# 1986 Trafford Metropolitan Borough Council election

Elections to Trafford Council were held on 8 May 1986. One third of the council was up for election, with each successful candidate to serve a four-year term of office, expiring in 1990. The Conservative Party lost overall control of the council, to no overall control.
Because the Conservative Candidate for Priory ward, G. V. Burrows, (presumably inadvertently) wrote his occupation in the description box of his nomination paper, his party allegiance is listed on all official records and press coverage of this election as "Taxi Driver". However, as he was, in fact, the official Conservative Candidate, and therefore would doubtless have taken the Conservative whip had he been elected, he is listed on this page as a Conservative, rather than an Independent.

## Election result

| Party | Votes | Votes | Seats | Seats | Seats | Full Council | Full Council |
| Labour Party | 31,703 (39.6%) | 3.9 | 14 (60.9%) | 14 / 23 | 9 | 30 (47.6%) | 30 / 63 |
| Conservative Party | 30,087 (37.6%) | 4.6 | 6 (26.1%) | 6 / 23 | 10 | 24 (38.1%) | 24 / 63 |
| Alliance | 17,808 (22.3%) | 2.0 | 3 (13.0%) | 3 / 23 | 1 | 9 (14.3%) | 9 / 63 |
| Green Party | 358 (0.4%) | 0.3 | 0 (0.0%) | 0 / 23 | | 0 (0.0%) | 0 / 63 |
| Independent | 13 (0.0%) | 1.1 | 0 (0.0%) | 0 / 23 | | 0 (0.0%) | 0 / 63 |
| 30 | 9 | 24 |

## Ward results
### Altrincham

Altrincham :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | S. M. Evans | 1,523 | 41.1 | +2.3 |
| | Conservative | B. L. Slater* | 1,352 | 36.4 | −7.2 |
| | SDP | Barbara M. Keeley-Huggett | 725 | 19.5 | +19.5 |
| | Green | N. J. Eadie | 110 | 3.0 | +1.4 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 171 | 4.6 | −0.2 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 3,710 | 46.1 | +3.9 |
| | Labour gain from Conservative | Labour gain from Conservative | Swing | | |

### Bowdon

Bowdon :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | J. B. Gill* | 2,449 | 60.2 | −12.9 |
| | SDP | V. G. O'Hara | 1,026 | 25.2 | +25.2 |
| | Labour | M. J. Hendrickson | 434 | 10.7 | −6.2 |
| | Green | M. R. Rowtham | 160 | 3.9 | −6.1 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,423 | 35.0 | −21.1 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 4,069 | 44.9 | −11.2 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | | |

### Broadheath

Broadheath (2 vacancies) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | J. J. Hyland | 1,387 | 38.9 | +2.2 |
| | Conservative | M. J. Barltrop | 1,334 | 37.4 | −8.8 |
| | Conservative | M. G. Currie* | 1,308 | 36.7 | −9.5 |
| | Labour | J. B. Morton | 1,300 | 36.5 | −0.2 |
| | SDP | D. E. Armstrong | 948 | 26.6 | +9.5 |
| | SDP | R. C. Tweed | 858 | 24.1 | +7.0 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 26 | 0.7 | −8.9 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 3,565 | 45.9 | +4.4 |
| | Labour gain from Conservative | Labour gain from Conservative | Swing | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | | |

### Brooklands

Brooklands :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Jack Waterfall* | 1,881 | 50.3 | −1.2 |
| | Alliance | Cecil Fink | 1,354 | 36.2 | −1.0 |
| | Labour | E. D. Shaw | 507 | 13.5 | +2.2 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 527 | 14.1 | −0.2 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 3,742 | 46.0 | +0.4 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | | |

### Bucklow

Bucklow :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Frank Holland* | 1,747 | 80.0 | +24.4 |
| | Conservative | M. E. Hindley | 438 | 20.0 | +7.2 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,309 | 59.9 | +20.0 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,185 | 31.7 | −6.1 |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | | |

### Clifford

Clifford :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | B. M. Sheehan | 2,285 | 77.1 | +6.1 |
| | Conservative | M. Howard | 680 | 22.9 | −6.1 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,605 | 54.1 | +12.1 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,965 | 33.5 | −4.2 |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | | |

### Davyhulme East

Davyhulme East :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | R. G. Haigh* | 1,812 | 50.2 | +4.5 |
| | Labour | J. B. Roberts | 1,320 | 36.6 | +1.8 |
| | SDP | R. J. Thompson | 474 | 13.1 | +13.1 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 492 | 13.6 | +2.7 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 3,606 | 46.6 | +2.9 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | | |

### Davyhulme West

Davyhulme West :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | A. G. Hodson | 1,683 | 42.5 | −4.9 |
| | Conservative | P. Bates | 1,421 | 35.9 | −8.2 |
| | Liberal | M. E. Clarke | 856 | 21.6 | +21.6 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 262 | 6.6 | +3.3 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 3,960 | 47.2 | −1.7 |
| | Labour gain from Conservative | Labour gain from Conservative | Swing | | |

### Flixton

Flixton :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | B. J. Hughes | 1,477 | 35.1 | +11.0 |
| | Conservative | C. A. Lord* | 1,432 | 34.1 | −3.4 |
| | Liberal | P. I. M. Crompton | 1,293 | 30.8 | −7.6 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 45 | 1.1 | +0.2 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 4,202 | 52.4 | +0.7 |
| | Labour gain from Conservative | Labour gain from Conservative | Swing | | |

### Hale

Hale :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | R. A. Roberts | 2,317 | 57.2 | −5.7 |
| | Liberal | J. H. Mulholland | 1,383 | 34.1 | +5.6 |
| | Labour | C. E. Donegan | 263 | 6.5 | +0.4 |
| | Green | J. S. Menzies | 88 | 2.2 | −0.4 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 934 | 23.1 | −11.3 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 4,051 | 45.7 | +1.5 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | | |

### Longford

Longford (2 vacancies) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | J. P. Hagan | 1,824 | 53.2 | −1.1 |
| | Labour | P. J. Morgan | 1,711 | 49.9 | −4.4 |
| | Conservative | K. G. Summerfield* | 1,292 | 37.7 | −8.0 |
| | Conservative | E. J. Kelson | 1,235 | 36.0 | −9.7 |
| | SDP | M. L. Kugler | 313 | 9.1 | N/A |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 419 | 12.2 | +3.6 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 3,426 | 45.7 | +1.4 |
| | Labour gain from Conservative | Labour gain from Conservative | Swing | | |
| | Labour gain from Conservative | Labour gain from Conservative | Swing | | |

### Mersey-St. Mary's

Mersey St. Marys :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | D. I. Carter | 2,155 | 51.7 | −7.2 |
| | Liberal | A. Kelly | 1,202 | 28.8 | +4.5 |
| | Labour | P. J. English | 815 | 19.5 | +2.7 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 953 | 22.8 | −11.7 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 4,172 | 43.4 | +4.3 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | | |

### Park

Park :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | J. R. Haydock* | 1,551 | 64.4 | +9.1 |
| | Conservative | D. Meadowcroft | 859 | 35.6 | +1.0 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 692 | 28.7 | +8.0 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,410 | 38.3 | −1.9 |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | | |

### Priory

Priory :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | Edna Mitchell | 1,351 | 39.3 | −0.4 |
| | Labour | B. K. Lund | 1,161 | 33.8 | +8.1 |
| | Conservative | G. V. Burrows | 926 | 26.9 | −7.7 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 190 | 5.5 | +0.4 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 3,438 | 42.4 | +1.1 |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Swing | | |

### Sale Moor

Sale Moor :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Richard Mee* | 1,509 | 48.9 | +7.2 |
| | Conservative | E. A. Robinson | 905 | 29.3 | −5.7 |
| | Liberal | Hilary Hughes | 671 | 21.8 | +21.8 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 604 | 19.6 | +12.8 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 3,085 | 39.9 | −2.2 |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | | |

### St. Martin's

St. Martins :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | L. T. Murkin | 2,243 | 52.1 | −0.5 |
| | Conservative | M. E. King* | 1,411 | 32.8 | +1.3 |
| | Liberal | T. J. P. Corbett | 654 | 15.2 | −0.7 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 832 | 19.3 | −1.8 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 4,308 | 45.2 | +2.5 |
| | Labour gain from Conservative | Labour gain from Conservative | Swing | | |

### Stretford

Stretford :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Stephen Adshead | 1,772 | 48.0 | +5.6 |
| | Conservative | M. Hindley* | 1,483 | 40.2 | −5.6 |
| | SDP | L. L. Sumner | 437 | 11.8 | 0 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 289 | 7.8 | +4.4 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 3,692 | 45.2 | +1.9 |
| | Labour gain from Conservative | Labour gain from Conservative | Swing | | |

### Talbot

Talbot :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | G. Marland* | 1,775 | 67.2 | −0.4 |
| | Conservative | C. J. Levenston | 600 | 22.7 | −6.2 |
| | SDP | K. Clarke | 252 | 9.5 | +9.5 |
| | Independent | K. J. Martin | 13 | 0.5 | −3.0 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,175 | 44.5 | +5.9 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,640 | 36.2 | +1.0 |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | | |

### Timperley

Timperley :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | Michael Farnsworth | 1,628 | 41.2 | −3.9 |
| | Conservative | Ken Davies* | 1,534 | 38.8 | +3.3 |
| | Labour | A. D. McNee | 792 | 20.0 | +0.5 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 94 | 2.4 | −7.2 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 3,954 | 44.2 | +5.1 |
| | Liberal gain from Conservative | Liberal gain from Conservative | Swing | | |

### Urmston

Urmston :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | J. G. Hanrahan | 1,572 | 43.2 | +3.9 |
| | Conservative | A. R. Coupe* | 1,467 | 40.3 | −3.7 |
| | SDP | P. J. Carlon | 603 | 16.6 | −0.1 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 105 | 2.9 | −1.7 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 3,642 | 45.7 | +1.7 |
| | Labour gain from Conservative | Labour gain from Conservative | Swing | | |

### Village

Village :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | Mike Cragg | 1,780 | 44.1 | −4.4 |
| | Conservative | M. J. Booth | 1,207 | 29.9 | −1.5 |
| | Labour | M. C. Jenkinson | 1,052 | 26.0 | +5.9 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 573 | 14.2 | −2.9 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 4,039 | 47.5 | −2.2 |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Swing | | |

## By-elections between 1986 and 1987

Talbot By-Election 6 November 1986 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | P. A. Lane | 1,209 | 68.3 | +1.1 |
| | Conservative | C. J. Levenston | 562 | 31.7 | +9.0 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 647 | 36.5 | −8.0 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,771 | 24.3 | −11.9 |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | | |
Mersey-St. Mary's By-Election 22 January 1987 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | S. G. Brownhill | 1,610 | 56.7 | +5.0 |
| | SDP | R. J. Thompson | 683 | 24.0 | +24.0 |
| | Labour | P. Miller | 550 | 19.3 | −0.2 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 927 | 32.6 | +9.8 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,843 | 29.6 | −13.8 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | | |