# 1938 Manchester City Council election

Elections to Manchester City Council were held on Tuesday, 1 November 1938. One third of the councillors seats were up for election, with each successful candidate to serve a three-year term of office.
Annual local elections were suspended from 1939 to 1945. Under the Local Elections and Register of Electors (Temporary Provisions) Act 1939 the term of office of all members of the council was extended by one year and casual vacancies among members of the council were filled by the choice of the council rather than by election. Local Elections and Register of Electors Acts of 1940, 1941, 1942, 1943, and 1944 each further extended the term of office of all members of the council by a year.
The council remained under no overall control.

## Election result

| Party | Votes | Votes | Seats | Seats | Seats | Full Council | Full Council |
| Conservative Party | 54,910 (46.7%) | 4.0 | 18 (50.0%) | 18 / 36 | 1 | 67 (46.5%) | 67 / 144 |
| Labour Party | 49,825 (42.4%) | 1.5 | 14 (38.9%) | 14 / 36 | 1 | 51 (35.1%) | 51 / 144 |
| Liberal Party | 7,875 (6.7%) | 4.1 | 3 (8.3%) | 3 / 36 | 2 | 19 (13.2%) | 19 / 144 |
| Independent | 1,625 (1.4%) | 0.1 | 1 (2.8%) | 1 / 36 | 1 | 5 (3.5%) | 5 / 144 |
| Independent Labour | 1,418 (1.2%) | 1.2 | 0 (0.0%) | 0 / 36 | 2 | 1 (0.7%) | 1 / 144 |
| Residents | 1,220 (1.0%) | 0.1 | 0 (0.0%) | 0 / 36 | | 1 (0.7%) | 1 / 144 |
| British Union of Fascists | 640 (0.5%) | N/A | 0 (0.0%) | 0 / 36 | N/A | 0 (0.0%) | 0 / 144 |

### Full council

| 1 | 51 | 19 | 1 | 5 | 67 |

### Aldermen

| 1 | 10 | 9 | 1 | 15 |

### Councillors

| 41 | 10 | 1 | 4 | 52 |

## Ward results
### All Saints'

All Saints' :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | R. S. Harper* | 1,817 | 64.6 | +3.6 |
| | Labour | E. A. Gower | 968 | 34.4 | −4.6 |
| | British Union of Fascists | M. E. Pye | 23 | 0.9 | N/A |
| | Residents | L. Whittington | 3 | 0.1 | N/A |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 849 | 30.2 | +8.2 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,811 | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | | |

### Ardwick

Ardwick :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | J. Dook | 2,080 | 55.1 | +2.1 |
| | Labour | J. M. Wharton* | 1,648 | 43.6 | −3.4 |
| | Independent | F. G. Hunt | 48 | 1.3 | N/A |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 432 | 11.5 | +5.5 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 3,776 | | |
| | Conservative gain from Labour | Conservative gain from Labour | Swing | | |

### Beswick

Beswick :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | H. Baldwin* | uncontested | | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | | |

### Blackley

Blackley :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | S. Fitton* | 2,628 | 57.8 | N/A |
| | Labour | C. C. Lamb | 1,919 | 42.2 | +5.0 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 709 | 15.6 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 4,547 | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | | |

### Bradford

Bradford :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | E. E. Beavan* | uncontested | | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | | |

### Cheetham

Cheetham :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | H. Lomax* | 2,085 | 47.2 | +2.2 |
| | Liberal | S. Needoff | 1,333 | 30.2 | −0.8 |
| | Labour | B. J. Gershman | 998 | 22.6 | −1.4 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 752 | 17.0 | +3.0 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 4,416 | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | | |

### Chorlton-cum-Hardy

Chorlton-cum-Hardy :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | H. Strange | 5,632 | 74.9 | +1.1 |
| | Labour | C. W. Jones | 1,889 | 25.1 | −1.1 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 3,743 | 49.8 | +2.2 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 7,521 | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | | |

### Collegiate Church

Collegiate Church :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Independent | A. Levy | 1,337 | 48.5 | N/A |
| | Liberal | A. S. Moss* | 1,091 | 39.6 | N/A |
| | Labour | T. J. Hill | 329 | 11.9 | −35.1 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 246 | 8.9 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,757 | | |
| | Independent gain from Liberal | Independent gain from Liberal | Swing | | |

### Collyhurst

Collyhurst :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | W. Johnston* | 1,709 | 87.6 | +22+3 |
| | British Union of Fascists | F. Fowden | 242 | 12.4 | N/A |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,467 | 75.2 | +44.6 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,951 | | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | | |

### Crumpsall

Crumpsall :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | S. Meadowcroft* | 2,969 | 69.0 | N/A |
| | Labour | R. B. Prain | 1,336 | 31.0 | −2.0 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,633 | 38.0 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 4,305 | | |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Swing | | |

### Didsbury

Didsbury :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | W. White* | 3,529 | 68.3 | −4.9 |
| | Labour | T. Knowles | 1,637 | 31.7 | +4.9 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,892 | 36.6 | −9.8 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 5,166 | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | | |

### Exchange

Exchange :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | J. W. Coe | uncontested | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | | |

### Gorton North

Gorton North :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | S. H. Hitchburn* | uncontested | | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | | |

### Gorton South

Gorton South :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | T. H. Adams* | 3,643 | 93.9 | +21.2 |
| | British Union of Fascists | J. Simmonds | 236 | 6.1 | N/A |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 3,407 | 87.8 | +42.4 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 3,879 | | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | | |

### Harpurhey

Harpurhey :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | E. Shaw | 2,155 | 50.4 | +0.8 |
| | Labour | J. Howard* | 2,125 | 49.6 | −0.8 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 30 | 0.8 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 4,280 | | |
| | Conservative gain from Labour | Conservative gain from Labour | Swing | | |

### Levenshulme

Levenshulme :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | H. M. Emery* | 2,640 | 62.2 | N/A |
| | Labour | B. de Courcey Ireland | 1,602 | 37.8 | +0.6 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,038 | 24.4 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 4,242 | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | | |

### Longsight

Longsight :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | W. P. Jackson* | 3,031 | 59.3 | +2.3 |
| | Labour | F. Walker | 2,084 | 40.7 | −2.3 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 947 | 18.6 | +4.6 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 5,115 | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | | |

### Medlock Street

Medlock Street :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | J. Gorman* | 1,742 | 51.7 | −2.6 |
| | Conservative | A. Lees | 1,566 | 46.5 | +0.8 |
| | Residents | A. Robinson | 60 | 1.8 | N/A |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 176 | 5.2 | −3.4 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 3,368 | | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | | |

### Miles Platting

Miles Platting :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | E. J. Howarth* | 2,349 | 52.6 | N/A |
| | Conservative | T. A. Harrop | 2,114 | 47.4 | N/A |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 235 | 5.2 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 4,463 | | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | | |

### Moss Side East

Moss Side East :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | J. E. Pheasey* | 1,240 | 37.7 | +4.1 |
| | Labour | W. Griffiths | 1,164 | 35.4 | +5.0 |
| | Residents | A. M. Edwards | 884 | 26.9 | −9.1 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 76 | 2.3 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 3,288 | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | | |

### Moss Side West

Moss Side West :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | H. Quinney* | 1,763 | 60.2 | N/A |
| | Labour | E. C. Gates | 925 | 31.6 | −5.5 |
| | Residents | G. H. F. Earnshaw | 240 | 8.2 | N/A |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 838 | 28.6 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,928 | | |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Swing | | |

### Moston

Moston :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | F. Gregson* | 3,315 | 53.6 | N/A |
| | Conservative | W. Hadfield | 2,871 | 46.4 | N/A |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 444 | 7.2 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 6,186 | | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | | |

### New Cross

New Cross :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | M. Knight | 1,462 | 35.4 | −32.1 |
| | Independent Labour | W. Hallows* | 1,418 | 34.3 | N/A |
| | Conservative | B. H. Breeze | 1,253 | 30.3 | −2.2 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 44 | 1.1 | −33.9 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 4,133 | | |
| | Labour gain from Independent Labour | Labour gain from Independent Labour | Swing | | |

### Newton Heath

Newton Heath :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | A. Stevenson* | 3,086 | 53.6 | −2.7 |
| | Conservative | F. M. Grime | 2,671 | 46.4 | +2.7 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 415 | 7.2 | −5.4 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 5,757 | | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | | |

### Openshaw

Openshaw :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | W. H. Oldfield | uncontested | | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | | |

### Oxford

Oxford :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | C. B. Walker* | uncontested | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | | |

### Rusholme

Rusholme :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | A. T. Barratt* | 2,590 | 65.6 | −2.3 |
| | Labour | W. E. Harrison | 1,357 | 34.4 | +2.3 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,233 | 31.2 | −15.8 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 3,947 | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | | |

### St. Ann's

St. Ann's :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | R. A. Larmuth* | uncontested | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | | |

### St. Clement's

St. Clement's :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | J. E. Fitzsimons* | uncontested | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | | |

### St. George's

St. George's :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | J. H. Kearns | 2,267 | 53.4 | +2.4 |
| | Labour | J. G. Clapham* | 1,840 | 43.3 | −5.7 |
| | British Union of Fascists | B. Talbot | 139 | 3.3 | N/A |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 427 | 10.1 | +8.1 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 4,246 | | |
| | Conservative gain from Labour | Conservative gain from Labour | Swing | | |

### St. John's

St. John's :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | M. A. Gibbons* | uncontested | | |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Swing | | |

### St. Luke's

St. Luke's :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | J. Sharp | 1,562 | 43.7 | N/A |
| | Labour | W. Gallacher | 1,262 | 35.3 | −4.2 |
| | Liberal | G. E. Jones | 719 | 20.1 | −40.4 |
| | Residents | F. Vincent-Wain | 33 | 0.9 | N/A |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 300 | 8.4 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 3,576 | | |
| | Conservative gain from Liberal | Conservative gain from Liberal | Swing | | |

### St. Mark's

St. Mark's :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | C. Wood* | uncontested | | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | | |

### St. Michael's

St. Michael's :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | M. F. Griffin | 1,362 | 46.4 | −15.6 |
| | Conservative | E. Elliott | 1,333 | 45.4 | +7.4 |
| | Independent | F. Oates | 240 | 8.2 | N/A |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 29 | 1.0 | −23.0 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,935 | | |
| | Labour gain from Independent Labour | Labour gain from Independent Labour | Swing | | |

### Withington

Withington :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | J. S. Hill* | 5,492 | 60.7 | +21.7 |
| | Labour | C. S. Hammersley | 3,552 | 39.3 | +13.2 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,940 | 21.4 | +17.3 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 9,044 | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | | |

### Wythenshawe

Wythenshawe :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | E. A. Yarwood | 4,522 | 50.9 | +4.0 |
| | Conservative | H. Bentley* | 4,354 | 49.1 | −4.0 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 168 | 1.8 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 8,876 | | |
| | Labour gain from Conservative | Labour gain from Conservative | Swing | | |

## Aldermanic elections
### Aldermanic election, 15 February 1939

Caused by the death on 27 January 1939 of Alderman John Jones (Conservative, elected as an alderman by the council on 1 May 1912).
In his place, Councillor Leonard Cox (Labour, Beswick, elected 1 November 1921) was elected as an alderman by the council on 15 February 1939.
| Party | Party | Alderman | Ward | Term expires |
| | Labour | Leonard Cox | Longsight | 1940 |

### Aldermaic election, 26 July 1939

Caused by the death on 2 July 1939 of Alderman John Elliott (Conservative, elected as an alderman by the council on 5 September 1934).
In his place, Councillor Reginald Ashley Larmuth (Conservative, St. Ann's, elected 8 May 1922) was elected as an alderman by the council on 26 July 1939.
| Party | Party | Alderman | Ward | Term expires |
| | Conservative | Reginald Ashley Larmuth | Bradford | 1943 |

### Aldermanic elections, 9 November 1939

Caused by the resignation on 9 November 1939 of Alderman Reginald Ashley Larmuth (Conservative, elected as an alderman by the council on 26 July 1939).
In his place, Councillor Harry Thorneycroft (Labour, Beswick, elected 2 July 1923) was elected as an alderman by the council on 9 November 1939.
| Party | Party | Alderman | Ward | Term expires |
| | Labour | Harry Thorneycroft | Bradford | 1949 |
Caused by the resignation on 9 November 1939 of Alderman George Oddy (Liberal, elected as an alderman by the council on 9 November 1927).
In his place, Councillor Thomas Ackroyd (Liberal, St. Luke's, elected 15 August 1923) was elected as an alderman by the council on 9 November 1939.
| Party | Party | Alderman | Ward | Term expires |
| | Liberal | Thomas Ackroyd | Medlock Street | 1946 |

### Aldermanic election, 7 February 1940

Caused by the death on 26 January 1940 of Alderman J. Harold Birley (Conservative, elected as an alderman by the council on 6 June 1928).
In his place, Councillor Charles Wood (Labour, St. Mark's, elected 1 November 1923) was elected as an alderman by the council on 7 February 1940.
| Party | Party | Alderman | Ward | Term expires |
| | Labour | Charles Wood | Moss Side East | 1949 |

### Aldermanic election, 21 February 1940

Caused by the death on 4 February 1940 of Alderman Lt. Col. George Westcott (Conservative, elected as an alderman by the council on 29 October 1931).
In his place, Councillor William Phillip Jackson (Conservative, Longsight, elected 1 November 1923) was elected as an alderman by the council on 21 February 1940.
| Party | Party | Alderman | Ward | Term expires |
| | Conservative | William Phillip Jackson | St. John's | 1949 |

### Aldermanic election, 2 October 1940

Caused by the resignation on 27 September 1940 of Alderman H. D. Judson (Independent, elected as an alderman by the council on 29 October 1931).
In his place, Councillor Ellis Green (Conservative, St. Ann's, elected 19 February 1924) was elected as an alderman by the council on 2 October 1940.
| Party | Party | Alderman | Ward | Term expires |
| | Conservative | Ellis Green | Harpurhey | 1946 |

### Aldermanic election, 4 December 1940

Caused by the death on 19 November 1940 of Alderman Richard Stephenson Harper (Conservative, elected as an alderman by the council on 6 June 1928).
In his place, Councillor Robert Griffith Edwards (Liberal, Rusholme, elected 1 November 1924) was elected as an alderman by the council on 4 December 1940.
| Party | Party | Alderman | Ward | Term expires |
| | Liberal | Robert Griffith Edwards | Moston | 1946 |

### Aldermanic election, 5 February 1941

Caused by the death on 1 January 1941 of Alderman Hermann Goldschmidt (Liberal, elected as an alderman by the council on 13 June 1906).
In his place, Councillor Thomas Walker (Labour, Gorton North, elected 1 November 1924) was elected as an alderman by the council on 5 February 1941.
| Party | Party | Alderman | Ward | Term expires |
| | Labour | Thomas Walker | Oxford | 1949 |

### Aldermanic election, 4 February 1942

Caused by the death on 14 January 1942 of Alderman Frederick Todd (Conservative, elected as an alderman by the council on 9 November 1922).
In his place, Councillor John Septimus Hill (Conservative, Withington, elected 1 November 1926) was elected as an alderman by the council on 4 February 1942.
| Party | Party | Alderman | Ward | Term expires |
| | Conservative | John Septimus Hill | Crumpsall | 1949 |

### Aldermanic election, 4 March 1942

Caused by the death on 14 February 1942 of Alderman Sir John Mathewson Watson (Liberal, elected as an alderman by the council on 3 January 1934).
In his place, Councillor Cyril Roylance de la Wyche (Liberal, Levenshulme, elected 7 July 1927) was elected as an alderman by the council on 4 March 1942.
| Party | Party | Alderman | Ward | Term expires |
| | Liberal | Cyril Roylance de la Wyche | Newton Heath | 1946 |

### Aldermanic election, 3 June 1942

Caused by the death on 30 April 1942 of Alderman James Bowie (Liberal, elected as an alderman by the council on 17 March 1920).
In his place, Councillor Sarah Laski (Liberal, Cheetham, elected 20 August 1929) was elected as an alderman by the council on 4 March 1942.
| Party | Party | Alderman | Ward | Term expires |
| | Liberal | Sarah Laski | St. Clement's | 1949 |

## By-elections between 1938 and 1939
### Collegiate Church, 14 December 1938

Caused by the resignation of Councillor Alexander Levy (Independent, Collegiate Church, elected 1 November 1938) on 25 November 1938.
Collegiate Church :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | A. S. Moss | 1,263 | 63.7 | +24.1 |
| | Independent | P. Smith | 454 | 22.9 | N/A |
| | Labour | T. J. Hill | 266 | 13.4 | +1.5 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 809 | 40.8 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,983 | | |
| | Liberal gain from Independent | Liberal gain from Independent | Swing | | |