheasey (Independent Conservative, elected as an alderman by the council on 29 April 1953).CIVIC TRIP TO U.S.S.R., Manchester Guardian, January 25, 1956, p.14Alderman, Manchester Evening News, April 29, 1953, p.4
In his place, Councillor Robert Rodgers (Conservative, Rusholme, elected 30 January 1936)MUNICIPAL BY-ELECTION RESULT, Manchester Guardian, January 31, 1936, p.14 was elected as an alderman by the council on 1 February 1956.Tory official is new alderman, Manchester Evening News, February 1, 1956, p.6
PartyAldermanWardTerm expires Conservative Robert Rodgers Barlow Moor 1958
Aldermanic election, 15 February 1956
Caused by the death on 30 January 1956 of Alderman Elijah John Hart (Labour, elected as an alderman by the council on 30 October 1935).Obituary, Manchester Guardian, January 31, 1956, p.4FIVE YEAR ROAD PROGRAMME ENDORSED, Manchester Guardian, June 6, 1935, p.11
In his place, Councillor Mary Knight (Labour, New Cross, elected 1 November 1938)THREE CONSERVATIVE GAINS IN MANCHESTER, Manchester Guardian, November 2, 1938, p.13 was elected as an alderman by the council on 15 February 1956.WOMAN ALDERMAN, Manchester Evening News, February 15, 1956, p.6
PartyAldermanWardTerm expires Labour Mary Knight New Cross 1961
Aldermanic election, 4 April 1956
Caused by the death on 7 March 1956 of Alderman Harry Thorneycroft (Labour, elected as an alderman by the council on 9 November 1939).OBITUARY, Manchester Guardian, March 8, 1956, p.5NEW LORD MAYOR, Manchester Evening News, November 10, 1939, p.8
In his place, Councillor William Winstanley (Labour, Beswick, elected 6 December 1939)HOUSING WORK RESTRICTED, Manchester Guardian, December 7, 1939, p.9 was elected as an alderman by the council on 4 April 1956.MANCHESTER PROPOSES TO PAY BUS CREWS 7s A WEEK MORE, Manchester Guardian, April 5, 1956, p.14
PartyAldermanWardTerm expires Labour William Winstanley Bradford 1961
By-elections between 1955 and 1956
By-elections, 22 September 1955
Three by-elections were held on 22 September 1955 to fill vacancies which had arisen in the city council.CITY BY-ELECTIONS, Manchester Guardian, September 23, 1955,p.12
Beswick
Caused by the election as an alderman of Councillor Hannah Baldwin (Labour, Beswick, elected 21 January 1937) , Manchester Guardian, January 14, 1937, p.11 on 30 July 1952,TATTERED TEMPERS OF THE CITY FATHERS, Manchester Evening News, July 30, 1952, p.6 following the resignation on 8 June 1955 of Alderman Frank Gregson (Labour, elected as an alderman by the council on 4 December 1946).Alderman quits, Manchester Evening News, June 8, 1955, p.1TRANSPORT CHAIRMAN DEPOSED, Manchester Guardian, December 5, 1946, p.3
Newton Heath
Caused by the resignation of Councillor John Bates (Labour, Newton Heath, elected 7 May 1953)LABOUR SECURES CONTROL IN MANCHESTER, Manchester Guardian, May 8, 1953, p.10 on 18 May 1955.COUNCILLOR RESIGNS, Manchester Evening News, May 18, 1955, p.12
Old Moat
Caused by the resignation of Councillor W. R. Swan (Conservative, Old Moat, elected 10 May 1951)LABOUR WINS TWO SEATS AND LOSES ONE IN MANCHESTER, Manchester Guardian, May 11, 1951, p.3 on 13 May 1955.LABOUR LOSES FOUR SEATS AS CITY SWINGS RIGHT, Manchester Evening News, May 13, 1955, p.6
Gorton South, 22 March 1956
Caused by the election as an alderman of Councillor Elizabeth Yarwood (Labour, Gorton South, elected 12 May 1949; previously 1938-47)STRUGGLE LIKELY OVER MANCHESTER ALDERMEN, Manchester Evening News, May 13, 1949, p.1 on 4 January 1956,CITY LEFT HOLDING THE BILL?, Manchester Guardian, January 5, 1956, p.14 following the death on 15 December 1955 of Alderman Sir Miles Mitchell (Liberal, elected as an alderman by the council on 24 June 1927).OBITUARY, Manchester Guardian, December 16, 1955, p.4NEW CITY ALDERMEN, Manchester Guardian, June 25, 1927, p.15
Labour wins low poll by-election, Manchester Evening News, March 23, 1956, p.13
References