# 1931 Manchester City Council election

Elections to Manchester City Council were held on Monday, 2 November 1931. One third of the councillors seats were up for election, with each successful candidate to serve a three-year term of office. The council remained under no overall control.

## Election result

| Party | Votes | Votes | Seats | Seats | Seats | Full Council | Full Council |
| Conservative Party | 63,284 (50.0%) | 7.9 | 21 (60.0%) | 21 / 35 | 9 | 71 (49.3%) | 71 / 144 |
| Labour Party | 48,549 (38.4%) | 4.0 | 7 (20.0%) | 7 / 35 | 7 | 43 (29.9%) | 43 / 144 |
| Liberal Party | 12,384 (9.8%) | 9.8 | 7 (20.0%) | 7 / 35 | | 28 (19.4%) | 28 / 144 |
| Independent | 0 (0.0%) | 2.3 | 0 (0.0%) | 0 / 35 | 1 | 2 (1.4%) | 2 / 144 |
| Independent Labour | 1,662 (1.3%) | N/A | 0 (0.0%) | 0 / 35 | 1 | 0 (0.0%) | 0 / 144 |
| Residents | 368 (0.3%) | 0.2 | 0 (0.0%) | 0 / 35 | | 0 (0.0%) | 0 / 144 |
| Communist | 261 (0.2%) | 0.1 | 0 (0.0%) | 0 / 35 | | 0 (0.0%) | 0 / 144 |

### Full council

| 43 | 28 | 2 | 71 |

### Aldermen

| 5 | 9 | 1 | 21 |

### Councillors

| 38 | 19 | 1 | 50 |

## Ward results
### All Saints'

All Saints' :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | J. McMahon | 2,502 | 68.3 | +12.0 |
| | Labour | A. Trench | 1,160 | 31.7 | +5.4 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,342 | 36.6 | +6.6 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 3,662 | 41.3 | |
| | Conservative gain from Labour | Conservative gain from Labour | Swing | | |

### Ardwick

Ardwick :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | G. Grocock | 3,399 | 62.0 | −0.6 |
| | Labour | W. Onions | 2,080 | 38.0 | +0.6 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,319 | 24.0 | −1.2 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 5,479 | 50.8 | |
| | Conservative gain from Labour | Conservative gain from Labour | Swing | | |

### Beswick

Beswick :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | H. Thorneycroft* | 3,902 | 52.3 | N/A |
| | Conservative | W. Shaw | 3,559 | 47.7 | N/A |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 343 | 4.6 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 7,461 | 59.6 | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | | |

### Blackley

Blackley :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | H. Lee | 3,600 | 74.4 | N/A |
| | Labour | W. Collingson | 1,241 | 25.6 | −6.7 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 2,359 | 48.8 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 4,841 | 48.2 | |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Swing | | |

### Bradford

Bradford :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | F. J. Riley | 3,596 | 59.0 | +11.6 |
| | Labour | R. McKeon | 2,503 | 41.0 | −11.6 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,093 | 18.0 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 6,099 | 53.3 | |
| | Conservative gain from Labour | Conservative gain from Labour | Swing | | |

### Cheetham

Cheetham :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | J. C. Kidd* | uncontested | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | | |

### Chorlton-cum-Hardy

Chorlton-cum-Hardy :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | W. Somerville* | uncontested | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | | |

### Collegiate Church

Collegiate Church :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | J. Elliott* | 1,027 | 50.2 | N/A |
| | Liberal | P. Smith | 1,020 | 49.8 | +22.4 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 7 | 0.4 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,047 | 47.3 | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | | |

### Collyhurst

Collyhurst :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | L. E. Wilson | 3,043 | 51.2 | +1.5 |
| | Labour | R. Malcolm* | 2,792 | 47.0 | −3.3 |
| | Communist | S. Nuttall | 103 | 1.8 | N/A |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 251 | 4.2 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 5,938 | 59.7 | |
| | Conservative gain from Labour | Conservative gain from Labour | Swing | | |

### Crumpsall

Crumpsall :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | W. Reid | 2,187 | 51.2 | 0 |
| | Liberal | G. H. Harrison | 2,082 | 48.8 | +3.9 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 105 | 2.4 | −3.9 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 4,269 | 54.6 | |
| | Conservative gain from Liberal | Conservative gain from Liberal | Swing | | |

### Didsbury

Didsbury :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | S. P. Dawson* | uncontested | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | | |

### Exchange

Exchange :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | G. L. Hardcastle* | uncontested | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | | |

### Gorton North

Gorton North :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | T. F. Regan* | 3,623 | 56.4 | −13.8 |
| | Conservative | H. S. Birch | 2,797 | 43.6 | N/A |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 826 | 12.8 | −27.6 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 6,420 | 59.1 | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | | |

### Gorton South

Gorton South :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | A. Lee* | 3,683 | 51.9 | −1.3 |
| | Conservative | E. Appleton | 3,410 | 48.1 | +1.3 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 273 | 3.8 | −2.6 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 7,093 | 56.4 | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | | |

### Harpurhey

Harpurhey :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | F. Sutton | 3,696 | 64.4 | +9.5 |
| | Labour | E. Barnacott | 2,042 | 35.6 | −9.5 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,654 | 28.8 | +19.0 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 5,738 | 56.1 | |
| | Conservative gain from Labour | Conservative gain from Labour | Swing | | |

### Levenshulme

Levenshulme :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | C. R. de la Wyche* | uncontested | | |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Swing | | |

### Longsight

Longsight :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | W. Cundiff* | uncontested | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | | |

### Medlock Street

Medlock Street :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | P. T. Barnes | 3,008 | 63.5 | +18.9 |
| | Labour | F. Edwards* | 1,729 | 36.5 | −18.9 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,279 | 27.0 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 4,737 | 37.6 | |
| | Conservative gain from Labour | Conservative gain from Labour | Swing | | |

### Miles Platting

Miles Platting :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | J. Vickers | 3,422 | 53.1 | +7.1 |
| | Labour | W. Lewis | 3,023 | 46.9 | −7.1 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 399 | 6.2 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 6,445 | 59.5 | |
| | Conservative gain from Labour | Conservative gain from Labour | Swing | | |

### Moss Side East

Moss Side East :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | H. Strange | 2,734 | 92.6 | +40.3 |
| | Residents | A. R. Edwards | 218 | 7.4 | +7.0 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 2,516 | 85.2 | +63.5 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,952 | 33.9 | |
| | Conservative gain from Independent | Conservative gain from Independent | Swing | | |

### Moss Side West

Moss Side West :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | R. Pepperdine* | 3,427 | 83.6 | +36.8 |
| | Labour | A. Eyres | 632 | 15.4 | −0.6 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 2,795 | 68.2 | +54.5 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 4,059 | 20.9 | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | | |

### Moston

Moston :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | W. R. Mellor* | 3,075 | 51.6 | +18.2 |
| | Conservative | J. S. O'Byrne | 2,887 | 48.4 | −6.2 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 188 | 3.2 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 5,962 | 51.2 | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | | |

### New Cross

New Cross :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | S. Fitton* | 3,750 | 51.5 | +7.1 |
| | Labour | L. M. Lever | 3,528 | 48.5 | −7.1 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 222 | 3.0 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 7,278 | 67.9 | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | | |

### Newton Heath

Newton Heath :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | H. F. Robinson* | 3,293 | 61.6 | +5.8 |
| | Labour | J. Gorman | 2,049 | 38.4 | −5.8 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,244 | 23.2 | +11.6 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 5,342 | 52.6 | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | | |

### Openshaw

Openshaw :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | J. Toole* | 3,119 | 54.2 | −12.4 |
| | Conservative | J. Campbell | 2,479 | 43.1 | N/A |
| | Communist | A. Jackson | 158 | 2.7 | +0.6 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 640 | 11.1 | −24.2 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 5,756 | 56.8 | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | | |

### Oxford

Oxford :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | R. Noton Barclay* | uncontested | | |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Swing | | |

### Rusholme

Rusholme :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | F. A. Jackson* | 3,119 | 95.4 | +50.9 |
| | Residents | A. M. Edwards | 150 | 4.6 | +2.9 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 2,969 | 90.8 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 3,269 | 31.8 | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | | |

### St. Ann's

St. Ann's :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | E. Green* | uncontested | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | | |

### St. Clement's

St. Clement's :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | H. D. Judson* | 1,057 | 58.0 | +26.9 |
| | Labour | A. Lees | 765 | 42.0 | +16.3 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 292 | 16.0 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,822 | 55.1 | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | | |

### St. George's

St. George's :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | A. Todd | 2,446 | 44.9 | N/A |
| | Independent Labour | E. Hope* | 1,662 | 30.5 | N/A |
| | Labour | L. Corcoran | 1,341 | 24.6 | −16.0 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 784 | 14.4 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 5,449 | 43.2 | |
| | Liberal gain from Independent Labour | Liberal gain from Independent Labour | Swing | | |

### St. John's

St. John's :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | F. E. Tylecote* | uncontested | | |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Swing | | |

### St. Luke's

St. Luke's :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | T. R. Ackroyd* | 3,236 | 78.4 | N/A |
| | Labour | E. Davies | 892 | 21.6 | −14.7 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 2,344 | 56.8 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 4,128 | 20.2 | |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Swing | | |

### St. Mark's

St. Mark's :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | G. Hall* | 3,177 | 50.6 | −7.1 |
| | Conservative | G. Moores | 3,102 | 49.4 | +7.1 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 75 | 1.2 | −14.2 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 6,279 | 58.3 | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | | |

### St. Michael's

St. Michael's :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | A. Cathcart* | 2,238 | 55.6 | N/A |
| | Conservative | T. Smith | 1,790 | 44.4 | N/A |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 448 | 11.2 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 4,028 | 58.3 | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | | |

### Withington

Withington :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | T. H. Davis* | uncontested | | |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Swing | | |

## Aldermanic elections
### Aldermanic election, 2 March 1932

Caused by the death on 12 February 1932 of Alderman James Bowes (Liberal, elected as an alderman by the council on 28 October 1903).
In his place, Councillor Joseph Crookes Grime (Conservative, Exchange, elected 7 July 1927, previously 1911-26) was elected as an alderman by the council on 2 March 1932.
| Party | Party | Alderman | Ward | Term expires |
| | Conservative | Joseph Crookes Grime | Miles Platting | 1937 |

## By-elections between 1931 and 1932
### Exchange, 10 November 1931

Caused by the election as an alderman of Councillor Colonel George Westcott (Conservative, Exchange, elected 1 November 1911) on 29 October 1931, following the death on 16 October 1931 of Alderman John James Kendall (Liberal, elected as an alderman by the council on 24 June 1927).
Exchange :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | C. F. Terry* | uncontested | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | | |

### St. Clement's, 24 November 1931

Caused by the election as an alderman of Councillor H. D. Judson (Conservative, St. Clements's, elected 2 November 1925, previously 1911-24) on 29 October 1931, following the death on 8 October 1931 of Alderman James Johnson (Conservative, elected as an alderman by the council on 1 August 1923).
St. Clement's :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | P. C. Parker | 761 | 37.3 | −20.7 |
| | Liberal | J. E. Fitzsimons | 693 | 34.0 | N/A |
| | Labour | A. Lees | 584 | 28.7 | −13.3 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 68 | 3.3 | −12.7 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,038 | 61.7 | +6.6 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | | |

### Moss Side West, 19 January 1932

Caused by the resignation of Councillor Benjamin Vivante (Conservative, Moss Side West, elected 1 November 1930) on 6 January 1932.
Moss Side West :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | D. Gosling | 1,772 | 55.0 | −28.6 |
| | Labour | A. Eyres | 859 | 26.7 | +11.3 |
| | English League for the Taxation of Land Values | A. H. Weller | 574 | 17.7 | N/A |
| | Residents | A. R. Edwards | 18 | 0.6 | N/A |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 913 | 28.3 | −39.9 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 3,223 | 16.6 | −4.4 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | | |

### Harpurhey, 2 February 1932

Caused by the death of Councillor Fraser Sutton (Conservative, Moss Side West, elected 2 November 1931) on 12 January 1932.
Harpurhey :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | E. Shields | 2,592 | 60.2 | −4.2 |
| | Labour | E. Barnacott | 1,714 | 39.8 | +4.2 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 878 | 20.4 | −8.4 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 4,306 | 42.1 | −14.0 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | | |

### Blackley, 1 March 1932

Caused by the death of Councillor James Edward Littler (Conservative, Blackley, elected 1 November 1921) on 11 February 1932.
Blackley :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | W. Makinson | 1,834 | 71.1 | N/A |
| | Labour | W. Collingson | 745 | 28.9 | +3.3 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,089 | 42.2 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,579 | 25.7 | −22.5 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | | |

### Cheetham, 15 March 1932

Caused by the election as an alderman of Councillor H. D. Judson (Conservative, St. Clements's, elected 2 November 1925, previously 1911-24) on 29 October 1931, following the death on 8 October 1931 of Alderman James Johnson (Conservative, elected as an alderman by the council on 1 August 1923).
Cheetham :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | H. Lomax | 1,460 | 62.4 | N/A |
| | Labour | M. Tyler | 879 | 37.6 | N/A |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 581 | 24.8 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,339 | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | | |