The Anti-Corporation Party was a political faction which was operated in Manchester in the 1830s and 1840s. Its primary purpose was opposing the incorporation of Manchester under the terms of the Municipal Corporations Act 1835.The citation of this Act by this short title was authorised by section 2 of, and the First Schedule to, the Municipal Corporations (New Charters) Act 1877 (40 & 41 Vict c 69). The Municipal Corporations (New Charters) Act 1877 was repealed by the Municipal Corporations Act 1882. As to the continued use of this short title, see section 19(2) of the Interpretation Act 1978. Section 243 of the Municipal Corporations Act 1882 made provision as to the continued use of certain short titles mentioned in First Schedule to that Act. The said section 243 was repealed by the Statute Law Revision Act 1898. The Bill for the Statute Law Revision Act 1898 says the reason for the repeal of the said section 243 was: "As to s. 243 so much of the First Schedule as gives short titles not otherwise given is proposed for repeal". The Bill then says that reason for the repeal of the entries in Part II of the First Schedule to Municipal Corporations Act 1882 (which does not mention the short title of Municipal Corporations Act 1835) specified by column 2 of the Bill was "Sched. I., Pt. II. . . . as to parts in col. 2 the enactments referred to have been repealed by subsequent Acts except 40 & 41 Vict. c. 47 in Sched. I., Pt. II., which is proposed for repeal by the Bill"; and that Part I of the First Schedule (wherein the short title of the Municipal Corporations Act 1835 was mentioned) was repealed because it was "spent". As to the construction of references to the Municipal Corporations Act 1835, see sections 7(1) and 242 of, and the Ninth Schedule to, the Municipal Corporations Act 1882, and formerly section 191 of that Act (the said section 191 was repealed by the Police Act 1964). It was aligned with the Conservative Party and the Church of England.THE CORPORATION NUISANCE, Manchester Courier, July 7, 1838, p.2
Between 1838 and 1843, the 'Anti-Corporation' Party boycotted elections to the Manchester Borough Council, and would not win a seat on the corporation until 1844.THE MUNICIPAL ELECTION, Manchester Courier, November 9, 1844, p.8 Eventually, the anti-corporators merged with the Ratepayers' Association to form a Conservative opposition to the dominant Corporation Party.
See also Manchester City Council Manchester City Council elections
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