# 1972 Manchester City Council election

Elections to Manchester City Council were held on Thursday, 4 May 1972. One third of the councillors were up for election, with each successful candidate to serve a two-year term of office. These were the final elections held in Manchester before the Local Government Act 1972 abolished the city corporation and reformed it as a metropolitan borough. The Labour Party retained overall control of the council.

## Election result

| Party | Votes | Votes | Seats | Seats | Seats | Full Council | Full Council |
| Labour Party | 64,692 (51.8%) | 8.4 | 20 (60.6%) | 20 / 33 | 7 | 101 (76.5%) | 101 / 132 |
| Conservative Party | 55,615 (44.6%) | 9.0 | 13 (39.4%) | 13 / 33 | 7 | 31 (23.5%) | 31 / 132 |
| Liberal Party | 3,423 (2.7%) | 0.2 | 0 (0.0%) | 0 / 33 | | 0 (0.0%) | 0 / 132 |
| Communist | 683 (0.5%) | 0.9 | 0 (0.0%) | 0 / 33 | | 0 (0.0%) | 0 / 132 |
| Independent | 240 (0.2%) | 0.1 | 0 (0.0%) | 0 / 33 | | 0 (0.0%) | 0 / 132 |
| Residents | 135 (0.1%) | | 0 (0.0%) | 0 / 33 | N/A | 0 (0.0%) | 0 / 132 |

### Full council

| 101 | 31 |

### Aldermen

| 27 | 6 |

### Councillors

| 74 | 25 |

## Ward results
### Alexandra Park

Alexandra Park :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | J. B. Chapman* | 3,120 | 71.3 | +8.8 |
| | Labour | A. S. Wood | 1,258 | 28.7 | +2.2 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,862 | 42.6 | +9.2 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 4,378 | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | | |

### Ardwick

Ardwick :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | H. Barrett* | 2,097 | 78.2 | −3.7 |
| | Conservative | G. Taylor | 484 | 18.1 | −1.1 |
| | Communist | R. Hughes | 100 | 3.7 | −3.5 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,613 | 60.1 | +3.6 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,681 | | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | | |

### Baguley

Baguley :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | H. Brown* | 2,814 | 56.4 | −11.5 |
| | Conservative | M. Malbon | 2,171 | 43.6 | +7.4 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 643 | 12.8 | −11.7 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 4,985 | | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | | |

### Barlow Moor

Barlow Moor :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | H. Tucker | 1,915 | 49.5 | +7.9 |
| | Labour | W. A. Moody* | 1,460 | 37.8 | −7.0 |
| | Liberal | D. R. Mellor | 490 | 12.7 | −4.1 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 455 | 11.8 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 3,865 | | |
| | Labour gain from Conservative | Labour gain from Conservative | Swing | | |

### Beswick

Beswick :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | S. Corless* | 2,005 | 89.5 | −0.3 |
| | Conservative | D. Eastwood | 236 | 10.5 | −9.6 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,769 | 79.0 | +20.7 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,241 | | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | | |

### Blackley

Blackley :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | J. I. Owen* | 2,129 | 60.0 | −8.1 |
| | Conservative | D. F. Silverman | 1,417 | 40.0 | +6.2 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 712 | 20.0 | −11.9 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 3,546 | | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | | |

### Bradford

Bradford :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | W. Egerton* | 2,784 | 64.1 | −14.1 |
| | Conservative | D. Lear | 1,559 | 35.9 | +9.6 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,225 | 28.2 | −17.7 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 4,343 | | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | | |

### Brooklands

Brooklands :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Y. I. Emery | 2,803 | 52.4 | +12.3 |
| | Labour | E. Mellor* | 2,551 | 47.6 | −13.5 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 252 | 4.8 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 5,354 | | |
| | Conservative gain from Labour | Conservative gain from Labour | Swing | | |

### Burnage

Burnage :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | W. L. Lund* | 2,746 | 63.4 | +9.9 |
| | Labour | B. W. McColgan | 1,583 | 36.6 | −10.5 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,163 | 26.8 | +21.2 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 4,329 | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | | |

### Charlestown

Charlestown :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | S. C. Silverman* | 2,067 | 58.1 | −5.9 |
| | Conservative | D. F. Silverman | 1,420 | 39.9 | +7.4 |
| | Communist | R. L. Cole | 72 | 2.0 | −1.5 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 647 | 18.2 | −9.7 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 3,559 | | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | | |

### Cheetham

Cheetham :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | J. Broderick* | 1,297 | 64.5 | −9.1 |
| | Conservative | F. E. Meaden | 714 | 35.5 | +8.1 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 583 | 29.0 | −14.3 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,011 | | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | | |

### Chorlton

Chorlton :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | M. Delavan* | 2,970 | 69.0 | +11.1 |
| | Labour | H. M. Gregory | 1,336 | 31.0 | −10.5 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,634 | 38.0 | +24.5 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 4,306 | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | | |

### Collegiate Church

Collegiate Church :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | F. J. Balcombe* | 843 | 84.6 | +0.4 |
| | Conservative | P. A. Bradshaw | 153 | 15.4 | −0.6 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 690 | 69.2 | +2.0 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 996 | | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | | |

### Crossacres

Crossacres :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | A. Roberts* | 3,200 | 68.4 | −8.9 |
| | Conservative | J. Jones | 1,353 | 28.9 | +0.3 |
| | Communist | M. E. Taylor | 126 | 2.7 | −1.6 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,847 | 39.5 | −3.0 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 4,679 | | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | | |

### Crumpsall

Crumpsall :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | F. R. Butler | 2,451 | 59.4 | +13.6 |
| | Labour | H. Brooks* | 1,676 | 40.6 | −10.4 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 775 | 18.8 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 4,127 | | |
| | Conservative gain from Labour | Conservative gain from Labour | Swing | | |

### Didsbury

Didsbury :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | J. Duke* | 3,752 | 74.4 | +8.7 |
| | Labour | M. Pickstone | 1,294 | 25.6 | −8.8 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 2,458 | 48.8 | +18.2 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 5,046 | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | | |

### Gorton North

Gorton North :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | G. Conquest* | 2,738 | 70.6 | −8.9 |
| | Conservative | J. A. Davenport | 1,052 | 27.1 | +4.3 |
| | Communist | A. Prior | 87 | 2.2 | −3.3 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,686 | 43.5 | −8.9 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 3,877 | | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | | |

### Gorton South

Gorton South :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | K. Franklin* | 2,022 | 71.8 | +2.0 |
| | Conservative | L. H. Nield | 793 | 28.2 | −16.5 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,229 | 43.6 | +24.5 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,815 | | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | | |

### Harpurhey

Harpurhey :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | S. N. M. Moxley* | 1,412 | 62.1 | −8.8 |
| | Conservative | A. P. Osborn | 860 | 37.9 | +7.2 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 552 | 24.2 | −13.0 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,272 | | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | | |

### Hulme

Hulme :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | A. P. Marino* | 2,101 | 89.1 | +4.2 |
| | Conservative | R. J. R. Lomas | 258 | 10.9 | −3.0 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,843 | 78.2 | +8.7 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,359 | | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | | |

### Levenshulme

Levenshulme :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | J. K. Barber | 2,531 | 54.3 | +10.0 |
| | Labour | A. E. Jones* | 2,132 | 45.7 | −9.9 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 399 | 8.6 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 4,663 | | |
| | Conservative gain from Labour | Conservative gain from Labour | Swing | | |

### Lightbowne

Lightbowne :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | R. A. Reddington* | 1,877 | 38.8 | −19.0 |
| | Conservative | N. A. Green | 1,868 | 38.6 | +7.3 |
| | Liberal | J. Lindsay | 1,098 | 22.6 | +8.2 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 9 | 0.2 | −24.9 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 4,843 | | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | | |

### Lloyd Street

Lloyd Street :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | K. McKeon* | 2,423 | 54.6 | −8.4 |
| | Conservative | S. D. Alexander | 2,011 | 45.4 | +6.1 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 412 | 9.2 | −9.8 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 4,434 | | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | | |

### Longsight

Longsight :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | M. A. Naqui* | 2,185 | 54.4 | −5.2 |
| | Conservative | A. Malpas | 1,634 | 40.7 | +4.2 |
| | Residents | H. J. Barton | 135 | 3.4 | N/A |
| | Communist | H. Johnson | 59 | 1.5 | −1.6 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 551 | 13.7 | −5.7 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 4,013 | | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | | |

### Miles Platting

Miles Platting :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | R. Latham* | 1,829 | 85.7 | −4.9 |
| | Conservative | D. Porter | 305 | 14.3 | +4.6 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,524 | 71.4 | −5.8 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,134 | | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | | |

### Moss Side

Moss Side :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | R. E. Talbot* | 1,791 | 75.0 | +4.1 |
| | Conservative | E. M. Bevan | 596 | 25.0 | −6.7 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,195 | 50.0 | +12.8 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,387 | | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | | |

### Moston

Moston :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | K. E. Goulding | 2,007 | 43.9 | +6.7 |
| | Labour | W. Lister* | 1,848 | 40.4 | −22.4 |
| | Liberal | G. Garrard | 661 | 14.5 | +8.9 |
| | Communist | A. Clark | 57 | 1.2 | −1.4 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 159 | 3.5 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 4,573 | | |
| | Conservative gain from Labour | Conservative gain from Labour | Swing | | |

### Newton Heath

Newton Heath :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | J. Smith* | 2,234 | 62.6 | −13.5 |
| | Conservative | A. E. Walsh | 1,337 | 37.4 | +10.9 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 897 | 25.2 | −17.4 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 3,571 | | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | | |

### Northenden

Northenden :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | G. Leigh | 2,996 | 51.6 | +4.9 |
| | Labour | G. Berry* | 2,678 | 46.1 | −7.1 |
| | Independent | A. I. A. McLean | 131 | 2.3 | N/A |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 318 | 5.5 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 5,805 | | |
| | Conservative gain from Labour | Conservative gain from Labour | Swing | | |

### Old Moat

Old Moat :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | T. F. Lavin* | 2,371 | 55.1 | +6.5 |
| | Labour | K. J. Hill | 1,930 | 44.9 | −5.5 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 441 | 10.2 | +10.2 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 4,301 | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | | |

### Rusholme

Rusholme :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | T. E. Phillips | 2,371 | 61.0 | +12.0 |
| | Labour | L. J. Lamb* | 1,317 | 33.9 | −13.4 |
| | Independent | A. Melling | 109 | 2.8 | N/A |
| | Communist | G. H. Mills | 93 | 2.3 | −5.4 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,054 | 27.1 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 3,890 | | |
| | Conservative gain from Labour | Conservative gain from Labour | Swing | | |

### Withington

Withington :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | G. W. Young* | 2,254 | 48.3 | +0.9 |
| | Labour | C. A. Hassall | 1,238 | 26.5 | −8.2 |
| | Liberal | J. L. Edwards | 1,174 | 25.2 | +0.9 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 357 | 7.8 | +0.9 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 4,666 | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | | |

### Woodhouse Park

Woodhouse Park :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | G. Hall* | 2,543 | 68.0 | −13.2 |
| | Conservative | G. Parry | 1,107 | 29.6 | +11.4 |
| | Communist | J. V. Hamer | 89 | 2.4 | −1.2 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,436 | 38.4 | −17.1 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 3,739 | | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | | |