# Manchester City Council

Manchester City Council is the local authority for the city of Manchester in Greater Manchester, England. Manchester has had an elected local authority since 1838, which has been reformed several times. Since 1974 the council has been a metropolitan borough council. It provides the majority of local government services in the city. The council has been a member of the Greater Manchester Combined Authority since 2011.
The council has been under Labour majority control since 1971. It is based at Manchester Town Hall.

## History

Manchester had been governed as a borough in the 13th and 14th centuries, but its borough status was not supported by a royal charter. An inquiry in 1359 ruled that it was only a market town, not a borough. It was then governed by manorial courts and the parish vestry until the 18th century.
In 1792 a body of improvement commissioners known as the 'Manchester Police Commissioners' was established to provide services in the rapidly growing town. In 1838 the town was incorporated as a municipal borough, after which it was governed by a body formally called the 'mayor, aldermen and burgesses of the borough of Manchester', generally known as the corporation or town council. The police commissioners were disbanded in 1843 and their functions passed to the corporation.
Manchester was granted city status in 1853, only the second such grant since the Reformation. After that the corporation was also known as the city council. When elected county councils were established in 1889, Manchester was considered large enough to provide its own county-level services, and so it became a county borough, independent from the new Lancashire County Council, whilst remaining part of the geographical county of Lancashire.
The city boundaries have been enlarged many times. Notable expansions were in 1885 (Bradford, Harpurhey and Rusholme), 1890 (Blackley, Crumpsall, part of Droylsden, Kirkmanshulme, Moston, Newton Heath, Openshaw, and West Gorton), 1903 (Heaton), 1904 (Burnage, Chorlton cum Hardy, Didsbury, and Moss Side), 1909 (Gorton, and Levenshulme), 1931 (Wythenshawe: Baguley, Northenden, and Northen Etchells), and Ringway in 1974. The mayor was granted the title of lord mayor in 1893.
Henry Price (1867–1944) was appointed as the first City Architect of Manchester in 1902. He was succeeded in 1932 by George Noel Hill (1893–1985).
The county borough was abolished in 1974 under the Local Government Act 1972, being replaced by a metropolitan district of Manchester, covering the area of the old county borough plus the parish of Ringway. The new district was one of ten metropolitan districts within the new metropolitan county of Greater Manchester. Manchester's borough and city statuses and its lord mayoralty passed to the new district and its council.
In 1980, Manchester was the first council to declare itself a nuclear-free zone. In 1984 it formed an equal opportunities unit as part of its opposition to Section 28.
From 1974 until 1986 the council was a lower-tier authority, with upper-tier functions provided by the Greater Manchester County Council. The county council was abolished in 1986 and its functions passed to Greater Manchester's ten borough councils, including Manchester City Council, with some services provided through joint committees.
Since 2011 the council has been a member of the Greater Manchester Combined Authority, which has been led by the directly elected Mayor of Greater Manchester since 2017. The combined authority provides strategic leadership and co-ordination for certain functions across Greater Manchester, notably regarding transport and town planning, but Manchester City Council continues to be responsible for most local government functions.

## Governance

Manchester City Council provides metropolitan borough services. Some strategic functions in the area are provided by the Greater Manchester Combined Authority; the leader of the city council sits on the combined authority as Manchester's representative. There is one civil parish in the city at Ringway, with a parish council; the rest of the city is unparished.

### Political control

The council has been under Labour majority control since 1971.
Political control of the council since 1838 has been as follows:
Borough Corporation
| Party | Party | Period |
| | Liberal | 1838-1886 |
| | No overall control | 1886-1889 |
County Borough
| Party | Period |
| No overall control | 1889-1908 |
| Conservative | 1908–1919 |
| No overall control | 1919–1921 |
| Conservative | 1921–1926 |
| No overall control | 1926–1932 |
| Conservative | 1932–1934 |
| No overall control | 1934–1946 |
| Labour | 1946–1947 |
| No overall control | 1947–1949 |
| Conservative | 1949–1952 |
| No overall control | 1952–1953 |
| Labour | 1953–1967 |
| Conservative | 1967–1971 |
| Labour | 1971–1974 |
Metropolitan Borough
| Party | Party | Period |
| | Labour | 1974–present |

### Leadership

The role of Lord Mayor of Manchester is largely ceremonial. Political leadership is instead provided by the leader of the council. The leaders since 1930 have been:
County Borough
| Councillor | Party | From | To |
| F. J. West | Conservative | 11 February 1930 | 3 November 1933 |
| J. H. Swales | Conservative | 3 November 1933 | 6 October 1937 |
| Samuel Woollam | Conservative | 6 Oct 1937 | 2 November 1945 |
| George Titt | Labour | 2 November 1945 | 8 Nov 1946 |
| Tom Nally | Labour | 8 November 1946 | 1949 |
| William Jackson | Conservative | 1949 | 1953 |
| Tom Nally | Labour | 1953 | 20 December 1956 |
| Bob Thomas | Labour | 20 December 1956 | 22 May 1962 |
| Maurice Pariser | Labour | 22 May 1962 | 8 October 1965 |
| Bob Thomas | Labour | 3 November 1965 | 12 May 1967 |
| Robert Rodgers | Conservative | 12 May 1967 | 21 May 1970 |
| Arnold Fieldhouse | Conservative | 21 May 1970 | 14 May 1971 |
| Bob Thomas | Labour | 14 May 1971 | 26 April 1973 |
| Joe Dean | Labour | 26 April 1973 | 28 February 1974 |
| Norman Morris | Labour | 28 February 1974 | 1 April 1974 |
Metropolitan Borough
| Councillor | Party | From | To |
| Norman Morris | Labour | 1 April 1974 | 1982 |
| Bill Egerton | Labour | 1982 | 1984 |
| Graham Stringer | Labour | 1984 | 1996 |
| Richard Leese | Labour | 1996 | 1 Dec 2021 |
| Bev Craig | Labour | 1 Dec 2021 | |

### Composition

Following the 2024 election, the composition of the council was:
| Party | Party | Councillors | Councillors |
| Party | Party | After election | Current |
| | Labour | 87 | 86 |
| | Liberal Democrats | 4 | 4 |
| | Green | 3 | 3 |
| | Workers Party | 1 | 1 |
| | Independent | 1 | 1 |
| Total | Total | 96 | 95 |
The next election is due in May 2026.

## Elections

Since the last boundary changes in 2018, the council has comprised 96 councillors representing 32 wards, with each ward electing three councillors. Elections are held three years out of every four, with a third of the council (one councillor for each ward) elected each time for a four-year term of office.

## Wards

The council wards are listed under their parliamentary constituency below:
| Blackley and Middleton South | Gorton and Denton | Manchester Central |
| Higher BlackleyCrumpsallCharlestownHarpurheyMoston This constituency also contains Rochdale Council wards East Middleton South Middleton | Gorton and Abbey HeyLongsightLevenshulmeBurnage This constituency also contains Tameside Council wards Denton North East Denton South Denton West | CheethamMiles Platting & Newton HeathDeansgatePiccadillyAncoats and BeswickClayton and Openshaw This constituency also contains Oldham Council wards Failsworth East Failsworth West |
| Manchester Rusholme | Manchester Withington | Wythenshawe and Sale East |
| HulmeArdwickMoss SideWhalley RangeFallowfieldRusholme | ChorltonChorlton ParkOld MoatWithingtonDidsbury WestDidsbury East | NorthendenBrooklands (Manchester)BaguleySharstonWoodhouse Park This constituency also contains Trafford Council wards Brooklands (Trafford) Priory Sale Moor |

### Councillors

Each ward is represented by three councillors.
| Parliamentary constituency | Ward | Councillor | Party | Party | Term of office |
| Blackley and Middleton South constituency | Charlestown | Basil Curley | | Labour | 2023–27 |
| Blackley and Middleton South constituency | Charlestown | Umza Jafri | | Labour | 2024–28 |
| Blackley and Middleton South constituency | Charlestown | Veronica Kirkpatrick | | Labour | 2022–26 |
| Blackley and Middleton South constituency | Crumpsall | Fiaz Riasat | | Labour | 2023–27 |
| Blackley and Middleton South constituency | Crumpsall | Nasrin Ali | | Labour | 2024–28 |
| Blackley and Middleton South constituency | Crumpsall | Mohammad Amin | | Labour | 2022–26 |
| Blackley and Middleton South constituency | Harpurhey | Pat Karney | | Labour | 2023–27 |
| Blackley and Middleton South constituency | Harpurhey | Joanne Green | | Labour | 2024–28 |
| Blackley and Middleton South constituency | Harpurhey | Sandra Collins | | Labour | 2022–26 |
| Blackley and Middleton South constituency | Higher Blackley | Paula Sadler | | Labour | 2023–27 |
| Blackley and Middleton South constituency | Higher Blackley | Julie Connolly | | Labour | 2024–28 |
| Blackley and Middleton South constituency | Higher Blackley | Olusegun Ogunnambo | | Labour | 2022–26 |
| Blackley and Middleton South constituency | Moston | Yasmine Dar | | Labour | 2023–27 |
| Blackley and Middleton South constituency | Moston | Sherita Mandongwe | | Labour | 2024–28 |
| Blackley and Middleton South constituency | Moston | Paula Appleby | | Labour | 2022–26 |
| Gorton and Denton constituency | Burnage | Azra Ali | | Labour | 2023–27 |
| Gorton and Denton constituency | Burnage | Bev Craig | | Labour | 2024–28 |
| Gorton and Denton constituency | Burnage | Murtaza Iqbal | | Labour | 2022–26 |
| Gorton and Denton constituency | Gorton and Abbey Hey | Afia Kamal | | Labour | 2023–27 |
| Gorton and Denton constituency | Gorton and Abbey Hey | Julie Reid | | Labour | 2024–28 |
| Gorton and Denton constituency | Gorton and Abbey Hey | Louis Hughes | | Labour | 2022–26 |
| Gorton and Denton constituency | Levenshulme | Basat Sheikh | | Labour | 2023–27 |
| Gorton and Denton constituency | Levenshulme | Zahid Hussain | | Labour | 2024–28 |
| Gorton and Denton constituency | Levenshulme | Dzidra Noor | | Labour | 2022–26 |
| Gorton and Denton constituency | Longsight | Suzanne Richards | | Labour | 2023–27 |
| Gorton and Denton constituency | Longsight | Shahbaz Sarwar | | Workers Party | 2024–28 |
| Gorton and Denton constituency | Longsight | Abid Chohan | | Labour | 2022–26 |
| Manchester Central constituency | Ancoats and Beswick | Chris Northwood | | Liberal Democrats | 2023–27 |
| Manchester Central constituency | Ancoats and Beswick | Alan Good | | Liberal Democrats | 2024–28 |
| Manchester Central constituency | Ancoats and Beswick | Irene Robinson | | Labour | 2022–26 |
| Manchester Central constituency | Cheetham | Shazia Butt | | Labour | 2023–27 |
| Manchester Central constituency | Cheetham | Shaukat Ali | | Labour | 2024–28 |
| Manchester Central constituency | Cheetham | Naeem-Ul Hassam | | Labour | 2022–26 |
| Manchester Central constituency | Clayton and Openshaw | Sean McHale | | Labour | 2023–27 |
| Manchester Central constituency | Clayton and Openshaw | Donna Ludford | | Labour | 2024–28 |
| Manchester Central constituency | Clayton and Openshaw | Thomas Robinson | | Labour | 2022–26 |
| Manchester Central constituency | Deansgate | Anthony McCaul | | Labour Co-op | 2023–27 |
| Manchester Central constituency | Deansgate | Marcus Johns | | Labour Co-op | 2024–28 |
| Manchester Central constituency | Deansgate | Joan Davies | | Labour | 2022–26 |
| Manchester Central constituency | Miles Platting and Newton Heath | John Flanagan | | Labour | 2023–27 |
| Manchester Central constituency | Miles Platting and Newton Heath | June Hitchin | | Labour | 2024–28 |
| Manchester Central constituency | Miles Platting and Newton Heath | Carmine Grimshaw | | Labour | 2022–26 |
| Manchester Central constituency | Piccadilly | Sam Wheeler | | Labour | 2023–27 |
| Manchester Central constituency | Piccadilly | Jon-Connor Lyons | | Labour | 2024–28 |
| Manchester Central constituency | Piccadilly | Adele Douglas | | Labour | 2022–26 |
| Manchester Rusholme constituency | Ardwick | Amna Abdullatif | | Independent | 2023–27 |
| Manchester Rusholme constituency | Ardwick | Abdigafar Muse | | Labour | 2024–28 |
| Manchester Rusholme constituency | Ardwick | Tina Hewitson | | Labour | 2022–26 |
| Manchester Rusholme constituency | Fallowfield | Jade Doswell | | Labour | 2023–27 |
| Manchester Rusholme constituency | Fallowfield | Ghazala Sadiq | | Labour | 2024–28 |
| Manchester Rusholme constituency | Fallowfield | Ali R. Ilyas | | Labour | 2022–26 |
| Manchester Rusholme constituency | Hulme | Annette Wright | | Labour | 2023–27 |
| Manchester Rusholme constituency | Hulme | Lee Glover | | Labour | 2024–28 |
| Manchester Rusholme constituency | Hulme | Lee-Ann Igbon | | Labour | 2022–26 |
| Manchester Rusholme constituency | Moss Side | Mahadi Hussein Sharif Mahamed | | Labour | 2023–27 |
| Manchester Rusholme constituency | Moss Side | Esha Mumtaz | | Labour | 2024–28 |
| Manchester Rusholme constituency | Moss Side | Erinma Bell | | Labour | 2022–26 |
| Manchester Rusholme constituency | Rusholme | Ahmed Ali | | Labour | 2023–27 |
| Manchester Rusholme constituency | Rusholme | Jill Lovecy | | Labour | 2024–28 |
| Manchester Rusholme constituency | Rusholme | Rabnawaz Akbar | | Labour | 2022–26 |
| Manchester Rusholme constituency | Whalley Range | Angeliki Stogia | | Labour Co-op | 2023–27 |
| Manchester Rusholme constituency | Whalley Range | Muqaddasah Bano | | Labour | 2024–28 |
| Manchester Rusholme constituency | Whalley Range | Aftab Razaq | | Labour | 2022–26 |
| Manchester Withington constituency | Chorlton | Mathew Benham | | Labour | 2023–27 |
| Manchester Withington constituency | Chorlton | Tina Kirwin-McGinley | | Labour | 2024–28 |
| Manchester Withington constituency | Chorlton | John Hacking | | Labour | 2022–26 |
| Manchester Withington constituency | Chorlton Park | Dave Rawson | | Labour | 2023–27 |
| Manchester Withington constituency | Chorlton Park | Mandie Shilton-Goodwin | | Labour Co-op | 2024–28 |
| Manchester Withington constituency | Chorlton Park | Joanna Midgley | | Labour | 2022–26 |
| Manchester Withington constituency | Didsbury East | Leslie Bell | | Labour | 2024–27 |
| Manchester Withington constituency | Didsbury East | Linda Foley | | Labour | 2024–28 |
| Manchester Withington constituency | Didsbury East | Andrew Simcock | | Labour | 2022–26 |
| Manchester Withington constituency | Didsbury West | Richard Kilpatrick | | Liberal Democrats | 2023–27 |
| Manchester Withington constituency | Didsbury West | Debbie Hilal | | Labour | 2024–28 |
| Manchester Withington constituency | Didsbury West | John Leech | | Liberal Democrats | 2022–26 |
| Manchester Withington constituency | Old Moat | Garry Bridges | | Labour | 2023–27 |
| Manchester Withington constituency | Old Moat | Gavin White | | Labour | 2024–28 |
| Manchester Withington constituency | Old Moat | Suzannah Reeves | | Labour | 2022–26 |
| Manchester Withington constituency | Withington | Becky Chambers | | Labour | 2023–27 |
| Manchester Withington constituency | Withington | Chris Wills | | Labour Co-op | 2024–28 |
| Manchester Withington constituency | Withington | Angela Gartside | | Labour | 2022–26 |
| Wythenshawe and Sale East constituency | Baguley | vacant | vacant | vacant | 2024–27 |
| Wythenshawe and Sale East constituency | Baguley | Tracy Rawlins | | Labour Co-op | 2024–28 |
| Wythenshawe and Sale East constituency | Baguley | Paul Andrews | | Labour Co-op | 2022–26 |
| Wythenshawe and Sale East constituency | Brooklands | Glynn Evans | | Labour | 2023–27 |
| Wythenshawe and Sale East constituency | Brooklands | Dave Marsh | | Labour | 2024–28 |
| Wythenshawe and Sale East constituency | Brooklands | Sue Cooley | | Labour | 2022–26 |
| Wythenshawe and Sale East constituency | Northenden | Richard Fletcher | | Labour | 2023–27 |
| Wythenshawe and Sale East constituency | Northenden | Sam Lynch | | Labour | 2024–28 |
| Wythenshawe and Sale East constituency | Northenden | Angela Moran | | Labour | 2022–26 |
| Wythenshawe and Sale East constituency | Sharston | Tim Whiston | | Labour Co-op | 2023–27 |
| Wythenshawe and Sale East constituency | Sharston | Emma Taylor | | Labour | 2024–28 |
| Wythenshawe and Sale East constituency | Sharston | Tommy Judge | | Labour Co-op | 2022–26 |
| Wythenshawe and Sale East constituency | Woodhouse Park | Anastasia Wiest | | Green | 2023–27 |
| Wythenshawe and Sale East constituency | Woodhouse Park | Rob Nunney | | Green | 2024–28 |
| Wythenshawe and Sale East constituency | Woodhouse Park | Astrid Johnson | | Green | 2022–26 |
^a Elected as Labour but resigned from the party in the wake of the Labour leadership's stance on the Israeli invasion of Gaza.
^b Elected during the 2024 election to fill a vacancy caused by the resignation of James Wilson, who was elected in 2023.

## Premises

The council is based at Manchester Town Hall on Albert Square, completed in 1877, and the adjoining Town Hall Extension on the opposite side of Lloyd Street, which was completed in 1938 and is linked to the older building by first floor bridges. The main Town Hall has been under refurbishment since 2020, due to reopen in 2026. The council continues to operate from the Town Hall Extension.

## Coat of arms

A coat of arms was granted to the Manchester Corporation in 1842, passing on to Manchester City Council when the borough of Manchester was granted the title of city in 1853.
* The Shield: red (Gules) with three gold (Or) bands drawn diagonally across to the right-hand side.
* The Chief (the white (Argent) top segment): shows a ship at sea in full sail. This is a reference to the city's trading base.
* The Crest: On a multicoloured wreath stands a terrestrial globe, signifying Manchester's world trade, and covered by a swarm of flying bees. The bee was adopted in the 19th century as a symbol of industrial Manchester being the birthplace of the Industrial Revolution.
* The Supporters: On the left, a heraldic antelope with a chain attached to a gold (Or) collar, representing engineering industries, and hanging at the shoulder, the red rose of Lancashire, reflecting Manchester's historic position in Lancashire. On the right, a golden lion stands guardant (facing us), crowned with a red (Gules) castle (a reference to the Roman fort at Castlefield from which the city originated). The lion also wears the Red Rose of Lancashire.
* Motto: Concilio et Labore, loosely translated "By wisdom and effort" (or "By counsel and hard work").
In 1954, Manchester Corporation successfully took the Manchester Palace of Varieties to court for improperly using the corporation's arms in its internal decoration and its company seal. The case of Manchester Corporation v Manchester Palace of Varieties Ltd; was the first sitting of the Court of Chivalry for two hundred years, and it has not sat since.
In April 2013, Manchester City Council threatened to take legal action against The Manchester Gazette, for its use of the city's coat of arms on their website. The News Outlet claimed it already gained permission and continued to use it for a further 8 months in spite of the warnings. Withington MP John Leech described the council's latest move as a "massive over-reaction and waste of money", adding: "Have the council's legal department got nothing better to do?".