Elections to Manchester City Council were held on Thursday, 10 May 1956. 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.SEE HOW THEY POLLED - AT A GLANCE, Manchester Evening News, May 11, 1956, p.4CONSERVATIVES LOSE SEAT IN MANCHESTER, Manchester Guardian, May 11, 1956, p.4
Election result
PartyVotesSeatsFull CouncilLabour Party 86,102 (53.1%) 5.928 (66.7%) 1 87 (57.2%)Conservative Party 69,717 (43.0%) 7.814 (33.3%) 162 (40.8%)Liberal Party 5,070 (3.1%) 1.6 0 (0.0%) 3 (2.0%)Communist 788 (0.5%) 0 (0.0%) 0 (0.0%)Independent 436 (0.3%)N/A0 (0.0%)N/A0 (0.0%)
Full council
+ ↓ 87 3 62
Aldermen
+ ↓ 20 3 15
Councillors
+ ↓ 67 47
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, 5 December 1956
Caused by the death on 11 November 1956 of Alderman C. A. Wood (Conservative, elected as an alderman by the council on 6 December 1922).OBITUARY, Manchester Guardian, November 12, 1956, p.16THE CITY COUNCIL, Manchester Guardian, December 7, 1922, p.11
In his place, Councillor Forrester Lord (Labour, Gorton North, elected 5 March 1941)FIREMEN AND TRADE UNIONISM, Manchester Guardian, March 6, 1941, p.7 was elected as an alderman by the council on 5 December 1956.NEW ALDERMAN, Manchester Evening News, December 5, 1956, p.1
PartyAldermanWardTerm expires Labour Forrester Lord Crumpsall 1961
Aldermanic election, 9 January 1957
Caused by the death on 20 December 1956 of Alderman Tom Nally (Labour, elected as an alderman by the council on 4 January 1956).OBITUARY, Manchester Guardian, December 21, 1956, p.5CITY LEFT HOLDING THE BILL?, Manchester Guardian, January 5, 1956, p.14
In his place, Councillor Bob Thomas (Labour, St. George's, elected 5 January 1944)THE NEW MANCHESTER, Manchester Guardian, January 6, 1944, p.2 was elected as an alderman by the council on 9 January 1957.New alderman, Manchester Evening News, January 10, 1957, p.11
PartyAldermanWardTerm expires Labour Bob Thomas Levenshulme 1958
By-elections between 1956 and 1957
By-elections, 4 April 1957
Two by-elections were held on 4 April 1957 to fill vacancies that were created by the appointment of aldermen on 5 December 1956 and 9 January 1957. , Manchester Guardian, April 5, 1957, p.16
Gorton North
Caused by the election as an alderman of Councillor Forrester Lord (Labour, Gorton North, elected 5 March 1941)FIREMEN AND TRADE UNIONISM, Manchester Guardian, March 6, 1941, p.7 on 5 December 1956,NEW ALDERMAN, Manchester Evening News, December 5, 1956, p.1 following the death on 11 November 1956 of Alderman C. A. Wood (Conservative, elected as an alderman by the council on 6 December 1922).OBITUARY, Manchester Guardian, November 12, 1956, p.16THE CITY COUNCIL, Manchester Guardian, December 7, 1922, p.11
St. George's
Caused by the election as an alderman of Councillor Bob Thomas (Labour, St. George's, elected 5 January 1944)THE NEW MANCHESTER, Manchester Guardian, January 6, 1944, p.2 on 9 January 1957,New alderman, Manchester Evening News, January 10, 1957, p.11 following the death on 20 December 1956 of Alderman Tom Nally (Labour, elected as an alderman by the council on 4 January 1956).OBITUARY, Manchester Guardian, December 21, 1956, p.5CITY LEFT HOLDING THE BILL?, Manchester Guardian, January 5, 1956, p.14
References